v2.4.0.8
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Table 2 (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Sep. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2012
Mar. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues $ 785,387 $ 778,145 $ 902,014 $ 998,186 $ 982,890 $ 1,591,730 $ 1,764,667 $ 1,606,449 $ 3,463,732 $ 5,945,736 $ 6,257,629
Costs and expenses                 3,482,853 5,963,904 5,946,746
Operating income (loss) (228,202) 68,751 76,972 63,358 60,125 62,750 (201,925) 60,882 (19,121) (18,168) 310,883
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries                 0 0 0
Equity in earnings (loss) of joint ventures                 (39,970) (9,378) 11,458
Interest expense, net                 (121,006) (89,316)  
Interest expense, net                 (127,119) (90,535) (81,539)
Other income (expense), net                 7,341 (24,689) (3,573)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense                 (172,756) (141,551) 237,229
Income tax expense                 12,753 24,450 18,555
Income (loss) from continuing operations (275,502) 35,682 34,712 19,599 18,892 17,000 (241,871) 39,978 (185,509) (166,001) 218,674
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax (99,778) (2,446) (1,743) 4,805 (29,915) (12,658) (4,939) (13,724) (99,162) (61,236) 2,927
Net income (loss) (375,280) 33,236 32,969 24,404 (11,023) 4,342 (246,810) 26,254 (284,671) (227,237) 221,601
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest                 (10,901) (621) 140
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.                 (273,770) (226,616) 221,461
NuStar Energy
                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 0 0 0
Costs and expenses                 1,908 1,699 1,663
Operating income (loss)                 (1,908) (1,699) (1,663)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries                 (271,862) (224,917) 223,125
Equity in earnings (loss) of joint ventures                 0 0 0
Interest expense, net                 0 0  
Interest expense, net                     0
Other income (expense), net                 0 0 0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense                 (273,770) (226,616) 221,462
Income tax expense                 0 0 1
Income (loss) from continuing operations                 (273,770) (226,616) 221,461
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax                 0 0 0
Net income (loss)                 (273,770) (226,616) 221,461
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest                 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.                 (273,770) (226,616) 221,461
NuStar Logistics
                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 415,128 362,451 296,142
Costs and expenses                 242,743 216,159 174,360
Operating income (loss)                 172,385 146,292 121,782
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries                 16,531 (361,830) 12,883
Equity in earnings (loss) of joint ventures                 (49,599) (16,117) 0
Interest expense, net                 (116,624) (76,311)  
Interest expense, net                     (56,389)
Other income (expense), net                 (115) (26,596) 1,309
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense                 22,578 (334,562) 79,585
Income tax expense                 579 255 (575)
Income (loss) from continuing operations                 21,999 (334,817) 80,160
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax                 (12,317) (2,085) (2,334)
Net income (loss)                 9,682 (336,902) 77,826
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest                 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.                 9,682 (336,902) 77,826
NuPOP
                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 218,591 210,712 199,569
Costs and expenses                 147,117 151,185 142,077
Operating income (loss)                 71,474 59,527 57,492
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries                 (347,808) 65,505 108,644
Equity in earnings (loss) of joint ventures                 0 0 0
Interest expense, net                 (4,851) (12,546)  
Interest expense, net                     (22,840)
Other income (expense), net                 (127) 1,679 1,936
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense                 (281,312) 114,165 145,232
Income tax expense                 8 1,329 13
Income (loss) from continuing operations                 (281,320) 112,836 145,219
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax                 0 0 0
Net income (loss)                 (281,320) 112,836 145,219
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest                 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.                 (281,320) 112,836 145,219
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 2,864,160 5,397,626 5,794,433
Costs and expenses                 3,125,253 5,620,326 5,661,577
Operating income (loss)                 (261,093) (222,700) 132,856
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries                 (281,327) 112,818 145,218
Equity in earnings (loss) of joint ventures                 9,629 6,739 11,458
Interest expense, net                 469 (459)  
Interest expense, net                     (2,310)
Other income (expense), net                 7,583 228 (6,818)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense                 (524,739) (103,374) 280,404
Income tax expense                 12,166 22,866 19,116
Income (loss) from continuing operations                 (536,905) (126,240) 261,288
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax                 (86,845) (58,765) 5,261
Net income (loss)                 (623,750) (185,005) 266,549
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest                 (10,901) (621) 140
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.                 (612,849) (184,384) 266,409
Eliminations
                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 (34,147) (25,053) (32,515)
Costs and expenses                 (34,168) (25,465) (32,931)
Operating income (loss)                 21 412 416
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries                 884,466 408,424 (489,870)
Equity in earnings (loss) of joint ventures                 0 0 0
Interest expense, net                 0 0  
Interest expense, net                     0
Other income (expense), net                 0 0 0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense                 884,487 408,836 (489,454)
Income tax expense                 0 0 0
Income (loss) from continuing operations                 884,487 408,836 (489,454)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax                 0 (386) 0
Net income (loss)                 884,487 408,450 (489,454)
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest                 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.                 $ 884,487 $ 408,450 $ (489,454)