Partnership Distributions - Cash Distributions Tables (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Total quarterly distribution per unit	$ 0.44750	[1]	$ 0.43375	$ 0.42375	$ 0.40375	$ 0.38125	$ 0.36375	$ 0.34250
Total quarterly cash distribution	$ 97,968	[1]	$ 94,958	$ 92,767	$ 88,389	$ 83,461	$ 79,630	$ 74,977
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member]
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Total quarterly distribution per unit	$ 0.845	[2]	$ 0.830	$ 0.815	$ 0.800	$ 0.775	$ 0.750	$ 0.725
Total quarterly cash distribution	$ 166,742	[2]	$ 162,827	$ 158,905	$ 152,588	$ 146,160	$ 139,736	$ 133,203

[1] The Board of Directors of WGP GP declared a cash distribution to WGP unitholders for the third quarter of 2016 of $0.44750 per unit, or $98.0 million in aggregate. The cash distribution is payable on November 22, 2016, to WGP unitholders of record at the close of business on October 31, 2016.

[2] The Board of Directors of WES GP declared a cash distribution to WES unitholders for the third quarter of 2016 of $0.845 per unit, or $166.7 million in aggregate, including incentive distributions, but excluding distributions on WES Class C units (see WES Class C unit distributions below) and WES Series A Preferred units (see WES Series A Preferred unit distributions below). The cash distribution is payable on November 10, 2016, to WES unitholders of record at the close of business on October 31, 2016.