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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Table 2 (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Revenues $ 1,744,766 $ 1,824,350 $ 5,382,363 $ 4,648,150
Costs and expenses 1,694,044 1,731,373 5,489,618 4,382,091
Operating income (loss) 50,722 92,977 (107,255) 266,059
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries 0 0 0 0
Equity in earnings (loss) of joint ventures (951) 2,599 3,816 6,997
Interest expense, net (24,867) (21,565) (71,037) (62,644)
Other income (expense), net (19,940) 767 (21,384) (5,699)
Income (loss) before income tax expense 4,964 74,778 (195,860) 204,713
Income tax expense 622 4,497 20,354 13,311
Net income (loss) 4,342 70,281 (216,214) 191,402
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (47) 123 (217) 143
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. 4,389 70,158 (215,997) 191,259
Comprehensive income (loss) (4,018) (55,969) (268,791) 44,529
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 66 (2,063) 780 (2,318)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. (4,084) (53,906) (269,571) 46,847
NuStar Energy
        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Revenues 0 0 0 0
Costs and expenses 460 482 1,280 1,283
Operating income (loss) (460) (482) (1,280) (1,283)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries 4,849 70,641 (214,717) 192,543
Equity in earnings (loss) of joint ventures 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 4,389 70,159 (215,997) 191,260
Income tax expense 0 1 0 1
Net income (loss) 4,389 70,158 (215,997) 191,259
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 0 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. 4,389 70,158 (215,997) 191,259
Comprehensive income (loss) 4,389 70,158 (215,997) 191,259
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 0 0 0 0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. 4,389 70,158 (215,997) 191,259
NuStar Logistics
        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Revenues 98,529 78,554 262,585 212,483
Costs and expenses 58,001 38,068 155,739 124,399
Operating income (loss) 40,528 40,486 106,846 88,084
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries (13,291) 7,285 (342,197) 41,827
Equity in earnings (loss) of joint ventures (3,304) 0 (3,304) 0
Interest expense, net (21,777) (15,210) (60,540) (43,234)
Other income (expense), net (21,491) 109 (21,199) 292
Income (loss) before income tax expense (19,335) 32,670 (320,394) 86,969
Income tax expense 97 542 238 1,569
Net income (loss) (19,432) 32,128 (320,632) 85,400
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 0 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. (19,432) 32,128 (320,632) 85,400
Comprehensive income (loss) (22,612) (30,972) (336,211) 9,470
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 0 0 0 0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. (22,612) (30,972) (336,211) 9,470
NuPOP
        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Revenues 48,486 46,076 142,769 136,525
Costs and expenses 36,977 32,090 103,673 98,669
Operating income (loss) 11,509 13,986 39,096 37,856
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries 13,862 29,828 76,380 86,491
Equity in earnings (loss) of joint ventures 0 0 0 0
Interest expense, net (2,800) (5,685) (9,799) (17,236)
Other income (expense), net 1,678 246 1,751 265
Income (loss) before income tax expense 24,249 38,375 107,428 107,376
Income tax expense 1 0 1,331 0
Net income (loss) 24,248 38,375 106,097 107,376
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 0 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. 24,248 38,375 106,097 107,376
Comprehensive income (loss) 24,248 38,375 106,097 107,376
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 0 0 0 0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. 24,248 38,375 106,097 107,376
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (a)
        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Revenues 1,606,734 1,708,288 5,000,895 4,325,226
Costs and expenses 1,607,594 1,669,422 5,252,848 4,184,028
Operating income (loss) (860) 38,866 (251,953) 141,198
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries 24,246 51,102 106,073 146,940
Equity in earnings (loss) of joint ventures 2,353 2,599 7,120 6,997
Interest expense, net (290) (670) (698) (2,174)
Other income (expense), net (127) 412 (1,936) (6,256)
Income (loss) before income tax expense 25,322 92,309 (141,394) 286,705
Income tax expense 524 3,954 18,785 11,741
Net income (loss) 24,798 88,355 (160,179) 274,964
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (47) 123 (217) 143
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. 24,845 88,232 (159,962) 274,821
Comprehensive income (loss) 19,618 25,205 (197,177) 204,021
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 66 (2,063) 780 (2,318)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. 19,552 27,268 (197,957) 206,339
Eliminations
        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Revenues (8,983) (8,568) (23,886) (26,084)
Costs and expenses (8,988) (8,689) (23,922) (26,288)
Operating income (loss) 5 121 36 204
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries (29,666) (158,856) 374,461 (467,801)
Equity in earnings (loss) of joint ventures 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 (29,661) (158,735) 374,497 (467,597)
Income tax expense 0 0 0 0
Net income (loss) (29,661) (158,735) 374,497 (467,597)
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 0 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. (29,661) (158,735) 374,497 (467,597)
Comprehensive income (loss) (29,661) (158,735) 374,497 (467,597)
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 0 0 0 0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. $ (29,661) $ (158,735) $ 374,497 $ (467,597)