NuStar Energy (NS) 10-Q 12 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

DEI_Document

DEI Document	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013
Document Information [Abstract]	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'NuStar Energy L.P.	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001110805	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Trading Symbol	'ns	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	77,886,078

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$24,519	$83,602
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $959 and $808 as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	242,203	387,943
Receivable from related parties	26,529	109,833
Inventories	122,998	173,228
Income tax receivable	25	1,265
Other current assets	41,188	65,238
Assets held for sale	2,847	118,334
Total current assets	460,309	939,443
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	4,528,950	4,287,859
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	-1,167,100	-1,049,399
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,361,850	3,238,460
Intangible assets, net	81,710	92,435
Goodwill	950,963	951,024
Investment in joint ventures	70,812	102,945
Deferred income tax asset	5,088	3,108
Note receivable from related party	146,472	95,711
Other long-term assets, net	165,456	189,963
Total assets	5,242,660	5,613,089
Current liabilities:	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	33,982	286,422
Accounts payable	222,360	397,633
Payable to related party	19,589	1,408
Accrued interest payable	26,384	23,741
Accrued liabilities	37,444	124,203
Taxes other than income tax	13,066	9,893
Income tax payable	3,878	2,671
Total current liabilities	356,703	845,971
Long-term debt, less current portion	2,439,696	2,124,582
Long-term payable to related party	29,637	18,071
Deferred income tax liability	29,455	32,114
Other long-term liabilities	6,190	7,356
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5)	'	'
Partners' equity:	'	'
Limited partners (77,886,078 common units outstanding as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012)	2,374,962	2,573,263
General partner	53,277	57,986
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)	-57,665	-58,865
Total NuStar Energy L.P. partners' equity	2,370,574	2,572,384
Noncontrolling interest	10,405	12,611
Total partners’ equity	2,380,979	2,584,995
Total liabilities and partners' equity	$5,242,660	$5,613,089

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$959	$808
Limited partners common units outstanding	77,886,078	77,886,078

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Service revenues	$245,577	$225,068	$706,493	$646,444
Product sales	534,433	1,368,688	1,977,423	4,324,465
Total revenues	780,010	1,593,756	2,683,916	4,970,909
Costs and expenses:	'	'	'	'
Cost of product sales	527,217	1,329,377	1,928,237	4,211,966
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
Third parties	88,974	105,165	255,490	293,012
Related party	31,517	36,872	97,647	108,636
Total operating expenses	120,491	142,037	353,137	401,648
General and administrative expenses:	'	'	'	'
Third parties	8,336	8,773	24,171	26,566
Related party	10,495	16,180	41,807	48,688
Total general and administrative expenses	18,831	24,953	65,978	75,254
Depreciation and amortization expense	47,597	38,037	137,185	125,538
Asset impairment loss	0	0	0	249,646
Goodwill impairment loss	0	0	0	22,132
Gain on legal settlement	0	0	0	-28,738
Total costs and expenses	714,136	1,534,404	2,484,537	5,057,446
Operating income (loss)	65,874	59,352	199,379	-86,537
Equity in (loss) earnings of joint ventures	-5,358	-951	-26,629	3,816
Interest expense, net	-31,078	-23,894	-93,601	-68,118
Interest income from related party	1,828	0	4,560	0
Other income (expense), net	1,407	-19,943	3,978	-21,392
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense	32,673	14,564	87,687	-172,231
Income tax (benefit) expense	-563	599	6,147	20,318
Income (loss) from continuing operations	33,236	13,965	81,540	-192,549
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	-9,623	9,069	-23,665
Net income (loss)	33,236	4,342	90,609	-216,214
Less net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	-161	-47	-439	-217
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	33,397	4,389	91,048	-215,997
Net income (loss) per unit applicable to limited partners:	'	'	'	'
Continuing operations	$0.28	$0.04	$0.61	($3.07)
Discontinued operations	$0	($0.13)	$0.12	($0.33)
Total (Note 10)	$0.28	($0.09)	$0.73	($3.40)
Weighted-average limited partner units outstanding	77,886,078	72,383,578	77,886,078	71,302,538
Comprehensive income (loss)	38,790	-4,018	90,042	-268,791
Less comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	-729	66	-2,206	780
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	$39,519	($4,084)	$92,248	($269,571)

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:	'	'
Net income (loss)	$90,609	($216,214)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization expense	137,185	129,943
Amortization of debt related items	1,721	-5,718
Gain (loss) from sale or disposition of assets	-8,739	19,828
Asset and goodwill impairment loss	0	271,778
Gain on legal settlement	0	-28,738
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	-3,815	1,403
Equity in (loss) earnings of joint ventures	26,629	-3,816
Distributions of equity in earnings of joint ventures	5,787	6,364
Changes in current assets and current liabilities (Note 11)	116,838	108,750
Other, net	12,325	-11,701
Net cash provided by operating activities	378,540	271,879
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	'	'
Capital expenditures	-260,701	-320,778
Change in accounts payable related to capital expenditures	-2,879	0
Investment in other long-term assets	0	-2,364
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	116,467	471,823
Increase in note receivable from related party	-50,761	-170,711
Other, net	156	0
Net cash used in investing activities	-197,718	-22,030
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	'	'
Proceeds from long-term debt borrowings	1,299,220	1,805,168
Proceeds from short-term debt borrowings	0	71,880
Proceeds from note offering, net of issuance costs	687,151	247,408
Long-term debt repayments	-1,897,182	-2,287,178
Short-term debt repayments	0	-71,880
Proceeds from issuance of common units, net of issuance costs	0	336,662
Contributions from general partner	0	7,121
Distributions to unitholders and general partner	-294,153	-267,228
Payments for termination of interest rate swaps	-33,697	-5,678
Other, net	3,168	363
Net cash used in financing activities	-235,493	-163,362
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash	-4,412	3,472
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	-59,083	89,959
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period	83,602	17,497
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period	$24,519	$107,456

ORGANIZATION_AND_BASIS_OF_PRES

ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION	'
	ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
	Organization and Operations
	NuStar Energy L.P. (NuStar Energy) (NYSE: NS) is engaged in the terminalling and storage of petroleum products, the transportation of petroleum products and anhydrous ammonia, and fuels marketing. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “NuStar Energy,” “the Partnership,” “we,” “our” and “us” are used in this report to refer to NuStar Energy L.P., to one or more of our consolidated subsidiaries or to all of them taken as a whole. NuStar GP Holdings, LLC (NuStar GP Holdings) (NYSE: NSH) owns our general partner, Riverwalk Logistics, L.P., and owns a 15.0% total interest in us as of September 30, 2013.
	We conduct our operations through our subsidiaries, primarily NuStar Logistics, L.P. (NuStar Logistics) and NuStar Pipeline Operating Partnership L.P. (NuPOP). We have three business segments: storage, pipeline and fuels marketing.
	Basis of Presentation
	These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership and subsidiaries in which the Partnership has a controlling interest. Noncontrolling interests are separately disclosed on the financial statements. Inter-partnership balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. We account for investments in 50% or less-owned entities using the equity method.
	These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included, and all disclosures are adequate. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless disclosed otherwise. Financial information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 included in these Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements is derived from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2013. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
	New Accounting Pronouncements
	Balance Sheet Offsetting. In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) amended the disclosure requirements with respect to offsetting assets and liabilities. The amended guidance requires new disclosures to enable users of financial statements to reconcile differences in the offsetting requirements under U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The new disclosure requirements mandate that entities disclose both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the balance sheet as well as instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. In January 2013, the FASB further amended and clarified the scope of balance sheet offsetting disclosure requirements. The amended guidance limits the scope of the new balance sheet offsetting disclosures to derivatives, repurchase agreements, and securities lending transactions to the extent that they are offset in the financial statements or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. The disclosures are required irrespective of whether the transactions are offset in the consolidated balance sheets. The amended guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and retrospective application is required. Accordingly, we adopted the amended guidance January 1, 2013, and it did not have a material impact on our disclosures.
	Other Comprehensive Income. In February 2013, the FASB further amended the disclosure requirements for the presentation of comprehensive income. The amended guidance requires that entities present either in a single note or parenthetically on the face of the financial statements, the effect of significant amounts reclassified from each component of accumulated other comprehensive income and the income statement line items affected by the reclassification. The amended guidance is effective prospectively for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. Accordingly, we adopted the amended guidance January 1, 2013, and it did not have a material impact on our disclosures.

DISPOSITIONS

DISPOSITIONS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'
DISPOSITIONS	'
	DISPOSITIONS
	San Antonio Refinery
	On January 1, 2013, we sold our fuels refinery in San Antonio, Texas (the San Antonio Refinery) and related assets, which included inventory, a terminal in Elmendorf, Texas and a pipeline connecting the terminal and refinery for approximately $117.0 million (the San Antonio Refinery Sale), and the purchaser assumed certain related liabilities. We have presented the results of operations for the San Antonio Refinery and related assets, previously reported in the fuels marketing and pipeline segments, as discontinued operations for all periods presented. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, we allocated interest expense of $1.0 million and $2.9 million, respectively, to discontinued operations based on the ratio of net assets sold to consolidated net assets. We recognized a gain of $9.3 million on the sale, which is included in discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
	The following table summarizes the results from discontinued operations:
		Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013		2012			2013		2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Revenues	$	—	$	151,010		$	185	$	411,454
	Income (loss) before income tax expense	$	—	$	(9,600	)	$	9,069	$	(23,629	)
	As of December 31, 2012, we reclassified the assets related to the San Antonio Refinery as “Assets held for sale” on the consolidated balance sheet. The liabilities held for sale related to the San Antonio Refinery are included within “Accrued liabilities” on the consolidated balance sheet. The total assets and liabilities held for sale consisted of the following:
		31-Dec-12
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Inventories	$	15,939
	Property, plant and equipment, net	93,899
	Other long-term assets, net	5,650
	Assets held for sale	$	115,488
	Accrued liabilities (environmental reserve)	$	289
	Other long-term liabilities (environmental reserve)	7,621
	Liabilities held for sale	$	7,910

INVENTORIES

INVENTORIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
INVENTORIES	'
	INVENTORIES
	Inventories consisted of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Crude oil	$	8,112	$	447
	Finished products	106,997		164,894
	Materials and supplies	7,889		7,887
	Total	$	122,998	$	173,228

DEBT

DEBT	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
DEBT	'
	DEBT
	Revolving Credit Agreement
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, our $1.5 billion five-year revolving credit agreement (the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement) was reduced by $154.3 million, primarily as a result of applying a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of NuStar Logistics’ 6.75% senior notes in August 2013. The 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement bears interest, at our option, based on either an alternative base rate or a LIBOR-based rate. The interest rate on the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement is subject to adjustment if our debt rating is downgraded (or subsequently upgraded) by certain credit rating agencies. As of September 30, 2013, our weighted average interest rate was 2.4%.
	The 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement contains customary restrictive covenants, including requiring us to maintain, as of the end of each rolling period, which consists of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, a consolidated debt coverage ratio (consolidated indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement) not to exceed 5.00-to-1.00. The requirement not to exceed a maximum consolidated debt coverage ratio may limit the amount we can borrow under the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement to an amount less than the total amount available for borrowing. As of September 30, 2013, our consolidated debt coverage ratio was 4.3x, and we had $1,055.5 million available for borrowing.
	6.75% Senior Notes
	On August 19, 2013, NuStar Logistics issued $300.0 million of 6.75% senior notes due February 1, 2021 (the 6.75% Senior Notes). We received proceeds of approximately $296.3 million, net of the underwriters’ discount and deferred issuance costs of $3.7 million, which we used for general partnership purposes, including repayment of outstanding borrowings under our 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement. The interest on the 6.75% Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year beginning on February 1, 2014.
	The 6.75% Senior Notes rank equally with existing senior unsecured indebtedness of NuStar Logistics and do not have sinking fund requirements. The 6.75% Senior Notes issued by NuStar Logistics are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by NuStar Energy and NuPOP. NuPOP will be released from its guarantee when it no longer guarantees any obligations of NuStar Energy, or any of its subsidiaries, including NuStar Logistics, under any bank facility or public debt instrument. The 6.75% Senior Notes contain restrictions on NuStar Logistics’ ability to incur secured indebtedness unless the same security is also provided for the benefit of holders of the notes. In addition, the 6.75% Senior Notes limit NuStar Logistics’ ability to incur indebtedness secured by certain liens, to engage in certain sale-leaseback transactions and to engage in certain consolidations, mergers or asset sales. At the option of NuStar Logistics, the 6.75% Senior Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part at any time at a redemption price, which may include a make-whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.
	7.625% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes
	On January 22, 2013, NuStar Logistics issued $402.5 million of 7.625% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due January 15, 2043 (the Subordinated Notes), including the underwriters’ option to purchase up to an additional $52.5 million principal amount of the notes, which was exercised in full. We received proceeds of approximately $390.9 million, net of $11.6 million of deferred issuance costs, which we used for general partnership purposes, including repayment of outstanding borrowings under our 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement. The Subordinated Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured and subordinated basis by NuStar Energy and NuPOP.
	The Subordinated Notes bear interest at a fixed annual rate of 7.625%, payable quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year beginning on April 15, 2013 and ending on January 15, 2018. Thereafter, the Subordinated Notes will bear interest at an annual rate equal to the sum of the three-month LIBOR rate for the related quarterly interest period, plus 6.734% payable quarterly on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing April 15, 2018, unless payment is deferred in accordance with the terms of the notes. NuStar Logistics may elect to defer interest payments on the Subordinated Notes on one or more occasions for up to five consecutive years. Deferred interest will accumulate additional interest at a rate equal to the interest rate then applicable to the Subordinated Notes until paid. If NuStar Logistics elects to defer interest payments, NuStar Energy cannot declare or make cash distributions to its unitholders during the period interest is deferred.
	The Subordinated Notes do not have sinking fund requirements and are subordinated to existing senior unsecured indebtedness of NuStar Logistics and NuPOP. The Subordinated Notes do not contain restrictions on NuStar Logistics’ ability to incur additional indebtedness, including debt that ranks senior in priority of payment to the notes. In addition, the Subordinated Notes do not limit NuStar Logistics’ ability to incur indebtedness secured by certain liens or to engage in certain sale-leaseback transactions. At the option of NuStar Logistics, the Subordinated Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part at any time at a redemption price, which may include a make-whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.
	Gulf Opportunity Zone Revenue Bonds
	In 2008, 2010 and 2011, the Parish of St. James, Louisiana issued, pursuant to the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005, tax-exempt revenue bonds (the GoZone Bonds) associated with our St. James, Louisiana terminal expansions. The GoZone Bonds bear interest based on a weekly tax-exempt bond market interest rate, and we pay interest monthly. The interest rate was 0.1% as of September 30, 2013. Following the issuance, the proceeds were deposited with a trustee and are disbursed to us upon our request for reimbursement of expenditures related to our St. James terminal expansions. We include the amount remaining in trust in “Other long-term assets, net,” and we include the amount of bonds issued in “Long-term debt, less current portion” on the consolidated balance sheets. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we received $38.5 million from the trustee. As of September 30, 2013, the amount remaining in trust totaled $88.1 million.
	Other
	In February 2013, we repaid the remaining principal balance of $0.6 million on our $12.0 million note payable due to the Port of Corpus Christi Authority of Nueces County, Texas. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we repaid NuStar Logistics’ $229.9 million of 6.05% senior notes due March 15, 2013 and NuPOP’s $250.0 million of 5.875% senior notes due June 1, 2013 with borrowings under our 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement.
	In January 2013, Moody’s Investor Service lowered our credit rating to Ba1 from Baa3. This downgrade caused the interest rates on the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement, NuStar Terminals Limited’s £21 million amended and restated term loan agreement and NuStar Logistics’ $350.0 million of 7.65% senior notes due 2018 to increase by 0.375%, 0.375% and 0.25%, respectively, effective January 2013. This downgrade may also require us to provide additional credit support for certain contracts, although as of September 30, 2013, we have not been required to provide any additional credit support.

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	'
	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	Contingencies
	We have contingent liabilities resulting from various litigation, claims and commitments. We record accruals for loss contingencies when losses are considered probable and can be reasonably estimated. Legal fees associated with defending the Partnership in legal matters are expensed as incurred. As of September 30, 2013, we have accrued $0.6 million for contingent losses. The amount that will ultimately be paid related to these matters may differ from the recorded accruals, and the timing of such payments is uncertain. In addition, due to the inherent uncertainty of litigation, there can be no assurance that the resolution of any particular claim or proceeding would not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
	Commitments
	On November 6, 2013, we came to a mutual agreement with PDVSA-Petróleo S.A. (PDVSA) to terminate that certain Crude Oil Sales Agreement dated effective as of March 1, 2008 (the CSA). We previously amended the CSA to reduce the crude oil purchase obligations from 75,000 barrels per day to 30,000 barrels per day, which remains in effect for the remainder the year. The termination is effective January 1, 2014, and will also terminate our crude oil supply agreement with NuStar Asphalt LLC (Asphalt JV) effective January 1, 2014. See Note 8. Related Party Transactions for a discussion of our crude oil supply agreement with Asphalt JV.

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	'
	FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
	We segregate the inputs used in measuring fair value into three levels: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists. We consider counterparty credit risk and our own credit risk in the determination of all estimated fair values.
	Product Imbalances. We value our assets and liabilities related to product imbalances using quoted market prices in active markets as of the reporting date.
	Interest Rate Swaps. We estimate the fair value of both our fixed-to-floating and forward-starting interest rate swaps using discounted cash flows, which used observable inputs such as time to maturity and market interest rates.
	Commodity Derivatives. We base the fair value of certain of our commodity derivative instruments on quoted prices on an exchange; accordingly, we include these items in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. We also have derivative instruments for which we determine fair value using industry pricing services and other observable inputs, such as quoted prices on an exchange for similar derivative instruments. Therefore, we include these derivative instruments in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. See Note 7. Derivatives and Risk Management Activities for a discussion of our derivative instruments.
	The following assets and liabilities are measured at fair value:
		September 30, 2013
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Other current assets:
	Product imbalances	$	970		$	—		$	—		$	970
	Commodity derivatives	202			4,200			—			4,402
	Other long-term assets, net:
	Commodity derivatives	—			6,575			—			6,575
	Accrued liabilities:
	Product imbalances	(1,476		)	—			—			(1,476		)
	Commodity derivatives	—			(5,006		)	—			(5,006		)
	Contingent consideration	—			—			(2,818		)	(2,818		)
	Other long-term liabilities:
	Commodity derivatives	—			(208		)	—			(208		)
	Total	$	(304	)	$	5,561		$	(2,818	)	$	2,439
		December 31, 2012
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Other current assets:
	Product imbalances	$	1,232		$	—		$	—		$	1,232
	Commodity derivatives	1,001			8,357			—			9,358
	Other long-term assets, net:
	Commodity derivatives	—			9,206			—			9,206
	Accrued liabilities:
	Product imbalances	(1,686		)	—			—			(1,686		)
	Commodity derivatives	—			(19,210		)	—			(19,210		)
	Interest rate swaps	—			(40,911		)	—			(40,911		)
	Contingent consideration	—			—			(9,600		)	(9,600		)
	Total	$	547		$	(42,558	)	$	(9,600	)	$	(51,611	)
	Contingent Consideration
	On December 13, 2012, NuStar Logistics acquired certain assets, including 100% of the partnership interest in TexStar Crude Oil Pipeline, LP, from TexStar Midstream Services, LP and certain of its affiliates (collectively, TexStar) for approximately $325.0 million (the TexStar Asset Acquisition), including contingent consideration.
	In connection with the TexStar Asset Acquisition, we could be obligated to pay additional consideration to TexStar. Such obligations are dependent upon the cost of work required to complete certain assets and obtain outstanding real estate rights (collectively, the Contingent Consideration). We estimated the fair value of the Contingent Consideration using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model, which reflects possible outcomes and our estimates of the probabilities of those outcomes. Our estimate of the fair value is based on significant inputs not observable in the market and thus falls within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The probability-weighted cash flows were discounted using a discount rate of 11%.
	Based on our assessment of the costs necessary to complete the assets in accordance with our agreement with TexStar, and considering the probability of possible outcomes, we determined that it is unlikely we would be obligated to pay a portion of the Contingent Consideration. The undiscounted amount of potential future payments that we could be required to make under the applicable agreements is between $0 and $9.3 million.
	The following table summarizes the activity in our Level 3 liabilities for contingent consideration:
		Nine Months Ended
		30-Sep-13
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Beginning balance	$	9,600
	Amounts settled	(1,114		)
	Changes in fair value recorded in earnings:
	Operating expenses	(6,500		)
	Interest expense, net	832
	Ending balance	$	2,818
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	We recognize cash equivalents, receivables, note receivables from related parties, payables and debt in our consolidated balance sheets at their carrying amount. The fair values of these financial instruments, except for a note receivable from related party and debt, approximate their carrying amounts. The estimated fair value and carrying amounts of the note receivable from related party and debt were as follows:
		September 30, 2013						December 31, 2012
		Fair Value			Carrying Amount			Fair Value			Carrying Amount
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Debt	$	2,429,001		$	2,473,678		$	2,377,120		$	2,411,004
	Note receivable from related party	$	109,505		$	146,472		$	91,705		$	95,711
	We estimated the fair value of our publicly-traded senior notes based upon quoted prices in active markets; therefore, we determined that the fair value of our publicly traded senior notes falls in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. For our other debt, for which a quoted market price is not available, we estimated the fair value using a discounted cash flow analysis using current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements and determined that the fair value falls in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
	We estimated the fair value of the note receivable from related party using discounted cash flows, which use inputs such as time to maturity and estimated market interest rates, and determined the fair value falls in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. See Note 8. Related Party Transactions for additional information on the note receivable from Asphalt JV.

DERIVATIVES_AND_RISK_MANAGEMEN

DERIVATIVES AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
DERIVATIVES AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES	'
	DERIVATIVES AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
	We utilize various derivative instruments to manage our exposure to commodity price risk and interest rate risk. Our risk management policies and procedures are designed to monitor interest rates, futures and swap positions and over-the-counter positions, as well as physical volumes, grades, locations and delivery schedules, to help ensure that our hedging activities address our market risks. Our risk management committee oversees our trading controls and procedures and certain aspects of commodity and trading risk management. Our risk management committee also reviews all new commodity and trading risk management strategies in accordance with our risk management policy, as approved by our board of directors.
	Interest Rate Risk
	We were a party to certain interest rate swap agreements to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates, which included forward-starting interest rate swap agreements related to the interest payments associated with forecasted probable debt issuances in 2013. We entered into these swaps in order to hedge the risk of changes in the interest payments attributable to changes in the benchmark interest rate during the period from the effective date of the swap to the issuance of the forecasted debt. These swaps qualified, and we designated them, as cash flow hedges of future interest payments associated with forecasted debt issuances. In connection with the maturity of the 6.05% senior notes due March 15, 2013 and 5.875% senior notes due June 1, 2013, we terminated forward-starting interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $275.0 million. We paid $33.7 million in connection with the terminations, which we reclassify out of “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” and into “Interest expense, net” as the interest payments occur or if the interest payments are probable not to occur. During the second quarter of 2013, we determined that one forecasted interest payment was probable not to occur, and we reclassified $2.0 million out of “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” to “Interest expense, net.” As of September 30, 2013, we had no forward-starting interest rate swaps.
	We were also a party to fixed-to-floating interest rate swap agreements associated with a portion of our fixed-rate senior notes, which we accounted for as fair value hedges. We terminated all remaining fixed-to-floating interest rate swap agreements during the year ended December 31, 2012.
	Commodity Price Risk
	We are exposed to market risks related to the volatility of crude oil and refined product prices. In order to reduce the risk of commodity price fluctuations with respect to our crude oil and finished product inventories and related firm commitments to purchase and/or sell such inventories, we utilize commodity futures and swap contracts, which qualify, and we designate as, fair value hedges. Derivatives that are intended to hedge our commodity price risk, but fail to qualify as fair value or cash flow hedges, are considered economic hedges, and we record associated gains and losses in net income.
	To determine the volume represented by commodity contracts, we combined the volume of our long and short open positions on an absolute basis, which totaled 20.9 million barrels and 22.7 million barrels as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
	As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, we had $4.5 million and $6.2 million, respectively, of margin deposits related to our derivative instruments.
	The fair values of our derivative instruments included in our consolidated balance sheets were as follows:
				Asset Derivatives								Liability Derivatives
		Balance Sheet Location		September 30,				31-Dec-12				September 30,				31-Dec-12
				2013								2013
				(Thousands of Dollars)
	Derivatives Designated as
	Hedging Instruments:
	Commodity contracts	Other current assets		$	412			$	1,471			$	—			$	(811	)
	Interest rate swaps	Accrued liabilities		—				—				—				(40,911		)
	Total			412				1,471				—				(41,722		)
	Derivatives Not Designated
	as Hedging Instruments:
	Commodity contracts	Other current assets		19,120				22,269				(15,130		)		(13,571		)
	Commodity contracts	Other long-term assets, net		18,034				39,322				(11,459		)		(30,116		)
	Commodity contracts	Accrued liabilities		7,199				17,406				(12,205		)		(36,616		)
	Commodity contracts	Other long-term liabilities		7,165				—				(7,373		)		—
	Total			51,518				78,997				(46,167		)		(80,303		)
	Total Derivatives			$	51,930			$	80,468			$	(46,167	)		$	(122,025	)
	Certain of our derivative instruments are eligible for offset in the consolidated balance sheets and subject to master netting arrangements. Under our master netting arrangements, there is a legally enforceable right to offset amounts, and we intend to settle such amounts on a net basis. The following are the net amounts presented on the consolidated balance sheets:
	Commodity Contracts		September 30,				31-Dec-12
			2013
			(Thousands of Dollars)
	Net amounts of assets presented in the consolidated balance sheets		$	10,977			$	18,564
	Net amounts of liabilities presented in the consolidated balance sheets		$	(5,214	)		$	(19,210	)
	The earnings impact of our derivative activity was as follows:
	Derivatives Designated as Fair Value Hedging Instruments		Income Statement		Amount of Gain				Amount of  Gain				Amount of Gain
			Location		(Loss) Recognized				(Loss)				(Loss) Recognized
					in Income on				Recognized in				in Income  on
					Derivative				Income on				Derivative
					(Effective Portion)				Hedged Item				(Ineffective Portion)
					(Thousands of Dollars)
	Three months ended September 30, 2013:
	Commodity contracts		Cost of product sales		$	(3,853	)		$	4,184			$	331
	Three months ended September 30, 2012:
	Commodity contracts		Cost of product sales		$	(23,131	)		$	22,505			$	(626	)
	Nine months ended September 30, 2013:
	Commodity contracts		Cost of product sales		$	4,059			$	(6,298	)		$	(2,239	)
	Nine months ended September 30, 2012:
	Interest rate swaps		Interest expense, net		$	(17,345	)		$	17,345			$	—
	Commodity contracts		Cost of product sales		(20,496		)		19,058				(1,438		)
	Total				$	(37,841	)		$	36,403			$	(1,438	)
	Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Instruments		Amount of Gain				Income Statement		Amount of Gain				Amount of Gain
			(Loss) Recognized				Location (a)		(Loss) Reclassified				(Loss) Recognized
			in OCI						from				in Income on
			on Derivative						Accumulated OCI				Derivative
			(Effective Portion)						into  Income				(Ineffective
									(Effective Portion)				Portion)
			(Thousands of Dollars)						(Thousands of Dollars)
	Three months ended September 30, 2013:
	Interest rate swaps		$	—			Interest expense, net		$	(1,653	)		$	—
	Three months ended September 30, 2012:
	Interest rate swaps		$	(3,825	)		Interest expense, net		$	(645	)		$	—
	Commodity contracts		(20,629		)		Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(8,728		)		277
	Total		$	(24,454	)				$	(9,373	)		$	277
Nine months ended September 30, 2013:
Interest rate swaps		$	7,213			Interest expense, net		$	(4,615	)		$	—
Nine months ended September 30, 2012:
Interest rate swaps		$	(17,276	)		Interest expense, net		$	(1,697	)		$	—
Commodity contracts		(73,289		)		Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(24,590		)		4,287
Total		$	(90,565	)				$	(26,287	)		$	4,287
(a)	Amounts are included in specified location for both the gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (OCI) into income (effective portion) and the gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (ineffective portion).
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments		Income Statement Location		Amount of Gain (Loss)
				Recognized in Income
				(Thousands of Dollars)
Three months ended September 30, 2013:
Commodity contracts		Cost of product sales		$	(4,941	)
Three months ended September 30, 2012:
Commodity contracts		Cost of product sales		$	(710	)
Commodity contracts		Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(136		)
Total				$	(846	)
Nine months ended September 30, 2013:
Commodity contracts		Cost of product sales		$	(4,492	)
Commodity contracts		Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(218		)
Total				$	(4,710	)
Nine months ended September 30, 2012:
Commodity contracts		Revenues		$	(7,654	)
Commodity contracts		Cost of product sales		20,679
Commodity contracts		Income (loss) from discontinued operations		2,412
Total				$	15,437
For derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments, once a hedged transaction occurs, we reclassify the effective portion from accumulated OCI to “Cost of product sales” or “Interest expense, net.” As of September 30, 2013, we expect to reclassify a loss of $11.0 million to “Interest expense, net” within the next twelve months.

RELATED_PARTY_TRANSACTIONS

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Related Party Transactions	'
	RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
	The following table summarizes information pertaining to related party transactions:
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Revenues	$	2,376	$	713	$	16,183	$	2,198
	Operating expenses	$	31,517	$	36,872	$	97,647	$	108,636
	General and administrative expenses	$	10,495	$	16,180	$	41,807	$	48,688
	Interest income	$	1,828	$	—	$	4,560	$	—
	Expenses included in discontinued operations, net of tax	$	—	$	2,161	$	196	$	6,451
	NuStar GP, LLC
	Our operations are managed by NuStar GP, LLC, the general partner of our general partner. Under a services agreement between NuStar Energy and NuStar GP, LLC, employees of NuStar GP, LLC perform services for our U.S. operations. Certain of our wholly owned subsidiaries employ persons who perform services for our international operations. Employees of NuStar GP, LLC provide services to both NuStar Energy and NuStar GP Holdings; therefore, we reimburse NuStar GP, LLC for all employee costs, other than the expenses allocated to NuStar GP Holdings.
	We had a payable to NuStar GP, LLC of $19.6 million and $1.4 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, with both amounts representing payroll, employee benefit plan expenses and unit-based compensation. We also had a long-term payable to NuStar GP, LLC as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 of $29.6 million and $18.1 million, respectively, related to amounts payable for retiree medical benefits and other post-employment benefits.
	Asphalt JV
	On September 28, 2012, we sold a 50% ownership interest (the Asphalt Sale) in NuStar Asphalt LLC (Asphalt JV), previously a wholly owned subsidiary. Asphalt JV owns and operates the asphalt refining assets that were previously wholly owned by NuStar Energy. Unless otherwise indicated, the term “Asphalt JV” is used in this report to refer to NuStar Asphalt LLC, to one or more of its consolidated subsidiaries or to all of them taken as a whole.
	Financing Agreements and Credit Support. The NuStar JV Facility is an unsecured revolving credit facility provided by NuStar Energy to Asphalt JV in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $250.0 million for a term of seven years. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the balance due under the NuStar JV Facility totaled $146.5 million and $95.7 million, respectively.
	In addition, during the term of the NuStar JV Facility, NuStar Energy will provide credit support, such as guarantees, letters of credit and cash collateral, as applicable, of up to $150.0 million. As of September 30, 2013, NuStar Energy has provided guarantees for commodity purchases, lease obligations and certain utilities for Asphalt JV with an aggregate maximum potential exposure of $105.0 million. In addition, NuStar Energy has provided two guarantees to Asphalt JV suppliers that do not specify a maximum amount, but for which we believe any amounts due would be minimal. A majority of these guarantees have no expiration date. As of September 30, 2013, NuStar Energy has also provided $2.2 million in letters of credit on behalf of Asphalt JV. In the event that NuStar Energy must fund its obligation under these guarantees or letters of credit, that amount will be added to borrowings under the NuStar JV Facility, but it will not reduce the availability under the NuStar JV Facility.
	Crude Oil Supply Agreement. We entered into a crude oil supply agreement with Asphalt JV (the Asphalt JV Crude Oil Supply Agreement) that commits Asphalt JV to purchase from us in a given year the lesser of (i) the number of barrels of crude oil required to be purchased by us from PDVSA under the CSA for such year or (ii) 35,000 barrels per day of crude oil multiplied by the number of days in such year. As a result of the termination of the CSA, the Asphalt JV Crude Oil Supply Agreement will also terminate effective January 1, 2014. See Note 5. Commitments and Contingencies for additional discussion of the CSA. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, we had a receivable from Asphalt JV of $26.5 million and $109.4 million, respectively, mainly associated with crude oil sales under the Asphalt JV Crude Oil Supply Agreement.
	Variable Interest Entity. We determined the equity of Asphalt JV is not sufficient to finance its activities without additional subordinated support, including support provided by us as described above. Therefore, we determined Asphalt JV is a variable interest entity (VIE). We analyzed our relationship with Asphalt JV, including our representation on the board of members, our equity interests and our rights under the various agreements with Asphalt JV and determined that we do not have the power to direct the activities most significant to the economic performance of Asphalt JV. As a result, we are not the primary beneficiary of Asphalt JV, and we report our 50% ownership in Asphalt JV using the equity method of accounting. Therefore, we have presented our investment in Asphalt JV within “Investment in joint ventures” on the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.
	As of September 30, 2013, our maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement with Asphalt JV is approximately $431.0 million, which consists of: (i) our investment in Asphalt JV of $4.5 million; (ii) up to $250.0 million under the NuStar JV Facility; (iii) up to $150.0 million for credit support, including guarantees; and (iv) a receivable from Asphalt JV of $26.5 million.
	Services Agreement Between Asphalt JV and NuStar GP, LLC. In conjunction with the Asphalt Sale, NuStar GP, LLC entered into a services agreement with Asphalt JV, effective September 28, 2012 (the Asphalt JV Services Agreement). The Asphalt JV Services Agreement provides that NuStar GP, LLC will furnish certain administrative and other operating services necessary to conduct the business of Asphalt JV. Asphalt JV will compensate NuStar GP, LLC for these services through an annual fee totaling $10.0 million, subject to adjustment based on the annual merit increase percentage applicable to NuStar GP, LLC employees for the most recently completed contract year. The Asphalt JV Services Agreement will terminate on December 31, 2017 and will automatically renew for successive two-year terms. Asphalt JV may terminate the Asphalt JV Services Agreement at any time, with 180 days prior written notice or reduce the level of service with 45 days prior written notice. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, Asphalt JV provided written notice to reduce the level of services that NuStar GP, LLC provides to Asphalt JV, which is currently at 63% of the original service level.

PARTNERS_EQUITY

PARTNERS' EQUITY	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Partners' Capital Notes [Abstract]	'
PARTNERS' EQUITY	'
	PARTNERS’ EQUITY
	Partners’ Equity Activity
	The following table summarizes changes in the carrying amount of equity attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. partners and noncontrolling interest:
		Three Months Ended September 30, 2013										Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
		NuStar Energy L.P. Partners’ Equity			Noncontrolling Interest			Total Partners’				NuStar Energy L.P. Partners’ Equity			Noncontrolling Interest			Total Partners’
								Equity										Equity
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Beginning balance	$	2,429,132		$	11,134		$	2,440,266			$	2,408,269		$	12,848		$	2,421,117
	Net income (loss)	33,397			(161		)	33,236				4,389			(47		)	4,342
	Other comprehensive
	income (loss):
	Foreign currency translation	4,469			(568		)	3,901				6,608			113			6,721
	adjustment
	Net unrealized loss	—			—			—				(24,454		)	—			(24,454		)
	on cash flow hedges
	Net loss on cash flow	1,653			—			1,653				645			—			645
	hedges reclassified
	into interest expense, net
	Net loss on cash flow	—			—			—				8,728			—			8,728
	hedges reclassified
	into income (loss) from
	discontinued operations
	Total other comprehensive	6,122			(568		)	5,554				(8,473		)	113			(8,360		)
	income (loss)
	Cash distributions to	(98,051		)	—			(98,051		)		(89,076		)	—			(89,076		)
	partners
	Issuance of common units,	—			—			—				344,076			—			344,076
	including contribution
	from general partner
	Other	(26		)	—			(26		)		—			—			—
	Ending balance	$	2,370,574		$	10,405		$	2,380,979			$	2,659,185		$	12,914		$	2,672,099
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013										Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
		NuStar Energy L.P. Partners’ Equity			Noncontrolling Interest			Total Partners’				NuStar Energy L.P. Partners’ Equity			Noncontrolling Interest			Total Partners’
								Equity										Equity
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Beginning balance	$	2,572,384		$	12,611		$	2,584,995			$	2,852,201		$	12,134		$	2,864,335
	Net income (loss)	91,048			(439		)	90,609				(215,997		)	(217		)	(216,214		)
	Other comprehensive
	income (loss):
	Foreign currency translation	(10,628		)	(1,767		)	(12,395		)		10,704			997			11,701
	adjustment
	Net unrealized gain (loss)	7,213			—			7,213				(90,565		)	—			(90,565		)
	on cash flow hedges
	Net loss on cash flow	4,615			—			4,615				1,697			—			1,697
	hedges reclassified
	into interest expense, net
	Net loss on cash flow	—			—			—				24,590			—			24,590
	hedges reclassified
	into income (loss) from
	discontinued operations
	Total other comprehensive	1,200			(1,767		)	(567		)		(53,574		)	997			(52,577		)
	income (loss)
	Cash distributions to	(294,153		)	—			(294,153		)		(267,228		)	—			(267,228		)
	partners
	Issuance of common units,	—			—			—				344,076			—			344,076
	including contribution
	from general partner
	Other	95			—			95				(293		)	—			(293		)
	Ending balance	$	2,370,574		$	10,405		$	2,380,979			$	2,659,185		$	12,914		$	2,672,099
	Allocations of Net Income
	Our partnership agreement, as amended, sets forth the calculation to be used to determine the amount and priority of cash distributions that the common unitholders and the general partner will receive. The partnership agreement also contains provisions for the allocation of net income and loss to the unitholders and the general partner. For purposes of maintaining partner capital accounts, the partnership agreement specifies that items of income and loss shall be allocated among the partners in accordance with their respective percentage interests. Normal allocations according to percentage interests are made after giving effect to priority income allocations, if any, in an amount equal to incentive cash distributions allocated 100% to the general partner. The following table details the calculation of net income applicable to the general partner:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013				2012
	(Thousands of Dollars)
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	$	33,397		$	4,389		$	91,048			$	(215,997	)
Less general partner incentive distribution	10,805			10,805			32,415				30,437
Net income (loss) after general partner	22,592			(6,416		)	58,633				(246,434		)
incentive distribution
General partner interest	2		%	2		%	2		%		2		%
General partner allocation of net income (loss) after	452			(128		)	1,174				(4,928		)
general partner incentive distribution
General partner incentive distribution	10,805			10,805			32,415				30,437
Net income applicable to general partner	$	11,257		$	10,677		$	33,589			$	25,509
Cash Distributions
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:
	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2013			2012			2013				2012
	(Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Unit Data)
General partner interest	$	1,961		$	1,961		$	5,883			$	5,525
General partner incentive distribution	10,805			10,805			32,415				30,437
Total general partner distribution	12,766			12,766			38,298				35,962
Limited partners’ distribution	85,285			85,285			255,855				240,241
Total cash distributions	$	98,051		$	98,051		$	294,153			$	276,203
Cash distributions per unit applicable	$	1.095		$	1.095		$	3.285			$	3.285
to limited partners
The following table summarizes information related to our quarterly cash distributions:
Quarter Ended		Cash Distributions Per Unit			Total Cash Distributions (Thousands of Dollars)			Record Date		Payment Date
September 30, 2013 (a)		$	1.095		$	98,051		November 11, 2013		November 14, 2013
30-Jun-13		$	1.095		$	98,051		August 5, 2013		August 9, 2013
31-Mar-13		$	1.095		$	98,051		May 6, 2013		May 10, 2013
31-Dec-12		$	1.095		$	98,051		February 11, 2013		February 14, 2013
(a)	The distribution was announced on October 31, 2013.

NET_INCOME_PER_UNIT

NET INCOME PER UNIT	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
NET INCOME PER UNIT	'
	NET INCOME (LOSS) PER UNIT
	We have identified the general partner interest and incentive distribution rights (IDR) as participating securities and use the two-class method when calculating the net income per unit applicable to limited partners, which is based on the weighted-average number of common units outstanding during the period. Basic and diluted net income per unit applicable to limited partners are the same because we have no potentially dilutive securities outstanding.
	The following table details the calculation of earnings (loss) per unit:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars, Except Unit and Per Unit Data)
	Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	$	33,397		$	4,389		$	91,048		$	(215,997	)
	Less general partner distribution (including IDR)	12,766			12,766			38,298			35,962
	Less limited partner distribution	85,285			85,285			255,855			240,241
	Distributions in excess of earnings	$	(64,654	)	$	(93,662	)	$	(203,105	)	$	(492,200	)
	General partner earnings:
	Distributions	$	12,766		$	12,766		$	38,298		$	35,962
	Allocation of distributions in excess of earnings (2%)	(1,293		)	(1,874		)	(4,061		)	(9,846		)
	Total	$	11,473		$	10,892		$	34,237		$	26,116
	Limited partner earnings:
	Distributions	$	85,285		$	85,285		$	255,855		$	240,241
	Allocation of distributions in excess of earnings (98%)	(63,361		)	(91,788		)	(199,044		)	(482,354		)
	Total	$	21,924		$	(6,503	)	$	56,811		$	(242,113	)
	Weighted-average limited partner units outstanding	77,886,078			72,383,578			77,886,078			71,302,538
	Net income (loss) per unit applicable to limited partners	$	0.28		$	(0.09	)	$	0.73		$	(3.40	)

STATEMENTS_OF_CASH_FLOWS

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]	'
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS	'
	STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
	Changes in current assets and current liabilities were as follows:
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Decrease (increase) in current assets:
	Accounts receivable	$	145,803		$	95,213
	Receivable from related parties	83,265			(3,149		)
	Inventories	47,145			60,878
	Income tax receivable	1,204			3,190
	Other current assets	24,026			(17,571		)
	Increase (decrease) in current liabilities:
	Accounts payable	(176,161		)	(11,854		)
	Payable to related party	18,180			6,976
	Accrued interest payable	2,643			(5,867		)
	Accrued liabilities	(33,618		)	(21,253		)
	Taxes other than income tax	3,144			2,662
	Income tax payable	1,207			(475		)
	Changes in current assets and current liabilities	$	116,838		$	108,750
	The above changes in current assets and current liabilities differ from changes between amounts reflected in the applicable balance sheets due to current assets and current liabilities disposed of during the period and the effect of foreign currency translation.
	Cash flows related to interest and income taxes were as follows:
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Cash paid for interest, net of amount capitalized	$	88,529		$	85,583
	Cash paid for income taxes, net of tax refunds received	$	8,183		$	18,308

SEGMENT_INFORMATION

SEGMENT INFORMATION	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
SEGMENT INFORMATION	'
	SEGMENT INFORMATION
	Our reportable business segments consist of storage, pipeline (formerly known as the transportation segment), and fuels marketing. In 2013, we renamed the “Asphalt and Fuels Marketing Segment” the “Fuels Marketing Segment” since this name more accurately reflects the operations that remain after our deconsolidation of Asphalt JV in 2012 and the San Antonio Refinery Sale.
	Our segments represent strategic business units that offer different services and products. We evaluate the performance of each segment based on its respective operating income, before general and administrative expenses and certain non-segmental depreciation and amortization expense. General and administrative expenses are not allocated to the operating segments since those expenses relate primarily to the overall management at the entity level. Our principal operations include terminalling and storage of petroleum products, the transportation of petroleum products and anhydrous ammonia, and fuels marketing. Intersegment revenues result from storage and throughput agreements with wholly owned subsidiaries of NuStar Energy at lease rates consistent with rates charged to third parties for storage and at pipeline tariff rates based upon the applicable published tariff. Related party revenues mainly result from storage agreements with our joint ventures and the noncontrolling shareholder of our Turkey subsidiary.
	Results of operations for the reportable segments were as follows:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Revenues:
	Storage:
	Third parties	$	131,207		$	128,538		$	396,086		$	389,412
	Intersegment	6,933			19,679			26,326			55,542
	Related party	2,376			713			7,538			2,198
	Total storage	140,516			148,930			429,950			447,152
	Pipeline	111,508			92,570			301,761			244,938
	Fuels marketing:
	Third parties	534,919			1,371,935			1,969,886			4,334,361
	Related party	—			—			8,645			—
	Total fuels marketing	534,919			1,371,935			1,978,531			4,334,361
	Consolidation and intersegment eliminations	(6,933		)	(19,679		)	(26,326		)	(55,542		)
	Total revenues	$	780,010		$	1,593,756		$	2,683,916		$	4,970,909
	Operating income:
	Storage	$	38,217		$	50,422		$	131,132		$	160,696
	Pipeline	58,018			41,864			149,126			110,640
	Fuels marketing	(9,079		)	(6,517		)	(7,240		)	(302,783		)
	Consolidation and intersegment eliminations	80			175			(33		)	213
	Total segment operating income (loss)	87,236			85,944			272,985			(31,234		)
	General and administrative expenses	18,831			24,953			65,978			75,254
	Other depreciation and amortization expense	2,531			1,639			7,628			5,492
	Other asset impairment loss	—			—			—			3,295
	Gain on legal settlement	—			—			—			(28,738		)
	Total operating income (loss)	$	65,874		$	59,352		$	199,379		$	(86,537	)
	Total assets by reportable segment were as follows:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Storage	$	2,675,227		$	2,627,946
	Pipeline	1,769,036			1,720,711
	Fuels marketing	517,540			885,661
	Total segment assets	4,961,803			5,234,318
	Other partnership assets	280,857			378,771
	Total consolidated assets	$	5,242,660		$	5,613,089

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATING_FINANC

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS [Abstract]	'
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	'
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
	NuStar Energy has no operations and its assets consist mainly of its investments in NuStar Logistics and NuPOP, both wholly owned subsidiaries. The senior and subordinated notes issued by NuStar Logistics are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by NuStar Energy and NuPOP. As a result, the following condensed consolidating financial statements are presented as an alternative to providing separate financial statements for NuStar Logistics and NuPOP.
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
	September 30, 2013
	(Thousands of Dollars)
		NuStar			NuStar			NuPOP			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		Energy			Logistics						Subsidiaries
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	286		$	9		$	—		$	24,224		$	—		$	24,519
	Receivables, net	—			48,527			11,331			194,930			13,944			268,732
	Inventories	—			2,055			10,552			110,454			(63		)	122,998
	Income tax receivable	—			—			—			25			—			25
	Other current assets	22			21,896			1,577			17,693			—			41,188
	Assets held for sale	—			2,847			—			—			—			2,847
	Intercompany receivable	—			324,347			387,731			—			(712,078		)	—
	Total current assets	308			399,681			411,191			347,326			(698,197		)	460,309
	Property, plant and equipment, net	—			1,539,777			575,143			1,246,930			—			3,361,850
	Intangible assets, net	—			17,428			—			64,282			—			81,710
	Goodwill	—			149,453			170,652			630,858			—			950,963
	Investment in wholly owned	2,931,570			177,736			1,229,345			2,392,178			(6,730,829		)	—
	subsidiaries
	Investment in joint ventures	—			4,453			—			66,359			—			70,812
	Deferred income tax asset	—			—			—			5,088			—			5,088
	Note receivable from related party	—			146,472			—			—			—			146,472
	Other long-term assets, net	490			123,982			26,331			14,653			—			165,456
	Total assets	$	2,932,368		$	2,558,982		$	2,412,662		$	4,767,674		$	(7,429,026	)	$	5,242,660
	Liabilities and Partners’ Equity
	Current portion of long-term debt	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	33,982		$	—		$	33,982
	Payables	—			62,791			10,704			154,510			13,944			241,949
	Accrued interest payable	—			26,380			—			4			—			26,384
	Accrued liabilities	750			14,300			5,558			16,836			—			37,444
	Taxes other than income tax	63			6,526			3,780			2,697			—			13,066
	Income tax payable	—			358			3			3,517			—			3,878
	Intercompany payable	503,316			—			—			208,762			(712,078		)	—
	Total current liabilities	504,129			110,355			20,045			420,308			(698,134		)	356,703
	Long-term debt, less current portion	—			2,439,696			—			—			—			2,439,696
	Long-term payable to related party	—			24,195			—			5,442			—			29,637
	Deferred income tax liability	—			—			—			29,455			—			29,455
	Other long-term liabilities	—			843			404			4,943			—			6,190
	Total partners’ equity	2,428,239			(16,107		)	2,392,213			4,307,526			(6,730,892		)	2,380,979
	Total liabilities and	$	2,932,368		$	2,558,982		$	2,412,662		$	4,767,674		$	(7,429,026	)	$	5,242,660
	partners’ equity
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
	December 31, 2012
	(Thousands of Dollars)
		NuStar			NuStar			NuPOP			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		Energy			Logistics						Subsidiaries
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,033		$	1,112		$	—		$	75,457		$	—		$	83,602
	Receivables, net	—			157,452			10,561			340,144			(10,381		)	497,776
	Inventories	—			2,320			5,590			165,349			(31		)	173,228
	Income tax receivable	—			—			—			1,265			—			1,265
	Other current assets	—			26,353			1,468			37,417			—			65,238
	Assets held for sale	—			35,337			—			82,997			—			118,334
	Intercompany receivable	—			353,384			599,599			—			(952,983		)	—
	Total current assets	7,033			575,958			617,218			702,629			(963,395		)	939,443
	Property, plant and equipment, net	—			1,423,991			582,299			1,232,170			—			3,238,460
	Intangible assets, net	—			18,733			—			73,702			—			92,435
	Goodwill	—			145,990			170,652			634,382			—			951,024
	Investment in wholly owned	3,133,097			161,957			1,208,595			2,329,595			(6,833,244		)	—
	subsidiaries
	Investment in joint ventures	—			35,883			—			67,062			—			102,945
	Deferred income tax asset	—			—			—			3,108			—			3,108
Note receivable from related party	—			95,711			—			—			—			95,711
Other long-term assets, net	490			148,384			26,330			14,759			—			189,963
Total assets	$	3,140,620		$	2,606,607		$	2,605,094		$	5,057,407		$	(7,796,639	)	$	5,613,089
Liabilities and Partners’ Equity
Current portion of long-term debt	$	—		$	1,313		$	250,967		$	34,142		$	—		$	286,422
Payables	15			122,706			12,657			274,044			(10,381		)	399,041
Accrued interest payable	—			22,512			1,224			5			—			23,741
Accrued liabilities	862			76,322			7,542			39,477			—			124,203
Taxes other than income tax	129			5,671			2,830			1,263			—			9,893
Income tax payable	—			247			—			2,424			—			2,671
Intercompany payable	508,365			—			—			444,618			(952,983		)	—
Total current liabilities	509,371			228,771			275,220			795,973			(963,364		)	845,971
Long-term debt, less current portion	—			2,124,582			—			—			—			2,124,582
Long-term payable to related party	—			12,629			—			5,442			—			18,071
Deferred income tax liability	—			—			—			32,114			—			32,114
Other long-term liabilities	—			2,701			279			4,376			—			7,356
Total partners’ equity	2,631,249			237,924			2,329,595			4,219,502			(6,833,275		)	2,584,995
Total liabilities and	$	3,140,620		$	2,606,607		$	2,605,094		$	5,057,407		$	(7,796,639	)	$	5,613,089
partners’ equity
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
(Thousands of Dollars)
	NuStar			NuStar			NuPOP			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Energy			Logistics						Subsidiaries
Revenues	$	—		$	107,066		$	50,669		$	631,026		$	(8,751	)	$	780,010
Costs and expenses	507			67,005			32,274			623,181			(8,831		)	714,136
Operating (loss) income	(507		)	40,061			18,395			7,845			80			65,874
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	33,904			8,136			4,992			23,449			(70,481		)	—
Equity in (loss) earnings of	—			(8,202		)	—			2,844			—			(5,358		)
joint ventures
Interest (expense) income, net	—			(29,451		)	76			125			—			(29,250		)
Other income, net	—			—			8			1,399			—			1,407
Income from continuing	33,397			10,544			23,471			35,662			(70,401		)	32,673
operations before income tax
expense
Income tax expense (benefit)	—			146			1			(710		)	—			(563		)
Income from continuing	33,397			10,398			23,470			36,372			(70,401		)	33,236
operations
Income from discontinued	—			—			—			—			—			—
operations, net of tax
Net income	33,397			10,398			23,470			36,372			(70,401		)	33,236
Less net loss attributable to	—			—			—			(161		)	—			(161		)
noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to	$	33,397		$	10,398		$	23,470		$	36,533		$	(70,401	)	$	33,397
NuStar Energy L.P.
Comprehensive income	$	33,397		$	12,746		$	23,470		$	39,578		$	(70,401	)	$	38,790
Less comprehensive loss	—			—			—			(729		)	—			(729		)
attributable to
noncontrolling interest
Comprehensive income	$	33,397		$	12,746		$	23,470		$	40,307		$	(70,401	)	$	39,519
attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
(Thousands of Dollars)
	NuStar			NuStar			NuPOP			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Energy			Logistics						Subsidiaries
Revenues	$	—		$	97,369		$	48,486		$	1,455,625		$	(7,724	)	$	1,593,756
Costs and expenses	460			57,573			36,977			1,447,320			(7,926		)	1,534,404
Operating (loss) income	(460		)	39,796			11,509			8,305			202			59,352
Equity in earnings (loss) of	4,849			(13,291		)	13,862			24,246			(29,666		)	—
subsidiaries
Equity in (loss) earnings of	—			(3,304		)	—			2,353			—			(951		)
joint venture
Interest expense, net	—			(20,804		)	(2,800		)	(290		)	—			(23,894		)
Other (expense) income, net	—			(21,491		)	1,678			(130		)	—			(19,943		)
Income (loss) from continuing	4,389			(19,094		)	24,249			34,484			(29,464		)	14,564
operations before income tax
expense
Income tax expense	—			97			1			501			—			599
Income (loss) from continuing	4,389			(19,191		)	24,248			33,983			(29,464		)	13,965
operations
Loss from discontinued operations,	—			(241		)	—			(9,185		)	(197		)	(9,623		)
net of tax
Net income (loss)	4,389			(19,432		)	24,248			24,798			(29,661		)	4,342
Less net loss attributable to	—			—			—			(47		)	—			(47		)
noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss) attributable to	$	4,389		$	(19,432	)	$	24,248		$	24,845		$	(29,661	)	$	4,389
NuStar Energy L.P.
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	4,389		$	(22,612	)	$	24,248		$	19,618		$	(29,661	)	$	(4,018	)
Less comprehensive income	—			—			—			66			—			66
attributable to
noncontrolling interest
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	4,389		$	(22,612	)	$	24,248		$	19,552		$	(29,661	)	$	(4,084	)
attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
(Thousands of Dollars)
	NuStar			NuStar			NuPOP			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Energy			Logistics						Subsidiaries
Revenues	$	—		$	308,936		$	151,189		$	2,249,598		$	(25,807	)	$	2,683,916
Costs and expenses	1,438			181,472			104,311			2,223,091			(25,775		)	2,484,537
Operating (loss) income	(1,438		)	127,464			46,878			26,507			(32		)	199,379
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	92,486			15,779			20,750			62,614			(191,629		)	—
Equity in (loss) earnings of	—			(31,713		)	—			5,084			—			(26,629		)
joint ventures
Interest expense, net	—			(83,788		)	(4,941		)	(312		)	—			(89,041		)
Other income (expense), net	—			2,466			(65		)	1,577			—			3,978
Income from continuing	91,048			30,208			62,622			95,470			(191,661		)	87,687
operations before income tax
expense
Income tax expense	—			420			4			5,723			—			6,147
Income from continuing	91,048			29,788			62,618			89,747			(191,661		)	81,540
operations
Income from discontinued	—			28			—			9,041			—			9,069
operations, net of tax
Net income	91,048			29,816			62,618			98,788			(191,661		)	90,609
Less net loss attributable to	—			—			—			(439		)	—			(439		)
noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to	$	91,048		$	29,816		$	62,618		$	99,227		$	(191,661	)	$	91,048
NuStar Energy L.P.
Comprehensive income	$	91,048		$	43,306		$	62,618		$	84,731		$	(191,661	)	$	90,042
Less comprehensive loss	—			—			—			(2,206		)	—			(2,206		)
attributable to
noncontrolling interest
Comprehensive income	$	91,048		$	43,306		$	62,618		$	86,937		$	(191,661	)	$	92,248
attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
(Thousands of Dollars)
	NuStar			NuStar			NuPOP			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Energy			Logistics						Subsidiaries
Revenues	$	—		$	260,414		$	142,769		$	4,589,035		$	(21,309	)	$	4,970,909
Costs and expenses	1,280			154,333			103,673			4,819,766			(21,606		)	5,057,446
Operating (loss) income	(1,280		)	106,081			39,096			(230,731		)	297			(86,537		)
Equity in (loss) earnings of	(214,717		)	(342,197		)	76,380			106,073			374,461			—
subsidiaries
Equity in (loss) earnings of	—			(3,304		)	—			7,120			—			3,816
joint venture
Interest expense, net	—			(57,621		)	(9,799		)	(698		)	—			(68,118		)
Other (loss) income, net	—			(21,199		)	1,751			(1,944		)	—			(21,392		)
(Loss) income from continuing	(215,997		)	(318,240		)	107,428			(120,180		)	374,758			(172,231		)
operations before income tax
expense
Income tax expense	—			238			1,331			18,749			—			20,318
(Loss) income from continuing	(215,997		)	(318,478		)	106,097			(138,929		)	374,758			(192,549		)
operations
Loss from discontinued	—			(2,154		)	—			(21,250		)	(261		)	(23,665		)
operations, net of tax
Net (loss) income	(215,997		)	(320,632		)	106,097			(160,179		)	374,497			(216,214		)
Less net loss attributable to	—			—			—			(217		)	—			(217		)
noncontrolling interest
Net (loss) income attributable to	$	(215,997	)	$	(320,632	)	$	106,097		$	(159,962	)	$	374,497		$	(215,997	)
NuStar Energy L.P.
Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(215,997	)	$	(336,211	)	$	106,097		$	(197,177	)	$	374,497		$	(268,791	)
Less comprehensive income	—			—			—			780			—			780
attributable to
noncontrolling interest
Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(215,997	)	$	(336,211	)	$	106,097		$	(197,957	)	$	374,497		$	(269,571	)
attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
(Thousands of Dollars)
	NuStar			NuStar			NuPOP			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Energy			Logistics						Subsidiaries
Net cash provided by (used in)	$	292,499		$	159,157		$	50,587		$	170,479		$	(294,182	)	$	378,540
operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	—			(181,580		)	(13,449		)	(65,672		)	—			(260,701		)
Change in accounts payable	—			(5,419		)	1,534			1,006			—			(2,879		)
related to capital expenditures
Proceeds from sale or disposition	—			116,348			28			91			—			116,467
of assets
Increase in note receivable from	—			(50,761		)	—			—			—			(50,761		)
related party
Investment in subsidiaries	(141		)	—			—			—			141			—
Other, net	141			15			—			—			—			156
Net cash (used in) provided by	—			(121,397		)	(11,887		)	(64,575		)	141			(197,718		)
investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Debt borrowings	—			1,299,220			—			—			—			1,299,220
Debt repayments	—			(1,647,182		)	(250,000		)	—			—			(1,897,182		)
Note offering, net	—			687,151			—			—			—			687,151
Distributions to unitholders	(294,153		)	(294,153		)	—			(29		)	294,182			(294,153		)
and general partner
Payments for termination of	—			(33,697		)	—			—			—			(33,697		)
interest rate swaps
Net intercompany borrowings	(5,047		)	(53,557		)	211,300			(152,696		)	—			—
(repayments)
Other, net	(46		)	3,355			—			—			(141		)	3,168
Net cash (used in) provided by	(299,246		)	(38,863		)	(38,700		)	(152,725		)	294,041			(235,493		)
financing activities
Effect of foreign exchange rate	—			—			—			(4,412		)	—			(4,412		)
changes on cash
Net decrease in cash	(6,747		)	(1,103		)	—			(51,233		)	—			(59,083		)
and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents as of the	7,033			1,112			—			75,457			—			83,602
beginning of the period
Cash and cash equivalents as of the	$	286		$	9		$	—		$	24,224		$	—		$	24,519
end of the period
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
(Thousands of Dollars)
	NuStar			NuStar			NuPOP			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Energy			Logistics						Subsidiaries
Net cash provided by (used in)	$	265,905		$	91,736		$	46,183		$	142,700		$	(274,645	)	$	271,879
operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	—			(237,408		)	(11,816		)	(71,554		)	—			(320,778		)
Investment in other long-term	—			—			—			(2,364		)	—			(2,364		)
assets
Proceeds from sale or disposition	—			436,426			4,531			30,866			—			471,823
of assets
Increase in note receivable from	—			(170,711		)	—			—			—			(170,711		)
related party
Investment in subsidiaries	(344,244		)	—			—			(34		)	344,278			—
Net cash (used in) provided by	(344,244		)	28,307			(7,285		)	(43,086		)	344,278			(22,030		)
investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Debt borrowings	—			1,877,048			—			—			—			1,877,048
Debt repayments	—			(2,109,058		)	(250,000		)	—			—			(2,359,058		)
Note offering, net	—			247,408			—			—			—			247,408
Issuance of common units, net of	336,662			—			—			—			—			336,662
issuance costs
General partner contribution	7,121			—			—			—			—			7,121
Distributions to unitholders and	(267,228		)	(267,228		)	—			(7,426		)	274,654			(267,228		)
general partner
Payments for termination of	—			(5,678		)	—			—			—			(5,678		)
interest rate swaps
Contributions from	—			344,244			—			34			(344,278		)	—
(distributions to) affiliates
Net intercompany borrowings	9,059			(206,846		)	211,102			(13,306		)	(9		)	—
(repayments)
Other, net	(133		)	496			—			—			—			363
Net cash provided by (used in)	85,481			(119,614		)	(38,898		)	(20,698		)	(69,633		)	(163,362		)
financing activities
Effect of foreign exchange rate	—			(431		)	—			3,903			—			3,472
changes on cash
Net increase (decrease) in cash and	7,142			(2		)	—			82,819			—			89,959
cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents as of the	139			14			—			17,344			—			17,497
beginning of the period
Cash and cash equivalents as of the	$	7,281		$	12		$	—		$	100,163		$	—		$	107,456
end of the period

DISPOSITIONS_Tables

DISPOSITIONS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'
Schedule of results from discontinued operations [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes the results from discontinued operations:
		Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013		2012			2013		2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Revenues	$	—	$	151,010		$	185	$	411,454
	Income (loss) before income tax expense	$	—	$	(9,600	)	$	9,069	$	(23,629	)
Schedule of total assets and liabilities held for sale [Table Text Block]	'
	The total assets and liabilities held for sale consisted of the following:
		31-Dec-12
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Inventories	$	15,939
	Property, plant and equipment, net	93,899
	Other long-term assets, net	5,650
	Assets held for sale	$	115,488
	Accrued liabilities (environmental reserve)	$	289
	Other long-term liabilities (environmental reserve)	7,621
	Liabilities held for sale	$	7,910

INVENTORIES_Tables

INVENTORIES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Inventory Table [Text Block]	'
	Inventories consisted of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Crude oil	$	8,112	$	447
	Finished products	106,997		164,894
	Materials and supplies	7,889		7,887
	Total	$	122,998	$	173,228

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Tables

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table Text Block]	'
	The following assets and liabilities are measured at fair value:
		September 30, 2013
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Other current assets:
	Product imbalances	$	970		$	—		$	—		$	970
	Commodity derivatives	202			4,200			—			4,402
	Other long-term assets, net:
	Commodity derivatives	—			6,575			—			6,575
	Accrued liabilities:
	Product imbalances	(1,476		)	—			—			(1,476		)
	Commodity derivatives	—			(5,006		)	—			(5,006		)
	Contingent consideration	—			—			(2,818		)	(2,818		)
	Other long-term liabilities:
	Commodity derivatives	—			(208		)	—			(208		)
	Total	$	(304	)	$	5,561		$	(2,818	)	$	2,439
		December 31, 2012
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Other current assets:
	Product imbalances	$	1,232		$	—		$	—		$	1,232
	Commodity derivatives	1,001			8,357			—			9,358
	Other long-term assets, net:
	Commodity derivatives	—			9,206			—			9,206
	Accrued liabilities:
	Product imbalances	(1,686		)	—			—			(1,686		)
	Commodity derivatives	—			(19,210		)	—			(19,210		)
	Interest rate swaps	—			(40,911		)	—			(40,911		)
	Contingent consideration	—			—			(9,600		)	(9,600		)
	Total	$	547		$	(42,558	)	$	(9,600	)	$	(51,611	)
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes the activity in our Level 3 liabilities for contingent consideration:
		Nine Months Ended
		30-Sep-13
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Beginning balance	$	9,600
	Amounts settled	(1,114		)
	Changes in fair value recorded in earnings:
	Operating expenses	(6,500		)
	Interest expense, net	832
	Ending balance	$	2,818
Fair Value and Carrying Value of Debt and Note Receivable [Table Text Block]	'
	The estimated fair value and carrying amounts of the note receivable from related party and debt were as follows:
		September 30, 2013						December 31, 2012
		Fair Value			Carrying Amount			Fair Value			Carrying Amount
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Debt	$	2,429,001		$	2,473,678		$	2,377,120		$	2,411,004
	Note receivable from related party	$	109,505		$	146,472		$	91,705		$	95,711

DERIVATIVES_AND_RISK_MANAGEMEN1

DERIVATIVES AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Derivative Instruments in Statement of Financial Position, Fair Value [Table Text Block]	'
	The fair values of our derivative instruments included in our consolidated balance sheets were as follows:
				Asset Derivatives								Liability Derivatives
		Balance Sheet Location		September 30,				31-Dec-12				September 30,				31-Dec-12
				2013								2013
				(Thousands of Dollars)
	Derivatives Designated as
	Hedging Instruments:
	Commodity contracts	Other current assets		$	412			$	1,471			$	—			$	(811	)
	Interest rate swaps	Accrued liabilities		—				—				—				(40,911		)
	Total			412				1,471				—				(41,722		)
	Derivatives Not Designated
	as Hedging Instruments:
	Commodity contracts	Other current assets		19,120				22,269				(15,130		)		(13,571		)
	Commodity contracts	Other long-term assets, net		18,034				39,322				(11,459		)		(30,116		)
	Commodity contracts	Accrued liabilities		7,199				17,406				(12,205		)		(36,616		)
	Commodity contracts	Other long-term liabilities		7,165				—				(7,373		)		—
	Total			51,518				78,997				(46,167		)		(80,303		)
	Total Derivatives			$	51,930			$	80,468			$	(46,167	)		$	(122,025	)
Derivatives Assets And Liabilities Eligible for Offset Net [Table Text Block]	'
	The following are the net amounts presented on the consolidated balance sheets:
	Commodity Contracts		September 30,				31-Dec-12
			2013
			(Thousands of Dollars)
	Net amounts of assets presented in the consolidated balance sheets		$	10,977			$	18,564
	Net amounts of liabilities presented in the consolidated balance sheets		$	(5,214	)		$	(19,210	)
Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance [Text Block]	'
	The earnings impact of our derivative activity was as follows:
	Derivatives Designated as Fair Value Hedging Instruments		Income Statement		Amount of Gain				Amount of  Gain				Amount of Gain
			Location		(Loss) Recognized				(Loss)				(Loss) Recognized
					in Income on				Recognized in				in Income  on
					Derivative				Income on				Derivative
					(Effective Portion)				Hedged Item				(Ineffective Portion)
					(Thousands of Dollars)
	Three months ended September 30, 2013:
	Commodity contracts		Cost of product sales		$	(3,853	)		$	4,184			$	331
	Three months ended September 30, 2012:
	Commodity contracts		Cost of product sales		$	(23,131	)		$	22,505			$	(626	)
	Nine months ended September 30, 2013:
	Commodity contracts		Cost of product sales		$	4,059			$	(6,298	)		$	(2,239	)
	Nine months ended September 30, 2012:
	Interest rate swaps		Interest expense, net		$	(17,345	)		$	17,345			$	—
	Commodity contracts		Cost of product sales		(20,496		)		19,058				(1,438		)
	Total				$	(37,841	)		$	36,403			$	(1,438	)
	Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Instruments		Amount of Gain				Income Statement		Amount of Gain				Amount of Gain
			(Loss) Recognized				Location (a)		(Loss) Reclassified				(Loss) Recognized
			in OCI						from				in Income on
			on Derivative						Accumulated OCI				Derivative
			(Effective Portion)						into  Income				(Ineffective
									(Effective Portion)				Portion)
			(Thousands of Dollars)						(Thousands of Dollars)
	Three months ended September 30, 2013:
	Interest rate swaps		$	—			Interest expense, net		$	(1,653	)		$	—
	Three months ended September 30, 2012:
	Interest rate swaps		$	(3,825	)		Interest expense, net		$	(645	)		$	—
	Commodity contracts		(20,629		)		Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(8,728		)		277
	Total		$	(24,454	)				$	(9,373	)		$	277
	Nine months ended September 30, 2013:
	Interest rate swaps		$	7,213			Interest expense, net		$	(4,615	)		$	—
	Nine months ended September 30, 2012:
	Interest rate swaps		$	(17,276	)		Interest expense, net		$	(1,697	)		$	—
	Commodity contracts		(73,289		)		Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(24,590		)		4,287
	Total		$	(90,565	)				$	(26,287	)		$	4,287
	(a)	Amounts are included in specified location for both the gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (OCI) into income (effective portion) and the gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (ineffective portion).
	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments		Income Statement Location		Amount of Gain (Loss)
					Recognized in Income
					(Thousands of Dollars)
	Three months ended September 30, 2013:
	Commodity contracts		Cost of product sales		$	(4,941	)
	Three months ended September 30, 2012:
	Commodity contracts		Cost of product sales		$	(710	)
	Commodity contracts		Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(136		)
	Total				$	(846	)
	Nine months ended September 30, 2013:
	Commodity contracts		Cost of product sales		$	(4,492	)
	Commodity contracts		Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(218		)
	Total				$	(4,710	)
	Nine months ended September 30, 2012:
	Commodity contracts		Revenues		$	(7,654	)
	Commodity contracts		Cost of product sales		20,679
	Commodity contracts		Income (loss) from discontinued operations		2,412
	Total				$	15,437

RELATED_PARTY_TRANSACTIONS_Tab

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Related Party Transactions [Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes information pertaining to related party transactions:
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Revenues	$	2,376	$	713	$	16,183	$	2,198
	Operating expenses	$	31,517	$	36,872	$	97,647	$	108,636
	General and administrative expenses	$	10,495	$	16,180	$	41,807	$	48,688
	Interest income	$	1,828	$	—	$	4,560	$	—
	Expenses included in discontinued operations, net of tax	$	—	$	2,161	$	196	$	6,451

PARTNERS_EQUITY_Tables

PARTNERS' EQUITY (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Partners' Capital Notes [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Changes in Partners' Equity	'
	The following table summarizes changes in the carrying amount of equity attributable to NuStar Energy L.P. partners and noncontrolling interest:
		Three Months Ended September 30, 2013										Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
		NuStar Energy L.P. Partners’ Equity			Noncontrolling Interest			Total Partners’				NuStar Energy L.P. Partners’ Equity			Noncontrolling Interest			Total Partners’
								Equity										Equity
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Beginning balance	$	2,429,132		$	11,134		$	2,440,266			$	2,408,269		$	12,848		$	2,421,117
	Net income (loss)	33,397			(161		)	33,236				4,389			(47		)	4,342
	Other comprehensive
	income (loss):
	Foreign currency translation	4,469			(568		)	3,901				6,608			113			6,721
	adjustment
	Net unrealized loss	—			—			—				(24,454		)	—			(24,454		)
	on cash flow hedges
	Net loss on cash flow	1,653			—			1,653				645			—			645
	hedges reclassified
	into interest expense, net
	Net loss on cash flow	—			—			—				8,728			—			8,728
	hedges reclassified
	into income (loss) from
	discontinued operations
	Total other comprehensive	6,122			(568		)	5,554				(8,473		)	113			(8,360		)
	income (loss)
	Cash distributions to	(98,051		)	—			(98,051		)		(89,076		)	—			(89,076		)
	partners
	Issuance of common units,	—			—			—				344,076			—			344,076
	including contribution
	from general partner
	Other	(26		)	—			(26		)		—			—			—
	Ending balance	$	2,370,574		$	10,405		$	2,380,979			$	2,659,185		$	12,914		$	2,672,099
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013										Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
		NuStar Energy L.P. Partners’ Equity			Noncontrolling Interest			Total Partners’				NuStar Energy L.P. Partners’ Equity			Noncontrolling Interest			Total Partners’
								Equity										Equity
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Beginning balance	$	2,572,384		$	12,611		$	2,584,995			$	2,852,201		$	12,134		$	2,864,335
	Net income (loss)	91,048			(439		)	90,609				(215,997		)	(217		)	(216,214		)
	Other comprehensive
	income (loss):
	Foreign currency translation	(10,628		)	(1,767		)	(12,395		)		10,704			997			11,701
	adjustment
	Net unrealized gain (loss)	7,213			—			7,213				(90,565		)	—			(90,565		)
	on cash flow hedges
	Net loss on cash flow	4,615			—			4,615				1,697			—			1,697
	hedges reclassified
	into interest expense, net
	Net loss on cash flow	—			—			—				24,590			—			24,590
	hedges reclassified
	into income (loss) from
	discontinued operations
	Total other comprehensive	1,200			(1,767		)	(567		)		(53,574		)	997			(52,577		)
	income (loss)
	Cash distributions to	(294,153		)	—			(294,153		)		(267,228		)	—			(267,228		)
	partners
	Issuance of common units,	—			—			—				344,076			—			344,076
	including contribution
	from general partner
	Other	95			—			95				(293		)	—			(293		)
	Ending balance	$	2,370,574		$	10,405		$	2,380,979			$	2,659,185		$	12,914		$	2,672,099
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:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013				2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	$	33,397		$	4,389		$	91,048			$	(215,997	)
	Less general partner incentive distribution	10,805			10,805			32,415				30,437
	Net income (loss) after general partner	22,592			(6,416		)	58,633				(246,434		)
	incentive distribution
	General partner interest	2		%	2		%	2		%		2		%
	General partner allocation of net income (loss) after	452			(128		)	1,174				(4,928		)
	general partner incentive distribution
	General partner incentive distribution	10,805			10,805			32,415				30,437
	Net income applicable to general partner	$	11,257		$	10,677		$	33,589			$	25,509
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:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013				2012
		(Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Unit Data)
	General partner interest	$	1,961		$	1,961		$	5,883			$	5,525
	General partner incentive distribution	10,805			10,805			32,415				30,437
	Total general partner distribution	12,766			12,766			38,298				35,962
	Limited partners’ distribution	85,285			85,285			255,855				240,241
	Total cash distributions	$	98,051		$	98,051		$	294,153			$	276,203
	Cash distributions per unit applicable	$	1.095		$	1.095		$	3.285			$	3.285
	to limited partners
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 (Thousands of Dollars)			Record Date		Payment Date
	September 30, 2013 (a)		$	1.095		$	98,051		November 11, 2013		November 14, 2013
	30-Jun-13		$	1.095		$	98,051		August 5, 2013		August 9, 2013
	31-Mar-13		$	1.095		$	98,051		May 6, 2013		May 10, 2013
	31-Dec-12		$	1.095		$	98,051		February 11, 2013		February 14, 2013
	(a)	The distribution was announced on October 31, 2013.

NET_INCOME_PER_UNIT_Tables

NET INCOME PER UNIT (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Net Income Per Unit [Text Block]	'
	The following table details the calculation of earnings (loss) per unit:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars, Except Unit and Per Unit Data)
	Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	$	33,397		$	4,389		$	91,048		$	(215,997	)
	Less general partner distribution (including IDR)	12,766			12,766			38,298			35,962
	Less limited partner distribution	85,285			85,285			255,855			240,241
	Distributions in excess of earnings	$	(64,654	)	$	(93,662	)	$	(203,105	)	$	(492,200	)
	General partner earnings:
	Distributions	$	12,766		$	12,766		$	38,298		$	35,962
	Allocation of distributions in excess of earnings (2%)	(1,293		)	(1,874		)	(4,061		)	(9,846		)
	Total	$	11,473		$	10,892		$	34,237		$	26,116
	Limited partner earnings:
	Distributions	$	85,285		$	85,285		$	255,855		$	240,241
	Allocation of distributions in excess of earnings (98%)	(63,361		)	(91,788		)	(199,044		)	(482,354		)
	Total	$	21,924		$	(6,503	)	$	56,811		$	(242,113	)
	Weighted-average limited partner units outstanding	77,886,078			72,383,578			77,886,078			71,302,538
	Net income (loss) per unit applicable to limited partners	$	0.28		$	(0.09	)	$	0.73		$	(3.40	)

STATEMENTS_OF_CASH_FLOWS_Table

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Changes in Current Assets and Liabilities [Text Block]	'
	Changes in current assets and current liabilities were as follows:
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Decrease (increase) in current assets:
	Accounts receivable	$	145,803		$	95,213
	Receivable from related parties	83,265			(3,149		)
	Inventories	47,145			60,878
	Income tax receivable	1,204			3,190
	Other current assets	24,026			(17,571		)
	Increase (decrease) in current liabilities:
	Accounts payable	(176,161		)	(11,854		)
	Payable to related party	18,180			6,976
	Accrued interest payable	2,643			(5,867		)
	Accrued liabilities	(33,618		)	(21,253		)
	Taxes other than income tax	3,144			2,662
	Income tax payable	1,207			(475		)
	Changes in current assets and current liabilities	$	116,838		$	108,750
Schedule of Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Text Block]	'
	Cash flows related to interest and income taxes were as follows:
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Cash paid for interest, net of amount capitalized	$	88,529		$	85,583
	Cash paid for income taxes, net of tax refunds received	$	8,183		$	18,308

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Tables

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	'
	Results of operations for the reportable segments were as follows:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Revenues:
	Storage:
	Third parties	$	131,207		$	128,538		$	396,086		$	389,412
	Intersegment	6,933			19,679			26,326			55,542
	Related party	2,376			713			7,538			2,198
	Total storage	140,516			148,930			429,950			447,152
	Pipeline	111,508			92,570			301,761			244,938
	Fuels marketing:
	Third parties	534,919			1,371,935			1,969,886			4,334,361
	Related party	—			—			8,645			—
	Total fuels marketing	534,919			1,371,935			1,978,531			4,334,361
	Consolidation and intersegment eliminations	(6,933		)	(19,679		)	(26,326		)	(55,542		)
	Total revenues	$	780,010		$	1,593,756		$	2,683,916		$	4,970,909
	Operating income:
	Storage	$	38,217		$	50,422		$	131,132		$	160,696
	Pipeline	58,018			41,864			149,126			110,640
	Fuels marketing	(9,079		)	(6,517		)	(7,240		)	(302,783		)
	Consolidation and intersegment eliminations	80			175			(33		)	213
	Total segment operating income (loss)	87,236			85,944			272,985			(31,234		)
	General and administrative expenses	18,831			24,953			65,978			75,254
	Other depreciation and amortization expense	2,531			1,639			7,628			5,492
	Other asset impairment loss	—			—			—			3,295
	Gain on legal settlement	—			—			—			(28,738		)
	Total operating income (loss)	$	65,874		$	59,352		$	199,379		$	(86,537	)
Reconciliation of Assets from Segment to Consolidated [Table Text Block]	'
	Total assets by reportable segment were as follows:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Storage	$	2,675,227		$	2,627,946
	Pipeline	1,769,036			1,720,711
	Fuels marketing	517,540			885,661
	Total segment assets	4,961,803			5,234,318
	Other partnership assets	280,857			378,771
	Total consolidated assets	$	5,242,660		$	5,613,089

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATING_FINANC1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS [Abstract]	'
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Text Block]	'
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
	September 30, 2013
	(Thousands of Dollars)
		NuStar			NuStar			NuPOP			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		Energy			Logistics						Subsidiaries
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	286		$	9		$	—		$	24,224		$	—		$	24,519
	Receivables, net	—			48,527			11,331			194,930			13,944			268,732
	Inventories	—			2,055			10,552			110,454			(63		)	122,998
	Income tax receivable	—			—			—			25			—			25
	Other current assets	22			21,896			1,577			17,693			—			41,188
	Assets held for sale	—			2,847			—			—			—			2,847
	Intercompany receivable	—			324,347			387,731			—			(712,078		)	—
	Total current assets	308			399,681			411,191			347,326			(698,197		)	460,309
	Property, plant and equipment, net	—			1,539,777			575,143			1,246,930			—			3,361,850
	Intangible assets, net	—			17,428			—			64,282			—			81,710
	Goodwill	—			149,453			170,652			630,858			—			950,963
	Investment in wholly owned	2,931,570			177,736			1,229,345			2,392,178			(6,730,829		)	—
	subsidiaries
	Investment in joint ventures	—			4,453			—			66,359			—			70,812
	Deferred income tax asset	—			—			—			5,088			—			5,088
	Note receivable from related party	—			146,472			—			—			—			146,472
	Other long-term assets, net	490			123,982			26,331			14,653			—			165,456
	Total assets	$	2,932,368		$	2,558,982		$	2,412,662		$	4,767,674		$	(7,429,026	)	$	5,242,660
	Liabilities and Partners’ Equity
	Current portion of long-term debt	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	33,982		$	—		$	33,982
	Payables	—			62,791			10,704			154,510			13,944			241,949
	Accrued interest payable	—			26,380			—			4			—			26,384
	Accrued liabilities	750			14,300			5,558			16,836			—			37,444
	Taxes other than income tax	63			6,526			3,780			2,697			—			13,066
	Income tax payable	—			358			3			3,517			—			3,878
	Intercompany payable	503,316			—			—			208,762			(712,078		)	—
	Total current liabilities	504,129			110,355			20,045			420,308			(698,134		)	356,703
	Long-term debt, less current portion	—			2,439,696			—			—			—			2,439,696
	Long-term payable to related party	—			24,195			—			5,442			—			29,637
	Deferred income tax liability	—			—			—			29,455			—			29,455
	Other long-term liabilities	—			843			404			4,943			—			6,190
	Total partners’ equity	2,428,239			(16,107		)	2,392,213			4,307,526			(6,730,892		)	2,380,979
	Total liabilities and	$	2,932,368		$	2,558,982		$	2,412,662		$	4,767,674		$	(7,429,026	)	$	5,242,660
	partners’ equity
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
	December 31, 2012
	(Thousands of Dollars)
		NuStar			NuStar			NuPOP			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		Energy			Logistics						Subsidiaries
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,033		$	1,112		$	—		$	75,457		$	—		$	83,602
	Receivables, net	—			157,452			10,561			340,144			(10,381		)	497,776
	Inventories	—			2,320			5,590			165,349			(31		)	173,228
	Income tax receivable	—			—			—			1,265			—			1,265
	Other current assets	—			26,353			1,468			37,417			—			65,238
	Assets held for sale	—			35,337			—			82,997			—			118,334
	Intercompany receivable	—			353,384			599,599			—			(952,983		)	—
	Total current assets	7,033			575,958			617,218			702,629			(963,395		)	939,443
	Property, plant and equipment, net	—			1,423,991			582,299			1,232,170			—			3,238,460
	Intangible assets, net	—			18,733			—			73,702			—			92,435
	Goodwill	—			145,990			170,652			634,382			—			951,024
	Investment in wholly owned	3,133,097			161,957			1,208,595			2,329,595			(6,833,244		)	—
	subsidiaries
	Investment in joint ventures	—			35,883			—			67,062			—			102,945
	Deferred income tax asset	—			—			—			3,108			—			3,108
	Note receivable from related party	—			95,711			—			—			—			95,711
	Other long-term assets, net	490			148,384			26,330			14,759			—			189,963
Total assets	$	3,140,620		$	2,606,607		$	2,605,094		$	5,057,407		$	(7,796,639	)	$	5,613,089
Liabilities and Partners’ Equity
Current portion of long-term debt	$	—		$	1,313		$	250,967		$	34,142		$	—		$	286,422
Payables	15			122,706			12,657			274,044			(10,381		)	399,041
Accrued interest payable	—			22,512			1,224			5			—			23,741
Accrued liabilities	862			76,322			7,542			39,477			—			124,203
Taxes other than income tax	129			5,671			2,830			1,263			—			9,893
Income tax payable	—			247			—			2,424			—			2,671
Intercompany payable	508,365			—			—			444,618			(952,983		)	—
Total current liabilities	509,371			228,771			275,220			795,973			(963,364		)	845,971
Long-term debt, less current portion	—			2,124,582			—			—			—			2,124,582
Long-term payable to related party	—			12,629			—			5,442			—			18,071
Deferred income tax liability	—			—			—			32,114			—			32,114
Other long-term liabilities	—			2,701			279			4,376			—			7,356
Total partners’ equity	2,631,249			237,924			2,329,595			4,219,502			(6,833,275		)	2,584,995
Total liabilities and	$	3,140,620		$	2,606,607		$	2,605,094		$	5,057,407		$	(7,796,639	)	$	5,613,089
partners’ equity
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block]	'
	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income
	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
	(Thousands of Dollars)
		NuStar			NuStar			NuPOP			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		Energy			Logistics						Subsidiaries
	Revenues	$	—		$	107,066		$	50,669		$	631,026		$	(8,751	)	$	780,010
	Costs and expenses	507			67,005			32,274			623,181			(8,831		)	714,136
	Operating (loss) income	(507		)	40,061			18,395			7,845			80			65,874
	Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	33,904			8,136			4,992			23,449			(70,481		)	—
	Equity in (loss) earnings of	—			(8,202		)	—			2,844			—			(5,358		)
	joint ventures
	Interest (expense) income, net	—			(29,451		)	76			125			—			(29,250		)
	Other income, net	—			—			8			1,399			—			1,407
	Income from continuing	33,397			10,544			23,471			35,662			(70,401		)	32,673
	operations before income tax
	expense
	Income tax expense (benefit)	—			146			1			(710		)	—			(563		)
	Income from continuing	33,397			10,398			23,470			36,372			(70,401		)	33,236
	operations
	Income from discontinued	—			—			—			—			—			—
	operations, net of tax
	Net income	33,397			10,398			23,470			36,372			(70,401		)	33,236
	Less net loss attributable to	—			—			—			(161		)	—			(161		)
	noncontrolling interest
	Net income attributable to	$	33,397		$	10,398		$	23,470		$	36,533		$	(70,401	)	$	33,397
	NuStar Energy L.P.
	Comprehensive income	$	33,397		$	12,746		$	23,470		$	39,578		$	(70,401	)	$	38,790
	Less comprehensive loss	—			—			—			(729		)	—			(729		)
	attributable to
	noncontrolling interest
	Comprehensive income	$	33,397		$	12,746		$	23,470		$	40,307		$	(70,401	)	$	39,519
	attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.
	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
	(Thousands of Dollars)
		NuStar			NuStar			NuPOP			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		Energy			Logistics						Subsidiaries
	Revenues	$	—		$	97,369		$	48,486		$	1,455,625		$	(7,724	)	$	1,593,756
	Costs and expenses	460			57,573			36,977			1,447,320			(7,926		)	1,534,404
	Operating (loss) income	(460		)	39,796			11,509			8,305			202			59,352
	Equity in earnings (loss) of	4,849			(13,291		)	13,862			24,246			(29,666		)	—
	subsidiaries
	Equity in (loss) earnings of	—			(3,304		)	—			2,353			—			(951		)
	joint venture
	Interest expense, net	—			(20,804		)	(2,800		)	(290		)	—			(23,894		)
	Other (expense) income, net	—			(21,491		)	1,678			(130		)	—			(19,943		)
	Income (loss) from continuing	4,389			(19,094		)	24,249			34,484			(29,464		)	14,564
	operations before income tax
	expense
	Income tax expense	—			97			1			501			—			599
	Income (loss) from continuing	4,389			(19,191		)	24,248			33,983			(29,464		)	13,965
	operations
	Loss from discontinued operations,	—			(241		)	—			(9,185		)	(197		)	(9,623		)
	net of tax
	Net income (loss)	4,389			(19,432		)	24,248			24,798			(29,661		)	4,342
	Less net loss attributable to	—			—			—			(47		)	—			(47		)
	noncontrolling interest
	Net income (loss) attributable to	$	4,389		$	(19,432	)	$	24,248		$	24,845		$	(29,661	)	$	4,389
	NuStar Energy L.P.
	Comprehensive income (loss)	$	4,389		$	(22,612	)	$	24,248		$	19,618		$	(29,661	)	$	(4,018	)
	Less comprehensive income	—			—			—			66			—			66
	attributable to
	noncontrolling interest
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	4,389		$	(22,612	)	$	24,248		$	19,552		$	(29,661	)	$	(4,084	)
attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
(Thousands of Dollars)
	NuStar			NuStar			NuPOP			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Energy			Logistics						Subsidiaries
Revenues	$	—		$	308,936		$	151,189		$	2,249,598		$	(25,807	)	$	2,683,916
Costs and expenses	1,438			181,472			104,311			2,223,091			(25,775		)	2,484,537
Operating (loss) income	(1,438		)	127,464			46,878			26,507			(32		)	199,379
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	92,486			15,779			20,750			62,614			(191,629		)	—
Equity in (loss) earnings of	—			(31,713		)	—			5,084			—			(26,629		)
joint ventures
Interest expense, net	—			(83,788		)	(4,941		)	(312		)	—			(89,041		)
Other income (expense), net	—			2,466			(65		)	1,577			—			3,978
Income from continuing	91,048			30,208			62,622			95,470			(191,661		)	87,687
operations before income tax
expense
Income tax expense	—			420			4			5,723			—			6,147
Income from continuing	91,048			29,788			62,618			89,747			(191,661		)	81,540
operations
Income from discontinued	—			28			—			9,041			—			9,069
operations, net of tax
Net income	91,048			29,816			62,618			98,788			(191,661		)	90,609
Less net loss attributable to	—			—			—			(439		)	—			(439		)
noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to	$	91,048		$	29,816		$	62,618		$	99,227		$	(191,661	)	$	91,048
NuStar Energy L.P.
Comprehensive income	$	91,048		$	43,306		$	62,618		$	84,731		$	(191,661	)	$	90,042
Less comprehensive loss	—			—			—			(2,206		)	—			(2,206		)
attributable to
noncontrolling interest
Comprehensive income	$	91,048		$	43,306		$	62,618		$	86,937		$	(191,661	)	$	92,248
attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
(Thousands of Dollars)
	NuStar			NuStar			NuPOP			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Energy			Logistics						Subsidiaries
Revenues	$	—		$	260,414		$	142,769		$	4,589,035		$	(21,309	)	$	4,970,909
Costs and expenses	1,280			154,333			103,673			4,819,766			(21,606		)	5,057,446
Operating (loss) income	(1,280		)	106,081			39,096			(230,731		)	297			(86,537		)
Equity in (loss) earnings of	(214,717		)	(342,197		)	76,380			106,073			374,461			—
subsidiaries
Equity in (loss) earnings of	—			(3,304		)	—			7,120			—			3,816
joint venture
Interest expense, net	—			(57,621		)	(9,799		)	(698		)	—			(68,118		)
Other (loss) income, net	—			(21,199		)	1,751			(1,944		)	—			(21,392		)
(Loss) income from continuing	(215,997		)	(318,240		)	107,428			(120,180		)	374,758			(172,231		)
operations before income tax
expense
Income tax expense	—			238			1,331			18,749			—			20,318
(Loss) income from continuing	(215,997		)	(318,478		)	106,097			(138,929		)	374,758			(192,549		)
operations
Loss from discontinued	—			(2,154		)	—			(21,250		)	(261		)	(23,665		)
operations, net of tax
Net (loss) income	(215,997		)	(320,632		)	106,097			(160,179		)	374,497			(216,214		)
Less net loss attributable to	—			—			—			(217		)	—			(217		)
noncontrolling interest
Net (loss) income attributable to	$	(215,997	)	$	(320,632	)	$	106,097		$	(159,962	)	$	374,497		$	(215,997	)
NuStar Energy L.P.
Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(215,997	)	$	(336,211	)	$	106,097		$	(197,177	)	$	374,497		$	(268,791	)
Less comprehensive income	—			—			—			780			—			780
attributable to
noncontrolling interest
Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(215,997	)	$	(336,211	)	$	106,097		$	(197,957	)	$	374,497		$	(269,571	)
attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows [Text Block]	'
	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
	(Thousands of Dollars)
		NuStar			NuStar			NuPOP			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		Energy			Logistics						Subsidiaries
	Net cash provided by (used in)	$	292,499		$	159,157		$	50,587		$	170,479		$	(294,182	)	$	378,540
	operating activities
	Cash flows from investing activities:
	Capital expenditures	—			(181,580		)	(13,449		)	(65,672		)	—			(260,701		)
	Change in accounts payable	—			(5,419		)	1,534			1,006			—			(2,879		)
	related to capital expenditures
	Proceeds from sale or disposition	—			116,348			28			91			—			116,467
	of assets
	Increase in note receivable from	—			(50,761		)	—			—			—			(50,761		)
	related party
	Investment in subsidiaries	(141		)	—			—			—			141			—
	Other, net	141			15			—			—			—			156
	Net cash (used in) provided by	—			(121,397		)	(11,887		)	(64,575		)	141			(197,718		)
	investing activities
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	Debt borrowings	—			1,299,220			—			—			—			1,299,220
	Debt repayments	—			(1,647,182		)	(250,000		)	—			—			(1,897,182		)
	Note offering, net	—			687,151			—			—			—			687,151
	Distributions to unitholders	(294,153		)	(294,153		)	—			(29		)	294,182			(294,153		)
	and general partner
	Payments for termination of	—			(33,697		)	—			—			—			(33,697		)
	interest rate swaps
	Net intercompany borrowings	(5,047		)	(53,557		)	211,300			(152,696		)	—			—
	(repayments)
	Other, net	(46		)	3,355			—			—			(141		)	3,168
	Net cash (used in) provided by	(299,246		)	(38,863		)	(38,700		)	(152,725		)	294,041			(235,493		)
	financing activities
	Effect of foreign exchange rate	—			—			—			(4,412		)	—			(4,412		)
	changes on cash
	Net decrease in cash	(6,747		)	(1,103		)	—			(51,233		)	—			(59,083		)
	and cash equivalents
	Cash and cash equivalents as of the	7,033			1,112			—			75,457			—			83,602
	beginning of the period
	Cash and cash equivalents as of the	$	286		$	9		$	—		$	24,224		$	—		$	24,519
	end of the period
	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
	(Thousands of Dollars)
		NuStar			NuStar			NuPOP			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		Energy			Logistics						Subsidiaries
	Net cash provided by (used in)	$	265,905		$	91,736		$	46,183		$	142,700		$	(274,645	)	$	271,879
	operating activities
	Cash flows from investing activities:
	Capital expenditures	—			(237,408		)	(11,816		)	(71,554		)	—			(320,778		)
	Investment in other long-term	—			—			—			(2,364		)	—			(2,364		)
	assets
	Proceeds from sale or disposition	—			436,426			4,531			30,866			—			471,823
	of assets
	Increase in note receivable from	—			(170,711		)	—			—			—			(170,711		)
	related party
	Investment in subsidiaries	(344,244		)	—			—			(34		)	344,278			—
	Net cash (used in) provided by	(344,244		)	28,307			(7,285		)	(43,086		)	344,278			(22,030		)
	investing activities
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	Debt borrowings	—			1,877,048			—			—			—			1,877,048
	Debt repayments	—			(2,109,058		)	(250,000		)	—			—			(2,359,058		)
	Note offering, net	—			247,408			—			—			—			247,408
	Issuance of common units, net of	336,662			—			—			—			—			336,662
issuance costs
General partner contribution	7,121			—			—			—			—			7,121
Distributions to unitholders and	(267,228		)	(267,228		)	—			(7,426		)	274,654			(267,228		)
general partner
Payments for termination of	—			(5,678		)	—			—			—			(5,678		)
interest rate swaps
Contributions from	—			344,244			—			34			(344,278		)	—
(distributions to) affiliates
Net intercompany borrowings	9,059			(206,846		)	211,102			(13,306		)	(9		)	—
(repayments)
Other, net	(133		)	496			—			—			—			363
Net cash provided by (used in)	85,481			(119,614		)	(38,898		)	(20,698		)	(69,633		)	(163,362		)
financing activities
Effect of foreign exchange rate	—			(431		)	—			3,903			—			3,472
changes on cash
Net increase (decrease) in cash and	7,142			(2		)	—			82,819			—			89,959
cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents as of the	139			14			—			17,344			—			17,497
beginning of the period
Cash and cash equivalents as of the	$	7,281		$	12		$	—		$	100,163		$	—		$	107,456
end of the period

ORGANIZATION_AND_BASIS_OF_PRES1

ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION Narrative (Details)	Sep. 30, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Total ownership interest held by general partner	0.15

DISPOSITIONS_Narrative_1_Detai

DISPOSITIONS Narrative 1 (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Discontinued Operations Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	'	$116,467,000	$471,823,000
Gain (loss) from sale or disposition of assets	'	8,739,000	-19,828,000
San Antonio Refinery Sale [Member]	'	'	'
Discontinued Operations Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Disposal Date	'	1-Jan-13	'
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	'	117,000,000	'
Interest expense allocated to discontinued operations	1,000,000	'	2,900,000
Gain (loss) from sale or disposition of assets	'	$9,300,000	'

DISPOSITIONS_Table_1_Details

DISPOSITIONS Table 1 (Details) (San Antonio Refinery Sale [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
San Antonio Refinery Sale [Member]	'	'	'	'
Discontinued Operations Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$0	$151,010	$185	$411,454
Income (loss) before income tax expense	$0	($9,600)	$9,069	($23,629)

DISPOSITIONS_Table_2_Details

DISPOSITIONS Table 2 (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets Held for Sale, Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'
Assets held for sale	$2,847	$118,334
San Antonio Refinery Sale [Member]	'	'
Assets Held for Sale, Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'
Assets held for sale	'	115,488
Liabilities held for sale	'	7,910
Inventories [Member] | San Antonio Refinery Sale [Member]	'	'
Assets Held for Sale, Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'
Assets held for sale	'	15,939
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Member] | San Antonio Refinery Sale [Member]	'	'
Assets Held for Sale, Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'
Assets held for sale	'	93,899
Other long-term assets, net | San Antonio Refinery Sale [Member]	'	'
Assets Held for Sale, Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'
Assets held for sale	'	5,650
Accrued liabilities (environmental reserve) | San Antonio Refinery Sale [Member]	'	'
Assets Held for Sale, Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'
Liabilities held for sale	'	289
Other long-term liabilities (environmental reserve) | San Antonio Refinery Sale [Member]	'	'
Assets Held for Sale, Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'
Liabilities held for sale	'	$7,621

INVENTORIES_Table_Details

INVENTORIES Table (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'
Crude oil	$8,112	$447
Finished products	106,997	164,894
Materials and supplies	7,889	7,887
Total	$122,998	$173,228

DEBT_Narrative_Details

DEBT Narrative (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
	USD ($)	USD ($)	Logisitics 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement	Logistics 6.75% senior notes	Logisitics subordinated notes	GoZone Bonds	Port of Corpus Christi Note Payable	Logistics 6.05% senior notes	NuPOP 5.875% senior notes	UK term loan	Logistics 7.65% senior notes
			USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	GBP (£)	USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Maximum borrowing capacity	'	'	$1,500,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Term	'	'	'5 years	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Increase (Decrease), Net	'	'	-154,300,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest rate at period end	'	'	2.40%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Covenant terms	'	'	'The 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement contains customary restrictive covenants, including requiring us to maintain, as of the end of each rolling period, which consists of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, a consolidated debt coverage ratio (consolidated indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement) not to exceed 5.00-to-1.00.	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt coverage ratio	'	'	4.3	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Current remaining borrowing capacity	'	'	1,055,500,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance date	'	'	'	19-Aug-13	22-Jan-13	'	'	'	'	'	'
Face amount	'	'	'	300,000,000	402,500,000	'	12,000,000	'	'	'	'
Stated interest rate	'	'	'	6.75%	7.63%	'	'	6.05%	5.88%	'	7.65%
Maturity date	'	'	'	1-Feb-21	15-Jan-43	'	'	15-Mar-13	1-Jun-13	'	'
Proceeds from note offering, net of issuance costs	687,151,000	247,408,000	'	296,300,000	390,900,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Deferred debt issuance costs	'	'	'	3,700,000	11,600,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest rate terms	'	'	'	'The interest on the 6.75% Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year beginning on February 1, 2014	'The Subordinated Notes bear interest at a fixed annual rate of 7.625%, payable quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year beginning on April 15, 2013 and ending on January 15, 2018. Thereafter, the Subordinated Notes will bear interest at an annual rate equal to the sum of the three-month LIBOR rate for the related quarterly interest period, plus 6.734% payable quarterly on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing April 15, 2018, unless payment is deferred in accordance with the terms of the notes.	'	'	'	'	'	'
Amount Available Under Underwriters Option	'	'	'	'	52,500,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest rate at period end	'	'	'	'	'	0.10%	'	'	'	'	'
Amount received from trustee	'	'	'	'	'	38,500,000	'	'	'	'	'
Amount remaining in trust	'	'	'	'	'	88,100,000	'	'	'	'	'
Repayments of Debt	1,897,182,000	2,359,058,000	'	'	'	'	600,000	229,900,000	250,000,000	'	'
Amount outstanding	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	£ 21,000,000	$350,000,000
Interest rate increase due to change in credit rating	'	'	0.38%	'	'	'	'	'	'	0.38%	0.25%

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES_

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Narrative 1 (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Loss Contingency Accrual, at Carrying Value	$0.60

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES_1

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Narrative 2 Commitments (Details)	Sep. 30, 2013
Crude Oil Purchase Obligation, PDVSA Amendment [Member]	'
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]	'
Annual average purchase commitment, in barrels per day	30,000
Crude Oil Purchase Obligation, PDVSA Original Agreement [Member]	'
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]	'
Annual average purchase commitment, in barrels per day	75,000

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Table_

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Table 1 (Details) (Recurring Fair Value Measurements, USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	$2,439	($51,611)
Fair Value Level 1	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	-304	547
Fair Value Level 2	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	5,561	-42,558
Fair Value Level 3	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	-2,818	-9,600
Other current assets	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Product Imbalances, Asset (Liabilities)	970	1,232
Commodity derivatives (assets)	4,402	9,358
Other current assets | Fair Value Level 1	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Product Imbalances, Asset (Liabilities)	970	1,232
Commodity derivatives (assets)	202	1,001
Other current assets | Fair Value Level 2	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Product Imbalances, Asset (Liabilities)	0	0
Commodity derivatives (assets)	4,200	8,357
Other current assets | Fair Value Level 3	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Product Imbalances, Asset (Liabilities)	0	0
Commodity derivatives (assets)	0	0
Other long-term assets, net	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Commodity derivatives (assets)	6,575	9,206
Other long-term assets, net | Fair Value Level 1	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Commodity derivatives (assets)	0	0
Other long-term assets, net | Fair Value Level 2	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Commodity derivatives (assets)	6,575	9,206
Other long-term assets, net | Fair Value Level 3	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Commodity derivatives (assets)	0	0
Accrued liabilities	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Product Imbalances, Asset (Liabilities)	-1,476	-1,686
Commodity derivatives (liabilities)	-5,006	-19,210
Interest rate swaps (liabilities)	'	-40,911
Contingent consideration	-2,818	-9,600
Accrued liabilities | Fair Value Level 1	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Product Imbalances, Asset (Liabilities)	-1,476	-1,686
Commodity derivatives (liabilities)	0	0
Interest rate swaps (liabilities)	'	0
Contingent consideration	0	0
Accrued liabilities | Fair Value Level 2	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Product Imbalances, Asset (Liabilities)	0	0
Commodity derivatives (liabilities)	-5,006	-19,210
Interest rate swaps (liabilities)	'	-40,911
Contingent consideration	0	0
Accrued liabilities | Fair Value Level 3	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Product Imbalances, Asset (Liabilities)	0	0
Commodity derivatives (liabilities)	0	0
Interest rate swaps (liabilities)	'	0
Contingent consideration	-2,818	-9,600
Other long-term liabilities	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Commodity derivatives (liabilities)	-208	'
Other long-term liabilities | Fair Value Level 1	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Commodity derivatives (liabilities)	0	'
Other long-term liabilities | Fair Value Level 2	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Commodity derivatives (liabilities)	-208	'
Other long-term liabilities | Fair Value Level 3	'	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'	'
Commodity derivatives (liabilities)	$0	'

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Table_1

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Table 2 (Details) (Contingent consideration [Member], USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]	'
Beginning balance	$9,600
Amounts settled	-1,114
Ending balance	2,818
Operating expenses	'
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]	'
Changes in fair value recorded in earnings	-6,500
Interest expense, net	'
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]	'
Changes in fair value recorded in earnings	$832

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Table_2

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Table 3 (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'	'
Fair value, debt	$2,429,001	$2,377,120
Fair value, note receivable from related party	109,505	91,705
Carrying amount, debt	2,473,678	2,411,004
Carrying amount, note receivable from related party	$146,472	$95,711

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Narrat

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Narrative (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Contingent consideration [Member] | Fair Value Level 3	'
Fair Value Inputs, Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	11.00%
Potential future payments, Range, Low	$0
Potential future payments, Range, High	9,300,000
TexStar Asset Acquisition [Member]	'
Fair Value Inputs, Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]	'
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition	13-Dec-12
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity	$325,000,000

DERIVATIVES_AND_RISK_MANAGEMEN2

DERIVATIVES AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES Narrative (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
	bbl	bbl
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from (payments for) termination of interest rate swaps	'	'	($33,697,000)	($5,678,000)
Volume of commodity contracts (in barrels)	20,900,000	22,700,000	'	'
Margin Deposit	4,500,000	6,200,000	4,500,000	'
Gain (loss) to be reclassified during next 12 months, forward-starting interest rate swaps	-11,000,000	'	-11,000,000	'
NuPOP 5.875% senior notes	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stated interest rate	5.88%	'	5.88%	'
Logistics 6.05% senior notes	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stated interest rate	6.05%	'	6.05%	'
Interest rate swaps | Cash Flow Hedges	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Terminated interest rate swaps, hedged debt instruments	'	'	'6.05% senior notes due March 15, 2013 and 5.875% senior notes due June 1, 2013	'
Terminated interest rate swaps, notional amount	'	'	275,000,000	'
Proceeds from (payments for) termination of interest rate swaps	'	'	-33,700,000	'
Gain (Loss) on Discontinuation of Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedge Due to Forecasted Transaction Probable of Not Occurring, Net	'	'	-2,000,000	'
Notional amount of forward-starting interest rate swaps	$0	'	$0	'

DERIVATIVES_AND_RISK_MANAGEMEN3

DERIVATIVES AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES Table 1 (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Derivatives, Fair Value	'	'
Asset Derivatives	$51,930	$80,468
Liability Derivatives	-46,167	-122,025
Designated as Hedging Instrument	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value	'	'
Asset Derivatives	412	1,471
Liability Derivatives	0	-41,722
Designated as Hedging Instrument | Commodity contracts | Other current assets	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value	'	'
Asset Derivatives	412	1,471
Liability Derivatives	0	-811
Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest rate swaps | Accrued liabilities	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value	'	'
Asset Derivatives	0	0
Liability Derivatives	0	-40,911
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value	'	'
Asset Derivatives	51,518	78,997
Liability Derivatives	-46,167	-80,303
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Commodity contracts | Other current assets	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value	'	'
Asset Derivatives	19,120	22,269
Liability Derivatives	-15,130	-13,571
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Commodity contracts | Other long-term assets, net	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value	'	'
Asset Derivatives	18,034	39,322
Liability Derivatives	-11,459	-30,116
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Commodity contracts | Accrued liabilities	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value	'	'
Asset Derivatives	7,199	17,406
Liability Derivatives	-12,205	-36,616
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Commodity contracts | Other long-term liabilities	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value	'	'
Asset Derivatives	7,165	0
Liability Derivatives	($7,373)	$0

DERIVATIVES_AND_RISK_MANAGEMEN4

DERIVATIVES AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES Table 2 (Details) (Commodity contracts, USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Commodity contracts	'	'
Derivative Assets and Liabilities Eligible for Offset, Net [Line Items]	'	'
Net amounts of assets presented in the consolidated balance sheets	$10,977	$18,564
Net amounts of liabilities presented in the consolidated balance sheets	($5,214)	($19,210)

DERIVATIVES_AND_RISK_MANAGEMEN5

DERIVATIVES AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES Table 3 (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Fair Value Hedges	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative	'	'	'	($37,841)
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on hedged item	'	'	'	36,403
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (ineffective portion)	'	'	'	-1,438
Fair Value Hedges | Interest rate swaps | Interest expense, net	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative	'	'	'	-17,345
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on hedged item	'	'	'	17,345
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (ineffective portion)	'	'	'	0
Fair Value Hedges | Commodity contracts | Cost of product sales	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative	-3,853	-23,131	4,059	-20,496
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on hedged item	4,184	22,505	-6,298	19,058
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (ineffective portion)	331	-626	-2,239	-1,438
Cash Flow Hedges	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (ineffective portion)	'	277	'	4,287
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivative (effective portion)	'	-24,454	'	-90,565
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income (effective portion)	'	-9,373	'	-26,287
Cash Flow Hedges | Interest rate swaps | Interest expense, net	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (ineffective portion)	0	0	0	0
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income (effective portion)	-1,653	-645	-4,615	-1,697
Cash Flow Hedges | Interest rate swaps | Other comprehensive income	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivative (effective portion)	0	-3,825	7,213	-17,276
Cash Flow Hedges | Commodity contracts | Other comprehensive income	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivative (effective portion)	'	-20,629	'	-73,289
Cash Flow Hedges | Commodity contracts | Income (loss) from discontinued operations	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (ineffective portion)	'	277	'	4,287
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income (effective portion)	'	-8,728	'	-24,590
Nondesignated Derivatives	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative	'	-846	-4,710	15,437
Nondesignated Derivatives | Commodity contracts | Cost of product sales	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative	-4,941	-710	-4,492	20,679
Nondesignated Derivatives | Commodity contracts | Income (loss) from discontinued operations	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative	'	-136	-218	2,412
Nondesignated Derivatives | Commodity contracts | Revenues	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative	'	'	'	($7,654)

RELATED_PARTY_TRANSACTIONS_Tab1

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Table (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$2,376	$713	$16,183	$2,198
Operating expenses	31,517	36,872	97,647	108,636
General and administrative expenses	10,495	16,180	41,807	48,688
Interest income	1,828	0	4,560	0
Expenses included in discontinued operations, net of tax	$0	$2,161	$196	$6,451

RELATED_PARTY_TRANSACTIONS_Nar

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Narrative (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Payable to related party	$19,589,000	$1,408,000
Long-term payable to related party	29,637,000	18,071,000
Note receivable from related party	146,472,000	95,711,000
Receivable from related parties	26,529,000	109,833,000
Investment in joint ventures	70,812,000	102,945,000
NuStar GP LLC [Member]	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Payable to related party	19,600,000	1,400,000
Long-term payable to related party	29,600,000	18,100,000
Asphalt JV [Member]	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Maximum amount available under credit facility to related party	250,000,000	'
Term of Credit Facility to Related Party	'7 years	'
Note receivable from related party	146,500,000	95,700,000
Maximum Amount Of Guarantees	150,000,000	'
Amount of Guarantees Provided	105,000,000	'
Number of Guarantees with Unlimited Exposure	2	'
Letters of Credit to Related Party	2,200,000	'
Description of Purchase Obligation With Related Party	'We entered into a crude oil supply agreement with Asphalt JV (the Asphalt JV Crude Oil Supply Agreement) that commits Asphalt JV to purchase from us in a given year the lesser of (i) the number of barrels of crude oil required to be purchased by us from PDVSA under the CSA for such year or (ii) 35,000 barrels per day of crude oil multiplied by the number of days in such year.	'
Receivable from related parties	26,500,000	109,400,000
Ownership Percentage	50.00%	'
Maximum loss exposure related to VIE	431,000,000	'
Investment in joint ventures	$4,500,000	'
Asphalt JV [Member] | Sale of Asphalt Operations [Member]	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Disposal Date	28-Sep-12	'
Percent Voting Interest Sold	50.00%	'
NuStar GP LLC and Asphalt JV [Member] | Services Agreement [Member]	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Administrative Fees, Description	'The Asphalt JV Services Agreement provides that NuStar GP, LLC will furnish certain administrative and other operating services necessary to conduct the business of Asphalt JV. Asphalt JV will compensate NuStar GP, LLC for these services through an annual fee totaling $10.0 million, subject to adjustment based on the annual merit increase percentage applicable to NuStar GP, LLC employees for the most recently completed contract year.	'
Related Party Transaction, Maturity Date	31-Dec-17	'
Administrative Fees Reduction Description	' Asphalt JV may terminate the Asphalt JV Services Agreement at any time, with 180 days prior written notice or reduce the level of service with 45 days prior written notice.	'
Percentage of Services Used Under Agreement with Related Party	63.00%	'

PARTNERS_EQUITY_Table_1_Detail

PARTNERS' EQUITY Table 1 (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	$2,440,266	$2,421,117	$2,584,995	$2,864,335
Net income (loss)	33,236	4,342	90,609	-216,214
Other comprehensive income (loss):	'	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustment	3,901	6,721	-12,395	11,701
Net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	0	-24,454	7,213	-90,565
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	5,554	-8,360	-567	-52,577
Cash distributions to partners	-98,051	-89,076	-294,153	-267,228
Issuance of common units, including contribution from general partner	0	344,076	0	344,076
Other	-26	0	95	-293
Ending balance	2,380,979	2,672,099	2,380,979	2,672,099
Interest expense, net	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss):	'	'	'	'
Net (gain) loss on cash flow hedges reclassified out of AOCI	1,653	645	4,615	1,697
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss):	'	'	'	'
Net (gain) loss on cash flow hedges reclassified out of AOCI	0	8,728	0	24,590
NuStar Energy L.P. Partners' Equity	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	2,429,132	2,408,269	2,572,384	2,852,201
Net income (loss)	33,397	4,389	91,048	-215,997
Other comprehensive income (loss):	'	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustment	4,469	6,608	-10,628	10,704
Net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	0	-24,454	7,213	-90,565
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	6,122	-8,473	1,200	-53,574
Cash distributions to partners	-98,051	-89,076	-294,153	-267,228
Issuance of common units, including contribution from general partner	0	344,076	0	344,076
Other	-26	0	95	-293
Ending balance	2,370,574	2,659,185	2,370,574	2,659,185
NuStar Energy L.P. Partners' Equity | Interest expense, net	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss):	'	'	'	'
Net (gain) loss on cash flow hedges reclassified out of AOCI	1,653	645	4,615	1,697
NuStar Energy L.P. Partners' Equity | Income (loss) from discontinued operations	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss):	'	'	'	'
Net (gain) loss on cash flow hedges reclassified out of AOCI	0	8,728	0	24,590
Noncontrolling Interest	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	11,134	12,848	12,611	12,134
Net income (loss)	-161	-47	-439	-217
Other comprehensive income (loss):	'	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustment	-568	113	-1,767	997
Net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	-568	113	-1,767	997
Cash distributions to partners	0	0	0	0
Issuance of common units, including contribution from general partner	0	0	0	0
Other	0	0	0	0
Ending balance	10,405	12,914	10,405	12,914
Noncontrolling Interest | Interest expense, net	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss):	'	'	'	'
Net (gain) loss on cash flow hedges reclassified out of AOCI	0	0	0	0
Noncontrolling Interest | Income (loss) from discontinued operations	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss):	'	'	'	'
Net (gain) loss on cash flow hedges reclassified out of AOCI	$0	$0	$0	$0

PARTNERS_EQUITY_Table_2_Detail

PARTNERS' EQUITY Table 2 (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net Income Allocation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	$33,397	$4,389	$91,048	($215,997)
Less general partner incentive distribution	10,805	10,805	32,415	30,437
Net (loss) income after general partner incentive distribution	22,592	-6,416	58,633	-246,434
General partner interest	2.00%	2.00%	2.00%	2.00%
General partner allocation of net (loss) income after general partner incentive distribution	452	-128	1,174	-4,928
General partner incentive distribution	10,805	10,805	32,415	30,437
Net income (loss) applicable to general partner	$11,257	$10,677	$33,589	$25,509

PARTNERS_EQUITY_Table_3_Detail

PARTNERS' EQUITY Table 3 (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Distributions Made to Limited Partners and General Partner [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
General partner interest	$1,961	'	'	'	$1,961	$5,883	$5,525
General partner incentive distribution	10,805	'	'	'	10,805	32,415	30,437
Total general partner distribution	12,766	'	'	'	12,766	38,298	35,962
Limited partners' distribution	85,285	'	'	'	85,285	255,855	240,241
Total cash distributions	$98,051	$98,051	$98,051	$98,051	$98,051	$294,153	$276,203
Cash distributions per unit applicable to limited partners	$1.09	$1.09	$1.09	$1.09	$1.09	$3.29	$3.29

PARTNERS_EQUITY_Table_4_Detail

PARTNERS' EQUITY Table 4 (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash distributions per unit applicable to limited partners	$1.09	$1.09	$1.09	$1.09	$1.09	$3.29	$3.29
Total cash distributions (distribution earned)	$98,051	$98,051	$98,051	$98,051	$98,051	$294,153	$276,203
Distribution date of record (distribution earned)	11-Nov-13	5-Aug-13	6-May-13	11-Feb-13	'	'	'
Distribution payment date (distribution earned)	14-Nov-13	9-Aug-13	10-May-13	14-Feb-13	'	'	'
Distribution anouncement date (distribution earned)	31-Oct-13	'	'	'	'	'	'

NET_INCOME_PER_UNIT_Table_Deta

NET INCOME PER UNIT Table (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Schedule Of Net Income Per Unit [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	$33,397	$4,389	$91,048	($215,997)
Less general partner distribution (including IDR)	12,766	12,766	38,298	35,962
Less limited partner distribution	85,285	85,285	255,855	240,241
Distributions less than (in excess of) earnings	-64,654	-93,662	-203,105	-492,200
General partner earnings:	'	'	'	'
Distributions	12,766	12,766	38,298	35,962
Allocation of distributions less than (in excess of) earnings (2%)	-1,293	-1,874	-4,061	-9,846
Total	11,473	10,892	34,237	26,116
Limited partner earnings:	'	'	'	'
Distributions	85,285	85,285	255,855	240,241
Allocation of distributions less than (in excess of) earnings (98%)	-63,361	-91,788	-199,044	-482,354
Total	$21,924	($6,503)	$56,811	($242,113)
Weighted-average limited partner units outstanding	77,886,078	72,383,578	77,886,078	71,302,538
Net income (loss) per unit applicable to limited partners	$0.28	($0.09)	$0.73	($3.40)

NET_INCOME_PER_UNIT_Parentheti

NET INCOME PER UNIT Parentheticals (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Schedule Of Net Income Per Unit [Line Items]	'
General partner allocation percentage	2.00%
Limited partners allocation percentage	98.00%

STATEMENTS_OF_CASH_FLOWS_Table1

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Table 1 (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Decrease (increase) in current assets:	'	'
Accounts receivable	$145,803	$95,213
Receivable from related parties	83,265	-3,149
Inventories	47,145	60,878
Income tax receivable	1,204	3,190
Other current assets	24,026	-17,571
Increase (decrease) in current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	-176,161	-11,854
Payable to related party	18,180	6,976
Accrued interest payable	2,643	-5,867
Accrued liabilities	-33,618	-21,253
Taxes other than income tax	3,144	2,662
Income tax payable	1,207	-475
Changes in current assets and current liabilities	$116,838	$108,750

STATEMENTS_OF_CASH_FLOWS_Table2

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Table 2 (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]	'	'
Cash paid for interest, net of amount capitalized	$88,529	$85,583
Cash paid for income taxes, net of tax refunds received	$8,183	$18,308

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Table_1_De

SEGMENT INFORMATION Table 1 (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$780,010	$1,593,756	$2,683,916	$4,970,909
Operating income:	'	'	'	'
General and administrative expenses	18,831	24,953	65,978	75,254
Other depreciation and amortization expense	47,597	38,037	137,185	125,538
Gain on legal settlement	0	0	0	-28,738
Operating income (loss)	65,874	59,352	199,379	-86,537
Storage Segment	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Revenues	140,516	148,930	429,950	447,152
Storage Segment | Third Party Revenue [Member]	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Revenues	131,207	128,538	396,086	389,412
Storage Segment | Intersegment revenue [Member]	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Revenues	6,933	19,679	26,326	55,542
Storage Segment | Related Party Revenue [Member]	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Revenues	2,376	713	7,538	2,198
Pipeline Segment | Third Party Revenue [Member]	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Revenues	111,508	92,570	301,761	244,938
Fuels Marketing Segment	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Revenues	534,919	1,371,935	1,978,531	4,334,361
Fuels Marketing Segment | Third Party Revenue [Member]	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Revenues	534,919	1,371,935	1,969,886	4,334,361
Fuels Marketing Segment | Related Party Revenue [Member]	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Revenues	0	0	8,645	0
Operating Segments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Operating income:	'	'	'	'
Operating income (loss)	87,236	85,944	272,985	-31,234
Operating Segments [Member] | Storage Segment	'	'	'	'
Operating income:	'	'	'	'
Operating income (loss)	38,217	50,422	131,132	160,696
Operating Segments [Member] | Pipeline Segment	'	'	'	'
Operating income:	'	'	'	'
Operating income (loss)	58,018	41,864	149,126	110,640
Operating Segments [Member] | Fuels Marketing Segment	'	'	'	'
Operating income:	'	'	'	'
Operating income (loss)	-9,079	-6,517	-7,240	-302,783
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Revenues	-6,933	-19,679	-26,326	-55,542
Operating income:	'	'	'	'
Operating income (loss)	80	175	-33	213
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]	'	'	'	'
Operating income:	'	'	'	'
General and administrative expenses	18,831	24,953	65,978	75,254
Other depreciation and amortization expense	2,531	1,639	7,628	5,492
Other asset impairment loss	0	0	0	3,295
Gain on legal settlement	$0	$0	$0	($28,738)

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Table_2_De

SEGMENT INFORMATION Table 2 (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Segment Information	'	'
Total consolidated assets	$5,242,660	$5,613,089
Operating Segments [Member]	'	'
Segment Information	'	'
Total consolidated assets	4,961,803	5,234,318
Operating Segments [Member] | Storage Segment	'	'
Segment Information	'	'
Total consolidated assets	2,675,227	2,627,946
Operating Segments [Member] | Pipeline Segment	'	'
Segment Information	'	'
Total consolidated assets	1,769,036	1,720,711
Operating Segments [Member] | Fuels Marketing Segment	'	'
Segment Information	'	'
Total consolidated assets	517,540	885,661
Operating Segments [Member] | Other partnership assets	'	'
Segment Information	'	'
Total consolidated assets	$280,857	$378,771

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATING_FINANC2

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Table 1 (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$24,519	'	$83,602	$107,456	'	$17,497
Receivables, net	268,732	'	497,776	'	'	'
Inventories	122,998	'	173,228	'	'	'
Income tax receivable	25	'	1,265	'	'	'
Other current assets	41,188	'	65,238	'	'	'
Assets held for sale	2,847	'	118,334	'	'	'
Intercompany receivable	0	'	0	'	'	'
Total current assets	460,309	'	939,443	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,361,850	'	3,238,460	'	'	'
Intangible assets, net	81,710	'	92,435	'	'	'
Goodwill	950,963	'	951,024	'	'	'
Investment in wholly owned subsidiaries	0	'	0	'	'	'
Investment in joint ventures	70,812	'	102,945	'	'	'
Deferred income tax asset	5,088	'	3,108	'	'	'
Note receivable from related party	146,472	'	95,711	'	'	'
Other long-term assets, net	165,456	'	189,963	'	'	'
Total assets	5,242,660	'	5,613,089	'	'	'
Liabilities and Partners' Equity	'	'	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	33,982	'	286,422	'	'	'
Payables	241,949	'	399,041	'	'	'
Accrued interest payable	26,384	'	23,741	'	'	'
Accrued liabilities	37,444	'	124,203	'	'	'
Taxes other than income tax	13,066	'	9,893	'	'	'
Income tax payable	3,878	'	2,671	'	'	'
Intercompany payable	0	'	0	'	'	'
Total current liabilities	356,703	'	845,971	'	'	'
Long-term debt, less current portion	2,439,696	'	2,124,582	'	'	'
Long-term payable to related party	29,637	'	18,071	'	'	'
Deferred income tax liability	29,455	'	32,114	'	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	6,190	'	7,356	'	'	'
Total partners’ equity	2,380,979	2,440,266	2,584,995	2,672,099	2,421,117	2,864,335
Total liabilities and partners' equity	5,242,660	'	5,613,089	'	'	'
NuStar Energy	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	286	'	7,033	7,281	'	139
Receivables, net	0	'	0	'	'	'
Inventories	0	'	0	'	'	'
Income tax receivable	0	'	0	'	'	'
Other current assets	22	'	0	'	'	'
Assets held for sale	0	'	0	'	'	'
Intercompany receivable	0	'	0	'	'	'
Total current assets	308	'	7,033	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	'	0	'	'	'
Intangible assets, net	0	'	0	'	'	'
Goodwill	0	'	0	'	'	'
Investment in wholly owned subsidiaries	2,931,570	'	3,133,097	'	'	'
Investment in joint ventures	0	'	0	'	'	'
Deferred income tax asset	0	'	0	'	'	'
Note receivable from related party	0	'	0	'	'	'
Other long-term assets, net	490	'	490	'	'	'
Total assets	2,932,368	'	3,140,620	'	'	'
Liabilities and Partners' Equity	'	'	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	0	'	0	'	'	'
Payables	0	'	15	'	'	'
Accrued interest payable	0	'	0	'	'	'
Accrued liabilities	750	'	862	'	'	'
Taxes other than income tax	63	'	129	'	'	'
Income tax payable	0	'	0	'	'	'
Intercompany payable	503,316	'	508,365	'	'	'
Total current liabilities	504,129	'	509,371	'	'	'
Long-term debt, less current portion	0	'	0	'	'	'
Long-term payable to related party	0	'	0	'	'	'
Deferred income tax liability	0	'	0	'	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	0	'	0	'	'	'
Total partners’ equity	2,428,239	'	2,631,249	'	'	'
Total liabilities and partners' equity	2,932,368	'	3,140,620	'	'	'
NuStar Logistics	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	9	'	1,112	12	'	14
Receivables, net	48,527	'	157,452	'	'	'
Inventories	2,055	'	2,320	'	'	'
Income tax receivable	0	'	0	'	'	'
Other current assets	21,896	'	26,353	'	'	'
Assets held for sale	2,847	'	35,337	'	'	'
Intercompany receivable	324,347	'	353,384	'	'	'
Total current assets	399,681	'	575,958	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,539,777	'	1,423,991	'	'	'
Intangible assets, net	17,428	'	18,733	'	'	'
Goodwill	149,453	'	145,990	'	'	'
Investment in wholly owned subsidiaries	177,736	'	161,957	'	'	'
Investment in joint ventures	4,453	'	35,883	'	'	'
Deferred income tax asset	0	'	0	'	'	'
Note receivable from related party	146,472	'	95,711	'	'	'
Other long-term assets, net	123,982	'	148,384	'	'	'
Total assets	2,558,982	'	2,606,607	'	'	'
Liabilities and Partners' Equity	'	'	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	0	'	1,313	'	'	'
Payables	62,791	'	122,706	'	'	'
Accrued interest payable	26,380	'	22,512	'	'	'
Accrued liabilities	14,300	'	76,322	'	'	'
Taxes other than income tax	6,526	'	5,671	'	'	'
Income tax payable	358	'	247	'	'	'
Intercompany payable	0	'	0	'	'	'
Total current liabilities	110,355	'	228,771	'	'	'
Long-term debt, less current portion	2,439,696	'	2,124,582	'	'	'
Long-term payable to related party	24,195	'	12,629	'	'	'
Deferred income tax liability	0	'	0	'	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	843	'	2,701	'	'	'
Total partners’ equity	-16,107	'	237,924	'	'	'
Total liabilities and partners' equity	2,558,982	'	2,606,607	'	'	'
NuPOP	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	0	'	0	0	'	0
Receivables, net	11,331	'	10,561	'	'	'
Inventories	10,552	'	5,590	'	'	'
Income tax receivable	0	'	0	'	'	'
Other current assets	1,577	'	1,468	'	'	'
Assets held for sale	0	'	0	'	'	'
Intercompany receivable	387,731	'	599,599	'	'	'
Total current assets	411,191	'	617,218	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	575,143	'	582,299	'	'	'
Intangible assets, net	0	'	0	'	'	'
Goodwill	170,652	'	170,652	'	'	'
Investment in wholly owned subsidiaries	1,229,345	'	1,208,595	'	'	'
Investment in joint ventures	0	'	0	'	'	'
Deferred income tax asset	0	'	0	'	'	'
Note receivable from related party	0	'	0	'	'	'
Other long-term assets, net	26,331	'	26,330	'	'	'
Total assets	2,412,662	'	2,605,094	'	'	'
Liabilities and Partners' Equity	'	'	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	0	'	250,967	'	'	'
Payables	10,704	'	12,657	'	'	'
Accrued interest payable	0	'	1,224	'	'	'
Accrued liabilities	5,558	'	7,542	'	'	'
Taxes other than income tax	3,780	'	2,830	'	'	'
Income tax payable	3	'	0	'	'	'
Intercompany payable	0	'	0	'	'	'
Total current liabilities	20,045	'	275,220	'	'	'
Long-term debt, less current portion	0	'	0	'	'	'
Long-term payable to related party	0	'	0	'	'	'
Deferred income tax liability	0	'	0	'	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	404	'	279	'	'	'
Total partners’ equity	2,392,213	'	2,329,595	'	'	'
Total liabilities and partners' equity	2,412,662	'	2,605,094	'	'	'
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	24,224	'	75,457	100,163	'	17,344
Receivables, net	194,930	'	340,144	'	'	'
Inventories	110,454	'	165,349	'	'	'
Income tax receivable	25	'	1,265	'	'	'
Other current assets	17,693	'	37,417	'	'	'
Assets held for sale	0	'	82,997	'	'	'
Intercompany receivable	0	'	0	'	'	'
Total current assets	347,326	'	702,629	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,246,930	'	1,232,170	'	'	'
Intangible assets, net	64,282	'	73,702	'	'	'
Goodwill	630,858	'	634,382	'	'	'
Investment in wholly owned subsidiaries	2,392,178	'	2,329,595	'	'	'
Investment in joint ventures	66,359	'	67,062	'	'	'
Deferred income tax asset	5,088	'	3,108	'	'	'
Note receivable from related party	0	'	0	'	'	'
Other long-term assets, net	14,653	'	14,759	'	'	'
Total assets	4,767,674	'	5,057,407	'	'	'
Liabilities and Partners' Equity	'	'	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	33,982	'	34,142	'	'	'
Payables	154,510	'	274,044	'	'	'
Accrued interest payable	4	'	5	'	'	'
Accrued liabilities	16,836	'	39,477	'	'	'
Taxes other than income tax	2,697	'	1,263	'	'	'
Income tax payable	3,517	'	2,424	'	'	'
Intercompany payable	208,762	'	444,618	'	'	'
Total current liabilities	420,308	'	795,973	'	'	'
Long-term debt, less current portion	0	'	0	'	'	'
Long-term payable to related party	5,442	'	5,442	'	'	'
Deferred income tax liability	29,455	'	32,114	'	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	4,943	'	4,376	'	'	'
Total partners’ equity	4,307,526	'	4,219,502	'	'	'
Total liabilities and partners' equity	4,767,674	'	5,057,407	'	'	'
Eliminations	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	0	'	0	0	'	0
Receivables, net	13,944	'	-10,381	'	'	'
Inventories	-63	'	-31	'	'	'
Income tax receivable	0	'	0	'	'	'
Other current assets	0	'	0	'	'	'
Assets held for sale	0	'	0	'	'	'
Intercompany receivable	-712,078	'	-952,983	'	'	'
Total current assets	-698,197	'	-963,395	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	'	0	'	'	'
Intangible assets, net	0	'	0	'	'	'
Goodwill	0	'	0	'	'	'
Investment in wholly owned subsidiaries	-6,730,829	'	-6,833,244	'	'	'
Investment in joint ventures	0	'	0	'	'	'
Deferred income tax asset	0	'	0	'	'	'
Note receivable from related party	0	'	0	'	'	'
Other long-term assets, net	0	'	0	'	'	'
Total assets	-7,429,026	'	-7,796,639	'	'	'
Liabilities and Partners' Equity	'	'	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	0	'	0	'	'	'
Payables	13,944	'	-10,381	'	'	'
Accrued interest payable	0	'	0	'	'	'
Accrued liabilities	0	'	0	'	'	'
Taxes other than income tax	0	'	0	'	'	'
Income tax payable	0	'	0	'	'	'
Intercompany payable	-712,078	'	-952,983	'	'	'
Total current liabilities	-698,134	'	-963,364	'	'	'
Long-term debt, less current portion	0	'	0	'	'	'
Long-term payable to related party	0	'	0	'	'	'
Deferred income tax liability	0	'	0	'	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	0	'	0	'	'	'
Total partners’ equity	-6,730,892	'	-6,833,275	'	'	'
Total liabilities and partners' equity	($7,429,026)	'	($7,796,639)	'	'	'

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATING_FINANC3

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Table 2 (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$780,010	$1,593,756	$2,683,916	$4,970,909
Costs and expenses	714,136	1,534,404	2,484,537	5,057,446
Operating income (loss)	65,874	59,352	199,379	-86,537
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Equity in (loss) earnings of joint ventures	-5,358	-951	-26,629	3,816
Interest (expense) income, net	-31,078	-23,894	-93,601	-68,118
Interest (expense) income, net	-29,250	'	-89,041	'
Other income (expense), net	1,407	-19,943	3,978	-21,392
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense	32,673	14,564	87,687	-172,231
Income tax (benefit) expense	-563	599	6,147	20,318
Income (loss) from continuing operations	33,236	13,965	81,540	-192,549
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	-9,623	9,069	-23,665
Net income (loss)	33,236	4,342	90,609	-216,214
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	-161	-47	-439	-217
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	33,397	4,389	91,048	-215,997
Comprehensive income (loss)	38,790	-4,018	90,042	-268,791
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	-729	66	-2,206	780
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	39,519	-4,084	92,248	-269,571
NuStar Energy	'	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Costs and expenses	507	460	1,438	1,280
Operating income (loss)	-507	-460	-1,438	-1,280
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	33,904	4,849	92,486	-214,717
Equity in (loss) earnings of joint ventures	0	0	0	0
Interest (expense) income, net	'	0	'	0
Interest (expense) income, net	0	'	0	'
Other income (expense), net	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense	33,397	4,389	91,048	-215,997
Income tax (benefit) expense	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations	33,397	4,389	91,048	-215,997
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	33,397	4,389	91,048	-215,997
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	33,397	4,389	91,048	-215,997
Comprehensive income (loss)	33,397	4,389	91,048	-215,997
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	33,397	4,389	91,048	-215,997
NuStar Logistics	'	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	107,066	97,369	308,936	260,414
Costs and expenses	67,005	57,573	181,472	154,333
Operating income (loss)	40,061	39,796	127,464	106,081
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	8,136	-13,291	15,779	-342,197
Equity in (loss) earnings of joint ventures	-8,202	-3,304	-31,713	-3,304
Interest (expense) income, net	'	-20,804	'	-57,621
Interest (expense) income, net	-29,451	'	-83,788	'
Other income (expense), net	0	-21,491	2,466	-21,199
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense	10,544	-19,094	30,208	-318,240
Income tax (benefit) expense	146	97	420	238
Income (loss) from continuing operations	10,398	-19,191	29,788	-318,478
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	-241	28	-2,154
Net income (loss)	10,398	-19,432	29,816	-320,632
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	10,398	-19,432	29,816	-320,632
Comprehensive income (loss)	12,746	-22,612	43,306	-336,211
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	12,746	-22,612	43,306	-336,211
NuPOP	'	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	50,669	48,486	151,189	142,769
Costs and expenses	32,274	36,977	104,311	103,673
Operating income (loss)	18,395	11,509	46,878	39,096
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	4,992	13,862	20,750	76,380
Equity in (loss) earnings of joint ventures	0	0	0	0
Interest (expense) income, net	'	-2,800	'	-9,799
Interest (expense) income, net	76	'	-4,941	'
Other income (expense), net	8	1,678	-65	1,751
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense	23,471	24,249	62,622	107,428
Income tax (benefit) expense	1	1	4	1,331
Income (loss) from continuing operations	23,470	24,248	62,618	106,097
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	23,470	24,248	62,618	106,097
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	23,470	24,248	62,618	106,097
Comprehensive income (loss)	23,470	24,248	62,618	106,097
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	23,470	24,248	62,618	106,097
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	'	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	631,026	1,455,625	2,249,598	4,589,035
Costs and expenses	623,181	1,447,320	2,223,091	4,819,766
Operating income (loss)	7,845	8,305	26,507	-230,731
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	23,449	24,246	62,614	106,073
Equity in (loss) earnings of joint ventures	2,844	2,353	5,084	7,120
Interest (expense) income, net	'	-290	'	-698
Interest (expense) income, net	125	'	-312	'
Other income (expense), net	1,399	-130	1,577	-1,944
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense	35,662	34,484	95,470	-120,180
Income tax (benefit) expense	-710	501	5,723	18,749
Income (loss) from continuing operations	36,372	33,983	89,747	-138,929
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	-9,185	9,041	-21,250
Net income (loss)	36,372	24,798	98,788	-160,179
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	-161	-47	-439	-217
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	36,533	24,845	99,227	-159,962
Comprehensive income (loss)	39,578	19,618	84,731	-197,177
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	-729	66	-2,206	780
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	40,307	19,552	86,937	-197,957
Eliminations	'	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	-8,751	-7,724	-25,807	-21,309
Costs and expenses	-8,831	-7,926	-25,775	-21,606
Operating income (loss)	80	202	-32	297
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	-70,481	-29,666	-191,629	374,461
Equity in (loss) earnings of joint ventures	0	0	0	0
Interest (expense) income, net	'	0	'	0
Interest (expense) income, net	0	'	0	'
Other income (expense), net	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense	-70,401	-29,464	-191,661	374,758
Income tax (benefit) expense	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations	-70,401	-29,464	-191,661	374,758
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	-197	0	-261
Net income (loss)	-70,401	-29,661	-191,661	374,497
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	-70,401	-29,661	-191,661	374,497
Comprehensive income (loss)	-70,401	-29,661	-191,661	374,497
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.	($70,401)	($29,661)	($191,661)	$374,497

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATING_FINANC4

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Table 3 (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$378,540	$271,879
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Capital expenditures	-260,701	-320,778
Change in accounts payable related to capital expenditures	-2,879	0
Investment in other long-term assets	0	-2,364
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	116,467	471,823
(Increase) decrease in note receivable from related party	-50,761	-170,711
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other, net	156	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-197,718	-22,030
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Debt borrowings	1,299,220	1,877,048
Debt repayments	-1,897,182	-2,359,058
Note offering, net	687,151	247,408
Issuance of common units, net of issuance costs	0	336,662
General partner contribution	0	7,121
Distributions to unitholders and general partner	-294,153	-267,228
Proceeds from (payments for) termination of interest rate swaps	-33,697	-5,678
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates	0	0
Net intercompany borrowings (repayments)	0	0
Other, net	3,168	363
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-235,493	-163,362
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash	-4,412	3,472
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-59,083	89,959
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period	83,602	17,497
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period	24,519	107,456
NuStar Energy	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	292,499	265,905
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Capital expenditures	0	0
Change in accounts payable related to capital expenditures	0	'
Investment in other long-term assets	'	0
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	0	0
(Increase) decrease in note receivable from related party	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	-141	-344,244
Other, net	141	'
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	0	-344,244
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Debt borrowings	0	0
Debt repayments	0	0
Note offering, net	0	0
Issuance of common units, net of issuance costs	0	336,662
General partner contribution	0	7,121
Distributions to unitholders and general partner	-294,153	-267,228
Proceeds from (payments for) termination of interest rate swaps	0	0
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates	0	0
Net intercompany borrowings (repayments)	-5,047	9,059
Other, net	-46	-133
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-299,246	85,481
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-6,747	7,142
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period	7,033	139
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period	286	7,281
NuStar Logistics	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	159,157	91,736
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Capital expenditures	-181,580	-237,408
Change in accounts payable related to capital expenditures	-5,419	'
Investment in other long-term assets	'	0
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	116,348	436,426
(Increase) decrease in note receivable from related party	-50,761	-170,711
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other, net	15	'
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-121,397	28,307
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Debt borrowings	1,299,220	1,877,048
Debt repayments	-1,647,182	-2,109,058
Note offering, net	687,151	247,408
Issuance of common units, net of issuance costs	0	0
General partner contribution	0	0
Distributions to unitholders and general partner	-294,153	-267,228
Proceeds from (payments for) termination of interest rate swaps	-33,697	-5,678
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates	0	344,244
Net intercompany borrowings (repayments)	-53,557	-206,846
Other, net	3,355	496
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-38,863	-119,614
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash	0	-431
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-1,103	-2
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period	1,112	14
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period	9	12
NuPOP	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	50,587	46,183
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Capital expenditures	-13,449	-11,816
Change in accounts payable related to capital expenditures	1,534	'
Investment in other long-term assets	'	0
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	28	4,531
(Increase) decrease in note receivable from related party	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other, net	0	'
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-11,887	-7,285
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Debt borrowings	0	0
Debt repayments	-250,000	-250,000
Note offering, net	0	0
Issuance of common units, net of issuance costs	0	0
General partner contribution	0	0
Distributions to unitholders and general partner	0	0
Proceeds from (payments for) termination of interest rate swaps	0	0
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates	0	0
Net intercompany borrowings (repayments)	211,300	211,102
Other, net	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-38,700	-38,898
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 (used in) operating activities	170,479	142,700
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Capital expenditures	-65,672	-71,554
Change in accounts payable related to capital expenditures	1,006	'
Investment in other long-term assets	'	-2,364
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	91	30,866
(Increase) decrease in note receivable from related party	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	0	-34
Other, net	0	'
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-64,575	-43,086
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Debt borrowings	0	0
Debt repayments	0	0
Note offering, net	0	0
Issuance of common units, net of issuance costs	0	0
General partner contribution	0	0
Distributions to unitholders and general partner	-29	-7,426
Proceeds from (payments for) termination of interest rate swaps	0	0
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates	0	34
Net intercompany borrowings (repayments)	-152,696	-13,306
Other, net	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-152,725	-20,698
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash	-4,412	3,903
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-51,233	82,819
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period	75,457	17,344
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period	24,224	100,163
Eliminations	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	-294,182	-274,645
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Capital expenditures	0	0
Change in accounts payable related to capital expenditures	0	'
Investment in other long-term assets	'	0
Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	0	0
(Increase) decrease in note receivable from related party	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	141	344,278
Other, net	0	'
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	141	344,278
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Debt borrowings	0	0
Debt repayments	0	0
Note offering, net	0	0
Issuance of common units, net of issuance costs	0	0
General partner contribution	0	0
Distributions to unitholders and general partner	294,182	274,654
Proceeds from (payments for) termination of interest rate swaps	0	0
Contributions from (distributions to) affiliates	0	-344,278
Net intercompany borrowings (repayments)	0	-9
Other, net	-141	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	294,041	-69,633
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