PARTNERS' EQUITY (Tables)
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12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
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| Partners' Capital Notes [Abstract] |
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| Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] |
The balance of and changes in the components included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” were as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Foreign Currency Translation | | Cash Flow Hedges | | Total | | (Thousands of Dollars) | Balance as of January 1, 2013 | $ | 5,654 |
| | $ | (64,519 | ) | | $ | (58,865 | ) | Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications | (19,312 | ) | | 7,213 |
| | (12,099 | ) | Net loss reclassified into interest expense, net | — |
| | 7,570 |
| | 7,570 |
| Other comprehensive (loss) income | (19,312 | ) | | 14,783 |
| | (4,529 | ) | Balance as of December 31, 2013 | (13,658 | ) | | (49,736 | ) | | (63,394 | ) | Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications | (15,181 | ) | | — |
| | (15,181 | ) | Net loss reclassified into interest expense, net | — |
| | 10,663 |
| | 10,663 |
| Other comprehensive (loss) income | (15,181 | ) | | 10,663 |
| | (4,518 | ) | Balance as of December 31, 2014 | (28,839 | ) | | (39,073 | ) | | (67,912 | ) | Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications | (31,987 | ) | | 1,303 |
| | (30,684 | ) | Net loss reclassified into interest expense, net | — |
| | 9,802 |
| | 9,802 |
| Other comprehensive (loss) income | (31,987 | ) | | 11,105 |
| | (20,882 | ) | Balance as of December 31, 2015 | $ | (60,826 | ) | | $ | (27,968 | ) | | $ | (88,794 | ) |
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| Schedule of Calculation of Net Income Applicable to General Partner [Text Block] |
The following table details the calculation of net income applicable to the general partner: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Year Ended December 31, | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | | (Thousands of Dollars) | Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. | $ | 306,720 |
| | $ | 210,773 |
| | $ | (273,770 | ) | Less general partner incentive distribution | 43,220 |
| | 43,220 |
| | 43,220 |
| Net income (loss) after general partner incentive distribution | 263,500 |
| | 167,553 |
| | (316,990 | ) | General partner interest | 2 | % | | 2 | % | | 2 | % | General partner allocation of net income (loss) after general partner incentive distribution | 5,270 |
| | 3,352 |
| | (6,338 | ) | General partner incentive distribution | 43,220 |
| | 43,220 |
| | 43,220 |
| Net income applicable to general partner | $ | 48,490 |
| | $ | 46,572 |
| | $ | 36,882 |
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| Schedule of Distribution Waterfall [Table Text Block] |
Our general partner is entitled to incentive distributions if the amount we distribute with respect to any quarter exceeds specified target levels shown below: | | | | | | | | Percentage of Distribution | Quarterly Distribution Amount per Unit | | Unitholders | | General Partner | Up to $0.60 | | 98% | | 2% | Above $0.60 up to $0.66 | | 90% | | 10% | Above $0.66 | | 75% | | 25% |
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| Schedule of Distributions To General and Limited Partners [Text Block] |
The following table reflects the allocation of total cash distributions to the general and limited partners applicable to the period in which the distributions were earned: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Year Ended December 31, | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | | (Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Unit Data) | General partner interest | $ | 7,844 |
| | $ | 7,844 |
| | $ | 7,844 |
| General partner incentive distribution | 43,220 |
| | 43,220 |
| | 43,220 |
| Total general partner distribution | 51,064 |
| | 51,064 |
| | 51,064 |
| Limited partners’ distribution | 341,140 |
| | 341,140 |
| | 341,140 |
| Total cash distributions | $ | 392,204 |
| | $ | 392,204 |
| | $ | 392,204 |
| | | | | | | Cash distributions per unit applicable to limited partners | $ | 4.380 |
| | $ | 4.380 |
| | $ | 4.380 |
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| Distributions Made To Limited And General Partners By Distribution [Table Text Block] |
The following table summarizes information related to our quarterly cash distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Quarter Ended | | Cash Distributions Per Unit | | Total Cash Distributions | | Record Date | | Payment Date | | | | | (Thousands of Dollars) | | | | | December 31, 2015 (a) | | $ | 1.095 |
| | $ | 98,051 |
| | February 8, 2016 | | February 12, 2016 | September 30, 2015 | | $ | 1.095 |
| | $ | 98,051 |
| | November 9, 2015 | | November 13, 2015 | June 30, 2015 | | $ | 1.095 |
| | $ | 98,051 |
| | August 7, 2015 | | August 13, 2015 | March 31, 2015 | | $ | 1.095 |
| | $ | 98,051 |
| | May 8, 2015 | | May 14, 2015 |
| | (a) | The distribution was announced on January 29, 2016. |
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