Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Property, Plant and Equipment

v2.4.0.6
Property, Plant and Equipment
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]  
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]
Property, Plant and Equipment
 
Property, plant and equipment consists of LNG terminal and natural gas pipeline costs, LNG site and related costs, investments in oil and gas properties, and fixed assets, as follows (in thousands):
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
LNG terminal costs
 
 
 
LNG terminal
$
1,647,582

 
$
1,647,107

LNG terminal construction-in-process
39,422

 
39,010

LNG site and related costs, net
4,980

 
4,982

Accumulated depreciation
(135,674
)
 
(125,108
)
Total LNG terminal costs, net
$
1,556,310

 
$
1,565,991

 
 
 
 
Natural gas pipeline costs
 

 
 

Natural gas pipeline
$
564,022

 
$
564,021

Natural gas pipeline construction-in-process
2,427

 
2,427

Pipeline right-of-ways
18,455

 
18,455

Accumulated depreciation
(56,590
)
 
(52,878
)
Total natural gas pipeline costs
$
528,314

 
$
532,025

 
 
 
 
Oil and gas properties, successful efforts method
 

 
 

Proved
$
4,170

 
$
4,170

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization
(3,094
)
 
(3,033
)
Total oil and gas properties, net
$
1,076

 
$
1,137

 
 
 
 
Fixed assets
 

 
 

Computer and office equipment
$
6,114

 
$
5,952

Furniture and fixtures
4,057

 
4,057

Computer software
12,647

 
12,601

Leasehold improvements
7,318

 
7,318

Other
2,778

 
1,892

Accumulated depreciation
(25,818
)
 
(23,844
)
Total fixed assets, net
$
7,096

 
$
7,976

Property, plant and equipment, net
$
2,092,796

 
$
2,107,129


 
LNG Terminal Costs
 
Depreciation expense related to the Sabine Pass LNG terminal totaled $10.6 million and $10.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Natural Gas Pipeline Costs 

Depreciation expense related to the Creole Trail Pipeline totaled $3.7 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

Fixed Assets 

Depreciation expense related to our fixed assets totaled $2.0 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.