Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

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

v3.3.1.900
Debt - Schedule of Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Debt Instruments (Details) - USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Debt $ 16,804,342,000 $ 9,806,084,000
2016 SPLNG Senior Notes, net of discount [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Debt 1,661,197,000 1,656,502,000
2016 SPLNG Senior Notes, net of discount [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure [1] 1,652,891,000 1,718,621,000
2020 SPLNG Senior Notes [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Debt 420,000,000 420,000,000
2020 SPLNG Senior Notes [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure [1] 403,200,000 428,400,000
2021 SPL Senior Notes, net of premium [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Debt 2,008,718,000 2,010,177,000
2021 SPL Senior Notes, net of premium [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure [1] 1,832,955,000 1,985,050,000
2022 SPL Senior Notes [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Debt 1,000,000,000 1,000,000,000
2022 SPL Senior Notes [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure [1] 912,500,000 1,020,000,000
2023 SPL Senior Notes, net of premium [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Debt 1,506,392,000 1,507,089,000
2023 SPL Senior Notes, net of premium [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure [1] 1,299,263,000 1,476,947,000
2024 SPL Senior Notes [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Debt 2,000,000,000 2,000,000,000
2024 SPL Senior Notes [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure [1] 1,715,000,000 1,970,000,000
2025 SPL Senior Notes [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Debt 2,000,000,000 0
2025 SPL Senior Notes [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure [1] 1,710,000,000 0
2015 SPL Credit Facilities [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Debt 845,000,000 0
2015 SPL Credit Facilities [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Lines of Credit, Fair Value Disclosure [2] 845,000,000 0
2021 Cheniere Convertible Unsecured Notes, net of discount [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Debt 879,938,000 814,751,000
2021 Cheniere Convertible Unsecured Notes, net of discount [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Convertible Debt, Fair Value Disclosures [3] 825,413,000 1,025,563,000
2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes, net of discount [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Debt 1,050,588,000 0
2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes, net of discount [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Convertible Debt, Fair Value Disclosures [3] 914,363,000 0
2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes, net of discount [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Debt 305,938,000 0
2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes, net of discount [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Convertible Debt, Fair Value Disclosures [4] 331,919,000 0
CTPL Term Loan, net of discount [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Debt 398,571,000 397,565,000
CTPL Term Loan, net of discount [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Loans Payable, Fair Value Disclosure [2] 400,000,000 400,000,000
2015 CCH Credit Facility [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Debt 2,713,000,000 0
2015 CCH Credit Facility [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Lines of Credit, Fair Value Disclosure [2] 2,713,000,000 0
SPL Working Capital Facility [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Carrying Amount, Debt 15,000,000 0
SPL Working Capital Facility [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]    
Lines of Credit, Fair Value Disclosure [2] $ 15,000,000 $ 0
[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, 2015 and 2014, as applicable.
[2] The Level 3 estimated fair value approximates the principal amount because the interest rates are variable and reflective of market rates and the debt may be repaid, in full or in part, 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 1 estimated fair value was based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical liabilities that we had the ability to access at the measurement date.