Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)

v3.3.1.900
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)
shares in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
unit
item
shares
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
shares
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
shares
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Advanced Capacity Reservation Fees Amortization Period 10 years    
Retained Percentage Of LNG Delivered 2.00%    
Impairment expense $ 91,317,000 $ 0 $ 0
Inventory Write-down 17,537,000 24,461,000 26,900,000
Impairments related to property, plant and equipment 55,100,000 0 $ 0
Goodwill Impairment 0 0  
Notes Receivable [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Impairment expense 36,200,000    
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges $ 0 $ 0  
Stock options, warrants and unvested stock [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount | shares 7.6 10.4 14.1
Convertible Debt Securities [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount | shares 73.9 14.3  
SPLNG [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number of fixed price contracts | unit 2    
SPL [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number of fixed price contracts | item 6    
Sale and Purchase Agreement Term of Agreement 20 years    
Sale and Purchase Agreement Number of Unaffiliated Counterparties | item 6    
CCL [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number of fixed price contracts | item 8    
Sale and Purchase Agreement Term of Agreement 20 years    
Sale and Purchase Agreement Number of Unaffiliated Counterparties | item 7    
Sabine Pass LNG Terminal [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Asset Retirement Obligation $ 0    
Creole Trail Pipeline [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Asset Retirement Obligation $ 0    
Maximum [Member] | Sabine Pass LNG Terminal [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Property Lease Term 90 years