v2.4.0.8

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Table (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |
Revenues | $ 929 | $ 1,241
Operating expenses | 28,659 | 31,713
General and administrative expenses | 14,094 | 18,784
Interest income | 1,055 | 1,122
Revenues included in discontinued operations, net of tax | 405 | 770
Expenses included in discontinued operations, net of tax | $ 805 | $ 1,660

X
- Definition Related party expenses for managing and administering the affairs of an entity, which are not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ns_RelatedPartyGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Namespace Prefix: | ns_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Generally recurring related party costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales or services. Also excludes general and administrative expense. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ns_RelatedPartyOperatingExpenses
Namespace Prefix: | ns_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Related party revenue (expenses) in discontinued operations + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ns_RelatedPartyRevenueExpensesInDiscontinuedOperations
Namespace Prefix: | ns_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Related party revenue in discontinued operations + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ns_Relatedpartyrevenueindiscontinuedoperations
Namespace Prefix: | ns_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of interest income earned from interest-bearing assets owed to the entity by related party. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InterestIncomeRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of revenue, fees and commissions earned from transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiaries; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) an entity and trusts for the benefit of employees, for example, but not limited to, pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entity's management; (d) an entity and its principal, owners, management, or members of their immediate families; and (e) affiliates. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(e)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Related Parties -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16382449 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07.1(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488393&loc=d3e606610-122999 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 07 -Paragraph b -Subparagraph 1 -Article 6 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration