CREDIT FACILITY Narrative (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jul. 14, 2011 2010 Credit Facility [Member]	Jul. 15, 2010 2010 Credit Facility [Member]	Jul. 15, 2010 NuStar Energy Debt-to-EBITDA Covenant [Member]	Jul. 15, 2010 Cash Distributions Covenant [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit Facility, Amendment Date			7/14/2011
Credit Facility, Name				364-day revolving credit facility
Credit Facility, Initiation Date				7/15/2010
Credit Facility, Maturity Date			7/12/2012
Credit Facility, Borrowing Capacity				$ 30,000
Amount Available for Letters of Credit				10,000
Outstanding Borrowings Under the Credit Facility	10,500	16,000
Credit Facility, Borrowing Availability	$ 19,500
Credit Facility, Interest Rate Description				Interest on borrowings under the 2010 Credit Facility is based upon, at our option, either an alternative base rate or a LIBOR-based rate
Credit Facility, Interest Rate	2.00%
Credit Facility, Fair Value, Basis for Measurement	carrying amount of the 2010 Credit Facility approximated its fair value
Credit Facility, Covenant Terms					NuStar Energy to maintain, as of the end of any four consecutive fiscal quarters, a consolidated debt coverage ratio not to exceed 5.0-to-1.0	receive cash distributions of at least $35.0 million in respect of our ownership interests in NuStar Energy for the preceding four fiscal quarters ending on the last day of each fiscal quarter
NuStar Energy's Debt-to-EBITDA ratio	4.5