Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Share-Based Compensation - Narrative (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Share-Based Compensation - Narrative (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Feb. 01, 2013
Jan. 31, 2013
Stock-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share-based compensation, net of capitalization $ 102,003,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 271,367,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 58,696,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense    
Share-based compensation capitalized during period 8,200,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount 12,500,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount 2,400,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount    
Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized 172,100,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized        
Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition 2 years 10 months        
Plan Modification, Incremental Compensation Cost 10,800,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPlanModificationIncrementalCompensationCost        
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 10,805,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised 3,698,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised 836,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised    
Phantom Units [Member]          
Stock-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share-based compensation, net of capitalization 200,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PhantomShareUnitsPSUsMember
       
Phantom Shares, Grants in Period 79,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PhantomShareUnitsPSUsMember
       
Stock Options [Member]          
Stock-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value $ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Options, Exercises in Period, Intrinsic Value $ 11,900,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 2,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 700,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
1997 Stock Option Plan [Member] | Stock Options [Member]          
Stock-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Number of Shares Authorized 5,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= lng_A1997StockOptionPlanMember
       
2003 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]          
Stock-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Number of Shares Authorized 21,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= lng_A2003StockIncentivePlanMember
       
Number of Shares Granted Plan-to-Date, Net of Cancellations 21,000,000lng_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementbyShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberofSharesGrantedPlantoDateNetofCancellations
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= lng_A2003StockIncentivePlanMember
       
2011 Incentive Plan [Member]          
Stock-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Number of Shares Authorized 35,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= lng_A2011IncentivePlanMember
    35,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= lng_A2011IncentivePlanMember
10,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= lng_A2011IncentivePlanMember
Number of Shares Granted Plan-to-Date, Net of Cancellations 27,000,000lng_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementbyShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberofSharesGrantedPlantoDateNetofCancellations
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= lng_A2011IncentivePlanMember