Guarantor Subsidiaries, Condensed Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows [Line Items]
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	$ 589,005	$ 530,163
Investing Activities:
Capital Expenditures	(1,195,909)	(1,152,021)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(559,437)	(586,780)
Financing Activities:
Dividends Paid	(57,211)	(85,290)
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	2,698	1,234
(Payments on) Proceeds from Short-Term Borrowings	47,000
Other Financing Activities	2,925	(2,871)
Payments on Securitization Facility	6,518
Repayments of Other Debt	(32,290)	(6,565)
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	(30,360)	(88,161)
Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions	(18,112)	(18,701)
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment		583,942
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	56,410	0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	(598,174)
Parent Issuer [Member]
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows [Line Items]
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	(7,813)	(245,017)
Investing Activities:
Capital Expenditures	(15,216)	(40,863)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(15,216)	128,637
Financing Activities:
Dividends Paid	42,789	114,710
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	2,698
(Payments on) Proceeds from Short-Term Borrowings	0
Other Financing Activities	2,925	3,304
Payments on Securitization Facility	0
Repayments of Other Debt	(26,591)
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	21,821	118,014
Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions	0	0
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment		169,500
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	0
CNX Gas Guarantor [Member]
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows [Line Items]
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	383,504	139,026
Investing Activities:
Capital Expenditures	(669,067)	(408,278)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(364,425)	(80,292)
Financing Activities:
Dividends Paid	(100,000)	(200,000)
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	0
(Payments on) Proceeds from Short-Term Borrowings	85,500
Other Financing Activities	(4,084)	(4,107)
Payments on Securitization Facility	0
Repayments of Other Debt	0
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	(18,584)	(204,107)
Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions	(30,500)	(31,650)
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment		359,636
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	(335,142)
Other Guarantors Subsidiaries [Member]
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows [Line Items]
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	180,580	635,257
Investing Activities:
Capital Expenditures	(511,626)	(702,880)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(179,813)	(635,175)
Financing Activities:
Dividends Paid	0	0
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	0
(Payments on) Proceeds from Short-Term Borrowings	0
Other Financing Activities	4,084	(1,729)
Payments on Securitization Facility	0
Repayments of Other Debt	(5,122)
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	(1,038)	(1,729)
Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions	12,388	12,949
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment		54,756
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	56,410
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	(263,015)
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows [Line Items]
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	(5,766)	897
Investing Activities:
Capital Expenditures	0	0
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	17	50
Financing Activities:
Dividends Paid	0	0
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	0
(Payments on) Proceeds from Short-Term Borrowings	0
Other Financing Activities	0	(339)
Payments on Securitization Facility	6,518
Repayments of Other Debt	(577)
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	5,941	(339)
Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions	0	0
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment		50
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	(17)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows [Line Items]
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	38,500	0
Investing Activities:
Capital Expenditures	0	0
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	0	0
Financing Activities:
Dividends Paid	0	0
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	0
(Payments on) Proceeds from Short-Term Borrowings	(38,500)
Other Financing Activities	0	0
Payments on Securitization Facility	0
Repayments of Other Debt	0
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	(38,500)	0
Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions	0	0
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment		0
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	$ 0