CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 10,509	$ 6,053	$ (23,333)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	88,298	67,930	52,518
Long-lived asset impairment	29,560	1,060	24,976
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,508	1,327	1,180
Amortization of fair value of acquired interest rate swaps			111
Amortization of payments to terminate interest rate swaps	898	10,251	1,659
Unit-based compensation expense	797	532	1,209
Provision for doubtful accounts	494	83	1,292
Gain on sale of compression equipment	(689)	(919)	(667)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, trade	(5,303)	(8,808)	(2,632)
Interest rate swaps			(13,561)
Other liabilities	(855)	2,581	930
Net cash provided by operating activities	125,217	80,090	43,682
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(157,828)	(50,250)	(28,113)
Payment to Exterran Holdings for a portion of the contract operations acquisitions	(77,415)	(62,217)
Proceeds from sale of compression equipment	2,465	2,940	1,370
Decrease in restricted cash			431
(Increase) decrease in amounts due from affiliates, net	3,838	3,064	(2,730)
Net cash used in investing activities	(228,940)	(106,463)	(29,042)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt	714,000	557,500	471,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(684,350)	(620,434)	(454,500)
Distributions to unitholders	(87,866)	(70,636)	(50,490)
Net proceeds from issuance of common units	114,530	127,672
Net proceeds from sale of general partner units	2,426	1,316
Payments for debt issuance costs	(1,011)	(1,003)	(4,064)
Purchases of treasury units	(225)	(484)	(166)
Capital contribution from limited partners and general partner	24,758	32,397	24,720
Increase (decrease) in amounts due to affiliates, net	21,598		(1,293)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	103,860	26,328	(14,793)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	137	(45)	(153)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	5	50	203
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	142	5	50
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	22,566	18,527	22,134
Cash paid for taxes, net	785	223	620
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions:
Non-cash capital contribution from limited and general partner	14,549	9,606	2,838
Contract operations equipment acquired/exchanged, net	47,908	183,643	126,911
Intangible assets allocated in contract operations acquisitions	5,005	6,400	5,864
Debt assumed in contract operations acquisitions	105,350	159,434
Non-cash capital distribution due to the contract operations acquisitions	28,221	24,655
Common units issued in contract operations acquisitions			125,043
General partner units issued in contract operations acquisitions		$ 767	$ 2,548