CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS' CAPITAL - USD ($) $ in Millions	Common Units Class A Shares	Noncontrolling Interests	Total
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 1,035	$ 7,244	$ 8,279
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital
Net income	45	913	958
Distributions	(65)	(959)	(1,024)
Deferred tax asset	23		23
Change in ownership interest in connection with Exchange Right exercises (Note 7)	(1)	1
Issuance of common units by subsidiaries		655	655
Issuance of PAA common units under LTIP		1	1
Settlement of employee income tax withholding obligations under LTIP		(19)	(19)
Equity-indexed compensation expense	1	30	31
Distribution equivalent right payments		(5)	(5)
Other comprehensive loss	(1)	(210)	(211)
Other		(1)	(1)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2014	1,037	7,650	8,687
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2014	1,657	7,724	9,381
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital
Net income	93	500	593
Distributions	(143)	(1,086)	(1,229)
Deferred tax asset	198		198
Change in ownership interest in connection with Exchange Right exercises (Note 7)	(4)	4
Issuance of common units by subsidiaries		1,099	1,099
Settlement of employee income tax withholding obligations under LTIP		(13)	(13)
Equity-indexed compensation expense		20	20
Distribution equivalent right payments		(5)	(5)
Other comprehensive loss	(4)	(514)	(518)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2015	$ 1,797	$ 7,729	$ 9,526