CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 14,733	$ 4,505
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	22,706	20,362
Long-lived asset impairment	1,540	805
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,119	358
Amortization of debt discount	12
Amortization of payments to terminate interest rate swaps	95	316
Unit-based compensation expense	253	345
Provision for (benefit from) doubtful accounts	(385)	402
Gain on sale of compression equipment	(935)	(174)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, trade	(5,308)	(4,904)
Other liabilities	(1,154)	(1,008)
Net cash provided by operating activities	32,676	21,007
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(32,669)	(34,033)
Payment to Exterran Holdings for a portion of the contract operations acquisitions		(77,415)
Proceeds from sale of compression equipment	4,605	435
(Increase) decrease in amounts due from affiliates, net	(5,463)	1,072
Net cash used in investing activities	(33,527)	(109,941)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt	799,036	565,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(747,000)	(580,350)
Distributions to unitholders	(23,331)	(19,580)
Net proceeds from issuance of common units		114,568
Net proceeds from sale of general partner units		2,426
Payments for debt issuance costs	(11,373)	(525)
Purchases of treasury units	(80)	(155)
Capital contribution from limited partners and general partner	5,357	7,805
Decrease in amounts due to affiliates, net	(21,598)
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,011	89,189
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	160	255
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	142	5
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	302	260
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Non-cash capital contribution from limited and general partner	6,208	2,126
Contract operations equipment acquired/exchanged, net	156,707	145,934
Intangible assets allocated in contract operations acquisitions	3,131	5,005
Debt assumed in contract operations acquisitions		105,350
Non-cash capital distribution due to the contract operations acquisitions	12,350	28,221
Common units issued in contract operations acquisitions	170,537
General partner units issued in contract operations acquisitions	$ 3,463