Equity in Net (Losses) Earnings of Affiliates - Schedule of Carrying Amount of Equity Method Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in net assets of affiliates	$ 702,222	$ 703,225
Golar Partners
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in net assets of affiliates	438,294	467,097
Golar Power
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in net assets of affiliates	258,599	228,696
OneLNG
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in net assets of affiliates	0	2,047
Egyptian Company for Gas Services (ECGS)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in net assets of affiliates	$ 5,329	$ 5,385

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109237563&loc=d3e33749-111570

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 25
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115929826&loc=d3e8813-108599

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant