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Retirement Plan And Other Post-Retirement Benefits (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Retirement Plan [Member]  
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Company's contributions $ 18,000,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= nfg_RetirementPlanMember
VEBA Trusts And 401(h) Accounts [Member]  
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Company's contributions 1,500,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= nfg_VebaTrustsAnd401HAccountsMember
Estimated future contributions in remainder of fiscal year 500,000.0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInCurrentFiscalYear
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= nfg_VebaTrustsAnd401HAccountsMember
Minimum [Member] | Retirement Plan [Member]  
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Estimated future contributions in remainder of fiscal year 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInCurrentFiscalYear
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= nfg_RetirementPlanMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
Maximum [Member] | Retirement Plan [Member]  
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Estimated future contributions in remainder of fiscal year $ 2,000,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInCurrentFiscalYear
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= nfg_RetirementPlanMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember