Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Long-Term Debt - Schedule of Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Debt Instruments (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Long-Term Debt - Schedule of Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Debt Instruments (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Long-term debt $ 9,806,084us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent $ 6,576,273us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
2016 Senior Notes [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Long-term debt 1,656,502us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2016SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember 		1,651,807us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2016SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
2016 Senior Notes [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure 1,718,621us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2016SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[1] 1,868,607us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2016SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[1]
2020 Senior Notes [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Long-term debt 420,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2020SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember 		420,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2020SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
2020 Senior Notes [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure 428,400us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2020SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[1] 432,600us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2020SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[1]
2021 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Long-term debt 2,010,177us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2021SabinePassLiquefactionSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember 		2,011,562us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2021SabinePassLiquefactionSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
2021 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure 1,985,050us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2021SabinePassLiquefactionSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[1] 1,961,273us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2021SabinePassLiquefactionSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[1]
2022 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Long-term debt 1,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2022SabinePassLiquefactionSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember 		1,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2022SabinePassLiquefactionSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
2022 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure 1,020,000us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2022SabinePassLiquefactionSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[1] 982,500us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2022SabinePassLiquefactionSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[1]
2023 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Long-term debt 1,507,089us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2023SabinePassLiquefactionSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember 		1,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2023SabinePassLiquefactionSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
2023 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure 1,476,947us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2023SabinePassLiquefactionSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[1] 935,000us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2023SabinePassLiquefactionSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[1]
2024 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Long-term debt 2,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2024SabinePassLiquefactionSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember 		0us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2024SabinePassLiquefactionSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
2024 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure 1,970,000us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2024SabinePassLiquefactionSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[1] 0us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2024SabinePassLiquefactionSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[1]
2013 Liquefaction Credit Facilities [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Long-term debt 0us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2013SabinePassLiquefactionCreditFacilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember 		100,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2013SabinePassLiquefactionCreditFacilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
2013 Liquefaction Credit Facilities [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Lines of Credit, Fair Value Disclosure 0us-gaap_LinesOfCreditFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2013SabinePassLiquefactionCreditFacilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[2] 100,000us-gaap_LinesOfCreditFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2013SabinePassLiquefactionCreditFacilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[2]
2021 Convertible Unsecured Notes [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Long-term debt 814,751us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2021ConvertibleUnsecuredNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember 		0us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2021ConvertibleUnsecuredNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
2021 Convertible Unsecured Notes [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Convertible Debt, Fair Value Disclosures 1,025,563us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtFairValueDisclosures
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2021ConvertibleUnsecuredNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[3] 0us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtFairValueDisclosures
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_A2021ConvertibleUnsecuredNotesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[3]
2017 Creole Trail Pipeline Term Loan [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Long-term debt 397,565us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_CreoleTrailPipelineCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember 		392,904us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_CreoleTrailPipelineCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
2017 Creole Trail Pipeline Term Loan [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Loans Payable, Fair Value Disclosure $ 400,000us-gaap_LoansPayableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_CreoleTrailPipelineCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[4] $ 400,000us-gaap_LoansPayableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= lng_CreoleTrailPipelineCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember 		[4]
[1] The Level 2 estimated fair value was based on quotations obtained from broker-dealers who make markets in these and similar instruments based on the closing trading prices on December 31, 2014 and 2013, as applicable.
[2] The Level 3 estimated fair value approximates the carrying amount because the interest rates are variable and reflective of market rates and Sabine Pass Liquefaction has the ability to call this debt at any time without penalty.
[3] The Level 3 estimated fair value was calculated based on inputs that are observable in the market or that could be derived from, or corroborated with, observable market data, including our stock price and interest rates based on debt issued by parties with comparable credit ratings to us and inputs that are not observable in the market.
[4] The Level 3 estimated fair value approximates the principal amount because the interest rates are variable and reflective of market rates and CTPL has the ability to call this debt at any time without penalty.