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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001254001-06-000018.txt : 20060104
<SEC-HEADER>0001254001-06-000018.hdr.sgml : 20060104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060104182150
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001254001-06-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051230
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060104

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EQUITABLE RESOURCES INC /PA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000033213
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION [4923]
		IRS NUMBER:				250464690
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 NORTH SHORE DR
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15212-5861
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4125535700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 NORTH SHORE DR
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15212-5861

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EQUITABLE GAS CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19841120

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			O LOUGHLIN JOHANNA G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001254001

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03551
		FILM NUMBER:		06509682

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O EQUITABLE RESOURCES
		STREET 2:		ONE OXFORD CENTRE #3300
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15219
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4125537760

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O OXFORD RESOURCES
		STREET 2:		ONE OXFORD CENTRE #3300
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15219
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001254001d20060104f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-12-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000033213</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EQUITABLE RESOURCES INC /PA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EQT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001254001</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>O LOUGHLIN JOHANNA G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>225 NORTH SHORE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PITTSBURGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15212-5861</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr VP, Gen Counsel and Sec'y</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>63661</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5815</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Savings Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3551</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Deferred Compensation</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option  (Right-to-Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.755</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-03-14</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-03-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>120000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>120000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option  (Right-to-Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.24</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-03-12</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-03-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>130000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>130000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option  (Right-to-Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.875</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-02-27</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-02-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>32500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>32500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option  (Right-to-Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18.375</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-02-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-05-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>14432</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14432</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option  (Right-to-Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>20.575</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-09-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-05-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9350</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9350</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">All securities (shares, stock options and/or phantom stock units) and exercise prices have been adjusted in this filing to reflect a 2 for 1 stock split effective September 1, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares withheld to pay taxes in connection with the Company's termination of its deferred compensation plans for employees as described in a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 16, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>JOHANNA G O'LOUGHLIN</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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