Property, Plant and Equipment Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	$ 2,092,796	$ 2,107,129
LNG terminal costs [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	(135,674)	(125,108)
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,556,310	1,565,991
LNG terminal [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	1,647,582	1,647,107
LNG terminal construction-in-process [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	39,422	39,010
LNG site and related costs, net [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	4,980	4,982
Natural gas pipeline costs [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	564,022	564,021
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	(56,590)	(52,878)
Property, plant and equipment, net	528,314	532,025
Natural gas pipeline construction-in-process [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	2,427	2,427
Pipeline right-of-ways [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	18,455	18,455
Oil and gas properties, successful efforts method [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	4,170	4,170
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	(3,094)	(3,033)
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,076	1,137
Fixed assets [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	(25,818)	(23,844)
Property, plant and equipment, net	7,096	7,976
Computer and office equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	6,114	5,952
Furniture and fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	4,057	4,057
Computer software [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	12,647	12,601
Leasehold improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	7,318	7,318
Other [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$ 2,778	$ 1,892