News Brief

DNR and Mineral Board members seek more business for Louisiana from Oklahoma-based Energy Companies

Louisiana Mineral Board Secretary Marjorie McKeithen, Commissioner of Conservation James Welsh, and Mineral Board member Carol LeBlanc recently visited several energy companies in Oklahoma on April 18-19, 2007, as part of a series of meetings with energy industry officials from the top oil and gas producing states.

McKeithen presented recognition awards to five companies that all have investments and properties in Louisiana. The companies included Samson Contour Energy E & P LLC, EnerQuest Oil and Gas, Chesapeake Energy Inc., Petrohawk Energy Corp., and Palace Exploration Company. “We recognize that these companies have a choice about where to spend their investment dollars, and we want to make sure that they know that Louisiana appreciates their business, and that we want more of it.  One way for us to gain an edge on other oil and gas states is through good customer service,” McKeithen said.  The company’s representatives were also provided information packets from the Mineral Board and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which emphasize improvements that Louisiana has made to make doing business here better.

“I want to commend you for focusing on getting input from the operators, it makes for open lines of communications and our company appreciates your efforts in reaching out,” said Petrohawk Energy’s Senior Vice President Weldon Holcombe.  Petrohawk Energy operates in the Gulf Coast region and has existing natural gas properties in north Louisiana.

The agency’s other marketing outreach efforts have included companies based in Houston, Dallas and in Denver.

Petrohawk Energy Corporation's Senior Vice President-Mid Continent Region Weldon Holcombe (shown in middle) receives Secretary's Award in April 2007.