CONSOL Energy : Named Virginia Operator of the Year

PITTSBURGH, PA (October 17) - CONSOL Energy was recognized as the Operator of the Year during the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy-Virginia Oil and Gas Association annual awards program, Thursday, October 13.

Outstanding achievements by members of the Virginia gas and oil industry were recognized during the second annual awards program held in Abingdon, Va.

In addition to the Operator of the Year designation, CONSOL Energy's Virginia Gas Operations were also recognized with awards for Development and Innovation, Community Outreach and for its partnership with one of its Virginia contractors, Matney Construction. This is the second year the company has been named the recipient of the Development and Innovation award.

'At the core of our operations is a commitment to safety, compliance and continuous improvement,' said Anthony Johnson, CONSOL Energy Central Appalachia E&P asset manager. 'Being chosen to receive these awards further indicates the continuing commitment we have to our employees, the environment and to the communities in which we have operations.'

Central Appalachia Operations Manager Kevin Elkins agreed.

'These awards recognize our company and our employees for their successful application of our company core values to their work in the field,' Elkins said. 'Our employees deserve the lion's share of the credit for these awards.'

Johnson noted that the partnerships CONSOL Energy has forged with the various contractors with which it works in Virginia is another key to the company's success.

'Our contractors really stepped up this year, working with us in their commitment to safety and compliance,' Johnson said. 'Additionally they worked with us to control costs which further added to the successes we have been able to achieve.'

The Operator of the Year award recognized CONSOL Energy for initiatives aimed at achieving additional gains in safety, environmental and cost performance parameters, in response to recent market downturns. By engaging its contractors and vendors to deploy strategic performance initiatives, value driven innovation was the result and included enhanced completion techniques and strengthened contractor partnerships.

CONSOL Energy is the largest gas producer in Virginia. The various initiatives it undertook resulted in significantly improved operational performance and cost reductions, without negative impact to safety. The decisive changes driven by CONSOL Energy in Virginia allowed it to meet changing market conditions, improve production, and keep activity and investment in Virginia natural gas moving forward.

A new completion technique, SSI or Single Seam Isolation, which involves stimulating each coal seam individually, was in part what garnered the Development and Innovation Award for CONSOL. The company also developed technology and patented the process which allows for the monitoring and control of down-hole liquid levels and re-engineered GOB wellheads, which resulted in an increase in production.

The Community Outreach award presented to CONSOL recognized its active community outreach program which is aimed at creating awareness of the company, its role in energy production in Virginia, its impact on the communities in which it has operations and its role as a community partner. Additional community projects for which the company was recognized included those for its work with VOGA and the VCEA on development of a 4-H Energy Quiz Bowl program to be piloted in Virginia coalfield counties next spring; its implementation of a hotline which it used to respond to public inquiries as a result of House Bill 2058; and its involvement in pipeline safety awareness events and outreach programs.

Lastly, its partnership award with Matney Construction recognized the work CONSOL and Matney did to improve processes related to the installation of artificial lift systems resulting in efficiencies and cost savings in the development of natural gas resources in Southwest Virginia. Additionally, the company's work with CNX on water haulage has also resulted in savings and better resource management.

Several excellence awards were also presented at the meeting and recognized CONSOL contractor Western Construction Inc. as the Service Provider of the Year and Oakwood Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jeremy Cook for excellence in public safety. Cook and his department have worked side-by-side with CONSOL Energy officials, the Department of Forestry and others to extinguish forest fires that are potentially dangerous to the public as well as gas operations.

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About CONSOL Energy
CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNX) is a Pittsburgh-based energy producer, and one of the largest independent natural gas exploration, development and production companies, with operations centered in the major shale formations of the Appalachian basin. The company deploys an organic growth strategy focused on developing its substantial resource base. As of December 31, 2015, CONSOL Energy had 5.6 trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas reserves. CONSOL Energy is a member of the Standard & Poor's Midcap 400 Index. Additional information may be found at www.consolenergy.com.

Contact:
Cathy St. Clair - (276) 596-5035
cathyst.clair@consolenergy.com