**Exhibit 31.2**

 

**CERTIFICATION**

 

I, **Shane M. Bayless**,certify that:

 

1.               I have reviewedthis annual report on Form 10-Q of Petrohawk Energy Corporation (theCompany);

 

2.               Based on myknowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material factor omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, inlight of the circumstances under which such statements were made, notmisleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.               Based on myknowledge, the consolidated financial statements, and other financialinformation included in this report, fairly present in all material respectsthe financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company asof, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.               The Company’s othercertifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintainingdisclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and15d-15(e)) for the Company and we have;

 

a.               Designed suchdisclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls andprocedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that materialinformation relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries,is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during theperiod in which this report is being prepared;

 

b.              Evaluated theeffectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presentedin this report  our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosurecontrols and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report,based on our evaluation; and

 

c.               Disclosed in thisreport any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reportingthat occurred during the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter that has materiallyaffected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internalcontrol over financial reporting; and

 

5.               The Company’s othercertifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation ofinternal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and theaudit committee of Company’s board of directors:

 

a.               All significantdeficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internalcontrol over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adverselyaffect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financialinformation; and

 

b.              Any fraud, whetheror not material, that involves management or other employees who have asignificant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 
| Date: May 12, 2005 |                                                                        |
|-------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                    | By:                                                                         | /s/ **Shane M. Bayless** |   |
|                    |                                                                        |
|                    | **Shane M. Bayless**  Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and Treasurer |

 

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