Description of Business and Basis of Presentation - Restatement Table - Consolidated Statement of Income (details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Impairments		$ 272,624	[1],[2]	$ 1,190
Operating income (loss)		(155,319)		104,821	[3]
Income (loss) before income taxes		(173,976)		95,581	[3]
Income tax (benefit) expense		3,416		1,785	[3]
Net income (loss)		(177,392)		93,796	[3]
Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Equity Partners, LP		(39,669)		53,162	[3]
Limited partners' interest in net income (loss)	[4]	$ (41,411)		$ 50,497	[3]
Limited Partner [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Net income (loss) per common unit - basic and diluted		$ (0.19)		$ 0.23	[3]
As Reported [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Impairments	[1],[2]	$ 8,222
Operating income (loss)		109,083
Income (loss) before income taxes		90,426
Income tax (benefit) expense		4,460
Net income (loss)		85,966		$ 90,175	[5]
Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Equity Partners, LP		57,029
Limited partners' interest in net income (loss)	[4]	$ 55,287
As Reported [Member] | Limited Partner [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Net income (loss) per common unit - basic and diluted		$ 0.25
Adjustments [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Impairments	[1],[2]	$ 264,402
Operating income (loss)		(264,402)
Income (loss) before income taxes		(264,402)
Income tax (benefit) expense		(1,044)
Net income (loss)		(263,358)
Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Equity Partners, LP		(96,698)
Limited partners' interest in net income (loss)	[4]	$ (96,698)
Adjustments [Member] | Limited Partner [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Net income (loss) per common unit - basic and diluted		$ (0.44)

[1] “As Reported” amount previously included as a component of Depreciation, amortization and impairments in WGP’s Original Filing.

[2] “As Reported” amount previously included as a component of Depreciation, amortization and impairments in WGP’s Original Filing.

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

[4] Represents net income (loss) earned on and subsequent to the date of acquisition of WES assets (as defined in Note 1). See Note 4.

[5] See Adjustments to Previously Issued Financial Statements in Note 1.