Debt and Interest Expense - Debt Outstanding Table (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term debt, principal	$ 1,009,044	$ 621,321
Total short-term debt, carrying value	1,008,018	617,748
Total long-term debt, carrying value	6,929,212	7,283,556
Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term debt, fair value	1,001,570	617,748
Long-Term Debt Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt, principal	7,004,232	7,356,091
Total long-term debt, carrying value	6,929,212	7,283,556
Long-Term Debt Obligations [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	6,834,225	7,011,688
WES Operating [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term debt, carrying value	1,008,018	617,748
Total long-term debt, carrying value	6,929,212	7,283,556
WES Operating [Member] \| Finance Lease Liability, Short Term [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Finance leases - short-term debt	8,455	7,436
WES Operating [Member] \| Finance Lease Liability, Short Term [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Finance leases - short-term debt	8,455	7,436
WES Operating [Member] \| Finance Lease Liability, Long Term [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Finance leases - long-term debt	27,398	28,668
WES Operating [Member] \| Finance Lease Liability, Long Term [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Finance leases - long-term debt	27,398	28,668
WES Operating [Member] \| Commercial Paper Program \| Commercial Paper Program
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal	0	613,885
Commercial paper, carrying value	0	610,312
WES Operating [Member] \| Commercial Paper Program \| Commercial Paper Program \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term debt, fair value	$ 0	610,312
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 3.100% Senior Notes due 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior note, interest rate	3.10%
Principal	$ 663,831	666,481
Short-term debt, carrying value	663,418
Long-term debt, carrying value		665,145
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 3.100% Senior Notes due 2025 [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term debt, fair value	$ 658,879
Long-term debt, fair value		650,765
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 3.950% Senior Notes due 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior note, interest rate	3.95%
Principal	$ 336,758	349,163
Short-term debt, carrying value	336,145
Long-term debt, carrying value		347,938
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 3.950% Senior Notes due 2025 [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term debt, fair value	$ 334,236
Long-term debt, fair value		341,415
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 4.650% Senior Notes due 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior note, interest rate	4.65%
Principal	$ 440,505	467,204
Long-term debt, carrying value	439,499	465,705
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 4.650% Senior Notes due 2026 [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	$ 440,646	459,617
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 4.500% Senior Notes due 2028 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior note, interest rate	4.50%
Principal	$ 342,935	357,094
Long-term debt, carrying value	340,991	354,665
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 4.500% Senior Notes due 2028 [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	$ 339,955	346,121
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 4.750% Senior Notes due 2028 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior note, interest rate	4.75%
Principal	$ 336,260	382,888
Long-term debt, carrying value	334,658	380,747
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 4.750% Senior Notes due 2028 [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	$ 336,179	374,767
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 6.350% Senior Notes due 2029 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior note, interest rate	6.35%
Principal	$ 600,000	600,000
Long-term debt, carrying value	593,964	593,069
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 6.350% Senior Notes due 2029 [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	$ 637,500	626,994
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 4.050% Senior Notes due 2030 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior note, interest rate	4.05%
Principal	$ 1,057,134	1,104,593
Long-term debt, carrying value	1,051,190	1,097,609
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 4.050% Senior Notes due 2030 [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	$ 1,018,157	1,036,097
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 6.150% Senior Notes due 2033 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior note, interest rate	6.15%
Principal	$ 750,000	750,000
Long-term debt, carrying value	741,668	741,125
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 6.150% Senior Notes due 2033 [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	$ 793,103	780,203
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 5.450% Senior Notes due 2034 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior note, interest rate	5.45%
Principal	$ 800,000
Long-term debt, carrying value	790,331
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 5.450% Senior Notes due 2034 [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	$ 802,608
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 5.450% Senior Notes due 2044 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior note, interest rate	5.45%
Principal	$ 600,000	600,000
Long-term debt, carrying value	594,151	594,031
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 5.450% Senior Notes due 2044 [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	$ 568,686	545,154
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 5.300% Senior Notes due 2048 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior note, interest rate	5.30%
Principal	$ 700,000	700,000
Long-term debt, carrying value	687,925	687,735
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 5.300% Senior Notes due 2048 [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	$ 636,440	614,082
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 5.500% Senior Notes due 2048 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior note, interest rate	5.50%
Principal	$ 350,000	350,000
Long-term debt, carrying value	343,016	342,913
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 5.500% Senior Notes due 2048 [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	$ 325,073	312,365
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 5.250% Senior Notes due 2050 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior note, interest rate	5.25%
Principal	$ 1,000,000	1,000,000
Long-term debt, carrying value	984,421	984,206
WES Operating [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 5.250% Senior Notes due 2050 [Member] \| Valuation, Market Approach [Member] \| Level-2 Inputs [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	$ 908,480	$ 895,440

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of short-term borrowings using unsecured obligations issued by banks, corporations and other borrowers to investors. The maturities of these money market securities generally do not exceed 270 days.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents the amount of short-term debt existing as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShorttermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of current portion of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wes_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmountCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	wes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis=us-gaap_MarketApproachValuationTechniqueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=wes_LongTermDebtObligationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=wes_WesternMidstreamOperatingLPMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wes_FinanceLeaseLiabilityShortTermMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wes_FinanceLeaseLiabilityLongTermMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wes_CommercialPaperProgram1Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wes_SeniorNotes3Point100PercentDue2025Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wes_SeniorNotes3Point950PercentDue2025Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wes_SeniorNotes4Point650PercentDue2026Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wes_SeniorNotes4Point500PercentDue2028Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wes_SeniorNotes4Point750PercentDue2028Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wes_SeniorNotes6Point35PercentDue2029Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wes_SeniorNotes4Point50PercentDue2030Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wes_SeniorNotes6Point15PercentDue2033Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wes_SeniorNotes5Point450PercentDue2034Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wes_SeniorNotes5Point450PercentDue2044Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wes_SeniorNotes5Point300PercentDue2048Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wes_SeniorNotes5Point500PercentDue2048Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wes_SeniorNotes5Point250PercentDue2050Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: