Financial Information about each Segment, Adjusted EBITDA and Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Unitholders (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended										3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended						3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009		Dec. 31, 2011 International Operations		Dec. 31, 2010 International Operations		Jun. 30, 2009 Pipelines & Terminals	Dec. 31, 2011 Pipelines & Terminals		Dec. 31, 2010 Pipelines & Terminals		Dec. 31, 2009 Pipelines & Terminals		Sep. 30, 2011 Natural Gas Storage	Dec. 31, 2011 Natural Gas Storage	Dec. 31, 2010 Natural Gas Storage	Dec. 31, 2009 Natural Gas Storage	Dec. 31, 2011 Energy Services	Dec. 31, 2010 Energy Services	Dec. 31, 2009 Energy Services	Dec. 31, 2011 Development & Logistics	Dec. 31, 2010 Development & Logistics	Dec. 31, 2009 Development & Logistics	Dec. 31, 2011 Intersegment Elimination	Dec. 31, 2010 Intersegment Elimination	Dec. 31, 2009 Intersegment Elimination	Dec. 31, 2009 Consolidated Entities
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA																	$ 487,947		$ 382,640		$ 370,167		$ 112,996		$ (4,655)			$ 361,018		$ 346,447		$ 302,164			$ 4,204	$ 29,794	$ 41,950	$ 1,797	$ 5,861	$ 19,335	$ 7,932	$ 5,193	$ 6,718
Interest and debt expense																	(119,561)		(89,169)		(75,147)
Income tax benefit																	192		919		343
Depreciation and amortization																	(119,534)		(59,590)		(54,699)		(50,011)					(55,469)		(46,320)		(42,791)			(7,136)	(6,594)	(5,971)	(5,261)	(4,933)	(4,204)	(1,657)	(1,743)	(1,733)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests affected by Merger (for periods prior to Merger)																			(157,467)	[1]	(90,381)	[1]
Non-cash deferred lease expense																	(4,122)		(4,235)		(4,500)
Non-cash unit-based compensation expense																	(9,150)		(8,960)		(4,408)
Equity plan modification expense																			(21,058)
Asset impairment expense																					(59,724)						(72,500)					(59,700)
Goodwill impairment expense																	(169,560)																	(169,600)	(169,560)
Gain on sale of equity investment					34,100												34,727
Amortization of unfavorable storage contracts																	7,562
Reorganization expense																					(32,057)											(28,862)					(495)			(1,207)			(1,493)
Net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.	59,687	[2]	(109,700)	[2]	92,021	[2]	66,493	[2]	8,362	[3]	11,941	[3]	11,507	[3]	11,270	[3]	108,501	[2]	43,080	[3]	49,594
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests																	6,163		157,928		92,043
Net income	61,459	[2]	(108,200)	[2]	93,592	[2]	67,813	[2]	35,966	[3]	60,962	[3]	53,438	[3]	50,642	[3]	114,664	[2]	201,008	[3]	141,637
Revenue																	4,759,610		3,151,268		1,770,372		193,960	[4]	936	[4]		631,289		574,990		529,243			65,990	95,337	99,163	3,888,961	2,481,566	1,125,013	43,068	37,696	34,136	(63,658)	(39,257)	(17,183)
Operating income (loss)	87,681	[2]	(77,305)	[2]	85,935	[2]	92,563	[2]	58,558	[3]	79,513	[3]	71,939	[3]	69,491	[3]	188,874	[2]	279,501	[3]	203,800		72,067		(4,656)			290,573		266,184		155,041			(177,163)	16,069	30,574	(4,462)	(1,367)	13,086	7,859	3,271	5,099
Capital additions, net																	305,324	[5]	77,699	[5]	87,309	[5]	184,438					103,678		65,527		56,924			10,097	8,328	23,033	1,824	2,961	6,236	5,287	883	1,116
Total Assets	$ 5,570,376								$ 3,574,216								$ 5,570,376		$ 3,574,216		$ 3,486,571		$ 2,041,209	[6]	$ 60,313	[6]		$ 2,566,471	[7]	$ 2,328,702	[7]	$ 2,125,887	[7]		$ 365,514	$ 549,876	$ 573,261	$ 518,438	$ 561,382	$ 482,025	$ 78,744	$ 73,943	$ 74,476				$ 230,922	[8]

[1] Amounts represent portions of BGH's noncontrolling interests related to Buckeye that were eliminated as a result of the Merger. Amounts are added back for the portion of 2010 prior to the Merger and the 2009 period for comparability purposes.

[2] The second quarter of 2011 includes a gain of $34.1 million, and the fourth quarter of 2011 includes subsequent dividend income of $0.6 million related to the sale of our equity interest in WT LPG (see Note 3). The third quarter of 2011 includes a $169.6 million goodwill impairment expense associated with the Natural Gas Storage segment (see Note 9).

[3] The fourth quarter of 2010 includes $21.1 million of non-cash compensation expense related to the modification of an equity compensation plan (see Note 18).

[4] The International Operations segment's revenue generated in The Bahamas was $177.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, which represents 91.6% of the International Operations segment's total revenue for the period.

[5] Amounts exclude $14.3 million, $0.4 million and ($3.3) million of non-cash changes in accruals for capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively (see Note 26).

[6] The International Operations segment's long-lived assets consist of property, plant and equipment, goodwill, intangible assets and other non-current assets. Total long-lived assets located in or attributable to The Bahamas was $1,954.3 million at December 31, 2011, which was 97.4% of the International Operations segment's total long-lived assets.

[7] All equity investments are included in the assets of the Pipelines & Terminals segment.

[8] In connection with the Merger, consolidating level assets were allocated to our business segments.