Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - WES Operating - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)		$ 943,999	$ 516,852	$ 807,700
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		551,629	491,086	483,255
Long-lived asset and other impairments		30,543	203,889	6,279
Goodwill impairment		0	441,017	0
Non-cash equity-based compensation expense		27,676	22,462	15,494
Deferred income taxes		(9,770)	3,296	7,609
Accretion and amortization of long-term obligations, net		7,635	8,654	8,441
Equity income, net – related parties		(204,645)	(226,750)	(237,518)
Distributions from equity-investment earnings – related parties		213,516	246,637	234,572
(Gain) loss on divestiture and other, net		(44)	(8,634)	1,406
(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt		24,944	(11,234)	0
(Gain) loss on interest-rate swaps		0	0	125,334
Cash paid to settle interest-rate swaps		0	(25,621)	(107,685)
Other		260	193	236
Changes in assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net		16,366	(193,688)	(45,033)
Increase (decrease) in accounts and imbalance payables and accrued liabilities, net		114,887	144,437	(30,866)
Change in other items, net		49,856	24,822	54,876
Net cash provided by operating activities		1,766,852	1,637,418	1,324,100
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	[1]	(313,674)	(423,602)	(1,189,254)
Contributions to equity investments – related parties		(4,435)	(19,388)	(128,393)
Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – related parties		41,385	32,160	30,256
Proceeds from the sale of assets to third parties		8,102	20,333	342
(Increase) decrease in materials and supplies inventory and other		11,084	(57,757)	0
Net cash used in investing activities		(257,538)	(448,254)	(3,387,853)
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowings, net of debt issuance costs		480,000	3,681,173	4,169,695
Repayments of debt		(1,432,966)	(3,803,888)	(1,467,595)
Increase (decrease) in outstanding checks		(21,631)	20,699	1,571
Distributions to WES Operating unitholders	[2]	(533,758)	(695,834)	(969,073)
Net contributions from (distributions to) related parties		8,533	24,466	458,819
Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko	[2]	0	0	7,407
Finance lease payments	[3]	(6,513)	(14,207)	(508)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(1,752,237)	(844,204)	2,071,573
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(242,923)	344,960	7,820
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		444,922	99,962	92,142
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		201,999	444,922	99,962
Supplemental disclosures
Non-cash unit exchange with Occidental	[2]	0	(261,878)	0
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest		375,007	349,913	293,795
Income taxes paid (reimbursements received)		938	(384)	96
Accrued capital expenditures		35,240	25,126	140,954
Chipeta [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities
Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner		(9,117)	(8,644)	(9,663)
Related Parties [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
(Gain) loss on divestiture and other, net		(420)	2,870	0
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures		(2,000)	0	(425)
Acquisitions		0	0	(2,007,501)
Cash flows from financing activities
Distributions to WES Operating unitholders		(260,703)	(367,861)	(566,868)
Finance lease payments		0	(6,382)	(508)
Third Parties [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisitions		0	0	(93,303)
WES Operating [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)		946,929	520,387	814,685
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		551,629	491,086	483,255
Long-lived asset and other impairments		30,543	203,889	6,279
Goodwill impairment		0	441,017	0
Non-cash equity-based compensation expense		34,588	14,604	14,235
Deferred income taxes		(9,770)	3,296	7,609
Accretion and amortization of long-term obligations, net		7,635	8,654	8,421
Equity income, net – related parties		(204,645)	(226,750)	(237,518)
Distributions from equity-investment earnings – related parties		213,516	246,637	234,572
(Gain) loss on divestiture and other, net		(44)	(8,634)	1,406
(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt		24,944	(11,234)	0
(Gain) loss on interest-rate swaps		0	0	125,334
Cash paid to settle interest-rate swaps		0	(25,621)	(107,685)
Other		260	193	236
Changes in assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net		(28,965)	(147,041)	(44,939)
Increase (decrease) in accounts and imbalance payables and accrued liabilities, net		150,055	105,352	(29,745)
Change in other items, net		48,704	24,816	56,044
Net cash provided by operating activities		1,765,379	1,640,651	1,332,189
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	[4]	(313,674)	(423,602)	(1,189,254)
Contributions to equity investments – related parties		(4,435)	(19,388)	(128,393)
Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – related parties		41,385	32,160	30,256
Proceeds from the sale of assets to third parties		8,102	20,333	342
(Increase) decrease in materials and supplies inventory and other		11,084	(57,757)	0
Net cash used in investing activities		(257,538)	(448,254)	(3,387,853)
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowings, net of debt issuance costs		480,000	3,681,173	4,169,695
Repayments of debt		(1,432,966)	(3,803,888)	(1,439,595)
Increase (decrease) in outstanding checks		(21,699)	20,664	1,571
Distributions to WES Operating unitholders	[5]	(749,018)	(771,546)	(1,124,388)
Net contributions from (distributions to) related parties		8,533	24,466	458,819
Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko	[5]	0	0	7,407
Finance lease payments	[6]	(6,513)	(14,207)	(508)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(1,730,780)	(871,982)	2,063,338
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(222,939)	320,415	7,674
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		418,537	98,122	90,448
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		195,598	418,537	98,122
Supplemental disclosures
Non-cash unit exchange with Occidental	[5]	0	(261,878)	0
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest		375,007	349,913	293,561
Income taxes paid (reimbursements received)		938	(384)	96
Accrued capital expenditures		35,240	25,126	140,954
WES Operating [Member] | Chipeta [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities
Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner		(9,117)	(8,644)	(9,663)
WES Operating [Member] | Related Parties [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures		(2,000)		(400)
Acquisitions		0	0	(2,007,501)
Cash flows from financing activities
Distributions to WES Operating unitholders		(749,018)	(771,546)	(1,025,931)
Finance lease payments			(6,400)
WES Operating [Member] | Third Parties [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisitions		$ 0	$ 0	$ (93,303)

[1] Includes purchases from related parties of $2.0 million and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2019, respectively. See Note 6.

[2] See Note 6.

[3] For the year ended December 31, 2020, includes related-party payments of $6.4 million.

[4] Includes purchases from related parties of $2.0 million and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2019, respectively. See Note 6.

[5] See Note 6.

[6] For the year ended December 31, 2020, includes related-party payments of $6.4 million.