| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2013
 Other Contractual Restrictions [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012
 Other Contractual Restrictions [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013
 Sabine Pass LNG, LP [Member]
 Senior Notes Interest Payments [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012
 Sabine Pass LNG, LP [Member]
 Senior Notes Interest Payments [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013
 Sabine Pass LNG, LP [Member]
 Debt Service Reserve Fund [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013
 Sabine Pass LNG and Cheniere Partners [Member]
 Cheniere Energy, Inc. [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012
 Sabine Pass LNG and Cheniere Partners [Member]
 Cheniere Energy, Inc. [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013
 Senior Notes
 Sabine Pass LNG, LP [Member]
 Rate | Jul. 31, 2012
 Liquefaction Credit Facility [Member]
 Sabine Pass Liquefaction [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013
 2020 Notes
 Sabine Pass LNG, LP [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013
 2020 Notes
 Senior Notes
 Sabine Pass LNG, LP [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013
 2016 Senior Notes [Member]
 Sabine Pass LNG, LP [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013
 Acquisition of Non-current Assets [Member]
 Sabine Pass Liquefaction [Member]
 Debt Service Reserve Fund [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013
 Payment of Liabilities [Member]
 Sabine Pass Liquefaction [Member]
 Debt Service Reserve Fund [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012
 Payment of Liabilities [Member]
 Sabine Pass Liquefaction [Member]
 Debt Service Reserve Fund [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013
 Payment For Project [Member]
 Sabine Pass Liquefaction [Member]
 Debt Service Reserve Fund [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012
 Payment For Project [Member]
 Sabine Pass Liquefaction [Member]
 Debt Service Reserve Fund [Member] | |
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Principal amount of private offerings consummated | $ 420,000,000 | $ 1,665,500,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Debt instrument stated rate (percent) | 6.50% | 7.50% | |||||||||||||||||
| Debt instrument fixed charge coverage ratio | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Line of credit borrowing capacity | 3,600,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Current restricted cash and cash equivalents | 722,083,000 | 520,263,000 | 12,500,000 | 8,500,000 | 55,400,000 | 17,400,000 | 456,900,000 | 419,300,000 | 197,400,000 | 75,100,000 | |||||||||
| Non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents | $ 1,467,100,000 | $ 272,924,000 | $ 500,000 | $ 76,100,000 | $ 100,000,000 | $ 1,290,400,000 | $ 96,300,000 | ||||||||||||