CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenue:
Product sales	$ 2,028,323	$ 5,348,532	$ 3,966,247
Transportation, storage and other services	1,425,111	1,271,715	1,087,854
Total revenue	3,453,434	6,620,247	5,054,101
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product sales	1,965,844	5,311,552	3,944,448
Operating expenses	573,368	537,705	413,577
Depreciation and amortization	221,278	196,443	147,591
General and administrative	88,828	79,200	70,444
Total costs and expenses	2,849,318	6,124,900	4,576,060
Operating income	604,116	495,347	478,041
Other income (expense):
Earnings from equity investments	6,381	11,265	5,243
Interest and debt expense	(171,330)	(171,235)	(130,920)
Other income (expense)	98	(428)	295
Total other expense, net	(164,851)	(160,398)	(125,382)
Income from continuing operations before taxes	439,265	334,949	352,659
Income tax expense	(874)	(451)	(1,060)
Income from continuing operations	438,391	334,498	351,599
Loss from discontinued operations (Note 4)	(857)	(59,641)	(187,174)
Net income	437,534	274,857	164,425
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(311)	(1,903)	(4,152)
Net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.	$ 437,223	$ 272,954	$ 160,273
Basic earnings (loss) per unit attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.:
Continuing operations (in dollars per unit)	$ 3.42	$ 2.79	$ 3.25
Discontinued operations (in dollars per unit)	(0.01)	(0.50)	(1.75)
Total (in dollars per unit)	3.41	2.29	1.50
Diluted earnings (loss) per unit attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.:
Continuing operations (in dollars per unit)	3.41	2.78	3.23
Discontinued operations (in dollars per unit)	(0.01)	(0.50)	(1.74)
Total (in dollars per unit)	$ 3.40	$ 2.28	$ 1.49
Weighted average units outstanding:
Basic - (in units)	128,084	119,323	107,202
Diluted (in units)	128,617	119,899	107,677