FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * KANTOR GREGG S   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS CO [NWN] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) CEO (Last) (First) (Middle) 220 NW SECOND AVE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/29/2016 (Street) PORTLAND, OR 97209 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 02/29/2016   M   25,000 A $ 41.15 73,339.8224 D   Common Stock 02/29/2016   S   25,000 D $ 50.1509 (1) 48,339.8224 D   Common Stock 03/02/2016   F   1,624 (2) D $ 49.44 46,715.8224 D   Common Stock 03/02/2016   F   719 (3) D $ 49.44 45,996.8224 D   Common Stock               7,547.045 I See Footnote (4) Common Stock               4,129.5714 I See Footnote (5) Common Stock               200 I See Footnote (6) Common Stock               570 I See Footnote (7)

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Employee Stock Option to Buy

$ 41.15

02/29/2016

M

25,000

(8)

03/04/2019

Common Stock

25,000

$ 0 (9)

0

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
KANTOR GREGG S 220 NW SECOND AVE PORTLAND, OR 97209	X		CEO

Signatures

Shawn M. Filippi, Attorney-in-Fact		03/02/2016
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	This transaction reflects the sale of stock acquired on exercise of a stock option. This transaction was executed in multiple trades on reported date with prices ranging from $50.00 to $50.48, resulting in an average price of $50.1509. Northwest Natural Gas Company will provide upon request by the Commission staff or a security holder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares purchased or sold at each separate price.
(2)	Shares were withheld by the issuer to cover withholding taxes on issuance of shares due to vesting of restricted stock units. Organization and Executive Compensation Committee certification of satisfaction of the performance threshold and vesting for these restricted stock units was reported on Form 4 filed on February 26, 2016.
(3)	Shares were withheld by the issuer to cover withholding taxes on issuance of performance shares. Organization and Executive Compensation Committee certification of the payout of these performance shares was reported on Form 4 filed on February 26, 2016.
(4)	Shares have been credited to reporting person's account under the issuer's Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Executives.
(5)	Shares held in reporting person's account under issuer's Retirement K Savings Plan as of February 29, 2016.
(6)	Shares held in reporting person's parent's account, with respect to which the reporting person is Power of Attorney and a potential beneficiary.
(7)	Shares held in reporting person's parent's IRA account, with respect to which the reporting person is Power of Attorney and a potential beneficiary.
(8)	The option vested in four equal installments on February 25, 2010, and January 1, 2011, 2012, and 2013.
(9)	Option was granted as part of compensation for services. The option was exercised in a cashless exercise.

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