Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)

v3.6.0.2
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
customer
item
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
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 resulting from bad debt expense $ 0 $ 36,200,000 $ 0
Non-cash LNG inventory write-downs 0 17,537,000 24,461,000
Impairments related to property, plant and equipment     0
Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges 0 0 $ 0
Goodwill, Impairment Loss 0 0  
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    
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | SPA Customers [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Concentration Risk, Number Of Significant Customers | customer 1    
LNG terminal [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | LNG Revenues [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Concentration Risk, Percentage 50.00%    
Corporate and Other Consolidating Items [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Impairments related to property, plant and equipment $ 10,100,000 $ 55,100,000  
Maximum [Member] | Sabine Pass LNG Terminal [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Property lease term 90 years    
SPL [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | SPA Customers [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 | customer 6    
CCL [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | SPA Customers [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 | customer 7    
SPLNG [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | TUA Customers [Member]      
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Concentration Risk, Number Of Significant Customers | customer 2