| Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Text Block] |
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets March 31, 2014 (Thousands of Dollars) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NuStar Energy | | NuStar Logistics | | NuPOP | | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 904 |
| | $ | 9 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 41,685 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 42,598 |
| Receivables, net | 5 |
| | 34,845 |
| | 9,368 |
| | 264,878 |
| | (4,828 | ) | | 304,268 |
| Inventories | — |
| | 1,990 |
| | 4,991 |
| | 95,692 |
| | (26 | ) | | 102,647 |
| Income tax receivable | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 3,520 |
| | — |
| | 3,520 |
| Other current assets | 63 |
| | 15,778 |
| | 2,574 |
| | 18,371 |
| | — |
| | 36,786 |
| Assets held for sale | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 19,920 |
| | — |
| | 19,920 |
| Intercompany receivable | — |
| | 1,347,350 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (1,347,350 | ) | | — |
| Total current assets | 972 |
| | 1,399,972 |
| | 16,933 |
| | 444,066 |
| | (1,352,204 | ) | | 509,739 |
| Property, plant and equipment, net | — |
| | 1,646,376 |
| | 568,674 |
| | 1,105,068 |
| | — |
| | 3,320,118 |
| Intangible assets, net | — |
| | 60,931 |
| | — |
| | 7,173 |
| | — |
| | 68,104 |
| Goodwill | — |
| | 149,453 |
| | 170,652 |
| | 297,324 |
| | — |
| | 617,429 |
| Investment in wholly owned subsidiaries | 2,411,520 |
| | 180,745 |
| | 873,241 |
| | 950,247 |
| | (4,415,753 | ) | | — |
| Investment in joint venture | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 70,342 |
| | — |
| | 70,342 |
| Deferred income tax asset | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 4,083 |
| | — |
| | 4,083 |
| Other long-term assets, net | 611 |
| | 290,100 |
| | 26,332 |
| | 7,776 |
| | — |
| | 324,819 |
| Total assets | $ | 2,413,103 |
| | $ | 3,727,577 |
| | $ | 1,655,832 |
| | $ | 2,886,079 |
| | $ | (5,767,957 | ) | | $ | 4,914,634 |
| Liabilities and Partners’ Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | Payables | $ | — |
| | $ | 26,801 |
| | $ | 11,050 |
| | $ | 177,114 |
| | $ | (4,828 | ) | | $ | 210,137 |
| Accrued interest payable | — |
| | 27,346 |
| | — |
| | 53 |
| | — |
| | 27,399 |
| Accrued liabilities | 1,059 |
| | 8,998 |
| | 5,907 |
| | 13,545 |
| | — |
| | 29,509 |
| Taxes other than income tax | — |
| | 3,602 |
| | 3,541 |
| | 1,855 |
| | — |
| | 8,998 |
| Income tax payable | — |
| | 953 |
| | 7 |
| | 4,402 |
| | — |
| | 5,362 |
| Intercompany payable | 504,798 |
| | — |
| | 684,864 |
| | 157,688 |
| | (1,347,350 | ) | | — |
| Total current liabilities | 505,857 |
| | 67,700 |
| | 705,369 |
| | 354,657 |
| | (1,352,178 | ) | | 281,405 |
| Long-term debt | — |
| | 2,710,117 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 2,710,117 |
| Long-term payable to related party | — |
| | 33,999 |
| | — |
| | 5,442 |
| | — |
| | 39,441 |
| Deferred income tax liability | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 28,348 |
| | — |
| | 28,348 |
| Other long-term liabilities | — |
| | 5,641 |
| | 273 |
| | 5,925 |
| | — |
| | 11,839 |
| Total partners’ equity | 1,907,246 |
| | 910,120 |
| | 950,190 |
| | 2,491,707 |
| | (4,415,779 | ) | | 1,843,484 |
| Total liabilities and partners’ equity | $ | 2,413,103 |
| | $ | 3,727,577 |
| | $ | 1,655,832 |
| | $ | 2,886,079 |
| | $ | (5,767,957 | ) | | $ | 4,914,634 |
|
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets December 31, 2013 (Thousands of Dollars) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NuStar Energy | | NuStar Logistics | | NuPOP | | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 904 |
| | $ | 22,307 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 77,532 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 100,743 |
| Receivables, net | — |
| | 87,899 |
| | 13,281 |
| | 231,220 |
| | (6 | ) | | 332,394 |
| Inventories | — |
| | 2,083 |
| | 2,879 |
| | 133,195 |
| | (10 | ) | | 138,147 |
| Income tax receivable | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 826 |
| | — |
| | 826 |
| Other current assets | — |
| | 18,109 |
| | 2,334 |
| | 19,009 |
| | — |
| | 39,452 |
| Assets held for sale | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 21,987 |
| | — |
| | 21,987 |
| Intercompany receivable | — |
| | 1,521,552 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (1,521,552 | ) | | — |
| Total current assets | 904 |
| | 1,651,950 |
| | 18,494 |
| | 483,769 |
| | (1,521,568 | ) | | 633,549 |
| Property, plant and equipment, net | — |
| | 1,556,893 |
| | 573,694 |
| | 1,180,066 |
| | — |
| | 3,310,653 |
| Intangible assets, net | — |
| | 16,993 |
| | — |
| | 54,256 |
| | — |
| | 71,249 |
| Goodwill | — |
| | 149,453 |
| | 170,652 |
| | 297,324 |
| | — |
| | 617,429 |
| Investment in wholly owned subsidiaries | 2,469,331 |
| | 177,961 |
| | 860,787 |
| | 918,339 |
| | (4,426,418 | ) | | — |
| Investment in joint ventures | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 68,735 |
| | — |
| | 68,735 |
| Deferred income tax asset | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 5,769 |
| | — |
| | 5,769 |
| Note receivable from related party | — |
| | 165,440 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 165,440 |
| Other long-term assets, net | 611 |
| | 118,254 |
| | 26,331 |
| | 14,166 |
| | — |
| | 159,362 |
| Total assets | $ | 2,470,846 |
| | $ | 3,836,944 |
| | $ | 1,649,958 |
| | $ | 3,022,424 |
| | $ | (5,947,986 | ) | | $ | 5,032,186 |
| Liabilities and Partners’ Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | Payables | $ | 123 |
| | $ | 84,533 |
| | $ | 7,517 |
| | $ | 214,909 |
| | $ | (6 | ) | | $ | 307,076 |
| Accrued interest payable | — |
| | 33,066 |
| | — |
| | 47 |
| | — |
| | 33,113 |
| Accrued liabilities | 585 |
| | 18,850 |
| | 6,133 |
| | 13,064 |
| | — |
| | 38,632 |
| Taxes other than income tax | 125 |
| | 6,272 |
| | 2,873 |
| | 475 |
| | — |
| | 9,745 |
| Income tax payable | — |
| | 618 |
| | 6 |
| | 3,382 |
| | — |
| | 4,006 |
| Intercompany payable | 504,483 |
| | — |
| | 714,847 |
| | 302,222 |
| | (1,521,552 | ) | | — |
| Total current liabilities | 505,316 |
| | 143,339 |
| | 731,376 |
| | 534,099 |
| | (1,521,558 | ) | | 392,572 |
| Long-term debt | — |
| | 2,655,553 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 2,655,553 |
| Long-term payable to related party | — |
| | 35,696 |
| | — |
| | 5,443 |
| | — |
| | 41,139 |
| Deferred income tax liability | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 27,350 |
| | — |
| | 27,350 |
| Other long-term liabilities | — |
| | 4,961 |
| | 306 |
| | 6,511 |
| | — |
| | 11,778 |
| Total partners’ equity | 1,965,530 |
| | 997,395 |
| | 918,276 |
| | 2,449,021 |
| | (4,426,428 | ) | | 1,903,794 |
| Total liabilities and partners’ equity | $ | 2,470,846 |
| | $ | 3,836,944 |
| | $ | 1,649,958 |
| | $ | 3,022,424 |
| | $ | (5,947,986 | ) | | $ | 5,032,186 |
|
|
| Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block] |
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 (Thousands of Dollars) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NuStar Energy | | NuStar Logistics | | NuPOP | | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | Revenues | $ | — |
| | $ | 108,219 |
| | $ | 52,421 |
| | $ | 696,564 |
| | $ | (7,991 | ) | | $ | 849,213 |
| Costs and expenses | 473 |
| | 60,581 |
| | 32,955 |
| | 682,076 |
| | (7,975 | ) | | 768,110 |
| Operating (loss) income | (473 | ) | | 47,638 |
| | 19,466 |
| | 14,488 |
| | (16 | ) | | 81,103 |
| Equity in earnings of subsidiaries | 40,218 |
| | 2,784 |
| | 12,454 |
| | 31,915 |
| | (87,371 | ) | | — |
| Equity in (loss) earnings of joint ventures | — |
| | (8,278 | ) | | — |
| | 3,972 |
| | — |
| | (4,306 | ) | Interest (expense) income, net | — |
| | (33,497 | ) | | 14 |
| | 121 |
| | — |
| | (33,362 | ) | Other (loss) income, net | — |
| | (7 | ) | | (19 | ) | | 3,704 |
| | — |
| | 3,678 |
| Income from continuing operations before income tax expense | 39,745 |
| | 8,640 |
| | 31,915 |
| | 54,200 |
| | (87,387 | ) | | 47,113 |
| Income tax expense | 1 |
| | 191 |
| | 1 |
| | 3,924 |
| | — |
| | 4,117 |
| Income from continuing operations | 39,744 |
| | 8,449 |
| | 31,914 |
| | 50,276 |
| | (87,387 | ) | | 42,996 |
| Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax | — |
| | (168 | ) | | — |
| | (3,191 | ) | | — |
| | (3,359 | ) | Net income | 39,744 |
| | 8,281 |
| | 31,914 |
| | 47,085 |
| | (87,387 | ) | | 39,637 |
| Less net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (107 | ) | | — |
| | (107 | ) | Net income attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. | $ | 39,744 |
| | $ | 8,281 |
| | $ | 31,914 |
| | $ | 47,192 |
| | $ | (87,387 | ) | | $ | 39,744 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Comprehensive income | $ | 39,744 |
| | $ | 10,754 |
| | $ | 31,914 |
| | $ | 42,693 |
| | $ | (87,387 | ) | | $ | 37,718 |
| Less comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (552 | ) | | — |
| | (552 | ) | Comprehensive income attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. | $ | 39,744 |
| | $ | 10,754 |
| | $ | 31,914 |
| | $ | 43,245 |
| | $ | (87,387 | ) | | $ | 38,270 |
|
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 (Thousands of Dollars) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NuStar Energy | | NuStar Logistics | | NuPOP | | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | Revenues | $ | — |
| | $ | 98,689 |
| | $ | 52,626 |
| | $ | 854,896 |
| | $ | (8,025 | ) | | $ | 998,186 |
| Costs and expenses | 491 |
| | 65,398 |
| | 36,009 |
| | 840,943 |
| | (8,013 | ) | | 934,828 |
| Operating (loss) income | (491 | ) | | 33,291 |
| | 16,617 |
| | 13,953 |
| | (12 | ) | | 63,358 |
| Equity in earnings of subsidiaries | 25,056 |
| | 6,498 |
| | 8,025 |
| | 21,566 |
| | (61,145 | ) | | — |
| Equity in (loss) earnings of joint venture | — |
| | (11,541 | ) | | — |
| | 398 |
| | — |
| | (11,143 | ) | Interest expense, net | — |
| | (26,790 | ) | | (3,023 | ) | | (56 | ) | | — |
| | (29,869 | ) | Other income (expense), net | — |
| | 2,808 |
| | (84 | ) | | (2,380 | ) | | — |
| | 344 |
| Income from continuing operations before income tax expense | 24,565 |
| | 4,266 |
| | 21,535 |
| | 33,481 |
| | (61,157 | ) | | 22,690 |
| Income tax expense | — |
| | 186 |
| | 2 |
| | 2,903 |
| | — |
| | 3,091 |
| Income from continuing operations | 24,565 |
| | 4,080 |
| | 21,533 |
| | 30,578 |
| | (61,157 | ) | | 19,599 |
| (Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax | — |
| | (516 | ) | | — |
| | 5,321 |
| | — |
| | 4,805 |
| Net income | 24,565 |
| | 3,564 |
| | 21,533 |
| | 35,899 |
| | (61,157 | ) | | 24,404 |
| Less net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (161 | ) | | — |
| | (161 | ) | Net income attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. | $ | 24,565 |
| | $ | 3,564 |
| | $ | 21,533 |
| | $ | 36,060 |
| | $ | (61,157 | ) | | $ | 24,565 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Comprehensive income | $ | 24,565 |
| | $ | 10,532 |
| | $ | 21,533 |
| | $ | 26,541 |
| | $ | (61,157 | ) | | $ | 22,014 |
| Less comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (448 | ) | | — |
| | (448 | ) | Comprehensive income attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. | $ | 24,565 |
| | $ | 10,532 |
| | $ | 21,533 |
| | $ | 26,989 |
| | $ | (61,157 | ) | | $ | 22,462 |
|
|
| Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows [Text Block] |
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 (Thousands of Dollars) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NuStar Energy | | NuStar Logistics | | NuPOP | | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 97,737 |
| | $ | 18,070 |
| | $ | 32,520 |
| | $ | 13,059 |
| | $ | (98,061 | ) | | $ | 63,325 |
| Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | Capital expenditures | — |
| | (31,868 | ) | | (2,020 | ) | | (20,598 | ) | | — |
| | (54,486 | ) | Change in accounts payable related to capital expenditures | — |
| | (3,756 | ) | | (374 | ) | | (4,430 | ) | | — |
| | (8,560 | ) | Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets | — |
| | — |
| | 3 |
| | 63 |
| | — |
| | 66 |
| Increase in note receivable from related party | — |
| | (13,328 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (13,328 | ) | Other, net | — |
| | (46 | ) | | — |
| | (3 | ) | | 26 |
| | (23 | ) | Net cash used in investing activities | — |
| | (48,998 | ) | | (2,391 | ) | | (24,968 | ) | | 26 |
| | (76,331 | ) | Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | Debt borrowings | — |
| | 245,213 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 245,213 |
| Debt repayments | — |
| | (189,280 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (189,280 | ) | Distributions to unitholders and general partner | (98,051 | ) | | (98,051 | ) | | — |
| | (10 | ) | | 98,061 |
| | (98,051 | ) | Net intercompany borrowings (repayments) | 314 |
| | 51,309 |
| | (30,129 | ) | | (21,494 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| Other, net | — |
| | (561 | ) | | — |
| | 3 |
| | (26 | ) | | (584 | ) | Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (97,737 | ) | | 8,630 |
| | (30,129 | ) | | (21,501 | ) | | 98,035 |
| | (42,702 | ) | Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (2,437 | ) | | — |
| | (2,437 | ) | Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | — |
| | (22,298 | ) | | — |
| | (35,847 | ) | | — |
| | (58,145 | ) | Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period | 904 |
| | 22,307 |
| | — |
| | 77,532 |
| | — |
| | 100,743 |
| Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period | $ | 904 |
| | $ | 9 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 41,685 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 42,598 |
|
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 (Thousands of Dollars) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NuStar Energy | | NuStar Logistics | | NuPOP | | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 97,520 |
| | $ | 25,327 |
| | $ | 30,733 |
| | $ | 88,881 |
| | $ | (98,061 | ) | | $ | 144,400 |
| Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | Capital expenditures | — |
| | (39,277 | ) | | (1,478 | ) | | (11,809 | ) | | — |
| | (52,564 | ) | Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets | — |
| | 112,715 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 112,715 |
| Increase in note receivable from related party | — |
| | (63,489 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (63,489 | ) | Other, net | — |
| | (66 | ) | | 6 |
| | 69 |
| | 211 |
| | 220 |
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | — |
| | 9,883 |
| | (1,472 | ) | | (11,740 | ) | | 211 |
| | (3,118 | ) | Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | Debt borrowings | — |
| | 334,226 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 334,226 |
| Note offering, net | — |
| | 391,217 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 391,217 |
| Debt repayments | — |
| | (718,782 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (718,782 | ) | Distributions to unitholders and general partner | (98,051 | ) | | (98,051 | ) | | — |
| | (10 | ) | | 98,061 |
| | (98,051 | ) | Payments for termination of interest rate swaps | — |
| | (16,255 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (16,255 | ) | Net intercompany borrowings (repayments) | 520 |
| | 98,175 |
| | (29,261 | ) | | (69,434 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| Other, net | 11 |
| | (53 | ) | | — |
| | 329 |
| | (211 | ) | | 76 |
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (97,520 | ) | | (9,523 | ) | | (29,261 | ) | | (69,115 | ) | | 97,850 |
| | (107,569 | ) | Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (802 | ) | | — |
| | (802 | ) | Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | — |
| | 25,687 |
| | — |
| | 7,224 |
| | — |
| | 32,911 |
| Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period | 7,033 |
| | 1,112 |
| | — |
| | 75,457 |
| | — |
| | 83,602 |
| Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period | $ | 7,033 |
| | $ | 26,799 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 82,681 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 116,513 |
|
|