The number of common units exchanged for each common unit of the entity being acquired.

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Gross proceeds from the sale of common units excluding any related fees.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

The remaining number of limited partner units available for issuance, after taking into account limited partner units issued to date. The limited partners are partners of a publicly traded limited partnership or master limited partnership. Limited partners have limited liability and do not manage the partnership.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The dollar value of the remaining amount of limited partner units available for issuance, after taking into account limited partner units issued to date. The limited partners are partners of a publicly traded limited partnership or master limited partnership. Limited partners have limited liability and do not manage the partnership.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

"The dollar amount of limited partner units authorized to be issued in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions and other factors at the time of our offerings.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

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

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)(4)

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- Definition

Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 30

-Paragraph 7

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-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

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- Definition

Percentage of voting equity interests acquired in a business combination achieved in stages, including equity interests in the acquiree held by the acquirer immediately before the acquisition date and acquired at the acquisition date.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The number of limited partner units authorized to be issued.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 272

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

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-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

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-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.F)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 4

-Section F

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- Definition

Total units issued during the year due to the sale of units. All partners include general, limited and preferred partners.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

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

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

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-Topic 272

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

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- Definition

The cash inflow from the issuance of common limited partners units during the period.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

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-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 14

-Subparagraph (a)

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Equity and Distributions, Issuances of Equity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units	$ 468,400,000	$ 83,000,000
Oiltanking Partners L.P. [Member]
Completion of Oiltanking acquisition
Limited partner interests acquired (in hundredths)			65.90%
Oiltanking Acquisition [Member]
Completion of Oiltanking acquisition
Total consideration for acquisition	5,900,000,000
Oiltanking Partners L.P. - Step 1 [Member]
Completion of Oiltanking acquisition
Total consideration for acquisition			4,410,000,000
Oiltanking Partners L.P. - Step 2 [Member]
Completion of Oiltanking acquisition
Common units exchanged for each Oiltanking unit (in units)	1.3
Common units issued in connection with acquisition of Oiltanking (in units)	36,827,517
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)	25,612,270
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)	1,869,079	2,614,370
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units	61,700,000	81,000,000
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)	7,081,315
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)	71,753	62,560
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units	2,500,000	2,000,000
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	783,900,000
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)	12,350,761
Gross proceeds from the sale of common units	407,800,000
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units	404,200,000
2013 At-the-Market Registration [Member] \| EPCO and affiliates [Member]
Net Cash Proceeds from Sale of Common Units [Abstract]
Number of common units issued (in units)	3,225,057
Net cash proceeds from the issuance of common units	$ 100,000,000