Employee Benefits	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Employee Benefits [Abstract]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]	Employee Benefits Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Two of our subsidiaries, Kinder Morgan Canada Inc. and Trans Mountain Pipeline Inc. (as general partner of Trans Mountain Pipeline L.P.) are sponsors of pension plans for eligible Trans Mountain pipeline system employees. The plans include registered defined benefit pension plans, supplemental unfunded arrangements (which provide pension benefits in excess of statutory limits), and defined contributory plans. These subsidiaries also provide postretirement benefits other than pensions for retired employees. Our combined net periodic benefit costs for these Trans Mountain pension and other postretirement benefit plans for each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were $11 million, $11 million and $7 million, respectively, recognized ratably over each year. As of December 31, 2013, we estimate our overall net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit costs for these plans for 2014 will be approximately $11 million, although this estimate could change if there is a significant event, such as a plan amendment or a plan curtailment, which would require a remeasurement of liabilities. Furthermore, we expect to contribute approximately $10 million to these benefit plans in 2014. Our subsidiaries TGP and EPNG also provide postretirement benefits other than pensions for certain retired employees. The costs for these plans are prefunded to the extent such costs are recoverable through natural gas pipeline transportation rates. Our combined net periodic benefit costs for these two other postretirement benefit plans for 2013 was a credit (increase to income) of $10 million, recognized ratably over the year. For 2012, we recognized ratably, over the seven months we included TGP and EPNG in our consolidated results, a postretirement benefit credit (increase to income) of $4 million for these plans. As of December 31, 2013, we estimate our combined net periodic other postretirement benefit costs for the TGP and EPNG plans for 2014 will be a credit of approximately $13 million. Furthermore, we expect to make no contributions to these two benefit plans in 2014. Additionally, our subsidiary SFPP, has incurred certain liabilities for postretirement benefits to certain current and former employees, their covered dependents, and their beneficiaries. However, the net periodic benefit costs, contributions and liability amounts associated with the SFPP postretirement benefit plan are not material to our consolidated income statements or balance sheets. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the recorded value of our benefit liabilities for all of our pension and other postretirement benefit plans (including benefit liabilities for inactive employees after employment but before retirement) was a combined $61 million and $76 million, respectively. As of these same dates, the TGP and EPNG other postretirement benefit plans for retired employees were overfunded by a combined $119 million and $76 million, respectively. We consider our overall pension and other postretirement benefit liability exposure and the fair value of our pension and other postretirement plan assets to be minimal in relation to the value of our total consolidated assets and net income. Multi-employer Plans As a result of acquiring several terminal operations, primarily our acquisition of Kinder Morgan Bulk Terminals, Inc. effective July 1, 1998, we participate in several multi-employer pension plans for the benefit of employees who are union members. We do not administer these plans and contribute to them in accordance with the provisions of negotiated labor contracts. Other benefits include a self-insured health and welfare insurance plan and an employee health plan where employees may contribute for their dependents’ health care costs. Amounts charged to expense for these plans for each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were $11 million, $11 million and $12 million, respectively. We consider our overall multi-employer pension plan liability exposure to be minimal in relation to the value of our total consolidated assets and net income. Kinder Morgan Savings Plan The Kinder Morgan Savings Plan is a defined contribution 401(k) plan. The Savings Plan permits all full-time employees of KMI and KMGP Services Company, Inc. to contribute between 1% and 50% of base compensation, on a pre-tax basis, into participant accounts. Currently, our general partner contributes an amount equal to 5% of base compensation per year for most plan participants. However, for certain plan participants, employee contributions and general partner contributions are based on collective bargaining agreements. Plan assets are held and distributed pursuant to a trust agreement. The total amount charged to expense for the Kinder Morgan Savings Plan was $19 million during 2013, $16 million during 2012, and $17 million during 2011. Kinder Morgan Retirement Plan The Kinder Morgan Retirement Plan is a defined benefit plan that covers substantially all of our U.S. employees and provides benefits under a cash balance formula. A participant in the plan accrues benefits through contribution credits based on a combination of age and years of service times eligible compensation. Interest is also credited to the participant’s plan account. A participant becomes fully vested in the plan after three years, and may take a lump sum distribution upon termination of employment or retirement. Certain collectively bargained and grandfathered employees continue to accrue benefits through a career pay formula.

Employee Benefits

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

Two of our subsidiaries, Kinder Morgan Canada Inc. and Trans Mountain Pipeline Inc. (as general partner of Trans Mountain Pipeline L.P.) are sponsors of pension plans for eligible Trans Mountain pipeline system employees. The plans include registered defined benefit pension plans, supplemental unfunded arrangements (which provide pension benefits in excess of statutory limits), and defined contributory plans. These subsidiaries also provide postretirement benefits other than pensions for retired employees. Our combined net periodic benefit costs for these Trans Mountain pension and other postretirement benefit plans for each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were $11 million, $11 million and $7 million, respectively, recognized ratably over each year. As of December 31, 2013, we estimate our overall net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit costs for these plans for 2014 will be approximately $11 million, although this estimate could change if there is a significant event, such as a plan amendment or a plan curtailment, which would require a remeasurement of liabilities. Furthermore, we expect to contribute approximately $10 million to these benefit plans in 2014.

Our subsidiaries TGP and EPNG also provide postretirement benefits other than pensions for certain retired employees. The costs for these plans are prefunded to the extent such costs are recoverable through natural gas pipeline transportation rates. Our combined net periodic benefit costs for these two other postretirement benefit plans for 2013 was a credit (increase to income) of $10 million, recognized ratably over the year. For 2012, we recognized ratably, over the seven months we included TGP and EPNG in our consolidated results, a postretirement benefit credit (increase to income) of $4 million for these plans. As of December 31, 2013, we estimate our combined net periodic other postretirement benefit costs for the TGP and EPNG plans for 2014 will be a credit of approximately $13 million. Furthermore, we expect to make no contributions to these two benefit plans in 2014.

Additionally, our subsidiary SFPP, has incurred certain liabilities for postretirement benefits to certain current and former employees, their covered dependents, and their beneficiaries. However, the net periodic benefit costs, contributions and liability amounts associated with the SFPP postretirement benefit plan are not material to our consolidated income statements or balance sheets.

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the recorded value of our benefit liabilities for all of our pension and other postretirement benefit plans (including benefit liabilities for inactive employees after employment but before retirement) was a combined $61 million and $76 million, respectively. As of these same dates, the TGP and EPNG other postretirement benefit plans for retired employees were overfunded by a combined $119 million and $76 million, respectively. We consider our overall pension and other postretirement benefit liability exposure and the fair value of our pension and other postretirement plan assets to be minimal in relation to the value of our total consolidated assets and net income.

Multi-employer Plans

As a result of acquiring several terminal operations, primarily our acquisition of Kinder Morgan Bulk Terminals, Inc. effective July 1, 1998, we participate in several multi-employer pension plans for the benefit of employees who are union members. We do not administer these plans and contribute to them in accordance with the provisions of negotiated labor contracts. Other benefits include a self-insured health and welfare insurance plan and an employee health plan where employees may contribute for their dependents’ health care costs. Amounts charged to expense for these plans for each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were $11 million, $11 million and $12 million, respectively. We consider our overall multi-employer pension plan liability exposure to be minimal in relation to the value of our total consolidated assets and net income.

Kinder Morgan Savings Plan

The Kinder Morgan Savings Plan is a defined contribution 401(k) plan. The Savings Plan permits all full-time employees of KMI and KMGP Services Company, Inc. to contribute between 1% and 50% of base compensation, on a pre-tax basis, into participant accounts. Currently, our general partner contributes an amount equal to 5% of base compensation per year for most plan participants. However, for certain plan participants, employee contributions and general partner contributions are based on collective bargaining agreements. Plan assets are held and distributed pursuant to a trust agreement. The total amount charged to expense for the Kinder Morgan Savings Plan was $19 million during 2013, $16 million during 2012, and $17 million during 2011.

Kinder Morgan Retirement Plan

The Kinder Morgan Retirement Plan is a defined benefit plan that covers substantially all of our U.S. employees and provides benefits under a cash balance formula. A participant in the plan accrues benefits through contribution credits based on a combination of age and years of service times eligible compensation. Interest is also credited to the participant’s plan account. A participant becomes fully vested in the plan after three years, and may take a lump sum distribution upon termination of employment or retirement. Certain collectively bargained and grandfathered employees continue to accrue benefits through a career pay formula.