* Coal division produced 15.7 mln tons in 1st quarter
* Gas division produced 37.7 bcf in quarter
* Sees 157-159 Bcf of gas in 2012 v 153.5 Bcf last year
April 16 (Reuters) – Consol Energy Inc said on
Monday it expects to produce more natural gas this year than
last year, but gave no estimate for 2012 coal production because
two major mines have been idled.
The company said its 2012 gas production is expected to be
between 157 billion cubic feet (Bcf) and 159 Bcf. Last year,
Consol produced a record 153.5 Bcf as it ramped up production in
the Marcellus Shale region of the northeastern United States.
The Pittsburgh-based company expects second-quarter gas
production of about 37 Bcf to 38 Bcf. First-quarter production
was 37.7 Bcf, which was 13 percent more than the 2011 first
quarter.
Consol said it produced 15.7 million tons of coal in the
first quarter, but added it would not give a forecast for the
second quarter or full-year 2012 production, until idled
operations at its Blacksville, W Va. and Buchanan, Va. mines
have been restarted.
