Description of Business and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands				1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
		Mar. 02, 2015	[5]	Nov. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2014
Impairments					$ 1,268	[1]	$ 343	[2]	$ 273,892	[1],[3]	$ 1,533	[2],[4]
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member]
General partner's interest				2.00%					1.80%
Marginal percentage interest in distributions					48.00%				48.00%
Impairments									$ 273,900
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Red Desert Complex [Member]
Impairments									$ 264,400
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Other Subsidiaries Of Anadarko [Member]
Common units issued									757,619
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Non-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member]
Ownership interest									33.75%
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member]
Ownership interest									33.75%
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Delaware Basin JV Gathering LLC [Member]
Ownership interest		50.00%							50.00%
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Newcastle [Member]
Ownership interest									50.00%
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Fort Union [Member]
Equity investment ownership					14.81%				14.81%
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Rendezvous [Member]
Equity investment ownership					22.00%				22.00%
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | White Cliffs [Member]
Equity investment ownership					10.00%				10.00%
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Mont Belvieu JV [Member]
Equity investment ownership					25.00%				25.00%
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Texas Express Pipeline LLC [Member]
Equity investment ownership					20.00%				20.00%
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Texas Express Gathering LLC [Member]
Equity investment ownership					20.00%				20.00%
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Front Range Pipeline LLC [Member]
Equity investment ownership					33.33%				33.33%
Incentive Distribution Rights [Member] | Western Gas Partners, LP [Member]
General partner's interest									100.00%
General Partner [Member] | Western Gas Partners, LP [Member]
Ownership interest									100.00%
Adjustments [Member]
Impairments	[1]				$ 0				$ 264,402	[3]
Operating Income (Loss) [Member] | Adjustments [Member]
Correction of an immaterial error					$ 13,200		$ 10,000		$ 25,000		$ 16,600

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

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

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

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

[5] WES acquired Anadarko’s interest in Delaware Basin JV Gathering LLC (“DBJV”), which owns a 50% interest in a gathering system and related facilities (the “DBJV system”). The DBJV system is located in the Delaware Basin in Loving, Ward, Winkler and Reeves Counties, Texas. WES will make a cash payment on March 31, 2020, to Anadarko as consideration for the acquisition of DBJV. WES currently estimates the future payment will be $282.8 million, the net present value of which was $174.3 million as of the acquisition date. See DBJV acquisition—Deferred purchase price obligation - Anadarko below.