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Debt and Debt-Related Parties Senior Notes (Details) (USD $)
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12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2010
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Dec. 31, 2010
Senior Notes
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Nov. 30, 2006
Senior Notes
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Dec. 31, 2012
Senior Notes
2013 Senior Notes [Member]
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Nov. 30, 2006
Senior Notes
2013 Senior Notes [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2008
Senior Notes
2016 Senior Notes [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Senior Notes
2016 Senior Notes [Member]
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Nov. 30, 2006
Senior Notes
2016 Senior Notes [Member]
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Oct. 31, 2012
Senior Notes
2020 Notes
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Dec. 31, 2012
Sabine Pass LNG, LP [Member]
Senior Notes
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Dec. 31, 2012
Sabine Pass LNG, LP [Member]
Senior Notes
2020 Notes
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| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | |||||||||||||
| Debt instrument principal amount | $ 2,032,000,000 | $ 550,000,000 | $ 1,482,000,000 | $ 420,000,000 | $ 420,000,000 | ||||||||
| Debt instrument stated interest rate | 7.25% | 7.50% | 6.50% | ||||||||||
| Gain on early extinguishment of debt | (57,685,000) | 0 | (50,320,000) | (42,587,000) | |||||||||
| Debt Instrument, Increase, Additional Borrowings | 183,500,000 | ||||||||||||
| Redemption of Debt Instrument, Percentage | 100.00% | ||||||||||||
| Percentage of debt principal | 1.00% | ||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument, Fixed Charge, Coverage Ratio | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Distribution Made to Member or Limited Partner, Cash Distributions Paid | $ 333,453,000 | $ 313,619,000 | $ 374,800,000 | ||||||||||
| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Debt Instrument, Fixed Charge, Coverage Ratio No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Percentage of debt principal No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Redemption of Debt Instrument, Percentage No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Increase of additional borrowings on existing and new debt instruments. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The amount of cash distributions paid to a common shareholder or unit-holder by a LLC or LP. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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