When you first look at seeds, they are unassuming little things. Before germination, they don't tell us all that much aside from their outward appearance-–brown, oval, smooth to the touch. It doesn't really matter anyway. The important thing is that seeds, if nurtured correctly, can grow into something magnificent like a six-foot sunflower or an apple tree. Not everyone possesses the special touch needed to turn a humble seed into a vast orchard, but perhaps that is what makes a grand success so extraordinary.

Planting shale seeds

In early 2008, Gregg Robertson was on to something. Having been rooted in the industry for most of his life through his father, one of the first individuals on the Giddings Field scene, the English major and chief executive of Corpus Christi-based First Rock Inc. had a learned intuition-–one that was fixed on the Eagle Ford.

"I have always read all the scout reports on the counties that make up the Cretaceous Trend in South Texas, so I was aware early on of the drilling activity in Live Oak County which began in 2006 for several objectives other than the Eagle Ford," he says.

Looking at the project in terms of the "big picture," a habit instilled in Robertson by his father, Robertson began to research and map the area. Simultaneously, he looked for a partner that would agree to invest in a project that had not yet sprouted. Through a strong connection to Petrohawk Energy Corp. through longtime friends Dick Stoneburner, president, and Jana Beeson, senior geologist, an intrinsic partner for the seedling project emerged.

"Gregg brought us the trend concept in early 2008, specifically focused on the Live Oak/Karnes portion of the trend," says Charles Cusack, Petrohawk's vice president of exploration. "His established relationships and trust--combined with Petrohawk's emerging shale expertise--lead to a natural partnership."

With Petrohawk on board, the group got to work on preliminary musts: land acquisition and more comprehensive mapping of the prospect.

"We knew that time was of the essence in a play like this so we needed to move to assemble the leasehold before the competition knew what we were doing," says Cusack.

A plan takes root

In its preliminary stages, the project was all about mapping. Robertson and Beeson concentrated on developing a collection of area maps that would leave nothing in the prospect to chance-–appropriately dubbed "no shortcuts."

A key piece of the project came from a series of maps that Robertson's father had drawn up during the time he was working on the Austin Chalk and Giddings Field. Produced some 30 years ago, the maps showed their age. They had taken on a yellowish hue and were tattered and worn, maybe in an effort to show their maturity, their wisdom. The maps, lovingly referred to as "The Dead Sea Scrolls," emerged as a crucial component of the project.

"We had done our homework and once the lease blocks fell into place and Petrohawk made the financial commitment, the prospect was for real," says Robertson.

After the team had maps and leases in place, a location was chosen and a rig mobilized. "I drove out to the #1 STS location right after the rig moved in–-when I saw the derrick up, I knew the deal would work," says Robertson.

Sprouting of a giant

Robertson was at the Cotton Bowl as the Texas Longhorns were taking on the Oklahoma Sooners when he received a call with reports of a discovery. In recollection, given the thrilling Hawkville news coupled with a Longhorn win, he says the timing of the call couldn't have been more fitting.

The Hawkville discovery was announced on October 21, 2008. The well that opened Hawkville Field was the #1H STS 241. Drilled to a depth of 11,300 feet and hit with a 10-stage frac, the well's production rate debuted at 9.1 million cubic feet of gas equivalent per day–history in the making.

The team drilled several confirmation wells. The breakout well was followed up by the #1H Dora Martin, located approximately 15 miles from the #1 STS. Many wells now grace this core area of the Eagle Ford shale.

"We chose the Eagle Ford due to favorable infrastructure, workable surface and a political climate friendly to energy companies," says Cusack. "Since the discovery, the economic benefit to the respective South Texas counties and to the country is becoming rapidly apparent."

Reaping what was sowed

The year Hawkville was discovered, Petrohawk experienced a 39% increase in total production over the prior year, according to its 2008 annual report. However, getting to that point took many months of diligence, overtime, hard work and, in truth, some luck.

"While you always hope for the best, this greatly exceeded everyone's expectations," says Cusack. "This has been a once-in-a-lifetime discovery. It has been such a whirlwind of leasing and drilling activity that we have not had much time to reflect on the significance of it."

Each person involved in the project had an integral part to play in the overall success. The small project has now blossomed much larger than perhaps any of them had imagined possible. The team agrees that their huge success came from the trust and enthusiasm that was mutually felt by all involved.

"This project was led by people who are the best in the business," says Robertson. "They set out to find a new shale play and found one of the best in the world."

Furthermore, the discovery of Hawkville Field is the validation of a certain approach to business. "My father worked hard for 20 years building goodwill in the industry," says Robertson. "My involvement in the discovery of Hawkville Field is the culmination of my career, which has been devoted to the principles of cultivating relationships the way my father had taught me."

Now, the tiny seed of an idea he planted in 2008 has grown into a world-class field that many industry executives strive for. And for Robertson, this one orchard is all he needs.

"I would like to stay involved with Hawkville for awhile, but eventually the larger companies will take over the small ones like me, so it won’t be forever. I have no desire to climb any more mountains and I’m serious about retiring from the business," he says.

"Really."