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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Io43qA9sceohKmIRvhdUoaxrqxC6yoAtKdKlGUMH1aawZtxuIydPhERFFShnhfi8
 /VvApukj5WbxqK7r2xF0og==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001254001-04-000003.txt : 20040107
<SEC-HEADER>0001254001-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040107144558
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001254001-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040107

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EQUITABLE RESOURCES INC /PA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000033213
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				250464690
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE OXFORD CENTRE
		STREET 2:		301 GRANT ST SUITE 3300
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15219
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4125535700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 GRANT ST SUITE 3300
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15219

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EQUITABLE GAS CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19841120

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MILES GEORGE L JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001199427

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03551
		FILM NUMBER:		04512797

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4700 ELLSWORTH AVENUE
		STREET 2:		#15
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15213
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4126221310

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4700 ELLSWORTH AVENUE
		STREET 2:		#15
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15213
</SEC-HEADER>
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<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-05</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000033213</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EQUITABLE RESOURCES INC /PA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EQT</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199427</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MILES GEORGE L JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4802 FIFTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PITTSBURGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15213</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2124</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-05</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transacti
onTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>203</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>42.92</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1096</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Deferred Compensation</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Title of Security; Ending Balance; Ownership Form; Nature of Ownership
Common Stock; 2,124; D
Common Stock;    1,096; I; Deferred Compensation</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>GEORGE L MILES,  JR.</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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