Consolidated Statements of Equity and Partners' Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total	Chipeta [Member]	WES Operating [Member]	Net Investment by Anadarko [Member]	Common Units [Member]	General Partner [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Chipeta [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] WES Operating [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 4,892,683			$ 1,388,018	$ 951,888		$ 2,552,777
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		211,979			29,116	89,544		93,319
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners			$ (1,935)	$ (100,999)					$ (1,935)	$ (100,999)
Distributions to Partnership unitholders		(131,910)				(131,910)
Acquisitions from related parties	[1]	(2,007,501)			(2,141,827)	106,856		27,470
Contributions of equity-based compensation from Anadarko/Occidental		1,840				1,840
Net preacquisition contributions from (distributions to) related parties		451,591			451,591
Cumulative impact of the Merger transactions	[2]	0				3,169,800		(3,169,800)
Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko	[3]	7,407				7,407
WES Operating equity transactions, net	[4]	0				(752,796)		752,796
Adjustments of net deferred tax liabilities		268,727			273,102	(4,375)
Other		(341)				(332)		(9)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019		3,591,541			$ 0	3,437,922		153,619
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019		3,345,293				3,209,947	$ (14,224)	149,570
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		(289,400)				(251,396)	(5,131)	(32,873)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners			$ (1,738)	$ (5,807)					$ (1,738)	$ (5,807)
Distributions to Partnership unitholders		(281,786)				(276,151)	(5,635)
Acquisitions from related parties		0				(3,987)		3,987
Contributions of equity-based compensation from Anadarko/Occidental		4,105				4,105
Equity-based compensation expense		1,129				1,129
Net contributions from (distributions to) related parties	[5]	20,489				489		20,000
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020		$ 2,792,285				$ 2,684,136	$ (24,990)	$ 133,139

[1] The amounts allocated to common unitholders and noncontrolling interests represent a non-cash investing activity related to the assets and liabilities assumed in the AMA acquisition.

[2] See Note 1.

[3] See Note 6.

[4] For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the $752.8 million decrease to partners’ capital, together with net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP, totaled $(634.1) million.

[5] See December 2019 Agreements—Services, Secondment, and Employee Transfer Agreement within Note 1.