Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)

v3.6.0.2
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
customer
item
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Advanced Capacity Reservation Fees Amortization Period 10 years    
Retained Percentage Of LNG Delivered 2.00%    
Bad debt expense $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Inventory Write-down 0 17,537,000 24,461,000
Impairments related to property, plant and equipment 400,000 0 0
Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges 0 $ 0 $ 0
Taxes, Difference in Bases, Amount 329,800,000    
Sabine Pass LNG Terminal [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Asset Retirement Obligation 0    
Creole Trail Pipeline [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Asset Retirement Obligation $ 0    
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | SPA Customers [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Concentration Risk, Number Of Significant Customers | customer 2    
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | LNG Revenues [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Concentration Risk, Percentage 77.00%    
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | LNG Revenues [Member] | SPA Customers [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Concentration Risk, Number Of Significant Customers | customer 1    
Maximum [Member] | Sabine Pass LNG Terminal [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Property lease term 90 years    
SPL [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | SPA Customers [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number Of Fixed Price Contracts | item 6    
Sale And Purchase Agreement Term Of Agreement 20 years    
Sale And Purchase Agreement Number Of Unaffiliated Counterparties | customer 6    
SPLNG [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | TUA Customers [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Concentration Risk, Number Of Significant Customers | customer 2