Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Long-Term Debt - Senior Notes (Details)

v2.4.0.6
Long-Term Debt - Senior Notes (Details) (USD $)
9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Sep. 30, 2012
Sabine Pass LNG, LP
Sep. 30, 2011
Sabine Pass LNG, LP
Sep. 30, 2012
Sabine Pass LNG, LP
Senior Notes
Dec. 31, 2011
Sabine Pass LNG, LP
Senior Notes
Nov. 30, 2006
Sabine Pass LNG, LP
Senior Notes
Nov. 30, 2006
Sabine Pass LNG, LP
Senior Notes
2013 Senior Notes
Sep. 30, 2008
Sabine Pass LNG, LP
Senior Notes
2016 Senior Notes
Nov. 30, 2006
Sabine Pass LNG, LP
Senior Notes
2016 Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                    
Aggregate principal amount of debt         $ 2,215,500,000   $ 2,032,000,000 $ 550,000,000   $ 1,482,000,000
Debt instrument stated interest rate (percent)               7.25%   7.50%
Additional debt issued                 183,500,000  
Debt instrument redemption price (percent)             100.00%      
Percentage of debt principal (percent)             1.00%      
Additional basis points             0.50%      
Deposit requirement, percentage of semi-annual interest payment         16.67%          
Semi-annual interest payment         82,400,000          
Fixed charge coverage ratio         2 2        
Distributions made by Sabine Pass LNG $ 40,696,000 $ 34,704,000 $ 182,900,000 $ 231,700,000