Deconsolidation of Interest.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The gains and losses included in results of operations resulting from the sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment which do not qualify for treatment as discontinued operations that are included in the net income attributable to the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The economic general partner interest and its incentive distribution rights in Enterprise that were cancelled in connection with the merger.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of quarters that Class B units will remain non-distribution bearing. The Class B units will automatically convert into common units after the last regular quarterly distribution.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The number of common units cancelled immediately after the merger.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of years a privately held affiliate agreed to waive the regular quarterly cash distributions after the merger closing date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	epd_
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- Details

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- Definition

Basis for determining value of equity interest issued or issuable to acquire the entity.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 99-12

-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.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Number of shares of equity interests issued or issuable to acquire entity.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Details

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- Definition

The gains (losses) included in results of operations resulting from the sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment, which do not qualify for treatment as discontinued operations. This item does not include any gain (loss) recognized on the sale of oil and gas property or timber property.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6390789&loc=d3e2443-110228

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 37, 41, 42, 43, 45

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2941-110230

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of units or percentage investment held by one or more members or limited partners of the LLC or LP.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 272

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70478-108055

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of loss pertaining to the specified contingency that was charged against earnings in the period, including the effects of revisions in previously reported estimates.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9

-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 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Partnership Operations, Organization and Basis of Presentation (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Partnership Operations, Organization and Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Limited partners ownership interest (in hundredths)	100.00%
Deconsolidation of Texas Offshore Port System [Abstract]
Loss on forfeiture of investment in Texas Offshore Port System	$ 0	$ 0	$ 68.4
Deconsolidation of Texas Offshore Port System			33.4
Portion of loss on forfeiture of investment in Texas Offshore Port System included in net income attributable to partners			8.7
Expense due to settlement agreement with certain affiliates of Oiltanking			$ 66.9
Common units [Member]
Mergers [Line Items]
Common units cancelled immediately after merger (in units)		21,563,177
Class B units [Member]
Mergers [Line Items]
Common units cancelled immediately after merger (in units)		0
Duncan Merger [Member] \| Common units [Member]
Mergers [Line Items]
Common unit exchange ratio in connection with merger	1.01
Common units issued in connection with merger (in units)	24,277,310
Holdings Merger [Member] \| Common units [Member]
Mergers [Line Items]
Common unit exchange ratio in connection with merger		1.5
Common units issued in connection with merger (in units)		208,813,454
Common units cancelled immediately after merger (in units)		21,563,177
General partner ownership interest cancelled as a result of merger (in hundredths)		2.00%
Number of years a privately held affiliate agreed to waive regular quarterly cash distributions (in years)		5Y
TEPPCO Merger [Member] \| Common units [Member]
Mergers [Line Items]
Common unit exchange ratio in connection with merger			1.24
Common units issued in connection with merger (in units)			126,932,318
TEPPCO Merger [Member] \| Common units [Member] \| Holdings [Member]
Mergers [Line Items]
Common units issued in connection with merger (in units)			1,331,681
TEPPCO Merger [Member] \| Class B units [Member]
Mergers [Line Items]
Common unit exchange ratio in connection with merger			1.24
Common units issued in connection with merger (in units)			4,520,431
Number of quarters Class B units are not entitled to regular quarterly cash distributions			16