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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Table 3 (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 314,549 $ 376,124
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Capital expenditures (145,414) (240,671)
Change in accounts payable related to capital expenditures (15,504) (7,802)
Acquisitions 0 (142,500)
Investment in other long-term assets 0 (3,587)
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets 0 17,125
Investment in subsidiaries 0  
Net cash used in investing activities (160,918) (377,435)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Debt borrowings 985,982 1,369,779
Debt repayments (949,750) (1,022,410)
Issuance of common units, net of issuance costs 27,710 0
General partner contribution 575 0
Distributions to unitholders and general partner (294,153) (294,153)
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates 0  
Net intercompany activity 0 0
Other, net (13,599) (13,073)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (243,235) 40,143
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash 3,404 (10,319)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (86,200) 28,513
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period 118,862 87,912
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period 32,662 116,425
Eliminations    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided by operating activities (475,256) (441,245)
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Capital expenditures 0 0
Change in accounts payable related to capital expenditures 0 0
Acquisitions   0
Investment in other long-term assets   0
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets   0
Investment in subsidiaries 212,900  
Net cash used in investing activities 212,900 0
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Debt borrowings 0 0
Debt repayments 0 0
Issuance of common units, net of issuance costs 0  
General partner contribution 0  
Distributions to unitholders and general partner 441,246 441,245
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates (178,890)  
Net intercompany activity 0 0
Other, net 0 0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities 262,356 441,245
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash 0 0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period 0 0
NuStar Energy    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided by operating activities 292,572 292,631
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Capital expenditures 0 0
Change in accounts payable related to capital expenditures 0 0
Acquisitions   0
Investment in other long-term assets   0
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets   0
Investment in subsidiaries 0  
Net cash used in investing activities 0 0
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Debt borrowings 0 0
Debt repayments 0 0
Issuance of common units, net of issuance costs 27,710  
General partner contribution 575  
Distributions to unitholders and general partner (294,153) (294,153)
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates 0  
Net intercompany activity (25,372) 1,484
Other, net (1,406) 0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (292,646) (292,669)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash 0 0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (74) (38)
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period 885 923
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period 811 885
NuStar Logistics    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided by operating activities 97,253 157,684
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Capital expenditures (53,491) (156,510)
Change in accounts payable related to capital expenditures (15,086) (11,797)
Acquisitions   0
Investment in other long-term assets   0
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets   10,318
Investment in subsidiaries 0  
Net cash used in investing activities (68,577) (157,989)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Debt borrowings 965,082 1,280,879
Debt repayments (918,550) (990,410)
Issuance of common units, net of issuance costs 0  
General partner contribution 0  
Distributions to unitholders and general partner (147,076) (147,076)
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates 0  
Net intercompany activity 75,165 (134,701)
Other, net (3,298) (7,462)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (28,677) 1,230
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash 0 0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (1) 925
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period 4 6
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period 3 931
NuPOP    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided by operating activities 118,436 89,173
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Capital expenditures (43,329) (30,846)
Change in accounts payable related to capital expenditures 2,645 4,707
Acquisitions   0
Investment in other long-term assets   0
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets   20
Investment in subsidiaries (212,900)  
Net cash used in investing activities (253,584) (26,119)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Debt borrowings 0 0
Debt repayments 0 0
Issuance of common units, net of issuance costs 0  
General partner contribution 0  
Distributions to unitholders and general partner (147,077) (147,077)
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates 0  
Net intercompany activity 282,226 84,023
Other, net (1) 0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities 135,148 (63,054)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash 0 0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period 0 0
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries    
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net cash provided by operating activities 281,544 277,881
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Capital expenditures (48,594) (53,315)
Change in accounts payable related to capital expenditures (3,063) (712)
Acquisitions   (142,500)
Investment in other long-term assets   (3,587)
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets   6,787
Investment in subsidiaries 0  
Net cash used in investing activities (51,657) (193,327)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Debt borrowings 20,900 88,900
Debt repayments (31,200) (32,000)
Issuance of common units, net of issuance costs 0  
General partner contribution 0  
Distributions to unitholders and general partner (147,093) (147,092)
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates 178,890  
Net intercompany activity (332,019) 49,194
Other, net (8,894) (5,611)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (319,416) (46,609)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash 3,404 (10,319)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (86,125) 27,626
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period 117,973 86,983
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period $ 31,848 $ 114,609