Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2017		Jun. 30, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)		$ 277,014		$ 283,536
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		143,733		132,400
Impairments		167,920		8,921
Non-cash equity-based compensation expense		2,502		2,518
Deferred income taxes		3,767		1,980
Accretion and amortization of long-term obligations, net		2,476		(8,870)
Equity income, net – affiliates	[1]	(41,189)		(36,507)
Distributions from equity investment earnings – affiliates		42,202		38,519
(Gain) loss on divestiture and other, net		(134,945)		2,539
Lower of cost or market inventory adjustments		140		0
Changes in assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net		9,194		(33,180)
Increase (decrease) in accounts and imbalance payables and accrued liabilities, net		(41,917)		(2,163)
Change in other items, net		461		2,122
Net cash provided by operating activities		431,358		391,815
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures		(260,480)		(255,923)
Investments in equity affiliates		(287)		139
Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – affiliates		9,221	[2]	10,611
Proceeds from property insurance claims		22,977		2,944
Net cash used in investing activities		(363,131)		(952,824)
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowings, net of debt issuance costs		159,989		556,017
Repayments of debt		0		(290,000)
Increase (decrease) in outstanding checks		(2,763)		(1,314)
Distributions to WGP unitholders	[3]	(208,803)		(181,156)
Net contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko		30		(27,459)
Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko	[3]	28,670		16,365
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(238,470)		620,986
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(170,243)		59,977
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		359,072		99,694
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		188,829		159,671
Supplemental disclosures
Accretion expense and revisions to the Deferred purchase price obligation – Anadarko	[4]	(4,094)		(159,524)
Net distributions to (contributions from) Anadarko of other assets		(376)		354
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest		69,143		54,433
Taxes paid (reimbursements received)		189		67
Accrued capital expenditures		100,038		70,725
Fair value of properties and equipment from non-cash third party transactions	[4]	551,453		0
Chipeta Processing LLC [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities
Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner		(6,375)		(7,460)
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from the issuance of WES common units, net of offering expenses		(183)		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners of WES		(171,689)		(130,947)
Western Gas Partners, LP [Member] | Series A Preferred Units [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from the issuance of WES Series A Preferred units, net of offering expenses		0		686,940
Affiliates [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities
Contributions in aid of construction costs from affiliates		1,343		3,854
Acquisitions		(3,910)		(715,199)
Proceeds from the sale of assets		0		613
Cash flows from financing activities
Settlement of the Deferred purchase price obligation - Anadarko	[4]	(37,346)		0
Distributions to WGP unitholders	[5]	(170,328)		(158,125)
Affiliates [Member] | Western Gas Partners, LP [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities
Distributions to WGP unitholders	[6]	(3,490)		(2,245)
Third Parties [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisitions		(155,287)		0
Proceeds from the sale of assets		$ 23,292		$ 137

[1] Represents amounts earned or incurred on and subsequent to the date of the acquisition of WES assets, as well as amounts earned or incurred by Anadarko on a historical basis related to WES assets prior to the acquisition of such assets by WES, recognized under gathering, treating or processing agreements, and purchase and sale agreements.

[2] Distributions in excess of cumulative earnings, classified as investing cash flows in the consolidated statements of cash flows, is calculated on an individual investment basis.

[3] See Note 5.

[4] See Note 2.

[5] Represents distributions paid under WGP’s partnership agreement (see Note 3 and Note 4).

[6] Represents distributions paid to other subsidiaries of Anadarko under WES’s partnership agreement (see Note 3 and Note 4).