Petrohawk to survey drill sites at DeSoto airport
By Vickie Welborn • vwelborn@gannett.com • January 27, 2009 2:00 am


Buzz up! MANSFIELD — DeSoto police jurors granted Petrohawk permission Monday to survey the parish airport property for drilling locations.


Petrohawk paid for the right in July by giving the Police Jury $28.7 million to lease the 1,045 acres in and around the C.E. "Rusty" Williams Memorial Airport located between Mansfield and Grand Cane. However, during a meeting last week, the energy company was unable to provide specific information about the number of potential natural gas wells or how much income could be derived through royalty payments, which will be calculated at 27.5 percent.

"We asked them for a forecast in 2009 for DeSoto Parish but they didn't know," said Jeff Heard, chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee.

No one representing Petrohawk attended Monday's special meeting.

The Police Jury's unanimous vote allows Petrohawk access to the airport property and the land surrounding it, most of which is either covered in trees or set aside for industrial development.

Before any drilling can take place, Petrohawk must get approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to determine what areas would be off-limits because of air traffic and ground safety.

"They said this was new for them, too. They've never drilled at an airport site," Heard said.

Using a topographical map of the property, Heard pointed out areas beyond the runways that the company has eyed initially for drilling locations.

"They said they could probably put a well every 750 feet or so," Heard said. "But they will come back to use once they get their information from the FAA and tell us what they found out and provide us with detailed information on whey they want to drill."

The bonus money shelled out by Petrohawk is still in the Police Jury's investment account. Only a portion, estimated at approximately $1.4 million, has been set aside. The Police Jury has committed $750,000 toward planning and construction of an animal shelter, and an almost equal amount is needed to make all of the parish-owned buildings comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.


Buck