Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Business Segment Information (Details)

v2.4.0.6
Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Mar. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues $ 70,474 $ 79,231  
Intersegment Revenues (losses) 0 [1],[2] 0 [1],[2]  
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 16,290 15,386  
Non-cash compensation 2,289 8,011  
Income (loss) from operations 721 23,566  
Interest expense, net (58,350) (64,154)  
Goodwill 76,819 76,819 76,819
Total assets 2,934,522 2,564,433 2,915,325
Expenditures for additions to long-lived assets 1,981 2,557  
Chenier Partners [Member]
      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Ownership Interest 88.70%    
LNG terminal business [Member]
      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues 67,260 70,001  
Intersegment Revenues (losses) 2,365 [1],[2] 4,782 [1],[2]  
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 10,708 10,840  
Non-cash compensation 172 572  
Income (loss) from operations 20,254 33,784  
Interest expense, net (43,457) (43,235)  
Goodwill 76,819 76,819  
Total assets 1,897,114 1,928,351  
Expenditures for additions to long-lived assets 1,043 2,561  
LNG terminal business [Member] | Cheniere Marketing, LLC [Member]
      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Proceeds (payments) of gross margin earned, percentage 80.00%    
Corpus Christi LNG [Member]
      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Business segment ownership percentage     100.00%
Creole Trail LNG [Member]
      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Business segment ownership percentage     100.00%
Natural Gas Pipeline Business [Member]
      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Length of natural gas pipeline, miles     94
Revenues 6 13  
Intersegment Revenues (losses) 24 [1],[2] 11 [1],[2]  
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 3,680 3,754  
Non-cash compensation 34 176  
Income (loss) from operations (5,723) (5,496)  
Interest expense, net (11,484) (11,229)  
Goodwill 0 0  
Total assets 534,638 550,991  
Expenditures for additions to long-lived assets 2 (76)  
LNG and natural gas marketing business [Member]
      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues 2,658 8,449  
Intersegment Revenues (losses) (1,431) [1],[2] (4,793) [1],[2]  
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 1,302 261  
Non-cash compensation 981 3,538  
Income (loss) from operations (6,746) 761  
Interest expense, net 0 0  
Goodwill 0 0  
Total assets 82,179 72,092  
Expenditures for additions to long-lived assets 700 0  
LNG and natural gas marketing business [Member] | Cheniere Marketing, LLC [Member]
      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Proceeds (payments) of gross margin earned, percentage 80.00%    
Corporate and Other [Member]
      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues 550 [3] 768 [3]  
Intersegment Revenues (losses) (958) [1],[2],[3] 0 [1],[2],[3]  
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 600 [3] 531 [3]  
Non-cash compensation 1,102 [3] 3,725 [3]  
Income (loss) from operations (7,064) [3] (5,483) [3]  
Interest expense, net (3,409) [3] (9,690) [3]  
Goodwill 0 [3] 0 [3]  
Total assets 420,591 [3] 12,999 [3]  
Expenditures for additions to long-lived assets $ 236 [3] $ 72 [3]  
[1] Intersegment losses related to our LNG and natural gas marketing segment are primarily from Cheniere Marketing's tug costs and the payment of 80% of gross margins earned by Cheniere Marketing in monetizing the TUA capacity of Cheniere Investments at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. These LNG terminal segment intersegment costs are eliminated with intersegment revenues in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
[2] Intersegment revenues related to our LNG terminal segment are primarily from tug revenues from Cheniere Marketing and the receipt of 80% of gross margins earned by Cheniere Marketing in monetizing the TUA capacity of Cheniere Energy Investments, LLC ("Cheniere Investments"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Cheniere Partners, at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. These LNG terminal segment intersegment revenues are eliminated with intersegment expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
[3] Includes corporate activities, oil and gas exploration, development and exploitation activities and certain intercompany eliminations. Our oil and gas exploration, development and exploitation operating 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.