CREDIT FACILITY Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended			0 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 29, 2012 NuStar Energy Consolidated Debt Coverage Ratio [Member]	Jun. 29, 2012 Cash Distributions Covenant [Member]	Jun. 29, 2012 Credit Facility [Member]	Jul. 14, 2011 Credit Facility [Member]	Jul. 15, 2010 Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 NuStar Energy - September 2012 Offering [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
General partner interest percentage	2.00%		2.00%
Credit Facility, Initiation Date						Jun. 29, 2012		Jul. 15, 2010
Credit Facility, Name						364-day revolving credit agreement		364-day revolving credit facility
Credit Facility, Amendment Date							July 14, 2011
Credit Facility, Maturity Date						Jun. 28, 2013	Jul. 12, 2012
Credit Facility, Outstanding borrowings	$ 20,000,000	$ 16,500,000
Credit Facility, Borrowing Capacity						40,000,000		30,000,000
Credit Facility, Letters of Credit Capacity						10,000,000		10,000,000
Credit Facility, Interest Rate Description						Interest on the 2012 Credit Facility is based upon, at our option, either an alternative base rate plus 0.75% or a LIBOR-based rate plus 1.75%		Interest on the 2010 Credit Facility, as amended, is based upon, at our option, either an alternative base rate plus 0.75% or a LIBOR-based rate plus 1.75%
Credit Facility, Interest Rate									2.00%
Credit Facility, Covenant Terms				The terms of the 2012 Credit Facility require NuStar Energy to maintain, as of the end of each rolling period, consisting of any period of four consecutive quarters, a consolidated debt coverage ratio not to exceed 5.0-to-1.0. If NuStar Energy consummates an acquisition for an aggregate net consideration of at least $50.0 million, the maximum consolidated debt coverage ratio will increase to 5.5-to-1.0 for two rolling periods. As of December 31, 2012, NuStar Energy's consolidated debt coverage ratio could not exceed 5.5-to-1.0, as a result of the TexStar Asset Acquisition.	receive cash distributions of at least $50.0 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 Consolidated Debt Coverage Ratio	4.98
Borrowings Under the Credit Facility	21,000,000	6,000,000	5,200,000
Contributions to NuStar Energy to maintain 2% general partner interest	18,005,000	17,031,000	22,416,000								7,100,000
Repayments Under the Credit Facility	17,500,000	5,500,000	3,500,000
Credit Facility, Borrowing Availability									20,000,000
Amount Available for Letters of Credit									$ 10,000,000
Credit Facility, Weighted-Average Interest Rate Related to Borrowings									2.10%	2.60%