CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenue:
Product sales	$ 3,966,247	$ 3,332,301	$ 3,844,888
Transportation, storage and other services	1,087,854	953,602	848,732
Total revenue	5,054,101	4,285,903	4,693,620
Costs and expenses:
Cost of product sales	3,944,448	3,304,326	3,815,460
Operating expenses	413,577	372,993	340,989
Depreciation and amortization	147,591	138,857	112,398
General and administrative	70,444	65,241	58,928
Asset impairment expense (Note 5)		59,950
Total costs and expenses	4,576,060	3,941,367	4,327,775
Operating income	478,041	344,536	365,845
Other income (expense):
Earnings from equity investments	5,243	6,100	10,434
Gain on sale of equity investment			34,727
Interest and debt expense	(130,920)	(114,980)	(119,561)
Other income (expense)	295	(452)	190
Total other expense, net	(125,382)	(109,332)	(74,210)
Income from continuing operations before taxes	352,659	235,204	291,635
Income tax benefit (expense)	(1,060)	675	192
Income from continuing operations	351,599	235,879	291,827
Loss from discontinued operations (Note 4)	(187,174)	(5,328)	(177,163)
Net income	164,425	230,551	114,664
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,152)	(4,134)	(6,163)
Net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.	$ 160,273	$ 226,417	$ 108,501
Basic earnings (loss) per unit:
Continuing operations (in dollars per unit)	$ 3.25	$ 2.38	$ 3.16
Discontinued operations (in dollars per unit)	$ (1.75)	$ (0.05)	$ (1.96)
Total	$ 1.50	$ 2.33	$ 1.20
Diluted earnings (loss) per unit:
Continuing operations (in dollars per unit)	$ 3.23	$ 2.37	$ 3.15
Discontinued operations (in dollars per unit)	$ (1.74)	$ (0.05)	$ (1.95)
Total	$ 1.49	$ 2.32	$ 1.20
Weighted average units outstanding:
Basic (in units)	107,202	97,309	90,423
Diluted (in units)	107,677	97,635	90,772