| Schedule of capitalized terminal, natural gas pipeline, LNG site and related costs | 
Property, plant and equipment consists of LNG terminal and natural gas pipeline costs, LNG site and related costs, investments in oil and gas properties, and fixed assets, as follows (in thousands): 
|  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|   | March 31, |   | December 31, |  
|   | 2012 |   | 2011 |  
| LNG terminal costs |   |   |   |  
| LNG terminal | $ | 1,647,582 | 
 |   | $ | 1,647,107 | 
 |  
| LNG terminal construction-in-process | 39,422 | 
 |   | 39,010 | 
 |  
| LNG site and related costs, net | 4,980 | 
 |   | 4,982 | 
 |  
| Accumulated depreciation | (135,674 | ) |   | (125,108 | ) |  
| Total LNG terminal costs, net | $ | 1,556,310 | 
 |   | $ | 1,565,991 | 
 |  
|   |   |   |   |  
| Natural gas pipeline costs |   | 
 |   |   | 
 |  
| Natural gas pipeline | $ | 564,022 | 
 |   | $ | 564,021 | 
 |  
| Natural gas pipeline construction-in-process | 2,427 | 
 |   | 2,427 | 
 |  
| Pipeline right-of-ways | 18,455 | 
 |   | 18,455 | 
 |  
| Accumulated depreciation | (56,590 | ) |   | (52,878 | ) |  
| Total natural gas pipeline costs | $ | 528,314 | 
 |   | $ | 532,025 | 
 |  
|   |   |   |   |  
| Oil and gas properties, successful efforts method |   | 
 |   |   | 
 |  
| Proved | $ | 4,170 | 
 |   | $ | 4,170 | 
 |  
| Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization | (3,094 | ) |   | (3,033 | ) |  
| Total oil and gas properties, net | $ | 1,076 | 
 |   | $ | 1,137 | 
 |  
|   |   |   |   |  
| Fixed assets |   | 
 |   |   | 
 |  
| Computer and office equipment | $ | 6,114 | 
 |   | $ | 5,952 | 
 |  
| Furniture and fixtures | 4,057 | 
 |   | 4,057 | 
 |  
| Computer software | 12,647 | 
 |   | 12,601 | 
 |  
| Leasehold improvements | 7,318 | 
 |   | 7,318 | 
 |  
| Other | 2,778 | 
 |   | 1,892 | 
 |  
| Accumulated depreciation | (25,818 | ) |   | (23,844 | ) |  
| Total fixed assets, net | $ | 7,096 | 
 |   | $ | 7,976 | 
 |  
| Property, plant and equipment, net | $ | 2,092,796 | 
 |   | $ | 2,107,129 | 
 |  |