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PARTNERS' EQUITY (Tables)
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12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2011
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| PARTNERS' EQUITY [Abstract] |
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| Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] |
The balance of and changes in the components included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” were as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Foreign Currency Translation | | Cash Flow Hedges | | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | | (Thousands of Dollars) | Balance as of January 1, 2009 | $ | (14,266 | ) | | $ | — |
| | $ | (14,266 | ) | Activity | 22,316 |
| | (240 | ) | | 22,076 |
| Balance as of December 31, 2009 | 8,050 |
| | (240 | ) | | 7,810 |
| Activity | 3,450 |
| | 35,240 |
| | 38,690 |
| Balance as of December 31, 2010 | 11,500 |
| | 35,000 |
| | 46,500 |
| Activity | (15,425 | ) | | (58,482 | ) | | (73,907 | ) | Balance as of December 31, 2011 | $ | (3,925 | ) | | $ | (23,482 | ) | | $ | (27,407 | ) |
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| Schedule of Calculation of Net Income Applicable to General Partner [Text Block] |
The following table details the calculation of net income applicable to the general partner: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Year Ended December 31, | | 2011 | | 2010 | | 2009 | | (Thousands of Dollars) | Net income attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. | $ | 221,461 |
| | $ | 238,970 |
| | $ | 224,875 |
| Less general partner incentive distribution (a) | 36,319 |
| | 33,304 |
| | 28,712 |
| Net income after general partner incentive distribution | 185,142 |
| | 205,666 |
| | 196,163 |
| General partner interest | 2 | % | | 2 | % | | 2 | % | General partner allocation of net income after general partner incentive distribution | 3,703 |
| | 4,113 |
| | 3,924 |
| General partner incentive distribution | 36,319 |
| | 33,304 |
| | 28,712 |
| Net income applicable to general partner | $ | 40,022 |
| | $ | 37,417 |
| | $ | 32,636 |
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| Schedule of Distribution Waterfall [Table Text Block] |
Our general partner is entitled to incentive distributions if the amount we distribute with respect to any quarter exceeds specified target levels shown below: | | | | | | | | Percentage of Distribution | Quarterly Distribution Amount per Unit | | Unitholders | | General Partner | Up to $0.60 | | 98% | | 2% | Above $0.60 up to $0.66 | | 90% | | 10% | Above $0.66 | | 75% | | 25% |
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| Schedule of Distributions To General and Limited Partners [Text Block] |
The following table reflects the allocation of total cash distributions to our general and limited partners applicable to the period in which the distributions are earned: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Year Ended December 31, | | 2011 | | 2010 | | 2009 | | (Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Unit Data) | General partner interest | $ | 6,630 |
| | $ | 6,227 |
| | $ | 5,430 |
| General partner incentive distribution | 36,326 |
| | 33,304 |
| | 28,712 |
| Total general partner distribution | 42,956 |
| | 39,531 |
| | 34,142 |
| Limited partners’ distribution | 288,550 |
| | 271,847 |
| | 237,308 |
| Total cash distributions | $ | 331,506 |
| | $ | 311,378 |
| | $ | 271,450 |
| | | | | | | Cash distributions per unit applicable to limited partners | $ | 4.360 |
| | $ | 4.280 |
| | $ | 4.245 |
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