Description of Business and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) Mcf / d shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	[2]	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)		May 31, 2008 USD ($)
Note receivable - Anadarko	$ 260,000,000			$ 260,000,000	[1]
Proceeds from property insurance claims	18,398,000	$ 0
Other assets	(14,778,000)			(13,001,000)	[1]
Long-term debt	$ (2,935,395,000)			(2,690,651,000)	[1]
New Accounting Standard Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member]
Other assets				16,700,000
Long-term debt				16,700,000
Chipeta Processing Limited Liability Company [Member]
Ownership interest by noncontrolling interest owner	25.00%
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Delaware Basin Midstream Complex [Member]
Property insurance claim receivable	$ 28,800,000			$ 49,000,000
Proceeds from insurance claims, total	34,700,000
Proceeds from business interruption insurance claims	16,270,000
Proceeds from property insurance claims	$ 18,398,000
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Delaware Basin Midstream Complex [Member] | Train II [Member]
Plant capacity | Mcf / d	100,000
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Delaware Basin Midstream Complex [Member] | Train III [Member]
Plant capacity | Mcf / d	200,000
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Other Subsidiaries Of Anadarko [Member]
Common units issued | shares	2,011,380
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Affiliates [Member]
Note receivable - Anadarko	$ 260,000,000					$ 260,000,000
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | General Partner [Member]
Percentage ownership interest	100.00%

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

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