-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 Gzp1CMjy4K+sIToNUHjaAQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-07-083845.txt : 20071116
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-07-083845.hdr.sgml : 20071116
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20071116151244
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-07-083845
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20071114
FILED AS OF DATE:		20071116
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20071116

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001357371
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				743169953
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		515 SOUTH FLOWER STREET, SUITE 4800
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(213) 225-5900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		515 SOUTH FLOWER STREET, SUITE 4800
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Findlay Randall J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001370226

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33055
		FILM NUMBER:		071252994

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		213-225-5900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		515 SOUTH FLOWER STREET, SUITE 4800
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-11-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001357371</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BBEP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001370226</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Findlay Randall J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>515 SOUTH FLOWER STREET, SUITE 4800</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90071</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>31</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Units</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>31</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2141</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Units</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>24</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1644</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each Phantom Unit is the economic equivalent of one common unit representing a limited partner interest in BBEP (a &quot;common unit&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Phantom Units will be settled for an equal number of common units on October 9, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Phantom Units will be settled for an equal number of common units on January 1, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents additional Phantom Units received by the Reporting Person pursuant to the terms of previously granted Distribution Equivalent Rights. Each Distribution Equivalent Right entitles the Reporting Person to additional Phantom Units with a value equal to the amount of distributions paid on each of BBEP's common units. On November 14, 2007, BBEP paid a cash distribution to holders of its common units in an amount equal to 44.25 cents per common unit. Pursuant to the terms of the Distribution Equivalent Rights, the Reporting Person received a number of additional Phantom Units in respect of each Distribution Equivalent Right with a value (based on the closing price of BBEP's common units on the distribution date ($30.00)) equal to the per unit amount of the distribution.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Roberta E. Kass, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-11-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----