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West Hawk Development Corp.: Natural Gas Drilling has Commenced at Figure Four

Tuesday December 19, 3:05 am ET

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(MARKET WIRE)--Dec 19, 2006 -- West Hawk Development Corp. ("West Hawk"), (TSX VENTURE:WHD.V - News)(FWB: H5N) through it's wholly owned subsidiary, West Hawk Energy (USA) LLC., is pleased to announce that the 24 hour notice for commencement of drilling operation was given to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, the lessors, and lessee on Friday, December 15th. Drilling of the first natural gas well on the Company's Figure Four property commenced over the weekend.

In accordance with the Drilling and Development Agreement signed with EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc., this well is part of an overall drilling program for the Figure Four Ranch property which could accommodate up to a total of 256 wells (based on 20 acre spacing). West Hawk will receive a 100% Net Royalty Interest (NRI) on the first earning well drilled in each of the 32 Quarter Sections of the eight square mile property. The remaining infill wells will earn between 50% and 75% NRI.

According to the NI51-101 report prepared by Gustavson Associates, the property contains an estimated probabilistic technically recoverable resource of 529 Billion Cubic Feet in the P50% category, from the Williams Fork formation. The initial well, along with subsequent wells in this drilling program are meant to test and produce from both the Williams Fork formation as well as underlying formations believed to contain additional natural gas resources. It is anticipated that production levels and tie-in data will be available from this well in late January.

"Drilling of this first well marks a significant milestone in the Company's development as we shift from purely an exploration Company to now becoming a producer of high-demand energy products" according to Dr. John Reeves, Jr., CEO of West Hawk Energy (USA) LLC, under who's guidance the drilling and development agreement was signed.

In other news, the Company also wishes to announce the granting of incentive stock options to directors, officers and consultants to purchase up to a total of 1,300,000 common shares in the capital stock of the Company, exercisable for a period of two years, at a price of $0.75 cents per share. For further information on this or other Company activities, please refer to www.westhawkdevelopment.com or call the Company.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Dr. Mark Hart, President, CEO

West Hawk Development Corp.

About the Company: West Hawk Development Corp. is focused on providing valuable, high-demand energy products from a variety of sources. Assets include the 500 billion cubic feet (as per NI51-101 report) Figure Four natural gas property located in the Piceance Basin, Colorado, being developed under a drilling and development agreement with EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.; the Fort Norman coal deposit in the Northwest Territories; the Groundhog coal deposit located in northwest British Columbia; and the Ellesmere Island, Nunavut Territory coal property.

Cautionary note: This report contains forward looking statements, particularly those regarding cash flow, capital expenditures and investment plans. Resource estimates, unless specifically noted, are considered speculative. The company has filed a National Instrument 51-101 Report on the Figure Four property. A National Instrument 43-101 report has been filed on the Groundhog property. Any and all other resource or reserve estimates are historical in nature, and should not be relied upon. By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on factors that will or may occur in the future. Actual results may vary depending upon exploration activities, industry production, commodity demand and pricing, currency exchange rates, and, but not limited to, general economic factors. Cautionary Note to US investors: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission specifically prohibits the use of certain terms, such as "reserves" unless such figures are based upon actual production or formation tests and can be shown to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions.

The TSX Venture Exchange has not yet reviewed and does not take responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

Contact:
Contacts:
West Hawk Development Corp.
Dr. Wm. Mark Hart
President and CEO
[phone]
[phone] (FAX)
Email: [e-mail]
Website: http://www.westhawkdevelopment.com



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Source: West Hawk Development Corp.