Financial Instruments - Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
2016 Notes [Member] | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 1,648,286		$ 1,647,113	[1]
2016 Notes [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	1,825,477		1,824,177	[1]
2020 Notes [Member] | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	420,000	[1]	420,000	[1]
2020 Notes [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	444,150		437,850	[1]
2021 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Notes [Member] | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	1,500,000	[1]	0	[1]
2021 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Notes [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	1,552,500		0
Liquefaction Credit Facility [Member] | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Lines of Credit, Fair Value Disclosure	100,000	[1]	100,000	[1]
Liquefaction Credit Facility [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Lines of Credit, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 100,000	[1]	$ 100,000	[1]

[1] The Level 2 estimated fair value was based on quotations obtained from broker-dealers who make markets in these and similar instruments based on the closing trading prices on March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, as applicable.