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Balance held at close of period in number of shares.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section S99
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611225-123010

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
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-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611322-123010

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GENERAL - Narrative (Details) shares in Millions	12 Months Ended
GENERAL - Narrative (Details) shares in Millions	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) newbuild carrier vessel shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) vessel	Apr. 30, 2011
Ownership interests:
Minimum duration of long-term charter	5 years
Investments, ownership percentage	100.00%
Debt outstanding in respect of convertible bonds	$ 1,878,061,000	$ 1,380,787,000
Book value of vessels secured against long-term loans	$ 2,543,012,000	1,997,657,000
Number of vessels potentially being refinanced \| vessel	2
Refinancing of vessels, potential release to liquidity	$ 100,000,000
Assumptions used in stress testing, revenue contributions from fleet	0
Convertible Debt \| Convertible Bonds
Ownership interests:
Debt outstanding in respect of convertible bonds	243,369,000	$ 238,037,000
Equity Method Investments \| Convertible Bonds
Ownership interests:
Book value of vessels secured against long-term loans	$ 13,000,000
Vessels and equipment
Ownership interests:
Number of carriers owned and operated \| vessel	16	13
Golar Partners
Ownership interests:
Cost method investments, percentage of general partner interest	2.00%
Golar Partners
Ownership interests:
Percentage ownership in subsidiary			65.40%
Investments, ownership percentage	30.70%	41.40%
Golar Partners
Ownership interests:
Investments, ownership percentage	30.70%	41.40%
Golar Partners \| Equity Method Investments
Ownership interests:
Total held subordinated units (in shares) \| shares	15.9
Golar Partners \| Vessels and equipment
Ownership interests:
Number of carriers operated by other \| vessel	10	9
LNG carrier \| Vessels and equipment
Ownership interests:
Number of carriers owned and operated \| carrier	16
LNG carrier \| Golar Partners
Ownership interests:
Number of carriers operated by other \| carrier	4
FSRU
Ownership interests:
Number of newbuild commitments contracted for construction \| newbuild	1
FSRU \| Vessels and equipment
Ownership interests:
Number of carriers owned and operated \| carrier	1
FSRU \| Golar Partners
Ownership interests:
Number of carriers operated by other \| carrier	6