-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 G3ccZFDBjdEb3BcwsL9rHkZbWjstiu8xdYdjg/TmHkKQxSJJv3yav+6pOfVHY0e3
 Yuyh05OV2ccwIxZs3H3jxA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000888228-05-000009.txt : 20050214
<SEC-HEADER>0000888228-05-000009.hdr.sgml : 20050214
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050214173122
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000888228-05-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050214
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050214

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KINDER RICHARD D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001031190
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11234
		FILM NUMBER:		05613056

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7138637293

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1301 MCKINNEY
		STREET 2:		STE 3400
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77010

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KINDER MORGAN ENERGY PARTNERS L P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000888228
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION [4922]
		IRS NUMBER:				760380342
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		370 VAN GORDON STREET
		CITY:			LAKEWOOD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80228
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3039144752

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		370 VAN GORDON STREET
		STREET 2:		2600 GRAND AVENUE
		CITY:			LAKEWOOD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80228-8304

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ENRON LIQUIDS PIPELINE L P
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970304
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000888228</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KINDER MORGAN ENERGY PARTNERS L P</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KMP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001031190</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KINDER RICHARD D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>500 DALLAS STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1000</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77002</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, CEO and President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>45.96</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7879</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>308100</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these common units owned by his spouse, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of such common units.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard D. Kinder</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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