Business Segments Data (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 1,075	$ 1,103	$ 3,618	$ 3,918
Depreciation and amortization		193	188	582	574
Interest Expense		133	155	437	480
Interest income and other	[1]	1		3
Interest income and other	[1]		(4)		(5)
Earnings Before Income Taxes		291	313	972	812
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		(16)	(25)	(63)	(80)
Spectra Energy Partners
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		628	612	1,870	1,821
Depreciation and amortization		79	74	234	220
Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation And Amortization		464	488	1,408	1,421
Spectra Energy Partners | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		0	0	0	0
Spectra Energy Partners | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		628	612	1,870	1,821
Distribution
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		209	209	958	1,161
Depreciation and amortization		47	43	138	133
Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation And Amortization		77	70	351	360
Distribution | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		0	0	0	0
Distribution | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		209	209	958	1,161
Western Canada Transmission And Processing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		236	279	784	929
Depreciation and amortization		56	59	173	184
Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation And Amortization		93	117	313	382
Western Canada Transmission And Processing | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		0	9	15	33
Western Canada Transmission And Processing | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		236	288	799	962
Field Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization		0	0	0	0
Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation And Amortization		12	(3)	1	(253)
Field Services | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		0	0	0	0
Field Services | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		0	0	0	0
Total Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		1,073	1,100	3,612	3,911
Depreciation and amortization		182	176	545	537
Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation And Amortization		646	672	2,073	1,910
Total Reportable Segments | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		0	9	15	33
Total Reportable Segments | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		1,073	1,109	3,627	3,944
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		2	3	6	7
Depreciation and amortization		11	12	37	37
Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation And Amortization		(30)	(12)	(85)	(39)
Other | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		16	16	48	47
Other | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 18	$ 19	$ 54	$ 54

[1] Includes foreign currency transaction gains and losses related to segment EBITDA