v2.4.0.8
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Narrative (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]    
Payable to NuStar GP, LLC $ 8,325,000 $ 1,408,000
Long-term payable to NuStar GP, LLC 41,139,000 18,071,000
Receivable from related parties 51,084,000 109,833,000
NuStar GP LLC [Member]
   
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]    
Payable to NuStar GP, LLC 8,300,000 1,400,000
Long-term payable to NuStar GP, LLC 41,100,000 18,100,000
Asphalt JV [Member]
   
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]    
Maximum amount available under credit facility to related party 250,000,000  
Term of Credit Facility to Related Party 7 years  
Maturity Date of Credit Facility to Related Party Sep. 28, 2019  
Interest Rate of Credit Facility to Related Party 3.20%  
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.  
Due from Related Parties, Noncurrent 176,700,000  
Maximum Amount Guarantees 150,000,000  
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted 79,700,000  
Number of Guarantees with Unlimited Exposure 2  
Letters of Credit to Related Party 9,700,000  
Variable Interest Entity, Maximum Loss Exposure, Amount 450,700,000  
Equity method investment, ownership percentage 50.00%  
Receivable from related parties 50,700,000 109,400,000
Description of Purchase Obligation With Related Party 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 CSA for such year or (ii) 35,000 barrels per day of crude oil multiplied by the number of days in such year.  
Asphalt JV [Member] | Terminal Service Agreements [Member]
   
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]    
Number of agreements 4  
Aggregate Storage Capacity (in barrels) 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.  
Asphalt JV [Member] | Terminal Service Agreements 2 [Member]
   
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]    
Aggregate Storage Capacity (in barrels) 600,000  
Annual Service Charge $ 6,300,000  
Term of Agreement These terminal service agreements have lease terms ranging from one to five years, with annual renewal options. Asphalt JV has the option to terminate any of these agreements at the end of a lease term with 90 days written notice.  
NuStar GP LLC and Asphalt JV [Member] | Services Agreement [Member]
   
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]    
Administrative Fees, Description The Asphalt JV Services Agreement provides that NuStar GP, LLC furnish certain administrative and other operating services necessary to conduct the business of Asphalt JV. Asphalt JV compensates 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.  
Related Party Transaction, Date Dec. 31, 2017  
Percentage of Services Used Under Agreement with Related Party 63.00%  
NuStar GP LLC and Asphalt JV [Member] | Employee Services Agreement [Member]
   
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]    
Administrative Fees, Description The Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement provided that certain of NuStar GP, LLC employees would provide employee-services to Asphalt JV. In exchange, Asphalt JV would 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 were not entitled to any new unit-based compensation grants from NuStar GP, LLC, and Asphalt JV was not responsible for unit-based compensation costs prior to the effective date.  
Related Party Transaction, Date Dec. 31, 2012