Partners Capital Income Allocation and Declared Distributions (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended							3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 General partner	Sep. 30, 2013 General partner	Sep. 30, 2014 Noncontrolling interests General partner	Sep. 30, 2014 Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Scenario, Forecast [Member]	Dec. 31, 2017 Scenario, Forecast [Member]	Dec. 31, 2016 Scenario, Forecast [Member]	Dec. 31, 2015 Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Distribution Made to Member or Limited Partner [Line Items]
Percent incentive distribution allocated to general partners income			100.00%
Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Limited Partnership (LP), Managing Member or General Partner, Ownership Interest							2.00%
Per Unit Cash Distribution Declared for the Period	$ 1.40	$ 1.35						$ 4.17	$ 3.97
Amount of cash distribution (usd per share)	$ 1.39	$ 1.32	$ 4.13	$ 3.91
Cash distributions paid in the period to all partners	$ 944	$ 845	$ 2,757	$ 2,332	$ 1,375	$ 1,213
Stock Dividends, Shares	2,283,909	1,880,172	6,907,981	5,411,720
Partners' Capital Account, Units, Sale of Units	471	434	1,383	1,248
Partners' Capital Account, Sale of Units	463	416	1,357	1,198
Percentage of General Partner Initial Interest Excluding Incentive Distribution Rights			2.00%
Incentive Distribution Amounts Waived - Declared	33	25	99	54						34	105	116	139
Incentive Distribution Amounts Waived Reduction - Declared											5
Incentive Distribution Amounts Waived	$ 33	$ 25	$ 91	$ 36