CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenue:
Revenue from contracts with customers	$ 3,367,487	$ 2,956,727	$ 2,601,447
Total revenue	4,108,275	3,648,145	3,248,376
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product sales	2,521,864	1,969,182	1,549,522
Operating expenses	639,769	638,103	626,582
Depreciation and amortization	269,423	269,243	254,659
General and administrative	82,393	90,975	86,098
Goodwill impairment	536,964	0	0
Gain on sale of DPTS Asset Package	(342,984)	0	0
Other, net	(16,185)	(4,722)	(5,187)
Total costs and expenses	3,691,244	2,962,781	2,511,674
Operating income	417,031	685,364	736,702
Other (expense) income:
(Loss) earnings from equity investments	(274,123)	36,005	11,536
Interest and debt expense	(190,172)	(225,583)	(194,922)
Other expense	(911)	(1,249)	(3,181)
Total other expense, net	(465,206)	(190,827)	(186,567)
(Loss) income before taxes	(48,175)	494,537	550,135
Income tax expense	(3,740)	(872)	(1,460)
Net (loss) income	(51,915)	493,665	548,675
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,123)	(14,863)	(13,067)
Net (loss) income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.	$ (59,038)	$ 478,802	$ 535,608
(Loss) earnings per unit attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.:
Basic (in dollars per unit)	$ (0.41)	$ 3.33	$ 4.05
Diluted (in dollars per unit)	$ (0.41)	$ 3.32	$ 4.03
Weighted average units outstanding:
Basic - (in units)	152,355	142,501	132,242
Diluted (in units)	152,355	143,144	132,927
Product sales
Revenue:
Revenue from contracts with customers	$ 2,567,415	$ 2,014,980	$ 1,594,240
Transportation, storage and other services
Revenue:
Revenue from contracts with customers	$ 1,540,860	$ 1,633,165	$ 1,654,136