Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Business Segment Information (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues from external customers $ 68,369us-gaap_Revenues [1] $ 67,550us-gaap_Revenues [1]  
Intersegment revenues (losses) 0lng_IntersegmentRevenuesLosses [2] 0lng_IntersegmentRevenuesLosses [2]  
Depreciation expense 17,769us-gaap_Depreciation 15,475us-gaap_Depreciation  
Loss from operations (60,998)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss (47,612)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss  
Interest expense, net (59,612)us-gaap_InterestExpense (40,270)us-gaap_InterestExpense  
Loss before income taxes and non-controlling interest (335,166)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest [3] (122,253)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest [3]  
Share-based compensation 17,991us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation 37,698us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation  
Goodwill 76,819us-gaap_Goodwill 76,819us-gaap_Goodwill 76,819us-gaap_Goodwill
Total assets 14,923,047us-gaap_Assets 9,524,616us-gaap_Assets 12,573,683us-gaap_Assets
Expenditures for additions to long-lived assets 619,740lng_SegmentReportingExpendituresforAdditionstoLongLivedAssets 686,004lng_SegmentReportingExpendituresforAdditionstoLongLivedAssets  
LNG terminal business [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues from external customers 67,580us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		[1] 67,119us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		[1]  
Intersegment revenues (losses) 103lng_IntersegmentRevenuesLosses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		[2] 72lng_IntersegmentRevenuesLosses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		[2]  
Depreciation expense 14,941us-gaap_Depreciation
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		14,406us-gaap_Depreciation
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		 
Loss from operations (25,089)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		(7,516)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		 
Interest expense, net (42,845)us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		(40,373)us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		 
Loss before income taxes and non-controlling interest (277,655)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		[3] (77,354)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		[3]  
Share-based compensation 3,197us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		3,050us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		 
Goodwill 76,819us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		76,819us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		 
Total assets 12,481,669us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		8,520,986us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		 
Expenditures for additions to long-lived assets 590,245lng_SegmentReportingExpendituresforAdditionstoLongLivedAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		659,779lng_SegmentReportingExpendituresforAdditionstoLongLivedAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngTerminalBusinessMember 		 
LNG and natural gas marketing business [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues from external customers 662us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		[1] 658us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		[1]  
Intersegment revenues (losses) 7,017lng_IntersegmentRevenuesLosses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		[2] 2,174lng_IntersegmentRevenuesLosses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		[2]  
Depreciation expense 200us-gaap_Depreciation
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		152us-gaap_Depreciation
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		 
Loss from operations (5,183)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		(11,594)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		 
Interest expense, net 0us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		0us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		 
Loss before income taxes and non-controlling interest (5,390)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		[3] (11,727)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		[3]  
Share-based compensation 4,035us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		6,510us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		 
Goodwill 0us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		0us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		 
Total assets 570,287us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		62,955us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		 
Expenditures for additions to long-lived assets 714lng_SegmentReportingExpendituresforAdditionstoLongLivedAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		314lng_SegmentReportingExpendituresforAdditionstoLongLivedAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= lng_LngAndNaturalGasMarketingBusinessMember 		 
Corporate and Other [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues from external customers 127us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[1],[4] (227)us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[1],[4]  
Intersegment revenues (losses) (7,120)lng_IntersegmentRevenuesLosses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[2],[4] (2,246)lng_IntersegmentRevenuesLosses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[2],[4]  
Depreciation expense 2,628us-gaap_Depreciation
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[4] 917us-gaap_Depreciation
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[4]  
Loss from operations (30,726)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[4] (28,502)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[4]  
Interest expense, net (16,767)us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[4] 103us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[4]  
Loss before income taxes and non-controlling interest (52,121)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[3],[4] (33,172)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[3],[4]  
Share-based compensation 10,759us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[4] 28,138us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[4]  
Goodwill 0us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[4] 0us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[4]  
Total assets 1,871,091us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[4] 940,675us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[4]  
Expenditures for additions to long-lived assets $ 28,781lng_SegmentReportingExpendituresforAdditionstoLongLivedAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[4] $ 25,911lng_SegmentReportingExpendituresforAdditionstoLongLivedAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember 		[4]  
Cheniere Energy Partners, LP [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
General Partner Ownership Percentage 100.00%us-gaap_LimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCOrLimitedPartnershipLPManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerOwnershipInterest
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= lng_CheniereEnergyPartnersLPMember 		   
Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings, LLC [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent 80.10%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= lng_CheniereEnergyPartnersLPHoldingsLLCMember 		  80.10%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= lng_CheniereEnergyPartnersLPHoldingsLLCMember
Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings, LLC [Member] | Cheniere Energy Partners, LP [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Limited Partner ownership percentage 55.90%us-gaap_LimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCOrLimitedPartnershipLPMembersOrLimitedPartnersOwnershipInterest
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= lng_CheniereEnergyPartnersLPHoldingsLLCMember
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= lng_CheniereEnergyPartnersLPMember 		   
[1] Substantially all of the LNG terminal revenues relate to regasification capacity reservation fee payments made by Total Gas & Power North America, Inc. and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. LNG and natural gas marketing and trading revenue consists primarily of the domestic marketing of natural gas imported into the Sabine Pass LNG terminal.
[2] Intersegment revenues (losses) related to our LNG and natural gas marketing segment are primarily a result of international revenue allocations using a cost plus transfer pricing methodology. These LNG and natural gas marketing segment intersegment revenues (losses) are eliminated with intersegment revenues (losses) in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
[3] Items to reconcile loss from operations and loss before income taxes and non-controlling interest include consolidated other income (expense) amounts as presented on our Consolidated Statements of Operations primarily related to our LNG terminal segment.
[4] Includes corporate activities, business development, oil and gas exploration, development and exploitation, strategic activities and certain intercompany eliminations. These activities have been included in the corporate and other column due to the lack of a material impact that these activities have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.