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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Table 3 (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Mar. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ (9,613) $ (165,798)
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Capital expenditures (100,284) (73,246)
Acquisitions 0 (52,577)
Investment in other long-term assets (94) (636)
Investment in subsidiaries   0
Other, net 164 58
Net cash used in investing activities (100,214) (126,401)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Debt borrowings 510,548 375,280
Debt repayments (510,374) (113,994)
Senior note offering, net 247,408 0
Distributions to unitholders and general partner (89,076) (79,616)
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates   0
Proceeds from (payments for) termination of interest rate swaps (25,358) 0
Net intercompany borrowings (repayments) 0 0
Other, net (3,228) (1,144)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 129,920 180,526
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash 106 989
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 20,199 (110,684)
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period 17,497 181,121
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period 37,696 70,437
NuStar Energy
    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 88,503 79,041
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Capital expenditures 0 0
Acquisitions 0 0
Investment in other long-term assets 0 0
Investment in subsidiaries   (57,300)
Other, net 0 0
Net cash used in investing activities 0 (57,300)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Debt borrowings 0 0
Debt repayments 0 0
Senior note offering, net 0  
Distributions to unitholders and general partner (89,076) (79,616)
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates   57,300
Proceeds from (payments for) termination of interest rate swaps 0  
Net intercompany borrowings (repayments) 838 575
Other, net (269) 0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (88,507) (21,741)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash 0 0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (4) 0
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period 139 53
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period 135 53
NuStar Logistics
    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 5,831 23,162
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Capital expenditures (75,008) (45,340)
Acquisitions 0 0
Investment in other long-term assets 0 0
Investment in subsidiaries   0
Other, net 135 0
Net cash used in investing activities (74,873) (45,340)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Debt borrowings 510,548 375,280
Debt repayments (260,374) (113,994)
Senior note offering, net 247,408  
Distributions to unitholders and general partner (89,076) (79,616)
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates   (57,300)
Proceeds from (payments for) termination of interest rate swaps (25,358)  
Net intercompany borrowings (repayments) (312,383) (203,572)
Other, net (3,598) (263)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 67,167 (79,465)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash 1,881 5,002
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 6 (96,641)
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period 14 107,655
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period 20 11,014
NuPOP
    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 13,470 13,552
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Capital expenditures (2,285) (430)
Acquisitions 0 0
Investment in other long-term assets 0 0
Investment in subsidiaries   (56,727)
Other, net 7 13
Net cash used in investing activities (2,278) (57,144)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Debt borrowings 0 0
Debt repayments (250,000) 0
Senior note offering, net 0  
Distributions to unitholders and general partner 0 0
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates   56,727
Proceeds from (payments for) termination of interest rate swaps 0  
Net intercompany borrowings (repayments) 238,808 (13,135)
Other, net 0 0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (11,192) 43,592
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash 0 0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period 0 0
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (a)
    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (28,340) (201,929)
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Capital expenditures (22,991) (27,476)
Acquisitions 0 (52,577)
Investment in other long-term assets (94) (636)
Investment in subsidiaries   (56,727)
Other, net 22 45
Net cash used in investing activities (23,063) (137,371)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Debt borrowings 0 0
Debt repayments 0 0
Senior note offering, net 0  
Distributions to unitholders and general partner (9) (8)
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates   114,027
Proceeds from (payments for) termination of interest rate swaps 0  
Net intercompany borrowings (repayments) 72,745 216,132
Other, net 639 (881)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 73,375 329,270
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash (1,775) (4,013)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 20,197 (14,043)
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period 17,344 73,413
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period 37,541 59,370
Eliminations
    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (89,077) (79,624)
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Capital expenditures 0 0
Acquisitions 0 0
Investment in other long-term assets 0 0
Investment in subsidiaries   170,754
Other, net 0 0
Net cash used in investing activities 0 170,754
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Debt borrowings 0 0
Debt repayments 0 0
Senior note offering, net 0  
Distributions to unitholders and general partner 89,085 79,624
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates   (170,754)
Proceeds from (payments for) termination of interest rate swaps 0  
Net intercompany borrowings (repayments) (8) 0
Other, net 0 0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 89,077 (91,130)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash 0 0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period $ 0 $ 0