Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Debt - Schedule of Debt Instruments (Details)

v3.8.0.1
Debt - Schedule of Debt Instruments (Details) - USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 25,336,000,000 $ 21,688,000,000
Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs, Noncurrent (305,000,000) (269,000,000)
Current Debt, Net 0 247,000,000
Total Debt, Net 25,336,000,000 21,935,000,000
2021 SPL Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 2,006,000,000 2,007,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 5.625%  
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium $ 6,000,000 7,000,000
2022 SPL Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 1,000,000,000 1,000,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 6.25%  
2023 SPL Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 1,505,000,000 1,506,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 5.625%  
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium $ 5,000,000 6,000,000
2024 SPL Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 2,000,000,000 2,000,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 5.75%  
2025 SPL Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 2,000,000,000 2,000,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 5.625%  
2026 SPL Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 1,500,000,000 1,500,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 5.875%  
2027 SPL Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 1,500,000,000 1,500,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 5.00%  
2028 SPL Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 1,349,000,000 0
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 4.20%  
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount $ 1,000,000 0
2037 SPL Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 800,000,000 0
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 5.00%  
2015 SPL Credit Facilities [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 0 314,000,000
2025 CQP Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 1,500,000,000 0
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 5.25%  
2016 CQP Credit Facilities [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 1,090,000,000 2,560,000,000
2024 CCH Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 1,250,000,000 1,250,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 7.00%  
2025 CCH Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 1,500,000,000 1,500,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 5.875%  
2027 CCH Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 1,500,000,000 0
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 5.125%  
2015 CCH Credit Facility [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 2,485,000,000 2,381,000,000
2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 1,305,000,000 1,171,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 11.00%  
2021 Cheniere Convertible Unsecured Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 1,040,000,000 960,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 4.875%  
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount $ 121,000,000 146,000,000
2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net $ 311,000,000 308,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 4.25%  
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount $ 314,000,000 317,000,000
Cheniere Revolving Credit Facility [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Long-Term Debt, Net 0 0
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity 750,000,000  
SPL Working Capital Facility [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Current Debt, Net 0 224,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity 1,200,000,000.0  
CCH Working Capital Facility [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Current Debt, Net 0 0
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity 350,000,000  
Cheniere Marketing Trade Finance Facilities [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Current Debt, Net $ 0 $ 23,000,000