STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED EQUITY (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Limited Partners [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 2,031.2	$ (53.2)	$ 7,781.4	$ 9,759.4	[1]
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net income	204.1	0	936.2	1,140.3
Operating lease expenses paid by EPCO	0	0	0.7	0.7
Cash distributions paid to partners	(266.7)	0	0	(266.7)
Cash distributions paid to noncontrolling interests	0	0	(1,322.1)	(1,322.1)
Cash contributions from noncontrolling interests	0	0	1,014.2	1,014.2
Acquisition of treasury units in connection with equity-based awards	0	0	(2.1)	(2.1)
Deconsolidation of Texas Offshore Port System	0	0	(33.4)	(33.4)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	0	0	10.3	10.3
Amortization of fair value of equity-based awards	3.8	0	20.8	24.6
Cash flow hedges	0	17.3	126.0	143.3
Other	0	2.6	2.0	4.6
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	1,972.4	(33.3)	8,534.0	10,473.1	[1]
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net income	320.8	0	1,062.9	1,383.7
Operating lease expenses paid by EPCO	0.1	0	0.6	0.7
Cash distributions paid to partners	(307.7)	0	0	(307.7)
Cash distributions paid to noncontrolling interests	0	0	(1,478.4)	(1,478.4)
Cash contributions from noncontrolling interests	0	0	1,103.7	1,103.7
Net cash proceeds from issuance of common units	528.5	0	0	528.5
Acquisition of treasury units in connection with equity-based awards	(0.3)	0	(3.5)	(3.8)
Amortization of fair value of equity-based awards	7.6	0	51.9	59.5
Common units issued in exchange of equity interest in trucking business	1.8	0	36.0	37.8
Common units issued in connection with acquisition of marine shipyard business	0	0	99.7	99.7
Issuance of common units pursuant to Holdings Merger (see Note 1)	8,883.5	(1.3)	(8,882.2)	0
Cash flow hedges	0	(9.4)	2.2	(7.2)
Other	0	11.5	(0.3)	11.2
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	11,406.7	(32.5)	526.6	11,900.8	[1]
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net income	2,046.9	0	41.4	2,088.3
Operating lease expenses paid by EPCO	0.3	0	0	0.3
Cash distributions paid to partners	(1,974.3)	0	0	(1,974.3)
Cash distributions paid to noncontrolling interests	0	0	(60.7)	(60.7)
Cash contributions from noncontrolling interests	0	0	8.5	8.5
Net cash proceeds from issuance of common units	542.9	0	0	542.9
Acquisition of treasury units in connection with equity-based awards	(10.7)	0	0	(10.7)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	(5.4)	0	(9.6)	(15.0)
Amortization of fair value of equity-based awards	50.9	0	0.1	51.0
Issuance of common units pursuant to Duncan Merger (see Note 1)	402.8	(1.1)	(401.7)	0
Cash flow hedges	0	(316.5)	0	(316.5)
Other	4.7	(1.3)	1.3	4.7
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 12,464.8	$ (351.4)	$ 105.9	$ 12,219.3

[1] Amounts attributable to our general partner are negligible and therefore not presented.