Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities	$ 269,824	$ 80,130
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(269,631)	(270,954)
Purchase of compression assets	(159,210)
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	(107,364)	(111,808)
Proceeds from sale of assets	1,163	26,134
Net cash used in investing activities	(535,042)	(356,628)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt borrowings	692,371	715,900
Payments on long-term debt borrowings	(1,035,871)	(438,900)
Proceeds from issuance of common units	7,548
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes	750,000
Distribution to unitholders	(122,134)	(84,073)
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interests	53,297	18,980
Payments on capital lease obligations	(1,005)
Debt issuance costs	(8,009)
Other	1,302	(91)
Intercompany advances, net
Net cash provided by financing activities	337,499	211,816
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	72,281	(64,682)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	17,229	64,994
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	89,510	312
Eliminations
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment
Purchase of compression assets
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates
Proceeds from sale of assets
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt borrowings
Payments on long-term debt borrowings
Proceeds from issuance of common units
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes
Distribution to unitholders
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interests
Payments on capital lease obligations
Debt issuance costs
Other
Intercompany advances, net
Net cash provided by financing activities
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
Parent | Reportable Legal Entities
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment
Purchase of compression assets
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates
Proceeds from sale of assets
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt borrowings
Payments on long-term debt borrowings
Proceeds from issuance of common units	7,548
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes	750,000
Distribution to unitholders	(122,134)	(84,073)
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interests
Payments on capital lease obligations
Debt issuance costs	(8,009)
Other	1,302	(91)
Intercompany advances, net	(628,707)	84,164
Net cash provided by financing activities
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Cash flows from operating activities	253,594	70,655
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(145,859)	(194,131)
Purchase of compression assets	(159,210)
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	(107,364)	(111,808)
Proceeds from sale of assets	1,163	26,134
Net cash used in investing activities	(411,270)	(279,805)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt borrowings	692,371	715,900
Payments on long-term debt borrowings	(1,035,871)	(438,900)
Proceeds from issuance of common units
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes
Distribution to unitholders
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interests
Payments on capital lease obligations	(1,005)
Debt issuance costs
Other
Intercompany advances, net	541,583	(131,066)
Net cash provided by financing activities	197,078	145,934
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	39,402	(63,216)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	400	63,216
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	39,802
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Cash flows from operating activities	16,230	9,475
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(123,772)	(76,823)
Purchase of compression assets
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates
Proceeds from sale of assets
Net cash used in investing activities	(123,772)	(76,823)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt borrowings
Payments on long-term debt borrowings
Proceeds from issuance of common units
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes
Distribution to unitholders
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interests	53,297	18,980
Payments on capital lease obligations
Debt issuance costs
Other
Intercompany advances, net	87,124	46,902
Net cash provided by financing activities	140,421	65,882
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	32,879	(1,466)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	16,829	1,778
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 49,708	$ 312