-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QME2lhjFCxZheZH46zmb5or7+j9Y4nDIXi8SToVadz8wtcxrQMR/bP5NU0ph1dvb
 v+QvsqtPBzlxCCZu6JAIKA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950120-03-000560.txt : 20030911
<SEC-HEADER>0000950120-03-000560.hdr.sgml : 20030911
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030911161048
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950120-03-000560
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030911
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030911

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FELTZ STEPHEN P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001192778

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15973
		FILM NUMBER:		03892087

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		220 NW SECOND AVE
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97209

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000073020
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION [4924]
		IRS NUMBER:				930256722
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OR
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		220 NW SECOND AVE
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97209
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5032264211
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>feltzform4_911ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-09-11</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000073020</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NWN</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192778</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FELTZ STEPHEN P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>220 N.W. 2ND AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PORTLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97209</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>Treasurer and Controller</officerTitle>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock, $3-1/6 par value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-09-11</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1500</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>24.00</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>2916</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock, $3-1/6 par value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>69.023</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>See footnote</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock, $3-1/6 par value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>3.023</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>See footnote</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock, $3-1/6 par value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>1824.885</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>See footnote</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Option to Buy</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>24.00</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-09-11</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1500</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>1995-02-24</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2004-02-24</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>1500</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>0</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> Held by reporting person as custodian under the Oregon Uniform Transfers to Minors Act for Grant M. Feltz.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> Held by reporting person as custodian under the Oregon Uniform Transfers to Minors Act for Callista E. Feltz.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F3"> Held in reporting person's account under issuer's Retirement K Savings Plan as of 8-31-2003.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>C.J. Rue, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-09-11</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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