2.2.0.7 false Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $) 0110 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) true false In Thousands, except Per Share data false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 EPU Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 units Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 2 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 EPU Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 units Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 3 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 EPU Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 units Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 4 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 EPU Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 units Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 3 Revenues: 1 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false 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 4 Product sales 2 bpl_ProductSales bpl false credit duration Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of refined products in the normal course of business, primarily from... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 true true false false 564044000 564044 false false false 2 true true false false 258188000 258188 false false false 3 true true false false 1633958000 1633958 false false false 4 true true false false 728744000 728744 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of refined products in the normal course of business, primarily from marketing activities. 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 170813000 170813 false false false 2 false true false false 165256000 165256 false false false 3 false true false false 499349000 499349 false false false 4 false true false false 462760000 462760 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 734857000 734857 false false false 2 false true false false 423444000 423444 false false false 3 false true false false 2133307000 2133307 false false false 4 false true false false 1191504000 1191504 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 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 No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 560248000 560248 false false false 2 false true false false 258507000 258507 false false false 3 false true false false 1628630000 1628630 false false false 4 false true false false 702623000 702623 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 9 Operating expenses 2 us-gaap_OperatingExpenses 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 67287000 67287 false false false 2 false true false false 65537000 65537 false false false 3 false true false false 200556000 200556 false false false 4 false true false false 207639000 207639 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Generally recurring costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales or services. Includes selling, general and administrative expense. 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 false 1 false true false false 16177000 16177 false false false 2 false true false false 14253000 14253 false false false 3 false true false false 47607000 47607 false false false 4 false true false false 43408000 43408 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. 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 AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 12 -Paragraph 5 false 11 Asset impairment expense 2 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false 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 true false false 72540000 72540 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The charge against earnings resulting from the aggregate write down of all assets from their carrying value to their fair value. 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 9549000 9549 false false false 2 false true false false 8186000 8186 false false false 3 false true false false 30059000 30059 false false false 4 false true false false 24625000 24625 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 false false false 0 0     false false false 2 false true false false 996000 996 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0     false false false 4 false true false false 29109000 29109 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 653261000 653261 false false false 2 false true false false 347479000 347479 false false false 3 false true false false 1906852000 1906852 false false false 4 false true false false 1079944000 1079944 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Total costs of sales and operating expenses for the period. No authoritative reference available. true 15 Operating income 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 81596000 81596 false false false 2 false true false false 75965000 75965 false false false 3 false true false false 226455000 226455 false false false 4 false true false false 111560000 111560 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 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 3391000 3391 false false false 2 false true false false 3807000 3807 false false false 3 false true false false 8807000 8807 false false false 4 false true false false 9031000 9031 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. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 19 -Subparagraph c Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 11 -Article 7 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 28 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 9 -Article 5 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph b false 18 Interest and debt expense 2 us-gaap_InterestAndDebtExpense us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false true negated false 1 false true false false -22014000 -22014 false false false 2 false true false false -20543000 -20543 false false false 3 false true false false -64825000 -64825 false false false 4 false true false false -53780000 -53780 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Interest and debt related expenses associated with nonoperating financing activities of the entity. 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 140000 140 false false false 2 false true false false 364000 364 false false false 3 false true false false 379000 379 false false false 4 false true false false 631000 631 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. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG) -Number AAG-BRD -Chapter 4 -Paragraph 80 -Subparagraph Exhibit 4-4 -IssueDate 2006-05-01 true 20 Total other expense 2 us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense 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 -18483000 -18483 false false false 2 false true false false -16372000 -16372 false false false 3 false true false false -55639000 -55639 false false false 4 false true false false -44118000 -44118 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The aggregate amount of income (expense) from ancillary business-related activities (that is to say, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business). 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 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 63113000 63113 false false false 2 false true false false 59593000 59593 false false false 3 false true false false 170816000 170816 false false false 4 false true false false 67442000 67442 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 -1950000 -1950 false false false 2 false true false false -1704000 -1704 false false false 3 false true false false -5533000 -5533 false false false 4 false true false false -4164000 -4164 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 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 61163000 61163 false false false 2 false true false false 57889000 57889 false false false 3 false true false false 165283000 165283 false false false 4 false true false false 63278000 63278 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 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 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 13113000 13113 false false false 2 false true false false 12242000 12242 false false false 3 false true false false 38405000 38405 false false false 4 false true false false 35363000 35363 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 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 48050000 48050 false false false 2 true true false false 45647000 45647 false false false 3 true true false false 126878000 126878 false false false 4 true true false false 27915000 27915 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 Per Limited Partner Unit [Abstract] 1 us-gaap_EarningsPerUnitAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false 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 0.93 0.93 false false false 2 true true false false 0.89 0.89 false false false 3 true true false false 2.45 2.45 false false false 4 true true false false 0.55 0.55 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 0.93 0.93 false false false 2 true true false false 0.89 0.89 false false false 3 true true false false 2.45 2.45 false false false 4 true true false false 0.55 0.55 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 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 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 51541000 51541 false false false 2 false true false false 51374000 51374 false false false 3 false true false false 51508000 51508 false false false 4 false true false false 50351000 50351 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 51541000 51541 false false false 2 false true false false 51538000 51538 false false false 3 false true false false 51508000 51508 false false false 4 false true false false 50516000 50516 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. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 4 -Section F true 4 30 false Thousands Thousands NoRounding false true