CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 52,664	$ (4,165)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	76,894	65,080
Long-lived asset impairment	3,249	28,927
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,355	1,125
Amortization of debt discount	282
Amortization of terminated interest rate swaps	1,761	790
Interest rate swaps	295
Unit-based compensation expense	873	657
Provision for (benefit from) doubtful accounts	(174)	400
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment	(8,798)	(545)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, trade	(10,106)	(10,509)
Other liabilities	8,960	(2,150)
Net cash provided by operating activities	128,255	79,610
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(114,789)	(91,698)
Payment to Exterran Holdings for a portion of the contract operations acquisitions		(77,415)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	50,567	1,606
(Increase) decrease in amounts due from affiliates, net	(6,045)	2,158
Net cash used in investing activities	(70,267)	(165,349)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt	923,536	662,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(884,500)	(648,350)
Distributions to unitholders	(78,856)	(64,822)
Net proceeds from issuance of common units		114,530
Net proceeds from sale of general partner units		2,426
Payments for debt issuance costs	(11,929)	(549)
Payments for settlement of interest rate swaps that include financing elements	(1,271)
Purchases of treasury units	(91)	(165)
Capital contribution from limited partners and general partner	16,830	21,057
Decrease in amounts due to affiliates, net	(21,598)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(57,879)	86,127
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	109	388
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	142	5
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	251	393
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Non-cash capital contribution from limited and general partner	18,659	12,058
Contract operations equipment acquired/exchanged, net	149,030	54,575
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