v3.3.1.900

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS AND LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015
Employee Benefits and Share-based Compensation [Abstract] |
Disclosure of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table Text Block] | The number of awards granted under the above-noted plans were as follows:
|  |  |  | Year Ended December 31,
|  | Vesting |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
2000 LTIP: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Performance awards |  | (a) |  | 29,633 |  |  | 28,841 |  |  | 38,786 |
Restricted units (b) |  | 1/5 per year |  | 250,563 |  |  | 208,714 |  |  | 269,182 |
Restricted units (grants to non-employee directors of NuStar GP, LLC) |  | 1/3 per year |  | 7,553 |  |  | 7,009 |  |  | 8,904 |
2006 LTIP: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restricted units |  | 1/5 per year |  | 26,240 |  |  | 16,895 |  |  | 18,620 |
Restricted units (grants to non-employee directors of NuStar GP Holdings) (c) |  | 1/3 per year |  | 12,814 |  |  | 8,911 |  |  | 13,183 |
(a) | Performance awards vest 1/3 per year if certain performance measures are met, as defined in the award terms.
(b) | The 2000 LTIP restricted unit grants include 2,835, 2,844 and 3,882 restricted unit awards granted to certain international employees for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 respectively, that vest 1/3 per year, as defined in the award terms.
(c) | We do not reimburse NuStar GP, LLC for compensation expense relating to these awards.
Schedule of Compensation Expense for Long Term Incentive Plans and Benefit Plans [Table Text Block] | Our share of compensation expense related to the benefit plans and long-term incentive plans sponsored by NuStar GP, LLC described above is as follows:
| Year Ended December 31,
| 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
| (Thousands of Dollars)
Benefit plans | $ | 13,215 |  |  | $ | 11,385 |  |  | $ | 27,741 |
Long-term incentive plans | $ | 6,397 |  |  | $ | 10,934 |  |  | $ | 7,369 |

X
- Definition Schedule of Compensation Expense for Long Term Incentive Plans and Benefit Plans [Table Text Block] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ns_ScheduleOfCompensationExpenseForLongTermIncentivePlansAndBenefitPlansTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | ns_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of components of a stock option or other award plan under which equity-based compensation is awarded to employees, typically comprised of the amount of unearned compensation (deferred compensation cost), compensation expense, and changes in the quantity and fair value of the shares (or other type of equity) granted, exercised, forfeited, and issued and outstanding pertaining to that plan. Disclosure may also include nature and general terms of such arrangements that existed during the period and potential effects of those arrangements on shareholders, effect of compensation cost arising from equity-based payment arrangements on the income statement, method of estimating the fair value of the goods or services received, or the fair value of the equity instruments granted, during the period, cash flow effects resulting from equity-based payment arrangements and, for registrants that accelerate vesting of out of the money share options, reasons for the decision to accelerate. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DisclosureOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EmployeeBenefitsAndShareBasedCompensationAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration