-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 RJn5D+bHTqUtAScg1i5qjg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001335584-08-000063.txt : 20080617
<SEC-HEADER>0001335584-08-000063.hdr.sgml : 20080617
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080617172017
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001335584-08-000063
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080616
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080617
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080617

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHENIERE ENERGY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000003570
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				954352386
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		700 MILAM ST.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7133755000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		700 MILAM ST.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BEXY COMMUNICATIONS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940314

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALL AMERICAN GROUP OF DELAWARE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931004

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALL AMERICAN BURGER INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931004

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KILPATRICK DAVID B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001259279

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16383
		FILM NUMBER:		08904000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9105 ST. CLOUD LANE
		CITY:			BAKERSFIELD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93311
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000003570</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHENIERE ENERGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LNG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001259279</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KILPATRICK DAVID B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>35 HARBOR RIDGE DR.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWPORT BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92660</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35786</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>78582</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sharees were issued as a restricted stock grant and therefore no consideration was given by the Reporting Person.  The stock grant vests on June 16, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Anne V. Vaughan under POA by David B. Kilpatrick</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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