Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Notes Receivable	$ 314,950	$ 408
Current Assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents	375,736	32,794
Accounts and Notes Receivable:
Trade	462,812	252,530
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Current	314,950	408
Other Receivables	105,708	21,181
Accounts Receivable—Securitized	0	200,000
Inventories	258,335	258,538
Deferred Income Taxes	141,083	174,171
Recoverable income taxes	0	32,528
Prepaid Expenses	239,353	142,856
Total Current Assets	1,897,977	1,115,006
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	14,087,319	14,951,358
Less-Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	4,760,903	4,822,107
Total Property, Plant and Equipment-Net	9,326,416	10,129,251
Other Assets:
Deferred Income Taxes	507,724	484,846
Restricted Cash	22,148	20,291
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	182,036	93,509
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	300,492	6,866
Other	288,907	220,841
Total Other Assets	1,301,307	826,353
Total Assets	12,525,700	12,070,610
Current Liabilities:
Accounts Payable	522,003	354,011
Short-Term Notes Payable	0	284,000
Current Portion of Long-Term Debt	20,691	24,783
Accrued Income Taxes, Current	75,633	0
Borrowings Under Securitization Facility	0	200,000
Other Accrued Liabilities, Current	128,247	139,079
Accrued Liabilities, Current	770,070	801,991
Total Current Liabilities	1,388,397	1,664,785
Long-Term Debt:
Long-Term Debt	3,122,234	3,128,736
Capital Lease Obligations	55,189	57,402
Total Long-Term Debt	3,177,423	3,186,138
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions	3,059,671	3,077,390
Pneumoconiosis Benefits	173,553	173,616
Mine Closing	406,712	393,754
Gas Well Closing	124,051	130,978
Workers' Compensation	151,034	148,314
Salary Retirement	269,069	161,173
Reclamation	39,969	53,839
Other	124,936	144,610
Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities	4,348,995	4,283,674
TOTAL LIABILITIES	8,914,815	9,134,597
Stockholders' Equity:
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value; 500,000,000 Shares Authorized, 227,289,426 Issued and 227,056,212 Outstanding at December 31, 2011; 227,289,426 Issued and 226,162,133 Outstanding at December 31, 2010	2,273	2,273
Capital in Excess of Par Value	2,234,775	2,178,604
Preferred Stock, 15,000,000 shares authorized, None issued and outstanding	0	0
Retained Earnings	2,184,737	1,680,597
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	(801,554)	(874,338)
Common Stock in Treasury, at Cost—233,214 Shares at December 31, 2011 and 1,127,293 Shares at December 31, 2010	(9,346)	(42,659)
Total CONSOL Energy Inc. Stockholders' Equity	3,610,885	2,944,477
Noncontrolling Interest	0	(8,464)
TOTAL EQUITY	3,610,885	2,936,013
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 12,525,700	$ 12,070,610