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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Table 2 (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Revenues $ 1,901,905 $ 1,589,184 $ 3,637,597 $ 2,823,800
Costs and expenses 2,108,203 1,471,833 3,795,574 2,650,718
Operating income (loss) (206,298) 117,351 (157,977) 173,082
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries 0 0 0 0
Equity in earnings of joint venture 2,381 2,010 4,767 4,398
Interest expense, net (23,820) (20,622) (46,170) (41,079)
Other income (expense), net (2,812) (967) (1,444) (6,466)
Income (loss) before income tax expense (230,549) 97,772 (200,824) 129,935
Income tax expense 16,261 5,167 19,732 8,814
Net income (loss) (246,810) 92,605 (220,556) 121,121
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (73) 6 (170) 20
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. (246,737) 92,599 (220,386) 121,101
Comprehensive income (loss) (254,001) 59,999 (264,773) 100,498
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (308) (821) 714 (255)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. (253,693) 60,820 (265,487) 100,753
NuStar Energy
        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Revenues 0 0 0 0
Costs and expenses 385 386 820 801
Operating income (loss) (385) (386) (820) (801)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries (246,352) 92,985 (219,566) 121,902
Equity in earnings of joint venture 0 0 0 0
Interest expense, net 0 0 0 0
Other income (expense), net 0 0 0 0
Income (loss) before income tax expense (246,737) 92,599 (220,386) 121,101
Income tax expense 0 0 0 0
Net income (loss) (246,737) 92,599 (220,386) 121,101
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 0 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. (246,737) 92,599 (220,386) 121,101
Comprehensive income (loss) (246,737) 92,599 (220,386) 121,101
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 0 0 0 0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. (246,737) 92,599 (220,386) 121,101
NuStar Logistics
        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Revenues 83,835 67,771 164,056 133,929
Costs and expenses 51,364 43,059 97,738 86,331
Operating income (loss) 32,471 24,712 66,318 47,598
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries (303,735) 51,532 (328,906) 34,542
Equity in earnings of joint venture 0 0 0 0
Interest expense, net (20,685) (14,236) (38,763) (28,024)
Other income (expense), net 103 126 292 183
Income (loss) before income tax expense (291,846) 62,134 (301,059) 54,299
Income tax expense 51 664 141 1,027
Net income (loss) (291,897) 61,470 (301,200) 53,272
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 0 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. (291,897) 61,470 (301,200) 53,272
Comprehensive income (loss) (308,017) 45,762 (313,599) 40,442
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 0 0 0 0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. (308,017) 45,762 (313,599) 40,442
NuPOP
        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Revenues 45,191 40,102 94,283 90,449
Costs and expenses 31,739 30,606 66,696 66,579
Operating income (loss) 13,452 9,496 27,587 23,870
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries 36,613 28,143 62,518 56,663
Equity in earnings of joint venture 0 0 0 0
Interest expense, net (2,828) (5,759) (6,999) (11,551)
Other income (expense), net (109) 6 73 19
Income (loss) before income tax expense 47,128 31,886 83,179 69,001
Income tax expense 1,328 0 1,330 0
Net income (loss) 45,800 31,886 81,849 69,001
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 0 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. 45,800 31,886 81,849 69,001
Comprehensive income (loss) 45,800 31,886 81,849 69,001
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 0 0 0 0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. 45,800 31,886 81,849 69,001
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (a)
        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Revenues 1,781,558 1,486,632 3,394,161 2,616,938
Costs and expenses 2,033,428 1,402,737 3,645,254 2,514,606
Operating income (loss) (251,870) 83,895 (251,093) 102,332
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries 45,770 47,293 81,827 95,838
Equity in earnings of joint venture 2,381 2,010 4,767 4,398
Interest expense, net (307) (627) (408) (1,504)
Other income (expense), net (2,806) (1,099) (1,809) (6,668)
Income (loss) before income tax expense (206,832) 131,472 (166,716) 194,396
Income tax expense 14,882 4,503 18,261 7,787
Net income (loss) (221,714) 126,969 (184,977) 186,609
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (73) 6 (170) 20
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. (221,641) 126,963 (184,807) 186,589
Comprehensive income (loss) (212,785) 110,071 (216,795) 178,816
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (308) (821) 714 (255)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. (212,477) 110,892 (217,509) 179,071
Eliminations
        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Revenues (8,679) (5,321) (14,903) (17,516)
Costs and expenses (8,713) (4,955) (14,934) (17,599)
Operating income (loss) 34 (366) 31 83
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries 467,704 (219,953) 404,127 (308,945)
Equity in earnings of joint venture 0 0 0 0
Interest expense, net 0 0 0 0
Other income (expense), net 0 0 0 0
Income (loss) before income tax expense 467,738 (220,319) 404,158 (308,862)
Income tax expense 0 0 0 0
Net income (loss) 467,738 (220,319) 404,158 (308,862)
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 0 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. 467,738 (220,319) 404,158 (308,862)
Comprehensive income (loss) 467,738 (220,319) 404,158 (308,862)
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 0 0 0 0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. $ 467,738 $ (220,319) $ 404,158 $ (308,862)