Transactions With Affiliates - Additional Information (details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014 Independent Director [Member] Western Gas Equity Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Independent Director [Member] Western Gas Equity Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Independent Director [Member] Western Gas Equity Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Independent Director [Member] Western Gas Equity Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Western Gas Equity Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] Anadarko Incentive Plans [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Western Gas Equity Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] Anadarko Incentive Plans [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Western Gas Equity Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] Anadarko Incentive Plans [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Western Gas Equity Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] Anadarko Incentive Plans [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Western Gas Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Western Gas Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Western Gas Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Western Gas Partners Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 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]	Sep. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Note Receivable From Anadarko [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Note Receivable From Anadarko [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Gathering Transportation And Treating [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Gathering Transportation And Treating [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Gathering Transportation And Treating [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Gathering Transportation And Treating [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Processing [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Western Gas Partners [Member] Processing [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Western Gas Partners [Member] Processing [Member]	Sep. 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%
Fair value of the note receivable																		322,300,000	296,700,000
Affiliate throughput percent																				47.00%	53.00%	48.00%	55.00%	58.00%	60.00%	58.00%	59.00%
Phantom units vesting period						1 year								3 years		1 year
Equity-based compensation expense				57,000	100,000	100,000	200,000	900,000	800,000	2,700,000	2,200,000	200,000	100,000	500,000	400,000
Partners' capital adjustment	$ 848,000									$ 2,500,000

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