Partnership Distributions - Additional Information (details)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Partnership agreement day requirement of distribution of available cash	55 days
Western Gas Partners [Member]
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Partnership agreement day requirement of distribution of available cash	45 days

The number of days subsequent to each quarter the Partnership is required to make distributions to unitholders of record on the applicable record date.

No definition available.

Name:	wgp_NumberOfDaysSubsequentToQuarterEndThatCashIsRequiredToBeDistributed
Namespace Prefix:	wgp_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration