| Schedule of capitalized terminal, natural gas pipeline, LNG site and related costs | 
        
Property, plant and equipment consists of LNG terminal and natural gas pipeline costs, investments in oil and gas properties, and fixed assets, as follows (in thousands): 
 |  
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 
   | 
March 31,  | 
   | 
December 31,  | 
 
   | 
2013  | 
   | 
2012  | 
 
LNG terminal costs  | 
   | 
   | 
   | 
 
LNG terminal  | 
$  | 
1,651,101  | 
 
  | 
   | 
$  | 
1,651,106  | 
 
  | 
 
LNG terminal construction-in-process  | 
1,815,032  | 
 
  | 
   | 
1,267,371  | 
 
  | 
 
LNG site and related costs, net  | 
5,396  | 
 
  | 
   | 
5,398  | 
 
  | 
 
Accumulated depreciation  | 
(178,076  | 
)  | 
   | 
(167,472  | 
)  | 
 
Total LNG terminal costs, net  | 
$  | 
3,293,453  | 
 
  | 
   | 
$  | 
2,756,403  | 
 
  | 
 
   | 
   | 
   | 
   | 
 
Natural gas pipeline costs  | 
   | 
 
  | 
   | 
   | 
 
  | 
 
Natural gas pipeline  | 
$  | 
564,145  | 
 
  | 
   | 
$  | 
564,034  | 
 
  | 
 
Natural gas pipeline construction-in-process  | 
11,033  | 
 
  | 
   | 
2,427  | 
 
  | 
 
Pipeline right-of-ways  | 
18,455  | 
 
  | 
   | 
18,455  | 
 
  | 
 
Accumulated depreciation  | 
(71,545  | 
)  | 
   | 
(67,803  | 
)  | 
 
Total natural gas pipeline costs, net  | 
$  | 
522,088  | 
 
  | 
   | 
$  | 
517,113  | 
 
  | 
 
   | 
   | 
   | 
   | 
 
Oil and gas properties, successful efforts method  | 
   | 
 
  | 
   | 
   | 
 
  | 
 
Proved  | 
$  | 
3,925  | 
 
  | 
   | 
$  | 
3,917  | 
 
  | 
 
Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization  | 
(3,249  | 
)  | 
   | 
(3,209  | 
)  | 
 
Total oil and gas properties, net  | 
$  | 
676  | 
 
  | 
   | 
$  | 
708  | 
 
  | 
 
   | 
   | 
   | 
   | 
 
Fixed assets  | 
   | 
 
  | 
   | 
   | 
 
  | 
 
Computer and office equipment  | 
$  | 
7,298  | 
 
  | 
   | 
$  | 
7,014  | 
 
  | 
 
Furniture and fixtures  | 
4,145  | 
 
  | 
   | 
4,057  | 
 
  | 
 
Computer software  | 
13,015  | 
 
  | 
   | 
13,012  | 
 
  | 
 
Leasehold improvements  | 
7,022  | 
 
  | 
   | 
6,989  | 
 
  | 
 
Other  | 
3,321  | 
 
  | 
   | 
2,927  | 
 
  | 
 
Accumulated depreciation  | 
(26,719  | 
)  | 
   | 
(25,918  | 
)  | 
 
Total fixed assets, net  | 
$  | 
8,082  | 
 
  | 
   | 
$  | 
8,081  | 
 
  | 
 
Property, plant and equipment, net  | 
$  | 
3,824,299  | 
 
  | 
   | 
$  | 
3,282,305  | 
 
  | 
 
  
 
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