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No authoritative reference available. false 5 Transportation and other services 2 bpl_TransportationAndOtherServices bpl false credit duration Aggregate revenue during the period from the transportation, storage and terminalling of refined products and natural gas and... false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 165532000 165532 false false false 2 false true false false 149443000 149443 false false false 3 false true false false 328536000 328536 false false false 4 false true false false 297504000 297504 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Aggregate revenue during the period from the transportation, storage and terminalling of refined products and natural gas and the operation and maintenance of pipelines in the normal course of business. No authoritative reference available. true 6 Total revenue 2 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 667276000 667276 false false false 2 false true false false 351220000 351220 false false false 3 false true false false 1398450000 1398450 false false false 4 false true false false 768060000 768060 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 true 7 Costs and expenses: 1 us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 8 Cost of product sales and natural gas storage services 2 bpl_CostOfProdSalesAndNatGasStorageServices bpl false debit duration The aggregate costs related to the purchases of refined products and natural gas storage services during the period,... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 498645000 498645 false false false 2 false true false false 193440000 193440 false false false 3 false true false false 1068382000 1068382 false false false 4 false true false false 444116000 444116 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The aggregate costs related to the purchases of refined products and natural gas storage services during the period, primarily from marketing activities and other costs incurred during the reporting period related to other revenue generating activities. No authoritative reference available. false 9 Operating expenses 2 bpl_OperatingExpense bpl false debit duration Costs incurred and are directly related to operating cost and expense items that are associated with the entity's normal... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 67560000 67560 false false false 2 false true false false 68595000 68595 false false false 3 false true false false 133269000 133269 false false false 4 false true false false 142102000 142102 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Costs incurred and are directly related to operating cost and expense items that are associated with the entity's normal revenue producing operation. No authoritative reference available. false 10 Depreciation and amortization 2 us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 15786000 15786 false false false 2 false true false false 14675000 14675 false false false 3 false true false false 31430000 31430 false false false 4 false true false false 29155000 29155 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production. 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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 28 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 45, 46, 47 false 12 General and administrative 2 us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 11446000 11446 false false false 2 false true false false 8365000 8365 false false false 3 false true false false 20510000 20510 false false false 4 false true false false 16439000 16439 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The aggregate total of expenses of managing and administering the affairs of an entity, including affiliates of the reporting entity, which are not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Reorganization expense 2 bpl_ReorganizationExpense bpl false debit duration Net amount of costs charged or credited to earnings associated with reorganization. Reorganization costs are related to... false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 0 0 false false false 2 false true false false 28113000 28113 false false false 3 false true false false 0 0 false false false 4 false true false false 28113000 28113 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Net amount of costs charged or credited to earnings associated with reorganization. Reorganization costs are related to severance costs and other charges related to changes within the company's organizational structure. No authoritative reference available. true 14 Total costs and expenses 2 us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 593437000 593437 false false false 2 false true false false 385728000 385728 false false false 3 false true false false 1253591000 1253591 false false false 4 false true false false 732465000 732465 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Total costs of sales and operating expenses for the period. No authoritative reference available. true 15 Operating income (loss) 1 us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 73839000 73839 false false false 2 false true false false -34508000 -34508 false false false 3 false true false false 144859000 144859 false false false 4 false true false false 35595000 35595 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues. No authoritative reference available. true 16 Other income (expense): 1 us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 17 Earnings from equity investments 2 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 2764000 2764 false false false 2 false true false false 3142000 3142 false false false 3 false true false false 5416000 5416 false false false 4 false true false false 5224000 5224 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. Such amount typically reflects adjustments similar to those made in preparing consolidated statements, including adjustments to eliminate intercompany gains and losses, and to amortize, if appropriate, any difference between cost and underlying equity in net assets of the investee at the date of investment. 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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 34 -Paragraph 21 false 19 Other income 2 us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncome us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 84000 84 false false false 2 false true false false 156000 156 false false false 3 false true false false 239000 239 false false false 4 false true false false 267000 267 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The aggregate amount of other income amounts resulting from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business) also known as other nonoperating income recognized for the period. Such amounts may include: (a) dividends, (b) interest on securities, (c) profits on securities (net of losses), and (d) miscellaneous other income items. 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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Article 5 true 21 Net income (loss) 1 us-gaap_ProfitLoss us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 55425000 55425 false false false 2 false true false false -47271000 -47271 false false false 3 false true false false 107703000 107703 false false false 4 false true false false 7849000 7849 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph A1, A4, A5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph b Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 29 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph a Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph c(1) false 22 Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 1 us-gaap_MinorityInterestInNetIncomeLossLimitedPartnerships us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false true negatedtotal false 1 false true false false -1818000 -1818 false false false 2 false true false false -1100000 -1100 false false false 3 false true false false -3583000 -3583 false false false 4 false true false false -2460000 -2460 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Amount of net income (loss) for the period allocated to noncontrolling partners of a limited partnership included in the entity's consolidated financial statements. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph a Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph c(1) Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 04-5 -Paragraph 5, 6 true 23 Net income (loss) attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P. 1 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 53607000 53607 false false false 2 false true false false -48371000 -48371 false false false 3 false true false false 104120000 104120 false false false 4 false true false false 5389000 5389 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The portion of consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. If the entity does not present consolidated financial statements, the amount of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 19 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph d Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph A7 -Appendix A Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph a Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 20 -Article 9 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 130 -Paragraph 10, 15 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 87-21 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 28, 29, 30 true 24 Allocation of net income (loss) attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.: 1 us-gaap_PartnershipIncomeAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 25 Net income allocated to general partner 2 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAllocatedToGeneralPartners us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 12797000 12797 false false false 2 false true false false 11455000 11455 false false false 3 false true false false 25292000 25292 false false false 4 false true false false 23121000 23121 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Aggregate amount of net income allocated to general partners in a publicly trade limited partnership or master limited partnership (MLP). General partners have unlimited liability and manage the partnership. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 4 -Section F true 26 Net income (loss) allocated to limited partners 2 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAllocatedToLimitedPartners us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 true true false false 40810000 40810 false false false 2 true true false false -59826000 -59826 false false false 3 true true false false 78828000 78828 false false false 4 true true false false -17732000 -17732 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Aggregate amount of net income allocated to general partners in a publicly trade limited partnership or master limited partnership (MLP). Limited partners have limited liability and do not manage the partnership. No authoritative reference available. true 27 Earnings (Loss) Per Limited Partner Unit: 1 us-gaap_EarningsPerUnitAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 28 Basic 2 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossPerOutstandingLimitedPartnershipUnit us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel true 1 true true false false 0.79 0.79 false false false 2 true true false false -1.17 -1.17 false false false 3 true true false false 1.52 1.52 false false false 4 true true false false -0.36 -0.36 false false false us-types:perUnitItemType decimal Net income (loss) allocated to each outstanding limited partnership unit in a publicly traded limited partnership or master limited partnership (MLP). Limited partners have limited liability and do not manage the partnership. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 4 -Section F true 29 Diluted 2 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossPerOutstandingLimitedPartnershipUnitDiluted us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel true 1 true true false false 0.78 0.78 false false false 2 true true false false -1.17 -1.17 false false false 3 true true false false 1.51 1.51 false false false 4 true true false false -0.36 -0.36 false false false us-types:perUnitItemType decimal Net income (loss) allocated to each limited partner unit outstanding during the reporting period and each unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of limited partner units for all dilutive potential units outstanding during the reporting period. Limited partners have limited liability and do not manage the partnership. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 4 -Section F true 30 Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding: 1 bpl_WeightedAverageNumberOfLimitedPartnerUnitsOutstandingAbstract bpl false na duration Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding abstract. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 false false false 4 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding abstract. false 31 Basic 2 us-gaap_WeightedAverageLimitedPartnershipUnitsOutstanding us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 51512000 51512 false false false 2 false true false false 51243000 51243 false false false 3 false true false false 51492000 51492 false false false 4 false true false false 49830000 49830 false false false xbrli:sharesItemType shares Weighted average number of limited partnership units outstanding determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that limited partnership units have been outstanding to the total time in that period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 4 -Section F true 32 Diluted 2 us-gaap_WeightedAverageLimitedPartnershipUnitsOutstandingDiluted us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 51712000 51712 false false false 2 false true false false 51243000 51243 false false false 3 false true false false 51673000 51673 false false false 4 false true false false 49830000 49830 false false false xbrli:sharesItemType shares Weighted average number of limited partnership units outstanding determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that limited partnership units have been outstanding to the total time in that period. Used in the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per limited partnership unit. 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