VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES ("VIE") - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 newbuild	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) vessel	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) vessel	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number of vessels in sale and leaseback transaction		7
Interest expense \| $		$ 59,305	$ 71,201	$ 68,793
Net cash received in financing activities \| $		$ 377,307	$ 159,728	514,430
CMBL Lessor VIE \| Golar Tundra
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Term of sale leaseback transaction		10 years
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number of vessels in sale and leaseback transaction		7	6
Interest expense \| $		$ 37,400	$ 44,100	31,600
Net cash received in financing activities \| $		$ 51,500	$ 154,200	$ 704,200
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary \| ICBC Finance Leasing Co. Ltd Agreement
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number of vessels in sale and leaseback transaction		4
Number of newbuilds in sale and leaseback transaction \| newbuild	3
Term of sale leaseback transaction		10 years
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary \| CMBL Lessor VIE
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number of vessels in sale and leaseback transaction		1
Term of sale leaseback transaction		10 years
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary \| CCBFL Lessor Agreement
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number of vessels in sale and leaseback transaction		1
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary \| CCBFL Lessor Agreement \| Golar Seal
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Term of sale leaseback transaction		10 years
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary \| CCBFL Lessor Agreement \| Golar Crystal
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Term of sale leaseback transaction		10 years
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary \| COSCO
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number of vessels in sale and leaseback transaction		1