Partners Capital Income Allocation and Declared Distributions (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Distribution Made to Member or Limited Partner [Line Items]
Distribution Made to Member or Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit	$ 1.32		$ 1.23	[1]		$ 2.62	$ 2.43	[1]
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	$ 757		$ 619			$ 1,487	$ 1,209
Stock Dividends, Shares	1,726,952		1,603,975			3,531,548	3,068,120
Percent incentive distribution allocated to general partners income						100.00%
Amount Of Incentive Distribution Waived As Result Of Kinderhawk Acquisition		11			14	4	6
Partners' Capital Account, Units, Sale of Units	416		337			814	656
Partners' Capital Account, Sale of Units	$ 398		$ 319			$ 782	$ 621
Kinder Morgan, Inc. [Member]
Distribution Made to Member or Limited Partner [Line Items]
Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Limited Partnership (LP), Managing Member or General Partner, Ownership Interest						2.00%
Common Unit [Member] | KMI and Consolidated Affiliates [Member]
Distribution Made to Member or Limited Partner [Line Items]
Amount of cash distribution (usd per share)	$ 1.30		$ 1.20			$ 2.59	$ 2.36

[1] Retrospectively adjusted as discussed in Note 1.