CNX Resources (CNX) 10-Q 4 Nov 14 2014 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Oct. 17, 2014
Document Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-14	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Entity Registrant Name	'CONSOL Energy Inc	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001070412	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	230,179,532

Consolidated_Statements_of_Inc

Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	$257,358	$192,781	$753,399	$531,859
Coal Sales	483,960	479,311	1,554,939	1,532,280
Other Revenue, Net	73,673	63,876	213,047	197,778
Gas Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Sales	18,815	17,113	68,773	51,109
Freight-Outside	2,497	9,579	22,551	31,492
Other Income (including equity earnings)	40,784	20,822	165,815	77,729
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	7,529	19,863	12,615	52,208
Total Revenue and Other Income	884,616	803,345	2,791,139	2,474,455
Oil and Gas Property, Lease Operating Expense	30,005	23,600	85,622	70,835
Gas Gathering, Transportation, Marketing and Processing Costs	68,234	46,699	179,813	144,002
Production Tax Expense	8,486	8,033	28,817	20,011
E&P Direct Administration and Selling	14,060	11,725	39,216	34,615
E&P Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization	82,538	58,998	225,766	164,832
Exploration and Production Costs	8,042	22,771	15,765	43,666
Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Costs	15,751	13,805	58,519	41,165
Other Expenses	13,700	26,289	60,876	74,239
Results of Operations, General and Administrative Related to Oil and Gas Producing Activities	14,874	10,177	47,755	29,239
Oil and Gas Production Expense	255,690	222,097	742,149	622,604
Operating Expenses	339,216	328,393	1,013,606	993,342
Taxes, Miscellaneous	23,306	24,380	77,397	79,257
Direct Administration, Selling and Other Costs	10,479	11,608	33,589	34,744
Coal Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization	64,880	57,265	186,029	169,702
Freight Expense	2,497	9,579	22,551	31,492
General and Administrative Expense	10,434	8,607	33,397	27,946
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	10,114	11,145	41,444	43,056
Cost of Coal Products and Services	460,926	450,977	1,408,013	1,379,539
Other Nonoperating Expense	92,974	75,439	266,601	272,346
Other General and Administrative Expense	425	376	1,259	1,269
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	1,247	1,467	3,885	4,303
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	20,990	0	95,267	0
Interest Expense	55,397	56,300	170,539	164,194
Other General Expense	171,033	133,582	537,551	442,112
Total Costs	887,649	806,656	2,687,713	2,444,255
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	-3,033	-3,311	103,426	30,200
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	-1,388	68,858	8,315	97,531
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	-1,645	-72,169	95,111	-67,331
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	8,120	-5,687	-11,352
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	-1,645	-64,049	89,424	-78,683
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	-398	0	-942
Net Income (Loss)	($1,645)	($63,651)	$89,424	($77,741)

Consolidated_Statements_of_Inc1

Consolidated Statements of Income Earnings Per Share (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share	($0.01)	($0.31)	$0.41	($0.29)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share	$0	$0.03	($0.02)	($0.05)
Earnings Per Share, Basic	($0.01)	($0.28)	$0.39	($0.34)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share	($0.01)	($0.31)	$0.41	($0.29)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share	$0	$0.03	($0.02)	($0.05)
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	($0.01)	($0.28)	$0.39	($0.34)
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$0.06	$0.13	$0.19	$0.25

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	($1,645)	($64,049)	$89,424	($78,683)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	184,154	24,980	185,475	113,641
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	39,151	13,246	-20,032	40,400
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	-19,510	-24,354	3,754	-56,595
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	203,795	13,872	169,197	97,446
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	202,150	-50,177	258,621	18,763
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	-398	0	-942
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	$202,150	($49,779)	$258,621	$19,705

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com1

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parentheticals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax	$12,084	$14,025	($5,509)	$36,551
Adjustment For Actuarially Determined Liabilities [Member]	'	'	'	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax	-107,383	-15,422	-108,154	-70,161
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'	'	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax	($25,722)	($8,536)	$13,161	($26,036)

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current Assets:	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$225,563	$327,420
Accounts and Notes Receivable:	'	'
Trade	299,939	332,574
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Current	0	25,861
Other Receivables	382,652	243,973
Inventories	145,372	157,914
Deferred Income Taxes	127,731	211,303
Recoverable Income Taxes	41,971	10,705
Prepaid Expenses	101,867	135,842
Total Current Assets	1,325,095	1,445,592
Property, Plant and Equipment:	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment	14,463,328	13,578,509
Less-Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	4,499,344	4,136,247
Total Property, Plant and Equipment-Net	9,963,984	9,442,262
Other Assets:	'	'
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	185,509	291,675
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	0	125
Other	244,347	214,013
Total Other Assets	429,856	505,813
Total Assets	11,718,935	11,393,667
Current Liabilities:	'	'
Accounts Payable	610,725	514,580
Current Portion of Long-Term Debt	12,225	11,455
Other Accrued Liabilities	610,704	565,697
Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current	12,992	28,239
Total Current Liabilities	1,246,646	1,119,971
Long-Term Debt:	'	'
Long-Term Debt	3,236,172	3,115,963
Capital Lease Obligations	43,150	47,596
Total Long-Term Debt	3,279,322	3,163,559
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	395,025	242,643
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions	652,050	961,127
Pneumoconiosis Benefits	111,514	111,971
Mine Closing	321,776	320,723
Gas Well Closing	180,520	175,603
Workers' Compensation	73,398	71,468
Salary Retirement	48,231	48,252
Reclamation	34,499	40,706
Other	121,355	131,355
Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	1,938,368	2,103,848
TOTAL LIABILITIES	6,464,336	6,387,378
Stockholders' Equity:	'	'
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value; 500,000,000 Shares Authorized, 230,165,816 Issued and Outstanding at June 30, 2014; 229,145,736 Issued and Outstanding at December 31, 2013	2,305	2,294
Capital in Excess of Par Value	2,412,976	2,364,592
Preferred Stock, 15,000,000 shares authorized, None issued and outstanding	0	0
Retained Earnings	2,995,238	2,964,520
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	-155,920	-325,117
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	5,254,599	5,006,289
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$11,718,935	$11,393,667

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Common Stock [Member]	'	'
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$0.01	$0.01
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	500,000,000	500,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	230,177,923	229,145,736
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	230,177,923	229,145,736
Treasury Stock, Shares	0	0
Preferred Stock [Member]	'	'
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized	15,000,000	15,000,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued	0	0
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding	0	0

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sto

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings (Deficit) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Total CONSOL Energy Inc. Stockholders' Equity [Member]
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2013	'	$2,294	$2,364,592	$2,964,520	($325,117)	$5,006,289
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	89,424	0	0	89,424	0	89,424
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	169,197	0	0	0	169,197	169,197
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	258,621	0	0	89,424	169,197	258,621
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	13,403	11	13,392	0	0	13,403
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Treasury Stock Reissued	'	0	0	-15,587	0	-15,587
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation	'	0	2,478	0	0	2,478
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition	'	0	32,514	0	0	32,514
Dividends, Cash	'	0	0	-43,119	0	-43,119
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Sep. 30, 2014	'	$2,305	$2,412,976	$2,995,238	($155,920)	$5,254,599

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$89,424	($78,683)
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities:	'	'
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	5,687	11,352
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	415,680	338,837
Stock-Based Compensation	32,514	44,026
(Gain) Loss on Sale of Assets	-12,615	-52,208
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	95,267	0
Deferred Income Taxes	6,540	-23,335
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates	-38,477	-20,276
Proceeds from Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions, Return of Capital	47,424	0
Changes in Operating Assets:	'	'
Accounts and Notes Receivable	-64,241	11,145
Inventories	12,542	11,000
Prepaid Expenses	3,178	-8,688
Changes in Other Assets	-14,339	24,318
Changes in Operating Liabilities:	'	'
Accounts Payable	151,829	-18,487
Increase (Decrease) in Interest Payable, Net	32,698	50,184
Other Operating Liabilities	116,474	122,429
Other	-8,480	39,356
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations	871,105	450,970
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Discontinued Operations	-20,934	138,029
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	850,171	588,999
Investing Activities:	'	'
Capital Expenditures	-1,174,607	-1,021,127
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	0	56,410
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets	141,136	464,638
Net Investment in Equity Affiliates	108,532	-18,112
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations	-924,939	-518,191
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Discontinued Operations	0	-41,246
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	-924,939	-559,437
Financing Activities:	'	'
(Payments on) Proceeds from Short-Term Borrowings	-11,736	47,000
Payments on Miscellaneous Borrowings	-4,169	-31,858
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	1,859,920	0
Proceeds from Long-Term Borrowings	-1,843,866	0
Payments on Securitzation Facility	0	6,518
Tax Benefit from Stock-Based Compensation	2,478	2,316
Dividends Paid	-43,119	-57,211
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	13,403	2,698
Treasury Stock Activity	0	609
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations	-27,089	-29,928
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Discontinued Operations	0	-432
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	-27,089	-30,360
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	-101,857	-798
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	327,420	21,862
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$225,563	$21,064

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	BASIS OF PRESENTATION:
	The accompanying Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for future periods.
	The balance sheet at December 31, 2013 has been derived from the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements at that date but does not include all the notes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2013 included in CONSOL Energy Inc.'s Form 10-K.
	Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform with the report classifications of the year ended December 31, 2013, with no effect on previously reported net income or stockholders' equity.
	Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to shareholders by the weighted average shares outstanding during the reporting period. Dilutive earnings per share are computed similarly to basic earnings per share except that the weighted average shares outstanding are increased to include additional shares from stock options, performance stock options, CONSOL stock units, and restricted and performance share units, if dilutive. The number of additional shares is calculated by assuming that outstanding stock options and performance share options were exercised, that outstanding restricted stock units, performance share units, and CONSOL stock units were released, and that the proceeds from such activities were used to acquire shares of common stock at the average market price during the reporting period. CONSOL Energy Inc. (CONSOL Energy or the Company) includes the impact of pro forma deferred tax assets in determining potential windfalls and shortfalls for purposes of calculating assumed proceeds under the treasury stock method. The table below sets forth the share-based awards that have been excluded from the computation of the diluted earnings per share because their effect would be anti-dilutive:
		Three Months Ended September 30,							Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014			2013				2014			2013
	Anti-Dilutive Options	4,116,136			4,833,174				359,488			4,833,174
	Anti-Dilutive Restricted Stock Units	1,278,078			1,243,207				—			1,243,207
	Anti-Dilutive Performance Share Units	287,226			97,142				—			97,142
	Anti-Dilutive Performance Share Options	802,804			602,101				—			602,101
		6,484,244			6,775,624				359,488			6,775,624
	The table below sets forth the share-based awards that have been exercised or released:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014		2013				2014		2013
	Options	7,456		11,655				655,568		256,768
	Restricted Stock Units	6,034		130,523				396,836		698,664
	Performance Share Units	—		—				378,971		159,228
		13,490		142,178				1,431,375		1,114,660
	The weighted average exercise price per share of the options exercised during the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was $22.75 and $17.40, respectively. The weighted average exercise price per share of the options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was $20.44 and $10.49, respectively.
	The computations for basic and dilutive earnings per share are as follows:
		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014				2013				2014				2013
	(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations	$	(1,645	)		$	(72,169		)	$	95,111			$	(67,331	)
	Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations	—				8,120				(5,687			)	(11,352		)
	Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	—				(398			)	—				(942		)
	Net (Loss) Income Attributable to CONSOL Energy Inc. Shareholders	$	(1,645	)		$	(63,651		)	$	89,424			$	(77,741	)
	Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
	Basic	230,174,256				228,876,336				229,922,936				228,640,671
	Effect of stock-based compensation awards	—				—				1,479,976				—
	Dilutive	230,174,256				228,876,336				231,402,912				228,640,671
	Earnings per share:
	Basic (Continuing Operations)	$	(0.01	)		$	(0.31		)	$	0.41			$	(0.29	)
	Basic (Discontinued Operations)	—				0.03				(0.02			)	(0.05		)
	Total Basic	$	(0.01	)		$	(0.28		)	$	0.39			$	(0.34	)
	Dilutive (Continuing Operations)	$	(0.01	)		$	(0.31		)	$	0.41			$	(0.29	)
	Dilutive (Discontinued Operations)	—				0.03				(0.02			)	(0.05		)
	Total Dilutive	$	(0.01	)		$	(0.28		)	$	0.39			$	(0.34	)
	Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income / (Loss) by component, net of tax, were as follows:
		Gains and Losses on Cash Flow Hedges				Postretirement Benefits				Total
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	42,493			$	(367,610		)	$	(325,117		)
	Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	(20,032		)		176,385				156,353
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	3,754				9,090				12,844
	Current period other comprehensive (loss) income	(16,278		)		185,475				169,197
	Balance at September 30, 2014	$	26,215			$	(182,135		)	$	(155,920		)
	The following table shows the reclassification of adjustments out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss:
		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014				2013				2014				2013
	Derivative Instruments (Note 13)
	Natural gas price swaps and options	$	(31,594	)		$	(38,379		)	$	9,263			$	(93,146	)
	Tax benefit (expense)	12,084				14,025				(5,509			)	36,551
	Net of tax	$	(19,510	)		$	(24,354		)	$	3,754			$	(56,595	)
	Actuarially Determined Long-Term Liability Adjustments*(Note 4 and Note 5)
	Amortization of prior service costs	$	(2,542	)		$	(8,212		)	$	(7,625		)	$	(24,635	)
	Recognized net actuarial loss	11,198				21,055				32,705				69,802
	Curtailment gains	(36,182		)		—				(36,182			)	—
	Settlement loss	4,785				6,296				25,492				38,498
	Total	(22,741		)		19,139				14,390				83,665
	Tax benefit (expense)	8,376				(7,306			)	(5,300			)	(31,936		)
	Net of tax	$	(14,365	)		$	11,833			$	9,090			$	51,729

Acquisitions_and_Dispositions

Acquisitions and Dispositions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS: [Abstract]	'
Acquisitions and Dispositions:	'
	ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS:
	In March 2014, CONSOL Energy completed a sale-leaseback of longwall shields for the Harvey Mine. Cash proceeds from the sale offset the basis of $75,357; therefore, no gain or loss was recognized on the sale. The lease has been accounted for as an operating lease. The lease term is five years.
	In December 2013, CONSOL Energy completed the sale of its Consolidation Coal Company (CCC) subsidiary, which includes all five of its longwall coal mines in West Virginia, to a subsidiary of Murray Energy Corporation (Murray Energy). CONSOL Energy retained overriding royalty interests in certain reserves sold in the transaction. Murray Energy also assumed $2,050,656 of CONSOL Energy's employee benefit obligations valued as of December 5, 2013 and its UMWA 1974 Pension Trust obligations. Murray Energy is primarily liable for all 1993 Coal Act liabilities. Cash proceeds of $825,285 were received related to this transaction, which were net of $24,715 in transaction fees. Proceeds are subject to adjustments related to working capital. A pre-tax gain of $1,035,346 was included in Income from Discontinued Operations on the Consolidated Statement of Income. In the first quarter of 2014, there was a pre-tax reduction in gain on sale of $7,044 related to the estimated working capital adjustment and various other miscellaneous items. Final settlement of working capital adjustments are currently being evaluated and are not expected to be material. For all periods presented in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income, the sale of CCC was classified as discontinued operations. There were no other active businesses classified as discontinued operations in the presented periods.
	In December 2013, CONSOL Energy acquired the gas drilling rights to approximately 90,000 contiguous acres from Dominion Transmission, a unit of Dominion Resources. The acreage, which is associated with Dominion’s Fink-Kennedy, Lost Creek, and Racket Newberne gas storage fields in West Virginia, lies in the northern portion of Lewis County and the southern portion of Harrison County. CONSOL Energy anticipates that over one-half of the acres will have wet gas. CONSOL Energy has acquired the gas rights to both the Marcellus Shale and the Upper Devonian formations in the storage fields. Consideration of up to $190,000 will be paid by CONSOL Energy in two installments: 50% was paid at closing and the balance is due over time as the acres are drilled. In addition, CONSOL Energy will pay an overriding royalty to Dominion Resources based on a sliding scale. With respect to production from this area, CONSOL Energy has committed to be an anchor shipper on Dominion’s transmission system for 250,000 Dth/d with a primary term of 15 years. CONSOL Energy paid $91,243 in 2013 related to this transaction. In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, CONSOL Energy made an additional bonus payment of $16,000 to Dominion Transmission. Noble Energy, our joint venture partner, acquired 50% of the acres and reimbursed CONSOL Energy in 2014. Cash proceeds received from Noble Energy were $46,311 in the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
	In August 2013, CONSOL Energy completed the sale of its 50% interest in the CONSOL Energy/Devon Energy joint venture in Alberta, Canada. The properties and coal leases included were those related to Grassy Mountain, Bellevue, Adanac, and Lynx Creek (Crowsnest Pass). Cash proceeds for the sale were $24,764. A gain of $15,260 was included in Other Income in the Consolidated Statement of Income.
	In June 2013, CONSOL Energy completed the sale of Potomac coal reserves in Grant and Tucker Counties in West Virginia. Cash proceeds for the sale were $25,000. A gain of $24,663 was included in Other Income in the Consolidated Statement of Income.
	In April 2013, the Company and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Commonwealth) entered into a Settlement Agreement and Release Settlement settling all of the Commonwealth's claims regarding the Ryerson Park Dam (Dam) and the Ryerson Park Lake (Lake). The Settlement provided in part for the payment to the Commonwealth of $36,000 for use to rebuild the Dam and restore the Lake with $13,728 of the settlement amount credited to lease bonus and royalty payments on the Commonwealth's Marcellus gas interests within the Park, subject to the Company's agreement to extract the gas from surface facilities located outside of the boundaries of the Park. The Settlement also provided in part for the conveyance by the Company to the Commonwealth of eight surface parcels (Parcels) containing approximately 506 acres of land adjoining the Park after the Parcels are no longer needed for the Company's operations and the conveyance by the Commonwealth to the Company of certain coal and mining rights in an area of the Bailey Mine where a mining permit application has been approved but with special conditions that will need further approval.
	In March 2013, CNX Gas Company LLC (CNX Gas Company), a wholly owned subsidiary of CONSOL Energy, completed negotiations with the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which operates the Pittsburgh International Airport and the Allegheny County Airport, for the lease of the oil and gas rights on approximately 9.3 thousand acres. A majority of these contiguous acres are in the liquids area of the Marcellus Shale play. CNX Gas Company paid $46,315 as an up-front bonus payment at closing. Approximately 7.6% of the bonus payment was placed into escrow while negotiations continue for a portion of the acres associated with the Allegheny County Airport and other acres that have potentially defective title. CNX Gas Company has an obligation to spud a well by February 21, 2015 and proceed with due diligence to complete the well or the lease terminates and CNX Gas Company foregoes the bonus. Our joint venture partner, Noble Energy, acquired a 50% undivided interest in the acreage and has reimbursed CNX Gas Company for 50% of the associated acquisition costs during the year ended December 31, 2013.
	In January 2013, CONSOL Energy completed a sale-leaseback of longwall shields for the Bailey Mine. Cash proceeds for the sale were $71,166. A loss of $358 was recognized due to transaction fees and is included in Other Income in the Consolidated Statement of Income. The lease has been accounted for as an operating lease. The lease term is five years.

Other_Income_Notes

Other Income (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Component of Operating Income [Abstract]	'
Other Income and Other Expense Disclosure [Text Block]	'
		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Equity in Earnings of Affiliates	$	18,284	$	3,610	$	39,796	$	20,276
	Rental Income	9,731		770		35,336		2,654
	Coal Contract Settlement	—		—		30,000		—
	Gathering Revenue	3,636		766		24,386		5,863
	Royalty Income	5,003		4,113		14,758		12,870
	Right of Way Issuance	2,485		2,102		4,898		3,810
	Bailey Belt Settlement	—		—		4,275		—
	Interest Income	527		4,300		1,827		15,701
	Business Interruption Insurance	—		2,745		—		5,445
	Other	1,118		2,416		10,539		11,110
	Total Other Income	$	40,784	$	20,822	$	165,815	$	77,729

Pension_and_OPEB_Periodic_Cost

Pension and OPEB - Periodic Cost	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COSTS: [Abstract]	'
Components of Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans:	'
	COMPONENTS OF PENSION AND OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT (OPEB) PLANS NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COSTS:
	Components of net periodic costs (benefits) for the three and nine months ended September 30 are as follows:
		Pension Benefits												Other Post-Employment Benefits
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended						Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,						September 30,						September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013			2014			2013			2014			2013
	Service cost	$	4,834		$	4,897		$	13,625		$	16,184		$	2,331		$	4,849		$	6,994		$	14,547
	Interest cost	8,667			9,497			26,812			27,249			12,096			29,619			36,290			88,856
	Expected return on plan assets	(12,829		)	(13,336		)	(38,342		)	(38,191		)	—			—			—			—
	Amortization of prior service credits	(346		)	(408		)	(1,038		)	(1,223		)	(2,196		)	(7,804		)	(6,588		)	(23,411		)
	Recognized net actuarial loss	6,444			8,042			18,441			30,764			6,369			17,595			19,106			52,784
	Settlement loss	4,785			6,296			25,492			38,498			—			—			—			—
	Curtailment gain	(549		)	—			(549		)	—			(35,633		)	—			(35,633		)	—
	Net periodic cost (benefit)	$	11,006		$	14,988		$	44,441		$	73,281		$	(17,033	)	$	44,259		$	20,169		$	132,776
	Expenses attributable to discontinued operations included in net periodic cost above were $1,699 and $7,078 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, for the Pension Plans; and were $25,775 and $76,673 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, for the Other Post-Employment Benefit Plan.
	For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, $25,948 was paid to the pension trust from operating cash flows. Additional contributions to the pension trust are not expected to be significant for the remainder of 2014. Net periodic benefit costs are allocated to Exploration and Production Costs, Direct Administrative and Selling Expenses and Coal Costs, Operating and Other Costs in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
	On September 30, 2014, the qualified pension plan was remeasured to reflect an announced plan amendment that will reduce future accruals of pension benefits as of January 1, 2015. The plan amendment calls for a hard freeze of the defined benefit pension plan on January 1, 2015 for employees who are under age 40 or have less than 10 years of service as of September 30, 2014. Beginning January 1, 2015, the Company will contribute an additional 3% of eligible compensation into the 401(k) plan accounts for these affected employees. Employees who are age 40 or over and have at least 10 years of service will continue in the defined benefit pension plan unchanged. The modifications to the pension plan resulted in a $21,624 reduction in the pension liability with a corresponding adjustment of $13,659 in Other Comprehensive Income, net of $7,965 in deferred taxes. Additionally, a curtailment gain of $549 was recognized with a corresponding adjustment of $347 in Other Comprehensive Income, net of $202 in deferred taxes. The change was made to align our compensation package more closely with our peer group.
	According to the Defined Benefit Plans Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification, if the lump sum distributions made during a plan year, which for CONSOL Energy is January 1 to December 31, exceed the total of the projected service cost and interest cost for the plan year, settlement accounting is required. Lump sum payments exceeded this threshold during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014. Accordingly, CONSOL Energy recognized settlement expense of $4,785 and $25,492 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 in Other Costs - Miscellaneous Operating Expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The settlement charges represented a pro rata portion of the net unrecognized loss based on the percentage reduction in the projected benefit obligation due to the lump sum payments. The settlement accounting was initially triggered in May 2014, resulting in a remeasurement at May 31. Additional lump sum distributions during June and September 2014 resulted in remeasurements at June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014. The September 30, 2014 remeasurement used a discount rate of 4.33%, an increase from 4.26% used at June 30, 2014. The September remeasurement increased the pension liability by $13,152. The September settlement and corresponding remeasurement of the pension plan resulted in a decrease of $5,285 in Other Comprehensive Income, net of $3,082 in deferred taxes. The May 31 and June 30, 2014 remeasurements used a discount rate of 4.26%, a decrease from 4.87% used at December 31, 2013. The May remeasurement increased the pension liability by $41,527. The May settlement and corresponding remeasurement of the pension plan resulted in a decrease of $14,193 in Other Comprehensive Income, net of $8,276 in deferred taxes. The June remeasurement decreased the pension liability by $6,490. The June settlement and corresponding remeasurement of the pension plan resulted in an increase of $5,141 in Other Comprehensive Income, net of $2,998 in deferred taxes. If CONSOL Energy incurs additional lump sum distributions from the plan in the fourth quarter of 2014, additional settlement charges will be recorded.
	Lump sum payments also exceeded the settlement threshold during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013. Accordingly, CONSOL Energy recognized settlement expense of $6,296 and $38,498 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, in Other Costs - Miscellaneous Operating Expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The settlement charges represented a pro rata portion of the net unrecognized loss based on the percentage reduction in the projected benefit obligation due to the lump sum payments. The 2013 settlement charges also resulted in a remeasurement of the pension plan at September 30, June 30 and March 31, 2013. The September 30, 2013 remeasurement resulted in a change to the discount rate to 4.80% from 4.84% at June 30, 2013. The September remeasurement reduced the pension liability by $21,264. The September settlement and corresponding remeasurement of the pension plan resulted in an increase of $17,040 in Other Comprehensive Income, net of $10,520 in deferred taxes. The June 30, 2013 remeasurement resulted in a change to the discount rate to 4.84% from 4.12% at March 31, 2013. The June remeasurement reduced the pension liability by $48,957. The June settlement and corresponding remeasurement of the pension plan resulted in an increase of $33,414 in Other Comprehensive Income, net of $20,630 in deferred taxes. The March 31, 2013 remeasurement resulted in a change to the discount rate to 4.12% from 4.00% at December 31, 2012. The March remeasurement reduced the pension liability by $29,916. The March settlement and corresponding remeasurement of the pension plan resulted in an increase of $35,261 in Other Comprehensive Income, net of $21,770 in deferred taxes.
	On September 30, 2014, the salaried OPEB plan and Production and Maintenance (P&M) OPEB plan were remeasured to reflect an announced plan amendment that will reduce retiree medical and life insurance benefits as of September 30, 2014. Effective September 30, 2014, no retiree medical or life benefits will be provided to active employees. Retirees as of September 30, 2014 will continue in the OPEB plans, which are currently anticipated to remain unchanged through December 31, 2019, and coverage thereafter will be eliminated. The Company elected to make cash transition payments totaling approximately $46,282 to the active employees whose retiree medical and life benefits were eliminated by the changes to the OPEB plan. These cash payments are not considered to be post-retirement benefits, and as such, they are not included in the actuarial calculations related to the OPEB plans. The amendment to the OPEB plan resulted in a $315,439 reduction in the OPEB liability with a corresponding adjustment of $199,252 in Other Comprehensive Income, net of $116,187 in deferred taxes. A curtailment gain of $35,633 was recognized in September 2014 with a corresponding adjustment of $22,508 in Other Comprehensive Income, net of $13,125 in deferred taxes. The amendment resulted in a remeasurement of the OPEB plan at September 30, 2014. The remeasurement resulted in a change to the discount rate to 1.92% for the P&M OPEB plan and 1.84% for the Salaried OPEB plan from 4.88% used at December 31, 2013. The remeasurement increased the OPEB liability by $9,634 with a corresponding decrease of $6,086 in Other Comprehensive Income, net of $3,548 in deferred taxes. The change was made to align our compensation package more closely with our peer group.
	CONSOL Energy does not expect to contribute to the other post-employment benefits plan in 2014. We intend to pay benefit claims as they become due. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, $46,272 of other post-employment benefits have been paid.

CWP_and_Workers_Comp_Net_Perio

CWP and Workers Comp - Net Periodic Costs	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]	'
Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis (CWP) and Workers' Compensation:	'
	COMPONENTS OF COAL WORKERS’ PNEUMOCONIOSIS (CWP) AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COSTS:
	Components of net periodic costs (benefits) for the three and nine months ended September 30 are as follows:
		CWP												Workers' Compensation
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended						Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,						September 30,						September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013			2014			2013			2014			2013
	Service cost	$	1,419		$	2,135		$	4,255		$	6,405		$	2,446		$	3,533		$	7,336		$	10,599
	Interest cost	1,384			1,808			4,153			5,424			894			1,655			2,683			4,966
	Amortization of actuarial gain	(1,549		)	(4,213		)	(4,647		)	(12,638		)	(96		)	(699		)	(287		)	(2,098		)
	State administrative fees and insurance bond premiums	—			—			—			—			999			1,496			3,039			4,500
	Legal and administrative costs	—			—			—			—			—			591			—			1,773
	Net periodic cost (benefit)	$	1,254		$	(270	)	$	3,761		$	(809	)	$	4,243		$	6,576		$	12,771		$	19,740
	Expenses (income) attributable to discontinued operations included in the net periodic cost (benefit) above were ($167) and ($497) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, for CWP; and were $2,474 and $7,327 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, for Workers' Compensation.
	CONSOL Energy does not expect to contribute to the CWP plan in 2014. We intend to pay benefit claims as they become due. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, $8,870 of CWP benefit claims have been paid.
	CONSOL Energy does not expect to contribute to the workers’ compensation plan in 2014. We intend to pay benefit claims as they become due. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, $11,327 of workers’ compensation benefits, state administrative fees and surety bond premiums have been paid.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	INCOME TAXES:
	The effective tax rate on continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was 8.3% and 323.0%, respectively.
	The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% primarily due to a $20,640 income tax benefit for excess depletion, $8,820 discrete income tax benefit related to the completion of the Internal Revenue Service audit of tax years 2008 and 2009, and $7,013 discrete income tax benefit as a result of changes in estimates of excess percentage depletion and Domestic Production Activities Deduction related to the prior-year tax provision.
	For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, CONSOL Energy recognized certain tax benefits as a result of changes in estimates related to a prior-year tax provision. The tax benefit of $7,970 related to increased percentage depletion deductions offset by $957 of tax expense related to changes in the Domestic Production Activities Deduction and changes in various other estimates.
	The rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% primarily due to a $111,104 income tax benefit for excess depletion, $4,701 discrete income tax charge related to the gain on sale of the Potomac coal reserves, $8,467 discrete income tax charge related to the gain on sale of the Crowsnest Pass coal reserves, a $1,585 income tax benefit due to a refund claim related to prior year Commonwealth of Pennsylvania taxes, and a $5,875 discrete income tax charge as a result of changes in estimates of excess percentage depletion and Domestic Production Activities Deduction related to the prior-year tax provision.
	The total amounts of uncertain tax positions at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were $2,540 and $22,770, respectively. If these uncertain tax positions were recognized, approximately $1,651 and $2,071, respectively, would affect CONSOL Energy’s effective tax rate. There were no additions to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits during the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The reduction in uncertain tax positions was due to the completion of the Internal Revenue Service audit of the 2008 and 2009 tax years.
	CONSOL Energy recognizes interest accrued related to uncertain tax positions in its interest expense. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company reported an accrued interest liability relating to uncertain tax positions of $1,334 and $6,200, respectively. The accrued interest liability includes $4,866 of interest income and $1,020 of interest expense that is reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	CONSOL Energy recognizes penalties accrued related to uncertain tax positions in its income tax expense. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, CONSOL Energy had no accrued liability for tax penalties.
	CONSOL Energy and its subsidiaries file federal income tax returns with the United States and returns within various states and Canadian jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to United States federal, state, local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for the years before 2010. The Internal Revenue Service has issued its audit report related to the examination of CONSOL Energy’s 2008 and 2009 U.S. income tax returns during the nine months ended September 30, 2014. As a result of these findings, CONSOL Energy paid federal income tax deficiencies of $4,464 and $1,001, respectively. The deficiencies were the result of changes in the timing of certain tax deductions. The changes in timing of these tax deductions increased the tax benefit of percentage depletion by $2,925 and $4,493 in tax years 2008 and 2009, respectively. The Company also recognized additional tax benefits of $1,402 primarily related to an increase in the Domestic Production Activities Deduction for the audited periods. Also, as a result of closing the IRS audit, CONSOL Energy was required to file amended state income tax returns for the changes. In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company filed the required amended returns and realized a discrete state income tax charge of $5,496 which was offset by a federal income tax benefit of $1,924.

Inventories

Inventories	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventories	'
	INVENTORIES:
	Inventory components consist of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Coal	$	24,380	$	31,944
	Merchandise for resale	35,836		38,263
	Supplies	85,156		87,707
	Total Inventories	$	145,372	$	157,914
	Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The cost of coal inventories is determined by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. Coal inventory costs include labor, supplies, equipment costs, operating overhead, depreciation, depletion and amortization, and other related costs.
	Merchandise for resale is valued using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) cost method. The excess of replacement cost of merchandise for resale inventories over carrying LIFO value was $19,835 and $18,836 at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Accounts_Receivable_Securitiza

Accounts Receivable Securitization	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SECURITIZATION: [Abstract]	'
Accounts Receivable Securitization	'
	ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SECURITIZATION:
	CONSOL Energy and certain of our U.S. subsidiaries are party to a trade accounts receivable facility with financial institutions for the sale on a continuous basis of eligible trade accounts receivable. The facility allows CONSOL Energy to receive on a revolving basis up to $125,000. The facility also allows for the issuance of letters of credit against the $125,000 capacity. At September 30, 2014, there were letters of credit outstanding against the facility of $61,930. CONSOL Energy management believes that these letters of credit will expire without being funded, and therefore the commitments will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition. No amounts related to these financial guarantees and letters of credit are recorded as liabilities on the financial statements.
	CNX Funding Corporation, a wholly owned, special purpose, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary, buys and sells eligible trade receivables generated by certain subsidiaries of CONSOL Energy. Under the receivables facility, CONSOL Energy and certain subsidiaries, irrevocably and without recourse, sell all of their eligible trade accounts receivable to CNX Funding Corporation, which in turn sells these receivables to financial institutions and their affiliates, while maintaining a subordinated interest in a portion of the pool of trade receivables. This retained interest, which is included in Accounts and Notes Receivable Trade in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, is recorded at fair value. Due to a short average collection cycle for such receivables, our collection experience history and the composition of the designated pool of trade accounts receivable that are part of this program, the fair value of our retained interest approximates the total amount of the designated pool of accounts receivable. CONSOL Energy will continue to service the sold trade receivables for the financial institutions for a fee based upon market rates for similar services.
	In accordance with the Transfers and Servicing Topics of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification, CONSOL Energy records transactions under the securitization facility as secured borrowings on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The pledge of collateral is reported as Accounts Receivable - Securitized and the borrowings are classified as debt in Borrowings under Securitization Facility.
	The cost of funds under this facility is based upon commercial paper rates or LIBOR, plus a charge for administrative services paid to the financial institutions. Costs associated with the receivables facility totaled $692 and $1,328 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These costs have been recorded as financing fees which are included in the Other Costs - Miscellaneous Operating Expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. No servicing asset or liability has been recorded. The receivables facility expires in March 2015.
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, eligible accounts receivable totaled $82,500 and $115,000, respectively. There was $20,570 subordinated retained interest at September 30, 2014 and $48,945 subordinated retained interest at December 31, 2013. There were no borrowings under the Securitization Facility as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The accounts receivable securitization program had no change in the nine months ended September 30, 2014. In accordance with the facility agreement, the Company is able to receive proceeds based upon the eligible accounts receivable at the previous month end.

Property_Plant_and_Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Coal and Other Plant and Equipment	$	3,731,618	$	3,681,051
	Intangible Drilling Cost	2,388,790		1,937,336
	Proven Gas Properties	1,684,675		1,670,404
	Unproven Gas Properties	1,510,307		1,463,406
	Coal Properties and Surface Lands	1,411,574		1,409,408
	Gas Gathering Equipment	1,082,355		1,058,008
	Gas Wells and Related Equipment	850,771		688,548
	Airshafts	453,689		397,466
	Mine Development	416,733		354,607
	Coal Advance Mining Royalties	397,015		381,348
	Leased Coal Lands	388,033		388,020
	Other Gas Assets	125,484		126,239
	Gas Advance Royalties	22,284		22,668
	Total Property Plant and Equipment	14,463,328		13,578,509
	Less: Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization	4,499,344		4,136,247
	Total Net Property, Plant, and Equipment	$	9,963,984	$	9,442,262
	Industry Participation Agreements
	CONSOL Energy has two significant industry participation agreements (referred to as "joint ventures" or "JVs") that provided drilling and completion carries for our retained interests.
	CNX Gas Company LLC (CNX Gas Company), a wholly owned subsidiary of CONSOL Energy, is party to a joint development agreement with Hess Ohio Developments, LLC (Hess) with respect to approximately 144 thousand net Utica Shale acres in Ohio in which each party has a 50% undivided interest. Under the agreement, as amended, Hess is obligated to pay a total of approximately $335,000 in the form of a 50% drilling carry of certain CONSOL Energy working interest obligations as the acreage is developed. As of September 30, 2014, Hess’ remaining carry obligation is $132,736.
	CNX Gas Company is party to a joint development agreement with Noble Energy, Inc. (Noble) with respect to approximately 703 thousand net Marcellus Shale oil and gas acres in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, in which each party owns a 50% undivided interest. Under the agreement, as amended, Noble Energy is obligated to pay a total of approximately $1,884,000 in the form of a one-third drilling carry of certain of CONSOL Energy’s working interest obligations as the property is developed, subject to certain limitations. These limitations include the suspension of the carry if average Henry Hub natural gas prices are below $4.00 per million British thermal units (MMbtu) for three consecutive months. The carry has been in effect since March 1, 2014, and will remain effective until average natural gas prices are below $4.00/MMbtu for three consecutive months. Restrictions also include a $400,000 annual maximum on Noble Energy's carried cost obligation. As of September 30, 2014, Noble Energy’s remaining carry obligation is $1,728,520.

ShortTerm_Notes_Payable

Short-Term Notes Payable	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Short-term Debt, Other Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Short-Term Notes Payable:	'
	SHORT-TERM NOTES PAYABLE:
	CONSOL Energy entered into a new Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated June 18, 2014 for a $2,000,000 senior secured revolving credit facility which expires on June 18, 2019. The new senior secured revolving credit facility replaced CONSOL Energy's existing $1,000,000 senior secured revolving credit facility which had been entered into as of April 12, 2011 and was amended and restated on December 5, 2013, and the existing $1,000,000 senior secured revolving credit facility of CNX Gas Corporation (CNX Gas) and its subsidiaries that had been entered into as of April 12, 2011. The new senior secured revolving credit facility resulted in the acceleration of previously deferred financing charges of $2,989 during the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of CONSOL Energy and certain of its subsidiaries. CONSOL Energy's credit facility allows for up to $2,000,000 of borrowings, which includes $750,000 in letters of credit aggregate sub-limit. CONSOL Energy can request an additional $500,000 increase in the aggregate borrowing limit amount. Fees and interest rate spreads are based on the percentage of facility utilization, measured quarterly. Availability under the facility is generally limited to a borrowing base, which is determined by the required number of lenders in good faith by calculating a loan value of CONSOL Energy's proved gas reserves. The facility includes a minimum interest coverage ratio covenant of no less than 2.50 to 1.00, measured quarterly. The interest coverage ratio was 5.26 to 1.00 at September 30, 2014. The facility includes a minimum current ratio covenant of no less than 1.00 to 1.00, measured quarterly. The minimum current ratio was 2.33 to 1.00 at September 30, 2014. Affirmative and negative covenants in the facility limit our ability to dispose of assets, make investments, purchase or redeem CONSOL Energy common stock, pay dividends, merge with another corporation and amend, modify or restate the senior unsecured notes. The credit facility allows unlimited investments in joint ventures for the development and operation of gas gathering systems. The facility permits CONSOL Energy to separate its gas and coal businesses if the leverage ratio (which, is essentially, the ratio of debt to EBITDA) of the gas business immediately after the separation would not be greater than 2.75 to 1.00. At September 30, 2014, the $2,000,000 facility had no borrowings outstanding and $264,544 of letters of credit outstanding, leaving $1,735,456 of unused capacity. At December 31, 2013, the prior CONSOL Energy $1,000,000 facility had no borrowings outstanding and $206,988 of letters of credit outstanding, leaving $793,012 of unused capacity. At December 31, 2013, the prior CNX Gas Corporation $1,000,000 facility had no borrowings outstanding and $87,643 of letters of credit outstanding, leaving $912,357 of unused capacity.

LongTerm_Debt

Long-Term Debt	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Long-term Debt, Other Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Long-term Debt	'
	LONG-TERM DEBT:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Debt:
	Senior notes due April 2017 at 8.00%, issued at par value	$	—		$	1,500,000
	Senior notes due April 2020 at 8.25%, issued at par value	1,014,800			1,250,000
	Senior notes due March 2021 at 6.375%, issued at par value	250,000			250,000
	Senior notes due April 2022 at 5.875%	1,850,000			—
	MEDCO revenue bonds in series due September 2025 at 5.75%	102,865			102,865
	Senior notes due April 2022 at 5.875%, Premium	6,875			—
	Senior notes due April 2022 at 5.875%, Amortization of Bond Premium	(148		)	—
	Advance royalty commitments (7.93% weighted average interest rate for September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013)	11,182			11,182
	Other long-term notes maturing at various dates through 2031 (total value of $4,892 and $5,923 less unamortized discount of $736 and $1,050 at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively).	4,156			4,873
		3,239,730			3,118,920
	Less amounts due in one year *	3,558			2,957
	Long-Term Debt	$	3,236,172		$	3,115,963
	* Excludes current portion of Capital Lease Obligations of $8,667 and $8,498 at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
	Accrued interest related to Long-Term Debt of $93,709 and $63,272 was included in Other Accrued Liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES:
	CONSOL Energy and its subsidiaries are subject to various lawsuits and claims with respect to such matters as personal injury, wrongful death, damage to property, exposure to hazardous substances, governmental regulations including environmental remediation, employment and contract disputes and other claims and actions arising out of the normal course of business. We accrue the estimated loss for these lawsuits and claims when the loss is probable and can be estimated. Our current estimated accruals related to these pending claims, individually and in the aggregate, are immaterial to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of CONSOL Energy. It is possible that the aggregate loss in the future with respect to these lawsuits and claims could ultimately be material to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of CONSOL Energy; however, such amounts cannot be reasonably estimated. The amount claimed against CONSOL Energy is disclosed below when an amount is expressly stated in the lawsuit or claim, which is not often the case. The maximum aggregate amount claimed in those lawsuits and claims, regardless of probability, where a claim is expressly stated or can be estimated, exceeds the aggregate amounts accrued for all lawsuits and claims by approximately $388,156.
	The following lawsuits and claims include those for which a loss is probable and an accrual has been recognized.
	Asbestos-Related Litigation: One of our subsidiaries, Fairmont Supply Company (Fairmont), which distributes industrial supplies, currently is named as a defendant in approximately 6,900 asbestos-related claims in state courts in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Texas and Illinois. Because a very small percentage of products manufactured by third parties and supplied by Fairmont in the past may have contained asbestos, and since many of the pending claims are asserted against dozens of defendants in any given action, it has been difficult for Fairmont to determine how many of the pending cases actually involve valid claims or plaintiffs who were actually exposed to asbestos-containing products supplied by Fairmont. In addition, while Fairmont may be entitled to indemnity or contribution in certain jurisdictions from manufacturers of identified products, the availability of such indemnity or contribution is unclear at this time, and in recent years, some of the manufacturers named as defendants in these actions have sought protection from these claims under bankruptcy laws. Fairmont has no insurance coverage with respect to these asbestos cases. Based on nearly 20 years of experience with this litigation, we have established an accrual to cover our estimated liability for these cases. This accrual is immaterial to the overall financial position of CONSOL Energy and was included in Other Accrued Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Past payments by Fairmont with respect to asbestos cases have not been material.
	Hale Litigation: A purported class action lawsuit was filed on September 23, 2010 in the U.S. District Court in Abingdon, Virginia styled Hale v. CNX Gas Company, et. al. The putative class consists of forced-pooled unleased gas owners whose ownership of the coalbed methane (CBM) gas was declared to be in conflict with rights of others. The lawsuit seeks a judicial declaration of ownership of the CBM, and Plaintiffs also allege CNX Gas Company failed to either pay royalties due to conflicting claimants, or deemed lessors or paid them less than required because of the alleged practice of improper below market sales and/or taking alleged improper post-production deductions. On September 30, 2013, the District Judge entered an Order certifying the class, and CNX Gas Company appealed the Order to the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. On August 19, 2014, the Fourth Circuit agreed with CNX Gas Company, reversed the Order certifying the class and remanded the case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with the decision. CONSOL Energy continues to believe this action cannot properly proceed as a class action in any form, believes that the case has meritorious defenses, and intends to defend it vigorously. We have established an accrual to cover our estimated liability for this case. This accrual is immaterial to the overall financial position of CONSOL Energy and is included in Other Accrued Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	Addison Litigation: A putative class action lawsuit was filed on April 28, 2010 in the United States District Court in Abingdon, Virginia styled Addison v. CNX Gas Company, et al.  The plaintiff class consists of gas lessors whose gas ownership is in conflict. The lawsuit seeks a judicial declaration of ownership of the CBM and damages based on the allegations that CNX Gas Company failed to either pay royalties due these conflicting claimant lessors or paid them less than required because of the alleged practice of improper below market sales and/or taking alleged improper post-production deductions. On September 30, 2013, the District Judge entered an Order certifying the class, and CNX Gas Company appealed the Order to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. On August 19, 2014, the Fourth Circuit agreed with CNX Gas Company, reversed the Order certifying the class and remanded the case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with the decision. CONSOL Energy continues to believe this action cannot properly proceed as a class action in any form, believes that the case has meritorious defenses, and intends to defend it vigorously. We have established an accrual to cover our estimated liability for this case. This accrual is immaterial to the overall financial position of CONSOL Energy and was included in Other Accrued Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	The following royalty and land right lawsuits and claims include those for which a loss is reasonably possible, but not probable, and accordingly, no accrual has been recognized. These claims are influenced by many factors which prevent the estimation of a range of potential loss. These factors include, but are not limited to, generalized allegations of unspecified damages (such as improper deductions), discovery having not commenced or not having been completed, unavailability of expert reports on damages and non-monetary issues are being tried. For example, in instances where a gas lease termination is sought, damages would depend on speculation as to if and when the gas production would otherwise have occurred, how many wells would have been drilled on the lease premises, what their production would be, what the cost of production would be, and what the price of gas would be during the production period. An estimate is calculated, if applicable, when sufficient information becomes available.
	Ratliff Litigation: On January 30, 2013, the Company was served with a complaint filed on behalf of four individuals against Consolidation Coal Company (CCC), Island Creek Coal Company (ICCC), CNX Gas Company, as well as CONSOL Energy itself in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia. The complaint seeks damages and injunctive relief in connection with the deposit of water from mining activities at the Buchanan Mine into nearby void spaces at some of the mines of ICCC, voids ostensibly underlying their property. The suit alleges damage to coal and coalbed methane and seeks recovery in tort, contract and assumpsit (quasi-contract). The suit seeks damages of approximately $50,000 plus punitive damages. The defendants have asserted Virginia's Mine Void Statute as a defense to plaintiffs’ claims and the plaintiffs have challenged the constitutionality of that statute. On March 18, 2014, the District Court concluded, in ruling on Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss, it could not resolve either the constitutionality or the applicability of the Mine Void Statute on the current record. Discovery is ongoing. CONSOL Energy intends to vigorously defend the suit.
	Kennedy Litigation: The Company is a party to a case filed on March 26, 2008 captioned Earl Kennedy (and others) v. CNX Gas Company and CONSOL Energy in the Court of Common Pleas of Greene County, Pennsylvania. The lawsuit alleges that CNX Gas Company and CONSOL Energy trespassed and converted gas and other minerals allegedly belonging to the plaintiffs in connection with wells drilled by CNX Gas Company. The complaint, as amended, seeks injunctive relief, including removing CNX Gas Company from the property, and compensatory damages of $20,000. The suit also sought to overturn existing law as to the ownership of coalbed methane in Pennsylvania, but that claim was dismissed by the court. The suit further sought a determination that the Pittsburgh 8 coal seam does not include the “roof/rider” coal. The court held a bench trial on the “roof/rider” coal issue in November 2011 and ruled in favor of CNX Gas Company and CONSOL Energy. On March 3, 2014, the Company won summary judgment on Counts 1 through 10 of the Amended Complaint, each relating to the alleged trespass of horizontal CBM wells into strata other than the Pittsburgh 8 Seam. The Court rejected each of those claims, essentially holding that if CNX Gas Company went out of the coal seam, it had no intention to do so and, in any event, the plaintiff could not prove any damages as a result. The last remaining Count, seeking to quiet title to approximately 40 acres of Pittsburgh Seam coal, was nonsuited by Plaintiffs, without prejudice, on March 26, 2014. On March 28, 2014, Plaintiffs filed Notices of Appeal with the Pennsylvania Superior Court on all issues decided in CONSOL Energy’s favor.
	Rowland Litigation: Rowland Land Company filed a complaint in May 2011 against CONSOL Energy, CNX Gas Company, Dominion Resources Inc., and EQT Production Company (EQT) in Raleigh County Circuit Court, West Virginia. Rowland is the lessor on a 33,000 acre oil and gas lease in southern West Virginia. EQT was the original lessee, but farmed out the development of the lease to Dominion Resources in exchange for an overriding royalty. Dominion Resources sold the indirect subsidiary that held the lease to a subsidiary of CONSOL Energy on April 30, 2010. Subsequent to that acquisition, the subsidiary that held the lease was merged into CNX Gas Company as part of an internal reorganization. Rowland alleges that (i) Dominion Resources' sale of the subsidiary to CONSOL Energy was a change in control that required its consent under the terms of the farmout agreement and lease, and/or (ii) the subsequent merger of the subsidiary into CNX Gas Company was an assignment that required its consent under the lease. Rowland has recently been permitted to file its Third Amended Complaint to include additional allegations that CONSOL Energy has slandered Rowland's title. A hearing on the CNX Gas Company motion to dismiss will be held in the next few weeks. Mediation efforts have been unsuccessful. CONSOL Energy believes that the case is without merit and intends to defend it vigorously. Consequently, we have not recognized any liability related to these actions.
	At September 30, 2014, CONSOL Energy has provided the following financial guarantees, unconditional purchase obligations and letters of credit to certain third parties, as described by major category in the following table. These amounts represent the maximum potential total of future payments that we could be required to make under these instruments. These amounts have not been reduced for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. Generally, recoveries under reclamation bonds would be limited to the extent of the work performed at the time of the default. No amounts related to these financial guarantees and letters of credit are recorded as liabilities on the financial statements. CONSOL Energy management believes that these guarantees will expire without being funded, and therefore the commitments will not have a material adverse effect on financial condition.
		Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period
		Total			Less Than			1-3 Years			3-5 Years			Beyond
		Amounts			1  Year									5  Years
		Committed
	Letters of Credit:
	Employee-Related	$	151,302		$	71,915		$	79,387		$	—		$	—
	Environmental	39,363			37,635			1,728			—			—
	Other	135,809			56,209			79,600			—			—
	Total Letters of Credit	326,474			165,759			160,715			—			—
	Surety Bonds:
	Employee-Related	204,884			204,884			—			—			—
	Environmental	661,191			619,041			42,150			—			—
	Other	25,685			25,625			59			—			1
	Total Surety Bonds	891,760			849,550			42,209			—			1
	Guarantees:
	Coal	183,700			125,250			58,450			—			—
	Other	63,131			34,974			9,010			8,446			10,701
	Total Guarantees	246,831			160,224			67,460			8,446			10,701
	Total Commitments	$	1,465,065		$	1,175,533		$	270,384		$	8,446		$	10,702
	Included in the above table are commitments and guarantees entered into in conjunction with the sale of CCC and certain of its subsidiaries, which contain all five of its longwall coal mines in West Virginia, and its river operations to a subsidiary of Murray Energy. As part of the sales agreement, CONSOL Energy has guaranteed certain equipment lease obligations and coal sales agreements that were assumed by Murray Energy. In the event that Murray Energy would default on the obligations defined in the agreements, CONSOL Energy would be required to perform under the guarantees. If CONSOL Energy would be required to perform, the stock purchase agreement provides various recourse actions. At September 30, 2014, the fair value of these guarantees was $3,000 and was included in Accounts Payable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of certain guarantees was determined using CONSOL Energy’s risk adjusted interest rate. Significant increases or decreases in the risk-adjusted interest rates may result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement. Coal sales agreement guarantees were valued based on an evaluation of coal market pricing compared to contracted sales price and includes an adjustment for nonperformance risk. No other amounts related to financial guarantees and letters of credit are recorded as liabilities in the financial statements. Significant judgment is required in determining the fair value of these guarantees. The guarantees of the leases and sales agreements are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
	CONSOL Energy regularly evaluates the likelihood of default for all guarantees based on an expected loss analysis and records the fair value, if any, of its guarantees as an obligation in the consolidated financial statements.
	CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas enter into long-term unconditional purchase obligations to procure major equipment purchases, natural gas firm transportation, gas drilling services and other operating goods and services. These purchase obligations are not recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of September 30, 2014, the purchase obligations for each of the next five years and beyond were as follows:
	Obligations Due	Amount
	Less than 1 year	$	240,865
	1 - 3 years	371,127
	3 - 5 years	224,394
	More than 5 years	492,825
	Total Purchase Obligations	$	1,329,211
	Costs related to these purchase obligations include:
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
			September 30,						September 30,
			2014			2013			2014			2013
	Major Equipment Purchases		$	9,255		$	6,682		$	99,416		$	15,481
	Firm Transportation and Processing Expense		27,476			24,449			76,839			67,269
	Gas Drilling Obligations		32,901			26,296			85,364			81,419
	Total Costs Related to Purchase Obligations		$	69,632		$	57,427		$	261,619		$	164,169

Derivative_Instruments

Derivative Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Derivative Instruments:	'
	DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS:
	CONSOL Energy enters into financial derivative instruments to manage our exposure to commodity price volatility. The fair value of CONSOL Energy's derivatives (natural gas price swaps and options) are based on pricing models which utilize inputs that are either readily available in the public market, such as natural gas forward curves, or can be corroborated from active markets or broker quotes. These values are then compared to the values given by our counterparties for reasonableness. Changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recorded currently in earnings unless special hedge accounting criteria are met. For derivatives designated as fair value hedges, the changes in fair value of both the derivative instrument and the hedged item are recorded in earnings. For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portions of changes in the fair value of the derivatives are reported in Other Comprehensive Income or Loss (OCI) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and reclassified into Natural Gas, NGL's and Oil Sales on the Consolidated Statements of Income in the same period or periods which the forecasted transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portions of hedges are recognized in earnings in the current period. CONSOL Energy currently utilizes only cash flow hedges that are considered highly effective.
	CONSOL Energy formally assesses both at inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis whether each derivative is highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair values or the cash flows of the hedged item. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge or if a derivative ceases to be a highly effective hedge, CONSOL Energy will discontinue hedge accounting prospectively.
	CONSOL Energy is exposed to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by counterparties. The creditworthiness of counterparties is subject to continuing review. The Company has not experienced any issues of non-performance by derivative counterparties.
	None of our counterparty master agreements currently require CONSOL Energy to post collateral for any of its hedges. However, as stated in the counterparty master agreements, if CONSOL Energy's obligations with one of its counterparties cease to be secured on the same basis as similar obligations with the other lenders under the credit facility, CONSOL Energy would have to post collateral for hedges in a liability position in excess of defined thresholds. All of our derivative instruments are subject to master netting arrangements with our counterparties.  CONSOL Energy recognizes all financial derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets on a gross basis.
	Each of CONSOL Energy's counterparty master agreements allows, in the event of default, the ability to elect early termination of outstanding contracts. If early termination is elected, CONSOL Energy and the applicable counterparty would net settle all open hedge positions.
	CONSOL Energy has entered into swap and option contracts for natural gas to manage the price risk associated with the forecasted natural gas sales. The objective of these hedges is to reduce the variability of the cash flows associated with the forecasted sales from the underlying commodity. As of September 30, 2014, the total notional amount of the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments was 199.6 billion cubic feet. These derivative instruments are forecasted to settle through December 31, 2016 and meet the criteria for cash flow hedge accounting. As these contracts settle, the cash received and/or paid will be shown on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as Changes in Prepaid Expenses, Changes in Other Assets, Changes in Other Operating Liabilities and/or Changes in Other Liabilities. Assuming no changes in price during the next twelve months, $14,853 of unrealized gain is expected to be reclassified from Other Comprehensive Income on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and into Natural Gas, NGL's and Oil Sales on the Consolidated Statements of Income, as a result of the gross settlements of cash flow hedges. No gains or losses have been reclassified into earnings as a result of the discontinuance of cash flow hedges.
	The gross fair value at September 30, 2014 of CONSOL Energy's derivative instruments, which all qualify as cash flow hedges, was an asset of $51,710 and a liability of $8,554. The total asset is comprised of $31,520 and $20,190 which were included in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The total liability is comprised of $7,204 and $1,350 which was included in Other Accrued Liabilities and Other Liabilities, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	The gross fair value at December 31, 2013 of CONSOL Energy's derivative instruments, which all qualify as cash flow hedges, was an asset of $83,661 and a liability of $18,212. The total asset is comprised of $59,605 and $24,056 which was included in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The total liability is comprised of $12,327 and $5,885 which were included in Other Accrued Liabilities and Other Liabilities, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	The effect of derivative instruments in cash flow hedging relationships on the Consolidated Statements of Income and the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity net of tax was as follows:
		For the Three Months Ended September 30,
		2014			2013
	Natural Gas Price Swaps and Options
	Beginning Balance – Accumulated OCI	$	6,574		$	71,674
	Gain recognized in Accumulated OCI	39,151			13,246
	Less: Gain reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Natural Gas, NGL's and Oil Sales	19,510			24,354
	Ending Balance – Accumulated OCI	$	26,215		$	60,566
	Gain recognized in Natural Gas, NGL's and Oil Sales for ineffectiveness	$	1,850		$	2,592
		For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014			2013
	Natural Gas Price Swaps and Options
	Beginning Balance – Accumulated OCI	$	42,493		$	76,761
	(Loss)/Gain recognized in Accumulated OCI	(20,032		)	40,400
	Less: (Loss)/Gain reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Natural Gas, NGL's and Oil Sales	(3,754		)	56,595
	Ending Balance – Accumulated OCI	$	26,215		$	60,566
	Gain/(Loss) recognized in Natural Gas, NGL's and Oil Sales for ineffectiveness	$	2,713		$	(120	)
	There were no amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 or 2013.

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:
	The financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:
		Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2014									Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013
	Description	Quoted Prices in			Significant			Significant			Quoted Prices in			Significant		Significant
		Active Markets			Other			Unobservable			Active Markets			Other		Unobservable
		for Identical			Observable			Inputs			for Identical			Observable		Inputs
		Liabilities			Inputs			(Level 3)**			Liabilities			Inputs		(Level 3)**
		(Level 1)			(Level 2)*						(Level 1)			(Level 2)*
	Gas Cash Flow Hedges	$	—		$	43,156		$	—		$	—		$	65,449	$	—
	Murray Energy Guarantees	$	—		$	—		$	3,000		$	—		$	—	$	3,000
	*- The fair value of the assets and liabilities included in Level 2 are based on standard industry income approach models that use significant observable inputs, including NYMEX forward curves, LIBOR-based discount rates and basis forward curves.
	**- The fair value of the assets and liabilities included in Level 3 are based on unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, including situations where there is little, if any, market activity. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of our third party guarantees are the credit risk of the third party and the third party surety bond markets. A significant increase or decrease in the these values, in isolation, would have a directionally similar effect resulting in higher or lower fair value measurement of our Level 3 guarantees.
	The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value for which the fair value option was not elected:
	Cash and cash equivalents: The carrying amount reported in the balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents approximates its fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments.
	Long-term debt: The fair value of long-term debt is measured using unadjusted quoted market prices or estimated using discounted cash flow analyses. The discounted cash flow analyses are based on current market rates for instruments with similar cash flows.
	The carrying amounts and fair values of financial instruments for which the fair value option was not elected are as follows:
		September 30, 2014						December 31, 2013
		Carrying			Fair			Carrying			Fair
		Amount			Value			Amount			Value
	Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	225,563		$	225,563		$	327,420		$	327,420
	Long-Term Debt	$	(3,239,730	)	$	(3,269,768	)	$	(3,118,920	)	$	(3,299,875	)

Segment_Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	SEGMENT INFORMATION:
	CONSOL Energy has two principal business divisions: Exploration and Production (E&P) and Coal. The principal activity of the E&P division is to produce pipeline quality natural gas for sale primarily to gas wholesalers. The E&P division includes four reportable segments. These reportable segments are Marcellus, Coalbed Methane, Shallow Oil and Gas and Other Gas. The Other Gas segment includes our purchased gas activities, general and administrative activities as well as various other activities assigned to the E&P division but not allocated to each individual well type. The principal activities of the Coal division are mining, preparation and marketing of thermal coal, sold primarily to power generators, and metallurgical coal, sold to metal and coke producers. The Coal division includes four reportable segments. These reportable segments are Thermal, Low Volatile Metallurgical, High Volatile Metallurgical and Other Coal. Each of these reportable segments includes a number of operating segments (mines or type of coal sold). For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Thermal aggregated segment includes the following mines: Bailey Complex, Buchanan Mine, Enlow Fork Mine, Harvey Mine and Miller Creek Complex. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Low Volatile Metallurgical aggregated segment includes the Buchanan Mine. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the High Volatile Metallurgical aggregated segment includes: Bailey Complex, Enlow Fork Mine, and Harvey Mine coal sales. The Other Coal segment includes our purchased coal activities, idled mine activities, general and administrative activities as well as various other activities assigned to the Coal division but not allocated to each individual mine. CONSOL Energy’s All Other segment includes industrial supplies, coal terminal operations and various other corporate activities that are not allocated to the E&P or Coal division. Intersegment sales have been recorded at amounts approximating market. Operating profit for each segment is based on sales less identifiable operating and non-operating expenses. Assets are reflected at the division level only (E&P, Coal, and Other) and are not allocated between each individual segment. This presentation is consistent with the information regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker. The assets are not allocated to each individual segment due to the diverse asset base controlled by CONSOL Energy where each individual asset may service more than one segment within the division. An allocation of such asset base would not be meaningful or representative on a segment by segment basis.

Related_Party_Transaction

Related Party Transaction	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:
	CONE Midstream Partners LP
	On September 30, 2014, CONE Midstream Partners, LP (the Partnership) closed its initial public offering of 20,125,000 common units representing limited partnership interests at a price to the public of $22.00 per unit, which included a 2,625,000 common unit over-allotment option that was exercised in full by the underwriters. The Partnership's general partner is CONE Midstream GP LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of CONE Gathering LLC (CONE).
	As a result of the IPO filing, the Partnership received net proceeds of $412,741 from the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, and structuring fees of $28,779 along with additional estimated offering expenses of approximately $1,230. Of the proceeds received, $203,986 was distributed to both CNX Gas Company LLC ("CNX Gas Company"), and Noble Energy on September 30, 2014.
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, CONE provided CNX Gas Company gathering services in the ordinary course of business. Gathering services received from CONE were $17,794 and $44,001 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and were $9,689 and $24,470 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, which were included in Exploration and Production Costs - Transportation, Gathering and Compression on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
	As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, CONSOL Energy had a net payable of $11,435 and $5,448, respectively, due to CONE which was comprised of the following items:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013			Location on Balance Sheet
	Reimbursement for CONE Expenses	$	(913	)	$	(2,168	)	Accounts Receivable–Other
	Reimbursement for Services Provided to CONE	(122		)	(265		)	Accounts Receivable–Other
	CONE Gathering Capital Reimbursement	(2,789		)	—			Accounts Receivable–Other
	CONE Gathering Fee Payable	15,259			7,881			Accounts Payable
	Net Payable due to CONE	$	11,435		$	5,448

New_Accounting_Pronouncements_

New Accounting Pronouncements (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]	'
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block]	'
	In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Update 2014-12 - Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. The objective of the amendments in this update is to resolve the diverse accounting treatment of share-based payment awards. The amendments in this update apply to all reporting entities that grant their employees share-based payments in which the terms of the award provide that a performance target that affects vesting could be achieved after the requisite service period. The amendments require that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant-date fair value of the award. Compensation cost should be recognized in either (i) the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the period(s) for which the requisite service has already been rendered or (ii) if the performance target becomes probable of being achieved before the end of the requisite service period, the remaining unrecognized compensation cost should be recognized prospectively over the remaining requisite service period. The total amount of compensation cost recognized during and after the requisite service period will reflect the number of awards that are expected to vest and will be adjusted to reflect those awards that ultimately vest. The requisite service period ends when the employee can cease rendering service and still be eligible to vest in the award if the performance target is achieved. The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Earlier adoption is permitted. Entities may apply the amendments in this update either (a) prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date or (b) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. We are currently still evaluating the impact this guidance may have on our operations.
	In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Update 2014-09 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The objective of the amendments in this update is to improve financial reporting by creating common revenue recognition guidance for accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The guidance in this update supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. An entity should disclose sufficient information, both qualitative and quantitative, to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The amendments in this update are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is not permitted. We believe adoption of this new guidance will not have a material impact on CONSOL Energy's financial statements.
	In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Update 2014-08 - Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. The objective of the amendments in this update is to change the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and enhance convergence of the FASB's and the International Accounting Standards Board's (IASB) reporting requirements for discontinued operations. The amendments in this update change the requirements for reporting discontinued operations in Subtopic 205-20. A discontinued operation may include a component of an entity or a group of components of an entity, or a business or nonprofit activity. A disposal of a component of an entity or a group of components of an entity is required to be reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results. The amendments in this update require an entity to present, for each comparative period, the assets and liabilities of a disposal group that includes a discontinued operation separately in the asset and liability sections, respectively, of the statement of financial position. The amendments in this update also require additional disclosures about discontinued operations. Public business entities must apply the amendments in this update prospectively to both of the following: (1) All disposals (or classifications as held for sale) of components of an entity that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those years; (2) All businesses or nonprofit activities that, on acquisition, are classified as held for sale that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. We believe adoption of this new guidance will not have a material impact on CONSOL Energy's financial statements.

Subsequent_Event_Notes

Subsequent Event (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 19 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS:
	In October 2014, CONSOL Energy sold various non-strategic assets, including various coal reserves and investments in equity affiliates, for total cash proceeds of approximately $71,000 and a note receivable for approximately $12,000. The financial gain for these transactions is approximately $14,000.

Basis_of_Presentation_Tables

Basis of Presentation (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]	'
	The computations for basic and dilutive earnings per share are as follows:
		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014				2013				2014				2013
	(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations	$	(1,645	)		$	(72,169		)	$	95,111			$	(67,331	)
	Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations	—				8,120				(5,687			)	(11,352		)
	Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	—				(398			)	—				(942		)
	Net (Loss) Income Attributable to CONSOL Energy Inc. Shareholders	$	(1,645	)		$	(63,651		)	$	89,424			$	(77,741	)
	Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
	Basic	230,174,256				228,876,336				229,922,936				228,640,671
	Effect of stock-based compensation awards	—				—				1,479,976				—
	Dilutive	230,174,256				228,876,336				231,402,912				228,640,671
	Earnings per share:
	Basic (Continuing Operations)	$	(0.01	)		$	(0.31		)	$	0.41			$	(0.29	)
	Basic (Discontinued Operations)	—				0.03				(0.02			)	(0.05		)
	Total Basic	$	(0.01	)		$	(0.28		)	$	0.39			$	(0.34	)
	Dilutive (Continuing Operations)	$	(0.01	)		$	(0.31		)	$	0.41			$	(0.29	)
	Dilutive (Discontinued Operations)	—				0.03				(0.02			)	(0.05		)
	Total Dilutive	$	(0.01	)		$	(0.28		)	$	0.39			$	(0.34	)
Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block]	'
	The table below sets forth the share-based awards that have been excluded from the computation of the diluted earnings per share because their effect would be anti-dilutive:
		Three Months Ended September 30,							Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014			2013				2014			2013
	Anti-Dilutive Options	4,116,136			4,833,174				359,488			4,833,174
	Anti-Dilutive Restricted Stock Units	1,278,078			1,243,207				—			1,243,207
	Anti-Dilutive Performance Share Units	287,226			97,142				—			97,142
	Anti-Dilutive Performance Share Options	802,804			602,101				—			602,101
		6,484,244			6,775,624				359,488			6,775,624
Schedule of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) by Component [Table Text Block]	'
	Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income / (Loss) by component, net of tax, were as follows:
		Gains and Losses on Cash Flow Hedges				Postretirement Benefits				Total
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	42,493			$	(367,610		)	$	(325,117		)
	Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	(20,032		)		176,385				156,353
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	3,754				9,090				12,844
	Current period other comprehensive (loss) income	(16,278		)		185,475				169,197
	Balance at September 30, 2014	$	26,215			$	(182,135		)	$	(155,920		)
Schedule of Reclassification of Adjustments to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table shows the reclassification of adjustments out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss:
		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014				2013				2014				2013
	Derivative Instruments (Note 13)
	Natural gas price swaps and options	$	(31,594	)		$	(38,379		)	$	9,263			$	(93,146	)
	Tax benefit (expense)	12,084				14,025				(5,509			)	36,551
	Net of tax	$	(19,510	)		$	(24,354		)	$	3,754			$	(56,595	)
	Actuarially Determined Long-Term Liability Adjustments*(Note 4 and Note 5)
	Amortization of prior service costs	$	(2,542	)		$	(8,212		)	$	(7,625		)	$	(24,635	)
	Recognized net actuarial loss	11,198				21,055				32,705				69,802
	Curtailment gains	(36,182		)		—				(36,182			)	—
	Settlement loss	4,785				6,296				25,492				38,498
	Total	(22,741		)		19,139				14,390				83,665
	Tax benefit (expense)	8,376				(7,306			)	(5,300			)	(31,936		)
	Net of tax	$	(14,365	)		$	11,833			$	9,090			$	51,729
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity [Table Text Block]	'
	The table below sets forth the share-based awards that have been exercised or released:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014		2013				2014		2013
	Options	7,456		11,655				655,568		256,768
	Restricted Stock Units	6,034		130,523				396,836		698,664
	Performance Share Units	—		—				378,971		159,228
		13,490		142,178				1,431,375		1,114,660

Pension_and_OPEB_Periodic_Cost1

Pension and OPEB - Periodic Cost (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COSTS: [Abstract]	'
Components of Net Periodic Costs	'
	Components of net periodic costs (benefits) for the three and nine months ended September 30 are as follows:
		Pension Benefits												Other Post-Employment Benefits
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended						Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,						September 30,						September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013			2014			2013			2014			2013
	Service cost	$	4,834		$	4,897		$	13,625		$	16,184		$	2,331		$	4,849		$	6,994		$	14,547
	Interest cost	8,667			9,497			26,812			27,249			12,096			29,619			36,290			88,856
	Expected return on plan assets	(12,829		)	(13,336		)	(38,342		)	(38,191		)	—			—			—			—
	Amortization of prior service credits	(346		)	(408		)	(1,038		)	(1,223		)	(2,196		)	(7,804		)	(6,588		)	(23,411		)
	Recognized net actuarial loss	6,444			8,042			18,441			30,764			6,369			17,595			19,106			52,784
	Settlement loss	4,785			6,296			25,492			38,498			—			—			—			—
	Curtailment gain	(549		)	—			(549		)	—			(35,633		)	—			(35,633		)	—
	Net periodic cost (benefit)	$	11,006		$	14,988		$	44,441		$	73,281		$	(17,033	)	$	44,259		$	20,169		$	132,776

CWP_and_Workers_Comp_Net_Perio1

CWP and Workers Comp - Net Periodic Costs (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]	'
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Costs	'
	Components of net periodic costs (benefits) for the three and nine months ended September 30 are as follows:
		CWP												Workers' Compensation
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended						Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,						September 30,						September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013			2014			2013			2014			2013
	Service cost	$	1,419		$	2,135		$	4,255		$	6,405		$	2,446		$	3,533		$	7,336		$	10,599
	Interest cost	1,384			1,808			4,153			5,424			894			1,655			2,683			4,966
	Amortization of actuarial gain	(1,549		)	(4,213		)	(4,647		)	(12,638		)	(96		)	(699		)	(287		)	(2,098		)
	State administrative fees and insurance bond premiums	—			—			—			—			999			1,496			3,039			4,500
	Legal and administrative costs	—			—			—			—			—			591			—			1,773
	Net periodic cost (benefit)	$	1,254		$	(270	)	$	3,761		$	(809	)	$	4,243		$	6,576		$	12,771		$	19,740

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventory components	'
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Coal	$	24,380	$	31,944
	Merchandise for resale	35,836		38,263
	Supplies	85,156		87,707
	Total Inventories	$	145,372	$	157,914

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_T

Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment	'
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Coal and Other Plant and Equipment	$	3,731,618	$	3,681,051
	Intangible Drilling Cost	2,388,790		1,937,336
	Proven Gas Properties	1,684,675		1,670,404
	Unproven Gas Properties	1,510,307		1,463,406
	Coal Properties and Surface Lands	1,411,574		1,409,408
	Gas Gathering Equipment	1,082,355		1,058,008
	Gas Wells and Related Equipment	850,771		688,548
	Airshafts	453,689		397,466
	Mine Development	416,733		354,607
	Coal Advance Mining Royalties	397,015		381,348
	Leased Coal Lands	388,033		388,020
	Other Gas Assets	125,484		126,239
	Gas Advance Royalties	22,284		22,668
	Total Property Plant and Equipment	14,463,328		13,578,509
	Less: Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization	4,499,344		4,136,247
	Total Net Property, Plant, and Equipment	$	9,963,984	$	9,442,262

LongTerm_Debt_Tables

Long-Term Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Long-term Debt, Other Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Long-term Debt	'
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Debt:
	Senior notes due April 2017 at 8.00%, issued at par value	$	—		$	1,500,000
	Senior notes due April 2020 at 8.25%, issued at par value	1,014,800			1,250,000
	Senior notes due March 2021 at 6.375%, issued at par value	250,000			250,000
	Senior notes due April 2022 at 5.875%	1,850,000			—
	MEDCO revenue bonds in series due September 2025 at 5.75%	102,865			102,865
	Senior notes due April 2022 at 5.875%, Premium	6,875			—
	Senior notes due April 2022 at 5.875%, Amortization of Bond Premium	(148		)	—
	Advance royalty commitments (7.93% weighted average interest rate for September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013)	11,182			11,182
	Other long-term notes maturing at various dates through 2031 (total value of $4,892 and $5,923 less unamortized discount of $736 and $1,050 at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively).	4,156			4,873
		3,239,730			3,118,920
	Less amounts due in one year *	3,558			2,957
	Long-Term Debt	$	3,236,172		$	3,115,963

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Table Text Block]	'
	At September 30, 2014, CONSOL Energy has provided the following financial guarantees, unconditional purchase obligations and letters of credit to certain third parties, as described by major category in the following table. These amounts represent the maximum potential total of future payments that we could be required to make under these instruments. These amounts have not been reduced for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. Generally, recoveries under reclamation bonds would be limited to the extent of the work performed at the time of the default. No amounts related to these financial guarantees and letters of credit are recorded as liabilities on the financial statements. CONSOL Energy management believes that these guarantees will expire without being funded, and therefore the commitments will not have a material adverse effect on financial condition.
		Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period
		Total			Less Than			1-3 Years			3-5 Years			Beyond
		Amounts			1  Year									5  Years
		Committed
	Letters of Credit:
	Employee-Related	$	151,302		$	71,915		$	79,387		$	—		$	—
	Environmental	39,363			37,635			1,728			—			—
	Other	135,809			56,209			79,600			—			—
	Total Letters of Credit	326,474			165,759			160,715			—			—
	Surety Bonds:
	Employee-Related	204,884			204,884			—			—			—
	Environmental	661,191			619,041			42,150			—			—
	Other	25,685			25,625			59			—			1
	Total Surety Bonds	891,760			849,550			42,209			—			1
	Guarantees:
	Coal	183,700			125,250			58,450			—			—
	Other	63,131			34,974			9,010			8,446			10,701
	Total Guarantees	246,831			160,224			67,460			8,446			10,701
	Total Commitments	$	1,465,065		$	1,175,533		$	270,384		$	8,446		$	10,702
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligations Disclosure	'
	ONSOL Energy and CNX Gas enter into long-term unconditional purchase obligations to procure major equipment purchases, natural gas firm transportation, gas drilling services and other operating goods and services. These purchase obligations are not recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of September 30, 2014, the purchase obligations for each of the next five years and beyond were as follows:
	Obligations Due	Amount
	Less than 1 year	$	240,865
	1 - 3 years	371,127
	3 - 5 years	224,394
	More than 5 years	492,825
	Total Purchase Obligations	$	1,329,211
Supply Commitment [Table Text Block]	'
	osts related to these purchase obligations include:
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
			September 30,						September 30,
			2014			2013			2014			2013
	Major Equipment Purchases		$	9,255		$	6,682		$	99,416		$	15,481
	Firm Transportation and Processing Expense		27,476			24,449			76,839			67,269
	Gas Drilling Obligations		32,901			26,296			85,364			81,419
	Total Costs Related to Purchase Obligations		$	69,632		$	57,427		$	261,619		$	164,169

Derivative_Instruments_Tables

Derivative Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Derivative Instruments	'
	The effect of derivative instruments in cash flow hedging relationships on the Consolidated Statements of Income and the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity net of tax was as follows:
		For the Three Months Ended September 30,
		2014			2013
	Natural Gas Price Swaps and Options
	Beginning Balance – Accumulated OCI	$	6,574		$	71,674
	Gain recognized in Accumulated OCI	39,151			13,246
	Less: Gain reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Natural Gas, NGL's and Oil Sales	19,510			24,354
	Ending Balance – Accumulated OCI	$	26,215		$	60,566
	Gain recognized in Natural Gas, NGL's and Oil Sales for ineffectiveness	$	1,850		$	2,592
		For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014			2013
	Natural Gas Price Swaps and Options
	Beginning Balance – Accumulated OCI	$	42,493		$	76,761
	(Loss)/Gain recognized in Accumulated OCI	(20,032		)	40,400
	Less: (Loss)/Gain reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Natural Gas, NGL's and Oil Sales	(3,754		)	56,595
	Ending Balance – Accumulated OCI	$	26,215		$	60,566
	Gain/(Loss) recognized in Natural Gas, NGL's and Oil Sales for ineffectiveness	$	2,713		$	(120	)
	There were no amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 or 2013.

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]	'
	The financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:
		Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2014									Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013
	Description	Quoted Prices in			Significant			Significant			Quoted Prices in			Significant		Significant
		Active Markets			Other			Unobservable			Active Markets			Other		Unobservable
		for Identical			Observable			Inputs			for Identical			Observable		Inputs
		Liabilities			Inputs			(Level 3)**			Liabilities			Inputs		(Level 3)**
		(Level 1)			(Level 2)*						(Level 1)			(Level 2)*
	Gas Cash Flow Hedges	$	—		$	43,156		$	—		$	—		$	65,449	$	—
	Murray Energy Guarantees	$	—		$	—		$	3,000		$	—		$	—	$	3,000
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Nonrecurring Basis [Table Text Block]	'
		September 30, 2014						December 31, 2013
		Carrying			Fair			Carrying			Fair
		Amount			Value			Amount			Value
	Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	225,563		$	225,563		$	327,420		$	327,420
	Long-Term Debt	$	(3,239,730	)	$	(3,269,768	)	$	(3,118,920	)	$	(3,299,875	)

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended																																																																9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014																																	Sep. 30, 2013																																			Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'																																	'																																			'
Industry segment results	'																																	'																																			'
		Marcellus		Coalbed		Shallow Oil and Gas			Other			Total		Thermal		Low Volatile		High Volatile		Other			Total Coal		All		Corporate,			Consolidated					Marcellus		Coalbed		Shallow Oil and Gas			Other			Total E&P			Thermal		Low Volatile		High Volatile		Other			Total		All			Corporate,			Consolidated
		Shale		Methane					Gas			E&P				Metallurgical		Metallurgical		Coal					Other		Adjustments								Shale		Methane					Gas								Metallurgical		Metallurgical		Coal			Coal		Other			Adjustments
																											&																																			&
																											Eliminations																																			Eliminations
	Sales—outside	$	109,850	$	82,913	$	25,377		$	39,218		$	257,358	$	398,863	$	69,850	$	14,684	$	563		$	483,960	$	73,673	$	—		$	814,991		(A)	Sales—outside	$	72,406	$	83,269	$	32,957		$	4,149		$	192,781		$	352,362	$	98,232	$	22,290	$	6,427		$	479,311	$	63,876		$	—		$	735,968		(D)
	Sales—purchased gas	—		—		—			1,205			1,205		—		—		—		—			—		—		—			1,205				Sales—purchased gas	—		—		—			1,607			1,607			—		—		—		—			—		—			—			1,607
	Sales—gas royalty interests	—		—		—			17,610			17,610		—		—		—		—			—		—		—			17,610				Sales—gas royalty interests	—		—		—			15,506			15,506			—		—		—		—			—		—			—			15,506
	Freight—outside	—		—		—			—			—		—		—		—		2,497			2,497		—		—			2,497				Freight—outside	—		—		—			—			—			—		—		—		9,579			9,579		—			—			9,579
	Intersegment transfers	—		485		—			—			485		—		—		—		—			—		23,066		(23,551		)	—				Intersegment transfers	—		601		—			—			601			—		—		—		—			—		32,213			(32,814		)	—
	Total Sales and Freight	$	109,850	$	83,398	$	25,377		$	58,033		$	276,658	$	398,863	$	69,850	$	14,684	$	3,060		$	486,457	$	96,739	$	(23,551	)	$	836,303			Total Sales and Freight	$	72,406	$	83,870	$	32,957		$	21,262		$	210,495		$	352,362	$	98,232	$	22,290	$	16,006		$	488,890	$	96,089		$	(32,814	)	$	762,660
	Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes	$	27,328	$	19,790	$	(9,341	)	$	(92	)	$	37,685	$	81,660	$	9,115	$	8,056	$	(46,484	)	$	52,347	$	2,689	$	(95,754	)	$	(3,033	)	(B)	Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes	$	27,963	$	20,908	$	(2,123	)	$	(48,615	)	$	(1,867	)	$	95,916	$	21,297	$	4,801	$	(57,625	)	$	64,389	$	(2,385	)	$	(63,448	)	$	(3,311	)	(E)
	Segment assets											$	6,901,696										$	4,119,591	$	295,279	$	402,369		$	11,718,935		(C)	Segment assets											$	5,994,072											$	4,118,351	$	356,731		$	2,267,918		$	12,737,072		(F)
	Depreciation, depletion and amortization											$	82,538										$	64,880	$	1,247	$	—		$	148,665			Depreciation, depletion and amortization											$	58,998											$	57,265	$	1,467		$	—		$	117,730
	Capital expenditures											$	281,641										$	72,496	$	1,175	$	—		$	355,312			Capital expenditures											$	273,474											$	32,497	$	7,704		$	—		$	313,675
	(A)    Included in the Coal segment are sales of $107,915 to Duke Energy, which comprises over 10% of sales.
	(B)     Includes equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates of $9,991, $6,842 and $132 for E&P, Coal and All Other, respectively.																																	(D)	There were no sales to customers aggregating over 10% of total revenue in the three months ending September 30, 2013.
	(C)    Includes investments in unconsolidated equity affiliates of $92,188, $25,844 and $67,477 for E&P, Coal and All Other, respectively.
																																		(E)	Includes equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates of $5,307, $(1,769) and $72 for E&P, Coal and All Other, respectively.
																																		(F)    Includes investments in unconsolidated equity affiliates of $183,895, $20,131 and $57,192 for E&P, Coal and All Other, respectively.
Reconciliation of Revenue and Operating Income from Segments to Consolidated	'																																	'																																			'
																																																																					Earnings Before Income Taxes:
																																																																						For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
																																																																						2014			2013			2014			2013
																																																																					Segment Earnings Before Income Taxes for total reportable business segments	$	90,032		$	62,522		$	417,717		$	262,714
																																																																					Segment Earnings Before Income Taxes for all other businesses	2,689			(2,385		)	5,941			5,076
																																																																					Interest expense, net and other non-operating activity (M)	(79,366		)	(57,479		)	(277,322		)	(166,542		)
																																																																					Other Corporate Items (M)	(16,388		)	(5,969		)	(42,910		)	(71,048		)
																																																																					Earnings Before Income Taxes	$	(3,033	)	$	(3,311	)	$	103,426		$	30,200
Reconciliation of Assets and Liabilities from Segment to Consolidated	'																																	'																																			'
																																																																					Total Assets:	September 30,
																																																																						2014			2013
																																																																					Segment assets for total reportable business segments	$	11,021,287		$	10,112,423
																																																																					Segment assets for all other businesses	295,279			356,731
																																																																					Items excluded from segment assets:
																																																																					Cash and other investments (M)	193,325			17,966
																																																																					Recoverable income taxes	41,971			—
																																																																					Deferred tax assets	127,731			25,585
																																																																					Bond issuance costs	39,342			36,266
																																																																					Discontinued Operations	—			2,188,101
																																																																					Total Consolidated Assets	$	11,718,935		$	12,737,072
																																																																					_________________________
																																																																					(M) Excludes amounts specifically related to the E&P segment.

Guarantor_Subsidiaries_Financi

Guarantor Subsidiaries Financial Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended																	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013																	Sep. 30, 2014																			Sep. 30, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'																	'																			'
Guarantor FInancial Statements [Table Text Block] [Table Text Block]	'																	'																			'
																		Income Statement for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013 (unaudited):
																			Parent			CNX Gas			Other			Non-			Elimination			Consolidated
																			Issuer			Guarantor			Subsidiary			Guarantors
																									Guarantors
																		Revenues and Other Income:
																		Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	$	—		$	193,383		$	203		$	—		$	(805	)	$	192,781
																		Coal Sales	—			—			479,311			—			—			479,311
																		Other Outside Sales	—			—			9,702			54,174			—			63,876
																		Gas Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Sales	—			17,113			—			—			—			17,113
																		Freight-Outside Coal	—			—			9,579			—			—			9,579
																		Miscellaneous Other Income	78,203			11,133			4,783			4,928			(78,225		)	20,822
																		Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets	—			1,462			18,401			—			—			19,863
																		Total Revenue and Other Income	78,203			223,091			521,979			59,102			(79,030		)	803,345
																		Costs and Expenses:
																		Exploration and Production Costs
																		Lease Operating Expense	—			23,600			—			—			—			23,600
																		Transportation, Gathering and Compression	—			46,699			—			—			—			46,699
																		Production, Ad Valorem, and Other Fees	—			8,033			—			—			—			8,033
																		Direct Administrative and Selling	—			11,725			—			—			—			11,725
																		Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	—			58,998			—			—			—			58,998
																		Exploration and Production Related Other Costs	—			22,771			—			—			—			22,771
																		Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Costs	—			13,815			—			—			(10		)	13,805
																		Other Corporate Expenses	—			26,289			—			—			—			26,289
																		General and Administrative	—			10,177			—			—			—			10,177
																		Total Exploration and Production Costs	—			222,107			—			—			(10		)	222,097
																		Coal Costs
																		Operating and Other Costs	2,749			—			275,068			—			50,576			328,393
																		Royalties and Production Taxes	—			—			24,380			—			—			24,380
																		Direct Administrative and Selling	—			—			11,608			—			—			11,608
																		Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	3,116			—			54,149			—			—			57,265
																		Freight Expense	—			—			9,579			—			—			9,579
																		General and Administrative Costs	—			—			8,607			—			—			8,607
																		Other Corporate Expenses	11,145			—			—			—			—			11,145
																		Total Coal Costs	17,010			—			383,391			—			50,576			450,977
																		Other Costs
																		Miscellaneous Operating Expense	33,572			—			4,183			56,091			(18,407		)	75,439
																		General and Administrative Costs	—			—			141			235			—			376
																		Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	172			—			785			510			—			1,467
																		Interest Expense	52,165			2,578			1,547			13			(3		)	56,300
																		Total Other Costs	85,909			2,578			6,656			56,849			(18,410		)	133,582
																		Total Costs And Expenses	102,919			224,685			390,047			56,849			32,156			806,656
																		Earnings (Loss) Before Income Tax	(24,716		)	(1,594		)	131,932			2,253			(111,186		)	(3,311		)
																		Income Taxes	38,935			(602		)	31,378			(853		)	—			68,858
																		(Loss) Income From Continuing Operations	(63,651		)	(992		)	100,554			3,106			(111,186		)	(72,169		)
																		Income From Discontinued Operations, net	—			—			—			8,120			—			8,120
																		Net (Loss) Income	(63,651		)	(992		)	100,554			11,226			(111,186		)	(64,049		)
																		Less: Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	—			(398		)	—			—			—			(398		)
																		Net (Loss) Income Attributable to CONSOL Energy Shareholders	$	(63,651	)	$	(594	)	$	100,554		$	11,226		$	(111,186	)	$	(63,651	)
																		Income Statement for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 (unaudited):
																			Parent			CNX Gas			Other			Non-			Elimination			Consolidated
																			Issuer			Guarantor			Subsidiary			Guarantors
																									Guarantors
																		Revenues and Other Income:
																		Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	$	—		$	257,844		$	—		$	—		$	(486	)	$	257,358
																		Coal Sales	—			—			483,960			—			—			483,960
																		Other Outside Sales	—			—			8,175			65,498			—			73,673
																		Gas Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Sales	—			18,815			—			—			—			18,815
																		Freight-Outside Coal	—			—			2,497			—			—			2,497
																		Miscellaneous Other Income	68,307			13,858			24,358			2,400			(68,139		)	40,784
																		Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets	—			5,488			2,033			8			—			7,529
																		Total Revenue and Other Income	68,307			296,005			521,023			67,906			(68,625		)	884,616
																		Costs and Expenses:
																		Exploration and Production Costs
Lease Operating Expense	—			30,005			—			—			—			30,005
Transportation, Gathering and Compression	—			68,234			—			—			—			68,234
Production, Ad Valorem, and Other Fees	—			8,486			—			—			—			8,486
Direct Administrative and Selling	—			14,060			—			—			—			14,060
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	—			82,538			—			—			—			82,538
Exploration and Production Related Other Costs	—			8,042			—			—			—			8,042
Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Costs	—			15,751			—			—			—			15,751
Other Corporate Expenses	—			13,700			—			—			—			13,700
General and Administrative	—			14,874			—			—			—			14,874
Total Exploration and Production Costs	—			255,690			—			—			—			255,690
Coal Costs
Operating and Other Costs	3,458			—			336,243			—			(485		)	339,216
Royalties and Production Taxes	—			—			23,306			—			—			23,306
Direct Administrative and Selling	—			—			10,479			—			—			10,479
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	159			—			64,721			—			—			64,880
Freight Expense	—			—			2,497			—			—			2,497
General and Administrative Costs	—			—			10,434			—			—			10,434
Other Corporate Expenses	10,114			—			—			—			—			10,114
Total Coal Costs	13,731			—			447,680			—			(485		)	460,926
Other Costs
Miscellaneous Operating Expense	23,681			—			6,050			63,243			—			92,974
General and Administrative Costs	—			—			205			220			—			425
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	6			—			775			466			—			1,247
Loss on Debt Extinguishment	20,990			—			—			—			—			20,990
Interest Expense	52,907			2,629			1,587			82			(1,808		)	55,397
Total Other Costs	97,584			2,629			8,617			64,011			(1,808		)	171,033
Total Costs And Expenses	111,315			258,319			456,297			64,011			(2,293		)	887,649
(Loss) Earnings Before Income Tax	(43,008		)	37,686			64,726			3,895			(66,332		)	(3,033		)
Income Taxes	(41,363		)	13,281			25,221			1,473			—			(1,388		)
(Loss) Income From Continuing Operations	(1,645		)	24,405			39,505			2,422			(66,332		)	(1,645		)
Income From Discontinued Operations, net	—			—			—			—			—			—
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to CONSOL Energy Shareholders	$	(1,645	)	$	24,405		$	39,505		$	2,422		$	(66,332	)	$	(1,645	)
Guarantor Condensed Cash Flow [Table Text Block]	'																	'																			'
																		Cash Flow for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 (unaudited):																			Cash Flow for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 (unaudited):
																			Parent			CNX Gas			Other Subsidiary Guarantors			Non-			Elimination			Consolidated
																						Guarantor						Guarantors										Parent			CNX Gas			Other Subsidiary Guarantors			Non-			Elimination			Consolidated
																		Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Continuing Operations	$	(87,081	)	$	512,135		$	191,233		$	21,155		$	233,663		$	871,105						Guarantor						Guarantors
																																					Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Continuing Operations	$	(7,909	)	$	383,504		$	139,014		$	(102,139	)	$	38,500		$	450,970
																		Net Cash Used in Discontinued Operating Activities	—			—			—			(20,934		)	—			(20,934		)
																																					Net Cash Provided by Discontinued Operating Activities	—			—			—			138,029			—			138,029
																		Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Operating Activities	$	(87,081	)	$	512,135		$	191,233		$	221		$	233,663		$	850,171
																																					Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	$	(7,909	)	$	383,504		$	139,014		$	35,890		$	38,500		$	588,999
																		Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
																		Capital Expenditures	$	(2,314	)	$	(852,097	)	$	(320,196	)	$	—		$	—		$	(1,174,607	)	Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
																																					Capital Expenditures	$	(15,216	)	$	(669,067	)	$	(336,844	)	$	—		$	—		$	(1,021,127	)
																		Proceeds From Sales of Assets	(15,941		)	57,919			99,145			13			—			141,136
																																					Change in Restricted Cash	—			—			56,410			—			—			56,410
																		Net Investments in Equity Affiliates	—			79,723			28,809			—			—			108,532
																																					Proceeds From Sales of Assets	—			335,142			129,479			17			—			464,638
																		Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Continuing Operations	(18,255		)	(714,455		)	(192,242		)	13			—			(924,939		)
																																					Net Investments in Equity Affiliates	—			(30,500		)	12,388			—			—			(18,112		)
																		Net Cash Used in Discontinued Investing Activities	—			—			—			—			—			—
																																					Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Continuing Operations	(15,216		)	(364,425		)	(138,567		)	17			—			(518,191		)
																		Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities	$	(18,255	)	$	(714,455	)	$	(192,242	)	$	13		$	—		$	(924,939	)
																																					Net Cash Used in Discontinued Investing Activities	—			—			—			(41,246		)	—			(41,246		)
																		Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
																		(Payments on) Proceeds from Short-Term Borrowings	$	(11,736	)	$	233,663		$	—		$	—		$	(233,663	)	$	(11,736	)	Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	$	(15,216	)	$	(364,425	)	$	(138,567	)	$	(41,229	)	$	—		$	(559,437	)
																		Payments on Miscellaneous Borrowings	(662		)	—			(3,451		)	(56		)	—			(4,169		)	Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
																																					Proceeds from (Payments on) Short-Term Borrowings	$	—		$	85,500		$	—		$	—		$	(38,500	)	$	47,000
																		Proceeds from Long-Term Borrowings	1,859,920			—			—			—			—			1,859,920
																																					Payments on Miscellaneous Borrowings	(26,591		)	—			(4,690		)	(577		)	—			(31,858		)
																		Payments on Long-Term Borrowings	(1,843,866		)	—			—			—			—			(1,843,866		)
																																					Proceeds from Securitization Facility	—			—			—			6,518			—			6,518
																		Tax Benefit from Stock-Based Compensation	2,478			—			—			—			—			2,478
																																					Tax Benefit from Stock-Based Compensation	2,316			—			—			—			—			2,316
																		Dividends Paid	(43,119		)	—			—			—			—			(43,119		)
																																					Dividends (Paid) Received	42,789			(100,000		)	—			—			—			(57,211		)
																		Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	13,403			—			—			—			—			13,403
																																					Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	2,698			—			—			—			—			2,698
																		Other Financing Activities	—			(4,460		)	4,460			—			—			—
																																					Proceeds from Issuance of Treasury Stock	609			—			—			—			—			609
																		Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Continuing Operations	(23,582		)	229,203			1,009			(56		)	(233,663		)	(27,089		)
																																					Capital Lease Payments	—			(4,084		)	4,084			—			—			—
																		Net Cash Used in Discontinued Financing Activities	—			—			—			—			—			—
																																					Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Continuing Operations	21,821			(18,584		)	(606		)	5,941			(38,500		)	(29,928		)
																		Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	$	(23,582	)	$	229,203		$	1,009		$	(56	)	$	(233,663	)	$	(27,089	)
																																					Net Cash Used in Discontinued Financing Activities	—			—			—			(432		)	—			(432		)
																																					Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	$	21,821		$	(18,584	)	$	(606	)	$	5,509		$	(38,500	)	$	(30,360	)
Guarantor Condensed Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block]	'																	'																			'
																																					Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 (unaudited):
		Parent			CNX Gas			Other Subsidiary Guarantors		Non-		Elimination			Consolidated
					Guarantor					Guarantors
	Net (Loss) Income	$	(1,645	)	$	24,405		$	39,505	$	2,422	$	(66,332	)	$	(1,645	)																					Parent			CNX Gas			Other Subsidiary Guarantors			Non-			Elimination			Consolidated
																																									Guarantor						Guarantors
	Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):																																				Net (Loss) Income	$	(77,741	)	$	(4,067	)	$	441,377		$	1,552		$	(439,804	)	$	(78,683	)
	Actuarially Determined Long-Term Liability Adjustments	184,154			—			184,154		—		(184,154		)	184,154
																																					Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
	Net Increase (Decrease) in the Value of Cash Flow Hedge	39,151			39,151			—		—		(39,151		)	39,151																						Actuarially Determined Long-Term Liability Adjustments	113,641			—			113,641			—			(113,641		)	113,641
	Reclassification of Cash Flow Hedge from OCI to Earnings	(19,510		)	(19,510		)	—		—		19,510			(19,510		)																				Net Increase (Decrease) in the Value of Cash Flow Hedge	40,400			40,400			—			—			(40,400		)	40,400
	Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):	203,795			19,641			184,154		—		(203,795		)	203,795																						Reclassification of Cash Flow Hedge from OCI to Earnings	(56,595		)	(56,595		)	—			—			56,595			(56,595		)
	Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to CONSOL Energy Inc. Shareholders	$	202,150		$	44,046		$	223,659	$	2,422	$	(270,127	)	$	202,150																					Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):	97,446			(16,195		)	113,641			—			(97,446		)	97,446
																																					Comprehensive Income (Loss)	19,705			(20,262		)	555,018			1,552			(537,250		)	18,763
	Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013 (unaudited):																																				Less: Comprehensive (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	—			(942		)	—			—			—			(942		)
																																					Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to CONSOL Energy Inc. Shareholders	$	19,705		$	(19,320	)	$	555,018		$	1,552		$	(537,250	)	$	19,705
		Parent			CNX Gas			Other Subsidiary Guarantors		Non-		Elimination			Consolidated
					Guarantor					Guarantors
	Net (Loss) Income	$	(63,651	)	$	(992	)	$	100,554	$	11,226	$	(111,186	)	$	(64,049	)
	Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
	Actuarially Determined Long-Term Liability Adjustments	24,980			—			24,980		—		(24,980		)	24,980
	Net Increase (Decrease) in the Value of Cash Flow Hedge	13,246			13,246			—		—		(13,246		)	13,246
	Reclassification of Cash Flow Hedge from OCI to Earnings	(24,354		)	(24,354		)	—		—		24,354			(24,354		)
	Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):	13,872			(11,108		)	24,980		—		(13,872		)	13,872
	Comprehensive Loss (Income)	(49,779		)	(12,100		)	125,534		11,226		(125,058		)	(50,177		)
	Less: Comprehensive (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	—			(398		)	—		—		—			(398		)
	Comprehensive Loss (Income) Attributable to CONSOL Energy Inc. Shareholders	$	(49,779	)	$	(11,702	)	$	125,534	$	11,226	$	(125,058	)	$	(49,779	)
Guarantor Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]	'																	'																			'
																		Balance Sheet at December 31, 2013:
																			Parent			CNX Gas			Other			Non-			Elimination			Consolidated
																			Issuer			Guarantor			Subsidiary			Guarantors
																									Guarantors
																		Assets:
																		Current Assets:
																		Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	320,473		$	6,238		$	—		$	709		$	—		$	327,420
																		Accounts and Notes Receivable:
																		Trade	—			71,911			—			260,663			—			332,574
																		Notes Receivable	1,238			—			24,623			—			—			25,861
																		Other Receivables	17,657			207,128			14,969			4,219			—			243,973
																		Inventories	—			15,185			99,320			43,409			—			157,914
																		Deferred Income Taxes	219,566			(8,263		)	—			—			—			211,303
																		Recoverable Income Taxes	(16,262		)	26,967			—			—			—			10,705
																		Prepaid Expenses	43,698			65,701			24,915			1,528			—			135,842
																		Total Current Assets	586,370			384,867			163,827			310,528			—			1,445,592
																		Property, Plant and Equipment:
																		Property, Plant and Equipment	173,719			6,919,972			6,459,014			25,804			—			13,578,509
																		Less-Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	122,022			1,188,464			2,806,775			18,986			—			4,136,247
																		Total Property, Plant and Equipment-Net	51,697			5,731,508			3,652,239			6,818			—			9,442,262
																		Other Assets:
																		Investment in Affiliates	11,965,054			206,060			70,222			—			(11,949,661		)	291,675
																		Notes Receivable	125			—			—			—			—			125
																		Other	145,401			30,728			28,831			9,053			—			214,013
																		Total Other Assets	12,110,580			236,788			99,053			9,053			(11,949,661		)	505,813
																		Total Assets	$	12,748,647		$	6,353,163		$	3,915,119		$	326,399		$	(11,949,661	)	$	11,393,667
																		Liabilities and Equity:
																		Current Liabilities:
																		Accounts Payable	$	91,553		$	324,226		$	89,201		$	9,600		$	—		$	514,580
																		Accounts Payable (Recoverable)-Related Parties	4,629,131			23,287			(5,121,727		)	136,822			332,487			—
																		Current Portion of Long-Term Debt	1,029			6,258			3,372			796			—			11,455
																		Short-Term Notes Payable	—			332,487			—			—			(332,487		)	—
																		Other Accrued Liabilities	144,612			89,080			322,606			9,399			—			565,697
																		Current Liabilities of Discontinued Operations	—			—			—			28,239			—			28,239
																		Total Current Liabilities	4,866,325			775,338			(4,706,548		)	184,856			—			1,119,971
																		Long-Term Debt:	3,005,458			42,852			113,474			1,775			—			3,163,559
																		Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:
																		Deferred Income Taxes	(232,904		)	475,547			—			—			—			242,643
																		Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions	—			—			961,127			—			—			961,127
																		Pneumoconiosis Benefits	—			—			111,971			—			—			111,971
																		Mine Closing	—			—			320,723			—			—			320,723
																		Gas Well Closing	—			119,429			56,174			—			—			175,603
																		Workers’ Compensation	—			—			71,136			332			—			71,468
																		Salary Retirement	48,252			—			—			—			—			48,252
																		Reclamation	—			—			40,706			—			—			40,706
																		Other	55,227			61,190			14,938			—			—			131,355
																		Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	(129,425		)	656,166			1,576,775			332			—			2,103,848
																		Total CONSOL Energy Inc. Stockholders’ Equity	5,006,289			4,878,807			6,931,418			139,436			(11,949,661		)	5,006,289
																		Total Liabilities and Equity	$	12,748,647		$	6,353,163		$	3,915,119		$	326,399		$	(11,949,661	)	$	11,393,667
																		lance Sheet at September 30, 2014 (unaudited):
																			Parent			CNX Gas			Other			Non-			Elimination			Consolidated
																			Issuer			Guarantor			Subsidiary			Guarantors
																									Guarantors
																		Assets:
																		Current Assets:
																		Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	191,555		$	33,121		$	—		$	887		$	—		$	225,563
																		Accounts and Notes Receivable:
																		Trade	—			95,746			—			204,193			—			299,939
																		Other Receivables	49,930			323,154			5,673			3,895			—			382,652
																		Inventories	—			14,086			95,450			35,836			—			145,372
																		Deferred Income Taxes	127,366			365			—			—			—			127,731
																		Recoverable Income Taxes	57,067			(15,096		)	—			—			—			41,971
																		Prepaid Expenses	39,202			36,182			24,655			1,828			—			101,867
Total Current Assets	465,120			487,558			125,778			246,639			—			1,325,095
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Property, Plant and Equipment	165,885			7,694,180			6,577,039			26,224			—			14,463,328
Less-Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	118,444			1,410,235			2,950,922			19,743			—			4,499,344
Total Property, Plant and Equipment-Net	47,441			6,283,945			3,626,117			6,481			—			9,963,984
Other Assets:
Investment in Affiliates	12,481,970			92,188			78,231			—			(12,466,880		)	185,509
Other	172,625			23,264			39,822			8,636			—			244,347
Total Other Assets	12,654,595			115,452			118,053			8,636			(12,466,880		)	429,856
Total Assets	$	13,167,156		$	6,886,955		$	3,869,948		$	261,756		$	(12,466,880	)	$	11,718,935
Liabilities and Equity:
Current Liabilities:
Accounts Payable	$	102,157		$	400,751		$	93,156		$	14,661		$	—		$	610,725
Accounts Payable (Recoverable)—Related Parties	4,502,239			152,871			(5,286,273		)	65,013			566,150			—
Current Portion Long-Term Debt	1,571			6,590			3,393			671			—			12,225
Short-Term Notes Payable	—			566,150						—			(566,150		)	—
Other Accrued Liabilities	163,415			109,704			329,341			8,244			—			610,704
Current Liabilities of Discontinued Operations	—			—			—			12,992			—			12,992
Total Current Liabilities	4,769,382			1,236,066			(4,860,383		)	101,581			—			1,246,646
Long-Term Debt:	3,125,439			38,907			113,100			1,876			—			3,279,322
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:
Deferred Income Taxes	(89,966		)	484,991			—			—			—			395,025
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions	—			—			652,050			—			—			652,050
Pneumoconiosis Benefits	—			—			111,514			—			—			111,514
Mine Closing	—			—			321,776			—			—			321,776
Gas Well Closing	—			120,899			59,621			—			—			180,520
Workers’ Compensation	—			—			73,053			345			—			73,398
Salary Retirement	48,231			—			—			—			—			48,231
Reclamation	—			—			34,499			—			—			34,499
Other	59,471			56,788			5,096			—			—			121,355
Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	17,736			662,678			1,257,609			345			—			1,938,368
Total CONSOL Energy Inc. Stockholders’ Equity	5,254,599			4,949,304			7,359,622			157,954			(12,466,880		)	5,254,599
Total Liabilities and Equity	$	13,167,156		$	6,886,955		$	3,869,948		$	261,756		$	(12,466,880	)	$	11,718,935

Related_Party_Transaction_Tabl

Related Party Transaction (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
NOTE 16- RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS [Abstract]	'
Related Party Receivables Payables [Table Text Block]	'
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013			Location on Balance Sheet
	Reimbursement for CONE Expenses	$	(913	)	$	(2,168	)	Accounts Receivable–Other
	Reimbursement for Services Provided to CONE	(122		)	(265		)	Accounts Receivable–Other
	CONE Gathering Capital Reimbursement	(2,789		)	—			Accounts Receivable–Other
	CONE Gathering Fee Payable	15,259			7,881			Accounts Payable
	Net Payable due to CONE	$	11,435		$	5,448

Basis_of_Presentation_AntiDilu

Basis of Presentation Anti-Dilutive Options and Units Exluded from Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive securities excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share	6,484,244	6,775,624	359,488	6,775,624
Antidilutive Options [Member]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive securities excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share	4,116,136	4,833,174	359,488	4,833,174
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive securities excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share	1,278,078	1,243,207	0	1,243,207
Performance Share Units [Member]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive securities excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share	287,226	97,142	0	97,142
Performance Options [Member]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive securities excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share	802,804	602,101	0	602,101
Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Share-based comp Options Granted Weighted average exercise price	22.75	17.4	20.44	10.49

Basis_of_Presentation_Sharebas

Basis of Presentation Share-based Compensation (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	13,490	142,178	1,431,375	1,114,660
Performance Share Units [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Equity awards other than options, vested	0	0	378,971	159,228
Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Options Exercised	7,456	11,655	655,568	256,768
Share-based comp Options Granted Weighted average exercise price	22.75	17.4	20.44	10.49
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Equity awards other than options, vested	6,034	130,523	396,836	698,664

Basis_of_Presentation_Earnings

Basis of Presentation Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	($1,645)	($72,169)	$95,111	($67,331)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	8,120	-5,687	-11,352
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	-398	0	-942
Net Income (Loss)	($1,645)	($63,651)	$89,424	($77,741)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:	'	'	'	'
Basic	230,174,256	228,876,336	229,922,936	228,640,671
Effect of stock-based compensation awards	0	0	1,479,976	0
Dilutive	230,174,256	228,876,336	231,402,912	228,640,671
Earnings Per Share:	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share	($0.01)	($0.31)	$0.41	($0.29)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share	$0	$0.03	($0.02)	($0.05)
Earnings Per Share, Basic	($0.01)	($0.28)	$0.39	($0.34)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share	($0.01)	($0.31)	$0.41	($0.29)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share	$0	$0.03	($0.02)	($0.05)
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	($0.01)	($0.28)	$0.39	($0.34)

Basis_of_Presentation_Changes_

Basis of Presentation Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income / (Loss) by component (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	$203,795	$13,872	$169,197	$97,446	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-155,920	'	-155,920	'	-325,117
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	'	'	156,353	'	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	'	'	12,844	'	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	'	'	169,197	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-155,920	'	-155,920	'	-325,117
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	'	'	-20,032	'	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	'	'	3,754	'	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	'	'	-16,278	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	26,215	'	26,215	'	42,493
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	'	'	176,385	'	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	'	'	9,090	'	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	'	'	185,475	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	($182,135)	'	($182,135)	'	($367,610)

Basis_of_Presentation_Reclassi

Basis of Presentation Reclassification of adjustments out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Natural Gas Swaps	($31,594)	($38,379)	$9,263	($93,146)
Tax Benefit of Natural Gas Swaps	12,084	14,025	-5,509	36,551
Natural Gas Swaps, Net of Tax	-19,510	-24,354	3,754	-56,595
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)	-2,542	-8,212	-7,625	-24,635
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)	11,198	21,055	32,705	69,802
Defined Benefit Plan, Curtailments	-36,182	0	-36,182	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Finalization of Pension and Non-Pension Postretirement Plan Valuation, Net of Tax	4,785	6,296	25,492	38,498
Net periodic (benefit) cost	-22,741	19,139	14,390	83,665
Tax Expense on Actuarially Determined Long-Term Liabilities	8,376	-7,306	-5,300	-31,936
Actuarially Determined Long-Term Liability Adjustments, Net of Tax	($14,365)	$11,833	$9,090	$51,729

Dispositions_Details

Dispositions (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013
		Discontinued Operations [Member]	Discontinued Operations [Member]	Bailey Longwall Shields [Member]	Bailey Longwall Shields [Member]	Crowsnest Pass [Member]	Potomac coal reserves [Member]	Ryerson Park Lake and Dam [Member]	Ryerson Park Lake and Dam [Member]
									acre
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest in property sold	'	'	'	'	'	$0.50	'	'	'
Sale Leaseback Transaction, Net Book Value	'	'	'	'	75,357,000	'	'	'	'
Benefit Obligations Assumed By Murray Energy	'	'	2,050,656,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Sale Leaseback Transaction, Net Proceeds	'	'	'	71,166,000	'	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment	71,000,000	'	825,285,000	'	'	24,764,000	25,000,000	'	'
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment	'	'	1,035,346,000	-358,000	'	15,260,000	24,663,000	'	'
Litigation Settlement, Amount	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	36,000,000	'
Restructuring Costs	'	'	24,715,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Discontinued Operations amount of adjustment to prior period gain on disposal	'	7,044,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Bonus Payment	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$13,728,000	'
Gas and Oil Area, Undeveloped, Gross	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	506,000

Acquisitions_Details

Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013
			Dominion Acquisition Member	Dominion Acquisition Member	Allegheny County Airport b Allegheny County Airport [Member]	Allegheny County Airport b Pittsburgh International Airport [Member] [Member]
			acre			acre
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Acres Purchased	'	'	90,000,000	'	'	'
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Change in Range of Outcomes, Contingent Consideration, Liability, Value, High	'	'	$190,000,000	'	'	'
Reimbursement From JV Partner	'	'	'	0.5	0.5	'
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	1,174,607,000	1,021,127,000	91,243,000	16,000,000	'	'
Gas and Oil Area, Undeveloped, Gross	'	'	'	'	'	9,300
Bonus Payment in Escrow	'	'	'	'	7.60%	'
Bonus Payment	'	'	'	'	46,315,000	'
Cash Received	'	'	'	$46,311,000	'	'

Other_Income_Details

Other Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Component of Operating Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Contracts Revenue	$0	$0	$30,000	$0
Rental Income, Nonoperating	9,731	770	35,336	2,654
Proceeds from Contributions from Affiliates	18,284	3,610	39,796	20,276
Gas Gathering, Transportation, Marketing and Processing Revenue	3,636	766	24,386	5,863
Royalty Revenue	5,003	4,113	14,758	12,870
Bailey Belt Settlement	0	0	4,275	0
Right of Way Issuance	2,485	2,102	4,898	3,810
Interest Income, Other	527	4,300	1,827	15,701
Gain on Business Interruption Insurance Recovery	0	2,745	0	5,445
Other Nonoperating Income	1,118	2,416	10,539	11,110
Other Income (including equity earnings)	$40,784	$20,822	$165,815	$77,729

Pension_and_OPEB_Periodic_Cost2

Pension and OPEB - Periodic Cost (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

5 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

31-May-14

Jun. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Change in Assumptions for Pension Plans [Member]

Change in Assumptions for Pension Plans [Member]

Change in Assumptions for Pension Plans [Member]

Change in Assumptions for Pension Plans [Member]

Change in Assumptions for Pension Plans [Member]

Change in Assumptions for Pension Plans [Member]

Change in Assumptions for Pension Plans [Member]

Change in Assumptions for Pension Plans [Member]

Change in Assumptions for Pension Plans [Member]

Change in Assumptions for Pension Plans [Member]

Change in Assumptions for Pension Plans [Member]

Discontinued Operations [Member]

Discontinued Operations [Member]

Discontinued Operations [Member]

Discontinued Operations [Member]

Change in Assumptions for Pension Plans [Member]

Change in Assumptions for Pension Plans [Member]

Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Service cost

'

'

'

'

'

$4,834,000

$4,897,000

$13,625,000

$16,184,000

$2,331,000

$4,849,000

$6,994,000

$14,547,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest cost

'

'

'

'

'

8,667,000

9,497,000

26,812,000

27,249,000

12,096,000

29,619,000

36,290,000

88,856,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Expected return on plan assets

'

'

'

'

'

-12,829,000

-13,336,000

-38,342,000

-38,191,000

0

0

0

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)

-2,542,000

-8,212,000

-7,625,000

-24,635,000

'

-346,000

-408,000

-1,038,000

-1,223,000

-2,196,000

-7,804,000

-6,588,000

-23,411,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amortization of actuarial gain

11,198,000

21,055,000

32,705,000

69,802,000

'

6,444,000

8,042,000

18,441,000

30,764,000

6,369,000

17,595,000

19,106,000

52,784,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Finalization of Pension and Non-Pension Postretirement Plan Valuation, Net of Tax

4,785,000

6,296,000

25,492,000

38,498,000

'

4,785,000

6,296,000

25,492,000

38,498,000

0

0

0

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Curtailments

'

'

'

'

'

-549,000

0

-549,000

0

-35,633,000

0

-35,633,000

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

curtailment gain/loss OCI, net of tax

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-347,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-22,508,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Curtailment Gain/Loss - Deferred Tax

'

'

'

'

'

-202,000

'

-202,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-13,125,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net periodic (benefit) cost

-22,741,000

19,139,000

14,390,000

83,665,000

'

11,006,000

14,988,000

44,441,000

73,281,000

-17,033,000

44,259,000

20,169,000

132,776,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,699,000

7,078,000

25,775,000

76,673,000

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Discount Rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4.33%

4.80%

4.84%

4.12%

'

4.26%

4.87%

4.00%

'

4.88%

'

'

'

'

1.92%

1.84%

Pension Contributions

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25,948,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Curtailments

-36,182,000

0

-36,182,000

0

'

'

'

-21,624,000

'

'

'

-315,439,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

DB Plan Curtailment OCI, net of tax

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

13,659,000

'

'

'

199,252,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Amendments

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-6,490,000

13,152,000

-21,264,000

-48,957,000

-29,916,000

41,527,000

'

'

'

9,634,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax

-184,154,000

-24,980,000

-185,475,000

-113,641,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,141,000

-5,285,000

17,040,000

33,414,000

35,261,000

-14,193,000

'

'

'

-6,086,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deferred Income Taxes

'

'

6,540,000

-23,335,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-3,548,000

Deferred Income Taxes

127,731,000

'

127,731,000

'

211,303,000

7,965,000

'

7,965,000

'

116,187,000

'

116,187,000

'

2,998,000

-3,082,000

10,520,000

20,630,000

21,770,000

-8,276,000

2,998,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cash Transition Payment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

46,282,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$46,272,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

CWP_and_Workers_Comp_Net_Perio2

CWP and Workers Comp - Net Periodic Costs (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Costs and Assumptions for Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amortization of actuarial gain	$11,198	$21,055	$32,705	$69,802
Net periodic (benefit) cost	-22,741	19,139	14,390	83,665
Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Costs and Assumptions for Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Service cost	1,419	2,135	4,255	6,405
Interest cost	1,384	1,808	4,153	5,424
Amortization of actuarial gain	-1,549	-4,213	-4,647	-12,638
State administrative fees and insurance bond premiums	0	0	0	0
Legal and administrative costs	0	0	0	0
Net periodic (benefit) cost	1,254	-270	3,761	-809
Payments for Coal Workers Pnenumoconiosis	'	'	8,870	'
Workers Compensation [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Costs and Assumptions for Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Service cost	2,446	3,533	7,336	10,599
Interest cost	894	1,655	2,683	4,966
Amortization of actuarial gain	-96	-699	-287	-2,098
State administrative fees and insurance bond premiums	999	1,496	3,039	4,500
Legal and administrative costs	0	591	0	1,773
Net periodic (benefit) cost	4,243	6,576	12,771	19,740
Payments for workers compensation benefits, state administrative fees and surety bond premiums	'	'	11,327	'
Discontinued Operations [Member] | Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Costs and Assumptions for Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net periodic (benefit) cost	'	-167	'	-497
Discontinued Operations [Member] | Workers Compensation [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Costs and Assumptions for Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net periodic (benefit) cost	'	$2,474	'	$7,327

Income_Taxes_Income_Tax_Reconc

Income Taxes Income Tax Reconciliation (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2009	Mar. 31, 2008	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
	Rate	Rate	Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]	Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]	Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]	Potomac coal reserves [Member]	Crowsnest Pass [Member]
Reconciliation of Statutory Federal Tax Rate [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent	8.30%	323.00%	'	'	'	'	'
Amount	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Unusual or Infrequent, Tax Effect	$7,013	'	'	'	$8,820	'	'
Depletion	7,970	'	2,925	4,493	'	'	'
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Deduction, Qualified Production Activity, Amount	957	5,875	1,402	'	'	'	'
Income Tax Reconciliation, Nondeductible Expense, Depletion	20,640	111,104	'	'	'	'	'
Percent	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Statutory U.S. Federal Income Tax Rate	35.00%	35.00%	'	'	'	'	'
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Properties, Applicable Income Taxes	'	'	'	'	'	$4,701	$8,467

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Income Tax Examination, Increase (Decrease) in Liability from Prior Year	'	$1,585
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority	5,496	'
Income Tax Reconciliation, Nondeductible Expense, Depletion	20,640	111,104
Uncertain tax positions	2,540	22,770
Uncertain tax positions that, if recognized, would impact effective tax rate	1,651	2,071
Accrued interest liability relating to uncertain tax positions	1,334	6,200
Interest expense included in accrued interest liability	($4,866)	$1,020

Income_Taxes_Tax_Examinations_

Income Taxes Tax Examinations (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2009	Mar. 31, 2008
			Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]	Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties Expense	$4,464	$1,001	'	'
Income Tax Reconciliation, Nondeductible Expense, Depletion	20,640	111,104	'	'
Depletion	7,970	'	2,925	4,493
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Deduction, Qualified Production Activity, Amount	$957	$5,875	$1,402	'

Income_Taxes_Discrete_Items_De

Income Taxes Discrete Items (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority	$5,496	$5,496	'
Income Tax Reconciliation, Nondeductible Expense, Depletion	'	20,640	111,104
Unusual or Infrequent, Tax Effect	'	7,013	'
Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations	$1,924	'	'

Inventory_Components_Details

Inventory Components (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Coal	$24,380	$31,944
Merchandise for resale	35,836	38,263
Supplies	85,156	87,707
Total Inventories	145,372	157,914
Excess of replacement cost of merchandise for resl inventories over carrying LIFO value	$19,835	$18,836

Accounts_Receivable_Securitiza1

Accounts Receivable Securitization (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Subordinated Debt	$20,570	'	$48,945
Line of Credit Facility, Collateral Fees, Amount	692	1,328	'
AR securitization facility [Member]	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	125,000	'	'
Current borrowing capacity of receivable facility	82,500	'	115,000
Letters of credit amount outstanding	$61,930	'	'
Expiration date of receivables facility	30-Mar-15	'	'

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_D

Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Coal and other plant and equipment	$3,731,618	$3,681,051
Drilling Cost	2,388,790	1,937,336
Proven gas properties	1,684,675	1,670,404
Coal properties and surface lands	1,510,307	1,463,406
Unproven gas properties	1,411,574	1,409,408
Gas gathering equipment	1,082,355	1,058,008
Airshafts	850,771	688,548
Mine development	453,689	397,466
Leased coal lands	416,733	354,607
Gas wells and related equipment	397,015	381,348
Coal advance mining royalties	388,033	388,020
Other gas assets	125,484	126,239
Gas advance royalties	22,284	22,668
Total property plant and equipment	14,463,328	13,578,509
Less Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization	4,499,344	4,136,247
Total Property, Plant and Equipment-Net	$9,963,984	$9,442,262

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_J

Property, Plant and Equipment Joint Venture Activity (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012
			acre
Noble JV [Member]	'	'	'	'
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
drill carry remaining	'	$1,728,520	'	'
Drilling commitment carry	'	'	'	1,884,000
Maximum Drilling Commitment Carry	400,000	'	'	'
Gas and Oil Acreage, Unproved, Net	'	'	703,000	'
Joint Venture Interest Percentage	'	50.00%	'	'
Hess [Member]	'	'	'	'
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
drill carry remaining	'	$132,736	335,000	'
Gas and Oil Acreage, Unproved, Net	'	'	144,000	'
Joint Venture Interest Percentage	'	50.00%	'	'

ShortTerm_Notes_Payable_Detail

Short-Term Notes Payable (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
			Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Senior Secured Credit Facility April122016 Member [Member]	Senior Secured Credit Facility April122016 Member [Member]	Retained Investment in Business [Member]	CNX Gas Senior Secured Credit Facility April122016 Member [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Credit facility, face amount	'	$1,000,000,000	$2,000,000,000	$1,000,000,000	'	'	'	$1,000,000,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	'	'	'	'	264,544,000	'	'	'
Letters Of Credit	750,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Deferred Finance Costs, Own-share Lending Arrangement, Issuance Costs, Adjustment	2,989,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Additional Capacity Available On Credit Lines At Request	'	'	'	'	500,000,000	'	'	'
Minimum interest coverage ratio	'	'	'	'	2.5	'	'	'
Interest coverage ratio	'	'	'	'	5.26	'	'	'
Senior secured leverage ratio, maximum	'	'	'	'	1	'	'	'
Current secured leverage ratio	'	'	'	'	2.33	'	2.75	'
Letters of credit outstanding	'	'	'	'	'	206,988,000	'	87,643,000
Borrowings and issuance of letters of credit remaining capacity	'	'	'	'	$1,735,456,000	$793,012,000	'	$912,357,000

LongTerm_Debt_Details

Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Capital Lease Obligations, Current	$8,667	$8,498
Debt	3,239,730	3,118,920
Less amounts due in one year	-3,558	-2,957
Long-Term Debt	3,236,172	3,115,963
Accrued interest	93,709	63,272
Proceeds from Issuance of Private Placement	1,600,000	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	5.90%	'
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price	$1.03	'
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Other Debt	235,200	'
Senior Notes Due April 2017 at 8.00%	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Debt	0	1,500,000
Senior notes due April 2020 at 8.25%	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Debt	1,014,800	1,250,000
Senior notes due March 2021 at 6.375%	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Debt	250,000	250,000
Senior Secured Notes Due April 2022 Par Value [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Debt	1,850,000	0
Baltimore Port Facility revenue bonds in series due September 2025 at 5.75%	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Debt	102,865	102,865
Senior notes due April 2022 at 5.875%, Premium [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Debt	6,875	0
Senior notes due April 2022 at 5.875%, Amortization of Bond Premium [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Debt	-148	0
Advance royalty commitments	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Debt	11,182	11,182
Other long-term notes maturing at various dates through 2031	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Debt	4,156	4,873
Additional Funding Agreement Terms [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Proceeds from Issuance of Private Placement	$250,000	'

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Portion Not Accrued	388,156
Subsidiaries [Member]	'
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Loss Contingency, Pending Claims, Number	6,900
Earl Kennedy [Member]	'
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought	'20000
Ratliff [Member]	'
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought	'50000

Unrecorded_Unconditional_Purch

Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total costs related to purchase obligations	$69,632	$57,427	$261,619	$164,169
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	1,465,065	'	1,465,065	'
Purchase Commitment [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Less than 1 year	240,865	'	240,865	'
1 - 3 years	371,127	'	371,127	'
3 - 5 years	224,394	'	224,394	'
More than 5 years	492,825	'	492,825	'
Total Purchase Obligations	1,329,211	'	1,329,211	'
Balance on First Anniversary [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	1,175,533	'	1,175,533	'
More Than One And Within Three Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	270,384	'	270,384	'
More Than Three And Within Five Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	8,446	'	8,446	'
Beyond Five Years of Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	10,702	'	10,702	'
Standby Letters of Credit [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	326,474	'	326,474	'
Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | Balance on First Anniversary [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	165,759	'	165,759	'
Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | More Than One And Within Three Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	160,715	'	160,715	'
Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | More Than Three And Within Five Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | Beyond Five Years of Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Surety Bonds [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	891,760	'	891,760	'
Surety Bonds [Member] | Balance on First Anniversary [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	849,550	'	849,550	'
Surety Bonds [Member] | More Than One And Within Three Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	42,209	'	42,209	'
Surety Bonds [Member] | More Than Three And Within Five Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Surety Bonds [Member] | Beyond Five Years of Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	1	'	1	'
Guarantees [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	246,831	'	246,831	'
Guarantees [Member] | Balance on First Anniversary [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	160,224	'	160,224	'
Guarantees [Member] | More Than One And Within Three Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	67,460	'	67,460	'
Guarantees [Member] | More Than Three And Within Five Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	8,446	'	8,446	'
Guarantees [Member] | Beyond Five Years of Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	10,701	'	10,701	'
Employee Related Commitments [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	151,302	'	151,302	'
Employee Related Commitments [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | Balance on First Anniversary [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	71,915	'	71,915	'
Employee Related Commitments [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | More Than One And Within Three Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	79,387	'	79,387	'
Employee Related Commitments [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | More Than Three And Within Five Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Employee Related Commitments [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | Beyond Five Years of Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Employee Related Commitments [Member] | Surety Bonds [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	204,884	'	204,884	'
Employee Related Commitments [Member] | Surety Bonds [Member] | Balance on First Anniversary [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	204,884	'	204,884	'
Employee Related Commitments [Member] | Surety Bonds [Member] | More Than One And Within Three Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Employee Related Commitments [Member] | Surety Bonds [Member] | More Than Three And Within Five Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Employee Related Commitments [Member] | Surety Bonds [Member] | Beyond Five Years of Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Environment Related Commitments [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	39,363	'	39,363	'
Environment Related Commitments [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | Balance on First Anniversary [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	37,635	'	37,635	'
Environment Related Commitments [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | More Than One And Within Three Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	1,728	'	1,728	'
Environment Related Commitments [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | More Than Three And Within Five Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Environment Related Commitments [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | Beyond Five Years of Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Environment Related Commitments [Member] | Surety Bonds [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	661,191	'	661,191	'
Environment Related Commitments [Member] | Surety Bonds [Member] | Balance on First Anniversary [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	619,041	'	619,041	'
Environment Related Commitments [Member] | Surety Bonds [Member] | More Than One And Within Three Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	42,150	'	42,150	'
Environment Related Commitments [Member] | Surety Bonds [Member] | More Than Three And Within Five Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Environment Related Commitments [Member] | Surety Bonds [Member] | Beyond Five Years of Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Other Commitments [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	135,809	'	135,809	'
Other Commitments [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | Balance on First Anniversary [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	56,209	'	56,209	'
Other Commitments [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | More Than One And Within Three Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	79,600	'	79,600	'
Other Commitments [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | More Than Three And Within Five Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Other Commitments [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | Beyond Five Years of Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Other Commitments [Member] | Surety Bonds [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	25,685	'	25,685	'
Other Commitments [Member] | Surety Bonds [Member] | Balance on First Anniversary [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	25,625	'	25,625	'
Other Commitments [Member] | Surety Bonds [Member] | More Than One And Within Three Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	59	'	59	'
Other Commitments [Member] | Surety Bonds [Member] | More Than Three And Within Five Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Other Commitments [Member] | Surety Bonds [Member] | Beyond Five Years of Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	1	'	1	'
Other Commitments [Member] | Guarantees [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	63,131	'	63,131	'
Other Commitments [Member] | Guarantees [Member] | Balance on First Anniversary [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	34,974	'	34,974	'
Other Commitments [Member] | Guarantees [Member] | More Than One And Within Three Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	9,010	'	9,010	'
Other Commitments [Member] | Guarantees [Member] | More Than Three And Within Five Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	8,446	'	8,446	'
Other Commitments [Member] | Guarantees [Member] | Beyond Five Years of Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	10,701	'	10,701	'
Coal Segment [Member] | Guarantees [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	183,700	'	183,700	'
Coal Segment [Member] | Guarantees [Member] | Balance on First Anniversary [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	125,250	'	125,250	'
Coal Segment [Member] | Guarantees [Member] | More Than One And Within Three Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	58,450	'	58,450	'
Coal Segment [Member] | Guarantees [Member] | More Than Three And Within Five Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Coal Segment [Member] | Guarantees [Member] | Beyond Five Years of Balance Sheet Date [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	0	'	0	'
Murray Energy [Member]	'	'	'	'
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Contractual Obligation	$3,000	'	$3,000	'

Costs_Related_to_Purchase_Obli

Costs Related to Purchase Obligations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Schedule of Costs Related to Purchase Obligations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total costs related to purchase obligations	$69,632	$57,427	$261,619	$164,169
Major equipment purchases	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Costs Related to Purchase Obligations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total costs related to purchase obligations	9,255	6,682	99,416	15,481
486210 Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Costs Related to Purchase Obligations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total costs related to purchase obligations	27,476	24,449	76,839	67,269
Gas drilling obligations	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Costs Related to Purchase Obligations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total costs related to purchase obligations	$32,901	$26,296	$85,364	$81,419

Derivative_Instruments_Details

Derivative Instruments (Details) (USD $)

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

MMcf

Commodity Contract [Member]

Commodity Contract [Member]

Commodity Contract [Member]

Commodity Contract [Member]

Commodity Contract [Member]

Commodity Contract [Member]

Natural Gas [Member]

Natural Gas [Member]

Natural Gas [Member]

Natural Gas [Member]

Natural Gas [Member]

Accrued Liabilities [Member]

Other Liabilities [Member]

Assets, Total [Member]

Liabilities, Total [Member]

Prepaid Expenses [Member]

Other Assets [Member]

Swap [Member]

Swap [Member]

Swap [Member]

Swap [Member]

Swap [Member]

Other Accrued Liabilities [Member]

Other Liabilities [Member]

Prepaid Expenses [Member]

Other Assets [Member]

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative Liability, Current

'

$7,204

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative Liability, Noncurrent

'

'

1,350

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,885

'

'

Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount

199,600

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Price Risk Cash Flow Hedge Unrealized Gain (Loss) to be Reclassified During Next 12 Months

14,853

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset

'

'

'

51,710

'

'

'

83,661

'

'

'

'

Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability

'

'

'

'

8,554

'

'

18,212

'

'

'

'

Derivative Asset, Current

'

'

'

'

'

31,520

'

'

12,327

'

59,605

'

Derivative Asset, Noncurrent

'

'

'

'

'

'

$20,190

'

'

'

'

$24,056

The_Effect_of_Derivative_Instr

The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Consolidated Statement of Income (Details) (Swap [Member], Cash Flow Hedging [Member], Natural Gas [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Swap [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Natural Gas [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax	$26,215	$60,566	$26,215	$60,566	$6,574	$42,493	$71,674	$76,761
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effective Portion, Net	39,151	13,246	-20,032	40,400	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	19,510	24,354	-3,754	56,595	'	'	'	'
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net	$1,850	$2,592	$2,713	($120)	'	'	'	'

Financial_Instruments_Measured

Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Liabilities (Level 1)	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Gas Cash Flow hedges	$0	$0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Gas Cash Flow hedges	43,156	65,449
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Gas Cash Flow hedges	0	0
Discontinued Operations [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Liabilities (Level 1)	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Gas Cash Flow hedges	0	0
Discontinued Operations [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Gas Cash Flow hedges	0	0
Discontinued Operations [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Gas Cash Flow hedges	$3,000	$3,000

Carrying_Amounts_and_Fair_Valu

Carrying Amounts and Fair Values of Financial Instruments for Which the Fair Value Option Was Not Elected (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Option, Disclosures Related to Election, Items Existing at Effective Date [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$225,563	$327,420	$21,064	$21,862
Long-term debt	-3,239,730	-3,118,920	'	'
Carrying Amount	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Option, Disclosures Related to Election, Items Existing at Effective Date [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	225,563	327,420	'	'
Long-term debt	-3,239,730	-3,118,920	'	'
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]	'	'	'	'
Fair Value, Option, Disclosures Related to Election, Items Existing at Effective Date [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	225,563	327,420	'	'
Long-term debt	($3,269,768)	($3,299,875)	'	'

Industry_Segment_Results_Detai

Industry Segment Results (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Sales-Outside	$814,991	$735,968	$2,521,385	$2,261,917	'
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	257,358	192,781	753,399	531,859	'
Revenue from Purchased Oil and Gas	1,205	1,607	6,183	4,372	'
Royalty Interest Gas Revenue	17,610	15,506	62,590	46,737	'
Freight-Outside	2,497	9,579	22,551	31,492	'
Segment Reporting - Intersegment Transfers	0	0	0	0	'
Revenue, Net	836,303	762,660	2,612,709	2,344,518	'
Total Revenue and Other Income	884,616	803,345	2,791,139	2,474,455	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	-3,033	-3,311	103,426	30,200	'
Total Assets	11,718,935	12,737,072	11,718,935	12,737,072	11,393,667
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	148,665	117,730	415,680	338,837	'
Segment Reporting - Capital Expenditures	355,312	313,675	1,174,607	1,021,127	'
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates	'	'	-38,477	-20,276	'
XCoal Energy and Resources [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total Revenue and Other Income	'	'	'	441,528	'
First energy [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total Revenue and Other Income	'	'	'	492,872	'
Duke Energy [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total Revenue and Other Income	107,915	'	297,836	'	'
Total Reportable Segments [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	90,032	62,522	417,717	262,714	'
Total Assets	11,021,287	10,112,423	11,021,287	10,112,423	'
Gas	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	257,358	192,781	753,399	531,859	'
Revenue from Purchased Oil and Gas	1,205	1,607	6,183	4,372	'
Royalty Interest Gas Revenue	17,610	15,506	62,590	46,737	'
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0	'
Segment Reporting - Intersegment Transfers	485	601	1,937	2,363	'
Revenue, Net	'	210,495	824,109	585,331	'
Total Revenue and Other Income	276,658	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	37,685	-1,867	138,604	-7,117	'
Total Assets	6,901,696	5,994,072	6,901,696	5,994,072	'
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	82,538	58,998	225,766	164,832	'
Segment Reporting - Capital Expenditures	281,641	273,474	852,097	669,067	'
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates	9,991	5,307	22,801	9,519	'
Equity Method Investments	92,188	183,895	92,188	183,895	'
Gas | Marcellus Shale [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	109,850	72,406	339,391	167,394	'
Revenue from Purchased Oil and Gas	0	0	0	0	'
Royalty Interest Gas Revenue	0	0	0	0	'
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0	'
Segment Reporting - Intersegment Transfers	0	0	0	0	'
Revenue, Net	'	72,406	339,391	167,394	'
Total Revenue and Other Income	109,850	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	27,328	27,963	121,197	53,411	'
Gas | Coalbed Methane [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	82,913	83,269	259,665	254,708	'
Revenue from Purchased Oil and Gas	0	0	0	0	'
Royalty Interest Gas Revenue	0	0	0	0	'
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0	'
Segment Reporting - Intersegment Transfers	485	601	1,937	2,363	'
Revenue, Net	'	83,870	261,602	257,071	'
Total Revenue and Other Income	83,398	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	19,790	20,908	71,358	64,213	'
Gas | Conventional Gas [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	25,377	32,957	84,278	99,138	'
Revenue from Purchased Oil and Gas	0	0	0	0	'
Royalty Interest Gas Revenue	0	0	0	0	'
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0	'
Segment Reporting - Intersegment Transfers	0	0	0	0	'
Revenue, Net	'	32,957	84,278	99,138	'
Total Revenue and Other Income	25,377	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	-9,341	-2,123	-16,194	-11,752	'
Gas | Other Gas	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	39,218	4,149	70,065	10,619	'
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0	'
Segment Reporting - Intersegment Transfers	0	0	0	0	'
Revenue, Net	'	21,262	138,838	61,728	'
Total Revenue and Other Income	58,033	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	-92	-48,615	-37,757	-112,989	'
Coal Segment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Sales-Outside	483,960	479,311	1,554,939	1,532,280	'
Revenue from Purchased Oil and Gas	0	0	0	0	'
Royalty Interest Gas Revenue	0	0	0	0	'
Freight-Outside	2,497	9,579	22,551	31,492	'
Segment Reporting - Intersegment Transfers	0	0	0	0	'
Revenue, Net	'	488,890	1,577,490	1,563,772	'
Total Revenue and Other Income	486,457	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	52,347	64,389	279,113	269,831	'
Total Assets	4,119,591	4,118,351	4,119,591	4,118,351	'
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	64,880	57,265	186,029	169,702	'
Segment Reporting - Capital Expenditures	72,496	32,497	320,196	336,845	'
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates	6,842	-1,769	16,635	10,525	'
Equity Method Investments	25,844	20,131	25,844	20,131	'
Coal Segment [Member] | Steam [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Sales-Outside	398,863	352,362	1,262,248	1,034,228	'
Revenue from Purchased Oil and Gas	0	0	0	0	'
Royalty Interest Gas Revenue	0	0	0	0	'
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0	'
Segment Reporting - Intersegment Transfers	0	0	0	0	'
Revenue, Net	'	352,362	1,262,248	1,034,228	'
Total Revenue and Other Income	398,863	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	81,660	95,916	342,133	277,289	'
Coal Segment [Member] | Low Volatile Metallurgical [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Sales-Outside	69,850	98,232	221,162	356,066	'
Revenue from Purchased Oil and Gas	0	0	0	0	'
Royalty Interest Gas Revenue	0	0	0	0	'
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0	'
Segment Reporting - Intersegment Transfers	0	0	0	0	'
Revenue, Net	'	98,232	221,162	356,066	'
Total Revenue and Other Income	69,850	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	9,115	21,297	29,837	106,832	'
Coal Segment [Member] | High Volatile Metallurgical [member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Sales-Outside	14,684	22,290	64,099	124,957	'
Revenue from Purchased Oil and Gas	0	0	0	0	'
Royalty Interest Gas Revenue	0	0	0	0	'
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0	'
Segment Reporting - Intersegment Transfers	0	0	0	0	'
Revenue, Net	'	22,290	64,099	124,957	'
Total Revenue and Other Income	14,684	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	8,056	4,801	24,731	32,307	'
Coal Segment [Member] | Other Coal [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Sales-Outside	563	6,427	7,430	17,029	'
Revenue from Purchased Oil and Gas	0	0	0	0	'
Royalty Interest Gas Revenue	0	0	0	0	'
Freight-Outside	2,497	9,579	22,551	31,492	'
Segment Reporting - Intersegment Transfers	0	0	0	0	'
Revenue, Net	'	16,006	29,981	48,521	'
Total Revenue and Other Income	3,060	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	-46,484	-57,625	-117,588	-146,597	'
Other Segments [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Sales-Outside	73,673	63,876	213,047	197,778	'
Revenue from Purchased Oil and Gas	0	0	0	0	'
Royalty Interest Gas Revenue	0	0	0	0	'
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0	'
Segment Reporting - Intersegment Transfers	23,066	32,213	62,412	100,118	'
Revenue, Net	'	96,089	275,459	297,896	'
Total Revenue and Other Income	96,739	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	2,689	-2,385	5,941	5,076	'
Total Assets	295,279	356,731	295,279	356,731	'
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	1,247	1,467	3,885	4,303	'
Segment Reporting - Capital Expenditures	1,175	7,704	2,314	15,215	'
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates	132	72	-959	232	'
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Sales-Outside	0	0	0	0	'
Revenue from Purchased Oil and Gas	0	0	0	0	'
Royalty Interest Gas Revenue	0	0	0	0	'
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0	'
Segment Reporting - Intersegment Transfers	-23,551	-32,814	-64,349	-102,481	'
Revenue, Net	'	-32,814	-64,349	-102,481	'
Total Revenue and Other Income	-23,551	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	-95,754	-63,448	-320,232	-237,590	'
Total Assets	402,369	2,267,918	402,369	2,267,918	'
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	0	'	0	0	'
Segment Reporting - Capital Expenditures	0	'	0	0	'
All Other	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Equity Method Investments	$67,477	$57,192	$67,477	$57,192	'

Reconciliation_of_Segment_Info

Reconciliation of Segment Information, Revenue and Other Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	($3,033)	($3,311)	$103,426	$30,200
Total Reportable Segments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	90,032	62,522	417,717	262,714
Other Segments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	2,689	-2,385	5,941	5,076
Excludes Gas Segment [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Interest Income (Expense), Net and Other Non-operating Activity	-79,366	-57,479	-277,322	-166,542
Fees for Disposing Non-core Assets	-16,388	-5,969	42,910	71,048
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	($95,754)	($63,448)	($320,232)	($237,590)

Reconciliation_of_Segment_Info1

Reconciliation of Segment Information, Total Assets (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets:	'	'	'
Total Assets	$11,718,935	$11,393,667	$12,737,072
Items excluded from segment assets:	'	'	'
Recoverable Income Taxes	41,971	10,705	'
Total Reportable Segments [Member]	'	'	'
Assets:	'	'	'
Total Assets	11,021,287	'	10,112,423
Gas	'	'	'
Assets:	'	'	'
Total Assets	6,901,696	'	5,994,072
Coal Segment [Member]	'	'	'
Assets:	'	'	'
Total Assets	4,119,591	'	4,118,351
Other Segments [Member]	'	'	'
Assets:	'	'	'
Total Assets	295,279	'	356,731
Excludes Gas Segment [Member]	'	'	'
Items excluded from segment assets:	'	'	'
Cash and Other Investments	193,325	'	17,966
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'
Assets:	'	'	'
Total Assets	402,369	'	2,267,918
Items excluded from segment assets:	'	'	'
Recoverable Income Taxes	41,971	'	0
Deferred Tax Assets	127,731	'	25,585
Bond Issuance Costs	39,342	'	36,266
Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation	$0	'	$2,188,101

Guarantor_Subsidiaries_Financi1

Guarantor Subsidiaries Financial Information Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$225,563	$327,420	$21,064	$21,862
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	'	1,000,000	'	'
Trade	299,939	332,574	'	'
Notes Receivable, Related Parties, Current	'	25,861	'	'
Other Receivables	382,652	243,973	'	'
Inventories	145,372	157,914	'	'
Deferred Income Taxes	127,731	211,303	'	'
Senior notes due April 2020 at 8.25%	'	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	1,014,800	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	8.25%	'	'	'
Senior notes due March 2021 at 6.375%	'	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	250,000	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.38%	'	'	'
Senior Secured Notes Due April 2022 Par Value [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$1,850,000	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.88%	'	'	'

Guarantor_Subsidiaries_Income_

Guarantor Subsidiaries Income Statement (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Sales-Outside	$814,991	$735,968	$2,521,385	$2,261,917
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	257,358	192,781	753,399	531,859
Coal Sales	483,960	479,311	1,554,939	1,532,280
Revenue from Purchased Oil and Gas	1,205	1,607	6,183	4,372
Other Revenue, Net	73,673	63,876	213,047	197,778
Gas Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Sales	18,815	17,113	68,773	51,109
Freight-Outside	2,497	9,579	22,551	31,492
Other Income (including equity earnings)	40,784	20,822	165,815	77,729
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	7,529	19,863	12,615	52,208
Total Revenue and Other Income	884,616	803,345	2,791,139	2,474,455
Oil and Gas Property, Lease Operating Expense	30,005	23,600	85,622	70,835
Gas Gathering, Transportation, Marketing and Processing Costs	68,234	46,699	179,813	144,002
Production Tax Expense	8,486	8,033	28,817	20,011
E&P Direct Administration and Selling	14,060	11,725	39,216	34,615
E&P Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization	82,538	58,998	225,766	164,832
Exploration and Production Costs	8,042	22,771	15,765	43,666
Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Costs	15,751	13,805	58,519	41,165
Other Expenses	13,700	26,289	60,876	74,239
Results of Operations, General and Administrative Related to Oil and Gas Producing Activities	14,874	10,177	47,755	29,239
Oil and Gas Production Expense	255,690	222,097	742,149	622,604
Operating Expenses	339,216	328,393	1,013,606	993,342
Taxes, Miscellaneous	23,306	24,380	77,397	79,257
Direct Administration, Selling and Other Costs	10,479	11,608	33,589	34,744
Coal Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization	64,880	57,265	186,029	169,702
Freight Expense	2,497	9,579	22,551	31,492
General and Administrative Expense	10,434	8,607	33,397	27,946
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	10,114	11,145	41,444	43,056
Cost of Coal Products and Services	460,926	450,977	1,408,013	1,379,539
Other Nonoperating Expense	92,974	75,439	266,601	272,346
Other General and Administrative Expense	425	376	1,259	1,269
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	1,247	1,467	3,885	4,303
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	20,990	0	95,267	0
Interest Expense	55,397	56,300	170,539	164,194
Other General Expense	171,033	133,582	537,551	442,112
Total Costs	887,649	806,656	2,687,713	2,444,255
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	-3,033	-3,311	103,426	30,200
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	-1,388	68,858	8,315	97,531
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	-1,645	-72,169	95,111	-67,331
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	8,120	-5,687	-11,352
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	-1,645	-64,049	89,424	-78,683
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	-398	0	-942
Net Income (Loss)	-1,645	-63,651	89,424	-77,741
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	148,665	117,730	415,680	338,837
Parent Issuer [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	0	0	0	0
Coal Sales	0	0	0	0
Other Revenue, Net	0	0	0	0
Gas Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Sales	0	0	0	0
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0
Other Income (including equity earnings)	68,307	78,203	329,842	354,386
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	0	0	0	0
Total Revenue and Other Income	68,307	78,203	329,842	354,386
Oil and Gas Property, Lease Operating Expense	0	0	0	0
Gas Gathering, Transportation, Marketing and Processing Costs	0	0	0	0
Production Tax Expense	0	0	0	0
E&P Direct Administration and Selling	0	0	0	0
E&P Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization	0	0	0	0
Exploration and Production Costs	0	0	0	0
Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Costs	0	0	0	0
Other Expenses	0	0	0	0
Results of Operations, General and Administrative Related to Oil and Gas Producing Activities	0	0	0	0
Oil and Gas Production Expense	0	0	0	0
Operating Expenses	3,458	2,749	20,060	5,878
Taxes, Miscellaneous	0	0	0	0
Direct Administration, Selling and Other Costs	0	0	0	0
Coal Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization	159	3,116	472	9,193
Freight Expense	0	0	0	0
General and Administrative Expense	0	0	0	0
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	10,114	11,145	41,444	43,056
Cost of Coal Products and Services	13,731	17,010	61,976	58,127
Other Nonoperating Expense	23,681	33,572	63,903	101,711
Other General and Administrative Expense	0	0	0	0
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	6	172	19	542
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	20,990	'	95,267	'
Interest Expense	52,907	52,165	162,729	153,141
Other General Expense	97,584	85,909	321,918	255,394
Total Costs	111,315	102,919	383,894	313,521
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	-43,008	-24,716	-54,052	40,865
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	-41,363	38,935	-143,476	118,606
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	-1,645	-63,651	89,424	-77,741
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	-1,645	-63,651	89,424	-77,741
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	'	0	'	0
Net Income (Loss)	-1,645	-63,651	89,424	-77,741
CNX Gas Guarantor [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	257,844	193,383	755,337	534,223
Coal Sales	0	0	0	0
Other Revenue, Net	0	0	0	0
Gas Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Sales	18,815	17,113	68,773	51,109
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0
Other Income (including equity earnings)	13,858	11,133	51,688	29,895
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	5,488	1,462	11,560	7,159
Total Revenue and Other Income	296,005	223,091	887,358	622,386
Oil and Gas Property, Lease Operating Expense	30,005	23,600	85,622	70,835
Gas Gathering, Transportation, Marketing and Processing Costs	68,234	46,699	179,813	144,002
Production Tax Expense	8,486	8,033	28,817	20,011
E&P Direct Administration and Selling	14,060	11,725	39,216	34,615
E&P Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization	82,538	58,998	225,766	164,832
Exploration and Production Costs	8,042	22,771	15,765	43,666
Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Costs	15,751	13,815	58,531	41,196
Other Expenses	13,700	26,289	60,876	74,239
Results of Operations, General and Administrative Related to Oil and Gas Producing Activities	14,874	10,177	47,755	29,239
Oil and Gas Production Expense	255,690	222,107	742,161	622,635
Operating Expenses	0	0	0	0
Taxes, Miscellaneous	0	0	0	0
Direct Administration, Selling and Other Costs	0	0	0	0
Coal Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization	0	0	0	0
Freight Expense	0	0	0	0
General and Administrative Expense	0	0	0	0
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	0	0	0	0
Cost of Coal Products and Services	0	0	0	0
Other Nonoperating Expense	0	0	0	0
Other General and Administrative Expense	0	0	0	0
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	0	0	0	0
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	0	'	0	'
Interest Expense	2,629	2,578	6,593	6,375
Other General Expense	2,629	2,578	6,593	6,375
Total Costs	258,319	224,685	748,754	629,010
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	37,686	-1,594	138,604	-6,624
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	13,281	-602	51,828	-2,557
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	24,405	-992	86,776	-4,067
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	24,405	-992	86,776	-4,067
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	'	-398	'	-942
Net Income (Loss)	24,405	-594	86,776	-3,125
Other Guarantors Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	0	203	0	203
Coal Sales	483,960	479,311	1,554,939	1,532,280
Other Revenue, Net	8,175	9,702	28,685	35,941
Gas Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Sales	0	0	0	0
Freight-Outside	2,497	9,579	22,551	31,492
Other Income (including equity earnings)	24,358	4,783	106,794	32,129
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	2,033	18,401	1,042	45,049
Total Revenue and Other Income	521,023	521,979	1,714,011	1,677,094
Oil and Gas Property, Lease Operating Expense	0	0	0	0
Gas Gathering, Transportation, Marketing and Processing Costs	0	0	0	0
Production Tax Expense	0	0	0	0
E&P Direct Administration and Selling	0	0	0	0
E&P Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization	0	0	0	0
Exploration and Production Costs	0	0	0	0
Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Costs	0	0	0	0
Other Expenses	0	0	0	0
Results of Operations, General and Administrative Related to Oil and Gas Producing Activities	0	0	0	0
Oil and Gas Production Expense	0	0	0	0
Operating Expenses	336,243	275,068	995,483	874,946
Taxes, Miscellaneous	23,306	24,380	77,397	79,257
Direct Administration, Selling and Other Costs	10,479	11,608	33,589	34,744
Coal Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization	64,721	54,149	185,557	160,509
Freight Expense	2,497	9,579	22,551	31,492
General and Administrative Expense	10,434	8,607	33,397	27,946
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	0	0	0	0
Cost of Coal Products and Services	447,680	383,391	1,347,974	1,208,894
Other Nonoperating Expense	6,050	4,183	21,349	34,188
Other General and Administrative Expense	205	141	608	474
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	775	785	2,437	2,269
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	0	'	0	'
Interest Expense	1,587	1,547	5,120	4,868
Other General Expense	8,617	6,656	29,514	41,799
Total Costs	456,297	390,047	1,377,488	1,250,693
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	64,726	131,932	336,523	426,401
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	25,221	31,378	96,861	-14,976
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	39,505	100,554	239,662	441,377
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	39,505	100,554	239,662	441,377
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	'	0	'	0
Net Income (Loss)	39,505	100,554	239,662	441,377
Non-Guarantors [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	0	0	0	0
Coal Sales	0	0	0	0
Other Revenue, Net	65,498	54,174	184,362	161,837
Gas Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Sales	0	0	0	0
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0
Other Income (including equity earnings)	2,400	4,928	7,442	15,705
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	8	0	13	0
Total Revenue and Other Income	67,906	59,102	191,817	177,542
Oil and Gas Property, Lease Operating Expense	0	0	0	0
Gas Gathering, Transportation, Marketing and Processing Costs	0	0	0	0
Production Tax Expense	0	0	0	0
E&P Direct Administration and Selling	0	0	0	0
E&P Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization	0	0	0	0
Exploration and Production Costs	0	0	0	0
Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Costs	0	0	0	0
Other Expenses	0	0	0	0
Results of Operations, General and Administrative Related to Oil and Gas Producing Activities	0	0	0	0
Oil and Gas Production Expense	0	0	0	0
Operating Expenses	0	0	0	0
Taxes, Miscellaneous	0	0	0	0
Direct Administration, Selling and Other Costs	0	0	0	0
Coal Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization	0	0	0	0
Freight Expense	0	0	0	0
General and Administrative Expense	0	0	0	0
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	0	0	0	0
Cost of Coal Products and Services	0	0	0	0
Other Nonoperating Expense	63,243	56,091	181,349	165,859
Other General and Administrative Expense	220	235	651	795
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	466	510	1,429	1,492
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	0	'	0	'
Interest Expense	82	13	185	34
Other General Expense	64,011	56,849	183,614	168,180
Total Costs	64,011	56,849	183,614	168,180
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	3,895	2,253	8,203	9,362
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	1,473	-853	3,102	-3,542
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	2,422	3,106	5,101	12,904
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	8,120	-5,687	-11,352
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2,422	11,226	-586	1,552
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	'	0	'	0
Net Income (Loss)	2,422	11,226	-586	1,552
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	-486	-805	-1,938	-2,567
Coal Sales	0	0	0	0
Other Revenue, Net	0	0	0	0
Gas Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Sales	0	0	0	0
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0
Other Income (including equity earnings)	-68,139	-78,225	-329,951	-354,386
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	0	0	0	0
Total Revenue and Other Income	-68,625	-79,030	-331,889	-356,953
Oil and Gas Property, Lease Operating Expense	0	0	0	0
Gas Gathering, Transportation, Marketing and Processing Costs	0	0	0	0
Production Tax Expense	0	0	0	0
E&P Direct Administration and Selling	0	0	0	0
E&P Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization	0	0	0	0
Exploration and Production Costs	0	0	0	0
Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Costs	0	-10	-12	-31
Other Expenses	0	0	0	0
Results of Operations, General and Administrative Related to Oil and Gas Producing Activities	0	0	0	0
Oil and Gas Production Expense	0	-10	-12	-31
Operating Expenses	-485	50,576	-1,937	112,518
Taxes, Miscellaneous	0	0	0	0
Direct Administration, Selling and Other Costs	0	0	0	0
Coal Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization	0	0	0	0
Freight Expense	0	0	0	0
General and Administrative Expense	0	0	0	0
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	0	0	0	0
Cost of Coal Products and Services	-485	50,576	-1,937	112,518
Other Nonoperating Expense	0	-18,407	0	-29,412
Other General and Administrative Expense	0	0	0	0
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	0	0	0	0
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	0	'	0	'
Interest Expense	-1,808	-3	-4,088	-224
Other General Expense	-1,808	-18,410	-4,088	-29,636
Total Costs	-2,293	32,156	-6,037	82,851
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	-66,332	-111,186	-325,852	-439,804
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	-66,332	-111,186	-325,852	-439,804
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	-66,332	-111,186	-325,852	-439,804
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	'	0	'	0
Net Income (Loss)	($66,332)	($111,186)	($325,852)	($439,804)

Guarantor_Subsidiaries_Balance

Guarantor Subsidiaries Balance Sheet (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	$185,509	$291,675	'	'
Current Assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	225,563	327,420	21,064	21,862
Accounts and Notes Receivable:	'	'	'	'
Trade	299,939	332,574	'	'
Notes Receivable, Related Parties, Current	'	25,861	'	'
Other Receivables	382,652	243,973	'	'
Inventories	145,372	157,914	'	'
Recoverable Income Taxes	41,971	10,705	'	'
Deferred Income Taxes	127,731	211,303	'	'
Prepaid Expenses	101,867	135,842	'	'
Total Current Assets	1,325,095	1,445,592	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment:	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment	14,463,328	13,578,509	'	'
Less-Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	4,499,344	4,136,247	'	'
Total Property, Plant and Equipment-Net	9,963,984	9,442,262	'	'
Other Assets:	'	'	'	'
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net	'	125	'	'
Other	244,347	214,013	'	'
Total Other Assets	429,856	505,813	'	'
Total Assets	11,718,935	11,393,667	12,737,072	'
Current Liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Accounts Payable	610,725	514,580	'	'
Accounts Payable (Recoverable)- Related Parties	0	0	'	'
Short-Term Notes Payable	'	0	'	'
Current Portion Long-Term Debt	12,225	11,455	'	'
Short-Term Notes Payable	0	'	'	'
Other Accrued Liabilities	610,704	565,697	'	'
Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current	12,992	28,239	'	'
Total Current Liabilities	1,246,646	1,119,971	'	'
Long-Term Debt:	3,279,322	3,163,559	'	'
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	'	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net	'	242,643	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	395,025	242,643	'	'
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions	652,050	961,127	'	'
Pneumoconiosis	111,514	111,971	'	'
Mine Closing	321,776	320,723	'	'
Gas Well Closing	180,520	175,603	'	'
Workers' Compensation	73,398	71,468	'	'
Salary Retirement	48,231	48,252	'	'
Reclamation	34,499	40,706	'	'
Other	121,355	131,355	'	'
Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	1,938,368	2,103,848	'	'
Total CONSOL Energy Inc. Stockholders' Equity	5,254,599	5,006,289	'	'
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	11,718,935	11,393,667	'	'
Parent Issuer [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	12,481,970	11,965,054	'	'
Current Assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	191,555	320,473	'	'
Accounts and Notes Receivable:	'	'	'	'
Trade	0	0	'	'
Notes Receivable, Related Parties, Current	'	1,238	'	'
Other Receivables	49,930	17,657	'	'
Inventories	0	0	'	'
Recoverable Income Taxes	57,067	-16,262	'	'
Deferred Income Taxes	127,366	219,566	'	'
Prepaid Expenses	39,202	43,698	'	'
Total Current Assets	465,120	586,370	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment:	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment	165,885	173,719	'	'
Less-Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	118,444	122,022	'	'
Total Property, Plant and Equipment-Net	47,441	51,697	'	'
Other Assets:	'	'	'	'
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net	'	125	'	'
Other	172,625	145,401	'	'
Total Other Assets	12,654,595	12,110,580	'	'
Total Assets	13,167,156	12,748,647	'	'
Current Liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Accounts Payable	102,157	91,553	'	'
Accounts Payable (Recoverable)- Related Parties	4,502,239	4,629,131	'	'
Short-Term Notes Payable	'	0	'	'
Current Portion Long-Term Debt	1,571	1,029	'	'
Short-Term Notes Payable	0	'	'	'
Other Accrued Liabilities	163,415	144,612	'	'
Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current	0	0	'	'
Total Current Liabilities	4,769,382	4,866,325	'	'
Long-Term Debt:	3,125,439	3,005,458	'	'
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	'	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net	'	-232,904	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	-89,966	'	'	'
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions	0	0	'	'
Pneumoconiosis	0	0	'	'
Mine Closing	0	0	'	'
Gas Well Closing	0	0	'	'
Workers' Compensation	0	0	'	'
Salary Retirement	48,231	48,252	'	'
Reclamation	0	0	'	'
Other	59,471	55,227	'	'
Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	17,736	-129,425	'	'
Total CONSOL Energy Inc. Stockholders' Equity	5,254,599	5,006,289	'	'
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	13,167,156	12,748,647	'	'
CNX Gas Guarantor [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	92,188	206,060	'	'
Current Assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	33,121	6,238	'	'
Accounts and Notes Receivable:	'	'	'	'
Trade	95,746	71,911	'	'
Notes Receivable, Related Parties, Current	'	0	'	'
Other Receivables	323,154	207,128	'	'
Inventories	14,086	15,185	'	'
Recoverable Income Taxes	-15,096	26,967	'	'
Deferred Income Taxes	365	-8,263	'	'
Prepaid Expenses	36,182	65,701	'	'
Total Current Assets	487,558	384,867	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment:	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment	7,694,180	6,919,972	'	'
Less-Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	1,410,235	1,188,464	'	'
Total Property, Plant and Equipment-Net	6,283,945	5,731,508	'	'
Other Assets:	'	'	'	'
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net	'	0	'	'
Other	23,264	30,728	'	'
Total Other Assets	115,452	236,788	'	'
Total Assets	6,886,955	6,353,163	'	'
Current Liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Accounts Payable	400,751	324,226	'	'
Accounts Payable (Recoverable)- Related Parties	152,871	23,287	'	'
Short-Term Notes Payable	'	332,487	'	'
Current Portion Long-Term Debt	6,590	6,258	'	'
Short-Term Notes Payable	566,150	'	'	'
Other Accrued Liabilities	109,704	89,080	'	'
Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current	0	0	'	'
Total Current Liabilities	1,236,066	775,338	'	'
Long-Term Debt:	38,907	42,852	'	'
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	'	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net	'	475,547	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	484,991	'	'	'
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions	0	0	'	'
Pneumoconiosis	0	0	'	'
Mine Closing	0	0	'	'
Gas Well Closing	120,899	119,429	'	'
Workers' Compensation	0	0	'	'
Salary Retirement	0	0	'	'
Reclamation	0	0	'	'
Other	56,788	61,190	'	'
Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	662,678	656,166	'	'
Total CONSOL Energy Inc. Stockholders' Equity	4,949,304	4,878,807	'	'
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	6,886,955	6,353,163	'	'
Other Guarantors Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	78,231	70,222	'	'
Current Assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0	'	'
Accounts and Notes Receivable:	'	'	'	'
Trade	0	0	'	'
Notes Receivable, Related Parties, Current	'	24,623	'	'
Other Receivables	5,673	14,969	'	'
Inventories	95,450	99,320	'	'
Recoverable Income Taxes	0	0	'	'
Deferred Income Taxes	0	0	'	'
Prepaid Expenses	24,655	24,915	'	'
Total Current Assets	125,778	163,827	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment:	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment	6,577,039	6,459,014	'	'
Less-Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	2,950,922	2,806,775	'	'
Total Property, Plant and Equipment-Net	3,626,117	3,652,239	'	'
Other Assets:	'	'	'	'
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net	'	0	'	'
Other	39,822	28,831	'	'
Total Other Assets	118,053	99,053	'	'
Total Assets	3,869,948	3,915,119	'	'
Current Liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Accounts Payable	93,156	89,201	'	'
Accounts Payable (Recoverable)- Related Parties	-5,286,273	-5,121,727	'	'
Short-Term Notes Payable	'	0	'	'
Current Portion Long-Term Debt	3,393	3,372	'	'
Short-Term Notes Payable	'	'	'	'
Other Accrued Liabilities	329,341	322,606	'	'
Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current	0	0	'	'
Total Current Liabilities	-4,860,383	-4,706,548	'	'
Long-Term Debt:	113,100	113,474	'	'
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	'	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net	'	0	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	0	'	'	'
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions	652,050	961,127	'	'
Pneumoconiosis	111,514	111,971	'	'
Mine Closing	321,776	320,723	'	'
Gas Well Closing	59,621	56,174	'	'
Workers' Compensation	73,053	71,136	'	'
Salary Retirement	0	0	'	'
Reclamation	34,499	40,706	'	'
Other	5,096	14,938	'	'
Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	1,257,609	1,576,775	'	'
Total CONSOL Energy Inc. Stockholders' Equity	7,359,622	6,931,418	'	'
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	3,869,948	3,915,119	'	'
Non-Guarantors [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	0	0	'	'
Current Assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	887	709	'	'
Accounts and Notes Receivable:	'	'	'	'
Trade	204,193	260,663	'	'
Notes Receivable, Related Parties, Current	'	0	'	'
Other Receivables	3,895	4,219	'	'
Inventories	35,836	43,409	'	'
Recoverable Income Taxes	0	0	'	'
Deferred Income Taxes	0	0	'	'
Prepaid Expenses	1,828	1,528	'	'
Total Current Assets	246,639	310,528	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment:	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment	26,224	25,804	'	'
Less-Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	19,743	18,986	'	'
Total Property, Plant and Equipment-Net	6,481	6,818	'	'
Other Assets:	'	'	'	'
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net	'	0	'	'
Other	8,636	9,053	'	'
Total Other Assets	8,636	9,053	'	'
Total Assets	261,756	326,399	'	'
Current Liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Accounts Payable	14,661	9,600	'	'
Accounts Payable (Recoverable)- Related Parties	65,013	136,822	'	'
Short-Term Notes Payable	'	0	'	'
Current Portion Long-Term Debt	671	796	'	'
Short-Term Notes Payable	0	'	'	'
Other Accrued Liabilities	8,244	9,399	'	'
Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current	12,992	28,239	'	'
Total Current Liabilities	101,581	184,856	'	'
Long-Term Debt:	1,876	1,775	'	'
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	'	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net	'	0	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	0	'	'	'
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions	0	0	'	'
Pneumoconiosis	0	0	'	'
Mine Closing	0	0	'	'
Gas Well Closing	0	0	'	'
Workers' Compensation	345	332	'	'
Salary Retirement	0	0	'	'
Reclamation	0	0	'	'
Other	0	0	'	'
Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	345	332	'	'
Total CONSOL Energy Inc. Stockholders' Equity	157,954	139,436	'	'
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	261,756	326,399	'	'
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	-12,466,880	-11,949,661	'	'
Current Assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0	'	'
Accounts and Notes Receivable:	'	'	'	'
Trade	0	0	'	'
Notes Receivable, Related Parties, Current	'	0	'	'
Other Receivables	0	0	'	'
Inventories	0	0	'	'
Recoverable Income Taxes	0	0	'	'
Deferred Income Taxes	0	0	'	'
Prepaid Expenses	0	0	'	'
Total Current Assets	0	0	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment:	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment	0	0	'	'
Less-Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	0	0	'	'
Total Property, Plant and Equipment-Net	0	0	'	'
Other Assets:	'	'	'	'
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net	'	0	'	'
Other	0	0	'	'
Total Other Assets	-12,466,880	-11,949,661	'	'
Total Assets	-12,466,880	-11,949,661	'	'
Current Liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Accounts Payable	0	0	'	'
Accounts Payable (Recoverable)- Related Parties	566,150	332,487	'	'
Short-Term Notes Payable	'	-332,487	'	'
Current Portion Long-Term Debt	0	0	'	'
Short-Term Notes Payable	-566,150	'	'	'
Other Accrued Liabilities	0	0	'	'
Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current	0	0	'	'
Total Current Liabilities	0	0	'	'
Long-Term Debt:	0	0	'	'
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	'	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net	'	0	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	0	'	'	'
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions	0	0	'	'
Pneumoconiosis	0	0	'	'
Mine Closing	0	0	'	'
Gas Well Closing	0	0	'	'
Workers' Compensation	0	0	'	'
Salary Retirement	0	0	'	'
Reclamation	0	0	'	'
Other	0	0	'	'
Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	0	0	'	'
Total CONSOL Energy Inc. Stockholders' Equity	-12,466,880	-11,949,661	'	'
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	($12,466,880)	($11,949,661)	'	'

Guarantor_Subsidiaries_Condens

Guarantor Subsidiaries, Condensed Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Discontinued Operations	'	$0	($41,246)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	'	850,171	588,999
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations	'	871,105	450,970
Investing Activities:	'	'	'
Capital Expenditures	'	-1,174,607	-1,021,127
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	'	-924,939	-559,437
Payments of Dividends	'	-43,119	-57,211
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Discontinued Operations	'	-20,934	138,029
Financing Activities:	'	'	'
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	2,698	13,403	2,698
Treasury Stock Activity	609	0	609
(Payments on) Proceeds from Short-Term Borrowings	'	-11,736	47,000
Payments for (Proceeds from) Businesses and Interest in Affiliates	'	108,532	-18,112
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets	'	141,136	464,638
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	-30,360	-27,089	-30,360
Tax Benefit from Stock-Based Compensation	2,316	2,478	2,316
Repayments of Secured Debt	6,518	'	'
Repayments of Other Debt	-31,858	-4,169	-31,858
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	'	1,859,920	0
Proceeds from Long-Term Borrowings	'	-1,843,866	0
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	0	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	'	0	56,410
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations	'	-924,939	-518,191
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations	-29,928	-27,089	-29,928
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Discontinued Operations	-432	0	-432
Parent Issuer [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Discontinued Operations	'	0	0
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	'	-87,081	-7,909
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations	'	-87,081	-7,909
Investing Activities:	'	'	'
Capital Expenditures	'	-2,314	-15,216
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	'	-18,255	-15,216
Payments of Dividends	'	'	42,789
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Discontinued Operations	'	0	0
Financing Activities:	'	'	'
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	2,698	13,403	'
Treasury Stock Activity	609	'	'
(Payments on) Proceeds from Short-Term Borrowings	'	-11,736	0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Businesses and Interest in Affiliates	'	0	0
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets	'	-15,941	0
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	21,821	'	'
Tax Benefit from Stock-Based Compensation	2,316	2,478	'
Repayments of Secured Debt	0	'	'
Repayments of Other Debt	26,591	662	'
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	'	1,859,920	'
Proceeds from Long-Term Borrowings	'	1,843,866	'
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	0	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	'	'	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations	'	-18,255	-15,216
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations	21,821	'	'
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Discontinued Operations	0	'	'
CNX Gas Guarantor [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Discontinued Operations	'	0	0
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	'	512,135	383,504
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations	'	512,135	383,504
Investing Activities:	'	'	'
Capital Expenditures	'	-852,097	-669,067
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	'	-714,455	-364,425
Payments of Dividends	'	0	-100,000
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Discontinued Operations	'	0	0
Financing Activities:	'	'	'
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	'	0	0
Treasury Stock Activity	'	'	0
(Payments on) Proceeds from Short-Term Borrowings	'	233,663	85,500
Payments for (Proceeds from) Businesses and Interest in Affiliates	'	79,723	-30,500
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets	'	57,919	335,142
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	'	229,203	-18,584
Tax Benefit from Stock-Based Compensation	'	0	0
Repayments of Secured Debt	0	'	'
Repayments of Other Debt	'	0	0
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	'	0	'
Proceeds from Long-Term Borrowings	'	0	'
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	'	-4,460	-4,084
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	'	'	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations	'	-714,455	-364,425
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations	'	229,203	-18,584
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Discontinued Operations	'	0	0
Other Guarantors Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Discontinued Operations	'	0	0
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	'	191,233	139,014
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations	'	191,233	139,014
Investing Activities:	'	'	'
Capital Expenditures	'	-320,196	-336,844
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	'	-192,242	-138,567
Payments of Dividends	'	'	0
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Discontinued Operations	'	0	0
Financing Activities:	'	'	'
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	0	0	'
Treasury Stock Activity	0	'	'
(Payments on) Proceeds from Short-Term Borrowings	'	0	0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Businesses and Interest in Affiliates	'	28,809	12,388
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets	'	99,145	129,479
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	-606	'	'
Tax Benefit from Stock-Based Compensation	0	0	'
Repayments of Secured Debt	0	'	'
Repayments of Other Debt	4,690	3,451	'
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	'	0	'
Proceeds from Long-Term Borrowings	'	0	'
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	4,084	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	'	'	-56,410
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations	'	-192,242	-138,567
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations	-606	'	'
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Discontinued Operations	0	'	'
Non-Guarantors [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Discontinued Operations	'	0	-41,246
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	'	221	35,890
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations	'	21,155	-102,139
Investing Activities:	'	'	'
Capital Expenditures	'	0	0
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	'	13	-41,229
Payments of Dividends	'	'	0
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Discontinued Operations	'	-20,934	138,029
Financing Activities:	'	'	'
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	0	0	'
Treasury Stock Activity	0	'	'
(Payments on) Proceeds from Short-Term Borrowings	'	0	0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Businesses and Interest in Affiliates	'	0	0
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets	'	13	17
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	5,509	'	'
Tax Benefit from Stock-Based Compensation	0	0	'
Repayments of Secured Debt	6,518	'	'
Repayments of Other Debt	577	56	'
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	'	0	'
Proceeds from Long-Term Borrowings	'	0	'
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	0	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	'	'	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations	'	13	17
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations	5,941	'	'
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Discontinued Operations	-432	'	'
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Discontinued Operations	'	0	0
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	'	233,663	38,500
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations	'	233,663	38,500
Investing Activities:	'	'	'
Capital Expenditures	'	0	0
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	'	0	'
Payments of Dividends	'	'	0
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Discontinued Operations	'	0	0
Financing Activities:	'	'	'
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	0	0	'
Treasury Stock Activity	0	'	'
(Payments on) Proceeds from Short-Term Borrowings	'	-233,663	-38,500
Payments for (Proceeds from) Businesses and Interest in Affiliates	'	0	0
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets	'	0	0
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	-38,500	'	'
Tax Benefit from Stock-Based Compensation	0	0	'
Repayments of Secured Debt	0	'	'
Repayments of Other Debt	0	0	'
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	'	0	'
Proceeds from Long-Term Borrowings	'	0	'
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	0	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	'	'	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations	'	0	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations	-38,500	'	'
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Discontinued Operations	$0	'	'

Guarantor_Subsidiaries_Financi2

Guarantor Subsidiaries Financial Information Gurantor Subsidiaries Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	($1,645)	($64,049)	$89,424	($78,683)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	184,154	24,980	185,475	113,641
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	-39,151	-13,246	20,032	-40,400
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	19,510	24,354	-3,754	56,595
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-203,795	-13,872	-169,197	-97,446
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	202,150	-50,177	258,621	18,763
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	-398	0	-942
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	202,150	-49,779	258,621	19,705
Parent Issuer [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	-1,645	-63,651	89,424	-77,741
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	-184,154	-24,980	-185,475	-113,641
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	39,151	13,246	-20,032	40,400
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	-19,510	-24,354	3,754	-56,595
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	203,795	13,872	169,197	97,446
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	'	-49,779	'	19,705
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	'	0	'	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	202,150	-49,779	258,621	19,705
CNX Gas Guarantor [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	24,405	-992	86,776	-4,067
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	39,151	13,246	-20,032	40,400
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	-19,510	-24,354	3,754	-56,595
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	19,641	-11,108	-16,278	-16,195
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	'	-12,100	'	-20,262
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	'	-398	'	-942
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	44,046	-11,702	70,498	-19,320
Other Guarantors Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	39,505	100,554	239,662	441,377
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	-184,154	-24,980	-185,475	-113,641
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	184,154	24,980	185,475	113,641
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	'	125,534	'	555,018
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	'	0	'	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	223,659	125,534	425,137	555,018
Non-Guarantors [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2,422	11,226	-586	1,552
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	'	11,226	'	1,552
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	'	0	'	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	2,422	11,226	-586	1,552
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	-66,332	-111,186	-325,852	-439,804
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	184,154	24,980	185,475	113,641
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	-39,151	-13,246	20,032	-40,400
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	19,510	24,354	-3,754	56,595
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-203,795	-13,872	-169,197	-97,446
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	'	-125,058	'	-537,250
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	'	0	'	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	($270,127)	($125,058)	($495,049)	($537,250)

Related_Party_Transaction_Deta

Related Party Transaction (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Sale of Stock, Description of Transaction	'	'	20,125,000	'	'
Shares Issued, Price Per Share	$22	'	$22	'	'
Excess Stock, Shares Authorized	2,625,000	'	2,625,000	'	'
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments	'	'	$412,741	'	'
Offering Costs, Partnership Interests	'	'	28,779	'	'
Other General Expense	'	'	1,230	'	'
Proceeds from Sales of Business, Affiliate and Productive Assets	'	'	203,986,000	'	'
CONE [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Due from Related Parties	11,435,000	'	11,435,000	'	5,448,000
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	17,794,000	9,689,000	44,001,000	24,470,000	'
Reimbursement for CONE Expenses [Member] | CONE [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Due from Related Parties	-913,000	'	-913,000	'	-2,168,000
Reimbursement for Services Provided to Cone [Member] | CONE [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Due from Related Parties	-122,000	'	-122,000	'	-265,000
CONE Capital Reimbursement [Member] | CONE [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Due from Related Parties	-2,789,000	'	-2,789,000	'	0
CONE Gathering Fees [Member] | CONE [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Due to Related Parties, Current	$15,259,000	'	$15,259,000	'	$7,881,000

Subsequent_Event_Details

Subsequent Event (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2014
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment	$71,000
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Current	12,000
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Properties	$14,000