v2.4.0.6

SEGMENT INFORMATION Narrative (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Entity-Wide Revenue, Major Customer, Percent of Total Revenues	10.00%
Entity-Wide Revenue, Major Customer, Amount	$ 684,100	$ 0	$ 0

X

- Definition

Percent of revenue generated from a single external customer that accounts for 10 percent or more of an entity's revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ns_EntityWideRevenueMajorCustomerPercent
Namespace Prefix:	ns_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount of revenue generated from a single external customer that accounts for 10 percent or more of an entity's revenues.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 39

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 280

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 42

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e9054-108599

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EntityWideRevenueMajorCustomerAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EntityWideRevenueMajorCustomerLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration