Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Long-term Purchase Commitment [Table Text Block]

At March 31, 2013, 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 Amounts Committed		Less Than 1  Year		1-3 Years		3-5 Years		Beyond 5  Years
Letters of Credit:
Employee-Related	$	190,158	$	126,654	$	63,504	$	—	$	—
Environmental	56,293		34,346		21,947		—		—
Other	83,398		46,452		36,946		—		—
Total Letters of Credit	329,849		207,452		122,397		—		—
Surety Bonds:
Employee-Related	204,884		204,884		—		—		—
Environmental	533,974		524,072		9,902		—		—
Other	29,487		29,476		11		—		—
Total Surety Bonds	768,345		758,432		9,913		—		—
Total Commitments	$	1,098,194	$	965,884	$	132,310	$	—	$	—

Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligations Disclosure

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 Sheet. As of March 31, 2013, the purchase obligations for each of the next five years and beyond were as follows:

Obligations Due	Amount
Less than 1 year	$	349,513
1 - 3 years	227,586
3 - 5 years	128,338
More than 5 years	414,276
Total Purchase Obligations	$	1,119,713

Supply Commitment [Table Text Block]

Costs related to these purchase obligations include:

	Three Months Ended
	March, 31
	2013		2012
Major equipment purchases	$	33,426	$	13,166
Firm transportation expense	28,525		15,045
Gas drilling obligations	28,863		29,576
Other	—		298
Total costs related to purchase obligations	$	90,814	$	58,085