CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 64,023	$ 10,509	$ 6,053
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	103,711	88,298	67,930
Long-lived asset impairment	5,350	29,560	1,060
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,975	1,508	1,327
Amortization of debt discount	419
Amortization of terminated interest rate swaps	2,737	898	10,251
Interest rate swaps	334
Unit-based compensation expense	1,174	797	532
Provision for (benefit from) doubtful accounts	(25)	494	83
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment	(10,140)	(689)	(919)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, trade	(14,532)	(5,303)	(8,808)
Other liabilities	2,260	(855)	2,581
Net cash provided by operating activities	158,286	125,217	80,090
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(168,036)	(157,828)	(50,250)
Payment to Exterran Holdings for a portion of the contract operations acquisitions		(77,415)	(62,217)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	61,452	2,465	2,940
(Increase) decrease in amounts due from affiliates, net	(10,548)	3,838	3,064
Net cash used in investing activities	(117,132)	(228,940)	(106,463)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt	1,005,536	714,000	557,500
Repayments of long-term debt	(928,500)	(684,350)	(620,434)
Distributions to unitholders	(107,196)	(87,866)	(70,636)
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	(12,147)	(1,011)	(1,003)
Payments for settlement of interest rate swaps that include financing elements	(2,207)
Purchases of treasury units	(182)	(225)	(484)
Capital contribution from limited partners and general partner	25,180	24,758	32,397
Increase (decrease) in amounts due to affiliates, net	(21,598)	21,598
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(41,114)	103,860	26,328
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	40	137	(45)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	142	5	50
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	182	142	5
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	28,359	22,566	18,527
Cash paid for taxes, net	604	785	223
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions:
Non-cash capital contribution from limited and general partner	21,684	14,549	9,606
Contract operations equipment acquired/exchanged, net	146,758	47,908	183,643
Intangible assets allocated in contract operations acquisitions	3,131	5,005	6,400
Debt assumed in contract operations acquisitions		105,350	159,434
Non-cash capital distribution due to the contract operations acquisitions	12,350	28,221	24,655
Common units issued in contract operations acquisitions	170,537
General partner units issued in contract operations acquisitions	$ 3,463		$ 767