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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Narrative (Details) (USD $)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Sep. 30, 2012
NuStar GP LLC [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
NuStar GP LLC [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Asphalt JV [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Asphalt JV [Member]
Terminal Service Agreements [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Asphalt JV [Member]
Crude Oil Supply Agreement [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
NuStar GP LLC and Asphalt JV [Member]
Services Agreement [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
NuStar GP LLC and Asphalt JV [Member]
Employee Services Agreement [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Turkey Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]                    
Payable to related party $ 13,717,000 $ 6,735,000 $ 13,700,000 $ 6,700,000            
Long-term payable to related party 16,004,000 14,502,000 16,000,000 14,500,000            
Receivable from related party 2,358,000 0     2,100,000         300,000
Note receivable from related party 170,711,000 0     170,700,000          
Maximum amount available under credit facility to related party         250,000,000          
Term of Credit Facility to Related Party         seven years          
Maturity Date of Credit Facility to Related Party         Sep. 28, 2019          
Interest Rate of Credit Facility to Related Party         4.875%          
Alternate Maturity Date of Credit Facility to Related Party         In the event NuStar Energy no longer owns an equity interest in Asphalt JV, the interest rate increases and the availability under the NuStar JV Facility is reduced to a maximum of $167.0 million after two years and $83.0 million after three years.          
Maximum Amount Of Guarantees         150,000,000          
Amount of Guarantees Provided         141,800,000          
Number of Guarantees with Unlimited Exposure         3          
Number of agreements           4        
Aggregate Storage Capacity           800,000        
Annual Service Charge           $ 1,500,000        
Term of Agreement           The terminal service agreements each have a term of ten years, with Asphalt JV's option to extend for an additional five years. Asphalt JV also has the option to terminate any terminal service agreement with 90 days written notice.        
Description of Purchase Obligation With Related Party             Simultaneously with the Asphalt Sale, we entered into a crude oil supply agreement with Asphalt JV (the Asphalt JV Crude Oil Supply Agreement) that commits Asphalt JV to purchase from us in a given year the lesser of (i) the number of barrels of crude oil required to be purchased by us from PDVSA under the PDVSA Crude Oil Supply Agreement for such year or (ii) 35,000 barrels per day of crude oil multiplied by the number of days in such year. The price for the crude oil under this agreement will be the actual price paid by us to PDVSA under the PDVSA Crude Oil Supply Agreement and will include any credits received or adjustments made. The Asphalt JV Crude Oil Supply Agreement is effective for the term of the PDVSA Crude Oil Supply Agreement.      
Administrative Fees, Description               The Asphalt JV Services Agreement provides that NuStar GP, LLC will furnish certain administrative and other operating services necessary to conduct the business of Asphalt JV. Asphalt JV will compensate NuStar GP, LLC for these services through an annual fee totaling $10.0 million, subject to adjustment based on the annual merit increase percentage applicable to NuStar GP, LLC employees for the most recently completed contract year. The Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement provides that certain of NuStar GP, LLC employees will provide employee-services to Asphalt JV. In exchange, Asphalt JV will reimburse NuStar GP, LLC for the compensation expense of those employees at the same rates that were in effect at the effective date of the Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement, including an annual bonus amount that does not exceed NuStar GP, LLC’s target bonus plan. The employees covered under the Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement will not be entitled to any new unit-based compensation grants from NuStar GP, LLC, and Asphalt JV will not be responsible for unit-based compensation costs prior to the effective date.  
Related Party Transaction, Date               Dec. 31, 2017 Dec. 31, 2012