Property, Plant and Equipment - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairments	$ 514,096	$ 3,084	[1]	$ 1,267	[1]
Property, plant and equipment	5,904,637	5,626,650	[2]
Natural Gas Processing Plant [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment		4,600
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Unguaranteed residual value				$ 4,600
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Delaware Basin Midstream Complex [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Loss on property from damages	68,800
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Red Desert Complex [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairments	280,200
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 salvage value	6,300
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Hilight System [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairments	220,900
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Hilight System [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 3 Inputs [Member] | Income Approach Valuation Technique [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated fair value	28,800
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Other [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairments	13,000
Property, plant and equipment	$ 19,674	16,420
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Equipment [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 3 Inputs [Member] | Income Approach Valuation Technique [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated salvage value		$ 2,400

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

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