By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Sept. 11 -- Richard Stoneburner, Petrohawk Energy Corp.'s executive vice-president, exploration, has been promoted to chief operating officer, effective Oct. 1. He succeeds William Hahne, who is resigning after a short stint as chief operating officer following the company's merger with KCS Energy in July 2006.
Stoneburner is a 30-year veteran of the oil and gas industry. He is a founder of Petrohawk and is credited with leading the company's 3D seismic-backed Gulf Coast division to success through his overseeing of staff and drilling, and negotiating many joint ventures that supported production and reserve growth. His most recent area of responsibility has been strategic oversight of Petrohawk's plans in the burgeoning Fayetteville shale play.
Petrohawk's executive vice-president of Midcontinent operations, Weldon Holcombe, will continue to manage operations at Elm Grove and Terryville fields and the Fayetteville shale.
