RALPH E. DAVIS ASSOCIATES, INC.
Consultants-Petroleum and Natural Gas
3555 Timmons Lane - Suite 1105
Houston, Texas 77027
(713) 622-8955
CONSENT OF ENGINEER
We hereby consent to the reproduction of our audit report dated
October 19, 2000, and to the reference to our estimate dated October 1, 2000,
appearing in this National Fuel Gas Company Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We also consent to the incorporation by reference in (i) the
Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 2-95439), as amended, relating to the
National Fuel Gas Company 1983 Incentive Stock Option Plan and the National Fuel
Gas Company 1984 Stock Plan, and in the related Prospectuses, (ii) the
Registration Statements (Form S-8, No. 33-28037, No. 333-3055, and Nos. 2-97641,
33-17341 and 333-3057), as amended, relating to the National Fuel Gas Company
Tax-Deferred Savings Plan and the National Fuel Gas Company Tax-Deferred Savings
Plan for Non-Union Employees, respectively, and in the related Prospectuses,
(iii) the Registration Statement (Form S-3, No. 333-03803), as amended, relating
to $500,000,000 of National Fuel Gas Company debentures and/or medium term notes
and, in the related Prospectus, (iv) the Registration Statements (Form S-3, No.
33-51881 and Form S-3D, No. 333-51769), as amended, relating to the National
Fuel Gas Company Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, and in the
related Prospectuses, (v) the Registration Statement (Form S-3, No. 33-36868),
as amended, relating to the National Fuel Gas Company Customer Stock Purchase
Plan, and in the related Prospectus, (vi) the Registration Statement (Form S-8,
No. 33-49693), as amended, relating to the National Fuel Gas Company 1993 Award
and Option Plan, and in the related Prospectus, and (vii) the Registration
Statement (Form S-8, No. 333-51595) relating to the National Fuel Gas Company
1997 Award and Option Plan, and in the related Prospectus, (viii) the
Registration Statement (Form S-4, No. 333-74887), as amended, relating to the
acquisition of the assets of Cunningham Natural Gas, and in the related
Prospectus, (ix) the Registration Statement (Form S-3, No. 333-83497), as
amended, relating to $625,000,000 of National Fuel Gas Company debentures and/or
common stock, and in the related Prospectus, (x) the Registration Statement
(Form S-3, No. 333-85711) relating to National Fuel Gas Company Direct Stock
Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan, and in the related Prospectus, of the
reproduction of our report dated October 19, 2000, appearing in this National
Fuel Gas Company Annual Report on Form 10-K.
RALPH E. DAVIS ASSOCIATES, INC.
/s/ Allen C. Barron
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Allen C. Barron, P.E.
Vice President
Houston, Texas
November 13, 2000
