Consolidated Statements of Equity and Partners' Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total		Western Gas Partners, LP [Member]	Chipeta [Member]	Net Investment by Anadarko [Member]	Common Units [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Western Gas Partners, LP [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Chipeta [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014		$ 4,567,946				$ 556,596	$ 1,260,195	$ 2,751,155
Net income (loss)		11,098				79,386	86,121	(154,409)
Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko	[1]	18,449					18,449
WES equity transactions, net	[2]	57,353					(19,687)	77,040
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners				$ (233,178)	$ (12,187)				$ (233,178)	$ (12,187)
Distributions to WGP unitholders		(306,477)					(306,477)
Acquisitions from affiliates		(174,276)				(197,562)	23,286
Contributions of equity-based compensation to WES by Anadarko		3,471					3,471
Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko		(49,801)				(49,801)
Net contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko of other assets		(4,632)	[3]				(4,632)
Other		488				135	116	237
Elimination of net deferred tax liabilities		41,844				41,844
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015		3,920,098				430,598	1,060,842	2,428,658
Net income (loss)		596,980				11,326	334,446	251,208
Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko	[1]	45,820					45,820
WES equity transactions, net	[2]	0					(4,180)	4,180
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners				(294,841)	(13,784)				(294,841)	(13,784)
Distributions to WGP unitholders		(374,082)					(374,082)
Acquisitions from affiliates		(712,500)				(553,833)	(158,667)
Revision to Deferred purchase price obligation – Anadarko	[4]	139,487					139,487
Contributions of equity-based compensation to WES by Anadarko		4,170					4,170
Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko		(23,491)				(23,491)
Net contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko of other assets		(581)	[3]				(581)
Other		1,153					888	265
Elimination of net deferred tax liabilities		135,400				135,400
WES issuance of Series A Preferred units, net of offering expenses		686,937						686,937
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016		4,110,766				0	1,048,143	3,062,623
Net income (loss)		573,202				0	376,607	196,595
Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko	[1]	58,551					58,551
WES equity transactions, net	[2]	(183)					6,615	(6,798)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners				$ (355,623)	$ (13,569)				$ (355,623)	$ (13,569)
Distributions to WGP unitholders		(441,967)					(441,967)
Acquisitions from affiliates		0				(1,263)	1,263
Revision to Deferred purchase price obligation – Anadarko	[4]	4,165					4,165
Contributions of equity-based compensation to WES by Anadarko		4,587					4,587
Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko		1,263				1,263
Net contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko of other assets		3,189	[3]				3,189
Other		498					(28)	526
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017		$ 3,944,879				$ 0	$ 1,061,125	$ 2,883,754

[1] See Note 5.

[2] Includes the impact of WES’s (as defined in Note 1) equity offerings as described in Note 4. The $6.6 million, $(4.2) million and $(19.7) million increase (decrease) to partners’ capital, together with net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Equity Partners, LP, totaled $383.2 million, $341.6 million and $145.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

[3] Includes $(1.4) million related to pipe and equipment purchases and $(1.8) million related to other assets for the year ended December 31, 2017. See Note 5.

[4] See Note 2.