Business Segments, Segment Reporting Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Information by business segment [Abstract]
Revenues from third parties	$ 42,509.8		$ 43,537.9		$ 33,040.9
Revenues from related parties	73.3		775.1		698.4
Intersegment and intrasegment revenues	0		0		0
Total revenues	42,583.1		44,313.0		33,739.3
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates	64.3		46.4		62.0
Gross operating margin	4,387.0		3,871.7		3,253.0
Property, plant and equipment, net (see Note 8)	24,846.4		22,191.6		19,332.9
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates (see Note 9)	1,394.6		1,859.6		2,293.1
Intangible assets, net: (see Note 11)	1,566.8		1,656.2		1,841.7
Goodwill: (see Note 11)	2,086.8		2,092.3		2,107.7		2,018.3	[1]
Segment assets	29,894.6		27,799.7		25,575.4
NGL Pipelines and Services [Member]
Information by business segment [Abstract]
Revenues from third parties	15,158.9		16,938.1		13,736.8
Revenues from related parties	9.5		545.2		465.7
Intersegment and intrasegment revenues	12,500.6		13,657.7		10,209.9
Total revenues	27,669.0		31,141.0		24,412.4
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates	15.9		21.8		17.7
Gross operating margin	2,468.5		2,184.2		1,732.6
Property, plant and equipment, net (see Note 8)	8,494.8		7,137.8		6,813.1
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates (see Note 9)	324.6		146.1		131.5
Intangible assets, net: (see Note 11)	320.6		341.3		379.7
Goodwill: (see Note 11)	341.2		341.2		341.2		341.2
Segment assets	9,481.2		7,966.4		7,665.5
Onshore Natural Gas Pipelines And Services [Member]
Information by business segment [Abstract]
Revenues from third parties	3,297.7		3,510.0		3,479.4
Revenues from related parties	54.9		220.2		222.2
Intersegment and intrasegment revenues	871.6		1,131.8		900.8
Total revenues	4,224.2		4,862.0		4,602.4
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates	4.4		5.5		4.6
Gross operating margin	775.5		675.3		527.2
Property, plant and equipment, net (see Note 8)	8,950.1		8,495.4		6,595.0
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates (see Note 9)	24.9		30.1		32.6
Intangible assets, net: (see Note 11)	1,067.9		1,127.8		1,246.1
Goodwill: (see Note 11)	296.3		296.3		311.1		284.9
Segment assets	10,339.2		9,949.6		8,184.8
Onshore Crude Oil Pipelines and Services [Member]
Information by business segment [Abstract]
Revenues from third parties	17,661.6		16,061.0		10,794.7
Revenues from related parties	0.1		0.1		0.1
Intersegment and intrasegment revenues	6,906.9		4,904.3		927.0
Total revenues	24,568.6		20,965.4		11,721.8
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates	32.6		(4.1)		6.7
Gross operating margin	387.7		234.0		113.7
Property, plant and equipment, net (see Note 8)	1,385.9		456.9		427.9
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates (see Note 9)	493.8		170.7		172.2
Intangible assets, net: (see Note 11)	5.9		5.8		6.2
Goodwill: (see Note 11)	311.2		311.2		311.2		303.0
Segment assets	2,196.8		944.6		917.5
Offshore Pipelines And Services [Member]
Information by business segment [Abstract]
Revenues from third parties	182.7		246.4		300.3
Revenues from related parties	8.8		9.6		10.4
Intersegment and intrasegment revenues	10.4		6.6		3.6
Total revenues	201.9		262.6		314.3
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates	26.9		27.1		44.8
Gross operating margin	173.0		228.2		297.8
Property, plant and equipment, net (see Note 8)	1,343.0		1,416.4		1,390.9
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates (see Note 9)	479.0		424.9		443.2
Intangible assets, net: (see Note 11)	66.2		77.5		88.7
Goodwill: (see Note 11)	82.1		82.1		82.1		82.1
Segment assets	1,970.3		2,000.9		2,004.9
Petrochemical and Refined Products Services [Member]
Information by business segment [Abstract]
Revenues from third parties	6,208.9		6,782.4		4,729.7
Revenues from related parties	0		0		0
Intersegment and intrasegment revenues	1,758.9		1,799.1		1,106.7
Total revenues	7,967.8		8,581.5		5,836.4
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates	(17.9)	[2]	(18.7)	[2]	(9.0)	[2]
Gross operating margin	579.9		535.2		584.5
Property, plant and equipment, net (see Note 8)	2,559.5		2,539.5		2,498.8
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates (see Note 9)	72.3		64.7		76.8
Intangible assets, net: (see Note 11)	106.2		103.8		121.0
Goodwill: (see Note 11)	1,056.0		1,061.5		1,062.1		1,007.1
Segment assets	3,794.0		3,769.5		3,758.7
Other Investment [Member]
Information by business segment [Abstract]
Revenues from third parties	0		0		0
Revenues from related parties	0		0		0
Intersegment and intrasegment revenues	0		0		0
Total revenues	0		0		0
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates	2.4	[3]	14.8	[3]	(2.8)	[3]
Gross operating margin	2.4		14.8		(2.8)
Property, plant and equipment, net (see Note 8)	0		0		0
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates (see Note 9)	0		1,023.1		1,436.8
Intangible assets, net: (see Note 11)	0		0		0
Goodwill: (see Note 11)	0		0		0
Segment assets	0		1,023.1		1,436.8
Adjustments and Eliminations [Member]
Information by business segment [Abstract]
Revenues from third parties	0		0		0
Revenues from related parties	0		0		0
Intersegment and intrasegment revenues	(22,048.4)		(21,499.5)		(13,148.0)
Total revenues	(22,048.4)		(21,499.5)		(13,148.0)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates	0		0		0
Gross operating margin	0		0		0
Property, plant and equipment, net (see Note 8)	2,113.1		2,145.6		1,607.2
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates (see Note 9)	0		0		0
Intangible assets, net: (see Note 11)	0		0		0
Goodwill: (see Note 11)	0		0		0
Segment assets	$ 2,113.1		$ 2,145.6		$ 1,607.2

[1] The total carrying amount of goodwill at January 1, 2010 is net of $1.3 million of accumulated impairment charges incurred prior to 2010. No goodwill impairment charges were recorded during the three years ended December 31, 2012.

[2] Losses are primarily attributable to our investment in Centennial. As a result of a trend in declining earnings, we estimated the fair value of this equity-method investment during each of the last three fiscal years. Our estimates, based on a combination of the market and income approaches, indicate that the fair value of this investment remains substantially in excess of its carrying value.

[3] With respect to the year ended December 31, 2012, the amount presented reflects our equity in the income of Energy Transfer Equity from January 1, 2012 to January 18, 2012.