Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net		$ 17,674,548	$ 16,193,907
LNG terminal costs [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Accumulated depreciation		(430,757)	(413,545)
Property, plant and equipment, net		17,472,874	15,982,930
LNG terminal [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross		2,748,474	2,487,759
LNG terminal construction-in-process [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	[1]	15,116,545	13,875,204
LNG site and related costs, net [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross		38,612	33,512
Fixed assets and other [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Accumulated depreciation		(41,248)	(37,741)
Property, plant and equipment, net		201,674	210,977
Computer and office equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross		12,159	12,153
Furniture and fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross		17,201	17,101
Computer software [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross		72,234	69,340
Leasehold improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross		41,930	40,136
Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross		60,612	60,612
Other [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross		$ 38,786	$ 49,376

[1] As of March 31, 2016, LNG terminal construction-in-process is presented net of amounts received from the sale of commissioning cargoes because the related costs were capitalized as testing costs for the construction of the SPL Project.