Property, Plant and Equipment - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015		Sep. 30, 2014	[2]	Sep. 30, 2015		Sep. 30, 2014	[2]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairments	$ 2,337	[1]	$ 898		$ 276,229	[1],[3]	$ 2,431
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairments					276,229
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Red Desert Complex [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairments					264,400
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Red Desert Complex [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 3 inputs [Member] | Income Approach Valuation Technique [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated fair value	$ 23,200				23,200
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Other [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairments					$ 11,800

[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.