CAIRN ENERGY USA INC
10-K, 1996-03-05
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
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                                   FORM 10-K
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
(Mark One)
            [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                 SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED]
                   For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995
                                       OR
          [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]
               For the transition period from ________ to ________

                         Commission file number: 0-10156

                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              Delaware                                         23-2169839
  (State or other jurisdiction of                           (I.R.S. Employer
   incorporation or organization)                          Identification No.)

     8235 Douglas Avenue, Suite 1221
            Dallas, Texas                                          75225
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (214) 369-0316

                                                        Name of each exchange on
         Title of each class                                 which registered
         -------------------                            ------------------------
                 None

           Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                     Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
                                (Title of Class)

         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 such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.
         Yes    X          No
            ---------        ----------

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained  herein,  and will not be contained,
to the  best of  registrant's  knowledge  in  definitive  proxy  or  information
statements  incorporated  by  reference  in Part  III of this  Form  10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. [_]

         As of  February  29,  1996,  17,557,821  shares of common  stock of the
registrant were issued and outstanding. The aggregate market value of the voting
stock held by  non-affiliates  of the  registrant  as of February 29, 1996,  was
$160.7 million,  based upon the closing sales price of the  registrant's  common
stock on such  date of  $10.875  per  share on the  Nasdaq  National  Market  as
reported by The Wall Street  Journal.  For  purposes  of this  computation,  all
executive officers,  directors and 10% stockholders are deemed to be affiliates.
Such a  determination  should  not be deemed an  admission  that such  executive
officers, directors or 10% stockholders are affiliates.

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

         The  registrant's  definitive  proxy  statement in connection  with the
Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  scheduled to be held May 22, 1996, to be filed
with the Commission  pursuant to Regulation 14A, is incorporated by reference to
Part III of this report.




<PAGE>



                             CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.

                               Index to Form 10-K

PART I.......................................................................  1
    ITEMS 1 AND 2. BUSINESS AND PROPERTIES...................................  1
        The Company..........................................................  1
        Business.............................................................  1
        General..............................................................  1
        Principal Areas of Operations........................................  2
        Oil and Gas Reserves.................................................  2
        Ryder Scott..........................................................  3
        1995 Exploration Activity............................................  4
        Offshore Properties..................................................  4
        Onshore Properties...................................................  6
        1996 Exploration Activity............................................  7
        Sales of Properties..................................................  7
        Drilling Activities..................................................  8
        Productive Well Summary..............................................  8
        Volumes, Prices and Production Costs.................................  9
        Development, Exploration and Acquisition Expenditures................  9
        Acreage.............................................................. 10
        Markets.............................................................. 10
        Competition.......................................................... 11
        Regulation........................................................... 11
        Operational Hazards and Insurance.................................... 13
        Executive Officers of the Registrant................................. 13
        Employees............................................................ 14
        Title to Properties.................................................. 14
        Offices.............................................................. 14
    ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS............................................. 14
    ITEM 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS........... 14

PART II...................................................................... 14
    ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED 
               STOCKHOLDER MATTERS........................................... 14
    ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA....................................... 15
    ITEM 7.    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL ............ 16
        General.............................................................. 16
        Results of Operations................................................ 17
        1995 Compared with 1994.............................................. 17
        1994 Compared with 1993.............................................. 18
        Capital Resources and Liquidity...................................... 18
        Changes in Prices and Inflation...................................... 20
    ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA..................... 20
    ITEM 9.    CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENT WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING 
               AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE...................................... 20

PART III..................................................................... 21
    ITEMS 10 through 13...................................................... 21
    ITEM 14.      EXHIBITS, CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, 
                  AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.................................... 49

GLOSSARY..................................................................... 52

SIGNATURES................................................................... 55



<PAGE>



                    See the Glossary included on page 52 for
                   definitions of certain oil and gas terms.

                                     PART I

ITEMS 1 AND 2. BUSINESS AND PROPERTIES

                                   The Company

         The  registrant,  Cairn Energy USA, Inc., a Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company"),  was  incorporated on May 5, 1981 in Delaware as "Omni  Exploration,
Inc." On September 29, 1992,  Cairn Energy USA, Inc., an oil and gas exploration
and development company, merged with and into the registrant with the registrant
being the  survivor  (the  "Merger").  Pursuant  to the Merger,  the  registrant
changed its name to "Cairn Energy USA, Inc."

         The Company's  principal  executive offices are located at 8235 Douglas
Avenue,  Suite  1221,  Dallas,  Texas  75225 and its  telephone  number is (214)
369-0316.

                                    Business

General

         The Company  explores  for,  develops and produces  natural gas and oil
reserves,  principally  on the Outer  Continental  Shelf  ("OCS") of the Gulf of
Mexico.  The  Company  also  has  interests  in  properties  in  onshore  areas,
principally in the Appalachian  region. At January 1, 1996, the Company's proved
reserves,  as  reviewed  by  the  Ryder  Scott  Company,  independent  petroleum
engineers  ("Ryder  Scott"),  were  estimated  to be  approximately  80.6  BCFE,
consisting  of 66.9 Bcf of natural  gas and 2.3 MMBbls of oil. At the same date,
the present  value of estimated  future net cash flows,  before income taxes and
discounted at 10%, from the Company's  estimated  proved  reserves  ("Discounted
Present Value") was $116.4 million,  with  approximately 95% attributable to its
Gulf of Mexico proved reserves.

         The  Company's  strategy is to expand its reserve  base and  production
principally through exploration and associated  development drilling. The OCS of
the Gulf of Mexico is a  well-established  area of oil and gas production  where
the Company's  management and staff have both experience and expertise and where
the  application  of  advances  in  3-D  and  2-D  seismic  and   computer-aided
exploration  technology is particularly  suited. The Company participates mainly
on a non-operating basis, thereby minimizing staffing  requirements and overhead
costs. As a  non-operator,  the Company  generally  preserves its rights through
operating  and other  agreements  to influence  and in many  instances  initiate
exploration and development  projects in which it is participating.  Exploration
and development  activities are directed by a small,  experienced technical team
which makes use of extensive in-house computer capabilities.

         The Company identifies exploratory prospects by (i) integrating 3-D and
2-D seismic  technology with information about surrounding  geological  features
and (ii) high-grading  prospects that exhibit "bright spot" seismic anomalies by
using extensive computer-aided  geophysical modeling and amplitude versus offset
analysis.

         The Company generally limits  exploration  expenditures to amounts that
can be financed  through  cash flows from  operations.  The  Company's  Board of
Directors  must  expressly  approve  expenditures  exceeding  $1,500,000 for any
single well.  The  Company's  strategy  with respect to the  development  of its
proved  reserves is to concentrate  available  resources on those prospects with
the greatest  potential to add to the Company's cash flows from operations while
maintaining a diversity of development projects.

Principal Areas of Operations

         All of the  Company's  properties  are  located in the  United  States,
mainly  in the OCS of the  Gulf of  Mexico.  The  Company  also  has  properties
onshore, principally in the Appalachian region.

         The focus of the Company's  current  activity is in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Company's  total daily  production  in 1995  averaged  28,500 Mcf of gas and
1,180  Bbls of oil,  of which  about 95% was from  wells  located in the Gulf of
Mexico.  Of the Company's total proved reserves of 80.6 BCFE at January 1, 1996,
73.8 BCFE, or approximately  92%, were attributable to properties in the Gulf of
Mexico.  The Company's  total capital  expenditures on oil and gas properties in
1995 were $33.2  million,  virtually all of which were on properties in the Gulf
of Mexico.


                                        1

<PAGE>



Oil and Gas Reserves

         Ryder  Scott  reviewed  as of January 1, 1996 a report  prepared by the
Company  of  the  net  reserves  attributable  to  the  Company's  oil  and  gas
properties.  The Company  used the results from the Ryder Scott  reserve  review
letter (the "Ryder  Scott  Reserve  Review  Letter") as the  Company's  reserves
estimates.  The average prices used in the  computations  were $2.40 per Mcf for
gas and $18.27 per Bbl of oil.  The  results of the Ryder Scott  Reserve  Review
Letter conform to the definition of proved  reserves  required by the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"),  which assumes no change in economic
conditions will occur in the future.

         The  estimates  as of  January 1, 1996 of proved  reserves,  future net
revenues  from proved  reserves and the  Discounted  Present  Value of estimated
future net revenues  from such proved  reserves set forth in this annual  report
were  prepared by the  Company and  reviewed  by Ryder  Scott.  For  purposes of
reviewing such estimates,  Ryder Scott reviewed production data through December
1995 for properties  representing 96% of the Company's  estimated proved net gas
reserves  and 99% of the  Company's  estimated  proved  net  oil and  condensate
reserves and through earlier dates for the balance of the Company's  properties.
In order to calculate the proved  reserve  estimates as of January 1, 1996,  the
Company  and Ryder  Scott  assumed  that  production  for each of the  Company's
properties since the date of the last production data reviewed was in accordance
with the production decline curve previously established for such property.

         There are numerous  uncertainties  inherent in estimating quantities of
proved reserves,  including many factors beyond the control of the Company.  The
reserve  data  set  forth  in this  annual  report  represents  only  estimates.
Reservoir  engineering  is  a  subjective  process  of  estimating   underground
accumulations  of crude oil and  natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact
manner, and the accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of
available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. As
a result,  estimates of different engineers often vary. In addition,  results of
drilling,  testing and  production  subsequent  to the date of an  estimate  may
justify  revision of such  estimate.  Accordingly,  reserve  estimates are often
different  from the  quantities of crude oil and natural gas that are ultimately
recovered.  The  meaningfulness  of such estimates is highly  dependent upon the
accuracy of the assumptions  upon which they were based. In general,  the volume
of  production  from oil and gas  properties  owned by the  Company  declines as
reserves  are  depleted.  Except to the extent the Company  conducts  successful
exploration  and  development   activities  or  acquires  additional  properties
containing  proved  reserves,  or both, the proved  reserves of the Company will
decline as reserves are produced.

         In  accordance  with  Commission  guidelines,   the  estimates  of  the
Company's proved reserves and Discounted Present Value of revenues therefrom are
made using  current  lease and well  operating  costs  estimated by the Company.
Lease  operating  expenses for wells owned by the Company were estimated using a
combination of fixed and  variable-byvolume  costs consistent with the Company's
experience in the areas of such wells.  For purposes of  calculating  future net
revenues and the  Discounted  Present  Value  thereof,  operating  costs exclude
accounting and  administrative  overhead expenses  attributable to the Company's
working interest in wells operated under joint operating agreements, but include
administrative  costs associated with production offices. The Discounted Present
Value of proved reserves set forth herein should not be construed as the current
market value of the estimated  proved oil and gas reserves  attributable  to the
Company's properties.

         The  following  table  sets forth  certain  information  regarding  the
Company's proved oil and gas reserves. The following information is based on the
Company's estimated reserves as of January 1, 1996 as reviewed by Ryder Scott.

                                        2

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           Proved Reserves
                                           --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                  % of
                                                                                                                 Total
                                                      Natural      Oil and                     Discounted      Discounted
                                            Gross       Gas      Condensate       Total          Present        Present
                  Field                     Wells      (MMcf)      (MBbls)       (MMCFE)          Value          Value
                  -----                     -----     -------     ---------      -------         -------        ------
                                                                                             (In thousands)
<S>                                         <C>       <C>         <C>            <C>          <C>               <C>
OFFSHORE:
   East Cameron Blocks 331/332...........     15      21,489      1,266          29,085       $45,783           39.3%
   Galveston Blocks 343/363..............     14       4,018         16           4,114         5,260             4.5
   Ship Shoal Block 251..................      2       1,693         24           1,837         3,287             2.8
   Matagorda Block 710...................      4       5,570         14           5,654         5,647             4.9
   Main Pass Blocks 301..................      8         814        136           1,630         1,342             1.2
   East Cameron Blocks 349/350/355/356...      1       3,051        599           6,645         8,880             7.6
   Vermillion Block 203..................      4      11,856        119          12,570        24,611            21.1
   Main Pass Block 262...................      1       1,776         --           1,776         1,959             1.7
   Mustang Island Block 858..............      3       7,365         98           7,953        10,801             9.3
   Other offshore........................     23       2,461         11           2,527         3,284             2.8
                                             ---       -----      -----          ------       -------            ----
      Total offshore.....................     75      60,093      2,283          73,791       110,854            95.2
ONSHORE:
   Appalachian region....................    238       3,364         --           3,364         3,459             3.0
   Other onshore.........................      4       3,446         --           3,446         2,089             1.8
      Total onshore......................    242       6,810         --           6,810         5,548             4.8
                                             ---      ------     ------          ------       -------           -----
         Total...........................    317      66,903      2,283          80,601      $116,402           100.0%
                                             ===      ======     ======          ======       =======           =====
</TABLE>

         The  following  table sets forth certain  information  as of January 1,
1996  (based  on the  Company's  estimated  reserves  as of  January  1, 1996 as
reviewed  by Ryder  Scott)  with  respect  to the  Company's  proved oil and gas
reserves and the Discounted  Present Value of estimated future net revenues from
such reserves before income taxes as of the date indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                 Oil and
                                                          Natural               Condensate             Discounted
                                                         Gas (MMcf)              (MBbls)             Present Value
                                                         ----------             ----------           --------------
                                                                                                     (In thousands)
<S>                                                      <C>                    <C>                   <C>    
Proved developed..................................       52,996                 1,293                 $95,610
Proved undeveloped................................       13,907                   990                  20,792
                                                         ------                 -----                --------
      Total.......................................       66,903                 2,283                $116,402
                                                         ======                 =====                ========
</TABLE>

         Since  January 1, 1995,  the  Company  has not filed any  estimates  of
proved oil and gas reserves with any federal authority or agency other than with
the Commission.

Ryder Scott

         Ryder  Scott  has  delivered  the Ryder  Scott  Reserve  Review  Letter
relating to the  Company's  oil and gas  reserves.  Ryder Scott is a  nationally
recognized  firm of petroleum  engineers  specializing in evaluations of oil and
gas reserves.  No limitations  were imposed by the Company upon Ryder Scott with
respect to the  investigations  made or  procedures  followed  by Ryder Scott in
rendering  such  report,  except  that Ryder Scott was  requested  to review the
estimate of the Company's  proved  reserves in compliance with the definition of
proved reserves required by the Commission,  which assumes no change in economic
conditions will occur in the future.  For reviewing certain of the Company's oil
and gas reserves, Ryder Scott has been paid a fee of approximately $33,000.

1995 Exploration Activity

         In 1995 the Company  participated  in the  drilling  of 13  exploration
wells in the OCS of the Gulf of Mexico.

         On  Vermilion  Block 203, the Company  participated  in the drilling of
three exploration wells which targeted certain shallow  formations on the block.
All three wells encountered productive sand intervals and were suspended pending
completion  operations.  Completion  operations commenced in July 1995 and first
production  was achieved from three wells on February 19, 1996. The Company owns
a 50%  working  interest  in  this  block,  which  is  operated  by The  Houston
Exploration Company ("Houston Exploration").

         On Mustang Island Block 858, the Company  participated  in the drilling
of two exploration  wells. Both wells and the original discovery well, which was
drilled in 1994,  were  successfully  tested  and all three  wells have now been
completed.  First production from the field is expected in March 1996. A test of
certain   deeper   sands  in  the  first  well  drilled  in  1995  flowed  at  a
non-commercial  rate, and no further activity is planned  targeting these deeper
horizons.  The Company  owns a 17.5%  working  interest in this block,  which is
operated by Houston Exploration.

                                        3

<PAGE>



         On West Cameron Block 417, an unsuccessful  well was drilled in January
1995. The Company owns a 40% working  interest in this block,  which is operated
by Enserch Exploration,  Inc. ("Enserch"). On Ship Shoal Block 265 the operator,
Union Pacific Resources  Company ("UPRC"),  plugged and abandoned an exploratory
well  drilled on that  block.  The Company  owns a 25% working  interest in Ship
Shoal Block 265. The Company  participated in a successful  exploratory  well on
East Cameron Block 303 in February  1995,  but an appraisal  well drilled on the
block  crossed a fault and was plugged and abandoned in April 1995 after failing
to encounter  hydrocarbon-bearing  sands.  Further  appraisal  drilling may take
place during 1996. The Company owns a 33.3% working interest in Block 303, which
is operated by Seagull Energy Corp ("Seagull").

         In May 1995 the Company  participated in a successful  exploration well
on its four-block area that comprises East Cameron Blocks  349/350/355/356.  The
well, East Cameron 356 #1, was suspended after  encountering  hydrocarbonbearing
sands based on wireline log analysis. Further exploration activity is planned on
these blocks in 1996. The Company owns a 37.5% working interest in these blocks,
which are operated by Enserch.

         An  exploration  well was  drilled on Eugene  Island  Block 59 in April
1995.  Although  the well was plugged and  abandoned,  the Company is seeking to
clarify the  prospectivity  of the block with the aid of a new 3-D  survey.  The
Company owns a 25% working interest in this block, which is operated by Tana Oil
and Gas  Corporation.  An exploration  well drilled on West Cameron Block 77 was
successful  and commenced  production in November 1995. The Company has a 2.625%
interest in the block, which is operated by BHP Petroleum (Americas) Inc.

         In September  1995 the Company  participated  in an  exploration  well,
Galveston 343 #10, which tested certain deeper  horizons on the block.  The test
was not successful,  and the well was plugged and abandoned.  The Company owns a
12% working interest in the block which is operated by Seagull.

         The Company,  together with partners, bid on 18 blocks in the 1995 Gulf
of Mexico Central Area Lease Sale and was awarded an interest in 13 blocks.  The
Company, in two cases with a partner, bid on 4 blocks in the 1995 Gulf of Mexico
Western Area Lease Sale and was awarded an interest in 3 blocks.

Offshore Properties

         East Cameron Blocks 331/332. These blocks are located 98 miles offshore
Louisiana in 240 feet of water. The Company owns a 40% interest in the shallower
horizons of Block 331 and a 20% interest in the deeper  horizons of both blocks.
The Company  purchased an interest in these blocks in 1991 for $100,000,  and in
1992 proposed the first  exploratory well, which proved to be the discovery well
for the field.  The field  commenced  production in October 1994, and a total of
nine wells have now been  completed.  During 1995,  East Cameron  Blocks 331/332
produced  an average of 13.5 MMcf of gas per day and 851 Bbls of oil per day net
to the Company's  interest,  accounting for  approximately  52% of the Company's
production for the period.  Mechanical  problems with the  completions of two of
the wells in the field resulted in production  from the blocks field being lower
than expected in the second half of 1995. A program of remedial work,  which was
planned to take place in the fourth  quarter of 1995 was  postponed  as the work
would have required an  interruption  of production  during a period of high gas
prices.  Work now planned for the blocks in 1996  includes  the  drilling of two
side-tracks  on the wells with  damaged  completions  and the  drilling of three
exploration  wells,  one of which  will also  serve as a  development  well.  In
addition,  it is  expected  that  an  exploration  well  targeting  an  untested
structure on East Cameron Block 331 will be drilled  later in the year.  Despite
the production shortfall from these blocks, the year-end reserve report showed a
small upward  revision in reserves  after  adjusting for  production  during the
year.  At January 1, 1996,  the  Company's  net proved  reserves in East Cameron
Blocks 331/332 were 29.1 Bcfe with a Discounted  Present Value of  approximately
$45.8 million.  Samedan Oil Company,  a subsidiary of Noble  Affiliates,  is the
operator of East Cameron Blocks 331/332.

     Vermilion  Block 203. This block is located 56 miles offshore  Louisiana in
100 feet of water.  The block contains two separate  geologic plays (shallow and
deep)  on the  flank  of a  piercement  salt  dome.  Four  wells,  all of  which
encountered hydrocarbons,  have been drilled to shallow formations on the block.
Three of these four wells have now been completed and first production from this
block was achieved on February 19, 1996.  Production is now approximately 8 MMcf
of gas per day net to the Company's  interest.  It is expected that  exploration
wells to test two further  structures in the shallow  formation  will be drilled
during 1996. An exploration well to test certain deeper  formations on the block
was spud on November 28, 1995.  The well  encountered  no reservoir  sands below
15,000 feet and has been temporarily  abandoned.  The Company owns a 50% working
interest in this block, which is operated by the Houston Exploration.

                                        4

<PAGE>




         Mustang Island Block 858. This block is located 12 miles offshore Texas
in  approximately  90 feet of water.  When the Company  acquired its interest in
this  block in 1994,  one  successful  exploration  well  had been  drilled  and
suspended  on the  block.  In  1995  the  Company  participated  in two  further
successful exploration wells on the block. A test of certain deeper sands in one
well  flowed  at a  non-commercial  rate but the  development  of the  shallower
horizons is well advanced. First production from the field is currently expected
in March 1996. An exploration  well to target a separate  structure on the block
may be drilled after a period of production  history has been  established  from
the current  field.  The Company  owns a 17.5%  working  interest in this block,
which is operated by Houston Exploration.

         Matagorda  Block 710. This block is located 28 miles  offshore Texas in
150 feet of water. In September  1993, the Company  participated in a successful
exploratory well on the block.  Production commenced from two wells on the block
in December 1994.  During 1995 this block produced an average of 2.5 MMcf of gas
per day net to the Company's interest. An exploration well drilled to a separate
target in 1994 was suspended for a possible sidetrack.  The Company expects that
the sidetrack or,  alternatively,  a new exploration well to test this structure
will be  drilled  during  1996.  The  Company  owns a 30%  working  interest  in
Matagorda  Block 710,  which is operated by Murphy  Exploration  and  Production
Company.

         Main Pass Blocks  300/301.  These blocks are located 22 miles  offshore
Louisiana in 200 feet of water. In January 1993, a successful  exploration  well
was  drilled on Main Pass Block  301.  In  December  1993,  a second  successful
exploration well was drilled into a different  geological structure on Main Pass
Block 300. A platform was installed in early August 1994.  Both discovery  wells
and one additional well have been completed, and production commenced in October
1994.  During 1995, this block produced an average of 236 MCF of gas per day and
115 Bbls of condensate per day net to the Company's interest. The Company owns a
15.3% working interest in Main Pass Blocks 300/301, which are operated by Walter
Oil & Gas Corporation.

         Ship Shoal Block 251. This block is located 54 miles offshore Louisiana
in 160 feet of water. A successful exploratory well was drilled on the block and
was suspended in April 1994. One additional  exploratory  well was  successfully
drilled to and completed in a separate fault block in November 1994.  Production
commenced  from this field on February  13, 1995 and average  production  during
1995 was 5.6 MMcf of gas per day and 171 Bbls of  condensate  per day net to the
Company's interest.  The Company owns a 25% working interest in Ship Shoal Block
251, which is operated by Union Pacific Resources Company ("UPRC").

         East  Cameron   Blocks   349/350/355/356.   The  East  Cameron   Blocks
349/350/355/356  prospect  area is located 110 miles  offshore  Louisiana in 300
feet of water.  The  Company's  interests in Blocks 349 and 355 were acquired in
the 1994 Gulf of Mexico Central Area Lease Sale while the Company's  interest in
Block 356 was acquired in a property swap by the Company in 1994.  The Company's
interest in Block 350 was acquired in the 1995 Gulf of Mexico Central Area Lease
Sale. In May 1995,  the Company  participated  in a new field  discovery on East
Cameron  Block 356.  The field is located 6 miles  south of the  Company's  East
Cameron Block 331/332  complex and was  identified on the Company's 3-D seismic,
which covers both areas. The discovery well, East Cameron 356 #1, was drilled to
a depth of 7,669 feet and encountered two hydrocarbon  bearing Pleistocene sands
based on wireline log analysis.  The well has been suspended pending  completion
operations and delineation of further prospective  structures on this four-block
complex. A well targeting a separate structure, East Cameron 356 #2, was spud on
December  25,  1995  but was  plugged  and  abandoned  in  February  1996  after
encountering a low gas saturated  sand. A third  exploration  well, East Cameron
350 #1, was spud on January 23, 1996.  Based on wireline log analysis  this well
has to date encountered  approximately 200 net feet of oil and gas pay. The well
is currently still drilling but is expected to reach total depth in early March.
Further  exploration  activity is planned on these  blocks in 1996.  The Company
expects that plans for the  development  of the blocks will be determined in the
next two months.  The Company owns a 37.5% working  interest in all four blocks,
which are operated by Enserch.

         Main Pass Block 262. This block, located 60 miles offshore Louisiana in
280 feet of water was  acquired  in the 1995 Gulf of Mexico  Central  Area Lease
Sale.  The  prospect was defined by a 3-D seismic  survey and previous  drilling
activity. A jacket structure was installed on the block in November 1995 and two
wells have now been completed for production.  First production is expected from
the wells in March 1996. The Company owns a 33.3% working interest in Block 262,
which is operated by Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd.


                                        5

<PAGE>



         Galveston  343/363 Field.  Galveston  343/363 field is located 13 miles
offshore  Texas in 65 feet of water.  The  field is  comprised  of two  adjacent
federal lease blocks  operated by an affiliate of Seagull.  Production  began in
1990. Natural gas and condensate are produced from 14 well completions on Blocks
343 and 363,  from  sands at depths of 7,100  feet to 8,500  feet.  The wells on
Block 343 produce through a four pile drilling and production platform. The well
on Block 363  produces  through a separate  satellite  platform  that is tied by
flowline to the Block 343 platform.  Gas and  condensate  flow from Block 343 to
shore through a 16-inch pipeline.  During 1995, the average daily production net
to the  Company  from  this  field  was 3.5  MMcf of gas and 14 Bbls of oil.  An
exploration  well to target certain  deeper  formations on Block 343 was drilled
and plugged and abandoned in late September 1995. The Company owns a 12% working
interest in Block 343 and an 11.25% working interest in Block 363.

         Other Offshore Properties.  The Company currently holds interests in 45
additional lease blocks offshore Texas and Louisiana,  of which 10 are producing
leases.

Onshore Properties

         Appalachian Region Properties. The Company holds interests in 238 wells
producing  natural gas  primarily in Venango,  Mercer and  Crawford  Counties in
Pennsylvania.  These  wells,  operated by Lomak  Petroleum,  Inc.,  produce from
multiple  completions  in  Silurian-aged  Medina  and  other  sands at depths of
approximately 5,500 feet to 6,000 feet. The Company's working interests in these
wells range from 4% to 100%, with an average of  approximately  28%. The Company
also holds a 20% interest in the local field  gathering  system and the pipeline
that takes production from the wells in this area.

         Other Onshore Properties.  The Company holds minor working and royalty 
interests in four additional wells in Texas and Oklahoma.

1996 Exploration Activity

         In December 1995 the Company spud three exploration wells, all of which
were drilling at the year-end. In 1996 to date the Company has participated in a
further three exploration wells. In addition to these wells the Company plans to
participate in a further twelve to fifteen exploration wells during 1996.

         On  the  four  block  area  which   comprises   East   Cameron   Blocks
349/350/355/356, the Company participated in a successful exploration well, East
Cameron  356 #1, in May 1995.  A well  targeting  a separate  structure  on East
Cameron Block 356 was spud on December 25, 1995 but was plugged and abandoned in
February 1996 after  encountering a low gas saturation sand. A third exploration
well,  East Cameron 350 #1, was spud on January 23, 1996.  Based on wireline log
analysis  this well has to date  encountered  a total of 200 net feet of oil and
gas pay in three of four targets.  The well is currently  still  drilling but is
expected to reach total depth in early March.

         On South Timbalier  Block 249 an exploration  well was spud in December
1995.  Despite  promising shows in South Timbalier 249 #1, a sidetrack found the
target sands wet. The Company  operates and owns a 50% working  interest in this
block.

         An exploration well to test certain deeper sands on Vermilion Block 203
was  spud on  November  28,  1995.  The  Vermilion  203 #2 well  encountered  no
reservoir  sands  below  15,000  feet and has been  temporarily  abandoned.  The
Company owns a 50% working interest in this block,  which is operated by Houston
Exploration.

         In January 1996 an  exploration  well was spud on Ship Shoal 251.  This
well was plugged and  abandoned in February.  The Company owns a 25% interest in
Ship  Shoal  Block  251  which is  operated  by UPRC.  Also in  January  1996 an
exploration  well was spud on Ship Shoal Block 261. This well is currently still
drilling but is expected to reach the target  horizon by mid-March.  The Company
owns a 25% interest in this block, which is also operated by UPRC.

         The Company now has over 150,000 miles of 2-D seismic data covering the
central portion of offshore  Louisiana and has 3-D data covering 74 blocks.  All
of the Company's 2-D and 3-D data will be used for prospect generation for lease
sales and enhanced data coverage over the Company's existing leaseholds.


                                        6

<PAGE>



Sales of Properties

         In June 1995, the Company sold most of the properties which it owned in
Texas and Oklahoma for $1.77  million.  At January 1, 1995,  the  properties had
reserves  of  approximately  123  MBbls  of oil  and  2.1  Bcf of gas  and had a
Discounted Present Value of $2.03 million.

         The Company has entered into an agreement to convey 35 wells located in
Venango,  Mercer and Crawford  Counties in  Pennsylvania,  effective  October 1,
1995, to the operator,  Lomak Petroleum,  Inc. in exchange for the assumption of
the Company's plugging and abandonment  obligations associated with these wells.
No assurance can be given that the agreement will be consummated.

Drilling Activities

         The Company drilled,  or participated in the drilling of, the following
numbers of total wells during the periods indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           Year ended December 31,
                                                ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        1993                          1994                        1995
                                                ---------------------         --------------------         -------------------
                                                  Gross    Net                 Gross    Net                Gross    Net
<S>                                               <C>      <C>                 <C>      <C>                <C>      <C> 
Total Wells
   Gas........................................     5       0.61                 9       1.85                 8      2.58
   Oil........................................     8       1.20                 1        .15                --        --
   Dry........................................     3       0.68                --         --                 5      1.35
                                                  --       ----                --       ----               ---      ----
      Total...................................    16       2.49                10       2.00                13      3.93
                                                  ==       ====                ==       ====               ===      ====
Development Wells
   Gas........................................     2       0.14                 3        .61                --        --
   Oil........................................     1       0.01                --         --                --        --
   Dry........................................    --         --                --         --                --        --
                                                  --       ----                --       ----                --        --
      Total...................................     3       0.15                 3        .61                --        --
                                                  ==       ====                ==       ====                ==        ==
Exploratory Wells
   Gas........................................     3       0.47                 6       1.24                 8      2.58
   Oil........................................     7       1.19                 1        .15                --        --
   Dry........................................     3       0.68                --         --                 5      1.35
                                                  --       ----                --       ----               ---      ----
      Total...................................    13       2.34                 7       1.39                13      3.93
                                                  ==       ====                ==       ====               ===      ====
</TABLE>


         The  information  contained  in  the  foregoing  table  should  not  be
considered indicative of future drilling  performance,  nor should it be assumed
that there is any necessary  correlation  between the number of productive wells
drilled and the amount of oil and gas that may  ultimately  be  recovered by the
Company.  From 1993 through 1995, the Company has drilled and completed 31 gross
(6.39 net) productive wells.

         The  Company  owns no  drilling  rigs.  All of the  Company's  drilling
activities are conducted by independent contractors on a day-rate basis or under
standard drilling contracts.


                                        7

<PAGE>



Productive Well Summary

         The  following  table  sets forth  certain  information  regarding  the
Company's  ownership  as of December 31, 1995 of  productive  wells in the areas
indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        Productive Wells
                                       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Gas                              Oil                              Total
                                       ----------------------          ----------------------             ----------------------
                                           Gross      Net                  Gross        Net                 Gross        Net
                                           -----      -----                -----        ----                -----        -----
<S>                                        <C>        <C>                  <C>          <C>                 <C>          <C>  
Gulf of Mexico(1)................           68        12.66                   7         1.21                 75          13.87
Appalachian region...............          238        65.93                  --           --                238          65.93
Other onshore....................            4         1.39                  --           --                  4           1.39
                                           ---        -----                ----         ----                ---          -----
         Total...................          310        79.98                   7         1.21                317          81.19
                                           ===        =====                ====         ====                ===          =====
</TABLE>
- --------------------

(1)  A majority of these wells have completions in multiple pay zones.

Volumes, Prices and Production Costs

         The  following  table  sets forth  certain  information  regarding  the
production volumes of, average sales prices received for, and average production
costs  associated  with,  the  Company's  sales  of oil and gas for the  periods
indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           Year Ended December 31,
                                                                                      ---------------------------------
                                                                                      1993          1994         1995
                                                                                      ----          ----         ----
<S>                                                                                   <C>           <C>          <C>   
Net Production:
   Gas (MMcf)................................................................         5,226         3,940        10,403
   Oil (MBbls)...............................................................         116.1         100.1         430.8
      Total (MMCFE)..........................................................         5,922         4,541        12,988
Average Sales Price:
   Gas ($/Mcf)(1)............................................................        $ 2.18        $ 1.99         $1.70
   Oil ($/Bbl)...............................................................        $16.04        $14.35        $18.14
Average Production Cost:
   ($/MCFE)(2)...............................................................        $ 0.65        $ 0.50         $0.24

</TABLE>
- --------------------

(1)   Includes natural gas liquids.

(2)   Includes direct lifting costs (labor,  repairs and maintenance,  materials
      and  supplies)  and  the  administrative   costs  of  production  offices,
      insurance and property and severance taxes.

Development, Exploration and Acquisition Expenditures

         The following table sets forth certain information  regarding the costs
incurred  by  the  Company  in  its  development,  exploration  and  acquisition
activities during the periods indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  Year Ended December 31,
                                                                       ------------------------------------------------
                                                                       1993                 1994                1995
                                                                       ----                 ----                ----
                                                                                       (in thousands)

<S>                                                                    <C>                  <C>                 <C>    
Development Costs..........................................            $  1,106             $11,683             $14,105
Exploration Costs..........................................               8,987               9,872              19,057
Acquisition Costs:
   Proved Properties.......................................                  --               1,405                  --
   Unevaluated Properties..................................                 --               22,939            (3,900)*
                                                                       --------             -------           --------
      Total Capital Expenditures...........................            $ 10,093             $45,899            $ 29,262
                                                                       ========             =======            ========
</TABLE>

* Represents an adjustment to the consideration paid for an acquisition in 1994.

                                        8

<PAGE>



Acreage

         The  following  table  sets forth  certain  information  regarding  the
Company's  developed and undeveloped  leasehold acreage as of December 31, 1995.
Acreage  in which the  Company's  interest  is limited  to  royalty,  overriding
royalty and similar interests is insignificant and, therefore, excluded.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           Developed                      Undeveloped                          Total
                                     ----------------------         ------------------------         -------------------------
                                        Gross        Net                Gross         Net                Gross          Net
                                        -------      ------             -------       ------             -------        ------
<S>                                      <C>         <C>                <C>           <C>                <C>            <C>   
Gulf of Mexico.....................      92,376      15,524             188,639       68,925             281,015        84,449
Appalachian region.................       8,590       2,288                  --           --               8,590         2,288
Other onshore......................       2,560         915                  --           --               2,560           915
                                         ------      ------             -------       ------             -------        ------
         Total.....................     103,526      18,727             188,639       68,925             292,165        87,652
                                        =======      ======             =======       ======             =======        ======
</TABLE>

Markets

         General.  The  revenues  generated  from  the  Company's  oil  and  gas
operations  are highly  dependent  upon the prices of and the demand for its oil
and gas  production.  The prices  received  by the  Company  for its oil and gas
production  depend upon numerous  factors beyond the Company's  control.  Future
decreases  in the  prices of oil and gas  would  have an  adverse  effect on the
Company's proved reserves, revenues, profitability and cash flow.

         Gas Sales. The Company sells substantially all of its gas production on
the  spot  market.  Generally,  the  Company's  gas  production  is  sold  under
short-term  contracts.  Total sales of gas  accounted for 80.9% and 68.2% of the
Company's  revenues  during 1994 and 1995,  respectively.  The weighted  average
prices of the gas sold by the Company under the various  month-to-month spot gas
contracts  were  $1.99 and $1.70 per Mcf of natural  gas  during  1994 and 1995,
respectively.

         The following table lists purchasers of the Company's  natural gas that
accounted for more than 10% of total revenues for the years indicated:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    Year ended December 31,
                                                    -----------------------
                                                     1994            1995
                                                    ------          ------

         <S>                                         <C>             <C>
         Coastal Corporation                         --              22%
         Dow Hydrocarbons and
         Resources, Inc.                             21%              --
         Walter Oil and Gas Corporation              11%              --
         Mark Resources Corporation                  11%              --
         Samedan Oil Corporation                     --              12%
         Amoco Production Co.                        20%              --
</TABLE>

     Oil Sales.  Generally,  the  Company's  oil  production  is sold to various
purchasers under short-term  arrangements at prices negotiated by third parties,
but at prices no less than such  purchasers'  posted  prices for the  respective
areas less standard deductions. Total sales of oil accounted for 14.8% and 30.1%
of the  Company's  revenues  during  1994  and  1995,  respectively.  No  single
purchaser of oil from the Company  accounted  for more than 10% of the Company's
revenues for 1994.  Samedan Oil  Corporation  purchased oil production  from the
Company  in 1995 that  amounted  to 20% of the  Company's  total  revenues.  The
Company  believes  that  the loss of a  purchaser  of its oil  would  not have a
material  adverse effect on its results of operations due to the availability of
other purchasers for its oil.

                                        9

<PAGE>


Competition

         The  exploration  for and  production  of oil and natural gas is highly
competitive.  In seeking to obtain desirable properties,  leases and exploration
prospects, the Company faces competition from both major and independent oil and
natural  gas  companies,  as well  as from  numerous  individuals  and  drilling
programs.  Extensive  competition  also  exists in the  market for  natural  gas
produced by the Company.  Many of these  competitors  have  financial  and other
resources  substantially  in  excess  of those  available  to the  Company  and,
accordingly,  may be better  positioned to acquire and exploit  prospects,  hire
personnel  and market  production.  In addition,  many of the  Company's  larger
competitors  may be better able to respond to factors that affect the demand for
oil and natural gas production  such as changes in worldwide oil and natural gas
prices and levels of production,  the cost and availability of alternative fuels
and the application of government regulations.

Regulation

         Oil  and  Gas  Production.  The  Company's  oil  and  gas  exploration,
production and related operations are subject to extensive rules and regulations
promulgated by federal and state agencies. Failure to comply with such rules and
regulations can result in substantial  penalties.  The regulatory  burden on the
oil and gas industry  increases the Company's cost of doing business and affects
its profitability.  Because such rules and regulations are frequently amended or
interpreted,  the  Company  is unable to predict  the  future  cost or impact of
complying with such laws.

         All of the  Company's  offshore  oil and gas leases are  granted by the
federal  government and are administered by the Mineral  Management Service (the
"MMS").  Such leases require  compliance with detailed  federal  regulations and
orders that  regulate,  among other  matters,  drilling and  operations  and the
calculation of royalty payments to the federal  government.  Ownership interests
in these leases are generally  restricted to United States citizens and domestic
corporations.  Assignments  of these leases or interests  therein are subject to
approval by the MMS.

         The federal  authorities,  as well as many state  authorities,  require
permits  for  drilling   operations,   drilling  bonds  and  reports  concerning
operations  and  impose  other  requirements  relating  to the  exploration  and
production  of oil and gas.  Such  states  also  have  statutes  or  regulations
addressing  conservation  matters,  including  provisions for the unitization or
pooling  of oil and gas  properties,  the  establishment  of  maximum  rates  of
production  from oil and gas wells and the  regulation of spacing,  plugging and
abandonment  of  such  wells.  The  statutes  and  regulations  of  the  federal
authorities, as well as many state authorities, limit the rates at which oil and
gas can be produced from the Company's properties.

         Prior to January 1, 1993, the sale for resale of certain  categories of
natural gas  production was price  regulated  pursuant to the Natural Gas Act of
1938,  the  Natural  Gas Policy  Act of 1978 (the  "NGPA")  and the  regulations
promulgated  thereunder by the Federal Energy  Regulatory  Commission  ("FERC").
However,  under  the  Natural  Gas  Wellhead  Decontrol  Act of 1989,  all price
controls of natural gas under the NGPA were phased out  effective  as of January
1, 1993.

         Several major regulatory changes have been implemented by the FERC from
1985 to the  present  that  affect  the  economics  of natural  gas  production,
transportation  and  sales.  In  addition,  the  FERC  continues  to  promulgate
revisions  to  various  aspects  of the rules and  regulations  affecting  those
segments  of the  natural  gas  industry  that  remain  subject  to  the  FERC's
jurisdiction.  The  stated  purpose  of many of these  regulatory  changes is to
promote competition among the various sectors of the gas industry.  The ultimate
impact of the complex and overlapping  rules and regulations  issued by the FERC
since 1985 cannot be predicted.  In addition,  many aspects of these  regulatory
developments have not become final but are still pending judicial and FERC final
decisions.

         Environmental.  The Company is subject to numerous laws and regulations
governing the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise  relating
to  environmental  protection.  These  laws  and  regulations  may  require  the
acquisition  of  a  permit  before  drilling  commences,   restrict  the  types,
quantities and concentration of various substances that can be released into the
environment  in connection  with drilling and  production  activities,  limit or
prohibit drilling activities on certain lands lying within wilderness,  wetlands
and other  protected  areas and impose  substantial  liabilities  for  pollution
resulting  from the  Company's  operations.  Moreover,  the recent  trend toward
stricter standards in

                                       10

<PAGE>



environmental  legislation  and regulation is likely to continue.  For instance,
legislation  has  been  proposed  in  Congress  from  time  to time  that  would
reclassify  certain oil and gas production  wastes as "hazardous  wastes," which
reclassification would make such wastes subject to much more stringent handling,
disposal and clean-up  requirements.  If such legislation were to be enacted, it
could have a significant  impact on the operating costs of the Company,  as well
as the oil and gas industry in general.  It is not anticipated  that the Company
will be  required  in the near  future to expend  amounts  that are  material in
relation to its total  capital  expenditure  program by reason of  environmental
laws and  regulations,  but because  such laws and  regulations  are  frequently
changed, the Company is unable to predict the ultimate cost of such compliance.

         The Oil  Pollution Act of 1990 (the "OPA") and  regulations  thereunder
impose  a  variety  of  regulations  on  "responsible  parties"  related  to the
prevention of oil spills and liability for damages resulting from such spills in
United States waters. A "responsible  party" includes the owner or operator of a
facility or vessel,  or the lessee or permittee of the area in which an offshore
facility is located. The OPA assigns liability to each responsible party for oil
removal  costs and a variety  of public and  private  damages.  While  liability
limits apply in some  circumstances,  a party cannot take advantage of liability
limits if the spill was  caused by gross  negligence  or willful  misconduct  or
resulted  from  violation  of  a  federal  safety,   construction  or  operating
regulation.  If the party fails to report a spill or to  cooperate  fully in the
cleanup,  liability  limits  likewise do not apply.  Few  defenses  exist to the
liability imposed by the OPA.

         The OPA also  imposes  ongoing  requirements  on a  responsible  party,
including  proof of financial  responsibility  to cover at least some costs in a
potential  spill. On August 25, 1993, the MMS published an advance notice of its
intention to adopt a rule under the OPA that would require  owners and operators
of offshore  oil and gas  facilities  to  establish  $150  million in  financial
responsibility.  Under the  proposed  rule,  financial  responsibility  could be
established  through  insurance,  guaranty,  indemnity,  surety bond,  letter of
credit,  qualification  as a  self-insurer  or a combination  thereof.  There is
substantial  uncertainty as to whether insurance  companies or underwriters will
be willing to provide  coverage  under the OPA because the statute  provides for
direct lawsuits against insurers who provide financial  responsibility coverage,
and most insurers have strongly protested this requirement.  The financial tests
or other criteria that will be used to judge  self-insurance are also uncertain.
The Company cannot predict the final form of the financial  responsibility  rule
that will be adopted by the MMS,  but such rule has the  potential  to result in
the  imposition  of  substantial  additional  annual  costs  on the  Company  or
otherwise materially adversely affect the Company. The impact of the rule should
not be any  more  adverse  to the  Company  than it will be to  other  similarly
situated or less capitalized owners or operators in the Gulf of Mexico.

         The OPA also imposes other requirements,  such as the preparation of an
oil spill  contingency  plan.  The Company has such a plan in place.  Failure to
comply with ongoing requirements or inadequate  cooperation during a spill event
may subject a responsible party to civil or criminal enforcement actions.

         The Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,  Compensation and Liability
Act ("CERCLA"),  also known as the "Superfund" law, imposes  liability,  without
regard to fault or the legality of the original  conduct,  on certain classes of
persons who are  considered to have  contributed  to the release of a "hazardous
substance" into the environment.  These persons include the owner or operator of
the  disposal  site or sites  where the  release  occurred  and  companies  that
disposed or arranged  for the  disposal of the  hazardous  substances  and under
CERCLA such persons or companies would be subject to joint and several liability
for the costs of cleaning up the  hazardous  substances  that have been released
into the  environment and for damages to natural  resources.  It is not uncommon
for  neighboring  landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal
injury and property damage allegedly caused by the hazardous substances released
into the environment.

Operational Hazards and Insurance

         The  Company  maintains   insurance  of  various  types  to  cover  its
operations.  Ultimate  limits  provided under such policies are $50 million.  In
addition,  the Company maintains operator's extra expense coverage that provides
for care, custody and control of wells drilled or completed by the Company.  The
occurrence  of a  significant  adverse  event,  the risks of which are not fully
covered by  insurance,  could have a material  adverse  affect on the  Company's
financial  condition and results of  operations.  Moreover,  no assurance can be
given that the Company will be able to maintain adequate insurance in the future
at rates it considers reasonable.

                                       11

<PAGE>




Executive Officers of the Registrant

         The executive officers of the Company are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            Name                  Age                      Position
- -----------------------------     ---      -----------------------------------------------

<S>                                <C>     <C>
Michael R, Gilbert                 46      President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
J. Munro M. Sutherland             41      Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
                                           Treasurer and Director
Robert P. Murphy                   37      Vice President--Exploration
A. Allen Paul                      53      Vice President--Finance
Susan H. Rader                     44      Secretary and Land Manager
</TABLE>

         No family  relationship  exists  among any of the  Company's  executive
officers or  directors.  The  Company's  executive  officers are elected to hold
office until the next annual meeting of directors.

         Michael R. Gilbert has served as the President, Chief Executive Officer
and a Director of the Company  since  February  27,  1992.  Mr.  Gilbert was the
President  of Cairn USA from its  inception  in March  1989  until the Merger in
September  1992.  From  1982 to 1989,  Mr.  Gilbert  served  as  Executive  Vice
President of Canyon Oil and Gas Company,  an oil and gas acquisition company and
a subsidiary of Slawson Companies, Inc., an oil and gas company.

         J. Munro M.  Sutherland  has  served as Senior  Vice  President,  Chief
Financial  Officer  and  Treasurer  of the  Company  since  November  1993.  Mr.
Sutherland  has been a director  of the  Company  since June 1993.  From 1988 to
October  1993,  Mr.  Sutherland  was the Finance  Director of Cairn  Energy PLC,
formerly the  Company's  majority  stockholder  and an  independent  oil and gas
exploration and production company ("Cairn PLC"). He was a nonexecutive director
of Cairn PLC from November 1, 1993 until August 31, 1994. From 1986 to 1988, Mr.
Sutherland served as director of Cairn Energy Management Limited, an oil and gas
management company.

     Robert P. Murphy joined Cairn USA in 1990 as an  exploration  geologist and
became the Company's  Vice  President--Exploration  in March 1993.  From 1984 to
1990, Mr. Murphy served as an exploration geologist for Enserch Exploration,  an
oil and gas company.  Mr. Murphy holds a M.S. in geology from The  University of
Texas at Dallas.

     A. Allen Paul has served as Vice  President-Finance  of the  Company  since
September  1992 and from  September  1992 to November  1993 was Treasurer of the
Company. From April 1990 to August 1992 Mr. Paul was Vice President--Finance for
Rosco Wallcovering,  Inc., a company specializing in the wholesale  distribution
of  wallpaper.  From  January 1986 to April 1990,  Mr. Paul was a  self-employed
certified  public  accountant.  Prior to January 1986,  Mr. Paul was employed in
various  capacities with AMOCO Oil Co.,  Tesoro  Petroleum Corp. and Hunt Energy
Corporation.

         Susan H. Rader has served as Secretary of the Company  since  September
1992.  From Cairn USA's  inception  in March 1989 until the Merger in  September
1992,  Ms. Rader served as Assistant  Secretary and as a petroleum  land manager
for Cairn USA.  Prior to March 1989,  Ms. Rader was a petroleum land manager for
Western Natural Gas Company, an oil and gas company.

Employees

         At  December  31,  1995,  the  Company  had 16  employees.  None of the
Company's employees is subject to a collective bargaining agreement. The Company
considers its relations with its employees to be good.


                                       12

<PAGE>


Title to Properties

         As is customary  in the oil and gas  industry,  the Company  performs a
minimal title investigation before acquiring undeveloped properties. The Company
has obtained title opinions on substantially all of its producing properties and
believes that it has  satisfactory  title to such  properties in accordance with
standards  generally  accepted  in the  oil  and  gas  industry.  The  Company's
properties  are  subject to  customary  royalty  interests,  liens  incident  to
operating agreements, liens for current taxes and other burdens that the Company
believes do not materially interfere with the use of or affect the value of such
properties.  Substantially  all of the Company's oil and gas  properties are and
will continue to be mortgaged to secure  borrowings  under the Company's  credit
facility. See "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and
Results of Operations -- Capital Resources and Liquidity."

Offices

         The Company leases  approximately  6,100 square feet of office space in
Dallas,  Texas  under a lease  that  expires  in October  1996.  The  Company is
investigating  the  possibility  of either  expanding  the  office  space at its
present  location or moving to a new location at the end of the current lease in
order to expand to approximately 8,000 square feet of office space.

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

         The Company is involved in routine  litigation  from time to time. Such
litigation  in which the Company is  currently  involved is not  material to the
Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

ITEM 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

         No matters were submitted  during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year
covered by this report to a vote of security  holders,  through the solicitation
of proxies or otherwise.

                                     PART II

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED
           STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

         The Common  Stock is traded on the Nasdaq  National  Market tier of the
Nasdaq Stock Market  ("NNM") under the symbol  "CEUS." The following  table sets
forth the high and low sales prices for the Common Stock from January 1, 1994 to
February 29, 1996.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year                                                                                       High            Low
- ----                                                                                      ------          ------

<S>                                                                                       <C>                 <C>
1994
      First Quarter..............................................................          5-3/4               5
      Second Quarter.............................................................          7                   5
      Third Quarter..............................................................          8-1/4               5-3/4
      Fourth Quarter.............................................................          8-3/8               6-3/4
1995
      First Quarter..............................................................          8-3/4               7-3/8
      Second Quarter.............................................................         11                   8-1/2
      Third Quarter..............................................................         12-3/4              10-3/8
      Fourth Quarter.............................................................         14-1/8              11-3/8
1996
      First Quarter (through February 29, 1996)..................................         14-1/8              10-7/8
</TABLE>

         The high and low sales prices for the Common Stock were reported by the
NNM.


                                       13

<PAGE>



         As of February 29, 1996, the Company had 17,557,821  outstanding shares
of Common Stock held by approximately 632 stockholders of record.

         The Company's policy is to retain its earnings to support the growth of
the Company's  business.  According,  the Board of Directors has never  declared
dividends  on the  Common  Stock  and does not plan to do so in the  foreseeable
future. Pursuant to the terms of the Company's credit facility (the "INCC Credit
Agreement") with Internationale  Nederaland (U.S.) Capital Corporation  ("INCC")
and MeesPierson,  N.V.  ("MeesPierson"),  the Company is not permitted to pay or
declare any cash or property  dividends or otherwise  make any  distribution  of
capital.  See "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial  Condition and
Results of Operations" and Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

         The following  selected  consolidated  financial data as of and for the
years December 31, 1991,  1992,  1993, 1994, and 1995 have been derived from the
audited  Consolidated  Financial  Statements of the Company.  The data should be
read in  conjunction  with  Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations of the Company,  the Company's  Consolidated
Financial  Statements,  related notes  thereto,  schedules  and other  financial
information of the Company included elsewhere herein.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          Year ended December 31,
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            1991          1992        1993         1994         1995
                                                          -------      -------      -------      -------       -------
                                                                       (in thousands, except per share data)
<S>                                                       <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>    
Statement of operations data:
Revenues:
     Crude oil and natural gas.....................       $11,443      $14,035      $13,490       $9,494       $25,742
     Other revenue.................................            94           59           59          206           217
                                                               --           --           --          ---           ---
         Total revenues............................        11,537       14,095       13,549        9,700        25,959
Expenses:
     Lease operating expenses and production taxes.         2,840        3,766        3,826        2,274         3,101
     Depreciation, depletion and amortization (1)..        15,142        6,792        5,654        4,328        13,616
     Administrative expenses.......................           924          774        1,266        1,330         1,507
     Interest......................................         2,880        1,193        1,045        1,114         2,500
                                                            -----        -----        -----        -----         -----
         Total expenses............................        21,786       12,525       11,791        9,046        20,724
                                                           ------       ------       ------        -----        ------
     Income (loss) before minority interest and
     extraordinary item............................       (10,249)       1,570        1,758          654         5,235
     Minority interest in net loss of Omni.........            --          245           --           --            --
     Extraordinary item--loss on early extinguishmen
     of debt.......................................            --           --         (248)          --            --
                                                               --           --         ----           --            --
     Net income (loss).............................      $(10,249)     $ 1,815      $ 1,474      $   654       $ 5,235
                                                         ========      =======      =======      =======       =======
     Net income (loss) per common and common
     equivalent share..............................      $  (1.28)     $  0.18      $  0.13      $  0.05       $  0.32
                                                         ========      =======      =======      =======       =======
     Weighted average common and common
     equivalent shares outstanding.................         7,992       10,048       11,260       13,259        16,422
                                                         ========      =======      =======      =======       =======
Statements of cash flows data:
Net income (loss)..................................      $(10,249)     $ 1,815      $ 1,474      $   654       $ 5,235
Depreciation, depletion and amortization...........        15,142        6,792        5,654        4,328        13,616
Other non-cash charges (credits)...................            99         (137)         414          223           355
Net change in operating assets and liabilities.....         1,096            2          841        1,148        (3,361)
Net cash provided by operating activities..........         6,088        8,472         8,383       6,353        15,845
Net cash used in investing activities..............        (5,631)      (7,574)      (9,519)     (17,208)      (23,080)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities          (400)        (212)         564       12,694         8,606
</TABLE>



                                       14

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  December 31,
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            1991          1992        1993         1994        1995
                                                          -------      --------     --------     -------      --------
                                                                                 (in thousands)

<S>                                                       <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>     
Balance sheet data:
Total assets.......................................       $43,503      $46,100      $49,629      $89,181      $106,811
Working capital (deficit)..........................         1,525       (1,029)         877          514           815
Advances from Cairn Energy PLC.....................         2,609        2,609           --           --            --
Long-term debt, less current maturities............        19,000       15,917        9,600       23,500        15,500
Stockholders' equity...............................        20,461       22,893       37,890       61,798        83,786
</TABLE>

- --------------------

(1)  The Company  recorded  additional  depreciation  depletion and amortization
     expense of $5.6 million for the year ended December 31, 1991, to reduce the
     carrying  value of oil and gas properties to the  capitalized  cost ceiling
     required under the full-cost method of accounting.

ITEM 7.           MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                  CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

         The following  discussion of the consolidated  results of operation and
financial  condition  of the  company  for each of the  years in the  three-year
period ended December 31, 1995 should be read in conjunction  with the Company's
Consolidated  Financial  Statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere
herein

General

         The  Company  follows  the  full-cost  method  of  accounting  for  its
investments in oil and gas properties.  The Company capitalizes all acquisition,
exploration,  and development costs incurred. Proceeds from sales of oil and gas
properties are credited to the full-cost pool.  Capitalized costs of oil and gas
properties  are amortized on an overall  unit-of-production  method using proved
oil and gas reserves as determined by  independent  petroleum  engineers.  Costs
amortized  include all capitalized costs (less  accumulated  amortization);  the
estimated  future  expenditures  (based  on  current  costs) to be  incurred  in
developing  proved  reserves;  and  estimated  dismantlement,  restoration,  and
abandonment costs. See Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Results of Operations

         The  following  table  sets forth  certain  information  regarding  the
production volumes of, average sales prices received for, and average production
costs associated with, and depletion rate associated with the Company's sales of
oil and gas for the periods indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Year Ended December 31,
                                                                                     ----------------------------------
                                                                                      1993          1994          1995
                                                                                     ------        ------       -------
<S>                                                                                   <C>           <C>          <C>   
Net Production:
   Gas (MMcf)................................................................         5,226         3,940        10,403
   Oil (MBbls)...............................................................         116.1         100.1         430.8
Average Sales Price:
   Gas (per Mcf)(1)..........................................................        $ 2.18        $ 1.99        $ 1.70
   Oil (per Bbl).............................................................        $16.04        $14.35        $18.14
Average Production Cost:
   (per MCFE)(2).............................................................        $ 0.65        $ 0.50        $ 0.24
Depletion Rate:
   (per MCFE)................................................................        $ 0.94        $ 0.94        $ 1.04
</TABLE>
- --------------------

(1)   Includes natural gas liquids.


                                       15

<PAGE>



(2)   Includes direct lifting costs (labor,  repairs and maintenance,  materials
      and  supplies)  and  the  administrative   costs  of  production  offices,
      insurance and property and severance taxes.

1995 Compared with 1994

      Revenues.  Total revenues  increased $16.3 million (168%) to $26.0 million
for 1995 from $9.7 million for 1994.  The increase in revenues was due primarily
to the new  production  from  the  Company's  interest  in East  Cameron  Blocks
331/332,  Matagorda  Block 710 and Ship  Shoal  Block 251  coupled  with  higher
average oil prices in 1995 partially offset by lower average gas prices in 1995.

      Expenses.  Total expenses  increased $11.6 million (129%) to $20.7 million
for 1995 from $9.1 million for 1994. An increase in depreciation,  depletion and
amortization  ("DD&A") is the primary source for the increase in expenses.  DD&A
increased  $9.3  million  (215%) to $13.6  million for 1995 from $4.3 million in
1994 due to increased production coupled with an increase in the depletion rate.
Interest  expense  increased  $1.4 million  (124%) to $2.5 million for 1995 from
$1.1  million for 1994  because of an increase in average  outstanding  debt and
higher average  interest  rates.  Lease  operating  costs and  production  taxes
increased $827,000 (36%) to $3.1 million for 1995 compared with $2.3 million for
1994.  Lease  operating  expenses  increased  because of  increased  production.
Reflected in the 1994 lease operating expense amount are expenses related to the
Texas Panhandle properties that were sold in August 1994.  Production costs on a
per unit basis  decreased  significantly  because East Cameron  Blocks  331/332,
Matagorda  Block 710 and Ship Shoal Block 251 all have a low per unit  operating
cost,  while the Texas  Panhandle  properties sold in August 1994 had a high per
unit operating cost.  Administrative  expenses  increased $177,000 (13%) to $1.5
million in 1995 from $1.3  million in 1994  principally  due to an  increase  in
legal,  salary and printing  expenses  partially  offset by  increased  overhead
capitalization relating to technical staff associated with exploration activity.

      Net Income.  Net income increased $4.6 million (700%) to $5.2 million,  or
$0.32 per share, from $654,000,  or $0.05 per share, in 1994. The primary reason
for the increase in net income was the increase in production.

1994 Compared with 1993

    Revenues.  Total  revenues  decreased  $3.8 million (28%) to 9.7 million for
1994 from $13.5 million for 1993.  The decrease in revenues was due  principally
to a natural  decline in production from the Company's  properties  coupled with
lower product prices,  and also to the sale of non-strategic  properties in both
1993 and 1994.

   Expenses.  Total  expenses  decreased  $2.7 million (23%) to $9.1 million for
1994 from $11.8 million for 1993.  Lease  operating  costs and production  taxes
decreased $1.5 million (41%) to $2.3 million for 1994 compared with $3.8 million
for 1993 due primarily to reduced  transportation  fees on the Galveston 343/363
field coupled with the sale of certain  producing  properties  whose  associated
costs are reflected in 1993. Depreciation,  depletion and amortization decreased
$1.3 million  (23%) to $4.4  million for 1994 from $5.7  million for 1993.  This
decrease was primarily due to lower production volumes in 1994. There was only a
nominal  increase  in  general  and  administrative  expenses  due  mainly to an
increase in the number of technical personnel. There was also a nominal increase
in interest expense due to an increase in outstanding debt.

   Net Income.  Net income of $654,000,  or $0.05 per share,  was  generated for
1994,  compared with $1.5 million,  or $0.13 per share,  after an  extraordinary
charge of $284,000 or $(0.03) per share,  in 1993. The  extraordinary  charge in
1993  was in  connection  with  the  write-off  of  unamortized  issuance  costs
attributable to the Company's prior credit facility.  The decrease in net income
was  primarily  the  result  of  the  decrease  in  revenues  due  to  decreased
production, partially offset by decreased production and depletion expenses.

Capital Resources and Liquidity

     At December 31, 1995, the Company had existing cash and cash investments of
$3.6 million.  Net cash provided by operating  activities  was $15.8 million for
1995,  compared with $6.4 million for 1994. The primary reason for this increase
in cash provided by operating  activities  was higher  results of operations (or
earnings before  depreciation,  depletion and amortization)  offset by increased
working capital requirements. Net cash used in investing activities for 1995 was
$23.1 million  compared with $17.2 million in 1994.  The $23.1 million is net of
$3.9 million received by the Company for  consideration  paid for an acquisition
in 1994. This increase was  principally due to expenditures  for exploration and
development prospects.

                                       16

<PAGE>




   Net cash provided by financing  activities for 1995 was $8.6 million compared
with $12.7  million in 1994.  The cash provided by financing  activities  during
1995 consisted of $16.6 million in net proceeds from a public offering of Common
Stock  partially  offset by a reduction in net  borrowings  under the  Company's
revolving credit facility of $8 million.

   In general,  because  the  Company's  oil and gas  reserves  are  depleted by
production,  the success of its  business  strategy is dependent on a continuous
exploration  and  development   program.   Therefore,   the  Company's   capital
requirements  relate  primarily  to the  acquisition  of  undeveloped  leasehold
acreage  and  exploration  and  development  activities.  Company  is  currently
pursuing a number of existing exploration prospects.

   The Company's  operating needs and capital spending programs have been funded
by borrowing under its bank credit facilities, proceeds from public offerings of
its Common  Stock and cash flow from  operations.  The Company  expects  capital
expenditures for development during 1996 to total  approximately $26 million. At
December  31, 1995,  the  Company's  capital  resources  consisted  primarily of
available  borrowing capacity under the INCC Credit Agreement and cash flow from
operations.  Management  believes that cash flow from operations  along with the
amount  available under the INCC Credit  Agreement will be sufficient to finance
the currently planned development expenditures.

   If the Company is successful in substantially all of its currently  scheduled
exploration prospects,  additional funds may be required in order to conduct the
necessary development  activities.  If necessary,  the Company may seek to raise
additional capital in public or private equity or debt markets. No assurance can
be given  that the  Company  may seek to raise  additional  capital in public or
private equity or debt markets.  No assurance can be given that the Company will
be able to raise such  capital if needed or on terms that are  favorable  to the
Company.  Any resulting  lack of  sufficient  capital may require the Company to
reduce its interest in such properties or to forego developing such reserves. In
addition,  the Company  normally  does not act as operator  with  respect to its
properties. The Company may not be able to control the development activities or
the associated costs with respect to properties operated by other properties.

   Credit  Facility.  The Company has a $50 million  credit  facility (the "INCC
Credit Agreement") with INCC and MeesPierson,  under which the current borrowing
base is $45 million.  The INCC Credit Agreement is secured by substantially  all
of the  Company's  assets.  It contains  financial  covenants  which require the
Company to maintain a ration of current assets to current liabilities (excluding
the current  portion of related  debt) of no less than 1.0 to 1.0 and a tangible
net worth of not less than $40 million.  The Company is currently in  compliance
with such financial covenants.  Outstanding borrowings accrue interest at either
INCC's  fluctuation  base rate or INCC's reserve  adjusted  Eurodollar rate plus
1.50%, at the Company's  option.  On March 31, 1997, the borrowings  outstanding
under this  facility  will be  converted  to a term loan that  requires  various
quarterly  principal  payments  through  December 31, 1999.  Interest is payable
quarterly on any base rate  borrowings and payable on maturity of any Eurodollar
borrowings.

   The INCC Credit  Agreement  does not permit the Company to pay or declare any
cash or property  dividends or otherwise make any  distribution of capital.  The
Company is obligated to pay a quarterly fee equal to one-half of 1% per annum of
the unused portion of the borrowing base under the facility.

   The Company's  ability to borrow under the INCC Credit Agreement is dependent
upon the reserve  value of its oil and gas  properties.  If the reserve value of
the Company's borrowing base declines, the amount available to the Company under
the INCC Credit  Agreement will be reduced and, to the extent that the borrowing
base is less than the amount then outstanding  under the INCC Credit  Agreement,
the Company will be obligated to repay such excess amount on thirtyday's  notice
from  INCC or to  provide  additional  collateral.  INCC  and  MeesPierson  have
substantial discretion in determining the reserve value of the borrowing base.

   The  following   table   illustrates  the  borrowing  base,  the  outstanding
borrowings,  an outstanding letter of credit and the available  borrowings under
the Credit Facility at December 31, 1995.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           Borrowing       Outstanding         Letter       Available
                                                              Base          Borrowings       of Credit      Borrowings
                                                          -----------      -----------       ----------    -----------

<S>                                                       <C>              <C>               <C>           <C>        
Credit Facility.......................................    $45,000,000      $15,500,000       $4,500,000    $25,000,000
</TABLE>


                                       17

<PAGE>



         The  Company  believes  that  available  borrowings  under  the  Credit
Facility combined with cash flows from the operations will be sufficient to fund
its currently  anticipated  development and exploration expenses. If the Company
is  successful  in  substantially  all of its  currently  scheduled  exploration
prospects,  additional  funds will be required in order to conduct the necessary
development activities. Any resulting lack of sufficient capital may require the
Company to reduce its interest in such  properties or to forego  developing such
reserves. In addition, the Company does not act as operator with respect to most
of its  properties.  Therefore,  the  Company  may not be able  to  control  the
development  activities  or the  associated  costs with  respect  to  properties
operated by other parties.

         Net Operating Losses. For federal income tax purposes,  at December 31,
1995,  the Company had net  operating  losses  ("NOLs") of  approximately  $51.0
million.  Those NOLs include  approximately $10.3 million of estimated NOLs that
carried over to the Company from Smith as a result of the Smith Acquisition.

         The Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),  permits a
corporation  to  carryback  an NOL from the year in which it is  incurred to the
immediately  preceding  three years and then carry forward any unused portion of
the  NOL up to 15  years.  However,  the  Code  contains  a  further  limitation
regarding  a  corporation's  use of its NOLs  following  a  statutorily  defined
"change in ownership". Generally, this limitation permits the corporation to use
in each year subsequent to the ownership change a prescribed  amount of the NOLs
(hereinafter  referred to as the annual limitation  amount),  subject however to
the general  restriction that a corporation cannot carry forward a NOL more than
15 years.

         The  Company's  NOLs of  approximately  $22 million  which  accumulated
through August 1993, are subject to an annual  limitation of $2.1 million.  From
September 1993 through  October 1994, the Company  incurred  additional  NOLs of
approximately  $3.0  million,  and  although a change in  ownership  occurred in
October 1994, the annual  limitation  attributable to such a change in ownership
is anticipated to exceed the NOLs. The Smith NOLs of approximately $10.3 million
to which the Company succeeded in the Smith Acquisition are subject to an annual
limitation that the Company currently expects will be $1.0 million.

         The Company's NOLs accumulated  through 1994 will expire principally in
2005 through 2010.

         For alternative  minimum tax purposes,  NOLs may be further adjusted to
determine the allowable alternative tax NOL, and the alternative tax NOLs can be
used  to  offset  no  more  than  90% of  alternative  minimum  taxable  income.
Accordingly, the Company may owe an alternative minimum tax even though its NOLs
otherwise eliminated its regular tax liability.

Changes in Prices and Inflation

         The Company's revenues and the value of its oil and gas properties have
been and will  continue to be  affected  by changes in oil and gas  prices.  The
Company's  ability to maintain  its  current  borrowing  capacity  and to obtain
additional  capital on attractive terms is also  substantially  dependent on oil
and gas prices. Oil and gas prices are subject to significant seasonal and other
fluctuations  that are beyond  the  Company's  ability  to  control or  predict.
Although  certain of the Company's  costs and expenses are affected by the level
of  inflation,  inflation  has not had a  significant  effect  on the  Company's
results of operations during 1993, 1994 or 1995.

         In an effort to reduce the  effects of the  volatility  of the price of
oil and gas on the  Company's  operations,  management  has  adopted a policy of
hedging oil and gas prices,  usually when such prices are at or in excess of the
prices  anticipated  in the  Company's  operating  budget,  through  the  use of
commodity  futures,  options,  forward  contracts and swap  agreements.  Hedging
transactions  are limited by the Board of Directors such that no transaction may
fix an oil and gas price for a term of more than 12  months,  and the  aggregate
oil and gas  production  covered by all  transactions  may not exceed 50% of the
Company's  budgeted  production  for any  12-month  period  from the date of the
transaction  or 75% of the Company's  budgeted  production  for any single month
from the date of the transaction. By hedging its oil and gas prices, the Company
intends to mitigate  the risk of future  declines  in oil and gas prices.  Under
certain contracts should oil or gas prices increase above the contract rate, the
Company will not participate in the higher prices for the production.

         The Company has  entered  into a number of gas price swap  transactions
under  which the  Company  receives a fixed  price per MMBtu and pays a floating
price based on the settlement  prices for the NYMEX Natural Gas futures contract
for the delivery month. In total under these contracts the Company has fixed the
price of 3,345,000  MMBtu of gas for the period  January to September 1996 at an
average price of $1.935 per MMBtu.

                                       18

<PAGE>



         The Company may enter into certain interest rate hedging contracts.  By
hedging its interest rate under its credit facility, the Company would intend to
mitigate the risk of future  increases in interest rates.  Should interest rates
decrease below the contract rate, the Company will not  participate in the lower
interest rate for the portion of the credit facility under the hedging contract.
The Company currently has no interest rate hedging contracts in place.

ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

         See Index to Consolidated  Financial Statements and Financial Statement
Schedules included on page 23 herein.

ITEM 9.           CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENT WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON
                  ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

         None.
<PAGE>


                                    PART III

ITEMS 10 through 13.

         The  information  for these  items  has been  omitted  inasmuch  as the
registrant will file a definitive  proxy statement with the Commission  pursuant
to Regulation 14A within 120 days of the close of the fiscal year ended December
31,  1994,  except for the  information  regarding  executive  officers  that is
provided in a separated caption,  "Executive Officers of the Registrant," and is
included in Item 1 and 2 in Part I of this Form 10-K.


                                       19

<PAGE>



                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.

                   Index to Consolidated Financial Statements




                                                                            Page

   Report of Independent Auditors............................................ 21

   Consolidated Financial Statements:

     Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1994 and 1995............ 22

     Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
     December 31, 1993, 1994, and 1995........................................25

     Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the years
     ended December 31, 1993, 1994, and 1995..................................27
     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
     December 31, 1993, 1994, and 1995....................................... 29

     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.............................. 31




                                       20

<PAGE>




                         Report of Independent Auditors







Board of Directors
Cairn Energy USA, Inc.

We have audited the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets of Cairn Energy
USA,  Inc.  (the  Company),  as of December  31, 1994 and 1995,  and the related
consolidated statements of operations,  stockholders' equity, and cash flows for
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995.  These  financial
statements   are  the   responsibility   of  the   Company's   management.   Our
responsibility  is to express an opinion on these financial  statements based on
our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated  financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects,  the consolidated  financial position of Cairn
Energy USA, Inc., at December 31, 1994 and 1995, and the consolidated results of
its  operations  and its cash  flows for each of the three  years in the  period
ended  December 31, 1995,  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles.


                                        /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP



February 16, 1996



                                       21

<PAGE>



                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.

                           Consolidated Balance Sheets


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  December 31,
                                                             -------------------
                                                               1994       1995
                                                             --------   --------
                                                                (in thousands)

<S>                                                          <C>        <C>     
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents                                    $  2,182   $  3,553

Accounts receivable                                             2,031      4,340

Receivable from Cairn Energy PLC                                   48       --

Prepaid expenses                                                  136        447

                                                             --------   --------
Total current assets                                            4,397      8,340


Property and equipment, at cost:
Oil and gas properties, based on full-cost accounting         129,758    157,100
Other equipment                                                   564        712

                                                             --------   --------
                                                              130,322    157,812

Less accumulated depletion, depreciation, and amortization     46,373     59,905

                                                             --------   --------
                                                               83,949     97,907
Deferred charges, net of amortization                             835        564

Total assets                                                 $ 89,181   $106,811
                                                             ========   ========

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities:
Accounts payable                                             $  1,286   $    499

Accrued lease operating expenses                                  528        578



                                       22

<PAGE>




Accrued well costs                                              1,701      6,194

Deferred revenue                                                  152       --

Other accrued liabilities                                         216        254

                                                             --------   --------
Total current liabilities                                       3,883      7,525


Long-term debt                                                 23,500     15,500

Contingencies (Notes 3, 7, and 8)                                --         --
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value: 5,000,000 shares authorized     --         --
Common stock, $.01 par value: 30,000,000 shares authorized;
shares issued and outstanding:  December 31, 1994  - 15,963,0     160        176
and December 31, 1995 - 17,550,480

Additional paid-in capital                                     77,983     94,720

Accumulated deficit                                           (16,345)   (11,110)

Total stockholders' equity                                     61,798     83,786

                                                             --------   --------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                   $ 89,181   $106,811

                                                             ========   ========
</TABLE>



                                       23

<PAGE>





                             See accompanying notes.



                                       24

<PAGE>



                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.

                      Consolidated Statements of Operations



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       Year ended December 31,
                                                                               ------------------------------------------

                                                                                 1993              1994             1995
                                                                               -------            ------           ------
                                                                                (in thousands, except per share amounts)

<S>                                                                            <C>                <C>              <C>    
Revenues:
Oil and gas                                                                    $13,490            $9,494           $25,742
Other                                                                               59               206               217
                                                                               -------            ------           -------
Total revenues                                                                  13,549             9,700            25,959


Expenses:
Lease operating expenses and production taxes                                    3,826             2,274             3,101

Depletion, depreciation, and amortization                                        5,654             4,328            13,616

Administrative expense                                                           1,266             1,330             1,507

Interest                                                                         1,045             1,114             2,500
                                                                               -------            ------           -------

Total expenses                                                                  11,791             9,046            20,724
                                                                               -------            ------           -------

Income before extraordinary item                                                 1,758               654             5,235

Extraordinary item - loss on early extinguishment of debt                         (284)                -                 -
                                                                               -------            ------           -------

Net income                                                                     $ 1,474            $  654           $ 5,235

                                                                               =======            ======           =======

Net income per common and common equivalent share:
Income before extraordinary item                                               $   .16           $   .05           $   .32

                                                                               =======           =======           =======
Net income                                                                     $   .13           $   .05           $   .32

                                                                               =======           =======           =======

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares
used in per share computations                                                  11,260            13,259            16,422

                                                                               =======           =======           =======
</TABLE>



                             See accompanying notes.

                                       25

<PAGE>



                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.

                 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
                                 (in thousands)




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       Preferred Stock          Common Stock        Additional    Accumulated        Total
                                                                                     Paid-In                     Stockholder's
                                       ----------------     -------------------     ---------    ------------    -------------
                                       Shares   Amount      Shares      Amount       Capital        Deficit        Equity
                                       ------ ---------     ------    ---------     --------     ------------    ------------

<S>                                    <C>    <C>           <C>       <C>           <C>          <C>             <C>         
Balance at December 31, 1992
                                        200   $       2      8,472    $      85     $ 41,279     $    (18,473)   $     22,893
Common stock issued for cash, net
                                          -           -      4,000           40       17,093                -          17,133
Redemption of preferred stock
                                       (200)         (2)         -            -       (3,598)               -          (3,600)
Other                                     -           -         (9)           -          (10)               -             (10)
Net income                                -           -          -            -            -            1,474           1,474
                                   --------   ---------   --------    ---------     --------     ------------    ------------
Balance at
December 31, 1993                         -           -     12,463          125       54,764          (16,999)         37,890

Common stock issued for oil and
gas assets of Smith
                                          -           -      3,500           35       23,219                -          23,254
Net income                                -           -          -            -            -              654             654
                                   --------   ---------   --------    ---------     --------     ------------    ------------
Balance at
December 31, 1994                         -           -     15,963          160       77,983          (16,345)         61,798

Common stock issued for cash, net
                                          -           -      1,562           16       16,573                -          16,589
Exercise of stock
options                                   -           -         20            -          102                -             102
Other                                     -           -          5            -           62                -              62
Net income                                -           -          -            -            -            5,235           5,235
                                   --------   ---------   --------    ---------     --------     ------------    ------------
Balance at
December 31, 1995                         -   $       -     17,550    $     176     $ 94,720     $    (11,110)   $     83,786

                                   ========   =========   ========    =========     ========     ============    ============
</TABLE>


                             See accompanying notes.



                                       27

<PAGE>



                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.

                      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                                 (in thousands)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         Year ended December 31,
                                                   --------------------------------

                                                      1993        1994        1995
                                                   --------    --------    --------

<S>                                                <C>         <C>         <C>     
Operating Activities
Net income                                         $  1,474    $    654    $  5,235

Adjustments to reconcile net income
to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depletion, depreciation, and amortization             5,654       4,328      13,616

Amortization of loan costs                              130         188         355

Extraordinary item                                      284        --          --

Loss on disposal of other equipment                    --            35        --

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable                                     (40)        473      (2,309)

Note receivable                                          54        --          --

Prepaid expenses                                         52          32        (311)

Accounts payable                                         37         811        (788)

Accrued liabilities                                     922        (272)        151

Deferred revenue                                       --           152        (152)

Advances (repayments) from (to) Cairn Energy PLC       (184)        (48)         48
                                                    -------     -------     -------

Net cash provided by operating activities             8,383       6,353      15,845


Investing Activities
Exploration and development expenditures            (10,093)    (20,501)    (28,668)


Acquisition of oil and gas assets of Smith             --          (281)      3,900

Proceeds from sale of oil and gas properties            747       3,727       1,920

Additions to other equipment                           (173)       (157)       (234)

Proceeds from disposal of other equipment              --             4           2

Net cash used in investing activities                (9,519)    (17,208)    (23,080)


Financing Activities
Issuance of common stock                             17,133        --        16,588

Redemption of preferred stock                        (3,600)       --          --

Repayment of advances from Cairn Energy PLC          (2,608)       --          --

Proceeds from long-term debt                         20,700      14,000      11,000

Reductions of long-term debt                        (30,335)       (100)    (19,000)

Financing costs and other                              (726)     (1,206)         18

Net cash provided by financing activities               564      12,694       8,606


Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents       (572)      1,839       1,371

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year          915         343       2,182

                                                   --------    --------    --------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year           $    343    $  2,182    $  3,553

                                                   ========    ========    ========

Supplemental cash flow information -
interest paid in cash                              $    941    $    943    $  2,143

                                                   ========    ========    ========
</TABLE>

                             See accompanying notes.

                                       30

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


1. Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Financial Statement Presentation

The consolidated  financial statements include the accounts of Cairn Energy USA,
Inc. (the Company) and its wholly owned  subsidiary.  All intercompany  accounts
and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The preparation of financial  statements in conformity  with generally  accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect  the  reported  amounts  of assets  and  liabilities  and  disclosure  of
contingent  assets and  liabilities at the date of the financial  statements and
the  reported  amounts of revenues  and expenses  during the  reporting  period.
Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The  Company's  former  principal  shareholder,  Cairn  Energy PLC paid  certain
operating and administrative  expenses for the Company. Prior to the sale of all
remaining  shares of the Company's  common stock held by Cairn Energy PLC during
1995,  payments that had not been  reimbursed by the Company were  classified as
"Advances from Cairn Energy PLC" in current  liabilities.  Amounts reimbursed in
excess of these payments were  classified as "Receivable  from Cairn Energy PLC"
in current assets.

The Company is engaged in the exploration for and production of oil and gas.

Property and Equipment

The Company  follows the full-cost  method of accounting for its  investments in
oil and gas properties.  The Company capitalizes all direct and certain indirect
costs associated with acquisition, exploration, and development costs of oil and
gas  properties.  Proceeds from sales of oil and gas  properties are credited to
the  full-cost  pool.  Capitalized  costs of proved oil and gas  properties  are
amortized  on a  unit-of-production  method using proved oil and gas reserves as
determined by  independent  petroleum  engineers.  Costs  amortized  include all
capitalized  costs  (less  accumulated   amortization);   the  estimated  future
expenditures  (based on  current  costs) to be  incurred  in  developing  proved
reserves;  and estimated  dismantlement,  restoration,  and  abandonment  costs.
Estimated future abandonment,  dismantlement, and site restoration costs include
costs to dismantle,  relocate,  and dispose of the Company's offshore production
platforms,  gathering systems, wells, and related structures. Such costs related
to onshore  properties,  net of estimated salvage values, are not expected to be
significant.

                                       31

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


1. Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies (continued)

The Company  capitalized  approximately  $615,000,  $866,000,  and $1,200,000 of
internal  costs  during the years  ended  December  31,  1993,  1994,  and 1995,
respectively.  Such  capitalized  costs include salaries and related benefits of
individuals  directly involved in the Company's  acquisition,  exploration,  and
development  activities,  based on a  percentage  of their time  devoted to such
activities.

Under rules of the Securities and Exchange  Commission ("SEC") for the full-cost
method  of  accounting,  the net  carrying  value of oil and gas  properties  is
limited to the sum of the present value (10% discount rate) of estimated  future
net cash flows from proved reserves,  based on period-end prices and costs, plus
the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproved properties.

Furniture and equipment are  depreciated on a  straight-line  basis based on the
estimated useful lives of the respective assets.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include certificates of deposit or other highly liquid
investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased.

Deferred Charges

Deferred charges include loan costs that are amortized on a straight-line  basis
over the terms of the respective loans. Accumulated amortization at December 31,
1993, 1994, and 1995, was $89,000, $260,000, and $355,000, respectively.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

The  Company  operates  exclusively  in the oil and gas  industry  in the United
States.  Accounts  receivable  terms are generally for 30 days. The Company does
not  require  collateral.  Management  periodically  performs  reviews as to the
creditworthiness  of  their  customers.   The  Company  has  not  sustained  any
significant credit losses on sales of oil and gas.


                                       32

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


1. Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies (continued)

Overhead Reimbursement Fees

Fees from overhead  charges  billed to  working-interest  owners,  including the
Company,  of  $429,000,  $192,000,  and $4,000 for the years ended  December 31,
1993,  1994,  and 1995,  respectively,  have been  classified  as a reduction of
general and administrative expenses in the accompanying  consolidated statements
of operations.

Gas Imbalances

The Company  follows the sales method of accounting  for gas  imbalances,  which
recognizes  over and under lifts of gas when sold, to the extent  sufficient gas
reserves  or  balancing   agreements   are  in  place.   Gas  revenues  are  not
significantly different from the Company's share of production.

Oil and Gas Hedging Activities

In an effort to reduce the effects of the volatility of the price of oil and gas
on the Company's operations,  management has adopted a policy of hedging oil and
gas prices  whenever such prices are in excess of the prices  anticipated in the
Company's  operating  budget and profit plan through the use of  commodity  swap
agreements  with major  financial  institutions.  These  agreements  involve the
receipt of fixed priced amounts in exchange for variable payments based on NYMEX
prices and specific volumes. The differential to be paid or received is recorded
in the month of the related  production and recognized as a component of oil and
gas revenues.  Hedging transactions are limited by the Board of Directors to 50%
of  budgeted  production  for the  succeeding  12 months and no more than 75% of
budgeted  production  in any one  month.  The  Company  does  not  hold or issue
financial instruments for trading purposes.

Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share

Earnings  (loss) per common share data is computed  using the  weighted  average
number of common shares and dilutive common equivalent shares  outstanding.  For
purposes of these  computations for the year ended December 31, 1993, the Series
A Preferred  Stock is  classified  as a common stock  equivalent.  Fully diluted
earnings  per share data is not  presented  because it would not differ from the
amounts shown.

                                       33

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


1. Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies (continued)

New Accounting Pronouncements

In October 1995, the Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board ("FASB") issued its
Statement No. 123,  "Accounting for Stock Based  Compensation" ("FAS 123") which
establishes an alternative  method of accounting for stock based compensation to
the method set forth in Accounting  Principles  Board Opinion No. 25 ("ARB 25").
FAS 123 encourages, but does not require, adoption of a fair valued based method
of  accounting  for stock  options and  similar  equity  instruments  granted to
employees.  The Company  will  continue  to account  for such  grants  under the
provisions of ARB No. 25 and will adopt the disclosure  provisions of FAS 123 in
the first quarter of 1996. Accordingly, adoptions of FAS 123 will not effect the
Company's financial statements.

2. Acquisition of Oil and Gas Assets of Smith Offshore Exploration II

On October 10, 1994, the Company purchased  substantially all of the oil and gas
assets  (the  Assets)  of Smith  Offshore  Exploration  II (Smith)  from  Phemus
Corporation  (Phemus),  a  subsidiary  of the  President  and Fellows of Harvard
College and sole  stockholder of Smith, in exchange for 4,500,000  shares of the
Company's  common  stock,  subject to  adjustment  pursuant  to the terms of the
Agreement,  and the  assumption  of  certain  liabilities  related  to the Smith
Assets.  The acquisition gave the Company  interests in 22 additional  blocks in
the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico.  The Agreement  provided that
1,000,000  of the shares  issued be placed in escrow (the Escrow  Shares) at the
closing and, thereafter, the Escrow Shares and certain warrants to acquire up to
a  maximum  of  800,000  shares  of  Common  Stock  would be issued to Phemus or
returned  to  the  Company  based  on  a  valuation  of  oil  and  gas  reserves
attributable  to the Assets at a date to be selected prior to June 30, 1995, but
could be extended under certain circumstances until December 31, 1995.

In order for Phemus to receive all 1,000,000  Escrow Shares,  this valuation had
to be equal to or  greater  than  $31,500,000.  If the  valuation  was less than
$31,500,000,  100,000 of such Escrow Shares would be returned to the Company for
each $750,000 of value below $33,750,000  (rounded to the nearest $750,000 below
$33,750,000),  and the balance would be released to Phemus. If the valuation was
less than  $26,250,000,  Smith  and  Phemus,  jointly  and  severally,  would be
obligated  to pay the  Company  the  amount by which  $26,250,000  exceeded  the
valuation, up to a maximum of $3,900,000.

                                       34

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


2. Acquisition of Oil and Gas Assets of Smith Offshore Exploration II 
   (continued)

The  acquisition  of Smith  did not have a  material  effect on the  results  of
operations of the Company for 1994.

In conjunction with this transaction, the Company's principal shareholder, Cairn
Energy PLC, sold 2,000,000  shares of the Company's  common stock to Phemus at a
price of $7.50 per share. Cairn Energy PLC also sold 2,500,000 shares of Company
common  stock   resulting  in  Cairn  Energy  PLC  reducing  its   ownership  to
approximately 17.5% of the Company's common stock in 1994.

On the basis of a valuation  of the Smith  properties  as of June 30,  1995,  by
independent  petroleum engineers  reflecting a range of values below the Minimum
Valuation,  Phemus and the  Company  entered  into an  agreement  regarding  the
purchase price  adjustment  under the Smith  Acquisition  Agreement  pursuant to
which Phemus  returned  the Escrow  Shares and paid $3.9 million to the Company.
The $3.9 million  payment to the Company is reflected as a reduction of the cost
of the Smith  properties.  There was no adjustment  in the  Company's  financial
statements for the return of the Escrow Shares because for financial  accounting
purposes, the Escrow Shares were never recorded as having been issued.

3. Long-Term Debt

The Company has a $50 million credit facility (the "INCC Credit Agreement") with
Internationale  Nederlanden (U.S.) Capital  Corporation (INCC) and Mees Pierson,
under which the current borrowing base is $45 million. The INCC Credit Agreement
is secured by substantially all of the Company's  assets. It contains  financial
covenants  which  require the  Company to maintain a ratio of current  assets to
current  liabilities  (excluding the current portion of related debt) of no less
than 1.0 to 1.0 and a  tangible  net  worth of not less  than $40  million.  The
Company is currently in compliance  with such financial  covenants.  At December
31, 1995, the Company had  outstanding  borrowings of $15.5 million and a letter
of credit of $4.5 million under this  facility.  Outstanding  borrowings  accrue
interest  at either  INCC's  fluctuating  base rate or INCC's  reserve  adjusted
Eurodollar  rate plus 1.5%,  at the  Company's  option.  On March 31, 1997,  the
borrowings outstanding under this facility will be converted to a term loan that
requires  various  quarterly  principal  payments  through  December  31,  1999.
Interest  is  payable  quarterly  on any base rate  borrowings  and  payable  on
maturity of any Eurodollar borrowings. The

                                       35

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


3. Long-Term Debt (continued)

weighted average interest rates on borrowings under the facility at December 31,
1994 and 1995 were 7.7% and 7.1%, respectively.

The INCC Credit Agreement does not permit the Company to pay or declare any cash
or property dividends or otherwise make any distribution of capital. The Company
has  obligated  to pay a quarterly  fee equal to one-half of 1% per annum of the
unused  portion of the borrowing  base under the facility and a Letter of Credit
fee for each Letter of Credit in the amount of one and one-half  percent  (1.5%)
per annum of the face amount of such Letter of Credit.

The  Company's  ability to borrow under the INCC  Restated  Credit  Agreement is
dependent upon the reserve value of its oil and gas  properties.  If the reserve
value of the Company's  borrowing  base  declines,  the amount  available to the
Company under the INCC Credit  Agreement will be reduced and, to the extent that
the  borrowing  base is less than the  amount  then  outstanding  under the INCC
Credit  Agreement,  the Company will be obligated to repay such excess amount on
30-days'  notice from INCC or to provide  additional  collateral.  INCC and Mees
Pierson have  substantial  discretion  in  determining  the reserve value of the
borrowing base.

At December 31, 1995,  the future  minimum  principal  payments on the Company's
long-term debt subsequent to December 31, 1996, were: $5.8 million in 1997; $5.2
million in 1998;  and $4.5 million in 1999,  based on borrowings  outstanding at
December 31, 1995.

The Company recorded an extraordinary  charge of approximately  $284,000 in 1993
in connection with the write-off of unamortized issuance costs attributable to a
previous credit facility.

The carrying value of the Company's long-term debt approximates fair value.

4. Stockholders' Equity

The Company's Certificate of Incorporation  provides that its Board of Directors
can designate  and issue up to 5,000,000  shares of preferred  stock,  par value
$0.01 per share,  in one or more  series or  classes  with such  dividend  rate,
redemption provisions, liquidation preference, conversion provisions, and voting
rights as the board of directors  might  designate.  In 1992, the Company issued
200,000  preferred shares designated as Series A Preferred Stock to Cairn Energy
PLC.  Each share of Series A Preferred  Stock was  convertible,  at the holder's
option,  into 9.68 shares of Common Stock at any time after  September 29, 1993.
The Series A Preferred Stock was redeemed in accordance with its terms on August
9, 1993, at a redemption price of $18.00 per share.

A public  offering of 4,000,000  shares of Common Stock at an offering  price of
$4.75 per share was  closed on August 6,  1993.  The net  proceeds,  aggregating
approximately  $17.1  million,  were used to repay $2.6 million of advances from
Cairn  Energy  PLC,  to  redeem  the  Series A  Preferred  Stock,  and to reduce
borrowings under the Company's credit agreement (Note 3) by $10.6 million.


                                       36

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


4. Stockholders' Equity (continued)

On October 10, 1994, the Company purchased  substantially all of the oil and gas
assets of Smith in exchange for 4,500,000  shares of the Company's common stock,
subject to adjustment  pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and the assumption
of certain liabilities (Note 2). For accounting  purposes,  the 1,000,000 Escrow
Shares were not recorded as issued as a result of the June 30, 1995 valuation.

A public  offering of 1,562,500  shares of Common Stock at an offering  price of
$11.25 per share was closed on September 18, 1995. The net proceeds, aggregating
approximately $16.6 million,  were used to reduce borrowings under the Company's
credit  agreement  (Note 3). In conjunction  with this  offering,  the Company's
principal  shareholder,  Cairn Energy PLC, sold all of its  remaining  2,750,000
shares of the Company's common stock.

5. Income Taxes

The  reconciliation  of income taxes computed at the U.S. federal  statutory tax
rates to income tax expense for the years ended  December  31, 1993,  1994,  and
1995, is as follows (in thousands):


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     Liability Method

                                                                           ------------------------------------

                                                                           1993           1994           1995

                                                                           -----         ------         -------

<S>                                                                        <C>           <C>            <C>
     Income tax expense at
     statutory rate                                                        $ 502         $  222         $ 1,780

     Utilization of net operating loss                                      (502)          (222)         (1,780)

                                                                           $   -         $    -         $     -
                                                                           =====         ======         =======
</TABLE>


The  computation of the net deferred tax asset  (liability) at December 31, 1993
and 1994, follows (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1994             1995
                                                              --------        ---------
<S>                                                           <C>             <C>      
     Deferred tax liabilities:
          Property and equipment                              $(7,302)        $(11,814)


          Deferred tax assets:
          Net operating loss carryforward                      12,641           17,495

          Other                                                    15                -
                                                              -------         --------
                                                                5,354            5,681
          Less valuation allowance                              5,354            5,681

                                                              $     -         $      -
                                                              =======         ========
</TABLE>


                                       37

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995



5. Income Taxes (continued)

At December 31,  1995,  the Company had net  operating  loss  carryforwards  for
federal  income tax purposes of  approximately  $51 million.  The net  operating
losses will expire principally in 2005 through 2010, if not previously utilized.
Utilization  of  approximately  $22 million of net  operating  loss  accumulated
through August 1993, is subject to an annual  limitation of $2.1 million because
of changes of ownership, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code. Utilization of
approximately  $10.3  million  of net  operating  losses is subject to an annual
limitation of  approximately  $1 million per year due to the change in ownership
of Smith. The transactions in connection with the acquisition of the oil and gas
assets of Smith and sales of Common  Stock by Cairn  Energy PLC caused a further
change in ownership of the Company as defined in the Internal  Revenue Code. The
Company's annual  limitation due to this change in ownership  exceeds $5 million
per year. As a result,  the Company does not believe this stock ownership change
caused any material  adverse  federal  income tax  consequences.  Additional net
operating loss limitations may be imposed because of subsequent changes in stock
ownership of the Company.

6. Employee Benefit Plans

The Company sponsors a plan to provide retirement  benefits under the provisions
of  Section  401(k)  of the  Internal  Revenue  Code (the  401(k)  Plan) for all
full-time  employees.  Employees  may  elect  to  contribute  up to 15% of their
compensation. The Company matches 100% of the employee's contributions, up to 5%
of the employee's compensation.  Beginning in 1995, at the end of each year, the
Company  contributes  Company common stock to each eligible  employee's  account
valued the equivalent of 5% of each such employee's compensation. Benefits under
the 401(k)  Plan are  limited to the assets of the 401(k)  Plan.  The  Company's
contributions  to the 401(k)  Plan were  $75,824,  $98,385,  and $62,678 for the
years ended December 31, 1993, 1994, and 1995, respectively.

Company's  Employee  Incentive Bonus Plan, which was adopted in 1993 and revised
in 1994.  The Employee  Incentive  Bonus Plan rewards those  employees  when the
Company has added proved  reserves for the year in excess of its  production for
the year, but only when such additional  reserves have a finding and development
cost less than $1.00 per Mcf. Under the Employee Incentive Bonus Plan, the bonus
cannot exceed  $250,000 in the  aggregate  and is allocated  among the specified
employees based upon preset  percentages  except that individual bonuses can not
exceed 50% of salary. Any bonus earned for the year vests and is paid out to the
employees in three equal annual  installments,  subject to continued  employment
with the Company.  Based on reserve  additions,  the  Company's  employees  were
awarded bonuses in the aggregate  amount of $106,875,  $242,028,  and $0 for the
years ended December 31, 1993, 1994, and 1995, respectively,  under the Employee
Incentive Bonus Plan. Such bonuses are being accrued over the respective vesting
periods.

In May 1993, the Company's  stockholders ratified the adoption of the 1993 Stock
Option Plan and the 1993  Directors'  Stock Option  Plan.  The 1993 Stock Option
Plan authorizes the granting of incentive stock options and  nonstatutory  stock
options to key  employees,  including  executive  officers and  directors of the
Company. The Company's  Compensation Committee administers the 1993 Stock Option
Plan.  Options granted under the 1993 Stock Option Plan may be either  incentive
stock options or nonstatutory stock options,  as determined in the discretion of
the Compensation Committee.  The exercise price per share for an option shall be
any price determined by the Compensation Committee;  provided, however, that the
exercise  price per share of incentive  stock options shall not be less than the
fair  market  value of the Common  Stock on the date of the grant of the option.
Each option is

                                       38

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


6. Employee Benefit Plans

exercisable  in such  amounts,  at such  intervals,  and on  such  terms  as the
Compensation  Committee  determines in its sole discretion.  However,  no option
shall be  exercisable  during the  six-month  period  following  the date of its
grant,  and no option shall be exercisable  more than 10 years after the date of
its grant. In May 1995, the Company's  stockholders  approved an increase in the
number of shares  reserved  for  issuance  under the 1993 Stock Option Plan from
400,000 shares to 650,000 shares.

The 1993  Directors'  Stock Option Plan  authorizes the granting of nonstatutory
stock  options  to  directors  of the  Company  who are not and  have  not  been
employees of the Company or any affiliated  corporations except Cairn Energy PLC
(a Nonemployee  Director).  On the date a Nonemployee  Director begins each term
that he serves as a member of the Board of Directors,  such Nonemployee Director
will automatically  receive an option to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock.
The exercise  price per share for an option  granted  under the 1993  Directors'
Stock Option Plan shall be the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date
of the grant.  Each option is fully exercisable six months after the date of its
grant.  However,  no option may be exercised more than five years after the date
of its grant.  A total of 150,000  shares of Common Stock has been  reserved for
issuance under the 1993 Directors' Stock Option Plan.

Option transactions are summarized below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   Number of               Option Price
                                                                     Shares                   Range
                                                                   ---------           ------------------

<S>                                                                 <C>                <C>
Outstanding at December 31, 1992                                         --                    --

Granted                                                             260,000            $ 5.125 - $ 5.75
                                                                    -------
Outstanding (67,500 options exercisable) at December 31, 1993
                                                                    260,000            $ 5.125 - $ 5.75
Granted                                                             200,000            $ 6.00  - $ 6.875
                                                                    -------
Outstanding (171,000 options exercisable) at December 31, 1994
                                                                    460,000            $ 5.125 - $ 6.875
Exercised                                                           (20,000)               $5.125
Granted                                                             290,000            $10.00  - $12.50
                                                                    -------
Outstanding (324,500 options exercisable) at December 31, 1995
                                                                    730,000            $ 5.25  - $12.50
                                                                    =======
</TABLE>


                                       39

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


7. Oil and Gas Hedging Activities and Commitments

While the use of hedging  arrangements limits the downside risk of adverse price
movements, it may also limit future gains from favorable movements.  All hedging
is accomplished pursuant to exchange-traded  contracts or master swap agreements
based upon  standard  forms.  The Company  addresses  market  risk by  selecting
instruments  whose value  fluctuations  correlate  strongly with the  underlying
commodity  being  hedged.  Credit risk related to hedging  activities,  which is
minimal,  is managed by requiring  minimum credit standards for  counterparties,
periodic  settlements,  and  mark to  market  valuations.  The  Company  has not
historically  been  required to provide  any  significant  amount of  collateral
relating to its hedging activities.

At December 31, 1995,  the Company has entered into various swap  agreements  to
fix selling  prices for natural gas at a weighted  average NYMEX price of $1.962
per MMBtu for  2,280,000  MMBtus  during  1996.  While these  contracts  have no
carrying value, their fair value (the estimated amount that would have been paid
by the  Company  upon  termination  of the  swaps  at  December  31,  1995)  was
approximately $700,000.

During the years ended  December 31, 1993,  1994, and 1995, oil and gas revenues
were reduced by $0 and $54,000 and  increased by  $323,000,  respectively,  as a
result of hedging transactions.

8. Legal Proceedings and Claims

The Company is subject to certain legal proceedings and claims that arise in the
ordinary  conduct of its business.  In the opinion of management,  the amount of
ultimate liability,  if any, with respect to these actions,  will not materially
affect the  consolidated  financial  condition or results of  operations  of the
Company.

9. Operations

Nature of Operations

The Company, explores for, develops and produces oil and gas, principally in the
shallow waters of the Outer Continental Shelf ("OCS") of the Gulf of Mexico. The
Company's  strategy is to expand its  reserve  base and  production  principally
through exploration and associated  development drilling. The OCS of the Gulf of
Mexico is a well-established  area of oil and gas production where the Company's
management  and  staff  have  both   experience  and  expertise  and  where  the
application  of advances in 3-D and 2-D seismic and  computer-aided  exploration
technology  is  particularly  suited.  The  Company  participates  mainly  on  a
nonoperating basis, thereby minimizing staffing requirements and overhead costs.
As a nonoperator,  the Company generally  preserves its rights through operating
and other agreements to influence and in many instances initiate exploration and
development  projects in which it is participating.  Exploration and development
activities are directed by a small,  experienced  technical team which makes use
of extensive in-house computer capabilities.

The Company's principal  producing  properties are located in the Gulf of Mexico
and consist of East Cameron Blocks 331/332, which began production in the fourth
quarter of 1994,  Ship Shoal  Block 251 and  Matagorda  Block 710,  which  begin
production in the first quarter of 1995, and Galveston 343/363 Field which began
production in 1990. Revenues from these four properties comprised  approximately
85.2% of the Company's total revenues for the year ended December 31, 1995.

10. Supplementary Information

Capitalized Costs Related to Oil and Gas Producing Activities


                                       40

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


The  following  table  summarizes  capitalized  costs  related  to oil  and  gas
producing   activities  and  the  related  amounts  of  accumulated   depletion,
depreciation, and amortization at December 31, 1994 and 1995 (in thousands):


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  1994                  1995
                                                                               ---------              --------

<S>                                                                             <C>                   <C>     
Proved oil and gas properties                                                   $101,549              $126,898
Unproven properties                                                               28,209                30,202
Accumulated depletion, depreciation, and amortization                            (46,012)              (59,502)
                                                                                --------              --------
Net capitalized costs                                                           $ 83,746              $ 97,598
                                                                                ========              ========
</TABLE>



                                       41

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


10. Supplementary Information (continued)

The unproven  properties  are excluded  from the  amortization  base and consist
primarily of acreage acquisition costs, related geological and geophysical costs
and exploration drilling costs in progress or awaiting evaluation.  The majority
of these costs are expected to be evaluated  during the Company's  1996 and 1997
drilling programs.

Costs Incurred in Property Acquisition, Exploration, and Development Activities

The table below  represents  costs incurred in oil and gas producing  activities
(in thousands):


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 Year ended December 31,
                             -------------------------------
                               1993       1994       1995
                             --------   --------   ---------
<S>                          <C>        <C>        <C>   
Acquisition of properties:
Proved                       $   --     $  1,405   $   --
Unproved                         --       22,939     (3,900)(1)

Development costs               1,106     11,683     14,105
Exploration costs               8,987      9,872     19,057
                             --------   --------   --------
                             $ 10,093   $ 45,899   $ 29,262
                             ========   ========   ========
</TABLE>

     (1) Represents the purchase price  adjustment  under the Smith  Acquisition
Agreement. See Note 2.


                                       42

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


Results of Operations from Oil and Gas Producing Activities

The table below presents  revenue and expenses  related to oil and gas producing
activities (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  Year ended December 31,
                                                                          --------------------------------------

                                                                            1993           1994            1995
                                                                          -------        -------         -------
<S>                                                                       <C>            <C>             <C>    
Oil and gas sales                                                         $13,490        $ 9,494         $25,742
Expenses:
Operating costs                                                             3,613          2,159           2,289

Production taxes                                                              213            115             812

Depletion, depreciation, and amortization                                   5,551          4,255          13,490

                                                                          -------        -------         -------
                                                                            9,377          6,529          16,591
                                                                          -------        -------         -------
Income from oil and gas producing activities                              $ 4,113        $ 2,965         $ 9,151

                                                                          =======        =======         =======
Depletion rate per equivalent Mcf                                         $   .94        $   .94         $  1.04
                                                                          =======        =======         =======
</TABLE>



                                       43

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


10. Supplementary Information (continued)

The  Company's  oil  and gas  production  is sold  to  various  purchasers.  The
following  table lists  purchasers of the Company's  natural gas which accounted
for more than 10% of total revenues for the years indicated:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Year ended December 31,

                                                                        ------------------------------
                                                                        1993        1994          1995
                                                                        ----        ----          ----

<S>                                                                     <C>         <C>           <C>
Coastal Corporation                                                      -           -            22%
Dow Hydrocarbons and Resources, Inc.                                    32%         21%            -
Walter Oil and Gas Corporation                                          14%         11%            -
Mark Resources Corporation                                               -          11%            -
Samedan Oil Corporation                                                  -           -            12%
Amoco Production Co.                                                     -          20%            -
</TABLE>

During  1995,  Samedan  Oil  Corporation  also  purchased  oil from the  Company
representing  approximately  20% of the  Company's  total  revenues.  Management
believes that the loss of these  purchasers  would not have a material impact on
the  Company's  consolidated  financial  condition  or  consolidated  results of
operations.

Reserve Quantity Information (Unaudited)

All of the Company's  reserves are located in the continental United States. The
Company's  proved  reserves  were  prepared by the Company and reviewed by Ryder
Scott Company, an independent  petroleum  engineering firm, at December 31, 1994
and 1995.

Proved reserves (developed and undeveloped) are estimated  quantities of oil and
gas that geological and engineering data  demonstrate with reasonable  certainty
to be recoverable in future years from known  reservoirs  under current economic
and operating conditions.  The estimation of reserves is an interpretive process
that is  subject  to  continuing  revision  as  additional  information  becomes
available.

The Company's  proved  developed  reserves are  categorized as such based on the
availability of current production data, open-hole and cased-hole logs analyses,
and other productivity indications.

The  estimation  of proved  undeveloped  reserves  was limited to direct  offset
locations to existing wellbores and to geological  formations that have shown to
be productive in the area.

                                       44

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


10. Supplementary Information (continued)

Reserve  estimates  are  imprecise  and may be expected to change as  additional
information becomes available.  Furthermore,  estimates of oil and gas reserves,
of  necessity,  are  projections  based  on  engineering  data,  and  there  are
uncertainties  inherent  in the  interpretation  of  such  data  as  well as the
projection  of  future  rates  of  production  and  the  timing  of  development
expenditures.   Reserve  engineering  is  a  subjective  process  of  estimating
underground  accumulations  of oil and gas that  cannot be  measured in an exact
way,  and the  accuracy of any reserve  estimate is a function of the quality of
available data and of engineering  and geological  interpretation  and judgment.
Accordingly,  there can be no assurance  that the reserves set forth herein will
ultimately  be produced nor can there be assurance  that the proved  undeveloped
reserves  will  be  developed  within  the  periods  anticipated.   The  Company
emphasizes  with  respect to the  estimates  prepared by  independent  petroleum
engineers that the discounted future net cash inflows should not be construed as
representative  of the fair  market  value of the proved oil and gas  properties
belonging to the  Company,  since  discounted  future net cash inflows are based
upon  projected  cash  inflows  which do not  provide for changes in oil and gas
prices nor for escalation of expenses and capital costs. The  meaningfulness  of
such  estimates is highly  dependent upon the accuracy of the  assumptions  upon
which they are based.

The following is a reconciliation  of the Company's  estimated net quantities of
proved  developed  and  undeveloped  oil and gas  reserves  for the years  ended
December 31, 1992, 1993, and 1994 (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Gas                Oil
                                                                                      (Mmcf)             (Mbbl)
                                                                                      ------             -----

<S>                                                                                   <C>                <C>  
Balance at December 31, 1992                                                          46,948             1,318
Sales of reserves in-place                                                              (674)              (26)
Revisions of previous estimates                                                          547                60
Extensions and discoveries                                                            11,287               907
Production                                                                            (5,226)             (116)
                                                                                     -------             -----
Balance at December 31, 1993                                                          52,882             2,143
Acquisitions of reserves in-place                                                      3,018                32
Sales of reserves in-place                                                            (2,902)             (256)
Revisions of previous estimates                                                       (1,690)              (34)
Extensions and discoveries                                                            13,515               527
Production                                                                            (3,940)             (100)
                                                                                     -------             -----
Balance at December 31, 1994                                                          60,883             2,312
Acquisitions of reserves in-place                                                          -                 -

Sales of reserves in-place                                                            (2,060)             (111)
Revisions of previous estimates                                                       (4,596)             (277)
Extensions and discoveries                                                            23,079               790
Production                                                                           (10,403)             (431)
                                                                                     -------             -----
Balance at December 31, 1995                                                          66,903             2,283
                                                                                     =======             =====
Proved developed reserves:
December 31, 1992                                                                     24,096               603
December 31, 1993                                                                     20,637               525
December 31, 1994                                                                     44,893             1,813
December 31, 1995                                                                     52,996             1,292
</TABLE>

                                       45

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995





10. Supplementary Information (continued)

The Company's principal developed  properties are located in the Gulf of Mexico,
and are East Cameron Blocks 331/332,  Ship Shoal Block 251, Matagorda Block 710,
and  Galveston  343/363  Field.  The  estimated  proved  reserves for these four
properties were  approximately 330 and 236 billion  equivalent cubic feet (Bcfe)
at December 31, 1994,  and December 31, 1995,  respectively.  As of December 31,
1994 and 1995,  the  Company's  net  interest  in the proved  reserves  of these
properties  was  approximately  56.4  Bcfe  and  40.7  Bcfe,  respectively.  The
Company's development  expenditures for 1996 are anticipated to be approximately
$26 million.

Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows from Estimated
Production of Proved Oil and Gas Reserves After Income Taxes (Unaudited)

In the opinion of the Company's management,  no major discovery or adverse event
has occurred since December 31, 1995,  that would cause a significant  change in
proved reserve quantities as estimated at December 31, 1995.  Reserves cannot be
measured exactly because reserve estimates  involve  subjective  judgments.  The
estimates  must be reviewed  periodically  and  adjusted  to reflect  additional
information  gained from reservoir  performance,  new geological and geophysical
data, and economic changes.  The values expressed are estimates only and may not
reflect  realizable  values or fair market values of the oil and gas  ultimately
extracted and  recovered.  The estimated  future net revenues may not accurately
reflect  proceeds  of  production  to be received in the future from the sale of
crude oil,  condensate,  and natural gas currently  owned.  The present value of
estimated future net revenues does not necessarily reflect the actual costs that
would be incurred to acquire equivalent oil and gas reserves.

The following table sets forth a standardized  measure of the discounted  future
net cash flows attributable to the Company's proved oil and gas reserves. Future
cash  inflows  were  computed  by  applying  year-end  oil and gas prices to the
estimated  future  production  of proved  reserves.  The future  production  and
development costs represent the estimated future  expenditures (based on current
costs) to be incurred in developing and producing the proved reserves,  assuming
continuation of existing economic  conditions.  The timing of future development
costs is based on management's  evaluation of the Company's projected cash flows
and  financing  resources.  Future income tax expenses were computed by applying
statutory  income  tax rates to the  difference  between  pretax  net cash flows
relating  to the  Company's  proved  oil and gas  reserves  and the tax basis of
proved oil and gas properties and available net operating loss carryforwards and
statutory depletion,  reduced by investment tax credits.  Discounting the annual
net cash  inflows at 10%  illustrates  the impact of timing on these future cash
inflows.

                                       46

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


10. Supplementary Information (continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             December 31,
                                                     ------------------------
                                                       1994            1995
                                                     --------        --------
                                                          (in thousands)

<S>                                                  <C>             <C>     
Future cash inflows                                  $142,871        $204,357

Future production costs                                22,255          27,261

Future development costs                               14,517          18,884

                                                     --------        --------

Future net cash inflows before future income taxes    106,099         158,212

Future income taxes                                     5,481          16,378
                                                     --------        --------
Future net cash inflows                               100,618         141,834

Adjustments to discount future annual inflows at 10%   25,983          38,272

                                                     --------        --------
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash 
   inflows                                           $ 74,635        $103,562
                                                     ========        ========
</TABLE>

The average price for natural gas in the above  computations was $1.72 and $2.40
per Mcf at December 31, 1994 and 1995, respectively.  The average price used for
crude oil in the above computations was $15.67 and $18.27 per barrel at December
31, 1994 and 1995, respectively.



                                       47

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


10. Supplementary Information (continued)

     Summary of Changes in the  Standardized  Measure of  Discounted  Future Net
Cash Flows from Estimated Production of Proved Oil and Gas Reserves After Income
Taxes (Unaudited)

The following table summarizes the principal  factors  comprising the changes in
the standardized measure of discounted future cash inflows (in thousands):


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Year ended December 31,
                                                     -------------------------------------
                                                       1993          1994           1995
                                                     --------      --------      ---------

<S>                                                  <C>           <C>           <C>      
Standardized measure at beginning of year            $ 48,161      $ 67,593      $  74,635

Sales and transfers, net of production costs           (9,664)       (7,220)       (22,641)

Net change in sales prices and production costs           145       (16,683)        15,078

Acquisitions of reserves in-place                        --           1,531           --

Extensions, discoveries, and improved recovery,        31,999        19,495         46,251
  net of future production and development costs

Changes in estimated future
development costs                                      (3,041)       (7,085)       (16,719)

Development costs incurred
during the period                                       1,106        11,683         14,105

Revisions of quantity estimates                         1,047        (2,028)        (8,803)

Sales of reserves in place                               (954)       (6,119)        (3,262)

Accretion of discount                                   5,550         7,834          7,870

Net change in income taxes                             (5,073)        7,354         (8,630)

Changes in production rates
(timing) and other                                     (1,683)       (1,720)         5,678
                                                     --------      --------      ---------

Standardized measure at end of year                  $ 67,593      $ 74,635      $ 103,562
                                                     ========      ========      =========
</TABLE>


                                       49

<PAGE>


                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           December 31, 1994 and 1995


11. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

Summarized  quarterly  financial  data  for  1995  and  1994 is as  follows  (in
thousands, except per share amounts):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       Three Months Ended
                                   -------------------------------------------------------
                                   March 31       June 30      September 30    December 31
                                   --------       -------      ------------    -----------
<S>                                <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>   
1995:
   Revenues                        $5,034          $7,850          $7,206          $5,869

Net income                            807           1,564           1,297           1,567

Net income per common and
common equivalent share            $  .05          $  .10          $  .08          $  .09


1994:
   Revenues                        $2,978          $2,404          $1,993          $2,325

Net income                            400             202              20              32

Net income per common and
common equivalent share            $  .03          $  .02          $  .00          $  .00
</TABLE>


                                       50

<PAGE>




ITEM 14.          EXHIBITS, CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND REPORTS ON
                  FORM 8-K


(a)(1) and (2)    Consolidated Financial Statements:

                       See Index to Financial Statements on page 20 herein.  All
                  other  schedules  have been omitted   because   the   required
                  information   is   either inapplicable,  insignificant  or  
                  included  in  the  financial statements and notes thereto.

(a)(3)            Exhibits:

               2.1     Purchase and Sale dated July 12, 1994, by and among Smith
                       Offshore Exploration Company, II, Phemus Corporation, and
                       Cairn Energy USA, Inc.  (without  exhibits) (the exhibits
                       and schedules to the Agreement have been omitted pursuant
                       to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation  S-K).  (Incorporated  by
                       reference  from the Company's  Current Report on Form 8-K
                       dated July 12, 1994 filed with the Commission on July 27,
                       1994).

               2.2     Common Stock  Purchase  Agreement  dated July 12, 1994 by
                       and  between  Cairn  Energy PLC and  Phemus  Corporation.
                       (Incorporated  by reference  from the  Company's  Current
                       Report on Form 8-K dated  July 12,  1994  filed  with the
                       Commission on July 27, 1994).

               3.1     First Amended and Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation
                       of the  Company,  as  amended  to date  (Incorporated  by
                       reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the  Company's  Annual Report
                       on Form  10-K for the  fiscal  year  ended  December  31,
                       1993).

               3.2     Bylaws of the Company,  as amended to date  (Incorporated
                       by  reference  to  Exhibit  3.2 to the  Company's  Annual
                       Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal  year  ended  December
                       31, 1992).

               9.1     Voting  Agreement  by and  between  Cairn  Energy PLC and
                       Phemus  Corporation  (to be entered into  pursuant to the
                       Stock  Purchase  Agreement).  (Incorporated  by reference
                       from the Company's  Current Report on Form 8-K dated July
                       12, 1994 filed with the Commission on July 27, 1994).

              10.1     Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 29, 1992, by  
                       and between Cairn Energy USA, Inc. and Omni Exploration,
                       Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the
                       Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the 
                       Commission on July 14, 1992).

              10.2+    Cairn Energy USA, Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan, as amended
                       (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the 
                       Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for Fiscal Year 
                       Ended December 31, 1993).

              10.3+    Cairn Energy USA, Inc. 1993 Directors Stock Option Plan 
                       (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the 
                       Company's 1993 Registration Statement on Form S-1, 
                       registration no. 33-64646).

              10.4+    Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Cairn Energy 
                       USA, Inc. 1993 Directors Stock Option Plan (Incorporated 
                       by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company's 1993 
                       Registration Statement on Form S-1, registration no. 
                       33-64646).

                                       51

<PAGE>



              10.5+    Incentive  Bonus  Plan,  as  amended   (Incorporated   by
                       reference to Exhibit 10.9 of the Company's  Annual Report
                       on Form  10-K for the  fiscal  year  ended  December  31,
                       1993).

              10.6+    Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement. (Incorporated 
                       by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration State-
                       ment on Form S-3, Registration No. 33-80526; filed with 
                       the Commission on June 21, 1994).

              10.7     Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement. 
                       (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the
                       Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 
                       33-80526; filed with the Commission on June 21, 1994).

              10.8     Registration Rights Agreement by and between Cairn Energy
                       USA,  Inc.  and Phemus  Corporation  (to be entered  into
                       pursuant to the  Agreement).  (Incorporated  by reference
                       from the Company's  Current Report on Form 8-K dated July
                       12, 1994 filed with the Commission on July 27, 1994).

              10.9+*   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of 
                       May 24, 1995, between the Company and Michael R. Gilbert.

              10.10+*  Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of 
                       May 24, 1995, between the Company and Robert P. Murphy.

              10.11+*  Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of  
                       May 24, 1995, between the Company and J. Munro M.
                       Sutherland.

              10.12    Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated December 20,
                       1994, between the Company and Internationale Nederlanden 
                       (U.S.) Capital Corporation (incorporated by reference to
                       Exhibit 10.20 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                       for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994).

              10.13+*  Cairn Energy USA, Inc. Separate Phemus Stock Option Plan.

              10.14+*  Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement under the 
                       Cairn Energy USA, Inc. Separate Phemus Stock Option Plan.

              10.15+*  Cairn Energy USA, Inc. Separate PLC Stock Option Plan.

              10.16+*  Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement under the 
                       Cairn Energy USA, Inc. Separate PLC Stock Option Plan.

              10.17*   First Amendment to First Amended and Restated Credit 
                       Agreement, dated December 12, 1995, among the Company,
                       Internationale (U.S.) Capital Corporation and Meespierson
                       N.V.

              10.18*   Second Amendment to First Amended and Restated Credit 
                       Agreement, dated January 15, 1996, among the Company, 
                       Internationale (U.S.) Capital Corporation and Meespierson
                       N.V.

              10.19+*  Amendment No. 1 to the Cairn Energy USA, Inc. 1993 
                       Directors Stock Option Plan.

                                       52

<PAGE>



              11.1*    Schedule of Computation of Earnings Per Share

              21.1     Subsidiary of the Company.  (Incorporated by reference to
                       Exhibit 22.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K 
                       of the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992).

              23.1*    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors.

              23.2*    Consent of Ryder Scott Company, petroleum engineers.






- ------------------------
*    Filed herewith.
+    Stock option plan, management contract or compensatory arrangement.



                                       53

<PAGE>



                                    GLOSSARY

         The terms  defined in this  glossary  are used  throughout  this annual
report.

         2-D Seismic.  The method by which an image of the earth's subsurface is
created through the interpretation of collected seismic data.

         3-D  Seismic.  The  method  by which a three  dimensional  image of the
earth's  subsurface is created through the  interpretation  of collected seismic
data. 3-D surveys allow for a more detailed understanding of the subsurface than
do  conventional  surveys  and  contribute  significantly  to  field  appraisal,
development and production.

         AVO Analysis.  A geophysical  technique that when applied under certain
conditions  allows  interpreters  to  distinguish  gas bearing  sands from other
bright spot causes such as hard streaks, wet sands and lignite.

         Bbl.  One stock tank barrel, or 42 U.S. gallons liquid volume, used 
herein in reference to crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons.

         Bcf.  One billion cubic feet.

         BCFE.  One billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalents using a con-
version rate of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas for each barrel of oil.

         Developed Acreage.  The number of acres which are allocated or assign-
able to producing wells or wells capable of production.

         Development Well.  A well drilled within the proved area of an oil or 
gas reservoir to the depth of a stratigraphic horizon known to be productive.

         Discounted  Present Value. A method of determining the present value of
proved  reserves.  Under the SEC method,  the future net revenues  before income
taxes from  proved  reserves  are  estimated  assuming  that oil and natural gas
prices and production costs remain constant. The resulting stream of revenues is
then discounted at the rate of 10% per year to obtain the present value.

         Dry Well.  A well found to be incapable of producing either oil or gas 
in sufficient quantities to justify completion as an oil or gas well.

         Exploratory  Well.  A well drilled to find and produce oil or gas in an
unproved  area,  to find a new  reservoir  in a  field  previously  found  to be
productive of oil or gas in another reservoir, or to extend a known reservoir.

         Farm-out/Farm-in. An agreement pursuant to which the owner of a working
interest  in an oil and gas lease  delivers  the  contractual  right to earn the
working  interest or a portion  thereof to another party who desires to drill on
the leased  acreage.  Generally,  the  assignee is required to drill one or more
wells in order to earn a working  interest in the acreage.  The assignor usually
retains a royalty or a working interest in the lease after payout.  The assignor
is  said  to  have  "farmed-out"  the  acreage.  The  assignee  is  said to have
"farmed-in" the acreage.

         Finding Costs. Expressed in dollars per MCFE, is calculated by dividing
the amount of total capital  expenditures  by the amount of total reserves added
during  the  same   period  as  a  result  of  drilling   activities,   property
acquisitions, reserve revisions and improved recovery.

         Gross Acres or Gross Wells.  The total acres or wells, as the case may 
be, in which a working interest is owned.

         MBbl. One thousand barrels of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons.

         Mcf.  One thousand cubic feet.


                                       54

<PAGE>



         MCFE.  One thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalents using a 
conversion rate of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas for each barrel of 
oil.

         MMBbl. One million barrels of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons.

         MMcf.  One million cubic feet.

         MMCFE.  One million cubic feet of natural gas equivalents using a 
conversion rate of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas for each barrel of 
oil.

         Net Acres or Net Wells.  The sum of the fractional working interests 
owned in gross acres or gross wells.

         Pay.  An industry term used to describe reservoirs in the subsurface 
that contain hydrocarbons.

         Productive Well.  A well that is producing oil or gas or that is 
capable of production.

         Proved Developed Reserves.  Reserves that can be expected to be 
recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods.

         Proved Reserves. The estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas and
natural gas liquids which  geological  and  engineering  data  demonstrate  with
reasonable  certainty to be  recoverable  in future years from known  reservoirs
under existing economic and operating conditions.

         Proved Undeveloped Reserves. Reserves that are expected to be recovered
from new wells on undrilled  acreage,  or from existing wells where a relatively
major expenditure is required for recompletion.

         Royalty Interest.  An interest in an oil and gas property entitling the
owner to a share of oil and gas production free of costs of production.

         Undeveloped Acreage. Lease acreage on which wells have not been drilled
or  completed  to a  point  that  would  permit  the  production  of  commercial
quantities  of oil and gas  regardless of whether such acreage  contains  proved
reserves.

         Working  Interest.  The  operating  interest  which gives the owner the
right to drill,  produce and conduct operating  activities on the property and a
share of production,  subject to all royalties,  overriding  royalties and other
burdens and to all costs of  exploration,  development  and  operations  and all
risks in connection therewith.


                                       55

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934,  the Registrant has duly caused this Annual Report on Form
10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                           CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.
                                                (Registrant)


Date:  March 4, 1996                By:    /s/ Michael R. Gilbert
                                           ----------------------
                                           Michael R. Gilbert, 
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been signed below by the  following  persons
on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature                         Office                               Date
- -----------------------    -----------------------------------   ---------------

/s/ Michael R. Gilbert     President and Chief Executive           March 4, 1996
- ---------------------      Officer and Director (Principal
Michael R. Gilbert         Executive Officer)
                            
/s/J. Munro M. Sutherland  Senior Vice President, Chief            March 4, 1996
- ---------------------      Financial Officer, Treasurer and
J. Munro M. Sutherland     Director (Principal Financial
                           Officer)

/s/ A. Allen Paul          Vice President--Finance (Principal      March 4, 1996
- ---------------------      Accounting Officer)
A. Allen Paul                 
                 
/s/ Jack O. Nutter         Director                                March 4, 1996
- ---------------------
Jack O. Nutter, II

- ---------------------      Director
William B. B. Gammell

/s/ Michael E. McMahon     Director                                March 4, 1996
- ----------------------
Michael E. McMahon

/s/ John C. Halsted        Director                                March 4, 1996
- ----------------------
John C. Halsted

/s/ Daniel Robins          Director                                March 4, 1996
- ----------------------
R. Daniel Robins


                                       56

<PAGE>




                                  EXHIBIT 10.9










<PAGE>

                    AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


     This AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of
the 24th day of May, 1995, by and between Cairn Energy USA, Inc. ("Company"),  a
Delaware corporation, and Michael R. Gilbert ("Employee").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS,  the Company desires to employ Employee,  and Employee desires
to be employed by and to serve the  Company in the  capacities  and for the term
and compensation and subject to the terms and conditions  hereinafter set forth;
and

         WHEREAS,  the Company and  Employee  desire to amend and restate as set
forth  herein the terms of the  Employment  Agreement  between  Employee and the
Company  dated as of January 1, 1993,  as amended on March 1, 1994,  May 1, 1994
and October 1, 1994.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
contained  herein,  the Company and  Employee  mutually  undertake  and agree as
follows:

         1.  Employment of Employee.  The Company hereby employs  Employee,  and
Employee  hereby  accepts  employment  with the  Company and agrees to serve the
Company in the capacities  hereinafter  set forth for the term and  compensation
and upon and subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

         2.       General Duties of Company and Employee.

         2.1.  The Company  agrees to employ  Employee  and  Employee  agrees to
accept  employment by the Company and to serve as President of the Company.  The
duties and  responsibilities  of Employee shall include those  described for the
President in the Bylaws of the Company or other  documents  of the Company,  and
shall also include such other or additional  duties as may from  time-to-time be
assigned  to  Employee  by the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  or any duly
authorized committee thereof.

         2.2.  While  employed   hereunder,   Employee  shall  obey  the  lawful
directions  of the Board of  Directors of the  Company,  or any duly  authorized
committee  thereof,  and shall use his best efforts to promote the  interests of
the  Company  and to  maintain  and to promote  the  reputation  thereof.  While
employed  hereunder,  Employee  shall  devote  his  time,  efforts,  skills  and
attention  to the  affairs  of the  Company  in order  that he shall  faithfully
perform his duties and  obligations  hereunder and such as may be assigned to or
vested in him by the Board of Directors of the Company,  or any duly  authorized
committee thereof.

         2.3. While this Agreement is in effect,  Employee may from time to time
engage  in any  businesses  or  activities  that  do not  compete  directly  and
materially with the Company,  provided that such businesses or activities do not
materially interfere with his performance of the duties


<PAGE>



assigned to him in compliance  with this  Agreement by the Board of Directors of
the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof. In any event,  Employee is
permitted to (i) invest his personal  assets as a passive  investor in such form
or manner as Employee may choose in his discretion,  (ii) participate in various
charitable efforts, and (iii) serve as a director or officer of any other entity
or organization that does not compete with the Company.

         3.       Compensation and Benefits.

         3.1. As compensation  for services  rendered,  or to be rendered to the
Company in the capacity set forth above or in such other and/or further capacity
as may be  assigned  to  Employee  by the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company,
Employee  shall be paid by the Company an annual  base  salary of  $130,000  for
1994,  $165,000 for 1995,  $185,000  for 1996 and $200,000 for 1997,  payable at
such times as the Company pays all of its Senior Executive employees, subject to
the customary  withholding  of appropriate  amounts for taxes,  FICA and similar
items.  The Board of Directors of the Company have the discretion,  but will not
be required to,  supplement the Employee's salary with a bonus in the amount, if
any, that the Board of Directors shall  determine in its discretion.  Except for
bonuses  already  granted under the Company's  Incentive  Bonus Plan (the "Bonus
Plan"), Employee will not be eligible to participate in future bonuses under the
Bonus Plan.

         3.2. Upon Employee's furnishing to the Company customary and reasonable
documentary  support  (such as  receipts  or paid  bills)  evidencing  costs and
expenses incurred by him in the performance of his services and duties hereunder
(including,   without  limitation,   travel  and  entertainment   expenses)  and
containing  sufficient  information  to establish  the amount,  date,  place and
essential  character of the  expenditure,  Employee shall be reimbursed for such
reasonable  costs and expenses in accordance  with the Company's  normal expense
reimbursement policy.

         3.3. As long as this Agreement is in effect,  the Company shall provide
Employee with the use of an  automobile  for his business and personal use, such
automobile to be approved by the Compensation  Committee.  The Company shall pay
all expenses of operating,  maintaining  and repairing the  automobile and shall
procure and maintain automobile  liability insurance with respect thereto,  with
coverage  insuring the Employee in the minimum  amount of $1,000,000  for bodily
injury, death or property damage for each occurrence.

         3.4. As long as this Agreement is in effect, the Company shall maintain
medical  (including  hospitalization)  and dental insurance coverage on Employee
and Employee's  immediate family members. If an annual physical  examination for
Employee  is not  covered  by such  insurance,  the  Company  will  pay for such
examination per calendar year.

         3.5. As long as this Agreement is in effect, the Company shall maintain
for Employee's benefit a guaranteed  renewable term life insurance policy having
a death  benefit of not less than  $50,000.  Unless  prohibited by any policy or
plan under which such  insurance  is provided,  Employee  will have the right to
purchase at Employee's cost  additional  coverage under such policy or plan. The
Company will not permit, even in the event of termination of this


<PAGE>



Agreement for any reason, any such policy to lapse without offering Employee the
opportunity to take up the premium payments and continue the policy in force.

         3.6. As long as this Agreement is in effect, the Company shall maintain
for Employee's benefit a comprehensive  long-term  disability  insurance policy.
The Company will not permit,  even in the event of termination of this Agreement
for any  reason,  any  such  policy  to  lapse  without  offering  Employee  the
opportunity to take up the premium payments and continue the policy in force.

         3.7. To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance plan for its
executive  officers,  the  requirements  of paragraphs  3.4.,  3.5. and 3.6. are
satisfied.  Employee  shall  have the  right to  participate  in any  additional
compensation,  benefit,  life  insurance  or other  plan or  arrangement  of the
Company now or hereafter  existing for the benefit of executive  officers of the
Company.  To the  extent  that the  Company  maintains  a  pension  plan for its
executive officers, Employee shall be allowed to participate therein.

         3.8. Employee shall be entitled to such vacation (in no event less than
two (2) weeks per year),  holiday  and other paid or unpaid  leave of absence as
consistent with the Company's  normal  policies or as otherwise  approved by the
Board of Directors.

     4. Term. The term of this Agreement  shall commence on January 1, 1993 (the
"Commencement  Date") and shall continue in full force and effect until December
31, 1997.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  provisions,  this  Agreement  may be
terminated at any time by the Company or Employee as hereinafter provided.

     5.  Termination  other  than by  Expiration  of the Term.  The  Company  or
Employee may terminate  Employee's  employment under this Agreement at any time,
but only on the following terms:

         5.1.  The  Company  may  terminate  Employee's  employment  under  this
Agreement at any time, without prior notice, for "due cause" upon the good faith
determination  by the Board of Directors of the Company that "due cause"  exists
for the  termination of the employment  relationship.  As used herein,  the term
"due cause" shall mean any of the following events:

                (i)         any intentional misapplication by Employee of the 
         Company's funds, or any other act of dishonesty injurious to the 
         Company committed by Employee; or

               (ii)        Employee's conviction of a crime involving moral 
         turpitude; or

              (iii) Employee's breach,  non-performance or non-observance in any
         material  respect of a material term of this  Agreement if such breach,
         non-performance  or  non-observance  shall continue  beyond a period of
         sixty  (60)  business  days  immediately  after  notice  thereof by the
         Company to Employee; or



<PAGE>



               (iv) any  other  action by the  Employee  involving  willful  and
         deliberate  malfeasance  or  gross  negligence  in the  performance  of
         Employee's duties.

         5.2. In the event Employee is  incapacitated  by accident,  sickness or
otherwise  so  as  to  render  Employee  mentally  or  physically  incapable  of
performing  the services  required  under  paragraph 2 of this  Agreement  for a
period  of  one  hundred  eighty  (180)  consecutive  business  days,  and  such
incapacity  is confirmed by the written  opinion of two (2)  practicing  medical
doctors  licensed by and in good  standing  in the state in which they  maintain
offices for the practice of medicine,  upon the  expiration of such period or at
any time reasonably thereafter, or in the event of Employee's death, the Company
may terminate Employee's employment under this Agreement upon giving Employee or
his legal representative  written notice at least thirty (30) days' prior to the
termination  date.  Employee  agrees,  after  written  notice  by the  Board  of
Directors  of the  Company  or a duly  authorized  committee  or  officer of the
Company,  to submit to examinations by such practicing  medical doctors selected
by the Board of  Directors  of the  Company or a duly  authorized  committee  or
officer of the Company.

         5.3.  The  Company  may  terminate  Employee's  employment  under  this
Agreement  at any time for any reason  whatsoever,  even without "due cause," by
giving a written notice of termination to Employee, in which case the employment
relationship shall terminate immediately upon the giving of such notice.

         5.4.  Employee may, at any time after the  Commencement  Date by giving
the Company prior written  notice,  terminate this Agreement for any one or more
of the following reasons:

                (i) if there is a material  adverse  alteration or diminution of
         Employee's position, duties, responsibilities,  reporting relationship,
         authority or status (including corresponding  prerequisites) from those
         in effect, or otherwise accorded to Employee,  on the effective date of
         this Agreement;

               (ii)        if the Company requires that the Employee perform a 
         substantial portion of the services required hereunder outside the 
         Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area; or

              (iii)        if the Company fails to comply with its obligations 
         under paragraph 3 hereof.

         6.       Effect of Termination.

         6.1.  If  Employee's  employment  under this  Agreement  is  terminated
pursuant to paragraph 5.1, he shall be entitled to receive all  compensation due
him as of the effective date of his termination and no more.

     6.2. If Employee's  employment under this Agreement is terminated  pursuant
to paragraph 5.2, he shall be entitled to receive (i) all  compensation  due him
as of the effective date of his  termination  and (ii) in one lump payment,  the
total of all bonus compensation


<PAGE>



allocated for the Employee under the Company's Bonus Plan in prior fiscal years,
that remains unpaid, notwithstanding the payment terms and vesting provisions of
the Bonus Plan.

         6.3.  If  Employee's  employment  under this  Agreement  is  terminated
pursuant  to  paragraph  5.3.  or 5.4.,  he shall be entitled to receive (i) all
compensation  due him  under  this  Agreement  and to  participate  in all other
benefits provided by this Agreement for one year plus a severance payment in the
amount of one times  the  Employee's  annual  base  salary  and (ii) in one lump
payment,  the total of all bonus  compensation  allocated for the Employee under
the  Company's   Bonus  Plan  in  prior  fiscal  years,   that  remains  unpaid,
notwithstanding the payment terms and vesting provisions of the Bonus Plan.

         6.4. In no event shall any payments to Employee under paragraph  6.3(i)
exceed three times Employee's annual base salary at the time of termination.

         7.       Change in Control.

         7.1.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if a
"Change  in  Control"  (as  defined  below)  of the  Company  occurs  after  the
Commencement Date and, within  twenty-four months from the date of the Change in
Control,  the Company terminates the Employee's  employment without due cause as
provided in paragraph 5.3 or the Employee voluntarily  terminates his employment
under  paragraph 5.4, then the Employee,  even though no longer  employed by the
Company, shall be entitled to all payments provided in paragraph 6.3 hereof plus
a payment in the amount of one times the Employee's annual base salary,  payable
at the option of the Employee in either a lump sum within  thirty days after the
date of termination or monthly over a 1-year period.

         7.2. For the purposes of this  Agreement,  the term "Change in Control"
of the Company  shall be deemed to have  occurred if (i) any  "person"  (as such
term is used in Sections  13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended) other than any Company  employee  stock  ownership plan or the
Company,  becomes the beneficial owner (as such term is used in Section 13(d) of
the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended),  directly or  indirectly,  of
securities of the Company  representing 25% or more of the combined voting power
of the  Company's  then  outstanding  securities,  or (ii) the  Board  ceases to
consist of a majority  of  Continuing  Directors  as  hereinafter  defined.  For
purposes of this Agreement,  a "Continuing  Director" shall mean a member of the
Board of  Directors  who either (i) is a member of the Board of Directors at the
Commencement  Date or (ii) is nominated or appointed to serve as a director by a
majority of the then Continuing Directors.

         7.3.  Notwithstanding  any other provision of this Agreement,  if after
the  Commencement  Date (a)  there is a change  in the  ownership  or  effective
control of the Company or (b) in the ownership of a  substantial  portion of the
assets of the Company within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue
Code ("Section 280G"),  the payments to be paid to the Employee in the nature of
compensation to be received by or for the benefit of the Employee and contingent
upon such event (the  "Termination  Payments") would create an "excess parachute
payment"  within the meaning of Section  280G,  then the Company  shall make the
Termination


<PAGE>



Payments in substantially  equal  installments,  the first installment being due
within thirty days after the date of termination and each subsequent installment
being due on January 31 of each year,  such that the aggregate  present value of
all Termination Payments,  whether pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, will
be as close as possible to, but not exceed 299% of, the Employee's  base salary,
within the meaning of Section 280G. It is the intention of this  paragraph  7.3.
to avoid  excise taxes on the  Employee  under  Section 4999 of the Code and the
disallowance of a deduction to the Company pursuant to Section 280G.

         7.4.  In no event  shall any payment  under  paragraphs  6.3(i) and 7.1
exceed three times Employee's annual base salary at the time of termination.

         8. Confidential and Proprietary Information.  Employee acknowledges and
agrees that he will not,  without the prior written  consent of the Company,  at
any time during the term of this Agreement or any time thereafter, except as may
be required by competent legal authority, use or disclose to any person, firm or
other legal entity, any confidential records,  secrets or information related to
the Company or any parent,  subsidiary or affiliated person or entity.  Employee
acknowledges  and agrees that all  information and secrets of the Company and/or
its affiliates that he has acquired,  or may acquire,  were received, or will be
received in confidence and as a fiduciary of the Company. Employee will exercise
utmost diligence to protect and guard such information and secrets.

         9.  Injunctive  Relief.  Employee  acknowledges  that  the  breach,  or
threatened  breach,  by the Employee of the provisions of this  Agreement  shall
cause  irreparable harm to the Company,  which harm cannot be fully redressed by
the  payment  of damages  to the  Company.  Accordingly,  the  Company  shall be
entitled,  in  addition  to any  other  right or remedy it may have at law or in
equity, to an inunction enjoining or restraining  Employee from any violation or
threatened violation of this Agreement.

         10.      Miscellaneous.

         10.1.  The laws of the State of Texas will  govern the  interpretation,
validity and effect of this  Agreement  without regard to the place of execution
or the place for  performance  thereof,  and the Company and Employee agree that
the state and  federal  courts  situated  in Dallas  County,  Texas  shall  have
personal jurisdiction over the Company and Employee to hear all disputes arising
under this Agreement.  This agreement is to be at least  partially  performed in
Dallas  County,  Texas,  and, as such, the Company and Employee agree that venue
shall be proper with the state or federal courts in Dallas County, Texas to hear
such disputes. In the event either the Company or Employee is not able to effect
service of process upon the other with respect to such disputes, the Company and
Employee  expressly  agree  that the  Secretary  of State for the State of Texas
shall be an agent of the  Company  and/or the  Employee  to  receive  service of
process  on behalf of the  Company  and/or  the  Employee  with  respect to such
disputes.

     10.2.  If any court of competent  jurisdiction  should  determine  that any
provision this Agreement is too broad to be enforceable, such court shall modify
and revise such provision (to


<PAGE>



the minimum extent  necessary) so that it shall comply with  applicable law. The
provision as so revised shall be fully binding on the Employee.

         10.3.  This Agreement  replaces and merges all previous  agreements and
discussions relating to the same or similar subject matters between Employee and
the Company with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement
may not be modified in any respect by any verbal  statement,  representation  or
agreement made by any employee,  officer, or representative of the Company or by
any  written  agreement  unless  signed  by an  officer  of the  Company  who is
expressly authorized by the Company to execute such document.

         10.4.  The  descriptive  headings  of  the  several  sections  of  this
Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this
Agreement.

         10.5. All covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement by or on
behalf of the Company shall bind its corporate  successors and assigns,  and all
covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement by or on behalf of Employee
shall  inure  to the  benefit  of and be  enforceable  by the  Company  and  its
corporate successors and assigns.

         10.5.  Any notice under this  Agreement  will be in writing and will be
deemed to have been given when delivered  personally or the second  business day
after deposit in the United States mail, and addressed as follows:

                        if to the Company:

                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                             8235 Douglas Avenue, Suite 1221
                             Dallas, Texas 75225
                             Attn: President

                        if to Employee:

                             Michael R. Gilbert
                             3450 Shiloh Road
                             Flower Mound, Texas 75028

         10.6.  If  either  party  should  file a lawsuit  against  the other to
enforce any right such party has hereunder,  the prevailing  party shall also be
entitled to recover reasonable  attorneys' fees and costs of suit in addition to
any other relief awarded such prevailing party.

         10.7.  If any  provision  of this  Agreement  should be held invalid or
unenforceable,  no other  provision shall be affected  thereby,  and it shall be
construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision had never been a part of
it.

     10.8.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more  counterparts,  all of
which shall be considered one and the same agreement.


<PAGE>



         10.9.  Employee and the Company  shall  execute and deliver any and all
additional  instruments  and agreements that may be necessary or proper to carry
out the purposes of this Agreement.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  parties  hereto have executed and delivered  this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

                                                     CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.



                                                     By:________________________


                                                     MICHAEL R. GILBERT:



                                                     ___________________________

<PAGE>




                                  EXHIBIT 10.10













<PAGE>

                    AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


     This AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of
the 24th day of May, 1995, by and between Cairn Energy USA, Inc. ("Company"),  a
Delaware corporation, and Robert P. Murphy ("Employee").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS,  The Company desires to employ Employee,  and Employee desires
to be employed by and to serve the  Company in the  capacities  and for the term
and compensation and subject to the terms and conditions  hereinafter set forth,
and

         WHEREAS,  the Company and  Employee  desire to amend and restate as set
forth  herein the terms of the  Employment  Agreement  between  Employee and the
Company  dated as of January 1, 1993,  as amended on March 1, 1994,  May 1, 1994
and October 1, 1994.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
contained  herein,  the Company and  Employee  mutually  undertake  and agree as
follows:

         1.  Employment of Employee.  The Company hereby employs  Employee,  and
Employee  hereby  accepts  employment  with the  Company and agrees to serve the
Company in the capacities  hereinafter  set forth for the term and  compensation
and upon and subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

         2.       General Duties of Company and Employee.

         2.1.  The Company  agrees to employ  Employee  and  Employee  agrees to
accept employment by the Company and to serve as Vice President - Exploration of
the Company.  The duties and  responsibilities  of Employee  shall include those
described for the Vice President in the Bylaws of the Company or other documents
of the Company,  and shall also include such other or  additional  duties as may
from time-to-time be assigned to Employee by the President of the Company.

         2.2.  While  employed   hereunder,   Employee  shall  obey  the  lawful
directions  of the Board of  Directors of the  Company,  or any duly  authorized
committee  thereof,  and shall use his best efforts to promote the  interests of
the  Company  and to  maintain  and to promote  the  reputation  thereof.  While
employed  hereunder,  Employee  shall  devote  his  time,  efforts,  skills  and
attention  to the  affairs  of the  Company  in order  that he shall  faithfully
perform his duties and  obligations  hereunder and such as may be assigned to or
vested in him by the Board of Directors of the Company,  or any duly  authorized
committee thereof.

         2.3. While this Agreement is in effect,  Employee may from time to time
engage  in any  businesses  or  activities  that  do not  compete  directly  and
materially with the Company,  provided that such businesses or activities do not
materially interfere with his performance of the duties


<PAGE>



assigned to him in compliance  with this  Agreement by the Board of Directors of
the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof. In any event,  Employee is
permitted to (i) invest his personal  assets as a passive  investor in such form
or manner as Employee may choose in his discretion,  (ii) participate in various
charitable efforts, and (iii) serve as a director or officer of any other entity
or organization that does not compete with the Company.

         3.       Compensation and Benefits.

         3.1. As compensation  for services  rendered,  or to be rendered to the
Company in the capacity set forth above or in such other and/or further capacity
as may be  assigned  to  Employee  by the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company,
Employee shall be paid by the Company an annual base salary of $84,000 for 1994,
$105,000  for 1995,  $125,000 for 1996,  and $135,000 for 1997,  payable at such
times as the Company pays all of its Senior Executive employees,  subject to the
customary  withholding of appropriate amounts for taxes, FICA and similar items.
The Board of  Directors  of the  Company  have the  discretion,  but will not be
required to,  supplement  the Employee's  salary with a bonus in the amount,  if
any, that the Board of Directors  shall  determine in its  discretion.  Employee
shall  participate  in the  Company's  Incentive  Bonus Plan (the "Bonus  Plan")
relating to the net additions to reserves,  which amounts shall be paid in three
annual installments as provided under the Bonus Plan.

         3.2. Upon Employee's furnishing to the Company customary and reasonable
documentary  support  (such as  receipts  or paid  bills)  evidencing  costs and
expenses incurred by him in the performance of his services and duties hereunder
(including,   without  limitation,   travel  and  entertainment   expenses)  and
containing  sufficient  information  to establish  the amount,  date,  place and
essential  character of the  expenditure,  Employee shall be reimbursed for such
reasonable  costs and expenses in accordance  with the Company's  normal expense
reimbursement policy.

         3.3. As long as this Agreement is in effect,  the Company shall provide
Employee  with an  allowance  of up to  $500  per  month  for  the  lease  of an
automobile for his business and personal use. The Company shall pay all expenses
of operating,  maintaining  and repairing the  automobile  and shall procure and
maintain  automobile  liability  insurance with respect  thereto,  with coverage
insuring the Employee in the minimum  amount of  $1,000,000  for bodily  injury,
death or property damage for each occurrence.

         3.4. As long as this Agreement is in effect, the Company shall maintain
medical  (including  hospitalization)  and dental insurance coverage on Employee
and Employee's  immediate family members. If an annual physical  examination for
Employee  is not  covered  by such  insurance,  the  Company  will  pay for such
examination per calendar year.

         3.5. As long as this Agreement is in effect, the Company shall maintain
for Employee's benefit a guaranteed  renewable term life insurance policy having
a death  benefit of not less than  $50,000.  Unless  prohibited by any policy or
plan under which such  insurance  is provided,  Employee  will have the right to
purchase at Employee's cost  additional  coverage under such policy or plan. The
Company will not permit, even in the event of termination of this


<PAGE>



Agreement for any reason, any such policy to lapse without offering Employee the
opportunity to take up the premium payments and continue the policy in force.

         3.6. As long as this Agreement is in effect, the Company shall maintain
for Employee's benefit a comprehensive  long-term  disability  insurance policy.
The Company will not permit,  even in the event of termination of this Agreement
for any  reason,  any  such  policy  to  lapse  without  offering  Employee  the
opportunity to take up the premium payments and continue the policy in force.

         3.7. To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance plan for its
executive  officers,  the  requirements  of paragraphs  3.4.,  3.5. and 3.6. are
satisfied.  Employee  shall  have the  right to  participate  in any  additional
compensation,  benefit,  life  insurance  or other  plan or  arrangement  of the
Company now or hereafter  existing for the benefit of executive  officers of the
Company.  To the  extent  that the  Company  maintains  a  pension  plan for its
executive officers, Employee shall be allowed to participate therein.

         3.8. Employee shall be entitled to such vacation (in no event less than
two (2) weeks per year),  holiday  and other paid or unpaid  leave of absence as
consistent with the Company's  normal  policies or as otherwise  approved by the
Board of Directors.

     4. Term. The term of this Agreement  shall commence on January 1, 1993 (the
"Commencement  Date") and shall continue in full force and effect until December
31, 1997.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  provisions,  this  Agreement  may be
terminated at any time by the Company or Employee as hereinafter provided.

     5.  Termination  other  than by  Expiration  of the Term.  The  Company  or
Employee may terminate  Employee's  employment under this Agreement at any time,
but only on the following terms:

         5.1.  The  Company  may  terminate  Employee's  employment  under  this
Agreement at any time, without prior notice, for "due cause" upon the good faith
determination  by the Board of Directors of the Company that "due cause"  exists
for the  termination of the employment  relationship.  As used herein,  the term
"due cause" shall mean any of the following events:

                (i)         any intentional misapplication by Employee of the 
         Company's funds, or any other act of dishonesty injurious to the 
         Company committed by Employee; or

               (ii)        Employee's conviction of a crime involving moral 
         turpitude; or

              (iii) Employee's breach,  non-performance or non-observance in any
         material  respect of a material term of this  Agreement if such breach,
         non-performance  or  non-observance  shall continue  beyond a period of
         sixty  (60)  business  days  immediately  after  notice  thereof by the
         Company to Employee; or



<PAGE>



               (iv) any  other  action by the  Employee  involving  willful  and
         deliberate  malfeasance  or  gross  negligence  in the  performance  of
         Employee's duties.

         5.2. In the event Employee is  incapacitated  by accident,  sickness or
otherwise  so  as  to  render  Employee  mentally  or  physically  incapable  of
performing  the services  required  under  paragraph 2 of this  Agreement  for a
period  of  one  hundred  eighty  (180)  consecutive  business  days,  and  such
incapacity  is confirmed by the written  opinion of two (2)  practicing  medical
doctors  licensed by and in good  standing  in the state in which they  maintain
offices for the practice of medicine,  upon the  expiration of such period or at
any time reasonably thereafter, or in the event of Employee's death, the Company
may terminate Employee's employment under this Agreement upon giving Employee or
his legal representative  written notice at least thirty (30) days' prior to the
termination  date.  Employee  agrees,  after  written  notice  by the  Board  of
Directors  of the  Company  or a duly  authorized  committee  or  officer of the
Company,  to submit to examinations by such practicing  medical doctors selected
by the Board of  Directors  of the  Company or a duly  authorized  committee  or
officer of the Company.

         5.3.  The  Company  may  terminate  Employee's  employment  under  this
Agreement  at any time for any reason  whatsoever,  even without "due cause," by
giving a written notice of termination to Employee, in which case the employment
relationship shall terminate immediately upon the giving of such notice.

         5.4.  Employee may, at any time after the  Commencement  Date by giving
the Company prior written  notice,  terminate this Agreement for any one or more
of the following reasons:

                (i) if there is a material  adverse  alteration or diminution of
         Employee's position, duties, responsibilities,  reporting relationship,
         authority or status (including corresponding  prerequisites) from those
         in effect, or otherwise accorded to Employee,  on the effective date of
         this Agreement;

               (ii)        if the Company requires that the Employee perform a 
         substantial portion of the services required hereunder outside the 
         Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area; or

              (iii)        if the Company fails to comply with its obligations 
         under paragraph 3 hereof.

         6.       Effect of Termination.

         6.1.  If  Employee's  employment  under this  Agreement  is  terminated
pursuant to paragraph 5.1, he shall be entitled to receive all  compensation due
him as of the effective date of his termination and no more.

     6.2. If Employee's  employment under this Agreement is terminated  pursuant
to paragraph 5.2, he shall be entitled to receive (i) all  compensation  due him
as of the effective date of his  termination  and (ii) in one lump payment,  the
total of all bonus compensation


<PAGE>



allocated for the Employee under the Company's Bonus Plan in prior fiscal years,
that remains unpaid, notwithstanding the payment terms and vesting provisions of
the Bonus Plan.

         6.3.  If  Employee's  employment  under this  Agreement  is  terminated
pursuant  to  paragraph  5.3.  or 5.4.,  he shall be entitled to receive (i) all
compensation  due him  under  this  Agreement  and to  participate  in all other
benefits provided by this Agreement for one year plus a severance payment in the
amount of one times the  Employee's  annual  base  salary and (ii),  in one lump
payment,  the total of all bonus  compensation  allocated for the Employee under
the  Company's   Bonus  Plan  in  prior  fiscal  years,   that  remains  unpaid,
notwithstanding the payment terms and vesting provisions of the Bonus Plan.

         6.4. If  Employee  voluntarily  terminates  his  employment  under this
Agreement  other than pursuant to paragraph  5.4 or if Employee's  employment is
terminated  pursuant to paragraph 5.1, then Employee agrees that for a period of
one year from the date of such  termination,  he shall not  (without the express
written  consent of the Company,  which  consent may be given or withheld in the
Company's sole and absolute discretion), directly or indirectly, individually or
as an owner, employee,  agent,  consultant,  partner,  joint venturer,  officer,
director or stockholder or in any other capacity  whatsoever of any person, firm
association,  partnership,  corporation  or other entity,  attempt to acquire or
acquire,  whether by lease,  purchase or  otherwise,  any oil or gas property or
interest  that is within  the  boundaries  of a  prospect  or  proposal  that is
generated by the Company prior to the date of such termination.

         6.5. In no event shall any payment to Employee under  paragraph  6.3(i)
exceed three times Employee's annual base salary at the time of termination.

         7.       Change in Control.

         7.1.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if a
"Change  in  Control"  (as  defined  below)  of the  Company  occurs  after  the
Commencement Date and, within  twenty-four months from the date of the Change in
Control,  the Company terminates the Employee's  employment without due cause as
provided in paragraph 5.3 or the Employee voluntarily  terminates his employment
under  paragraph 5.4, then the Employee,  even though no longer  employed by the
Company, shall be entitled to all payments provided in paragraph 6.3 hereof plus
a payment in the amount of one times the Employee's annual base salary,  payable
at the option of the Employee in either a lump sum within  thirty days after the
date of termination or monthly over a 1-year period.

         7.2. For the purposes of this  Agreement,  the term "Change in Control"
of the Company  shall be deemed to have  occurred if (i) any  "person"  (as such
term is used in Sections  13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended) other than any Company  employee  stock  ownership plan or the
Company,  becomes the beneficial owner (as such term is used in Section 13(d) of
the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended),  directly or  indirectly,  of
securities of the Company  representing 25% or more of the combined voting power
of the  Company's  then  outstanding  securities,  or (ii) the  Board  ceases to
consist of a majority  of  Continuing  Directors  as  hereinafter  defined.  For
purposes of this Agreement, a


<PAGE>



"Continuing  Director"  shall mean a member of the Board of Directors who either
(i) is a member of the Board of  Directors at the  Commencement  Date or (ii) is
nominated  or  appointed  to  serve  as a  director  by a  majority  of the then
Continuing Directors.

         7.3.  Notwithstanding  any other provision of this Agreement,  if after
the  Commencement  Date (a)  there is a change  in the  ownership  or  effective
control of the Company or (b) in the ownership of a  substantial  portion of the
assets of the Company within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue
Code ("Section 280G"),  the payments to be paid to the Employee in the nature of
compensation to be received by or for the benefit of the Employee and contingent
upon such event (the  "Termination  Payments") would create an "excess parachute
payment"  within the meaning of Section  280G,  then the Company  shall make the
Termination Payments in substantially equal installments,  the first installment
being due within thirty days after the date of termination  and each  subsequent
installment  being due on  January  31 of each  year,  such  that the  aggregate
present value of all Termination Payments, whether pursuant to this Agreement or
otherwise,  will be as  close as  possible  to,  but not  exceed  299%  of,  the
Employee's base salary,  within the meaning of Section 280G. It is the intention
of this  paragraph 7.3. to avoid excise taxes on the Employee under Section 4999
of the Code and the  disallowance  of a  deduction  to the  Company  pursuant to
Section 280G.

         7.4. In no event shall any  payments  under  paragraphs  6.3(i) and 7.1
exceed three times Employee's annual base salary at the time of termination.

         8. Confidential and Proprietary Information.  Employee acknowledges and
agrees that he will not,  without the prior written  consent of the Company,  at
any time during the term of this Agreement or any time thereafter, except as may
be required by competent legal authority, use or disclose to any person, firm or
other legal entity, any confidential records,  secrets or information related to
the Company or any parent,  subsidiary or affiliated person or entity.  Employee
acknowledges  and agrees that all  information and secrets of the Company and/or
its affiliates that he has acquired,  or may acquire,  were received, or will be
received in confidence and as a fiduciary of the Company. Employee will exercise
utmost diligence to protect and guard such information and secrets.

         9.  Injunctive  Relief.  Employee  acknowledges  that  the  breach,  or
threatened  breach,  by the Employee of the provisions of this  Agreement  shall
cause  irreparable harm to the Company,  which harm cannot be fully redressed by
the  payment  of damages  to the  Company.  Accordingly,  the  Company  shall be
entitled,  in  addition  to any  other  right or remedy it may have at law or in
equity, to an inunction enjoining or restraining  Employee from any violation or
threatened violation of this Agreement.

         10.      Miscellaneous.

         10.1.  The laws of the State of Texas will  govern the  interpretation,
validity and effect of this  Agreement  without regard to the place of execution
or the place for  performance  thereof,  and the Company and Employee agree that
the state and  federal  courts  situated  in Dallas  County,  Texas  shall  have
personal jurisdiction over the Company


<PAGE>



and Employee to hear all disputes  arising under this Agreement.  This agreement
is to be at least partially performed in Dallas County, Texas, and, as such, the
Company and Employee  agree that venue shall be proper with the state or federal
courts in Dallas County,  Texas to hear such  disputes.  In the event either the
Company or Employee is not able to effect service of process upon the other with
respect to such  disputes,  the Company and  Employee  expressly  agree that the
Secretary  of State  for the  State of  Texas  shall be an agent of the  Company
and/or  the  Employee  to receive  service  of process on behalf of the  Company
and/or the Employee with respect to such disputes.

         10.2. If any court of competent  jurisdiction should determine that any
provision  of the  Agreement  is too broad to be  enforceable,  such court shall
modify and revise such  provision (to the minimum  extent  necessary) so that it
shall comply with  applicable  law. The  provision as so revised  shall be fully
binding on the Employee.

         10.3.  This Agreement  replaces and merges all previous  agreements and
discussions relating to the same or similar subject matters between Employee and
the Company with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement
may not be modified in any respect by any verbal  statement,  representation  or
agreement made by any employee,  officer, or representative of the Company or by
any  written  agreement  unless  signed  by an  officer  of the  Company  who is
expressly authorized by the Company to execute such document.

         10.4.  The  descriptive  headings  of  the  several  sections  of  this
Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this
Agreement.

         10.5. All covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement by or on
behalf of the Company shall bind its corporate  successors and assigns,  and all
covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement by or on behalf of Employee
shall  inure  to the  benefit  of and be  enforceable  by the  Company  and  its
corporate successors and assigns.

         10.6.  Any notice under this  Agreement  will be in writing and will be
deemed to have been given when delivered  personally or the second  business day
after deposit in the United States mail, and addressed as follows:

                        if to the Company:

                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                             8235 Douglas Avenue, Suite 1221
                             Dallas, Texas 75225
                             Attn: President



<PAGE>


                        if to Employee:

                             Robert P. Murphy
                             6639 Lakeshore Drive
                             Dallas, Texas 75214

         10.7.  If  either  party  should  file a lawsuit  against  the other to
enforce any right such party has hereunder,  the prevailing  party shall also be
entitled to recover reasonable  attorneys' fees and costs of suit in addition to
any other relief awarded such prevailing party.

     10.8.  If any  provision  of  this  Agreement  should  be held  invalid  or
unenforceable,  no other  provision shall be affected  thereby,  and it shall be
construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision had never been a part of
it.

     10.9.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more  counterparts,  all of
which shall be considered one and the same agreement.

         10.10.  Employee and the Company  shall execute and deliver any and all
additional  instruments  and agreements that may be necessary or proper to carry
out the purposes of this Agreement.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  parties  hereto have executed and delivered  this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

                                                     CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.



                                                     By:________________________



                                                     ROBERT P. MURPHY:



                                                     ___________________________

<PAGE>




                                  EXHIBIT 10.11












<PAGE>



                    AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"),  made and
entered into as of the 1st day of  September,  1995, by and between Cairn Energy
USA,  Inc.  ("Company"),  a Delaware  corporation,  and J.  Munro M.  Sutherland
("Employee"), a citizen of the United Kingdom.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS,  the Company desires to employ Employee,  and Employee desires
to be employed by and to serve the  Company in the  capacities  and for the term
and compensation and subject to the terms and conditions  hereinafter set forth;
and

         WHEREAS,  the Company and  Employee  desire to amend and restate as set
forth  herein the terms of the  Employment  Agreement  between  Employee and the
Company dated as of September 8, 1993, as amended on March 1, 1994,  May 1, 1994
and October 1, 1994,  among other things,  to extend the terms of such agreement
through December 31, 1997 and to provide for compensation  through such extended
term.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
contained  herein,  the Company and  Employee  mutually  undertake  and agree as
follows:

         1.  Employment of Employee.  The Company hereby employs  Employee,  and
Employee  hereby  accepts  employment  with the  Company and agrees to serve the
Company in the capacities  hereinafter  set forth for the term and  compensation
and upon and subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

         2.       General Duties of Company and Employee.

         2.1.  The Company  agrees to employ  Employee  and  Employee  agrees to
accept  employment  by the  Company and to serve as Senior  Vice  President  and
Treasurer  of the Company.  The duties and  responsibilities  of Employee  shall
include those  described for a Vice President and Treasurer in the Bylaws of the
Company  or  other  documents  of the  Company.  Employee  shall  report  to the
President of the Company, and the duties of the Employee shall also include such
other or additional  duties as may from  time-to-time be assigned to Employee by
the  President,  the Board of  Directors  of the Company or any duly  authorized
committee thereof.

         2.2.  While  employed   hereunder,   Employee  shall  obey  the  lawful
directions  of the  President or the Board of  Directors of the Company,  or any
duly authorized committee thereof, and shall use his best efforts to promote the
interests of the Company and to maintain and to promote the reputation  thereof.
While employed hereunder,  Employee shall devote his time,  efforts,  skills and
attention  to the  affairs  of the  Company  in order  that he shall  faithfully
perform his duties and  obligations  hereunder and such as may be assigned to or
vested in him by the  President,  the Board of  Directors  of the Company or any
duly authorized committee thereof.


<PAGE>




         2.3. While employed hereunder, Employee may from time to time engage in
any businesses or activities  that do not compete  directly and materially  with
the Company,  provided that such  businesses  or  activities  do not  materially
interfere with his  performance of the duties assigned to him in compliance with
this  Agreement by the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly  authorized
committee  thereof.  In any  event,  Employee  is  permitted  to (i)  invest his
personal  assets as a passive  investor in such form or manner as  Employee  may
choose in his discretion,  (ii) participate in various charitable  efforts,  and
(iii) serve as a director or officer of any other  entity or  organization  that
does not compete  with the  Company  provided  that  Employee  discloses  to the
President  his position with such other entity or  organization  prior to taking
such position.

         3.       Compensation and Benefits.

         3.1. As compensation  for services  rendered,  or to be rendered to the
Company in the capacity set forth above or in such other and/or further capacity
as may be  assigned  to  Employee  by the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company,
Employee  shall be paid by the Company an annual  base  salary of  $130,000  for
1995,  $135,000  for 1996 and  $140,000  for 1997,  payable at such times as the
Company pays all of its Senior  Executive  employees,  subject to the  customary
withholding  of  appropriate  amounts  for taxes,  FICA and similar  items.  The
Employee will not be eligible to  participate  in any bonus plan  (including the
Company's Incentive Bonus Plan).

         3.2.  Upon  Employee's  furnishing  to the  President  of  the  Company
customary and  reasonable  documentary  support (such as receipts or paid bills)
evidencing costs and expenses incurred by him in the performance of his services
and duties hereunder  (including,  without limitation,  travel and entertainment
expenses) and containing  sufficient  information to establish the amount, date,
place and essential  character of the expenditure,  Employee shall be reimbursed
for such reasonable  costs and expenses in accordance with the Company's  normal
expense reimbursement policy.

         3.3. As long as this Agreement is in effect,  the Company shall provide
Employee with an automobile allowance of up to $500 per month. The Company shall
pay all expenses of operating,  maintaining  and repairing  the  automobile  and
shall procure and maintain automobile  liability insurance with respect thereto,
with  coverage  insuring the Employee in the minimum  amount of  $1,000,000  for
bodily injury, death or property damage for each occurrence.

         3.4. As long as this Agreement is in effect, the Company shall maintain
medical  (including  hospitalization)  and dental insurance coverage on Employee
and Employee's  immediate family members. If an annual physical  examination for
Employee  is not  covered  by such  insurance,  the  Company  will  pay for such
examination per calendar year.

         3.5. Employee shall be entitled to such vacation (in no event less than
two (2) weeks per year),  holiday  and other paid or unpaid  leave of absence as
consistent with the Company's  normal  policies or as otherwise  approved by the
Board of Directors.


<PAGE>



         3.6 Except as otherwise  provided in this Agreement,  the Company shall
pay to Employee deferred compensation ("Deferred Compensation") equal to $19,167
for each one (1) year  complete  year of service  beginning on the  Commencement
Date (as defined  below) under this Agreement up to a maximum amount of $57,501.
Except as  otherwise  provided  in this  Agreement,  the  Company  shall pay the
Deferred Compensation to Employee in two (2) equal annual installments, with the
first  installment  due  January 1, 1998.  All  Deferred  Compensation  shall be
subject to the customary  withholding of appropriate amounts for taxes, FICA and
similar  items.  This  Deferred  Compensation  agreement  is  intended  to be an
unfunded  compensation  agreement between the Company and Employee.  The amounts
payable  under  this  Agreement  shall be a  general,  unsecured  obligation  to
Employee  payable  solely  from the  general  assets of the  Company and neither
Employee  nor his  beneficiaries  shall have any  interest  in any assets of the
Company.

     4. Term.  The term of this  Agreement  commenced on the 1st day of November
1993 (the "Commencement Date") and shall continue in full force and effect until
December 31, 1997. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions,  this Agreement may
be terminated at any time by the Company or Employee as hereinafter provided.

     5.  Termination  other  than by  Expiration  of the Term.  The  Company  or
Employee may terminate  Employee's  employment under this Agreement at any time,
but only on the following terms:

         5.1.  The  Company  may  terminate  Employee's  employment  under  this
Agreement at any time, without prior notice, for "due cause" upon the good faith
determination  by the Board of Directors of the Company that "due cause"  exists
for the  termination of the employment  relationship.  As used herein,  the term
"due cause" shall mean any of the following events:

                         (i)        any intentional misapplication by Employee 
         of the Company's funds, or any other act of dishonesty injurious to the
         Company committed by Employee; or

                        (ii) Employee's conviction of a crime involving moral 
         turpitude; or

                       (iii)    Employee's     breach,     non-performance    or
         non-observance  in any  material  respect  of a  material  term of this
         Agreement  if such  breach,  non-performance  or  non-observance  shall
         continue beyond a period of sixty (60) business days immediately  after
         notice thereof by the Company to Employee; or

                        (iv) any other action by the Employee  involving willful
         and deliberate  malfeasance or gross  negligence in the  performance of
         Employee's duties.

         5.2. In the event Employee is  incapacitated  by accident,  sickness or
otherwise  so  as  to  render  Employee  mentally  or  physically  incapable  of
performing  the services  required  under  paragraph 2 of this  Agreement  for a
period  of  one  hundred  eighty  (180)  consecutive  business  days,  and  such
incapacity is confirmed by the written opinion of two (2) practicing medical


<PAGE>



doctors  licensed by and in good  standing  in the state in which they  maintain
offices for the practice of medicine,  upon the  expiration of such period or at
any time reasonably thereafter, or in the event of Employee's death, the Company
may terminate Employee's employment under this Agreement upon giving Employee or
his legal representative  written notice at least thirty (30) days' prior to the
termination  date.  Employee  agrees,  after  written  notice  by the  Board  of
Directors  of the  Company  or a duly  authorized  committee  or  officer of the
Company,  to submit to examinations by such practicing  medical doctors selected
by the Board of  Directors  of the  Company or a duly  authorized  committee  or
officer of the Company.

         5.3.  The  Company  may  terminate  Employee's  employment  under  this
Agreement  at any time for any reason  whatsoever,  even without "due cause," by
giving a written notice of termination to Employee, in which case the employment
relationship shall terminate immediately upon the giving of such notice.

         5.4.  Employee may, at any time after the  Commencement  Date by giving
the Company prior written  notice,  terminate this Agreement for any one or more
of the following reasons:

                (i) if there is a material  adverse  alteration or diminution of
         Employee's position, duties, responsibilities,  reporting relationship,
         authority or status (including corresponding  prerequisites) from those
         in effect, or otherwise accorded to Employee,  on the effective date of
         this Agreement;

               (ii)        if the Company requires that the Employee perform a 
         substantial portion of the services required hereunder outside the 
         Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area; or

              (iii)        if the Company fails to comply with its obligations 
         under paragraph 3 hereof.

         6.       Effect of Termination.

         6.1.  If  Employee's  employment  under this  Agreement  is  terminated
pursuant to paragraph 5.1 or the Employee voluntarily  terminates his employment
other than by reason of  paragraph  5.2 or 5.4,  he shall be entitled to receive
all base salary due him as of the effective date of his termination and no more.

         6.2.  If  Employee's  employment  under this  Agreement  is  terminated
pursuant to  paragraph  5.2, he shall be entitled to receive (i) all base salary
due  him as of the  effective  date of his  termination  and  (ii)  in one  lump
payment,  the total of Deferred  Compensation  allocated for the Employee  under
paragraph 3.6 that remains unpaid, notwithstanding the payment terms of the plan
or arrangement.

         6.3.  If  Employee's  employment  under this  Agreement  is  terminated
pursuant  to  paragraph  5.3 or 5.4,  he shall be  entitled  to receive  (i) all
compensation due him under this Agreement plus a severance payment in the amount
of one times the Employee's  annual base salary at the time of  termination  and
(ii), in one lump payment, the total of all Deferred Compensation allocated for 
the Employee under paragraph 3.6 that remains unpaid, notwithstanding the 
payment terms of the plan or arrangement.


<PAGE>




         6.4. If Employee  terminates his  employment  with the Company upon the
termination  of this  Agreement,  he shall be  entitled  to receive (i) all base
salary due him under this  Agreement and (ii) in one lump payment,  the total of
all Deferred  Compensation  allocated for the Employee under  paragraph 3.6 that
remains unpaid, notwithstanding the payment terms of the plan or arrangement.

         6.5. In no event shall any payments to Employee under paragraph  6.3(i)
exceed three times Employee's annual base salary at the time of termination.

         7.       Change in Control.

         7.1.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if a
"Change  in  Control"  (as  defined  below)  of the  Company  occurs  after  the
Commencement Date and, within  twenty-four months from the date of the Change in
Control,  the Company terminates the Employee's  employment without due cause as
provided in paragraph 5.3 or the Employee voluntarily  terminates his employment
under  paragraph 5.4, then the Employee,  even though no longer  employed by the
Company,  shall be entitled to all payments  provided in  paragraph  6.3 hereof,
plus a payment in the amount of one times the  Employee's  annual  base  salary,
payable at the option of the  Employee  in either a lump sum within  thirty days
after the date of termination or monthly over a 1-year period.

         7.2. For the purposes of this  Agreement,  the term "Change in Control"
of the Company  shall be deemed to have  occurred if (i) any  "person"  (as such
term is used in Sections  13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended) other than any Company  employee  stock  ownership plan or the
Company,  becomes the beneficial owner (as such term is used in Section 13(d) of
the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended),  directly or  indirectly,  of
securities of the Company  representing 25% or more of the combined voting power
of the  Company's  then  outstanding  securities,  or (ii) the  Board  ceases to
consist of a majority  of  Continuing  Directors  as  hereinafter  defined.  For
purposes of this Agreement,  a "Continuing  Director" shall mean a member of the
Board of  Directors  who either (i) is a member of the Board of Directors at the
Commencement  Date or (ii) is nominated or appointed to serve as a director by a
majority of the then Continuing Directors.

         7.3.  Notwithstanding  any other provision of this Agreement,  if after
the  Commencement  Date (a)  there is a change  in the  ownership  or  effective
control of the Company or (b) in the ownership of a  substantial  portion of the
assets of the Company within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue
Code ("Section 280G"),  the payments to be paid to the Employee in the nature of
compensation to be received by or for the benefit of the Employee and contingent
upon such event (the  "Termination  Payments") would create an "excess parachute
payment"  within the meaning of Section  280G,  then the Company  shall make the
Termination Payments in substantially equal installments,  the first installment
being due within thirty days after the date of termination  and each  subsequent
installment being due on January 31 of each


<PAGE>



year, such that the aggregate present value of all Termination Payments, whether
pursuant to this  Agreement or  otherwise,  will be as close as possible to, but
not exceed 299% of, the  Employee's  base salary,  within the meaning of Section
280G.  It is the intention of this  paragraph  7.3. to avoid excise taxes on the
Employee under Section 4999 of the Code and the  disallowance  of a deduction to
the Company pursuant to Section 280G.

         7.4.  In no event  shall any payment  under  paragraphs  6.3(i) and 7.1
exceed three times Employee's annual base salary at the time of termination.

         8. Confidential and Proprietary Information.  Employee acknowledges and
agrees that he will not,  without the prior written  consent of the Company,  at
any time during the term of this Agreement or any time thereafter, except as may
be required by competent legal authority, use or disclose to any person, firm or
other legal entity, any confidential records,  secrets or information related to
the Company or any parent,  subsidiary or affiliated person or entity.  Employee
acknowledges  and agrees that all  information and secrets of the Company and/or
its affiliates that he has acquired,  or may acquire,  were received, or will be
received in confidence and as a fiduciary of the Company. Employee will exercise
utmost diligence to protect and guard such information and secrets.

         9.  Injunctive  Relief.  Employee  acknowledges  that  the  breach,  or
threatened  breach,  by the Employee of the provisions of this  Agreement  shall
cause  irreparable harm to the Company,  which harm cannot be fully redressed by
the  payment  of damages  to the  Company.  Accordingly,  the  Company  shall be
entitled,  in  addition  to any  other  right or remedy it may have at law or in
equity, to an inunction enjoining or restraining  Employee from any violation or
threatened violation of this Agreement.

         10.      Miscellaneous.

         10.1.  The laws of the State of Texas will  govern the  interpretation,
validity and effect of this  Agreement  without regard to the place of execution
or the place for  performance  thereof,  and the Company and Employee agree that
the state and  federal  courts  situated  in Dallas  County,  Texas  shall  have
personal jurisdiction over the Company and Employee to hear all disputes arising
under this Agreement.  This agreement is to be at least  partially  performed in
Dallas  County,  Texas,  and, as such, the Company and Employee agree that venue
shall be proper with the state or federal courts in Dallas County, Texas to hear
such disputes. In the event either the Company or Employee is not able to effect
service of process upon the other with respect to such disputes, the Company and
Employee  expressly  agree  that the  Secretary  of State for the State of Texas
shall be an agent of the  Company  and/or the  Employee  to  receive  service of
process  on behalf of the  Company  and/or  the  Employee  with  respect to such
disputes.

         10.2. If any court of competent  jurisdiction should determine that any
provision this Agreement is too broad to be enforceable, such court shall modify
and revise such  provision  (to the minimum  extent  necessary) so that it shall
comply with  applicable  law. The provision as so revised shall be fully binding
on the Employee.


<PAGE>




         10.3.  This Agreement  replaces and merges all previous  agreements and
discussions relating to the same or similar subject matters between Employee and
the Company with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement
may not be modified in any respect by any verbal  statement,  representation  or
agreement made by any employee,  officer, or representative of the Company or by
any  written  agreement  unless  signed  by an  officer  of the  Company  who is
expressly authorized by the Company to execute such document.

         10.4.  The  descriptive  headings  of  the  several  sections  of  this
Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this
Agreement.

         10.5. All covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement by or on
behalf of the Company shall bind its corporate  successors and assigns,  and all
covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement by or on behalf of Employee
shall  inure  to the  benefit  of and be  enforceable  by the  Company  and  its
corporate successors and assigns.

         10.5.  Any notice under this  Agreement  will be in writing and will be
deemed to have been given when delivered  personally or the second  business day
after deposit in the United States mail, and addressed as follows:

                        if to the Company:

                             Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                             8235 Douglas Avenue, Suite 1221
                             Dallas, Texas 75225
                             Attn: President

                        if to Employee:

                             J. Munro M. Sutherland
                             3904 Southwestern Boulevard
                             Dallas, Texas 75225

         10.6.  If  either  party  should  file a lawsuit  against  the other to
enforce any right such party has hereunder,  the prevailing  party shall also be
entitled to recover reasonable  attorneys' fees and costs of suit in addition to
any other relief awarded such prevailing party.

         10.7.  If any  provision  of this  Agreement  should be held invalid or
unenforceable,  no other  provision shall be affected  thereby,  and it shall be
construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision had never been a part of
it.

         10.8.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all 
of which shall be considered one and the same agreement.



<PAGE>


         10.9.  Employee and the Company  shall  execute and deliver any and all
additional  instruments  and agreements that may be necessary or proper to carry
out the purposes of this Agreement.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  parties  hereto have executed and delivered  this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

                                                     CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.



                                                     By: /s/ Michael R. Gilbert
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        Michael R. Gilbert, 
                                                        President


                                                     J. MUNRO M. SUTHERLAND



                                                     /s/ J. Munro M. Sutherland
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     J. Munro M. Sutherland


<PAGE>





                                  EXHIBIT 10.13











<PAGE>



                             CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.

                        SEPARATE PHEMUS STOCK OPTION PLAN



                            Scope and Purpose of Plan

         This Cairn Energy USA, Inc.  Separate Phemus Stock Option Plan provides
for the granting of Nonstatutory Options (defined below) to certain directors of
the  Corporation  (defined below) who are not employees of the Corporation or of
its Affiliates  (defined  below) and who are not entitled to receive any Options
(defined below) under the Corporation's Directors Plan (defined below).

         The  purpose  of the  Plan  is to  provide  an  incentive  for  certain
non-employee directors of the Corporation or its Affiliates who are not entitled
to receive any Options  under the  Directors  Plan to serve as  directors of the
Corporation, to extend to them the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest
in the Corporation so that they will apply their best efforts for the benefit of
the Corporation,  and to aid the Corporation in attracting able persons to serve
as directors of the Corporation.

SECTION 1.            Definitions.

         1.1.         "Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or any similar or superseding statute or statutes.

         1.2.  "Affiliates"  shall  mean  (a) any  corporation,  other  than the
Corporation, in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation if
each of the  corporations,  other than the  Corporation,  owns stock  possessing
fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock in one of the other  corporations  in such chain and (b) any  corporation,
other than the Corporation,  in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with
the Corporation if each of the corporations,  other than the last corporation in
the unbroken  chain,  owns stock  possessing  fifty percent (50%) or more of the
total  combined  voting  power  of all  classes  of  stock  in one of the  other
corporations in such chain.

         1.3.         "Agreement" shall mean the written agreement between the 
Corporation and a Holder evidencing the Option granted by the Corporation under 
this Plan and the understanding of the parties with respect to the Option.

         1.4.         "Board of Directors" shall mean the board of directors of 
the Corporation.

         1.5.         "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as 
amended.

         1.6.         "Committee" shall mean the committee appointed pursuant to
Section 3 of the Plan by the Board of Directors to administer this Plan.

         1.7.         "Corporation" shall mean Cairn Energy USA, Inc., a 
Delaware corporation, and its successors or assigns.

         1.8 "Directors Plan" shall mean that  Nonstatutory  Option plan adopted
by the Board of Directors on April 8, 1993, and ratified on May 19, 1993, by the
stockholders of the Company, as amended.

         1.9.         "Disability" shall mean a total and permanent disability 
as defined in section 105(d)(4) of the Code, as it existed immediately prior to 
its repeal.

         1.10.  "Eligible  Individual"  shall  mean a  member  of the  Board  of
Directors of the  Corporation  (i) who is not, and has not been,  an employee of
the  Corporation or one of its  Affiliates;  (ii) who is not entitled to receive
any Options under the Directors Plan; and (iii) who is an employee or officer or
director of Phemus Corporation or an affiliate of Phemus  Corporation.  The term
affiliate for purposes of the  definition of Eligible  Individual  and Permitted
Transferee  shall mean a person or entity that directly,  or indirectly  through
one or more  intermediaries,  controls or is  controlled  by, or is under common
control with, Phemus Corporation.  For purposes of the Plan, the Chairman of the
Board of  Directors  of the  Corporation  shall not be deemed an employee of the
Corporation.

         1.11.        "Fair Market Value" shall mean:


                                       58

<PAGE>



         (a) If shares  of Stock of the same  class are  listed or  admitted  to
unlisted trading privileges on any national or regional  securities  exchange at
the date of determining  the Fair Market Value,  the last reported sale price on
such exchange on the last business day prior to the date in question; or

         (b) If  shares  of Stock of the  same  class  shall  not be  listed  or
admitted to unlisted trading privileges as provided in Subparagraph  1.11(a) and
sales prices for such shares in the over-the-  counter  market shall be reported
by the National  Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc. Automated  Quotations,
Inc.  ("NASDAQ")  National  Market  System at the date of  determining  the Fair
Market Value,  the last reported sale price so reported on the last business day
prior to the date in question; or

         (c) If  shares  of Stock of the  same  class  shall  not be  listed  or
admitted to unlisted trading privileges as provided in Subparagraph  1.11(a) and
sales prices for such shares shall not be reported by the NASDAQ National Market
System as provided in Subparagraph 1.11(b), and bid and asked prices therefor in
the over-the-counter market shall be reported by NASDAQ (or, if not so reported,
by the National Quotation Bureau  Incorporated or the OTC Bulletin Board) at the
date of  determining  the Fair Market Value,  the average of the closing bid and
asked prices on the last business day prior to the date in question; and

         (d) If  shares  of Stock of the  same  class  shall  not be  listed  or
admitted to unlisted trading privileges as provided in Subparagraph  1.11(a) and
sales  prices or bid and asked  prices for such shares  shall not be reported by
NASDAQ  (or  the  National   Quotation  Bureau   Incorporated)  as  provided  in
Subparagraph 1.11(b) or Subparagraph 1.11(c) at the date of determining the Fair
Market Value, the value determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

         1.12.        "Holder" shall mean an Eligible Individual to whom an 
Option has been granted or any permitted transferee as that term is defined in 
Section 6.3.

         1.13.        "Nonstatutory Options" and "Option" shall mean stock 
options that do not satisfy the requirements of section 422 of the Code.

         1.15.        "Permitted Transferee" shall mean Phemus Corporation or an
affiliate of Phemus Corporation.

         1.16.        "Plan" shall mean the Cairn Energy USA, Inc. Separate 
Phemus Stock Option Plan.

         1.17.        "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended or any similar or superseding statute or statutes.

         1.18.  "Stock" shall mean the  Corporation's  authorized  common stock,
$0.01 par  value,  together  with any other  securities  with  respect  to which
Options granted under the Plan may become exercisable.

SECTION 2.            Stock and Maximum Number of Shares Subject to the Plan.

         2.1. Description of Stock and Maximum Shares Allocated. The Stock which
may be  issued  upon the  exercise  of an  Option  may  either  be  unissued  or
reacquired  shares of  Stock,  as the Board of  Directors  may,  in its sole and
absolute discretion, from time to time determine.

         Subject to the  adjustments  provided in Paragraph  6.4, the  aggregate
number of shares of Stock to be issued  pursuant to the  exercise of all Options
granted under the Plan may equal but shall not exceed 30,000 shares of Stock.

         2.2.  Restoration of Unpurchased Shares. If an Option granted under the
Plan expires or terminates for any reason during the term of this Plan and prior
to the exercise of the Option in full,  the shares of Stock  subject to, but not
issued under, such Option shall again be available for Options granted under the
Plan after such shares become available again.

SECTION 3.            Administration of the Plan.

         3.1.         Committee.  The Plan shall be administered by the 
Committee.  The Committee shall be the Compensation Committee of the Board of 
Directors; provided, however, that for purposes of this Plan, the Committee
shall consist of not less than two individuals.

         3.2.         Duration, Removal, Etc.  The members of the Committee 
shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors,  which shall have the 
power, at any time and from time to time, to remove members from the Committee

                                       59

<PAGE>



or to add members to the Committee.  Vacancies on the Committee, however caused,
shall be filled by action of the Board of Directors.

         3.3.  Meetings and Actions of Committee.  The Committee shall elect one
of its  members as its  Chairman  and shall hold its  meetings at such times and
places as it may determine.  All decisions and  determinations  of the Committee
shall be made by the majority vote or decision of all of its members  present at
a meeting;  provided,  however,  that any decision or  determination  reduced to
writing  and  signed by all of the  members of the  Committee  shall be as fully
effective  as if it had  been  made at a  meeting  duly  called  and  held.  The
Committee  may make any rules and  regulations  for the conduct of its  business
that are not  inconsistent  with the provisions of this Plan and with the bylaws
of the Corporation as it may deem advisable.

         3.4.  Committee's  Powers.  Subject to the express  provisions  of this
Plan,  the  Committee  shall  have  the  authority,  in its  sole  and  absolute
discretion,  (a) to adopt,  amend, and rescind  administrative  and interpretive
rules and  regulations  relating  to the Plan;  (b) to  determine  the terms and
provisions of the respective Agreements (which need not be identical); provided,
however,  such terms and provisions  shall not be  inconsistent  with this Plan,
including the extent to which the transferability of shares of Stock issued upon
exercise of Options is restricted,  but in all events shall such shares of Stock
issued upon exercise of Options be assignable to a Permitted Transferee;  (c) to
construe  the terms of any  Agreement  and the  Plan;  and (d) to make all other
determinations   and  perform  all  other  acts   necessary  or  advisable   for
administering  the Plan,  including the delegation of such  ministerial acts and
responsibilities  as the Committee deems appropriate.  The Committee may correct
any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any  inconsistency in the Plan or
in any  Agreement  in the manner and to the  extent it shall deem  expedient  to
carry  it into  effect,  and it  shall  be the  sole  and  final  judge  of such
expediency.  The Committee shall have full discretion to make all determinations
on the matters referred to in this Paragraph,  and such determinations  shall be
final, binding and conclusive.

SECTION 4.            Eligibility and Participation.

         4.1.         Eligible Individuals.  Options may be granted under the 
Plan only to persons who are Eligible Individuals at the time of the Option's 
grant.

         4.2.         No Right to Option.  The adoption of the Plan shall not be
deemed to give any person a right to be granted an Option.

SECTION 5.            Automatic Grant of Options and Certain Terms of the 
                      Agreements.

         Subject  to the  express  provisions  of this  Section,  each  Eligible
Individual shall be automatically granted an Option to purchase 10,000 shares of
Stock under the Plan at each of the  following  dates:  (i) the first meeting of
each term he serves as a member of the Board of Directors,  and (ii) solely with
respect to the first year for which the Plan is adopted,  the date that the Plan
is adopted.

         The date of the  first  meeting  of each  term an  Eligible  Individual
serves  as a member  of the  Board of  Directors  shall be the date on which the
Option  covered by an Agreement  is granted,  even though  certain  terms of the
Agreement may not be at such time  determined  and even though the Agreement may
not be executed until a later time. In no event, however, shall an optionee gain
any  rights in  addition  to those  specified  by the  Committee  in its  grant,
regardless  of the time that may pass  between  the grant of the  Option and the
actual execution of the Agreement by the Corporation and the optionee.

         Each Option  granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Agreement,
executed by the  Corporation  and the Eligible  Individual to whom the Option is
granted,  incorporating  such terms as the  Committee  shall deem  necessary  or
desirable; provided, however, that in all events each Option shall be assignable
to a  Permitted  Transferee.  More than one  Option  may be  granted to the same
Eligible  Individual and be outstanding  concurrently.  In the event an Eligible
Individual  is granted one or more  Nonstatutory  Options,  such grants shall be
evidenced  by  separate  Agreements,  one for  each of the  Nonstatutory  Option
grants.

         Each Agreement may contain or otherwise  provide for such  restrictions
on the  transferability of shares of the Stock acquired pursuant to an Option as
the  Committee,  in its sole and  absolute  discretion,  shall  deem  proper  or
advisable;  provided,  however,  that in all  events  shall the  shares of Stock
acquired  pursuant to an Option be  assignable to a Permitted  Transferee.  Such
restrictions on transferability may include, but need not be limited to, options
and rights of first refusal in favor of the Corporation and  stockholders of the
Corporation other than a Holder who is a party to the particular  Agreement or a
subsequent person who is bound by such Agreement.


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<PAGE>



SECTION 6.            Terms and Conditions of Options.

         All Options  granted  under the Plan shall  comply  with,  be deemed to
include, and shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

         6.1.  Exercise Price. Each Agreement shall state the exercise price per
share of Stock.  The exercise price per share of Stock subject to a Nonstatutory
Option  shall be the Fair Market  Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant
of the Option;  provided,  however,  that with respect to the Options granted on
the date of the  adoption  of the Plan,  the  exercise  price  shall be the same
exercise  price  set for  those  Options  granted  on May 24,  1995,  under  the
Directors Plan.

         6.2.         Medium and Time of Payment, Method of Exercise, and  
Withholding Taxes.  The exercise price of an Option shall be payable upon the 
exercise of the Option

         (a)          in cash

         (b)          by certified or cashier's check payable to the order of 
                      the Corporation, or

         (c)          by wire transfer of immediately available funds.

Exercise of an Option shall not be effective  until the Corporation has received
written notice of exercise.  Such notice must specify the number of whole shares
to be purchased and be accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate  exercise
price of the number of shares  purchased.  The Corporation shall not in any case
be required to sell,  issue, or deliver a fractional share of Stock with respect
to any Option.

         The Committee  may, in its  discretion,  require a Holder to pay to the
Corporation  at the time of  exercise of an Option (or portion of an Option) the
amount  that the  Corporation  deems  necessary  to satisfy  its  obligation  to
withhold federal, state or local income or other taxes incurred by reason of the
exercise. Where the exercise of an Option does not give rise to an obligation to
withhold Federal income or other taxes on the date of exercise,  the Corporation
may,  in its  discretion,  require a Holder to place  shares of Stock  purchased
under the Option in escrow for the benefit of the Corporation until such time as
Federal income or other tax  withholding  is no longer  required with respect to
such shares or until such  withholding  is  required on amounts  included in the
gross  income  of the  Holder as a result  of the  exercise  of an Option or the
disposition of shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise.  At such later
time, the  Corporation,  in its  discretion,  may require a Holder to pay to the
Corporation  the amount  that the  Corporation  deems  necessary  to satisfy its
obligation to withhold Federal, state or local income or other taxes incurred by
reason of the exercise of the Option or the disposition of shares of Stock. Upon
receipt  of such  payment  by the  Corporation,  such  shares of Stock  shall be
released from escrow to the Holder.

         6.3. Term, Time of Exercise and Transferability of Options. In addition
to such other terms and conditions as may be included in a particular  Agreement
granting an Option,  an Option shall be exercisable  during a Holder's  lifetime
only by the Holder or by the  Holder's  guardian  or legal  representative  or a
Permitted Transferee.

         An Option shall not be transferrable  other than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified  domestic relations order as
defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or
the rules thereunder;  provided, however, that each Eligible Individual shall be
permitted to assign its rights to an Option to a Permitted Transferee.

         Each  Option  shall  be for a  term  of  sixty  (60)  calendar  months,
beginning on the date of the Option's grant.

         The Option  evidenced by the  Agreement  may be exercised in full or in
part as to any  number of shares  subject to the Option at any time or from time
to time during the term of the Option;  provided,  however, that notwithstanding
the  foregoing,  no part of an Option may be exercised  during the six (6) month
period  beginning on the date the Option was granted.  Except as provided  above
and unless  otherwise  provided in any Agreement,  an Option may be exercised at
any time or from time to time during the term of the Option.  Such  exercise may
be as to  any or  all  whole  (but  no  fractional)  shares  which  have  become
purchasable under the Option.

         Within a  reasonable  time (or such  time as may be  permitted  by law)
after the  Corporation  receives  written  notice that the Holder has elected to
exercise all or a portion of an Option, such notice to be accompanied by payment
in full of the aggregate  Option exercise price of the number of shares of Stock
purchased,  the Corporation  shall issue and deliver a certificate  representing
the shares acquired in consequence of the exercise and any other amounts payable
in consequence of such exercise. The number of the shares of Stock transferrable
due to an exercise of an Option under

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<PAGE>



this Plan shall not be  increased  due to the passage of time,  except as may be
provided in an Agreement;  provided, however, the number of such shares of Stock
which are  transferrable  may increase due to the  occurrence of certain  events
which are fully described in Paragraph 6.4.

         Nothing  in the Plan or in any  Option  granted  under  the Plan  shall
require the  Corporation to issue any shares upon exercise of any Option if such
issuance  would,  in  the  opinion  of  counsel  for  the  Corporation,  require
registration  under  the  Securities  Act or any  other  applicable  statute  or
regulation,  as then in effect.  At the time of any  exercise of an Option,  the
Corporation  may,  as a condition  precedent  to the  exercise  of such  Option,
require   from  the  Holder   (or  in  the  event  of  his   death,   his  legal
representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees) such written representations,
if any,  concerning his  sophistication,  financial means, access to information
about the Corporation and intentions with regard to the retention or disposition
of the shares  being  acquired  by  exercise  of such  Option  and such  written
covenants  and  agreements,  if any, as to the manner of disposal of such shares
as, in the opinion of counsel to the  Corporation,  may be  necessary  to ensure
that any  disposition  by such  Holder (or in the event of his death,  his legal
representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees), will not involve a violation
of the  Securities  Act or any other  applicable  state or  federal  statute  or
regulation,  as then in effect.  Certificates for shares of Stock,  when issued,
may have the following or similar  legend,  or  statements  of other  applicable
restrictions, endorsed on them, and may not be immediately transferable:

         The shares of stock evidenced by this  certificate  have been issued to
         the  registered  owner in reliance  upon written  representations  that
         these shares have been purchased for investment.  These shares have not
         been  registered  under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  or any
         applicable  state  securities  laws, in reliance upon an exemption from
         registration.  Without such registration, these shares may not be sold,
         transferred,  assigned or otherwise  disposed of unless, in the opinion
         of  the  Corporation  and  its  legal  counsel,  such  sale,  transfer,
         assignment or  disposition  will not be in violation of the  Securities
         Act of 1933,  as  amended,  applicable  rules  and  regulations  of the
         Securities and Exchange Commission, and any applicable state securities
         laws.

         6.4.         Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Merger, Etc.  
Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan to the contrary, in the event of
any change in the number of outstanding shares of Stock

         (a)          effected   without   receipt  of   consideration   by  the
                      Corporation  by  reason  of  a  stock   dividend,   split,
                      combination, exchange of shares or other recapitalization,
                      merger,  or  otherwise,  in which the  Corporation  is the
                      surviving corporation, or

         (b)          by reason of a spin-off of a part of the Corporation into 
                      a separate entity, or assumptions and conversions of out-
                      standing grants due to an acquisition by the Corporation 
                      of a separate entity, 

(1) the aggregate  number and class of the reserved  shares,  (2) the number and
class of shares subject to each outstanding Option and (3) the exercise price of
each  outstanding  Option  shall be  automatically  adjusted to  accurately  and
equitably  reflect  the  effect  of  such  change.  In the  event  of a  dispute
concerning such  adjustment,  the Committee has full discretion to determine the
resolution  of the  dispute.  Such  determination  shall be final,  binding  and
conclusive. The number of reserved shares or the number of shares subject to any
outstanding Option shall be automatically  reduced by any fraction which results
from any adjustment made pursuant to this Paragraph.

         The  following  provisions  of this  Paragraph  shall  apply  unless  a
Holder's Agreement provides otherwise. In the event of:

         (a)          a dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation,

         (b)          a merger or consolidation (other than a merger effecting a
                      re-incorporation of the Corporation in another state or 
                      any other merger or a consolidation in which the stock-
                      holders of the surviving corporation and their 
                      proportionate interests therein immediately after the 
                      merger or consolidation are substantially identical to the
                      stockholders of the Corporation and their proportionate 
                      interests therein immediately prior to the merger or 
                      consolidation) in which the Corporation is not the
                      surviving corporation (or survives only as a subsidiary of
                      another corporation in a transaction in which the stock-
                      holders of the parent of the Corporation and their 
                      proportionate interests therein immediately after the 
                      transaction are not substantially identical to the stock-
                      holders of the Corporation and their proportionate 
                      interests therein immediately prior to the transaction; 
                      provided, however, that the Board of Directors may at any 
                      time prior to such a merger or consolidation provide by 
                      resolution that the foregoing provisions of this 
                      parenthetical shall not apply if a majority of the board 
                      of directors of such parent immediately after the trans-
                      action consists of individuals who constituted a majority 
                      of the Board of Directors immediately prior to the trans-
                      action), or

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<PAGE>



         (c)          a transaction in which any person becomes the owner of 50%
                      or more of the total combined voting power of all classes 
                      of stock of the Corporation (provided, however, that the 
                      Board of Directors may at any time prior to such trans-
                      action provide by resolution that this Subparagraph shall 
                      not apply if such acquiring person is a corporation and a 
                      majority of the board of directors of the acquiring 
                      corporation immediately after the transaction consists of 
                      individuals who constituted a majority of the Board of 
                      Directors immediately prior to the acquisition of such 50%
                      or more total combined voting power)

a Holder shall be entitled to receive,  upon the  exercise of such Option,  with
respect  to each  share  of  Stock  (i) the  number  of  shares  of stock of the
surviving  corporation  (or equity  interest  in any other  entity) and (ii) any
other notes,  evidences of indebtedness or other property that Holder would have
received in connection  with such  transaction  had he exercised the Option with
respect  to such  shares  of  Stock  immediately  prior  to the  record  date of
consummation of such transaction.

         6.5.  Rights  as a  Stockholder.  A  Holder  shall  have no  right as a
stockholder with respect to any shares covered by his Option until a certificate
representing  such shares is issued to the Holder.  No adjustment  shall be made
for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary,  whether in cash or other property) or
distributions  or other  rights for which the  record  date is prior to the date
such certificate is issued, except as provided in Paragraph 6.4.

         6.6. Modification, Extension and Renewal of Options. No modification of
an Option granted under the Plan shall, without the consent of the Holder, alter
or impair any rights or obligations  under any Option  previously  granted under
the Plan to such Holder under the Plan.

         6.7.         Furnish Information.  Each Holder shall furnish to the 
Corporation all information requested by the Corporation to enable it to comply 
with any reporting or other requirement imposed upon the Corporation by or under
any applicable statute or regulation.

         6.8.         Obligation to Exercise.  The granting of an Option under 
the Plan shall impose no obligation upon the Holder to exercise it or any part 
of it.

         6.9.  Agreement  Provisions.  The Agreements  authorized under the Plan
shall  contain  such  provisions  in  addition  to  those  required  by the Plan
(including, without limitation, restrictions or the removal of restrictions upon
the  exercise of the Option and the  retention  or  transfer  of shares  thereby
acquired) as the Committee shall deem advisable.

SECTION 7.            Remedies and Specific Performance.

         7.1.         Remedies.  The Corporation shall be entitled to recover 
from a Holder reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in connection with the 
enforcement of the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Agreement, whether 
by an action to enforce specific performance, or an action for damages for its 
breach or otherwise.


     7.2. Specific Performance. The Corporation shall be entitled to enforce the
terms  and  provisions  of  this  Section,  including  the  remedy  of  specific
performance, in Dallas County, Texas.
SECTION 8.            Duration of Plan.

         No Options may be granted  under the Plan after the  expiration  of the
Director Plan.

SECTION 9.            Amendment of Plan.

         For purposes of complying with changes in the Code or ERISA,  the Board
of Directors may amend,  modify,  suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. For
purposes of meeting or addressing any other changes in legal requirements or any
other purpose,  the Board of Directors may amend,  modify,  suspend or terminate
the Plan.  No Option may be granted  during any  suspension of the Plan or after
the Plan has been terminated, and no amendment, suspension or termination shall,
without a Holder's consent,  alter or impair, other than as provided in the Plan
and the Holder's  Agreement,  any of the rights or obligations  under any Option
previously granted to such Holder under the Plan.

SECTION 10.           General.

         10.1.        Application of Funds.  The proceeds received by the 
Corporation from the sale of shares pursuant to Options shall be used for 
general corporate purposes.


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<PAGE>



         10.2.        Right to Terminate Director Status.  Nothing contained in 
the Plan, or in any Agreement, shall confer upon any Holder the right to 
continue as a director of the Corporation, or interfere in any way with the 
rights to terminate his status as a director.

         10.3. No Liability for Good Faith  Determinations.  Neither the members
of the Board of Directors  nor any member of the  Committee  shall be liable for
any act, omission,  or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to
the Plan or any Option  granted  under it, and members of the Board of Directors
and the Committee shall be entitled to indemnification  and reimbursement by the
Corporation  in respect  of any  claim,  loss,  damage,  or  expense  (including
attorneys'  fees, the costs of settling any suit  (provided  such  settlement is
approved by independent  legal counsel  selected by the Corporation) and amounts
paid in satisfaction of a judgment,  except a judgment based on a finding of bad
faith)  arising  from such claim,  loss,  damage,  or expense to the full extent
permitted by law and under any  directors'  and  officers'  liability or similar
insurance coverage that may from time to time be in effect.

         10.4.  Information  Confidential.  As  partial  consideration  for  the
granting of each Option under the Plan,  the Agreement  may, in the  Committee's
sole and  absolute  discretion,  provide  that the Holder  shall  agree with the
Corporation that he will keep confidential all information and knowledge that he
has  relating  to the  manner  and  amount  of his  participation  in the  Plan;
provided, however, that such information may be disclosed as required by law and
may be given in confidence to the Holder's spouse,  tax and financial  advisors,
or to a financial  institution to the extent that such  information is necessary
to secure a loan. In the event any breach of this promise comes to the attention
of the Committee,  it shall take into  consideration such breach, in determining
whether to recommend the grant of any future Option to such Holder,  as a factor
militating  against the  advisability of granting any such future Option to such
individual.

         10.5.  Other Benefits.  The Options granted under this Plan shall be in
addition to regular  directors' fees and other benefits  granted with respect to
the  position  of a member of the Board of  Directors.  Neither the Plan nor any
Option granted under the Plan shall confer upon any person a right to serve as a
member of the Board of Directors.

         10.6.  Execution of Receipts and  Releases.  Any payment of cash or any
issuance  or  transfer  of  shares  of  Stock  to the  Holder,  or to his  legal
representative, heir, legatee, or distributee, in accordance with the provisions
of the Plan, shall, to the extent thereof, be in full satisfaction of all claims
of such persons  under the Plan.  The  Committee  may require any Holder,  legal
representative,  heir, legatee, or distributee, as a condition precedent to such
payment,  to execute a release and  receipt for such  payment in such form as it
shall determine.

         10.7.        No Guarantee of Interests.  Neither the Committee nor the 
Corporation guarantees the Stock from loss or depreciation.

         10.8. Payment of Expenses. All expenses incident to the administration,
termination, or protection of the Plan, including, but not limited to, legal and
accounting fees,  shall be paid by the Corporation or its Affiliates;  provided,
however, the Corporation or an Affiliate may recover any and all damages,  fees,
expenses and costs  arising out of any actions  taken by the  Corporation  or an
Affiliate to enforce its rights under the Plan.

         10.9.        Corporation Records.  Records of the Corporation or its 
Affiliates regarding the Holder's period of service, termination of service and 
the reason for such termination, and other matters shall be conclusive for all
purposes under the Plan, unless determined by the Committee to be incorrect.

         10.10.       Information.  The Corporation and its Affiliates shall, 
upon request or as may be specifically required under the Plan, furnish or cause
to be furnished all of the information or documentation that is necessary or
required by the Committee to perform its duties and functions under the Plan.

         10.11.       No Liability of Corporation.  The Corporation assumes no 
obligation or responsibility to the Holder or his legal representatives, heirs, 
legatees, or distributees for any act of, or failure to act on the part of, the
Committee.

         10.12.       Corporation Action.  Any action required of the 
Corporation relating to the Plan shall be by resolution of its Board of 
Directors, Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors or by a person 
authorized to act by resolution of the Board of Directors or such Compensation 
Committee.

         10.13.  Severability.  If any  provision  of  this  Plan  is held to be
illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect
the  remaining  provisions  of the  Plan,  but  such  provision  shall  be fully
severable,  and the Plan shall be  construed  and  enforced as if the illegal or
invalid provision had never been included in the Plan.


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<PAGE>



         10.14. Notices.  Whenever any notice is required or permitted under the
Plan, such notice must be in writing and personally delivered or sent by mail or
by a nationally  recognized courier service. Any notice required or permitted to
be delivered under this Agreement shall be deemed to be delivered on the date on
which it is personally  delivered,  or, if mailed,  whether actually received or
not, on the third  business day after it is deposited in the United States mail,
certified  or  registered,  postage  prepaid,  addressed to the person who is to
receive it at the address which such person has previously  specified by written
notice   delivered  in  accordance  with  this  Paragraph  or,  if  by  courier,
twenty-four  (24)  hours  after  it is  sent,  addressed  as  described  in this
Paragraph.  The Corporation or a Holder may change, at any time and from time to
time, by written notice to the other,  the address which it or he had previously
specified for receiving notices.  Until changed in accordance with the Plan, the
Corporation  and each Holder shall  specify as its and his address for receiving
notices the address set forth in the Agreement pertaining to the shares to which
such notice relates.

         10.15.       Waiver of Notice.  Any person entitled to notice under the
Plan may waive such notice.

         10.16.       Successors.  The Plan shall be binding upon the Holder, 
his legal representatives, heirs, legatees and distributees, upon the 
Corporation, its successors, and assigns, and upon the Committee, and its 
successors.

         10.17.       Headings.  The titles and headings of Sections and 
Paragraphs are included for convenience of reference only and are not to be 
considered in construction of the Plan's provisions.

         10.18.  Governing  Law.  All  questions  arising  with  respect  to the
provisions  of the Plan shall be determined  by  application  of the laws of the
State of Texas  except to the extent  Texas law is  preempted  by federal law or
Delaware  corporate law that is controlling.  Questions  arising with respect to
the  provisions  of an  Agreement  that are  matters  of  contract  law shall be
governed  by the laws of the state  specified  in the  Agreement,  except to the
extent preempted by federal law and except to the extent that Delaware corporate
law  conflicts  with the  contract  law of such state,  in which event  Delaware
corporate  law shall  govern.  The  obligation  of the  Corporation  to sell and
deliver Stock under the Plan is subject to  applicable  laws and to the approval
of any  governmental  authority  required in connection with the  authorization,
issuance, sale, or delivery of such Stock.

         10.19.       Word Usage.  Words used in the masculine shall apply to 
the feminine where applicable, and wherever the context of this Plan dictates, 
the plural shall be read as the singular and the singular as the plural.

         The Plan shall take effect on January 10, 1996, the date it was adopted
by the Board of Directors.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Cairn Energy USA, Inc. acting by and through its 
duly authorized officer, has executed this Plan on this the 10th day of January,
1996.

                             CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.



                             By: /s/ Susan H. Rader
                                 ------------------------------------
                                 Susan H. Rader, Secretary


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<PAGE>





                                  EXHIBIT 10.14









                                       66

<PAGE>



                             CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.
                       NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


         THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 10th day of January,
1996,   between   Cairn   Energy  USA,   Inc.,  a  Delaware   corporation   (the
"Corporation"),  and John C. Halsted (the "Holder") in connection with the grant
of a  Nonstatutory  Option  (defined  below)  under the Cairn  Energy USA,  Inc.
Separate Phemus Stock Option Plan (the "Plan")

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the Holder is a director of the Corporation and is not an 
employee of the Corporation or one of its Affiliates (defined below);

         WHEREAS, the Holder is not entitled to receive any Options under the 
Directors Plan;

         WHEREAS,  the Corporation  desires to encourage the Holder to own Stock
(defined  below) and to give him added incentive to advance the interests of the
Corporation through the Plan; and

         WHEREAS,  the  Corporation  desires to grant the Holder a  Nonstatutory
Option to purchase shares of Stock of the Corporation under terms and conditions
established by the Plan.

         NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of these premises,  the parties agree
that the following  shall  constitute the Agreement  between the Corporation and
the Holder:

         1.       Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement, defined terms 
shall have the meanings given to them by the Plan except as specified below:

         1.1      "Agreement" shall mean this document as executed by the 
Corporation and the Holder, and as it may be subsequently amended.

         1.2      "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as 
amended.

         1.3 "Exchange Act" shall mean the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or any similar or superseding statute or statutes.

         1.4  "Nonstatutory  Option"  and  "Option"  shall  mean a stock  option
granted  pursuant to this  Agreement that does not satisfy the  requirements  of
section 422 of the Code.

         1.5.  "Permitted  Transferee"  shall  mean  Phemus  Corporation  or  an
affiliate  of  Phemus  Corporation.  The  term  affiliate  for  purposes  of the
definition of Permitted  Transferee shall mean a person or entity that directly,
or indirectly  through one or more  intermediaries,  controls or is under common
control with, Phemus Corporation.

         1.6 "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or any similar or superseding statute or statutes.

         2. Grant of  Nonstatutory  Option.  Subject to the terms and conditions
set forth in this Agreement, the Corporation grants to the Holder a Nonstatutory
Option to purchase  from the  Corporation  during the period  ending  sixty (60)
calendar  months  from the date of this  Agreement  10,000  shares of Stock at a
price of $10.00 per share,  subject to  adjustment,  if any, as provided in this
Agreement.  This  Nonstatutory  Option is exercisable with respect to all of the
shares of Stock  subject to the Option only after the six month  anniversary  of
the date this Option is granted.

         3.       Notice of Exercise.  This Nonstatutory Option may be exercised
in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with Paragraph 2, by 
written notice to the Corporation at the address provided in this Agreement, 
which notice shall:

                  (a)      specify the number of whole shares of Stock to be 
purchased and the exercise price to be paid for such shares;

                  (b) if the person exercising this  Nonstatutory  Option is not
the Holder  himself,  contain or be accompanied by evidence  satisfactory to the
Committee of such person's right to exercise this Nonstatutory Option; and

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<PAGE>




                  (c) be accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price in
the form of cash, a certified or cashier's check to the order of the Corporation
or a wire transfer of immediately available funds.

         This Option may be exercised  only in  increments at least equal to the
lesser of one hundred  (100) shares or ten percent  (10%) of the number of whole
shares as to which it is exercisable.

         4.  Investment  Letter.  The  Holder  agrees  that the  shares of Stock
acquired on exercise of this  Nonstatutory  Option shall be acquired for his own
account for investment  only and not with a view to, or for resale in connection
with,  any  distribution  or public  offering  thereof within the meaning of the
Securities  Act  or  other  applicable  securities  laws.  If the  Committee  so
determines,  any Stock  certificates  issued upon exercise of this  Nonstatutory
Option  shall bear a legend to the effect that the shares have been so acquired.
The  Corporation  may, but in no event shall be required to, file a registration
statement  with  respect to the  Options or any  shares of Stock  acquired  upon
exercise of the Options or otherwise  bear any  expenses of  complying  with the
Securities Act, other applicable securities laws or the rules and regulations of
any national  securities  exchange or other  regulatory  authority in connection
with the registration,  qualification,  or transfer, as the case may be, of this
Nonstatutory  Option or any shares of Stock  acquired  upon the exercise of this
Nonstatutory Option. The foregoing restrictions on the transfer of the shares of
Stock shall be inoperative  if (a) the  Corporation  previously  shall have been
furnished  with an opinion of  counsel,  satisfactory  to it, to the effect that
such  transfer  will not involve any  violation of the  Securities  Act or other
applicable  securities  laws,  or (b) the  shares of Stock  shall have been duly
registered in compliance with the Securities Act and other applicable securities
laws.

         5.  Transfer and Exercise of  Nonstatutory  Option.  This  Nonstatutory
Option  shall  not be  transferable  except by will or the laws of  descent  and
distribution or pursuant to a qualified  domestic  relations order as defined in
the Code or Title I of the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act or the rules
thereunder;  provided,  however,  that Holder  shall be  permitted to assign its
rights to the Option to a Permitted  Transferee.  No  assignment  or transfer of
this Nonstatutory Option, whether voluntary or involuntary,  by operation of law
or otherwise,  except a transfer by will or the laws of descent or distribution,
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined in the Code or Title
I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or the rules thereunder,  or to
a Permitted  Transferee shall vest in the assignee or transferee any interest or
right whatsoever in this Nonstatutory Option.

         During the Holder's lifetime, this Nonstatutory Option may be exercised
only by him, his guardian or his legal representative or a Permitted Transferee.

         6. Status of Holder.  The Holder shall not be deemed a  stockholder  of
the  Corporation  with  respect  to any of the  shares of Stock  subject to this
Nonstatutory  Option,  except to the  extent  that such  shares  shall have been
purchased and transferred to him. The Corporation shall not be required to issue
or transfer any certificates for shares of Stock purchased upon exercise of this
Nonstatutory Option until all applicable requirements of law have been satisfied
and, if  applicable,  such shares shall have been duly listed on any  securities
exchange on which the Stock may then be listed.

         7. No Effect on Capital Structure.  This Nonstatutory  Option shall not
affect the right of the Corporation or any Affiliate to reclassify, recapitalize
or  otherwise  change its capital or debt  structure  or to merge,  consolidate,
convey any or all of its  assets,  dissolve,  liquidate,  windup,  or  otherwise
reorganize.

         8.       Expiration of Nonstatutory Option.  This Option shall expire 
only upon the earlier of the date it is completely exercised or the Option's 
expiration date as determined under Paragraph 2.

         9.       Committee Authority.  Any question concerning the 
interpretation of this Agreement, any adjustments required to be made under this
Agreement, and any controversy which may arise under this Agreement shall be
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

         10. Plan  Controls.  The terms of this  Agreement  are  governed by the
terms of the Plan,  a copy of which is  attached as Exhibit A and made a part of
this Agreement as if fully set forth in this  Agreement,  and in the case of any
inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the
terms of the Plan shall control.

         11.  Notice.  Whenever any notice is required or  permitted  under this
Agreement,  such notice must be in writing and personally delivered,  telecopied
(if confirmed) or sent by mail. Any notice required or permitted to be delivered
under this  Agreement  shall be deemed to be  delivered  on the date which it is
personally  delivered,  or,  whether  actually  received  or not,  on the  third
business  day after it is  deposited  in the United  States  mail,  certified or
registered, postage prepaid, addressed to the person who is to receive it at the
address which such person has previously  specified by written notice  delivered
in accordance with this Agreement.  The Corporation or Holder may change, at any
time and

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from time to time,  by  written  notice to the  other,  the  address  previously
specified  for  receiving  notices.   Until  changed  in  accordance  with  this
Agreement,  the Corporation and the Holder specify their respective addresses as
set forth below:

         Corporation:                   Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                                        8235 Douglas Avenue, Suite 1221
                                        Dallas, Texas 75225
                                        Attention: Michael R. Gilbert, President

         Holder:                        John C. Halsted
                                        Phemus Corporation
                                        600 Atlantic Avenue
                                        Boston, Massachusetts  02210-2203

         12. Information Confidential. As partial consideration for the granting
of this  Nonstatutory  Option,  the Holder agrees that he will keep confidential
all  information  and knowledge that he has relating to the manner and amount of
participation  in the Plan;  provided,  however,  that such  information  may be
disclosed  as required  by law and may be given in  confidence  to the  Holder's
spouse, tax and financial advisors,  or to a financial institution to the extent
that such information is necessary to secure a loan.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Corporation  has caused this Agreement to be
executed  and the Holder has executed  this  Agreement on the day and year first
above written.

                                                     "CORPORATION"

                                                     CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.



                                                     By:________________________
                                                     Title:_____________________

                                                     "HOLDER"



                                                     ___________________________
                                                     John C. Halsted


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                                  EXHIBIT 10.15










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                             CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.

                         SEPARATE PLC STOCK OPTION PLAN



                            Scope and Purpose of Plan

          This Cairn Energy USA,  Inc.  Separate PLC Stock Option Plan  provides
for the granting of Nonstatutory Options (defined below) to certain directors of
the  Corporation  (defined below) who are not employees of the Corporation or of
its Affiliates  (defined  below) and who are not entitled to receive any Options
(defined below) under the Corporation's Directors Plan (defined below).

          The  purpose  of the  Plan is to  provide  an  incentive  for  certain
non-employee directors of the Corporation or its Affiliates who are not entitled
to receive any Options  under the  Directors  Plan to serve as  directors of the
Corporation, to extend to them the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest
in the Corporation so that they will apply their best efforts for the benefit of
the Corporation,  and to aid the Corporation in attracting able persons to serve
as directors of the Corporation.

SECTION 1.            Definitions.

          1.1. "Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
or any similar or superseding statute or statutes.

          1.2.  "Affiliates"  shall  mean (a) any  corporation,  other  than the
Corporation, in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation if
each of the  corporations,  other than the  Corporation,  owns stock  possessing
fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock in one of the other  corporations  in such chain and (b) any  corporation,
other than the Corporation,  in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with
the Corporation if each of the corporations,  other than the last corporation in
the unbroken  chain,  owns stock  possessing  fifty percent (50%) or more of the
total  combined  voting  power  of all  classes  of  stock  in one of the  other
corporations in such chain.

         1.3.         "Agreement" shall mean the written agreement between the 
Corporation and a Holder evidencing the Option granted by the Corporation under 
this Plan and the understanding of the parties with respect to the Option.

          1.4.  "Board of  Directors"  shall mean the board of  directors of the
Corporation.

          1.5. "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

          1.6.  "Committee"  shall  mean the  committee  appointed  pursuant  to
Section 3 of the Plan by the Board of Directors to administer this Plan.

          1.7.  "Corporation"  shall mean Cairn  Energy  USA,  Inc.,  a Delaware
corporation, and its successors or assigns.

          1.8 "Directors Plan" shall mean that Nonstatutory  Option plan adopted
by the Board of Directors on April 8, 1993, and ratified on May 19, 1993, by the
stockholders of the Company, as amended.

          1.9.  "Disability"  shall  mean a total and  permanent  disability  as
defined in section 105(d)(4) of the Code, as it existed immediately prior to its
repeal.

          1.10.  "Eligible  Individual"  shall  mean a  member  of the  Board of
Directors of the  Corporation  (i) who is not, and has not been,  an employee of
the  Corporation or one of its  Affiliates;  (ii) who is not entitled to receive
any Options under the Directors Plan; and (iii) who is an employee or officer or
director of Cairn  Energy PLC or an  affiliate  of Cairn  Energy  PLC.  The term
affiliate for purposes of the  definition of Eligible  Individual  and Permitted
Transferee  shall mean a person or entity that directly,  or indirectly  through
one or more  intermediaries,  controls or is  controlled  by, or is under common
control  with,  Cairn Energy PLC. For purposes of the Plan,  the Chairman of the
Board of  Directors  of the  Corporation  shall not be deemed an employee of the
Corporation.

         1.11.        "Fair Market Value" shall mean:


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          (a) If shares of Stock of the same  class are  listed or  admitted  to
unlisted trading privileges on any national or regional  securities  exchange at
the date of determining  the Fair Market Value,  the last reported sale price on
such exchange on the last business day prior to the date in question; or

          (b) If  shares  of Stock of the same  class  shall  not be  listed  or
admitted to unlisted trading privileges as provided in Subparagraph  1.11(a) and
sales prices for such shares in the over-the-  counter  market shall be reported
by the National  Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc. Automated  Quotations,
Inc.  ("NASDAQ")  National  Market  System at the date of  determining  the Fair
Market Value,  the last reported sale price so reported on the last business day
prior to the date in question; or

          (c) If  shares  of Stock of the same  class  shall  not be  listed  or
admitted to unlisted trading privileges as provided in Subparagraph  1.11(a) and
sales prices for such shares shall not be reported by the NASDAQ National Market
System as provided in Subparagraph 1.11(b), and bid and asked prices therefor in
the over-the-counter market shall be reported by NASDAQ (or, if not so reported,
by the National Quotation Bureau  Incorporated or the OTC Bulletin Board) at the
date of  determining  the Fair Market Value,  the average of the closing bid and
asked prices on the last business day prior to the date in question; and

          (d) If  shares  of Stock of the same  class  shall  not be  listed  or
admitted to unlisted trading privileges as provided in Subparagraph  1.11(a) and
sales  prices or bid and asked  prices for such shares  shall not be reported by
NASDAQ  (or  the  National   Quotation  Bureau   Incorporated)  as  provided  in
Subparagraph 1.11(b) or Subparagraph 1.11(c) at the date of determining the Fair
Market Value, the value determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

          1.12. "Holder" shall mean an Eligible Individual to whom an Option has
been granted or any permitted transferee as that term is defined in Section 6.3.

          1.13.  "Nonstatutory  Options" and "Option"  shall mean stock  options
that do not satisfy the requirements of section 422 of the Code.

          1.15.  "Permitted  Transferee"  shall  mean  Cairn  Energy  PLC  or an
affiliate of Cairn Energy PLC.

          1.16.  "Plan" shall mean the Cairn Energy USA, Inc. Separate PLC Stock
Option Plan.

          1.17.  "Securities  Act" shall  mean the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended or any similar or superseding statute or statutes.

          1.18.  "Stock" shall mean the  Corporation's  authorized common stock,
$0.01 par  value,  together  with any other  securities  with  respect  to which
Options granted under the Plan may become exercisable.

SECTION 2.            Stock and Maximum Number of Shares Subject to the Plan.

          2.1.  Description  of Stock and Maximum  Shares  Allocated.  The Stock
which may be issued  upon the  exercise  of an Option may either be  unissued or
reacquired  shares of  Stock,  as the Board of  Directors  may,  in its sole and
absolute discretion, from time to time determine.

          Subject to the  adjustments  provided in Paragraph  6.4, the aggregate
number of shares of Stock to be issued  pursuant to the  exercise of all Options
granted under the Plan may equal but shall not exceed 30,000 shares of Stock.

          2.2. Restoration of Unpurchased Shares. If an Option granted under the
Plan expires or terminates for any reason during the term of this Plan and prior
to the exercise of the Option in full,  the shares of Stock  subject to, but not
issued under, such Option shall again be available for Options granted under the
Plan after such shares become available again.

SECTION 3.            Administration of the Plan.

          3.1. Committee.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  The
Committee  shall  be the  Compensation  Committee  of the  Board  of  Directors;
provided,  however,  that for purposes of this Plan, the Committee shall consist
of not less than two individuals.

          3.2. Duration,  Removal, Etc. The members of the Committee shall serve
at the pleasure of the Board of  Directors,  which shall have the power,  at any
time and from time to time, to remove members from the Committee

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<PAGE>



or to add members to the Committee.  Vacancies on the Committee, however caused,
shall be filled by action of the Board of Directors.

          3.3. Meetings and Actions of Committee.  The Committee shall elect one
of its  members as its  Chairman  and shall hold its  meetings at such times and
places as it may determine.  All decisions and  determinations  of the Committee
shall be made by the majority vote or decision of all of its members  present at
a meeting;  provided,  however,  that any decision or  determination  reduced to
writing  and  signed by all of the  members of the  Committee  shall be as fully
effective  as if it had  been  made at a  meeting  duly  called  and  held.  The
Committee  may make any rules and  regulations  for the conduct of its  business
that are not  inconsistent  with the provisions of this Plan and with the bylaws
of the Corporation as it may deem advisable.

          3.4.  Committee's  Powers.  Subject to the express  provisions of this
Plan,  the  Committee  shall  have  the  authority,  in its  sole  and  absolute
discretion,  (a) to adopt,  amend, and rescind  administrative  and interpretive
rules and  regulations  relating  to the Plan;  (b) to  determine  the terms and
provisions of the respective Agreements (which need not be identical); provided,
however,  such terms and provisions  shall not be  inconsistent  with this Plan,
including the extent to which the transferability of shares of Stock issued upon
exercise of Options is restricted,  but in all events shall such shares of Stock
issued upon exercise of Options be assignable to a Permitted Transferee;  (c) to
construe  the terms of any  Agreement  and the  Plan;  and (d) to make all other
determinations   and  perform  all  other  acts   necessary  or  advisable   for
administering  the Plan,  including the delegation of such  ministerial acts and
responsibilities  as the Committee deems appropriate.  The Committee may correct
any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any  inconsistency in the Plan or
in any  Agreement  in the manner and to the  extent it shall deem  expedient  to
carry  it into  effect,  and it  shall  be the  sole  and  final  judge  of such
expediency.  The Committee shall have full discretion to make all determinations
on the matters referred to in this Paragraph,  and such determinations  shall be
final, binding and conclusive.

SECTION 4.            Eligibility and Participation.

          4.1. Eligible Individuals.  Options may be granted under the Plan only
to persons who are Eligible Individuals at the time of the Option's grant.

          4.2. No Right to Option.  The adoption of the Plan shall not be deemed
to give any person a right to be granted an Option.

SECTION 5.       Automatic Grant of Options and Certain Terms of the Agreements.

          Subject to the  express  provisions  of this  Section,  each  Eligible
Individual shall be automatically granted an Option to purchase 10,000 shares of
Stock under the Plan at each of the  following  dates:  (i) the first meeting of
each term he serves as a member of the Board of Directors,  and (ii) solely with
respect to the first year for which the Plan is adopted,  the date that the Plan
is adopted.

          The date of the  first  meeting  of each term an  Eligible  Individual
serves  as a member  of the  Board of  Directors  shall be the date on which the
Option  covered by an Agreement  is granted,  even though  certain  terms of the
Agreement may not be at such time  determined  and even though the Agreement may
not be executed until a later time. In no event, however, shall an optionee gain
any  rights in  addition  to those  specified  by the  Committee  in its  grant,
regardless  of the time that may pass  between  the grant of the  Option and the
actual execution of the Agreement by the Corporation and the optionee.

          Each Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Agreement,
executed by the  Corporation  and the Eligible  Individual to whom the Option is
granted,  incorporating  such terms as the  Committee  shall deem  necessary  or
desirable; provided, however, that in all events each Option shall be assignable
to a  Permitted  Transferee.  More than one  Option  may be  granted to the same
Eligible  Individual and be outstanding  concurrently.  In the event an Eligible
Individual  is granted one or more  Nonstatutory  Options,  such grants shall be
evidenced  by  separate  Agreements,  one for  each of the  Nonstatutory  Option
grants.

          Each Agreement may contain or otherwise  provide for such restrictions
on the  transferability of shares of the Stock acquired pursuant to an Option as
the  Committee,  in its sole and  absolute  discretion,  shall  deem  proper  or
advisable;  provided,  however,  that in all  events  shall the  shares of Stock
acquired  pursuant to an Option be  assignable to a Permitted  Transferee.  Such
restrictions on transferability may include, but need not be limited to, options
and rights of first refusal in favor of the Corporation and  stockholders of the
Corporation other than a Holder who is a party to the particular  Agreement or a
subsequent person who is bound by such Agreement.


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<PAGE>



SECTION 6.            Terms and Conditions of Options.

          All Options  granted  under the Plan shall comply  with,  be deemed to
include, and shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

          6.1. Exercise Price. Each Agreement shall state the exercise price per
share of Stock.  The exercise price per share of Stock subject to a Nonstatutory
Option  shall be the Fair Market  Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant
of the Option;  provided,  however,  that with respect to the Options granted on
the date of the  adoption  of the Plan,  the  exercise  price  shall be the same
exercise  price  set for  those  Options  granted  on May 24,  1995,  under  the
Directors Plan.

          6.2. Medium and Time of Payment,  Method of Exercise,  and Withholding
Taxes. The exercise price of an Option shall be payable upon the exercise of the
Option

         (a)          in cash

         (b)          by certified or cashier's check payable to the order of 
                      the Corporation, or

         (c)          by wire transfer of immediately available funds.

Exercise of an Option shall not be effective  until the Corporation has received
written notice of exercise.  Such notice must specify the number of whole shares
to be purchased and be accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate  exercise
price of the number of shares  purchased.  The Corporation shall not in any case
be required to sell,  issue, or deliver a fractional share of Stock with respect
to any Option.

          The Committee may, in its  discretion,  require a Holder to pay to the
Corporation  at the time of  exercise of an Option (or portion of an Option) the
amount  that the  Corporation  deems  necessary  to satisfy  its  obligation  to
withhold federal, state or local income or other taxes incurred by reason of the
exercise. Where the exercise of an Option does not give rise to an obligation to
withhold Federal income or other taxes on the date of exercise,  the Corporation
may,  in its  discretion,  require a Holder to place  shares of Stock  purchased
under the Option in escrow for the benefit of the Corporation until such time as
Federal income or other tax  withholding  is no longer  required with respect to
such shares or until such  withholding  is  required on amounts  included in the
gross  income  of the  Holder as a result  of the  exercise  of an Option or the
disposition of shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise.  At such later
time, the  Corporation,  in its  discretion,  may require a Holder to pay to the
Corporation  the amount  that the  Corporation  deems  necessary  to satisfy its
obligation to withhold Federal, state or local income or other taxes incurred by
reason of the exercise of the Option or the disposition of shares of Stock. Upon
receipt  of such  payment  by the  Corporation,  such  shares of Stock  shall be
released from escrow to the Holder.

          6.3.  Term,  Time of  Exercise  and  Transferability  of  Options.  In
addition to such other terms and  conditions  as may be included in a particular
Agreement  granting an Option, an Option shall be exercisable  during a Holder's
lifetime only by the Holder or by the Holder's guardian or legal  representative
or a Permitted Transferee.

          An Option shall not be transferrable other than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified  domestic relations order as
defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or
the rules thereunder;  provided, however, that each Eligible Individual shall be
permitted to assign its rights to an Option to a Permitted Transferee.

          Each  Option  shall  be for a term  of  sixty  (60)  calendar  months,
beginning on the date of the Option's grant.

          The Option  evidenced by the  Agreement may be exercised in full or in
part as to any  number of shares  subject to the Option at any time or from time
to time during the term of the Option;  provided,  however, that notwithstanding
the  foregoing,  no part of an Option may be exercised  during the six (6) month
period  beginning on the date the Option was granted.  Except as provided  above
and unless  otherwise  provided in any Agreement,  an Option may be exercised at
any time or from time to time during the term of the Option.  Such  exercise may
be as to  any or  all  whole  (but  no  fractional)  shares  which  have  become
purchasable under the Option.

          Within a  reasonable  time (or such time as may be  permitted  by law)
after the  Corporation  receives  written  notice that the Holder has elected to
exercise all or a portion of an Option, such notice to be accompanied by payment
in full of the aggregate  Option exercise price of the number of shares of Stock
purchased,  the Corporation  shall issue and deliver a certificate  representing
the shares acquired in consequence of the exercise and any other amounts payable
in consequence of such exercise. The number of the shares of Stock transferrable
due to an exercise of an Option under

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<PAGE>



this Plan shall not be  increased  due to the passage of time,  except as may be
provided in an Agreement;  provided, however, the number of such shares of Stock
which are  transferrable  may increase due to the  occurrence of certain  events
which are fully described in Paragraph 6.4.

         Nothing  in the Plan or in any  Option  granted  under  the Plan  shall
require the  Corporation to issue any shares upon exercise of any Option if such
issuance  would,  in  the  opinion  of  counsel  for  the  Corporation,  require
registration  under  the  Securities  Act or any  other  applicable  statute  or
regulation,  as then in effect.  At the time of any  exercise of an Option,  the
Corporation  may,  as a condition  precedent  to the  exercise  of such  Option,
require   from  the  Holder   (or  in  the  event  of  his   death,   his  legal
representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees) such written representations,
if any,  concerning his  sophistication,  financial means, access to information
about the Corporation and intentions with regard to the retention or disposition
of the shares  being  acquired  by  exercise  of such  Option  and such  written
covenants  and  agreements,  if any, as to the manner of disposal of such shares
as, in the opinion of counsel to the  Corporation,  may be  necessary  to ensure
that any  disposition  by such  Holder (or in the event of his death,  his legal
representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees), will not involve a violation
of the  Securities  Act or any other  applicable  state or  federal  statute  or
regulation,  as then in effect.  Certificates for shares of Stock,  when issued,
may have the following or similar  legend,  or  statements  of other  applicable
restrictions, endorsed on them, and may not be immediately transferable:

         The shares of stock evidenced by this  certificate  have been issued to
         the  registered  owner in reliance  upon written  representations  that
         these shares have been purchased for investment.  These shares have not
         been  registered  under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  or any
         applicable  state  securities  laws, in reliance upon an exemption from
         registration.  Without such registration, these shares may not be sold,
         transferred,  assigned or otherwise  disposed of unless, in the opinion
         of  the  Corporation  and  its  legal  counsel,  such  sale,  transfer,
         assignment or  disposition  will not be in violation of the  Securities
         Act of 1933,  as  amended,  applicable  rules  and  regulations  of the
         Securities and Exchange Commission, and any applicable state securities
         laws.

          6.4.   Adjustments  Upon  Changes  in  Capitalization,   Merger,  Etc.
Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan to the contrary, in the event of
any change in the number of outstanding shares of Stock

         (a)          effected   without   receipt  of   consideration   by  the
                      Corporation  by  reason  of  a  stock   dividend,   split,
                      combination, exchange of shares or other recapitalization,
                      merger,  or  otherwise,  in which the  Corporation  is the
                      surviving corporation, or

         (b)          by reason of a spin-off of a part of the Corporation into 
                      a separate entity, or assumptions and conversions of out-
                      standing grants due to an acquisition by the Corporation 
                      of a separate entity,

(1) the aggregate  number and class of the reserved  shares,  (2) the number and
class of shares subject to each outstanding Option and (3) the exercise price of
each  outstanding  Option  shall be  automatically  adjusted to  accurately  and
equitably  reflect  the  effect  of  such  change.  In the  event  of a  dispute
concerning such  adjustment,  the Committee has full discretion to determine the
resolution  of the  dispute.  Such  determination  shall be final,  binding  and
conclusive. The number of reserved shares or the number of shares subject to any
outstanding Option shall be automatically  reduced by any fraction which results
from any adjustment made pursuant to this Paragraph.

         The  following  provisions  of this  Paragraph  shall  apply  unless  a
Holder's Agreement provides otherwise. In the event of:

         (a)          a dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation,

         (b)          a merger or consolidation (other than a merger effecting a
                      re-incorporation of the Corporation in another state or 
                      any other merger or a consolidation in which the stock-
                      holders of the surviving corporation and their 
                      proportionate interests therein immediately after the 
                      merger or consolidation are substantially identical to the
                      stockholders of the Corporation and their proportionate 
                      interests therein immediately prior to the merger or 
                      consolidation) in which the Corporation is not the
                      surviving corporation (or survives only as a subsidiary of
                      another corporation in a transaction in which the stock-
                      holders of the parent of the Corporation and their 
                      proportionate interests therein immediately after the 
                      transaction are not substantially identical to the stock-
                      holders of the Corporation and their proportionate 
                      interests therein immediately prior to the transaction; 
                      provided, however, that the Board of Directors may at any 
                      time prior to such a merger or consolidation provide by 
                      resolution that the foregoing provisions of this paren-
                      thetical shall not apply if a majority of the board of 
                      directors of such parent immediately after the transaction
                      consists of individuals who constituted a majority of the 
                      Board of Directors immediately prior to the transaction), 
                      or

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         (c)          a transaction in which any person becomes the owner of 50%
                      or more of the total combined voting power of all classes 
                      of stock of the Corporation (provided, however, that the
                      Board of Directors may at any time prior to such trans-
                      action provide by resolution that this Subparagraph shall 
                      not apply if such acquiring person is a corporation and a 
                      majority of the board of directors of the acquiring 
                      corporation immediately after the transaction consists of 
                      individuals who constituted a majority of the Board of 
                      Directors immediately prior to the acquisition of such 50%
                      or more total combined voting power)

a Holder shall be entitled to receive,  upon the  exercise of such Option,  with
respect  to each  share  of  Stock  (i) the  number  of  shares  of stock of the
surviving  corporation  (or equity  interest  in any other  entity) and (ii) any
other notes,  evidences of indebtedness or other property that Holder would have
received in connection  with such  transaction  had he exercised the Option with
respect  to such  shares  of  Stock  immediately  prior  to the  record  date of
consummation of such transaction.

          6.5.  Rights  as a  Stockholder.  A  Holder  shall  have no right as a
stockholder with respect to any shares covered by his Option until a certificate
representing  such shares is issued to the Holder.  No adjustment  shall be made
for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary,  whether in cash or other property) or
distributions  or other  rights for which the  record  date is prior to the date
such certificate is issued, except as provided in Paragraph 6.4.

          6.6.  Modification,  Extension and Renewal of Options. No modification
of an Option  granted  under the Plan shall,  without the consent of the Holder,
alter or impair any rights or obligations  under any Option  previously  granted
under the Plan to such Holder under the Plan.

          6.7. Furnish Information. Each Holder shall furnish to the Corporation
all  information  requested by the  Corporation  to enable it to comply with any
reporting  or other  requirement  imposed upon the  Corporation  by or under any
applicable statute or regulation.

          6.8. Obligation to Exercise.  The granting of an Option under the Plan
shall impose no obligation upon the Holder to exercise it or any part of it.

          6.9. Agreement  Provisions.  The Agreements  authorized under the Plan
shall  contain  such  provisions  in  addition  to  those  required  by the Plan
(including, without limitation, restrictions or the removal of restrictions upon
the  exercise of the Option and the  retention  or  transfer  of shares  thereby
acquired) as the Committee shall deem advisable.

SECTION 7.            Remedies and Specific Performance.

          7.1.  Remedies.  The  Corporation  shall be entitled to recover from a
Holder reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in connection with the enforcement of
the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Agreement,  whether by an action to
enforce  specific  performance,  or an  action  for  damages  for its  breach or
otherwise.


          7.2.  Specific  Performance.  The  Corporation  shall be  entitled  to
enforce  the terms and  provisions  of this  Section,  including  the  remedy of
specific performance, in Dallas County, Texas.

SECTION 8.            Duration of Plan.

          No Options may be granted  under the Plan after the  expiration of the
Director Plan.

SECTION 9.            Amendment of Plan.

          For purposes of complying with changes in the Code or ERISA, the Board
of Directors may amend,  modify,  suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. For
purposes of meeting or addressing any other changes in legal requirements or any
other purpose,  the Board of Directors may amend,  modify,  suspend or terminate
the Plan.  No Option may be granted  during any  suspension of the Plan or after
the Plan has been terminated, and no amendment, suspension or termination shall,
without a Holder's consent,  alter or impair, other than as provided in the Plan
and the Holder's  Agreement,  any of the rights or obligations  under any Option
previously granted to such Holder under the Plan.

SECTION 10.           General.

          10.1.  Application of Funds. The proceeds  received by the Corporation
from the sale of shares pursuant to Options shall be used for general  corporate
purposes.


                                       76

<PAGE>



          10.2.  Right to Terminate  Director Status.  Nothing  contained in the
Plan, or in any Agreement, shall confer upon any Holder the right to continue as
a  director  of the  Corporation,  or  interfere  in any way with the  rights to
terminate his status as a director.

          10.3. No Liability for Good Faith Determinations.  Neither the members
of the Board of Directors  nor any member of the  Committee  shall be liable for
any act, omission,  or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to
the Plan or any Option  granted  under it, and members of the Board of Directors
and the Committee shall be entitled to indemnification  and reimbursement by the
Corporation  in respect  of any  claim,  loss,  damage,  or  expense  (including
attorneys'  fees, the costs of settling any suit  (provided  such  settlement is
approved by independent  legal counsel  selected by the Corporation) and amounts
paid in satisfaction of a judgment,  except a judgment based on a finding of bad
faith)  arising  from such claim,  loss,  damage,  or expense to the full extent
permitted by law and under any  directors'  and  officers'  liability or similar
insurance coverage that may from time to time be in effect.

          10.4.  Information  Confidential.  As  partial  consideration  for the
granting of each Option under the Plan,  the Agreement  may, in the  Committee's
sole and  absolute  discretion,  provide  that the Holder  shall  agree with the
Corporation that he will keep confidential all information and knowledge that he
has  relating  to the  manner  and  amount  of his  participation  in the  Plan;
provided, however, that such information may be disclosed as required by law and
may be given in confidence to the Holder's spouse,  tax and financial  advisors,
or to a financial  institution to the extent that such  information is necessary
to secure a loan. In the event any breach of this promise comes to the attention
of the Committee,  it shall take into  consideration such breach, in determining
whether to recommend the grant of any future Option to such Holder,  as a factor
militating  against the  advisability of granting any such future Option to such
individual.

          10.5. Other Benefits.  The Options granted under this Plan shall be in
addition to regular  directors' fees and other benefits  granted with respect to
the  position  of a member of the Board of  Directors.  Neither the Plan nor any
Option granted under the Plan shall confer upon any person a right to serve as a
member of the Board of Directors.

          10.6.  Execution of Receipts and Releases.  Any payment of cash or any
issuance  or  transfer  of  shares  of  Stock  to the  Holder,  or to his  legal
representative, heir, legatee, or distributee, in accordance with the provisions
of the Plan, shall, to the extent thereof, be in full satisfaction of all claims
of such persons  under the Plan.  The  Committee  may require any Holder,  legal
representative,  heir, legatee, or distributee, as a condition precedent to such
payment,  to execute a release and  receipt for such  payment in such form as it
shall determine.

          10.7.  No  Guarantee  of  Interests.  Neither  the  Committee  nor the
Corporation guarantees the Stock from loss or depreciation.

          10.8.   Payment   of   Expenses.   All   expenses   incident   to  the
administration,  termination,  or  protection  of the Plan,  including,  but not
limited to, legal and accounting  fees,  shall be paid by the Corporation or its
Affiliates;  provided,  however, the Corporation or an Affiliate may recover any
and all damages,  fees,  expenses and costs  arising out of any actions taken by
the Corporation or an Affiliate to enforce its rights under the Plan.

          10.9.   Corporation  Records.   Records  of  the  Corporation  or  its
Affiliates regarding the Holder's period of service,  termination of service and
the reason for such  termination,  and other matters shall be conclusive for all
purposes under the Plan, unless determined by the Committee to be incorrect.

          10.10.  Information.  The Corporation and its Affiliates  shall,  upon
request or as may be specifically  required under the Plan,  furnish or cause to
be  furnished  all of the  information  or  documentation  that is  necessary or
required by the Committee to perform its duties and functions under the Plan.

          10.11.  No  Liability  of  Corporation.  The  Corporation  assumes  no
obligation or responsibility to the Holder or his legal representatives,  heirs,
legatees,  or distributees for any act of, or failure to act on the part of, the
Committee.

          10.12.  Corporation  Action.  Any action  required of the  Corporation
relating  to the  Plan  shall  be by  resolution  of  its  Board  of  Directors,
Compensation  Committee of the Board of Directors or by a person  authorized  to
act by resolution of the Board of Directors or such Compensation Committee.

          10.13.  Severability.  If any  provision  of  this  Plan is held to be
illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect
the  remaining  provisions  of the  Plan,  but  such  provision  shall  be fully
severable,  and the Plan shall be  construed  and  enforced as if the illegal or
invalid provision had never been included in the Plan.


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<PAGE>



          10.14. Notices. Whenever any notice is required or permitted under the
Plan, such notice must be in writing and personally delivered or sent by mail or
by a nationally  recognized courier service. Any notice required or permitted to
be delivered under this Agreement shall be deemed to be delivered on the date on
which it is personally  delivered,  or, if mailed,  whether actually received or
not, on the third  business day after it is deposited in the United States mail,
certified  or  registered,  postage  prepaid,  addressed to the person who is to
receive it at the address which such person has previously  specified by written
notice   delivered  in  accordance  with  this  Paragraph  or,  if  by  courier,
twenty-four  (24)  hours  after  it is  sent,  addressed  as  described  in this
Paragraph.  The Corporation or a Holder may change, at any time and from time to
time, by written notice to the other,  the address which it or he had previously
specified for receiving notices.  Until changed in accordance with the Plan, the
Corporation  and each Holder shall  specify as its and his address for receiving
notices the address set forth in the Agreement pertaining to the shares to which
such notice relates.

          10.15.  Waiver of Notice. Any person entitled to notice under the Plan
may waive such notice.

          10.16.  Successors.  The Plan shall be binding  upon the  Holder,  his
legal representatives,  heirs, legatees and distributees,  upon the Corporation,
its successors, and assigns, and upon the Committee, and its successors.

          10.17.  Headings.  The titles and headings of Sections and  Paragraphs
are included for  convenience  of reference only and are not to be considered in
construction of the Plan's provisions.

          10.18.  Governing  Law.  All  questions  arising  with  respect to the
provisions  of the Plan shall be determined  by  application  of the laws of the
State of Texas  except to the extent  Texas law is  preempted  by federal law or
Delaware  corporate law that is controlling.  Questions  arising with respect to
the  provisions  of an  Agreement  that are  matters  of  contract  law shall be
governed  by the laws of the state  specified  in the  Agreement,  except to the
extent preempted by federal law and except to the extent that Delaware corporate
law  conflicts  with the  contract  law of such state,  in which event  Delaware
corporate  law shall  govern.  The  obligation  of the  Corporation  to sell and
deliver Stock under the Plan is subject to  applicable  laws and to the approval
of any  governmental  authority  required in connection with the  authorization,
issuance, sale, or delivery of such Stock.

          10.19.  Word  Usage.  Words used in the  masculine  shall apply to the
feminine where applicable,  and wherever the context of this Plan dictates,  the
plural shall be read as the singular and the singular as the plural.

         The Plan shall take effect on January 10, 1996, the date it was adopted
by the Board of Directors.

          IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Cairn Energy USA, Inc. acting by and through its
duly authorized officer, has executed this Plan on this the 10th day of January,
1996.

                             CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.



                             By: /s/ Susan H. Rader
                                --------------------------------------
                                Susan H. Rader, Secretary


                                       78

<PAGE>




                                  EXHIBIT 10.16











                                       79

<PAGE>



                             CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.
                       NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


         THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 10th day of January,
1996,   between   Cairn   Energy  USA,   Inc.,  a  Delaware   corporation   (the
"Corporation"),  and William B.B.  Gammell (the "Holder") in connection with the
grant of a Nonstatutory  Option (defined below) under the Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
Separate PLC Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").


                              W I T N E S S E T H:

          WHEREAS,  the Holder is a director  of the  Corporation  and is not an
employee of the Corporation or one of its Affiliates (defined below);

          WHEREAS,  the Holder is not entitled to receive any Options  under the
Directors Plan;

         WHEREAS,  the Corporation  desires to encourage the Holder to own Stock
(defined  below) and to give him added incentive to advance the interests of the
Corporation through the Plan; and

         WHEREAS,  the  Corporation  desires to grant the Holder a  Nonstatutory
Option to purchase shares of Stock of the Corporation under terms and conditions
established by the Plan.

         NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of these premises,  the parties agree
that the following  shall  constitute the Agreement  between the Corporation and
the Holder:

          1.  Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement,  defined terms shall
have the meanings given to them by the Plan except as specified below:

          1.1   "Agreement"   shall  mean  this  document  as  executed  by  the
Corporation and the Holder, and as it may be subsequently amended.

          1.2 "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

          1.3 "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or any similar or superseding statute or statutes.

          1.4  "Nonstatutory  Option"  and  "Option"  shall mean a stock  option
granted  pursuant to this  Agreement that does not satisfy the  requirements  of
section 422 of the Code.

          1.5.  "Permitted  Transferee"  shall  mean  Cairn  Energy  PLC  or  an
affiliate of Cairn Energy PLC. The term affiliate for purposes of the definition
of  Permitted  Transferee  shall  mean a person  or  entity  that  directly,  or
indirectly  through  one or more  intermediaries,  controls  or is under  common
control with, Cairn Energy PLC.

          1.6  "Securities  Act"  shall  mean the  Securities  Act of  1933,  as
amended, or any similar or superseding statute or statutes.

          2. Grant of Nonstatutory  Option.  Subject to the terms and conditions
set forth in this Agreement, the Corporation grants to the Holder a Nonstatutory
Option to purchase  from the  Corporation  during the period  ending  sixty (60)
calendar  months  from the date of this  Agreement  10,000  shares of Stock at a
price of $10.00 per share,  subject to  adjustment,  if any, as provided in this
Agreement.  This  Nonstatutory  Option is exercisable with respect to all of the
shares of Stock  subject to the Option only after the six month  anniversary  of
the date this Option is granted.

          3. Notice of Exercise.  This  Nonstatutory  Option may be exercised in
whole or in part,  from time to time, in accordance with Paragraph 2, by written
notice to the  Corporation  at the  address  provided in this  Agreement,  which
notice shall:

          (a) specify the number of whole  shares of Stock to be  purchased  and
the exercise price to be paid for such shares;


                                       80

<PAGE>



          (b) if the  person  exercising  this  Nonstatutory  Option  is not the
Holder  himself,  contain or be  accompanied  by  evidence  satisfactory  to the
Committee of such person's right to exercise this Nonstatutory Option; and

          (c) be  accompanied  by payment in full of the  purchase  price in the
form of cash, a certified or cashier's  check to the order of the Corporation or
a wire transfer of immediately available funds.

         This Option may be exercised  only in  increments at least equal to the
lesser of one hundred  (100) shares or ten percent  (10%) of the number of whole
shares as to which it is exercisable.

         4.  Investment  Letter.  The  Holder  agrees  that the  shares of Stock
acquired on exercise of this  Nonstatutory  Option shall be acquired for his own
account for investment  only and not with a view to, or for resale in connection
with,  any  distribution  or public  offering  thereof within the meaning of the
Securities  Act  or  other  applicable  securities  laws.  If the  Committee  so
determines,  any Stock  certificates  issued upon exercise of this  Nonstatutory
Option  shall bear a legend to the effect that the shares have been so acquired.
The  Corporation  may, but in no event shall be required to, file a registration
statement  with  respect to the  Options or any  shares of Stock  acquired  upon
exercise of the Options or otherwise  bear any  expenses of  complying  with the
Securities Act, other applicable securities laws or the rules and regulations of
any national  securities  exchange or other  regulatory  authority in connection
with the registration,  qualification,  or transfer, as the case may be, of this
Nonstatutory  Option or any shares of Stock  acquired  upon the exercise of this
Nonstatutory Option. The foregoing restrictions on the transfer of the shares of
Stock shall be inoperative  if (a) the  Corporation  previously  shall have been
furnished  with an opinion of  counsel,  satisfactory  to it, to the effect that
such  transfer  will not involve any  violation of the  Securities  Act or other
applicable  securities  laws,  or (b) the  shares of Stock  shall have been duly
registered in compliance with the Securities Act and other applicable securities
laws.

         5.  Transfer and Exercise of  Nonstatutory  Option.  This  Nonstatutory
Option  shall  not be  transferable  except by will or the laws of  descent  and
distribution or pursuant to a qualified  domestic  relations order as defined in
the Code or Title I of the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act or the rules
thereunder;  provided,  however,  that Holder  shall be  permitted to assign its
rights to the Option to a Permitted  Transferee.  No  assignment  or transfer of
this Nonstatutory Option, whether voluntary or involuntary,  by operation of law
or otherwise,  except a transfer by will or the laws of descent or distribution,
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined in the Code or Title
I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or the rules thereunder,  or to
a Permitted  Transferee shall vest in the assignee or transferee any interest or
right whatsoever in this Nonstatutory Option.

         During the Holder's lifetime, this Nonstatutory Option may be exercised
only by him, his guardian or his legal representative or a Permitted Transferee.

         6. Status of Holder.  The Holder shall not be deemed a  stockholder  of
the  Corporation  with  respect  to any of the  shares of Stock  subject to this
Nonstatutory  Option,  except to the  extent  that such  shares  shall have been
purchased and transferred to him. The Corporation shall not be required to issue
or transfer any certificates for shares of Stock purchased upon exercise of this
Nonstatutory Option until all applicable requirements of law have been satisfied
and, if  applicable,  such shares shall have been duly listed on any  securities
exchange on which the Stock may then be listed.

         7. No Effect on Capital Structure.  This Nonstatutory  Option shall not
affect the right of the Corporation or any Affiliate to reclassify, recapitalize
or  otherwise  change its capital or debt  structure  or to merge,  consolidate,
convey any or all of its  assets,  dissolve,  liquidate,  windup,  or  otherwise
reorganize.

          8.  Expiration of Nonstatutory  Option.  This Option shall expire only
upon  the  earlier  of the  date  it is  completely  exercised  or the  Option's
expiration date as determined under Paragraph 2.

          9. Committee Authority.  Any question concerning the interpretation of
this Agreement,  any adjustments  required to be made under this Agreement,  and
any controversy  which may arise under this Agreement shall be determined by the
Committee in its sole discretion.

         10. Plan  Controls.  The terms of this  Agreement  are  governed by the
terms of the Plan,  a copy of which is  attached as Exhibit A and made a part of
this Agreement as if fully set forth in this  Agreement,  and in the case of any
inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the
terms of the Plan shall control.

         11.  Notice.  Whenever any notice is required or  permitted  under this
Agreement,  such notice must be in writing and personally delivered,  telecopied
(if confirmed) or sent by mail. Any notice required or permitted to be delivered
under this  Agreement  shall be deemed to be  delivered  on the date which it is
personally  delivered,  or,  whether  actually  received  or not,  on the  third
business  day after it is  deposited  in the United  States  mail,  certified or
registered,

                                       81

<PAGE>



postage  prepaid,  addressed  to the person who is to receive it at the  address
which such  person has  previously  specified  by written  notice  delivered  in
accordance  with this Agreement.  The  Corporation or Holder may change,  at any
time  and from  time to time,  by  written  notice  to the  other,  the  address
previously  specified for receiving  notices.  Until changed in accordance  with
this  Agreement,  the  Corporation  and  the  Holder  specify  their  respective
addresses as set forth below:

         Corporation:                   Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                                        8235 Douglas Avenue, Suite 1221
                                        Dallas, Texas 75225
                                        Attention: Michael R. Gilbert, President

         Holder:                        William B.B. Gammell
                                        Cairn Energy PLC
                                        Cairn House
                                        61 Dublin Street
                                        Edinburgh, Scotland EH3 6NL

         12. Information Confidential. As partial consideration for the granting
of this  Nonstatutory  Option,  the Holder agrees that he will keep confidential
all  information  and knowledge that he has relating to the manner and amount of
participation  in the Plan;  provided,  however,  that such  information  may be
disclosed  as required  by law and may be given in  confidence  to the  Holder's
spouse, tax and financial advisors,  or to a financial institution to the extent
that such information is necessary to secure a loan.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Corporation  has caused this Agreement to be
executed  and the Holder has executed  this  Agreement on the day and year first
above written.

                                                     "CORPORATION"

                                                     CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.



                                                     By:________________________
                                                     Title:_____________________


                                                     "HOLDER"



                                                     ___________________________
                                                     William B.B. Gammell


                                       82

<PAGE>






                                  EXHIBIT 10.17











                                       83

<PAGE>



                  FIRST AMENDMENT TO FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

          THIS FIRST  AMENDMENT TO FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED  CREDIT  AGREEMENT
(this  "Amendment")  is made as of the 12th day of December,  1995, by and among
CAIRN ENERGY USA,  INC.,  a Delaware  corporation  ("Borrower"),  INTERNATIONALE
NEDERLANDEN (U.S.) CAPITAL CORPORATION,  as agent ("Agent"),  and INTERNATIONALE
NEDERLANDEN  (U.S.)  CAPITAL   CORPORATION  and  MEESPIERSON  N.V.,  as  lenders
("Lenders").

                                R E C I T A L S:


         Borrower, Agent and Lenders entered into that certain First Amended and
Restated  Credit  Agreement  dated  as  of  December  20,  1994  (the  "Original
Agreement"),  for the purposes and consideration therein expressed,  pursuant to
which  Lenders  made and became  obligated  to make loans to Borrower as therein
provided; and Borrower, Agent and Lenders desire to amend the Original Agreement
as provided herein.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and  the  mutual
covenants and  agreements  contained  herein and in the Original  Agreement,  in
consideration  of the loans which may  hereafter be made by Lenders to Borrower,
and for other good and valuable  consideration,  the receipt and  sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

                     ARTICLE I - Definitions and References

         1.1  Terms  Defined  in the  Original  Agreement.  Unless  the  context
otherwise  requires or unless  otherwise  expressly  defined  herein,  the terms
defined in the Original  Agreement shall have the same meanings whenever used in
this  Amendment,  and the following terms when used in this Amendment shall have
the following meanings:

          "Amendment/Allonge" has the meaning given it in Section 3.1(h) hereof.

          "Amendment"  means this First  Amendment to First Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement.

          "Credit Agreement" means the Original Agreement as amended hereby.


                  ARTICLE II - Amendments to Original Agreement

          2.1 Amendment to Defined Terms. The definition of "Commitment  Period"
set forth in Section  1.1 of the  Original  Agreement  is hereby  amended in its
entirety to read as follows:

                  "Commitment  Period"  means  the  period  from  and  including
         December 20, 1994 until and  including  March 31, 1997 (or, if earlier,
         the day on which the Notes first become due and payable in full).

          2.2  Amendment  to  Regular  Payments.  Section  2.8 of  the  Original
Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

         Section 2.8 Regular  Payments.  Borrower will pay interest on the Loans
         as specified in the Notes.  Borrower will repay the aggregate principal
         amount  of the  Loans  outstanding  on the last  day of the  Commitment
         Period in eleven (11) quarterly  installments,  on the last day of each
         March, June,  September and December,  beginning June 30, 1997. Each of
         the first three (3) such  installments  shall be in an amount  equal to
         twelve and  fifty-nine  hundredths  percent  (12.59%) of the  aggregate
         unpaid  principal  balance  of the  Loans at the end of the  Commitment
         Period;  each of the next  four (4)  such  installments  shall be in an
         amount  equal to  eight  and  three  hundred  thirty-three  thousandths
         percent (8.333%) of the aggregate unpaid principal balance of the Loans
         at the end of the  Commitment  Period;  each of the next three (3) such
         installments  shall be in an  amount  equal to  seven  and two  hundred
         twenty-two   thousandths  percent  (7.222%)  of  the  aggregate  unpaid
         principal balance of the Loans at the end of the Commitment Period; and
         the last such installment  shall be in an amount equal to seven and two
         hundred  twenty-three  thousandths  percent  (7.223%) of the  aggregate
         unpaid  principal  balance  of the  Loans at the end of the  Commitment
         Period.  Such amounts shall be rounded  upwards to the nearest  $1,000.
         Agent shall  determine the amount of each such  principal  installment,
         which amount shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

                                       84

<PAGE>



          2.3 Hedging  Contracts.  The first clause of Section  5.2(c)(i) of the
Original Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

                  (i)  contracts  entered  into with the  purpose  and effect of
         fixing  prices on oil or gas  expected  to be  produced  by the Related
         Persons, provided that at all times: (1) no such contract fixes a price
         for a term of more than twelve (12) months;  (2) the aggregate  monthly
         production  covered by all such contracts  (determined,  in the case of
         contracts  that  are not  settled  on a  monthly  basis,  by a  monthly
         proration  acceptable  to Agent) for any  single  month does not in the
         aggregate  exceed  seventy-five  percent (75%) of the Related  Persons'
         aggregate  Projected Oil and Gas  Production  anticipated to be sold in
         the ordinary course of the Related Persons'  businesses for such month,
         (3) no such  contract  [other than gas  commodities  futures  contracts
         through INDC as broker;  provided that the aggregate monthly production
         covered by such contract (determined, in the case of contracts that are
         not settled on a monthly basis,  by a monthly  proration  acceptable to
         Agent) for any single  month does not in the  aggregate  exceed  thirty
         percent (30%) of Borrower's  aggregate Projected Oil and Gas Production
         anticipated  to be sold in the ordinary  course of Borrower's  business
         for such month]  requires any Related  Person to put up money,  assets,
         letters  of  credit  or  other  security   against  the  event  of  its
         nonperformance  prior to  actual  default  by such  Related  Person  in
         performing its  obligations  thereunder,  and (4) each such contract is
         with  a  counterparty  or has a  guarantor  of  the  obligation  of the
         counterparty  who (unless such  counterparty  is a Lender or one of its
         Affiliates) at the time the contract is made has long-term  obligations
         rated BB+ or Bal or better, respectively, by either Rating Agency.

         2.4 Borrowing  Base. As contemplated in and pursuant to Section 2.11 of
the Credit  Agreement,  Agent hereby designates the new Borrowing Base under the
Credit Agreement as $45,000,000,  effective as of the date hereof and continuing
until  but not  including  the  next  date as of  which  the  Borrowing  Base is
redetermined.


                    ARTICLE III - Conditions of Effectiveness

         3.1 Effective  Date.  This Amendment  shall become  effective as of the
date first above written when (i) Lender shall have  received this  Amendment at
Lender's  office duly  authorized,  executed and  delivered  by  Borrower,  (ii)
Borrower shall have issued and delivered to each Lender an Amendment and Allonge
(each an  "Amendment/Allonge")  to each  Note in the  form  attached  hereto  as
Attachment 1, duly  executed on behalf of Borrower,  (iii)  Borrower  shall have
paid to Agent (A) an agency fee for its own account in the amount of $5,000, and
(B) an  extension  fee in the amount of $25,000 for the account of Lenders,  and
(iv) Lender shall have additionally received all of the following documents each
being  duly  authorized,  executed  and  delivered,  and in form  and  substance
satisfactory to Lender:

                  (a)  Opinion of Counsel  for  Borrower.  A written  opinion of
         Jenkens & Gilchrist, a Professional Corporation,  counsel for Borrower,
         dated as of the date of this Amendment, addressed to Agent and Lenders,
         to the effect that this Amendment and each  Amendment/Allonge have been
         duly authorized, executed and delivered by Borrower and that the Credit
         Agreement and the Note and each Amendment/Allonge constitute the legal,
         valid and binding  obligations  of Borrower,  enforceable in accordance
         with their terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable
         bankruptcy, reorganization,  insolvency and similar laws and to general
         principles of equity).

                  (b)  Omnibus  Certificate.   An  Omnibus  Certificate  of  the
         Secretary  and of the Chairman of the Board or President of Borrower of
         even  date with  this  Amendment,  which  shall  contain  the names and
         signatures  of the officers  authorized  to execute this  Amendment and
         each   Amendment/Allonge   and  which  shall   certify  to  the  truth,
         correctness and  completeness  of. (i) all of the exhibits  attached to
         that certain Omnibus Certificate dated as of December 20, 1994, made by
         such officers of Borrower,  and (ii) a copy of resolutions duly adopted
         by the Board of  Directors  of Borrower and in full force and effect at
         the time this Amendment is entered into,  authorizing  the execution of
         this Amendment and each Amendment/Allonge.

                  (c) Compliance  Certificate.  A Compliance  Certificate of the
         Chief Financial Officer of Borrower,  of even date with this Amendment,
         in which such officer shall  certify,  to the best of his knowledge and
         belief after due inquiry, to the satisfaction of the conditions set out
         in  subsections  (a)  through  (d),  inclusive,  of Section  3.2 of the
         Original Agreement as of the date hereof.



                                       85

<PAGE>



             ARTICLE IV - Representations, Warranties and Covenants

          4.1 Representations, Warranties and Covenants of Borrower. In order to
induce  Agent and  Lenders to enter into this  Amendment,  Borrower  represents,
warrants and covenants to Agent and each Lender that:

                  (a) The  representations  and warranties  contained in Section
         4.1 of the  Original  Agreement  are true and  correct at and as of the
         time of the  effectiveness  hereof,  except  to the  extent  that  such
         representations  and warranties are made in the Original Agreement only
         in reference to a specific date and except to the extent that the facts
         upon which  such  representations  are based  have been  changed by the
         extension of credit under the Credit Agreement.

                  (b)  Borrower is duly  authorized  to execute and deliver this
         Amendment  and,each  Amendment/Allonge  and is and will  continue to be
         duly  authorized  to borrow and to perform  its  obligations  under the
         Credit  Agreement.   Borrower  has  duly  taken  all  corporate  action
         necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Amendment and
         each   Amendment/Allonge  and  to  authorize  the  performance  of  the
         obligations hereunder and thereunder.

                  (c) The execution  and delivery by Borrower of this  Amendment
         and each Amendment/Allonge and the performance by it of its obligations
         hereunder and under the Credit  Agreement and the  consummation  of the
         transactions  contemplated  hereby  and  thereby  do not and  will  not
         conflict with any provision of law,  statute,  rule or regulation or of
         the articles of  incorporation or bylaws of Borrower or of any material
         agreement,  judgment, license, order or permit applicable to or binding
         upon  Borrower  or  result  in the  creation  of any  lien,  charge  or
         encumbrance  upon any  assets  or  properties  of  Borrower,  except as
         expressly  contemplated in the Loan  Documents.  Except for those which
         have been duly obtained, no consent,  approval,  authorization or order
         of any court or  governmental  authority  or third party is required in
         connection  with  the  execution  and  delivery  by  Borrower  of  this
         Amendment and each  Amendment/Allonge or to consummate the transactions
         contemplated hereby and thereby.

                  (d) When this Amendment is duly executed and  delivered,  each
         of this Amendment, the Credit Agreement and each Amendment/Allonge will
         be  a  legal  and  binding   instrument   and  agreement  of  Borrower,
         enforceable  in  accordance  with  its  terms,  except  as  limited  by
         bankruptcy,  insolvency  and similar laws and by general  principles of
         equity.

                  (e) The audited annual  Consolidated  financial  statements of
         Borrower  dated as of  December  31, 1994 and the  unaudited  quarterly
         Consolidated financial statements of Borrower dated as of September 30,
         1995 fairly present the Consolidated  financial  position at such dates
         and the  Consolidated  statement of  operations  and cash flows for the
         periods  ending on such dates for  Borrower.  Copies of such  financial
         statements have  heretofore  been delivered to Lender.  Since September
         30, 1995,  no material  adverse  change has  occurred in the  financial
         condition or businesses or in the Consolidated  financial  condition or
         businesses of Borrower.


                            ARTICLE V - Miscellaneous

         5.1  Ratification  of  Agreements.  The  Original  Agreement  as hereby
amended is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects. The Loan Documents, as
they may be amended or affected by this  Amendment  and each  Amendment/Allonge,
are hereby  ratified and confirmed in all respects.  Any reference to the Credit
Agreement in any Loan Document  shall be deemed to refer to this  Amendment also
and any  reference  in any Loan  Document to any other  document  or  instrument
amended,  renewed,  extended or  otherwise  affected by this  Amendment  or each
Amendment/Allonge shall also refer to such Amendment and each Amendment/Allonge.
Any  reference  to any Note in any other Loan  Document  shall be deemed to be a
reference  to such  Note  and the  Amendment/Allonge  to such  Note  issued  and
delivered pursuant to this Amendment. The execution,  delivery and effectiveness
of this  Amendment and each  Amendment/Allonge  shall not operate as a waiver of
any right,  power or remedy of Agent or any Lender under the Credit Agreement or
any other Loan  Document nor  constitute a waiver of any provision of the Credit
Agreement or any other Loan Document.

         5.2 Survival of Agreements. All representations,  warranties, covenants
and  agreements  of Borrower  herein shall survive the execution and delivery of
this Amendment and the performance  hereof and the issuance and delivery of each
Amendment/Allonge,  including  without  limitation the making or granting of the
Loans,  and shall further survive until all of the Obligations are paid in full.
All  statements  and  agreements  contained  in any  certificate  or  instrument
delivered by Borrower  hereunder  or under the Credit  Agreement to Agent or any
Lender  shall be deemed to  constitute  representations  and  warranties  by, or
agreements and covenants of,  Borrower under this Amendment and under the Credit
Agreement.


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         5.3  Protection  of Security  Interests and Liens.  Borrower  agrees to
deliver to Agent within fifteen days after request any amendments or supplements
to any Security  Documents,  properly  completed and executed (and  acknowledged
when required) by Borrower,  in form and substance  satisfactory to Agent, which
Agent  reasonably  requests  for  the  purpose  of  perfecting,  confirming,  or
protecting any Liens or other rights in Collateral  securing any  Obligations in
connection  with the  extension  of the  maturity  date of the Notes as provided
herein and in the Amendment/Allonges thereto.

          5.4 Loan Documents. This Amendment and the Amendment/Allonges are each
Loan Documents,  and all provisions in the Credit  Agreement  pertaining to Loan
Documents apply hereto and thereto.

          5.5 GOVERNING LAW. THIS  AMENDMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE  WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND ANY APPLICABLE LAWS OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN ALL RESPECTS,  INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION,  VALIDITY
AND PERFORMANCE.

         5.6  Counterparts.   This  Amendment  may  be  separately  executed  in
counterparts and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts,  each
of  which  when so  executed  shall be  deemed  to  constitute  one and the same
Amendment.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  this  Amendment  is executed as of the date first
above written.

                                            CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.


                                            By:/s/ J. Munro M. Sutherland
                                               ---------------------------------
                                                   J. Munro M. Sutherland
                                                    Senior Vice President


                                            INTERNATIONALE NEDERLANDEN
                                            (U.S.) CAPITAL CORPORATION


                                            By:/s/ Trond O. Rokholt
                                               ---------------------------------
                                                     Trond O. Rokholt
                                                      Vice President


                                            MEESPIERSON N.V.



                                            By:/s/ Karel Louman
                                               ---------------------------------
                                                          Karel Louman
                                                  Vice President & Manager


                                       87

<PAGE>







                                  EXHIBIT 10.18












                                       88

<PAGE>



SECOND AMENDMENT TO FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
CREDIT AGREEMENT


     THIS SECOND  AMENDMENT TO FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this
"Amendment")  is made as of the 15th day of  January,  1996,  by and among CAIRN
ENERGY USA, INC, a Delaware corporation ("Borrower"), INTERNATIONALE NEDERLANDEN
(U.S.) CAPITAL  CORPORATION,  as agent ("Agent") and INTERNATIONALE  NEDERLANDEN
(U.S.) CAPITAL CORPORATION and MEESPIERSON N.V., as lenders ("Lenders").

                                R E C I T A L S:


     Borrower,  Agent and Lenders  entered into that certain  First  Amended and
Restated  Credit  Agreement dated as of December 20, 1994, as amended by a First
Amendment to First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated December 12, 1995
(the  "Original   Agreement"),   for  the  purposes  and  consideration  therein
expressed,  pursuant to which Lenders made and became obligated to make loans to
Borrower as therein  provided;  and Borrower,  Agent and Lenders desire to amend
the Original Agreement as provided herein.

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
and agreements contained herein and in the Original Agreement;  in consideration
of the loans which may  hereafter be made by Lenders to Borrower,  and for other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:


                     ARTICLE I - Definitions and References

     1.1 Terms Defined in the Original  Agreement.  Unless the context otherwise
requires or unless otherwise  expressly defined herein, the terms defined in the
Original Agreement shall have the same meanings whenever used in this Amendment,
and the  following  terms when used in this  Amendment  shall have the following
meanings:

     "Amendment"  means this Second  Amendment  to First  Amended  and  Restated
Credit Agreement.

     "Credit Agreement" means the Original Agreement as amended hereby.


                  ARTICLE II - Amendments to Original Agreement

     2.1  Amendments  to  Defined  Terms.  The  definitions  of  "Agent,"  "Loan
Documents," "Obligations" and "Percentage Share" set forth in Section 1.1 of the
Original Agreement are hereby amended in their entirety to read as follows:

                  "Agent" means Internationale Nederlanden (U.S.) Capital 
          Corporation, as Agent hereunder (including its capacity as the issuer 
          of Letters of Credit hereunder), and its successors in such capacity.

                  "Loan  Documents"  means this  Agreement,  the  Notes,  the LC
         Applications,  the Letters of Credit, the Security  Documents,  and all
         other agreements; certificates,  documents, instruments and writings at
         any time  delivered in connection  herewith or therewith  (exclusive of
         term sheets,  commitment letters,  correspondence and similar documents
         used in the negotiation hereof).

                  "Obligations" means all Debt from time to time owing by any of
         the Related  Persons to Agent or any Lender under or pursuant to any of
         the Loom Documents,  including all LC Obligations.  "Obligation"  means
         any part of the Obligations.

                  "Percentage  Share" means, with respect to any Lender (a) when
         used in  Sections  2.1 or 2.5,  in any  Request  for Advance or when no
         Loans or LC Obligations are outstanding  hereunder,  the percentage set
         forth  opposite  such  Lender's  name on the  signature  pages  of this
         Agreement,  and (b) when used  otherwise,  the  percentage  obtained by
         dividing (j) the sum of the unpaid  principal  balance of such Lender's
         Loan at the time in question plus the Matured LC Obligations which such
         Lender has funded  pursuant to Section  2A.3(c) plus the portion of the
         Maximum  Drawing  Amount  which such Lender  might be obligated to fund
         under Section

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<PAGE>



         2A.3(c),  by (ii) the sum of the aggregate unpaid principal  balance of
         all  Loans at such  time plus the  aggregate  amount of LC  Obligations
         outstanding at such time.

     Section  1.1 of the  Original  Agreement  is hereby  amended  by adding the
following definitions of TC Application", "LC Collateral", "LC Obligations", "LC
Rate",  "Letter of  Credit,"  "Matured  LC  Obligations"  and  "Maximum  Drawing
Amount":

                  "LC Application" means any application for a commercial letter
         of credit hereafter made by Borrower to Agent.

                  "LC Collateral" has the meaning given it in Section 2A.6.

                  "LC Obligations" means at the time in question, the sum of the
         Matured LC Obligations plus the Maximum Drawing Amount.

                  "LC Rate" has the meaning given it in Section 2A.4(c).

                  "Letter  of  Credit"  means  any  commercial  letter of credit
         issued by Agent at the application of Borrower.

                  "Matured  LC  Obligations"  means at amounts  paid by Agent on
         drafts or demands for payment  drawn or made under or  purported  to be
         under  any  Letter of Credit  (or  under or in  connection  with any LC
         Application)  which have not been repaid to Agent by Borrower (with the
         proceeds of an Advance or otherwise).

                  "Maximum Drawing Amount" means at the time in question the sum
         of the maximum  amounts  which Agent might then or thereafter be called
         upon to advance under all Letters of Credit then outstanding.

     2.2 Advances.  The first sentence of Section 2.1 of the Original  Agreement
is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                  Section  2.1.  Advances.  Subject to the terms and  conditions
         hereof each Lender agrees to make advances to Borrower  (herein  called
         such  Lender's  "Advances")  upon  request from time to time during the
         Commitment  Period so long as (a) each  Advance by such Lender does not
         exceed  such  Lender's  Percentage  Share of the  aggregate  amount  of
         Advances then  requested  from all Lenders,  and (b) the sum of (i) the
         aggregate amount of such Under's Advances outstanding at any time, plus
         (ii) the  Maximum  Drawing  Amount for which  such  Lender is liable to
         purchase  participations under Section 2A.3(c),  plus (iii) the Matured
         LC  Obligations  which  have been  funded  by such  Lender  under  such
         section,  does  not  exceed  such  Lender's  Percentage  Share  of  the
         Borrowing Base determined as of the date on which the requested Advance
         is to be made, and (c) the aggregate amount of all Advances plus all LC
         Obligations does not exceed the Borrowing Base.

     2.3 Use of  Proceeds.  The first  sentence of Section  2.3 of the  Original
Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                  Section  2.3. Use of  Proceeds.  Borrower  shall use all funds
         from all Advances to provide funds for (i)  acquisitions of oil and gas
         reserves,  (ii) exploratory  drilling and  developmental  drilling with
         respect to oil and gas properties  owned as of December 1, 1994,  (iii)
         up to $10,000,000 for  exploration and development  expenses in respect
         to oil and  gas  properties  acquired  after  December  1,  1994,  (iv)
         refinancing  its Matured LC Obligations  and (v) for general  corporate
         purposes;  Borrower  shall use all  Letters of Credit  for its  general
         corporate purposes.

         The reference to "any Advance" in the second sentence of Section 2.3 of
the Original Agreement is hereby amended to refer instead to "any Advance or any
Letter of Credit".

     2.4  Commitment  Fees.  The first  sentence of Section 2.5 of the  Original
Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                  Section 2.5.      Commitment Fees.  In consideration of each 
         Lender's commitment to make Advances, Borrower will pay to Agent for 
         the account of each Lender a commitment fee determined on a daily basis
         by applying a rate of one-half of one percent (0.5%) per annum. to such
         Lenders Percentage Share of the unused portion of the Borrowing Base on
         each day during the Commitment Period,  determined  for each such day 
         by deducting  from the amount of the Borrowing  Base at the end of such
         day the sum of (i) the aggregate unpaid principal  balance of the Loans
         at the end of such day plus (ii) the amount of all LC Obligations out-
         standing at the end of such day.

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<PAGE>



     2.5  Mandatory  Prepayments.  The first  clause of the  first  sentence  of
Section  2.7(a) of the Original  Agreement is hereby  amended in its entirety to
read as follows:

                  Section  2.7.  Mandatory  Prepayments.  (a) If  the  aggregate
         unpaid  principal  balance  of the Loans plus the  aggregate  amount of
         outstanding LC Obligations  ever exceeds the Borrowing  Base,  Borrower
         shall,  within  thirty (30)  Business  Days after Agent gives notice of
         such fact to Borrower, either

     2.6 Payments to Lenders.  The last  sentence of Section 2.9 of the Original
Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

         All distributions of amounts described in any of subsections (b) or (c)
         above  shall be made by Agent  pro rata to Agent and each  Lender  then
         owed  Obligations  described in such  subsection  in  proportion to all
         amounts  owed to Agent  and all  Lenders  which are  described  in such
         subsection; provided that if any Lender then owes payments to Agent for
         the purchase of a  participation  under  Section  2A.6(a)  hereof,  any
         amounts otherwise distributable under this section to such Lender shall
         be deemed to belong to Agent,  to the extent of such  unpaid  payments,
         and Agent shall apply such amounts to make such unpaid  payments rather
         than distribute such amounts to such Lender.

     2.7  Capital  Reimbursement.  The  reference  to "the  face  amount of such
Lender's.  Loan or  commitments  under  this  Agreement"  contained  in the last
sentence of Section  2.13 of the Original  Agreement is hereby  amended to refer
instead to "the face amount of such Lender's Loan,  such Lender's  reimbursement
obligations to Agent pursuant to Section 2A.3(c) regarding Letters of Credit, or
any other commitments of such Lender under this Agreement".

     2.8  Increased   Cost  of  Fixed  Rate  Portions  and  Letters  of  Credit.
Subsections  (a),  (b) and (c) of Section  2.14 of the  Original  Agreement  are
hereby amended in their entirety to read as follows:

                  (a) shall  change the basis of  taxation  of  payments  to any
         Lender of any principal, interest, or other amounts attributable to any
         Fixed Rate Portion or otherwise due under this  Agreement in respect of
         any Fixed  Rate  Portion  or any  Letter of Credit  (other  than  taxes
         imposed on the overall net income of such Lender or any lending  office
         of such  Under by any  jurisdiction  in which  such  Lender or any such
         lending office is located); or

                  (b) shall change, impose, modify, apply or deem applicable any
         reserve,  special  deposit  or similar  requirements  in respect of any
         Fixed Rate  Portion  of any  Lender or any Letter of Credit  (excluding
         those  for  which  such  Lander  is  fully   compensated   pursuant  to
         adjustments made in the definition of Fixed Rate) or against assets of,
         deposits with or for the account of or credit extended by, such Lender,
         or

                  (c) shall impose on any Lender or the  interbank  eurocurrency
         deposit market any other condition  affecting any Fixed Rate Portion or
         Letter of Credit;  the result of which is to  increase  the cost to any
         Lender of funding or  maintaining  any Fixed Rate Portion or of issuing
         any Letter or Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum  receivable  by
         any Under in respect  of any Fixed Rate  Portion or Letter of Credit by
         an amount deemed by such Lender to be material,

     2.9 Availability.  The reference to "(i.e. 'eurodollars')" in clause (a) of
the first  sentence of Section 2.15 is hereby amended to refer instead to "(i.e.
'eurodollars')  or to issue Letters of Credit," and the reference to "Borrower's
right to elect Fixed Rate Portions" immediately following clause (c) of the flat
sentence of Section 2.15 is hereby amended to refer instead to "Borrower's right
to elect Fixed Rate Portions or to apply for Letters of Credit".

     2.10 Reimbursable  Taxes. The reference to "Fixed Rate Portions" at the end
of the first sentence of clause (a) of Section 2.17 of the Original Agreement is
hereby amended to refer instead to "Fixed Rate Portions or Letters of Credit."

     2.11 Letters of Credit.  The Original Agreement is hereby amended by adding
a new Article Two-A, to read as follows:


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<PAGE>



                       ARTICLE TWO-A -- LETTERS OF CREDIT

                  Section  2A.1.  Letters  of  Credit.  Subject to the terms and
         conditions  hereof  Borrower may during the  Commitment  Period request
         Agent to issue one or more  Letters of  Credit,  provided  that,  after
         taking such Letter of Credit into account:

                           (a)  the  sum of the  aggregate  amount  of  Advances
                  outstanding  at such  time  plus the  aggregate  amount  of LC
                  Obligations  at such time,  does not exceed the Borrowing Base
                  at such time; and

                           (b)      the aggregate amount of LC Obligations at
                  such time does not exceed $5,000,000; and

                           (c)      the expiration date of such Letter of Credit
                  is prior to the end of the Commitment Period.

         and further provided that:

                           (d)      such Letter of Credit is to be used for 
                  general corporate purposes of Borrower;

                           (e)      such Letter of Credit is not directly or 
                  indirectly used to assure payment of or otherwise support any 
                  Person's Restricted Debt;

                           (f) the  issuance of such Letter of Credit will be in
                  compliance  with  all  applicable  governmental  restrictions,
                  policies,  and  guidelines  and will not subject  Agent to any
                  cost not fully  reimbursable by Borrower pursuant to the terms
                  of this Agreement or otherwise anticipated on the date hereof;

                           (g)      the form and terms of such Letter of Credit
                  are acceptable to Agent in its sole and absolute discretion; 
                  and

                           (h)      all other conditions in this Agreement to
                  the issuance of such Letter of Credit have been satisfied.

         Agent  will  honor any such  request ff the  foregoing  conditions  (a)
         through (h) (in the following  Section 2A.2 called the `LC Conditions")
         have been met as of the date of  issuance  of such  Letter  of  Credit.
         Agent may, with the written consent of each Lender, choose to honor any
         such request for any other Letter of Credit but has no obligation to do
         so and may refuse to issue any other requested Letter of Credit for any
         reason which Agent in its sole discretion deems relevant.

                  Section 2A.2. Requesting Letters of Credit. Borrower must make
         written  application  for any Letter of Credit at least three  Business
         Days before the date on which Borrower  desires for Agent to issue such
         Letter of Credit, By making any such written application Borrower shall
         be deemed to have  represented  and  warranted  that the LC  Conditions
         described in Section  2A.1 and the  conditions  precedent  set forth in
         Section  3.2 will be, met as of the date of  issuance of such Letter of
         Credit. Each such written application for a commercial Letter of Credit
         must be made in  writing  in the form and  substance  of Exhibit F, the
         terms  and  provisions  of which  are  hereby  incorporated  herein  by
         reference  (or in such other  form as may  mutually  be agreed  upon by
         Agent and Borrower),  Three Business Days after the LC Conditions for a
         Letter of Credit  have been met as  described  in  Section  2A.1 (or if
         Agent  otherwise  desires to issue such Letter of  Credit),  Agent will
         issue such Letter of Credit at Agent's office in New York, New York. If
         any  provisions of any LC  Application  conflict with any provisions of
         this  Agreement,  the  provisions  of this  Agreement  shall govern and
         control.

                  Section 2A.3.     Reimbursement and Participations.

                  (a)  Reimbursement  by Borrower.  Each  Matured LC  Obligation
         shall constitute a loan by Agent to Borrower.  Borrower promises to pay
         to Agent,  or to  Agent's  order,  on demand,  the full  amount of each
         Matured  LC  Obligation,  together  with  interest  thereon at the Late
         Payment Rate.

                  (b)      Letter of Credit Advances.  If the beneficiary of any
         Letter of Credit makes a draft or other demand for payment thereunder 
         then Borrower may, during the interval between the making thereof and 
         the honoring thereof by Agent, request Lenders to make Advances to
         Borrower in the amount of such draft or demand, which Advances shall be

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<PAGE>



         
         made concurrently with Agent's payment of such draft or demand and 
         shall be immediately used by Agent to repay the amount of the resulting
         Matured LC Obligation. Such a request by Borrower shall be made in 
         compliance with all of the provisions hereof, provided that for the 
         purposes of Section 2A.I(a), the amount of such Advances shall be 
         considered, but the amount of the Matured LC Obligation to be con-
         currently paid by such Advances shall not be considered.

                  (c)  Participation  by Lenders.  Agent  irrevocably  agrees to
         grant and hereby grants to each Lender, and -- to induce Agent to issue
         Letters of Credit hereunder -- each Lender irrevocably agrees to accept
         and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from Agent,  on the terms
         and conditions  hereinafter stated and for such Under's own account and
         risk an undivided  interest equal to such Lender's  Percentage Share of
         Agent's  obligations  and  rights  under each  Letter of Credit  issued
         hereunder  and the amount of each Matured LC  Obligation  paid by Agent
         thereunder.  Each Lender  unconditionally  and irrevocably  agrees with
         Agent  that,  if a Matured  LC  Obligation  is paid under any Letter of
         Credit  for  which  Agent  is not  reimbursed  in full by  Borrower  in
         accordance  'With  the  terms  of this  Agreement  and the  related  LC
         Application   (including  any  reimbursement  by  means  of  concurrent
         Advances or by the application of LC Collateral), such Lender shall (in
         all  circumstances and without set-off or counterclaim) pay to Agent on
         demand,  in immediately  available funds at Agent's address for notices
         hereunder, such Lender's Percentage Share of such Matured LC Obligation
         (or any portion  thereof  which has not been  reimbursed  by Borrower).
         Each  Lender's  obligation  to pay Agent  pursuant to the terms of this
         subsection is irrevocable and unconditional, except to the extent Agent
         is not  entitled  to  reimbursement  due to its  own  individual  gross
         negligence or willful misconduct, as determined in a final judgment. If
         any amount  required to be paid by any Lender to Agent pursuant to this
         subsection  is paid by such Lender to Agent within three  Business Days
         after the date such  payment  is due,  Agent shag in  addition  to such
         amount be entitled to recover  from such  Lender,  on demand,  interest
         thereon  calculated  from such due date at the Base Rate. If any amount
         required to be paid by any Lender to Agent pursuant to this  subsection
         is not paid by such Lender to Agent  within three  Business  Days after
         the date such payment is due, Agent shall in addition to such amount be
         entitled  to recover  from such  Lender,  on demand,  interest  thereon
         calculated from such due date at the Late Payment Rate.

                  (d)  Distributions  to  Participants.  Whenever  Agent  has in
         accordance  with this section  received from any Lender payment of such
         Under's  Percentage  Share  of any  Matured  LC  Obligation,  if  Agent
         thereafter  receives any payment of such Matured LC  Obligation  or any
         payment of  interest  thereon  (whether  directly  from  Borrower or by
         application of LC Collateral or otherwise,  and excluding only interest
         for any  period  prior to Agent's  demand  that such  Lender  make such
         payment of its Percentage Share),  Agent will distribute to such Lender
         its  Percentage  Share of the amounts so  received by Agent;  provided,
         however,  that if any such payment received by Agent must thereafter be
         returned  by Agent,  such  Lender  shall  return  to Agent the  portion
         thereof which Agent has previously distributed to it.

                  (e) Calculations. A written advice setting forth in reasonable
         detail the amounts  owing  under this  section,  submitted  by Agent to
         Borrower or any Lender from time to time,  shall be conclusive,  absent
         manifest error, as to the amounts thereof,

                  Section  2A.4.  Letter of Credit  Fees.  In  consideration  of
         Agent's  issuance  of any Letter of Credit,  Borrower  agrees to pay to
         Agent,  for the account of each Lender in accordance with such Lender's
         Percentage  Share  of the  Loans,  a  letter  of  credit  fee for  each
         Commercial  Letter of Credit in the amount of one and one-half  percent
         (1.5%) per annum.  Each such fee will be  calculated on the face amount
         of such Letter of Credit and shall be payable  quarterly in arrears and
         at the expiration or termination of such Letter of Credit.

                  Section 2A.5.     No Duty to Inquire.

                  (a) Drafts and Demands.  Agent is authorized and instructed to
         accept and pay  drafts  and  demands  for  payment  under any Letter of
         Credit  without  requiring,   and  without   responsibility   for,  any
         determination  as to the  existence  of any event  giving  rise to said
         draft, either at the time of acceptance of payment or thereafter. Agent
         and  Lenders  are under no duty to  determine  the proper  identity  of
         anyone  presenting  such a draft or making  such a demand  (whether  by
         tested telex or otherwise) as the officer,  representative  or agent of
         any beneficiary under any Letter of Credit, and payment by Agent to any
         such  beneficiary  when  requested  by  any  such  purported   officer,

                                       93

<PAGE>



         representative or agent is hereby authorized and approved. Borrower 
         agrees to hold Agent and each Lender harmless and indemnified against 
         any liability or claim in connection with or arising out of the subject
         matter of this section, WHICH INDEMNITY SHALL APPLY WHETHER OR NOT ANY 
         SUCH LIABILITY OR CLAIM IS IN ANY WAY OR TO ANY EXTENT OWED; IN WHOLE 
         OR IN PART, UNDER ANY CLAIM OR THEORY OF STRICT LIABILITY, OR IS 
         CAUSED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF ANY 
         KIND BY AGENT OR ANY LENDER, provided only that Agent or such Lender  
         shall not be entitled to indemnification for that portion, if any, of 
         any liability or claim which is proximately caused by its own 
         individual gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined in a 
         final judgment.

                  (b)  Extension of  Maturity.  If the maturity of any Letter of
         Credit is extended by its terms or by law or  governmental  action,  if
         any extension of the maturity or time for presentation of drafts or any
         other  modification of the terms of any Letter of Credit is made at the
         request of any Related Person, or if the amount of any Letter of Credit
         is increased at the request of any Related Person, this Agreement shall
         be binding  upon all  Related  Persons  with  respect to such Letter of
         Credit as so extended, increased or otherwise modified, with respect to
         drafts and  property  covered  thereby,  and with respect to any action
         taken by Agent or any of Agent's correspondents in accordance with such
         extension, increase or other modification.

                  (c) Transferees of Letters of Credit.  If any Letter of Credit
         provides that it is transferable, Agent shall have no duty to determine
         the proper identity of anyone appearing as transferee of such Letter of
         Credit, nor shall Agent be charged with responsibility of any nature or
         character for the validity or correctness of any transfer or successive
         transfers,  and  payment  by  Agent  to  any  purported  transferee  or
         transferees  as determined by Agent is hereby  authorized and approved,
         and Borrower  further agrees to hold Agent and each Lender harmless and
         indemnified  against  any  liability  or  claim in  connection  with or
         arising out of the foregoing,  WHICH  INDEMNITY  SHALL APPLY WHETHER OR
         NOT ANY SUCH LIABILITY OR CLAIM IS IN ANY WAY OR TO ANY EXTENT OWED, IN
         WHOLE OR IN PART, UNDER ANY CLAIM OR THEORY OF STRICT LIABILITY,  OR IS
         CAUSED,  IN WHOLE OR IN PART,  BY ANY  NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF ANY
         KIND BY AGENT OR ANY  LENDER,  provided  only that Agent or such Lender
         shall not be entitled to indemnification  for that portion,  if any, of
         any  liability  or  claim  which  is  proximately  caused  by  its  own
         individual gross negligence or willful  misconduct,  as determined in a
         final judgment.

                  Section 2A.6.     LC Collateral.

                  (a) LC Obligations in Excess of Borrowing  Base. If, after the
         making of all  mandatory  prepayments  required  under Section 2.7, the
         outstanding  LC  Obligations  will exceed the Borrowing  Base,  then in
         addition to  prepayment  of the entire  principal  balance of the Loans
         Borrower  will  immediately  (i) pay to Agent an  amount  equal to such
         excess or (ii)  grant a first  priority  Lien in favor of Agent for the
         benefit of Lenders on its  additional  oil and gas  properties or other
         assets  acceptable to each Lender with a collateral value  satisfactory
         to each Lender in its sale  discretion.  Agent will hold such amount as
         security  for the  remaining LC  Obligations  (all such amounts held as
         security  for LC  Obligations  being  herein  collectively  called  "LC
         Collateral")  until such LC Obligations  become Matured LC Obligations,
         at which time such LC  Collateral  may be  applied  to such  Matured LC
         Obligations.  Neither  this  subsection  nor the  following  subsection
         shall,  however,  limit or impair any rights which Agent may have under
         any other document or agreement  relating to any Letter of Credit or LC
         Obligation,  including any LC Application, or any rights which Agent or
         Lenders may have to otherwise apply any payments by Borrower and any LC
         Collateral under Section 2.9.

                  (b) Acceleration of LC Obligations.  If the Obligations or any
         part thereof become immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 7,1
         then,  unless  Majority  Lenders  otherwise  specifically  elect to the
         contrary  (which  election  may  thereafter  by  retracted  by Majority
         Lenders at any time), all. LC Obligations shall become  immediately due
         and  payable  without  regard to  whether  or not  actual  drawings  or
         payments on the Letters of Credit have occurred,  and Borrower shall be
         obligated to pay to Agent  immediately an amount equal to the aggregate
         LC Obligations  which are then  outstanding.  All amounts so paid shall
         first be applied to Matured LC Obligations and then held by Agent as LC
         Collateral until such LC Obligations become Matured LC Obligations,  at
         which  time such LC  Collateral  shall be  applied  to such  Matured LC
         Obligations.


                                       94

<PAGE>



                  (c) Investment of LC Collateral.  Pending application thereof,
         all LC  Collateral  shall  be  invested  by  Agent  in  such  Permitted
         Investments as Agent may choose in its sole discretion.  AD interest on
         such  investments   shall  be  reinvested  or  applied  to  Matured  LC
         Obligations.   When  all  Obligations  have  been  satisfied  in  full,
         including  all LC  Obligations,  all Letters of Credit have  expired or
         been  terminated,  and all of Borrower's  reimbursement  obligations in
         connection  therewith have been satisfied in full,  Agent shall release
         any  remaining LC  Collateral.  Borrower  hereby  assigns and grants to
         Agent a continuing security interest in all LC Collateral paid by it to
         Agent,  all  investments  purchased  with such LC  Collateral,  and all
         proceeds   thereof  to  secure  its  Matured  LC  Obligations  and  its
         Obligations  under  this  Agreement,  the  Note,  and  the  other  Loan
         Documents,  and Borrower agrees that such LC Collateral and investments
         shall be subject  to all of the terms and  conditions  of the  Security
         Agreement.  Borrower  further  agrees  that Agent shall have all of the
         rights and  remedies of a secured  party  under the Uniform  Commercial
         Code as adopted in the State of New York with respect to such  security
         interest  and that an Event  of  Default  under  this  Agreement  shall
         constitute a default for purposes of such security interest.

                  (d)  Payment of LC  Collateral.  When  Borrower is required to
         provide LC Collateral for any reason and fails to do so on the day when
         required,  Agent may without  notice to  Borrower or any other  Related
         Person  provide such LC Collateral  (whether by application of proceeds
         of other Collateral,  by transfers from other accounts  maintained with
         Agent, or otherwise) using any available funds of Borrower or any other
         Person also liable to make such  payments.  Any such amounts  which are
         required to be provided as LC Collateral  and which are not provided on
         the date required  shall,  for purposes of each Security  Document,  be
         considered past due Obligations  owing  hereunder,  and Agent is hereby
         authorized  to  exercise  its  respective  rights  under each  Security
         Document to obtain such amounts.

     2.12 Additional Conditions Precedent. Section 3.2 of the Original Agreement
is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                  Section 3.2. Additional  Conditions  Precedent.  No Lender has
         any obligation to make any Advance (including its first), and Agent has
         no  obligation  to issue any  Letter of Credit  (including  its  first)
         (whether  or  not  otherwise  agreed  to by  such  Lender)  unless  the
         following conditions precedent have been satisfied:

                           (a) All  representations  and warranties  made by any
                  Related Person in any Loan Document shall be true on and as of
                  the date of such Advance  (except to the extent that the facts
                  upon which such representations are based have been changed by
                  the extension of credit hereunder) as if such  representations
                  and warranties bad been made as of the date of such Advance or
                  issuance of such Letter of Credit,

                           (b)      No Default shall exist at the date of such 
                  Advance or issuance of such Letter of Credit.

                           (c) No material adverse change shall have occurred to
                  Borrower's  Consolidated  financial  condition  or  businesses
                  since the date of this Agreement.

                           (d) Each  Related  Person  shall have  performed  and
                  complied with all agreements  and  conditions  required in the
                  Loan  Documents to be  performed or compiled  with by it on or
                  prior  to the date of such  Advance  or the  issuance  of such
                  Letter of Credit.

                           (e) The  meeting of such  Advance or issuance of such
                  Letter of Credit  shall  not be  prohibited  by any law or any
                  regulation  or order of any  court or  governmental  agency or
                  authority  and shall not  subject any Lender to any penalty or
                  other  onerous  condition  under or  pursuant to any such law,
                  regulation or order.

                           (f) Agent  shall  have  received  all  documents  and
                  instruments  which  Agent has then  requested,  in addition to
                  those  described in Section 3.1  (including  opinions of legal
                  counsel for the Related Persons and Agent; corporate documents
                  and records; documents evidencing governmental authorizations,
                  consents, approvals, licenses and exemptions; and certificates
                  of public  officials  and of officers and  representatives  of
                  Borrower  and  other  Persons),  as to (i)  the  accuracy  and
                  validity of or compliance with all representations, warranties
                  and  covenants  made  by any of the  Related  Persons  in this
                  Agreement and the other Loan Documents,  (ii) the satisfaction
                  of all conditions contained herein or therein, and (iii)

                                       95

<PAGE>



                  all other  matters  pertaining  hereto  and  thereto.  AD such
                  additional  documents and instruments shall be satisfactory to
                  Agent in form, substance and date.

     2.13 Current  Ratio.  Section  5.2(l) of the  Original  Agreement is hereby
amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                  (l)  Current  Ratio.  The  ratio  of  Borrower's  Consolidated
         current assets to Borrower's  Consolidated  our rent  liabilities  will
         never  be  less  than  1.0 to 1.0.  For  purposes  of this  subsection,
         Borrower's  Consolidated  current  liabilities  will be calculated  (i)
         including all Matured LC Obligations as current liabilities, regardless
         of whether  or not  contingent  (but,  without  duplication),  and (ii)
         without  including  any  payments of  principal  on the Notes which are
         required to be repaid within one year from the time of calculation.

     2.14 Exhibits. Exhibit B to the Original Agreement is hereby amended in its
entirety  to read as set forth in Exhibit B attached  hereto,  and the  Original
Agreement  is hereby  amended  by adding  new  Exhibit F thereto  in the form of
Exhibit F attached hereto.

     2.15 Outstanding Letter of Credit.  Agent has issued that certain Letter of
Credit No.  G7300 dated  December  14,  1995 in the face  amount of  $4,485,000,
naming  Triton  USA,  Inc. as  beneficiary,  for the  account of  Borrower,  and
Borrower has executed and delivered an "LC  Application"  to Agent in connection
therewith.  Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment,  such Letter of Credit and
LC  Application  shall  respectively  constitute  a Letter of  Credit  and an LC
Application under the Credit Agreement for all purposes.


                    ARTICLE III - Conditions of Effectiveness

     3.1 Effective Date.  This Amendment  shall become  effective as of the date
first above  written  when (i) Lender  shall have  received  this  Amendment  at
Under's office duly authorized,  executed and delivered by Borrower, (ii) Lender
shall have additionally  received all of the following documents each being duly
authorized,  executed and delivered,  and in form and substance  satisfactory to
Lender:

                  (a)  Opinion of Counsel  for  Borrower.  A written  opinion of
         Jenkens & Gilchrist, a Professional Corporation,  counsel for Borrower,
         dated as of the date of this Amendment, addressed to Agent and Lenders,
         to the effect that this  Amendment has been duly  authorized,  executed
         and delivered by Borrower and that the Credit Agreement constitutes the
         legal,  valid and  binding  obligations  of  Borrower,  enforceable  in
         accordance with their terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to
         applicable bankruptcy, reorganization,  insolvency and similar laws and
         to general principles of equity).

                  (b)  Omnibus  Certificate.   An  Omnibus  Certificate  of  the
         Secretary  and of the Chairman of the Board or President of Borrower of
         even  date with  this  Amendment,  which  shall  contain  the names and
         signatures  of the officers  authorized  to execute this  Amendment and
         which shall certify to the truth,  correctness and completeness of: (i)
         all of the exhibits attached to that certain Omnibus  Certificate dated
         as of December 20, 1994, made by such officers of Borrower,  and (fl) a
         copy of resolutions  duly adopted by the Board of Directors of Borrower
         and in fall  force and  effect at the time this  Amendment  is  entered
         into, authorizing the execution of this Amendment.

                  (c) Compliance  Certificate.  A Compliance  Certificate of the
         Chief Financial Officer of Borrower,  of even date with this Amendment,
         in which such officer shall  certify,  to the best of his knowledge and
         belief after due inquiry, to the satisfaction of the conditions set out
         in  subsections  (a)  through  (d),  inclusive,  of Section  3.2 of the
         Original Agreement as of the date hereof.


             ARTICLE IV - Representations, Warranties and Covenants

     4.1  Representations,  Warranties  and  Covenants of Borrower.  In order to
induce  Agent and  Lenders to enter into this  Amendment,  Borrower  represents,
warrants and covenants to Agent and each Lender that:

                  (a) The  representations  and warranties  contained in Section
         4.1 of the  Original  Agreement  are true and  correct at and as of the
         time of the  effectiveness  hereof,  except  to the  extent  that  such
         representations  and warranties are made in the Original Agreement only
         in reference to a specific date and except to the extent

                                       96

<PAGE>



         that the facts  upon  which  such  representations  are based have been
         changed by the extension of credit under the Credit Agreement.

                  (b)  Borrower is duly  authorized  to execute and deliver this
         Amendment and is and will continue to be duly  authorized to borrow and
         to perform its  obligations  under the Credit  Agreement.  Borrower has
         duly taken all  corporate  action  necessary to authorize the execution
         and delivery of this Amendment and to authorize the  performance of the
         obligations hereunder.

                  (c) The execution  and delivery by Borrower of this  Amendment
         and the  performance by it of its  obligations  hereunder and under the
         Credit Agreement and the consummation of the transactions  contemplated
         hereby and thereby do not and will not conflict  with any  provision of
         law, statute, rule or regulation or of the articles of incorporation or
         bylaws of Borrower or of any  material  agreement,  judgment,  license,
         order or permit applicable to or binding upon Borrower or result in the
         creation  of any  lien,  charge  or  encumbrance  upon  any  assets  or
         properties of Borrower,  except as expressly  contemplated  in the Loan
         Documents,  Except for those which have been duly obtained, no consent,
         approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority
         or third  party is  required  in  connection  with  the  execution  and
         delivery  by  Borrower  of  this   Amendment  or  to   consummate   the
         transactions contemplated hereby.

                  (d) When this Amendment is duly executed and  delivered,  each
         of this Amendment and the Credit  Agreement will be a legal and binding
         instrument and agreement of Borrower,  enforceable  in accordance  with
         its terms, except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws
         and by general principles of equity.

                  (e) The audited annual  Consolidated  financial  statements of
         Borrower  dated as of  December  31, 1994 and the  unaudited  quarterly
         Consolidated financial statements of Borrower dated as of September 30,
         1995 fairly present the Consolidated  financial  position at such dates
         and the  Consolidated  statement of  operations  and cash flows for the
         periods ending on such dates for Borrower.

                  Copies  of such  financial  statements  have  heretofore  been
         delivered to Lender.  Since  September  30, 1995,  no material  adverse
         change has occurred in the financial  condition or businesses or in the
         Consolidated financial condition or businesses of Borrower.


                            ARTICLE V - Miscellaneous

     5.1 Ratification of Agreements. The Original Agreement as hereby amended is
hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects.  The Loan Documents,  as they may
be amended or affected by this  Amendment  are hereby  ratified and confirmed in
all respects.  Any reference to the Credit  Agreement in any Loan Document shall
be deemed to refer to this Amendment also and any reference in any Loan Document
to any other  document or  instrument  amended,  renewed,  extended or otherwise
affected by this Amendment  shall also refer to such  Amendment.  The execution,
delivery and  effectiveness  of this Amendment  shall not operate as a waiver of
any right,  power or remedy of Agent or any Lender under the Credit Agreement or
any other Loan  Document nor  constitute a waiver of any provision of the Credit
Agreement or any other Loan Document.

     5.2 Survival of Agreements. All representations,  warranties, covenants and
agreements  of Borrower  herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Amendment and the performance hereof, including without limitation the making or
granting of the Loans,  and shall further  survive until all of the  Obligations
are paid in full. All statements and agreements  contained in any certificate or
instrument  delivered  by Borrower  hereunder  or under the Credit  Agreement to
Agent or any Lender shall be deemed to constitute representations and warranties
by, or agreements and covenants of,  Borrower under this Amendment and under the
Credit Agreement.

     5.3 Loan Documents.  This Amendment is a Loan Document,  and all provisions
in the Credit Agreement pertaining to Loan Documents apply hereto.

     5.4  GOVERNING  LAW. THIS  AMENDMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND ANY APPLICABLE LAWS OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN ALL RESPECTS,  INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION,  VALIDITY AND
PERFORMANCE.

     5.5 Counterparts. This Amendment may be separately executed in counterparts
and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when
so executed shall be deemed to constitute one and the same Amendment.

                                       97

<PAGE>



         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  this  Amendment  is executed as of the date first
above written.

                                     CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.


                                     By:/s/ J. Munro M. Sutherland
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        J. Munro M. Sutherland
                                        Senior Vice President


                                     INTERNATIONALE NEDERLANDEN
                                     (U.S.) CAPITAL CORPORATION


                                     By:/s/ Trond O. Rokholt
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Trond O. Rokholt
                                        Vice President


                                     MEESPIERSON N.V.


                                     By:/s/ Darrell W. Holley
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Darrell W. Holley
                                        Vice President


                                       98

<PAGE>





                                  EXHIBIT 10.19













                                       99


<PAGE>

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                             CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.
                        1993 DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN

         WHEREAS,  the Cairn Energy USA, Inc. 1993  Directors  Stock Option Plan
(the  "Plan")  provides  for the  granting  of  Nonstatutory  Options to certain
directors  of the  Cairn  Energy  USA,  Inc.  (the  "Corporation")  who  are not
employees of the Corporation or of its Affiliates (as defined in the Plan).

         WHEREAS,  the Board of  Directors  desires to amend the Plan to exclude
from  participation  in  the  Plan  employees  of  certain  stockholders  of the
Corporation.

         WHEREAS,  pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan the Board of Directors  may
amend the Plan in this respect without stockholder approval.

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended as provided below:

         1.       Section 1.9 of the Plan is hereby amended as restated as 
                  follows:

                  1.9      "Eligible  Individuals" shall mean the members of the
                           Board of  Directors of the  Corporation  who are not,
                           and have not been, (a) an employee of the Corporation
                           or one of its Affiliates or (b) an employee,  officer
                           or  director  of  Cairn  Energy  PLC or an  affiliate
                           thereof  or  Phemus   Corporation   or  an  affiliate
                           thereof.  The term  affiliate for purposes of Section
                           1.9(b)  shall mean a person or entity that  directly,
                           or  indirectly  through  one or more  intermediaries,
                           controls  or is  controlled  by,  or is under  common
                           control with, Cairn Energy PLC or Phemus Corporation.
                           For  purposes of the Plan,  the Chairman of the Board
                           of Directors of the  Corporation  shall not be deemed
                           an employee of the Corporation and, therefore,  is an
                           Eligible Individual.

         2.       Except as amended hereby, the Plan remains in full force and 
                  effect.

         3.       This Amendment to the Plan shall be effective as of May 24, 
                  1995.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Cairn Energy USA, Inc. acting by and through its duly
authorized  officer,  has executed this  Amendment No. 1 to the Plan on this the
10th day of January, 1996, but effective as of May 24, 1995.

                                              CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.


                                              By: /s/ Susan H. Rader
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Susan H. Rader, Secretary


<PAGE>








                                  EXHIBIT 11.1















                                       100

<PAGE>



                                                                    EXHIBIT 11.1


                             CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.

                COMPUTATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
                    (in thousands, except per share amounts)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              Year ended December 31,
                                                                        ------------------------------------
                                                                         1993           1994          1995
                                                                        -------       -------        -------

<S>                                                                     <C>           <C>            <C>   
Net income...............................................               $ 1,474       $   654        $ 5,235
                                                                        =======       =======        =======
Shares:

         Weighted average common shares outstanding......                10,094        13,259         16,422

         Add common shares issued upon assumed  
         conversion of Series A Preferred Stock(1).......                 1,166            --             --
                                                                        -------       -------        -------
         Weighted average common and common
         equivalent shares outstanding...................                11,260        13,259         16,422
                                                                        =======       =======        =======
Net income per common and common equivalent share........               $  0.13       $  0.05        $  0.32
                                                                        =======       =======        =======
</TABLE>

(1)      All Series A Preferred Stock was redeemed on August 9, 1993.


                                       101

<PAGE>






                                  EXHIBIT 23.1











                                       102

<PAGE>



                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8 No.  33-77102) of Cairn Energy USA, Inc. and in the Prospectus of our report
dated February 16, 1995, with respect to the consolidated  financial  statements
of Cairn  Energy USA,  Inc.  included in this Annual  Report (Form 10-K) for the
year ended December 31, 1995.




                                                              ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Dallas, Texas
March 4, 1996



<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT 23.2














                                       103

<PAGE>


                         CONSENT OF RYDER SCOTT COMPANY



                  We  hereby  consent  to the  reference  to our firm  under the
caption "Experts" and the reference to the results of our reserve review letter,
dated March 1, 1996 (the "Reserve Review Letter"), in the Registration Statement
and related  Prospectus  of Cairn Energy USA, Inc.  (the  "Company")  and to the
incorporation by reference  therein of references to our firm and to the Reserve
Review Letter in the Company's  Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31, 1995,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.





                                                             RYDER SCOTT COMPANY
                                                             PETROLEUM ENGINEERS


Houston, Texas
March 1, 1996

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