Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	INCOME TAXES: The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 was 809.9% and 20.2%, respectively. 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 charge for excess depletion, $4,701 discrete income tax charge related to the gain on the sale of the Potomac coal reserves, $8,467 discrete income tax charge related to the gain on the sale of the Crowsnest Pass coal reserves, and a $1,585 income tax benefit due to a refund claim related to prior year Commonwealth of Pennsylvania taxes. For the three months ended September 30, 2013, CONSOL Energy recognized additional tax expense as a result of changes in estimates of percentage depletion and Domestic Production Activities Deduction related to the prior-year tax provision. The result of these changes was a tax increase of $5,875. The rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% primarily due to a $53,932 benefit recorded for excess depletion, $48,976 discrete income tax charge related to the gain on the sale of non-producing North Powder River Basin assets, $983 discrete income tax reduction related to a successful resolution with the Internal Revenue Service Appeals Division of the company’s Extraterritorial Income Exclusion refund claims for tax years 2004 and 2005, and $1,786 discrete income tax reduction related to the successful resolution of an audit with the Canadian Revenue Agency. For the three months ended September 30, 2012, CONSOL Energy recognized additional tax expense as a result of changes in estimates of percentage depletion and Domestic Production Activities Deduction related to the prior-year tax provision. The result of these changes was a tax increase of $6,004. The total amounts of uncertain tax positions at September 30, 2013 and 2012 were $22,770 and $25,570, respectively. If these uncertain tax positions were recognized, approximately $2,071 and $3,891, 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, 2013 and 2012. CONSOL Energy recognizes interest accrued related to uncertain tax positions in its interest expense. As of September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company reported an accrued interest liability relating to uncertain tax positions of $5,851 and $7,095, respectively. The accrued interest liability includes $1,020 and $1,722 of interest expense that is reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. CONSOL Energy recognizes penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in its income tax expense. As of September 30, 2013 and 2012, 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 determinations by tax authorities for the years before 2008.

Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

INCOME TAXES:

The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 was 809.9% and 20.2%, respectively.

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 charge for excess depletion, $4,701 discrete income tax charge related to the gain on the sale of the Potomac coal reserves, $8,467 discrete income tax charge related to the gain on the sale of the Crowsnest Pass coal reserves, and a $1,585 income tax benefit due to a refund claim related to prior year Commonwealth of Pennsylvania taxes.

For the three months ended September 30, 2013, CONSOL Energy recognized additional tax expense as a result of changes in estimates of percentage depletion and Domestic Production Activities Deduction related to the prior-year tax provision. The result of these changes was a tax increase of $5,875.

The rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% primarily due to a $53,932 benefit recorded for excess depletion, $48,976 discrete income tax charge related to the gain on the sale of non-producing North Powder River Basin assets, $983 discrete income tax reduction related to a successful resolution with the Internal Revenue Service Appeals Division of the company’s Extraterritorial Income Exclusion refund claims for tax years 2004 and 2005, and $1,786 discrete income tax reduction related to the successful resolution of an audit with the Canadian Revenue Agency.

For the three months ended September 30, 2012, CONSOL Energy recognized additional tax expense as a result of changes in estimates of percentage depletion and Domestic Production Activities Deduction related to the prior-year tax provision. The result of these changes was a tax increase of $6,004.

The total amounts of uncertain tax positions at September 30, 2013 and 2012 were $22,770 and $25,570, respectively. If these uncertain tax positions were recognized, approximately $2,071 and $3,891, 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, 2013 and 2012.

CONSOL Energy recognizes interest accrued related to uncertain tax positions in its interest expense. As of September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company reported an accrued interest liability relating to uncertain tax positions of $5,851 and $7,095, respectively. The accrued interest liability includes $1,020 and $1,722 of interest expense that is reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

CONSOL Energy recognizes penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in its income tax expense. As of September 30, 2013 and 2012, 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 determinations by tax authorities for the years before 2008.