NFG National Fuel Gas Co

National Fuel Gas Company (“National Fuel” or the “Company”) (NYSE:NFG) today announced consolidated earnings for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 and for the nine months ended June 30, 2009.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Earnings for the third quarter were $42.9 million or $0.53 per share, a decrease of $17.0 million, or $0.19 per share from the third quarter of 2008. A 33% decrease in average commodity prices realized in the quarter this year in the Exploration and Production segment was the main driver of the decrease in earnings.
• Production in the Exploration and Production segment for the current quarter increased over 12% with increases in all three divisions. Appalachian and Gulf of Mexico production each increased 16%. California production increased 7% during the quarter. Total production for the entire 2009 fiscal year is expected to be in the upper half of the previously announced range of 38 to 44 billion cubic feet equivalent (“Bcfe”).
• Seneca Resources Corporation (“Seneca”) and joint-venture partner EOG Resources, Inc. (“EOG”) have now completed and flow tested four horizontal Marcellus Shale wells at an average initial production (“IP”) rate of 2.3 million cubic feet per day (“MMCFD”). Seneca estimates 4 to 8 trillion cubic feet (“TCF”) of net risked Marcellus resource potential across an area of 720,000 acres that it considers to be prospective in the Marcellus Shale.
• The Company is revising its GAAP earnings guidance range for fiscal 2009 to a range of $1.20 to $1.30 per share. The previous guidance range had been $0.95 to $1.10 per share.
• The Company’s preliminary GAAP earnings guidance for fiscal 2010 is in the range of $2.30 to $2.60 per share. The 2010 preliminary guidance includes oil and gas production for the Exploration and Production segment in the range of 42 to 48 billion cubic feet equivalent (“Bcfe”) and is based on an assumed average NYMEX price, exclusive of basis differential, of $5.00 per Million British Thermal Units (“MMBtu”) for natural gas and $75.00 per barrel (“Bbl”) for crude oil.
• A conference call is scheduled for Friday, August 7, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS

David F. Smith, Chief Executive Officer and President of National Fuel Gas Company stated: “It’s no surprise that the dramatic drop in commodity prices compared to a year ago had a considerable impact on the earnings of our Exploration and Production segment and Pipeline and Storage segment. But putting aside the effect of commodity price changes, the third quarter was another strong quarter for the Company. Production was up 12% over the prior year, and our regulated operations delivered another quarter of consistent results.

“We continue to execute on our Appalachian growth strategy. Last month, we spudded our first Seneca operated Marcellus Shale horizontal well and we commenced construction of National Fuel Gas Midstream Corporation’s first Appalachian-region gathering system. While the Marcellus Shale remains our top priority, we believe the current economic climate will create opportunities to invest in additional energy properties, such as our recently announced acquisition of production properties in California. The balance among our various operating segments continues to provide a solid base of earnings and financial strength to allow us to capitalize on these opportunities and others going forward.

“As we prepare for our next heating season, we are injecting natural gas into storage at rates that are substantially below last year’s prices. These lower prices should help our customers moderate their utility bills over the upcoming heating season.”

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

National Fuel had consolidated earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, of $42.9 million or $0.53 per share, a decrease of $17.0 million, or $0.19 per share, from the prior year’s third quarter earnings of $59.9 million or $0.72 per share. The per share amounts reflect a lower number of shares outstanding in the current quarter resulting mainly from the impact of the Company’s repurchase of approximately 5.2 million shares of National Fuel common stock in the prior fiscal year. (note: all references to earnings per share are to diluted earnings per share, all amounts are stated in U.S. dollars and all amounts used in the discussions of earnings and operating results before items impacting comparability (“Operating Results”) are stated on an after tax basis, unless otherwise noted.)

Consolidated earnings for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, of $73.7 million, or $0.92 per share, decreased $151.8 million, or $1.73 per share, from the same period in the prior year, where earnings were $225.5 million, or $2.65 per share.

  Three Months     Nine Months Ended June 30, Ended June 30, 2009   2008   2009       2008   (in thousands except per share amounts) Reported GAAP earnings $ 42,904 $ 59,855 $ 73,710 $ 225,463 Items impacting comparability1: Gain on sale of turbine (586 ) Impairment of oil and gas producing properties 108,207 Impairment of investment in partnership 1,085 Gain on life insurance proceeds (2,312 )         Operating Results $ 42,904 $ 59,855 $ 180,690   $ 224,877     Reported GAAP earnings per share $ 0.53 $ 0.72 $ 0.92 $ 2.65 Items impacting comparability1: Gain on sale of turbine (0.01 ) Impairment of oil and gas producing properties 1.35 Impairment of investment in partnership 0.01 Gain on life insurance proceeds (0.03 )         Earnings excluding these items $ 0.53 $ 0.72 $ 2.25   $ 2.64  

1 See discussion of these individual items below.

As outlined in the table above, certain items included in GAAP earnings impacted the comparability of the Company’s financial results when comparing the nine months ended June 30, 2009, to the comparable period in fiscal 2008. Excluding these items, Operating Results for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, of $180.7 million, or $2.25 per share, decreased $44.2 million, or $0.39 per share. Items impacting comparability will be discussed in more detail within the discussion of segment earnings below.

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS BY SEGMENT

(The following discussion of earnings for each segment is summarized in a tabular form within this report. It may be helpful to refer to those tables while reviewing this discussion.)

Exploration and Production Segment

The Exploration and Production segment operations are carried out by Seneca Resources Corporation (“Seneca”). Seneca explores for, develops and purchases natural gas and oil reserves in California, in the Appalachian region, and in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Exploration and Production segment’s earnings in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 of $27.1 million, or $0.33 per share, decreased $12.7 million, or $0.15 per share, when compared with the prior year’s third quarter. The decrease was primarily due to lower crude oil and natural gas prices realized after hedging. Higher production across all three divisions, lower lease operating expenses (“LOE”) and a lower effective tax rate partially offset the impact of lower commodity prices. The decrease in LOE is due to lower steam fuel costs in California.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2009, the weighted average oil price received by Seneca (after hedging) was $67.19 per Bbl, a decrease of $22.36 per Bbl from the prior year’s quarter. The weighted average natural gas price received by Seneca (after hedging) for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, was $5.94 per thousand cubic feet (“Mcf”), a decrease of $3.79 per Mcf.

Overall crude oil and natural gas production for the current quarter of 11.5 Bcfe increased over 12 percent compared to the prior year’s third quarter. Production increased 16 percent in both the Gulf of Mexico and Appalachian region and seven percent in California.

The Exploration and Production segment’s loss of $38.4 million, or $0.47 per share, for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, compares to earnings of $108.4 million, or $1.28 per share, for the nine months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease was due to a non-cash charge of $108.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 to write down the value of Seneca’s oil and natural gas producing properties.

Seneca uses the full cost method of accounting for determining the book value of its oil and natural gas properties. This accounting method requires that Seneca perform a quarterly “ceiling test” to compare the present value of future revenues from its oil and natural gas reserves based on period end spot prices (the “ceiling”) with the book value of those reserves at the balance sheet date. If the book value of the reserves exceeds the ceiling calculation, a non-cash charge, or impairment, must be recorded in order to reduce the book value of the reserves to the calculated ceiling. The impairment was mainly driven by a significant decrease in commodity prices.

Excluding the impact of the ceiling test charge in the first quarter of fiscal 2009, Operating Results for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, of $69.8 million or $0.88 per share decreased $38.5 million, or $0.40 per share, from the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to lower crude oil and natural gas prices realized after hedging. For the nine months ended June 30, 2009, the weighted average oil price received by Seneca (after hedging) was $62.67 per Bbl, a decrease of $17.30 per Bbl from the prior year’s nine-month period. The weighted average natural gas price received by Seneca (after hedging) for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, was $7.28 per Mcf, a decrease of $1.67 per Mcf.

Overall production for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, was 31.2 Bcfe compared to 31.3 Bcfe for the prior year nine-month period. Lower production in the Gulf of Mexico as a result of curtailments due to Hurricane Ike, was offset by increases in both California and Appalachia.

Other items impacting Operating Results for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, were lower depletion and LOE and higher general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses. The impact of lower state income taxes had a positive impact on earnings for the current nine month period. The decrease in depletion expense was mainly due to a lower depletable base resulting from the ceiling test impairment recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 described above. The decrease in LOE is due to lower steam fuel costs in California, lower workover expenses and the shut-in of certain properties related to Hurricane Ike in the Gulf of Mexico. The increase in G&A expenses is due to additional staffing and other costs in the East division, and a bad debt charge related to a refiner bankruptcy in California.

Seneca continues to evaluate and develop the Company’s significant Marcellus Shale acreage position. Seneca and joint-venture partner EOG have now completed and flow tested four horizontal Marcellus Shale wells. The IP rates of those wells ranged from 1.4 to 3.3 million cubic feet per day (“MMCFD”) and averaged 2.3 MMCFD. Seneca has also drilled seven vertical wells outside of the joint venture with EOG and is currently drilling its second Seneca-operated horizontal well in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Seneca estimates 4 to 8 TCF of net risked Marcellus resource potential across an area of 720,000 acres that it considers to be prospective in the Marcellus Shale. This estimate is based upon certain risk assumptions that vary across the acreage.

On July 17, 2009, Seneca completed the purchase of Ivanhoe Energy’s U.S. oil and gas subsidiary for $39.2 million. Assets acquired include proved oil and gas reserves of 1.8 million barrels of oil equivalent (“MMBOE”) and approximately $5 million of other assets, such that the cost of the reserves was approximately $34 million, or $19 per proved Bbl.

Pipeline and Storage Segment

The Pipeline and Storage segment operations are carried out by National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation (“Supply Corporation”) and Empire Pipeline, Inc. (“Empire”). These companies provide natural gas transportation and storage services to affiliated and non-affiliated companies through an integrated system of pipelines and underground natural gas storage fields in western New York and western Pennsylvania.

The Pipeline and Storage segment’s earnings of $9.2 million, for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, decreased $3.3 million when compared with the same period in the prior fiscal year. The decrease was primarily due to lower efficiency gas revenues, mainly the result of lower commodity prices and lower transported volumes during the quarter. Higher transportation revenues from the Empire Connector, which was placed in service in mid December 2008, partially offset these decreases. Higher interest expense and a lower allowance for funds used during construction (“AFUDC”) in the third quarter of the current fiscal year also contributed to the decrease in earnings compared to the prior year’s third quarter.

The Pipeline and Storage segment’s earnings of $41.6 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, increased $0.7 million when compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2008. The increase is due to higher transportation revenues, mainly the result of incremental revenue from the Empire Connector, which was placed in service in mid December 2008 and the addition of several new contracts for firm transportation services. Higher AFUDC related to the construction of the Empire Connector also contributed to the increase in earnings for the current nine-month period. Partially offsetting the increased earnings were lower efficiency gas revenues mainly due to lower natural gas prices, higher depreciation expense and higher interest expense during the current nine month period.

Utility Segment

The Utility segment operations are carried out by National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (“Distribution”), which sells or transports natural gas to customers located in western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. The Utility segment’s earnings of $5.4 million, or $0.07 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, compares to earnings of $7.8 million, or $0.09 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2008.

In the New York Division, earnings decreased $1.1 million. The decrease is primarily due to higher interest expense partially offset by lower operating expenses. In the Pennsylvania Division, earnings decreased $1.3 million. The decrease is mainly due to lower customer usage due to customer conservation efforts and higher interest expense.

The Utility segment’s earnings of $60.3 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, decreased $1.9 million compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2008. Earnings in Distribution’s New York Division for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, of $40.7 million decreased $0.5 million compared to the prior year. Lower margins in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 primarily as a result of the rate design change approved by the New York State Public Service Commission’s December 28, 2007 rate order and higher interest expense more than offset the impact of lower operating expenses.

For the nine months ended June 30, 2009, earnings in Distribution’s Pennsylvania Division of $19.6 million decreased $1.4 million compared to the prior year. The positive impact of colder weather and lower interest expense was offset by lower customer usage per account, higher bad debt expense and a higher effective tax rate.

Energy Marketing

National Fuel Resources, Inc. (“NFR”) comprises the Company’s Energy Marketing segment. NFR markets natural gas to industrial, wholesale, commercial, public authority and residential customers primarily in western and central New York and northwestern Pennsylvania, offering competitively priced natural gas to its customers.

The Energy Marketing segment’s earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, of $1.3 million increased $0.9 million compared to the third quarter of last year. Earnings increased as a result of lower bad debt expense and higher margins, primarily driven by lower pipeline transportation fuel costs due to lower natural gas commodity prices.

The Energy Marketing segment’s earnings for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, of $7.5 million increased $0.4 million compared to the prior year. An increase in margin and lower operating expenses due to lower bad debt expense were somewhat offset by higher state income taxes.

Corporate and All Other

Other active, wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company include Highland Forest Resources, Inc., a corporation that markets high quality hardwoods from New York and Pennsylvania land holdings; Horizon LFG, Inc., a corporation engaged, through subsidiaries, in the purchase, processing, transportation and sale of landfill gas; and Horizon Power, Inc., a corporation that develops and owns independent electric generation facilities that are fueled by natural gas or landfill gas.

The Corporate and All Other category had a loss of $0.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 compared to a loss of $0.8 million in the prior year’s third quarter. Expenses related to a proxy contest in fiscal 2008 did not recur in the current year and lower income taxes were the primary reasons for the decreased loss. The positive impact of these items was partially offset by lower income from unconsolidated subsidiaries and higher interest expense.

Earnings in the Corporate and All Other category for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, were $2.7 million, a decrease of $4.1 million when compared to the prior year’s earnings. The comparability of the results for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, is impacted by a $0.6 million gain in the second quarter of fiscal 2008 related to the sale of a gas-powered turbine that the Company had previously planned to use in the development of a co-generation plant, and in the first quarter of fiscal 2009, by a $2.3 million gain recognized on executive life insurance policies and a $1.1 million impairment in the value of Horizon Power’s 50 percent investment in Energy Systems North East, LLC, a partnership that owns an 80-megawatt combined cycle, natural gas-fired power plant in the town of North East, Pennsylvania. Excluding these items, Operating Results decreased $4.8 million. Lower margins from the timber operations as a result of decreased sales volumes and prices, lower margins in the landfill gas operations and a decrease in income from unconsolidated subsidiaries contributed to the decrease in Operating Results. The non-recurrence of expenses related to the proxy contest, noted above, and lower income taxes partially offset the decrease in Operating Results.

EARNINGS GUIDANCE

The Company is revising its earnings guidance for fiscal 2009 to reflect actual results for the nine months ended June 30, 2009. The revised GAAP earnings range is $1.20 to $1.30 per share. The previous guidance range had been $0.95 to $1.10 per share. The revised guidance includes actual results for the first nine months of fiscal 2009, the impairment charge recorded in the first quarter, forecasted oil and gas production for fiscal 2009 for the Exploration and Production segment in the upper half of the previously announced range of 38 to 44 Bcfe, hedges currently in place, and NYMEX equivalent flat commodity pricing on non-hedged volumes exclusive of basis differential, of $3.53 per MMBtu for natural gas and $60.50 per Bbl for crude oil.

The Company’s preliminary GAAP earnings guidance for fiscal 2010 is in the range of $2.30 to $2.60 per share. This includes oil and gas production for the Exploration and Production segment in the range of 42 to 48 Bcfe and is based on an assumed average NYMEX price, exclusive of basis differential, of $5.00 per MMBtu for natural gas and $75.00 per Bbl for crude oil. Further details regarding the production guidance are included within this document.

EARNINGS TELECONFERENCE

The Company will host a conference call on Friday, August 7, 2009, at 11 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss this announcement. There are two ways to access this call. For those with Internet access, visit the investor relations page at National Fuel’s Web site at investor.nationalfuelgas.com. For those without Internet access, access is also provided by dialing (toll-free) 1-866-700-7441, and using the passcode “18477482.” For those unable to listen to the live conference call, a replay will be available at approximately 2 p.m. (Eastern Time) at the same Web site link and by phone at (toll free) 888-286-8010 using passcode “79992917.” Both the webcast and telephonic replay will be available until the close of business on Tuesday, September 8, 2009.

National Fuel is an integrated energy company with $4.4 billion in assets comprised of the following four operating segments: Exploration and Production, Pipeline and Storage, Utility, and Energy Marketing. Additional information about National Fuel is available on its Internet Web site: http://www.nationalfuelgas.com or through its investor information service at 1-800-334-2188.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) permits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only proved reserves that a company has demonstrated by actual production or conclusive formation tests to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions. The Company uses the terms “probable,” “possible,” “resource potential” and other descriptions of volumes of reserves or resources potentially recoverable through additional drilling or recovery techniques that the SEC’s guidelines would prohibit us from including in filings with the SEC. These estimates are by their nature more speculative than estimates of proved reserves and, accordingly, are subject to substantially greater risk of being actually realized. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 10-K and Forms 10-Q, available at www.nationalfuelgas.com. You can also obtain these forms on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Certain statements contained herein, including those regarding estimated future earnings, and statements that are identified by the use of the words “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “believes,” “seeks,” “will,” “may” and similar expressions, are “forward-looking statements” as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The Company’s expectations, beliefs and projections contained herein are expressed in good faith and are believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that such expectations, beliefs or projections will result or be achieved or accomplished. In addition to other factors, the following are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements: financial and economic conditions, including the availability of credit, and their effect on the Company’s ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms for working capital, capital expenditures and other investments; occurrences affecting the Company’s ability to obtain financing under credit lines or other credit facilities or through the issuance of commercial paper, other short-term notes or debt or equity securities, including any downgrades in the Company’s credit ratings and changes in interest rates and other capital market conditions; changes in economic conditions, including global, national or regional recessions, and their effect on the demand for, and customers’ ability to pay for, the Company’s products and services; the creditworthiness or performance of the Company’s key suppliers, customers and counterparties; economic disruptions or uninsured losses resulting from terrorist activities, acts of war, major accidents, fires, hurricanes, other severe weather, pest infestation or other natural disasters; changes in actuarial assumptions, the interest rate environment and the return on plan/trust assets related to the Company’s pension and other post-retirement benefits, which can affect future funding obligations and costs and plan liabilities; changes in demographic patterns and weather conditions; changes in the availability and/or price of natural gas or oil and the effect of such changes on the accounting treatment of derivative financial instruments or the valuation of the Company’s natural gas and oil reserves; impairments under the SEC’s full cost ceiling test for natural gas and oil reserves; uncertainty of oil and gas reserve estimates; factors affecting the Company’s ability to successfully identify, drill for and produce economically viable natural gas and oil reserves, including among others geology, lease availability, weather conditions, shortages, delays or unavailability of equipment and services required in drilling operations, and the need to obtain governmental approvals and permits and comply with environmental laws and regulations; significant differences between the Company’s projected and actual production levels for natural gas or oil; changes in the availability and/or price of derivative financial instruments; changes in the price differentials between oil having different quality and/or different geographic locations, or changes in the price differentials between natural gas having different heating values and/or different geographic locations; inability to obtain new customers or retain existing ones; significant changes in competitive factors affecting the Company; changes in laws and regulations to which the Company is subject, including tax, environmental, safety and employment laws and regulations; governmental/regulatory actions, initiatives and proceedings, including those involving acquisitions, financings, rate cases (which address, among other things, allowed rates of return, rate design and retained natural gas), affiliate relationships, industry structure, franchise renewal, and environmental/safety requirements; unanticipated impacts of restructuring initiatives in the natural gas and electric industries; significant differences between the Company’s projected and actual capital expenditures and operating expenses and unanticipated project delays or changes in project costs or plans; the nature and projected profitability of pending and potential projects and other investments, and the ability to obtain necessary governmental approvals and permits; ability to successfully identify and finance acquisitions or other investments and ability to operate and integrate existing and any subsequently acquired business or properties; significant changes in tax rates or policies or in rates of inflation or interest; significant changes in the Company’s relationship with its employees or contractors and the potential adverse effects if labor disputes, grievances or shortages were to occur; changes in accounting principles or the application of such principles to the Company; the cost and effects of legal and administrative claims against the Company or activist shareholder campaigns to effect changes at the Company; increasing health care costs and the resulting effect on health insurance premiums and on the obligation to provide other post-retirement benefits; or increasing costs of insurance, changes in coverage and the ability to obtain insurance. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY RECONCILIATION OF CURRENT AND PRIOR YEAR GAAP EARNINGS QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2009             Exploration & Pipeline & Energy Corporate / (Thousands of Dollars) Production   Storage   Utility   Marketing   All Other   Consolidated   Third quarter 2008 GAAP earnings $ 39,791 $ 12,534 $ 7,848 $ 478 $ (796 ) $ 59,855   Drivers of operating results Higher (lower) crude oil prices (12,261 ) (12,261 ) Higher (lower) natural gas prices (15,946 ) (15,946 ) Higher (lower) natural gas production 4,155 4,155 Higher (lower) crude oil production 5,758 5,758 Lower (higher) lease operating expenses 2,838 2,838   Higher (lower) transportation revenues 2,183 2,183 Higher (lower) efficiency gas revenues (2,534 ) (2,534 ) Lower (higher) operating costs 480 632 1,063 2,175   Higher (lower) usage (430 ) (430 )   Income from unconsolidated subsidiaries (607 ) (607 )   Higher (lower) margins 395 (234 ) 161   Higher (lower) AFUDC* (937 ) (937 ) Higher (lower) interest income (1,254 ) 272 (982 ) Lower (higher) interest expense 1,659 (1,401 ) (1,861 ) (774 ) (2,377 )   Lower (higher) income tax expense / effective tax rate 2,443 803 3,246   All other / rounding   (100 )     (624 )     (641 )     (174 )     146       (1,393 )   Third quarter 2009 GAAP earnings $ 27,083     $ 9,221     $ 5,396     $ 1,331     $ (127 )   $ 42,904       * AFUDC = Allowance for Funds Used During Construction   NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY RECONCILIATION OF CURRENT AND PRIOR YEAR GAAP EARNINGS PER SHARE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2009             Exploration & Pipeline & Energy Corporate / Production   Storage   Utility   Marketing   All Other   Consolidated   Third quarter 2008 GAAP earnings $ 0.48 $ 0.15 $ 0.09 $ - $ - $ 0.72   Drivers of operating results Higher (lower) crude oil prices (0.15 ) (0.15 ) Higher (lower) natural gas prices (0.20 ) (0.20 ) Higher (lower) natural gas production 0.05 0.05 Higher (lower) crude oil production 0.07 0.07 Lower (higher) lease operating expenses 0.04 0.04   Higher (lower) transportation and storage revenues 0.03 0.03 Higher (lower) efficiency gas revenues (0.03 ) (0.03 ) Lower (higher) operating costs 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.03   Higher (lower) usage (0.01 ) (0.01 )   Income from unconsolidated subsidiaries (0.01 ) (0.01 )   Higher (lower) margins 0.01 - 0.01   Higher (lower) AFUDC* (0.01 ) (0.01 ) Higher (lower) interest income (0.02 ) - (0.02 ) Lower (higher) interest expense 0.02 (0.02 ) (0.02 ) (0.01 ) (0.03 )   Lower (higher) income tax expense / effective tax rate 0.03 0.01 0.04   All other / rounding (including impact of lower weighted average shares)   0.01       (0.01 )     -       -     -       -     Third quarter 2009 GAAP earnings $ 0.33     $ 0.11     $ 0.07     $ 0.02   $ -     $ 0.53     * AFUDC = Allowance for Funds Used During Construction   NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY RECONCILIATION OF CURRENT AND PRIOR YEAR GAAP EARNINGS NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2009             Exploration & Pipeline & Energy Corporate / (Thousands of Dollars) Production   Storage   Utility   Marketing   All Other   Consolidated   Nine months ended June 30, 2008 GAAP earnings $ 108,385 $ 40,931 $ 62,228 $ 7,079 $ 6,840 $ 225,463 Items impacting comparability: Gain on sale of turbine                   (586 )     (586 ) Nine months ended June 30, 2008 operating results 108,385 40,931 62,228 7,079 6,254 224,877   Drivers of operating results Higher (lower) crude oil prices (28,048 ) (28,048 ) Higher (lower) natural gas prices (17,543 ) (17,543 ) Higher (lower) natural gas production (6,799 ) (6,799 ) Higher (lower) crude oil production 8,996 8,996 Lower (higher) lease operating expenses 3,145 3,145  

Higher (lower) transportation revenues

7,884 7,884 Higher (lower) efficiency gas revenues (4,384 ) (4,384 ) Lower (higher) operating costs (3,030 ) 1,695 391 3,665 2,721 Lower (higher) depreciation / depletion 1,911 (1,162 ) 749   Colder weather in Pennsylvania 1,961 1,961 Higher (lower) usage (1,886 ) (1,886 ) Regulatory true-up adjustments (356 ) (356 )   Income from unconsolidated subsidiaries (1,483 ) (1,483 )   Higher (lower) margins (1,419 ) 612 (6,887 ) (7,694 )   Higher (lower) AFUDC* 661 661 Higher (lower) interest income (4,611 ) 141 (1,895 ) (6,365 ) Lower (higher) interest expense 4,695 (3,114 ) (683 ) (1,341 ) (443 )   Lower (higher) income tax expense / effective tax rate 3,180 (1,212 ) (380 ) 3,474 5,062   All other / rounding   (440 )     625       (25 )     (193 )     (332 )     (365 )   Nine months ended June 30, 2009 operating results 69,841 41,582 60,303 7,509 1,455 180,690 Items impacting comparability: Gain on life insurance policies 2,312 2,312 Impairment of investment in partnership (1,085 ) (1,085 ) Impairment of oil and gas properties   (108,207 )                     (108,207 ) Nine months ended June 30, 2009 GAAP earnings $ (38,366 )   $ 41,582     $ 60,303     $ 7,509     $ 2,682     $ 73,710     * AFUDC = Allowance for Funds Used During Construction   NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY RECONCILIATION OF CURRENT AND PRIOR YEAR GAAP EARNINGS PER SHARE NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2009             Exploration & Pipeline & Energy Corporate / Production   Storage   Utility   Marketing   All Other   Consolidated   Nine months ended June 30, 2008 GAAP earnings $ 1.28 $ 0.48 $ 0.73 $ 0.08 $ 0.08 $ 2.65 Items impacting comparability: Gain on sale of turbine                   (0.01 )     (0.01 ) Nine months ended June 30, 2008 operating results 1.28 0.48 0.73 0.08 0.07 2.64   Drivers of operating results Higher (lower) crude oil prices (0.35 ) (0.35 ) Higher (lower) natural gas prices (0.22 ) (0.22 ) Higher (lower) natural gas production (0.08 ) (0.08 ) Higher (lower) crude oil production 0.11 0.11 Lower (higher) lease operating expenses 0.04 0.04  

Higher (lower) transportation and storage revenues

0.10 0.10 Higher (lower) efficiency gas revenues (0.05 ) (0.05 ) Lower (higher) operating costs (0.04 ) 0.02 - 0.05 0.03 Lower (higher) depreciation / depletion 0.02 (0.01 ) 0.01   Colder weather in Pennsylvania 0.02 0.02 Higher (lower) usage (0.02 ) (0.02 ) Regulatory true-up adjustments - -   Income from unconsolidated subsidiaries (0.02 ) (0.02 )   Higher (lower) margins (0.02 ) 0.01 (0.09 ) (0.10 )   Higher (lower) AFUDC* 0.01 0.01 Higher (lower) interest income (0.06 ) - (0.02 ) (0.08 ) Lower (higher) interest expense 0.06 (0.04 ) (0.01 ) (0.02 ) (0.01 )   Lower (higher) income tax expense / effective tax rate 0.04 (0.02 ) - 0.04 0.06   All other / rounding (including impact of lower weighted average shares)   0.08       0.03       0.05       -     -       0.16     Nine months ended June 30, 2009 operating results 0.88 0.52 0.75 0.09 0.01 2.25 Items impacting comparability: Gain on life insurance policies 0.03 0.03 Impairment of investment in partnership (0.01 ) (0.01 ) Impairment of oil and gas properties   (1.35 )                     (1.35 ) Nine months ended June 30, 2009 GAAP earnings $ (0.47 )   $ 0.52     $ 0.75     $ 0.09   $ 0.03     $ 0.92     * AFUDC = Allowance for Funds Used During Construction   NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES         (Thousands of Dollars, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended June 30, June 30, (Unaudited) (Unaudited)

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS

  2009     2008     2009     2008   Operating Revenues $ 367,111   $ 548,382   $ 1,778,919   $ 2,002,503     Operating Expenses: Purchased Gas 126,969 272,893 941,171 1,082,340 Operation and Maintenance 90,821 102,602 310,605 325,642 Property, Franchise and Other Taxes 17,576 19,135 56,709 58,206 Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization 43,659 42,804 127,715 129,337 Impairment of Oil and Gas Producing Properties   -     -     182,811     -   279,025 437,434 1,619,011 1,595,525  

Operating Income

88,086 110,948 159,908 406,978   Other Income (Expense): Income from Unconsolidated Subsidiaries 627 1,561 915 4,866 Interest Income 1,460 3,086 4,358 8,356 Other Income 664 1,649 6,459 4,982 Interest Expense on Long-Term Debt (21,756 ) (19,468 ) (57,357 ) (52,045 ) Other Interest Expense   (2,539 )   (1,199 )   (5,013 )   (4,209 )   Income Before Income Taxes 66,542 96,577 109,270 368,928   Income Tax Expense   23,638     36,722     35,560     143,465     Net Income Available for Common Stock $ 42,904   $ 59,855   $ 73,710   $ 225,463     Earnings Per Common Share: Basic $ 0.54   $ 0.74   $ 0.93   $ 2.72   Diluted $ 0.53   $ 0.72   $ 0.92   $ 2.65     Weighted Average Common Shares: Used in Basic Calculation   79,551,195     81,342,788     79,450,838     82,789,748   Used in Diluted Calculation   80,391,402     83,712,193     80,248,787     85,000,381     NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)     June 30, September 30, (Thousands of Dollars)   2009   2008   ASSETS Property, Plant and Equipment $ 5,078,088 $ 4,873,969 Less - Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization   2,010,584     1,719,869 Net Property, Plant and Equipment   3,067,504     3,154,100   Current Assets: Cash and Temporary Cash Investments 433,230 68,239 Cash Held in Escrow 2,000 - Hedging Collateral Deposits 6,359 1 Receivables - Net 200,594 185,397

Unbilled Utility Revenue

14,568 24,364 Gas Stored Underground 27,721 87,294 Materials and Supplies - at average cost 24,768 31,317 Unrecovered Purchased Gas Costs 1,900 37,708 Other Current Assets 32,477 65,158 Deferred Income Taxes   33,009     - Total Current Assets   776,626     499,478   Other Assets: Recoverable Future Taxes 83,543 82,506 Unamortized Debt Expense 15,345 13,978 Other Regulatory Assets 196,278 189,587 Deferred Charges 1,790 4,417 Other Investments 73,174 80,640 Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries 15,094 16,279 Goodwill 5,476 5,476 Intangible Assets 24,627 26,174 Prepaid Post-Retirement Benefit Costs 21,738 21,034 Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments 66,193 28,786 Other   7,914     7,732 Total Other Assets   511,172     476,609 Total Assets $ 4,355,302   $ 4,130,187   CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES Capitalization: Comprehensive Shareholders' Equity Common Stock, $1 Par Value Authorized - 200,000,000 Shares; Issued and Outstanding - 79,881,482 Shares and 79,120,544 Shares, Respectively $ 79,881 $ 79,121 Paid in Capital 589,295 567,716 Earnings Reinvested in the Business   948,262     953,799 Total Common Shareholder Equity Before Items of Other Comprehensive Income 1,617,438 1,600,636 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income   17,234     2,963 Total Comprehensive Shareholders' Equity 1,634,672 1,603,599 Long-Term Debt, Net of Current Portion   1,249,000     999,000 Total Capitalization   2,883,672     2,602,599   Current and Accrued Liabilities: Notes Payable to Banks and Commercial Paper - - Current Portion of Long-Term Debt - 100,000 Accounts Payable 69,762 142,520 Amounts Payable to Customers 45,772 2,753 Dividends Payable 26,761 25,714 Interest Payable on Long-Term Debt 18,722 22,114 Customer Advances 3,229 33,017 Other Accruals and Current Liabilities 198,057 45,220 Deferred Income Taxes - 1,871 Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments   1,815     1,362 Total Current and Accrued Liabilities   364,118     374,571   Deferred Credits: Deferred Income Taxes 589,380 634,372 Taxes Refundable to Customers 18,459 18,449 Unamortized Investment Tax Credit 4,165 4,691 Cost of Removal Regulatory Liability 107,245 103,100 Other Regulatory Liabilities 115,617 91,933 Pension and Other Post-Retirement Liabilities 61,404 78,909 Asset Retirement Obligations 86,559 93,247 Other Deferred Credits   124,683     128,316 Total Deferred Credits   1,107,512     1,153,017 Commitments and Contingencies   -     - Total Capitalization and Liabilities $ 4,355,302   $ 4,130,187     NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)   Nine Months Ended June 30, (Thousands of Dollars)     2009       2008     Operating Activities: Net Income Available for Common Stock $ 73,710 $ 225,463 Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities: Impairment of Oil and Gas Producing Properties 182,811 - Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization 127,715 129,337 Deferred Income Taxes (85,494 ) 27,603 Income from Unconsolidated Subsidiaries, Net of Cash Distributions 180 1,340 Impairment of Investment in Partnership 1,804 - Excess Tax Benefits Associated with Stock-Based Compensation Awards (5,927 ) (16,275 )

Other

9,365 (1,120 ) Change in: Hedging Collateral Deposits (6,358 ) (26,712 ) Receivables and Unbilled Utility Revenue (5,520 ) (129,102 ) Gas Stored Underground and Materials and Supplies 71,491 14,819 Unrecovered Purchased Gas Costs 35,808 9,089 Prepayments and Other Current Assets 37,904 17,370 Accounts Payable (82,146 ) 53,081 Amounts Payable to Customers 43,019 2,455 Customer Advances (29,788 ) (22,863 ) Other Accruals and Current Liabilities 166,217 94,031 Other Assets (8,517 ) 19,178 Other Liabilities     (14,453 )     17,373   Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities   $ 511,821     $ 415,067     Investing Activities: Capital Expenditures ($237,126 ) ($264,728 ) Investment in Partnership (800 ) - Cash Held in Escrow (2,000 ) 58,397 Net Proceeds from Sale of Oil and Gas Producing Properties 3,701 5,675 Other     (1,674 )     (3,414 ) Net Cash Used in Investing Activities     ($237,899 )     ($204,070 )   Financing Activities: Excess Tax Benefits Associated with Stock-Based Compensation Awards $ 5,927 $ 16,275 Shares Repurchased under Repurchase Plan - (129,592 ) Net Proceeds from Issuance of Long-Term Debt 247,780 296,655 Reduction of Long-Term Debt (100,000 ) (200,024 ) Dividends Paid on Common Stock (77,398 ) (77,204 ) Proceeds From Issuance of Common Stock     14,760       17,285   Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Financing Activities   $ 91,069       ($76,605 ) Net Increase in Cash and Temporary Cash Investments 364,991 134,392 Cash and Temporary Cash Investments at Beginning of Period     68,239       124,806   Cash and Temporary Cash Investments at June 30   $ 433,230     $ 259,198     NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES             SEGMENT OPERATING RESULTS AND STATISTICS (UNAUDITED)   Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended (Thousands of Dollars, except per share amounts) June 30, June 30,

EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION SEGMENT

  2009       2008     Variance   2009       2008     Variance Operating Revenues $ 97,619     $ 126,154     $ (28,535 ) $ 281,410     $ 348,829     $ (67,419 )   Operating Expenses: Operation and Maintenance: General and Administrative Expense 6,849 5,924 925 22,465 18,676 3,789 Lease Operating Expense 11,775 14,964 (3,189 ) 36,944 41,112 (4,168 ) All Other Operation and Maintenance Expense 2,325 3,708 (1,383 ) 8,599 7,727 872 Property, Franchise and Other Taxes (Lease Operating Expense) 2,341 3,518 (1,177 ) 7,722 8,394 (672 ) Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization 23,472 23,249 223 67,159 70,098 (2,939 ) Impairment of Oil and Gas Producing Properties   -       -       -     182,811       -       182,811  

 

  46,762       51,363       (4,601 )   325,700       146,007       179,693     Operating Income (Loss) 50,857 74,791 (23,934 ) (44,290 ) 202,822 (247,112 )   Other Income (Expense): Interest Income 319 2,247 (1,928 ) 2,186 9,280 (7,094 ) Other Income - - - - 18 (18 ) Other Interest Expense   (7,905 )     (10,457 )     2,552     (25,452 )     (32,675 )     7,223     Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes 43,271 66,581 (23,310 ) (67,556 ) 179,445 (247,001 ) Income Tax Expense (Benefit)   16,188       26,790       (10,602 )   (29,190 )     71,060       (100,250 ) Net Income (Loss) $ 27,083     $ 39,791     $ (12,708 ) $ (38,366 )   $ 108,385     $ (146,751 )   Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Diluted) $ 0.33     $ 0.48     $ (0.15 ) $ (0.47 )   $ 1.28     $ (1.75 )     Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended June 30, June 30,

PIPELINE AND STORAGE SEGMENT

  2009       2008     Variance   2009       2008     Variance Revenues from External Customers $ 30,791 $ 32,054 $ (1,263 ) $ 105,904 $ 101,871 $ 4,033 Intersegment Revenues   20,033       20,131       (98 )   62,026       61,340       686   Total Operating Revenues   50,824       52,185       (1,361 )   167,930       163,211       4,719     Operating Expenses: Purchased Gas 8 (4 ) 12 137 (13 ) 150 Operation and Maintenance 16,690 16,462 228 50,546 50,877 (331 ) Property, Franchise and Other Taxes 4,281 4,007 274 12,789 12,539 250 Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization   8,750       8,344       406     26,416       24,629       1,787     29,729       28,809       920     89,888       88,032       1,856     Operating Income 21,095 23,376 (2,281 ) 78,042 75,179 2,863   Other Income (Expense): Interest Income 546 562 (16 ) 943 726 217 Other Income 175 1,124 (949 ) 3,192 2,545 647 Interest Expense on Long-Term Debt - - - - (31 ) 31 Other Interest Expense   (6,505 )     (4,350 )     (2,155 )   (14,760 )     (9,938 )     (4,822 )   Income Before Income Taxes 15,311 20,712 (5,401 ) 67,417 68,481 (1,064 ) Income Tax Expense   6,090       8,178       (2,088 )   25,835       27,550       (1,715 ) Net Income $ 9,221     $ 12,534     $ (3,313 ) $ 41,582     $ 40,931     $ 651     Net Income Per Share (Diluted) $ 0.11     $ 0.15     $ (0.04 ) $ 0.52     $ 0.48     $ 0.04     NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES             SEGMENT OPERATING RESULTS AND STATISTICS (UNAUDITED)   Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended (Thousands of Dollars, except per share amounts) June 30, June 30,

UTILITY SEGMENT

  2009       2008     Variance   2009       2008     Variance Revenues from External Customers $ 158,310 $ 217,339 $ (59,029 ) $ 1,009,962 $ 1,067,194 $ (57,232 ) Intersegment Revenues   2,940       3,154       (214 )   13,339       13,567       (228 ) Total Operating Revenues   161,250       220,493       (59,243 )   1,023,301       1,080,761       (57,460 )   Operating Expenses: Purchased Gas 80,505 137,949 (57,444 ) 681,989 735,259 (53,270 ) Operation and Maintenance 42,404 44,202 (1,798 ) 155,088 157,980 (2,892 ) Property, Franchise and Other Taxes 10,491 11,120 (629 ) 34,822 35,750 (928 ) Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization   10,010       9,625       385     29,670       29,452       218     143,410       202,896       (59,486 )   901,569       958,441       (56,872 )

 

Operating Income 17,840 17,597 243 121,732 122,320 (588 )   Other Income (Expense): Interest Income 430 326 104 1,349 688 661 Other Income 251 279 (28 ) 763 883 (120 ) Other Interest Expense   (9,728 )     (6,865 )     (2,863 )   (22,820 )     (21,770 )     (1,050 )   Income Before Income Taxes 8,793 11,337 (2,544 ) 101,024 102,121 (1,097 ) Income Tax Expense   3,397       3,489       (92 )   40,721       39,893       828   Net Income $ 5,396     $ 7,848     $ (2,452 ) $ 60,303     $ 62,228     $ (1,925 )   Net Income Per Share (Diluted) $ 0.07     $ 0.09     $ (0.02 ) $ 0.75     $ 0.73     $ 0.02       Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended June 30, June 30,

ENERGY MARKETING SEGMENT

  2009       2008     Variance   2009       2008     Variance Operating Revenues $ 71,894     $ 162,129     $ (90,235 ) $ 350,445     $ 440,111     $ (89,666 )   Operating Expenses: Purchased Gas 68,496 159,339 (90,843 ) 333,386 423,991 (90,605 ) Operation and Maintenance 1,412 2,384 (972 ) 4,568 5,170 (602 ) Property, Franchise and Other Taxes 6 9 (3 ) 22 32 (10 ) Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization   11       10       1     31       32       (1 )   69,925       161,742       (91,817 )   338,007       429,225       (91,218 )   Operating Income 1,969 387 1,582 12,438 10,886 1,552   Other Income (Expense): Interest Income 39 206 (167 ) 67 293 (226 ) Other Income 91 73 18 201 206 (5 ) Other Interest Expense   (14 )     (6 )     (8 )   (209 )     (133 )     (76 )   Income Before Income Taxes 2,085 660 1,425 12,497 11,252 1,245 Income Tax Expense   754       182       572     4,988       4,173       815   Net Income $ 1,331     $ 478     $ 853   $ 7,509     $ 7,079     $ 430     Net Income Per Share (Diluted) $ 0.02     $ -     $ 0.02   $ 0.09     $ 0.08     $ 0.01     NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES             SEGMENT OPERATING RESULTS AND STATISTICS (UNAUDITED)   Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended (Thousands of Dollars, except per share amounts) June 30, June 30,

ALL OTHER

  2009       2008     Variance   2009       2008     Variance Revenues from External Customers $ 8,269 $ 10,509 $ (2,240 ) $ 30,523 $ 44,002 $ (13,479 ) Intersegment Revenues   374       4,439       (4,065 )   3,890       10,251       (6,361 ) Total Operating Revenues   8,643       14,948       (6,305 )   34,413       54,253       (19,840 )   Operating Expenses: Purchased Gas 1,181 3,229 (2,048 ) 4,538 7,941 (3,403 ) Operation and Maintenance 8,748 12,632 (3,884 ) 28,151 33,388 (5,237 ) Property, Franchise and Other Taxes 385 410 (25 ) 1,140 1,277 (137 ) Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization   1,243       1,403       (160 )   3,918       4,609       (691 )   11,557       17,674       (6,117 )   37,747       47,215       (9,468 )

 

Operating Income (Loss) (2,914 ) (2,726 ) (188 ) (3,334 ) 7,038 (10,372 )   Other Income (Expense): Income from Unconsolidated Subsidiaries 627 1,561 (934 ) 915 4,866 (3,951 ) Interest Income 52 298 (246 ) 543 920 (377 ) Other Income 26 132 (106 ) 38 1,052 (1,014 ) Other Interest Expense   (560 )     (848 )     288     (1,921 )     (2,927 )     1,006     Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes (2,769 ) (1,583 ) (1,186 ) (3,759 ) 10,949 (14,708 ) Income Tax Expense (Benefit)   (1,683 )     (623 )     (1,060 )   (3,713 )     3,598       (7,311 ) Net Income (Loss) $ (1,086 )   $ (960 )   $ (126 ) $ (46 )   $ 7,351     $ (7,397 )   Net Income Per Share (Diluted) $ (0.01 )   $ -     $ (0.01 ) $ -     $ 0.09     $ (0.09 )   NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES             SEGMENT OPERATING RESULTS AND STATISTICS (UNAUDITED)   Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended (Thousands of Dollars, except per share amounts) June 30, June 30,

CORPORATE

  2009       2008     Variance   2009       2008     Variance Revenues from External Customers $ 228 $ 197 $ 31 $ 675 $ 496 $ 179 Intersegment Revenues   1,003       961     42     3,062       2,883     179   Total Operating Revenues   1,231       1,158       73     3,737       3,379       358     Operating Expenses: Operation and Maintenance 1,747 3,391 (1,644 ) 7,682 13,915 (6,233 ) Property, Franchise and Other Taxes 72 71 1 214 214 - Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization   173       173       -     521       517       4     1,992       3,635       (1,643 )   8,417       14,646       (6,229 )  

Operating Loss

(761 ) (2,477 ) 1,716 (4,680 ) (11,267 ) 6,587   Other Income (Expense): Interest Income 22,553 21,890 663 62,243 64,780 (2,537 ) Other Income 121 41 80 2,265 278 1,987 Interest Expense on Long-Term Debt (21,756 ) (19,468 ) (2,288 ) (57,357 ) (52,014 ) (5,343 ) Other Interest Expense   (306 )     (1,116 )     810     (2,824 )     (5,097 )     2,273     Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes (149 ) (1,130 ) 981 (353 ) (3,320 ) 2,967 Income Tax Benefit   (1,108 )     (1,294 )     186     (3,081 )     (2,809 )     (272 ) Net Income (Loss) $ 959     $ 164     $ 795   $ 2,728     $ (511 )   $ 3,239     Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Diluted) $ 0.01     $ -     $ 0.01   $ 0.03     $ (0.01 )   $ 0.04       Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended June 30, June 30,

INTERSEGMENT ELIMINATIONS

  2009       2008     Variance   2009       2008     Variance Intersegment Revenues $ (24,350 )   $ (28,685 )   $ 4,335   $ (82,317 )   $ (88,041 )   $ 5,724     Operating Expenses: Purchased Gas (23,221 ) (27,620 ) 4,399 (78,879 ) (84,838 ) 5,959 Operation and Maintenance   (1,129 )     (1,065 )     (64 )   (3,438 )     (3,203 )     (235 )   (24,350 )     (28,685 )     4,335     (82,317 )     (88,041 )     5,724     Operating Income - - - - - -   Other Income (Expense): Interest Income (22,479 ) (22,443 ) (36 ) (62,973 ) (68,331 ) 5,358 Other Interest Expense   22,479       22,443       36     62,973       68,331       (5,358 )   Net Income $ -     $ -     $ -   $ -     $ -     $ -     Net Income Per Share (Diluted) $ -     $ -     $ -   $ -     $ -     $ -     NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES             SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued) (Thousands of Dollars)   Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended June 30, June 30, (Unaudited) (Unaudited)   Increase Increase 2009 2008 (Decrease)   2009     2008   (Decrease)  

Capital Expenditures:

Exploration and Production (1) $ 34,517 $ 75,681 $ (41,164 ) $ 151,678 $ 140,543 $ 11,135 Pipeline and Storage (2) 7,020 49,094 (42,074 ) 34,854 106,204 (71,350 ) Utility 14,557 14,939 (382 ) 40,380 38,836 1,544 Energy Marketing   14

 

  6   8     25     21     4  

Total Reportable Segments

56,108 139,720 (83,612 ) 226,937 285,604 (58,667 ) All Other 2,931 108 2,823 3,005 1,303 1,702 Corporate 104 48 56 149 83 66 Eliminations   -   -   -     (344 )   (2,407 )   2,063   Total Capital Expenditures $ 59,143 $ 139,876 $ (80,733 ) $ 229,747   $ 284,583   $ (54,836 )

(1) Amount for the nine months ended June 30, 2009 includes $9.4 million of accrued capital expenditures, the majority of which was in the Appalachian region. This amount has been excluded from the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows at June 30, 2009 since it represents a non-cash investing activity at that date.

(2) Amount for the nine months ended June 30, 2009 excludes $16.8 million of capital expenditures related to the Empire Connector project accrued at September 30, 2008 and paid during the nine months ended June 30, 2009. This amount was excluded from the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows at September 30, 2008 since it represented a non-cash investing activity at that date. The amount has been included in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows at June 30, 2009.

DEGREE DAYS

            Percent Colder (Warmer) Than:

Three Months Ended June 30

Normal 2009 2008 Normal Last Year   Buffalo, NY 927 854 817 (7.9) 4.5 Erie, PA 885 821 762 (7.2) 7.7  

Nine Months Ended June 30

  Buffalo, NY 6,514 6,558 6,175 0.7 6.2 Erie, PA 6,108 6,064 5,737 (0.7) 5.7   NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES          

EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION INFORMATION

  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended June 30, June 30, Increase Increase 2009 2008 (Decrease)   2009   2008 (Decrease)  

Gas Production/Prices:

Production (MMcf) Gulf Coast 3,307 3,019 288 7,118 8,868 (1,750 ) West Coast 1,014 1,007 7 3,063 3,010 53 Appalachia   2,155   1,793   362     6,065   5,538   527   Total Production   6,476   5,819   657     16,246   17,416   (1,170 )  

Average Prices (Per  Mcf)

Gulf Coast $ 3.95 $ 12.17 $ (8.22 ) $ 4.90 $ 9.66 $ (4.76 ) West Coast 3.04 10.61 (7.57 ) 4.10 8.43 (4.33 ) Appalachia 4.11 11.53 (7.42 ) 6.06 9.25 (3.19 ) Weighted Average 3.86 11.71 (7.85 ) 5.18 9.32 (4.14 ) Weighted Average after Hedging 5.94 9.73 (3.79 ) 7.28 8.95 (1.67 )    

Oil Production/Prices:

Production (Thousands of Barrels) Gulf Coast 176 124 52 470 409 61 West Coast 654 598 56 1,984 1,825 159 Appalachia   14   23   (9 )   41   88   (47 ) Total Production   844   745   99     2,495   2,322   173     Average Prices (Per Barrel) Gulf Coast $ 56.29 $ 124.43 $ (68.14 ) $ 50.64 $ 103.46 $ (52.82 ) West Coast 55.77 114.35 (58.58 ) 46.84 94.64 (47.80 ) Appalachia 48.93 114.99 (66.06 ) 54.90 94.18 (39.28 ) Weighted Average 55.77 116.05 (60.28 ) 47.69 96.17 (48.48 ) Weighted Average after Hedging 67.19 89.55 (22.36 ) 62.67 79.97 (17.30 )   Total Production (Mmcfe)   11,540   10,289   1,251     31,216   31,348   (132 )  

Selected Operating Performance Statistics:

General & Administrative Expense per Mcfe (1) $ 0.59 $ 0.58 $ 0.01 $ 0.72 $ 0.60 $ 0.12 Lease Operating Expense per Mcfe (1) $ 1.22 $ 1.80 $ (0.58 ) $ 1.43 $ 1.58 $ (0.15 ) Depreciation, Depletion & Amortization per Mcfe (1) $ 2.03 $ 2.26 $ (0.23 ) $ 2.15 $ 2.24 $ (0.09 )

(1) Refer to the corresponding table above for the General and Administrative Expense, Lease Operating Expense and Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization Expense for the Exploration and Production segment.

  NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES      

EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION INFORMATION

  Hedging Summary for the Remaining Three Months of Fiscal 2009  

SWAPS

Volume

Average Hedge Price

Oil 0.3 MMBBL $83.12 / BBL Gas 2.3 BCF $9.44 / MCF   Hedging Summary for Fiscal 2010  

SWAPS

Volume

Average Hedge Price

Oil 1.4 MMBBL $77.83 / BBL Gas 13.0 BCF $7.22 / MCF  

Hedging Summary for Fiscal 2011

 

SWAPS

Volume

Average Hedge Price

Oil 0.6 MMBBL $66.54 / BBL Gas 9.1 BCF $7.31 / MCF   Hedging Summary for Fiscal 2012  

SWAPS

Volume

Average Hedge Price

Oil 0.4 MMBBL $62.95 / BBL Gas 7.7 BCF $7.50 / MCF    

Gross Wells in Process of Drilling

Nine Months Ended June 30, 2009

Total

Gulf

West

East

Company

  Wells in Process - Beginning of Period Exploratory 1.00 0.00 25.00 26.00 Developmental 1.00 1.00 123.00 125.00 Wells Commenced Exploratory 0.00 0.00 12.00 12.00 Developmental 0.00 26.00 146.00 172.00 Wells Completed Exploratory 1.00 0.00 2.00 3.00 Developmental 0.00 26.00 183.00 209.00 Wells Plugged & Abandoned Exploratory 0.00 0.00 3.00 3.00 Developmental 1.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 Wells in Process - End of Period Exploratory 0.00 0.00 32.00 32.00 Developmental 0.00 1.00 86.00 87.00    

Net Wells in Process of Drilling

Nine Months Ended June 30, 2009

Total

Gulf

West

East

Company

  Wells in Process - Beginning of Period Exploratory 0.29 0.00 24.00 24.29 Developmental 0.30 1.00 122.00 123.30 Wells Commenced Exploratory 0.00 0.00 9.50 9.50 Developmental 0.00 26.00 145.00 171.00 Wells Completed Exploratory 0.29 0.00 2.00 2.29 Developmental 0.00 26.00 183.00 209.00 Wells Plugged & Abandoned Exploratory 0.00 0.00 3.00 3.00 Developmental 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.30 Wells in Process - End of Period Exploratory 0.00 0.00 28.50 28.50 Developmental 0.00 1.00 84.00 85.00   NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES    

EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION INFORMATION

  Fiscal 2010 Financial & Operating Guidance     Total Production (Bcfe) 42 - 48     Production by Division (Bcfe)   Gulf 11 - 13 East 11 - 14 West 20 - 21

 

  Guidance Based on Crude Oil Average 2010 NYMEX Price ($/Bbl) (without hedges) of $75.00   Forecast price differentials   Gulf -$2.00 to -$8.00 East -$5.00 to -$7.00 West -$8.00 to -$11.00   Guidance Based on Natural Gas Average 2010 NYMEX Price ($/MMBtu) (without hedges) of $5.00   Forecast price differentials   Gulf $0.00 to -$0.20 East $0.00 to +$0.50 West -$0.75 to -$1.00     Cost and Expenses $ per Mcfe   Lease Operating Expenses $1.35 - $1.50 Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization $2.25 - $2.45 Other Taxes (% of Revenue) $0.10 - $0.20   Other Operating Expenses $8M - $9M General and Administrative $30M - $32M     Capital Investment by Division Number of Wells to be Drilled  

Gulf       $10M - $18M

0 - 2

East       $150M - $182M

160 - 220

West       $15M - $25M

25 - 45

Total      $175M - $225M

  NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES               Pipeline & Storage Throughput- (millions of cubic feet - MMcf) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended June 30, June 30, Increase Increase 2009 2008 (Decrease)   2009 2008 (Decrease) Firm Transportation - Affiliated 17,214 16,697 517 99,411 96,849 2,562 Firm Transportation - Non-Affiliated 43,584 51,566 (7,982 ) 205,590 186,255 19,335 Interruptible Transportation 501 1,540 (1,039 ) 3,558 3,844 (286 ) 61,299 69,803 (8,504 ) 308,559 286,948 21,611     Utility Throughput - (MMcf) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended June 30, June 30, Increase Increase 2009 2008 (Decrease)   2009 2008 (Decrease)

Retail Sales:

Residential Sales 8,468 8,618 (150 ) 55,001 53,881 1,120 Commercial Sales 1,221 1,334 (113 ) 8,984 9,197 (213 ) Industrial Sales 55 77 (22 ) 499 524 (25 ) 9,744 10,029 (285 ) 64,484 63,602 882 Off-System Sales - 1,711 (1,711 ) 513 4,790 (4,277 ) Transportation 10,747 12,086 (1,339 ) 52,476 55,966 (3,490 ) 20,491 23,826 (3,335 ) 117,473 124,358 (6,885 )   Energy Marketing Volumes Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended June 30, June 30, Increase Increase 2009 2008 (Decrease)   2009 2008 (Decrease) Natural Gas (MMcf) 14,634 14,641 (7 ) 50,459 47,189 3,270       NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES FISCAL 2010 EARNINGS GUIDANCE AND SENSITIVITY   Earnings per share sensitivity to changes Fiscal 2010 (Diluted earnings per share guidance*)

from prices used in guidance* ^

  $1 change per MMBtu gas $5 change per Bbl oil Earnings Range Increase Decrease Increase Decrease   Consolidated Earnings $2.30 - $2.60 + $0.08 - $0.08 + $0.08 - $0.08

* Please refer to forward looking statement footnote in this document.

^ This sensitivity table is current as of August 7, 2009 and only considers revenue from the Exploration and Production segment's crude oil and natural gas sales. This revenue is based upon pricing used in the Company's preliminary earnings forecast. For its fiscal 2010 earnings forecast, the Company is utilizing flat NYMEX equivalent commodity pricing, exclusive of basis differential, of $5 per MMBtu for natural gas and $75 per Bbl for crude oil. The sensitivities will become obsolete with the passage of time, changes in Seneca's production forecast, changes in basis differential, as additional hedging contracts are entered into, and with the settling of hedge contracts at their maturity.

NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES      

Quarter Ended June 30 (unaudited)

2009 2008   Operating Revenues $ 367,111,000 $ 548,382,000   Net Income Available for Common Stock $ 42,904,000 $ 59,855,000   Earnings Per Common Share: Basic $ 0.54 $ 0.74 Diluted $ 0.53 $ 0.72   Weighted Average Common Shares: Used in Basic Calculation   79,551,195   81,342,788 Used in Diluted Calculation   80,391,402   83,712,193

 

 

Nine Months Ended June 30 (unaudited)

  Operating Revenues $ 1,778,919,000 $ 2,002,503,000   Net Income Available for Common Stock $ 73,710,000 $ 225,463,000   Earnings Per Common Share: Basic $ 0.93 $ 2.72 Diluted $ 0.92 $ 2.65   Weighted Average Common Shares: Used in Basic Calculation   79,450,838   82,789,748 Used in Diluted Calculation   80,248,787   85,000,381    

Twelve Months Ended June 30 (unaudited)

  Operating Revenues $ 2,176,776,000 $ 2,304,533,000   Income from Continuing Operations $ 116,976,000 $ 259,757,000 Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax   -   123,395,000 Net Income Available for Common Stock $ 116,976,000 $ 383,152,000   Earnings Per Common Share: Basic: Income from Continuing Operations $ 1.47 $ 3.13 Income from Discontinued Operations   -   1.49 Net Income Available for Common Stock $ 1.47 $ 4.62   Diluted: Income from Continuing Operations $ 1.44 $ 3.05 Income from Discontinued Operations   -   1.45 Net Income Available for Common Stock $ 1.44 $ 4.50   Weighted Average Common Shares: Used in Basic Calculation   79,805,689   82,969,977 Used in Diluted Calculation   80,994,294   85,150,920