COMSTOCK RESOURCES INC
10-Q, 2000-05-10
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 10-Q


                                   (Mark One)
               QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                   [root] THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                                    --------
                      For The Quarter Ended March 31, 2000

                                       OR

              TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF
              THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED)
                                        -

                           Commission File No. 0-16741


                            COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



            NEVADA                                              94-1667468
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                            Identification Number)

           5300 Town and Country Blvd., Suite 500, Frisco, Texas 75034
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                          Telephone No.: (972) 668-8800


     Indicate  by check mark  whether the  registrant  (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant  was  required  to file such  reports),  and (2) has been  subject to
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No


   The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's  common stock, par value
$.50, as of May 10, 2000 was 25,375,198.






<PAGE>


                            COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.

                                QUARTERLY REPORT

                      FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2000

                                      INDEX






PART I.  Financial Information                                              Page

   Item 1. Financial Statements:

       Consolidated Balance Sheets -
            March 31, 2000 and December 31, 1999...............................4
       Consolidated Statements of Operations -
            Three Months ended March 31, 2000 and 1999.........................5
       Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity -
            Three Months ended March 31, 2000..................................6
       Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -
            Three Months ended March 31, 2000 and 1999.........................7
       Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..............................8
       Report of Independent Public Accountants...............................11

   Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
            and Results of Operations.........................................12

   Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risks.........15

PART II. Other Information

   Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K...................................16



                                        2

<PAGE>



                         PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION


                          ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


                                        3

<PAGE>


                    COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     ASSETS

                                                             March 31,   December 31,
                                                                2000         1999
                                                             ---------    ---------
                                                             (Unaudited)
                                                                 (In thousands)
<S>                                                          <C>          <C>
Cash and Cash Equivalents ................................   $     669    $   7,648
Accounts Receivable:
  Oil and gas sales ......................................      22,245       18,200
  Joint interest operations ..............................       3,381        5,415
Other Current Assets .....................................       1,675          909
                                                             ---------    ---------
         Total current assets ............................      27,970       32,172
Property and Equipment:
  Unevaluated oil and gas properties .....................       3,031        2,231
  Oil and gas properties, successful efforts method ......     610,243      581,247
  Other ..................................................       2,197        2,163
  Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization ...    (201,189)    (189,779)
                                                             ---------    ---------
         Net property and equipment ......................     414,282      395,862
Other Assets .............................................       6,669        6,939
                                                             ---------    ---------
                                                             $ 448,921    $ 434,973
                                                             =========    =========


                      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY


Current Portion of Long-Term Debt ........................   $      33    $     131
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses ....................      36,426       35,587
                                                             ---------    ---------
          Total current liabilities ......................      36,459       35,718
Long-Term Debt, less current portion .....................     260,000      254,000
Deferred Taxes Payable ...................................       2,829          261
Reserve for Future Abandonment Costs .....................       7,820        7,820
Stockholders' Equity:
  Preferred stock--$10.00 par, 5,000,000 shares
    authorized, 3,000,000 shares outstanding .............      30,000       30,000
  Common stock--$0.50 par, 50,000,000 shares authorized,
    25,375,198 and 25,375,197 shares outstanding at
    March 31, 2000 and December 31, 1999, respectively ...      12,688       12,688
  Additional paid-in capital .............................     115,353      114,855
  Retained deficit .......................................     (15,518)     (19,603)
  Deferred compensation-restricted stock grants ..........        (710)        (766)
                                                             ---------    ---------
          Total stockholders' equity .....................     141,813      137,174
                                                             ---------    ---------
                                                             $ 448,921    $ 434,973
                                                             =========    =========

</TABLE>



        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                        4

<PAGE>



                    COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)


                                                            Three Months Ended
                                                                  March 31,
                                                              2000       1999
                                                            ---------- ---------
                                                           (In thousands, except
                                                             per share amounts)
Revenues:
     Oil and gas sales ...................................  $ 33,071   $ 19,604
     Other income ........................................        72         30
                                                            --------   --------
              Total revenues .............................    33,143     19,634
                                                            --------   --------

Expenses:
     Oil and gas operating ...............................     7,386      5,894
     Exploration .........................................      --          664
     Depreciation, depletion and amortization                 11,712     13,441
     General and administrative, net .....................       495        434
     Interest ............................................     6,215      5,098
                                                            --------   --------
              Total expenses .............................    25,808     25,531
                                                            --------   --------
Income (loss) before income taxes ........................     7,335     (5,897)
Income tax benefit (expense) .............................    (2,567)     1,778
                                                            --------   --------
Net income (loss) ........................................     4,768     (4,119)
Preferred stock dividends ................................      (683)     --
                                                             --------  --------
Net income (loss) attributable to common stock............   $  4,085  $ (4,119)
                                                             ========  ========

Net income (loss) per share:
     Basic ...............................................   $   0.16  $  (0.17)
                                                             ========  ========
     Diluted .............................................   $   0.14
                                                             ========
Weighted average shares outstanding:
     Basic ...............................................     25,375    24,350
                                                             ========  ========
     Diluted .............................................     33,153
                                                             ========










        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                        5

<PAGE>


                    COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                       For the Three Months March 31, 2000
                                   (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                Deferred
                                                         Additional  Retained  Compensation-
                                   Preferred   Common     Paid-In    Earning    Restricted
                                     Stock     Stock      Capital   (Deficit)  Stock Grants   Total
                                   --------   --------   --------   --------   ------------ --------
                                                          (In thousands)
<S>                                <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>
Balance at December 31, 1999 ...   $ 30,000   $ 12,688   $114,855   $(19,603)   $   (766)   $137,174
  Restricted stock grants ......       --         --         --         --            56          56
  Value of stock options issued
     for exploration prospect ..       --         --          498       --          --           498
  Net income attributable to
     common stock ..............       --         --         --        4,085        --         4,085
                                   --------   --------   --------   --------    --------    --------
Balance at March 31, 2000 ......   $ 30,000   $ 12,688   $115,353   $(15,518)   $   (710)   $141,813
                                   ========   ========   ========   ========    ========    ========


</TABLE>















        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                        6

<PAGE>


                    COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)




                                                            Three Months Ended
                                                                 March 31,
                                                             2000        1999
                                                           --------    --------
                                                              (In thousands)

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
   Net income (loss) ...................................   $  4,768    $ (4,119)
   Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net
     cash provided by operating activities:
     Compensation paid in common stock .................         56           2
     Exploration .......................................       --           664
     Depreciation, depletion and amortization ..........     11,712      13,441
     Deferred income taxes .............................      2,568      (1,778)
                                                           --------    --------
       Working capital provided by operations ..........     19,104       8,210
   Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable ..........     (2,011)      4,719
   Increase in other current assets ....................       (766)       (870)
   Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and
     accrued expenses ..................................        839     (10,452)
                                                           --------    --------
       Net cash provided by operating activities .......     17,166       1,607
                                                           --------    --------

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
   Proceeds from sales of properties ...................         13         638
   Capital expenditures and acquisitions ...............    (29,377)     (3,433)
                                                           --------    --------
       Net cash used for operating activities ..........    (29,364)     (2,795)
                                                           --------    --------

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
   Borrowings ..........................................     10,000        --
   Principal payments on debt ..........................     (4,098)     (1,067)
   Dividends paid on preferred stock ...................       (683)       --
                                                           --------    --------
   Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities       5,219      (1,067)
                                                           --------    --------
       Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents .......     (6,979)     (2,255)
       Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period ..      7,648       5,176
                                                           --------    --------
       Cash and cash equivalents, end of period ........   $    669    $  2,921
                                                           ========    ========









        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                        7

<PAGE>


                    COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                 March 31, 2000
                                   (Unaudited)

(1)  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -

     Basis of Presentation -

     In management's opinion, the accompanying consolidated financial statements
contain all  adjustments  (consisting  solely of normal  recurring  adjustments)
necessary to present fairly the financial position of Comstock  Resources,  Inc.
and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of March 31, 2000 and the related results of
operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2000 and 1999.

     The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared pursuant
to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Certain
information and disclosures  normally  included in annual  financial  statements
prepared in accordance with generally accepted  accounting  principles have been
omitted pursuant to those rules and  regulations,  although the Company believes
that the  disclosures  made are adequate to make the  information  presented not
misleading.  These financial  statements  should be read in conjunction with the
Company's  financial  statements  and notes  thereto  included in the  Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999.

     The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2000 are not
necessarily an indication of the results expected for the full year.

     Supplementary Information with Respect to the Statements of Cash Flows -

                                                            For the Three Months
                                                              Ended March 31,
                                                              2000         1999
                                                             ------       ------
                                                                (In thousands)
     Cash Payments -
      Interest payments ..............................       $2,001       $5,191
      Income tax payments ............................         --           --

     Noncash Investing and Financing Activities -
      Value of vested stock options
      under exploration joint venture ................       $  498       $ --

     Income Taxes-

     Deferred  income taxes are provided to reflect the future tax  consequences
of  differences  between  the tax  basis of  assets  and  liabilities  and their
reported amounts in the financial statements using enacted tax rates.


                                        8

<PAGE>


                    COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (continued)


     Earnings Per Share -

     Basic  earnings  per  share  is  determined   without  the  effect  of  any
outstanding  potentially dilutive stock options or other convertible  securities
and diluted  earnings  per share is  determined  with the effect of  outstanding
stock options and other  convertible  securities that are potentially  dilutive.
Basic and diluted  earnings  per share for the three months ended March 31, 2000
and 1999 were determined as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          For the Three Months Ended March 31,
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      2000                               1999
                                          ---------------------------      -------------------------------
                                           Income               Per         Income                Per
                                           (Loss)    Shares    Share        (Loss)     Shares     Share
                                          --------  --------  -------      --------   --------   -------
<S>                                       <C>        <C>      <C>          <C>         <C>       <C>
Basic Earnings Per Share:
 Income (Loss)..........................  $ 4,768    25,375                $(4,119)    24,350
 Less Preferred Stock
     Dividends..........................     (683)      --                    --         --
                                          -------   -------                -------    -------
 Net Income (Loss) Available
     to Common Stockholders.............    4,085    25,375   $  0.16      $(4,119)    24,350    $ (0.17)
                                                              =======      =======    =======    =======

Diluted Earning Per Share:
 Effect of Dilutive Securities:
     Stock Options......................                278
     Convertible Preferred Stock........      683     7,500
                                          -------   -------
 Net Income Available to
     Common Stockholders and
       Assumed Conversions..............  $  4,768   33,153   $  0.14
                                          ========  =======   =======
</TABLE>

     New Accounting Standard

     In  September  1998,  the  Financial   Accounting  Standards  Board  issued
Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards  133,  "Accounting  for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging  Activities" ("SFAS 133") which has been amended by SFAS
137. The  Statement  establishes  accounting  and reporting  standards  that are
effective  for fiscal  years  beginning  after June 15, 2000 which  require that
every derivative instrument  (including certain derivative  instruments embedded
in other  contracts)  be  recorded  in the  balance  sheet as either an asset or
liability measured at its fair value. The Statement requires that changes in the
derivative's  fair value be  recognized  currently in earnings  unless  specific
hedge accounting criteria are met.

     The Company  periodically  uses derivatives to hedge floating interest rate
and oil and gas price risks.  Such derivatives are reported at cost, if any, and
gains and losses on such  derivatives  are reported when the hedged  transaction
occurs. Accordingly,  the Company's adoption of SFAS 133 could have an impact on
the reported financial position of the Company, and although such impact has not
been determined,  it is currently not believed to be material.  Adoption of SFAS
133 should have no significant impact on reported earnings, but could materially
affect comprehensive income.

                                        9

<PAGE>


                    COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (continued)


(2)  LONG-TERM DEBT -

     As of March 31, 2000 Long-term debt is comprised of the following:


                                                 (In thousands)
                  Revolving Bank Credit Facility   $ 110,000
                  11 1/4% Senior Notes due 2007      150,000
                  Other ........................          33
                                                   ---------
                                                     260,033
                  Less current portion .........         (33)
                                                   ---------
                                                   $ 260,000
                                                   =========



     The Company's bank credit facility  consists of a $250.0 million  revolving
credit commitment provided by a syndicate of banks for which Bank One, NA serves
as administrative  agent.  Advances under the bank credit facility cannot exceed
the borrowing  base. The borrowing base under the bank credit facility is $190.0
million.  Such  borrowing  base  may  be  affected  from  time  to  time  by the
performance  of the Company's oil and gas  properties and changes in oil and gas
prices.  The  determination  of the  Company's  borrowing  base  is at the  sole
discretion of the administrative  agent and the bank group. The revolving credit
line under the bank credit facility bears interest at the option of the Company,
based on the  utilization of the borrowing  base, at either (i) LIBOR plus 1.25%
to 2.0%,  or (ii) the  "corporate  base rate" plus  0.25% to 1.0%.  The  Company
incurs a commitment  fee,  based on the  utilization  of the borrowing  base, of
0.25% to 0.5%  per  annum on the  unused  portion  of the  borrowing  base.  The
revolving  credit line  matures on December 9, 2002 or such  earlier date as the
Company  may  elect.  The  Company's  bank  credit  facility  is  secured by the
Company's oil and gas properties.

     The Company has $150.0  million in  aggregate  principal  amount of 11 1/4%
Senior  Notes  due in 2007  (the  "Notes")  outstanding  as of March  31,  2000.
Interest on the Notes is payable semiannually on May 1 and November 1. The Notes
are  unsecured  obligations  of the  Company  and are  guaranteed  by all of the
Company's  principal  operating  subsidiaries.  The Company can redeem the Notes
beginning on May 1, 2004.

                                       10

<PAGE>



                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS







To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
 of Comstock Resources, Inc.:

We have  reviewed  the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheet  of  Comstock
Resources,  Inc. ( a Nevada  corporation)  as of March 31, 2000, and the related
consolidated  statements of income for the  three-month  periods ended March 31,
2000 and 1999, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the three-month
periods  ended  March 31,  2000 and 1999.  These  financial  statements  are the
responsibility of the company's management.

We  conducted  our  reviews in  accordance  with  standards  established  by the
American  Institute  of  Certified  Public  Accountants.  A  review  of  interim
financial  information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to
financial  data and making  inquiries of persons  responsible  for financial and
accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the objective of which is
the  expression  of an opinion  regarding the  financial  statements  taken as a
whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should
be  made  to the  financial  statements  referred  to  above  for  them to be in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

We have  previously  audited,  in accordance with auditing  standards  generally
accepted in the United States, the balance sheet of Comstock Resources,  Inc. as
of December 31, 1999,  and, in our report dated  February 18, 2000, we expressed
an unqualified  opinion on that statement.  In our opinion,  the information set
forth in the  accompanying  balance  sheet as of December  31,  1999,  is fairly
stated, in all material respects, in relation to the balance sheet from which it
has been derived.




                                                   ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP



May 5, 2000
    Dallas, Texas


                                       11

<PAGE>



ITEM 2:   MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION  AND  ANALYSIS  OF  FINANCIAL
          CONDITION  AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


Results of Operations

     The following table reflects certain summary operating data for the periods
presented:

                                                           Three Months Ended
                                                                 March 31,
                                                            2000        1999
                                                          -------      -------
     Net Production Data:
       Oil (Mbbls) ...............................            494          686
       Natural gas (MMcf) ........................          6,810        6,036
       Natural gas equivalent (Mmcfe) ............          9,774       10,155
     Average Sales Price:
       Oil (per Bbl) .............................        $ 29.00      $ 11.90
       Natural gas (per Mcf) .....................           2.75         1.89
       Average equivalent price (per Mcfe) .......           3.38         1.93
     Expenses ($ per Mcfe):
       Oil and gas operating(1) ..................        $  0.76      $  0.58
       General and administrative ................           0.05         0.04
       Depreciation, depletion and amortization(2)           1.16         1.31
     Cash Margin ($ per Mcfe)(3) .................        $  2.57      $  1.31
- ---------
(1)  Includes lease operating costs and production and ad valorem taxes.
(2)  Represents  depreciation,   depletion  and  amortization  of  oil  and  gas
     properties only.
(3)  Represents  average  equivalent  price per Mcfe  less oil an gas  operating
     expenses per Mcfe and general and administrative expenses per Mcfe.

     Revenues -

     The Company's oil and gas sales  increased $13.5 million (69%) in the first
quarter of 2000, to $33.1 million from $19.6 million in 1999's first quarter due
to higher oil and gas prices  realized  by the  Company in 2000.  The  Company's
average first quarter oil price  increased by 144% and its average first quarter
gas price  increased by 46% in 2000 as compared to 1999. The price  increases in
2000 were partially offset by a 4% decrease in the Company's oil and natural gas
production.  Production  in  the  first  quarter  of  2000  increased  11%  over
production  in the fourth  quarter  of 1999 of 8.8 Bcfe.  The  Company  hedged a
portion of its natural gas production in the first quarter of 1999.  Without the
impact of the hedge, the Company would have realized $1.85 per Mcf in 1999.

     Other income  increased to $72,000 in the first quarter of 2000 as compared
to $30,000 in 1999's  first  quarter due to an increase in interest  earned on a
higher level of cash and cash equivalents.

     Costs and Expenses -

     Oil and gas operating expenses,  including production taxes, increased $1.5
million  (25%) to $7.4 million in the first quarter of 2000 from $5.9 million in
the first quarter of 1999.  Oil and gas operating  expenses per  equivalent  Mcf
produced increased $0.18 to $0.76 in the first quarter of 2000 from $0.58 in the
first  quarter  of 1999 due to (i)  higher  production  taxes as a result of the
higher  oil and  gas  prices,  (ii)  the 4%  decrease  in oil  and  natural  gas
production  (on an  equivalent  Mcf basis) and the fixed nature of the Company's
lifting  costs  and  (iii) a higher  level  of  remedial  work on the  Company's
offshore properties.

     In the first  quarter of 2000,  the Company had no  exploration  expense as
compared to $664,000 in 1999's first quarter.  The Company did not drill any dry
holes in the first quarter of 2000.

                                       12

<PAGE>



     Depreciation,  depletion and amortization  ("DD&A")  decreased $1.7 million
(13%) to $11.7  million in the first  quarter of 2000 from $13.4  million in the
first  quarter of 1999  partly due to the 4%  decrease  in oil and  natural  gas
production. DD&A per equivalent Mcf produced decreased by $0.15 to $1.16 for the
three  months  ended March 31, 2000 from $1.31 for the three  months ended March
31,  1999 as a result of the  Company's  higher  cost Gulf of Mexico  properties
comprising a lower  percentage  of the Company's  total  production in the first
quarter of 2000.

     General and  administrative  expenses,  which are  reported net of overhead
reimbursements,  of $495,000 for the first  quarter of 2000 were 14% higher than
general and  administrative  expenses of $434,000 for the first  quarter of 1999
due primarily to an increase in personnel costs in 2000.

     Interest expense increased $1.1 million (22%) to $6.2 million for the first
quarter of 2000 from $5.1 million for the first quarter of 1999. The increase is
related to a higher  average  interest rate on the Company's  debt. The interest
rate on the Company's senior notes issued to refinance $150.0 million of amounts
outstanding  under  the bank  credit  facility  on April  29,  1999 of 11.25% is
significantly  higher than the 7.3% rate charged under the bank credit  facility
in the first quarter of 1999. The weighted  average annual interest rate for the
Company's  remaining debt under the bank credit  facility  decreased to 6.6% for
the first quarter of 2000 as compared to 7.3% for the same period in 1999.

     The Company  reported  net income of $4.1  million  after  preferred  stock
dividends of $683,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2000,  as compared to
a net loss of $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 1999. Net income
per share for the first  quarter was $0.14 on weighted  average  diluted  shares
outstanding  of 33.2  million as compared to net loss per share of $0.17 for the
first quarter of 1999 on weighted average shares outstanding of 24.4 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

     Funding for the  Company's  activities  has  historically  been provided by
operating cash flow, debt and equity financings and asset  dispositions.  In the
first three months of 2000,  the  Company's  net cash flow provided by operating
activities  totaled  $19.1  million,  before  changes to other  working  capital
accounts and the Company  borrowed $10.0 million under its revolving bank credit
facility.  The Company's  primary  needs for capital,  in addition to funding of
ongoing  operations,  relate to the acquisition,  development and exploration of
oil and gas  properties  and the repayment of debt. In the first three months of
2000, the Company incurred capital  expenditures of $29.4 million  primarily for
acquisition,   development  and  exploration   activities  and  reduced  amounts
outstanding under its bank credit facility by $4.0 million.

     The following table summarizes the Company's capital  expenditure  activity
for the three months ended March 31, 2000 and 1999:


                                                Three Months Ended
                                                     March 31,
                                                  2000      1999
                                                -------   -------
                                                 (In thousands)

               Acquisitions .................   $ 6,980   $  --
               Other leasehold costs ........     1,697       133
               Development drilling .........    12,403       565
               Exploratory drilling .........     4,419     2,416
               Offshore production facilities       273      --
               Workovers and recompletions ..     3,539       116
               Other ........................        66       203
                                                -------   -------
                                                $29,377   $ 3,433
                                                =======   =======


                                       13

<PAGE>



     The timing of most of the Company's  capital  expenditures is discretionary
with no material long-term capital expenditure  commitments.  Consequently,  the
Company  has a  significant  degree of  flexibility  to adjust the level of such
expenditures as circumstances warrant. For the three months ended March 31, 2000
and 1999,  the Company spent $22.3 million and $3.2  million,  respectively,  on
development and exploration activities.  The Company has substantially increased
its drilling  activity in 2000 and expects to spend an additional  $38.0 million
on development and exploration  projects in the last three quarters of 2000. The
Company intends to primarily use internally  generated cash flow to fund capital
expenditures other than significant acquisitions.

     The  Company  spent $7.0  million on  acquisition  activities  in the first
quarter of 2000.  The Company does not have a specific  acquisition  budget as a
result of the  unpredictability of the timing and size of potential  acquisition
activities.  The  Company  intends  to use  borrowings  under  its  bank  credit
facility, or other debt or equity financings to the extent available, to finance
significant  acquisitions.  The availability and attractiveness of these sources
of financing will depend upon a number of factors,  some of which will relate to
the financial  condition and performance of the Company,  and some of which will
be beyond the Company's control,  such as prevailing interest rates, oil and gas
prices and other market conditions.

     The Company  has a bank  credit  facility  consisting  of a $250.0  million
revolving credit commitment provided by a syndicate of banks for which Bank One,
NA serves as administrative  agent.  Indebtedness under the bank credit facility
is  secured  by  substantially  all of the  Company's  assets  and is subject to
borrowing base availability which is generally  redetermined  semiannually based
on the banks'  estimates of the future net cash flows of the  Company's  oil and
gas  properties.  The  borrowing  base under the bank credit  facility is $190.0
million.  Such  borrowing  base  may  be  affected  from  time  to  time  by the
performance  of the Company's oil and gas  properties and changes in oil and gas
prices.  The  determination  of the  Company's  borrowing  base  is at the  sole
discretion of the administrative  agent and the bank group. The revolving credit
line under the bank credit facility bears interest at the option of the Company,
based on the  utilization of the borrowing  base, at either (i) LIBOR plus 1.25%
to 2.0% or (ii) the  "corporate  base rate" plus  0.25% to 1.0%.  The  Company's
average rate under the bank credit  facility as of March 31, 2000 was 6.6%.  The
Company incurs a commitment fee, based on the utilization of the borrowing base,
of 0.25% to 0.5% per annum on the unused  portion  of the  borrowing  base.  The
revolving  credit line  matures on December 9, 2002 or such  earlier date as the
Company may elect.

     The  Company   believes  that  cash  flow  from  operations  and  available
borrowings  under the Company's bank credit  facility will be sufficient to fund
its  operations  and future growth as  contemplated  under its current  business
plan.  However,  if  the  Company's  plans  or  assumptions  change  or  if  its
assumptions  prove  to be  inaccurate,  the  Company  may be  required  to  seek
additional  capital.  Management cannot be assured that the Company will be able
to obtain such capital or, if such capital is  available,  that the Company will
be able to obtain it on acceptable terms.

                                       14

<PAGE>



ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISKS

     The Company's business is impacted by fluctuations in crude oil and natural
gas commodity prices and interest rates. The following discussion is intended to
identify the nature of these market risks,  describe the Company's  strategy for
managing such risks, and to quantify the potential  affect of market  volatility
on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

Oil and Natural Gas Prices

     The  Company's  financial  condition,  results of  operations,  and capital
resources are highly dependent upon the prevailing  market prices of, and demand
for,  oil  and  natural  gas.  These  commodity   prices  are  subject  to  wide
fluctuations  and market  uncertainties  due to a variety  of  factors  that are
beyond the control of the  Company.  These  factors  include the level of global
demand for petroleum,  foreign supply of oil and gas, the  establishment  of and
compliance  with  production   quotas  by   oil-exporting   countries,   weather
conditions,  the  price and  availability  of  alternative  fuels,  and  overall
economic  conditions,  both foreign and  domestic.  It is  impossible to predict
future oil and gas prices with any degree of  certainty.  Sustained  weakness in
oil and gas prices may adversely  affect the Company's  financial  condition and
results  of  operations,  and may  also  reduce  the  amount  of net oil and gas
reserves that the Company can produce economically. Any reduction in oil and gas
reserves,  including  reductions due to price fluctuations,  can have an adverse
affect on the  Company's  ability  to obtain  capital  for its  exploration  and
development  activities.  Similarly,  any improvements in oil and gas prices can
have a  favorable  impact  on the  Company's  financial  condition,  results  of
operations and capital  resources.  Based on the Company's volume of oil and gas
production  in the first quarter of 2000, a $1.00 change in the price per barrel
of oil would  result in a change in the  Company's  cash flow for such period of
approximately  $500,000  and a $0.10  change in the price per Mcf of natural gas
would result in a change in the Company's cash flow of approximately $600,000.

     The Company  periodically has utilized hedging transactions with respect to
a portion  of its oil and gas  production  to  mitigate  its  exposure  to price
fluctuations.  While the use of these hedging  arrangements  limits the downside
risk of price  declines,  such use may also  limit  any  benefits  which  may be
derived  from price  increases.  The Company  has  primarily  used price  swaps,
whereby  monthly  settlements  are  based  on  differences  between  the  prices
specified  in the  instruments  and the  settlement  prices of  certain  futures
contracts  quoted on the NYMEX or certain  other  indices.  Generally,  when the
applicable  settlement  price is less than the price  specified in the contract,
the Company receives a settlement from the counterparty based on the difference.
Similarly,  when the  applicable  settlement  price is higher than the specified
price,  the Company pays the counterparty  based on the difference.  The Company
did not hedge any of its oil or gas  production in the first quarter of 2000 and
currently has no open positions relating to its oil and natural gas production.

Interest Rates

     The Company's  outstanding long-term debt under its bank credit facility of
$110.0  million  at March  31,  2000 is  subject  to  floating  market  rates of
interest.  Borrowings  under the credit  facility bear interest at a fluctuating
rate that is linked to LIBOR.  Any increases in these interest rates can have an
adverse impact on the Company's results of operations and cash flow. The Company
has entered into interest  rate swap  agreements to hedge the impact of interest
rate changes on a portion of its floating rate debt.  As of March 31, 2000,  the
Company has interest rate swaps with a notional  amount of $100.0  million which
fixed the LIBOR rate at an average rate of 5.0%  through  September  2000.  As a
result of the  interest  rate  swaps in place,  the  Company  realized a gain of
$257,000  for the three  months  ended  March 31,  2000.  The fair  value of the
Company's open interest rate swap contracts as of March 31, 2000 was an asset of
$755,000.

                                       15

<PAGE>


                           PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 6: EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

a.   Exhibits
       10.1*  Amended and Restated  Credit  Agreement  dated as of May 5, 2000,
              between the Company, the Banks Party thereto and Bank One, NA, as
              Administrative   Agent,   Toronto  Dominion  (Texas),   Inc.,  as
              Syndication Agent,  Paribas,  as Documentation Agent and Banc One
              Capital Markets, as Lead Arranger.
       27.*   Financial Data Schedule for the Three Months ended March 31, 2000.
- -------------
* Filed herewith.


b.   Reports on Form 8-K

     There were no current reports on Form 8-K filed during the first quarter of
     2000 and to the date of this filing.

                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                           COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.


Date  May 10, 2000             /s/M. JAY ALLISON
      ------------             -----------------
                               M. Jay Allison, Chairman, President and Chief
                               Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

Date  May 10, 2000             /s/ROLAND O. BURNS
      ------------             ------------------
                               Roland O. Burns, Senior Vice President,
                               Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer
                                  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


                                       16


                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                             dated as of May 5, 2000


                                     between

                            COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.,

                            COMSTOCK OIL & GAS, INC.,

                      COMSTOCK OIL & GAS - LOUISIANA, INC.,

                             COMSTOCK OFFSHORE, LLC,


                                       and

                             THE BANKS PARTY HERETO,

                     BANK ONE, NA, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT,

              TORONTO DOMINION (TEXAS), INC., AS SYNDICATION AGENT

                                       AND

                         PARIBAS, AS DOCUMENTATION AGENT

                     BANC ONE CAPITAL MARKETS, LEAD ARRANGER



                                       E-1

<PAGE>


                      AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT


     THIS AGREEMENT,  dated as of May 5, 2000, is among COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
a Nevada  corporation  ("CRI"),  COMSTOCK OIL & GAS, INC., a Nevada  corporation
("COG"),  COMSTOCK OIL & GAS - LOUISIANA,  INC., a Nevada corporation  ("COGL"),
COMSTOCK  OFFSHORE,  LLC, a Nevada limited liability company  ("Offshore") (CRI,
COG,  COGL and  Offshore  may  hereinafter  collectively  be  referred to as the
"Borrowers"),  the lenders  party  hereto from time to time  (collectively,  the
"Banks" and individually,  a "Bank"),  PARIBAS,  as documentation  agent for the
Banks (in such capacity, the "Documentation  Agent"),  TORONTO DOMINION (TEXAS),
INC., as  syndication  agent for the Banks (in such capacity,  the  "Syndication
Agent")  and BANK  ONE,  NA,  as  administrative  agent  for the  Banks (in such
capacity, the "Agent").

                                    RECITALS

     A. The Borrowers, the banks party thereto,  Paribas, as documentation agent
for such banks,  Toronto Dominion  (Texas),  Inc., as syndication agent for such
banks,  and Bank One, NA,  formerly known as The First National Bank of Chicago,
as agent for such banks, executed an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated
as of December 3, 1999 (the  "Existing  Credit  Agreement"),  which  amended and
restated an Amended and Restated  Credit  Agreement  dated as of  September  10,
1999,  which in turn amended and restated a Credit  Agreement  dated as of April
29,  1999,  which in turn amended and  restated a Credit  Agreement  dated as of
December  23,  1998,  which in turn  amended  and  restated  a Credit  Agreement
September 24, 1998,  which in turn amended and restated a Credit Agreement dated
December 9, 1997, which in turn amended and restated a Credit Agreement dated as
of August 13, 1996,  which in turn amended and restated a Credit Agreement dated
as of May 1, 1996,  which in turn amended and restated a Credit  Agreement dated
as of July 31, 1995, which in turn amended and restated a Credit Agreement dated
as of September 30, 1994,  as amended,  and which in turn amended and restated a
Credit Agreement dated as of November 15, 1993, as amended.

     B. The  Borrowers  have  requested  that the Banks  amend and  restate  the
Existing  Credit  Agreement as herein  provided,  replacing and  refinancing the
indebtedness  thereunder with a secured  revolving  credit facility  terminating
December 9, 2002 providing for revolving credit loans in the aggregate principal
amount of up to  $250,000,000  (subject  to  limitations  imposed by a Borrowing
Base),  including a $5,000,000 letter of credit  subfacility  participated in by
all the Banks,  and the Banks are willing to establish such a credit facility in
favor of the  Borrowers and amend and restate the Existing  Credit  Agreement on
the terms and conditions herein set forth.

                                    AGREEMENT

     In  consideration  of the  premises  and of the  mutual  agreements  herein
contained,  the parties hereto agree that the Existing Credit Agreement shall be
amended and restated as follows:


                                       E-2

<PAGE>


     SECTION 1. Definitions

     1.1 Certain  Definitions . As used herein,  the following  terms shall have
the following respective meanings:

     "Advances" shall mean any Loan or any Letter of Credit Advance.

     "Advance  Date"  shall  mean  each  date for the  making,  continuation  or
conversion of an Advance as specified in the notice  delivered by the Borrowers,
or any of them, permitted by this Agreement.

     "Affiliate",  when used with  respect  to any  Person  shall mean any other
Person which,  directly or indirectly,  controls or is controlled by or is under
common control with such Person or any other Person which is owned 5% or more by
such Person or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate of such Person. For purposes of
this  definition  "control"  (including  the  correlative  meanings of the terms
"controlled  by" and "under common control  with"),  with respect to any Person,
shall mean possession,  directly or indirectly,  of the power to direct or cause
the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities or otherwise.

     "Applicable  Margin"  shall  mean,  with  respect to any  Eurodollar  Loan,
Floating Rate Loan and commitment fee payable under Section 4.3(a),  as the case
may be, the  applicable  percentage  set forth in the table  below  based upon a
fraction,  expressed  as a  percentage,  determined  as of the  last day of each
calendar  month,  the  numerator  of which is the daily  average of the Advances
outstanding during such calendar month and the denominator of which is the daily
average of the  Borrowing  Base during  such  calendar  month (the  "Utilization
Percentage"):

Utilization Percentage        Eurodollar                            Commitment
"UP"                       Rate Loan and Letter    Floating Rate    Fee under
                             of Credit Fee            Loan        Section 4.3(a)
- ----------------------     --------------------    -------------  --------------
UP>90%                           2.00%                1.00%            0.50%
  -
UP>75% and <90%                  1.75%                0.75%            0.375%
  -
UP>50% and <75%                  1.50%                0.50%            0.375%
  -
UP<50%                           1.25%                0.25%            0.25%


The Utilization  Percentage  shall be determined by the Agent at the end of each
calendar  month and shall remain in effect for the following  calendar  month of
CRI, and the Agent shall adjust the Applicable  Margin upon such  determination,
provided that the Agent shall also determine the Utilization Percentage promptly
after any public  offering  of common  stock of CRI and  adjust  the  Applicable
Margin upon such  determination.  Notwithstanding  the above or anything else in
this  Agreement,  upon and during the  continuance of any Event of Default,  the
Applicable  Margin shall be 1.875% with respect to any Eurodollar  Loan,  0.875%


                                       E-3

<PAGE>


with respect to any Floating Rate Loan and 0.50% with respect to any  commitment
fee payable  under Section  4.3(a).  As of the Effective  Date,  the  Applicable
Margin shall be based on a UP>50% and <75%.

     "Bank   Obligations"   shall  mean  all   indebtedness,   obligations   and
liabilities,  whether now or hereafter arising, of the Borrowers to the Agent or
any Bank pursuant to any of the Loan Documents.

     "Bank One" shall mean Bank One, NA, (main office  Chicago),  formerly known
as The First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking association, as a Bank
under this Agreement.

     "Borrowing  Base" shall mean an amount  determined in  accordance  with the
procedures  described in Section 9.14, and based upon the Agent's and the Banks'
customary and standard practices in lending to oil and gas companies  generally,
including without limitation their standard engineering criteria and oil and gas
lending  criteria  (and it is  acknowledged  and agreed that such  customary and
standard practices,  including without limitation such engineering  criteria and
oil and gas lending criteria, shall be determined by the Agent and each Bank, as
the case may be,  in their  sole  discretion,  and such  determination  shall be
conclusive and binding).

     "Borrowing Base Deficiency" is defined in Section 4.1(c).

     "Business  Day" shall mean (i) with  respect to any  borrowing,  payment or
rate  selection of Eurodollar  Loans, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on
which  banks  generally  are open in  Chicago  and New York for the  conduct  of
substantially all of their commercial  lending  activities and on which dealings
in United States dollars are carried on in the London  interbank market and (ii)
for all other  purposes,  a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks
generally  are open in Chicago  for the  conduct of  substantially  all of their
commercial lending activities.

     "Capital  Expenditures" shall mean, without  duplication,  any expenditures
for any purchase or other  acquisition of any asset which would be classified as
a  fixed  or  capital  asset  on a  consolidated  balance  sheet  of CRI and its
Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP.

     "Capital Stock" shall mean (i) in the case of any corporation,  all capital
stock and any securities  exchangeable  for or  convertible  into capital stock,
including  without  limitation  the  Preferred  Stock,  (ii)  in the  case of an
association or business entity, any and all shares,  interests,  participations,
rights or other  equivalents of corporate  stock  (however  designated) in or to
such  association  or  entity,  (iii) in the case of a  partnership  or  limited
liability  company,  partnership  or membership  interests  (whether  general or
limited) and (iv) any other interest or  participation  that confers on a Person
the right to receive a share of the  profits and losses of, or  distribution  of
assets of, the issuing  Person,  and  including,  in all of the foregoing  cases
described in clauses (i),  (ii),  (iii) or (iv),  any warrants,  rights or other
options to purchase or otherwise  acquire any of the interests  described in any
of the foregoing cases.

     "Change in Control" shall mean (a) the acquisition by any Person, or two or
more Persons acting in concert,  of beneficial  ownership (within the meaning of


                                       E-4

<PAGE>


Rule  13d-3 of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  under the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of voting stock
of CRI, (b) COG, COGL,  Offshore or any other present or future  Borrower (other
than CRI) or Subsidiary shall cease to be a wholly-owned Subsidiary, directly or
indirectly,  of CRI or (c) the Board of  Directors of CRI shall not consist of a
majority of the Continuing Directors of CRI.

     "Code" shall mean the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended from time
to time, and the regulations thereunder.

     "Collateral"  shall have the  meaning  ascribed  thereto in Section  5.1(a)
hereof.

     "Commitments" shall mean, with respect to each Bank, the commitment of such
Bank to make Loans and assume a risk  participation in Letter of Credit Advances
pursuant to  Sections  2.1(a) and (b), in amounts  not  exceeding  in  aggregate
principal amount outstanding at any time the lesser of (i) the respective stated
Commitment  amount  for such Bank set forth next to the name of such Bank on the
signature pages hereof or established  pursuant to Section 10.6, as the case may
be, as such  amount may be reduced  from time to time or (ii) the Pro Rata Share
of such Bank of the Elected Borrowing Limit in effect from time to time.

     "Consent and  Amendment of Security  Documents"  shall mean the consent and
amendment  of security  documents  entered into by the  Borrowers  and the Agent
pursuant to this Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit A, as amended or
modified from time to time.

     "Consolidated"  or  "consolidated"  shall mean, when used with reference to
any financial term in this  Agreement,  the aggregate for two or more Persons of
the  amount  signified  by  such  term  for all  such  Persons  determined  on a
consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

     "Consolidated  Interest Expense" shall mean, for any period, total interest
and  related  expense  (including,  without  limitation,  that  portion  of  any
capitalized lease obligation attributable to interest expense in conformity with
GAAP,  amortization  of debt discount,  all capitalized  interest,  the interest
portion of any deferred  payment  obligations,  all  commissions,  discounts and
other fees and  charges  owed with  respect  to  letters  of credit and  bankers
acceptance  financing,  the net costs and net payments  under any interest  rate
hedging,  cap or similar agreement or arrangement,  prepayment  charges,  agency
fees,  administrative  fees,  commitment fees and capitalized  transaction costs
allocated   to  interest   expense)  and  all   dividends,   payments  or  other
distributions in respect to any class of Capital Stock or any dividend,  payment
or  distribution  in connection  with the  redemption,  repurchase,  defeasance,
conversion,  retirement or other  acquisition,  directly or  indirectly,  of any
shares of Capital Stock (excluding any of the foregoing paid solely in shares of
common  stock of CRI) paid,  payable  or accrued  during  such  period,  without
duplication for any period, with respect to all outstanding  Indebtedness of CRI
and its Subsidiaries and all Capital Stock of CRI, all as determined for CRI and
its  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis for such period in accordance  with
GAAP.


                                       E-5

<PAGE>


     "Consolidated Net Income" shall mean, for any period, the net income of CRI
and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined in accordance with GAAP.

     "Contingent  Liabilities"  of any Person  shall mean,  as of any date,  all
obligations  of such Person or of others for which such  Person is  contingently
liable, as obligor, guarantor, surety or in any other capacity, or in respect of
which  obligations such Person assures a creditor against loss or agrees to take
any action to prevent  any such loss  (other  than  endorsements  of  negotiable
instruments   for   collection   in  the   ordinary   course  of  business   and
indemnifications  typical and customary in the ordinary  course of such Person's
oil  and  gas  business  in  connection  with  operating  agreements  and  other
agreements  executed  in the  ordinary  course  of  such  Person's  oil  and gas
business),  including without  limitation all reimbursement  obligations of such
Person in respect of any letters of credit,  surety bonds or similar obligations
and all  obligations of such Person to advance funds to, or to purchase  assets,
property or services  from,  any other Person in order to maintain the financial
condition of such other Person.

     "Continuing  Directors"  of any  Person  shall mean the  directors  of such
Person on the  Effective  Date and each other  director  of such  Person if such
other  director's  nomination  for  election to the Board of  Directors  of such
Person is  recommended  by a majority of the then  Continuing  Directors of such
Board of Directors or the holders of the Preferred  Stock or of shares issued in
conversion or redemption of the Preferred Stock.

     "Current  Assets"  and  "Current  Liabilities"  shall  mean all  assets  or
liabilities of CRI and its Subsidiaries,  on a consolidated basis  respectively,
which  should be  classified  as  current  assets  and  current  liabilities  in
accordance with GAAP;  provided that the calculation of Current Assets shall not
include  receivables  of the  Borrowers  owing by any Affiliate in excess of 120
days or subject to any dispute or offset or otherwise unacceptable,  advances by
the Borrowers to any Affiliate or any asset classified as a Current Asset solely
because it is held for sale,  and  Current  Liabilities  shall not  include  the
current  maturities of any Indebtedness of any Borrower for borrowed money which
by its  terms  has a final  maturity  more  than one  year  from the date of any
calculation of Current Liabilities.

     "Default"  shall mean any Event of Default or any event or condition  which
might become an Event of Default with notice or lapse of time or both.

     "Disqualified Stock" shall mean any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by
the  terms of any  security  into  which it is  convertible  or for  which it is
exchangeable),  or upon the  happening of any event,  matures or is  mandatorily
redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at
the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part.

     "Dollars"  and "$" shall  mean the  lawful  money of the  United  States of
America.

     "EBITDA" shall mean, for any period,  the  Consolidated Net Income for such
period taken as a single  accounting  period,  plus,  to the extent  deducted in
determining such  Consolidated Net Income,  all  depreciation,  amortization and


                                       E-6

<PAGE>


depletion expense, and other non cash charges, Consolidated Interest Expense and
income taxes,  provided that in determining  Consolidated  Net Income as used in
this definition the following shall be excluded,  without  duplication:  (a) the
income of any Person  accrued  prior to the date such  Person is merged  into or
consolidated with a Borrower or such Person's assets are acquired by a Borrower,
(b) the  proceeds of any  insurance  policy,  (c) gains or losses from the sale,
exchange, transfer or other disposition of property or assets of any Borrower or
any of their  Subsidiaries  and related tax effects in accordance  with GAAP and
(d) any  extraordinary  or  non-recurring  gains of any Borrower or any of their
Subsidiaries, and related tax effects in accordance with GAAP.

     "Effective  Date"  shall mean the  effective  date  specified  in the final
paragraph of this Agreement.

     "Environmental Laws" at any date shall mean all provisions of law, statute,
ordinances, rules, regulations,  judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees, orders,
awards and  standards  promulgated  by the  government  of the United  States of
America or any foreign  government or by any state,  province,  municipality  or
other  political  subdivision  thereof  or  therein  or by  any  court,  agency,
instrumentality,  regulatory  authority or  commission  of any of the  foregoing
concerning the  protection  of, or regulating the discharge of substances  into,
the environment.

     "ERISA" shall mean the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended from time to time,  together with any successor  statute thereto and the
regulations thereunder.

     "ERISA  Affiliate"  shall  mean  any  trade  or  business  (whether  or not
incorporated) which (i) together with the Borrowers or any Subsidiary,  would be
treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or (ii) for
purposes of liability  under Section  412(C)(11)  of the Code,  the lien created
under  Section  412(n)  of the Code or for a tax  imposed  for  failure  to meet
minimum  funding  standards under Section 4971 of the Code, a member of the same
affiliated  service group (within the meaning of Section  401(m) of the Code) as
the  Borrowers or any  Subsidiary,  or any other trade or business  described in
clause (i) above.

     "Elected  Borrowing  Limit"  shall  have the  meaning  ascribed  thereto in
Section 9.14(d).

     "Eurodollar  Base Rate" shall mean,  with respect to a Eurodollar  Loan for
the relevant  Eurodollar Interest Period, the rate determined by the Agent to be
the rate at which Bank One offers to place deposits in Dollars with  first-class
banks in the London  interbank market at approximately 11 a.m. (London time) two
Business Days prior to the first day of such Eurodollar  Interest Period, in the
approximate amount of Bank One's relevant  Eurodollar Loan and having a maturity
approximately equal to such Eurodollar Interest Period.

     "Eurodollar  Interest Period" or "Interest Period" shall mean, with respect
to a Eurodollar Loan, a period of one, two, three or six months  commencing on a
Business  Day  selected  by the  Borrowers  pursuant  to  this  Agreement.  Such
Eurodollar Interest Period shall end on the day which corresponds numerically to
such date one, two, three or six months thereafter,  provided,  however, that if
there is no such numerically  corresponding day in such next,  second,  third or


                                       E-7

<PAGE>


sixth succeeding  month,  such Eurodollar  Interest Period shall end on the last
Business  Day of such  next,  second,  third or  sixth  succeeding  month.  If a
Eurodollar  Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business
Day, such Eurodollar  Interest Period shall end on the next succeeding  Business
Day, provided, however, that if said next succeeding Business Day falls in a new
calendar  month,  such  Eurodollar  Interest Period shall end on the immediately
preceding Business Day.

     "Eurodollar  Loan" shall mean a Loan which bears  interest at a  Eurodollar
Rate.

     "Eurodollar  Rate" shall mean,  with respect to a  Eurodollar  Loan for the
relevant  Eurodollar  Interest  Period,  the sum of (i) the  quotient of (a) the
Eurodollar Base Rate applicable to such Eurodollar  Interest Period,  divided by
(b) one minus the Reserve  Requirement  (expressed  as a decimal)  applicable to
such Eurodollar Interest Period, plus (ii) the Applicable Margin.

     "Event of Default" shall mean any of the events or conditions  described in
Section 8.1.

     "Federal  Funds Rate" shall mean,  for any day, an interest  rate per annum
equal  to  the  weighted  average  of  the  rates  on  overnight  Federal  funds
transactions  with  members of the Federal  Reserve  System  arranged by Federal
funds  brokers on such day, as published  for such day (or, if such day is not a
Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York,  or, if such rate is not so  published  for any day which is a
Business Day, the average of the quotations at  approximately  10 a.m.  (Chicago
time) on such day on such transactions  received by the Agent from three Federal
funds  brokers  of  recognized  standing  selected  by the  Agent  in  its  sole
discretion.

     "Floating  Rate" shall mean the per annum rate equal to the sum of (a) with
respect to Loans and any other amounts owing hereunder,  the Applicable  Margin,
plus (b) the greater of (i) the per annum rate  announced by the Agent from time
to time as its  "corporate  base  rate",  and (ii) the sum of  one-half  percent
(1/2%) per annum plus the  Federal  Funds  Rate,  such  Floating  Rate to change
simultaneously  with any change in such  "corporate  base rate" or Federal Funds
Rate,  as the case may be; all as  conclusively  determined in good faith by the
Agent, such sum to be rounded up, if necessary, to the nearest whole multiple of
1/16 of 1%.

     "Floating  Rate Loan" shall mean any Loan bearing  interest at the Floating
Rate.

     "GAAP" shall mean generally  accepted  accounting  principles  applied on a
basis consistent with that reflected in the financial  statements referred to in
Section 6.7 hereof.

     "Hydrocarbons" shall mean oil, gas casinghead,  gas, drip gasoline, natural
gas and condensates and all other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons.

     "Indebtedness"  of  any  Person  shall  mean,  as  of  any  date,  (a)  all
obligations of such Person for borrowed  money,  (b) all  obligations  which are
secured by any lien or  encumbrance  existing on  property  owned by such Person
whether or not the  obligation  secured  thereby shall have been assumed by such
Person,  other than those  obligations which are incurred in the ordinary course


                                       E-8

<PAGE>


of business and are not  required to be shown as a liability on a balance  sheet
in accordance with GAAP, (c) all obligations as lessee under any lease which, in
accordance  with GAAP, is or should be  capitalized  on the books of the lessee,
(d) the deferred purchase price for goods, property or services acquired by such
Person,  and all obligations of such Person to purchase such goods,  property or
services  where  payment  therefor  is  required  regardless  of  whether or not
delivery of such goods or property or the  performance  of such services is ever
made or tendered,  other than unsecured trade payables  incurred in the ordinary
course of business,  (e) all  obligations of such Person to advance funds to, or
to purchase property or services from, any other Person in order to maintain the
financial  condition  of such  Person,  (f) all  obligations  of such  Person in
respect  of any  interest  rate or  currency  swap,  rate cap or  other  similar
transaction  (valued in an amount equal to the highest  termination  payment, if
any, that would be payable by such Person upon termination for any reason on the
date of  termination),  and (g) all  obligations of such Person or of others for
which such Person is contingently  liable, as guarantor,  surety or in any other
similar  capacity,  or in respect of which  obligations  such  Person  assures a
creditor  against  loss or agrees to take any  action to  prevent  any such loss
(other  than  endorsements  of  negotiable  instruments  for  collection  in the
ordinary course of business),  including  without  limitation all  reimbursement
obligations of such Person in respect of any letters of credit,  surety bonds or
similar  obligations  and all obligations of such Person to advance funds to, or
to purchase  assets,  property or services  from,  any other  Person in order to
maintain the condition, financial or otherwise, of such other Person.

     "Indenture"  shall mean the Indenture among CRI, any guarantors and trustee
party thereto,  dated as of the date hereof, as amended or modified from time to
time, and relating to the Indenture Notes.

     "Indenture  Debt" shall mean all present and future  Indebtedness and other
liabilities  owing pursuant to the Indenture  Notes or any other  Indenture Debt
Document.

     "Indenture Debt Documents"  shall mean the Indenture,  the Indenture Notes,
all  guarantees and all other  agreements  and documents  executed in connection
therewith at any time.

     "Indenture  Notes" shall mean the senior  unsecured  notes issued by CRI in
the  aggregate  principal  amount of at least  $150,000,000  due 2007 and issued
pursuant to the Indenture.

     "Interest  Payment  Date"  shall mean (a) with  respect to each  Eurodollar
Loan,  the last day of each  Eurodollar  Interest  Period  with  respect to such
Eurodollar  Loan and, in the case of any Eurodollar  Interest  Period  exceeding
three months, those days that occurred during such Eurodollar Interest Period at
intervals  of three  months  after  the first  day of such  Eurodollar  Interest
Period, (b) in all other cases, the last Business Day of each month,  commencing
with the first such day after the Effective Date, and (c) the  Termination  Date
with respect to Loans.

     "Lending Installation" shall mean, with respect to a Bank or the Agent, any
office, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of such Bank or the Agent.


                                       E-9

<PAGE>


     "Letter of Credit"  shall mean a standby  letter of credit  having a stated
expiry date not later than  twelve  months  after the date of  issuance  and not
later than the fifth  Business Day before the  Termination  Date,  issued by the
Agent  on  behalf  of the  Banks  for  the  account  of any  Borrower  under  an
application and related documentation  acceptable to the Agent requiring,  among
other things,  immediate  reimbursement by the Borrowers to the Agent in respect
of all drafts or other demand for payment  honored  thereunder  and all expenses
paid or incurred by the Agent relative thereto.  Standby letters of credit which
are  automatically  renewed annually unless revoked shall be considered  standby
letters of credit which have a stated  expiry date not later than twelve  months
after their date of issuance for purposes of this definition.

     "Letter of Credit  Advance"  shall mean any  issuance of a Letter of Credit
under  Section 3.1 made  pursuant  to Section 2.1 in which each Bank  acquires a
risk participation equal to its Pro Rata Share.

     "Letter of Credit  Documents"  shall have the meaning  ascribed  thereto in
Section 3.3(b)(i).

     "Lien" shall mean any pledge, assignment, hypothecation, mortgage, security
interest,  deposit  arrangement,  option,  conditional  sale or title  retaining
contract,  sale and leaseback transaction,  financing statement filing, lessor's
or lessee's  interest under any lease,  subordination  of any claim or right, or
any other type of lien, charge,  encumbrance,  preferential arrangement or other
claim or right.

     "Loan"  means any loan under  Section 3.1  evidenced  by the Notes and made
pursuant to Section 2.1(a).

     "Loan  Documents"  shall  mean this  Agreement,  the  Notes,  the  Security
Documents, the environmental certificate and any other agreement,  instrument or
document  executed at any time  pursuant to, in  connection  with,  or otherwise
relating to this Agreement.

     "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean a material adverse effect on or change
in (a) the business,  property  (including  without  limitation the Collateral),
operations  or  condition,  financial  or  otherwise,  of  the  Borrowers  on  a
consolidated  basis,  (b) the ability of any Borrower to perform its obligations
under any Loan Document or (c) the validity or  enforceability or the rights and
remedies of the Agent or any Bank under any Loan Document.

     "Monthly Borrowing Base Reductions" is defined in Section 9.14.

     "Mortgages" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 5.1.

     "Multiemployer  Plan"  shall  mean any  "multiemployer  plan" as defined in
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA or Section 414(f) of the Code.


                                      E-10

<PAGE>


     "Note"  shall mean any  promissory  note of the  Borrowers  evidencing  the
Loans,  in  substantially  the form  annexed  hereto as Exhibit B, as amended or
modified from time to time and together with any promissory note or notes issued
in exchange or replacement therefor.

     "Oil and Gas  Interests"  shall mean all leasehold  interests,  mineral fee
interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net revenue and net working
interests and all other rights and interests relating to Hydrocarbons, including
without limitation any reserves thereof.

     "Overdue  Rate" shall mean (a) in respect of  principal  of  Floating  Rate
Loans, a rate per annum that is equal to the sum of three percent (3%) per annum
plus the Floating Rate, (b) in respect of principal of Eurodollar  Loans, a rate
per annum that is equal to the sum of three  percent (3%) per annum plus the per
annum  rate in  effect  thereon  until  the end of the then  current  Eurodollar
Interest Period for such Loan and, thereafter, a rate per annum that is equal to
the sum of three  percent  (3%) per annum  plus the  Floating  Rate,  and (c) in
respect  of  other  amounts  payable  by the  Borrowers  hereunder  (other  than
interest),  a per annum rate that is equal to the sum of three  percent (3%) per
annum plus the Floating Rate.

     "PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation and any entity
succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

     "Permitted Liens" shall mean the Liens permitted by Section 7.2(e) hereof.

     "Person" shall include an  individual,  a corporation,  an  association,  a
partnership,  a trust  or  estate,  a joint  stock  company,  an  unincorporated
organization,  a joint  venture,  a government  (foreign or  domestic),  and any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity.

     "Plan"  shall mean,  with respect to any Person,  any  employee  benefit or
other plan (other than a Multiemployer  Plan)  maintained by such Person for its
employees  and covered by Title IV of ERISA or to which  Section 412 of the Code
applies.

     "Preferred  Stock"  shall  mean  the  1,948,001  shares  of  Series  A 1999
Convertible  Preferred Stock,  Par Value $10.00 (the "Series A Preferred"),  and
1,051,999  shares of Series B 1999 Non-  Convertible  Preferred Stock, Par Value
$10.00  (the  "Series  B  Preferred"),  and  including  any  Series B  Preferred
converted  into Series A Preferred and any stock  appreciation  rights issued in
connection with the Preferred Stock Documents.

     "Preferred  Stock  Documents"  shall mean the Preferred Stock and the stock
purchase agreement and all other agreements and documents executed in connection
therewith at any time.

     "Pro Rata  Share"  shall mean,  as to  obligations  of the Banks,  the loan
percentage  set  forth  opposite  its  name on the  signature  pages  hereof  or
otherwise  established  pursuant to Section 10.6, and as to obligations owing to
the Banks,  shall mean: (a) in the case of payments of principal and interest on
the Loans,  an amount  with  respect  to each Bank equal to the  product of such
amount received multiplied by the ratio which the outstanding  principal balance


                                      E-11

<PAGE>


of its Note bears to the outstanding  principal balance of all Notes, and (b) in
the case of all other amounts payable  hereunder  (other than as otherwise noted
with  respect to fees) and other  amounts,  an amount with  respect to each Bank
equal to the product of such amount  received  multiplied by the ratio which the
Commitment of such Bank bears to the Commitments of all Banks.

     "Proved Developed  Reserves" shall mean all Oil and Gas Interests which, to
the satisfaction of the Agent, are estimated,  with reasonable certainty, and as
demonstrated by geological and  engineering  data acceptable to the Agent, to be
economically  recoverable  from  existing  wells  requiring  no more than  minor
workover operations from existing  completion  intervals open for production and
which are producing, and have proven reserves of, Hydrocarbons.

     "Reportable  Event" shall mean a  reportable  event as described in Section
4043(b) of ERISA  including  those events as to which the thirty (30) day notice
period is waived  under  Part 2615 of the  regulations  promulgated  by the PBGC
under ERISA.

     "Required  Banks"  shall mean Banks  holding  not less than  66-2/3% of the
aggregate  principal  amount of the Advances then outstanding (or 66-2/3% of the
Commitments if no Advances are then outstanding).

     "Reserve  Requirement" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Interest Period,
the maximum aggregate reserve  requirement  (including all basic,  supplemental,
marginal and other reserves) which is imposed under Regulation D on Eurocurrency
liabilities.

     "Security  Agreements"  shall have the meaning  ascribed thereto in Section
5.1.

     "Security  Documents"  shall have the meaning  ascribed  thereto in Section
5.1.

     "Subsidiary"  of any  Person  shall  mean any  other  Person  (whether  now
existing or hereafter  organized  or  acquired)  in which (other than  directors
qualifying  shares  required  by law) at least a majority of the  securities  or
other  ownership  interests  of each  class  having  ordinary  voting  power  or
analogous right (other than  securities or other ownership  interests which have
such power or right only by reason of the  happening of a  contingency),  at the
time as of which any determination is being made, are owned, beneficially and of
record,  by such  Person  or by one or more of the  other  Subsidiaries  of such
Person or by any combination thereof.  Unless otherwise specified,  reference to
"Subsidiary" shall mean a Subsidiary of CRI.

     "Swap Agreement" shall mean any interest rate or oil and gas commodity swap
agreement,  interest  cap or collar  agreement or other  financial  agreement or
arrangement  designed to protect the Borrowers against  fluctuations in interest
rates or oil and gas prices.

     "Tangible  Net Worth" of any Person  shall  mean,  as of any date,  (a) the
amount of any capital stock or similar ownership liability plus (or minus in the
case of a deficit) the capital surplus and retained  earnings of such Person and
the amount of any foreign  currency  translation  adjustment  account shown as a
capital account of such Person, less  (b) the net book value of all items of the

                                      E-12

<PAGE>


following  character  which  are  included  in the  assets of such  Person:  (i)
goodwill,  including without  limitation,  the excess of cost over book value of
any asset,  (ii) organization or experimental  expenses,  (iii) unamortized debt
discount and expense, (iv) stock discount and expense, (v) patents,  trademarks,
trade names and  copyrights,  (vi)  treasury  stock,  (vii)  deferred  taxes and
deferred charges,  (viii) franchises,  licenses and permits,  and (ix) all other
assets  which are deemed  intangible  assets  under  GAAP;  provided,  that such
calculation  of  Tangible  Net Worth  under this  definition  shall not  include
receivables  of such Person which are owing by any Affiliate or advances by such
Person to any Affiliate.

     "Termination  Date" shall mean the earlier to occur of (a) December 9, 2002
and (b) the date on  which  the  Commitments  shall be  terminated  pursuant  to
Section 2.1(c) or 8.2.

     "Total  Liabilities"  of  any  Person  shall  mean,  as of  any  date,  all
obligations  which,  in  accordance  with GAAP,  are or should be  classified as
liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person.

     "Type" shall mean,  with  respect to any Advance,  its nature as a Floating
Rate Loan, Eurodollar Loan or Letter of Credit Advance.

     "Year 2000 Issues" shall mean anticipated costs, problems and uncertainties
associated  with the inability of certain  computer  applications to effectively
handle data  including  dates on and after  January 1, 2000,  as such  inability
affects the business, operations, and financial condition of the Borrowers.

     1.2 Other  Definitions;  Rules of Construction . As used herein,  the terms
"Agent",  "Banks", "CRI", "COG", "COGL",  "Borrowers" and "this Agreement" shall
have the respective  meanings ascribed thereto in the introductory  paragraph of
this  Agreement.  Such terms,  together  with the other terms defined in Section
1.1,  shall  include both the singular and the plural forms thereof and shall be
construed  accordingly.  All computations  required  hereunder and all financial
terms used herein shall be made or construed in accordance with GAAP unless such
principles are inconsistent with the express requirements of this Agreement.

     SECTION 2. The Commitments.

     2.1  Advances.   (a) Each Bank  agrees,  for  itself  only,  to lend and to
relend, and to participate in Letter of Credit Advances pursuant to Section 3.1,
in each case  subject  to the terms and  conditions  of this  Agreement,  to the
Borrowers  at any time and from time to time from the  Effective  Date until the
Termination  Date amounts equal to such Bank's Pro Rata Share of such  aggregate
Advances  as any  Borrower  may  from  time to time  request,  provided  that no
Advances may be made if the aggregate  outstanding amount of all Advances to all
Borrowers  would exceed the lesser of the  Commitments  or the  Borrowing  Base;
provided,  however,  that the  aggregate  principal  amount of Letters of Credit
outstanding  at any time shall not exceed  $5,000,000.  Each Loan made hereunder
shall be  evidenced by the Notes,  which shall  mature and bear  interest as set
forth  in  Section  4 hereof  and in such  Notes.  On the  Effective  Date,  the
Borrowers shall issue and deliver to each Bank a Note in the principal amount of


                                      E-13

<PAGE>


such Bank's Commitment for the period beginning on the Effective Date. Each Loan
which is a Floating  Rate Loan shall be in a minimum  amount of $500,000  and in
integral multiples of $100,000 and each Loan which is a Eurodollar Loan shall be
in a minimum  amount of $1,000,000 and in integral  multiples of $1,000,000.  No
more than ten Eurodollar Interest Periods shall be permitted to exist at any one
time.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,  the Borrowers may
borrow,  prepay  pursuant  to Section  4.1(b) and  reborrow  under this  Section
2.1(a).

          (b) For  purposes of this  Agreement,  a Letter of Credit  Advance (i)
shall be deemed  outstanding in an amount equal to the sum of the maximum amount
available to be drawn under the related Letter of Credit on or after the date of
determination and on or before the stated expiry date thereof plus the amount of
any draws under such Letter of Credit that have not been  reimbursed as provided
in Section 3.3 and (ii) shall be deemed  outstanding  at all times on and before
such stated  expiry date or such earlier date on which all amounts  available to
be drawn under such Letter of Credit have been fully drawn, and thereafter until
all related reimbursement obligations have been paid pursuant to Section 3.3. As
provided in Section  3.3,  upon each payment made by the Agent in respect of any
draft or other demand for payment under any Letter of Credit,  the amount of any
Letter of Credit Advance outstanding  immediately prior to such payment shall be
automatically  reduced by the amount of each Loan deemed  advanced in respect of
the related reimbursement obligation of the Borrowers.

          (c) The  Borrowers  shall  have the right to  terminate  or reduce the
Commitments  at any time and from time to time,  provided that (i) the Borrowers
shall give notice of such  termination or reduction to the Agent  specifying the
amount  and  effective  date  thereof,   (ii)  each  partial  reduction  of  the
Commitments shall be in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 and in integral multiples
of  $1,000,000   and  shall  reduce  the   Commitments   of  all  of  the  Banks
proportionally in accordance with the respective Commitment amounts of each such
Bank,  (iii)  no such  termination  or  reduction,  either  in whole or part and
including without limitation any termination, shall be permitted with respect to
any  portion  of the  Commitments  as to which a request  for  Advances  is then
pending, and (iv) the Commitments may not be terminated if any Advances are then
outstanding  and may not be reduced below the principal  amount of Advances then
outstanding. The Commitments or any portion thereof so terminated or reduced may
not be reinstated.  Any Borrower may request Advances without the consent of any
other  Borrower,  and  each  Borrower  consents  to and  approves  any  Advances
requested by any other Borrower.  The Advances  hereunder  replace the revolving
credit loans and letters of credit outstanding pursuant to Section 2.1(a) of the
Existing Credit Agreement and provide additional credit as described above.

          (d) This Agreement amends and restates the Existing Credit  Agreement,
and all Advances  and Letters of Credit  outstanding  under the Existing  Credit
Agreement shall  constitute  Advances and Letters of Credit under this Agreement
and all fees and other  obligations  accrued under the Existing Credit Agreement
will continue to accrue and be paid under this Agreement. As stated in the Notes
and the Consent and  Amendment  to Security  Documents,  the  Advances and other
obligations  pursuant  hereto are issued in  exchange  and  replacement  for the
Advances and other obligations under an Existing Credit Agreement,  shall not be
a novation or satisfaction  thereof and shall be entitled to the same collateral


                                      E-14

<PAGE>


with the same priority. The Lenders acknowledge and agree that such transfers of
rights and interests under the Loan Documents shall take place among the Lenders
as of the  Effective  Date  to give  effect  to  Commitments  set  forth  on the
signature pages hereof.


     SECTION 3. The Advances.

     3.1 Disbursement of Advances . (a) Borrowers shall give notice to the Agent
of each requested Advance in substantially  the form of Exhibit C hereto,  which
notice  given shall be received by the Agent not later than 10:00 a.m.  (Chicago
time), (i) three Business Days prior to the date such Advance is requested to be
made if such Advance is to be made as a Eurodollar  Loan,  (ii) one Business Day
prior to the date such  Advance is requested to be made if such Advance is to be
made as a Floating  Rate Loan and (iii)  three  Business  Days prior to the date
such  Advance is to be made if such  Advance is to be made as a Letter of Credit
Advance.  Each  such  notice  given  shall be  irrevocable  and  binding  on the
Borrowers,  any such notice must  specify  the  Advance  Date,  which shall be a
Business  Day,  the  aggregate  amount  of such  Advance,  the  Type of  Advance
selected,  in the case of any Eurodollar  Loan, the Eurodollar  Interest  Period
applicable  thereto,  and in the case of any Letter of Credit Advance such other
information  and documents with respect thereto as may be required by the Agent.
The Agent shall  provide  notice of such  requested  Advance to each Bank on the
same  Business Day such notice is received  from the  Borrowers.  Subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement,  the Agent shall, on the date any Letter
of Credit Advance is requested to be made, issue the related Letter of Credit on
behalf of the Banks for the account of the designated Borrower.  Notwithstanding
anything  herein to the  contrary,  the Agent may decline to issue any requested
Letter of Credit on the basis that the  beneficiary,  the purpose of issuance or
the terms or the  conditions  of drawing  are illegal or contrary to a policy of
the Agent.

          (b) Floating  Rate Loans shall  continue as Floating Rate Loans unless
and until such Floating Rate Loans are converted  into  Eurodollar  Loans.  Each
Eurodollar  Loan of any Type shall  continue as a  Eurodollar  Loan of such Type
until the end of the then  applicable  Interest Period  therefor,  at which time
such Eurodollar Loan shall be automatically  converted into a Floating Rate Loan
unless the Borrower shall have given the Agent a Conversion/Continuation  Notice
requesting that, at the end of such Interest Period, such Eurodollar Loan either
continue  as a  Eurodollar  Loan for the same or another  Interest  Period or be
converted into a Loan of another Type.  Subject to the terms of Section 2.1, the
Borrower may elect from time to time to convert all or any part of a Loan of any
Type into any other Type or Types of a Loan; provided that any conversion of any
Eurodollar  Loan  shall be made on,  and only on,  the last day of the  Interest
Period applicable thereto. The Borrowers shall give the Agent irrevocable notice
(a   "Conversion/Continuation   Notice")  of  each   conversion  of  a  Loan  or
continuation  of a Eurodollar  Loan not later than 10:00 a.m.  (Chicago time) at
least one Business  Day, in the case of a conversion  into a Floating Rate Loan,
or three Business Days, in the case of a conversion  into or  continuation  of a
Eurodollar Loan, prior to the date of the requested  conversion or continuation,
specifying:

               (i) the  requested  date,  which shall be a Business Day, of such
conversion or continuation,

                                      E-15

<PAGE>


               (ii) the  aggregate  amount  and Type of the Loan  which is to be
converted or continued, and

               (iii) the amount and  Type(s) of Loan(s)  into which such Loan is
to be  converted  or  continued  and,  in  the  case  of a  conversion  into  or
continuation  of  a  Eurodollar  Loan,  the  duration  of  the  Interest  Period
applicable thereto.

          (c)  Subject  to the  terms  and  conditions  of this  Agreement,  the
proceeds of such  requested  Loan shall be made  available  to the  Borrowers by
depositing the proceeds thereof, in immediately  available funds, on the Advance
Date for such Loan in an account  maintained  and designated by the Borrowers at
the principal  office of the Agent.  Each Bank, on the Advance Date of each such
Loan  shall  make  its Pro Rata  Share of such  Loan  available  in  immediately
available  funds at the principal  office of the Agent for  disbursement  to the
Borrowers.  Unless the Agent shall have  received  notice from any Bank prior to
the date of any  requested  Loan under this  Section 3.1 that such Bank will not
make  available  to the Agent such Bank's Pro Rata  Share,  the Agent may assume
that such Bank has made such share available to the Agent on the Advance Date of
such Loan in accordance with this Section 3.1(b). If and to the extent such Bank
shall not have so made such Pro Rata Share available to the Agent, the Agent may
(but shall not be obligated  to) make such amount  available to the Borrowers on
the relevant Advance Date, and such Bank agrees to pay to the Agent forthwith on
demand such amount  together with interest  thereon,  for each day from the date
such amount is made  available to the Borrowers by the Agent until the date such
amount is paid to the Agent,  at the Federal  Funds Rate. If such Bank shall pay
to the Agent such  amount,  such amount so paid shall  constitute a Loan by such
Bank as a part of such borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.  The failure of
any Bank to make its Pro Rata  Share of any such  Loan  available  to the  Agent
shall not relieve any other Bank of its  obligations  to make  available its Pro
Rata Share of such Loan on the Advance  Date of such Loan,  but no Bank shall be
responsible  for failure of any other Bank to make such Pro Rata Share available
to the Agent on the Advance Date of any such Loan.

          (d) Each Bank may book its Loans at any Lending Installation  selected
by such Bank and may  change its  Lending  Installation  from time to time.  All
terms of this  Agreement  shall apply to any such Lending  Installation  and the
Notes  shall  be  deemed  held by each  Bank  for the  benefit  of such  Lending
Installation.  Each Bank may,  by written  or telex  notice to the Agent and the
Borrowers,  designate a Lending Installation through which Loans will be made by
it and for whose account Loan payments are to be made.

          (e)  Nothing  in this  Agreement  shall be  construed  to  require  or
authorize any Bank to issue any Letter of Credit,  it being  recognized that the
Agent has the sole obligation under this Agreement to issue Letters of Credit on
behalf of the Banks, and the Commitment of each Lender with respect to Letter of
Credit Advances is expressly  conditioned  upon the Agent's  performance of such
obligations.  Upon such issuance by the Agent, each Bank shall automatically and
unconditionally  acquire a risk participation  interest to the extent of its Pro
Rata Share in such Letter of Credit Advance based on its respective  Commitment.
If the Agent shall honor a draft or other  demand for payment  presented or made
under any Letter of Credit,  the Agent shall provide notice thereof to each Bank


                                      E-16

<PAGE>


on the date such draft or demand is  honored  unless  the  Borrowers  shall have
satisfied  their  reimbursement  obligation  under Section 3.3 by payment to the
Agent on such date.  Each Bank,  not later than the Business Day after the Agent
shall have given the notice specified in the previous  sentence,  shall make its
Pro  Rata  Share  of the  amount  paid by the  Agent  available  in  immediately
available  funds at the  principal  office of the Agent for the  account  of the
Agent.  If and to the extent such Bank shall not have made any required Pro Rata
Share  amount  available  to the  Agent or made its  portion  of Loan  available
pursuant to Section  3.3(a)(i),  such Bank and the Borrowers  severally agree to
pay to the Agent forthwith on demand such amount together with interest thereon,
for each day from the date such  amount was paid by the Agent  until such amount
is so made  available to the Agent at (i) the interest  rate then  applicable to
Floating  Rate Loans for such day in the case of the Borrowers and (ii) the rate
per  annum  equal  to the  Federal  Funds  Rate for the  first  five  days,  and
thereafter at the interest rate  applicable to Floating Rate Loans,  in the case
of any Bank. If such Bank shall pay such amount to the Agent  together with such
interest,  such amount so paid shall  constitute  a Loan by such Bank as part of
the Loans disbursed in respect of the reimbursement  obligation of the Borrowers
under  Section 3.3 for  purposes of this  Agreement.  The failure of any Bank to
make its Pro Rata Share of any such  amount paid by the Agent  available  to the
Agent shall not relieve any other Bank of its  obligation to make  available its
Pro Rata Share of such amount,  but no Bank shall be responsible  for failure of
any other Bank to make such Pro Rata Share available to the Agent.

     3.2 Conditions of Advances . The Banks and the Agent shall not be obligated
to make any Advance hereunder at any time unless:

          (a) On the Effective Date there shall have been delivered to each Bank
the following documents, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and the
following additional conditions shall have been satisfied:

               (i) The  favorable  opinion of such counsel for the  Borrowers as
shall be  approved  by the  Required  Banks,  with  respect  to the  matters  as
requested by the Banks,  all in form and substance  satisfactory to the Required
Banks;

               (ii)  certified  copies  of  such  corporate  documents  of  each
Borrower,  including each Borrower's  articles of  incorporation,  by-laws and a
good standing  certificate,  and such documents  evidencing  necessary corporate
action with  respect to this  Agreement,  the Loans,  the Notes and the Security
Documents, and certifying to the incumbency of, and attesting to the genuineness
of the  signatures  of,  those  officers  authorized  to act on  behalf  of each
Borrower, as the Banks shall request;

               (iii) the Security  Documents  required as of the Effective  Date
under  Section  5.1 duly  executed  on behalf of the  Borrowers,  together  with
evidence of the  recordation,  filing and other action in such  jurisdictions as
the Banks  may deem  necessary  or  appropriate  with  respect  to the  Security
Documents  and evidence of the  first-priority  of the Banks' liens and security
interests  under  the  Security  Documents,  subject  only to  Permitted  Liens,
including without  limitation such additional  mortgages,  security  agreements,


                                      E-17

<PAGE>


pledge agreements, other documents and opinions of counsel required by the Banks
and original stock  certificates  and assignments  separate from  certificate of
each Person whose stock is required to be pledged;

               (iv) the Notes duly executed on behalf of the  Borrowers,  and it
is  acknowledged  and agreed  that the Notes:  (A) are  issued in  exchange  and
replacement  for the  promissory  notes issued  pursuant to the Existing  Credit
Agreement,  (B)  shall  not be  deemed  a  novation  or to have  satisfied  such
promissory  notes  and (C)  evidence  the same  indebtedness  evidenced  by such
promissory notes plus additional indebtedness;

               (v) the Consent and Amendment of Security Documents duly executed
by the Borrowers;

               (vi) Payment of such fees agreed to among the  Borrowers  and the
Agent;

               (vii) the  execution  by the  Borrowers  of the Agent's  standard
environmental certificate;

               (viii) the Banks shall have  determined that the Loans to be made
are equal to or less than the Borrowing Base;

               (ix)  copies  of  all   agreements   relating  to  any   material
Indebtedness  for borrowed money,  any outstanding  preferred  stock,  any joint
ventures or partnerships or any other material documents requested by the Banks;

               (x)  the  originals  of  all  promissory  notes  payable  to  any
Borrower,  other  than  promissory  notes  in  an  aggregate  amount  less  than
$1,000,000;

               (xi)   such   other   agreements,   documents,   conditions   and
certificates as reasonably requested by the Banks, including without limitation,
releases and  terminations of all other Liens which are not permitted  hereunder
and  amendments  of  existing  Security  Documents,  all in form  and  substance
satisfactory to the Banks.

          (b) The aggregate  outstanding  principal amount of all Advances after
giving  effect  to the  proposed  Advance,  does not  exceed  the  lesser of the
Commitments or the Borrowing Base.

          (c) On and as of the date of each such  Advance,  the  representations
and  warranties  contained  in Section 6 hereof shall be true and correct in all
material respects as if made on such date; provided,  however, that for purposes
of this Section 3.2(c) the representations  and warranties  contained in Section
6.7 hereof  shall be deemed made with respect to both the  financial  statements
referred to therein and the most recent financial  statements delivered pursuant
to Section 7.1(d)(ii) and (iii).


                                      E-18

<PAGE>


          (d) No  Default or event or  condition  which  could  cause a Material
Adverse   Effect  has  occurred  and  is  continuing  or  will  exist  upon  the
disbursement of such Advance.

Acceptance of the proceeds of any Advance  hereunder by the  Borrowers  shall be
deemed to be a  certification  by the Borrowers at such time with respect to the
matters set forth in subparagraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 3.2.

     3.3 Letter of Credit Reimbursement Payments.  (a)(i) The Borrowers agree to
pay to the  Agent,  on the day on which the Agent  shall  honor a draft or other
demand for payment presented or made under any Letter of Credit, an amount equal
to the amount paid by the Agent in respect of such draft or other  demand  under
such Letter of Credit and all  expenses  paid or incurred by the Agent  relative
thereto.  Unless the Borrowers shall have made such payment to the Agent on such
day,  upon each such  payment  by the Agent,  the Agent  shall be deemed to have
disbursed to the Borrowers, and the Borrowers shall be deemed to have elected to
satisfy the  reimbursement  obligation by borrowing,  a Loan bearing interest at
the Floating  Rate for the account of the Banks in an amount equal to the amount
so paid by the Agent in respect of such draft or other  demand under such Letter
of Credit.  Such Loan shall be  disbursed,  and each Bank shall  advance its Pro
Rata Share  thereof,  notwithstanding  any failure to satisfy any conditions for
disbursement of any Loan set forth in Article III or any other condition and, to
the  extent  of the  Loan so  disbursed,  the  reimbursement  obligation  of the
Borrowers under this Section 3.3 shall be deemed satisfied;  provided,  however,
that  such  disbursement  shall  not be  deemed  to be a waiver  of any Event of
Default or Default, if any.

               (ii) If for any reason (including  without limitation as a result
of the occurrence of an Event of Default pursuant to Section  6.1(h)),  Floating
Rate Loans may not be made by the Banks as described in Section 3.3(a)(i),  then
(A) the Borrowers agree that each reimbursement  amount not paid pursuant to the
first sentence of Section  3.3(a)(i)  shall bear interest,  payable on demand by
the Agent, at the interest rate then applicable to Floating Rate Loans,  and (B)
effective on the date each such  Floating  Rate Loan would  otherwise  have been
made, each Bank severally agrees that it shall  unconditionally and irrevocably,
without regard to the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default,  in lieu of
a deemed  disbursement  of Loans,  to the extent of such  Bank's Pro Rata Share,
purchase a participating  interest in each reimbursement  amount. Each Bank will
immediately  transfer  to the  Agent,  in same  day  funds,  the  amount  of its
participation.  Each Bank  shall  share in  accordance  with its Pro Rata  Share
(calculated  by reference to the  Commitments)  in any  interest  which  accrues
thereon and in all repayments  thereof. If and to the extent that any Bank shall
not have so made the  amount of such  participating  interest  available  to the
Agent, such Bank and the Borrowers agree to pay to the Agent forthwith on demand
such amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date of demand
by the Agent until the date such amount is paid to the Agent, at (x) in the case
of the Borrowers,  the interest rate then  applicable to Floating Rate Loans and
(y) in the case of such Bank,  the  Federal  Funds Rate for the first five days,
and thereafter the interest rate applicable to Floating Rate Loans.

          (b) The reimbursement  obligations of the Borrowers under this Section
3.3 shall be absolute,  unconditional  and  irrevocable and shall remain in full
force and effect  until all  obligations  of the  Borrowers to the Agent and the


                                      E-19

<PAGE>


Banks hereunder shall have been satisfied,  andsuch obligations of the Borrowers
shall not be  affected,  modified or impaired  upon the  happening of any event,
including without limitation,  any of the following,  whether or not with notice
to, or the consent of, the Borrowers:

               (i) Any lack of  validity  or  enforceability  of any  Letter  of
Credit  or  any  documentation  relating  to  any  Letter  of  Credit  or to any
transaction  related in any way to such Letter of Credit (the  "Letter of Credit
Documents");

               (ii) Any  amendment,  modification,  waiver  or  consent,  or any
substitution,  exchange  or release of or failure  to perfect  any  interest  in
collateral or security, with respect to any of the Letter of Credit Documents.

               (iii) The existence of any claim, setoff,  defense or other right
which  the  Borrowers  may  have at any  time  against  any  beneficiary  or any
transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any persons or entities for whom any such
beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting),  the Agent or any Bank or any
other person or entity,  whether in connection  with any of the Letter of Credit
Documents,  the  transactions  contemplated  herein or therein or any  unrelated
transactions;

               (iv) Any draft or other statement or document presented under any
Letter of Credit proving to be forged,  fraudulent,  invalid or  insufficient in
any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

               (v) Payment by the Agent to the  beneficiary  under any Letter of
Credit against  presentation  of documents which do not comply with the terms of
the Letter of Credit,  including  failure of any documents to bear any reference
or adequate reference to such Letter of Credit;

               (vi)  Any  failure,  omission,  delay  or lack on the part of the
Agent or any Bank or any  party to any of the  Letter  of  Credit  Documents  to
enforce, assert or exercise any right, power or remedy conferred upon the Agent,
any Bank or any such party under this  Agreement  or any of the Letter of Credit
Documents,  or any other acts or omissions on the part of the Agent, any Bank or
any such party; or

               (vii) Any other event or circumstance  that would, in the absence
of this  clause,  result in the  release or  discharge  by  operation  of law or
otherwise the Borrowers from the  performance  or observance of any  obligation,
covenant or agreement  contained  in this Section 3.3. No setoff,  counterclaim,
reduction or diminution  of any  obligation or any defense of any kind or nature
which the Borrowers  have or may have against the  beneficiary  of any Letter of
Credit shall be available  hereunder to the  Borrowers  against the Agent or any
Bank.  Nothing in this  Section  3.3 shall limit the  liability,  if any, of the
Borrowers to the Banks pursuant to Section 10.5(b).

     3.4.  Withholding  Tax Exemption.  At least five Business Days prior to the
first date on which  interest or fees are payable  hereunder  for the account of
any Bank, each Bank that is not incorporated under the laws of the United States


                                      E-20

<PAGE>


of  America,  or a state  thereof,  agrees  that it will  deliver to each of the
Borrowers  and the Agent two duly  completed  copies of United  States  Internal
Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI,  certifying in either case that such Bank
is entitled  to receive  payments  under this  Agreement  and the Notes  without
deduction or withholding  of any United States  federal income taxes.  Each Bank
which so delivers a Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI further  undertakes to deliver to each
of the  Borrowers  and the  Agent  two  additional  copies  of such  form  (or a
successor form) on or before the date that such form expires  (currently,  three
successive calendar years for Form W-8BEN and one calendar year for Form W-8ECI)
or becomes  obsolete or after the occurrence of any event  requiring a change in
the most  recent  forms so  delivered  by it,  and such  amendments  thereto  or
extensions or renewals  thereof as may be reasonably  requested by the Borrowers
or the Agent,  in each case  certifying  that such Bank is  entitled  to receive
payments under this Agreement and the Notes without  deduction or withholding of
any United States  federal  income  taxes,  unless an event  (including  without
limitation any change in treaty,  law or  regulation)  has occurred prior to the
date on which any such delivery  would  otherwise be required  which renders all
such forms  inapplicable  or which would prevent such Bank from duly  completing
and  delivering  any such form with  respect  to it and such  Bank  advises  the
Borrowers and the Agent that it is not capable of receiving payments without any
deduction or withholding of United States federal income tax.

     SECTION 4. Payment and Prepayment; Fees; Change in Circumstances.

     4.1 Principal Payments.

          (a) Unless  earlier  payment is  required  under this  Agreement,  the
Borrowers shall pay the entire  outstanding  principal amount of the Advances on
the Termination Date.

          (b) The Borrowers may from time to time prepay all or a portion of the
Advances without premium or penalty,  provided,  however, that (i) the Borrowers
shall have given not less than one Business  Day's prior written  notice thereof
to the Agent, (ii) other than mandatory payments,  each such prepayment,  in the
case of  prepayment of Floating  Rate Loans,  shall be in the minimum  amount of
$500,000 and in integral multiples of $100,000 and, in the case of prepayment of
Eurodollar  Loans,  shall be in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 and in integral
multiples  thereof,  (iii)  any  prepayment  of any  Eurodollar  Loan  shall  be
accompanied by any amount required pursuant to Section 4.10.

          (c) If it should be  determined by the Agent at any time and from time
to time that the principal  amount of the Advances exceed the lesser of the then
Borrowing Base or the Commitments (such condition defined herein as a "Borrowing
Base Deficiency"), the Borrowers shall within thirty (30) days of written notice
to the Borrowers of such  Borrowing  Base  Deficiency,  in addition to all other
payments of principal and interest  required to be paid on the Advances,  prepay
upon demand and without  premium or penalty the  Advances in an amount by which,
in the determination of the Agent, such aggregate  principal amount  outstanding
exceeds the lesser of the then Borrowing Base or the Commitments,  provided that
such  prepayment  shall be made  first on the Loans and if the Loans are paid in
full and such excess still exists,  the Borrowers  shall provide cash collateral
for any outstanding Letters of Credit to the extent of such remaining excess.

                                      E-21

<PAGE>


          (d) In addition to all other  payments  required  hereunder,  upon any
sale or other  disposition of any assets when a Default exists,  or if such sale
or other disposition would cause a Default or would cause a required  prepayment
of, or offer to purchase,  the Indenture  Notes,  the Borrowers shall prepay the
Advances by an amount equal to 100% of the net proceeds  (net only of reasonable
and  customary  costs  of  such  sale or  other  disposition)  of  such  sale or
disposition, which prepayment is due upon receipt of such net proceeds.

          (e) In addition to all other  payments  required  hereunder,  upon any
sale or other disposition of any assets when a Borrowing Base Deficiency exists,
or if such sale or other  disposition  would cause a Borrowing Base  Deficiency,
the  Borrower  shall  prepay the  Advances by the amount of the  Borrowing  Base
Deficiency from the net proceeds (net only of any reasonable and customary costs
of such sale or other disposition) of such sale or disposition, which prepayment
is due upon receipt of such net proceeds.

               Unless  specified as a determination to be made by all Banks, all
determinations  made  pursuant to this Section 4.1 shall be made by the Agent or
the Required Banks, as the case may be, and shall be conclusively binding on the
parties absent manifest error.

     4.2 Interest Payment . (a) The Borrowers shall pay interest to the Banks on
the unpaid principal  amount of each Loan for the period  commencing on the date
such Loan is made until such Loan is paid in full, on each Interest Payment Date
and at maturity (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise),  and
thereafter on demand,  at the following rates per annum: (i) during such periods
that such Loan is a Floating Rate Loan,  the Floating Rate, and (ii) during such
periods that such Loan is a Eurodollar  Loan, the Eurodollar  Rate applicable to
such Loan for each related Eurodollar Interest Period.

          (b)  Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph (a), the Borrowers hereby
agree,  if  requested by the  Required  Banks,  to pay interest on demand at the
Overdue  Rate on the  outstanding  principal  amount  of any Loan and any  other
amount payable by the Borrowers  hereunder (other than interest) upon and during
the continuance of any Default.

     4.3 Fees . (a) The  Borrowers  agree to pay to the Agent,  for the pro rata
account of the Banks in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares,  a commitment fee
computed at the per annum rate equal to the  Applicable  Margin on the amount by
which the Borrowing Base exceeds the aggregate  outstanding  principal amount of
the Advances for the period from the Effective Date until the Termination  Date.
Such fee shall be paid  quarterly  in arrears on the last  Business  Day of each
March, June, September and December and on the Termination Date.

          (b) The  Borrowers  agree (i) to pay to the Agent,  for the benefit of
the  Banks,  a fee  computed  at the  Applicable  Margin on the  maximum  amount
available  to be drawn under each Letter of Credit at the time such fee is to be
paid for the period  from and  including  the date of issuance of such Letter of
Credit to and  including  the stated  expiry date of such Letter of Credit,  and
(ii) to pay an additional  fee to the Agent for its own account  computed at the
rate of 0.25% per annum on such maximum amount for such period.  Such fees shall

                                      E-22

<PAGE>


be payable  each month in  advance,  payable on the date of the  issuance of any
Letter of Credit and each month thereafter.  Such fees are nonrefundable and the
Borrowers  shall not be entitled  to any rebate of any  portion  thereof if such
Letter of Credit  does not remain  outstanding  through  the date for which such
fees have been paid. The Borrowers further agree to pay to the Agent, on demand,
such other customary  administrative  fees, charges and expenses of the Agent in
respect  of the  issuance,  negotiation,  acceptance,  amendment,  transfer  and
payment  of  each  Letter  of  Credit  or  otherwise  payable  pursuant  to  the
application  and  related  documentation  under  which such  Letter of Credit is
issued.

          (c) The Borrowers agree to pay to the Agent,  for the pro rata benefit
of the Banks, an upfront fee equal to $18,750, payable on the Effective Date.

          (d) The Borrowers  agree to pay to the Agent agency and servicing fees
for its  services  under this  Agreement  in such amounts as it may from time to
time be agreed upon  between  the  Borrowers  and the Agent,  which fee shall be
retained solely by the Agent.

     4.4 Payment  Method . All  payments to be made by the  Borrowers  hereunder
will be made in Dollars and in immediately  available  funds to the Agent at its
address set forth in Section 10.2 not later than 11:00 a.m.  Chicago time on the
date on which such payment shall become due.  Payments received after 11:00 a.m.
Chicago  time shall be deemed to be  payments  made prior to 11:00 a.m.  Chicago
time on the next  succeeding  Business  Day.  At the time of  making  each  such
payment,  the  Borrowers  shall  specify  to the Agent  that  obligation  of the
Borrowers  hereunder  to which such  payment is to be applied,  or, in the event
that the  Borrowers  fail to so  specify  or if an Event of  Default  shall have
occurred  and be  continuing,  the  Agent  may  apply  such  payments  as it may
determine in its sole  discretion.  On the day such payments are  received,  the
Agent  shall  remit  to the  Banks  their  respective  Pro Rata  Shares  of such
payments, in immediately available funds.

     4.5 No Setoff or  Deduction . All  payments of principal of and interest on
the Advances and other amounts payable by the Borrowers  hereunder shall be made
by the  Borrowers  without  setoff or  counterclaim,  and free and clear of, and
without  deduction or  withholding  for, or on account of, any present or future
taxes, levies, imposts, duties, fees, assessments,  or other charges of whatever
nature, imposed by any governmental authority,  or by any department,  agency or
other political subdivision or taxing authority.

     4.6 Payment on Non-Business Day; Payment Computations . Except as otherwise
provided  in  this  Agreement  to the  contrary,  whenever  any  installment  of
principal  of, or interest on, any Advances  outstanding  hereunder or any other
amount due  hereunder,  becomes due and payable on a day which is not a Business
Day, the maturity thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding  Business Day
and, in the case of any  installment  of  principal,  interest  shall be payable
thereon  at the rate per annum  determined  in  accordance  with this  Agreement
during such extension. Computations of interest and other amounts due under this
Agreement shall be made on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number
of days  elapsed,  including  the  first day but  excluding  the last day of the
relevant period.


                                      E-23

<PAGE>


     4.7. Yield Protection. If any law or any governmental or quasi-governmental
rule,  regulation,  policy,  guideline or  directive  (whether or not having the
force of law),  or any  interpretation  thereof,  or the  compliance of any Bank
therewith,

               (i) subjects any Bank or any applicable  Lending  Installation to
any tax, duty,  charge or withholding on or from payments due from the Borrowers
(excluding  federal taxation of the overall net income of any Bank or applicable
Lending Installation),  or changes the basis of taxation of payments to any Bank
in respect of its Loans or other amounts due it hereunder, or

               (ii)  imposes  or  increases  or deems  applicable  any  reserve,
assessment,  insurance charge,  special deposit or similar  requirement  against
assets of,  deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Bank
or any  applicable  Lending  Installation  (other than reserves and  assessments
taken into account in  determining  the interest  rate  applicable to Eurodollar
Loans), or

               (iii)  imposes  any  other  condition  the  result of which is to
increase the cost to any Bank or any applicable Lending  Installation of making,
funding or maintaining loans or reduces any amount receivable by any Bank or any
applicable  Lending  Installation in connection with loans, or requires any Bank
or any  applicable  Lending  Installation  to make  any  payment  calculated  by
reference  to the amount of loans held or interest  received by it, by an amount
deemed material by such Bank,

then,  within 30 days of demand by such Bank, the Borrowers  shall pay such Bank
that  portion of such  increased  expense  incurred  or  reduction  in an amount
received  which such Bank  determines  is  attributable  to making,  funding and
maintaining its Loans and its Commitment.

     4.8.  Changes in Capital  Adequacy  Regulations.  If a Bank  determines the
amount of capital  required  or  expected  to be  maintained  by such Bank,  any
Lending  Installation of such Bank or any corporation  controlling  such Bank is
increased as a result of a Change,  then, within 15 days of demand by such Bank,
the Borrowers  shall pay such Bank the amount  necessary to  compensate  for any
shortfall in the rate of return on the portion of such  increased  capital which
such Bank  determines is  attributable  to this  Agreement,  its Advances or its
Commitment  (after  taking  into  account  such  Bank's  policies  as to capital
adequacy). "Change" means (i) any change after the date of this Agreement in the
Risk-Based  Capital  Guidelines  or (ii) any  adoption of or change in any other
law, governmental or quasi-governmental  rule,  regulation,  policy,  guideline,
interpretation,  or directive (whether or not having the force of law) after the
date of this Agreement which affects the amount of capital  required or expected
to be  maintained  by any Bank or any Lending  Installation  or any  corporation
controlling any Bank.  "Risk-Based  Capital Guidelines" means (i) the risk-based
capital guidelines in effect in the United States on the date of this Agreement,
including  transition  rules,  and (ii) the  corresponding  capital  regulations
promulgated by regulatory authorities outside the United States implementing the
July 1988 report of the Basle  Committee on Banking  Regulation and  Supervisory
Practices  Entitled  "International  Convergence  of  Capital  Measurements  and


                                      E-24

<PAGE>


Capital  Standards,"  including  transition  rules,  and any  amendments to such
regulations adopted prior to the date of this Agreement.

     4.9.  Availability  of  Types of  Advances.  If any  Bank  determines  that
maintenance of its Eurodollar  Loans at a suitable  Lending  Installation  would
violate any  applicable  law,  rule,  regulation,  or directive,  whether or not
having the force of law, or if the Required Banks determine that (i) deposits of
a type and maturity appropriate to match fund Eurodollar Loans are not available
or (ii) the interest rate  applicable  to a Type of Advance does not  accurately
reflect the cost of making or  maintaining  such  Advance,  then the Agent shall
suspend  the  availability  of the  affected  Type of Advance  and  require  any
Eurodollar Loans of the affected Type to be repaid.

     4.10. Funding  Indemnification.  If any payment of a Eurodollar Loan occurs
on a date which is not the last day of the applicable  Interest Period,  whether
because of  acceleration,  prepayment or otherwise,  or a Eurodollar Loan is not
made on the date specified by the Borrowers for any reason other than default by
the Banks,  the Borrowers will indemnify each Bank for any loss or cost incurred
by it resulting therefrom,  including,  without limitation,  any loss or cost in
liquidating  or employing  deposits  acquired to fund or maintain the Eurodollar
Loan.

     4.11.  Bank  Statements;  Survival of Indemnity.  To the extent  reasonably
possible,  each Bank shall  designate an  alternate  Lending  Installation  with
respect to its Eurodollar Loans to reduce any liability of the Borrowers to such
Bank  under  Sections  4.7 and 4.8 or to avoid the  unavailability  of a Type of
Advance under Section 4.9, so long as such designation is not disadvantageous to
such  Bank.  Each Bank  shall  deliver a written  statement  of such Bank to the
Borrowers  (with  a copy to the  Agent)  as to the  amount  due,  if any,  under
Sections 4.7, 4.8 or 4.10. Such written  statement shall set forth in reasonable
detail the calculations upon which such Bank determined such amount and shall be
final, conclusive and binding on the Borrowers in the absence of manifest error.
Determination  of amounts  payable  under such  Sections  in  connection  with a
Eurodollar  Loan shall be calculated  as though each Bank funded its  Eurodollar
Loan through the purchase of a deposit of the type and maturity corresponding to
the deposit used as a reference in determining the Eurodollar Rate applicable to
such Loan,  whether in fact that is the case or not. Unless  otherwise  provided
herein,  the amount  specified  in the  written  statement  of any Bank shall be
payable on demand after receipt by the Borrowers of such written statement.  The
obligations  of the  Borrowers  under  Sections  4.7, 4.8 and 4.10 shall survive
payment of the Bank Obligations and termination of this Agreement.

     SECTION 5. Security

     5.1  Security  Documents  . To secure  all  indebtedness,  obligations  and
liabilities  under  this  Agreement,  the Notes,  the  Security  Documents,  the
Advances,  any Swap  Agreements  among any Borrower and any Lender and to secure
all other  Indebtedness  and  obligations  of the Borrowers to the Agent and the
Banks pursuant thereto, whether direct or indirect,  absolute or contingent, due
or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising, the Borrowers shall:


                                      E-25

<PAGE>


          (a) Execute and deliver to the Agent, promptly upon the request of the
Agent or the  Required  Banks,  such  indentures  of  mortgage,  deeds of trust,
security agreements, financing statements and assignment of production and other
agreements,  including  without  limitation any amendments to any such documents
previously  executed and delivered in favor of the Agent or any Bank (as amended
or modified from time to time,  the  "Mortgages"  and together with the Security
Agreements, and all agreements and documents described in this Section 5.1(a) or
in 5.1(b) or 5.2 and all other agreements and documents securing any of the Bank
Obligations  at any time or otherwise  executed by any Borrower with or in favor
of the Agent and the  Banks,  and  including  without  limitation  the Letter of
Credit  Documents,  as  amended or  modified  from time to time,  the  "Security
Documents"),  in form and substance satisfactory to the Required Banks, granting
the Agent,  for the  benefit  of the  Banks,  a  first-priority,  perfected  and
enforceable lien and security interest,  subject only to the Permitted Liens, in
the following (collectively,  with all other assets described in Section 5.1(b),
the  "Collateral"):  all oil, gas and mineral properties and all other assets of
the Borrowers as requested at any time by the Required Banks,  including without
limitation  all  leasehold  and  royalty  interests  and  all  other  rights  in
connection  therewith,  and all  interests in machinery,  equipment,  materials,
improvements,  hereditaments,  appurtenances and other property,  real, Personal
and/or  mixed,  now or hereafter a part of or obtained in or used in  connection
with such  properties and all interests in and to any and all oil, gas and other
minerals now in storage or now or hereafter  located in,  under,  on or produced
from,  such  properties and an assignment of production  from such properties to
the Agent;

          (b) Execute and deliver to the Agent, on or before the Effective Date,
such security  agreements,  pledge  agreements,  financing  statements and other
agreements,  including without  limitation the Consent and Amendment of Security
Documents   confirming  the  continuing   effectiveness  of  Security  Documents
previously  executed  and  delivered  to the  Agent or any Bank (as  amended  or
modified from time to time,  the "Security  Agreements"),  in form and substance
satisfactory  to the Required Banks,  granting to the Agent,  for the benefit of
the Banks,  a first-  priority,  perfected  and  enforceable  lien and  security
interest,  subject only to the Permitted  Liens,  in all other  assets,  whether
real,  personal  or mixed,  and  whether  now owned or  hereafter  existing  and
wherever located, of the Borrowers.

     5.2 Additional  Security  Documents . If at any time requested by the Agent
or the Required  Banks,  the Borrowers shall execute and deliver such additional
documents,  and shall take such other action, as the Agent or the Required Banks
may reasonably consider necessary or proper to evidence or perfect the liens and
security interests described in Section 5.1 hereof.

     SECTION 6. Representations and Warranties.

     Each of the Borrowers represents and warrants that:

     6.1 Corporate  Existence and Power . It is a  corporation  duly  organized,
validly  existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, and is duly qualified to do business and in good standing in each
additional  jurisdiction  where  failure  to so  qualify  would  have a Material
Adverse Effect.  It has all requisite  corporate power to own its properties and


                                      E-26

<PAGE>


to carry on its business as now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted,
and to execute and deliver this Agreement,  the Notes and the Security Documents
and to engage in the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement, the Notes and
the Security Documents.

     6.2 Corporate Authority . The execution,  delivery and performance by it of
this  Agreement,  the Notes and the Security  Documents are within its corporate
powers,  have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and are not
in contravention of any law, rule or regulation, or any judgment,  decree, writ,
injunction,  order or award of any arbitrator,  court or governmental authority,
or of the terms of its charter or by-laws,  or of any contract or undertaking to
which it is a party or by which it or its property may be bound or affected.

     6.3  Binding  Effect . This  Agreement  is, and the Notes and the  Security
Documents to which it is a party when delivered  hereunder will be, legal, valid
and binding obligations of each Borrower, enforceable against each in accordance
with their respective terms.

     6.4  Subsidiaries . All  Subsidiaries  of CRI are duly  organized,  validly
existing  and in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of  their  jurisdictions  of
organization  and are duly qualified to do business in each  jurisdiction  where
failure to so qualify  would have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  All  outstanding
shares of Capital  Stock of each class of each  Subsidiary  of CRI have been and
will be validly issued and are and will be fully paid and  nonassessable and are
and will be owned,  beneficially  and of record,  by CRI,  free and clear of any
Liens.  Schedule 6.4 is a complete list of all  Subsidiaries  of CRI. COG is and
will  remain  a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of CRI and COGL is and will  remain a
wholly owned  subsidiary  of COG, and Offshore is and will remain a wholly owned
subsidiary of COGL.

     6.5 Liens . The  properties  of each  Borrower and each  Subsidiary  of any
Borrower  (including  without  limitation the Collateral) are not subject to any
Lien except Permitted Liens.

     6.6 Litigation . There is no action,  suit or proceeding pending or, to the
best of its  knowledge,  threatened  against  or  affecting  it before or by any
court, governmental authority, or arbitrator which would be reasonably likely to
result in, either  individually or collectively,  a Material Adverse Effect and,
to the best of the Borrowers' knowledge,  there is no basis for any such action,
suit or proceeding.

     6.7  Financial  Condition.  The  consolidated  balance sheet of CRI and its
Subsidiaries and the consolidated  statements of income and cash flow of CRI and
its  Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 and reported on by
Arthur Andersen,  LLP, copies of which have been furnished to the Banks,  fairly
present,  and  the  financial  statements  of CRI  and  its  Subsidiaries  to be
delivered  pursuant  to Section  7.1(d) will fairly  present,  the  consolidated
financial  position  of CRI  and its  Subsidiaries  as of the  respective  dates
thereof,  and the consolidated results of operations of CRI and its Subsidiaries
for the respective periods indicated,  all in accordance with generally accepted
accounting  principles   consistently  applied.  There  has  been  no  event  or
development  which  has had or would be  reasonably  likely  to have a  Material


                                      E-27

<PAGE>


Adverse  Effect  since  December  31,  1999.  There  is no  material  Contingent
Liability  of CRI or any of its  Subsidiaries  that  is not  reflected  in  such
financial statements or in the notes thereto.

     6.8 Use of Advances . The  Advances  will be used for  working  capital and
general corporate  purposes.  No Borrower extends or maintains,  in the ordinary
course of business,  credit for the purpose, whether immediate,  incidental,  or
ultimate, of buying or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U
of the Board of Governors  of the Federal  Reserve  System),  and no part of the
proceeds  of each  Advance  will be used  for the  purpose,  whether  immediate,
incidental,  or  ultimate,  of  buying  or  carrying  any such  margin  stock or
maintaining or extending  credit to others for such purpose.  After applying the
proceeds of the Advances, such margin stock will not constitute more than 25% of
the value of the assets that are subject to any  provisions of this Agreement or
any Security  Document  that may cause the  Advances to be secured,  directly or
indirectly by margin stock.

     6.9  Security  Documents.   The  Security  Documents  create  a  valid  and
enforceable  first-  priority  lien on and  perfected  security  interest in all
right,  title and interest of each Borrower in and to the  Collateral  described
therein,  securing all amounts intended to be secured thereby (including without
limitation  all  principal  of and  interest on the Notes)  subject  only to the
Permitted Liens. The respective net revenue interests of each Borrower in and to
the Oil and Gas  Interests as set forth in the Security  Documents  are true and
correct and  accurately  reflect the interests to which each Borrower is legally
entitled, subject only to the Permitted Liens.

     6.10  Consents,  Etc  .  No  consent,   approval  or  authorization  of  or
declaration,  registration  or filing  with any  governmental  authority  or any
nongovernmental  Person or entity,  including without limitation any creditor or
stockholder  of it,  is  required  on the  part  of it in  connection  with  the
execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement,  the Notes, the Security
Documents  or the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or as a  condition  to the
legality,  validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the Notes or any of the
Security Documents.

     6.11  Taxes . It has  filed all tax  returns  (federal,  state  and  local)
required to be filed and has paid all taxes shown  thereon to be due,  including
interest and penalties,  or has established  adequate  financial reserves on its
books and records for payment  thereof,  except where the failure to do so would
not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     6.12 Title to Properties . It has good and defensible title to, and a valid
indefeasible ownership interest in, all of its properties and assets (including,
without  limitation,  the Collateral subject to the Security Documents) free and
clear of any Lien  except the  Permitted  Liens,  and it is the owner of all the
Collateral described in the Security Documents to which it is a party. All wells
on any of the mortgaged premises have been drilled, operated, shut-in, abandoned
or  suspended  in  accordance  with  good  oil and gas  field  practices  and in
compliance with all applicable laws, permits,  statutes, orders, licenses, rules
and  regulations.  All leases with respect to any Oil and Gas Interests owned by
any  Borrower  are in good  standing  and  are in full  force  and  effect,  all
royalties,  rents,  taxes,  assessments  and other  payments  thereunder or with
respect thereto have been properly and timely paid and all conditions  necessary


                                      E-28

<PAGE>


to keep such leases in full force have been fully performed,  including  without
limitation  any condition to maintain  continuous  production or other  activity
with respect  thereto.  The Borrowers have delivered to the Agent title opinions
satisfactory  to the Agent and the Agent's  counsel with respect to at least 80%
of the value of the assets included in the Borrowing Base.

     6.13 ERISA . CRI and its  Subsidiaries and their Plans are in compliance in
all material  respects with those  provisions of ERISA and of the Code which are
applicable  with respect to any Plan. No prohibited  transaction  (as defined in
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 9975 of the Code) and no  reportable  event (as
defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any Plan. Neither CRI, any of its
Subsidiaries  nor any of its ERISA Affiliates is an employer with respect to any
multiemployer  plan (as  defined  in Section  4001(a)(3)  of  ERISA).  CRI,  its
Subsidiaries and the ERISA Affiliates have met the minimum funding  requirements
under ERISA and the Code with respect to each of the respective  Plans,  if any,
and  have not  incurred  any  liability  to the  PBGC or any  Plan.  There is no
unfunded benefit liability with respect to any Plan.

     6.14 Environmental and Safety Matters . It is in compliance in all material
respects  with all federal,  state and local laws,  ordinances  and  regulations
relating to safety and  industrial  hygiene or to the  environmental  condition,
including without limitation all Environmental Laws in jurisdictions in which it
owns any  interest in or operates,  a well, a facility or site,  or arranges for
disposal or treatment of hazardous  substances,  solid waste,  or other  wastes,
accepts for transporting any hazardous substances, solid waste, or other wastes,
or holds any  interest in real  property  or  otherwise,  except  where any such
noncompliance  would not have a  Material  Adverse  Effect.  No  demand,  claim,
notice, suit, suit in equity, action,  administrative  action,  investigation or
inquiry whether brought by any governmental authority,  private Person or entity
or otherwise, arising under, relating to or in connection with any Environmental
Laws is pending or, to the best of any Borrower's knowledge,  threatened against
it, any real  property  in which it holds or has held an interest or any past or
present  operation  of  it.  It (a)  does  not  know  of any  federal  or  state
investigation  evaluating  whether any remedial action is needed to respond to a
release of any toxic  substances,  radioactive  materials,  hazardous  wastes or
related  materials into the environment,  (b) has not received any notice of any
toxic substances,  radioactive  materials,  hazardous waste or related materials
in, or upon any of its  properties in violation of any  Environmental  Laws, and
(c) does not know of any basis for any such investigation,  notice or violation.
No material release,  threatened  release or disposal of hazardous waste,  solid
waste or other  wastes is  occurring  or has  occurred  on, under or to any real
property in which it holds any  interest or performs any of its  operations,  in
violation of any Environmental Law which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

     6.15 Direct  Benefit . The initial  Advances  hereunder and all  additional
Advances are for the direct  benefit of each of the  Borrowers,  and the initial
Advances  hereunder  are  used to  refinance  and  replace  indebtedness  owing,
directly or indirectly,  by the Borrowers to the Banks under the Existing Credit
Agreement.  The Borrowers are engaged as an integrated  group in the business of
oil and gas exploration and related fields,  and any benefits to any Borrower is
a  benefit  to all  of  them,  both  directly  or  indirectly,  inasmuch  as the
successful  operation  and  condition of the  Borrowers  is  dependent  upon the
continued  successful  performance of the functions of the integrated group as a
whole.

                                      E-29

<PAGE>


     6.16  Solvency . Each of the  following  is true for each  Borrower and the
Borrowers on a consolidated  basis:  (a) the fair saleable value of its property
is (i) greater than the total amount of its  liabilities  (including  contingent
liabilities), and (ii) greater than the amount that would be required to pay its
probable aggregate  liability on its then existing debts as they become absolute
and matured; (b) its property is not unreasonable in relation to its business or
any contemplated or undertaken transaction; and (c) it does not intend to incur,
or believe  that it will  incur,  debts  beyond its ability to pay such debts as
they become due.

     6.17  Disclosure . This  Agreement and all other  documents,  certificates,
reports or statements or other information furnished to any Bank or the Agent in
writing by or on behalf of any Borrower in connection  with the  negotiation  or
administration  of this Agreement or any transactions  contemplated  hereby when
read together do not contain any untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein
and therein not  misleading.  There is no fact known to any  Borrower  which has
caused,  or which likely would in the future in the  reasonable  judgment of the
Borrowers cause, a Material  Adverse Effect (except for any economic  conditions
which  affect   generally   the  industry  in  which  the  Borrowers  and  their
Subsidiaries  conduct business),  which has not been set forth in this Agreement
or  in  the  other  documents,  certificates,   statements,  reports  and  other
information furnished in writing to the Banks by or on behalf of any Borrower in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

     6.18  Indenture  Debt  Documents  and  Preferred   Stock   Documents.   All
representations  and warranties of the Borrowers contained in any Indenture Debt
Document  or  Preferred  Stock  Document  are true and  correct in all  material
respects.  CRI has issued  the  Indenture  Notes in the face  amount of at least
$150,000,000  on or prior to the Effective Date and all Indenture Debt Documents
have been delivered to the Agent and the Banks prior to the Effective  Date. CRI
has issued the Preferred  Stock in the amount of  $30,000,000 on or prior to the
Effective  Date and all Preferred  Stock  Documents  have been  delivered to the
Agent and the Banks prior to the Effective Date. There is no event of default or
event or  condition  which could become an event of default with notice or lapse
of time or both, under the Indenture Debt Documents or Preferred Stock Documents
and each of the Indenture Debt Documents and the Preferred Stock Documents is in
full force and effect.

     6.19 Year 2000 . The Borrowers have made a full and complete  assessment of
the Year 2000 Issues. Based on such assessment,  the Borrowers do not reasonably
anticipate that Year 2000 Issues will have a Material Adverse Effect.

     SECTION 7. Covenants.

     7.1 Affirmative  Covenants . Each Borrower covenants and agrees that, until
the payment in full of the principal of and accrued  interest on the Notes,  the
expiration  of this  Agreement  and all  Letters of Credit and the  payment  and
performance of all other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement,  the
Notes and the  Security  Documents,  unless the Required  Banks shall  otherwise
consent in writing, each of the Borrowers shall:

                                      E-30

<PAGE>


          (a) Preservation of Corporate  Existence,  Etc . Preserve and maintain
its  corporate  existence,  rights and  privileges  and its  material  licenses,
franchises and permits,  and qualify and remain  qualified as a validly existing
corporation in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is
necessary under applicable law.

          (b) Compliance  with Laws, Etc . Comply in all material  respects with
all  applicable  laws,  rules,   regulations  and  orders  of  any  governmental
authority,   whether  federal,   state,  local  or  foreign  (including  without
limitation ERISA, the Code and Environmental Laws), in effect from time to time;
and pay and discharge promptly when due all taxes,  assessments and governmental
charges or levies  imposed  upon it or upon its income,  revenues  or  property,
before the same shall  become  delinquent  or in default,  as well as all lawful
claims for labor,  materials and supplies or otherwise,  which, if unpaid, might
give rise to Liens upon such  properties or any portion  thereof,  except to the
extent that  payment of any of the  foregoing  is then being  contested  in good
faith by  appropriate  legal  proceedings  and with  respect  to which  adequate
financial reserves have been established on its books and records.

          (c)  Maintenance  of  Properties;  Insurance . Maintain,  preserve and
protect all  property  that is material to the conduct of its  business and keep
such property in good repair,  working order and condition and from time to time
make, or cause to be made, all needful and proper repairs, renewals,  additions,
improvements  and  replacements  thereto  necessary  in order that the  business
carried on in  connection  therewith  may be properly  conducted at all times in
accordance with customary and prudent business practices for similar businesses;
comply with all applicable permits,  statutes, laws, orders, licenses, rules and
regulations  relating to the Oil and Gas  Interests  owned by it, unless any non
compliance would not cause a Material Adverse Effect,  and ensure that all wells
and other properties operated by it, either in its own name or as a partner, are
operated in accordance with prudent oil and gas field practices; comply with all
of its  duties  and  obligations  under,  and  take  all  actions  to  maintain,
consistent  with prudent oil and gas  practices,  all leases and other rights in
full force and effect;  and, in addition to that  insurance  required  under the
Security Documents, maintain in full force and effect insurance with responsible
and reputable insurance companies or associations in such amounts, on such terms
and  covering  such risks,  including  fire and other risks  insured  against by
extended  coverage,  as is  usually  carried  by  companies  engaged  in similar
businesses and owning similar properties similarly situated and maintain in full
force and  effect  public  liability  insurance,  insurance  against  claims for
personal injury or death or property damage  occurring in connection with any of
its activities or any of any properties owned,  occupied or controlled by it, in
such amount as it shall  reasonably  deem  necessary,  and  maintain  such other
insurance  as may be required by law or as may be  reasonably  requested  by the
Banks for purposes of assuring compliance with this Section 7.1(c).

          (d)  Reporting  Requirements  .  Furnish  to each  Bank,  in form  and
substance satisfactory  to  the  Required  Banks,  the
following:

               (i) Promptly and in any event  within three  calendar  days after
becoming aware of the occurrence of (A) any Default, (B) the commencement of any
material  litigation against, by or affecting the Borrowers and, upon request by


                                      E-31

<PAGE>


any Bank,  any material  developments  therein,  or (C) any  development  in the
business or affairs of the  Borrowers  which has resulted in, or which is likely
in the  reasonable  judgment of the  Borrowers to result in  (including  without
limitation the entering into of any material contract and/or  undertaking by the
Borrowers) a Material  Adverse Effect or (D) any "reportable  event" (as defined
in ERISA) under,  or the institution of steps by the Borrowers or any Subsidiary
to withdraw  from, or the  institution  of any steps to  terminate,  any Plan, a
statement of the chief financial  officer of the Borrowers setting forth details
of such  Default or such event or condition  or such  litigation  and the action
which CRI or any Subsidiary has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;

               (ii) As soon as  available  and in any event within 45 days after
the end of each fiscal  quarter of CRI, the  consolidated  balance sheets of CRI
and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter, and the related consolidated
statements  of income and cash flow for the period  commencing at the end of the
previous  fiscal year and ending with the end of such quarter,  setting forth in
each case in comparative form the  corresponding  figures for the  corresponding
date or period of the preceding  fiscal year, all in reasonable  detail and duly
certified (subject to year-end audit  adjustments) by an appropriate  officer of
the  Borrowers as having been  prepared in accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles,  together with a certificate of an appropriate officer of
the Borrowers with a computation in reasonable detail  calculating the covenants
contained in Sections 7.2(a), (b), (c), (i) and (j);

               (iii) As soon as available and in any event within 120 days after
the end of each fiscal year, a copy of the consolidated balance sheet of CRI and
its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year and related  statements of income and cash
flow with a  customary  audit  report  thereon by Arthur  Andersen  LLP or other
independent  certified public accountants  selected by CRI and acceptable to the
Banks,  without  qualifications  unacceptable  to  the  Banks,  together  with a
certificate of such  accountants  stating that they have reviewed this Agreement
and stating  further that in making their review in  accordance  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  nothing came to their attention that made them
believe that any Default  exists,  or if their  examination  has  disclosed  the
existence of any Default,  specifying the nature, period of existence and status
thereof,  together with a certificate of an appropriate officer of the Borrowers
with a computation in reasonable detail  calculating the covenants  contained in
Sections 7.2(a), (b), (c), (i) and (j) hereof;

               (iv) Upon the  request  of the  Required  Banks or the  Agent,  a
schedule of all oil,  gas,  and other  mineral  production  attributable  to all
material Oil and Gas Interests of the  Borrowers,  and in any event all such Oil
and Gas Interests included in the Borrowing Base;

               (v) Promptly,  all title or other information  received after the
Effective Date by any Borrower which  discloses any material defect in the title
to any material asset included in the Borrowing Base;

               (vi) As soon as practicable and in any event within 30 days after
the  sending or filing  thereof,  copies of all such  financial  statements  and
reports as it shall send to its security  holders and of all final  prospectuses
under the Securities  Act of 1933 (other than Form S-8),  reports on Forms 10-Q,
10-K and  8-K and all  similar regular and periodic reports filed by it (i) with

                                      E-32

<PAGE>


any federal  department,  bureau,  commission or agency from time to time having
jurisdiction  with respect to the sale of securities or (ii) with any securities
exchange;

               (vii) (A) As soon as  available  and in any event  within 90 days
after each January 1,  commencing with January 1, 2000, an annual reserve report
as of each such  January  1 with  respect  to all  Hydrocarbon  reserves  of the
Borrowers  prepared by an independent  engineering  firm of recognized  standing
acceptable to the Required Banks in accordance with accepted industry  practices
and otherwise acceptable and in form and substance  satisfactory to the Required
Banks,  and including  without  limitation all assets  included in the Borrowing
Base,  and (B) within 90 days after each July 1 thereafter,  a reserve report as
of such  July 1, with  respect  to all  Hydrocarbon  reserves  of the  Borrowers
prepared by the Borrowers in accordance  with  accepted  industry  practices and
otherwise  acceptable  and in form and  substance  satisfactory  to the Required
Banks,  and including  without  limitation all assets  included in the Borrowing
Base;

               (viii) On or within 30 days after the request of the Agent or the
Required  Banks,  in connection  with a  redetermination  of the Borrowing  Base
permitted  under  Section  9.14 an updated  reserve  report with  respect to all
Hydrocarbon  reserves of the Borrowers  prepared by an  independent  engineering
firm of recognized  standing acceptable to the Required Banks in accordance with
accepted industry  practices and otherwise  acceptable and in form and substance
satisfactory to the Required Banks, and including without  limitation all assets
included in the Borrowing Base;

               (ix) Promptly,  any  management  letter from the auditors for any
Borrower and all other  information  respecting the business,  properties or the
condition or operations,  financial or otherwise, including, without limitation,
geological and engineering  data of any Borrower and any title work with respect
to any Oil and Gas  Interests  of any Borrower as any Bank may from time to time
reasonably request;

               (x) At all  times  after  the date  ninety  (90)  days  after the
Effective  Date, if requested by the Required  Banks,  title  opinions and other
opinions  of  counsel,  in each  case in form and  substance  acceptable  to the
Required  Banks,  with respect to at least eighty (80%)  percent of the value of
the assets included in the Borrowing Base; and

               (xi) The  Borrowers  will  advise  the  Agent  of any  reasonably
anticipated  Material  Adverse  Effect as a result of Year 2000  Issues and will
take all actions  reasonably  necessary to assure that the Year 2000 Issues will
not have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (e) Access to Records,  Books,  Etc . At any reasonable  time and from
time to time, permit any Bank or any agents or representatives  thereof,  at the
Borrowers'  own expense,  to examine and make copies of and  abstracts  from the
records and books of account of, and visit the properties of, the Borrowers, and
to discuss  the  affairs,  finances  and  accounts of the  Borrowers  with their
respective officers and employees. Without limiting the foregoing, the Borrowers
agree that at any  reasonable  time and from time to time,  the  Borrowers  will
permit any Bank or any agents or  representatives  thereof  to  inspect,  at the


                                      E-33

<PAGE>


office of the Borrowers  listed on its signature page hereto,  all opinions with
respect to title and other  material work received by the Borrowers with respect
to any asset included in the Borrowing Base.

     7.2  Negative  Covenants . Until  payment in full of the  principal  of and
accrued  interest on the Notes, the expiration of this Agreement and all Letters
of Credit  and the  payment  and  performance  of all other  obligations  of the
Borrowers and each Guarantor  under this  Agreement,  the Notes and the Security
Documents,  each Borrower agrees that, unless the Required Banks shall otherwise
consent in writing, none of them shall:

          (a)  Current  Ratio .  Permit  or  suffer  the ratio of (i) the sum of
Current Assets plus the unused  availability under the revolving credit facility
established by Section 2.1(a) to (ii) Current Liabilities to be less than 1.0 to
1.0 at any time.

          (b)  Tangible Net Worth . Permit or suffer  Consolidated  Tangible Net
Worth of CRI and its  Subsidiaries,  at any time, to be less than the sum of (i)
$105,000,000,  plus (ii) 50% of  Consolidated  Net Income for each fiscal  year,
commencing  with the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998, and to be added as of
the last day of such fiscal quarter and each such fiscal year,  provided that if
such Consolidated Net Income is negative in such fiscal quarter or in any fiscal
year,  the amount added pursuant to this clause (ii) shall be zero and shall not
reduce the amount added  pursuant to this clause (ii) for any other fiscal year,
plus (iii) 75% of the net cash proceeds of any equity  offering or other sale of
Capital Stock of CRI or any of its Subsidiaries, other than net cash proceeds in
an aggregate amount per fiscal year not to exceed $2,500,000  received by CRI in
connection with the exercising of stock options.

          (c) Interest  Coverage Ratio . Permit or suffer, as of the last day of
any fiscal  quarter of CRI, the ratio of (i) EBITDA,  as calculated for the four
fiscal  quarters  then  ending,  to  (ii)  Consolidated   Interest  Expense,  as
calculated for the four fiscal quarters then ending, to be less than 2.5 to 1.0.

          (d) Indebtedness . Create,  incur,  assume,  guaranty or in any manner
become liable in respect of, or suffer to exist, any Indebtedness other than:

               (i) The Advances;

               (ii) Other  Indebtedness in aggregate  outstanding  amount not to
exceed $5,000,000;

               (iii)  Unsecured  insurance  premium  financing  incurred  in the
ordinary course of business;

               (iv)  Indebtedness  pursuant to any Swap Agreement with any Bank,
any Person with an investment grade debt rating  acceptable to the Agent and any
other Person acceptable to the Agent;


                                      E-34

<PAGE>


               (v) Indenture Debt, including the related guarantees  thereunder,
pursuant to the Indenture Debt Documents,  provided that the aggregate principal
amount of such  Indenture Debt shall not exceed the amount of the Indenture Debt
outstanding as of its original issuance; and

               (vi) Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.2(i).

          (e) Liens . Create, incur or suffer to exist, any Lien to exist on any
assets,  rights,  revenues or  property,  real,  personal or mixed,  tangible or
intangible, other than:

               (i) Liens for taxes not  delinquent or for taxes being  contested
in good faith by  appropriate  proceedings  and as to which  adequate  financial
reserves have been established on its books and records;

               (ii) Liens  (other  than any Lien  imposed by ERISA)  created and
maintained  in the  ordinary  course of business  which are not  material in the
aggregate,  and  which  would  not have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  and  which
constitute   (A)  pledges  or  deposits  under   worker's   compensation   laws,
unemployment  insurance laws or similar legislation,  (B) good faith deposits in
connection  with bids,  tenders,  contracts or leases to which any Borrower is a
party for a purpose other than borrowing  money or obtaining  credit,  including
rent  security  deposits,  (C) liens  imposed by law, such as those of carriers,
warehousemen,  operators and  mechanics,  if payment of the  obligation  secured
thereby  is not  yet  due,  (D)  Liens  securing  taxes,  assessments  or  other
governmental charges or levies not yet subject to penalties for nonpayment,  and
(E)  pledges  or  deposits  to secure  public or  statutory  obligations  of any
Borrower, or surety, customs or appeal bonds to which such Borrower is a party;

               (iii) Liens created pursuant to the Security  Documents and Liens
expressly  permitted by the Security  Documents,  including  without  limitation
liens securing any reimbursement  and other obligations  pursuant to any Letters
of  Credit  issued  by any  Bank  for the  account  of any  Borrower,  and it is
acknowledged and agreed that,  without limiting the indebtedness  secured by the
Security  Documents,  each Security Document secures all reimbursement and other
obligations  incurred  at any time by any  Borrower  pursuant  to any  Letter of
Credit issued by any Bank for the account of any Borrower;

               (iv) Liens securing  Indebtedness  permitted  pursuant to Section
7.2(d)(iii)  created to secure payment of a portion of the purchase price of, or
existing at the time of acquisition of, any tangible fixed asset acquired by any
Borrower if the outstanding principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such
Lien does not at any time exceed the  purchase  price paid by such  Borrower for
such  assets,  provided  that such Lien does not encumber any other asset at any
time owned by such Borrower.

          (f) Merger; Acquisitions;  Etc. Purchase or otherwise acquire, whether
in one or a series of  transactions,  unless the Required Banks shall  otherwise
consent in  writing,  all or any  substantial  portion of the  business  assets,
rights,  revenues or property,  real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible,
of any Person,  or all or any  substantial  portion of the  Capital  Stock of or


                                      E-35

<PAGE>


other  ownership  interest  in any other  Person,  nor merge or  consolidate  or
amalgamate  with any  other  Person or take any  other  action  having a similar
effect,  unless in each of the foregoing cases, each of the following conditions
is satisfied:  (i) no Default or Event of Default  exists either before or after
such acquisition,  merger, consolidation,  amalgamation or other action having a
similar  effect,   (ii)  if  such   transaction  is  a  merger,   consolidation,
amalgamation  or other  action  having  a  similar  effect,  a  Borrower  is the
surviving  entity and (iii) in the case of any take-over bid or offer to acquire
all or  substantially  all of the outstanding  voting or equity  securities of a
corporation or an acquisition of all or  substantially  all of the assets of any
Person,  the board of directors of the target  corporation  or management of the
target Person(if the target is not a corporation) has recommended  acceptance of
such bid or offer.

          (g) Disposition of Assets;  Etc . Without the prior written consent of
the Required Banks, sell, lease, license,  transfer, assign or otherwise dispose
of any  Collateral or any of its other  business,  assets,  rights,  revenues or
property,  real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible,  whether in one or a
series of transactions,  other than (i) inventory sold in the ordinary course of
business upon customary credit terms, and (ii) if no Default has occurred and is
continuing or would be caused thereby, other sales of assets in aggregate amount
not  to  exceed  $15,000,000  in  any  twelve-month  period,  provided  that  in
connection with any such sales in excess of $1,000,000 in aggregate amount since
the date of the most recent  redetermination  of the Borrowing  Base all the net
proceeds  (net only of  reasonable  and  customary  fees  actually  incurred  in
connection  with such  sales and of taxes  paid or  reasonably  estimated  to be
payable as a result thereof), will simultaneously reduce the Borrowing Base by a
like amount.

          (h) Nature of Business . Make any substantial  change in the nature of
its business from that engaged in on the date of this Agreement or engage in any
other  businesses  other  than  those in which it is engaged on the date of this
Agreement.

          (i)  Investments  and  Advances .  Purchase or  otherwise  acquire any
Capital Stock of or other ownership  interest in, or debt securities of or other
evidences of Indebtedness of, any other Person;  nor make any loan or advance of
any of its funds or property or make any other  extension  of credit to, or make
any investment or acquire any interest  whatsoever in, any other Person,  except
(i) loans and advances to officers of the Borrowers, provided that the aggregate
amount of all such loans and advances  does not exceed  $25,000,  (ii) loans and
advances among the Borrowers or any Subsidiary of any Borrower  guaranteeing all
indebtedness,  obligations and liabilities of the Borrowers to the Banks and the
Agent pursuant to a guaranty and other agreements satisfactory to the Agent, and
(iii) other loans and advances,  provided that the aggregate  amount of all such
loans  and   advances,   together  with   Indebtedness   allowed  under  Section
7.2(d)(iii), shall not exceed $5,000,000.

          (j)  Dividends  . With  respect  to CRI only,  make,  pay,  declare or
authorize any dividend, payment or other distribution in respect of any class of
its Capital Stock or any dividend,  payment or  distribution  in connection with
the  redemption,   repurchase,   defeasance,  conversion,  retirement  or  other
acquisition,  directly or indirectly, of any shares of its Capital Stock (all of
the foregoing  defined herein as "Restricted  Payments"),  except (i) Restricted


                                      E-36

<PAGE>


Payments  payable  solely in shares of common stock of CRI and (ii)  payments in
cash of the accrued  fixed  dividends  on the  Preferred  Stock at a rate not to
exceed 9.0% per annum, provided that both before and after giving effect to such
payment  (on a pro forma basis  acceptable  to the Agent) no Default or Event of
Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing  and all  representations  and
warranties  contained  in  Section  6 hereof  shall be true and  correct  in all
material  respects as if made at the time of such payment.  Additionally,  other
than the Preferred Stock, CRI will not issue any Disqualified Stock.

          (k)  Transactions  with  Affiliates.  Enter  into or be a party to any
transaction or arrangement with any Affiliate  (including,  without  limitation,
the purchase from, sale to or exchange of property with, or the rendering of any
service by or for, any Affiliate), except in the ordinary course of and pursuant
to the  reasonable  requirements  of the  Borrowers'  business and upon fair and
reasonable  terms no less favorable to such Borrower than would be obtained in a
comparable  arms- length  transaction  with a Person other than an Affiliate and
except the loans and advances described in Section 7.2(i).

          (l) Additional Covenants. If at any time any Borrower shall enter into
or be a party to any instrument or agreement,  including all such instruments or
agreements  in  existence  as of the date  hereof  and all such  instruments  or
agreements entered into after the date hereof, relating to or amending any terms
or conditions  applicable to any of its Indebtedness  which includes  covenants,
terms,  conditions or defaults not substantially  provided for in this Agreement
or more favorable to the lender or lenders thereunder than those provided for in
this  Agreement,  then the Borrowers  shall promptly so advise the Agent and the
Banks. Thereupon, if the Agent shall request, upon notice to the Borrowers,  the
Agent and the Banks  shall  enter  into an  amendment  to this  Agreement  or an
additional agreement (as the Agent may request), providing for substantially the
same  covenants,  terms,  conditions  and defaults as those provided for in such
instrument  or  agreement  to the extent  required and as may be selected by the
Agent.  In  addition to the  foregoing,  any  covenants,  terms,  conditions  or
defaults in any existing agreements or other documents evidencing or relating to
any  Indebtedness of any Borrower  (including  without  limitation the Indenture
Debt  Documents)  not  substantially  provided  for in  this  Agreement  or more
favorable  to the  holders  of such  Indebtedness,  are hereby  incorporated  by
reference  into this  Agreement to the same extent as if set forth fully herein,
and no subsequent  amendment,  waiver or  modification  thereof shall affect any
such covenants, terms, conditions or defaults as incorporated herein.

          (m) Financial  Contracts.  Enter into any Swap Agreement (or any other
agreement, device or arrangement providing for payments relating to fluctuations
of interest rates, exchange rates or commodity prices) for purposes of financial
speculation  or  otherwise  not  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business  of the
Borrowers, and any Swap Agreement with respect to fluctuations in interest rates
shall be entered into by the  Borrowers  only with respect to  Indebtedness  for
borrowed money of the Borrowers.

          (n) Payments and  Modification of Indenture Debt.  Make, or permit any
Subsidiary  to make,  any  optional  payment,  defeasance  (whether  a  covenant
defeasance,  legal defeasance or other defeasance),  prepayment or redemption of


                                      E-37

<PAGE>


any of its or any of its  Subsidiaries'  Indenture  Debt or amend or modify,  or
consent  or agree to any  amendment  or  modification  of,  any  Indenture  Debt
Document,  or  enter  into  any  agreement  or  arrangement  providing  for  any
defeasance of any kind of any of its Indenture Debt.


     SECTION 8. Default

     8.1 Events of Default . The  occurrence of any one of the following  events
or conditions  shall be deemed an "Event of Default"  hereunder unless waived by
the Required Banks pursuant to Section 10.1:

          (a) Any Borrower  shall fail to pay within 2 Business Days of when due
any  principal of or interest on the Notes  (whether  pursuant to Section 4.1 or
otherwise), any fees or any other amount payable hereunder or under any Security
Document; or

          (b) Any  representation  or warranty made by any Borrower in Section 6
hereof,  in any  Security  Document  or in any  other  document  or  certificate
furnished by or on behalf of any  Borrower in  connection  with this  Agreement,
shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made; or

          (c) (i) Any  Borrower  shall  fail to  perform  or  observe  any term,
covenant or  agreement  contained  in Sections  7.1(b),  7.1(c)  (other than the
agreement to maintain continuous  insurance coverage) or 7.1(d) hereof or in any
Security  Document,  any other Loan  Document or any other  agreement  among the
Borrowers,  the Banks and the  Agent,  or any of them,  and such  failure  shall
remain  unremedied  for 30  calendar  days after the  earlier of the date notice
thereof  shall  have  been  given to  Borrowers  by the Agent or any Bank or any
Borrower  knows of such failure,  or (ii) any Borrower  shall fail to perform or
observe any other term, covenant, or agreement contained in this Agreement; or

          (d) Any Borrower  shall fail to pay any part of the  principal of, the
premium, if any, or the interest on, or any other payment of money due under any
of its Indebtedness  (other than Indebtedness  hereunder),  beyond any period of
grace provided with respect thereto,  which  individually or together with other
such  Indebtedness  as to  which  any  such  failure  exists  has  an  aggregate
outstanding principal amount in excess of $10,000,000;  or if any Borrower fails
to perform or observe any other term,  covenant or  agreement  contained  in any
agreement,  document or instrument evidencing or securing any such Indebtedness,
or under which any such Indebtedness was issued or created, beyond any period of
grace,  if any,  provided with respect  thereto if the effect of such failure is
either (i) to cause, or permit the holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee on
behalf of such holders) to cause, any payment in respect of such Indebtedness to
become  due  prior  to its  due  date  or (ii) to  permit  the  holders  of such
Indebtedness  (or a trustee on behalf of such holder) to elect a majority of the
board of directors of any Borrower; or

          (e) A judgment or order for the payment of money,  which together with
other such  judgments or orders  exceeds the  aggregate  amount of  $10,000,000,


                                      E-38

<PAGE>


shall be rendered  against any Borrower and either (i)  enforcement  proceedings
shall have been  commenced by any creditor  upon such judgment or order and such
judgment or order shall have remained  unsatisfied  and such  proceedings  shall
have remained unstayed for a period of 30 consecutive days, or (ii) for a period
of 30 consecutive  days, such judgment or order shall have remained  unsatisfied
and a stay of  enforcement  thereof,  by reason of pending  appeal or otherwise,
shall not have been in effect; or

          (f) The  occurrence  or existence  with respect to any Borrower or any
Guarantor  or any of their ERISA  Affiliates  of any of the  following:  (i) any
"prohibited  transaction" (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of
the Code) involving any Plan, (ii) any Reportable Event shall occur with respect
to any Plan, (iii) the filing under ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate any
Plan or the termination of any Plan, (iv) any event or circumstance exists which
might constitute grounds entitling the PBGC to institute proceedings under ERISA
for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan,
or the  institution  of the PBGC of any such  proceedings,  or (v)  complete  or
partial   withdrawal   under   ERISA   from  any   Multiemployer   Plan  or  the
reorganization,  insolvency,  or termination of any  Multiemployer  Plan, and in
each of the foregoing  cases,  such event or condition,  together with all other
events or  conditions,  if any,  could in the  opinion of the Banks  subject any
Borrower  to any tax,  penalty,  or other  liability  to a Plan,  the  PBGC,  or
otherwise (or any combination thereof); or

          (g) Any Borrower shall generally not pay its debts as they become due,
or shall admit in writing its  inability  to pay its debts  generally,  or shall
make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors,  or shall institute,  or
there shall be instituted  against any Borrower,  any proceeding or case seeking
to  adjudicate  it a bankrupt or insolvent or seeking  liquidation,  winding up,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of it
or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy,  insolvency or reorganization
or relief or  protection  of debtors or seeking the entry of an order for relief
or the appointment of a receiver,  trustee,  custodian or other similar official
for it or for any substantial  part of its property,  and, if such proceeding is
instituted  against any Borrower and is being contested by such Borrower in good
faith by appropriate  proceedings,  such proceedings shall remain undismissed or
unstayed  for a period  of 30  days;  or any  Borrower  shall  take  any  action
(corporate or other) to authorize or further any of the actions  described above
in this subsection; or

          (h) Any event of default described in any Security Document shall have
occurred and be continuing,  or any material  provision of any Security Document
shall at any time for any reason  cease to be valid and binding and  enforceable
against  any  obligor   thereunder,   or  the   validity,   binding   effect  or
enforceability  thereof shall be contested or  repudiated by any Person,  or any
obligor,  shall  deny  that  it  has  any or  further  liability  or  obligation
thereunder,  or any Security  Document shall be  terminated,  invalidated or set
aside, or be declared  ineffective or inoperative or in any way cease to give or
provide to the Agent and the Banks the benefits purported to be created thereby;

          (i) Any Change in Control shall occur; or


                                      E-39

<PAGE>


          (j) or the occurrence of any "Change of Control",  "Change in Control"
or similar term as defined in the Indenture or the Preferred Stock Documents.

     8.2 Remedies.


          (a) Upon the  occurrence  and during the  continuance  of any Event of
Default,  the Agent may, and upon being directed to do so by the Required Banks,
shall,  by notice to the  Borrowers  terminate  the  Commitments  or declare the
outstanding  principal  of,  and  accrued  interest  on, the Notes and all other
amounts due under this Agreement and all other Loan Documents, to be immediately
due and  payable,  or demand  immediate  delivery  of cash  collateral,  and the
Borrowers agree to deliver such cash  collateral upon such demand,  in an amount
equal to the maximum  amount that may be available to be drawn at any time prior
to the stated expiry of all outstanding  Letters of Credit, or all of the above,
whereupon the Commitments  shall terminate  forthwith and all such amounts shall
become  immediately due and payable,  or both, as the case may be, provided that
in the  case  of any  event  or  condition  described  in  Section  8.1(g),  the
Commitments shall  automatically  terminate forthwith and all such amounts shall
automatically  become  immediately due and payable without notice;  in each case
without demand,  presentment,  protest,  diligence,  notice of dishonor or other
formality, all of which are hereby expressly waived.

          (b) Upon the  occurrence  and during the  continuance of such Event of
Default,  the Agent may, and upon being directed to do so by the Required Banks,
shall,  in addition to the  remedies  provided  in Section  8.2(a),  enforce its
rights  either by suit in equity,  or by action at law, or by other  appropriate
proceedings,  whether for the specific  performance (to the extent  permitted by
law) of any  covenant or agreement  contained  in this  Agreement or in any then
outstanding Note or any Security Document or in aid of the exercise of any power
granted in this Agreement,  any then outstanding Notes or any Security Document,
and may enforce the payment of any then  outstanding  Notes and any of the other
rights of the Agent and the Banks in any other  agreement or available at law or
in equity.

          (c) Upon the  occurrence  and during the  continuance  of any Event of
Default  hereunder,  each  Bank may at any time and from  time to time,  without
notice to the Borrowers (any  requirement for such notice being expressly waived
by the  Borrowers)  set off and apply against any and all of the  obligations of
any Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement, any of the Notes or
the  Security  Documents,  any and all  deposits  (general or  special,  time or
demand,  provisional  or final) at any time held and other  indebtedness  at any
time owing by such Bank to or for the credit or the account of any  Borrower and
any  property  of any  Borrower  from time to time in  possession  of such Bank,
irrespective of whether or not any Bank shall have made any demand hereunder and
although such  obligations  may be contingent and  unmatured.  The rights of the
Banks under this  Section  8.2(c) are in addition to other  rights and  remedies
(including,  without  limitation,  other  rights of setoff)  which the Banks may
have.

     8.3  Distribution  of  Proceeds . All  proceeds of any  realization  on the
Collateral  received by the Agent  pursuant  to the  Security  Documents  or any
payments on any of the liabilities secured by the Security Documents received by

                                      E-40

<PAGE>


the Agent or any Bank upon and  during the  continuance  of any Event of Default
shall be allocated and distributed as follows:

          (a) First, to the payment of all costs and expenses, including without
limitation all attorneys'  fees, of the Agent in connection with the enforcement
of the Security Documents and otherwise administering this Agreement;

          (b) Second, to the payment of all costs,  expenses and fees, including
without  limitation,  commitment  fees and attorneys'  fees,  owing to the Banks
pursuant to the Bank Obligations on a pro rata basis in accordance with the Bank
Obligations  consisting of fees, costs and expenses owing to the Banks under the
Bank Obligations for application to payment of such liabilities;

          (c)  Third,  to the Banks on a pro rata basis in  accordance  with the
Bank  Obligations  consisting of interest and principal owing to the Banks under
the Bank  Obligations,  with any  obligations  owing to any Bank pursuant to any
Swap Agreement to which it is a party (whether pursuant to a termination thereof
or otherwise) and with any reimbursement  obligations or other liabilities owing
to any Bank pursuant to any Letter of Credit, for application to payment of such
liabilities;

          (d) Fourth,  to the payment of any and all other  amounts owing to the
Banks  on a pro  rata  basis  in  accordance  with  the  total  amount  of  such
Indebtedness  owing to each of the  Banks,  for  application  to payment of such
liabilities; and

          (e) Fifth,  to the  Borrowers  or such other  Person as may be legally
entitled thereto.

     8.4  Letter  of  Credit  Liabilities.  For the  purposes  of  payments  and
distributions  under Section 8.3, the full amount of Bank Obligations on account
of any Letter of Credit then  outstanding  but not drawn upon shall be deemed to
be then due and owing.  Amounts  distributable to any of the Banks on account of
such Bank  Obligations  under  such  Letter of Credit  shall be  deposited  in a
separate  interest  bearing  collateral  account  in the name of and  under  the
control of the Agent and held by the Agent first as security  for such Letter of
Credit Bank  Obligations and then as security for all other Bank Obligations and
the  amount  so  deposited  shall  be  applied  to the  Letter  of  Credit  Bank
Obligations  at such times and to the  extent  that such  Letter of Credit  Bank
Obligations become absolute liabilities. If and to the extent that the Letter of
Credit Bank Obligations fail to become absolute Bank Obligations  because of the
expiration or  termination  of the  underlying  Letters of Credit  without being
drawn upon, then such amounts shall be applied to the remaining Bank Obligations
in the order provided in Section 8.3. Each Borrower  hereby grants to the Agent,
for the  benefit of the Banks,  a lien and  security  interest in all such funds
deposited in such separate interest bearing collateral  account, as security for
all the Bank Obligations as set forth above. The Borrowers acknowledge and agree
that all  reimbursement  and other  obligations and liabilities  pursuant to any
Letters  of  Credit  issued by the Agent for the  account  of any  Borrower  are
secured by all Collateral and the Security Documents.

                                      E-41

<PAGE>


     SECTION 9. The  Administrative  Agent, the Syndication Agent and the Banks.

     9.1 Appointment;  Nature of Relationship.  Bank One, NA is hereby appointed
by the Banks as the  administrative  agent  hereunder  and under each other Loan
Document,  and each of the Banks irrevocably  authorizes the Agent to act as the
contractual representative of such Bank with the rights and duties expressly set
forth  herein and in the other Loan  Documents.  The Agent agrees to act as such
contractual representative upon the express conditions contained in this Section
9.  Notwithstanding  the  use of  the  defined  term  "Agent,"  it is  expressly
understood   and   agreed   that  the  Agent   shall  not  have  any   fiduciary
responsibilities  to any Bank by reason  of this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan
Document and that the Agent is merely acting as the  representative of the Banks
with only those  duties as are  expressly  set forth in this  Agreement  and the
other Loan Documents. In its capacity as the Banks' contractual  representative,
the Agent (i) does not hereby assume any  fiduciary  duties to any of the Banks,
(ii) is a "representative"  of the Banks within the meaning of Section 9- 105 of
the Uniform  Commercial  Code and (iii) is acting as an independent  contractor,
the rights and duties of which are limited to those  expressly set forth in this
Agreement  and the other  Loan  Documents.  Each of the Banks  hereby  agrees to
assert no claim  against the Agent on any agency  theory or any other  theory of
liability  for breach of  fiduciary  duty,  all of which claims each Bank hereby
waives.

     9.2 Powers . The Agent shall have and may  exercise  such powers  under the
Loan Documents as are  specifically  delegated to the Agent by the terms of each
thereof,  together with such powers as are reasonably  incidental  thereto.  The
Agent shall have no implied duties to the Banks,  or any obligation to the Banks
to take any action  thereunder  except any action  specifically  provided by the
Loan Documents to be taken by the Agent.

     9.3  General  Immunity  .  Neither  the  Agent  nor  any of its  directors,
officers,  agents or employees  shall be liable to the Borrowers,  any Borrower,
the Banks or any Bank for any action  taken or omitted to be taken by it or them
hereunder  or under  any  other  Loan  Document  or in  connection  herewith  or
therewith except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

     9.4 No Responsibility for Loans,  Recitals,  etc. Neither the Agent nor any
of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be responsible for or have
any duty to ascertain,  inquire into, or verify (i) any  statement,  warranty or
representation  made in  connection  with any  Loan  Document  or any  borrowing
hereunder;  (ii)  the  performance  or  observance  of any of the  covenants  or
agreements  of  any  obligor  under  any  Loan  Document,   including,   without
limitation,  any agreement by an obligor to furnish information directly to each
Bank;  (iii) the  satisfaction  of any  condition  specified  in Section  3.2 or
otherwise   hereunder;   (iv)  the  validity,   enforceability,   effectiveness,
sufficiency  or  genuineness  of any Loan  Document or any other  instrument  or
writing  furnished  in  connection  therewith;  or (v) the  value,  sufficiency,
creation, perfection or priority of any interest in any collateral security. The
Agent  shall  have no duty to  disclose  to the  Banks  information  that is not
required to be  furnished  by the  Borrowers  to the Agent at such time,  but is
voluntarily  furnished by the  Borrowers to the Agent (either in its capacity as
Agent or in its individual capacity).


                                      E-42

<PAGE>


     9.5 Action on Instructions of Banks . The Agent shall in all cases be fully
protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder and under any other
Loan Document in  accordance  with written  instructions  signed by the Required
Banks,  and such  instructions  and any action  taken or failure to act pursuant
thereto  shall be binding on all of the Banks and on all  holders of Notes.  The
Banks  hereby  acknowledge  that  the  Agent  shall be under no duty to take any
discretionary  action  permitted to be taken by it pursuant to the provisions of
this  Agreement  or any other  Loan  Document  unless it shall be  requested  in
writing to do so by the Required  Banks.  The Agent shall be fully  justified in
failing  or  refusing  to take any  action  hereunder  and under any other  Loan
Document  unless it shall first be indemnified to its  satisfaction by the Banks
pro rata  against any and all  liability,  cost and expense that it may incur by
reason of taking or continuing to take any such action.

     9.6  Employment  of Agents and  Counsel . The Agent may  execute any of its
duties  as Agent  hereunder  and under any other  Loan  Document  by or  through
employees,  agents,  and  attorneys-in-fact  and shall not be  answerable to the
Banks, except as to money or securities received by it or its authorized agents,
for the default or misconduct of any such agents or  attorneys-in-fact  selected
by it with  reasonable  care.  The Agent  shall be entitled to advice of counsel
concerning  all matters  pertaining to the agency hereby  created and its duties
hereunder and under any other Loan Document.

     9.7  Reliance on  Documents;  Counsel . The Agent shall be entitled to rely
upon any  Note,  notice,  consent,  certificate,  affidavit,  letter,  telegram,
statement,  paper or  document  believed  by it to be genuine and correct and to
have been  signed or sent by the proper  Person or  Persons,  and, in respect to
legal matters,  upon the opinion of counsel selected by the Agent, which counsel
may be employees of the Agent.

     9.8  Agent's  Reimbursement  and  Indemnification  .  The  Banks  agree  to
reimburse and  indemnify  the Agent  ratably in  proportion to their  respective
Commitments (or, if the Commitments have been terminated, in proportion to their
Commitments  immediately  prior to such  termination)  (i) for any  amounts  not
reimbursed by the Borrowers for which the Agent is entitled to  reimbursement by
the Borrowers under the Loan Documents,  (ii) for any other expenses incurred by
the Agent on behalf of the Banks, in connection with the preparation, execution,
delivery, administration and enforcement of the Loan Documents and (iii) for any
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs,  expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever which may be
imposed on, incurred by or asserted  against the Agent in any way relating to or
arising out of the Loan Documents or any other document  delivered in connection
therewith or the transactions contemplated thereby, or the enforcement of any of
the terms thereof or of any such other documents, provided that no Bank shall be
liable  for any of the  foregoing  to the  extent  they  arise  from  the  gross
negligence or willful  misconduct  of the Agent.  The  obligations  of the Banks
under  this  Section  9.8 shall  survive  payment  of the Bank  Obligations  and
termination of this Agreement.

     9.9 Notice of Default . The Agent shall not be deemed to have  knowledge or
notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder unless the
Agent has  received  written notice from a Bank or a Borrower referring to  this

                                      E-43

<PAGE>


Agreement  describing  such  Default or Event of Default and  stating  that such
notice is a "notice of  default".  In the event that the Agent  receives  such a
notice, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Banks.

     9.10  Rights as a Bank . In the event the Agent is a Bank,  the Agent shall
have the same rights and powers  hereunder  and under any other Loan Document as
any Bank and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent, and the term
"Bank"  or  "Banks"  shall,  at any time when the  Agent is a Bank,  unless  the
context otherwise indicates,  include the Agent in its individual capacity.  The
Agent may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally  engage in any kind
of trust, debt, equity or other  transaction,  in addition to those contemplated
by this Agreement or any other Loan Document,  with any Borrower or any of their
respective  Subsidiaries  in  which  any  Borrower  or  such  Subsidiary  is not
restricted  hereby  from  engaging  with any other  Person.  The  Agent,  in its
individual capacity, is not obligated to remain a Bank.

     9.11  Bank  Credit  Decision  .  Each  Bank   acknowledges   that  it  has,
independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Bank and based on
the financial  statements prepared by the Borrowers and such other documents and
information  as it has  deemed  appropriate,  made its own credit  analysis  and
decision to enter into this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents.  Each Bank
also  acknowledges  that it will,  independently  and without  reliance upon the
Agent or any other Bank and based on such documents and  information as it shall
deem  appropriate  at the time,  continue  to make its own credit  decisions  in
taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

     9.12  Successor  Agent . The Agent may resign at any time by giving written
notice thereof to the Banks and the Borrowers,  such resignation to be effective
upon the  appointment  of a successor  Agent or, if no successor  Agent has been
appointed,  forty-five  days  after  the  retiring  Agent  gives  notice  of its
intention to resign.  Upon any such  resignation,  the Required Banks shall have
the right to  appoint,  on behalf of the  Borrowers  and the Banks,  a successor
Agent.  If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Banks
within thirty days after the resigning Agent's giving notice of its intention to
resign,  then the resigning Agent may appoint,  on behalf of the Borrowers,  and
the Banks, a successor  Agent.  If the Agent has resigned and no successor Agent
has been appointed,  the Banks may perform all the duties of the Agent hereunder
and the Borrowers shall make all payments in respect of the Bank  Obligations to
the  applicable  Bank and for all other  purposes  shall deal  directly with the
Banks. No successor  Agent shall be deemed to be appointed  hereunder until such
successor Agent has accepted the appointment.  Any such successor Agent shall be
a commercial bank having capital and retained earnings of at least  $50,000,000.
Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor  Agent,
such successor Agent shall  thereupon  succeed to and become vested with all the
rights,  powers,  privileges  and  duties  of  the  resigning  Agent.  Upon  the
effectiveness  of the  resignation  of the Agent,  the resigning  Agent shall be
discharged  from  its  duties  and  obligations  hereunder  and  under  the Loan
Documents.  After  the  effectiveness  of  the  resignation  of  an  Agent,  the
provisions  of this  Section 9 shall  continue in effect for the benefit of such
Agent in respect of any actions  taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was
acting as the Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.

                                      E-44

<PAGE>


     9.13 Pro Rata  Sharing by Banks . Each Bank  agrees  with every  other Bank
that,  in the event that it shall  receive  and retain any payment on account of
the  Borrower's  obligations  under this  Agreement,  the Notes or the  Security
Documents in a greater  proportion than that received by any other Bank, whether
such payment be voluntary, involuntary or by operation of law, by application of
set-off of any indebtedness or otherwise, then such Bank shall promptly purchase
a participation interest from the other Banks, without recourse, for cash and at
face value,  ratably in  accordance  with its Pro Rata Share,  in such an amount
that each Bank shall have  received  payment in respect of such  obligations  in
accordance with its Pro Rata Share; provided,  that if any such purchase be made
by any Bank and if any such excess payment  relating thereto or any part thereof
is thereafter  recovered from such Bank,  appropriate  adjustment in the related
purchase from the other Banks shall be made by rescission and restoration of the
purchase  price as to the portion of such  excess  payment so  recovered.  It is
further  agreed that,  to the extent there is then owing by the Borrowers to any
Bank indebtedness other than that evidenced by this Agreement, the Notes and the
Security  Documents  to which such Bank may apply any  involuntary  payments  of
indebtedness by the Borrowers, including those resulting from exercise of rights
of  set-off  or  similar  rights,  such Bank  shall  apply all such  involuntary
payments first to obligations of the Borrowers to the Banks  hereunder and under
the Notes and the Security Documents and then to such other indebtedness owed to
it by the Borrowers. In addition, it is further agreed that any and all proceeds
resulting  from a sale or  other  disposition  of any  collateral  which  may be
hereafter  granted for the benefit of the Banks to secure the obligations of the
Borrowers  hereunder,  shall be applied first to obligations of the Borrowers to
the Banks  hereunder  and under the Notes and the Security  Documents,  and then
ratably to any other  indebtedness  owed by the  Borrowers to the Banks which is
secured by such collateral.

     9.14  Determination  of Borrowing Base, Etc . (a) As of the Effective Date,
the  Borrowing  Base  shall be  equal  to  $190,000,000  and  scheduled  monthly
reductions  to the  Borrowing  Base shall be $0 (any monthly  reductions  in the
Borrowing Base  redetermined  at any time under this Section 9.14 are defined as
the "Monthly Borrowing Base Reductions").

          (b)  Any  redetermination  of  the  Borrowing  Base  and  the  Monthly
Borrowing Base Reductions shall be made by the Agent and submitted to the Banks.
Such  redetermined  Borrowing Base and Monthly  Borrowing Base Reductions  shall
then be  effective  when  approved  by Banks  holding  not less  than 75% of the
aggregate  principal  amount of the  Advances  then  outstanding  (or 75% of the
Commitments if no Advances are then  outstanding).  If any of such  redetermined
Borrowing Base and Monthly  Borrowing Base  Reductions are not approved by Banks
holding not less than 75% of the aggregate principal amount of the Advances then
outstanding  (or 75% of the  Commitments  if no Advances  are then  outstanding)
within  ten (10) days  after they are  submitted  to the Banks,  each Bank shall
submit to the Agent,  on or within ten (10) days  after the Agent  notifies  the
Banks that such Banks have not approved any such redetermined  Borrowing Base or
Monthly  Borrowing Base Reductions,  its  determination of each of the foregoing
which was not so approved,  and the redetermined amount of each of the foregoing
which  was  not so  approved  will  be  based  on the  weighted  average  of the
redetermined   amount  thereof  of  each  Bank  which   properly   submits  such
redetermination to the Agent, weighted according to each Bank's Commitment.

                                      E-45

<PAGE>


NOTWITHSTANDING  ANYTHING  HEREIN TO THE  CONTRARY,  WITHOUT  THE PRIOR  WRITTEN
APPROVAL OF ALL THE BANKS,  SUCH APPROVAL TO BE IN EACH BANK'S SOLE  DISCRETION,
(1) THE BORROWING BASE MAY NOT BE GREATER THAN $190,000,000 AT ANY TIME, AND (2)
THE MONTHLY  BORROWING BASE REDUCTIONS  DETERMINED AT ANY TIME AND IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE ABOVE PROCEDURE MAY NOT BE MODIFIED.

          (c) The Borrowing Base and the Monthly  Borrowing Base  Reductions may
be redetermined  from time to time as requested by the Required Banks,  and will
be redetermined  upon the request of the Borrowers  (provided that the Borrowers
cannot request a redetermination of the Borrowing Base, or the Monthly Borrowing
Base   Reductions   more  than  once  between  the  mandatory   redeterminations
hereinafter  provided  for),  and,  in  addition,  at least  twice  each year as
follows:  upon receipt of the reserve reports referred to in Section 7.1(d)(vii)
hereof  (and in  connection  with such  twice per year  redeterminations  of the
Borrowing Base and the Monthly  Borrowing Base Reductions the Agent shall submit
the  redetermined  Borrowing Base and the Monthly  Borrowing Base  Reductions as
required  under this  Section  9.14 on or prior to 30 days after the  receipt of
each (i) reserve report  referred to in Section  7.1(d)(vii) (A) hereof and (ii)
reserve report referred to in Section  7.1(d)(vii)(B)).  Each redetermination of
the Monthly  Borrowing Base Reductions  shall determine such reductions for each
of the six  months  following  such  determination.  Except  for  the  scheduled
redeterminations   of  the  Borrowing  Base  and  the  Monthly   Borrowing  Base
Reductions, each Bank requesting a redetermination of the Borrowing Base and the
Monthly  Borrowing  Base  Reductions  agrees to give notice to the Agent and the
Borrowers of such request.

          (d) Within  five days after  notification  to  Borrower of a Borrowing
Base  redetermination  pursuant to the  provisions  of this  Section  9.14,  the
Borrowers may notify Agent as to what portion of the Borrowing  Base they desire
access (the "Elected  Borrowing  Limit").  Thereafter,  the Borrowers may obtain
Advances which do not exceed in the aggregate the lesser of (i) the  Commitments
or  (ii)  the   Elected   Borrowing   Limit  until  the  next   Borrowing   Base
redetermination,  subject to the provisions of Section 9.14(b) and (c) above. If
no such  notification is received by the Agent the Elected Borrowing Limit shall
be the Borrowing Base as so determined.  Notwithstanding  anything herein to the
contrary,  the  Elected  Borrowing  Limit may not  exceed  the lesser of (A) the
Borrowing Base or (B) the aggregate stated Commitment  amounts for the Banks set
forth  next  to the  names  of  the  Banks  on the  signature  pages  hereof  or
established  pursuant to Section 10.6, as the case may be, as such amount may be
reduced from time to time. As of the Effective Date, the Elected Borrowing Limit
shall be equal to $190,000,000.

     9.15 Syndication and Documentation Agent.  Toronto Dominion (Texas),  Inc.,
as Syndication Agent hereunder,  and Paribas,  as Documentation Agent hereunder,
shall have no duties or liabilities hereunder in such capacities.

     SECTION 10. Miscellaneous.

     10.1 Amendments;  Etc . (a) This Agreement and any term or provision hereof
may be amended, waived or terminated by an instrument in writing executed by the


                                      E-46

<PAGE>


Borrowers and the Required Banks,  and to the extent any rights or duties of the
Agent may be  affected  thereby,  the  Agent,  provided,  that,  notwithstanding
anything in this  Agreement to the contrary,  except by an instrument in writing
executed by the Borrowers  and all of the Banks,  no such  amendment,  waiver or
termination  shall  authorize  or permit the  extension  of the time or times of
payment of the  principal  of, or  interest  on, the Notes or the  reduction  in
principal  amount thereof or the rate of interest  thereon,  or any fees payable
hereunder,  or increase or extend the aggregate  Commitments  or the  respective
Commitments  of any  Bank,  or  change  the  percentage  of Banks  required  for
approvals of the  Borrowing  Base as specified in Section  9.14,  or release any
Borrower from any of its obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document,
or release any material amount of the Collateral from the Liens granted pursuant
hereto or the Security Documents, or amend this Section 10.1.

          (b) Any such amendment,  waiver or termination shall be effective only
in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

          (c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Bank that has
failed to fund any  Advance or other  amount  required to be funded by such Bank
hereunder  shall not be entitled to vote  (whether to consent or to withhold its
consent) with respect to any amendment,  modification,  termination or waiver of
any  provision of any Loan  Document or a departure  therefrom or any  direction
from the Banks to the Agent and, for purposes of determining the Required Banks,
the Commitments and Advances of such Bank shall be disregarded.

     10.2 Notices . (a) Except as otherwise  provided in Section 10.2(c) hereof,
all notices,  requests,  consents and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be delivered or sent to the Borrowers, the Banks and the Agent
at the respective addresses for notices set forth on the signature pages hereof,
or to such other address as may be designated by the Borrowers, the Agent or any
Bank by notice to the other parties hereto.  All notices shall be deemed to have
been given at the time of actual delivery thereof to such address, or if sent by
the Agent or any Bank to the Borrowers by certified or registered mail,  postage
prepaid, to such address, on the fifth day after the date of mailing.

          (b) Notices by the Borrowers to the Agent with respect to requests for
Advances  pursuant to Section 3.1 and notices of prepayment  pursuant to Section
4.1(c) shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrowers.

          (c) Any notice to be given by the  Borrowers to the Agent  pursuant to
Section  4.1(c) or  Section  3.1 and any  notice to be given by the Agent or any
Bank hereunder, may be given by telephone, by telex or by facsimile transmission
and must be immediately  confirmed in writing in the manner  provided in Section
10.2(a).  Any such notice given by  telephone,  telex or facsimile  transmission
shall be deemed  effective upon receipt thereof by the party to whom such notice
is given.

     10.3 Conduct No Waiver;  Remedies  Cumulative . No course of dealing on the
part of the  Agent or the  Banks,  nor any delay or  failure  on the part of the


                                      E-47

<PAGE>


Agent or any Bank in exercising any right,  power or privilege  hereunder  shall
operate as a waiver of such right, power or privilege or otherwise prejudice the
Agent's or the Banks'  rights and  remedies  hereunder;  nor shall any single or
partial  exercise  thereof preclude any further exercise thereof or the exercise
of any other right,  power or privilege.  No right or remedy  conferred  upon or
reserved  to the Agent or the Banks  under  this  Agreement  is  intended  to be
exclusive  of any other  right or remedy,  and every  right and remedy  shall be
cumulative and in addition to every other right or remedy given hereunder or now
or hereafter  existing under any applicable law. Every right and remedy given by
this  Agreement or by applicable  law to the Agent or the Banks may be exercised
from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient by them.

     10.4 Reliance on and Survival of Various Provisions . All terms, covenants,
agreements,  representations  and  warranties of the Borrowers made herein or in
any certificate or other document  delivered  pursuant hereto shall be deemed to
be  material  and to have been  relied  upon by the Banks,  notwithstanding  any
investigation  heretofore or hereafter made by any Bank or on any Bank's behalf,
and those  covenants  and  agreements of the Borrowers set forth in Section 10.5
hereof shall survive the repayment in full of the Advances and other obligations
of the Borrowers  hereunder and under Security  Documents and the termination of
the Commitments.

     10.5 Expenses;  Indemnification  . (a) The Borrowers  agree to pay and save
the Agent  harmless from  liability for the payment of the  reasonable  fees and
expenses  of any  counsel  the  Agent  shall  employ,  in  connection  with  the
preparation,  execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement,  the  Notes  and the
Security Documents and the consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby
and in connection with any amendments,  waivers or consents and other matters in
connection therewith, and all reasonable costs and expenses of the Agent and the
Banks (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) in connection with any
enforcement of this Agreement, the Notes or the Security Documents.

          (b)  Each of the  Borrowers  hereby  indemnifies  and  agrees  to hold
harmless  the Banks and the Agent,  and their  respective  officers,  directors,
employees  and agents,  from and against  any and all claims,  damages,  losses,
liabilities,  costs or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever which the Banks
or the Agent or any such Person may incur or which may be claimed against any of
them by reason of or in  connection  with any Letter of Credit,  and neither any
Bank nor the Agent or any of their respective officers, directors,  employees or
agents shall be liable or responsible  for: (i) the use which may be made of any
Letter of Credit or for any acts or omissions of any  beneficiary  in connection
therewith; (ii) the validity,  sufficiency or genuineness of documents or of any
endorsement thereon, even if such documents should in fact prove to be in any or
all respects invalid,  insufficient,  fraudulent or forged; (iii) payment by the
Agent to the  beneficiary  under any Letter of Credit  against  presentation  of
documents which do not comply with the terms of any Letter of Credit,  including
failure of any  documents to bear any  reference  or adequate  reference to such
Letter  of  Credit;  (iv)  any  error,   omission,   interruption  or  delay  in
transmission,   dispatch  or   delivery  of  any  message  or  advice,   however
transmitted,  in connection with any Letter of Credit; or (v) any other event or
circumstance  whatsoever  arising  in  connection  with any  Letter  of  Credit;
provided,  however,  that the  Borrowers  shall not be required to indemnify the
Agent and such other Persons,  and the Agent shall be liable to the Borrowers to


                                      E-48

<PAGE>


the extent,  but only to the extent,  of any direct, as opposed to consequential
or  incidental,  damages  suffered by any Borrower  which were caused by (A) the
Agent's  wrongful  dishonor of any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it
by the  beneficiary  thereunder of a draft or other demand for payment and other
documentation strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such Letter of
Credit,  or (B) the payment by the Agent to the beneficiary  under any Letter of
Credit against  presentation  of documents which do not comply with the terms of
the Letter of Credit to the extent,  but only to the extent,  that such  payment
constitutes gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the Agent. It is understood
that in making  any  payment  under a Letter of  Credit  the Agent  will rely on
documents  presented to it under such Letter of Credit as to any and all matters
set forth therein without further  investigation and regardless of any notice or
information  to the contrary,  and such reliance and payment  against  documents
presented  under a Letter  of  Credit  substantially  complying  with the  terms
thereof shall not be deemed gross  negligence or wilful  misconduct of the Agent
in connection with such payment.  It is further  acknowledged  and agreed that a
Borrower may have rights against the  beneficiary  or others in connection  with
any Letter of Credit with respect to which the Agent is alleged to be liable and
it shall be a precondition  of the assertion of any liability of the Agent under
this  Section  that such  Borrower  shall first have taken  reasonable  steps to
enforce remedies in respect of the alleged loss against such beneficiary and any
other parties  obligated or liable in connection  with such Letter of Credit and
any related transactions.

          (c) In  consideration  of the execution and delivery of this Agreement
by  each  Bank  and the  extension  of the  Commitments,  the  Borrowers  hereby
indemnify,  exonerate and hold the Agent, each Bank and each of their respective
officers,  directors,  employees  and  agents  (collectively,  the  "Indemnified
Parties")  free and  harmless  from and against any and all  actions,  causes of
action, suits, losses, costs,  liabilities and damages, and expenses incurred in
connection  therewith  (irrespective of whether any such Indemnified  Party is a
party to the action for which  indemnification  hereunder is sought),  including
reasonable  attorneys' fees and  disbursements  (collectively,  the "Indemnified
Liabilities"),  incurred by the  Indemnified  Parties or any of them as a result
of, or arising out of, or relating to:

               (i) any  transaction  financed  or to be  financed in whole or in
part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of any Advance;

               (ii) the entering into and  performance of this Agreement and any
other  agreement or  instrument  executed in  connection  herewith by any of the
Indemnified  Parties  (including  any  action  brought  by or on  behalf  of the
Borrowers as the result of any  determination  by the Required Banks not to fund
any Advance in compliance with this Agreement);

               (iii) any investigation,  litigation or proceeding related to any
acquisition   or  proposed   acquisition  by  the  Borrowers  or  any  of  their
Subsidiaries of any portion of the stock or assets of any Person, whether or not
the Agent or such Bank is party thereto;

               (iv) any  investigation,  litigation or proceeding related to any
environmental cleanup, audit, compliance or other matter relating to any release
by the Borrowers or any of their  Subsidiaries of any hazardous  material or any
violations of Environmental Laws; or

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<PAGE>


               (v) the presence on or under,  or the escape,  seepage,  leakage,
spillage, discharge,  emission,  discharging or releases from, any real property
owned or operated by the  Borrowers or any  Subsidiary  thereof of any Hazardous
Material (including any losses, liabilities,  damages, injuries, costs, expenses
or claims  asserted  or arising  under any  Environmental  Law),  regardless  of
whether  caused by, or within the control of, the Borrowers or such  Subsidiary,
except  for any  such  Indemnified  Liabilities  arising  for the  account  of a
particular  Indemnified  Party by reason of the  activities  of the  Indemnified
Party on the property of the Borrowers conducted  subsequent to a foreclosure on
such  property  by the Banks or by reason of the  relevant  Indemnified  Party's
gross negligence or wilful misconduct or breach of this Agreement, and if and to
the extent that the foregoing  undertaking may be unenforceable  for any reason,
the Borrowers  hereby agree to make the maximum  contribution to the payment and
satisfaction of each of the Indemnified  Liabilities  which is permissible under
applicable  law. The Borrowers  shall be obligated to indemnify the  Indemnified
Parties for all Indemnified Liabilities subject to and pursuant to the foregoing
provisions, regardless of whether the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries had
knowledge  of the  facts  and  circumstances  giving  rise to  such  Indemnified
Liability.

     10.6  Successors and Assigns . (a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their  respective  successors and
assigns,  provided that the Borrowers may not,  without the prior consent of the
Banks,  assign their rights or obligations  hereunder or under the Notes and the
Banks shall not be obligated  to make any Advance  hereunder to any entity other
than the Borrowers.

          (b) Any  Bank  may  sell a  participation  interest  to any  financial
institution or institutions,  and such financial institution or institutions may
further sell, a participation  interest  (undivided or divided) in, the Advances
and such Bank's  rights and  benefits  under this  Agreement,  the Notes and the
Security Documents and to the extent of that participation,  such participant or
participants shall have the same rights and benefits against the Borrowers under
Section 6.2(c) as it or they would have had if participation of such participant
or  participants  were the Bank making the Advances to the Borrowers  hereunder,
provided,  however,  that (i) such Bank's obligations under this Agreement shall
remain  unmodified and fully effective and  enforceable  against such Bank, (ii)
such Bank shall remain solely  responsible  to the other parties  hereto for the
performance of such obligations,  (iii) such Bank shall remain the holder of its
Note for all purposes of this Agreement,  (iv) the Borrowers,  the Agent and the
other  Banks  shall  continue  to deal  solely  and  directly  with such Bank in
connection with such Bank's rights and obligations under this Agreement, and (v)
such Bank shall not grant to its  participant  any rights to consent or withhold
consent to any action taken by such Bank or the Agent under this Agreement other
than action requiring the consent of all of the Banks hereunder.  The Agent from
time to time in its sole  discretion  may  appoint  agents  for the  purpose  of
servicing and  administering  this Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated
hereby and enforcing or exercising  any rights or remedies of the Agent provided
under this Agreement,  the Notes,  or otherwise.  In furtherance of such agency,
the Agent may from  time to time  direct  that the  Borrowers  provide  notices,
reports  and other  documents  contemplated  by this  Agreement  (or  duplicates
thereof) to such agent.  The Borrowers hereby consent to the appointment of such
agent and agree to provide all such notices,  reports and other documents and to


                                      E-50

<PAGE>


otherwise  deal with such agent acting on behalf of the Agent in the same manner
as would be required if dealing with the Agent itself.

          (c) Each Bank may,  with the prior  consent  of the  Borrowers  (which
consent  shall not be  unreasonably  withheld and shall not be required upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default which is not cured
or  waived  within 30 days (or 0 days in the case of an Event of  Default  under
Section  8.1(g))  after  the  occurrence  of such  Event of  Default  or if such
assignment  by such Bank is to an Affiliate of such Bank or to another Bank) and
the Agent, assign to one or more banks or other entities all or a portion of its
rights and obligations under this Agreement (including,  without limitation, all
or a portion of its  Commitment,  the Advances owing to it and the Note or Notes
and the Security  Documents held by it); provided,  however,  that (i) each such
assignment  shall be of a uniform,  and not a varying,  percentage of all rights
and  obligations,  (ii) except in the case of an  assignment  of all of a Bank's
rights and obligations under this Agreement, (A) the amount of the Commitment of
the assigning Bank being assigned  pursuant to each such assignment  (determined
as of the date of the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment)
shall  in no  event  be less  than  $5,000,000,  and in  integral  multiples  of
$1,000,000 thereafter,  or such lesser amount as the Borrowers and the Agent may
consent to and (B) after giving  effect to each such  assignment,  the amount of
the Commitment of the assigning Bank shall in no event be less than  $5,000,000,
and (iii) the parties to each such  assignment  shall execute and deliver to the
Agent,  for its  acceptance  and  recording in the Register,  an Assignment  and
Acceptance  in the form of Exhibit D hereto (an  "Assignment  and  Acceptance"),
together with any Note or Notes subject to such  assignment and a processing and
recordation  fee of  $3,500.  Upon  such  execution,  delivery,  acceptance  and
recording,  from and after the effective date  specified in such  Assignment and
Acceptance,  (x) the  assignee  thereunder  shall be a party  hereto and, to the
extent that rights and  obligations  hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant
to such  Assignment and  Acceptance,  have the rights and  obligations of a Bank
hereunder and (y) the Bank assignor  thereunder shall, to the extent that rights
and  obligations  hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment
and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under
this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of
the remaining  portion of an assigning Bank's rights and obligations  under this
Agreement, such Bank shall cease to be a party hereto).

          (d) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the Bank
assignor  thereunder and the assignee  thereunder confirm to and agree with each
other and the other  parties  hereto as  follows:  (i) other than as provided in
such Assignment and Acceptance,  such assigning Bank makes no  representation or
warranty  and  assumes  no  responsibility   with  respect  to  any  statements,
warranties or  representations  made in or in connection  with this Agreement or
the execution, legality, validity, enforceability,  genuineness,  sufficiency or
value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document  furnished  pursuant
hereto; (ii) such assigning Bank makes no representation or warranty and assumes
no  responsibility  with respect to the financial  condition of the Borrowers or
the performance or observance by the Borrowers of any of their obligations under
this Agreement or any other  instrument or document  furnished  pursuant hereto;
(iii) such  assignee  confirms  that it has  received a copy of this  Agreement,
together with copies of the financial  statements referred to in Section 6.7 and


                                      E-51

<PAGE>


such other  documents and  information as it has deemed  appropriate to make its
own credit  analysis and decision to enter into such  Assignment and Acceptance;
(iv) such assignee will,  independently  and without reliance on the Agent, such
assigning Bank or any other Bank and based on such documents and  information as
it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions
in taking or not taking action under this Agreement;  (v) such assignee appoints
and  authorizes  the Agent to take such  action  as agent on its  behalf  and to
exercise such powers and discretion under this Agreement as are delegated to the
Agent by the terms  hereof,  together  with such  powers and  discretion  as are
reasonably  incidental  thereto;  and (vi)  such  assignee  agrees  that it will
perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations  that by the terms
of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Bank.

          (e)  The  Agent  shall  maintain  at  its  address  designated  on the
signature pages hereof a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and
accepted by it and a register for the  recordation of the names and addresses of
the Banks and the Commitment of, and principal  amount of the Advances owing to,
each Bank from time to time (the "Register").  The entries in the Register shall
be  conclusive  and binding for all purposes,  absent  manifest  error,  and the
Borrowers,  the Agent and the Banks may treat each Person whose name is recorded
in the  Register as a Bank  hereunder  for all purposes of this  Agreement.  The
Register  shall be available for  inspection by the Borrowers or any Bank at any
reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

          (f) Upon its receipt of an Assignment  and  Acceptance  executed by an
assigning Bank and an assignee,  together with any Note or Notes subject to such
assignment,  the  Agent  shall,  if such  Assignment  and  Acceptance  has  been
completed,   (i)  accept  such  Assignment  and  Acceptance,   (ii)  record  the
information  contained  therein in the  Register  and (iii) give  prompt  notice
thereof to the  Borrowers.  Within five  Business Days after its receipt of such
notice,  the Borrowers,  at their own expense,  shall execute and deliver to the
Agent in exchange for the  surrendered  Note or Notes a new Note to the order of
such  assignee in an amount  equal to the  Commitment  assumed by it pursuant to
such  Assignment  and  Acceptance  and,  if the  assigning  Bank has  retained a
Commitment hereunder, a new Note to the order of the assigning Bank in an amount
equal to the Commitment  retained by it hereunder.  Such new Note or Notes shall
be in an aggregate  principal amount equal to the aggregate  principal amount of
such  surrendered  Note or  Notes,  shall be dated  the  effective  date of such
Assignment and Acceptance and shall  otherwise be in  substantially  the form of
Exhibit B hereto.

          (g) The Banks may, in connection with any assignment or  participation
or proposed assignment or participation  pursuant to this Section 10.6, disclose
to the  assignee  or  participant  or  proposed  assignee  or  participant,  any
information  relating to the Borrowers,  provided that such proposed assignee or
participant  has agreed to hold such  information  confidential  under the terms
described in Section 10.20.

          (h)  Notwithstanding any other provisions set forth in this Agreement,
any Bank may at any time create a security  interest  in, or assign,  all or any
portion of its rights under this Agreement (including,  without limitation,  the
Advances  owing to it and the Note or Notes held by it) in favor of any  Federal


                                      E-52

<PAGE>


Reserve Bank in  accordance  with  Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the
Federal  Reserve System;  provided that such creation of a security  interest or
assignment  shall  not  release  such  Bank  from  its  obligations  under  this
Agreement.

     10.7  Subsidiaries  as  Borrowers.  In the  event  that CRI,  COG,  COGL or
Offshore shall create or acquire a Subsidiary,  such Subsidiary  shall execute a
joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, together with
such  Security  Documents,  other  documents  and  opinions  as  the  Agent  may
reasonably require, and shall become a Borrower hereunder.

     10.8  CHOICE OF LAW . THE LOAN  DOCUMENTS  (OTHER THAN THOSE  CONTAINING  A
CONTRARY  EXPRESS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISION) SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE INTERNAL LAWS (AND NOT THE LAW OF  CONFLICTS) OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,  BUT
GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL BANKS.

     10.9  Table of  Contents  and  Headings  . The  table of  contents  and the
headings of the various subdivisions hereof are for the convenience of reference
only and shall in no way modify any of the terms or provisions hereof.

     10.10  Construction  of  Certain  Provisions  . All  computations  required
hereunder  and all  financial  terms used herein  shall be made or  construed in
accordance  with GAAP unless such principles are  inconsistent  with the express
requirements of this Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement refers to any
action  to be taken by any  Person,  or which  such  Person is  prohibited  from
taking, such provision shall be applicable whether such action is taken directly
or  indirectly  by such  Person,  whether  or not  expressly  specified  in such
provision.

     10.11  Integration  and  Severability.  This Agreement  embodies the entire
agreement and understanding  between the Borrowers and the Banks, and supersedes
all prior agreements and understandings,  relating to the subject matter hereof.
In  case  any  one or  more  of the  obligations  of the  Borrowers  under  this
Agreement,  the Notes or any  Security  Documents  shall be invalid,  illegal or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction,  the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining  obligations of the Borrowers  shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby,  and such invalidity,  illegality or  unenforceability  in one
jurisdiction  shall not affect the validity,  legality or  enforceability of the
obligations  of the Borrowers  under this  Agreement,  the Notes or any Security
Documents in any other jurisdiction.

     10.12  Interest Rate  Limitation .  Notwithstanding  any provisions of this
Agreement,  the Notes or any Security Documents, in no event shall the amount of
interest paid or agreed to be paid by the Borrowers exceed an amount computed at
the highest  rate of interest  permissible  under  applicable  law. If, from any
circumstances  whatsoever,  fulfillment of any provision of this Agreement,  the
Notes or any Security  Documents at the time performance of such provision shall
be due, shall involve exceeding the interest rate limitation  validly prescribed
by law which a court of competent jurisdiction may deem applicable hereto, then,
ipso  facto,  the  obligations  to be  fulfilled  shall be  reduced to an amount
computed at the highest rate of interest  permissible  under applicable law, and
if for any reason  whatsoever the Banks shall ever receive as interest an amount


                                      E-53

<PAGE>


which would be deemed  unlawful under such applicable law such interest shall be
automatically  applied to the payment of principal  of the Advances  outstanding
and other  obligations of the Borrowers  hereunder  (whether or not then due and
payable)  and not to the  payment  of  interest,  or  shall be  refunded  to the
Borrowers  if such  principal  has been  paid in full.  Anything  herein  to the
contrary notwithstanding,  the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement
shall be  subject to the  limitation  that  payments  of  interest  shall not be
required  to the extent that  receipt of any such  payment by the Banks would be
contrary to provisions  of law  applicable to the Banks which limits the maximum
rate of interest which may be charged or collected by the Banks.

     10.13  Counterparts  . This  Agreement  may be  executed  in any  number of
counterparts,  all of which taken  together  shall  constitute  one and the same
instrument  and any of the parties  hereto may execute this Agreement by signing
any such counterpart.

     10.14  Independence  of Covenants . All covenants  hereunder shall be given
independent  effect so that if a particular action or condition is not permitted
by any such covenant, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or
would be otherwise  within the limitations of, another  covenant shall not avoid
the  occurrence  of an Event of  Default  or any event or  condition  which with
notice or lapse of time, or both,  could become such an Event of Default if such
action is taken or such condition exists.

     10.15  Consent  to  Jurisdiction  .  Notwithstanding  the  place  where any
liability  originates  or  arises,  or is to be  repaid,  any  suit,  action  or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, any Security Documents,
or the Notes may be  instituted  in any court of competent  jurisdiction  in the
State of Illinois,  each Borrower hereby  irrevocably waives any objection which
it may have or  hereafter  has to the  laying  of such  venue of any such  suit,
action or proceeding and any claim that any such suit,  action or proceeding has
been brought in an  inconvenient  forum,  and each Borrower  hereby  irrevocably
submits  its Person and  property to the  jurisdiction  of any such court in any
such suit, action or proceedings. Nothing in this Section 10.15 shall affect the
right of the Bank to bring  proceedings  against the  Borrowers  or any of their
property in the courts of any other court of competent jurisdiction.

     10.16 JURY TRIAL  WAIVER . THE AGENT,  THE BANKS AND EACH  BORROWER,  AFTER
CONSULTING OR HAVING HAD THE  OPPORTUNITY  TO CONSULT WITH  COUNSEL,  KNOWINGLY,
VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT ANY OF THEM MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY
JURY IN ANY LITIGATION  BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT,  THE NOTES,
THE SECURITY  DOCUMENTS,  OR ANY RELATED  INSTRUMENT  OR AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR THE SECURITY DOCUMENTS
OR ANY COURSE OF  CONDUCT,  DEALING,  STATEMENTS  (WHETHER  ORAL OR  WRITTEN) OR
ACTIONS OF ANY OF THEM. NEITHER THE AGENT, THE BANKS NOR ANY BORROWER SHALL SEEK
TO CONSOLIDATE,  BY  COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHERWISE,  ANY SUCH ACTION IN WHICH A JURY
TRIAL HAS BEEN WAIVED WITH ANY OTHER  ACTION IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL  CANNOT BE OR


                                      E-54

<PAGE>


HAS NOT BEEN WAIVED.  THESE PROVISIONS SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MODIFIED
IN ANY  RESPECT  OR  RELINQUISHED  BY  EITHER  THE  AGENT  AND THE  BANKS OR THE
BORROWERS EXCEPT BY A WRITTEN INSTRUMENT EXECUTED BY ALL OF THEM.

     10.17 Joint and Several Obligations;  Contribution Rights; Savings Clause .
(a) Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary set forth herein or in any Note or
in any other Loan Document, the obligations of the Borrowers hereunder and under
the Notes and the other Loan Documents are joint and several.

          (b)  If  any  Borrower   makes  a  payment  in  respect  of  the  Bank
Obligations,  it shall have the rights of  contribution  set forth below against
the other Borrowers; provided that such Borrower shall not exercise its right of
contribution until all the Bank Obligations shall have been finally paid in full
in cash. If any Borrower makes a payment in respect of the Bank Obligations that
is smaller in proportion to its Payment Share (as hereinafter defined) than such
payments  made by the other  Borrowers are in proportion to the amounts of their
respective  Payment  Shares,  the Borrower making such  proportionately  smaller
payment  shall,  when  permitted  by the  preceding  sentence,  pay to the other
Borrowers an amount such that the net  payments  made by the Borrower in respect
of the  Bank  Obligations  shall  be  shared  among  the  Borrowers  pro rata in
proportion to their  respective  Payment  Shares.  If any Borrower  receives any
payment that is greater in proportion  to the amount of its Payment  Shares than
the payments received by the other Borrowers are in proportion to the amounts of
their respective  Payment Shares,  the Borrower  receiving such  proportionately
greater payment shall, when permitted by the second preceding  sentence,  pay to
the other  Borrowers an amount such that the payments  received by the Borrowers
shall be shared among the Borrowers  pro rata in proportion to their  respective
Payment  Shares.  Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary  contained  in this
paragraph or in this Agreement,  no liability or obligation of any Borrower that
shall  accrue  pursuant to this  paragraph  shall be paid nor shall it be deemed
owed  pursuant  to this  paragraph  until all of the Bank  Obligations  shall be
finally paid in full in cash.

     For purposes hereof,  the "Payment Share" of each Borrower shall be the sum
of (a) the aggregate proceeds of the Bank Obligations  received by such Borrower
plus (b) the product of (i) the aggregate Bank  Obligations  remaining unpaid on
the date such Bank Obligations become due and payable in full, whether by stated
maturity,  acceleration,  or otherwise (the "Determination Date") reduced by the
amount of such Bank Obligations  attributed to all or such Borrowers pursuant to
clause  (a)  above,  times  (ii) a  fraction,  the  numerator  of  which is such
Borrower's net worth on the effective  date of this Agreement  (determined as of
the end of the immediately  preceding fiscal reporting period of such Borrower),
and the denominator of which is the aggregate net worth of all Borrowers on such
effective date.

          (c) It is the  intent of each  Borrower,  the Agent and the Banks that
each Borrower's maximum Bank Obligations shall be in, but not in excess of:

               (i) in a case or proceeding commenced by or against such Borrower
under the  Bankruptcy  Code on or within  one year from the date on which any of
the Bank  Obligations are incurred,  the maximum amount that would not otherwise


                                      E-55

<PAGE>


cause the Bank  Obligations  (or any other  obligations  of such Borrower to the
Agent and the Banks) to be avoidable  or  unenforceable  against  such  Borrower
under  (A)  Section  548 of the  Bankruptcy  Code  or (B) any  state  fraudulent
transfer  or  fraudulent  conveyance  act or  statute  applied  in such  case or
proceeding by virtue of Section 544 of the Bankruptcy Code; or

               (ii)  in a  case  or  proceeding  commenced  by or  against  such
Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code subsequent to one year from the date on which
any of the Bank  Obligations  are  incurred,  the maximum  amount that would not
otherwise cause the Bank Obligations (or any other  obligations of such Borrower
to the Agent and the  Banks)  to be  avoidable  or  unenforceable  against  such
Borrower  under any state  fraudulent  transfer or fraudulent  conveyance act or
statute  applied in any such case or  proceeding by virtue of Section 544 of the
Bankruptcy Code; or

               (iii)  in a case  or  proceeding  commenced  by or  against  such
Borrower under any law,  statute or regulation  other than the  Bankruptcy  Code
(including,   without   limitation,   any  other   bankruptcy,   reorganization,
arrangement,  moratorium,  readjustment  of debt,  dissolution,  liquidation  or
similar debtor relief laws),  the maximum amount that would not otherwise  cause
the Bank Obligations (or any other obligations of such Borrower to the Agent and
the Banks) to be avoidable or  unenforceable  against such  Borrower  under such
law, statute or regulation including,  without limitation,  any state fraudulent
transfer or  fraudulent  conveyance  act or statute  applied in any such case or
proceeding.

          (d) The Borrowers  acknowledge and agree that they have requested that
the Banks make credit available to the Borrowers with each Borrower expecting to
derive  benefit,  directly  and  indirectly,  from the Advances and other credit
extended by the Banks to the Borrowers.

     10.18  Consents to Renewals,  Modifications  and Other Actions and Events .
This  Agreement  and all of the  obligations  of the Borrowers  hereunder  shall
remain in full force and  effect  without  regard to and shall not be  released,
affected or impaired by: (a) any amendment,  assignment,  transfer, modification
of or addition or supplement to the Bank Obligations,  this Agreement,  any Note
or any other Loan Document; (b) any extension,  indulgence, increase in the Bank
Obligations  or other action or inaction in respect of any of the Loan Documents
or otherwise with respect to the Bank Obligations, or any acceptance of security
for, or guaranties  of, any of the Bank  Obligations or Loan  Documents,  or any
surrender,  release, exchange,  impairment or alteration of any such security or
guaranties  including  without  limitation  the  failing  to  perfect a security
interest  in any  such  security  or  abstaining  from  taking  advantage  or of
realizing  upon  any  guaranties  or upon  any  security  interest  in any  such
security;  (c) any default by any Borrower  under, or any lack of due execution,
invalidity or  unenforceability  of, or any irregularity or other defect in, any
of the Loan  Documents;  (d) any waiver by the Banks or any other  Person of any
required  performance  or otherwise of any condition  precedent or waiver of any
requirement  imposed by any of the Loan  Documents,  any guaranties or otherwise
with respect to the Bank  Obligations;  (e) any exercise or  non-exercise of any
right,  remedy,  power or privilege  in respect of this  Agreement or any of the
other Loan Documents;  (f) any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of the
assets of any Borrower or any  consolidation  or merger of any Borrower  with or


                                      E-56

<PAGE>


into  any  other  Person,  corporation,  or  entity,  or any  transfer  or other
disposition  by any Borrower or any other holder of any shares of Capital  Stock
of any  Borrower;  (g) any  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization  or similar
proceedings involving or affecting any Borrower; (h) the release or discharge of
any Borrower from the performance or observance of any agreement, covenant, term
or condition  under any of the Bank  Obligations or contained in any of the Loan
Documents  by  operation  of law;  or (i) any other  cause  whether  similar  or
dissimilar  to the  foregoing  which,  in the absence of this  provision,  would
release, affect or impair the obligations,  covenants,  agreements and duties of
any Borrower hereunder,  including without limitation any act or omission by the
Agent,  or the Bank or any other any Person  which  increases  the scope of such
Borrower's risk; and in each case described in this paragraph whether or not any
Borrower shall have notice or knowledge of any of the  foregoing,  each of which
is specifically waived by each Borrower. Each Borrower warrants to the Agent and
the Banks that it has  adequate  means to obtain  from each other  Borrower on a
continuing  basis  information  concerning  the  financial  condition  and other
matters with respect to the Borrowers and that it is not relying on the Agent or
the Banks to provide such information either now or in the future.

     10.19 Waivers,  Etc . Each Borrower  unconditionally  waives: (a) notice of
any of the matters referred to in Section 10.18 above; (b) all notices which may
be required by statute,  rule or law or  otherwise to preserve any rights of the
Agent or the Banks including,  without limitation,  presentment to and demand of
payment or performance  from the other  Borrowers and protect for non-payment or
dishonor;  (c) any right to the exercise by the Agent or the Banks of any right,
remedy, power or privilege in connection with any of the Loan Documents; (d) any
requirement  that the  Agent or the  Banks in the  event of any  default  by any
Borrower,  first make  demand  upon or seek to enforce  remedies  against,  such
Borrower or any other  Borrower  before  demanding  payment  under or seeking to
enforce this Agreement  against any other  Borrower;  (f) any right to notice of
the  disposition  of any security which the Agent or the Banks may hold from any
Borrower or otherwise and any right to object to the  commercial  reasonableness
of the  disposition  of any such  security;  and (g) all errors and omissions in
connection  with the  Agent's  or any Bank's  administration  of any of the Bank
Obligations,  any of the Loan  Documents,  or any other act or  omission  of the
Agent or any Bank which changes the scope of the  Borrower's  risk,  except as a
result of the gross  negligence or willful  misconduct of the Agent or any Bank.
The  obligations  of each  Borrower  hereunder  shall be  complete  and  binding
forthwith  upon the  execution  of this  Agreement  and subject to no  condition
whatsoever, precedent or otherwise, and notice of acceptance hereof or action in
reliance hereon shall not be required.

     10.20 Confidentiality . The Banks and the Agent shall hold all confidential
information  obtained  pursuant to the  requirements of this Agreement which has
been  identified  as such by any  Borrower in  accordance  with their  customary
procedures  for  handling  confidential   information  of  this  nature  and  in
accordance  with  safe and  sound  banking  practices  and in any event may make
disclosure to its examiners,  affiliates,  outside  auditors,  counsel and other
professional  advisors  in  connection  with  this  Agreement  or as  reasonably
required by any bona fide  transferee  or  participant  in  connection  with the
contemplated  transfer  of any Note or  participation  therein or as required or
requested by any governmental  agency or  representative  thereof or pursuant to
legal process.  Without limiting the foregoing,  it is expressly understood that
such confidential  information shall not include  information which, at the time


                                      E-57

<PAGE>


of disclosure is in the public domain or, which after  disclosure,  becomes part
of the public  domain or  information  which any Bank or the Agent had  obtained
prior to the time of disclosure  and  identification  by any Borrower under this
Section  10.20,  or  information  received by any Bank or the Agent from a third
party. Nothing in this Section 10.20 or otherwise shall prohibit any Bank or the
Agent from  disclosing  any  confidential  information to the other Banks or the
Agent or render any of them liable in connection with any such disclosure.

                                      E-58

<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have caused this  Agreement to be
duly  executed and delivered as of the day and year first above  written,  which
shall be the Effective Date of this Agreement.

Address for Notices:
                                        COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.

5300 Town and Country Blvd.             By: /s/M. JAY ALLISON
Frisco, Texas  75034                    ---------------------
Attention: M. Jay Allison               M. Jay Allison, its chairman, president
Telephone:  (972) 668-8800                  and chief executive officer
Telecopy:   (972) 668-8812


Address for Notices
                                        COMSTOCK OIL & GAS, INC.

5300 Town and Country Blvd.             By:/s/ M. JAY ALLISON
Frisco, Texas  75034                    ---------------------
Attention: M. Jay Allison               M. Jay Allison, its chairman, president
Telephone:  (972) 668-8800                  and chief executive officer
Telecopy:   (972) 668-8812


Address for Notices
                                        COMSTOCK OIL & GAS, LOUISIANA, INC.

5300 Town and Country Blvd.             By:/s/ M. JAY ALLISON
Frisco, Texas  75034                    ---------------------
Attention: M. Jay Allison               M. Jay Allison, its chairman, president
Telephone:  (972) 668-8800                  and chief executive officer
Telecopy:   (972) 668-8812


Address for Notices

                                        COMSTOCK OFFSHORE, LLC

5300 Town and Country Blvd.             By:/s/ M. JAY ALLISON
Frisco, Texas  75034                    ---------------------
Attention: M. Jay Allison               M. Jay Allison, its chairman, president
Telephone:  (972) 668-8800                  and chief executive officer
Telecopy:   (972) 668-8812


One Bank One Plaza                      BANK ONE, NA (Main Office Chicago)
Suite 0362                                   as a Bank and as Agent
Chicago, Illinois  60670
Attention: Carl Skoog                   By:/s/ KURT STOEBER
                                        ---------------------
Telephone No: (312) 732-6886            Its: Authorized Agent
Facsimile No: (312) 732-3055
Commitment Amount: $42,857,175
Pro Rata Share: 17.14%


                                      E-59

<PAGE>


909 Fannin Street, Ste. 1700            TORONTO DOMINION (TEXAS), INC.
Houston, Texas  77010                       as a Bank and as Syndication Agent
Attention: Martin Snyder
Telephone No: (713) 653-8211
Facsimile No: (713) 652-2647            By:/s/ ANN S. SLANIS
                                        -----------------------
Commitment Amount: $35,714,325          Its: Vice President
Pro Rata Share: 14.29%

Lending Office for Floating Rate Loans
909 Fannin, Suite 1700
Houston, Texas  77010

Lending Office for Eurodollar Loans
909 Fannin, Suite 1700
Houston, Texas  77010


1200 Smith Street, Ste. 3100            PARIBAS
Houston, Texas  77002
Attention: Mike Fiuzat                  By:/s/ BART SCHOUEST
                                        --------------------
Telephone No: (713) 659-4811            Its: Group Vice President
Facsimile No: (713) 659-6915
Commitment Amount: $32,857,175
Pro Rata Share: 13.14%
                                        By:/s/ MIKE FIUZAT
                                        ------------------
                                        Its: Managing Director


Commitment Amount: $28,571,425  MEESPIERSON CAPITAL CORP.
Pro Rata Share: 11.43%
                                        By:/s/ KAREL LOUMAN
                                        -------------------
                                        Its: Vice President

                                        By:/s/ DEIRDRE SANBORN
                                        ----------------------
                                        Its: Vice President

                                        Address for Operational Notices:
                                        MeesPierson Capital Corp.
                                        100 Crescent Court, Suite 1777
                                        Dallas, Texas  75201
                                        Attn: Yolanda Dittmar
                                        Telephone: (214) 953-9301
                                        Telefax:  (214) 754-5981

                                        ADDRESSES FOR OTHER NOTICES:

                                        MeesPierson Capital Corp.
                                        100 Crescent Court, Suite 1777
                                        Dallas, Texas  75201
                                        Attn: Chris Parada
                                        Telephone: (214) 953-9303
                                        Telefax:  (214) 754-5982

                                      E-60

<PAGE>


11 West 42nd Street, 7th Floor          CHRISTIANIA BANK OG KREDITKASSE, ASA
New York, New York  10036
Attention: Steve Phillips               By:/s/ WILLIAM S. PHILLIPS
                                        --------------------------
Telephone No: (212) 827-4836            Its: First Vice President
Facsimile No: (212) 827-4888
Commitment Amount: $21,428,550
Pro Rata Share: 8.57%                   By: /s/ PETER M. DODGE
                                        ----------------------
                                        Its: Senior Vice President



1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 5360       CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention:  Christine Smith Byerley
Telephone No. (713) 751-0500
Facsimile No: (713) 751-0307            By:/s/ PHILLIP SOUSTRA
                                        ----------------------
Commitment Amount:  $21,428,550         Its: Senior Vice President
Pro Rata Share: 8,57%


Address:                                GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL
                                        CORPORATION
120 Long Ridge Road
Stamford, CT.  06927
Attention:  Michael DePriest
Telephone No. (203) 357-4391
Facsimile No: (203) 357-4218            By:/s/ PAUL A. JORDAN
                                        ----------------------
Commitment Amount:  $21,428,550         Its: Portfolio Manager
Pro Rata Share: 8.57%


565 Fifth Avenue                        BANK OF SCOTLAND
New York, NY 10017
Attention: Annie Glynn
Telephone No. (212) 450-0871
Facsimile No: (212) 557-9460            By:/s/ ANNIE GLYNN
                                        ------------------
Commitment Amount:  $18,571,425         Its: Senior Vice President
Pro Rata Share: 7.43%


Address:                                NATEXIS BANQUE-BFCE
333 Clay Street, Suite 4340
Houston, TX 77002
Attention:  Tim Polvado
Telephone No. (713) 759-9401
Facsimile No:  (713) 759-9908           By:/s/ DONOVAN C. BROUSSARD
                                        ---------------------------
Commitment Amount:  $14,285,700         Its: Vice President
Pro Rata Share: 5.71%




                                      E-61

<PAGE>


2121 San Jacinto, Ste. 1850             NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA
Dallas, Texas  75201
Attention: Doug Clark                   By:/s/ LARRY L. SEARS
                                        ---------------------
Telephone No: (214) 871-1265            Its: Vice President
Facsimile No: (214) 871-2015
Commitment Amount: $12,857,125
Pro Rata Share: 5.14%                   By:/s/ DOUG CLARK
                                        -----------------
                                        Its: Vice President

Lending Office for Floating Rate Loans
125 West 55th Street, 23rd Floor
New York, New York  10019

Lending Office for Eurodollar Loans
125 West 55th Street, 23rd Floor
New York, New York 10019

                                      E-62

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                  5
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains  summary  financial data extracted from the Consolidated
Financial Statements of Comstock Resources,  Inc. and Subsidiaries for the three
months  ended March 31, 2000 and is  qualified  in its  entirety by reference to
such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                      1,000

<S>                                                         <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                      YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                           DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                                MAR-31-2000
<CASH>                                                              669
<SECURITIES>                                                          0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                    25,626
<ALLOWANCES>                                                          0
<INVENTORY>                                                           0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                 27,970
<PP&E>                                                          615,471
<DEPRECIATION>                                                 (201,189)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  448,921
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                            36,459
<BONDS>                                                         260,000
                                            30,000
                                                           0
<COMMON>                                                         12,688
<OTHER-SE>                                                       99,125
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                    448,921
<SALES>                                                          33,071
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                 33,143
<CGS>                                                                 0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                    19,098
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                    495
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                      0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                6,215
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                   7,335
<INCOME-TAX>                                                      2,567
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                               4,768
<DISCONTINUED>                                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                       0
<CHANGES>                                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                                      4,768
<EPS-BASIC>                                                        0.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                      0.14



</TABLE>


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