Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Decrease (increase) in:
Accounts receivable - trade	$ (218.3)	$ 78.9
Accounts receivable - related parties	(1.0)	8.5
Inventories	(21.1)	(520.9)
Prepaid and other current assets	(35.0)	(68.1)
Other assets	(48.6)	11.5
Increase (decrease) in:
Accounts payable - trade	114.1	123.3
Accounts payable - related parties	79.0	28.5
Accrued product payables	285.6	(53.9)
Accrued interest	(68.7)	(49.7)
Other current liabilities	(40.1)	35.5
Other liabilities	15.7	(5.4)
Net effect of changes in operating accounts	61.6	(411.8)
Liability for construction in progress expenditures	267.8		201.6
Increase in proceeds from asset sales and related transactions	$ 350.9
Energy Transfer Equity [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Energy Transfer Equity common units sold (in units)	8,564,136

Liability incurred for construction in progress that has not been paid at the date presented.

Name:	epd_ConstructionInProgressExpendituresIncurred
Namespace Prefix:	epd
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the amount of units sold of our equity method investment.

+ Details

Name:	epd_EquityMethodInvestmentUnitsSold
Namespace Prefix:	epd
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net change during the reporting period in product expenses incurred but not yet paid. This element should be used when there is no other more specific or appropriate element.

+ Details

Name:	epd_IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedProductPayable
Namespace Prefix:	epd
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Quarter-to-quarter increase in proceeds from asset sales and related transactions, primarily from the sales of certain marine assets and a fractionation facility.

+ Details

Name:	epd_IncreaseInProceedsFromAssetSalesAndRelatedTransactions
Namespace Prefix:	epd
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the obligations due for goods and services provided by the following types of related parties: a parent company and its subsidiaries, subsidiaries of a common parent, an entity and trust for the benefit of employees, such as pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entities' management, an entity and its principal owners, management, or member of their immediate families, affiliates, or other parties with the ability to exert significant influence.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 28

-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 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Change in recurring obligations of a business that arise from the acquisition of merchandise, materials, supplies and services used in the production and sale of goods and services.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableTrade
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in amount due within one year (or one business cycle) from customers for the credit sale of goods and services.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the amount due to the reporting entity for good and services provided to the following types of related parties: a parent company and its subsidiaries; subsidiaries of a common parent; an entity and trust for the benefit of employees, such as pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entity's management, an entity and its principal owners, management, member of their immediate families, affiliates, or other parties with the ability to exert significant influence.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivableRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in interest payable, which represents the amount owed to note holders, bond holders, and other parties for interest earned on loans or credit extended to the reporting entity.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInterestPayableNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the aggregate value of all inventory held by the reporting entity, associated with underlying transactions that are classified as operating activities.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingAssetsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period of all assets and liabilities used in operating activities.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingCapital
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingLiabilitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in other current operating assets not separately disclosed in the statement of cash flows.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in other current operating liabilities not separately disclosed in the statement of cash flows.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in other noncurrent operating assets not separately disclosed in the statement of cash flows.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in other noncurrent operating liabilities not separately disclosed in the statement of cash flows.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration