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                                                           EXHIBIT 23.1

                          RALPH E. DAVIS ASSOCIATES, INC.

                       CONSULTANTS-PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
                          3555 TIMMONS LANE - SUITE 1105
                               HOUSTON, TEXAS 77027
                                  (713) 622-8955


                                CONSENT OF ENGINEER


              We hereby consent to the reproduction of our report dated October 
1, 1994, and to the reference to our estimate dated October 1, 1994, appearing 
in this National Fuel Gas Company Annual Report on Form 10-K.
              We also consent to the incorporation by reference in (i) the 
Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 2-94539), as amended, relating to the 
National Fuel Gas Company 1983 Incentive Stock Option Plan and the National 
Fuel Gas Company 1984 Stock Plan, and in the related Prospectuses, (ii) the 
Registration Statements (Form S-8, No. 33-28037, and Nos. 2-97641 and 
33-17341), as amended, relating to the National Fuel Gas Company Tax-Deferred 
Savings Plan and the National Fuel Gas Company Tax-Deferred Savings Plan for 
Non-Union Employees, respectively, and in the related Prospectuses, (iii) the 
Registration Statement (Form S-3, No. 33-49401), as amended, relating to 
$350,000,000 of National Fuel Gas Company debentures and/or medium term notes 
and in the related Prospectus, (iv) the Registration Statement (Form S-3, No. 
33-51881), as amended, relating to the National Fuel Gas Company Dividend 
Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, and in the related Prospectuses, (v) the 
Registration Statement (Form S-3, No. 33-36868), as amended, relating to the 
National Fuel Gas Company Customer Stock Purchase Plan, and in the related 
Prospectus, and (vi) the Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 33-49693), as 
amended, relating to the National Fuel Gas Company 1993 Award and Option Plan, 
and in the related Prospectus; of the reproduction of our report dated October 
1, 1994, appearing in this National Fuel Gas Company Annual Report on Form 10-K.

                                         RALPH E. DAVIS ASSOCIATES, INC.

                                         

Houston, Texas                           /s/Allen C. Barron
December 22, 1994                            Allen C. Barron
                                            Vice President