v3.8.0.1
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Table 2 - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Sep. 30, 2017
Jun. 30, 2017
Mar. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Sep. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2016
Mar. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues $ 450,535 $ 440,566 $ 435,488 $ 487,430 $ 471,757 $ 441,418 $ 437,804 $ 405,703 $ 1,814,019 $ 1,756,682 $ 2,084,040
Costs and expenses                 1,477,741 1,397,573 1,693,336
Operating income (loss) 74,018 91,717 73,404 97,139 85,373 87,954 91,217 94,565 336,278 359,109 390,704
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries                 0 0 0
Interest income (expense), net                 (173,083) (138,350) (131,868)
Other income (expense), net                 (5,294) (58,783) 61,822
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense                 157,901 161,976 320,658
Income tax (benefit) expense                 9,937 11,973 14,712
Income (loss) from continuing operations                 147,964 150,003 305,946
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax                 0 0 774
Net income (loss) $ 25,182 $ 38,592 $ 26,250 $ 57,940 $ (11,056) $ 51,141 $ 52,517 $ 57,401 147,964 150,003 306,720
Eliminations                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 (1,018) (1,738) (2,063)
Costs and expenses                 (1,018) (1,738) (2,105)
Operating income (loss)                 0 0 42
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries                 (387,264) (376,263) (619,708)
Interest income (expense), net                 0 0 0
Other income (expense), net                 0 0 0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense                 (387,264) (376,263) (619,666)
Income tax (benefit) expense                 0 0 0
Income (loss) from continuing operations                     (619,666)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax                     0
Net income (loss)                 (387,264) (376,263) (619,666)
Parent Company Guarantor [Member] | NuStar Energy | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 0 0 0
Costs and expenses                 1,868 1,806 1,717
Operating income (loss)                 (1,868) (1,806) (1,717)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries                 149,775 151,794 308,437
Interest income (expense), net                 57 0 0
Other income (expense), net                 0 18 0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense                 147,964 150,006 306,720
Income tax (benefit) expense                 0 3 0
Income (loss) from continuing operations                     306,720
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax                     0
Net income (loss)                 147,964 150,003 306,720
Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | NuStar Logistics | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 496,454 511,650 547,959
Costs and expenses                 317,871 302,099 293,708
Operating income (loss)                 178,583 209,551 254,251
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries                 (10,616) (13,769) (7,257)
Interest income (expense), net                 (176,897) (139,827) (137,847)
Other income (expense), net                 145 (58,264) 1,179
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense                 (8,785) (2,309) 110,326
Income tax (benefit) expense                 (820) 1,607 (392)
Income (loss) from continuing operations                     110,718
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax                     0
Net income (loss)                 (7,965) (3,916) 110,718
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | NuPOP | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 221,125 224,966 215,469
Costs and expenses                 146,243 150,384 140,081
Operating income (loss)                 74,882 74,582 75,388
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries                 89,405 82,202 120,768
Interest income (expense), net                 (5,587) (744) 1,611
Other income (expense), net                 3 (26) 5
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense                 158,703 156,014 197,772
Income tax (benefit) expense                 2 (23) 23
Income (loss) from continuing operations                     197,749
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax                     0
Net income (loss)                 158,701 156,037 197,749
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Revenues                 1,097,458 1,021,804 1,322,675
Costs and expenses                 1,012,777 945,022 1,259,935
Operating income (loss)                 84,681 76,782 62,740
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries                 158,700 156,036 197,760
Interest income (expense), net                 9,344 2,221 4,368
Other income (expense), net                 (5,442) (511) 60,638
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense                 247,283 234,528 325,506
Income tax (benefit) expense                 10,755 10,386 15,081
Income (loss) from continuing operations                     310,425
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax                     774
Net income (loss)                 $ 236,528 $ 224,142 $ 311,199