-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BG/9OJ5DOjzc7ul+b5cQVgt0uwkbc0HN5Bf7Vp5OVvlnM+cgOrGsFwzWQfqPWOhb
 PpiM1enkOOWPk0MnzJG6Yw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-05-026103.txt : 20050505
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-05-026103.hdr.sgml : 20050505
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050505163245
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-05-026103
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050503
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050505
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050505

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CONSOL ENERGY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001070412
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BITUMINOUS COAL & LIGNITE SURFACE MINING [1221]
		IRS NUMBER:				510337383

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CONSOL INC
		STREET 2:		1800 WASHINGTON RD
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15241

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CONSOL INC
		STREET 2:		1800 WASHINGTON RD
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15241

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Richey P Jerome
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001322947

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14901
		FILM NUMBER:		05804039

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		412-831-4000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1800 WASHINGTON ROAD
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15421-1421
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd77887.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAY 2005 FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001070412</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CONSOL ENERGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001322947</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Richey P Jerome</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1800 WASHINGTON ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PITTSBURGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15241</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President &amp; Gen. Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2946</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>45.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2946</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>45.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-05-03</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5495</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5495</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of Restricted Stock Units</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Original Stock Option grant provided that Stock Options will vest 25% per year beginning May 3, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>P. Jerome Richey byPaige Greene, his attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----