KERR MCGEE CORP
SC 13D, 1998-10-22
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
Previous: JAPAN FUND INC, PRES14A, 1998-10-22
Next: LCS INDUSTRIES INC, 5, 1998-10-22



<PAGE>
 
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549


                                 SCHEDULE 13D

                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                            KERR-MCGEE CORPORATION
                               (Name of Issuer)

                         COMMON STOCK, $1.00 PAR VALUE
                        (Title of Class of Securities)

                                   492386107
                                (CUSIP Number)

                               WILLIAM C. LEMMER
                 VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
                              ORYX ENERGY COMPANY
                                13155 NOEL ROAD
                               DALLAS, TX  75240
                          TELEPHONE:  (972) 715-4000
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and
                                Communications)

                               OCTOBER 14, 1998
            (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)



If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13(d)-1(g), check the following
box [  ]
<PAGE>
 
- -----------------------                                  
  CUSIP NO. 492386107                   13D                
- -----------------------                                  
 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
 1    S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
                          
      Oryx Energy Company (IRS Identification No. 23-1743284)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
 2                                                              (a) [_]
                                                                (b) [_]
                                                 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      SEC USE ONLY
 3
 

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      SOURCE OF FUNDS*
 4

      00 (See Item 3)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO 
      ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)
 5                                                                   [_]


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 6    

      State of Delaware
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          SOLE VOTING POWER
                     7     
     NUMBER OF            
                          9,434,181 shares of common stock
      SHARES       -----------------------------------------------------------
                          SHARED VOTING POWER
   BENEFICIALLY      8    
                          
     OWNED BY             -0-
                   -----------------------------------------------------------
       EACH               SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                     9     
    REPORTING             
                          9,434,181 shares of common stock
      PERSON       -----------------------------------------------------------
                          SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
       WITH         10    
                          -0-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
11    
      
      9,434,181 shares of common stock (see Item 5)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
12                                                                    [_]
 
 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
13    
      
      16.6%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
14
      
      CO
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
Item 1.   Security and Issuer.

          The class of equity securities to which this statement relates is the
common stock, $1.00 par value (the "Kerr-McGee Common Stock"), of Kerr-McGee
Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Kerr-McGee").  The principal executive
offices of Kerr-McGee are located at Kerr-McGee Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
73125.

Item 2.   Identity and Background.

          This statement is being filed by Oryx Energy Company, a Delaware
corporation ("Oryx"), in connection with a stock option agreement dated October
14, 1998 (the "Option Agreement"), between Oryx and Kerr-McGee, as described in
Item 5.  The address of the principal business and principal executive offices
of Oryx is 13155 Noel Road, Dallas, Texas 75240.  The name, business address,
present principal occupation or employment, and citizenship of each director and
executive officer of Oryx is set forth on Attachment A.

          Oryx is an oil and gas exploration and production company.  Oryx,
together with its consolidated subsidiaries, has operations in six producing
countries around the world.

          Neither Oryx, nor, to the best of Oryx's knowledge, any of the persons
named on Attachment A, has during the last five years:  (i) been convicted in a
criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors); or
(ii) been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of
competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a
judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting
or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding
any violation with respect to such laws.

Item 3.   Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

          This Statement relates to an option granted to Oryx by Kerr-McGee to
purchase shares of Kerr-McGee Common Stock from Kerr-McGee as described below
(the "Stock Option").  The Stock Option entitles Oryx to purchase up to
9,434,181 shares of Kerr-McGee Common Stock (the "Option Shares") under the
circumstances specified in the Stock Option Agreement dated as of October 14,
1998, between Kerr-McGee and Oryx (the "Option Agreement") and as described in
Item 5 below, for a purchase price of $46.94 per share (the "Purchase Price").

          The Stock Option was granted by Kerr-McGee as an inducement and
condition to Oryx's entering into the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
October 14, 1998, between Kerr-McGee and Oryx (the "Merger Agreement").
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Oryx will be merged with and into Kerr-McGee
(the "Merger") with Kerr-McGee as the surviving corporation, on the terms and
subject to the conditions thereof.  Prior to the Effective Time (as defined in
the Merger Agreement), each share of Oryx common stock, $1.00 par value (the
"Oryx Common Stock"), will be converted into 0.369 shares of Oryx Common Stock
(or cash in lieu of fractional shares) (the "Reverse Split").  At the Effective
Time, each share of Oryx Common Stock issued and outstanding following the
Reverse Split will be converted into the right to receive from Kerr-McGee one
share of Kerr-McGee Common Stock.  If the Merger is 
<PAGE>
 
consummated, the Stock Option will not be exercised. No monetary consideration
was paid by Oryx to Kerr-McGee for the Stock Option.

          If Oryx elects to exercise the Stock Option, it currently anticipates
that the funds to pay the Purchase Price will be provided through internally
generated funds and selective short term and/or long term borrowings.

Item 4.   Purpose of Transaction.

          As stated above, the Stock Option was granted to Oryx as an inducement
and condition to Oryx's entering into the Merger Agreement.  If the Merger is
consummated, the size of Kerr-McGee's Board of Directors will be increased from
nine to 14 members, with five members of Oryx's Board of Directors becoming
members of Kerr-McGee's Board of Directors, the Certificate of Incorporation and
By-Laws of Kerr-McGee will be amended and restated as set forth in the Merger
Agreement and the exhibits thereto, and all shares of Oryx Common Stock
outstanding after the effect of the Reverse Split will be converted into Kerr-
McGee Common Stock.

Item 5.   Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

          As a result of the issuance of the Stock Option, Oryx may be deemed to
be the beneficial owner of 9,434,181 shares of Kerr-McGee Common Stock, which
would represent approximately 16.6% of the shares of Kerr-McGee Common Stock
outstanding upon exercise of the Stock Option (based on the number of shares of
Kerr-McGee Common Stock outstanding on September 30, 1998, as set forth in the
Merger Agreement).  Oryx will have sole voting and dispositive power with
respect to such shares.

          The Option Shares described herein are subject to the Stock Option,
which is not currently exercisable.  The Stock Option will become exercisable
upon termination of the Merger Agreement in certain circumstances, generally
involving: (i) an adverse change in (or failure to reconfirm) the recommendation
of Kerr-McGee's Board of Directors to its stockholders to approve the Merger;
(ii) the approval or recommendation by Kerr-McGee's Board of Directors of
another acquisition proposal; (iii) the triggering of Kerr-McGee's Rights
Agreement; (iv) the acceptance by Kerr-McGee of a superior proposal; or (v) the
failure of Kerr-McGee's stockholders to approve the Merger after a competing
proposal has been publicly communicated, if Kerr-McGee enters into a definitive
agreement for a transaction within 12 months of such termination and such
transaction is later consummated.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to be an
admission by Oryx as to the beneficial ownership of any shares of Kerr-McGee
Common Stock; prior to the exercise of the Stock Option, Oryx disclaims
beneficial ownership of all Option Shares.

          Except as described herein, neither Oryx nor, to the best of Oryx's
knowledge, any other person referred to in Attachment A beneficially owns or has
acquired or disposed of any shares of Kerr-McGee Common Stock during the past 60
days.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
Item 6.   Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect
          to Securities of the Issuer.

          Except for the Merger Agreement and the Option Agreement, none of the
persons named in Item 2 has any contracts, arrangements, understandings or
relationships (legal or otherwise) with any persons with respect to any
securities of Kerr-McGee, including but not limited to, transfers or voting of
any securities, finder's fees, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts
or calls, guarantees of profits, division of profits or loss, of the giving or
withholding of proxies.

          The summary contained in this Schedule 13D of certain provisions of
the Merger Agreement and the Option Agreement is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Merger Agreement and the Option Agreement attached as Exhibits
1 and 2 hereto, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
Item 7.   Materials to be Filed as Exhibits.

Exhibit 1 Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between Oryx Energy Company and
          Kerr-McGee Corporation, dated as of October 14, 1998 (the "Merger
          Agreement").

Exhibit 2 Stock Option Agreement by and between Oryx Energy Company and Kerr-
          McGee Corporation, dated as of October 14, 1998 (the "Option
          Agreement").

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
          After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.

          Dated:  October 20, 1998

                                        ORYX ENERGY COMPANY



                                        By:  /s/ William C. Lemmer
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             William C. Lemmer
                                             Vice President, General Counsel and
                                             Secretary

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                                 Attachment A

Executive Officers and Directors of Oryx Energy Company

          The names and titles of the executive officers and the names of the
directors of Oryx and each of their business addresses and principal occupations
are set forth below.  If no address is given, the director's or executive
officer's business address is that of Oryx.  Unless otherwise indicated, each
occupation set forth opposite an individual's name refers to such individual's
position at Oryx, and each individual is a United States citizen.

Executive Officers            Position
- ------------------            --------

Marion E. Anglin              Vice President, Worldwide Exploration

Jerry W. Box                  President and Chief Operating Officer

Warren A. Bryan               Vice President, U.S. Onshore Operations

Sherri T. Durst               General Auditor

Steven J. Flowers             Vice President and Treasurer

David A. Hager                Vice President, U.S. Offshore Operations

Frances G. Heartwell          Vice President, Human Resources and
                              Administration

Patricia L. Horsfall          Vice President, Business Development, Services
                              & International Production

William P. Kaufman            Vice President, Eurasia Operations

Robert L. Keiser              Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
                              Officer

William C. Lemmer             Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Edward W. Moneypenny          Executive Vice President, Finance, and Chief
                              Financial Officer

Robert L. Thompson            Vice President, Planning and Controller

Directors                     Present Principal Occupation; Address
- ---------                     -------------------------------------

David C. Genever-Watling      Managing Director
                              SMG Management L.L.C.
                              5956 Sherry Lane, Suite 710
                              Dallas, TX 75225

Robert B. Gill                Retired

Charles H. Pistor, Jr.        Former Vice Chairman
                              Southern Methodist University

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
Robert L. Keiser              (see above)

Paul R. Seegers               President
                              Seegers Enterprises
                              8222 Douglas Ave., Suite 790
                              Dallas, TX 75225

Ian L. White-Thomson          Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
                              U.S. Borax, Inc.
                              26877 Tourney Road
                              Valencia, CA 91355-1847

Jerry W. Box                  (see above)

William E. Bradford           Chairman
                              Halliburton Company
                              3600 Lincoln Plaza
                              500 North Akard
                              Dallas, TX 75201

Sylvia A. Earle               Chair
                              Deep Ocean Exploration and Research, Inc.
                              12812 Skyline Blvd.
                              Oakland, CA 94619

Edward W. Moneypenny          (see above)

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.         Description                                       Page No.
- -----------         -----------                                       --------

Exhibit 1      Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between
               Oryx Energy Company and Kerr-McGee Corporation,
               dated as of October 14, 1998.

Exhibit 2      Stock Option Agreement by and between Oryx Energy
               Company and Kerr-McGee Corporation, dated as of
               October 14, 1998.

                                       8

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 1


                         AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


                         DATED AS OF OCTOBER 14, 1998


                                    BETWEEN


                            KERR-McGEE CORPORATION


                                      AND


                              ORYX ENERGY COMPANY

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                         Page
         <S>                                                             <C> 
                          ARTICLE I

                          THE MERGER......................................  9
         1.1     The Merger...............................................  9
         1.2     Closing..................................................  9
         1.3     Effective Time...........................................  9
         1.4     Effects of the Merger.................................... 10
         1.5     Certificate of Incorporation............................. 10
         1.6     By-Laws.................................................. 10
         1.7     Officers and Directors of Surviving
                 Corporation.............................................. 10
         1.8     Reverse Stock Split...................................... 11
         1.9     Effect of Merger on Capital Stock........................ 11
         1.10    Stock Options............................................ 11
         1.11    Certain Adjustments...................................... 12

                          ARTICLE II

                   EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES............................... 13
         2.1     Exchange Fund............................................ 13
         2.2     Exchange and Distribution Procedures..................... 13
         2.3     Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged
                 Shares................................................... 14
         2.4     No Further Ownership Rights in Oryx Common
                 Stock.................................................... 14
         2.5     No Fractional Shares..................................... 14
         2.6     Termination of Exchange Fund............................. 15
         2.7     No Liability............................................. 15
         2.8     Investment of the Exchange Fund.......................... 15
         2.9     Lost Certificates........................................ 15
         2.10    Withholding Rights....................................... 16
         2.11    Further Assurances....................................... 16
         2.12    Stock Transfer Books..................................... 16
         2.13    Affiliates............................................... 16

                          ARTICLE III

                REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES............................ 17
         3.1     Representations and Warranties of Kerr-
                 McGee.................................................... 17
                 (a)      Organization, Standing and Power;
                          Subsidiaries.................................... 17
                 (b)      Capital Structure............................... 18
                 (c)      Authority; No Conflicts......................... 19
                 (d)      Reports and Financial Statements................ 20
</TABLE> 

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
         <S>                                                               <C> 
                 (e)      Information Supplied............................ 21
                 (f)      Board Approval.................................. 22
                 (g)      Vote Required................................... 22
                 (h)      Litigation; Compliance with Laws................ 22
                 (i)      Absence of Certain Changes or
                          Events.......................................... 23
                 (j)      Environmental Matters........................... 23
                 (k)      Intellectual Property........................... 24
                 (l)      Rights Agreement................................ 25
                 (m)      Brokers or Finders.............................. 25
                 (n)      Opinion of Kerr-McGee Financial
                          Advisor......................................... 26
                 (o)      Accounting Matters.............................. 26
                 (p)      Taxes........................................... 26
                 (q)      Certain Contracts............................... 26
                 (r)      Employee Benefits............................... 27
                 (s)      Labor Matters................................... 28
                 (t)      Ownership of Oryx Common Stock.................. 28
         3.2     Representations and Warranties of Oryx................... 28
                 (a)      Organization, Standing and Power;
                          Subsidiaries.................................... 28
                 (b)      Capital Structure............................... 29
                 (c)      Authority; No Conflicts......................... 31
                 (d)      Reports and Financial Statements................ 32
                 (e)      Information Supplied............................ 32
                 (f)      Board Approval.................................. 33
                 (g)      Vote Required................................... 33
                 (h)      Litigation; Compliance with Laws................ 34
                 (i)      Absence of Certain Changes or
                          Events.......................................... 34
                 (j)      Environmental Matters........................... 34
                 (k)      Intellectual Property........................... 35
                 (l)      Rights Agreement................................ 35
                 (m)      Brokers or Finders.............................. 35
                 (n)      Opinion of Oryx Financial Advisor............... 36
                 (o)      Accounting Matters.............................. 36
                 (p)      Taxes........................................... 36
                 (q)      Certain Contracts............................... 36
                 (r)      Employee Benefits............................... 36
                 (s)      Labor Matters................................... 37
                 (t)      Ownership of Kerr-McGee Common
                          Stock........................................... 38
                 (u)      Devon Stock..................................... 38

                                  ARTICLE IV

              COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS................... 38
         4.1     Covenants of Kerr-McGee.................................. 38
                 (a)      Ordinary Course................................. 38
</TABLE> 

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
         <S>                                                               <C> 
                 (b)      Dividends; Changes in Capital Stock............. 39
                 (c)      Issuance of Securities.......................... 39
                 (d)      Governing Documents............................. 39
                 (e)      No Acquisitions................................. 40
                 (f)      No Dispositions................................. 40
                 (g)      Investments; Indebtedness....................... 40
                 (h)      Pooling; Tax-Free Qualification................. 41
                 (i)      Compensation.................................... 41
                 (j)      Accounting Methods; Income Tax
                          Elections....................................... 41
                 (k)      Certain Agreements.............................. 41
                 (l)      Rights Agreement................................ 41
         4.2     Covenants of Oryx........................................ 42
                 (a)      Ordinary Course................................. 42
                 (b)      Dividends; Changes in Capital Stock............. 42
                 (c)      Issuance of Securities.......................... 43
                 (d)      Governing Documents............................. 43
                 (e)      No Acquisitions................................. 43
                 (f)      No Dispositions................................. 43
                 (g)      Investments; Indebtedness....................... 43
                 (h)      Pooling; Tax-Free Qualification................. 44
                 (i)      Compensation.................................... 44
                 (j)      Accounting Methods; Income Tax
                          Elections....................................... 44
                 (k)      Certain Agreements.............................. 44
                 (l)      Rights Agreement................................ 45
         4.3     Governmental Filings..................................... 45
         4.4     Control of Other Party's Business........................ 45

                                ARTICLE V

                    ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS................................. 45
         5.1     Preparation of Proxy Statement; Stockholders
                 Meetings................................................. 45
         5.2     Access to Information.................................... 48
         5.3     Reasonable Best Efforts.................................. 49
         5.4     Acquisition Proposals.................................... 51
         5.5     Employee Benefits Matters................................ 52
         5.6     Fees and Expenses........................................ 55
         5.7     Directors' and Officers' Indemnification and
                 Insurance................................................ 55
         5.8     Public Announcements..................................... 56
         5.9     Accountant's Letters..................................... 56
         5.10    Listing of Shares of Company Common Stock................ 57
         5.11    Affiliates............................................... 57
         5.12    Oryx Partnership Name.................................... 58
         5.13    Reverse Stock Split...................................... 58
         5.14    Transition Management.................................... 58
</TABLE> 

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
         <S>                                                               <C> 
                          ARTICLE VI
                 
                     CONDITIONS PRECEDENT................................. 59
         6.1     Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to
                 Effect the Merger........................................ 59
                 (a)      Stockholder Approval............................ 59
                 (b)      No Injunctions or Restraints,
                          Illegality...................................... 59
                 (c)      HSR Act......................................... 59
                 (d)      Governmental and Regulatory
                          Approvals....................................... 59
                 (e)      NYSE Listing.................................... 60
                 (f)      Effectiveness of the Form S-4................... 60
                 (g)      Pooling......................................... 60
                 (h)      Reverse Split................................... 60
         6.2     Additional Conditions to Obligations of
                 Kerr-McGee............................................... 60
                 (a)      Representations and Warranties.................. 61
                 (b)      Performance of Obligations of Oryx
                                                                           61
                 (c)      Tax Opinion..................................... 61
                 (d)      Rights Agreement................................ 61
         6.3     Additional Conditions to Obligations of
                 Oryx..................................................... 61
                 (a)      Representations and Warranties.................. 61
                 (b)      Performance of Obligations of Kerr-
                          McGee........................................... 62
                 (c)      Tax Opinion..................................... 62
                 (d)      Rights Agreement................................ 62

                          ARTICLE VII

                   TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT.............................. 62
         7.1     Termination.............................................. 62
         7.2     Effect of Termination.................................... 64
         7.3     Amendment................................................ 66
         7.4     Extension; Waiver........................................ 66

                         ARTICLE VIII

                      GENERAL PROVISIONS.................................. 66
         8.1     Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties
                 and Agreements........................................... 66
         8.2     Notices.................................................. 66
         8.3     Interpretation........................................... 67
         8.4     Counterparts............................................. 67
         8.5     Entire Agreement; No Third Party
                 Beneficiaries............................................ 68
         8.6     GOVERNING LAW............................................ 68
</TABLE> 

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
         <S>                                                               <C> 
         8.7     Severability............................................. 68
         8.8     Assignment............................................... 68
         8.9     Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers...................... 69
         8.10    Enforcement.............................................. 69
         8.11    Definitions.............................................. 69
</TABLE> 

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                               LIST OF EXHIBITS


Exhibit       Title
              
              
1.5           Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of
              Incorporation of Surviving Corporation
1.6           Form of By-Laws of Surviving Corporation
1.7           Directors of Surviving Corporation
5.5(e)        Actions with respect to Certain Benefit Plans
5.11          Form of Affiliate Letter

 

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of October 14, 1998 (this
"Agreement"), between KERR-McGEE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Kerr-
McGee"), and ORYX ENERGY COMPANY, a Delaware corporation ("Oryx").


                             W I T N E S S E T H:


          WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Oryx and Kerr-McGee deem it
advisable and in the best interests of each corporation and its
respective stockholders that Oryx and Kerr-McGee engage in a business
combination as peer firms in a merger of equals in order to advance the long-
term strategic business interests of Oryx and Kerr-McGee;

          WHEREAS, the combination of Oryx and Kerr-McGee shall be effected by
the terms of this Agreement through a merger as outlined below (the "Merger");

          WHEREAS, immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined in
Section 1.3), Oryx shall effect a reverse stock split (the "Reverse Split") of
its common stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Oryx Common Stock"), as set forth
in Section 1.8;

          WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Oryx and Kerr-McGee
have approved the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, pursuant to which each share of Oryx Common Stock issued and
outstanding after giving effect to the Reverse Split and immediately prior to
the Effective Time, other than shares owned or held by Kerr-McGee or Oryx, will
be converted into the right to receive one share of common stock, par value
$1.00 per share, of the Surviving Corporation (as defined in Section 1.1)
("Company Common Stock") as set forth in Section 1.9, and each share of common
stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Kerr-McGee ("Kerr-McGee Common Stock")
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain
issued and outstanding as one share of Company Common Stock;

          WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the
Merger shall qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and the regulations
promulgated thereunder;

          WHEREAS, for accounting purposes, it is intended that the Merger shall
be accounted for as a pooling of interests transaction under United States
generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"); and

          WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and as a condition of each party's willingness to enter into this
Agreement, Oryx and Kerr-McGee are entering into stock option agreements, dated
as of the date hereof (the "Stock Option Agreements"), pursuant to which, among
other things, Oryx is granting Kerr-McGee an option

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
to purchase shares of Oryx Common Stock (the "Oryx Stock Option Agreement") and
Kerr-McGee is granting Oryx an option to purchase shares of Kerr-McGee Common
Stock (the "Kerr-McGee Stock Option Agreement").

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this
Agreement and the Stock Option Agreements, and intending to be legally bound
hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:


                                   ARTICLE I

                                  THE MERGER

               1.1  The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation
Law (the "DGCL"), Oryx shall be merged with and into Kerr-McGee at the Effective
Time. Following the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Oryx shall cease
and Kerr-McGee shall continue as the surviving corporation (the "Surviving
Corporation").

               1.2  Closing. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the
closing of the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the
"Closing") will take place on the second Business Day after the satisfaction or
waiver (subject to applicable law) of the conditions set forth in Article VI
(other than any such conditions which by their terms cannot be satisfied until
the Closing Date, which shall be required to be so satisfied or waived on the
Closing Date), unless another time or date is agreed to in writing by the
parties hereto (the actual time and date of the Closing being referred to herein
as the "Closing Date"). The Closing shall be held at the offices of Simpson
Thacher & Bartlett, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, unless
another place is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto.

               1.3  Effective Time. At the Closing, the parties shall (i) file a
certificate of merger (the "Certificate of Merger") in such form as is required
by and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL and (ii)
make all other filings or recordings required under the DGCL. The Merger shall
become effective at such time as the Certificate of Merger is duly filed with
the Delaware Secretary of State or at such subsequent time as Kerr-McGee and
Oryx shall agree and as shall be specified in the Certificate of Merger (the
date and time the Merger becomes effective being the "Effective Time").

               1.4  Effects of the Merger. At and after the Effective Time, the
Merger will have the effects set forth in the DGCL. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time all the
property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Oryx and Kerr-McGee shall
be vested in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of
Oryx and Kerr-McGee shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the
Surviving Corporation.

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
               1.5  Certificate of Incorporation. The certificate of
incorporation of Kerr-McGee, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time, shall be amended and restated as of the Effective Time so as to read in
its entirety in the form set forth as Exhibit 1.5 and, as so amended and
restated, shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation, until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by
applicable law.

               1.6  By-Laws. At the Effective Time, the by-laws in the form
attached as Exhibit 1.6 shall be the amended and restated by-laws of the
Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or
by applicable law.

               1.7  Officers and Directors of Surviving Corporation. The
officers of Kerr-McGee as of the Effective Time shall be the officers of the
Surviving Corporation, until the earlier of their resignation or removal or
otherwise ceasing to be an officer or until their respective successors are duly
elected and qualified, as the case may be. The directors of Kerr-McGee as of the
Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation for the
initial terms set forth on Exhibit 1.7 hereto, until the earlier of their
resignation or removal or otherwise ceasing to be a director or until their
respective successors are duly elected and qualified. The Surviving Corporation
will take all action necessary to (i) add to the Board of Directors of the
Surviving Corporation, effective the day following the Effective Time, Robert L.
Keiser and the four other persons indicated on Exhibit 1.7 hereto who are not
and have not been employees of Oryx or its Subsidiaries and who are serving on
the Oryx Board of Directors immediately prior to the Effective Time (or, if Mr.
Keiser or any such person listed on Exhibit 1.7 hereto shall not be so serving
on the Oryx Board of Directors immediately prior to the Effective Time or shall
otherwise be unable to serve on the Board of Directors of the Surviving
Corporation, Oryx shall be entitled to designate a substitute nominee from among
the Oryx serving directors as of the date hereof, provided that such substitute
nominee is not and has not been an employee of Oryx or its Subsidiaries and is
serving on the Oryx Board of Directors immediately prior to the Effective Time),
in each case for the initial terms set forth on Exhibit 1.7 hereto, and (ii)
cause to be appointed promptly following the Effective Time: Luke R. Corbett as
Chief Executive Officer of the Surviving Corporation and Robert L. Keiser as
Chairman of the Surviving Corporation.

               1.8  Reverse Stock Split. Immediately prior to the Effective
Time, Oryx shall effect the Reverse Split, pursuant to which each share of Oryx
Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Reverse Split
shall, by virtue of the Reverse Split and without any action on the part of the
holder thereof, become 0.369 shares (the "Exchange Ratio") of Oryx Common Stock,
subject to Section 2.5.

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
               1.9  Effect of Merger on Capital Stock.

               (a)  At the Effective Time by virtue of the Merger and without
any action on the part of the holder thereof, each share of Oryx Common Stock
issued and outstanding after giving effect to the Reverse Split and immediately
prior to the Effective Time (other than shares of Oryx Common Stock owned by
Kerr-McGee or held by Oryx, all of which shall be canceled as provided in
Section 1.9(c)) shall be converted into the right to receive one share of
Company Common Stock (together with any cash in lieu of fractional shares to be
paid pursuant to Section 2.5, the "Merger Consideration").

               (b)  At the Effective Time by virtue of the Merger and without
any action on the part of the holder thereof, each share of Kerr-McGee Common
Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
remain outstanding as one share of Company Common Stock.

               (c)  At the Effective Time by virtue of the Merger and without
any action on the part of the holder thereof, each share of Oryx Common Stock
issued and owned or held by Kerr-McGee or Oryx at the Effective Time shall cease
to be outstanding and shall be canceled and retired and no stock of the
Surviving Corporation or other consideration shall be delivered in exchange
therefor.

               1.10 Stock Options.

               (a)  On or prior to the Reverse Split, Oryx will take all action
necessary such that each Oryx Stock Option (as defined in Section 3.2(b)) that
was granted pursuant to the Oryx Stock Option Plans (as defined in Section
3.2(b)) prior to the Reverse Split and which remains outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall cease to represent a right to acquire shares
of Oryx Common Stock and shall be converted, at the Effective Time, into an
option to acquire, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under the
Oryx Stock Option, that number of shares of Company Common Stock determined by
multiplying the number of shares of Oryx Common Stock subject to such Oryx Stock
Option by the Exchange Ratio, rounded, if necessary, to the nearest whole share
of Company Common Stock, at a price per share (rounded to the nearest one-
hundredth of a cent) equal to the per share exercise price specified in such
Oryx Stock Option divided by the Exchange Ratio; provided, however, that in the
case of any Oryx Stock Option to which Section 421 of the Code applies by reason
of its qualification under Section 422 of the Code, the option price, the number
of shares subject to such option and the terms and conditions of exercise of
such option shall be determined in a manner consistent with the requirements of
Section 424(a) of the Code. On or prior to the Reverse Split, Oryx will amend
the Oryx Stock Options and the Oryx Stock Option Plans to give effect to this
Section 1.10 and Section 5.5 and to make such changes in phraseology

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
and form to give effect to the Reverse Split and the Merger and to the
substitution of the Surviving Corporation for Oryx and Company Common Stock
for Oryx Common Stock.

               (b)  As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, the
Surviving Corporation shall deliver to the holders of Oryx Stock Options
appropriate notices setting forth such holders' rights pursuant to the Oryx
Stock Option Plans (including, as applicable, that, by virtue of the Merger and
pursuant to the terms of the Oryx Stock Option Plans, the Oryx Stock Options
have become fully vested and exercisable) and the agreements evidencing the
grants of such Oryx Stock Options shall continue in effect on the same terms and
conditions (subject to the adjustments required by this Section 1.10 after
giving effect to the Reverse Split and the Merger and the terms of the Oryx
Stock Option Plans). To the extent permitted by law, the Surviving Corporation
shall comply with the terms of the Oryx Stock Option Plans and shall take such
reasonable steps as are necessary or required by, and subject to the provisions
of, such Oryx Stock Option Plans, to have the Oryx Stock Options which qualified
as incentive stock options prior to the Effective Time continue to qualify as
incentive stock options of the Surviving Corporation after the Effective Time.

               (c)  The Surviving Corporation shall take all corporate action
necessary to reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of Company
Common Stock for delivery upon exercise of Oryx Stock Options in accordance with
this Section 1.10. Promptly after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation
shall file a registration statement on Form S-3 or Form S-8, as the case may be
(or any successor or other appropriate forms), with respect to the shares of
Company Common Stock subject to such options and shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement
or registration statements (and maintain the current status of the prospectus or
prospectuses contained therein) for so long as such options remain outstanding.

               1.11 Certain Adjustments. If, between the date of this Agreement
and the Effective Time, the outstanding Kerr-McGee Common Stock or Oryx Common
Stock shall have been changed into a different number of shares or different
class of stock by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split,
split-up, combination or exchange of shares, or a stock dividend or dividend
payable in any other securities shall be declared with a record date within such
period, or any similar event shall have occurred (in all cases, other than as
contemplated by Section 1.8), the Exchange Ratio shall be appropriately adjusted
to provide to the holders of Oryx Common Stock and Kerr-McGee Common Stock the
same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event.

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE II

                           EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES

               2.1  Exchange Fund. Prior to the Effective Time, Kerr-McGee shall
appoint a commercial bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to Oryx having
net capital of not less than $100,000,000, or a subsidiary thereof, to act as
exchange agent hereunder for the purpose of exchanging certificates which
immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of Oryx Common Stock
("Certificates") for the Merger Consideration (the "Exchange Agent"). From time
to time as needed, the Surviving Corporation shall deposit with the Exchange
Agent, in trust for the benefit of holders of shares of Oryx Common Stock,
certificates representing the Company Common Stock issuable pursuant to Section
1.9(a) in exchange for shares of Oryx Common Stock outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time. The Surviving Corporation shall make available to the
Exchange Agent from time to time, as needed, cash sufficient to pay cash in lieu
of fractional shares pursuant to Section 2.5 and any dividends and other
distributions pursuant to Section 2.3. Any cash and certificates of Company
Common Stock deposited with the Exchange Agent shall hereinafter be referred to
as the "Exchange Fund".

               2.2  Exchange and Distribution Procedures. (a) As soon as
reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall
cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of a Certificate (i) a letter of
transmittal which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of
loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the
Certificates to the Exchange Agent, and which letter shall be in customary form
and have such other provisions as the Surviving Corporation may reasonably
specify and (ii) instructions for effecting the surrender of such Certificates
in exchange for the applicable Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of a
Certificate to the Exchange Agent together with such letter of transmittal, duly
executed and completed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and such
other documents as may reasonably be required by the Exchange Agent, the holder
of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor (A) one or
more shares of Company Common Stock representing, in the aggregate, the whole
number of shares that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section
1.9(a) (after taking into account all Certificates delivered by such holder) and
(B) any cash and other property that such holder has the right to receive
pursuant to the provisions of this Article II, including any cash in lieu of any
fractional shares pursuant to Section 2.5, and dividends and other distributions
pursuant to Section 2.3. No interest will be paid or will accrue on any cash or
other property payable pursuant to Section 2.3 or 2.5. In the event of a
transfer of ownership of Oryx Common Stock which is not registered in the
transfer records of Oryx, one or more shares of Company Common Stock evidencing,
in the aggregate, the proper number of shares of

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
Company Common Stock, any cash in lieu of any fractional shares pursuant to
Section 2.5 and any dividends or other distributions to which such holder is
entitled pursuant to Section 2.3 may be issued and paid with respect to such
Oryx Common Stock free if the Certificate representing such shares of Oryx
Common Stock is presented to the Exchange Agent, accompanied by all documents
required to evidence and effect such transfer and to evidence that any
applicable stock transfer taxes have been paid.

               2.3  Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares. No
dividends or other distributions declared or made with respect to shares of
Company Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid
to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the shares of
Company Common Stock that such holder would be entitled to receive upon
surrender of such Certificate until such holder shall surrender such Certificate
in accordance with Section 2.2. Subject to the effect of applicable laws,
following surrender of any such Certificate, there shall be paid to such holder
of shares of Company Common Stock issuable in exchange therefor, without
interest, (a) promptly after the time of such surrender, the amount of dividends
or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore
paid with respect to such shares of Company Common Stock, and (b) at the
appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a
record date after the Effective Time but prior to such surrender and a payment
date subsequent to such surrender payable with respect to such shares of Company
Common Stock.

               2.4  No Further Ownership Rights in Oryx Common Stock. All shares
of Company Common Stock issued and cash and other property paid upon conversion
of shares of Oryx Common Stock in accordance with the terms of Article I and
this Article II (including pursuant to Section 2.3) shall be deemed to have been
issued or paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the shares of
Oryx Common Stock. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Article II, each
Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent
only the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration.

               2.5  No Fractional Shares.

               (a)  No certificates or scrip or shares of Oryx Common Stock or
Company Common Stock representing fractional shares of Oryx Common Stock or
Company Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to Section 1.8, 1.9 or 2.2 and
such fractional share interests will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to
have any rights of a shareholder of Oryx or the Surviving Corporation or a
holder of shares of Oryx Common Stock or Company Common Stock.

               (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each
holder of shares of Oryx Common Stock affected by the Reverse

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
Split and converted pursuant to the Merger who would otherwise have been
entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Company Common Stock (after taking
into account all Certificates delivered by such holder pursuant to Section 2.2)
shall receive, in lieu thereof, cash (without interest) in an amount equal to
the product of (i) such fractional part of a share of Company Common Stock
multiplied by (ii) the closing price for a share of Company Common Stock on the
New York Stock Exchange, Inc. ("NYSE") Composite Transactions Tape on the
Business Day immediately following the date on which the Effective Time occurs.

               2.6  Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange
Fund which remains undistributed to the holders of Certificates for six months
after the Effective Time shall be delivered to the Surviving Corporation or
otherwise on the instruction of the Surviving Corporation, and any holders of
the Certificates who have not theretofore complied with this Article II shall
thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation for the Merger Consideration
with respect to the shares of Oryx Common Stock formerly represented thereby to
which such holders are entitled pursuant to Section 1.9, 2.2 and 2.5 and any
dividends or distributions with respect to shares of Company Common Stock to
which such holders are entitled pursuant to Section 2.3. Any such portion of the
Exchange Fund remaining unclaimed by holders of shares of Certificates three
years after the Effective Time (or such earlier date immediately prior to such
time as such amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any
Governmental Entity (as defined in Section 3.1(c)(iii)) shall, to the extent
permitted by law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation free and
clear of any claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

               2.7  No Liability. None of Kerr-McGee, Oryx, the Surviving
Corporation or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any Person in respect of
any Merger Consideration from the Exchange Fund delivered to a public official
pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.

               2.8  Investment of the Exchange Fund. The Exchange Agent shall
invest any cash included in the Exchange Fund as directed by the Surviving
Corporation on a daily basis. Any interest and other income resulting from such
investments shall promptly be paid to the Surviving Corporation.

               2.9  Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost,
stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person
claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by
the Surviving Corporation, the posting by such Person of a bond in such
reasonable amount as the Surviving Corporation may direct as indemnity against
any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the
Exchange Agent will deliver in exchange for such lost,

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
stolen or destroyed Certificate the applicable Merger Consideration with
respect to the shares of Oryx Common Stock formerly represented thereby and
unpaid dividends and distributions on shares of Company Common Stock
deliverable in respect thereof pursuant to this Agreement.

               2.10 Withholding Rights. The Surviving Corporation shall be
entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable
pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of shares of Oryx Common Stock such
amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of
such payment under the Code and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, or any provision of state, local or foreign tax law. To the extent
that amounts are so withheld by the Surviving Corporation, such withheld amounts
shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the
holder of the shares of Oryx Common Stock in respect of which such deduction and
withholding was made by the Surviving Corporation.

               2.11 Further Assurances. At and after the Effective Time, the
officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation will be authorized to
execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of Oryx and Kerr-McGee, any
deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name
and on behalf of Oryx or Kerr-McGee, any other actions and things to vest,
perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Corporation any and
all right, title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or
assets acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of,
or in connection with, the Merger.

               2.12 Stock Transfer Books. The stock transfer books of Oryx shall
be closed immediately upon the Effective Time and there shall be no further
registration of transfers of shares of Oryx Common Stock thereafter on the
records of Oryx. On or after the Effective Time, any Certificates presented to
the Exchange Agent or the Surviving Corporation for any reason shall be
converted into the Merger Consideration with respect to the shares of Oryx
Common Stock formerly represented thereby and any dividends or other
distributions to which the holders thereof are entitled pursuant to Section 2.3.

               2.13 Affiliates. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein,
no shares of Company Common Stock or cash shall be delivered to a Person who may
be deemed an "affiliate" of Oryx in accordance with Section 5.11 hereof for
purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), or for purposes of qualifying the Merger for pooling of
interests accounting treatment under Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles
Board and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") until such Person has executed and delivered an Affiliate
Agreement (as defined in Section 5.11) to the Surviving Corporation.

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE III

                        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

          3.1  Representations and Warranties of Kerr-McGee. Except as set forth
in the Kerr-McGee Disclosure Schedule delivered by Kerr-McGee to Oryx prior to
the execution of this Agreement (the "Kerr-McGee Disclosure Schedule") (each
section of which qualifies the correspondingly numbered representation and
warranty or covenant to the extent specified therein), and except as disclosed
in the Kerr-McGee SEC Reports (as defined in Section 3.1(d)) filed with the SEC
prior to the date hereof, excluding the exhibits thereto (the "Current Kerr-
McGee SEC Reports"), Kerr-McGee represents and warrants to Oryx as follows:

          (a)  Organization, Standing and Power; Subsidiaries.

          (i)  Each of Kerr-McGee and each of its Subsidiaries (as defined in
Section 8.11) is a corporation or other legal entity duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization, has the requisite power and authority to own,
lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being
conducted, except where the failure to be so organized, existing and in good
standing or to have such power and authority would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee, and is duly qualified and in good
standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business
or the ownership or leasing of its properties makes such qualification necessary
other than in such jurisdictions where the failure so to qualify or to be in
good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on Kerr-McGee. The copies of the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of
Kerr-McGee which were previously furnished or made available to Oryx are
complete and correct copies of such documents as in effect on the date of this
Agreement.

          (ii) Exhibit 21 to Kerr-McGee's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1997 includes all the Subsidiaries of Kerr-McGee which
as of the date of this Agreement are Significant Subsidiaries (as defined in
Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the SEC). All the outstanding shares of capital
stock of, or other equity interests in, each such Significant Subsidiary have
been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned directly
or indirectly by Kerr-McGee, free and clear of all pledges, claims, liens,
charges, encumbrances and security interests of any kind or nature whatsoever
(collectively "Liens") and free of any other restriction (including any
restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such capital
stock or other ownership interests). As of the date of this Agreement, neither
Kerr-McGee nor any of its Subsidiaries

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
directly or indirectly owns any equity or similar interest in, or any
interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any other
Person that is or would reasonably be expected to be material to Kerr-McGee
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

               (b)      Capital Structure.

               (i)      As of September 30, 1998 (the "Kerr-McGee Measurement
Date"), the authorized capital stock of Kerr-McGee consisted of (A) 150,000,000
shares of Kerr-McGee Common Stock of which 47,407,948 shares were outstanding,
6,768,990 shares were held in the treasury of Kerr-McGee and 1,943,740 shares
were reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Kerr-McGee Stock Options and
(B) 40,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, no par value per share, of which no
shares were outstanding and 1,000,000 shares of which have been designated
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock and reserved for issuance upon
exercise of the rights (the "Kerr-McGee Rights") distributed to the holders of
Kerr-McGee Common Stock pursuant to the Rights Agreement dated as of July 9,
1996 between Kerr-McGee and Bank One Trust Company, N.A. (as successor by merger
to The Liberty National Bank & Trust Co. of Oklahoma City), as Rights Agent (the
"Kerr-McGee Rights Agreement"). Since the Kerr-McGee Measurement Date to the
date of this Agreement, there have been no issuances of shares of the capital
stock of Kerr-McGee or any other securities of Kerr-McGee other than issuances
of shares (and accompanying Kerr-McGee Rights) pursuant to options or rights
outstanding as of the Kerr-McGee Measurement Date under the Benefit Plans (as
defined in Section 8.11) of Kerr-McGee. All issued and outstanding shares of the
capital stock of Kerr-McGee are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, and no class of capital stock is entitled to preemptive rights.
There were outstanding as of the Kerr-McGee Measurement Date no options,
warrants or other rights to acquire capital stock from Kerr-McGee, directly or
indirectly, other than (x) the Kerr-McGee Rights and (y) options representing in
the aggregate the right to purchase 1,943,740 shares of Kerr-McGee Common Stock
(collectively, the "Kerr-McGee Stock Options") under Kerr-McGee's 1984 Employee
Stock Option Plan, 1987 Long Term Incentive Plan, Performance Share Plan and
1998 Long Term Incentive Plan (collectively, the "Kerr-McGee Stock Option
Plans"). Section 3.1(b) of the Kerr-McGee Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
complete and correct list, as of the Kerr-McGee Measurement Date, of the number
of shares of Kerr-McGee Common Stock subject to Kerr-McGee Stock Options or
other rights to purchase or receive Kerr-McGee Common Stock granted under the
Kerr-McGee Benefit Plans or otherwise, the dates of grant and the exercise
prices thereof. No options or warrants or other rights to acquire capital stock
from Kerr-McGee have been issued or granted since the Kerr-McGee Measurement
Date to the date of this Agreement, other than pursuant to the Kerr-McGee Stock
Option Agreement.

               (ii)     No bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of
Kerr-McGee having the right to vote on any matters on which

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
holders of capital stock of Kerr-McGee may vote ("Kerr-McGee Voting Debt")
are issued or outstanding.

               (iii)    Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 3.1(b) and
as contemplated by Section 1.9 and Section 1.10, as of the date of this
Agreement, there are no securities, options, warrants, calls, rights,
commitments, agreements, arrangements or undertakings of any kind to which Kerr-
McGee or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound
obligating Kerr-McGee or any of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to
issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, shares of
capital stock or other voting securities of Kerr-McGee or any of its
Subsidiaries or obligating Kerr-McGee or any of its Subsidiaries to issue,
grant, extend or enter into any such security, option, warrant, call, right,
commitment, agreement, arrangement or undertaking. As of the date of this
Agreement, there are no outstanding obligations of Kerr-McGee or any of its
Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital
stock of Kerr-McGee or any of its Subsidiaries.

               (c)      Authority; No Conflicts.

               (i)      Kerr-McGee has all requisite corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and the Stock Option Agreements and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, subject, in the
case of the consummation of the Merger, to the adoption of this Agreement by the
stockholders of Kerr-McGee by the Required Kerr-McGee Vote (as defined in
Section 3.1(g)). The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Stock
Option Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the
part of Kerr-McGee, subject, in the case of the consummation of the Merger, to
the adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of Kerr-McGee by the Required
Kerr-McGee Vote. Each of this Agreement and the Stock Option Agreements has been
duly executed and delivered by Kerr-McGee and constitutes a valid and binding
agreement of Kerr-McGee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms,
except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors
generally or by general equity principles (regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

               (ii)     The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
Stock Option Agreements by Kerr-McGee does not or will not, as the case may be,
and the consummation by Kerr-McGee of the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby will not, conflict with, or result in any
violation of, or constitute a default (with or without notice or lapse of time,
or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, amendment, cancellation
or acceleration of any obligation, a right to require redemption or repurchase
of or otherwise "put" securities, or the loss of a

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
material benefit, under, or the creation of a lien, pledge, security interest,
charge or other encumbrance on any assets (any such conflict, violation,
default, right of termination, amendment, cancellation, acceleration, redemption
or repurchase, "put" right, loss or creation, a "Violation") pursuant to: (A)
any provision of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of Kerr-McGee, or
any similar organizational documents of any material Subsidiary of Kerr-McGee,
or (B) except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Kerr-McGee, subject to obtaining or making the consents, approvals,
orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings referred to in
paragraph (iii) below, any loan or credit agreement, note, mortgage, bond,
indenture, lease, benefit plan or other agreement, obligation, instrument,
permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, order, decree, statute, law,
ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Kerr-McGee or any Subsidiary of 
Kerr-McGee or their respective properties or assets.

               (iii)    No consent, approval, order or authorization
of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any supranational, national,
state, municipal, local or foreign government, any instrumentality,
subdivision, court, administrative agency or commission or other authority
thereof, or any quasi-governmental or private body exercising any regulatory,
taxing, importing or other governmental or quasi-governmental authority (a
"Governmental Entity"), is required by or with respect to Kerr-McGee or any
Subsidiary of Kerr-McGee in connection with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement or the Stock Option Agreements by Kerr-McGee or the
consummation by Kerr-McGee of the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, except for those required under or in
relation to (A) the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended (the "HSR Act"), (B) state securities or "blue sky" laws (the "Blue
Sky Laws"), (C) the Securities Act, (D) the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act"), (E) the DGCL with respect to the filing of
the Certificate of Merger, (F) rules and regulations of the NYSE, (G)
antitrust or other competition laws of other jurisdictions, and (H) such
consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and
filings the failure of which to make or obtain would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee.  Consents,
approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings
required under or in relation to any of the foregoing clauses (A) through (G)
are hereinafter referred to as "Necessary Consents".

               (d)      Reports and Financial Statements.

               (i)      Kerr-McGee has filed all required
registration statements, prospectuses, reports, schedules, forms, statements
and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC since January 1,
1997 (collectively, including all exhibits thereto, the "Kerr-McGee SEC
Reports").  Since such date, no Subsidiary of Kerr-McGee has been required to

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
file or has filed any form, report, registration statement, prospectus or other
document with the SEC. None of the Kerr-McGee SEC Reports, as of their
respective dates (and, if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of
this Agreement or the Closing Date, then as of the date of such filing),
contained or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or
will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. Each of the financial statements (including the related
notes) included in the Kerr-McGee SEC Reports presents fairly, in all material
respects, the consolidated financial position and consolidated results of
operations and cash flows of Kerr-McGee and its Subsidiaries as of the
respective dates or for the respective periods set forth therein, all in
conformity with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved except as
otherwise noted therein, and subject, in the case of the unaudited interim
financial statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments that have not
been and are not expected to be material in amount. All of such Kerr-McGee SEC
Reports, as of their respective dates (and as of the date of any amendment to
the respective Kerr-McGee SEC Report), complied as to form in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

               (ii)     Since December 31, 1997, Kerr-McGee and its
Subsidiaries have not incurred any liabilities that are of a nature that
would be required to be disclosed on a consolidated balance sheet of Kerr-McGee
and its Subsidiaries or the footnotes thereto prepared in conformity
with GAAP, other than (A) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of
business or (B) liabilities that would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee.

               (e)      Information Supplied.

               (i)      None of the information supplied or to be
supplied by Kerr-McGee for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (A) the
Form S-4 (as defined in Section 5.1) will, at the time the Form S-4 is filed
with the SEC, at any time it is amended or supplemented or at the time it
becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (B)
the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (as defined in Section 5.1) will, on the
date it is first mailed to Oryx stockholders or Kerr-McGee stockholders or at
the time of the Oryx Stockholders Meeting or the Kerr-McGee Stockholders
Meeting (each as defined in Section 5.1), contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The portions of
the Form S-4 and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus supplied by Kerr-McGee

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
(whether by inclusion or by incorporation by reference therein) will comply as
to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and
the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

               (ii)     Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of
this Section 3.1(e), no representation or warranty is made by Kerr-McGee with
respect to statements made or incorporated by reference in the Form S-4 or
the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus based on information supplied by Oryx
for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein.

               (f)      Board Approval.  The Board of Directors of
Kerr-McGee, by resolutions duly adopted by unanimous vote at a meeting duly
called and held and not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way (the
"Kerr-McGee Board Approval") (except as otherwise permitted following the
date hereof pursuant to Section 5.1 or 5.4), has duly (i) determined that
this Agreement and the Stock Option Agreements, and the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, are advisable and are fair to
and in the best interests of Kerr-McGee and its stockholders, (ii) approved
this Agreement and the Stock Option Agreements, and the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (iii) recommended that the
stockholders of Kerr-McGee adopt this Agreement and (iv) directed that this
Agreement and the Merger be submitted for consideration by Kerr-McGee's
stockholders at the Kerr-McGee Stockholders Meeting.  The Kerr-McGee Board
Approval constitutes approval of this Agreement and the Kerr-McGee Stock
Option Agreement, and the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby, for purposes of Section 203 of the DGCL and Article Thirteenth
of Kerr-McGee's Certificate of Incorporation.  To the knowledge of Kerr-McGee,
except for Section 203 of the DGCL (which has been rendered
inapplicable), no state takeover statute is applicable to this Agreement or
the Kerr-McGee Stock Option Agreement or the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby.

               (g)      Vote Required.  The affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Kerr-McGee Common Stock
(excluding any shares owned or held by Kerr-McGee or any of its Subsidiaries)
(the "Required Kerr-McGee Vote") is the only vote of the holders of any class
or series of Kerr-McGee capital stock necessary to adopt this Agreement
(assuming that Oryx is not an "interested stockholder" of Kerr-McGee under
Section 203 of the DGCL immediately before the execution and delivery of this
Agreement).

               (h)      Litigation; Compliance with Laws.

               (i)  There is no suit, action or proceeding pending
or, to the knowledge of Kerr-McGee,  threatened against or affecting Kerr-McGee
or any Subsidiary of Kerr-McGee having, or which would reasonably be
expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee, nor is there any

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of any Governmental Entity or
arbitrator outstanding against Kerr-McGee or any Subsidiary of Kerr-McGee
having, or which reasonably would be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect
on Kerr-McGee.

               (ii)  Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee, Kerr-McGee and its Subsidiaries hold all
permits, licenses, variances, exemptions, orders and approvals of all
Governmental Entities which are necessary for the operation of the businesses of
Kerr-McGee and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (the "Kerr-McGee Permits").
Kerr-McGee and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of the Kerr-
McGee Permits, except where the failure so to comply would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee. The businesses of 
Kerr-McGee and its Subsidiaries are not being conducted in violation of, and
Kerr-McGee and its Subsidiaries have not received any notices of violations with
respect to, any law, ordinance or regulation of any Governmental Entity, except
for possible violations which would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee.

               (i)   Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except for
liabilities incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Stock Option
Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and except as
permitted by Sections 4.1 and 5.5, since December 31, 1997, Kerr-McGee and its
Subsidiaries have conducted their business only in the ordinary course and there
has not been (i) any change, circumstance or event which has had, or would
reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee or (ii)
any action taken by Kerr-McGee or any of its Subsidiaries during the period from
December 31, 1997 through the date of this Agreement that, if taken during the
period from the date of this Agreement through the Effective Time, would
constitute a breach of Section 4.1.

               (j)   Environmental Matters. Except as would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee: (i) the operations of
Kerr-McGee and its Subsidiaries have been and are in compliance with all
Environmental Laws and with all licenses required by Environmental Laws (as
defined below), (ii) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of Kerr-McGee,
threatened actions, suits, claims, investigations or other proceedings
(collectively, "Actions") under or pursuant to Environmental Laws against Kerr-
McGee or its Subsidiaries or involving any real property currently or, to the
knowledge of Kerr-McGee, formerly owned, operated or leased by Kerr-McGee or its
Subsidiaries, (iii) Kerr-McGee and its Subsidiaries are not subject to any
Environmental Liabilities (as defined below), and, to the knowledge of Kerr-
McGee, no facts, circumstances or conditions relating to, arising from,
associated with or attributable to any real property currently or formerly
owned, operated or leased by Kerr-McGee or its Subsidiaries or operations
thereon would reasonably be expected to

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
result in Environmental Liabilities and (iv) all real property owned and, to
the knowledge of Kerr-McGee, all real property operated or leased by Kerr-McGee
or its Subsidiaries is free of contamination from Hazardous Material
(as defined below) that would have an adverse effect on human health or the
environment.

               As used in this Agreement, "Environmental Laws" means any and all
federal, foreign, state, local or municipal laws, rules, orders, regulations,
statutes, ordinances, codes, decisions, injunctions, orders, decrees,
requirements of any Governmental Entity, any and all common law requirements,
rules and bases of liability regulating, relating to or imposing liability or
standards of conduct concerning pollution, Hazardous Materials or protection of
human health or safety as relating to the environment or the workplace, or the
protection of the environment, as currently in effect and includes the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C.
Sections 9601, et seq., the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C.
Sections 1801, et seq., the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C.
Sections 6901, et seq., the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. Sections 1251, et seq.,
the Clean Air Act, 33 U.S.C. Sections 2601, et seq., the Toxic Substances
Control Act, 15 U.S.C. Sections 2601, et seq., the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C., Sections 136, et seq., Occupational
Safety and Health Act 29 U.S.C. Sections 651, et seq. and the Oil Pollution Act
of 1990, 33 U.S.C. Sections 2701, et seq., as such laws have been amended or
supplemented, and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, and all
analogous state or local statutes. As used in this Agreement, "Environmental
Liabilities" with respect to any person means any and all liabilities of or
relating to such person or any of its Subsidiaries (including any entity which
is, in whole or in part, a predecessor of such person or any of such
Subsidiaries), whether vested or unvested, contingent or fixed, actual or
potential, known or unknown, which (i) arise under or relate to matters covered
by Environmental Laws and (ii) relate to actions occurring or conditions
existing on or prior to the Closing Date. As used in this Agreement, "Hazardous
Materials" means any hazardous or toxic substances, materials or wastes,
defined, listed, classified or regulated as such in or under any Environmental
Laws which includes petroleum, petroleum products, friable asbestos, urea
formaldehyde and polychlorinated biphenyls and any other substance that could
result in liability under any Environmental Laws.

               (k)      Intellectual Property. Except as would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee: (a) Kerr-McGee and
each of its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use (in each case, free and
clear of any Liens), all Intellectual Property (as defined below) used in or
necessary for the conduct of its business as currently conducted; (b) the use of
any Intellectual Property by Kerr-McGee and its Subsidiaries does not infringe
on or otherwise violate the rights of any Person and is in accordance with any
applicable license pursuant to which

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
Kerr-McGee or any Subsidiary acquired the right to use any Intellectual
Property; (c) to the knowledge of Kerr-McGee, no Person is challenging,
infringing on or otherwise violating any right of Kerr-McGee or any of its
Subsidiaries with respect to any Intellectual Property owned by and/or
licensed to Kerr-McGee or its Subsidiaries; and (d) neither Kerr-McGee nor
any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of any pending claim
with respect to any Intellectual Property used by Kerr-McGee and its
Subsidiaries and to its knowledge no Intellectual Property owned and/or
licensed by Kerr-McGee or its Subsidiaries is being used or enforced in a
manner that would result in the abandonment, cancellation or unenforceability
of such Intellectual Property.  For purposes of this Agreement, "Intellectual
Property" shall mean trademarks, service marks, brand names, certification
marks, trade dress and other indications of origin, the goodwill associated
with the foregoing and registrations in any jurisdiction of, and applications
in any jurisdiction to register, the foregoing, including any extension,
modification or renewal of any such registration or application; inventions,
discoveries and ideas, whether patentable or not, in any jurisdiction;
patents, applications for patents (including, without limitation, divisions,
continuations, continuations in part and renewal applications), and any
renewals, extensions or reissues thereof, in any jurisdiction; nonpublic
information, trade secrets and confidential information and rights in any
jurisdiction to limit the use or disclosure thereof by any person; writings
and other works, whether copyrightable or not, in any jurisdiction;
registrations or applications for registration of copyrights in any
jurisdiction, and any renewals or extensions thereof; any similar
intellectual property or proprietary rights; and any claims or causes of
action arising out of or relating to any infringement or misappropriation of
any of the foregoing.

               (l)      Rights Agreement.  The Board of Directors of
Kerr-McGee has approved an amendment to the Kerr-McGee Rights Agreement to
the effect that neither Oryx nor any of its affiliates shall become an
"Acquiring Person", and that no "Stock Acquisition Date" or "Distribution
Date" (as such terms are defined in the Kerr-McGee Rights Agreement) will
occur, by reason of the approval, execution or delivery of this Agreement or
the Kerr-McGee Stock Option Agreement or the consummation of the Merger or
the other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, and will cause the
trustee under the Kerr-McGee Rights Agreement to execute such amendment as
soon as possible after the execution hereof.

               (m)      Brokers or Finders.  No agent, broker,
investment banker, financial advisor or other firm or Person is or will be
entitled to any broker's or finder's fee or any other similar commission or
fee in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or the Stock Option Agreements based upon arrangements made by or on behalf
of Kerr-McGee, except Lehman Brothers Inc. (the "Kerr-McGee Financial
Advisor"), whose fees and expenses will be paid by Kerr-McGee in accordance

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
with Kerr-McGee's agreement with such firm, a copy of which has been provided
to Oryx.

               (n)      Opinion of Kerr-McGee Financial Advisor. Kerr-McGee has
received the opinion of the Kerr-McGee Financial Advisor, dated the date of this
Agreement, to the effect that, as of such date, the Exchange Ratio is fair, from
a financial point of view, to Kerr-McGee, a copy of which opinion will be made
available to Oryx.

               (o)      Accounting Matters. Neither Kerr-McGee nor any of its
affiliates has taken or agreed to take any action that would prevent Kerr-McGee
from accounting for the Merger as a "pooling of interests". At or prior to the
date hereof, Kerr-McGee has received a letter from its independent public
accountants addressed to Kerr-McGee, with a copy to Oryx, to the effect that,
based upon representations provided by Kerr-McGee and Oryx and a poolability
letter from the independent public accountants of Oryx, accounting for the
Merger as a pooling of interests under Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles
Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations is appropriate if the Merger is
consummated and closed as contemplated by this Agreement.

               (p)      Taxes. Each of Kerr-McGee and its Subsidiaries has filed
all Tax Returns required to have been filed (or extensions have been duly
obtained) and has paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except where
failure to file such Tax Returns or pay such Taxes would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee. For purposes of this
Agreement: (i) "Tax" (and, with correlative meaning, "Taxes") means any federal,
state, local or foreign income, gross receipts, property, sales, use, license,
excise, franchise, employment, payroll, withholding, alternative or add on
minimum, ad valorem, transfer or excise tax, or any other tax, custom, duty,
governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever,
together with any interest or penalty, imposed by any governmental authority and
(ii) "Tax Return" means any return, report or similar statement required to be
filed with respect to any Tax (including any attached schedules), including,
without limitation, any information return, claim for refund, amended return or
declaration of estimated Tax.

               (q)      Certain Contracts. As of the date hereof, except as set
forth in the Current Kerr-McGee SEC Reports, neither Kerr-McGee nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by (i) any "material contract" (as such term
is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC) or (ii) any non-
competition agreement or any other agreement or arrangement that limits or
otherwise restricts Kerr-McGee or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective affiliates or any successor thereto or that would, after the
Effective Time, to the knowledge of Kerr-McGee, limit or restrict the Surviving
Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or any

                                       26
<PAGE>
 
of their respective affiliates or any successor thereto from engaging or
competing in any line of business or in any geographic area.

               (r)      Employee Benefits.

               (i)      Except as set forth in Section 3.1(r) of the Kerr-McGee
Disclosure Schedule (together, the "Kerr-McGee Plans"), Kerr-McGee has no
material Benefit Plans. Copies or descriptions of the Kerr-McGee Plans have been
made available to Oryx.

               (ii)     Each Kerr-McGee Plan has been administered and is in
compliance with the terms of such plan and all applicable laws, rules and
regulations where the failure thereof would result in liability that would be
reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee.

               (iii)    Each Kerr-McGee Plan intended to be qualified has
received a favorable determination from the Internal Revenue Service and to 
Kerr-McGee's knowledge, nothing has occurred since that would adversely affect
such qualification.

               (iv)     Except as would not be reasonably expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee: (x) no "reportable event" (as such term
is used in section 4043 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended ("ERISA")) (other than those events for which the 30-day notice has
been waived pursuant to the regulations) is pending with respect to any Kerr-
McGee Plan, and (ii) no "accumulated funding deficiency" (as such term is used
in section 412 or 4971 of the Code) has occurred during the last 5 years with
respect to any Kerr-McGee Plan.

               (v)      No litigation or administrative or other proceeding
involving any Kerr-McGee Plans has occurred or, to the Kerr-McGee's knowledge,
is threatened where an adverse determination would result in liability that
would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee.

               (vi)     Kerr-McGee has not contributed to any "multiemployer
plan" (within the meaning of section 3(37) of ERISA) and neither Kerr-McGee nor
any member of its "Controlled Group" (defined as any organization which is a
member of a controlled group of organizations within the meaning of Code
sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o)) has incurred any withdrawal liability which
remains unsatisfied in an amount which would result in liability that has had or
would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee.

               (vii)    No Kerr-McGee Plan or multiemployer plan to which the
Kerr-McGee contributed has been terminated where such termination

                                       27
<PAGE>
 
has resulted in liability under Title IV of ERISA that has had or would be
reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee.

               (s)      Labor Matters. Neither Kerr-McGee nor any of its
Subsidiaries: (i) is a party to or otherwise bound by any collective bargaining
agreement, contract or other agreement or understanding with a labor union or
labor organization, nor is any such contract or agreement presently being
negotiated, nor is there, nor has there been in the last five years, a
representation question respecting any of the employees of Kerr-McGee or its
Subsidiaries, and, to the knowledge of Kerr-McGee, there are no campaigns being
conducted to solicit cards from employees of Kerr-McGee or its Subsidiaries to
authorize representation by any labor organization; (ii) is a party to, or bound
by, any consent decree with, or citation by, any governmental agency relating to
employees or employment practices which would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee; or (iii) is the subject of any proceeding
asserting that it has committed an unfair labor practice or is seeking to compel
it to bargain with any labor union or labor organization nor, as of the date of
this Agreement, is there pending or, to the knowledge of Kerr-McGee, threatened,
any labor strike, dispute, walkout, work stoppage, slow-down or lockout
involving Kerr-McGee or any of its Subsidiaries which, with respect to any event
described in this clause (iii), would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Kerr-McGee.

               (t)      Ownership of Oryx Common Stock. Neither Kerr-McGee nor
any of its Subsidiaries beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, any Oryx
Common Stock other than pursuant to the Oryx Stock Option Agreement.

               3.2      Representations and Warranties of Oryx. Except as set
forth in the Oryx Disclosure Schedule delivered by Oryx to Kerr-McGee prior to
the execution of this Agreement (the "Oryx Disclosure Schedule") (each section
of which qualifies the correspondingly numbered representation and warranty or
covenant to the extent specified therein), and except as disclosed in the Oryx
SEC Reports (as defined in Section 3.2(d)) filed with the SEC prior to the date
hereof, excluding the exhibits thereto (the "Current Oryx SEC Reports"), Oryx
represents and warrants to Kerr-McGee as follows:

               (a)      Organization, Standing and Power; Subsidiaries.

               (i)      Each of Oryx and each of its Subsidiaries is a
corporation or other legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization,
has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and to carry on its business as now being conducted, except

                                       28
<PAGE>
 
where the failure to be so organized, existing and in good standing or to
have such power and authority would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Oryx, and is duly qualified and in good standing
to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or
the ownership or leasing of its properties makes such qualification necessary
other than in such jurisdictions where the failure so to qualify or to be in
good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Oryx.  The copies of the certificate of incorporation and by-laws
of Oryx which were previously furnished or made available to Kerr-McGee are
complete and correct copies of such documents as in effect on the date of
this Agreement.

               (ii)     Exhibit 21 to Oryx's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1997 includes all the Subsidiaries of Oryx which as of
the date of this Agreement are Significant Subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 1-02
of Regulation S-X of the SEC). All the outstanding shares of capital stock of,
or other equity interests in, each such Significant Subsidiary have been validly
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned directly or indirectly
by Oryx, free and clear of all Liens and free of any other restriction
(including any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of
such capital stock or other ownership interests). Neither Oryx nor any of its
Subsidiaries directly or indirectly owns any equity or similar interest in, or
any interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any other
Person that is or would reasonably be expected to be material to Oryx and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

               (b)      Capital Structure.

               (i)      As of October 8, 1998 (the "Oryx Measurement Date"), the
authorized capital stock of Oryx consisted of (A) 250,000,000 shares of Oryx
Common Stock, of which 106,233,579 shares were outstanding, 17,468,095 shares
were held in the treasury of Oryx, 3,001,876 shares were held by a Subsidiary of
Oryx, 5,111,438 shares were reserved for issuance upon the conversion of Oryx's
7-1/2% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due May 15, 2014 (the "Oryx
Debentures") and 7,135,302 shares were reserved for issuance upon the exercise
of the Oryx Stock Options or available for grant of other rights to purchase or
receive Oryx Common Stock granted under the Oryx Plans (as defined below), (B)
7,740,606 shares of Cumulative Preference Stock, par value $1.00 per share, none
of which were outstanding and 120,000 shares of which have been designated
Series A Junior Cumulative Preference Stock and reserved for issuance upon
exercise of the rights (the "Oryx Rights") distributed to the holders of Oryx
Common Stock pursuant to the Rights Agreement dated as of September 11, 1990,
between Oryx and Chase Manhattan Bank (as successor by merger to Manufacturers
Hanover Trust Company), as Rights Agent, as amended (the "Oryx Rights
Agreement"), and (C) 15,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per
share, none of

                                       29
<PAGE>
 
which were outstanding, designated or reserved for issuance.  Since the Oryx
Measurement Date to the date of this Agreement, there have been no issuances
of shares of the capital stock of Oryx or any other securities of Oryx other
than issuances of shares (and accompanying Oryx Rights) pursuant to options
or rights outstanding as of the Oryx Measurement Date under the Benefit Plans
of Oryx.  All issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of Oryx are
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and no class
of capital stock is entitled to preemptive rights.  There were outstanding as
of the Oryx Measurement Date no options, warrants or other rights to acquire
capital stock, directly or indirectly, from Oryx other than (x) the Oryx
Rights, (y) options representing in the aggregate the right to purchase no
more than 2,659,709 (collectively, the "Oryx Stock Options") under Oryx's
Long-Term Incentive Plan, 1992 Long-Term Incentive Plan and 1997 Long-Term
Incentive Plan (collectively, the "Oryx Stock Option Plans") and (z) the Oryx
Debentures.  Section 3.2(b) of the Oryx Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
complete and correct list, as of the Oryx Measurement Date, of the number of
shares of Oryx Common Stock subject to Oryx Stock Options or other rights to
purchase or receive Oryx Common Stock granted under the Oryx Benefit Plans or
otherwise, the dates of grant and the exercise prices thereof. No options or
warrants or other rights to acquire capital stock from Oryx have been issued
or granted since the Oryx Measurement Date to the date of this Agreement,
other than pursuant to the Oryx Stock Option Agreement.

               (ii)     No bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of
Oryx having the right to vote on any matters on which holders of capital stock
may vote ("Oryx Voting Debt") are issued or outstanding.

               (iii)    Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 3.2(b), as
of the date of this Agreement, there are no securities, options, warrants,
calls, rights, commitments, agreements, arrangements or undertakings of any kind
to which Oryx or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is
bound obligating Oryx or any of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to
issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, shares of
capital stock or other voting securities of Oryx or any of its Subsidiaries or
obligating Oryx or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, grant, extend or enter into
any such security, option, warrant, call, right, commitment, agreement,
arrangement or undertaking. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no
outstanding obligations of Oryx or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem
or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of Oryx or any of its
Subsidiaries.

               (iv)     No action, consent or approval by any holder of Oryx
Stock Options or Oryx Debentures is required in connection with the actions
described in Sections 1.10(a) and 5.13.

                                       30
<PAGE>
 
               (c)      Authority; No Conflicts.

               (i)      Oryx has all requisite corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and the Stock Option Agreements and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, subject, in the case of the
consummation of the Reverse Split and the Merger, to the approval of the Reverse
Split and the adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of Oryx by the
Required Oryx Vote (as defined in Section 3.2(g)). The execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the Stock Option Agreements and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of Oryx, subject, in the case of the
consummation of the Reverse Split and the Merger, to the approval of the Reverse
Split and the adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of Oryx by the
Required Oryx Vote. Each of this Agreement and the Stock Option Agreements has
been duly executed and delivered by Oryx and constitutes a valid and binding
agreement of Oryx, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except
as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors generally or by
general equity principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

               (ii)     The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
Stock Option Agreements by Oryx does not or will not, as the case may be, and
the consummation by Oryx of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby will not, result in a Violation of or pursuant to: (A) any
provision of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of Oryx, or any similar
organizational documents of any material Subsidiary of Oryx, or (B) except as
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Oryx,
subject to obtaining or making the consents, approvals, orders, authorizations,
registrations, declarations and filings referred to in paragraph (iii) below,
any loan or credit agreement, note, mortgage, bond, indenture, lease, benefit
plan or other agreement, obligation, instrument, permit, concession, franchise,
license, judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation
applicable to Oryx or any Subsidiary of Oryx or their respective properties or
assets.

               (iii)    No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or
registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity is required by
or with respect to Oryx or any Subsidiary of Oryx in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Stock Option Agreements by Oryx
or the consummation by Oryx of the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, except the Necessary Consents and such
consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and
filings the failure of which to make or obtain would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on Oryx.

                                       31
<PAGE>
 
               (d)      Reports and Financial Statements.

               (i)      Each of Oryx and Sun Energy Partners, L.P. ("Oryx
Partnership") has filed all required registration statements, prospectuses,
reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed
by it with the SEC since January 1, 1997 (collectively, including all exhibits
thereto, the "Oryx SEC Reports"). Since such date, no other Subsidiary of Oryx
has been required to file or has filed any form, report, registration statement,
prospectus or other document with the SEC. None of the Oryx SEC Reports, as of
their respective dates (and, if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the
date of this Agreement or the Closing Date, then as of the date of such filing),
contained or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or
will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. Each of the financial statements (including the related
notes) included in the Oryx SEC Reports presents fairly, in all material
respects, the consolidated financial position and consolidated results of
operations and cash flows of Oryx or Oryx Partnership, as the case may be, and
its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates or for the respective periods set
forth therein, all in conformity with GAAP consistently applied during the
periods involved except as otherwise noted therein, and subject, in the case of
the unaudited interim financial statements, to normal and recurring year-end
adjustments that have not been and are not expected to be material in amount.
All of such Oryx SEC Reports, as of their respective dates (and as of the date
of any amendment to the respective Oryx SEC Report), complied as to form in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

               (ii)     Since December 31, 1997, Oryx and its Subsidiaries have
not incurred any liabilities that are of a nature that would be required to be
disclosed on a consolidated balance sheet of Oryx or Oryx Partnership, as the
case may be, and its Subsidiaries or the footnotes thereto prepared in
conformity with GAAP, other than (A) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course
of business or (B) liabilities that would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Oryx.

               (e)      Information Supplied.

               (i)      None of the information supplied or to be supplied by
Oryx for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (A) the Form S-4 will, at
the time the Form S-4 is filed with the SEC, at any time it is amended or
supplemented or at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading and (B) the Joint Proxy

                                       32
<PAGE>
 
Statement/Prospectus will, on the date it is first mailed to Oryx stockholders
or Kerr-McGee stockholders or at the time of the Oryx Stockholders Meeting or
the Kerr-McGee Stockholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. The portions of the Form S-4 and the
Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus supplied by Oryx (whether by inclusion or by
incorporation by reference therein) will comply as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act and
the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

               (ii)     Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section
3.2(e), no representation or warranty is made by Oryx with respect to statements
made or incorporated by reference in the Form S-4 or the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus based on information supplied by Kerr-McGee for inclusion
or incorporation by reference therein.

               (f)      Board Approval. The Board of Directors of Oryx, by
resolutions duly adopted by unanimous vote at a meeting duly called and held and
not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way (the "Oryx Board Approval")
(except as otherwise permitted following the date hereof pursuant to Section 5.1
or 5.4), has duly (i) determined that this Agreement and the Stock Option
Agreements, and the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby, are advisable and are fair to and in the best interests of Oryx and its
stockholders, (ii) approved this Agreement and the Stock Option Agreements, and
the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (iii)
recommended that the stockholders of Oryx adopt this Agreement and (iv) directed
that this Agreement and the Merger be submitted for consideration by Oryx's
stockholders at the Oryx Stockholders Meeting. The Oryx Board Approval
constitutes approval of this Agreement and the Oryx Stock Option Agreement, and
the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, for purposes
of Section 203 of the DGCL and Article Sixth of Oryx's Certificate of
Incorporation. To the knowledge of Oryx, except for Section 203 of the DGCL
(which has been rendered inapplicable), no state takeover statute is applicable
to this Agreement or the Oryx Stock Option Agreement, or the Merger or the other
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

               (g)      Vote Required. The affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Oryx Common Stock (excluding any shares
owned or held by Oryx or any of its Subsidiaries) (the "Required Oryx Vote") is
the only vote of the holders of any class or series of Oryx capital stock
necessary to adopt this Agreement and approve the Reverse Split (assuming that
Kerr-McGee is not an "interested stockholder" of Oryx under Section 203 of the
DGCL immediately before the execution and delivery of this Agreement).

                                       33
<PAGE>
 
               (h)      Litigation; Compliance with Laws.

               (i)      There is no suit, action or proceeding pending or, to
the knowledge of Oryx, threatened against or affecting Oryx or any Subsidiary of
Oryx having, or which would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse
Effect on Oryx, nor is there any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of
any Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against Oryx or any Subsidiary
of Oryx having, or which reasonably would be expected to have, a Material
Adverse Effect on Oryx.

               (ii)     Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Oryx, Oryx and its Subsidiaries hold all permits,
licenses, variances, exemptions, orders and approvals of all Governmental
Entities which are necessary for the operation of the businesses of Oryx and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (the "Oryx Permits"). Oryx and its Subsidiaries
are in compliance with the terms of the Oryx Permits, except where the failure
so to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on Oryx. The businesses of Oryx and its Subsidiaries are not being conducted in
violation of, and Oryx and its Subsidiaries have not received any notices of
violations with respect to, any law, ordinance or regulation of any Governmental
Entity, except for possible violations which would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on Oryx.

               (i)      Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except for
liabilities incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Stock Option
Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and except as
permitted by Sections 4.2 and 5.5, since December 31, 1997, Oryx and its
Subsidiaries have conducted their business only in the ordinary course and there
has not been (i) any change, circumstance or event which has had, or would
reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on Oryx or (ii) any
action taken by Oryx or any of its Subsidiaries during the period from December
31, 1997 through the date of this Agreement that, if taken during the period
from the date of this Agreement through the Effective Time, would constitute a
breach of Section 4.2.

               (j)      Environmental Matters. Except as would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Oryx: (i) the operations of Oryx
and its Subsidiaries have been and are in compliance with all Environmental Laws
and with all licenses required by Environmental Laws (ii) there are no pending
or, to the knowledge of Oryx, threatened Actions under or pursuant to
Environmental Laws against Oryx or its Subsidiaries or involving any real
property currently or, to the knowledge of Oryx, formerly owned, operated or
leased by Oryx or its Subsidiaries, (iii) Oryx and its Subsidiaries are not
subject to any Environmental Liabilities and, to the knowledge of Oryx, no
facts, circumstances or conditions relating to, arising from, associated with or
attributable to any real property currently or

                                       34
<PAGE>
 
formerly owned, operated or leased by Oryx or its Subsidiaries or operations
thereon would reasonably be expected to result in Environmental Liabilities
and (iv) all real property owned and, to the knowledge of Oryx, all real
property operated or leased by Oryx or its Subsidiaries is free of
contamination from Hazardous Material that would have an adverse effect on
human health or the environment.

               (k)      Intellectual Property. Except as would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Oryx: (a) Oryx and each of its
Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use (in each case, free and clear of any
Liens), all Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the conduct of its
business as currently conducted; (b) the use of any Intellectual Property by
Oryx and its Subsidiaries does not infringe on or otherwise violate the rights
of any Person and is in accordance with any applicable license pursuant to which
Oryx or any Subsidiary acquired the right to use any Intellectual Property; (c)
to the knowledge of Oryx, no Person is challenging, infringing on or otherwise
violating any right of Oryx or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any
Intellectual Property owned by and/or licensed to Oryx or its Subsidiaries; and
(d) neither Oryx nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of
any pending claim with respect to any Intellectual Property used by Oryx and its
Subsidiaries and to its knowledge no Intellectual Property owned and/or licensed
by Oryx or its Subsidiaries is being used or enforced in a manner that would
result in the abandonment, cancellation or unenforceability of such Intellectual
Property.

               (l)      Rights Agreement. The Board of Directors of Oryx has
approved an amendment to the Oryx Rights Agreement to the effect that neither
Kerr-McGee nor any of its affiliates shall become an "Acquiring Person" or an
"Adverse Person", and that no "Shares Acquisition Date", "Distribution Date" or
"Triggering Event" (as such terms are defined in the Oryx Rights Agreement) or
any event otherwise specified in Section 11(a)(ii) or 13 of the Rights Agreement
will occur, by reason of the approval, execution or delivery of this Agreement
or the Oryx Stock Option Agreement or the consummation of the Merger or the
other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, and will cause the trustee
under the Oryx Rights Agreement to execute such amendment as soon as possible
after the execution hereo f.

               (m)      Brokers or Finders. No agent, broker, investment banker,
financial advisor or other firm or Person is or will be entitled to any broker's
or finder's fee or any other similar commission or fee in connection with any of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Stock Option Agreements
based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Oryx except Goldman, Sachs & Co.
(the "Oryx Financial Advisor"), whose fees and expenses will be paid by Oryx in
accordance with Oryx's agreement with such firm, a copy of which has been
provided to Kerr-McGee.

                                       35
<PAGE>
 
               (n)      Opinion of Oryx Financial Advisor. Oryx has received the
opinion of the Oryx Financial Advisor, dated the date of this Agreement, to the
effect that, as of such date, the Exchange Ratio is fair, from a financial point
of view, to the holders of Oryx Common Stock, a copy of which opinion will be
made available to Kerr-McGee.

               (o)      Accounting Matters. Neither Oryx nor any of its
affiliates has taken or agreed to take any action that would prevent Kerr-McGee
from accounting for the Merger as a "pooling of interests". At or prior to the
date hereof, Oryx has received a letter from its independent public accountants
addressed to Oryx, with a copy to Kerr-McGee and Kerr-McGee's independent public
accountants, stating that Oryx qualifies as a "combining company" in accordance
with the criteria set forth in Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles Board and
accordingly is a poolable entity.

               (p)      Taxes. Each of Oryx and its Subsidiaries has filed all
Tax Returns required to have been filed (or extensions have been duly obtained)
and has paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except where failure to
file such Tax Returns or pay such Taxes would not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect on Oryx.

               (q)      Certain Contracts. As of the date hereof, except as set
forth in the Current Oryx SEC Reports, neither Oryx nor any of its Subsidiaries
is a party to or bound by (i) any "material contract" (as such term is defined
in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC) or (ii) any non-competition
agreement or any other agreement or arrangement that limits or otherwise
restricts Oryx or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective affiliates
or any successor thereto or that would, after the Effective Time, to the
knowledge of Oryx, limit or restrict the Surviving Corporation or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective affiliates or any successor thereto,
from engaging or competing in any line of business or in any geographic area.

               (r)      Employee Benefits.

               (i)      Except as set forth in Section 3.2(r) of the Oryx
Disclosure Schedule (together, the "Oryx Plans"), Oryx has no material Benefit
Plans. Copies or descriptions of the Oryx Plans have been made available to 
Kerr-McGee .

               (ii)     Each Oryx Plan has been administered and is in
compliance with the terms of such plan and all applicable laws, rules and
regulations where the failure thereof would result in liability that would be
reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Oryx.

               (iii)    Each Oryx Plan intended to be qualified has received a
favorable determination from the Internal Revenue Service and to

                                       36
<PAGE>
 
Oryx's knowledge, nothing has occurred since that would adversely affect such
qualification.

               (iv)     Except as would not be reasonably expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Oryx: (x) no "reportable event" (as such term is used
in section 4043 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended ("ERISA")) (other than those events for which the 30-day notice has been
waived pursuant to the regulations) is pending with respect to any Oryx Plan,
and (ii) no "accumulated funding deficiency" (as such term is used in section
412 or 4971 of the Code) has occurred during the last 5 years with respect to
any Oryx Plan.

               (v)      No litigation or administrative or other proceeding
involving any Oryx Plans has occurred or, to the Oryx's knowledge, is threatened
where an adverse determination would result in liability that would be
reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Oryx.

               (vi)     Oryx has not contributed to any "multiemployer plan"
(within the meaning of section 3(37) of ERISA) and neither Oryx nor any member
of its Controlled Group has incurred any withdrawal liability which remains
unsatisfied in an amount which would result in liability that has had or would
be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Oryx.

               (vii)    No Oryx Plan or multiemployer plan to which the Oryx
contributed has been terminated where such termination has resulted in liability
under Title IV of ERISA that has had or would be reasonably expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Oryx.

               (s)      Labor Matters. Neither Oryx nor any of its Subsidiaries:
(i) is a party to or otherwise bound by any collective bargaining agreement,
contract or other agreement or understanding with a labor union or labor
organization, nor is any such contract or agreement presently being negotiated,
nor is there, nor has there been in the last five years, a representation
question respecting any of the employees of Oryx or its Subsidiaries, and, to
the knowledge of Oryx, there are no campaigns being conducted to solicit cards
from employees of Oryx or its Subsidiaries to authorize representation by any
labor organization; (ii) is a party to, or bound by, any consent decree with, or
citation by, any governmental agency relating to employees or employment
practices which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on Oryx; or (iii) is the subject of any proceeding asserting that it has
committed an unfair labor practice or is seeking to compel it to bargain with
any labor union or labor organization nor, as of the date of this Agreement, is
there pending or, to the knowledge of Oryx, threatened, any labor strike,
dispute, walkout, work stoppage, slow-down or lockout involving Oryx or any of
its Subsidiaries which, with respect

                                       37
<PAGE>
 
to any event described in this clause (iii), would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on Oryx.

               (t)      Ownership of Kerr-McGee Common Stock.  Neither Oryx nor
any of its Subsidiaries beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, any Kerr-
McGee Common Stock other than pursuant to the Kerr-McGee Stock Option Agreement.

               (u)      Devon Stock.  Neither Oryx nor any of its Subsidiaries
beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or has any rights with respect to the
acquisition of beneficial ownership of, any common stock, par value $0.10 per
share, of Devon Energy Corporation (an Oklahoma corporation) or any other
securities having voting power under ordinary circumstances with respect to
election of directors of Devon Energy Corporation.


                                  ARTICLE IV

                   COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

               4.1      Covenants of Kerr-McGee.  During the period from the
date of this Agreement and continuing until the Effective Time, Kerr-McGee
agrees as to itself and its Subsidiaries that (except as expressly contemplated
or permitted by this Agreement or the Kerr-McGee Disclosure Schedule or as
required by a Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction or to the extent
that Oryx shall otherwise consent in writing, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed):

               (a)      Ordinary Course.

               (i)      Kerr-McGee and its Subsidiaries shall carry on their
     respective businesses in the usual, regular and ordinary course in all
     material respects, in substantially the same manner as heretofore
     conducted, and shall use all reasonable efforts to preserve intact their
     present lines of business, maintain their rights and franchises and
     preserve their relationships with customers, suppliers and others having
     business dealings with them to the end that their ongoing businesses shall
     not be impaired in any material respect at the Effective Time; provided,
     however, that no action by Kerr-McGee or its Subsidiaries with respect to
     matters specifically addressed by any other provision of this Section 4.1
     shall be deemed a breach of this Section 4.1(a)(i) unless such action would
     constitute a breach of one or more of such other provisions.

               (ii)     Other than in connection with acquisitions permitted by
     Section 4.1(e), Kerr-McGee shall not, and shall not

                                       38
<PAGE>
 
     permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (A) enter into any new material line of
     business or (B) incur or commit to any capital expenditures or any
     obligations or liabilities in connection therewith other than capital
     expenditures and obligations or liabilities in connection therewith
     incurred or committed to in the ordinary course of business consistent with
     past practice.

               (b)      Dividends; Changes in Capital Stock.  Kerr-McGee shall
     not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, and shall not propose
     to, (i) declare or pay any dividends on or make other distributions in
     respect of any of its capital stock, except (A) the declaration and payment
     of regular quarterly cash dividends not in excess of $0.45 per share of
     Kerr-McGee Common Stock with usual record and payment dates for such
     dividends in accordance with past dividend practice, and (B) for dividends
     by wholly owned Subsidiaries of Kerr-McGee, (ii) split, combine or
     reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize or propose the
     issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in
     substitution for, shares of its capital stock, except for any such
     transaction by a wholly owned Subsidiary of Kerr-McGee which remains a
     wholly owned Subsidiary after consummation of such transaction or (iii)
     repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or
     any securities convertible into or exercisable for any shares of its
     capital stock.

               (c)      Issuance of Securities.  Kerr-McGee shall not, and shall
     not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, issue, deliver or sell, or authorize
     or propose the issuance, delivery or sale of, any shares of its capital
     stock of any class, any Kerr-McGee Voting Debt or any securities
     convertible into or exercisable for, or any rights, warrants or options to
     acquire, any such shares or Kerr-McGee Voting Debt, or enter into or modify
     any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing, other than (i) the
     issuance of Kerr-McGee Common Stock (and the associated Kerr-McGee Rights)
     upon the exercise of Kerr-McGee Stock Options or in connection with other
     stock-based benefit plans outstanding on the date hereof, in each case in
     accordance with their present terms, or as otherwise approved by the Kerr-
     McGee Board of Directors in connection with Benefit Plans, (ii) the
     granting of Kerr-McGee Stock Options in the ordinary course of business
     consistent with past practice or as otherwise approved by the Kerr-McGee
     Board of Directors, (iii) issuances by a wholly owned Subsidiary of Kerr-
     McGee of capital stock to such Subsidiary's parent, Kerr-McGee or another
     wholly owned Subsidiary of Kerr-McGee, or (iv) issuances in accordance with
     the Kerr-McGee Rights Agreement.

               (d)      Governing Documents.  Except to the extent required to
     comply with its obligations hereunder, Kerr-McGee shall

                                       39
<PAGE>
 
     not amend or propose to so amend its certificate of incorporation or by-
     laws.

               (e)      No Acquisitions.  Other than acquisitions for cash or
     debt (other than debt convertible into or exchangeable for equity
     securities) principally in existing or related lines of business of Kerr-
     McGee which the Kerr-McGee Board of Directors determines to be in the best
     interests of Kerr-McGee, Kerr-McGee shall not, and shall not permit any of
     its Subsidiaries to, acquire or agree to acquire by merging or
     consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial equity interest in or a
     substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business
     or any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization
     or division thereof or otherwise acquire or agree to acquire any assets
     (other than the acquisition of assets used in the operations of the
     business of Kerr-McGee and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course).

               (f)      No Dispositions.  Other than as may be required by or in
     conformance with law or regulation in order to permit or facilitate the
     consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (subject to Section
     5.3(a)), Kerr-McGee shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
     to, sell, lease, encumber or otherwise dispose of, or agree to sell, lease,
     encumber or otherwise dispose of, any of its assets (including capital
     stock of Subsidiaries), other than dispositions in the ordinary course of
     business consistent with past practice, and dispositions of minority
     interests in joint ventures which the Kerr-McGee Board of Directors
     determines to be in the best interests of Kerr-McGee.

               (g)      Investments; Indebtedness.  Kerr-McGee shall not, and
     shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, other than in connection with
     actions permitted by Section 4.1(e), (i) make any loans, advances or
     capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person, other than
     (x) by Kerr-McGee or a Subsidiary of Kerr-McGee to or in Kerr-McGee or any
     wholly owned Subsidiary of Kerr- McGee, (y) pursuant to any contract or
     other legal obligation of Kerr-McGee or any of its Subsidiaries existing at
     the date of this Agreement or (z) in the ordinary course of business
     consistent with past practice or (ii) create, incur, assume or suffer to
     exist any indebtedness, issuances of debt securities, guarantees, loans or
     advances not in existence as of the date of this Agreement except pursuant
     to the credit facilities, indentures and other arrangements in existence on
     the date of this Agreement or in the ordinary course of business consistent
     with past practice, in each case as such credit facilities, indentures and
     other arrangements may be amended,

                                       40
<PAGE>
 
     extended, modified, refunded, renewed or refinanced after the date of this
     Agreement.

               (h)      Pooling; Tax-Free Qualification.  Kerr-McGee shall use
     its reasonable best efforts not to, and shall use its reasonable best
     efforts not to permit any of its Subsidiaries to, take any action
     (including any action otherwise permitted by this Section 4.1) that would
     prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a "pooling of interests"
     for accounting purposes or as a "reorganization" under Section 368 of the
     Code.

               (i)      Compensation.  Other than as contemplated by Section
     4.1(c) or as otherwise approved by the Kerr-McGee Board of Directors, Kerr-
     McGee shall not increase the amount or change the nature of compensation of
     any director or executive officer except in the ordinary course of business
     consistent with past practice or as required by an existing agreement, make
     any increase in or commitment to increase any employee benefits, issue any
     additional Kerr-McGee Stock Options, adopt or make any commitment to adopt
     any additional employee benefit plan or make any contribution, other than
     regularly scheduled contributions, to any Kerr-McGee Benefit Plan.

               (j)      Accounting Methods; Income Tax Elections.  Kerr-McGee
     shall not change its methods of accounting in effect at December 31, 1997,
     except as required by changes in GAAP as concurred in by Kerr-McGee's
     independent public accountants. Kerr-McGee shall not (i) change its fiscal
     year or (ii) make any material tax election, other than in the ordinary
     course of business consistent with past practice.

               (k)      Certain Agreements.  Kerr-McGee shall not, and shall not
     permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement, arrangement or
     commitment (i) to take any of the foregoing prohibited actions or (ii) that
     limits or otherwise restricts Kerr-McGee or any of its Subsidiaries or any
     of their respective affiliates or any successor thereto or that could,
     after the Effective Time, limit or restrict Kerr-McGee or any of its
     Subsidiaries or any of their respective affiliates (including the Surviving
     Corporation and its Subsidiaries) or any successor thereto, from engaging
     or competing in any line of business or in any geographic area.

               (l)      Rights Agreement.  Kerr-McGee shall not amend, modify or
     waive any provision of the Kerr-McGee Rights Agreement, and shall not take
     any action to redeem the Kerr-McGee Rights or render the Kerr-McGee Rights
     inapplicable to any

                                       41
<PAGE>
 
     transaction (other than the transactions contemplated hereby and by the
     Kerr-McGee Stock Option Agreement).

               4.2      Covenants of Oryx.  During the period from the date of
this Agreement and continuing until the Effective Time, Oryx agrees as to itself
and its Subsidiaries that (except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this
Agreement or the Oryx Disclosure Schedule or as required by a Governmental
Entity of competent jurisdiction or to the extent that Kerr-McGee shall
otherwise consent in writing, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld
or delayed):

               (a)      Ordinary Course.

               (i)      Oryx and its Subsidiaries shall carry on their
     respective businesses in the usual, regular and ordinary course in all
     material respects, in substantially the same manner as heretofore
     conducted, and shall use all reasonable efforts to preserve intact their
     present lines of business, maintain their rights and franchises and
     preserve their relationships with customers, suppliers and others having
     business dealings with them to the end that their ongoing businesses shall
     not be impaired in any material respect at the Effective Time; provided,
     however, that no action by Oryx or its Subsidiaries with respect to matters
     specifically addressed by any other provision of this Section 4.2 shall be
     deemed a breach of this Section 4.2(a)(i) unless such action would
     constitute a breach of one or more of such other provisions.

               (ii)     Oryx shall not, and shall not permit any of its
     Subsidiaries to, (A) enter into any new material line of business or (B)
     incur or commit to any capital expenditures or any obligations or
     liabilities in connection therewith other than capital expenditures and
     obligations or liabilities in connection therewith incurred or committed to
     in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

               (b)      Dividends; Changes in Capital Stock.  Oryx shall not,
     and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, and shall not propose to,
     (i) declare or pay any dividends on or make other distributions in respect
     of any of its capital stock, except for dividends by wholly owned
     Subsidiaries of Oryx, (ii) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital
     stock or issue or authorize or propose the issuance of any other securities
     in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for, shares of its capital
     stock, except for any such transaction by a wholly owned Subsidiary of Oryx
     which remains a wholly owned Subsidiary after consummation of such
     transaction, or (iii) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any

                                       42
<PAGE>
 
     shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible into or
     exercisable for any shares of its capital stock.

               (c)      Issuance of Securities.  Oryx shall not, and shall not
     permit any of its Subsidiaries to, issue, deliver or sell, or authorize or
     propose the issuance, delivery or sale of, any shares of its capital stock
     of any class, any Oryx Voting Debt or any securities convertible into or
     exercisable for, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such
     shares or Oryx Voting Debt, or enter into or modify any agreement with
     respect to any of the foregoing, other than (i) the issuance of Oryx Common
     Stock (and the associated Oryx Rights) upon the exercise of Oryx Stock
     Options or in connection with other stock-based benefits plans outstanding
     on the date hereof, in each case in accordance with their present terms,
     (ii) issuances by a wholly owned Subsidiary of Oryx of capital stock to
     such Subsidiary's parent, Oryx or another wholly owned Subsidiary of Oryx,
     (iii) issuances upon the conversion of any of the Oryx Debentures in
     accordance with their terms, or (iv) issuances in accordance with the Oryx
     Rights Agreement.

               (d)      Governing Documents.  Except to the extent required to
     comply with its obligations hereunder, Oryx shall not amend or propose to
     so amend its certificate of incorporation or by-laws.

               (e)      No Acquisitions.  Oryx shall not, and shall not permit
     any of its Subsidiaries to, acquire or agree to acquire by merging or
     consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial equity interest in or a
     substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business
     or any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization
     or division thereof or otherwise acquire or agree to acquire any assets
     (other than the acquisition of assets used in the operations of the
     business of Oryx and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course).

               (f)      No Dispositions.  Other than as may be required by or in
     conformance with law or regulation in order to permit or facilitate the
     consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (subject to Section
     5.3(a)), Oryx shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
     sell, lease, encumber or otherwise dispose of, or agree to sell, lease,
     encumber or otherwise dispose of, any of its assets (including capital
     stock of Subsidiaries of Oryx) other than dispositions in the ordinary
     course of business consistent with past practice.

               (g)      Investments; Indebtedness.  Oryx shall not, and shall
     not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (i) make any loans,

                                       43
<PAGE>
 
     advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person,
     other than (x) by Oryx or a Subsidiary of Oryx to or in Oryx or any wholly
     owned Subsidiary of Oryx, (y) pursuant to any contract or other legal
     obligation of Oryx or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the date of this
     Agreement or (z) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
     practice or (ii) create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any indebtedness,
     issuances of debt securities, guarantees, loans or advances not in
     existence as of the date of this Agreement except pursuant to the credit
     facilities, indentures and other arrangements in existence on the date of
     this Agreement or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
     practice, in each case as such credit facilities, indentures and other
     arrangements may be amended, extended, modified, refunded, renewed or
     refinanced after the date of this Agreement.

               (h)      Pooling; Tax-Free Qualification.  Oryx shall use its
     reasonable best efforts not to, and shall use its reasonable best efforts
     not to permit any of its Subsidiaries to, take any action (including any
     action otherwise permitted by this Section 4.2) that would prevent or
     impede the Merger from qualifying as a "pooling of interests" for
     accounting purposes or as a "reorganization" under Section 368 of the Code.

               (i)      Compensation.  Oryx shall not increase the amount of
     compensation of any director or executive officer except in the ordinary
     course of business consistent with past practice or as required by an
     existing agreement, make any increase in or commitment to increase any
     employee benefits, issue any additional Oryx Stock Options, adopt or make
     any commitment to adopt any additional employee benefit plan or make any
     contribution, other than regularly scheduled contributions, to any Oryx
     Benefit Plan.

               (j)      Accounting Methods; Income Tax Elections.  Oryx shall
     not change its methods of accounting in effect at December 31, 1997, except
     as required by changes in GAAP as concurred in by Oryx's independent public
     accountants. Oryx shall not (i) change its fiscal year or (ii) make any
     material tax election, other than in the ordinary course of business
     consistent with past practice.

               (k)      Certain Agreements.  Oryx shall not, and shall not
     permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement, arrangement or
     commitment (i) to take any of the foregoing prohibited actions or (ii) that
     limits or otherwise restricts Oryx or any of its Subsidiaries or any of
     their respective affiliates or any successor thereto, or that could, after
     the Effective Time, limit or restrict Kerr-McGee or any of its Subsidiaries
     or any of their respective affiliates (including the Surviving Corporation
     and its

                                       44
<PAGE>
 
     Subsidiaries) or any successor thereto, from engaging or competing in any
     line of business or in any geographic area.

               (l)      Rights Agreement.  Oryx shall not amend, modify or waive
     any provision of the Oryx Rights Agreement, and shall not take any action
     to redeem the Oryx Rights or render the Oryx Rights inapplicable to any
     transaction (other than the transactions contemplated hereby and by the
     Oryx Stock Option Agreement) or to designate or change the "Ownership
     Limitation" (as defined in the Oryx Rights Agreement) with respect to any
     Person.

               4.3      Governmental Filings.  Each party shall (a) confer on a
regular and frequent basis with the other and (b) report (to the extent
permitted by law or regulation or any applicable confidentiality agreement) on
operational matters. Oryx and Kerr-McGee shall file all reports required to be
filed by each of them with the SEC and all other Governmental Entities between
the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time and shall (to the extent
permitted by law and regulation and any applicable confidentiality agreement)
deliver to the other party copies of all such reports, announcements and
publications promptly after the same are filed.

               4.4      Control of Other Party's Business.  Nothing contained in
this Agreement shall give Oryx, directly or indirectly, the right to control or
direct Kerr-McGee's operations prior to the Effective Time. Nothing contained in
this Agreement shall give Kerr-McGee, directly or indirectly, the right to
control or direct Oryx's operations prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the
Effective Time, each of Oryx and Kerr-McGee shall exercise, consistent with the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over
its respective operations.


                                   ARTICLE V

                             ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

               5.1      Preparation of Proxy Statement; Stockholders Meetings.

               (a)      As promptly as reasonably practicable following the date
hereof, Kerr-McGee and Oryx shall prepare and file with the SEC proxy materials
which shall constitute the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (such proxy
statement/prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto, the "Joint
Proxy Statement/Prospectus") and Kerr-McGee shall prepare and file a
registration statement on Form S-4 with respect to the issuance of Company
Common Stock in the Merger (the "Form S-4"). The Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus will be included in and will constitute a

                                       45
<PAGE>
 
part of the Form S-4 as Kerr-McGee's prospectus.  The Form S-4 and the Joint
Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall comply as to form in all material respects with
the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder. Each of Kerr-McGee and Oryx shall use
reasonable best efforts to have the Form S-4 declared effective by the SEC as
promptly as reasonably practicable after filing with the SEC and to keep the
Form S-4 effective as long as is necessary to consummate the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated hereby. Kerr-McGee and Oryx shall, as promptly
as practicable after receipt thereof, provide the other party copies of any
written comments, and advise the other party of any oral comments, with respect
to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus received from the SEC. Kerr-McGee will
provide Oryx with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on any
amendment or supplement to the Form S-4 prior to filing such with the SEC, and
will provide Oryx with a copy of all such filings made with the SEC.
Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, no amendment or
supplement (including by incorporation by reference) to the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus or the Form S-4 shall be made without the approval of both
parties, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided,
that with respect to documents filed by a party which are incorporated by
reference in the Form S-4 or Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, this right of
approval shall apply only with respect to information relating to the other
party or its business, financial condition or results of operations, or this
Agreement, the Stock Option Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby
or thereby. Kerr-McGee will use reasonable best efforts to cause the Joint Proxy
Statements/Prospectus to be mailed to Kerr-McGee stockholders, and Oryx will use
reasonable best efforts to cause the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be
mailed to Oryx's stockholders, in each case as promptly as practicable after the
Form S-4 is declared effective under the Securities Act. Kerr-McGee shall also
take any action (other than qualifying to do business in any jurisdiction in
which it is not now so qualified or to file a general consent to service of
process) required to be taken under any applicable state securities laws in
connection with the issuance of shares of Company Common Stock in the Merger and
Oryx shall furnish all information concerning Oryx and the holders of Oryx
Common Stock as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such action.
Each party will advise the other party, promptly after it receives notice
thereof, of the time when the Form S-4 has become effective, the issuance of any
stop order, the suspension of the qualification of the Company Common Stock
issuable in connection with the Merger for offering or sale in any jurisdiction,
or any request by the SEC for amendment of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus
or the Form S-4. If at any time prior to the Effective Time any information
relating to Kerr-McGee or Oryx, or any of their respective affiliates, officers
or directors, should be discovered by Kerr-McGee or Oryx which should be set
forth in an amendment or supplement to any of the Form S-4 or the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus so that any of such documents would not include any
misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of

                                       46
<PAGE>
 
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the party which
discovers such information shall promptly notify the other party hereto and, to
the extent required by law, rule or regulation, an appropriate amendment or
supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed with the SEC and
disseminated to the stockholders of Kerr-McGee and Oryx.

               (b)      Oryx shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable
following the execution of this Agreement, duly call, give notice of, convene
and hold a meeting of its stockholders (the "Oryx Stockholders Meeting") (which
meeting the parties intend to be held on the same date as the Kerr-McGee
Stockholders Meeting and which shall be held no later than 45 days following the
declaration of effectiveness of the Form S-4) for the purpose of obtaining the
Required Oryx Vote with respect to this Agreement and the Reverse Split and the
Merger (which Oryx shall seek to present as a single, unitary proposal) and
shall take all lawful action to solicit the adoption of this Agreement and
approval of the Reverse Split by the Required Oryx Vote. Unless otherwise
required by their fiduciary duties, the Board of Directors of Oryx shall (i)
recommend adoption of this Agreement and approval of the Reverse Split by the
stockholders of Oryx to the effect as set forth in Section 3.2(f), and (ii) not
withdraw, modify or materially qualify in any manner adverse to Kerr-McGee such
recommendation or take any action or make any statement in connection with the
Oryx Stockholders Meeting materially inconsistent with such recommendation
(collectively, an "Adverse Change in the Oryx Recommendation"); provided the
foregoing shall not prohibit accurate disclosure of factual information
regarding the business, financial condition or results of operations of Kerr-
McGee or Oryx or the fact that an Acquisition Proposal (as defined in Section
5.4) has been made, the identity of the party making such proposal or the
material terms of such proposal to the extent that Oryx determines that such
disclosure is required under applicable law (and no such disclosure shall
constitute an "Adverse Change in the Oryx Recommendation" hereunder). Unless
this Agreement is terminated, Oryx shall be required to take the actions
specified in the first sentence of this Section 5.1(b) whether or not the Oryx
Board of Directors makes an Adverse Change in the Oryx Recommendation after the
date hereof.

               (c)      Kerr-McGee shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable
following the execution of this Agreement, duly call, give notice of, convene
and hold a meeting of its stockholders (the "Kerr-McGee Stockholders Meeting")
(which meeting the parties intend to be held on the same date as the Oryx
Stockholders Meeting and which shall be held no later than 45 days following the
declaration of effectiveness of the Form S-4) for the purpose of obtaining the
Required Kerr-McGee Vote with respect to this Agreement and the Merger
(including the issuance of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger) and
shall take all lawful action to solicit the adoption of this Agreement by the
Required Kerr-McGee Vote. Unless otherwise required by their fiduciary duties,
the Board of Directors of Kerr-McGee shall (i) recommend adoption of this
Agreement by the stockholders of Kerr-

                                       47
<PAGE>
 
McGee to the effect as set forth in Section 3.1(f), and (ii) not withdraw,
modify or materially qualify in any manner adverse to Oryx such recommendation
or take any action or make any statement in connection with the Kerr-McGee
Stockholders Meeting materially inconsistent with such recommendation
(collectively, an "Adverse Change in the Kerr-McGee Recommendation"); provided
the foregoing shall not prohibit accurate disclosure of factual information
regarding the business, financial condition or results of operations of Kerr-
McGee or Oryx or the fact that an Acquisition Proposal has been made, the
identity of the party making such proposal or the material terms of such
proposal to the extent that Kerr-McGee determines that such disclosure is
required under applicable law (and no such disclosure shall constitute an
"Adverse Change in the Kerr-McGee Recommendation" hereunder). Unless this
Agreement is terminated, Kerr-McGee shall be required to take the actions
specified in the first sentence of this Section 5.1(c) whether or not the Kerr-
McGee Board of Directors makes an Adverse Change in the Kerr-McGee
Recommendation after the date hereof.

               (d)      Nothing in this Section 5.1 shall permit Kerr-McGee or
Oryx to terminate this Agreement or affect any other obligation of Kerr-McGee or
Oryx under this Agreement.

               5.2      Access to Information. Upon reasonable notice, each
party shall (and shall cause its Subsidiaries to) afford to the officers,
employees, accountants, counsel, financial advisors and other representatives of
the other party reasonable access during normal business hours, during the
period prior to the Effective Time, to all its properties, books, contracts,
commitments, records, officers and employees and, during such period, such party
shall (and shall cause its Subsidiaries to) furnish promptly to the other party
(a) a copy of each material report, schedule, registration statement and other
document filed, published, announced or received by it during such period
pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities laws, as applicable
(other than documents which such party is not permitted to disclose under
applicable law, rule or regulation), and (b) consistent with its legal
obligations, all other information concerning it and its business, properties
and personnel as such other party may reasonably request; provided, however,
that either party may restrict the foregoing access to the extent that any law,
rule or regulation of any Governmental Entity applicable to such party or any
confidentiality or similar agreement requires such party or its Subsidiaries to
restrict access to any properties or information. The parties will hold any such
information in confidence to the extent required by, and in accordance with, the
provisions of the letters dated September 18, 1998 between Oryx and Kerr-McGee
(the "Confidentiality Agreements"). Any investigation by Kerr-McGee or Oryx or
any of their representatives shall not affect the representations and warranties
of Oryx or Kerr-McGee, as the case may be.

                                       48
<PAGE>
 
               5.3      Reasonable Best Efforts.

               (a)      Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
each party will use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken,
all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or
advisable under applicable laws and regulations to consummate the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement as soon as practicable after
the date hereof, including (i) preparing and filing as promptly as practicable
all documentation to effect all necessary applications, notices, petitions,
filings, tax ruling requests and other documents and to obtain as promptly as
practicable all consents, waivers, licenses, orders, registrations, approvals,
permits, tax rulings and authorizations necessary or advisable to be obtained
from any third party and/or any Governmental Entity in order to consummate the
Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (ii)
taking all reasonable steps as may be necessary to obtain all such consents,
waivers, licenses, registrations, permits, authorizations, tax rulings, orders
and approvals. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each party
hereto agrees to make an appropriate filing of a Notification and Report Form
pursuant to the HSR Act and any other Regulatory Law (as defined below) with
respect to the transactions contemplated hereby as promptly as practicable after
the date hereof and to supply as promptly as practicable any additional
information and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to the HSR
Act and any other Regulatory Law and to use its reasonable best efforts to take
all other actions necessary to cause the expiration or termination of the
applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act as soon as practicable. Nothing in
this Section 5.3(a) shall require any of Kerr-McGee and its Subsidiaries or Oryx
and its Subsidiaries to sell, hold separate or otherwise dispose of or conduct
their business in a specified manner, or agree to sell, hold separate or
otherwise dispose of or conduct their business in a specified manner, or permit
the sale, holding separate or other disposition of, any assets of Kerr-McGee,
Oryx or their respective Subsidiaries or the conduct of their business in a
specified manner, whether as a condition to obtaining any approval from a
Governmental Entity or any other Person or for any other reason, if such sale,
holding separate or other disposition or the conduct of their business in a
specified manner is not conditioned on the Closing or would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Surviving Corporation and its
Subsidiaries, taken together, after giving effect to the Merger.

               (b)      Each of Kerr-McGee and Oryx shall, in connection with
the efforts referenced in Section 5.3(a) to obtain all requisite approvals and
authorizations for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under the HSR
Act or any other Regulatory Law, use its reasonable best efforts to (i)
cooperate in all respects with each other in connection with any filing or
submission and in connection with any investigation or other inquiry, including
any proceeding initiated by a

                                       49
<PAGE>
 
private party, (ii) promptly inform the other party of any communication
received by such party from, or given by such party to, the Antitrust Division
of the Department of Justice (the "DOJ") or the Federal Trade Commission (the
"FTC") or any other Governmental Entity and of any material communication
received or given in connection with any proceeding by a private party, in each
case regarding any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and (iii) permit the
other party to review any communication given by it to, and consult with each
other in advance of any meeting or conference with, the DOJ, the FTC or any such
other Governmental Entity or, in connection with any proceeding by a private
party, with any other Person, and to the extent permitted by the DOJ, the FTC or
such other applicable Governmental Entity or other Person, give the other party
the opportunity to attend and participate in such meetings and conferences. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Regulatory Law" means the Sherman Act, as amended,
the Clayton Act, as amended, the HSR Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, as
amended, and all other federal, state and foreign, if any, statutes, rules,
regulations, orders, decrees, administrative and judicial doctrines and other
laws that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions
having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade or
lessening of competition.

               (c)      Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
in furtherance and not in limitation of the covenants of the parties contained
in Sections 5.3(a) and 5.3(b), if any administrative or judicial action or
proceeding, including any proceeding by a private party, is instituted (or
threatened to be instituted) challenging any transaction contemplated by this
Agreement as violative of any Regulatory Law, each of Kerr-McGee and Oryx shall
cooperate in all respects with each other and use its respective reasonable best
efforts to contest and resist any such action or proceeding and to have vacated,
lifted, reversed or overturned any decree, judgment, injunction or other order,
whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that
prohibits, prevents or restricts consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.

               (d)      Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of
this Agreement, nothing in Section 5.1 or 5.2 or this Section 5.3 shall limit a
party's right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Article VII or to take any
actions specifically permitted pursuant to Section 5.4.

               (e)      If any objections are asserted with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby under any Regulatory Law or if any suit is
instituted by any Governmental Entity or any private party challenging any of
the transactions contemplated hereby as violative of any Regulatory Law, each of
Kerr-McGee and Oryx shall use its reasonable best efforts to resolve any such
objections or challenge as such Governmental Entity or private party may have to
such transactions under such Regulatory

                                       50
<PAGE>
 
Law so as to permit consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

               5.4      Acquisition Proposals.  Without limitation on any of
such party's other obligations under this Agreement (including under Article IV
hereof), and except with respect to a transaction specifically permitted under
Section 4.1(e) or (f), each of Kerr-McGee and Oryx agrees that neither it nor
any of its Subsidiaries nor any of its or their officers, employees, directors,
agents or representatives (including any investment banker, attorney or
accountant retained by it or any of its Subsidiaries) will, directly or
indirectly, initiate, solicit or knowingly facilitate (including by way of
furnishing information) any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer
with respect to a merger, reorganization, share exchange, consolidation,
business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar
transaction involving it or any of its Subsidiaries, or any purchase or sale of
the assets (including stock of Subsidiaries) of it or any of its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, having an aggregate value equal to 10% or more of the
consolidated asset value of such party, or any purchase or sale of, or tender or
exchange offer for, 10% or more of the equity securities of such party (any such
proposal or offer (other than a proposal or offer made by the other party or an
affiliate thereof) being hereinafter referred to as an "Acquisition Proposal").
Each of Kerr-McGee and Oryx further agrees that neither it nor any of its
Subsidiaries nor any of their officers, employees, directors, agents and
representatives (including any investment banker, attorney or accountant
retained by it or any of its Subsidiaries) will, directly or indirectly, have
any discussion with or provide any confidential information or data to any
Person relating to an Acquisition Proposal, or engage in any negotiations
concerning an Acquisition Proposal, or knowingly facilitate any effort or
attempt to make or implement an Acquisition Proposal or accept an Acquisition
Proposal. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each of Kerr-McGee
and Oryx or its respective Board of Directors shall be permitted, subject to
Sections 7.1(f) and 7.2: (A) to the extent applicable, to comply with Rule 14d-9
and Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to an Acquisition
Proposal; (B) to the extent required by its fiduciary duties, to approve or
recommend or resolve to approve or recommend an Acquisition Proposal or
otherwise make an Adverse Change in the Kerr-McGee Recommendation or an Adverse
Change in the Oryx Recommendation, as the case may be; and (C) engage in any
discussions or negotiations with, or provide any information to, any Person in
response to an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal by any such
Person, if and only to the extent that (i) the approval of its stockholders
referred to in Section 3.1(g) or 3.2(g), as the case may be, shall not have been
obtained, (ii) its Board of Directors determines that such Acquisition Proposal
is a Superior Proposal (as defined in Section 8.11), and (iii) prior to
providing any information or data to any Person in connection with an
Acquisition Proposal by any such Person, its Board of Directors receives from
such Person an executed

                                       51
<PAGE>
 
confidentiality agreement containing confidentiality terms at least as favorable
to it as those contained in the relevant Confidentiality Agreement. Each of 
Kerr-McGee and Oryx agrees that it will notify the other party promptly of any
inquiries, proposals or offers received by, any such information requested from,
or any such discussions or negotiations sought to be initiated or continued
with, it or any of its representatives with respect to, or which could
reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal indicating, in
connection with such notice, the name of such Person and the material terms,
conditions and other aspects of any such inquiries, proposals, offers, requests,
discussions or negotiations, including promptly forwarding copies of any written
Acquisition Proposals, and promptly keep the other party informed of the status
and terms of any such proposals or offers and the status and terms of any such
discussions or negotiations. Each of Kerr-McGee and Oryx agrees that it will,
and will cause its officers, employees, directors, agents and representatives
to, immediately cease any activities, discussions or negotiations existing as of
the date of this Agreement with any parties conducted heretofore with respect to
any Acquisition Proposal. Nothing in this Section 5.4 shall permit Kerr-McGee or
Oryx to terminate this Agreement or affect any other obligation of Kerr-McGee or
Oryx under this Agreement. No action taken in respect of a Superior Proposal
which is specifically permitted pursuant to this Section 5.4, including without
limitation any change in recommendation of the Board of Directors of either 
Kerr-McGee or Oryx and the public announcement thereof, will constitute a 
breach of any other provision hereof.

               5.5      Employee Benefits Matters.  (a) Except as otherwise
provided in this Section 5.5, (i) each of the Kerr-McGee Plans and Oryx Plans
and other employment arrangements in effect on the date hereof (or as amended or
established in accordance with or as permitted by this Agreement) shall be
maintained in effect by the Surviving Corporation from and after the Effective
Time with respect to the employees, former employees, directors or former
directors of Kerr-McGee and its Subsidiaries, and Oryx and its Subsidiaries,
respectively, who are covered by such Benefit Plans immediately prior to the
Effective Time, and the Surviving Corporation shall assume as of the Effective
Time each Oryx Plan maintained by Oryx immediately prior to the Effective Time
and perform such Benefit Plan in the same manner and to the same extent that
Oryx would be required to perform thereunder, and (ii) except as may be
expressly provided in a valid written waiver voluntarily signed by an affected
employee, from and after the Effective Time the Surviving Corporation will honor
all Oryx Plans, including all employment, change-in-control, severance,
termination, consulting and unfunded retirement or benefit agreements (including
any obligations arising from the Merger constituting a "change of control" or
"corporate change" thereunder, as applicable), in accordance with the terms
thereof, without offset, deduction, counterclaim, interruption or deferment
(other than offsets, deductions, counterclaims, interruptions or deferments (x)
permitted by the applicable Oryx Plan, (y) to comply with income or payroll tax

                                       52
<PAGE>
 
withholding obligations, or (z) under other applicable law); provided, however,
that, except as provided under applicable law, nothing contained in this Section
5.5(a) shall limit the Surviving Corporation from exercising any reserved right
contained in any such Kerr-McGee Plan or Oryx Plan or any other right which 
Kerr-McGee or Oryx had prior to the Effective Time, or which the Surviving
Corporation has after the Effective Time, to amend, modify, suspend, revoke or
terminate any such Benefit Plan. Without limiting the foregoing, (i) each
participant in any Kerr-McGee Plan or Oryx Plan shall receive credit for
purposes of eligibility to participate, vesting and eligibility to receive
benefits (such as higher rates of matching contributions for service after the
Effective Time and eligibility for early retirement) under any Benefit Plan of
the Surviving Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates for service
credited for the corresponding purpose under such Benefit Plan made available to
such participant, but not for purposes of benefit accrual under any defined
benefit pension plan unless the participant's accrued benefit liability related
to such service is transferred to such defined benefit pension plan; provided,
however, that such crediting of service shall not operate to cause any such
Benefit Plan to fail to comply with the applicable provisions of the Code and
ERISA, and (ii) with respect to any group health Benefit Plan of the Surviving
Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates made available to Oryx
employees or Kerr-McGee employees on or after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation will cause such Benefit Plan to provide credit for any co-payments
or deductibles by such employees for the remainder of the coverage period during
which such Benefit Plan replaces an Oryx Plan or Kerr-McGee Plan, as the case
may be, and to waive all pre-existing condition exclusions and waiting periods
that would not have applied to such employees under the applicable Oryx Plan or
Kerr-McGee Plan immediately prior to the availability of the replacement Benefit
Plan. Kerr-McGee and Oryx will cooperate on and after the date hereof to develop
appropriate employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements, including but not
limited to, executive and incentive compensation, stock option and supplemental
executive retirement plans, for employees and directors of the Surviving
Corporation and its Subsidiaries from and after the Effective Time. However, no
provision contained in this Section 5.5 shall be deemed to constitute an
employment contract between the Surviving Corporation and, or otherwise confer
any rights upon, any individual, or constitute a waiver of the Surviving
Corporation's right to amend, modify, limit or restrict the employment of, or to
discharge, any employee at any time, with or without cause.

               (b)  During the period from the Effective Time until December 31,
1999, the Surviving Corporation shall maintain or cause to be maintained Benefit
Plans for the benefit of employees, former employees, directors and former
directors of Oryx and its Subsidiaries providing benefits that, in the
aggregate, are substantially comparable to the benefits provided under the Oryx
Plans that are in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that (i) any
Oryx Plans which are defined benefit pension

                                       53
<PAGE>
 
plans shall be maintained without amendment through December 31, 1999 (other
than amendments required by law) and (ii) except as aforesaid or as provided
under applicable law, nothing herein contained shall limit the Surviving
Corporation from exercising any reserved right contained in any particular
Benefit Plan or any other right which Oryx had prior to the Effective Time, or
which the Surviving Corporation has after the Effective Time, to amend, modify,
suspend, revoke or terminate any such Benefit Plan. During the period from the
Effective Time until December 31, 1999, the Surviving Corporation will not
terminate the employment of any individual who was an employee of Oryx
immediately prior to the Effective Time without providing a minimum of two
weeks' prior written notice to such employee, during which notice period the
individual will be treated as an employee of the Surviving Corporation for
purposes of all Benefit Plans.

               (c)  The foregoing provisions of this Section 5.5 shall not apply
with respect to any employees or former employees covered by any collective
bargaining agreements.

               (d)  With respect to Benefit Plans under which Oryx Common Stock
is required to be used for purposes of the payment of benefits, grant of awards
or exercise of options (other than Oryx Stock Option Plans) (each, an "Oryx
Stock Plan"), (i) Oryx shall take such action as may be necessary so that, after
the Effective Time, such Oryx Stock Plan shall provide for the issuance or
purchase in the open market only of Company Common Stock rather than Oryx Common
Stock and otherwise to amend such Oryx Stock Plans to reflect this Agreement,
the Reverse Split, the Exchange Ratio and the Merger, and (ii) the Surviving
Corporation shall (x) reserve for issuance under such Oryx Stock Plan or
otherwise provide a sufficient number of shares of Company Common Stock for
delivery upon payment of benefits, grants of awards or exercise of options under
such Oryx Stock Plan, (y) as soon as practicable after the Effective Time, file
or amend one or more registration statements under the Securities Act with
respect to the shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Oryx Stock Plan to
the extent such filing or amendment is required under applicable law and use its
best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement(s)
(and the current status of the prospectuses contained therein or related
thereto) so long as such benefits, grants or awards remain payable or such
options remain outstanding, as the case may be and (z) cause such shares of
Company Common Stock subject to such Oryx Stock Plan to be listed for trading on
the NYSE. Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, Oryx shall use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain any shareholder approvals that may be
necessary for the deduction of any compensation payable under any Oryx Stock
Plan or other compensation arrangement.

               (e)  Prior to the Effective Time, each of Kerr-McGee and Oryx
will take the actions set forth in Exhibit 5.5(e) with respect to

                                       54
<PAGE>
 
its Benefit Plans. No such action will constitute a breach of any other
provision hereof.

               5.6  Fees and Expenses. Whether or not the Merger is consummated,
all Expenses (as defined below) incurred in connection with this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such
Expenses, except (a) if the Merger is consummated, the Surviving Corporation
shall pay, or cause to be paid, any and all property or transfer taxes imposed
on Oryx or its Subsidiaries and (b) the SEC filing fee and printer's fees
incurred in connection with the filing, printing and mailing of the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus, which shall be shared equally by Kerr-McGee and Oryx, and
(c) if applicable, as provided in Section 7.2. As used in this Agreement,
"Expenses" includes all out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation,
all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, investment bankers, experts and
consultants to a party hereto and its affiliates) incurred by a party or on its
behalf in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation,
negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement, the Stock Option
Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the
preparation, printing, filing and mailing of the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus and the solicitation of stockholder approvals and all other
matters related to the transactions contemplated hereby.

               5.7  Directors' and Officers' Indemnification and Insurance.

               (a)  The Surviving Corporation shall (i) indemnify
and hold harmless, and provide advancement of expenses to, all past and
present directors, officers and employees of Kerr-McGee, Oryx and their
respective Subsidiaries to the same extent such persons are indemnified or
have the right to advancement of expenses as of the date of this Agreement by
Kerr-McGee, Oryx or their respective Subsidiaries pursuant to Kerr-McGee's,
Oryx's or such Subsidiary's certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other
constituent documents and indemnification agreements, if any, in existence on
the date hereof with any such directors, officers and employees for acts or
omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including for acts or
omissions occurring in connection with the approval of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby); and (ii) cause to be
maintained for a period of six years after the Effective Time the current
policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance and fiduciary
liability insurance maintained by Kerr-McGee, Oryx or their respective
Subsidiaries (provided that the Surviving Corporation (or any successor) may
substitute therefor policies of at least the same coverage and amounts
containing terms and conditions which are, in the aggregate, no less
advantageous to the insured) with respect to claims arising from facts or
events that occurred on or before the Effective Time (including for acts or
omissions occurring in connection with the approval of this Agreement and the

                                       55
<PAGE>
 
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby); provided, however,
that in no event shall the Surviving Corporation be required to expend in any
one year an amount in excess of 200% of the annual premiums currently paid by
Kerr-McGee and Oryx for such insurance; and, provided, further, that if the
annual premiums of such insurance coverage exceed such amount, the Surviving
Corporation shall be obligated to obtain a policy with the greatest coverage
available for a cost not exceeding such amount.  In addition, from and after
the Effective Time, directors and officers of Oryx who become directors or
officers of the Surviving Corporation will be entitled to the same indemnity
rights and protections as are afforded to the directors and officers of the
Surviving Corporation.

               (b)  The provisions of this Section 5.7 (i) are intended to be
for the benefit of, and will be enforceable by, each indemnified party, his or
her heirs and his or her representatives and (ii) are in addition to, and not in
substitution for, any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any
such person may have by contract or otherwise.

               5.8  Public Announcements. Kerr-McGee and Oryx shall use
reasonable best efforts to develop a joint communications plan and each party
shall use reasonable best efforts (i) to ensure that all press releases and
other public statements with respect to this Agreement, the Stock Option
Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be
consistent with such joint communications plan, and (ii) unless otherwise
required by applicable law or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement
with or rules of any securities exchange, to consult with each other and provide
each other a reasonable opportunity to review and comment before issuing any
press release or otherwise making any public statement with respect to this
Agreement, the Stock Option Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby
or thereby. In addition to the foregoing, except to the extent disclosed in or
consistent with the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus in accordance with the
provisions of Section 5.1, neither Kerr-McGee nor Oryx shall issue any press
release or otherwise make any public statement or disclosure concerning the
other party or the other party's business, financial condition or results of
operations without the consent of the other party, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed.

               5.9  Accountant's Letters. (a) Kerr-McGee shall use reasonable
best efforts to cause to be delivered to Oryx two letters from Kerr-McGee's
independent public accountants, one dated the date on which the Form S-4 shall
become effective and one dated the Closing Date, each addressed to Kerr-McGee
and Oryx, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Oryx and customary in
scope and substance for comfort letters delivered by independent public
accountants in connection with registration statements similar to the Form S-4.
Kerr-McGee shall use reasonable best

                                       56
<PAGE>
 
efforts to cause to be delivered to Oryx a letter from Kerr-McGee's independent
accountants dated as of the date the Form S-4 is declared effective and as of
the Closing Date, stating that accounting for the Merger as a pooling of
interests under Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles Board and applicable SEC
rules and regulations is appropriate if the Merger is closed and consummated as
contemplated by this Agreement.

               (b)  Oryx shall use reasonable best efforts to cause to be
delivered to Kerr-McGee two letters from Oryx's independent public accountants,
one dated the date on which the Form S-4 shall become effective and one dated
the Closing Date, each addressed to Oryx and Kerr-McGee, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Kerr-McGee and customary in scope and substance for
comfort letters delivered by independent public accountants in connection with
registration statements similar to the Form S-4. Oryx shall use reasonable best
efforts to cause to be delivered to Kerr-McGee a letter from Oryx's independent
public accountants, addressed to Oryx and Kerr-McGee, dated as of the date the
Form S-4 is declared effective and as of the Closing Date, stating that stating
that Oryx qualifies as a "combining company" in accordance with the criteria set
forth in Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles Board and accordingly is a
poolable entity.

               (c)  Each of Kerr-McGee and Oryx shall use reasonable best
efforts to cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the
Merger, to be accounted for as a pooling of interests under Opinion 16 of the
Accounting Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations, and such
accounting treatment to be accepted by the SEC.

               5.10 Listing of Shares of Company Common Stock. Kerr-McGee shall
use its reasonable best efforts to cause the shares of Company Common Stock to
be issued in the Merger and the shares of Company Common Stock to be reserved
for issuance upon exercise of the Oryx Stock Options and conversion of the Oryx
Debentures to be approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of
issuance, prior to the Closing Date.

               5.11 Affiliates. (a) Not less than 45 days prior to the Effective
Time, Oryx shall deliver to Kerr-McGee a letter identifying all persons who, in
the opinion of Oryx, may be deemed at the time this Agreement is submitted for
adoption by the stockholders of Oryx, "affiliates" of Oryx for purposes of Rule
145 under the Securities Act or for purposes of qualifying the Merger for
pooling of interests accounting treatment under Opinion 16 of the Accounting
Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations, and such list shall
be updated as necessary to reflect changes from the date thereof. Oryx shall use
reasonable best efforts to cause each person identified on such list to deliver
to Kerr-McGee, not less than 30 days prior to the Effective Time, a written
agreement substantially in the form attached as Exhibit 5.11 hereto (an
"Affiliate

                                       57
<PAGE>
 
Agreement"). Not less than 45 days prior to the Effective Time, Kerr-McGee shall
deliver to Oryx a letter identifying all persons who, in the opinion of Kerr-
McGee, may be deemed "affiliates" of Kerr-McGee for purposes of qualifying the
Merger for pooling of interests accounting treatment under Opinion 16 of the
Accounting Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations, and such
list shall be updated as necessary to reflect changes from the date hereof. 
Kerr-McGee shall use reasonable best efforts to cause each person identified on
such list to deliver to Oryx not less than 30 days prior to the Effective Time,
a written agreement including the substance of paragraphs (C), (D) and (E) of
Exhibit 5.11 hereto.

               (b)  The Surviving Corporation shall use its reasonable best
efforts to publish no later than 90 days after the end of the first month after
the Effective Time in which there are at least 30 days of post-Merger combined
operations (which month may be the month in which the Effective Time occurs),
combined sales and net income figures as contemplated by and in accordance with
the terms of SEC Accounting Series Release No. 135.

               5.12 Oryx Partnership Name. Prior to the Effective Time, if Kerr-
McGee so requests, Oryx shall take all actions necessary to cause the name of
the Oryx Partnership to be changed to "Kerr-McGee Partners, L.P.", or such other
name as shall be agreed by Kerr-McGee and Oryx, upon the Effective Time.

               5.13 Reverse Stock Split. Prior to the Effective Time, Oryx shall
have taken all necessary action to effect the Reverse Split as contemplated
hereby immediately prior to the Effective Time, including taking all necessary
action pursuant to Section 15.05 of the indenture under which the Oryx
Debentures were issued to adjust the conversion rate for the Oryx Debentures
upon and following the Reverse Split to reflect the Exchange Ratio.

               5.14 Transition Management.

               (a)  As soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, the
parties shall create a special transition management task force (the "Task
Force"), which shall be comprised of Luke R. Corbett, Robert L. Keiser and Tom
J. McDaniel. The Task Force shall examine various alternatives regarding the
manner in which to best organize the business of the Surviving Corporation after
the Effective Time.

               (b)  As soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, the
Task Force will develop a plan (the "Plan") with respect to the communications
with the employees of Kerr-McGee and Oryx and their respective Subsidiaries
regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, prior to the Effective Time, neither Kerr-
McGee nor Oryx will contact or communicate

                                       58
<PAGE>
 
with any employee of the other party or its Subsidiaries with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, unless pursuant to the Plan or in
accordance with the authorization of the Task Force. In addition, except
pursuant to the Plan, neither Kerr-McGee nor Oryx will have any communication or
contact with any employee of the other party or its Subsidiaries concerning,
relating to or in any way bearing upon any closing or relocation of or reduction
in size, staff or function of any present facility of the other party. The Plan
will address such topics as the identity of senior management of the Surviving
Corporation (other than as provided elsewhere herein), integration of Kerr-McGee
and Oryx, retention bonuses, short- and long-term plans for the corporate
headquarters, group offices, payroll and benefits administration. Kerr-McGee and
Oryx will cooperate and provide all needed notices under the Worker Adjustment
and Retraining Notification Act and its regulations.


                                  ARTICLE VI

                             CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

               6.1  Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger.
The respective obligations of Oryx and Kerr-McGee to effect the Merger are
subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the
following conditions:

               (a)  Stockholder Approval. (i) Oryx shall have obtained the
     Required Oryx Vote in connection with the approval of the Reverse Split and
     the adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of Oryx and (ii) Kerr-
     McGee shall have obtained the Required Kerr-McGee Vote in connection with
     the adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of Kerr-McGee.

               (b)  No Injunctions or Restraints, Illegality. No law, rule or
     regulation shall have been adopted or promulgated, and no temporary
     restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order,
     decree or ruling issued by a court or other Governmental Entity of
     competent jurisdiction shall be in effect having the effect of making the
     Merger illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Merger.

               (c)  HSR Act. The waiting period (and any extension thereof)
     applicable to the Merger under the HSR Act shall have been terminated or
     shall have expired.

               (d)  Governmental and Regulatory Approvals. Other than the filing
     provided for under Section 1.3 and filings

                                       59
<PAGE>
 
     pursuant to the HSR Act (which are addressed in Section 6.1(c)), all
     consents, approvals and actions of, filings with and notices to any
     Governmental Entity required of Kerr-McGee, Oryx or any of their
     Subsidiaries to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
     contemplated hereby, the failure of which to be obtained or taken would
     reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Surviving
     Corporation and its Subsidiaries, taken together after giving effect to the
     Merger, shall have been obtained (for purposes of this Section 6.1(d), the
     failure to obtain or make any such consents, approvals, actions, filings or
     notices required under state or local Environmental Laws with respect to
     Oryx Permits or Kerr-McGee Permits shall not be deemed to have a Material
     Adverse Effect on the Surviving Corporation).

               (e)  NYSE Listing. The shares of Company Common Stock to be
     issued in the Merger and such other shares to be reserved for issuance in
     connection with the Merger shall have been approved for listing on the
     NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

               (f)  Effectiveness of the Form S-4. The Form S-4 shall have been
     declared effective by the SEC under the Securities Act. No stop order
     suspending the effectiveness of the Form S-4 shall have been issued by the
     SEC and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or
     threatened by the SEC.

               (g)  Pooling. Oryx shall have received and delivered to Kerr-
     McGee and Kerr-McGee's independent public accountants letters from its
     independent public accountants, dated as of the date the Form S-4 is
     declared effective and as of the Closing Date, stating that Oryx qualifies
     as a "combining company" in accordance with the criteria set forth in
     Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles Board and accordingly is a poolable
     entity. Kerr-McGee shall have received and delivered to Oryx letters from
     its independent public accountants, dated as of the date the Form S-4 is
     declared effective and as of the Closing Date, stating that accounting for
     the Merger as a pooling of interests under Opinion 16 of the Accounting
     Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations is appropriate if
     the Merger is closed and consummated as contemplated by this Agreement.

               (h)  Reverse Split. The Reverse Split shall have been effected on
     the terms contemplated hereby immediately prior to the Effective Time.

               6.2  Additional Conditions to Obligations of Kerr-McGee. The
obligations of Kerr-McGee to effect the Merger are subject

                                       60
<PAGE>
 
to the satisfaction of, or waiver by Kerr-McGee, on or prior to the Closing Date
of the following additional conditions:

               (a)  Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations
     and warranties of Oryx set forth in this Agreement that is qualified as to
     Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct, and each of the
     representations and warranties of Oryx set forth in this Agreement that is
     not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, in
     each case as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as
     though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent in either
     case that such representations and warranties speak as of another date, in
     which case they shall be so true and correct as of such date), and Kerr-
     McGee shall have received a certificate of the chief executive officer and
     the chief financial officer of Oryx to such effect.

               (b)  Performance of Obligations of Oryx. Oryx shall have
     performed or complied in all material respects with all agreements and
     covenants required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior
     to the Closing Date, and Kerr-McGee shall have received a certificate of
     the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of Oryx to such
     effect.

               (c)  Tax Opinion. Kerr-McGee shall have received from Simpson
     Thacher & Bartlett, counsel to Kerr-McGee, on or before the Form S-4 shall
     become effective and, subsequently, on the Closing Date, a written opinion
     dated as of such dates, based on appropriate representations of Kerr-McGee
     and Oryx, to the effect that (i) the Merger will be treated for federal
     income tax purposes as a reorganization within the meaning of Section
     368(a) of the Code and (ii) Kerr-McGee and Oryx will each be a party to the
     reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code.

               (d)  Rights Agreement. No "Shares Acquisition Date",
     "Distribution Date" or "Triggering Event" shall have occurred pursuant to
     and as defined in the Oryx Rights Agreement.

               6.3  Additional Conditions to Obligations of Oryx. The
obligations of Oryx to effect the Merger are subject to the satisfaction of, or
waiver by Oryx, on or prior to the Closing Date of the following additional
conditions:

               (a)  Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations
     and warranties of Kerr-McGee set forth in this Agreement that is qualified
     as to Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct, and each of the
     representations and warranties of Kerr-McGee set forth in this Agreement
     that is not so qualified shall

                                       61
<PAGE>
 
     be true and correct in all material respects, in each case as of the date
     of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of
     the Closing Date (except to the extent in either case that such
     representations and warranties speak as of another date, in which case they
     shall be so true and correct as of such date), and Oryx shall have received
     a certificate of the chief executive officer and the chief financial
     officer of Kerr-McGee to such effect.

               (b)  Performance of Obligations of Kerr-McGee. Kerr-McGee shall
     have performed or complied in all material respects with all agreements and
     covenants required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior
     to the Closing Date, and Oryx shall have received a certificate of the
     chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of Kerr-McGee to
     such effect.

               (c)  Tax Opinion. Oryx shall have received from Jones, Day,
     Reavis & Pogue, counsel to Oryx, on or before the Form S-4 shall become
     effective and, subsequently, on the Closing Date, a written opinion dated
     as of such dates, based on appropriate representations of Kerr-McGee and
     Oryx, to the effect that (i) the Merger will be treated for federal income
     tax purposes as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of
     the Code and (ii) Kerr-McGee and Oryx will each be a party to the
     reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code.

               (d)  Rights Agreement. No "Stock Acquisition Date" or
     "Distribution Date" shall have occurred pursuant to and as defined in the
     Kerr-McGee Rights Agreement.


                                  ARTICLE VII

                           TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

               7.1  Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time
prior to the Effective Time, by action taken or authorized by the Board of
Directors of the terminating party or parties, and except as provided below,
whether before or after approval of the matters presented in connection with the
Merger by the stockholders of Oryx or Kerr-McGee:

               (a)  By mutual written consent of Kerr-McGee and Oryx;

               (b)  By either Oryx or Kerr-McGee if the Effective Time shall not
     have occurred on or before June 30, 1999 (the "Termination Date");
     provided, however, that the right to

                                       62
<PAGE>
 
     terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.1(b) shall not be available
     to any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement
     has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Effective Time to
     occur on or before the Termination Date;

               (c)  By either Oryx or Kerr-McGee if any law, rule or regulation
     shall have been adopted or promulgated, or any Governmental Entity shall
     have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action which
     shall have become final and nonappealable, having the effect of making the
     Merger illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Merger;
     provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this
     Section 7.1(c) shall not be available to any party who failed to comply
     with Section 5.3 in connection with such action;

               (d)  By Oryx or Kerr-McGee, prior to receipt of its required
     stockholders approval, upon five Business Days' prior notice to the other
     party (which notice shall entitle the other party to terminate this
     Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(f)), in order to accept a proposal which
     its Board of Directors shall have determined as of the date of such notice
     is a Superior Proposal; provided, however, that (i) any financing with
     respect thereto is committed for the full amount required, (ii) the
     terminating party shall have complied with its obligations under Section
     5.4, (iii) such notice shall include a copy of any proposed or definitive
     documentation relating to such Superior Proposal, and shall otherwise
     indicate all material terms and conditions with respect thereto, (iv) prior
     to any such termination, the terminating party shall, if requested by the
     other party in connection with a revised proposal by it, negotiate in good
     faith for such five Business Day period with the other party, (v) the Board
     of Directors of the terminating party shall have determined, as of the
     effective date of such termination, after taking into account any revised
     proposal by the other party during such five Business Day period, that such
     third-party proposal remains a Superior Proposal (and such financing
     remains so committed) and (vi) immediately following such termination, the
     terminating party enters into definitive and binding documentation with
     respect to such Superior Proposal; provided, further, that it shall be a
     condition to termination by the terminating party pursuant to this Section
     7.1(d) that the terminating party shall have made the payment of the fee to
     the other party required by Section 7.2;

               (e)  By either Oryx or Kerr-McGee if (i) the approval by the
     stockholders of Oryx required for the consummation of the Reverse Split or
     the Merger shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain
     the Required Oryx Vote or (ii) the approval by the stockholders of Kerr-
     McGee required for the

                                       63
<PAGE>
 
     consummation of the Merger shall not have been obtained by reason of the
     failure to obtain the Required Kerr-McGee Vote, in each case upon the
     taking of such vote at a duly held meeting of stockholders of Oryx or Kerr-
     McGee, as the case may be, or at any adjournment thereof;

               (f)  (i)  By Oryx if the Board of Directors of Kerr-McGee shall
     have effected an Adverse Change in the Kerr-McGee Recommendation (or
     resolved to take such action), approved or recommended another Acquisition
     Proposal (or resolved to take such action) or failed to reconfirm its
     recommendation set forth in Section 3.1(f), if so requested by Kerr-McGee,
     within fifteen days following such request and in any event at least ten
     days prior to the Oryx Stockholders Meeting, or Kerr-McGee shall have
     delivered the notice described in Section 7.1(d) above or breached Section
     4.1(l); or

                    (ii) by Kerr-McGee if the Board of Directors of Oryx shall
     have effected an Adverse Change in the Oryx Recommendation (or resolved to
     take such action) or shall have approved or recommended another Acquisition
     Proposal (or resolved to take such action) or failed to reconfirm its
     recommendation set forth in Section 3.2(f), if so requested by Oryx, within
     fifteen days following such request, and in any event at least ten days
     prior to the Kerr-McGee Stockholders Meeting, or Oryx shall have delivered
     the notice described in Section 7.1(d) above or breached Section 4.2(l); or

               (g)  By Kerr-McGee, if a "Shares Acquisition Date" or "Triggering
     Event" shall have occurred pursuant to and as defined in the Oryx Rights
     Agreement; or by Oryx, if a "Stock Acquisition Date" shall have occurred
     pursuant to and as defined in the Kerr-McGee Rights Agreement.

               7.2  Effect of Termination.

               (a)  In the event of termination of this Agreement by either Oryx
or Kerr-McGee as provided in Section 7.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become
void and there shall be no liability or obligation on the part of Kerr-McGee or
Oryx or their respective officers or directors except with respect to Section
3.1(m), Section 3.2(m), the second sentence of Section 5.2, Section 5.6, this
Section 7.2 and Article VIII, which provisions shall survive such termination,
and except that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, neither Kerr-McGee nor Oryx shall be relieved or released from any
liabilities or damages arising out of its willful material breach of this
Agreement.

                                       64
<PAGE>
 
               (b)  Kerr-McGee shall pay Oryx the sum $60 million if this
Agreement is terminated solely as follows: (i) by Oryx pursuant to Section
7.1(f) or (g) (which fee shall be payable immediately upon such termination);
(ii) by Kerr-McGee pursuant to Section 7.1(d) (which fee shall be payable as a
condition to such termination); or (iii) by either party pursuant to Section
7.1(e)(ii), if (A) at or at any time prior to such termination, Oryx was
entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(f) (which fee shall
be payable immediately upon such termination) or (B) (x) at any time after the
date of this Agreement and at or before the date of the Kerr-McGee Stockholders
Meeting an Acquisition Proposal with respect to Kerr-McGee shall have been
publicly announced or otherwise publicly communicated (a "Prior Kerr-McGee
Proposal"), and (y) within twelve months of the termination of this Agreement,
Kerr-McGee enters into a definitive agreement with respect to (1) such Prior
Kerr-McGee Proposal or any other Acquisition Proposal (with respect to Kerr-
McGee) with any party who made a Prior Kerr-McGee Proposal or (2) any
Alternative Transaction (as defined in Section 8.11) with respect to Kerr-McGee
with any other Person, and such Prior Kerr-McGee Proposal, Acquisition Proposal
or Alternative Transaction is consummated (which fee shall be payable
immediately upon such consummation).

               (c)  Oryx shall pay Kerr-McGee the sum $60 million if this
Agreement is terminated solely as follows: (i) by Kerr-McGee pursuant to Section
7.1(f) or (g) (which fee shall be payable immediately upon such termination);
(ii) by Oryx pursuant to Section 7.1(d) (which fee shall be payable as a
condition to such termination); or (iii) by either party pursuant to Section
7.1(e)(i), if (A) at or at any time prior to such termination, Kerr-McGee was
entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(f) (which fee shall
be payable immediately upon such termination) or (B) (x) at any time after the
date of this Agreement and at or before the date of the Oryx Stockholders
Meeting an Acquisition Proposal with respect to Oryx shall have been publicly
announced or otherwise publicly communicated (a "Prior Oryx Proposal"), and (y)
within twelve months of the termination of this Agreement, Oryx enters into a
definitive agreement with respect to (1) such Prior Oryx Proposal or any other
Acquisition Proposal (with respect to Oryx) with any party who made a Prior Oryx
Proposal or (2) any Alternative Transaction with respect to Oryx with any other
Person, and such Prior Oryx Proposal, Acquisition Proposal or Alternative
Transaction is consummated (which fee shall be payable immediately upon such
consummation).

               (d)  In addition, in any case in which a fee is payable pursuant
to paragraph (b) or (c) above, the party paying such fee shall in addition
promptly pay the other party the sum of $5 million in respect of Expenses
incurred by or on behalf of it in connection with this Agreement and the Stock
Option Agreements, such payment to be made in cash at the time of the payment of
the fee pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) above.

                                       65
<PAGE>
 
               7.3  Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties
hereto, by action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of Directors,
at any time before or after approval of the matters presented in connection with
the Merger by the stockholders of Oryx and Kerr-McGee, but, after any such
approval, no amendment shall be made which by law or in accordance with the
rules of any relevant stock exchange requires further approval by such
stockholders without such further approval. This Agreement may not be amended
except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties
hereto.

               7.4  Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time,
the parties hereto, by action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of
Directors, may, to the extent legally allowed, (i) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto,
(ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained
herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance
with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein. Any agreement on the
part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if
set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party. The failure of
any party to this Agreement to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or
otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of those rights.


                                 ARTICLE VIII

                              GENERAL PROVISIONS

               8.1  Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements.
None of the representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements in this
Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement, including
any rights arising out of any breach of such representations, warranties,
covenants and other agreements, shall survive the Effective Time, except for
those covenants and agreements contained herein and therein that by their terms
apply or are to be performed in whole or in part after the Effective Time and
this Article VIII.

               8.2  Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (a) on the date of delivery
if delivered personally, or by telecopy or telefacsimile, upon confirmation of
receipt, (b) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if
delivered by a recognized next-day courier service, or (c) on the tenth Business
Day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be
delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be
designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:

                                       66
<PAGE>
 
                    (a)  if to Kerr-McGee, to

                         Kerr-McGee Corporation
                         123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue
                         Oklahoma City, Oklahoma  73102
                         Fax:  (405) 270-4211
                         Attention:  General Counsel

                         with a copy to

                         Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
                         425 Lexington Avenue
                         New York, New York  10017
                         Fax: (212) 455-2502
                         Attention:  David B. Chapnick, Esq.

                    (b)  if to Oryx to

                         Oryx Energy Company
                         Oryx Energy Center
                         13155 Noel Road
                         Dallas, Texas  75240
                         Fax: (972) 715-8955
                         Attention: General Counsel

                         with a copy to

                         Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue
                         599 Lexington Avenue, 30th Floor
                         New York, New York  10022
                         Fax: (212) 755-7306
                         Attention: Robert A. Profusek, Esq.

               8.3  Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement
to Sections, Exhibits or Schedules, such reference shall be to a Section of or
Exhibit or Schedule to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of
contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes
only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement. Whenever the words "include", "includes" or "including" are used in
this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without
limitation". Inclusion of any matter on any Schedule to this Agreement shall not
be deemed an admission that such item is material or otherwise required to be
included on such Schedule.

               8.4  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when one or more

                                       67
<PAGE>
 
counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other
party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart.

               8.5  Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries.

               (a)  This Agreement, the Stock Option Agreements and the
Confidentiality Agreements constitute the entire agreement and supersede all
prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof.

               (b)  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the
benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied,
is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or
remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, other than
Section 5.7 (which is intended to be for the benefit of the Persons covered
thereby and may be enforced by such Persons).

               8.6  GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE APPLICABLE TO
CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED THEREIN.

               8.7  Severability. If any term or other provision of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or
public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto
shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the
original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in
order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally
contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

               8.8  Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties
hereto, in whole or in part (whether by operation of law or otherwise), without
the prior written consent of the other party, and any attempt to make any such
assignment without such consent shall be null and void. Subject to the preceding
sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and assigns.

                                       68
<PAGE>
 
               8.9  Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each of Kerr-McGee and
Oryx irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this
Agreement or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect hereof
brought by the other party hereto or its successors or assigns may be brought
and determined in the Chancery or other Courts of the State of Delaware, and
each of Kerr-McGee and Oryx hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such
action or proceeding for itself and in respect to its property, generally and
unconditionally, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts. Each
of Kerr-McGee and Oryx hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by
way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or
proceeding with respect to this Agreement, (a) any claim that it is not
personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts for any reason
other than the failure to lawfully serve process, (b) that it or its property is
exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process
commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to
judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or
otherwise), and (c) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, that (i)
the suit, action or proceeding in any such court is brought in an inconvenient
forum, (ii) the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper and (iii)
this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such
courts.

               8.10 Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable damage would
occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms. It is accordingly agreed that
the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, this
being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in
equity.

               8.11 Definitions.  As used in this Agreement:

               (a)  "Alternative Transaction" means, with respect to Oryx or
Kerr-McGee, any merger, reorganization, share exchange, consolidation, business
combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction
involving it or any of its material Subsidiaries, or any purchase or sale of the
assets (including stock of Subsidiaries) of it or any of its Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, having an aggregate value equal to 25% or more of the consolidated
asset value of such party, or any purchase or sale of, or tender or exchange
offer for, 25% or more of the equity securities of such party.

               (b)  "beneficial ownership" or "beneficially own" shall have the
meaning under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder.

                                       69
<PAGE>
 
               (c)  "Benefit Plans" means, with respect to any Person, each
employee benefit plan, program, arrangement and contract (including, without
limitation, any "employee benefit plan," as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA and
any bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, stock bonus, stock purchase,
restricted stock, stock option, employment, termination, stay agreement or
bonus, change in control and severance plan, program, arrangement and contract)
in effect on the date of this Agreement or disclosed on the Oryx Disclosure
Schedule or the Kerr-McGee Disclosure Schedule, as the case may be, to which
such Person or its Subsidiary is a party, which is maintained or contributed to
by such Person, or with respect to which such Person could incur material
liability under Section 4069, 4201 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

               (d)  "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of any
specified Person and any committees thereof.

               (e)  "Business Day" means any day on which banks are not required
or authorized to close in each of New York, New York; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma;
and Dallas, Texas.

               (f)  "known or "knowledge" means, with respect to any party, the
knowledge of such party's executive officers after reasonable inquiry.

               (g)  "Material Adverse Effect" means, with respect to any entity,
any change, circumstance or effect that, individually or in the aggregate with
all other changes, circumstances and effects, is or is reasonably likely to be
materially adverse to (i) the business, financial condition or results of
operations of such entity and its Subsidiaries (or, following the Merger, of the
Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries) taken as a whole, other than any
change, circumstance or effect relating (x) to the economy or financial markets
in general or (y) in general to the industries in which Kerr-McGee or Oryx
operate and not specifically relating to Kerr-McGee or Oryx or (ii) the ability
of such party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
the Stock Option Agreements.

               (h)  "the other party" means, with respect to Oryx, Kerr-McGee
and means, with respect to Kerr-McGee, Oryx.

               (i)  "Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, association, trust, unincorporated organization, other
entity or group (as defined in the Exchange Act).

               (j)  "Subsidiary" when used with respect to any party means any
corporation or other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, (i)
of which such party or any other Subsidiary of such party is a general partner
or managing member (excluding partnerships, the general

                                       70
<PAGE>
 
partnership interests of which held by such party or any Subsidiary of such
party do not have a majority of the voting interests in such partnership) or
(ii) at least a majority of the securities or other interests of which having by
their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors
or others performing similar functions with respect to such corporation or other
organization is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such party or by
any one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such party and one or more of its
Subsidiaries.

               (k)  "Superior Proposal" means with respect to Kerr-McGee or
Oryx, as the case may be, a written proposal made by a Person other than either
such party which (I) contemplates (i) a merger, reorganization, consolidation,
share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation,
dissolution, tender offer, exchange offer or similar transaction involving such
party as a result of which such party's stockholders prior to such transaction
in the aggregate cease to own at least 50% of the voting securities of the
ultimate parent entity resulting from such transaction or (ii) a sale, lease,
exchange, transfer or other disposition (including without limitation a
contribution to a joint venture) of at least 50% of the assets of such party and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and (II) is on terms which the Board of
Directors of such party determines (after consultation with its financial
advisors and outside counsel), taking into account, among other things, all
legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of the proposal and the Person
making the proposal, (i) would, if consummated, result in a transaction that is
more favorable, from a financial point of view, to its stockholders (in their
capacities as such) than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (in the
case of Section 7.1(d), as proposed to be revised) and (ii) is reasonably likely
to be financed and otherwise completed.


                        ______________________________

                          [Intentionally Left Blank]

                                       71
<PAGE>
 
               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Kerr-McGee and Oryx have caused this
Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized,
all as of the date first written above.


                            KERR-McGEE CORPORATION


                            By:   /s/ Luke R. Corbett
                              Name:  Luke R. Corbett
                              Title: Chairman and Chief Executive
                                     Officer

                            ORYX ENERGY COMPANY


                            By:   /s/ Robert L. Keiser
                              Name:  Robert L. Keiser
                              Title: Chairman/CEO

                                       72
<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.5
                                                         TO THE MERGER AGREEMENT

                                    FORM OF

               AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                      OF

                            KERR-McGEE CORPORATION


   FIRST:  The name of the corporation is:

                            KERR-McGEE CORPORATION

   SECOND:  The registered office of the corporation in the State of
Delaware is located at No. 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington,
County of New Castle.  The name and address of its resident agent is The
Corporation Trust Company, No. 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware
19801.

   THIRD:  The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act or
activity for which corporations may be organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

   FOURTH:  (1) The total number of shares of all classes of stock which
the corporation shall have the authority to issue is 340,000,000, of which
40,000,000 shares shall be preferred stock, without par value, and
300,000,000 shall be common stock of the par value of $1.00 per share.

   Each holder of common stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for
each share of common stock held of record by such holder on all matters on
which stockholders generally are entitled to vote; provided, however, that,
except as otherwise required by law, holders of common stock, as such, shall
not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this certificate of incorporation
(including any certificate of designations relating to any series of
preferred stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding
series of preferred stock if the holders of such affected series are
entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other
such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this certificate of incorporation
(including any certificate of designations relating to any series of
preferred stock) or pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware.

   (2)  The preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more
series.  The resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors providing
for the issue of shares of a particular series shall fix, subject to
applicable laws and provisions of this certificate of incorporation, the
voting power, designation, preferences and relative, participating, optional
or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of

                                       73
<PAGE>
 
the shares of such series.  The authority of the Board of Directors with
respect to each series shall include, but not be limited to, determination of
the following:

      i)  the number of shares constituting such series, including the authority
          to increase or decrease such number, and the distinctive designation
          of such series;

     ii)  the rate of dividends payable on shares of such series, the dates on
          which such dividends shall be paid, and whether such dividends shall
          be cumulative or noncumulative;

    iii)  the full or limited voting power, if any, for such series and the
          terms and conditions under which such voting power may be exercised;

     iv)  the right, if any, of the corporation to redeem shares of such series
          and the terms and conditions of such redemption;

      v)  the obligations, if any, of the corporation to retire shares of such
          series pursuant to a retirement or sinking fund of a similar nature or
          otherwise and the terms and conditions of such obligation;

     vi)  the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the shares of such series
          shall be convertible into shares of stock of any other class or series
          including the conversion rate and the term of adjustment thereof, if
          any;

    vii)  the amount which the holders of the shares of such series shall be
          entitled to receive in case of a liquidation, dissolution or winding
          up of the corporation;

   viii)  the relative priority of the shares of such series to shares of other
          classes or series with respect to dividends or upon the dissolution of
          or the distribution of assets of the corporation; and

     ix)  and other rights and qualifications, preferences and limitations or
          restrictions of the shares of such series;

          so far as not inconsistent with the provisions of this certificate of
          incorporation and to the full extent now or hereafter permitted by the
          laws of the State of Delaware.

   (3)  Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (3), no direct or
indirect purchase by the corporation from any Interested Stockholder (as
hereinafter defined) of shares of common stock of the corporation beneficially
owned by such Interested Stockholder for less than two years

                                       74
<PAGE>
 
prior to the date of such purchase shall be made at a per share price in
excess of Fair Market Value (as hereinafter defined) at the time of such
purchase unless such purchase is approved by the affirmative vote of not less
than a majority of the Voting Stock (as defined in Article THIRTEENTH) held
by Disinterested Stockholders (as hereinafter defined).

   The provisions of this paragraph (3) shall not apply to (i) any offer to
purchase made by the corporation which is made on the same terms and
conditions of the holders of all shares of common stock of the corporation,
or (ii) any open market purchases by the corporation of shares of its  common
stock at prevailing market prices.

   The provisions of this paragraph (3) shall not be amended without the
affirmative vote of (a) not less than a majority of the Voting Stock entitled
to vote thereon and (b) not less than a majority of the Voting Stock entitled
to vote thereon held by Disinterested Stockholders.

   For purposes of this paragraph (3); I) the terms "Interested
Stockholder" shall  have the meaning of "Related Person" set forth in
paragraph (B)(3) of Article THIRTEENTH except that the percent of Voting
Stock referred to in clauses (a) and (b) of such definition shall be five
percent (5%) rather than ten percent (10%); (ii) the term "Fair Market Value"
shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph (B)(9) of Article THIRTEENTH
except that "Fair Market Value" shall mean the highest sale price or bid
quotation during the five-trading day period preceding the date of the
purchase of the stock; and (iii) the terms "Disinterested Stockholders" means
those holders of the Voting Stock, none of which is an Interested
Stockholder.

   (4)  Series B Preferred Stock

        Section 1.  Designation and Amount.  There shall be designated a
series of preferred stock as "Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock"
(the "Series B Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting the
Series B Preferred Stock shall be 1,000,000.  Such number of shares may be
increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided,
that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series B Preferred
Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the
number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding
options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding
securities issued by the corporation convertible into Series B Preferred
Stock.

        Section 2.  Dividends and Distributions.

        (A)  Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of
preferred stock of the corporation (the "Preferred Stock") (or any similar
stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series B Preferred Stock with respect
to dividends, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock,

                                       75
<PAGE>
 
in preference to the holders of common stock of the corporation (the "Common
Stock") and of any other stock of the corporation ranking junior to the
Series B Preferred Stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if
declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the
purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of January,
April, July, and October in each year (each such date being referred to
herein as a "Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Dividend
Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of
Series B Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest
cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1 or (b) subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share amount of
all cash dividends, and 100 times the -cash dividends or other distributions
other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock, declared on the
Common Stock since the immediately preceding Dividend Payment Date or, with
respect to the first Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any
share or fraction of a share of Series B Preferred Stock.  In the event the
corporation shall at any time after July 9, 1996 declare or pay any dividend
on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend
in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of
Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of
Series B Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under
clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such
amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event.

      (B)  The corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on
the Series B Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock
(other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in
the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common
Stock during the period between any Dividend Payment Date and the next
subsequent Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1 per share on the Series B
Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable, when, as and if declared, on
such subsequent Dividend Payment Date.

      (C)  Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative, whether or
not earned or declared, on outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock
from the Dividend Pays the date of issue of such shares is prior to the
record date for the first Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on
such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or
unless the date of issue is a Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the
record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series B Preferred
Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Dividend
Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue
and be cumulative from such Dividend Payment Date.  Accrued but unpaid

                                       76
<PAGE>
 
dividends shall not bear interest.  Dividends paid on the shares of Series B
Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at
the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a
share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.  The
Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of
shares of Series B Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend
or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60
days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

      Section 3.  Voting Rights.  The holders of shares of Series B
Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

         (A)  Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
   forth and except as otherwise provided in this certificate of
   incorporation or required by law, each share of Series B Preferred Stock
   shall entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters upon which
   the holders of the Common Stock of the corporation are entitled to vote.
   In the event the corporation shall at any time after July 9, 1996
   declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of
   Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of
   the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise
   than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater
   or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the
   number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series B
   Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be
   adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of
   which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
   after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of
   Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

      (B)  Except as otherwise provided herein, in this certificate of
   incorporation or in any other certificate of designations creating a
   series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, and except as otherwise
   required by law, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock and
   the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the
   corporation having general voting rights shall vote together as one
   class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the
   corporation.

      (C)  Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law,
   holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights
   and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are
   entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for
   taking any corporate action.

      Section 4.  Certain Restrictions.

         (A)  Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
   distributions payable on the Series B Preferred Stock as provided in

                                       77
<PAGE>
 
   Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid
   dividends and distributions, whether or not earned or declared, on
   shares of Series B Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in
   full, the corporation shall not:

         (i)   declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any
      shares of stock ranking junior (as to dividends) to the Series B Preferred
      Stock;

         (ii)  declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any
      shares of stock ranking on a parity (as to dividends) with the Series B
      Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series B Preferred
      Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in
      arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all
      such shares are then entitled;

         (iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares
      of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
      dissolution or winding up) to the Series B Preferred Stock, provided that
      the corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire
      shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the
      corporation ranking junior (as to dividends and upon dissolution,
      liquidation or winding up) to the Series B Preferred Stock or rights,
      warrants or options to acquire such junior stock;

         (iv)  redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
      shares of Series B Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a
      parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding
      up) with the Series B Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a
      purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the
      Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the
      Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend
      rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series
      and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and
      equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.

      (B)  The corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the corporation to
   purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the
   corporation unless the corporation could, under paragraph (A) of this Section
   4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

      Section 5.  Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series B Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their retirement become authorized but

                                       78
<PAGE>
 
unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series
of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of
Directors, subject to any conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth
herein.

      Section 6.  Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding up. Upon any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the corporation, no distribution shall be made (A)
to the holders of the Common Stock or of shares of any other stock of the
corporation ranking junior, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, to the
Series B Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series
B Preferred Stock shall have received $100 per share, plus an amount equal to
accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not earned or
declared, to the date of such payment, provided that the holders of shares of
Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per
share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to
100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares
of Common Stock, or (B) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up with the Series B Preferred Stock,
except distributions made ratably on the Series B Preferred Stock and all such
parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which holders of all such
shares are entitled upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the event,
however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in
full of the Series B liquidation preference and the liquidation preferences of
all other classes and series of stock of the corporation, if any, that rank on a
parity with the Series B Preferred Stock in respect thereof, then the assets
available for such distribution shall be distributed ratably to the holders of
the Series B Preferred Stock and the holders of such parity shares in the
proportion to their respective liquidation preferences. In the event the
corporation shall at any time after July 9, 1996 declare or pay any dividend on
the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each
such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series B Preferred
Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso in clause
(A) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a
fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.

      Section 7.  Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of Common Stock are converted into, exchanged for or changed into
other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case
each share of Series B Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly
converted into, exchanged for or changed into an amount per share (subject to
the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal

                                       79
<PAGE>
 
to 100 times the s, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the
case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is converted,
exchanged or converted. In the event the corporation shall at any time after
July 9, 1996 declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares
of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the
preceding sentence with respect to the conversion, exchange or change of shares
of Series B Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.

      Section 8.  No Redemption.  The shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall
not be redeemable from any holder.

      Section 9.  Rank.  The Series B Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect
to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the corporation, junior to all other series of
Preferred Stock and senior to the Common Stock.

      Section 10. Amendment.  If any proposed amendment to this certificate of
incorporation would alter, change or repeal any of the preferences, powers or
special rights given to the Series B Preferred Stock so as to affect the Series
B Preferred Stock adversely, then the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock
shall be entitled to vote separately as a class upon such amendment, and the
affirmative vote of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Series B
Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, shall be necessary for the
adoption thereof, in addition to such other vote as may be required by the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

      Section 11. Fractional Shares.  Series B Preferred Stock may be issued in
fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such
holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends,
participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of
holders of Series B Preferred Stock.

   (5)  Preemptive Rights.  Neither the holders of preferred stock nor the
holders of common stock shall have any preemptive rights, and the corporation
shall have the right to issue and sell to any person or persons any shares of
its capital stock or any option rights or any securities having conversion or
option rights, without first offering such shares, rights or securities to any
holders of preferred stock or common stock.

   FIFTH:  (1)  The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by
a Board of Directors. The number of directors shall be fixed from

                                       80
<PAGE>
 
time to time by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of the majority of the
Board of Directors, but shall not be fixed at a number less than three.

      The directors shall be classified, with respect to the time for which they
severally hold office, into three classes, as nearly equal in number as
possible, with the term of the first class to expire at the 1999 annual meeting
of the stockholders, the term of office of the second class to expire at the
2000 annual meeting of the stockholders, and the term of office of the third
class to expire at the 2001 annual meeting of the stockholders, with the members
of each class to hold office until their successors are elected and qualified.
At each succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders of the corporation, the
successors to the class of directors whose term expires at the meeting shall be
elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of the
stockholders held in the third year following the year of their election.

      Newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of
directors and any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death,
resignation, disqualification, removal or other cause shall be filled by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even
though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. Any director elected in
accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of
the full term of the class of directors in which the new directorship was
created or the vacancy occurred until such director's successor shall have been
elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the
Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

      Directors may be removed only for cause, and then only by the affirmative
vote of at least 75 percent in voting power of all shares of the corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting as a single
class.

  (2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more
series of preferred stock issued by the corporation shall have the right, voting
separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more such other
series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the
election, term of office, removal, filling of vacancies and other features of
such directorships shall be governed by the terms of this certificate of
incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series
of preferred stock) applicable thereto, and such directors so elected shall not
be divided into classes pursuant to this Article FIFTH unless expressly provided
by such terms.

   SIXTH: The Board of Directors shall be authorized to make, amend, alter,
change, add to or repeal the By-Laws of the corporation in any manner not
inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware, subject to the power of the
stockholders to amend, alter, change, add to or repeal the By-Laws made by the
Board of Directors. Notwithstanding anything contained in this certificate of
incorporation to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the

                                       81
<PAGE>
 
holders of at least 75 percent in voting power of all the shares of the
corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting
together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders to
alter, amend or repeal any provision of the By-Laws which is to the same effect
as Article FIFTH, Article SIXTH, and Article FOURTEENTH of this certificate of
incorporation or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith.

   SEVENTH:  (1) (a)  The corporation shall, to the full extent permitted
by the Laws of the State of Delaware as then in effect or, if less stringent,
in effect on December 31, 1985 ("Delaware Law"), and as more fully described
in the By-Laws, indemnify any person (the "Indemnitee") made or threatened to
be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and
whether or not by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact
that the Indemnitee is or was a director, officer or employee of the
corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee, trustee, partner, or other agent of any other
enterprise or legal person (any such action, suit or proceeding being herein
referred to as a "Legal Action") against all expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such Legal Action or
its investigation, defense or appeal (herein called "Indemnified Expenses"),
if the Indemnitee has met the standard of conduct necessary under Delaware
Law to permit such indemnification.  Rights to indemnification shall extend
to the heirs, beneficiaries, administrators and executors of any deceased
Indemnitee.

      For purposes of this Section, reference to "any other enterprise or legal
person" shall include employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall
include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee
benefit plan; and references to "serving at the request of the corporation"
shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director,
officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its
participants, or beneficiaries.

      (b)  The Indemnified Expenses shall be paid by the corporation in
advance as shall be appropriate to permit Indemnitee to defray such expenses
currently as incurred, provided the Indemnitee agrees in writing that in the
event it shall ultimately be determined as provided hereunder that Indemnitee
was not entitled to be indemnified, then Indemnitee shall promptly
repay to the corporation such amounts so paid.

      (c)  Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article SEVENTH,
the corporation's By-Laws or any applicable provision of Delaware Law, or any
other instrument, which eliminates or diminishes the indemnification rights
provided for in this Article SEVENTH shall be ineffective as against an
Indemnitee with respect to any Legal Action based upon actions taken or not
taken by the Indemnitee prior to such repeal or the adoption of such

                                       82
<PAGE>
 
modification or amendment.  The provisions of this Article SEVENTH, Section
(1) shall be applicable to all Legal Actions made or commenced after the
adoption hereof, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring
before or after its adoption.  The provisions of this Article SEVENTH,
Section (1) shall be deemed to be a contract between the corporation and each
director or officer who serves in such capacity at any time while this
Article SEVENTH, Section (1) and the relevant provisions of Delaware Law and
other applicable law, if any, are in effect.  If any provision of this
Article SEVENTH, Section (1) shall be found to be invalid or limited in
application by reason of any law or regulation, it shall not affect the
validity of the remaining provisions hereof.  The rights of indemnification
provided in this Article SEVENTH, Section (1) shall neither be exclusive of,
nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which an officer, director,
employee or agent may otherwise be entitled or permitted by contract, this
certificate of incorporation, vote of stockholders or directors or otherwise,
or as a matter of law, both as to actions in such person's official capacity
and actions in any other capacity while holding such office, it being the
policy of the corporation that indemnification of any person whom the
corporation is obligated to indemnify pursuant to subsection (a) of this
Article SEVENTH, Section (1) shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by
law.

      (d)  The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf
of any person described in subsection (a) of this Article SEVENTH, Section
(1) against any liability asserted against such person, whether or not
the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such
liability under the provisions of this Article SEVENTH, Section (1) or
otherwise.

   (2)  To the full extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a director
of the corporation shall not be liable to the corporation or its stockholders
for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.  No repeal,
amendment or modification of this Article, whether direct or indirect, shall
eliminate or reduce its effect with respect to any act or omission of a
director of the corporation occurring prior to such repeal, amendment or
modification.

   EIGHTH:  Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this
corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this
corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable
jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a
summary way of this corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or
on the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this
corporation under Section 291 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code or on the
application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers
appointed for this corporation under Section 279 of Title 8 of the Delaware
Code order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the
stockholders or class of stockholders of this corporation, as the case may
be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs.  If a majority

                                       83
<PAGE>
 
in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of
creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this
corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and
to any reorganization of this corporation as a consequence of such compromise
or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said
reorganization shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said
application has been made, be binding on all the creditors or class of
creditors, and/or on all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this
corporation, as the case may be, and also on this corporation.

   NINTH:  [Reserved]

   TENTH:  [Reserved]

   ELEVENTH:  [Reserved]

   TWELFTH:  [Reserved]

   THIRTEENTH:  The vote of the stockholders of the corporation required to
approve any Business Transaction shall be as set forth in this Article
THIRTEENTH.  Each capitalized term shall have the meaning ascribed to it in
Paragraph (B) of this Article.

   (A)  Notwithstanding any provision of law or any other provision of this
certificate of incorporation or any agreement with any national securities
exchange or otherwise which might permit a lesser vote or no vote and in
addition to any affirmative vote required of the holders of any particular
class or series of Voting Stock by law or by this certificate of
incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 51% of
the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the corporation beneficially owned
by stockholders other than the Related Person shall be required for the
approval or authorization of any Business Transaction; provided, however,
that such 51% voting requirement shall not be applicable to any Business
Transaction, and such Business Transaction shall require only such
affirmative vote as is required by law, any other provision of this
certificate of incorporation, any preferred stock designation or any
agreement with any national securities exchange, if, in the case of a
Business Transaction that does not involve any cash or consideration being
received by the stockholders of the corporation solely in
respect of their ownership of shares of Voting Stock of the corporation, the
condition specified in the following paragraph (1) is satisfied, or, in the
case of any other Business Transaction, the conditions specified in either of
the following paragraphs (1) and (2) are satisfied.

      (1)  the Continuing Directors at the time of such Business
   Transaction constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors of
   the corporation and such Business Transaction shall have been approved
   by a majority vote of the Continuing Directors; or

                                       84
<PAGE>
 
      (2)(a)    the consideration to be received by holders of a particular
   class or series of outstanding Voting Stock (including common stock) shall be
   in cash or in the same form as was previously paid in order to acquire
   beneficially shares of such class or series of Voting Stock that are
   beneficially owned by the Related Person and, if the Related Person
   beneficially owns shares of any class or series of Voting Stock that were
   acquired with varying forms of consideration, the form of consideration to be
   received by holders of such class or series of Voting Stock shall be either
   cash or the form used to acquire beneficially the largest number of shares of
   such class or series of Voting Stock beneficially acquired by it prior to the
   Announcement Date; and

      (b)  the aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value as of the
   Consummation Date of any consideration other than cash to be received per
   share by holders of common stock in such Business Transaction shall be at
   least equal to the highest of the following (it being intended that the
   requirements of this clause (A)(2)(b) shall be required to be met with
   respect to all shares of common stock outstanding whether or not the Related
   Person has acquired any shares of the common stock):

         i)   if applicable, the highest per share price (including any
      brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers' fees) paid
      in order to acquire any shares of common stock beneficially owned by the
      Related Person which were acquired beneficially by such Related Person (x)
      with in the two-year period immediately prior to the Announcement Date or
      (y) in the transaction in which it became a Related Person, whichever is
      higher; or

         ii)  the Fair Market Value per share of common stock on the
      Announcement Date or on the Determination Date, whichever is higher; and

      (c)  the aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value as of the
   Consummation Date of any consideration other than cash to be received per
   share by holders of shares of any other class or series of Voting Stock,
   other than common stock, shall be at least equal to the highest of the
   following (it being intended that the requirements of this clause (A)(2)(c)
   shall be required to be met with respect to every class and series of such
   outstanding Voting Stock, whether or not the Related Person has previously
   acquired any shares of a particular class or series of Voting Stock):

         i)   if applicable, the highest per share price (including any
      brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers' fees) paid
      in order to acquire any shares of such class or series of Voting Stock
      beneficially owned by the Related Person which were acquired beneficially
      by such Related Person (x) with the two-year

                                       85
<PAGE>
 
      period immediately prior to the Announcement Date or (y) in the
      transaction in which it became a Related Person, whichever is higher;

         ii)  if applicable, the highest preferential amount per share to which
      the holders of share of such class or series of Voting Stock are entitled
      in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
      winding up of the corporation; or

         iii) the Fair Market Value per share of such class or series of Voting
      Stock on the Announcement Date or the Determination Date, whichever is
      higher; and

      (d)  after such Related Person has become a Related Person and prior to
   the consummation of such Business Transaction:

         i)   such Related Person shall not have become the Beneficial Owner of
      any additional shares of Voting Stock of the corporation, except as part
      of the transaction in which it became a Related Person or upon conversion
      of convertible securities acquired by it prior to becoming a Related
      Person or as a result of a pro rata stock dividend or stock split; and

         ii)  such Related Person shall not have received the benefit,
      directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder),
      of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial
      assistance or tax credits or other tax advantages provided by the
      corporation or any Subsidiary, whether in anticipation of or in
      connection with such Business Transaction or otherwise; and

         iii) such Related Person shall not have caused any material change in
      the corporation's business or capital structure, including, without
      limitation, the issuance of shares of capital stock of the corporation to
      any third party; and

         iv)  there shall have been (aa) no failure to declare and pay at the
      regular date therefor any full quarterly dividends (whether or not
      cumulative) on any outstanding preferred stock, and (bb) no reduction in
      the annual rate of dividends paid on common stock (after giving effect to
      any reclassification, including any reverse stock split, recapitalization,
      reorganization or similar transaction which has the effect of enlarging or
      reducing the number of outstanding shares of common stock), unless such
      failure or reduction shall have been approved by a majority of the
      Continuing Directors; and

      (e)  a proxy or information statement describing the proposed Business
   Transaction and complying with the requirements of the Securities Exchange
   Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder

                                       86
<PAGE>
 
   (or any subsequent provisions replacing such Act, rules and regulations),
   whether or not the corporation is then subject to such requirements, shall be
   mailed at least thirty (30) days prior to the consummation of such Business
   Transaction to the public stockholders of the corporation and shall contain
   at the front thereof in a prominent place (i) any recommendations as to the
   advisability (or inadvisability) of the Business Transaction which the
   Continuing Directors, if any, may choose to state and (ii) the opinion of a
   reputable national investment banking firm as to the fairness (or not) of
   such Business Transaction from the point of view of the remaining public
   stockholders of the corporation (such investment banking firm to be engaged
   solely on behalf of the remaining public stockholders, to be paid a
   reasonable fee for their services by the corporation upon receipt of such
   opinion, to be unaffiliated with such Related Person, and, if there are at
   the time any Continuing Directors, to be selected by a majority of the
   Continuing Directors).

   (B)  For purposes of this Article THIRTEENTH:

        (1)  the term "Business Transaction" shall mean

             (a)  any merger or consolidation of the corporation or any
        Subsidiary with (i) any Related Person or (ii) any other corporation or
        entity (whether or not itself a Related Person) which is, or after such
        merger or consolidation, would be, an Affiliate of a Related Person;

             (b)  any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other
        disposition (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) to or
        with any Related Person or any Affiliate of any Related Person of assets
        of the corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate Fair Market
        Value of $10,000,000 or more;

             (c)  the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
        dissolution of the corporation proposed by or on behalf of a Related
        Person or any Affiliate of the Related Person;

             (d)  the issuance of or transfer by the corporation or any
        Subsidiary (in one transaction or in a series of related transactions)
        of any securities of the corporation or any Subsidiary to a Related
        Person, or any Affiliate of a Related Person, in exchange for cash,
        securities or other property (or a combination thereof) having a Fair
        Market Value of $10,000,000 or more, other than the issuance of
        securities upon the conversion of convertible securities of the
        corporation or any Subsidiary which were not acquired by such Related
        Person (or such Affiliate) from the corporation or a Subsidiary;

                                       87
<PAGE>
 
         (e)  any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock
      split), or recapitalization or reorganization of the corporation, or any
      merger or consolidation of the corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or
      any self tender offer for or repurchase of securities of the corporation
      or any Subsidiary by the corporation or any Subsidiary or any other
      transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving a Related
      Person) which in any such case has the effect, directly or indirectly, of
      increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class
      or series of stock or securities convertible into stock of the corporation
      or any Subsidiary which is directly or indirectly beneficially owned by
      any Related Person or any Affiliate of any Related Person;

      (2)  A person shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, group (as such
   term is used in Rule 13d of the General Rules and Regulations under the
   Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on December 31, 1984) or other
   entity.

      (3)  "Related Person" shall mean any person (other than the corporation or
   any Subsidiary or any employee benefit plan of the corporation or any
   Subsidiary) who or which:

           (a)  is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than
      ten percent of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of
      Voting Stock; or

           (b)  is an Affiliate of the corporation and at anytime within the 
      two-year period immediately prior to the date in question was the
      beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of ten percent or more of the
      combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock; or

           (c)  is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded to the beneficial
      ownership of any shares of Voting Stock that were at any time within the
      two-year period immediately prior to the date in question beneficially
      owned by a Related Person, if such assignment or succession shall have
      occurred in the course of a transaction or series of transactions not
      involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of
      1933.

      (4)  A person shall be a "beneficial owner" of any Voting Stock:

           (a)  which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates
      beneficially owns, directly or indirectly; or

           (b)  which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has (a)
      the right to acquire (whether or not such right is exercisable
      immediately), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or

                                       88
<PAGE>
 
      understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
      warrants or options, or otherwise, or (b) the right to vote or direct the
      vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; or

         (c)  which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other
      person with which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has
      any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring,
      holding, voting or disposing of any shares of Voting Stock.

      (5)  For the purposes of determining whether a person is a Related Person
   pursuant to Paragraph (B)(3) of this Article THIRTEENTH, the number of shares
   of Voting Stock deemed to be outstanding shall include shares deemed owned by
   such Related Person through application of Paragraph (B)(4) of this Article
   but shall not include any other shares of Voting Stock that may be issuable
   pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of
   conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

      (6)  "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
   ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations
   under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on December 31, 1984.

      (7)  "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation more than 50% of whose
   outstanding stock having ordinary voting power in the election of directors
   is owned, directly or indirectly, by this corporation or by a Subsidiary or
   by this corporation and one or more Subsidiaries; provided, however, that for
   the proposes of the definition of Related Person set forth in Paragraph
   (B)(3) of this Article THIRTEENTH, the term "Subsidiary" shall mean only a
   corporation of which a majority of each class of equity security is owned,
   directly or indirectly, by this corporation.

      (8)  "Continuing Director" shall mean any member of the Board of Directors
   of this corporation who is unaffiliated with, and not a nominee of, the
   Related Person and was a member of the Board prior to the time that the
   Related Person became a Related Person, and any successor of a Continuing
   Director who is unaffiliated with, and not a nominee of, the Related Person
   and who is recommended to succeed a Continuing Director by a majority of
   Continuing Directors then on the Board of Directors.

      (9)  "Fair Market Value" shall mean: (1) in the case of stock, the highest
   closing sale price during the 30-day period preceding the date in question of
   a share of such stock on the Composite Tape of New York Stock Exchange-Listed
   stocks, or, if such stock is not quoted on the New York Stock Exchange-
   Composite Tape, on the principal United States

                                       89
<PAGE>
 
   securities exchange registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on
   which such stock is listed, or, if such stock is not listed on any such
   exchange, the highest closing sales price or bid quotation with respect to a
   share of such stock during the 30-day period preceding the date in question
   on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation
   System or any system then in use, or if no such quotations are available, the
   fair market value on the date in question of a share of such stock as
   determined by a majority of the Continuing Directors in good faith; and (2)
   in the case of stock of any class or series which is not traded on any United
   States registered securities exchange nor in the over-the-counter market or
   in the case of property other than cash or stock, the fair market value of
   such property on the date in question as determined by a majority of the
   Continuing Directors in good faith.

      (10) In the event of any Business Transaction in which the corporation
   survives, the phrase "any consideration other than cash to be received" as
   used in Paragraph (A)(2)(b) and (A)(2)(c) of this Article THIRTEENTH shall
   include the shares of common stock and/or the share of any other class of
   outstanding Voting Stock retained by the holders of such shares.

      (11) "Announcement Date" shall mean the date of first public announcement
   of the proposed Business Transaction.

      (12) "Determination Date" shall mean the date on which the Related Person
   became a Related Person.

      (13) "Consummation Date" shall mean the date of the consummation of the
   Business Transaction.

      (14) The terms "Voting Stock" shall mean all outstanding shares of capital
   stock of all classes and series of the corporation entitled to vote generally
   in the election of directors of the corporation, in each case voting together
   as a single class.

   (C)  If the Continuing Directors constitute at least a majority of the
Board of Directors of the corporation, a majority of such Continuing
Directors shall have the power and duty to determine, on the basis of
information known to them after reasonable inquiry, all facts necessary to
determine compliance with this Article THIRTEENTH, including, without
limitation:

        (1)  whether a person is a Related Person;

        (2)  the number of shares of Voting Stock beneficially owned by any
   person;

                                       90
<PAGE>
 
      (3)  whether a person is an Affiliate or Associate of another person;

      (4)  whether the requirements of (A) of this Article THIRTEENTH have been
   met with respect to any Business Transaction; and

      (5)  whether the assets which are the subject of any Business Transaction
   have, or the consideration to be received for the issuance or transfer of
   securities by the corporation or any Subsidiary in any Business Transaction
   has, an aggregate Fair Market Value of $10,000,000 or more. The good faith
   determination of a majority of the Continuing Directors on such matters shall
   be conclusive and binding for all purposes of this Article THIRTEENTH.

   (D)  Nothing contained in this Article THIRTEENTH shall be construed to
relieve any Related Person from any fiduciary obligation imposed by law.

   (E)  Notwithstanding anything contained in this certificate of incorporation
to the contrary, the affirmative vote of (1) the holders of at least 51% of the
Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, and (2) the holders of a least
51% of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, other than shares of
Voting Stock beneficially owned by a Related Person, shall be required to alter,
amend or repeal this Article THIRTEENTH or to adopt any provision inconsistent
therewith.

   FOURTEENTH: Any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of
the common stock of the corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or
special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in
writing by such holders. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the
rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, special meetings of
stockholders of the corporation may be called only by the Chief Executive
Officer of the corporation or by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution
approved by the Board of Directors.

   FIFTEENTH:  Notwithstanding anything contained in this certificate of
incorporation to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
75 percent in voting power of all the shares of the corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall
be required to alter, amend or repeal Article FIFTH, Article SIXTH, Article
FOURTEENTH or this Article FIFTEENTH or to adopt any provision inconsistent
therewith.

                                       91
<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.6
                                                         TO THE MERGER AGREEMENT

                                    FORM OF

                             AMENDED AND RESTATED

                                    BY-LAWS

                                      OF

                            KERR-McGEE CORPORATION



                                   ARTICLE I
                                    OFFICES

      Section 1.  The principal place of business of Kerr-McGee Corporation
("Corporation") shall be in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

      Section 2.  The Corporation may also have offices at such other places as
the Board of Directors may from time to time appoint or the business of the
Corporation may require.


                                  ARTICLE II
                                     SEAL

      Section 1.  The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of
the Corporation, the year of its organization, and the words "Corporate Seal,
Delaware". The Corporate Seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof
to be impressed, affixed or reproduced.

      Section 2.  The corporate seal shall be retained under the custody and
control of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary except as and to the extent the
use of same by others may be expressly authorized by the Board of Directors.


                                  ARTICLE III
                            STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS

      Section 1.  All meetings of the stockholders for any purpose may be held
at such place as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting.

      Section 2.  An annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held within one
hundred fifty (150) days after the end of each fiscal year as the Board of
Directors may set for a particular year's annual meeting, at which meeting they
shall elect by a plurality vote by ballot a board of directors and transact such
other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

                                       92
<PAGE>
 
      Section 3.  The holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding
and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall
be requisite and shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders
for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by law, by the
Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws. If, however, such majority
shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the
stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or by proxy, shall have
the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than
announcement at the meeting, until the requisite amount of voting stock shall be
present. At such adjourned meeting at which the requisite amount of voting stock
shall be represented, any business may be transacted which might have been
transacted at the meeting as originally notified.

      Section 4.  At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder having
the right to vote shall be entitled to vote in person or by proxy appointed
either by an instrument in writing, subscribed by such stockholder or by other
means permitted by applicable law.

      Section 5.  Except as may otherwise be provided by law or in the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, or any amendment thereto, each
stockholder shall have one vote for each share of the stock having voting power,
registered in his name on the books of the Corporation, and except where the
transfer books of the Corporation shall have been closed or a date shall have
been fixed as a record date for the determination of its stockholders entitled
to vote, no share of stock shall be voted on at any election for directors which
shall have been transferred on the books of the Corporation within twenty days
preceding such election of directors, or on any other matter respecting which
stockholders are entitled to vote if such stock has been so transferred within
twenty days prior to action on such matter.

      Section 6.  Except as otherwise provided by law, written notice of the
annual meeting of stockholders shall be given at least ten days prior to the
meeting, and in accordance with Article XXI hereof, to each stockholder so
entitled to vote thereat.

      Section 7.  A complete list of the stockholders so entitled to vote at the
ensuing election of directors arranged in alphabetical order, with the address
of each, and the number of voting shares registered in the name of each, shall
be filed in the office where the election is to be held, at least ten days
before every election, and shall at all times during the ordinary business hours
and during the whole time of said election be open to the examination of any
stockholder.

      Section 8.  Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or
purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute, shall be called only by the
Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or by the Secretary at the

                                       93
<PAGE>
 
direction of the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by the
Board of Directors.

      Section 9.  Business transacted at all special meetings shall be confined
to the objects stated in the notice of the meeting.

      Section 10. Written notice of a special meeting of stockholders, stating
the time and place and object thereof, shall be given at least ten days before
such meeting, and in accordance with Article XXI hereof, to each stockholder
entitled to vote thereat.

      Section 11.

      (A)  Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

      (1)  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the
Corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders
may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (a) pursuant to the
Corporation's notice of meeting delivered pursuant to Article III, Section 6 of
these By-Laws, (b) by or at the direction of the Chief Executive Officer or the
Board of Directors or (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled
to vote at the meeting, who complied with the notice procedures set forth in
subparagraphs (2) and (3) of this paragraph (A) of this By-Law and who was a
stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of
the Corporation.

      (2)  For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an
annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph (A)(1) of
this By-Law, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to
the Secretary of the Corporation, and, in the case of business other than
nominations, such other business must be a proper matter for stockholder action.
To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the
principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than seventy days nor
more than ninety days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's
annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual
meeting is advanced by more than twenty days, or delayed by more than seventy
days, from such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be
so delivered not earlier than the ninetieth day prior to such annual meeting and
not later than the close of business on the later of the seventieth day prior to
such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public
announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Such stockholder's
notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to
nominate for election or re-election as a director all information relating to
such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for
election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to
Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), including such person's written consent to being named in the
proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (b) as to
any other

                                       94
<PAGE>
 
business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief
description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the
reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in
such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose
behalf the proposal is made; and (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and
the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made
(i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the
Corporation's books, and of such beneficial owner and (ii) the class and number
of shares of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such
stockholder and such beneficial owner.

      (3)  Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (A)(2)
of this By-Law to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be
elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is
no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the
size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least eighty
days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting, a
stockholder's notice required by this By-Law shall also be considered timely,
but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such
increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive
offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day
following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the
Corporation.

      (B)  Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be
conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before
the meeting pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting pursuant to Article
III, Section 10 of these By-Laws. Nominations of persons for election to the
Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which
directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting (a)
by or at the direction of the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors
or (b) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the
meeting, who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this By-Law and
who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the
Secretary of the Corporation. Nominations of stockholders of persons for
election to the Board of Directors may be made at such a special meeting of
stockholders if the stockholder's notice as required by paragraph (A)(2) of this
By-Law shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of
the Corporation not earlier than the ninetieth day prior to such special meeting
and not later than the close of business on the later of the seventieth day
prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public
announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the
nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.

      (C)  General.

      (1)  Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set
the forth in this By-Law shall be eligible to serve as

                                       95
<PAGE>
 
directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders
as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures
set forth in this By-Law. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate
of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the
power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be
brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the procedures set forth
in this By-Law and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance
with this By-Law, to declare that such defective nomination shall be disregard
or that such proposed business shall not be transacted.

      (2)  For purposes of this By-Law, "public announcement" shall mean
disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated
Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the
Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13,
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

      (3)  For purposes of this By-Law, no adjournment nor notice of adjournment
of any meeting shall be deemed to constitute a new notice of such meeting for
purposes of this Section 11, and in order for any notification required to be
delivered by a stockholder pursuant to this Section 11 to be timely, such
notification must be delivered within the periods set forth above with respect
to the originally scheduled meeting.

      (4)  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this By-Law, a
stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set
forth in this By-Law. Nothing in this By-Law shall be deemed to affect any
rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation's
proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.


                                  ARTICLE IV
                                   DIRECTORS

      Section 1.  The property and business of the Corporation shall be managed
by its Board of Directors, the members of which need not be stockholders.

      Section 2.  The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall consist of
such number of directors, not less than three, as shall from time to time be
fixed exclusively by resolution of the Board of Directors. The directors shall
be divided into three classes in the manner set forth in the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Corporation, each class to be elected for the term set
forth therein. Directors shall (except as hereinafter provided for the filling
of vacancies and newly created directorships) be elected by the holders of a
plurality of the voting power present in person or represented by proxy and
entitled to vote.

                                       96
<PAGE>
 
      Section 3.  Each director shall be elected to serve until his successor
shall be elected and shall qualify by evidence of acceptance of such office and
such acceptance shall be presumed in the absence of express rejection thereof by
the person elected within ten days after his knowledge of election. A person who
has passed his 64th birthday and who has not theretofore served as a director of
the Corporation shall not be eligible to be elected a director, whether pursuant
to this Section 3 or to Section 6, of this Article. A person who has passed his
70th birthday, or who has retired as an employee, shall not in any event be
eligible for reelection to the Board or be qualified for continued service as a
director of the Corporation, irrespective of prior service as a director of the
Corporation. For purposes of this Section, any service as a director of {O
Company} prior to the merger of {O Company} shall be deemed to be prior service
as a director of the Corporation. Any failure of any director to meet the
qualifications for service as a director set forth in these By-Laws, or
otherwise under law, shall result in the termination of the term of such
director.

      Section 4.  The directors may hold their meetings, have one or more
offices and keep the books of the Corporation in the City of Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma, or at such other places as they may from time to time determine and
designate.

      Section 5.  The members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof
may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee, as the case may be, by
means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of
which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and
participation in a meeting pursuant to this subsection shall constitute presence
in person at such a meeting.

      Section 6.  Vacancies in the Board of Directors, however occasioned, and
newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number
of directors, may be filled only by a majority of the remaining directors then
in office though less than a quorum and the accepting directors so chosen shall
hold office for a term as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation and until a successor or successors have been duly elected and
qualified unless sooner displaced.

      Section 7.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one
or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the
right, voting separately by series, to elect directors at an annual or special
meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, removal, filling of
vacancies and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the
terms of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation applicable
thereto, and such directors so elected shall not be divided into classes
pursuant to Article SEVENTH of the Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation unless expressly provided by such terms. The number of directors
that may be elected by the holders of any such series of Preferred Stock shall
be in addition to the number fixed by or pursuant to

                                       97
<PAGE>
 
the By-Laws. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the terms of such series,
the number of directors that may be so elected by the holders of any such series
of stock shall be elected for terms expiring at the next annual meeting of
stockholders and without regard to the classification of the members of the
Board of Directors as set forth in Section 2 hereof, and vacancies among
directors so elected by the separate vote of the holders of any such series of
Preferred Stock shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
remaining directors elected by such series, or, if there are no such remaining
directors, by the holders of such series in the same manner in which such series
initially elected a director.

      Section 8.  Subject to provisions of pertinent law and the Certificate of
Incorporation, dividends, if any, declared respecting any class of shares of the
Corporation's capital stock may be declared by the Board of Directors at any
regular meeting thereof and despite any provision of the By-Laws to the contrary
at any special meeting thereof, whether or not consideration or action
respecting dividends be stated in the notice thereof; and dividends may be paid
in cash or, if the declaration thereof so provides, in property, including
shares of the Corporation. There may be set aside out of any funds of the
Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors
from time to time, in its absolute discretion, deems proper as a reserve fund to
meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repair or maintaining
any property of the Corporation, or for such other purpose as the Board of
Directors shall deem conducive to the interest of the Corporation, and the Board
of Directors may abolish any reserve in the manner in which it was created.

      Section 9.  The Board of Directors shall have power to close the stock
transfer books of the Corporation for a period not exceeding sixty days
preceding the date of any meeting of stockholders or the date for payment of any
dividend or the date for the allotment of rights or the date when any change or
conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect or for any other
purpose; provided, however, that in lieu of closing the stock transfer books, as
aforesaid, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a date not exceeding sixty
days preceding the date of any meeting of stockholders or the date for the
payment of any dividend, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date
when any change or conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect,
or a date for such other purpose, as a record date for the determination of the
stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting or entitled
to receive payment of any such dividend, or to any such allotment of rights, or
to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of
capital stock, or for such other purpose, and in such case only such
stockholders as shall be stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be
entitled to such notice of, and to vote at, such meeting and any adjournment,
thereof, or to receive such allotment of rights, or to exercise such rights or
to be considered as stockholders for such other purpose, as the case may be,
notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of the Corporation after
any such record date fixed as aforesaid.

                                       98
<PAGE>
 
      Section 10.  In addition to the powers and authorities by these By-Laws
expressly conferred upon it, the Board of Directors may exercise all such powers
of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute
or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws directed or required
to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

      Section 11.  Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting
of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if prior to such action
a written consent thereto is signed by all members of the Board and such written
consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board.


                                   ARTICLE V
                                  COMMITTEES

      Section 1.  The Board of Directors may appoint an Executive Committee of
two or more directors, which shall consist of the Chief Executive Officer and
such other director or directors as shall be designated by resolution adopted by
the Board of Directors. Such Committee shall have and may exercise all the
powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business
and affairs of the Corporation while the Board of Directors is not in session
except that it shall not have power or authority in reference to (1) amending
the Certificate of Incorporation, (2) adopting an agreement of merger or
consolidation under Section 251 or 252 of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
(3) recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or
substantially all of the Corporation's property and assets, (4) recommending to
the stockholders dissolution of the Corporation or revocation of a dissolution,
or (5) amending the By-Laws; nor shall it have any power or authority which the
Board of Directors has by resolution withheld from it. Vacancies in the
membership of the Committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors at a
regular meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose.

      Section 2.  The Committees of the Board shall be governed by Subsection
(2) of Section 141(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law which provides for
the designation of committees of the Corporation's Board of Directors and the
permissible functions of such committees.

      Section 3.  The Board of Directors by resolution or resolutions adopted by
a majority of the Board of Directors may designate other committees, each
committee to consist of two or more directors of the Corporation and to exercise
such powers and duties and to have such name as may be designated by resolution
adopted by the Board of Directors.

      Section 4.  Each committee of the Board of Directors may meet at such
stated times and/or upon call with such notice as said committee may by
resolution provide from time to time. At all meetings of each committee, a
majority of members thereof shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a

                                       99
<PAGE>
 
quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the members
present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the
committee.

      Section 5.  Committees of the Board of Directors shall keep regular
minutes of their proceedings. Any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of the Committee may be taken without a meeting if prior to such
action a written consent thereto is signed by all members of the Committee and
such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Committee.


                                  ARTICLE VI
                           COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

      Section 1.  Directors may, pursuant to resolution of the Board of
Directors, be paid a stated sum with respect to each regular and special meeting
of the Board of Directors and be allowed their expenses of attendance, if any,
for attending each meeting of the Board of Directors. Directors who are not 
full-time employees of the Corporation may be paid such additional compensation
for their services as directors as may from time to time be fixed by resolution
of the Board of Directors. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to
preclude any Director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and
receiving compensation therefor.


      Section 2.  Members of the Executive Committee and members of other
committees of the Board of Directors who are not full-time employees of the
Corporation may, pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors, be paid a
stated sum for attending meetings of such committees. All members of committees
of the Board of Directors may, pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors,
be allowed their expenses of attendance, if any, for attending meetings of such
committees.


                                  ARTICLE VII
                      MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

      Section 1.  Annual meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at
such place within or without the State of Delaware as soon as practicable
following the election of new directors at the annual meeting of the
stockholders.

      Section 2.  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such
time and place, within or without the State of Delaware as shall from time to
time be determined by the Board of Directors. After there has been such
determination and notice thereof has been once given to each member of the Board
of Directors, regular meetings may be held without any further notice being
given.

                                      100
<PAGE>
 
      Section 3.  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by
the Chief Executive Officer on twenty-four hour's notice to each director,
either personally or by mail or by telegram; special meetings shall be called by
the Chief Executive Officer or Secretary in like manner and on like notice on
the written request of a majority of the directors.

      Section 4.  At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the
directors shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the directors present at
any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of
Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute or by the
Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws. If a quorum shall not be
present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat
may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than
announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.


                                 ARTICLE VII-A
                          WAR AND NATIONAL EMERGENCY

      Section 5.  The emergency bylaws provided in this Article VII-A shall be
operative during any emergency resulting from an attack on the United States, or
during any nuclear or atomic disaster, or during the existence of any
catastrophe, or other similar emergency condition, as a result of which a quorum
of the Board of Directors cannot readily be convened for action. To the extent
not inconsistent with these emergency bylaws, the By-Laws of the Corporation
shall remain in effect during any emergency and upon its termination these
emergency bylaws shall cease to be operative.

      Section 6.  During any such emergency a meeting of the Board of Directors
may be called by any officer or director by giving two days' notice thereof to
such of the directors as it may be feasible to reach at the time and by such
means as may be feasible at the time. The notice shall specify the time and the
place of the meeting, which shall be the head office of the Corporation or any
other place specified in the notice. At any such meeting three members of the
then existing Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum, which may act by
majority vote.

      Section 7.  If the number of directors who are available to act shall drop
below three, additional directors, in whatever number is necessary to constitute
a Board of three Directors, shall be selected automatically from the first
available officers or employees in the order provided in the emergency
succession list established by the Board of Directors and in effect at the time
an emergency arises. Additional directors, beyond the minimum number of three
directors, but not more than three additional directors, may be elected from any
officers or employees on the emergency succession list.

                                      101
<PAGE>
 
      Section 8.  The Board of Directors is empowered with the maximum authority
possible under the Delaware Corporation Law, and all other applicable law, to
conduct the interim management of the affairs of the Corporation in an emergency
in what it considers to be in the best interests of the Corporation (including
the right to amend this Article) irrespective of the provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation or of the By-Laws.


                                 ARTICLE VIII
                                   OFFICERS

      Section 1.  The officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board
of Directors, shall include a Chief Executive Officer and a President, and may
include a Chairman of the Board (who shall be selected from the directors then
serving), one or more Vice Chairmen of the Board (who shall be selected from the
directors then serving), one or more Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice
Presidents, and Vice Presidents, respectively, a General Counsel, a Secretary,
one or more Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer, one or more Assistant
Treasurers, and a Controller. Any number of offices may be held by the same
person, but if an instrument is required by law to be executed, acknowledged or
verified by two or more officers, no officer shall execute, acknowledge or
verify such instrument in more than one capacity for such purpose.

      Section 2.  Without limiting the right of the Board of Directors to choose
officers of the Corporation at any time when vacancies occur or when the number
of officers is increased, the Board of Directors at the first meeting after each
annual meeting of stockholders shall choose a Chief Executive Officer, a
President and such other officers as shall be designated at such time,
including, if so designated, a Chairman of the Board, one or more Vice Chairmen
of the Board, Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice
Presidents, respectively, a General Counsel, a Secretary, one or more Assistant
Secretaries, a Treasurer, one or more Assistant Treasurers, and a Controller.
None of said officers, except the Chairman of the Board, and Vice Chairmen of
the Board, need be members of the Board.

      Section 3.  The Board of Directors may choose such other officers and
agents as it shall deem necessary or advisable, who shall hold their offices for
such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be
determined from time to time by the Board of Directors, or, in the absence of
exact specification or limitation thereof by the Board of Directors, as the
Chief Executive Officer may determine from time to time. Subject to the below
provisions, each of the officers of the Corporation elected by the Board of
Directors or appointed by an officer in accordance with these By-Laws shall have
the powers and duties prescribed by law, by the By-Laws or by the Board of
Directors and, in the case of appointed officers, the powers and duties
prescribed by the appointing officer, and, unless otherwise prescribed by the 
By-Laws or by the Board of Directors or such

                                      102
<PAGE>
 
appointing officer, shall have such further powers and duties as ordinarily
pertain to that office.

      Section 4.  The salaries of all officers of the Corporation and of its
wholly owned subsidiaries, other than his own salary, shall be determined by the
Chief Executive Officer but shall be reviewed from time to time by an Executive
Compensation Committee appointed by the Board of Directors from among its
members. The Executive Compensation Committee shall recommend to the Board of
Directors such changes in the officers' salaries as fixed by the Chief Executive
Officer as it may deem appropriate and the Board of Directors shall instruct the
Chief Executive Officer to implement those of the recommended changes which it
approves. The salary of the Chief Executive Officer shall be determined by the
Board of Directors.

      Section 5.  The officers of the Corporation shall hold office until their
successors are chosen and qualify in their stead. Any officer elected or
appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time with or without
cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors.


                                  ARTICLE IX
                             CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

      Section 1.  The Chairman of the Board shall do and perform such duties as
may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors or the Chief
Executive Officer.


                                   ARTICLE X
                            CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

      Section 1.  The Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of
the stockholders and of the Board of Directors, and shall be a member, ex
officio, of all committees, except the Audit, Finance, Stock Option and
Executive Compensation committees. The Chief Executive Officer shall have
general and active management of the business of the Corporation, and shall see
that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors and of the committees
thereof are carried into effect.

      Section 2.  The Chief Executive Officer shall have authority, which he may
delegate, to execute certificates of stock, bonds, deeds, powers of attorney,
mortgages and other contracts, under the seal of the Corporation, unless
required by law to be otherwise signed and executed and unless the signing and
execution thereof shall be expressly and exclusively delegated by the Board of
Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation.

                                      103
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE XI
                          VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

          Section 1.  In the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, the Vice
Chairman (or, if there exists more than one Vice Chairman, the Vice Chairman
designated by the Board of Directors) shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer
of the Corporation. The Vice Chairmen of the Board shall advise and counsel with
the Chief Executive Officer and with other officers of the Corporation, and each
shall do and perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to
him by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

          Section 2.  Any Vice Chairman of the Board, to the extent delegated by
the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors, may execute certificates
of stock, bonds, deeds, powers of attorney, mortgages and other contracts under
the seal of the Corporation, unless required by law to be otherwise signed and
executed and unless the signing and execution thereof be expressly delegated by
the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation.

                                  ARTICLE XII
                                   PRESIDENT

          Section 1.  The President shall be the chief operating officer of the
Corporation.

          Section 2.  The President shall have the authority, which he may
delegate, to execute certificates of stock, bonds, deeds, powers of attorney,
mortgages and other contracts, under the seal of the Corporation, unless
required by law to be otherwise signed and executed and unless the signing
and execution thereof shall be expressly and exclusively delegated by the
Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer to some other officer or
agent of the Corporation.


                                 ARTICLE XIII
                                VICE PRESIDENTS

          Section 1.  There may be one or more Executive Vice Presidents, one
or more Senior Vice Presidents, and such other Vice Presidents, with or
without other such special designations, as may be elected by the Board of
Directors from time to time.

          Section 2.  The Executive Vice Presidents and each of the Vice
Presidents shall have the authority to sign certificates of stock, bonds,
deeds, mortgages and other contracts, unless required by law to be otherwise
signed and executed and unless the signing and execution thereof shall be
expressly and exclusively delegated by the Board of Directors or the Chief

                                      104
<PAGE>
 
Executive Officer to some other officer or agent of the Corporation, and
perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Board of Directors or the
Chief Executive Officer shall prescribe.


                                  ARTICLE XIV
                                   SECRETARY

          Section 1.  The Secretary shall attend all sessions of the Board of
Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all votes and the
minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose; and shall
perform like duties for all committees of the Board of Directors when required.
He shall give, or cause to be given, all required notices of all meetings of the
stockholders and of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties
as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer,
under whose supervision he shall be. He shall be responsible for keeping in safe
custody the seal of the Corporation, and when such is proper, he shall affix the
same to any instrument requiring it, and when so affixed, it shall be attested
by his signature or by the signature of an Assistant Secretary.

          Section 2.  The Assistant Secretaries in the absence or disability
of the Secretary shall perform and exercise the powers of the Secretary and
shall perform such further duties as may be prescribed by the Secretary, the
Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.


                                   ARTICLE XV
                                   TREASURER

          Section 1.  The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate
funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and
disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all monies
and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation, in
such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors or the Chief
Executive Officer.

          Section 2.  The Treasurer shall: (a) endorse or cause to be endorsed
in the name of the Corporation for collection the bills, notes, checks or other
negotiable instruments received by the Corporation, (b) sign or cause to be
signed all bills, notes, checks or other negotiable instruments issued by the
Corporation and (c) pay out or cause to be paid out money, as the Corporation
may require, taking proper vouchers therefor; provided, however, that the Board
of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer may by resolution delegate, with or
without power to re-delegate, any and all of the foregoing duties of the
Treasurer to other officers, employees or agents of the Corporation, and to
provide that other officers, employees and agents shall have power to sign
bills, notes, checks, vouchers, orders, or other instruments on behalf of the
Corporation. The Treasurer shall

                                      105
<PAGE>
 
render to the Chief Executive Officer and to the Board of Directors, whenever
they may require it, an account of his transactions as Treasurer.

          Section 3.  The Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond if
required by the Board of Directors in a sum, and with one or more sureties
satisfactory to the Board, for the faithful performance of the duties of his
office and for the restoration of the Corporation, in case of his death,
resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers,
money and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control
belonging to the Corporation.

          Section 4.  The Assistant Treasurers in the absence or disability of
the Treasurer shall perform and exercise the powers of the Treasurer and shall
perform such further duties as may be prescribed by the Treasurer, the Board of
Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.


                                  ARTICLE XVI
                                  CONTROLLER

          Section 1.  The Controller shall have charge of the Corporation's
books of account, records and auditing, and shall be subject in all matters to
the control of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer.


                                 ARTICLE XVII
                VACANCIES AND DELEGATION OF DUTIES OF OFFICERS

          Section 1.  If the office of any officer or agent, one or more,
becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification,
removal from office, or otherwise, the Board of Directors may choose a successor
or successors, who shall, unless the Board of Directors otherwise specifies,
hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred, or
until his successor shall be elected.

          Section 2.  In case of the absence of any officer of the Corporation,
or for any other reason that the Board of Directors may deem sufficient, the
Board of Directors may delegate, for the time being, the powers or duties, or
any of them, of such officer to any other officers and/or directors; provided a
majority of the entire Board of Directors concurs therein.


                                 ARTICLE XVIII
                            STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS

          Section 1.  The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be
represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by
resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series

                                      106
<PAGE>
 
of the Corporation's stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution
shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is
surrendered to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a
resolution by the Board of Directors, every holder of stock represented by
certificates and upon request every holder of uncertificated shares shall be
entitled to have a certificate as provided in Article XVIII, Section 2 of these
By-Laws, or as otherwise permitted by law, representing the number of shares
registered in certificate form.

          Section 2.  The certificates of stock of the Corporation shall be
numbered and shall be entered in the books of the Corporation as they are
issued. They shall exhibit the holder's name and number of shares and shall be
signed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman of
the Board, President or a Vice President, and the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary. Any and all signatures on a stock certificate may be a facsimile.

          Section 3.  Upon surrender to the Corporation of a certificate for
shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment
or authority to transfer, the Corporation will issue a new certificate to the
person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction
upon its books. Transfers of uncertificated shares will be made on the records
of the Corporation as may be provided by law.

          Section 4.  The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of
record of any share or shares of stock as the holder in fact thereof and
accordingly shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or
interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person whether or not
it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as expressly provided by
the laws of Delaware.

          Section 5.  A new certificate of stock of the Corporation may be
issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation and
alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

          The Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe the terms and
conditions under which such new certificates may be issued. Among other things,
the Board of Directors may require that the owner of the allegedly lost, stolen
or destroyed certificate, or his legal representatives, submit proper evidence
in writing and under oath that the alleged loss, theft, or destruction actually
occurred, and may require that such owner or representatives give the
Corporation a bond, satisfactory to the Corporation as to form and security,
sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made
against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such
certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate. A new certificate may
be issued without requiring any bond when, in the judgment of the Board of
Directors or of any officer of the Corporation to whom the Board of Directors
may delegate appropriate authority, it is proper to waive the bond requirement.

                                      107
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE XIX
                  INSPECTION OF BOOKS, CHECKS AND FISCAL YEAR

          Section 1.  The Board of Directors shall determine from time to time
whether, and, if allowed, when and under what conditions and regulations the
accounts and books of the Corporation (except such as may by statute be
specifically open to inspection), or any of them, shall be open to the
inspection of the stockholders, and the stockholders' rights in this respect are
and shall be restricted and limited accordingly.

          Section 2.  Checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation
may be signed by such officer or officers or such person or persons other than
those herein authorized and in such manner as the Board of Directors or the
Chief Executive Officer may from time to time provide.

          Section 3.  The fiscal year shall begin the first day in January of
each year and end the following December 31.


                                  ARTICLE XX
                          DIRECTORS' ANNUAL STATEMENT

          Section 1.  The Board of Directors shall present at each annual
meeting a full and clear statement of the business and condition of the
Corporation.


                                  ARTICLE XXI
                                    NOTICES

          Section 1.  Whenever under the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation or of these By-Laws notice (which as herein used shall include
also annual reports, proxy statements and solicitations and other communications
to holders of the Corporation's securities) is required to be, or may be, given
to any director, officer, stockholder or other person, it may, unless legally
controlling provisions prohibit the same, be given in writing, by mail, by
depositing the same in any U.S. post office or letter-box, in a postpaid sealed
wrapper addressed to such person to whom the notice may be, or is required to be
given, at such address as appears on the books of the Corporation, and all
notices given in accordance with the provisions of this Article shall be deemed
to be given at the time when the same shall be thus mailed.

          Section 2.  Should a person who is a stockholder own shares evidenced
by more than one stock certificate, nevertheless only one notice (when any is
required to be, or may be, given to holders of shares of any or all classes)
shall be, in the sole discretion of the Corporation, required to

                                      108
<PAGE>
 
be mailed and if different addresses as to such person are recorded on the
Corporation's stock ledger the notice may be mailed to the address that appears
to have been given latest in time unless the stockholders shall have expressly
directed otherwise in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, nor shall
variations in the designation of the name or identity of any one stockholder
require the mailing of more than one notice to any one stockholder, which may be
mailed to any one of the names or designations that may so appear in the
Corporation's stock ledger with respect to such stockholder; and, at the sole
discretion of the Corporation, the distribution of dividend payments may be,
unless a stockholder shall expressly request multiple distributions strictly in
accordance with the stock ledger record of his multiple ownerships, handled in
accordance with or so as not to be repugnant to the purpose of the above
provisions, which is to avoid the expenditure by the Corporation of effort, time
and expense in such matters that might have been avoided had the recording of a
stockholder's name and/or address incident to his multiple record ownership of
shares been effected accurately, uniformly and consistently.

          Section 3.  Any stockholder, director or officer may waive in writing
or otherwise any notice required to be given under the provisions of pertinent
statutes or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these By-Laws. A waiver of
notice in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice,
whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to
such notice.


                                 ARTICLE XXII
                                INDEMNIFICATION

          Section 1.  The Corporation shall, to the full extent permitted by the
Laws of the State of Delaware as then in effect or, if less stringent, in effect
on December 31, 1985 ("Delaware Law"), indemnify any person (the "Indemnitee")
made or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative and whether or not by or in the right of the Corporation, by
reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director, officer or employee
of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
director, officer, employee, trustee, partner, or other agent of any other
enterprise or legal person (any such action, suit or proceeding being herein
referred to as a "Legal Action") against all expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such Legal Action or its
investigation, defense or appeal (herein called "Indemnified Expenses"), if the
Indemnitee has met the standard of conduct necessary under Delaware Law to
permit such indemnification. Rights to indemnification shall extend to the
heirs, beneficiaries, administrators and executors of any deceased Indemnitee.

                                      109
<PAGE>
 
          For purposes of this Section, reference to "any other enterprise or
legal person" shall include employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall
include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee
benefit plan; and references to "serving at the request of the Corporation"
shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director,
officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its
participants, or beneficiaries.

          The Indemnified Expenses shall be paid by the Corporation in advance
as shall be appropriate to permit Indemnitee to defray such expenses currently
as incurred, provided the Indemnitee agrees in writing that in the event it
shall ultimately be determined as provided hereunder that Indemnitee was not
entitled to be indemnified, then Indemnitee shall promptly repay to the
Corporation such amounts so paid. The prepayment of expenses as provided for in
this Section 1 shall be authorized by the Board of Directors in the specific
case unless the Board of Directors receives within thirty (30) days of the
Indemnitee's request for indemnification an opinion of counsel selected in the
manner provided for in Section 2 of this Article XXII that there is no
reasonable basis for a belief that the Indemnitee's conduct met the requisite
standard of conduct. The fees of such counsel and all related expenses shall, in
all cases, be paid by the Corporation.

          Section 2.  The determination of whether Indemnitee has met the
standard of conduct required to permit indemnification under this By-Law shall
in the first instance be submitted to the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
If the Board by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not
parties to such Legal Action determines Indemnitee has met the required standard
of conduct such determination shall be conclusive; but if such affirmative
majority vote is not given, then the matter shall be referred to independent
legal counsel for determination. Such outside counsel shall be selected by
agreement of the Board of Directors and Indemnitee or, if they are unable to
agree, then by lot from among those New York City law firms which (i) have more
than 100 attorneys, (ii) have a substantial practice in the corporate and
securities areas of law, (iii) have not performed any services for the
Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates for at least five (5) years
and (iv) have a rating of "av" in the then current Martindale-Hubbell Law
Directory. The fees and expenses of counsel in connection with making this
determination shall be paid by the Corporation.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing, if dissatisfied with the determination
so made by counsel, Indemnitee may within two (2) years thereafter, petition any
court of competent jurisdiction to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification under the provisions hereof and such court shall thereupon have
the exclusive authority to make such determination. The Corporation shall pay
all expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with such judicial determination.

                                      110
<PAGE>
 
          The termination of any Legal Action by judgment, order, settlement,
conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of
itself, create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not meet the requisite
standard of conduct; however, a successful defense of a Legal Action by
Indemnitee on the merits or otherwise shall conclusively establish Indemnitee
did meet such standard of conduct notwithstanding any previous determination to
the contrary under thin Section 2.

          Section 3.  The indemnification and advance payment of expenses as
provided in this Article XXII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights
to which Indemnitee may be entitled under any provision of law, the Certificate
of Incorporation, any By-Law or otherwise.

          Section 4.  If any provision of this Article XXII shall be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article XXII
shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

          Section 5.  Any amendment, repeal or modification of these By-Laws,
the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation or any applicable provision of
Delaware Law, or any other instrument, which eliminates or diminishes the
indemnification rights provided for in this Article XXII shall be ineffective as
against an Indemnitee with respect to any Legal Action based upon actions taken
or not taken by the Indemnitee prior to such repeal or the adoption of such
modification or amendment. The provisions of this By-Law shall be applicable to
all Legal Actions made or commenced after the adoption hereof, whether arising
from acts or omissions to act occurring before or after its adoption. The
provisions of this By-Law shall be deemed to be a contract between the
Corporation and each director or officer who serves in such capacity at any time
while this By-Law and the relevant provisions of Delaware Law and other
applicable law, if any, are in effect. If any provision of this By-Law shall be
found to be invalid or limited in application by reason of any law or
regulation, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions hereof.
The rights of indemnification provided in this By-Law shall neither be exclusive
of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which an officer, director,
employee or agent may otherwise be entitled or permitted by contract, this By-
Law, vote of stockholders or directors or otherwise, or as a matter of law, both
as to actions in such person's official capacity and actions in any other
capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the Corporation that
indemnification of any person whom the Corporation is obligated to indemnify
pursuant to this By-Law shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law.


                                 ARTICLE XXIII
                                  AMENDMENTS

          Section 1.  These By-Laws may be altered or amended or repealed, in
whole or in part: By the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of

                                      111
<PAGE>
 
the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to a vote thereat, at any regular
or special meeting of the stockholders, or by the affirmative vote of a majority
of the Board of Directors in attendance at any regular or special meeting of the
Board of Directors; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other
provisions of these By-Laws or any provision of law which might otherwise permit
a lesser vote of the stockholders, the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least 75 percent in voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class,
shall be required in order for the stockholders to alter, amend or repeal
Section 8 and Section 11 of Article III, Sections 2 and 6 of Article IV or this
proviso to this Article XXIII of these By-Laws or to adopt any provision
inconsistent with any of such Sections or with this proviso.

                                      112
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 5.11
                                                         To the Merger Agreement

                        FORM OF ORYX AFFILIATE'S LETTER


                                                               ___________, 199_

Kerr-McGee Corporation
123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
October 14, 1998 (the "Merger Agreement"), between Kerr-McGee Corporation 
("Kerr-McGee") and Oryx Energy Company ("Oryx"), Oryx shall be merged with and
into Kerr-McGee (the "Merger"), and each share of common stock, par value $1.00
per share, of Oryx ("Oryx Common Stock") issued and outstanding after giving
effect to the Reverse Split and immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
converted into the right to receive one share of common stock, par value $1.00
per share, of Kerr-McGee ("Kerr-McGee Common Stock"). Capitalized terms used
herein and not defined have the meanings assigned to them in the Merger
Agreement.

          The undersigned has been advised that as of the date the Merger is
submitted to stockholders of Oryx for approval, the undersigned may be an
"affiliate" of Oryx, (i) as the term is defined for purposes of paragraph (c) of
Rule 145 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and (ii) for purposes
of qualifying the Merger for pooling of interests accounting treatment under
Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles Board and Accounting Series Releases 130
and 135, as amended, of the Commission, although nothing contained herein shall
be construed as an admission of either such fact, or as a waiver of any rights
that the undersigned may have to object to any claim that the undersigned is
such an affiliate on or after the date of this letter.

          The undersigned hereby represents, warrants and covenants with and to 
Kerr-McGee that if the undersigned receives any Kerr-McGee Common Stock as a
result of the Merger:

          (A)  The undersigned will not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of
     such Kerr-McGee Common Stock unless (i) such sale, transfer or other
     disposition has been registered under the Securities Act, (ii) such sale,
     transfer or other disposition is made in conformity with the provisions of
     Rule 145 under the Securities Act (as such rule may hereafter from time to
     time be amended), or (iii) in the opinion of counsel in form and substance
     reasonably satisfactory to Kerr-McGee, or under a "no-action" or
     interpretive letter obtained by the undersigned from the Commission, such
     sale, transfer or other disposition will not

                                      113
<PAGE>
 
     violate or is otherwise exempt from registration under the Securities
     Act.

          (B)  The undersigned understands that Kerr-McGee is under no
     obligation to register the sale, transfer or other disposition of shares of
     Kerr-McGee Common Stock by the undersigned or on the undersigned's behalf
     under the Securities Act.

          (C)  The undersigned further represents, warrants and covenants with
     and to Kerr-McGee that the undersigned will not sell, transfer or otherwise
     dispose of his or her interests in, or reduce his or her risk (as
     contemplated by Commission Accounting Series Release No. 135) relative to,
     any shares of Oryx Common Stock or Kerr-McGee Common Stock beneficially
     owned by the undersigned during the period commencing 30 days prior to the
     Effective Time and ending at such time as Kerr-McGee notifies the
     undersigned that results covering at least 30 days of combined operations
     of Kerr-McGee after the Merger have been published by Kerr-McGee, which
     Kerr-McGee agrees to publish in accordance with the terms of the Merger
     Agreement, in the form of a quarterly earnings report, an effective
     registration statement filed with the Commission, a report to the
     Commission on Form 10-K, 10-Q or 8-K, or any other public filing or
     announcement which includes the results of such combined operations.

          (D)  The undersigned understands and agrees that this letter
     agreement shall apply to all shares of the capital stock of Oryx and Kerr-
     McGee that are deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned pursuant
     to applicable federal securities laws.

          (E)  The undersigned has carefully read this letter and discussed
     its requirements and other applicable limitations upon the undersigned's
     ability to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the capital stock of Oryx
     or Kerr-McGee, to the extent the undersigned felt necessary, with the
     undersigned's counsel or counsel for Oryx.

                                      114
<PAGE>
 
      This letter agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be
performed therein.

      This letter agreement shall terminate if and when the Merger
Agreement is terminated according to its terms.



                         Very truly yours,


                         
                         ____________________________
                         Name:

                         [add below the signatures of all
                         registered owners of shares deemed
                         beneficially owned by the affiliate]

                         ____________________________
                         Name:

                         ____________________________
                         Name:

                         ____________________________
                         Name:



      Please indicate your agreement with the foregoing by signing the
acknowledgment below and returning this letter agreement to the undersigned,
whereupon this letter agreement shall become an effective agreement between 
Kerr-McGee and the undersigned.

Acknowledged this ___ day of
___________, 199_.


KERR-McGEE CORPORATION


By:_____________________
   Name:
   Title:

                                      115

<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT 2

                      KERR-McGEE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


          STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of October 14, 1998 (the
"Agreement"), by and between Kerr-McGee Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("Issuer"), and Oryx Energy Company, a Delaware corporation ("Grantee").

          WHEREAS, Grantee and Issuer are concurrently herewith entering into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (the "Merger
Agreement"; capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings set
forth in the Merger Agreement), providing for, among other things, the merger of
Grantee with and into Issuer with Issuer as the surviving corporation; and

          WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Grantee's willingness to
enter into the Merger Agreement, Grantee has requested that Issuer agree, and
Issuer has agreed, to grant Grantee the Option (as defined below); and

          WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Issuer's willingness to
enter into the Merger Agreement, Issuer has requested that Grantee agree, and
Grantee has agreed, to grant Issuer an option to purchase shares of Grantee's
common stock on substantially the same terms as the Option.

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein and in
the Merger Agreement, Issuer and Grantee agree as follows:

          1. Grant of Option. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an irrevocable option (the "Option") to
purchase up to 9,434,181 (as adjusted as set forth herein) shares (the "Option
Shares") of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Issuer (the "Issuer
Common Stock") at a purchase price of $46.94 per Option Share (the "Purchase
Price").

          2. Exercise of Option. (a) If not in material breach of the Merger
Agreement or the Oryx Stock Option Agreement, Grantee may exercise the Option,
in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time following the occurrence
of a Purchase Event (as defined below); provided that, except as otherwise
provided herein, the Option shall terminate and be of no further force and
effect upon the earliest to occur of (i) the Effective Time of the Merger, (ii)
12 months after the first occurrence of a Purchase Event or (iii) termination of
the Merger Agreement prior to the occurrence of a Purchase Event (unless such
termination itself constitutes a Purchase Event). Notwithstanding the
termination of the Option, Grantee shall be entitled to purchase those Option
Shares with respect to which it has exercised the Option pursuant to this
Section 2(a) in accordance with the terms hereof prior to the termination of the
Option. The termination of the Option shall not affect any rights hereunder
which by their terms extend beyond the date of such termination.

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
          (b) As used herein, a "Purchase Event" means the termination of the
Merger Agreement under any circumstance which would entitle Grantee to receive
any fee from the Issuer pursuant to Section 7.2(b) of the Merger Agreement.

          (c) In the event Grantee wishes to exercise the Option, it shall send
to Issuer a written notice (the date of which being herein referred to as the
"Notice Date") specifying (i) the total number of Option Shares it intends to
purchase pursuant to such exercise and (ii) a place and date not earlier than
three business days nor later than 20 business days from such Notice Date for
the closing of such purchase (a "Closing"; and the date of such Closing, a
"Closing Date"); provided that such Closing shall be held only if (A) such
purchase would not otherwise violate or cause the violation of applicable law
(including the HSR Act) and (B) no law, rule or regulation shall have been
adopted or promulgated, and no temporary restraining order, preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court or other
Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall be in effect, which
prohibits delivery of such Option Shares (and the parties hereto shall use their
reasonable best efforts to have any such order, injunction, decree or ruling
vacated or reversed). If such Closing cannot be consummated by reason of a
restriction set forth in clause (A) or (B) above, notwithstanding the provisions
of Section 2(a), such Closing Date shall be within 20 business days following
the elimination of such restriction.

          3.  Payment and Delivery of Certificates. (a) On each Closing Date,
Grantee shall pay to Issuer in immediately available funds by wire transfer to a
bank account designated by Issuer an amount equal to the Purchase Price
multiplied by the Option Shares to be purchased on such Closing Date.

          (b) At each Closing, simultaneously with the delivery of immediately
available funds as provided in Section 3(a), Issuer shall deliver to Grantee a
certificate or certificates representing the Option Shares to be purchased at
such Closing, which Option Shares shall be free and clear of all Liens, and
Grantee shall deliver to Issuer a letter agreeing that Grantee shall not offer
to sell or otherwise dispose of such Option Shares in violation of applicable
law or the provisions of this Agreement. If, at the time of issuance of any
Option Shares pursuant to an exercise of all or part of the Option hereunder,
Issuer shall not have redeemed the Kerr-McGee Rights (the "Rights"), or shall
have issued any similar securities, then each Option Share issued pursuant to
such exercise shall also represent a corresponding Right or new rights with
terms substantially the same as and at least as favorable to Grantee as are
provided under the Rights Agreement or any similar agreement then in effect.

          (c) Certificates for the Option Shares delivered at each Closing shall
be endorsed with a restrictive legend which shall read substantially as follows:

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     THE TRANSFER OF THE STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO
     RESTRICTIONS ARISING UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND
     PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF A STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF OCTOBER 14,
     1998. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE HOLDER HEREOF
     WITHOUT CHARGE UPON RECEIPT BY THE ISSUER OF A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR.

It is understood and agreed that (i) the reference to restrictions arising under
the Securities Act in the above legend shall be removed by delivery of
substitute certificate(s) without such reference if Grantee shall have delivered
to Issuer a copy of a letter from the staff of the SEC, or an opinion of counsel
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Issuer and its counsel, to the
effect that such legend is not required for purposes of the Securities Act and
(ii) the reference to restrictions pursuant to this Agreement in the above
legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such
reference if the Option Shares evidenced by certificate(s) containing such
reference have been sold or transferred in compliance with the provisions of
this Agreement under circumstances that do not require the retention of such
reference.

          4.  Authorized Stock. Issuer hereby represents and warrants to Grantee
that Issuer has taken all necessary corporate and other action to authorize and
reserve and to permit it to issue, and, at all times from the date hereof until
the obligation to deliver Issuer Common Stock upon the exercise of the Option or
any Substitute Option (as hereinafter defined) terminates, will have reserved
for issuance, upon exercise of the Option or any Substitute Option, shares of
Issuer Common Stock necessary for Grantee to exercise the Option or Substitute
Option, and Issuer will take all necessary corporate action to authorize and
reserve for issuance all additional shares of Issuer Common Stock or other
securities which may be issued pursuant to Section 6 upon exercise of the Option
or Substitute Option. The shares of Issuer Common Stock to be issued upon due
exercise of the Option or Substitute Option, including all additional shares of
Issuer Common Stock or other securities which may be issuable upon exercise of
the Option or Substitute Option pursuant to Section 6, upon issuance pursuant
hereto, shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and
shall be delivered free and clear of all Liens, including any preemptive rights
of any stockholder of Issuer.

          5.  Purchase Not for Distribution. Grantee hereby represents and
warrants to Issuer that any Option Shares or other securities acquired by
Grantee upon exercise of the Option or Substitute Option will not be taken with
a view to the public distribution thereof and will not be transferred or
otherwise disposed of except in a transaction registered or exempt from
registration under the Securities Act.

          6.  Adjustment upon Changes in Capitalization, etc. (a) In the event
of any change in Issuer Common Stock by reason of a reclassification,
recapitalization, stock split, split-up, combination, exchange of shares,

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
stock dividend, dividend payable in any other securities, or any similar event,
the type and number of shares or securities subject to the Option, and the
Purchase Price therefor, shall be adjusted appropriately, and proper provision
shall be made in the agreements governing such transaction, so that Grantee
shall receive upon exercise of the Option the number and class of shares or
other securities or property that Grantee would have received in respect of
Issuer Common Stock if the Option had been exercised immediately prior to such
event or the record date therefor, as applicable. If any additional shares of
Issuer Common Stock are issued after the date of this Agreement (other than
pursuant to an event described in the immediately preceding sentence), the
number of shares of Issuer Common Stock subject to the Option shall be adjusted
so that, after such issuance, it equals 19.9% of the number of shares of Issuer
Common Stock then issued and outstanding, without giving effect to any shares
subject to or issued pursuant to the Option.

          (b) In the event that Issuer shall enter into an agreement (i) to
consolidate with or merge into any person, other than Grantee or one of its
Subsidiaries, and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger, (ii) to permit any person, other than Grantee or one of
its Subsidiaries, to merge into Issuer and Issuer shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation, but, in connection with such merger, the shares of Issuer
Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of such merger
shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of Issuer or
any other person or cash or any other property, or the shares of Issuer Common
Stock outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of such merger shall
after such merger represent less than 50% of the outstanding voting securities
of the merged company, or (iii) to sell or otherwise transfer all or
substantially all of its assets to any person, other than Grantee or one of its
Subsidiaries, then, and in each such case, the agreement governing such
transaction shall make proper provisions so that the Option shall, upon the
consummation of any such transaction and upon the terms and conditions set forth
herein, be converted into, or exchanged for, an option (the "Substitute
Option"), at the election of Grantee, of either (I) the Acquiring Corporation
(as defined below) or (II) any person that controls the Acquiring Corporation
(any such person specified in clause (I) or (II) being referred to as
"Substitute Option Issuer").

          (c) The Substitute Option shall have the same terms as the Option;
provided that the exercise price therefor and number of shares subject thereto
shall be as set forth in this Section 6 and the repurchase rights relating
thereto shall be as set forth in Section 8; provided, further, that the
Substitute Option shall be exercisable immediately upon issuance without the
occurrence of a Purchase Event; and provided, further, that if the terms of the
Substitute Option cannot, for legal reasons, be the same as the Option (subject
to the variations described in the foregoing provisos), such terms shall be as
similar as possible and in no event less advantageous to Grantee. Substitute
Option Issuer shall also enter into an agreement with Grantee in substantially
the same form as this Agreement

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
(subject to the variations described in the foregoing provisos), which shall be
applicable to the Substitute Option.

          (d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number of
shares of Substitute Common Stock (as defined below) as is equal to the Assigned
Value (as defined below) multiplied by the number of shares of Issuer Common
Stock for which the Option was theretofore exercisable, divided by the Average
Price (as defined below), rounded up to the nearest whole share. The exercise
price per share of Substitute Common Stock of the Substitute Option (the
"Substitute Option Price") shall then be equal to the Purchase Price multiplied
by a fraction in which the numerator is the number of shares of Issuer Common
Stock for which the Option was theretofore exercisable and the denominator is
the number of shares of Substitute Common Stock for which the Substitute Option
is exercisable.

          (e) In no event, pursuant to any of the foregoing paragraphs, shall
the Substitute Option be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the aggregate of the
shares of Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise of the
Substitute Option. In the event that the Substitute Option would be exercisable
for more than 19.9% of the aggregate of the shares of outstanding Substitute
Common Stock but for the limitation in the first sentence of this Section 6(e),
Substitute Option Issuer shall make a cash payment to Grantee equal to the
excess of (i) the value of the Substitute Option without giving effect to the
limitation in the first sentence of this Section 6(e) over (ii) the value of the
Substitute Option after giving effect to the limitation in te first sentence of
this Section 6(e). This difference shall be determined in good faith by a
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by Grantee.

          (f) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in Section
6(b) unless the Acquiring Corporation and, if applicable, any beneficial owner
of 50% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Acquiring Corporation
(after giving effect to the transaction) assume in writing all the obligations
of Issuer hereunder and take all other actions that may be necessary so that the
provisions of this Agreement are given full force and effect (including, without
limitation, any action that may be necessary so that the holders of the other
shares of common stock issued by Substitute Option Issuer are not entitled to
exercise any rights comparable to the Rights by reason of the issuance or
exercise of the Substitute Option and the shares of Substitute Common Stock are
otherwise in no way distinguishable from or have lesser economic value than
other shares of common stock issued by Substitute Option Issuer (other than any
diminution in value resulting from the fact, if applicable, that the shares of
Substitute Common Stock are restricted securities, as defined in Rule 144 under
the Securities Act or any successor provision)).

          (g) For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the
following meanings:

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
          (1) "Acquiring Corporation" means (i) the continuing or surviving
     corporation of a consolidation or merger with Issuer (if other than
     Issuer), (ii) Issuer in a merger in which Issuer is the continuing or
     surviving corporation and (iii) the transferee of all or substantially all
     of Issuer's assets.

          (2) "Assigned Value" means the highest of (w) the price per share of
     Issuer Common Stock at which a tender offer or exchange offer for Issuer
     Common Stock has been made after the date hereof and prior to the
     consummation of the consolidation, merger or sale referred to in Section
     6(b), (x) the price per share to be paid by any third party or the
     consideration per share to received by holders of Issuer Common Stock, in
     each case pursuant to the agreement with Issuer with respect to the
     consolidation, merger or sale referred to in Section 6(b), (y) the highest
     closing sales price per share for Issuer Common Stock quoted on the NYSE
     (or if such Issuer Common Stock is not quoted on the NYSE, the highest bid
     price per share as quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers
     Automated Quotation System or, if the shares of Issuer Common Stock are not
     quoted thereon, on the principal trading market on which such shares are
     traded as reported by a recognized source) during the 12-month period
     immediately preceding the consolidation, merger or sale referred to in
     Section 6(b) and (z) in the event the transaction referred to in Section
     6(b) is a sale of all or substantially all of Issuer's assets, an amount
     equal to (i) the sum of the price paid in such sale for such assets
     (including assumed liabilities) and the current market value of the
     remaining assets of Issuer, as determined in good faith by a nationally
     recognized investment banking firm selected by Grantee, divided by (ii) the
     number of shares of Issuer Common Stock outstanding at such time. In the
     event that a tender offer or exchange offer is made for Issuer Common Stock
     or an agreement is entered into for a merger or consolidation involving
     consideration other than cash, the value of the securities or other
     property issuable or deliverable in exchange for Issuer Common Stock shall
     be determined in good faith by a nationally recognized investment banking
     firm selected by Grantee.

          (3) "Average Price" means the average closing sales price per share of
     a share of Substitute Common Stock quoted on the NYSE (or if such
     Substitute Common Stock is not quoted on the NYSE, the highest bid price
     per share as quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers
     Automated Quotation System or, if the shares of Substitute Common Stock are
     not quoted thereon, on the principal trading market on which such shares
     are traded as reported by a recognized source) for the twenty trading days
     immediately preceding the fifth business day prior to the consolidation,
     merger or sale in question, but in no event higher than the closing price
     of the shares of Substitute Common Stock on the day preceding such
     consolidation, merger or sale; provided that if Substitute Option Issuer is
     Issuer, the Average Price shall be computed with respect to a share of
     common stock issued by Issuer, the person

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
     merging into Issuer or by any company which controls such person, as
     Grantee may elect.

          (4) "Substitute Common Stock" means the shares of capital stock (or
     similar equity interest) with the greatest voting power in respect of the
     election of directors (or persons similarly responsible for the direction
     of the business and affairs) of the Substitute Option Issuer.

          7.  Repurchase of Option and Option Shares. (a) Notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 2(a), at any time commencing upon the first occurrence of
a Repurchase Event (as defined below) and ending 12 months thereafter, Issuer
(or any successor entity thereof) shall:

              (i)  at the request of Grantee, repurchase from Grantee the Option
          (if and to the extent not previously exercised or terminated) at a
          price equal to the excess, if any, of (x) the Applicable Price (as
          defined below) as of the Section 7 Request Date (as defined below) for
          a share of Issuer Common Stock over (y) the Purchase Price (subject to
          adjustment pursuant to Section 6(a)), multiplied by the number of
          shares of Issuer Common Stock with respect to which the Option has not
          been exercised (the "Option Repurchase Price"); and

              (ii) at the request of an owner of Option Shares from time to
          time, repurchase such number of Option Shares as such owner shall
          designate at a price equal to the Applicable Price as of the Section 7
          Request Date multiplied by the number of Option Shares requested to be
          repurchased by such owner (the "Option Share Repurchase Price").

          (b) If Grantee or an owner of Option Shares exercises its rights under
this Section 7, Issuer shall, within 10 business days after the Section 7
Request Date, pay the Option Repurchase Price or Option Share Repurchase Price,
as the case may be, in immediately available funds, and Grantee or such owner,
as the case may be, shall surrender to Issuer the
Option or Option Shares, as the case may be.

          (c) For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the
following meanings:

          (i) "Applicable Price", as of any date, means the highest of (A) the
     highest price per share at which a tender offer or exchange offer has been
     made for shares of Issuer Common Stock after the date hereof and on or
     prior to such date, (B) the highest price per share to be paid by any third
     party for shares of Issuer Common Stock or the consideration per share to
     be received by holders of Issuer Common Stock, in each case pursuant to an
     agreement for an Acquisition Proposal with Issuer entered into on or prior
     to such date or (C) the highest closing sales price per share of Issuer
     Common Stock quoted on the NYSE

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
     (or if Issuer Common Stock is not quoted on the NYSE, the highest bid price
     per share as quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers
     Automated Quotations System or, if the shares of Issuer Common Stock are
     not quoted thereon, on the principal trading market on which such shares
     are traded as reported by a recognized source) during the 60 business days
     preceding such date. If the consideration to be offered, paid or received
     pursuant to either of the foregoing clauses (A) or (B) shall be other than
     in cash, the value of such consideration shall be determined in good faith
     by an independent nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by
     Grantee.

         (ii) "Repurchase Event" means the occurrence of a Purchase Event
     followed by the consummation of any transaction the proposal of which would
     constitute an Acquisition Proposal.

        (iii) "Section 7 Request Date" means the date on which Grantee or an
     owner of Option Shares exercises its rights under this Section.

          8.  Repurchase of Substitute Option. (a) At any time after issuance of
the Substitute Option and prior to the expiration of the Substitute Option,
Substitute Option Issuer (or any successor entity thereof) shall:

           (i)  at the request of Grantee, repurchase from Grantee the
     Substitute Option (if and to the extent not previously exercised or
     terminated) at a price equal to the excess, if any, of (x) the Highest
     Closing Price as of the Section 8 Request Date (as defined below) for a
     share of Substitute Common Stock over (y) the Purchase Price (subject to
     adjustment pursuant to Section 6(a)), multiplied by the number of shares of
     Substitute Common Stock with respect to which the Substitute Option has not
     been exercised (the "Substitute Option Repurchase Price"); and

           (ii) at the request of an owner of shares of Substitute Common Stock
     issued upon exercise of the Substitute Option, repurchase such number of
     shares of Substitute Common Stock as such owner shall designate at a price
     equal to the Highest Closing Price as of the Section 8 Request Date
     multiplied by the number of shares of Substitute Common Stock requested to
     be repurchased by such owner (the "Substitute Share Repurchase Price").

          (b) If Grantee or an owner of shares of Substitute Common Stock issued
upon exercise of the Substitute Option exercises its rights under this Section
8, Substitute Option Issuer shall, within 10 business days after the Section 8
Request Date, pay the Substitute Option Repurchase Price or Substitute Share
Repurchase Price, as the case may be, in immediately available funds, and
Grantee or such owner, as the case may be, shall surrender to Issuer the Option
or shares of Substitute Common Stock, as the case may be.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
          (c)  For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the
following meanings:

          (i)  "Highest Closing Price" means the highest closing sales price for
     shares of Substitute Common Stock quoted on the NYSE (or if the Substitute
     Common Stock is not quoted on the NYSE, the highest bid price per share as
     quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
     Quotations System or, if the shares of Substitute Common Stock are not
     quoted thereon, on the principal trading market on which such shares are
     traded as reported by a recognized source) during the six-month period
     preceding the Section 8 Request Date; and

          (ii) "Section 8 Request Date" means the date on which Grantee or an
     Owner exercises its rights under this Section.

          9.   Registration Rights. Issuer shall, if requested by Grantee or any
owner of Option Shares (collectively with Grantee, the "Owners") at any time and
from time to time within three years of the first exercise of the Option, as
expeditiously as possible prepare and file up to two registration statements
under the Securities Act if such registration is necessary in order to permit
the sale or other disposition of any or all shares of securities that have been
acquired by or are issuable to such Owners upon exercise of the Option in
accordance with the intended method of sale or other disposition stated by such
Owners, including a "shelf" registration statement under Rule 415 under the
Securities Act or any successor provision, and Issuer shall use its best efforts
to qualify such shares or other securities under any applicable state securities
laws. Issuer shall use all reasonable efforts to cause each such registration
statement to become effective, to obtain all consents or waivers of other
parties which are required therefor and to keep such registration statement
effective for such period not in excess of 180 days from the day such
registration statement first becomes effective as may be reasonably necessary to
effect such sale or other disposition. The obligations of Issuer hereunder to
file a registration statement and to maintain its effectiveness may be suspended
for one or more periods of time not exceeding 30 days in the aggregate if the
Board of Directors of Issuer shall have determined that the filing of such
registration statement or the maintenance of its effectiveness would require
disclosure of nonpublic information that would materially and adversely affect
Issuer. Any registration statement prepared and filed under this Section 9, and
any sale covered thereby, shall be at Issuer's expense except for underwriting
discounts or commissions, brokers' fees and the fees and disbursements of
Owners' counsel related thereto. The Owners shall provide all information
reasonably inclusion in any registration statement to be filed hereunder. If
during the time period referred to in the first sentence of this Section 9
Issuer effects a registration under the Securities Act of Issuer Common Stock
for its own account or for any other stockholders of Issuer (other than on Form
S-4 or Form S-8, or any successor form), it shall allow the Owners the right to
participate in such registration, and such participation shall not affect the
obligation of Issuer to effect two

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
registration statements for the Owners under this Section 9; provided that, if
the managing underwriters of such offering advise Issuer in writing that in
their opinion the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock requested to be
included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such
offering, Issuer shall include the shares requested to be included therein by
the Owners pro rata with the shares intended to be included therein by Issuer.
In connection with any registration pursuant to this Section 9, Issuer and the
Owners shall provide each other and any underwriter of the offering with
customary representations, warranties, covenants, indemnification and
contribution in connection with such registration.

          10.  Listing; Reasonable Best Efforts. (a) If Issuer Common Stock or
any other securities to be acquired upon exercise of the Option are then listed
on the NYSE or any other securities exchange or market, Issuer, upon the request
of any Owner, will promptly file an application to list the shares of Issuer
Common Stock or other securities to be acquired upon exercise of the Option on
the NYSE or such other securities exchange or market and will use its best
efforts to obtain approval of such listing as soon as practicable.

          (b)  Issuer will use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to
be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary,
proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to permit the exercise
of the Option or the Substitute Option in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, as soon as practicable after the date hereof, including
making any appropriate filing of pursuant to the HSR Act and any other
Regulatory Law, supplying as promptly as practicable any additional information
and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to the HSR Act and any
other Regulatory Law, and taking all other actions necessary to cause the
expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act as
soon as practicable.

          11.  Limitation of Grantee Profit. (a) Notwithstanding any other
provision herein, in no event shall Grantee's Total Profit (as defined below)
exceed $70 million (the "Maximum Profit") and, if it otherwise would exceed such
amount, Grantee, at its sole discretion, shall either (i) reduce the number of
shares subject to the Option, (ii) deliver to Issuer for cancellation shares of
Issuer Common Stock (or other securities into which such Option Shares are
converted or exchanged), (iii) pay cash to Issuer, or (iv) any combination of
the foregoing, so that Grantee's actually realized Total Profit shall not exceed
the Maximum Profit after taking into account the foregoing actions.

          (b)  For purposes of this Agreement, "Total Profit" shall mean: (i)
the aggregate amount of (A) any excess of (x) the net cash amounts received by
Grantee pursuant to a sale of Option Shares (or securities into which such
shares are converted or exchanged) to any unaffiliated third party within 12
months after the exercise of the Option, over (y) the Grantee's aggregate
purchase price for such Option Shares (or other securities), plus (B) any
amounts received by Grantee on the transfer of the Option (including amounts
payable to Grantee pursuant to Section 7), plus (C) any equivalent amounts with
respect to the Substitute Option, plus

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
(D) any amounts received by Grantee pursuant to Section 7.2 of the Merger
Agreement, minus (ii) the amounts of any cash previously paid to Issuer pursuant
to this Section 11 plus the value of the Option Shares (or other securities)
previously delivered to Issuer for cancellation pursuant to this Section 11.

          (c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, nothing in
this Agreement shall affect the ability of Grantee to receive, nor relieve
Issuer's obligation to pay, any payment provided for in Section 7.2 of the
Merger Agreement; provided that if and to the extent the Total Profit received
by Grantee would exceed the Maximum Profit following receipt of such payment,
Grantee shall be obligated to comply with the terms of Section 11(a) within 30
days of the latest of (i) the date of receipt of such payment, (ii) the date of
receipt of the net cash by Grantee pursuant to the sale of Option Shares (or
securities into which such Option Shares are converted or exchanged) to any
unaffiliated party within 12 months after the exercise of this Option with
respect to such Option Shares, (iii) the date of receipt of net cash from
disposition of the Option and (iv) the date of receipt of equivalent amounts
pursuant to the sale of the Substitute Option or shares of Substitute Common
Stock (or other securities into which such Substitute Common Stock is converted
or exchanged).

          (d)  For purposes of Section 11(a) and clause (ii) of Section 11(b),
the value of any Option Shares delivered to Issuer shall be the Assigned Value
of such Option Shares and the value of any Substitute Common Stock delivered to
Issuer shall be the Highest Closing Price of such Substitute Common Stock.

          12.  Loss, Theft, Etc. of Agreement. This Agreement (and the Option
granted hereby) is exchangeable, without expense, at the option of Grantee, upon
presentation and surrender of this Agreement at the principal office of Issuer
for other Agreements providing for Options of different denominations entitling
the holder thereof to purchase in the aggregate the same number of shares of
Issuer Common Stock purchasable hereunder. The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as
used herein include any other Agreements and related Options for which this
Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) may be exchanged. Upon receipt by
Issuer of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction
or mutilation of this Agreement, and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction)
of reasonably satisfactory indemnification, and upon surrender and cancellation
of this Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will execute and deliver a new Agreement
of like tenor and date. Any such new Agreement executed and delivered shall
constitute an additional contractual obligation on the part of Issuer, whether
or not the Agreement so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated shall at any time
be enforceable by anyone.

          13.  Miscellaneous. (a) Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 9 hereof or in the Merger Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall
bear and pay all Expenses incurred by it or on its behalf in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereunder, including fees and expenses of its own
financial consultants, investment bankers, accountants and counsel.

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
          (b)  Waiver and Amendment. Any provision of this Agreement may be
waived at any time by the party that is entitled to the benefits of such
provision. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered or supplemented
except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by the
parties hereto.

          (c)  Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiary; Severability.
Except as otherwise set forth in the Merger Agreement, this Agreement, together
with the Merger Agreement, (a) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes
all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and (b) is not intended to
confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies
hereunder. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is
held by a court of competent jurisdiction or a federal or state regulatory
agency to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. If
for any reason such court or regulatory agency determines that the Option does
not permit Grantee to acquire, or does not require Issuer (or Substitute Option
Issuer) to repurchase, the full number of shares of Issuer Common Stock (or
Substitute Common Stock) as provided in Sections 2 and 7 (or in the case of
Substitute Common Stock Sections 2 and 8), as adjusted pursuant to Section 6, it
is the express intention of Issuer to allow Grantee to acquire or to require
Issuer to repurchase such lesser number of shares as may be permissible without
any amendment or modification hereof.

          (D)  GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS
MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED THEREIN.

          (e)  Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings contained herein
are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

          (f)  Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be
in writing and shall be deemed given as set forth in Section 8.2 of the Merger
Agreement.

          (g)  Counterparts. This Agreement and any amendments hereto may be
executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be considered one and the same
agreement and shall become effective when both counterparts have been signed by
each of the parties and delivered to the other party, it being understood that
both parties need not sign the same counterpart.

          (h)  Assignment. Grantee may assign this Agreement in whole to any
affiliate of Grantee at any time. Except as provided in the next sentence,
Grantee may not, without the prior written consent of Issuer (which shall not be
unreasonably withheld), assign this Agreement to any other person. Upon

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
the occurrence of a Purchase Event, Grantee may sell, transfer, assign or
otherwise dispose of, in whole at any time, its rights and obligations
hereunder. In the case of any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of this
Option, Issuer shall do all things reasonably necessary to facilitate such
transaction. This Agreement shall not be assignable by Issuer except by
operation of law. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be
binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and
their respective successors and assigns.

          (i)  Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties contained in Sections 3.1(a) and 3.2(a) of the Merger Agreement, and,
to the extent they relate to this Stock Option Agreement, in Sections 3.1(c),
(f), (l) and (m) and 3.2(c), (f) and (m) of the Merger Agreement, are
incorporated herein by reference.

          (j)  Rights Plan. Until the Option has been exercised or terminated in
full and Grantee no longer holds any Option Shares, Issuer shall not amend,
modify or waive any provision of the Kerr-McGee Rights Agreement (the "Rights
Agreement") or take any other action which would cause Grantee or any of its
"Affiliates" or "Associates" to become an "Acquiring Person", or which would
cause a "Stock Acquisition Date" or "Distribution Date", any event specified in
Section 11(a)(ii) or 13 of the Rights Agreement or any similar event with
respect to the Rights to occur, by reason of the existence or exercise (in whole
or in part) of the Option, the beneficial ownership by Grantee or any of its
"Affiliates" or "Associates" of any of the Option Shares, or the consummation of
the other transactions contemplated hereby (all terms in quotes are used as
defined in the Rights Agreement). This covenant shall also apply to any
Substitute Option or shares of Substitute Common Stock issued in respect
thereof, and to any securities into which any Option Shares or Substitute Common
Stock are converted or exchanged.

          (k)  Further Assurances. In the event of any exercise of the Option by
Grantee, Issuer and Grantee shall execute and deliver all other documents and
instruments and take all other action that may be reasonably necessary in order
to consummate the transactions provided for by such exercise.

          (l)  Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable damage would
occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms. It is accordingly agreed that
the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, this
being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in
equity. Both parties further agree to waive any requirement for the securing or
posting of any bond in connection with the obtaining of any such equitable
relief and that this provision is without prejudice to any other rights that the
parties hereto may have for any failure to perform this Agreement.

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
          (m)  Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each of Issuer and Grantee
irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this
Agreement or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect hereof
brought by the other party hereto or its successors or assigns may be brought
and determined in the Chancery or other Courts of the State of Delaware, and
each of Issuer and Grantee hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such
action or proceeding for itself and in respect to its property, generally and
unconditionally, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts. Each
of Issuer and Grantee hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by
way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or
proceeding with respect to this Agreement, (a) any claim that it is not
personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts for any reason
other than the failure to lawfully serve process, (b) that it or its property is
exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process
commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to
judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or
otherwise), and (c) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, that (i)
the suit, action or proceeding in any such court is brought in an inconvenient
forum, (ii) the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper and (iii)
this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such
courts.

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Issuer and Grantee have caused this Stock Option
Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as
of the day and year first written above.

                               KERR-McGEE CORPORATION


                               By:/s/ Luke R. Corbett
                               Name:  Luke R. Corbett
                               Title:  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer



                               ORYX ENERGY COMPANY


                               By:/s/ Robert L. Keiser
                               Name:  Robert L. Keiser
                               Title:  Chairman/CEO

                                       15


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission