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Property, Plant and Equipment - Capitalized Costs and Fixed Assets (Details) (USD $)
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9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Sep. 30, 2013
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Sep. 30, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Sep. 30, 2013
Sabine Pass LNG terminal [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2012
Sabine Pass LNG terminal [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
Sabine Pass LNG terminal [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2012
Sabine Pass LNG terminal [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
LNG terminal [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
LNG terminal [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
LNG terminal construction-in-process [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
LNG terminal construction-in-process [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
LNG site and related costs, net [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
LNG site and related costs, net [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
LNG terminal costs [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
LNG terminal costs [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
Fixed assets [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Fixed assets [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
Computer and Office Equipment
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Dec. 31, 2012
Computer and Office Equipment
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Sep. 30, 2013
Vehicles
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Dec. 31, 2012
Vehicles
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Sep. 30, 2013
Machinery and Equipment
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Dec. 31, 2012
Machinery and Equipment
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Sep. 30, 2013
Other
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Dec. 31, 2012
Other
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Sep. 30, 2013
The Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2012
The Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
The Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2012
The Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, gross | $ 2,224,364,000 | $ 2,224,230,000 | $ 3,694,355,000 | $ 1,228,647,000 | $ 150,000 | $ 156,000 | $ 474,000 | $ 368,000 | $ 884,000 | $ 704,000 | $ 1,490,000 | $ 1,473,000 | $ 837,000 | $ 760,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated depreciation | (276,960,000) | (234,349,000) | (2,722,000) | (2,397,000) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 5,642,872,000 | 3,219,592,000 | 5,641,909,000 | 3,218,684,000 | 963,000 | 908,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation expense | 43,150,000 | 43,135,000 | [1] | 14,400,000 | 14,400,000 | 42,800,000 | 42,800,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capitalized interest expense | $ 30,200,000 | $ 14,000,000 | $ 125,000,000 | $ 14,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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