| Schedule of Net Income Per Unit [Text Block] |
The following table details the calculation of earnings per unit: | | | | | | | | | | Three Months Ended March 31, | | 2012 | | 2011 | | (Thousands of Dollars, Except Unit and Per Unit Data) | Net income attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. | $ | 26,351 |
| | $ | 28,502 |
| Less general partner distribution (including IDR) | 11,598 |
| | 10,160 |
| Less limited partner distribution | 77,478 |
| | 69,456 |
| Distributions greater than earnings | $ | (62,725 | ) | | $ | (51,114 | ) | | | | | General partner earnings: | | | | Distributions | $ | 11,598 |
| | $ | 10,160 |
| Allocation of distributions greater than earnings (2%) | (1,255 | ) | | (1,023 | ) | Total | $ | 10,343 |
| | $ | 9,137 |
| | | | | Limited partner earnings: | | | | Distributions | $ | 77,478 |
| | $ | 69,456 |
| Allocation of distributions greater than earnings (98%) | (61,470 | ) | | (50,091 | ) | Total | $ | 16,008 |
| | $ | 19,365 |
| | | | | Weighted-average limited partner units outstanding | 70,756,078 |
| | 64,610,549 |
| | | | | Net income per unit applicable to limited partners | $ | 0.23 |
| | $ | 0.30 |
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