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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DSNfzCabDNEnbNTamChsKJSeIA1QyHg+gaCxDU6je8Sn7MbT3LqoEZk7ZdoUVQ9Z
 qe9OzsSd/z57NX/hWSTVpg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-10-001280.txt : 20100105
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-10-001280.hdr.sgml : 20100105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100105172020
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-10-001280
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Latch Charles W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001418142

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33334
		FILM NUMBER:		10508281

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 LOUISIANA, SUITE 5600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PETROHAWK ENERGY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001059324
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				860876964
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 LOUISIANA SUITE 5600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8322042700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 LOUISIANA SUITE 5600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BETA OIL & GAS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980407
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd261387.xml
<DESCRIPTION>RS RELEASE
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001059324</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PETROHAWK ENERGY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001418142</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Latch Charles W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 LOUISIANA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 5600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77002</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr VP - Western Region</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5906</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.99</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>73503</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>781</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Through 401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares withheld to satisfy withholding taxes applicable upon vesting of restricted stock grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David S. Elkouri, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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