Description of Business and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (details) (Western Gas Partners [Member])	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
General partner's interest	2.00%
Ownership interest	100.00%
Marginal Percentage Interest In Distributions	48.00%
Incentive Distribution Rights [Member]
General partner's interest	100.00%
Fort Union [Member]
Equity investment ownership	14.81%
Rendezvous [Member]
Equity investment ownership	22.00%
White Cliffs [Member]
Equity investment ownership	10.00%
Mont Belvieu Joint Venture [Member]
Equity investment ownership	25.00%
Texas Express Pipeline Limited Liability Company [Member]
Equity investment ownership	20.00%
Texas Express Gathering Limited Liability Company [Member]
Equity investment ownership	20.00%
Front Range Pipeline Limited Liability Company [Member]
Equity investment ownership	33.33%
Non-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member]
Ownership interest	33.75%
Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member]
Ownership interest	33.75%
Newcastle [Member]
Ownership interest	50.00%