CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF MEMBERS' CAPITAL (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended												3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Paid-in Capital	Dec. 31, 2011 Paid-in Capital	Dec. 31, 2010 Paid-in Capital	Dec. 31, 2012 Accumulated Deficit	Dec. 31, 2011 Accumulated Deficit	Dec. 31, 2010 Accumulated Deficit	Dec. 31, 2012 Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Dec. 31, 2011 Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Dec. 31, 2010 Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Dec. 31, 2012 Series A Preferred Unit	Mar. 31, 2012 Series A Preferred Unit	Dec. 31, 2011 Series A Preferred Unit	Mar. 31, 2011 Series A Preferred Unit	Dec. 31, 2010 Series A Preferred Unit	Dec. 31, 2012 Series A Preferred Unit	Dec. 31, 2011 Series A Preferred Unit	Dec. 31, 2010 Series A Preferred Unit	Dec. 31, 2012 Common Unit	Dec. 31, 2011 Common Unit	Dec. 31, 2010 Common Unit	Dec. 31, 2008 Common Unit	Dec. 31, 2010 Class D Unit	Dec. 31, 2008 Class D Unit
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Balance	$ 871,898	$ 1,154,757	$ 860,026	$ 62,277	$ 51,743	$ 42,518	$ (624,121)	$ (313,454)	$ (158,267)	$ (16,279)	$ (30,356)	$ (16,183)		$ 285,168		$ 285,172		$ 285,168	$ 285,172		$ 1,164,853	$ 1,161,652	$ 879,504		$ 112,454
Balance (in units)	66,341,458																				66,341,000	65,915,000	54,670,000
Balance (in units)	11,684,074													11,684,000		10,585,000		11,684,000	10,585,000
Balance (in units)																								54,670,000	3,246,000	3,246,000
Conversion of Class D Units into common units																							112,454		(112,454)
Conversion of Class D Units into common units (in units)																							3,246,000		(3,246,000)
Issuance of preferred units (paid-in-kind)	35,236	31,922	7,500															35,236	31,922	7,500
Issuance of preferred units (paid-in-kind) (in units)																		1,213,000	1,099,000	258,000
Accrued in-kind units	881	799	7,688															881	799	7,688
In-kind distributions	(36,117)	(32,721)	(15,188)										(9,366)	(8,698)	(8,486)	(7,880)	(7,688)	(36,117)	(32,721)	(15,188)
Cash distributions to common unitholders	(172,391)	(154,355)	(146,506)				(172,391)	(154,355)	(146,506)
Issuance of common units	405,355		472,008																	300,000	405,355		172,008
Issuance of units (in units)																				10,327,000	12,276,000		7,446,000
Equity offering costs	(16,071)	(4)	(22,582)																(4)	(14,828)	(16,071)		(7,754)
Equity-based compensation	11,970	13,735	14,665	10,639	10,534	9,225															1,331	3,201	5,440
Equity-based compensation (in units)																					349,000	426,000	553,000
Net loss	(138,970)	(156,312)	(8,681)				(138,970)	(156,312)	(8,681)
Derivative settlements reclassified to income	7,539	36,605	(2,671)							7,539	36,605	(2,671)
Unrealized gain (loss)-change in fair value of derivatives	10,946	(22,528)	(11,502)							10,946	(22,528)	(11,502)
Balance	$ 980,276	$ 871,898	$ 1,154,757	$ 72,916	$ 62,277	$ 51,743	$ (935,482)	$ (624,121)	$ (313,454)	$ 2,206	$ (16,279)	$ (30,356)	$ 285,168		$ 285,168		$ 285,172	$ 285,168	$ 285,168	$ 285,172	$ 1,555,468	$ 1,164,853	$ 1,161,652
Balance (in units)	78,966,408	66,341,458																			78,966,000	66,341,000	65,915,000
Balance (in units)	12,897,029	11,684,074											12,897,000		11,684,000		10,585,000	12,897,000	11,684,000	10,585,000
Balance (in units)																								54,670,000		3,246,000

Copano Energy, L.L.C. 10-K