Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On November 5, 2009, National Fuel Gas Company (the "Company") issued a press release regarding its earnings for the quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2009. A copy of the press release is furnished as part of this Current Report as Exhibit 99.
Neither the furnishing of the press release as an exhibit to this Current Report nor the inclusion in such press release of any reference to the Company's internet address shall, under any circumstances, be deemed to incorporate the information available at such internet address into this Current Report. The information available at the Company's internet address is not part of this Current Report or any other report filed or furnished by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In addition to financial measures calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the press release furnished as part of this Current Report as Exhibit 99 contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. The Company believes that such non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors because they provide an alternative method for assessing the Company's operating results in a manner that is focused on the performance of the Company's ongoing operations. The Company's management uses these non-GAAP financial measures for the same purpose, and for planning and forecasting purposes. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is not meant to be a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Certain statements contained herein or in the press release furnished as part of this Current Report, including statements 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" and "may" and similar expressions, are "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There can be no assurance that the Company's projections will in fact be achieved nor do these projections reflect any acquisitions or divestitures that may occur in the future. While the Company's expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and are believed to have a reasonable basis, actual results may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Furthermore, each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. 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;

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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. Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits

Exhibit 99 Press release furnished regarding earnings for the quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2009

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