Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant - Footnotes (Details)

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Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant - Footnotes (Details) - USD ($)
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Long-Term Debt, Net   $ 25,336,000,000 $ 21,688,000,000  
Unamortized debt issuance costs   (305,000,000) (269,000,000)  
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]        
2018   0    
2019   55,000,000    
2020   1,035,000,000    
2021   3,161,000,000    
2022   3,485,000,000    
Thereafter   18,330,000,000    
Total   26,066,000,000    
Accumulated interest payable   397,000,000 273,000,000  
Issuance of stock to acquire additional interest in Cheniere Holdings   0 0  
4.875% Convertible Unsecured Notes due 2021 [Member]        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [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  
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]        
Aggregate principal amount   1,000,000,000    
4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2045 [Member]        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [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  
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]        
Aggregate principal amount   625,000,000    
$750 million Cheniere Revolving Credit Facility [Member]        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Long-Term Debt, Net   0 0  
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity   750,000,000    
Parent Company [Member]        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Long-Term Debt, Net   1,348,000,000 1,265,000,000  
Unamortized debt issuance costs   (3,000,000) (3,000,000)  
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]        
2018   0    
2019   0    
2020   0    
2021   1,161,000,000    
2022   0    
Thereafter   625,000,000    
Total   1,786,000,000    
Forgiveness of Debt $ 151,000,000      
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value   0 0  
Non-cash capital contributions [1]   (268,000,000) (517,000,000) $ (907,000,000)
Non-cash capital contribution from subsidiaries for forgiveness of debt   0 151,000,000 0
Non-cash capital distribution to subsidiaries for forgiveness of debt   0 (868,000,000) 0
Issuance of stock to acquire additional interest in Cheniere Holdings   2,000,000 94,000,000 $ 0
Parent Company [Member] | 4.875% Convertible Unsecured Notes due 2021 [Member]        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [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  
Parent Company [Member] | 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2045 [Member]        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [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  
Parent Company [Member] | $750 million Cheniere Revolving Credit Facility [Member]        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Long-Term Debt, Net   0 $ 0  
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity   $ 750,000,000    
Parent Company [Member] | Affiliate Note Payable [Member]        
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]        
Aggregate principal amount 94,000,000      
Accumulated interest payable $ 57,000,000      
[1] Amounts represent equity losses of affiliates.