GENERAL BUSINESS DESCRIPTION (Details)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
General business description
Number of operating segments	5
EEP
GENERAL BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
Ownership interest (as a percent)	21.80%
Sponsored Investments \| Alliance Pipeline Canada joint venture
GENERAL BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
Interest (as a percent)	50.00%
Sponsored Investments \| The fund
GENERAL BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
Economic interest (as a percent)	67.70%	69.20%
Sponsored Investments \| United States segment of the Alberta Clipper Project
GENERAL BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
Percentage of investment	66.70%	66.70%
Sponsored Investments \| EEP
GENERAL BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
Ownership interest (as a percent)	21.80%	23.00%

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 159

-Paragraph 18

-Subparagraph f

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 18

-Paragraph 20

-Subparagraph a (1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant