PARTNERS' CAPITAL - Partners' Capital and Schedule of Units (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 shares
Series A Preferred Units
Rollforwards of the number of partner units
Units, beginning balance (in shares)	300,000
Units, ending balance (in shares)	300,000
Net units issued under the SMLP LTIP (in shares)	0
Common
Rollforwards of the number of partner units
Units, beginning balance (in shares)	73,085,996
Units, ending balance (in shares)	73,355,775
Net units issued under the SMLP LTIP (in shares)	269,779
General Partner Units
Rollforwards of the number of partner units
Units, beginning balance (in shares)	1,490,999
Units, ending balance (in shares)	1,490,999
Net units issued under the SMLP LTIP (in shares)	0