Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Property, Plant and Equipment - Capitalized Costs and Fixed Assets (Details)

v2.4.0.6
Property, Plant and Equipment - Capitalized Costs and Fixed Assets (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, plant and equipment, net $ 2,704,895,000 $ 1,514,416,000  
Depreciation expense 42,551,000 42,943,000 42,299,000
LNG terminal costs [Member]
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment (166,538,000) (124,409,000)  
Property, plant and equipment, net 2,703,987,000 1,513,764,000  
Depreciation expense 42,100,000 42,600,000 41,800,000
LNG terminal [Member]
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 1,641,722,000 1,637,724,000  
LNG terminal construction-in-process [Member]
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 1,228,647,000 286,000  
LNG site and related costs, net [Member]
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 156,000 163,000  
Fixed assets [Member]
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment (2,397,000) (1,975,000)  
Property, plant and equipment, net 908,000 652,000  
Computer and Office Equipment
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 368,000 227,000  
Vehicles
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 704,000 416,000  
Machinery and Equipment
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 1,473,000 1,068,000  
Other
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 760,000 916,000  
Sabine Pass Liquefaction [Member]
      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Capitalized interest expense $ 35,100,000