Harding University hosted the monthly Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission meeting on Sept. 23 in Cone Chapel. This meeting was open to the public and brought many interested parties to campus. The commission heard various cases concerning drilling in the state of Arkansas.

Dr. Jim Carr, Senior Vice President of Harding, welcomed the commission to Harding. He worked with the mayor of Searcy, David Morris, in getting the commission to consider Harding as a meeting location.

“It’s a great opportunity for our campus when we can host meetings like this. It gives us an opportunity to show off Searcy and Harding,” Carr said.

The six commissioners had 46 cases on their agenda to hear and vote on at the meeting.

Jim Rankin, an attorney representing SEECO, Inc. and BHP Billiton Petroleum, LLC. presented cases to the commission concerning well spacing areas in Cleburne and Faulkner counties.

“The commission’s purpose is to balance the rights of private landowners with the needs of the oil and gas industry,” attorney Jim Rankin said.

More information about the commission can be found at http://www.aogc.state.ar.us/.