<?xml version="1.0"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../4_X02.xsl"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType>    <periodOfReport>2010-01-15</periodOfReport>    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>    <issuer>        <issuerCik>0001059324</issuerCik>        <issuerName>PETROHAWK ENERGY CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>HK</issuerTradingSymbol>    </issuer>    <reportingOwner>        <reportingOwnerId>            <rptOwnerCik>0000936305</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>WILSON FLOYD C</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>1</isDirector>            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>            <isOther>0</isOther>            <officerTitle>Chairman of Board and CEO</officerTitle>        </reportingOwnerRelationship>    </reportingOwner>    <nonDerivativeTable>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-01-15</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>800</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>26.16</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>2926686</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-01-15</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>100</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>26.17</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>2926586</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-01-15</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>1400</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>26.18</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>2925186</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-01-15</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>2295</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>26.19</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>2922891</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-01-15</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>205</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>26.20</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>2922686</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-01-15</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>600</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>26.22</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>2922086</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-01-15</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>2000</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>26.24</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>2920086</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-01-15</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>300</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>26.25</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>2919786</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-01-15</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>1525</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>26.26</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>2918261</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-01-15</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>104</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>26.27</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>2918157</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-01-15</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>431</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>26.28</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>2917726</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-01-15</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>300</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>26.32</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>2917426</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-01-15</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>700</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>26.37</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>2916726</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-01-15</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>100</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>26.38</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>2916626</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-01-15</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>750</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>26.39</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>2915876</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-01-15</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>300</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>26.51</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>2915576</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeHolding>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>200000</value>                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>By GRAT</value>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeHolding>    </nonDerivativeTable>    <footnotes>        <footnote id="F1">These shares were previously reported as directly beneficially owned but were contributed to a grantor retained annuity trust on July 7, 2009.</footnote>    </footnotes>    <remarks>This report is three of three. The total number of shares sold by the reporting person on January 15, 2010 was 250,000.</remarks>    <ownerSignature>        <signatureName>Floyd C. Wilson</signatureName>        <signatureDate>2010-01-15</signatureDate>    </ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>
