CNX Gas Corporation has leased nearly 40,000 acres having Marcellus Shale potential in two separate transactions. These transactions raise the total acres held by CNX Gas in this play to 230,000 acres.

In the first transaction, CNX Gas has leased 20,000 largely contiguous acres from NiSource Energy Ventures, LLC, a subsidiary of Columbia Energy Group, in Washington and Greene counties, in Pennsylvania, and in Marshall County, in West Virginia.

"It is unusual in Appalachia to be able to lease such a large parcel from a single lessor," said J. Brett Harvey, chairman and chief executive officer of CNX Gas, "We are excited about this acreage because it is in close proximity to our existing Marcellus Shale program, which has been very successful in its early stages."

In the second transaction, CNX Gas has leased 20,000 acres from its majority owner, CONSOL Energy Inc. These acres, though not contiguous, are generally located in and around CONSOL's coal operations in Washington and Greene counties, in Pennsylvania and in Marshall, Monongalia and Wetzel counties, in West Virginia.

"The acres in the second transaction, though somewhat scattered, will significantly improve our footprint in what we believe is a key area for the future growth of CNX Gas," Harvey noted. "When combined with the acres from the first transaction, they have the potential to provide CNX Gas with many hundreds of additional Marcellus Shale drilling sites in an area where we have averaged about 3.5 Bcf in proved reserves per horizontal well for each of the first eight wells drilled."

Harvey added that the results of micro-seismic data analysis have enabled CNX Gas to begin utilizing approximately 40-acre well spacing for the horizontal Marcellus Shale program.

"Speaking for CONSOL Energy," Harvey added, "we're clearly excited about increasing the size of CNX Gas' Marcellus Shale position during this time of low gas prices. We expect to continue to spend capital to acquire acreage, so that we can accelerate drilling once gas prices rebound."