v3.8.0.1

ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS Narrative 3 (Details) bbl in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 mi bbl
Segment Information
Number of business segments	3
Pipeline Segment | Central West Refined Products Pipelines
Segment Information
Pipeline length, in miles	3,130
Pipeline Segment | Crude Oil Pipelines
Segment Information
Pipeline length, in miles	1,930
Storage capacity, in barrels | bbl	5.0
Pipeline Segment | East and North Pipelines
Segment Information
Pipeline length, in miles	2,370
Storage capacity, in barrels | bbl	6.8
Pipeline Segment | Ammonia Pipeline
Segment Information
Pipeline length, in miles	2,000
Storage Segment
Segment Information
Storage capacity, in barrels | bbl	84.8

X

- Definition

Length of pipeline, in miles

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ns_PipelineMiles
Namespace Prefix:	ns_
Data Type:	num:lengthItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Storage capacity of tanks at terminals and storage facilities, in barrels.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ns_Storagecapacity
Namespace Prefix:	ns_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ns_PipelineSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=ns_CentralWestRefinedProductsPipelinesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=ns_CrudeOilPipelinesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=ns_EastandNorthPipelinesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=ns_AmmoniaPipelineMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ns_StorageSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: