Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Leases (Details)

v2.4.0.6
Leases (Details) (USD $)
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2008
term
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2012
Houston office lease [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Tug boat [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Land [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Land [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Land [Member]
Feb. 28, 2005
Land [Member]
Sabine Pass LNG, LP [Member]
acre
lease_extension
Jan. 31, 2005
Land [Member]
Sabine Pass LNG, LP [Member]
lease
lease_extension
Dec. 31, 2012
Land [Member]
Sabine Pass LNG, LP [Member]
Jul. 31, 2012
Land [Member]
Sabine Pass LNG, LP [Member]
acre
Dec. 31, 2011
Land [Member]
Sabine Pass Liquefaction [Member]
acre
lease_extension
Nov. 30, 2011
Land [Member]
Sabine Pass Liquefaction [Member]
lease_extension
acre
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]                              
Operating lease rental expense   $ 12,900,000 $ 11,500,000 $ 10,200,000     $ 2,300,000 $ 1,800,000 $ 1,700,000 $ 1,500,000       $ 257,800 $ 138,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]                              
2012   14,411,000 [1],[2]                          
2013   12,863,000 [1],[2]                          
2014   12,900,000 [1],[2]                          
2015   12,937,000 [1],[2]                          
2016   11,643,000 [1],[2]                          
Thereafter (1)   250,684,000 [1],[2],[3]                          
Total   315,438,000 [1],[2]                          
Houston office contingent sublease revenue         700,000                    
Lease payment obligations offset           $ 75,200,000                  
Tug Boat Agreement, Term Of Agreement 10 years                            
Number of Tug Boat Agreement term-renewals available 2                            
Number of Land Leases                     3        
Initial Term of Lease                     30 years     30 years 5 years
Number of available lease extensions                     6     6 5
Term of available extension                     10 years     10 years 1 year
Acreage under lease                   853     0 80.6 80.7
Lease adjustment period due to inflation                       5 years      
[1] Future annual minimum lease payments do not include $0.7 million expected to be recovered through sublease agreements for our office leases in Houston, Texas.
[2] $75.2 million, or two-thirds, of Sabine Pass LNG's lease payment obligation, as discussed below.
[3] Includes certain lease option renewals as they are reasonably assured.