| Schedule of Net Income Per Unit [Text Block] |
The following table details the calculation of earnings per unit: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Three Months Ended June 30, | | Six Months Ended June 30, | | 2012 | | 2011 | | 2012 | | 2011 | | (Thousands of Dollars, Except Unit and Per Unit Data) | Net (loss) income attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. | $ | (246,737 | ) | | $ | 92,599 |
| | $ | (220,386 | ) | | $ | 121,101 |
| Less general partner distribution (including IDR) | 11,598 |
| | 10,590 |
| | 23,196 |
| | 20,750 |
| Less limited partner distribution | 77,478 |
| | 70,749 |
| | 154,956 |
| | 140,205 |
| Distributions (greater than) less than earnings | $ | (335,813 | ) | | $ | 11,260 |
| | $ | (398,538 | ) | | $ | (39,854 | ) | | | | | | | | | General partner earnings: | | | | | | | | Distributions | $ | 11,598 |
| | $ | 10,590 |
| | $ | 23,196 |
| | $ | 20,750 |
| Allocation of distributions (greater than) less than earnings (2%) | (6,717 | ) | | 225 |
| | (7,972 | ) | | (798 | ) | Total | $ | 4,881 |
| | $ | 10,815 |
| | $ | 15,224 |
| | $ | 19,952 |
| | | | | | | | | Limited partner earnings: | | | | | | | | Distributions | $ | 77,478 |
| | $ | 70,749 |
| | $ | 154,956 |
| | $ | 140,205 |
| Allocation of distributions (greater than) less than earnings (98%) | (329,096 | ) | | 11,035 |
| | (390,566 | ) | | (39,056 | ) | Total | $ | (251,618 | ) | | $ | 81,784 |
| | $ | (235,610 | ) | | $ | 101,149 |
| | | | | | | | | Weighted-average limited partner units outstanding | 70,756,078 |
| | 64,610,549 |
| | 70,756,078 |
| | 64,610,549 |
| | | | | | | | | Net (loss) income per unit applicable to limited partners | $ | (3.56 | ) | | $ | 1.27 |
| | $ | (3.33 | ) | | $ | 1.57 |
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