<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001290913</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EnCap Equity Fund IV GP, LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1100 LOUISIANA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3150</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77002</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>620</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.55</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7576377</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by EnCap Energy Capital Fund IV L.P. and PHAWK LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents 310 shares of Common Stock granted to EnCap Energy Capital Fund IV, L.P. as compensation for David B. Miller serving on the Issuer's board of directors and 310 shares of Common Stock granted to EnCap Energy Capital Fund IV, L.P. as compensation for D. Martin Phillips serving on the Issuer's board of directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On May 26, 2004, the Issuer effected a reverse stock split of its Common Stock, whereby each holder of Common Stock on May 26, 2004 received one share of Common Stock for each two shares of Common Stock it owned, resulting in PHAWK, LLC (formerly Petrohawk Energy, LLC) receiving 7,575,757 shares of Common Stock for the 15,151,515 shares of Common Stock previously owned by it.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents 620 shares owned by EnCap Energy Capital Fund IV, L.P. and 7,575,757 shares owned by PHAWK, LLC (formerly Petrohawk Energy, LLC).  The reporting person disclaims any beneficial ownership of the securities owned by PHAWK, LLC or EnCap Energy Capital Fund IV, L.P. in excess of its pecuniary interest in such securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>EnCap Equity Fund IV GP, L.P., by EnCap Investments L.P., its general partner, by EnCap Investments GP, L.L.C., its general partner, by /s/ David B. Miller, Senior Managing Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

