Harding Company - News and Events

June. 11, 2007

DBU REACHES AGREEMENT WITH HARDING COMPANY

DALLAS, Texas – Dallas Baptist University (DBU) has entered into an agreement with Dallasbased Harding Company, a privately held Texas corporation that has been exploring for and producing oil and natural gas in the southwest United States for more than 50 years. In early 2006, DBU administrators were approached by Harding Company, indicating the possibility of the University sitting atop the eastern edge of the region’s Barnett Shale, Texas’ largest natural gas field.

Early in the development of this relationship, DBU expressed concern in regard to the safety of such a venture and the effect that this might have on the neighboring establishments. Dr. Blair Blackburn, DBU Executive Vice President, remarked, “The University has a responsibility to determine that natural gas exploration on the DBU campus would not pose a safety threat to our campus community. While we are certainly excited about the financial opportunities a finding like this would provide for our university, the primary concern is to ensure that natural gas exploration does not negatively affect the environment nor the operations of the learning enterprise at DBU.”

The University worked with Harding and surrounding neighbors to balance the mineral rights owners’ right to drill, the property owners’ right to quality of life, and the nation’s need for alternative energy sources other than oil. DBU has agreed to natural gas exploration with Harding through written guarantees to protect against noise, safety, and environmental concerns. Harding is a locally-based family business with an excellent track record in all aspects of oil and gas operations, including exploration, production, and infrastructure development. Harding’s operations have consistently and strictly complied with all city ordinances, the rules of the Texas Railroad Commission, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Harding’s safety record over 50 years is regarded as unblemished among the energy industry.

Harding Company has a legacy for being strongly committed to environmental excellence and stewardship. Three generations of the Harding family have contributed to their stellar performance record of protecting the land with which they work. Harding takes responsibility to keep work sites free of any hazardous materials and to maintain purity of the surface and ground water. Air quality, sound attenuation, and protection of native wildlife and plant life are an intrinsic part of Harding's environmental commitment. Harding Company’s commitment to the health and safety of its employees, contractors, the properties in which they work, and the people of the communities in which they work is unparalleled. Based upon previous experiences of mineral rights owners, property owners, and civic officials in other municipalities, Harding has proven that safety is a core value of the company’s mission and that safety is never sacrificed by operational short-cuts or for more profitable outcomes. Contact: Blake Killingsworth 214.333.5167 blake@dbu.edu

To provide our surrounding neighbors an opportunity to learn more about natural gas exploration and Harding's plan for operations in the western region of Dallas, DBU hosted a Gas Exploration Informational Meeting open to the public on March 26, 2007. Local residents attended the meeting and heard from Harding Company representatives, including Stephen Smith, Vice President of Operations. Mr. Smith gave a detailed presentation and overview of the operation for guests and thoroughly answered all questions raised by attendees of the meeting.

According to Eric Bruntmyer, DBU Vice President for Financial Affairs, “Harding Company has a great reputation for establishing Barnett Shale gas developments in several other counties in Texas, and we are confident of the safety, service, experience, and professionalism Harding brings to the table.”

Recently, the City of Dallas staff recommended to the City of Dallas Planning and Zoning Commission that Harding Company be granted special use permits to begin drilling for gas at DBU. After much deliberation and fact-finding, the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously supported the recommendation of the City of Dallas staff to grant the special use permits.

Two sites for drilling at DBU have been selected and approved, one on the most northern section of the main campus property between DBU and Mountain Creek Lake and another on the DBU property across Keist Boulevard to the south of the main campus.

Hubert Martin, Jr., DBU Special Advisor to the President, commented, “The Lord in His providence knew that we would be going through this one day, and God allowed the two proposed drilling sites to be located in the northern and southern most areas of campus…it is a great possibility that many people will never know the drilling is taking place due to the distance of the sites from the center of the campus.”

Harding Company's drilling program focuses on the most modern technologies in the energy exploration industry, utilizing three dimensional (3-D) seismic instruments to view, predict, and maximize the production potential of the Barnett Shale reservoir. Harding employs horizontal and extended-reach well drilling which allows for the drilling of multiple wells from a single well site, thus requiring less surface sites in a given area.

For questions concerning this drilling project, please contact any of the following DBU administrative staff members: Dr. Blair Blackburn, Executive Vice President (214-333-5188); Hubert Martin, Advisor to the President for Business Affairs (214-333-5693); Eric Bruntmyer, Vice President for Financial Affairs (214-333-5160); Adam Wright, Assistant to the President for Advancement (214-333-5597); or Blake Killingsworth, Acting Director of News and Information (214-333-5167).

About Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University is a comprehensive Christ-centered university dedicated to producing servant leaders through the integration of faith and learning. With its main campus located in the foothills of southwest Dallas, a satellite campus located in Frisco, and an academic center located in Colleyville, DBU offers 57 undergraduate majors, 19 graduate degrees in a variety of fields, and two doctoral programs — a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. DBU provides nationally recognized programs in adult education and online education. More information about DBU can be found at www.dbu.edu or by calling 800-460- 1DBU or 214-333-5360.