Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period, increased by common stock equivalents from stock options, restricted stock and SARs. A reconciliation of the shares used in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations is shown in the following table for the periods presented.
Equity Method Investments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Unconsolidated investments at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 include the Company's 50 percent investment in Citrus and investments in other entities. The Company accounts for these investments using the equity method. The Company's share of net earnings or loss from these equity investments is recorded in Earnings from unconsolidated investments in the unaudited interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block]	The Company is exposed to certain risks in its ongoing business operations. The primary risks managed by using derivative instruments are interest rate risk and commodity price risk. Interest rate swaps and treasury rate locks are the principal derivative instruments used by the Company to manage interest rate risk associated with its long-term borrowings, although other interest rate derivative contracts may also be used from time to time. Natural gas and NGL price swaps and NGL processing spread swaps are the principal derivative instruments used by the Company to manage commodity price risk associated with purchases and/or sales of natural gas and/or NGL, although other commodity derivative contracts may also be used from time to time. The Company recognizes all derivative instruments as assets or liabilities at fair value in the unaudited interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The interest rate swaps will effectively fix the interest rate applicable to the floating rate on a portion of the Junior Subordinated Notes and are accounted for as cash flow hedges, with the effective portion of their settled value recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss and reclassified into Interest expense in the same periods during which the related interest payments on long-term debt impact earnings. Any ineffective portion of the cash flow hedge is reported in current-period earnings. These treasury rate locks are accounted for as cash flow hedges, with the effective portion of their settled value recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss and reclassified into Interest expense in the same periods during which the related interest payments on long-term debt impact earnings. These natural gas price swaps are accounted for as cash flow hedges, with the effective portion of changes in their fair value recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss and reclassified into Operating revenues in the same periods during which the forecasted natural gas sales impact earnings. These NGL price swaps are accounted for as cash flow hedges, with the effective portion of changes in their fair value recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss and reclassified into Operating revenues in the same periods during which the forecasted NGL sales impact earnings.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	The Company's Level 1 instruments primarily consist of trading securities related to a non-qualified deferred compensation plan that are valued based on active market quotes. The Company's Level 2 instruments primarily include natural gas and NGL price swaps and NGL processing spread swap derivatives and interest-rate swap derivatives that are valued using pricing models based on an income approach that discounts future cash flows to a present value amount. The significant pricing model inputs for natural gas and NGL price swaps and NGL processing spread swap derivatives include published NYMEX forward index prices for delivery of natural gas at Henry Hub, Permian Basin and Waha, and NGL at Mont Belvieu. The significant pricing model inputs for interest-rate swaps include published rates for U.S. Dollar LIBOR interest rate swaps. The pricing models also adjust for nonperformance risk associated with the counterparty or Company, as applicable, through the use of credit risk adjusted discount rates based on published default rates. The Company did not have any Level 3 instruments measured at fair value at June 30, 2011 or December 31, 2010.
Commitments and Contingencies, Policy [Policy Text Block]	The Company's operations are subject to federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations regarding water quality, hazardous and solid waste management, air quality control and other environmental matters. These laws, rules and regulations require the Company to conduct its operations in a specified manner and to obtain and comply with a wide variety of environmental registrations, licenses, permits, inspections and other approvals. Failure to comply with applicable environmental laws, rules and regulations may expose the Company to significant fines, penalties and/or interruptions in operations. The Company's environmental policies and procedures are designed to achieve compliance with such applicable laws and regulations. These evolving laws and regulations and claims for damages to property, employees, other persons and the environment resulting from current or past operations may result in significant expenditures and liabilities in the future. The Company engages in a process of updating and revising its procedures for the ongoing evaluation of its operations to identify potential environmental exposures and enhance compliance with regulatory requirements. The table below reflects the amount of accrued liabilities recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at the dates indicated to cover environmental remediation actions where management believes a loss is probable and reasonably estimable. The Company does not have any material environmental remediation matters assessed as reasonably possible. In addition to the matters discussed above, the Company is involved in legal, tax and regulatory proceedings before various courts, regulatory commissions and governmental agencies regarding matters arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company establishes reserves for litigation and other claim costs when management believes a loss is probable and reasonably estimable. As of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company recorded litigation and other claim-related accrued liabilities of $28.2 million and $26.9 million, respectively. Except for the matters discussed above, the Company does not have any material litigation or other claim contingency matters assessed as reasonably possible.
Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]	The Company's operating segments, which are individually disclosed as its reportable business segments, are: Transportation and Storage, Gathering and Processing, and Distribution. These operating segments are organized for segment reporting purposes based on the way internal managerial reporting presents the results of the Company's various businesses to its chief operating decision maker for use in determining the performance of the businesses.

Disclosure of accounting policy for commitments and contingencies, which may include policies for recognizing and measuring loss and gain contingencies.

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+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for its derivative instruments and hedging activities. Disclosure may include: (1) Each method used to account for derivative financial instruments and derivative commodity instruments ("derivatives"); (2) the types of derivatives accounted for under each method; (3) the criteria required to be met for each accounting method used, including a discussion of the criteria required to be met for hedge or deferral accounting and accrual or settlement accounting (for example, whether and how risk reduction, correlation, designation, and effectiveness tests are applied); (4) the accounting method used if the criteria specified for hedge accounting are not met; (5) the method used to account for termination of derivatives designated as hedges or derivatives used to affect directly or indirectly the terms, fair values, or cash flows of a designated item; (6) the method used to account for derivatives when the designated item matures, is sold, is extinguished, or is terminated. In addition, the method used to account for derivatives designated to an anticipated transaction, when the anticipated transaction is no longer likely to occur; and (7) where and when derivatives, and their related gains or losses are reported in the statement of financial position, cash flows, and results of operations and (8) an accounting policy decision to offset fair value amounts with counterparties. An entity may also describe its embedded derivatives, and the method(s) used to determine the fair values of derivatives and any significant assumptions used in such valuations.

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Disclosure of accounting policy for computing basic and diluted earnings or loss per share for each class of common stock and participating security. Addresses all significant policy factors, including any antidilutive items that have been excluded from the computation and takes into account stock dividends, splits and reverse splits that occur after the balance sheet date of the latest reporting period but before the issuance of the financial statements.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for the equity method of accounting for investments in common stock or other interests including unconsolidated subsidiaries, corporate joint ventures, noncontrolling interests in real estate ventures, limited partnerships, and limited liability companies. The accounting policy may include information such as: (1) initially recording an investment in the stock of an investee at cost; (2) adjusting the carrying amount of the investment to recognize the investor's share of the earnings or losses of the investee after the date of acquisition; and (3) adjustments to reflect the investor's share of changes in the investee's capital (dividends). This disclosure may also include a detailed description of the policy for determining the amount of equity method losses recognized after an investment has been reduced to zero as a result of previous losses, reasons for not using the equity method when the investor company owns 20 percent or more of the voting stock of the investee's company (including identification of the significant investee), reasons for using the equity method when the ownership percentage is less than 20 percent, and discussion of recognition of equity method losses when an investor's total investment in an investee includes, in addition to an investment in common stock, other investments such as preferred stock and loans to the investee. An entity also may describe how such investments are assessed for impairment.

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