Financial Instruments - Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis (Details) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
LNG Inventory Derivatives | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Instruments (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	$ 0	$ 0
LNG Inventory Derivatives | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	(222)	1,951
LNG Inventory Derivatives | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	0	0
LNG Inventory Derivatives | Estimated Fair Value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	(222)	1,951
Fuel Derivative | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Instruments (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	0	0
Fuel Derivative | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	60	(1,415)
Fuel Derivative | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	0	0
Fuel Derivative | Estimated Fair Value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	60	(1,415)
Interest Rate Derivative | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Instruments (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	0	0
Interest Rate Derivative | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	(29,676)	0
Interest Rate Derivative | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	0	0
Interest Rate Derivative | Estimated Fair Value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	$ (29,676)	$ 0