v2.4.0.6
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Table 2 (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Sep. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2011
Mar. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Sep. 30, 2010
Jun. 30, 2010
Mar. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues $ 1,927,105 $ 1,824,350 $ 1,589,184 $ 1,234,616 $ 1,194,212 $ 1,138,379 $ 1,124,941 $ 945,529 $ 6,575,255 $ 4,403,061 $ 3,855,871
Costs and expenses                 6,261,261 4,100,504 3,582,555
Operating income (loss) 47,935 92,977 117,351 55,731 70,464 90,290 102,030 39,773 313,994 302,557 273,316
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries                 0 0 0
Equity in earnings of joint venture                 11,458 10,500 9,615
Interest expense, net                 (83,681) (78,280) (79,384)
Other income (expense), net                 (3,291) 15,934 31,859
Income (loss) before income tax expense                 238,480 250,711 235,406
Income tax expense                 16,879 11,741 10,531
Net income (loss) 30,199 70,281 92,605 28,516 51,535 68,310 99,422 19,703 221,601 238,970 224,875
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest                 140 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.                 221,461 238,970 224,875
NuStar Energy
                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 0 0 0
Costs and expenses                 1,663 1,353 2,006
Operating income (loss)                 (1,663) (1,353) (2,006)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries                 223,125 240,343 226,881
Equity in earnings of joint venture                 0 0 0
Interest expense, net                 0 1 0
Other income (expense), net                 0 0 0
Income (loss) before income tax expense                 221,462 238,991 224,875
Income tax expense                 1 21 0
Net income (loss)                 221,461    
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest                 0    
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.                 221,461 238,970 224,875
NuStar Logistics
                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 299,226 294,163 297,929
Costs and expenses                 177,824 189,950 184,330
Operating income (loss)                 121,402 104,213 113,599
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries                 12,883 41,515 35,864
Equity in earnings of joint venture                 0 0 0
Interest expense, net                 (58,343) (52,486) (51,715)
Other income (expense), net                 1,309 3,163 23,078
Income (loss) before income tax expense                 77,251 96,405 120,826
Income tax expense                 (575) 1,303 1,332
Net income (loss)                 77,826    
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest                 0    
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.                 77,826 95,102 119,494
NuPOP
                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 199,569 172,623 153,268
Costs and expenses                 142,077 125,495 112,161
Operating income (loss)                 57,492 47,128 41,107
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries                 108,644 120,827 91,716
Equity in earnings of joint venture                 0 0 0
Interest expense, net                 (22,840) (24,353) (24,168)
Other income (expense), net                 1,936 289 (957)
Income (loss) before income tax expense                 145,232 143,891 107,698
Income tax expense                 13 0 0
Net income (loss)                 145,219    
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest                 0    
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.                 145,219 143,891 107,698
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (a)
                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 6,108,975 3,959,122 3,430,521
Costs and expenses                 5,972,628 3,808,276 3,308,404
Operating income (loss)                 136,347 150,846 122,117
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries                 145,218 180,242 155,481
Equity in earnings of joint venture                 11,458 10,500 9,615
Interest expense, net                 (2,498) (1,442) (3,501)
Other income (expense), net                 (6,536) 12,482 9,738
Income (loss) before income tax expense                 283,989 352,628 293,450
Income tax expense                 17,440 10,417 9,199
Net income (loss)                 266,549    
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest                 140    
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.                 266,409 342,211 284,251
Eliminations
                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 (32,515) (22,847) (25,847)
Costs and expenses                 (32,931) (24,570) (24,346)
Operating income (loss)                 416 1,723 (1,501)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries                 (489,870) (582,927) (509,942)
Equity in earnings of joint venture                 0 0 0
Interest expense, net                 0 0 0
Other income (expense), net                 0 0 0
Income (loss) before income tax expense                 (489,454) (581,204) (511,443)
Income tax expense                 0 0 0
Net income (loss)                 (489,454)    
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest                 0    
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.                 $ (489,454) $ (581,204) $ (511,443)