Equity and Distributions, Issuances of Equity (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2009	Feb. 28, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units	$ 388,800,000	$ 1,792,000,000	$ 816,800,000
Class B Units [Member]
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Common unit exchange ratio in connection with merger				1.24
Treasury Units [Member]
Treasury Units [Abstract]
Maximum common units authorized for repurchase under a buy-back program (in units)	4,000,000
Total of common units repurchased under a buy-back program (in units)	2,763,200
Remaining common units available for repurchase (in units)	1,236,800
Total cost of treasury units	30,200,000
Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member]
Registration Statements and Equity Offerings [Line Items]
Maximum common units authorized for issuance (in units)	140,000,000
Remaining units available for issuance (in units)	27,481,349
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)	9,480,407	10,024,828	5,359,696
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units	321,300,000	287,600,000	132,600,000
Distribution Reinvestment Plan [Member] | EPCO and affiliates [Member]
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)	2,946,241
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units	100,000,000
Employee Unit Purchase Plan [Member]
Registration Statements and Equity Offerings [Line Items]
Maximum common units authorized for issuance (in units)	8,000,000
Remaining units available for issuance (in units)	7,153,068
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)	273,820	283,426	269,624
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units	9,800,000	8,500,000	7,100,000
Shelf Registration 2010 [Member]
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)					18,400,000	18,400,000
Over-allotment of common units included in offering (in units)					2,400,000	2,400,000
Offering price of common unit (in dollars per unit)					$ 27.28	$ 26.54
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units					486,600,000	473,300,000
Senior notes issued under universal shelf registration		2,250,000,000	2,500,000,000
Shelf Registration 2013 [Member]
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)							18,400,000
Over-allotment of common units included in offering (in units)							2,400,000
Offering price of common unit (in dollars per unit)							$ 31.03
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units							553,000,000
Senior notes issued under universal shelf registration	4,750,000,000
2012 At-the-Market Registration [Member]
Registration Statements and Equity Offerings [Line Items]
Maximum common units authorized for issuance								1,000,000,000
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)		15,249,378	7,957,090
Gross proceeds from the sale of common units		460,400,000	205,400,000
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units		456,300,000	203,800,000
2013 At-the-Market Registration [Member]
Registration Statements and Equity Offerings [Line Items]
Maximum common units authorized for issuance	1,250,000,000
Remaining units available for issuance	1,190,000,000
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)	1,590,334
Gross proceeds from the sale of common units	58,300,000
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units	$ 57,700,000