Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments

Derivative Instruments

We have entered into certain instruments to hedge the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows attributable to the future sale of our LNG inventory ("LNG Inventory Derivatives"), to hedge the exposure to price risk attributable to future purchases of natural gas to be utilized as fuel to operate the Sabine Pass LNG terminal ("Fuel Derivatives"), and to hedge the exposure to volatility in a portion of the floating-rate interest payments under the Liquefaction Credit Facility ("Interest Rate Derivatives").

The following table (in thousands) shows the fair value of our derivative assets and liabilities that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, which are classified as other current assets, other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

	Fair Value Measurements as of
	September 30, 2012										December 31, 2011
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total			Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
LNG Inventory Derivatives asset (liability)	$	—	$	(165	)	$	—	$	(165	)	$	—	$	1,610		$	—	$	1,610
Fuel Derivatives asset (liability)	—		60			—		60			—		(1,415		)	—		(1,415		)
Interest Rate Derivatives liability	—		(29,676		)	—		(29,676		)	—		—			—		—

The estimated fair values of our LNG Inventory Derivatives and Fuel Derivatives are the amount at which the instruments could be exchanged currently between willing parties. We value these derivatives using observable commodity price curves and other relevant data. We value our Interest Rate Derivatives using valuations that are calibrated to the initial trade prices. Using an income-based approach, subsequent valuations are based on observable inputs to the valuation model including interest rate curves, risk adjusted discount rates, credit spreads and other relevant data.

Commodity Cash Flow Hedges

Changes in the fair value of our LNG Inventory Derivatives and Fuel Derivatives are reported in earnings because we have not elected to designate these derivative instruments as a hedging instrument that is required to qualify for cash flow hedge accounting. The following table (in thousands) shows the fair value and location of our LNG Inventory and Fuel Derivatives on our Consolidated Balance Sheets:

		Fair Value Measurements as of
	Balance Sheet Location	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
LNG Inventory Derivatives asset (liability)	Prepaid expenses and other (other current liabilities)	$	(165	)	$	1,610
Fuel Derivatives asset (liability)	Prepaid expenses and other (other current liabilities)	60			(1,415		)

The following table (in thousands) shows the changes in the fair value and settlements of our LNG Inventory Derivatives recorded in revenues on our Consolidated Statements of Operations during the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011:

	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	September 30,					September 30,
	2012			2011		2012		2011
LNG Inventory Derivatives	$	(228	)	$	494	$	697	$	494

The following table (in thousands) shows the changes in the fair value and settlements of our Fuel Derivatives recorded in derivative gain (loss) on our Consolidated Statements of Operations during the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011:

	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	September 30,					September 30,
	2012		2011			2012			2011
Fuel Derivatives	$	287	$	(716	)	$	(288	)	$	(1,164	)

Interest Rate Swaps Designated as Cash Flow Hedges

Sabine Pass Liquefaction has elected to designate these Interest Rate Derivatives as hedging instruments which is required in order to qualify for cash flow hedge accounting. As a result of this cash flow hedge designation, we recognize the Interest Rate Derivatives as an asset or liability at fair value, and reflect changes in fair value through other comprehensive income in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. Any hedge ineffectiveness associated with the Interest Rate Derivatives is recorded immediately as derivative gain (loss) in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. The realized gain (loss) on the Interest Rate Derivatives is recorded as an (increase) decrease in interest expense on our Consolidated Statements of Operations to the extent not capitalized as part of the Liquefaction Project. The effective portion of the gains or losses on our Interest Rate Derivatives recorded in other comprehensive income is reclassified to earnings over the life of the Liquefaction Credit Facility as the fixed rate interest obligations affect earnings. In addition, amounts recorded in other comprehensive income are also reclassified into earnings if it becomes probable that the hedged forecasted transaction will not occur.

The Interest Rate Derivatives hedge approximately 75% of the weighted average of the expected outstanding borrowings over the term of the Liquefaction Credit Facility. The aggregate notional amount each month follows our expected borrowing schedule under the Liquefaction Credit Facility with an expected maximum swap notional amount outstanding of $2.9 billion in 2017. At September 30, 2012, Sabine Pass Liquefaction had the following Interest Rate Derivatives outstanding that converted $20.0 million of the Liquefaction Credit Facility from a variable to a fixed interest rate. Sabine Pass Liquefaction pays a fixed interest rate on the swap and in exchange receives a variable interest rate based on the one-month LIBOR.

Initial Notional Amount	Maximum Notional Amount	Effective Date	Maturity Date	Weighted Average Fixed Interest Rate Paid	Variable Interest Rate Received
$20.0 million	$2.9 billion	August 14, 2012	July 31, 2019	1.98%	One-month LIBOR

Interest Rate Derivatives were reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value with the effective portion of the Interest Rate Derivatives' gain or loss recorded in other comprehensive income. The following table (in thousands) shows the fair value of our interest rate swaps:

		Fair Value Measurements as of
	Balance Sheet Location	September 30, 2012				December 31, 2011
Interest Rate Derivatives	Other current liabilities		$	(292	)	$	—
Interest Rate Derivatives	Other non-current liabilities		(29,384		)	—

The following table (in thousands) shows our Interest Rate Derivatives market adjustments recorded during the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012:

	Gain (Loss) in Other Comprehensive Income					Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Interest Expense (Effective Portion)				Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing)
	2012			2011		2012		2011		2012		2011
Interest Rate Derivatives	$	(29,676	)	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—

Other Financial Instruments

The estimated fair value of our other financial instruments, including those financial instruments for which the fair value option was not elected are set forth in the table below.  The carrying amounts reported on our Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, interest receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

Other Financial Instruments (in thousands):

	September 30, 2012				December 31, 2011
	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
2013 Notes (1)	$	550,000	$	585,750	$	550,000	$	555,500
2016 Notes, net of discount (1)	1,645,939		1,773,499		1,642,418		1,650,630
Liquefaction Credit Facility (2)	100,000		100,000		—		—

(1) The Level 2 estimated fair value of the Senior Notes, net of discount, was based on quotations obtained from broker-dealers who make markets in these and similar instruments based on the closing trading prices on September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, as applicable.

(2) The Level 2 estimated fair value of the Liquefaction Credit Facility was determined to be the carrying amount due to our ability to call this debt at anytime without penalty.