CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Partners' Capital Common Units	Partners' Capital General Partner Units	Treasury Units	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 423,766	$ 420,960	$ 12,877	$ (758)	$ (9,313)
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2011		37,308,402	757,722
Treasury Units Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2011				(33,811)
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital
Issuance of common units for vesting of phantom units (in units)		29,950
Treasury units purchased	(155)			(155)
Treasury units purchased (in units)				(6,525)
Net proceeds from issuance of common units	114,568	114,568
Net proceeds from issuance of common units (in units)		4,965,000
Proceeds from sale of general partner units to Exterran Holdings	2,426		2,426
Proceeds from sale of general partner units to Exterran Holdings (in units)			100,861
Acquisition of a portion of Exterran Holdings' U.S. contract operations business	(28,221)	(28,221)
Contribution of capital, net	6,326	6,077	249
Excess of purchase price of equipment over Exterran Holdings' cost of equipment	(2,373)	(2,233)	(140)
Cash distributions	(19,580)	(18,360)	(1,220)
Unit based compensation expense	345	345
Interest rate swap gain (loss), net of reclassification to earnings	(374)				(374)
Amortization of payments to terminate interest rate swaps	316				316
Net income	4,505	3,410	1,095
Balance at Mar. 31, 2012	501,549	496,546	15,287	(913)	(9,371)
Balance (in units) at Mar. 31, 2012		42,303,352	858,583
Treasury Units Balance (in units) at Mar. 31, 2012				(40,336)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	439,000	436,587	13,490	(983)	(10,094)
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2012		42,313,731	858,583
Treasury Units Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2012	(43,630)			(43,630)
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital
Issuance of common units for vesting of phantom units (in units)		18,135
Treasury units purchased	(80)			(80)
Treasury units purchased (in units)				(3,377)
Acquisition of a portion of Exterran Holdings' U.S. contract operations business	161,650	158,417	3,233
Acquisition of a portion of Exterran Holdings' U.S. contract operations business (in units)		7,123,527	144,644
Transaction costs for registration of units	(68)	(68)
Contribution of capital, net	9,753	9,525	228
Excess of purchase price of equipment over Exterran Holdings' cost of equipment	(2,235)	(2,091)	(144)
Cash distributions	(23,331)	(21,666)	(1,665)
Unit based compensation expense	248	248
Interest rate swap gain (loss), net of reclassification to earnings	1,189				1,189
Amortization of payments to terminate interest rate swaps	95				95
Net income	14,733	12,961	1,772
Balance at Mar. 31, 2013	$ 600,954	$ 593,913	$ 16,914	$ (1,063)	$ (8,810)
Balance (in units) at Mar. 31, 2013		49,455,393	1,003,227
Treasury Units Balance (in units) at Mar. 31, 2013	(47,007)			(47,007)