-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 AOxGmVbZQQ1fS/xkuDS0poh1y+R0xB2iEwYfNl8pUs0hY2qTI1uoKwsL+hkPV4zL
 sQ3ZaS3XO0H4s4BMZaQXuw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209936-03-000001.txt : 20030611
<SEC-HEADER>0001209936-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030611151102
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209936-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030610
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030611

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATIONAL FUEL GAS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000070145
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION [4924]
		IRS NUMBER:				131086010
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 LAFAYETTE SQ
		CITY:			BUFFALO
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14203
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7168576980

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 LAFAYETTE SQ
		STREET 2:		10 LAFAYETTE SQ
		CITY:			BUFFALO
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14203

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PAWLOWSKI JOSEPH P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001209936

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03880
		FILM NUMBER:		03740638

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NATIONAL FUEL GAS CO
		STREET 2:		10 LAFAYETTE SQUARE
		CITY:			BUFFALO
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14203
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7168577082

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NATIONAL FUEL GAS CO
		STREET 2:		10 LAFAYETTE SQUARE
		CITY:			BUFFALO
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14203
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-10</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000070145</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATIONAL FUEL GAS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NFG</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209936</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PAWLOWSKI JOSEPH P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
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apInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9176</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1995-06-09</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-06-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>9176</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrE
xercisePrice><value>15.8125</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4500</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1995-06-09</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-06-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directO
rIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>15.75</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6348</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1994-06-15</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-06-15</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6348</value></underlyingSecuritySha
res></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">These entries are related to the exercise of stock options which would have expired on June 15 or 16, 2003 if not exercised.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Routine acquisitions under the NFG 401k Plan exempt under Rule 16b-3(c), a non-reportable transaction</footnote><footnote id="F3">Routine acquisitions under the NFG ESOP Plan exempt under Rule 16b-3(c), a non-reportable transaction</footnote><footnote id="F4">Routine acquisitions under the NFG Thrift Plan exempt under Rule 16b-3(c), a non-reportable transaction</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Joseph P. Pawlowski</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-10</signatureDate></ownerSig
nature></ownershipDocument>

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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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