Transactions With Affiliates - Additional Information (details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014 Independent Director [Member] Western Gas Equity Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Independent Director [Member] Western Gas Equity Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Independent Director [Member] Western Gas Equity Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Independent Director [Member] Western Gas Equity Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Western Gas Equity Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] Anadarko Incentive Plans [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Western Gas Equity Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] Anadarko Incentive Plans [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Western Gas Equity Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] Anadarko Incentive Plans [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Western Gas Equity Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] Anadarko Incentive Plans [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Western Gas Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Western Gas Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Western Gas Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Western Gas Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Independent Director [Member] Western Gas Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	May 31, 2008 Western Gas Partners [Member] Note Receivable From Anadarko [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Note Receivable From Anadarko [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Note Receivable From Anadarko [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Gathering Transportation And Treating [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Gathering Transportation And Treating [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Gathering Transportation And Treating [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Gathering Transportation And Treating [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Processing [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Processing [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Processing [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Processing [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Note receivable - Anadarko	$ 260,000,000	$ 260,000,000	[1]														$ 260,000,000
Note receivable, due date																		May 14, 2038
Fixed annual rate for note receivable bearing interest																	6.50%
The fair value of the note receivable																		336,900,000	296,700,000
Affiliate throughput percent																				49.00%	56.00%	49.00%	57.00%	58.00%	57.00%	58.00%	58.00%
Phantom units vesting period						1 year								3 years		1 year
Equity-based compensation expense				25,000	80,000	52,000	132,000	900,000	700,000	1,800,000	1,400,000	200,000	200,000	300,000	300,000
Partners' capital adjustment	$ 237,000									$ 1,700,000

[1] Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the TEFR Interests. See Note 1 and Note 2.