PRESIDIO OIL CO
SC 13D/A, 1994-01-25
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
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<PAGE>   1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                            ______________________
                            

                                  SCHEDULE 13D
                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                            ______________________


                              PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY
                                (Name of Issuer)


                 CLASS B COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.10 PER SHARE
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                            ______________________

                                  741016-10-9
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                              George P. Giard, Jr.
                            c/o Presidio Oil Company
                          5613 DTC Parkway, Suite 750
                           Englewood, Colorado 80111
                                 (303) 773-0100

                 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
               Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)


                               December 31, 1988
            (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(b)(3) or (4), check the following box { }

Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement {x}





                              Page 1 of 189 Pages
                            Exhibit Index on Page 8
<PAGE>   2
CUSIP No. 741016-10-9                                                        13D
                                
<TABLE>
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
<S>      <C>
  1      NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
         S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

         George P. Giard, Jr., individually and as co-Trustee on behalf of the
         Presidio Oil Company Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  2      CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                                       (a)   {   }
                                                                       (b)   { X }
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  3      SEC USE ONLY
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  4      SOURCE OF FUNDS
         PF; AF; SC

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  5      CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS
         2(d) or 2(e)              {  }
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  6      CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

         Mr. Giard is a citizen of the United States of America.  The plan is a
         Colorado entity.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
</TABLE>


<TABLE>
  <S>                     <C>     <C>                              <C>                                         
    NUMBER OF SHARES       7      SOLE VOTING POWER                 603,062   (includes  shares  subject  to
  BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY                                             outstanding options and warrants)
  EACH REPORTING PERSON    ____________________________________________________________________________________
          WITH             
                           8      SHARED VOTING POWER               529,157
                           ____________________________________________________________________________________

                           9      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER            603,062   (includes  shares  subject  to
                                                                    outstanding options and warrants)
                           ____________________________________________________________________________________

                          10      SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER          529,157
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<S>      <C>
 11      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         603,062
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 12      CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES  {x}
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)         15.9%
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 14      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

         IN; EP
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

</TABLE>




                              Page 2 of 189 Pages
                            Exhibit Index on Page 8
<PAGE>   3
CUSIP No. 741016-10-9                                                        13D
                      
ITEM 1.  SECURITY AND ISSUER.

         This statement relates to the Class B Common Stock, par value $.10 per
share (the "Shares") of Presidio Oil Company, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company").  The address of the principal executive offices of the Company is
5613 DTC Parkway, Suite 750, Englewood, Colorado 80111.

ITEM 2.  IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND.

         This statement is filed by George P. Giard, Jr., individually and as
co-Trustee on behalf of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust of Presidio Oil
Company (the "Plan").  Mr. Giard is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company.

         The Plan was originally established effective as of July 1, 1981.  The
Plan is an employee pension benefit plan as defined under the provisions of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 that is qualified under the
applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.  A copy of the Plan
is attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and is incorporated herein by reference for all
purposes.  The Plan's assets are held by the trust (the "Trust") created under
the terms of the Plan, the Trustees of which are George P. Giard, Jr. and
Robert L. Smith (the "Trustees").  Under its terms, the Plan is administered by
the administrative committee (the "Committee") appointed by the Board of
Directors of the Company, the current members of which are George P. Giard, Jr.
and Robert L. Smith.

         The business address of Mr. Giard and of the Plan is 5613 DTC Parkway,
Suite 750, Englewood, Colorado 80111.

         Neither the Plan nor Mr. Giard has, during the last five years, been
convicted in any criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar
misdemeanors) or been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or
administrative body of competent jurisdiction, as a result of which proceeding
he or it 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.

         The provisions of the Plan are to be construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Colorado and applicable federal law, and the situs of the
Plan and the Trust is the State of Colorado.  Mr. Giard is a citizen of the
United States of America.

ITEM 3.  SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION.

         The Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Giard over which Mr. Giard has
sole voting power and sole dispositive power were purchased with his own funds
or are shares subject to outstanding options or warrants which have not yet
been purchased.  The approximate purchase price paid for such Shares and
warrants is $236,419.10.  If any options or warrants are exercised, Mr. Giard
anticipates using his personal funds.

           Effective January 1, 1989, January 1, 1990, January 1, 1991, January
1, 1992, and January 1, 1993, the Company and the Plan entered into ESOP Loan
Agreements (collectively, the "Loan Agreements") under which the Company agreed
to establish a line of credit and loan up to $2,000,000, $6,000,000,
$4,000,000, $3,000,000, and $3,000,000, respectively, to the Plan for the
purchase of Shares or shares of Class A Common Stock, $.10 par value per share,
of the Company (the "Class A Shares").  Each Loan Agreement was accompanied by
a Non-recourse Promissory Note (collectively, the "Notes") and Pledge Agreement
(collectively, the "Pledge Agreements").  Under each Loan Agreement and
Promissory Note, the Plan could or can draw on the respective line of credit to
purchase Shares or Class A Shares throughout the year.  At the end of each year
or (if earlier) at the time the line of credit amount had been fully advanced,
the indebtedness incurred converted or will convert to a term note.





                              Page 3 of 189 Pages
                            Exhibit Index on Page 8
<PAGE>   4
CUSIP No. 741016-10-9                                                        13D

         The interest rate under the Notes was 10% for the 1989, 1990, and 1991
Notes and 7% for the 1992 and 1993 Notes.  Each Note is payable in ten
consecutive substantially equal installments of principal and interest based on
a ten-year amortization.  The first payment under each Note was or is due and
payable on the April 1st following the close of the year for which the line of 
credit was available.

         The amount actually advanced under the Notes and the Shares and Class
A Shares purchased are set forth in the following chart.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    NOTE                  AMOUNT BORROWED          CLASS A SHARES             CLASS B SHARES        
    ----                  ---------------          --------------             --------------        
   <S>                    <C>                      <C>                        <C>                    
   1989 Note              $1,714,951.13            123,458                    124,682                
   1990 Note              $5,101,102.92            568,506                    171,600                
   1991 Note              $2,942,126.19            354,955                    229,919                
   1992 Note              $2,040,963.83            565,698                    227,500                
   1993 Note              $  585,475.00            221,300                     65,000                
</TABLE>                                                                       

         It is anticipated that the Plan will fund any required payments on the
Notes with contributions from the Company, although other permissible sources
may be used, including dividends, if any, on Shares or Class A Shares held by
the Plan.  The Company may elect to discontinue its contributions to the Plan,
although it has no current intention of doing so.

         Each Note is secured by a Pledge Agreement.  To the extent that
payments are made on a Note, a proportionate number of Shares and/or Class A
Shares will be released from the pledge under the Pledge Agreement based upon
the ratio of the principal paid on the Note to the future principal payments to
be made under the Note and will be allocated to participants' accounts in
accordance with the Plan.  Shares not released under the Pledge Agreements are
such Shares which the Trustees may be deemed to beneficially own for the
purposes of Section 13(d).

ITEM 4.  PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION.

         The Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Giard over which Mr. Giard has
sole voting power and sole dispositive power were purchased for investment
purposes.  Mr. Giard has no plans which relate to a change in management or
otherwise relating to the Board of Directors, any change in corporate structure
or any of the actions specified in clauses (a) through (j) of Item 4 of
Schedule 13D.  Mr. Giard may from time to time purchase additional Shares,
directly or through the exercise of stock options or warrants, for investment
purposes or otherwise or may sell such Shares.

         The acquisition of the Shares by the Plan was made for investment
purposes in furtherance of the purpose of the Plan, namely to allow
participating employees to acquire stock ownership interests in the Company.
The Plan may acquire from time to time additional Shares in conformance with
the immediately preceding section, although the Plan currently has no specific
plans or proposals that relate to or would result in any of the matters
described in paragraphs (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.

ITEM 5.  INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

         The Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Giard over which Mr. Giard has
sole voting power and sole dispositive power total 603,062 Shares as of
December 31, 1993.  Of such Shares, 94,091 Shares may be acquired pursuant to
the exercise of a warrant held in the name of Oil and Gas Finance Limited, an
entity over which Mr. Giard exercises voting control, at $3.64 per share,
63,118 Shares may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of a warrant held in the
name of Oil and Gas Finance Limited, at $2.50 per share, 80,000 Shares





                              Page 4 of 189 Pages
                            Exhibit Index on Page 8
<PAGE>   5
CUSIP No. 741016-10-9                                                        13D
                      
may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of options at $3.636 per share, 30,000
Shares may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of options at $4.091 per share,
50,000 Shares may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of options at $4.625 per
share, 14,500 Shares may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of options at
$5.00 per share, 100,000 options may be acquired, under certain circumstances,
pursuant to the exercise of options at $4.00 per share and 139,039 Shares may
be acquired pursuant to the exercise of options at $2.50 per share.  Such
Shares would represent 15.9% of the Company's outstanding Shares as of such
date if all warrants or options to purchase Shares were exercised by Mr. Giard
and were added to the number of outstanding Shares.  The Company has informed
Mr. Giard that as of such date, 3,222,785 Shares were outstanding.

         Under the terms of the Plan, the participating employees have the
power to direct the voting of (as well as the tendering of in a cash tender
offer or exchange offer for Shares) Shares that have been allocated to
participating employees' accounts; however, if the participants do not provide
timely instructions regarding the voting or tendering of such Shares, then such
Shares shall be voted or tendered, as the case may be, by the Plan to reflect
the directions received from employee participants with respect to the Shares
allocated to their accounts.

         Under the terms of the Plan, the Shares that have not been allocated
to participating employees' accounts will be voted or tendered to the extent
possible to reflect the voting or tender directions, as the case may be,
received from employee participants with respect to the Shares allocated to
their accounts.  Thus, the Plan may be deemed to share voting and dispositive
power with respect to such Shares, which Shares consisted of 529,157 Shares as
of December 31, 1993.  Such Shares represent 13.9% of the Company's outstanding
Shares (as adjusted) as of such date.  Mr. Giard disclaims beneficial ownership
for purposes of Section 13(d) of all unallocated Shares.  Upon allocation of
such Shares from time to time to the accounts of participating employees, the
participants will have the power to direct the vote and tender of such Shares,
as described in the preceding paragraph.  The Company has informed the Plan
that as of such date, 3,222,785 Shares were outstanding.

         In addition, the Pledge Agreements contain certain restrictions on the
disposition of the Shares subject thereto.

         Mr. Giard has not effected any transactions in Shares during the past
60 days.  The Plan has purchased 65,000 Shares and 221,300 Class A Shares
during the past 60 days.

         Except as provided in the Security Agreement and except for the rights
of the employee participants (or their heirs or legal representatives) of the
Plan, no person other than the Plan is known to have the right to receive or
the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the
sale of, the Shares.

ITEM 6.  CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT
TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

         Except as indicated in Items 3, 4, and 5, there are no contracts,
arrangements, understandings, or relationships (legal or otherwise) between the
Plan and any person with respect to any securities of the Company, including
but not limited to the transfer or voting of any of such securities, finder's
fees, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guaranties of
profits, division of profits or loss, or the giving or withholding of proxies.

         Except as described in Item 3, no Shares owned by the Plan are pledged
or otherwise subject to any contingency.





                              Page 5 of 189 Pages
                            Exhibit Index on Page 8
<PAGE>   6
CUSIP No. 741016-10-9                                                        13D
                      

ITEM 7.  MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.

         Exhibit 1.       The Plan.

         Exhibit 2.       The 1989 ESOP Loan Agreement.

         Exhibit 3.       First Amendment to 1989 ESOP Loan Agreement.

         Exhibit 4.       The 1990 ESOP Loan Agreement.

         Exhibit 5.       The 1991 ESOP Loan Agreement.

         Exhibit 6.       The 1992 ESOP Loan Agreement.

         Exhibit 7.       The 1993 ESOP Loan Agreement.

         Exhibit 8.       The 1989 Pledge Agreement.

         Exhibit 9.       First Amendment to 1989 Pledge Agreement.

         Exhibit 10.      The 1990 Pledge Agreement.

         Exhibit 11.      The 1991 Pledge Agreement.

         Exhibit 12.      The 1992 Pledge Agreement.

         Exhibit 13.      The 1993 Pledge Agreement.





                              Page 6 of 189 Pages
                            Exhibit Index on Page 8
<PAGE>   7
CUSIP NO. 741016-10-9                                                        13D
                      
                                   SIGNATURES


         After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.





                                       ________________________________________
                                       GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.
                                       Individually and as co-Trustee on behalf
                                       of the Presidio Oil Company Employee
                                       Stock Ownership Plan Trust


Dated:  January 24, 1994





                              Page 7 of 189 Pages
                            Exhibit Index on Page 8
<PAGE>   8
CUSIP NO. 741016-10-9                                                        13D
                      


                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


<TABLE>
<S>              <C>                                                                                              <C>
Exhibit 1.       The Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9
                                                                    
Exhibit 2.       The 1989 ESOP Loan Agreement . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   61
                                                                    
Exhibit 3.       First Amendment to 1989 ESOP Loan Agreement  . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   77
                                                                    
Exhibit 4.       The 1990 ESOP Loan Agreement . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   80
                                                                    
Exhibit 5.       The 1991 ESOP Loan Agreement . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   95
                                                                    
Exhibit 6.       The 1992 ESOP Loan Agreement . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  110
                                                                    
Exhibit 7.       The 1993 ESOP Loan Agreement . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  126
                                                                    
Exhibit 8.       The 1989 Pledge Agreement  . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  141
                                                                    
Exhibit 9.       First Amendment to 1989 Pledge Agreement . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  150
                                                                    
Exhibit 10.      The 1990 Pledge Agreement  . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  152
                                                                    
Exhibit 11.      The 1991 Pledge Agreement  . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  162
                                                                    
Exhibit 12.      The 1992 Pledge Agreement  . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  172
                                                                    
Exhibit 13.      The 1993 Pledge Agreement  . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  181
</TABLE>                                                            










                              Page 8 of 189 Pages
                            Exhibit Index on Page 8

<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 1




                         EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                                       OF

                              PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY





               __________________________________________________
                        AMENDMENT AND THIRD RESTATEMENT
                        EFFECTIVE AS OF JANUARY 1, 1989



                                   JULY 1993
<PAGE>   2
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               PAGE
                                                                                                               ----
<S>      <C>                                                                                                   <C>
I.       Purpose                                                                                             
         -------                                                                                             
         1.1     Purpose  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
                                                                                                             
II.      Definitions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
         -----------                                                                                             
                                                                                                             
III.     Participation Requirements                                                                          
         --------------------------                                                                          
         3.1     Eligibility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
         3.2     ReEntry  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
         3.3     Action Required  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
         3.4     Omissions of Eligible Employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
         3.5     Inclusion of Ineligible Employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
                                                                                                             
IV.      Contributions                                                                                       
         -------------                                                                                       
         4.1     Company Contributions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
         4.2     Participant Contributions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
         4.3     Basic Allocation Limitation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
         4.4     Combined Plan Limitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
         4.5     Special ESOP Allocation Limitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
         4.6     Return of Contributions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
                                                                                                             
V.       Interests in the Trust Fund                                                                         
         ---------------------------                                                                         
         5.1     Participants' Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
         5.2     Valuation of Trust Fund  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
         5.3     Allocation of Increase or Decrease in Net Worth  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
         5.4     Allocation of Voluntary Contribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
         5.5     Allocation of Company Contributions and Forfeitures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
                                                                                                             
VI.      Benefits on Retirement, Death or Disability                                                         
         -------------------------------------------                                                         
         6.1     Normal Retirement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
         6.2     Death Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
         6.3     Disability Retirement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
         6.4     Beneficiaries  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
         6.5     Amount and Form of Benefits Upon Retirement, Death or Disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
                 (a)      Consent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
                 (b)      Amount  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
                 (c)      Manner of Distribution  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
                 (d)      Time of Distribution  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
         6.6     Segregation of Amounts Payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
         6.7     Payments in Case of Death Pending Distributions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
         6.8     Distribution of Benefits Prior to Severance of Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
         6.9     Diversification of Investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
</TABLE> 
         
         
         
         
         
                                      -i-                     
<PAGE>   3
                          TABLE OF CONTENTS, CONTINUED          
                                                                
                                                                
<TABLE>                                                         
<CAPTION>                                                       
                                                                                                              PAGE
                                                                                                              ----
<S>      <C>                                                                                                   <C>
VII.     Benefits on Termination of Employment                                                               
         -------------------------------------                                                               
         7.1     Vesting Schedule - Forfeitures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
                 (a)      Mountain Gas Divestiture  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
                 (b)      Peake Divestiture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
         7.2     Distribution of Vested Amounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
         7.3     Amendment to Vesting Schedule  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
                                                                                                             
VIII.    Allocation of Responsibilities - Named Fiduciaries                                                  
         --------------------------------------------------                                                  
         8.1     No Joint Fiduciary Responsibilities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
         8.2     The Company  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
         8.3     The Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
         8.4     The Committee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
         8.5     Committee to Administer and Interpret Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
         8.6     Organization of Committee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
         8.7     Agent for Process  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
         8.8     Indemnification of Committee Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
                                                                                                             
IX.      Trust                                                                                               
         -----                                                                                               
         9.1     Trust Agreement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
         9.2     Expenses of Trust  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
                                                                                                             
X.       Termination and Amendment                                                                           
         -------------------------                                                                           
         10.1    Termination of Plan or Discontinuance of Contribution  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
         10.2    Allocations upon Termination or Discontinuance of Company Contributions  . . . . . . . . . .  26
         10.3    Procedure Upon Termination of Plan or Discontinuation of Company Contributions . . . . . . .  27
         10.4    Amendment by Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
                                                                                                             
XI.      Special Provisions Regarding Company Stock                                                          
         ------------------------------------------                                                          
         11.1    Distributions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
         11.2    Investment of Trust Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
         11.3    Dividends  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
         11.4    Voting Company Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
         11.5    Company Stock to be Subject to Certain Conditions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
         11.6    Valuation of Company Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  29
         11.7    Put Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  29
         11.8    Right of First Refusal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
         11.9    Distribution of Cash or Company Stock  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
         11.10   Exchange Offers; Tender Offers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
</TABLE>        
                
                
                
                
                                      -ii-                                 
<PAGE>   4
                          TABLE OF CONTENTS, CONTINUED


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                              PAGE
                                                                                                              ----
<S>      <C>                                                                                                   <C>
XII.     Company Stock Purchased with Loans                                                                  
         12.1    Definitions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
                 (a)      Loan  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
                 (b)      Publicly Traded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
         12.2    Prohibition Against Non-Exempt Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
         12.3    Primary Benefit Retirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
         12.4    Use of Loan Proceeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
         12.5    Liability and Collateral of Plan for Loan  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
         12.6    Default  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
         12.7    Reasonable Rate of Interest  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
         12.8    Release From Encumbrance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
         12.9    Voting Rights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
         12.10   Allocation to Accounts of Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
         12.11   Non-Terminable Provisions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
                                                                                                             
XIII.    Affiliated Corporations                                                                             
         -----------------------                                                                             
         13.1    Adoption of Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
         13.2    Agency of Presidio Oil Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
         13.3    Disaffiliation and Withdrawal from Plan  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
         13.4    Effect of Disaffiliation or Withdrawal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
         13.5    Distribution Upon Disaffiliation or Withdrawal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
                                                                                                             
XIV.     Top-Heavy Provisions                                                                                
         --------------------                                                                                
         14.1    Application of Top-Heavy Provisions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
         14.2    Definitions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
         14.3    Determination of Top-Heavy Status  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
         14.4    Special Vesting Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
         14.5    Special Minimum Contribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
         14.6    Limitation on Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
         14.7    Change in Top-Heavy Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
                                                                                                             
XV.      Miscellaneous                                                                                       
         -------------                                                                                       
         15.1    Right to Dismiss Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
         15.2    Claims Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
         15.3    Source of Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
         15.4    Exclusive Benefit of Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
         15.5    Forms of Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
         15.6    Failure of Any Other Corporation to Qualify  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
         15.7    Notice of Adoption of the Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
</TABLE>
    
    
    
    
    
                                     -iii-
<PAGE>   5
                          TABLE OF CONTENTS, CONTINUED
                                                      
                                                      
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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                                                                                                              ----
<S>      <C>                                                                                                   <C>
         15.8    Plan Merger  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
         15.9    Inalienability of Benefits - Domestic Relations Orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
         15.10   Payments Due Minors or Incapacitated Persons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
         15.11   Uniformity of Application  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
         15.12   Disposition of Unclaimed Payments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
         15.13   Time of Payment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
         15.14   Governing Law  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
                                                                                                             
XVI.     Rollovers and Transfers                                                                             
         -----------------------                                                                             
         16.1    Rollovers and Transfers into the Plan  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
         16.2    Eligible Rollover Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
         16.3    Definitions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
</TABLE>





                                      -iv-
<PAGE>   6
                        AMENDMENT AND THIRD RESTATEMENT
                                     OF THE
                         EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
                                       OF
                              PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY

                       (effective as of JANUARY 1, 1989)


         THIS AMENDMENT AND THIRD RESTATEMENT OF THE EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP
PLAN OF PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY is made and entered into this 1st day of July,
1993, by Presidio Oil Company, a corporation organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware.

                                  WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, Presidio Oil Company (the "Company") established the Employee
Stock Ownership Plan of Presidio Oil Company (the "Plan") pursuant to an
instrument effective July 1, 1981, for the purpose of providing retirement
benefits to the employees of the Company;

         WHEREAS, the Plan was restated effective July 1, 1984 and July 1, 1985
and amended various times subsequent to July 1, 1985; and

         WHEREAS, in order to comply with the provisions of the Tax Reform Act
of 1986 ("TRA '86"), the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Acts of 1986 and 1987
("OBRA '86" and "OBRA '87" respectively), the Technical and Miscellaneous
Revenue Act of 1988 ("TAMRA") and final regulations promulgated under the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") and the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Company desires to amend and restate the
Plan in its entirety.

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants hereinafter contained, it is agreed by the Company, subject to the
approval of the United States Treasury Department, that the Plan is hereby
amended and restated in its entirety effective January 1, 1989, except where
otherwise indicated herein, to provide as follows:


                                   ARTICLE I

                                    PURPOSE

         1.1     PURPOSE.  The purpose of the Plan is to reward eligible
Employees of the Company for their loyal and faithful service by providing them
with an opportunity to become shareholders of the Company.  The Plan is
designed to invest primarily in





                                      -1-
<PAGE>   7
Company Stock.  The benefits provided by the Plan will be paid from the Trust
and will be in addition to the benefits eligible Employees are entitled to
receive from the Federal Social Security Act.  The Plan and the Trust are
established and shall be maintained for the exclusive benefit of the eligible
Employees of the Company and their Beneficiaries.

         Except as provided in Article IV, under no circumstances shall any
property of the Trust, or any contributions made by the Company pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement be used for, or diverted to, purposes other than for
the exclusive benefit of the Employees of the Company or their Beneficiaries.


                                   ARTICLE II

                                  DEFINITIONS

         Where the following words and phrases appear in this Plan, they shall
have the respective meanings, set forth in this Article, unless the context
clearly indicates a different meaning.  All references to the masculine shall
include the feminine and the singular shall include the plural, and vice versa,
unless the context clearly indicates a different interpretation.  The words
"hereof", "herein", "hereunder", and other similar compounds of the word "here"
shall mean and refer to the entire Plan and not to any particular provision or
section.

         2.1     "ACCOUNT(S)" shall mean a Participant's Company Contribution
Account and Voluntary Contribution Account.

         2.2     "ACCRUED BENEFIT" shall mean the amount standing in a
Participant's Account as of any date.

         2.3     "AFFILIATED COMPANY" shall mean (a) any corporation or
organization, other than the Company, which is a member of a controlled group
of corporations (within the meaning of Section 414(b) of the Code) or of an
affiliated service group (within the meaning of Section 414(m) of the Code)
with respect to which the Company is also a member, (b) any incorporated or
uncorporated trade or business which along with the Company is under common
control (within the meanings of the regulations from time to time promulgated
by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to Section 414(c) of the Code, and
(c) any other incorporated or unincorporated trade or business which is
designated by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Affiliated Company
for the purposes of the Plan; provided however, that in determining the
applicable annual addition under Article IV of the Plan, Section 414(b) and (c)
of the Code Shall be applied as modified by Section 415(h) of the Code.

         2.4     "ANNIVERSARY DATE" shall be December 31st of each year.





                                      -2-
<PAGE>   8
         2.5     "BENEFICIARY" shall mean any person, trust, organization, or
estate designed to receive benefits payable on or after the death of a
Participant.  The Beneficiary of a married Participant shall be the
Participant's surviving spouse unless the Participant and such spouse have made
a designation in accordance with Section 6.4 of the Plan.

         2.6     "BREAK(S) IN SERVICE" shall mean a period of twelve (12)
consecutive months (computation period) during which an Employee does not
complete more than 500 Hours of Service with the Company.  An employee shall
not incur a Break in Service for the Plan Year in which he becomes a
Participant, dies, retires, or suffers a disability.  Further, solely for the
purpose of determining whether an Employee has incurred a Break in Service,
Hours of Service shall be recognized for authorized leaves of absence and
maternity and paternity leaves of absence.

         If a Break in Service occurs and later if the Employee earns one or
more Years of Service, his Years of Service for vesting and eligibility
purposes prior to such Break in Service shall be included in any subsequent
determination of benefits hereunder, but only if:

                 (a)      The Employee was entitled to at least one (1) Year of
         Service for eligibility proposes at the commencement of such Break in
         Service; or

                 (b)      In the case of a nonvested Participant, his
         consecutive one (1) year Breaks in Service did not equal or exceed the
         greater of (i) five (5) years or (ii) his Years of Service for
         eligibility purposes at the commencement of the consecutive one (1)
         year Breaks in Service.

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

         2.8     "COMMITTEE" shall mean the administrative Committee provided
for in Section 8.4.

         2.9     "COMPANY" shall mean Presidio Oil Company, a Delaware
corporation, and any successor thereto, and, where the context requires, any
other Affiliated Company which becomes a party to the Plan.

         2.10    "COMPENSATION" shall mean all remuneration paid to an Employee
by the Company for service rendered to the Company, but excluding contributions
under this Plan or any other retirement or life insurance program, or under any
health or welfare plan, maintained by the Company to the extent that such
contributions are not included in the Employee's gross income for federal
income tax purposes, but excluding any non-taxable fringe benefits provided by
the Company.

         Compensation in excess of $200,000 shall be disregarded.  Such amount
shall be adjusted at the same time and in such manner as permitted under Code
Section 415(d).  In applying this limitation, the family group of a Highly
Compensated Participant who is





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   9
subject to the Family Member aggregation rules of Code Section 414(q)(6)
because such Participant is either a "five percent owner" of the Company or one
of the ten (10) Highly Compensated Employees paid the greatest "415
Compensation" during the year, shall be treated as a single Participant, except
that for this purpose Family Members shall include only the affected
Participant's spouse and any lineal descendants who have not attained age
nineteen (19) before the close of the year.  If, as a result of the application
of such rules, the adjusted $200,000 limitation is exceeded, then the
limitation shall be prorated among the affected individuals in proportion to
each such individual's Compensation as determined under this Section prior to
the application of this limitation.

         For Plan Years beginning prior to January 1, 1989, the $200,000 limit
(without regard to Family Member aggregation) shall apply only to Top Heavy
Plan Years and shall not be adjusted.

         2.11    "EFFECTIVE DATE" shall mean July 1, 1981.  The Effective Date
of this restatement shall mean January 1, 1989.

         2.12    "EMPLOYEE" shall mean any person who, on or after the
Effective Date, is employed by the Company or by any other entity required to
be aggregated with the Company under Code Section 414(b), (c), (m), or (o), but
excludes any person who is employed as an independent contractor.

         The term Employee shall also include any Leased Employee deemed to be
an Employee of a Company described in the previous paragraph as provided in
Code Sections 414(n) or (o).

         The term "Leased Employee" shall mean any person (other than an
Employee of the Company) who pursuant to an agreement between the Company and
any other person ("leasing organization") has performed services for the
Company (or for the Company and related persons determined in accordance with
Code Section 414(n)(6)) on a substantially full time basis for a period of at
least one (1) year, and such services are of a type historically performed by
Employees in the business field of the Company.  Contributions or benefits
provided a Leased Employee by the leasing organization which are attributable
to services performed for the Company shall be treated as provided by the
Company.

         A Leased Employee shall not be considered an Employee of the Company
if: (a) such Employee is covered by a money purchase pension plan providing:
(i) a nonintegrated employer contribution rate of at least ten percent (10%) of
Compensation, as defined in Code Section 415(c)(3), but including amounts
contributed by the Company pursuant to a salary reduction agreement which are
excludable from the Employee's gross income under Code Sections 125, 402(a)(8),
402(h) or 403(b), (ii) immediate participation, and (iii) full and immediate
vesting; and (b) Leased Employees do not constitute more than twenty percent
(20%) of the Company's Nonhighly Compensated workforce.





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   10
         2.13    "EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN" or "ESOP" shall mean this Plan
which is designed to invest primarily in Qualifying Employer Securities as
defined in Section 4975(e)(8) and Section 409(l) of the Code, as amended.

         2.14    "ENTRY DATE" shall mean January 1st or July 1st.

         2.15    "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security 
Act of 1974, as amended.

         2.16    "EXEMPT LOAN" shall mean a loan made to an ESOP by a
disqualified person (as defined in Section 4975(e) of the Code) and which is
exempt under Internal Revenue Service Regulation Section 54.4975-7(b).  It
includes a direct loan of cash, a purchase-money transaction, and an assumption
of the obligation of an ESOP.

         2.17    "FAMILY MEMBER" shall mean the spouse, lineal ascendants and
descendants of the Employee or former Employee and the spouses of such lineal
ascendants and descendants.

         2.18    "FIDUCIARY" or "FIDUCIARIES" shall mean any person who (a)
exercises discretionary authority or discretionary control respecting
management of the Plan or exercises any authority or control respecting
management or disposition of its assets; (b) renders investment advice for a
fee or other Compensation, direct or indirect, with respect to any monies or
other property of the Plan or has any authority or discretionary responsibility
to do so; or (c) has any discretionary authority or discretionary
responsibility in the administration of the Plan, including, but not limited
to, the Trustee, the Company and its representative body, and the Committee.

         2.19    "HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEE" includes Highly Compensated
active Employees and Highly Compensated former Employees.

         For this purpose, the "determination year" shall be the Plan Year.
The "look-back" year shall be the twelve (12) month period immediately
preceding the determination year.

         A Highly Compensated active Employee includes any Employee who
performs Service for the Company during the determination year and who, during
the look-back year: (a) received Compensation from the Company in excess of
$75,000 (as adjusted pursuant to Code Section 415(d); (b) received Compensation
from the Company in excess of $50,000 (as adjusted pursuant to Code Section
415(d) and was a member of the top-paid group for such year; or (c) was an
officer of the Company and received Compensation during such year that is
greater than fifty percent (50%) of the dollar limitation in effect under Code
Section 415(b)(1)(A).

         The term "Highly Compensated Employee" also includes: (a) Employees
who are both described in the preceding paragraph if the term "determination
year" is substituted for the term "look-back year" and the Employee is one of
the one hundred (100)





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   11
Employees who received the most Compensation from the Company during the
determination year; and (b) Employees who are five-percent (5%) owners at any
time during the look-back year or determination year.

         If no officer has satisfied the Compensation requirement of (c) above
during either a determination year or look-back year, the highest paid officer
for such year shall be treated as a Highly Compensated Employee.

         Further, a Highly Compensated former Employee includes any Employee
who separated from Service (or was deemed to have separated) prior to the
determination year, performs no services for the Company during the
determination year, and was a Highly Compensated Employee of the Company for
either the separation year or any determination year ending on or after the
Employee's fifty-fifth (55th) birthday.

         If an Employee is, during a determination year or look-back year, a
Family Member of either a five-percent (5%) owner who is an active or former
Employee or a Highly Compensated Employee who is one of the ten (10) most
Highly Compensated Employees ranked on the basis of Compensation paid by the
Company during such year, then the Family Member and the five-percent owner or
top-ten Highly Compensated Employee shall be treated as a single Employee
receiving Compensation and Plan contributions or benefits of the Family Member
and five-percent (5%) owner or top-ten Highly Compensated Employee.

         The determination of who is a Highly Compensated Employee, including
the determinations of the number and identity of Employees in the top-paid
group, the top one hundred (100) Employees, the number of Employees treated as
officers and the Compensation that is considered, will be made in accordance
with Code Section 414(q) and the regulations thereunder.

         2.20    "HOUR OF SERVICE" shall mean:

                 (a)      Each hour for which an Employee is paid or entitled
         to payment by the Company for the performance of duties for the
         Company during the applicable computation period.

                 (b)      Each hour for which an Employee is paid or entitled
         to payment by the Company on account of a period of time during which
         no duties are performed (irrespective of whether the employment
         relationship has terminated) due to vacation, holiday, illness,
         incapacity (including disability), layoff, jury duty, military duty or
         leave of absence.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence:

                          (i)     No more than 501 Hours of Service are
                 required to be credited to an Employee on account of any
                 single continuous period during which the Employee performs no
                 duties (whether or not such period occurs in a single
                 computation period);





                                      -6-
<PAGE>   12
                          (ii)    An hour for which an Employee is directly or
                 indirectly paid, or entitled to payment, on account or a
                 period during which no duties are performed is not required to
                 be credited to the Employee if such payment is made or due
                 under a plan maintained solely for the purpose of complying
                 with applicable worker's compensation, unemployment
                 compensation or disability insurance laws; and

                          (iii)   Hours of Service are not required to be
                 credited for a payment which solely reimburses an Employee for
                 medical or medically related expenses incurred by the
                 Employee.  For this purpose, a payment shall be deemed to be
                 made by or due from the Company regardless of whether such
                 payment is made by or due from the Company directly, or
                 indirectly through, among others, a trust fund, or insurer, to
                 which the Company contributes or pays premiums and regardless
                 of whether contributions made or due to the trust fund,
                 insurer or other entity are for the benefit of particular
                 Employees or are on behalf of a group of Employees in the
                 aggregate.

                 (c)      Each hour for which back pay, irrespective of
         mitigation of damages, is either awarded or agreed to by the Company.
         Such hours shall be credited to the Employee for the computation
         period or periods to which the award or agreement pertains rather than
         the computation period in which the award, agreement or payment was
         made.  The same hours of service shall not be credited both under
         2.20(a) or 2.20(b), as the case may be and under this 2.20(c).

                 (d)      In the case of each Employee who is absent from work
         for any period (i) by reason of pregnancy of the Employee, (ii) by
         reason of the birth of a child of the Employee, (iii) by reason of the
         placement of a child with the Employee in connection with the adoption
         of such child by such Employee, or (iv) for purposes of caring for
         such birth or placement, the Plan shall treat as Hours of Service,
         solely for purposes of determining whether a one-year Break in Service
         has occurred for purposes of vesting and participation (but not for
         purposes of benefit accrual), the following hours: (i) the Hours of
         Service which otherwise would normally have been credited to such
         Employee but for such absence, or (ii) in any case in which the Plan
         is unable to determine the hours described in clause (i), eight Hours
         of Service per day of such absence, provided, however, that the total
         number of hours treated as hours of service under this subsection by
         reason of any such pregnancy or placement shall not exceed 501 Hours
         of Service.  The hours described in this subsection (d) shall be
         treated as Hours of Service only in the year in which the absence from
         work begins, if a Participant would be prevented from incurring a one
         year Break in Service in such year solely because the period of
         absence is treated as Hours of Service provided in this subsection, or
         in any other case, in the immediately following Plan Year.





                                      -7-
<PAGE>   13
                 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may determine
         that no credit will be given pursuant to this subsection unless the
         Employee furnishes to the Committee such timely information as the
         Committee may reasonably require to establish that the absence from
         work is for reasons referred to in the first sentence of this
         subsection (d) and the number of days for which there was such an
         absence.

                 (e)      For purposes of calculating the Hours of Service to
         be credited to periods during which no duties are performed and
         determining the computation periods to which hours shall be credited,
         the rules set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of Department of Labor
         Regulations Section 2530.200b-2 are hereby incorporated by reference
         as though such provisions were fully set forth at this point.

         2.21    "KEY EMPLOYEE" shall mean any Employee or former Employee (and
his Beneficiaries) who, at any time during the Plan Year or any of the
preceding four Plan Years, is described below:

                 (a)      An officer of the Company (as that term is defined
         within the meaning of the regulations under Code Section 416) having
         annual Compensation greater than fifty percent (50%) of the amount in
         effect for the Plan Year under Code Section 415(b)(1)(A).

                 (b)      One of the ten (10) Employees owning (or considered
         as owning with in the meaning of Code Section 318, as modified by Code
         Section 416(i)) the largest interest in the Company and having annual
         Compensation in excess of the amount in effect for the Plan Year under
         Code Section 415(c)(1)(A).

                 (c)      A "five-percent owner" of the Company.  "Five-percent
         owner" means any person who owns (or is considered as owning within
         the meaning of Code Section 318, as modified by Code Section 416(i))
         more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding stock of the Company or
         stock possessing more than five percent (5%) of the total combined
         voting power of all stock of the Company.

                 (d)      A "one-percent owner" of the Company having annual
         Compensation from the Employer of more than $150,000.  "One-percent
         owner" means any person who owns (or is considered as owning within
         the meaning of Code Section 318, as modified by Code Section 416(i))
         more than one percent of the outstanding stock of the Company or stock
         possessing more than one percent of the total combined voting power of
         all stock of the Company.

                 In determining percentage ownership hereunder, Companies that
         would otherwise be aggregated under Code Sections 414(b), (c), and (m)
         shall be treated as separate Companies.

         2.22    "LIMITATION YEAR" shall mean the Plan Year.





                                      -8-
<PAGE>   14
         2.23    "NON-HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEE" shall mean any Participant
who is neither a Highly Compensated Employee nor a Family Member.

         2.24    "NON-KEY EMPLOYEE" shall mean any Employee or former Employee
who is not a Key Employee.

         2.25    "NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE" shall mean the date the participant
attains age 65.  A Participant shall be fully vested in all his Accounts upon
attainment of his Normal Retirement Age.

         2.26    "PARTICIPANT" shall mean any Employee who has satisfied all of
the requirements for eligibility under this plan and has not elected to not
participate in the Plan.  "Participant" also shall mean any person who was a
Participant and has subsequently terminated active employment, but has not yet
received his total vested interest in the Plan.

         2.27    "PLAN" shall mean the Employee Stock Ownership Plan of
Presidio Oil Company as amended and restated from time to time.

         2.28    "PLAN YEAR", "TRUST YEAR" and "TAX YEAR" shall mean the period
of twelve (12) consecutive months beginning on January 1st and ending on the
following December 31st of each year.

         2.29    "QUALIFYING EMPLOYER SECURITY" shall mean common stock
(including Treasury Stock) issued by the Company, or by a corporation which is
a member of a controlled group (as defined in Section 409(1)(4) of the Code, as
amended) with the Company provided such common stock is readily tradeable on an
established securities market.  In the event the applicable common stock is not
readily tradeable on an established securities market, then in addition to the
foregoing, such common stock must have a combination of voting power and
dividend rates that is at least equal to that class of common stock of the
Company or any other member of the controlled group whose stock is used to fund
benefits under this Plan, having the greatest voting power, and that class of
common stock of the Company or any other corporation which is a member of the
control group whose stock is used herein, having the greatest dividend rights.
         Qualifying Employer Security shall also mean noncallable preferred
stock if such preferred stock is convertible at any time into common stock at a
reasonable conversion price which meets the requirements described in this
Section 2.29.  Preferred stock shall be treated as noncallable if after the
call there will be a reasonable opportunity for a conversion which meets the
requirements of the preceding sentence.

         2.30    "STOCK" shall mean the Company's $.10 par value Class A Common
Stock and the Company's $.10 par value Class B Common Stock.





                                      -9-
<PAGE>   15
         2.31    "SUSPENSE ACCOUNT" shall mean the ESOP account maintained by
the Trust which is credited with all shares of Qualifying Employer Securities
purchased through the use of installment purchase contracts or loan agreements.
Such shares shall be released from this Suspense Account in accordance with
Section 12.8.

         2.32    "TRUST AGREEMENT" shall mean the Trust Agreement for Employee
Stock Ownership Plan of Presidio Oil Company dated June 1, 1982 between the
Company and the First National Bank of Denver and any amendments subsequent
thereto.

         2.33    "TRUST" shall mean the entity forming a part of the ESOP, and
established by the Trustee and the Company for the purpose of receiving
contributions of the Company, subsequent investments and reinvestments,
disbursement of deposits and payments to terminated, retired or disabled
Participants and Beneficiaries.

         2.34    "TRUST FUND" shall mean the fund established and used by the
Trustee for investing contributions made to the Trust.

         2.35    "VALUATION DATE" shall mean the last day of each Plan Year and
any other dates selected by the Committee as of which the assets of the trust
fund are valued at fair market value and the net increase or decrease in the
value of Plan assets, and income, gain, loss and expense, are credited to
Participant accounts under the Plan.

         2.36    "YEAR OF SERVICE" shall mean the computation period of twelve
(12) consecutive months, herein set forth, during which an Employee is credited
with at least 1,000 Hours of Service.

         For purposes of eligibility for participation, the initial computation
period shall begin with the date on which the Employee first performs an Hour
of Service.  The subsequent computation period shall then begin on the
anniversary of the date on which the Employee first performed an Hour of
Service.  The participation computation period beginning after a Break in
Service shall be measured from the date on which an Employee again performs an
Hour of Service.

         For vesting purposes a Year of Service shall be a Plan Year in which
an Employee completes 1,000 Hours of Service.

         Years of Service with any corporation, trade or business which is a
member of a controlled group of corporations or under common control (as
defined by Code Section 1563(a) and Code Section 414(c)), or is a member of an
affiliated service group (as defined by Code Section 414(m) shall be
recognized.  For purposes of eligibility, but not vesting, all Years of Service
with any corporation that becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company
shall be included.  For purposes of determining the number of Years of Service,
the rules of the Plan in effect on the date that such corporation becomes a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company shall apply.





                                      -10-
<PAGE>   16
         Effective December 13, 1989, the Company acquired all of the assets of
Home Petroleum Corporation ("Home").  For purposes of eligibility, but not for
purposes of vesting all Years of Service rendered by those employees of Home
shall be included.  For purposes of determining the number of Years of Service,
the rules of the Plan in effect on the date that such employees become
Employees of the Company shall apply.


                                  ARTICLE III

                           PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

         3.1     ELIGIBILITY.  Each Employee who was a Participant in the Plan
on the Effective Date of this restated Plan shall remain a Participant in this
Plan.

         Any other Employee shall become a Participant in the Plan on the Entry
Date coincident with or immediately following completion of one (1) Year of
Service for eligibility purposes with the Company.

         Notwithstanding the above, any Leased Employee and any Employee who is
covered by a collective bargaining agreement under which pension, profit
sharing or similar benefits have been the subject of good faith bargaining
shall not be eligible to participate in this Plan unless such collective
bargaining agreement expressly provides for the inclusion of such person(s) as
Participants in this Plan (if they otherwise satisfy this Plan's requirements
for participation).  In addition to the foregoing, each individual who is
classified as a "temporary employee" on the payroll records of the Company
shall not be eligible to participate.

         3.2     REENTRY.  Any Participant who terminates employment may again
become a Participant on the date on which he completes an Hour of Service
unless such prior service is excluded under the Break in Service rules.

         3.3     ACTION REQUIRED.  Each eligible Employee who becomes a
Participant under this Plan shall provide information to the Committee in such
form as the Committee shall require.  Such form shall contain the Employee's
legal name, birth date, Beneficiary, and any other pertinent information
required by the Committee.

         3.4     OMISSIONS OF ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE.  If, in any Plan Year, an
Employee who should be included as a Participant in the Plan is erroneously
omitted and discovery of such omission is not made until after a contribution
by the Company for the year has been made, the Company shall make a subsequent
contribution with respect to said Employee in the amount which the Company
would have contributed with respect to him had he not been omitted.  Such
contribution shall be made regardless of whether or not it is deductible in
whole or in part in any taxable year and in accordance with provisions of the
Code.





                                      -11-
<PAGE>   17
         3.5     INCLUSION OF INELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE.  If, in any Plan Year, an
Employee who should not have been included as a Participant in the Plan is
erroneously included and discovery of such incorrect inclusion is not made
until after a contribution for the year has been made, the Company shall not be
entitled to recover the contribution made with respect to the ineligible person
regardless of whether or not a deduction is allowable with respect to such
contribution.  In such event, the amount contributed with respect to the
ineligible person shall constitute a forfeiture for the Plan Year in which the
discovery is made.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                                 CONTRIBUTIONS

         4.1     COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS.

                 (a)      For each Taxable Year, the Company shall contribute
         to the Trust Fund such amount, if any, as the Company's board of
         directors may determine by resolution timely adopted.

                 (b)      Company contributions may be made in cash or in
         Stock, as determined by the Company's board of directors.
         Contributions to the Plan may be made regardless of whether the
         Company has "profits" or "losses" for any given Plan Year, whether
         such terms are defined in a strict accounting sense or otherwise.

                 (c)      Except as provided in Section 3.4, the Company's
         contribution for a Taxable Year shall not exceed the amount allowable
         as a deduction for such year pursuant to Section 404 of the Code
         together with carry forwards of unused deductions for prior years, and
         shall be paid to the Trustee not later than the due date (including
         any extensions) for filing the Company's federal income tax return for
         such year.

         4.2     PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTIONS.  The Committee, in its sole
discretion, may permit voluntary contributions by Participants.  If the
Committee permits such voluntary contributions, they shall be made according to
the provisions of this 4.2 and such other reasonable rules as the Committee may
prescribe.  A Participant may elect to make voluntary contributions of up to
six percent (6%) of his Compensation (but not less that ten dollars per month)
during any Plan Year.  Participant contributions may be made in cash, by
payroll deduction or a combination of the two methods according to rules
prescribed by the Committee, which may require a written authorization for the
Company to deduct such contributions from the Participant's Compensation.  Such
authorization shall remain in effect until revoked or changed by the
Participant.  The Company shall pay the amount so deducted to the Trustee
promptly after the deduction is made.  Any authorization, change of
authorization or notice of revocation shall be filed with the Committee during
such period and subject to such restrictions and requirements as the





                                      -12-
<PAGE>   18
Committee shall prescribe.  In no event shall the aggregate voluntary
contributions made by a Participant for any limitation year to this Plan and
all other plans maintained by the Company exceed ten percent (10%) of such
Participant's Compensation.  If a Participant contributes less than the allowed
amount in any year, he or she shall be entitled to make up the deficiency in
any future year, subject, however to the limitations of 4.3.  If a Participant
contributes more than the maximum amount in any year, he shall withdraw the
excess promptly.

         4.3     BASIC ALLOCATION LIMITATION.  The maximum annual addition
(hereinafter referred to as an "Annual Addition") for any Participant in any
Limitation Year shall not exceed the lesser of:

                 (a)      $30,000 or if greater, one-quarter of the dollar
         limitation in effect under Code Section 415(b)(1)(A); or

                 (b)      Twenty five percent (25%) of a Participant's
         Compensation.

                 The compensation limitation referred to in (b) above shall not
         apply to any contribution for medical benefits (within the meaning of
         Section 401(h) or Section 419A(f)(2) of the Code) which is otherwise
         treated as an Annual Addition under Section 415(l)(l) or 419A(d)(2) of
         the Code.

                 If a short limitation year is created because of an amendment
         changing the Limitation Year to a different twelve (12) consecutive
         month period, the maximum permissible amount shall not exceed the
         defined contribution dollar limitation multiplied by the following
         fraction:

                 Number of months in the short limitation year
                                       12

         The term "Annual Addition" means the sum of (i) and (ii) below:

                          (i)     The aggregate Company and voluntary
                 Participant contributions made during such Limitation Year in
                 respect to the Participant.  Such Company and voluntary
                 Participant contributions shall include:

                                  (A)      the fair market value of Qualifying
                          Employer Securities contributed in kind and allocated
                          to the Participant's Accounts;

                                  (B)      cash contributions.

                          (ii)    Any forfeitures for the Limitation Year
                 applied to increase the benefits of the Participant (except
                 those forfeitures of Stock acquired with an Exempt Loan).





                                      -13-
<PAGE>   19
         For the purpose of applying the limitation imposed by this Section,
the Company and all Affiliated Companies shall be considered a single Company,
and all defined contribution plans (meaning plans providing for individual
accounts and for benefits based solely upon the amounts contributed to such
amounts and forfeitures, income, expenses, gains and losses allocated to such
accounts), whether or not terminated, maintained by the Company shall be
considered to be a part of this Plan.

         If in any Plan Year, as a result of the allocation of forfeitures, a
reasonable error in estimating a Participant's Compensation or other facts and
circumstances to which Section 1.415-6(b)(6) of the Income Tax Regulations
shall be applicable, the Annual Addition to a Participant's Account(s) would
exceed the maximum permissible Annual Addition, then such Annual Addition shall
first be reduced by refunding any voluntary Participant contributions and
second, if further reduction is necessary, by applying the excess Company
contributions in the Participant's Account(s) to reduce Company contributions
for the next Limitation Year (and succeeding Limitation Years, as necessary)
for that Participant if that Participant is covered by the plan as of the end
of the Limitation Year.

         However, if that Participant is not covered by the Plan as of the end
of the Limitation Year, then the excess amounts shall be held unallocated in an
"IRC 415 Suspense Account" for the Limitation Year and allocated and
reallocated in the next Limitation Year to the remaining Participants' Accounts
to whom such additional allocation would not in turn create an excess Annual
Addition.  Provided, however, if the further allocation of the excess amounts
would cause the Annual Addition with respect to each Participant in the plan to
exceed the maximum Annual Addition for such Limitation Year, then these amounts
must continue to be held unallocated in the "IRC 415 Suspense Account."  These
amounts in the "IRC 415 Suspense Account" shall be allocated in the next
Limitation Year (and succeeding Limitation Years, if necessary) in the same
manner as forfeitures before any Company contributions which would constitute
in Annual Addition may be made to the plan for that Limitation Year.

         For purposes of applying the Limitations of this Section, Compensation
for the Limitation Year shall mean a Participant's earned income, wages,
salaries and other amounts paid or which are includable in income for the
Limitation Year for personal services actually rendered in the course of
employment with the Company maintaining the Plan (including, but not limited to
Compensation for services on the basis of a percentage of profits, and
bonuses), and excluding the following:

                 (a)      Company contributions to a plan of deferred
         compensation which are not includable in the Employee's gross income
         for a taxable year in which contributed, or contributions under a
         simplified employee pension plan to the extent such contributions are
         deductible by the Employee, or any distributions from a plan of
         deferred compensation;





                                      -14-
<PAGE>   20
                 (b)      Amounts realized from the exercise of a non-qualified
         stock option or when restricted stock (or property) held by the
         Employee either becomes freely transferable or is no longer subject to
         a substantial risk of forfeiture;

                 (c)      Amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other
         disposition of stock acquired under a qualified stock option; and

                 (d)      Other amounts which received special tax benefits, or
         contributions made by the Company (whether or not under a salary
         reduction agreement) toward the purchase of an annuity described in
         Section 403(b) of the Code (whether or not the amounts are actually
         excludable from the gross income of the Employee).

         4.4     COMBINED PLAN LIMITATION.  For those Participants who also
participate in a defined benefit plan of the Company (whether or not
terminated), it is necessary to determine the applicability of a second
limitation, after the Participant's benefits have been adjusted (if necessary)
to comply with Section 4.3.  The limitation shall be determined as of the end
of any Limitation Year by first computing the sum of:

                 (a)      The Participant's projected annual benefit from the
         defined benefit plan,divided by the lesser of:

                          (i)     1.25 times the dollar limitation in effect
                 under Section 415(b)(1)(A) of the Code for such year; or

                          (ii)    1.4 times the Participant's average
                 Compensation for his high three (3) consecutive Plan Years (or
                 all employment if he has less than three (3) Plan Years of
                 employment.

                 (b)      The sum of the Participant's Annual Additions under
         this plan divided by the sum of the lesser of the following amounts
         determined for the current year and for each prior year with the
         Company:

                          (i)     1.25 times the dollar limitation in effect
                 under Section 415(c)(1)(A) of the Code for each such year; or

                          (ii)    1.4 times twenty-five percent (25%) of the
                 Participant's Compensation (as compensation is defined in
                 Section 4.3) for each such year.

         If at the end of any Limitation Year the sum of (a) and (b) exceeds
1.0, then the Participant's benefit under the defined benefit plan shall be
reduced such that the sum is 1.0.

         4.5     SPECIAL ESOP ALLOCATION LIMITATION.  Notwithstanding the
limitation described in Section 4.3, if no more than one- third (1/3) of the
Company's deductible contributions for a given Limitation Year are allocated to
Employees who are officers,





                                      -15-
<PAGE>   21
shareholders owning more than ten percent (10%) of the Company's Stock (as
determined under Section 415(c)(6)(B) of the Code), or whose Compensation for
the Limitation Year exceeds twice the dollar limitation determined under
Section 4.3, then the maximum Annual Addition to any Participant's Accounts in
any Limitation Year shall not exceed the lesser of:

                 (a)      Twice the dollar amount determined under Section 4.3;
         or

                 (b)      25% of the Participant's Compensation.

         For purposes of this Section, Annual Additions shall have the same
meaning as described in Section 4.3 except that Annual Additions shall not
include (i) any forfeitures of Qualifying Employer Securities that were
acquired with purchase money debt and (ii) Company contributions which are
deductible and are charged against the Participant's account for interest
payments on purchase money debt during such Limitation Year.

         Effective for Plan Years beginning after July 12, 1989, the Special
ESOP Allocation Limitation above shall read as follows: If no more than
one-third (1/3) of the Company contributions to the ESOP for a year which are
deductible under paragraph (9) of Section 404(a) of the Code are allocated to
Highly Compensated Employees the Annual Addition limitations imposed by this
Article shall not apply to:

                 (a)      Forfeitures of Company Stock (within the meaning of
         Section 409 of the Code) under the ESOP if such securities were
         acquired with the proceeds of an Exempt Loan (as described in Section
         404(a)(9)(A) of the Code); or

                 (b)      Company contributions to the ESOP which are
         deductible under Section 404(a)(9)(B) of the Code and charged against
         the Participant's Account.

         4.6     RETURN OF CONTRIBUTIONS.

                 (a)      Any Company contribution made under a mistake of fact
         may be returned to the Company.  The amount that may be returned may
         not exceed the excess of the amount contributed (reduced to reflect
         any loss or depreciation attributable thereto) over the amount that
         would have been contributed had there not occurred a mistake of fact.
         Appropriate reductions will be made in the Accounts of Participants to
         reflect the return of any contributions previously credited to such
         Accounts.  However, no contribution shall be returned to the extent
         that such reduction would reduce the Account of a Participant to an
         amount less than the balance that would have been credited to his
         Account had the contribution not been made.  Any contribution made
         under a mistake of fact shall be returned within one year after the
         date of payment.

                 (b)      Any Company contribution conditioned upon its
         deductibility under Section 404 of the Code may be returned to the
         Company.  All contributions under





                                      -16-
<PAGE>   22
         the Plan are expressly made conditional upon their deductibility for
         federal income tax purposes.  The amount that may be returned may not
         exceed the excess of the amount contributed (reduced to reflect any
         loss or depreciation attributable thereto) over the amount that would
         have been contributed had there not occurred a mistake in determining
         the deduction.  Appropriate reductions shall be made in the  Accounts
         of Participants to reflect the return of any contributions previously
         credited to such Accounts.  However, no contribution shall be returned
         to the extent that such reduction would reduce the Account of a
         Participant to an amount less than the balance that would have been
         credited to his Account had the contribution not been made.  Any
         contribution conditioned on its deductibility shall be returned within
         one year after it is disallowed as a deduction.


                                   ARTICLE V

                          INTERESTS IN THE TRUST FUND

         5.1     PARTICIPANTS' ACCOUNTS.  The Committee shall establish and
maintain separate Accounts in the name of each Participant, but the maintenance
of such Accounts shall not require any segregation of assets of the Trust Fund.
Each Participant's share of the Company's contributions and forfeitures,
together with any increase or decrease in the net worth of the Trust Fund
attributable to such contributions and forfeitures, shall be credited to his
Company Contributions Account.  A separate account shall be maintained for each
Participant with respect to assets attributable to voluntary contributions,
which account shall be referred to as a Participant's "Voluntary Contributions
Account".  Shares of Stock contributed to or purchased by the Trust Fund shall
be allocated directly to the appropriate Participant Accounts.

         5.2     VALUATION OF TRUST FUND.  The Trustee shall value the assets
of the Trust Fund at least annually, as of the last day of the Plan Year, at
their current fair market value and determine the net worth of the Trust Fund.
Such valuation shall not, however, include any contributions made by the
Company or Participants for the current Plan Year or any unallocated
forfeitures.  The Trustee shall then determine the amount of increase or
decrease in the net worth of the Trust Fund occurring since the preceding
Valuation Date.

         5.3     ALLOCATION OF INCREASE OR DECREASE IN NET WORTH.  The
Committee shall, as of each Valuation Date, allocate the increase or decrease
in the net worth of the Trust Fund attributable to assets other than Stock
occurring since the preceding Valuation Date among the various Accounts in the
ratio which the dollar value (other than the value attributable to Stock) of
each bore to the aggregate dollar value (other than the value attributable to
Stock) of all such Accounts on the preceding Valuation Date after all
allocations and credits made as of such date had been completed.





                                      -17-
<PAGE>   23
         5.4     ALLOCATION OF VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION.  The Committee shall, as
of each Valuation Date, but after the allocation required under 5.3, credit to
the Voluntary Contributions Accounts of each Participant the amount contributed
by him or her as voluntary contributions since the preceding Valuation Date.

         5.5     ALLOCATION OF COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS AND FORFEITURES.  As of
the last day of each Plan Year, but after the allocations required by 5.3 and
5.4 as of such date have been completed, the Committee shall allocate all
Company contributions for such Plan Year, together with the forfeitures
occurring during such Plan Year among the Company Contributions Accounts of
Participants who received credit for a Year of Service during such Plan Year
and who were employed on the last day of the Plan Year or who died, retired or
became disabled during such year in the proportion which the Compensation of
each such Participant for such Plan Year bears to the aggregate Compensation of
all such Participants for such Plan Year.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                  BENEFITS ON RETIREMENT, DEATH OR DISABILITY

         6.1     NORMAL RETIREMENT.  The entire interest of a Participant in
the Trust Fund shall become payable upon normal retirement.  On the last day of
the month in which a Participant attains Normal Retirement Age he shall be
entitled to retire voluntarily.  Until actual retirement, a Participant shall
continue to participate in the Plan.  Even though a participant continues in
employment beyond Normal Retirement Age, distributions will not be made until
actual retirement unless required under the provisions of Article XV.

         6.2     DEATH BENEFITS.  Upon the death of a Participant, the
Participant's entire interest in the Trust Fund shall become payable.  The
Participant's entire interest shall be paid to the Participant's surviving
spouse as provided in 6.5.  However, if either (a) the Participant was not
married at the time of his death, or (b) the Participant's spouse has consented
to the designation of another Beneficiary, which consent shall be in writing,
witnessed by a notary public and filed with the Committee, then the entire
interest shall be paid in a lump sum to the Beneficiary designated by the
Participant under 6.4.  Any spousal consent shall be effective only as to the
spouse who signed such consent.

         6.3     DISABILITY RETIREMENT.  A Participant shall be considered
disabled if he has a physical or mental condition which, in the judgement of
the Committee, based upon medical reports and other evidence satisfactory to
the Committee, presumably permanently prevents him from satisfactorily
performing his usual duties for the Company or the duties of such other
position or job which the Company makes available to him and for which such
Employee is qualified by reason of his training, education or experience.

         6.4     BENEFICIARIES.  Each Participant shall file with the Committee
a designation of the Beneficiaries and contingent Beneficiaries to whom his
interest in the Trust Fund





                                      -18-
<PAGE>   24
shall be paid in the event of his death.  Such designation may be changed by
the Participant at any time and without the consent of any previously
designated Beneficiary provided however, that if the Participant is married,
the Participant's spouse, shall be designated as the Beneficiary to receive
benefits payable under 6.2 unless the Participant's spouse shall have consented
to the designation of a Beneficiary other than such spouse.  The consent shall
be in writing, shall be witnessed by a notary public, and shall be filed with
the Committee.  Any such election shall be effective only as to the spouse who
signed the election.  In the absence of an effective Beneficiary designation as
to any portion of the Participant's interest in the Trust Fund, such amount
shall be paid to the Participant's estate.

         6.5     AMOUNT AND FORM OF BENEFITS UPON RETIREMENT, DEATH OR
                 DISABILITY.

                 (A)      CONSENT.  No distribution from a Participant's
         Company Contributions Account or Voluntary Contributions Account shall
         be made to a Participant before his Normal Retirement Age without his
         consent, except upon the death of the Participant.  Notwithstanding
         the above, consent shall not be required and distributions shall be
         made if the value of the Participant Accounts is not in excess of
         $3,500.  Upon the death of the Participant, distribution shall be made
         in accordance with 6.2 and this 6.5.

                 (B)      AMOUNT.  Subject to the provisions of this section,
         distributions shall be made from the Trust Fund by the Trustee only
         upon the direction of the Committee and at the times and in the manner
         directed by the Committee.  When the interest of a Participant or
         Beneficiary becomes distributable under this Article, the amount shall
         be calculated as of the Valuation Date coincident with or next
         following the date of retirement, death or disability including the
         Participant's allocable share, if any, of the Company contribution for
         the Plan Year in which the Participant retired, died, or became
         disabled.  If the Account is not distributed until the Participant
         attains Normal Retirement Age or until the Participant dies, the
         account shall be valued as of the Valuation Date of the Plan Year
         coincident with or next following the date the Participant attains
         Normal Retirement Age or when the Participant dies.

                 (C)      MANNER OF DISTRIBUTION.  The amount distributable
         shall be paid in a lump sum (other than an annuity).  All
         distributions, other than those distributions which were diversified
         in accordance with Section 6.9 and which shall be payable in cash,
         shall be made in whole shares of Stock, except that a fractional share
         may be converted to and paid in cash.  In accordance with Article XVI,
         distributions may be paid in the form of a Direct Rollover.

                 (D)      TIME OF DISTRIBUTION.  All distributions shall be
         made, subject to the consent requirements in 6.5(a), as soon as
         reasonably practicable after the date on which all allocations for the
         Plan Year in which the Participant dies, retires, or becomes disabled
         are completed.  If the consent requirements of 6.5(a) apply and





                                      -19-
<PAGE>   25
         if the required consent is not given, the distribution shall not be
         made to the Participant until Normal Retirement Age.  If the
         Participant dies prior to Normal Retirement Age, the distribution
         shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable after the date on
         which all allocations for the Plan Year in which the Participant dies
         are completed.

         6.6     SEGREGATION OF AMOUNTS PAYABLE.  Where a Participant's Account
or Accounts have become distributable, in whole or in part, the Committee may
direct the Trustee to segregate the Account or Accounts, or the distributable
portion thereof, in which case all distributions shall be paid solely from the
segregated Account.  Accounts thus segregated shall not share in the allocation
of forfeitures and of increases and decreases in the value of the unsegregated
portion of the Trust Fund.

         6.7     PAYMENTS IN CASE OF DEATH PENDING DISTRIBUTIONS.  If any
person entitled to payment shall die prior to the completion of such payment,
the amount unpaid shall be paid to the Beneficiary designated by the
Participant.  In the absence of an effective Beneficiary designation, payment
shall be made as provided in 6.4.

         6.8     DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS PRIOR TO SEVERANCE OF SERVICE.  The
Accrued Benefit of Participant must be distributed, or commence to be
distributed no later than the first day of April following the calendar year in
which such individual attains age 70 1/2 in accordance with the provisions of
Article XV.

         6.9     DIVERSIFICATION OF INVESTMENTS.  Each Qualified Participant
shall be able to elect, within 90 days after the close of each Plan Year in the
Qualified Election Period if he so desires, to diversify the investments held
in his Account up to twenty- five percent (25%) of the Qualified Participant's
Account balance.  This percentage may be increased in the last election year in
the Qualified Election Period (as defined below) to up to fifty percent (50%).
The Qualified Participant shall be able to direct the diversification in his
Account balance by instructing the Company to transfer that portion of his
Account balance for which diversification is elected into one or more of the
three (3) investment options within the ESOP that may be offered by the
Company.  None of these three investment options shall be Company Stock.

         Alternatively, if the ESOP does not offer investment options, the
Qualified Participant may request the Company to distribute the portion of the
Account balance which the Qualified Participant elected to diversify.
Distributions will be subject to the usual put option rules, if then
applicable, and the distribution must be made within ninety (90) days following
the end of the ninety (90) day election period which would be 180 days after
the end of the Plan Year.  In accordance with Article XVI, this distribution
may be paid in the form of a Direct Rollover.

                 (a)      For purposes of this Section, "Qualified Election
         Period" shall mean the six Plan-Year period beginning with the Plan
         Year in which the Participant becomes a Qualified Participant.





                                      -20-
<PAGE>   26
                 (b)      For purposes of this Section, a "Qualified
         Participant" means any Employee who has completed at least ten (10)
         years of participation under the Plan and has attained age 55.

                 (c)      For purposes of this Section, only Company Stock
         acquired after December 31, 1986 shall be eligible for
         diversification.


                                  ARTICLE VII

                     BENEFITS ON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

         7.1     VESTING SCHEDULE - FORFEITURES.  A Participant shall have a
fully vested and nonforfeitable interest in his Company Contributions Account
balance upon Normal Retirement Age, death, or termination of employment because
of disability.  A Participant shall always be fully vested in his Voluntary
Contributions Account.  In all other instances his vested interest shall be
calculated according to the following rules.  His non-vested interest shall be
forfeited at the end of the Plan Year in which he shall have received a
distribution of his entire vested interest in the Plan or, if he has not
consented to and received such distribution, at the end of the Plan Year in
which he shall have incurred five consecutive one year Breaks in Service.

         The amount credited to the Participant's Company Contributions Account
and dividends allocated to the Participant's Company Contributions Account
during the Plan Year shall vest in accordance with the following schedule until
such time the Participant is credited with five Years of Service:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Vested
         Plan Year                                          Percentage
         ---------                                          ----------
         <S>                                                <C>
         end of first year after contribution                       20%
         end of second year after contribution              an additional 20%
         end of third year after contribution               an additional 20%
         end of fourth year after contribution              an additional 20%
         end of fifth year after contribution               an additional 20%
</TABLE>

In order for a Participant to receive credit for an increase pursuant to the
schedule above, he must be employed by the Company or on an approved leave of
absence on the last day of the Plan Year.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
Participant shall be fully vested in his Company Contributions Account on the
completion of five Years of Service.  In addition, a Participant who received
credit for one thousand (1,000) or more Hours of Service during the twelve
consecutive month period commencing July 1, 1987 and during the twelve
consecutive month period beginning January 1, 1988 shall receive credit for two
Years of Service.





                                      -21-
<PAGE>   27
                 (a)      MOUNTAIN GAS DIVESTITURE.  Notwithstanding the vested
         percentage determined above, each Participant whose employment with
         the Company was discontinued due to the July 16, 1992 merger of
         Mountain Gas Resources, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of the Company,
         with and into MS Gas Resources, Inc. a Delaware corporation, shall be
         one hundred percent (100%) vested in his or her Account under the Plan
         as of June 30, 1992.

                 (b)      PEAKE DIVESTITURE.  Notwithstanding the vested
         percentage determined above, each Participant whose employment with
         the Company was discontinued due to the divestiture of Peake Operating
         Company and Peake Energy, Inc., indirect subsidiaries of the Company,
         shall be one hundred percent (100%) vested in his or her Account under
         the Plan.

         7.2     DISTRIBUTION OF VESTED AMOUNTS.

                 (a)      Upon termination of a Participant's employment for
         reasons other than death, disability or retirement, the entire balance
         in the Participant's Voluntary Contributions Account and the vested
         balance of his Company Contributions Account shall be paid to him in a
         lump sum.  The unvested portion of the Participant's Company
         Contributions Account shall be forfeited at the end of the Plan Year
         in which he shall have received distribution of his entire vested
         interest in the Plan or, if he has not consented to and received such
         distribution, at the end of the Plan Year in which he shall have
         incurred five consecutive one year Breaks in Service before returning
         to employment with the Company.  Notwithstanding the consent
         requirements in the preceding sentence, if the vested Account value is
         not greater than $3,500 the account shall be distributed without
         consent.  All distributions shall be made as soon as reasonably
         practicable after the date on which all allocations for the Plan Year
         during which termination of employment occurs are completed.  All
         Accounts distributed shall be valued as of the most recent Valuation
         Date.

                 (b)      If the distribution is not made upon the
         Participant's termination of employment, the Trustee shall continue to
         hold such Accounts in trust for the Participant.  The unvested portion
         of the Participant's Company Contributions Account shall be forfeited
         as provided in section 7.1.  The vested portion of the Participant's
         Accounts, together with the net earnings thereon, if any, shall not be
         distributed to the Participant until his Normal Retirement Age or, if
         earlier and requested by the Participant, the end of the Plan Year
         following the Plan Year in which he incurs five consecutive one year
         Breaks in Service.  If the Participant is reemployed by the Company
         prior to incurring five consecutive one year Breaks in Service, then
         such distribution shall not be made until a subsequent event requiring
         a distribution.  If the Participant dies before distributions are
         made, distribution shall be made to the Participant's Beneficiary upon
         the Participant's death.  Distributions pursuant to this 7.2(b) shall
         be made in the manner specified in 6.5





                                      -22-
<PAGE>   28
         as soon as reasonably practicable after the date on which all
         allocations required for the Plan Year in which the Participant dies,
         are completed.  All Accounts distributed under this 7.2(b) shall be
         valued as of the last day of the Valuation Date preceding
         distribution.

                 (c)      If a Participant has received a distribution of his
         Company Contributions Account representing less than one hundred
         percent (100%) of such Account and if such Participant is subsequently
         reemployed before incurring five consecutive one year Breaks in
         Service, the Participant may repay the amount of such distribution to
         the Trustee before the first to occur of (i) the fifth anniversary of
         the date the Participant was reemployed or (ii) the date the
         Participant incurs five consecutive one year Breaks in Service.  Upon
         such repayment, a Participant's Company Contributions Account shall
         consist of the amount repaid plus the amount previously forfeited,
         which shall be restored to his Company Contributions Account either
         (i) by a special Company contribution, which shall be allocated in its
         entirety to the Account, (ii) by an allocation to the Account of the
         forfeitures occurring during the Plan Year, or (iii) by any
         combination of (i) and (ii) as the Company shall determine in its sole
         discretion.  If a Participant eligible to make such repayment fails to
         do so within the relevant time period, the forfeited amount shall not
         be restored to the Participant's Company Contributions Account.

                 (d)      All distributions paid under this Section 7.2 may be
         made, in accordance with Article XVI, in the form of a Direct
         Rollover.

         7.3     AMENDMENT TO VESTING SCHEDULE.  If the Plan's vesting schedule
is amended, or the Plan is amended in any way that directly or indirectly
affects the computation of a Participant's nonforfeitable percentage, each
Participant with a least three (3) Years of Service with the Company may elect,
within a reasonable period after the adoption of the amendment or change, to
have the nonforfeitable percentage computed under the Plan without regard to
such amendment or change.  The period during which the election may be made
shall commence with the date the amendment is adopted or needed to be made and
shall end on the latest of:

                 (a)      sixty (60) days after the amendment is adopted;

                 (b)      sixty (60) days after the amendment becomes
         effective; or

                 (c)      sixty (60) days after at Participant is issued
         written notice of the amendment by the Company or Committee.





                                      -23-
<PAGE>   29
                                  ARTICLE VIII

               ALLOCATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES - NAMED FIDUCIARIES

         8.1     NO JOINT FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES.  The persons designated
in this Article shall be the named Fiduciaries under the Plan and Trust
Agreement and shall be the only named Fiduciaries thereunder.  The Fiduciaries
shall have only the responsibilities specifically allocated to them herein or
in the Trust Agreement.  Such allocations are intended to be mutually exclusive
and there shall be no sharing of Fiduciary responsibilities.  Whenever one
named Fiduciary is required by the Plan or Trust Agreement to follow the
directions of another named Fiduciary, the two named Fiduciaries shall not be
deemed to have been assigned a shared responsibility, but the responsibility of
the named Fiduciary giving the directions shall be deemed his or her sole
responsibility, and the responsibility of the named Fiduciary receiving those
directions shall be to follow them insofar as such instructions are on their
face proper under applicable law.

         8.2     THE COMPANY.  The Company or, in the event the Company
delegates such responsibility to the Committee, the Committee shall be
responsible for:

                 (a)      making the employer contributions hereunder;

                 (b)      certifying to the Trustee the names and specimen
         signatures of the members of the Committee acting from time to time;

                 (c)      keeping accurate books and records with respect to
         its employees and their compensation and furnishing such data to the
         Committee;

                 (d)      directing the Trustee concerning the investment of
         the assets in the Trust Fund, other than Stock;

                 (e)      directing the Trustee with respect to the purchase of
         Stock;

                 (f)      valuing the Stock; and

                 (g)      the periodic review of the performance of Plan agents
         and Fiduciaries.

         8.3     THE TRUSTEE.  The Trustee shall be responsible for:

                 (a)      in the absence of investment direction from the
         Company, the investment of the Trust Fund to the extent and in the
         manner provided in the Trust agreement;

                 (b)      the custody and preservation of Trust assets
         delivered to it;





                                      -24-
<PAGE>   30
                 (c)      the purchase of shares of Stock in accordance with
         the written directions of the Company or the Committee; and

                 (d)      making such payments from the Trust Fund as the
         Committee shall direct.

         8.4     THE COMMITTEE.  The board of directors of the Company shall
appoint an administrative Committee consisting of not fewer than three persons
who may but need not be officers, directors or Employees of the Company or
Participants.  The members of the Committee shall hold office at the pleasure
of the board of directors and shall serve without compensation.  The Committee
shall be the "Plan administrator".  It shall be responsible for establishing
and implementing a funding policy consistent with the objectives of the Plan
and with the requirements of ERISA.  This responsibility shall include
establishing (and revising as necessary) short term and long term goals and
requirement pertaining to the financial condition of the Plan, communicating
such goals and requirements to the persons responsible for the various aspects
of Plan operations, and periodically monitoring the implementation of such
goals and requirements.  The Committee shall also be responsible for duties
delegated to it by the Company in accordance with Section 8.2 of the Plan.

         8.5     COMMITTEE TO ADMINISTER AND INTERPRET PLAN.  The Committee
shall administer the Plan and shall have all powers necessary for that purpose,
including, but not by way of limitation, power to interpret the Plan, to
determine the eligibility, status and rights of all persons under the Plan and
in general to decide any dispute.  The Committee shall direct the Trustee
concerning all distributions from the Trust Fund, in accordance with the
provisions of the Plan, and shall have such other powers in the administration
of the Trust Fund as may be conferred upon it by the trust agreement.  The
Committee shall maintain all Plan records except records of the Trust Fund.

         8.6     ORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEE.  The Committee shall elect a
chairman and shall adopt such rules as it deems desirable for the conduct of
its affairs and for the administration of the Plan.  It may appoint agents (who
need not be members of the Committee) to whom it may delegate such powers as it
deems appropriate, except that any dispute shall be determined by the
Committee.  The Committee may make its determinations with or without meetings.
It may authorize one or more of its members or agents to sign instructions,
notices and determinations on its behalf.  The action of a majority of the
Committee shall constitute the action of the Committee.

         8.7     AGENT FOR PROCESS.  The chairman of the Committee shall be
agent of the Plan for service of all process.

         8.8     INDEMNIFICATION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS.  The Company shall
indemnify each member of the Committee against any and all claims, loss,
damages, expense and liability arising from any action or failure to act,
except when the same is judicially determined to be due to the gross negligence
or willful misconduct of such member.





                                      -25-
<PAGE>   31
                                   ARTICLE IX

                                     TRUST

         9.1     TRUST AGREEMENT.  The Company has entered into a Trust
Agreement to provide for the holding, investment and administration of the
funds of the Plan.  The Trust Agreement shall be part of the Plan, and the
rights and duties of any person under the Plan shall be subject to all terms
and provisions of the Trust Agreement.

         9.2     EXPENSES OF TRUST.  All taxes upon or in respect of the Trust
shall be paid by the Trustee out of the Trust assets.  All expenses of
administering the Trust shall be paid by the Trustee our of the Trust assets,
to the extent they are not paid by the Company.  No Fiduciary shall receive any
compensation from the Plan for services with respect to the Plan if such
Fiduciary is receiving compensation as a full-time employee of the Company.


                                   ARTICLE X

                           TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

         10.1    TERMINATION OF PLAN OR DISCONTINUANCE OF CONTRIBUTION.  The
Company expects to continue the Plan indefinitely, but the continuance of the
Plan and the payment of contributions are not assumed as contractual
obligations.  The Company may terminate the Plan or discontinue contributions
at any time.  Upon the termination (or partial termination) of the Plan or
complete discontinuance of Company contributions, the interests of all affected
Participants in the Trust Fund shall become fully vested, notwithstanding any
other provision hereof.

         10.2    ALLOCATIONS UPON TERMINATION OR DISCONTINUANCE OF COMPANY
CONTRIBUTIONS.  Upon the termination or partial termination of the Plan or upon
the complete discontinuance of contributions, the Committee shall promptly
notify the Trustee of such termination or discontinuance and the Trustee shall
determine the net worth of the Trust Fund as of the close of the last business
day of the calendar month in which such notice was received by the Trustee and
shall advise the Committee of any increase or decrease in such net worth
occurring since the last preceding valuation date.  The Committee shall
thereupon allocate among the Accounts of the Participants then remaining in the
Plan, any such increase or decrease in the net worth of assets other than Stock
in the Trust Fund.  Immediately after the allocation of such increase or
decrease in net worth, the Committee shall allocate among the Accounts of the
Participants then remaining in the Plan, the amounts of any Company
contributions or forfeitures occurring since the preceding Valuation Date.





                                      -26-
<PAGE>   32
         10.3    PROCEDURE UPON TERMINATION OF PLAN OR DISCONTINUATION OF
COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS.  If the Plan has been terminated (or partially
terminated), or if Company contributions have been completely discontinued, the
Committee shall, after all allocations required have been completed, direct the
Trustee to distribute to each Participant the amount then credited to his
Accounts.

         10.4    AMENDMENT BY COMPANY.  The Company may at any time amend the
Plan in any respect by action of its board of directors, but no amendment shall
be made that would have the effect of vesting in the Company any part of the
Trust Fund or of diverting any part of the Trust Fund to purposes other than
for the exclusive benefit of employees of the Company or their beneficiaries,
and the rights of any Participant with respect to contributions previously made
shall not be adversely affected by any amendment.


                                   ARTICLE XI

                   SPECIAL PROVISIONS REGARDING COMPANY STOCK

         11.1    DISTRIBUTIONS.  Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, no
Stock shall be distributed to any person unless such distribution is at that
time effectively registered or exempt from registration under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.  In the event that the distribution of Stock to a
Participant or Beneficiary is prohibited by the foregoing limitation, the
Company shall take such steps as are necessary to permit the distribution of
such Participant's interest in the Trust Fund.

         11.2    INVESTMENT OF TRUST FUND.  The investment policy of the Plan
is to invest primarily in Stock.  All cash received by the Trustee shall, at
the written direction of the Company or the Committee, be used to purchase
Stock at the fair market value of the Stock.  At the written direction of the
Company or the Committee, the Trustee shall temporarily invest Trust assets,
pending the purchase of Stock, as provided in the Trust Agreement.  In the
absence of written direction from the Company or the Committee, the Trustee may
temporarily invest Trust assets, pending the purchase of Stock, in savings
accounts, certificates of deposit high-grade short-term securities, or such
funds may be held in cash or cash equivalents.

         11.3    DIVIDENDS.  The Company may from time to time declare and pay
dividends, either in cash or in shares of Stock, with respect to shares of
Stock in the Trust Fund.  Cash dividends paid with respect to Stock shall be
allocated to the Accounts of the respective Participants on the basis of the
number of shares of Stock allocated to their Accounts at the time such dividend
is declared and dividends of Stock shall be allocated to Participants' Accounts
on the same basis.

          Dividends also may be used, at the direction of the Company or the
Committee, to pay debt on an Exempt Loan or distributed in cash to Participants
or Beneficiaries in





                                      -27-
<PAGE>   33
accordance with this paragraph.  Dividends paid in cash and used in accordance
with the preceding sentence, hereinafter referred to as "Applicable Dividends",
shall be allowable as a deduction in the taxable year of the Company in which
paid or distributed to a Participant or Beneficiary or in the taxable year in
which used to repay an Exempt Loan.  An Applicable Dividend is any dividend
which:

                 (a)      is paid in cash to the Participants in the Plan or
         their Beneficiaries;

                 (b)      is paid to the Plan and is distributed in cash to
         Participants in the Plan or their Beneficiaries not later than 90 days
         after the close of the Plan Year in which paid; or

                 (c)      is used to make payments on an Exempt Loan the
         proceeds of which were used to acquire the Stock (whether or not
         allocated to Participants) with respect to which the dividend is paid.

A dividend described in (c) which is paid with respect to any Stock which is
allocated to a Participant shall not be treated as an Applicable Dividend
unless Stock with a fair market value of not less than the amount of such
dividend is allocated to such Participant for the year which such dividend
would have been allocated to such Participant.

         11.4    VOTING COMPANY STOCK.  If the Company has a "registration-type
class of securities", as defined in Section 409(e) of the Code, each
Participant shall be entitled to vote the shares of Stock, including fractional
shares, allocated to his Account and shall be entitled to receive all proxy
materials and other information distributed to shareholders as the other
shareholders of the Company.  If the Company does not have a "registration-type
class of securities", each Participant shall be entitled to vote the shares of
Stock, including fractional shares, allocated to his Account with respect to
corporate matters that (by law or charter) must be decided by more than a
majority vote of outstanding common shares voted, and shall be entitled to
receive all proxy materials and other information distributed to shareholders
as the other shareholders of the Company.  Shares of Stock that have not been
allocated to Participant Accounts shall be voted by the Trustee in the same
proportion as shares of Stock that are allocated to Participant Accounts are
voted.

         11.5    COMPANY STOCK TO BE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS.  All shares
of Stock distributed to a Participant or his Beneficiary shall bear such
legends and statements as the Company may deem advisable to assure compliance
with applicable federal and state securities laws and regulations.  If
requested by the Company, a recipient of shares of Stock shall, prior to
receipt of such shares, deliver to the Company such written statements as the
Company or its counsel may reasonably require to indicate that the recipient is
acquiring such shares for his own account, for investment and not with the view
to a distribution thereof and that the recipient of such shares understands
that such shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
Act) and that neither the shares nor any interest therein may be transferred,
sold, assigned or conveyed except in accordance with the Act and applicable
state securities laws and must therefore be held





                                      -28-
<PAGE>   34
indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Act or an
exemption from such registration is available.  Such written statements may
also require the recipient's acknowledgment that he understands that if, after
the Stock has been held for a period of at least two years and if the
provisions of Rule 144 of the General Rules and Regulations adopted under the
Act are otherwise available (there being no representations by the Company that
the provisions of Rule 144 will be applicable), then the recipient may make
routine sales of such shares in limited amounts, in a specified manner, in
accordance with other items and conditions of Rule 144.  In the case of Stock
to which Rule 144 is not applicable, any sales by a recipient would have to be
made in compliance with Regulation A or some other exception from the
registration requirements of the Act.

         11.6    VALUATION OF COMPANY STOCK.  Shares of Stock held in the Trust
Fund shall be valued annually, for all purposes of the Plan, at their fair
market value as of the last day of each fiscal year, as determined in good
faith by the Company.  In the case of purchases of Stock from "disqualified
persons" (as defined in Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code), the value
must be determined as of the date of the transaction.  The Company may use any
reasonable valuation method for the purpose of determining fair market value
that complies with the applicable regulations of the Department of Labor and
the Treasury Department.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Company may direct the Trustee to engage an independent expert appraiser to
evaluation the Company and the Stock and to provide an appraisal as to the fair
market value of the Stock as of any date.  The fees of such appraiser shall be
paid by the Company or the trust, or may be shared by each, as determined by
the Company.

         11.7    PUT OPTION.  A share of Stock shall be subject to a put option
if it is not publicly traded when distributed out of the Trust or if it is
subject to a trading limitation when so distributed.  Such put option must
comply with the following:

                 (a)      It must be exercisable only by the Participant or
         Beneficiary to whom the Company Stock subject thereto is distributed
         by the Trust, a donee of such Participant or Beneficiary, the trustee
         of an Individual Retirement Account that has received a rollover
         including such stock, or by a person (including an estate or its
         distributee) to whom such stock passes by reason of the death of such
         Participant or Beneficiary;

                 (b)      It must permit the person exercising it to put the
         Company Stock subject thereto to the Company; under no circumstances
         may it bind the Plan or Trust, but it may grant the Plan or Trust an
         option to assume the rights the obligations of the Company at the time
         it is exercised.  If it is known, at the time such Stock is acquired,
         that Federal or state law will be violated by the Company's honoring
         such put option, it must permit the stock subject thereto to be put,
         in a manner consistent with such law, to a third party (e.g., an
         affiliate or a shareholder of the Company other than the Plan or
         Trust);





                                      -29-
<PAGE>   35
                 (c)      (i)     It must be exercisable at least during a
                 sixty (60) day period following the date of distribution from
                 the Trust to the Participant or Beneficiary and for an
                 additional sixty (60) day period during the Plan Year
                 immediately following the Plan Year in which the first option
                 period ends;

                          (ii)    The period during which it is exercisable
                 shall not include any time when a distributee is unable to
                 exercise it because the party bound by it is prohibited from
                 honoring it by applicable Federal or state law;

                          (iii)   It shall be exercisable by the holder
                 notifying the Company in writing that it is being exercised;

                          (iv)    The price at which it is exercisable shall be
                 the current market value of the Stock subject thereto,
                 determined as of the most recent Valuation Date, provided,
                 however, that such value shall be determined as of the date
                 the put is honored if the holder of such put is a
                 "disqualified person" (as defined under Section 4975 of the
                 Code);

                          (v)     For purposes of the Plan, all valuations of
                 Company Stock which are not readily tradeable on an
                 established securities market shall be made by an independent
                 appraiser (as described in the Regulations under Code Section
                 170(a)(1)).

                 (d)      (i)     If the Company is empowered to repurchase the
                 total distribution of a Participant, the Company may do so
                 beginning no later than thirty days after the exercise of the
                 put option over a five year period, in substantially equal
                 periodic payments (not less frequently than annually) provided
                 there is adequate security furnished and reasonable interest
                 paid on the unpaid amounts.  For purposes of this paragraph
                 the term "total distribution" means the distribution within
                 one (1) taxable year to the Participant of the balance of the
                 credit of the Participant's Account.

                          (ii)    If the Company is required to repurchase
                 Company Stock as part of an installment distribution, the
                 payments by the Company shall be made no later than thirty
                 (30) days after the exercise of the put option.

                          (iii)   Payment under a put option may not be
                 restricted by the provisions of a loan or any other
                 arrangement, including the terms of the Company's certificate
                 of incorporation, unless as required by applicable state law.

         11.8    RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.  If not then regularly traded on an
Established Securities Market any Company Stock that was acquired by the ESOP
and distributed to a Participant or his Beneficiary shall be subject to a right
of first refusal provided that prior to any sale of any such Stock to a
prospective buyer by the Participant or his





                                      -30-
<PAGE>   36
Beneficiary or any transferee thereof (the "Stockholder"), such shares must
first be offered to the Plan and then to the Company at the price which the
prospective buyer is willing to pay as follows:

                 (a)      Any Stockholder wishing to sell, assign, transfer,
         pledge or otherwise alienate any of such shares of any Company Stock
         that were distributed by the ESOP shall first give written notice of
         any proposed transfer to the Committee and Trustee and to the Company.
         The notice shall name the proposed transferee and state the number of
         shares to be transferred, the price per share and all other terms of
         the offer made by a bonafide purchaser in writing.

                 (b)      For fourteen (14) days following the receipt of such
         notice, the Plan and, to the extent the Trustee elects not to exercise
         the Plan's right of first refusal, the Company, shall have the option
         but not the obligation, in its sole discretion, to purchase all or any
         portion of the Stock specified in the notice at the purchase price (or
         if greater, fair market value) and on the terms of payment as set
         forth in the notice.

                 (c)      In the event the Plan and/or the Company elects to
         acquire some portion or all of the stock as specified in said
         Stockholder's notice, the Trustee and/or the Company shall so notify
         the Stockholder and settlement for said shares shall be made at the
         purchase price (or if greater, fair market value) and on the terms of
         payment as set forth in the stockholder's notice.

                 (d)      In the event the Plan and/or the Company do not elect
         to acquire all of the shares of Stock specified in the Stockholder's
         notice, the Stockholder may, within the sixty (60) day period
         following the expiration of the first refusal rights granted herein,
         transfer the remaining shares specified in the Stockholder's notice
         elsewhere, provided that the sale shall not be on terms and conditions
         more favorable to the purchase than those contained in the bonafide
         offer set forth in the Stockholder's notice.  In no event will the
         terms and the purchase price by the Company or the Plan be less than
         the fair market value of the Company Stock as of the most recent
         Valuation Date.

         11.9    DISTRIBUTION OF CASH OR COMPANY STOCK.  Except for those
investments diversified in accordance with Section 6.9, a Participant shall
have the right to require that any distribution under this Plan be made in
shares of Stock (with the value of fractional shares payable in cash).  Subject
to that right, the fair market value of shares of Stock may be distributed, at
the option of the Committee, in cash.  The Committee shall advise each
Participant in writing of his right to receive a distribution of benefits in
shares of Stock before a cash distribution may be elected by the Committee.





                                      -31-
<PAGE>   37
         11.10   EXCHANGE OFFERS; TENDER OFFERS.

                 (a)      As soon as practicable after the commencement of an
         exchange offer or tender offer (the "Offer") for shares of Stock, the
         Committee shall use its best efforts to cause each Participant to be
         advised in writing of the terms of the Offer and to be provided the
         forms by which the Participant may instruct the Trustee, or revoke
         such instruction, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Offer,
         to exchange or tender, as the case may be, all or a portion of the
         Stock allocated to his Accounts.  The Trustee shall follow the
         direction of each Participant.  All shares of Stock that have been
         allocated to Participants' accounts for which instructions have not
         been received shall not be exchanged or tendered, as the case may be.
         Shares of Stock that have not been allocated to Participants' accounts
         shall be exchanged or tendered, as the case may be, by the Trustee in
         the same proportion as shares of Stock that are allocated to
         Participants' accounts have been exchanged or tendered, as the case
         may be.

                 (b)      In advising Participants of the terms of the Offer,
         the Committee shall use its best efforts to provide the Participants
         with all materials that are furnished to Stockholders of the Company.
         The giving of instructions by Participants to the Trustee to exchange
         or tender shares of Stock and the exchange or tender thereof shall not
         be deemed to be a withdrawal from a Participant's Account, an election
         not to participate in the Plan, or a forfeiture of any part of a
         Participant's interest in the Plan solely by reason of giving such
         instructions and the Trustee's compliance with such instructions.  The
         Trustee shall keep all instructions given it by Participants
         confidential at all times.  The number of shares as to which a
         Participant may provide instructions shall be the total number of
         shares allocated to his Accounts, whether or not the shares are vested
         as of the date of Offer commenced, except as specifically provided
         otherwise.  Any Stock received by the Trustee as a result of the
         exchange of shares of Stock shall be allocated to the Account of the
         Participant with respect to whom the shares were exchanged.  Any
         securities received by the Trustee as a result of the exchange or
         tender of shares of Stock shall be held and any cash so received shall
         be invested in short-term investments for the account of the
         Participant with respect to whom the shares were exchanged or tendered
         pending any reinvestment by the Trustee.

                                  ARTICLE XII

                       COMPANY STOCK PURCHASED WITH LOANS

         12.1    DEFINITIONS.  When used in this Article, the following terms
have the meanings set forth:

                 (a)      LOAN.  The term "loan" refers to a loan made to the
         Plan by a dis-qualified person or a loan to the Plan that is
         guaranteed by a disqualified person.  It includes a direct loan of
         cash, a purchase-money transaction, and an assumption





                                      -32-
<PAGE>   38
         of the obligation of the Plan.  "Guarantee" includes an unsecured
         guarantee and the use of assets of a disqualified person as collateral
         for a loan, even though the use of assets may not be a guarantee under
         applicable state law.  An amendment of a loan in order to qualify as
         an Exempt Loan is not a refinancing of the loan or the making of
         another loan.

                 (b)      PUBLICLY TRADED.  The term "publicly traded" refers
         to a security that is listed on a national securities exchange
         registered under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
         amended (15 U.S.C. 78f), or that is quoted on a system sponsored by a
         national securities association registered under Section 15A(b) of the
         Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (15 U.S.C. 78o).

         12.2    PROHIBITION AGAINST NON-EXEMPT LOANS.  Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in the Plan or Trust Agreement, no loan
shall be made to the Plan unless such loan is an Exempt Loan.

         12.3    PRIMARY BENEFIT RETIREMENT.

                 (a)      An Exempt Loan must be primarily for the benefit of
         the Plan Participants and their Beneficiaries.

                 (b)      At the time that a loan is made, the interest rate
         for the loan and the price of the Stock to be acquired with the loan
         proceeds should not be such that Plan assets might be drained off.

                 (c)      The terms of a loan, whether or not between
         independent parties, must, at the time the loan is made, be at least
         as favorable to the Plan as the terms of a comparable loan resulting
         from arm's-length negotiations between independent parties.

         12.4    USE OF LOAN PROCEEDS.  The proceeds of an Exempt Loan must be
used within a reasonable time after their receipt by the Plan only for any or
all of the following purposes:

                 (a)      To acquire Stock.

                 (b)      To repay such loan.

                 (c)      To repay a prior Exempt Loan.  A new loan, the
         proceeds of which are so used, must satisfy the provisions of this
         Article.  Except as provided in 11.7, or as otherwise required by
         applicable law, no Stock acquired with the proceeds of an Exempt Loan
         may be subject to a put, call, or other option, or buy-sell or similar
         arrangement while held by and when distributed from the Plan.





                                      -33-
<PAGE>   39
         12.5    LIABILITY AND COLLATERAL OF PLAN FOR LOAN.  An Exempt Loan
must be without recourse against the Plan.  Furthermore, the only assets of the
Plan that may be given as collateral on an Exempt Loan are of two classes:
those acquired with the proceeds of the loan and those that were used as
collateral on a prior Exempt Loan repaid with the proceeds of the current
exempt loan.  No person entitled to payment under the Exempt Loan shall have
any right to assets of the Plan other than:

                 (a)      Collateral given for the loan;

                 (b)      Contributions (other than contributions of employer
         securities) that are made under the Plan to meet its obligations under
         the loan; and

                 (c)      Earnings attributable to such collateral and the
         investment of such contributions.  The payments made with respect to
         an Exempt Loan by the Plan during a Plan Year must not exceed an
         amount equal to the sum of such contributions and earnings received
         during or prior to the year less such payments in prior years.  Such
         contributions and earnings must be accounted for separately in the
         books of Account of the Plan until the loan is repaid.

         12.6    DEFAULT.  In the event of default upon an Exempt Loan, the
value of Plan assets transferred in satisfaction of the loan must not exceed
the amount of default.  If the lender is a disqualified person, a loan must
provide for a transfer of Plan assets upon default only upon and to the extent
of the failure of the Plan to meet the payment schedule of the loan.  For the
purposes of this section, the making of a guarantee does not make a person a
lender.

         12.7    REASONABLE RATE OF INTEREST.  The interest rate of a loan must
not be in excess of a reasonable rate of interest.  All relevant factors will
be considered in determining a reasonable rate of interest, including the
amount and duration of the loan, the security and guarantee (if any) involved,
the credit standing of the Plan and the guarantor (if any), and the interest
rate prevailing for comparable loans.  When these factors are considered, a
variable interest rate may be reasonable.

         12.8    RELEASE FROM ENCUMBRANCE.

                 (a)      Shares of Stock purchased with an Exempt Loan shall
         be allocated to a Suspense Account and released from the Suspense
         Account (and the encumbrance) in accordance with this 12.8 and 12.11.
         Shares of Stock released from the Suspense Account shall be allocated
         to the Participants' Company Contributions Accounts.  In general, an
         exempt loan must provide for the release from encumbrance under this
         subsection of Plan assets used as collateral for the loan.  For each
         Plan Year during the duration of the loan, the number of securities
         released must equal the number of encumbered securities held
         immediately before release for the current Plan Year multiplied by a
         fraction.  The numerator of the fraction is the amount of principal
         and interest paid for the year.  The denominator





                                      -34-
<PAGE>   40
         of the fraction is the sum of the numerator plus the principal and
         interest to be paid for all future years.  The number of future years
         under the loan must be definitely ascertainable and must be determined
         without taking into account any possible extensions or renewal
         periods.  If the interest rate under the loan is variable, the
         interest to be paid in future years must be computed by using the
         interest rate applicable as of the end of the Plan Year.  If
         collateral includes more than one class of securities, the number of
         securities of each class to be released for a Plan Year must be
         determined by applying the same fraction to each class.

                 (b)      A loan will not fail to be an Exempt Loan merely
         because the number of securities to be released from encumbrance is
         determined solely with reference to principal payments.  However, if
         release is determined with reference to principal payments only, the
         following three additional rules apply.  The first rule is that the
         loan must provide for annual payments of principal and interest at a
         cumulative rate that is not less rapid at any time than level annual
         payments of such amounts for 10 years.  The second rule is that
         interest included in any payment is disregarded only to the extent
         that it would be determined to be interest under standard loan
         amortization tables.  The third rule is that this subsection is not
         applicable from the time that, by reason of a renewal, extension, or
         refinancing, the sum of the expired duration of the exempt loan, the
         renewal period, the extension period, and the duration of a new exempt
         loan exceeds 10 years.

         12.9    VOTING RIGHTS.  Stock acquired with the proceeds of an Exempt
Loan shall be subject to the voting rights and voting procedures described in
11.4.

         12.10   ALLOCATION TO ACCOUNTS OF PARTICIPANTS.

                 (a)      Except as provided in this section, amounts
         contributed to the Plan must be allocated as provided under Section
         1.401-1(b)(ii) and (iii) of the Income Tax Regulations, and securities
         acquired by the Plan must be accounted for as provided under Section
         1.402(a)-1(b)(2)(ii) of the Income Tax Regulations.

                 (b)      As of the end of each Plan Year, the Plan must
         consistently allocate to the Participants' Accounts non- monetary
         units representing Participants' interests in assets withdrawn from
         the Suspense Account.

                 (c)      Income with respect to securities acquired with the
         proceeds of an Exempt Loan must be allocated as income of the Plan
         except to the extent that the Plan provides for the use of income from
         such securities to repay the loan.

                 (d)      If a portion of a Participant's account is forfeited,
         Stock allocated under subsection 12.10(b) of this section must be
         forfeited only after other assets.  If interests in more than one
         class of qualifying employer securities have been allocated to the
         Participant's account, the Participant must be treated as forfeiting
         the same proportion of each such class.





                                      -35-
<PAGE>   41
         12.11   NON-TERMINABLE PROVISIONS.  Notwithstanding the fact that the
Plan may cease to be an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Stock acquired with
proceeds of an Exempt Loan shall continue to be subject to the provisions of
this Article.


                                  ARTICLE XIII

                            AFFILIATED CORPORATIONS

         13.1    ADOPTION OF PLAN.  Any corporation, whether or not presently
existing which is or shall become a member of an Affiliated Company of which
Presidio Oil Company is also a member may become a party to the Plan and Trust
by adopting the Plan and Trust for its employees.  Thereafter, such Affiliated
Company shall deliver to the Trustee a certified copy of the resolutions or
other documents evidencing its adoption of the Plan and Trust.  Such Affiliated
Company shall also execute a copy of the Trust.

         13.2    AGENCY OF PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY.  By becoming a party to the
Plan, each Affiliated Company constitutes Presidio Oil Company as its agent
with authority to act for it in all transactions in which Presidio Oil Company
believes such agency will facilitate the administration of the Plan and with
authority to amend and terminate the Plan.

         13.3    DISAFFILIATION AND WITHDRAWAL FROM PLAN.  Any Affiliated
Company that has adopted the Plan and that thereafter ceases for any reason to
be a member of an Affiliated Company which includes Presidio Oil Company shall
cease to be a party to the Plan.  Any Affiliated Company may, by resolution of
its board of directors and written notice thereof to Presidio Oil Company
provide from and after the end of any Plan Year for the discontinuance of Plan
participation by such corporation and its employees.

         13.4    EFFECT OF DISAFFILIATION OR WITHDRAWAL.  If at the time of
disaffiliation or withdrawal the disaffiliating or withdrawing corporation
shall by resolution of its board of directors determine to adopt a
substantially identical Plan, then, as to employees of such corporation, no
Plan termination shall be held to have occurred and the new Plan shall, as to
such employees, be deemed a continuation of this Plan.  In such case the
Trustee shall transfer to the trustee of the new plan all of the assets held
for the benefit of employees of the disaffiliating or withdrawing corporation
and no forfeitures or acceleration of vesting shall occur by reason of such
action.  Such payment shall operate as a complete discharge of the Trustee, and
of all corporations except the disaffiliating or withdrawing corporation, of
all obligations under this Plan to employees of the disaffiliating or
withdrawing corporation and to their beneficiaries.  A new plan shall not be
deemed substantially identical to this Plan if it provides slower vesting than
this Plan, and nothing in this subsection shall authorize the divesting of any
vested portion of any Employee's Account.





                                      -36-
<PAGE>   42
         13.5    DISTRIBUTION UPON DISAFFILIATION OR WITHDRAWAL.  In the event
of disaffiliation or withdrawal, if the provisions of 13.4 are not followed,
the Trustee shall distribute to each Participant or Beneficiary his entire
Account.  Such distribution have been made, the Trustee shall be discharged
from all obligation under the Trust and no Participant or Beneficiary to whom
any such distribution shall have been made shall have any further right or
claim under the Plan or Trust.


                                  ARTICLE XIV

                              TOP-HEAVY PROVISIONS

         14.1    APPLICATION OF TOP-HEAVY PROVISIONS.  The provision of this
Article shall be applicable only if the Plan becomes "top-heavy" as defined
below for any Plan Year beginning after December 31, 1983.  If the Plan becomes
"top-heavy" as of the Determination Date for a Plan Year, the provisions of
this Article shall apply to the Plan effective as of the first day of such Plan
Year and shall continue to apply to the Plan (whether or not the Plan ceases to
be "top-heavy") until the Plan is terminated or otherwise amended.

         14.2    DEFINITIONS.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan
to the contrary, when used in this Article the following terms shall have the
meaning set forth below:

                 (a)      "Determination Date" means, with respect to each Plan
         Year, the last day of the preceding Plan Year; provided however, that
         in the case of the first Plan Year of the Plan the Determination Date
         shall be the last day of such Plan Year.

                 (b)      "Special Compensation" means (i) the Participant's
         wages, salary, fees for professional service and other amounts
         received for personal services actually rendered in the course of
         employment with the Company (including, but not limited to,
         commissions paid salesmen, compensation for services on the basis of a
         percentage of profits, commissions on insurance premiums, tips and
         bonuses); (ii) in the case of a Participant who is self-employed, the
         Participant's earned income; (iii) amounts described in Sections
         104(a)(3), 105(a) and 105(h) of the Code, but only to the extent that
         these amounts are includable in the gross income of the Participant
         (iv) amounts described in Section 105(d) of the Code, whether or not
         these amounts are excludable from the gross income of the Participant
         under that section; (v) amounts paid or reimbursed by the Company for
         moving expenses incurred by the Participant, but only to the extent
         that these amounts are not deductible by the Participant under Section
         217 of the Code; (vi) the value of a non-qualified Stock option
         granted to a Participant by the Company, but only to the extent that
         the value of the option is includable in the gross income of the
         Participant for the taxable year in which granted; and (vii) the
         amount includable in the gross income of Participant upon making the
         election described in Section 83(b) of the Code.  Special compensation
         shall not include amounts such as (i)





                                      -37-
<PAGE>   43
         contributions made by the Company to a Plan of deferred compensation
         that are not includable in the employee's compensation for the taxable
         year in which contributed; (ii) amounts realized from the exercise of
         a non-qualified Stock option or amounts realized under Section 83(a)
         of the Code when restricted property is either freely transferable or
         not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, (iii) amounts
         realized from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of Stock
         acquired through the exercise of an incentive stock option; or (iv)
         other amounts that receive special tax benefits.  However, solely for
         purposes of this Article, special compensation shall not include any
         amount in excess of $200,000 (as such amount may be adjusted from time
         to time in accordance with the provisions of Section 416(d) of the
         Code) for any Plan Year in which the Plan is "top-heavy" as defined in
         this Article.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the Plan Year
         beginning July 1, 1987 and ending December 31, 1987, special
         compensation shall not include any amount in excess of $100,000.

                 (c)      "Valuation Date" for purposes of this Article only,
         means the date as of which the Account balances shall be valued, which
         date shall be the Determination Date.

         14.3    DETERMINATION OF TOP-HEAVY STATUS.  The Plan shall be
considered "top-heavy" for a Plan Year if, as of the Determination Date for
that Plan Year, the aggregate of the Account balances of Key Employees under
the Plan (and under all other plans required or permitted to be aggregated with
this Plan) exceeds 60% of the aggregate of the Account balances of all
Employees under the Plan (and under all other plans required or permitted to be
aggregated with this Plan).  For purposes of determining the Account balance or
the present value of the accrued benefit of any Employee, distributions made
with respect to such Employee within a five-year period ending on the
Determination Date must be included.  This shall also apply to distributions
under a terminated Plan which, if it had not been terminated, would have been
required to be included in an aggregation group.  However, if any individual
has not performed services for any Employer maintaining the Plan at any time
during the five-year period ending on the Determination Date, any accrued
benefit for such individual (and the account of such individual) shall not be
taken into account.  Each plan of the Company in which a Key Employee
participates and each other plan of the Company which enables this Plan to meet
the requirements of Section 401(a) or Section 410 of the Internal Revenue Code
is required to be aggregated to test for top-heaviness.  Plans of the Company,
which, when considered with the Plan and other plans of the Company that are
required to be aggregated with this Plan, would continue to satisfy the
requirement of Section 401(a) and 410 of the Internal Revenue Code, may be
aggregated to test for top-heaviness.  If one or more of the plans required or
permitted to be aggregated with this Plan is a defined benefit plan, the Plan
will be top-heavy if the sum of the aggregate Account balances of the Key
Employees under the Plan (and under all other plans required or permitted to be
aggregated with the Plan) and the aggregate present values of the accrued
benefits of the Key Employees under the defined benefit plan or plans required
or permitted to be aggregated with this Plan exceeds 60% of the sum of the
aggregate Account balances of all employees under the





                                      -38-
<PAGE>   44
Plan (and under all other plans required or permitted to be aggregated with
this Plan) and the aggregate present values of the accrued benefits of all
Employees under the defined benefit plan or plans required or permitted to be
aggregated with this Plan.  For the purposes of computing the present values of
the accrued benefits under a defined benefit plan, if the aggregation group
includes more that one defined benefit plan, the same actuarial assumptions
shall be used with respect to each such defined benefit plan.  The foregoing
top-heavy ratio shall be computed in accordance with the provisions of Section
416(q) of the Internal Revenue Code, together with the regulations and rulings
thereunder.

         14.4    SPECIAL VESTING RULE.  Notwithstanding the provisions of 7.1
hereof to the contrary, a Participant shall be fully vested in all of his
Account balances hereunder upon the completion of six Years of Service and
shall be partially vested beginning upon the completion of two Years of
Service, as determined in accordance with the following schedule:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       Years of Service                          Vested Percentage
       ----------------                          -----------------
         <S>                                            <C>      
         fewer than 2                                     0
         2                                               20
         3                                               40
         4                                               60
         5                                               80
         6 or more                                      100
</TABLE>

         14.5    SPECIAL MINIMUM CONTRIBUTION.  Notwithstanding the provisions
of 4.1 and 5.5 hereof to the contrary, each active Participant in the Plan who
is not a Key Employee and who is employed by the Company of the last day of the
Plan Year, regardless of whether the Participant received credit for 1,000 or
more Hours of Service, made any required Employee contributions for such year
or satisfied any other requirements for eligibility to share in the Company's
contribution, shall be entitled to a minimum Company contribution, together
with forfeitures, for each Plan Year of an amount not less than the lesser of
(a) 3% of such Participant's special compensation for such year or (b) the
largest percentage of special compensation provided for any Key Employee as a
contribution (including forfeitures) for that Plan Year; provided however, that
Social Security contributions may not be used to reduce this contribution.  If
the Company's contribution and the allocation of the Company's contribution
does not satisfy the requirements of the preceding sentence for any Plan Year
when this Plan is a top-heavy Plan, the Company shall contribute an additional
amount to the Plan such that each non-key employee shall receive an allocation
of at least the minimum contribution required by this 14.5 for such Plan Year.

         14.6    LIMITATION ON COMPENSATION.  If the Plan becomes top-heavy as
defined in this Article, Compensation of each Participant in excess of $200,000
(as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the
provisions of Section 415(d) of the Internal Revenue Code) shall be disregarded
for all purposes of the Plan.





                                      -39-
<PAGE>   45
         14.7    CHANGE IN TOP-HEAVY STATUS.  If the Plan shall cease to be a
"top-heavy" Plan as defined in this Article, and if any change in the benefit
structure, vesting schedule or other component of a Participant's accrued
benefit, shall change as a result of such change in top-heavy status, the
non-forfeitable percentage computed under the Plan shall be determined without
regard to such change in status unless the election provisions of Section 7.3
are first satisfied.


                                   ARTICLE XV

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

         15.1    RIGHT TO DISMISS EMPLOYEES.  The Company may terminate the
employment of any Employee as freely and with the same effect as if this Plan
were not in existence.  Participation is this Plan by an Employee shall not
constitute an express or implied contract of employment between the Company and
the Employee.

         15.2    CLAIMS PROCEDURE.

                 (a)      All claims shall be filed in writing by the
         Participant, his Beneficiary, or the authorized representative of the
         claimant, by completing such procedures as the Committee shall
         require.  Such procedures shall be reasonable and may include the
         completion of forms and the submission of documents and additional
         information.

                 (b)      If a claim is denied, notice of denial shall be
         furnished by the Committee to the claimant within 90 days after the
         receipt of the claim by the Committee, unless special circumstances
         require an extension of time for processing the claim, in which event
         notification of the extension shall be provided to the Participant or
         beneficiary and the extension shall not exceed 90 days.

                 (c)      The Committee shall provide adequate notice, in
         writing, to any claimant whose claim has been denied, setting forth
         the specific reasons for such denial, specific reference to pertinent
         Plan provisions, a description of any additional material or
         information necessary for the claimant to perfect his claims and an
         explanation of why such material or information is necessary, all
         written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant.  Such
         notice shall include appropriate information as to the steps to be
         taken if the claimant wishes to submit his claim for review.  The
         claimant or his authorized representative may request such a review
         upon written application.  He or she may review pertinent documents,
         and he may submit issues or comments in writing.  The claimant or his
         duly authorized representative must request such review within the
         reasonable period of time prescribed by the Committee.  In no event
         shall such a period of time be less than 60 days.  A decision on
         review shall be rendered within 60 days of the receipt of request for
         review by the Committee.  If special circumstances





                                      -40-
<PAGE>   46
         require a further extension of time for processing, a decision shall
         be rendered not later than 120 days following the Committee's receipt
         of the request for review.  If such an extension of time of review is
         required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the
         claimant prior to the commencement of the extension.  The decision on
         review shall be furnished to the claimant.  Such decision shall be in
         writing and shall include specific reasons for the decision, written
         in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, as well as
         specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the
         decision is based.

         15.3    SOURCE OF BENEFITS.  All benefits payable under the Plan shall
be paid solely from the Trust Fund, and the Company assumes no liability or
responsibility therefor.

         15.4    EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF EMPLOYEES.  It is the intention of the
Company that it shall be impossible for any part of the Trust, other than as
provided in 9.2 hereof and the trust agreement, ever to be used for or diverted
to purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of the employees of the
Company and their beneficiaries, and that this Plan shall be construed to
follow the spirit and intent of the Code and ERISA.

         15.5    FORMS OF NOTICES.  Wherever provision is made in the Plan for
the filing of any notice, election or designation by a Participant, the action
of such Participant shall be evidenced by the execution of such form as the
Committee may prescribe for the purpose.

         15.6    FAILURE OF ANY OTHER CORPORATION TO QUALIFY.  If any
corporation joins in the adoption of this Plan but fails to obtain or retain
the qualification of the Plan under the applicable provisions of the Code, such
corporation shall withdraw from this Plan upon a determination by the Internal
Revenue Service that it has failed to obtain or retain such qualification.
Within thirty days after the date of such determination, the assets of the
Trust Fund held for the benefit of the employees of such corporation shall be
segregated and disposed of in accordance with the Plan and trust.

         15.7    NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF THE PLAN.  The Company shall provide
each of its Employees with notice of the adoption of this Plan and of any
amendments and of the salient provisions thereof.  A complete copy of the Plan
shall also be made available for inspection by Employees.

         15.8    PLAN MERGER.  If this Plan merges or consolidates with, or
transfers its assets or liabilities to, any other qualified plan of deferred
compensation, provisions shall be made so that each Participant would (if the
Plan then terminated) be entitled to receive a benefit immediately after the
merger, consolidation or transfer which is equal to or greater than the benefit
he or she would have been entitled to receive immediately before the merger,
consolidation or transfer if this Plan had then been terminated.

         15.9    INALIENABILITY OF BENEFITS - DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDERS.





                                      -41-
<PAGE>   47
                 (a)      Except as provided below, no Participant or
         Beneficiary shall have any right to assign, alienate, transfer,
         hypothecate, encumber or anticipate his or her interest in any
         benefits under this Plan, nor shall such benefits be subject to any
         legal process to levy upon or attach the same for payment of any claim
         against any such Participant or Beneficiary.

                 (b)      Subsection (a) shall apply to the creation,
         assignment, or recognition of a right to any benefit payable with
         respect to a Participant pursuant to a domestic relations order unless
         such domestic relations order is a "qualified domestic relations
         order", in which case the Plan shall make payment of benefits in
         accordance with the applicable requirements of any such qualified
         domestic relations order.  For purposes of this section, the term
         "qualified domestic relations order" means a domestic relations order
         that creates or recognizes the existence of an alternate payee's right
         to, or assigns to an alternate payee the right to, receive all or a
         portion of the benefits payable with respect to a Participant under
         the Plan and with respect to which the requirements of subsection (c)
         below are met.  The term "domestic relations order" means any
         judgement, decree or order (including approval of property settlement
         agreement) that relates to the provision of child support, alimony
         payments, or marital property rights to a spouse, former spouse,
         child, or other dependent of the Participant and is made pursuant to a
         state domestic relations law (including a community property law).

                 (c)      A domestic relations order meets the requirements of
         this subsection only if such order clearly specifies (i) the name and
         the last known mailing address (if any) of the Participant and the
         name and mailing address of each alternate payee covered by the order,
         (ii) the amount or percentage of the Participant's benefits to be paid
         by the Plan to each such alternate payee, or the manner in which such
         amount or percentage is to be determined, (iii) the number of payments
         or period to which such order applies, and (iv) each Plan to which
         such order applies.  Moreover, a domestic relations order meets the
         requirements of this subsection only if such order (i) does not
         require the Plan to provide any type or form of benefit, or any
         option, not otherwise provided under the Plan, (ii) does not require
         the Plan to provide increased benefits (determined on the basis of
         actuarial value), and (iii) does not require the payment of benefits
         to an alternate payee that are required to be paid to another
         alternate payee under another order previously determined to be a
         qualified domestic relations order.

                 (d)      A domestic relations order shall not be treated as
         failing to meet the requirements of subsection (c) solely because such
         order requires that payment of benefits be made to an alternate payee
         (i) before a Participant has separated from service, and (ii) in any
         form in which such benefits may be paid under the Plan to the
         Participant had he separated from service on such payment date.

                 (e)      In the case of any domestic relations order received
         by the Plan, the





                                      -42-
<PAGE>   48
         Committee shall promptly notify the Participant and any other
         alternate payee of the receipt of such order and the Plan's procedures
         for determining the qualified status of domestic relations orders and,
         within a reasonable period after receipt of such order, the Committee
         shall determine whether such order is a qualified domestic relations
         order and notify the Participant and each alternate payee of such
         determination.  The Committee shall establish reasonable procedures to
         determine the qualified status of domestic relations orders to
         administer distributions under such qualified orders.  Such procedures
         shall be in writing, shall provide for the notification of each person
         specified in the domestic relations order as entitled to payment of
         benefits under the Plan (at the address included in the domestic
         relations order) of such procedures promptly upon receipt by the Plan
         of the domestic relations order and shall permit an alternate payee to
         designate a representative for receipt of copies of notices that are
         sent to the alternate payee with respect to a domestic relations
         order.  During any period in which the issue of whether a domestic
         relations order is a qualified domestic relations order is being
         determined (by the Committee, by a court of competent jurisdiction, or
         otherwise), the Committee shall separately account for the amounts
         (hereinafter referred to as the "segregated amounts") which would have
         been payable to the alternate payee during such period if the order
         had been determined to be a qualified domestic relations order.  If
         within 18 months the order (or modification thereof) is determined to
         be a qualified domestic relations order, the Committee shall pay the
         segregated amounts (plus any interest thereon) to the person or
         persons entitled thereto.  However, if within 18 months it is
         determined that the order is not a qualified domestic relations order
         or the issue as to whether such order is a qualified domestic
         relations order is not resolved, then the Committee shall pay the
         segregated amounts (plus any interest thereon) to the person or
         persons who would have been entitled to such amounts if there had been
         no order.  Any determination that an order is a qualified domestic
         relations order that is made after the close of the 18 month period
         shall be applied prospectively only.  If the Plan's fiduciaries act in
         accordance with fiduciary provisions of ERISA in treating a domestic
         relations order as being (or not being) a qualified domestic relations
         order or in taking action in accordance with this subsection, then the
         Plan's obligation to the Participant and each alternate payee shall be
         discharged to the extent of any payment made pursuant to the acts of
         such fiduciaries.  For purposes of this section, the term "alternate
         payee" means any spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent of a
         Participant who is recognized by a domestic relations order as having
         a right to receive all, or a portion of, the benefits payable under
         this Plan with respect to such Participant.

         15.10   PAYMENTS DUE MINORS OR INCAPACITATED PERSONS.  If any person
entitled to a payment under the Plan is a minor, or if the Committee determines
that any such person is incapacitated by reason of physical of mental
disability, whether or not legally adjudicated as such, the Committee shall
have the power to cause the payments becoming due to such person to be made to
his personal representative or to another for his benefit, without
responsibility of the Committee or the Trustee to see to the application of
such





                                      -43-
<PAGE>   49
payments.  Payments made pursuant to such power shall operate as a complete
discharge of the Trust Fund, the Trustee and the Committee.


         15.11   UNIFORMITY OF APPLICATION.  The provisions of this Plan shall
be applied in a uniform and non-discriminatory manner in accordance with rules
adopted by the Committee which shall be systematically followed and
consistently applied so that all person similarly situated shall be treated
alike.

         15.12   DISPOSITION OF UNCLAIMED PAYMENTS.  Each Participant must file
with the Committee from time to time in writing his or her post office address
and the post address of each of his Beneficiaries and each change of post
office address.  Any communication, statement or notice addressed to a
Participant or Beneficiary at his last post office address filed with the
Committee, or if no address is filed with the Committee then at his last post
office address as shown on the Company's records, will be binding on the
Participant and his Beneficiaries for all purposes of the Plan.  Neither the
Committee nor the Trustee shall be required to search for or locate a
Participant or Beneficiary.  If the Committee notifies a Participant or
Beneficiary that he is entitled to a distribution and also notifies him of the
provisions of this section, and the Participant or Beneficiary fails to claim
his benefits under the Plan or make his address known to the Committee within
three calendar years after the notification, the benefits under the Plan of the
Participant or Beneficiary will, as the Committee in its discretion determines,
either be forfeited as of the end of any Plan Year following the three year
waiting period, or continue to be held in the Trust Fund for the benefit of the
Participant.  If such a Participant's Accounts are forfeited, and if the
Participant should later make claim for his benefit, the Company shall
contribute to the Trust Fund shares of Stock equal in value to the shares the
Participant would have been entitled to but for the forfeiture.

         15.13   TIME OF PAYMENT.

                 (a)      Unless a Participant otherwise elects, the payment of
         a benefit to which he has become entitled must begin not later than
         the sixtieth day after the close of the latest of the following Plan
         Years:
                          (i)     the year in which the Participant attains
                 Normal Retirement Age;

                          (ii)    the year in which occurs the tenth
                 anniversary of the year in which the Participant commenced
                 participation; or

                          (iii)   the year in which the Participant terminates
                 service with the Company.

                 (b)      A Participant who wishes to defer the commencement of
         a benefit beyond the latest date specified in the preceding paragraph
         (a) may elect to do so by filing with the Committee a written
         statement signed by the Participant which





                                      -44-
<PAGE>   50
         described the benefit and the date on which the payment of such
         benefit shall commence.  No election may be made that would defer the
         first payment date beyond the Participant's seventieth birthday.  An
         election once filed may be amended only with the consent of the
         Committee.

                 (c)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, the entire interest of
         a Participant in the Plan shall be distributed (i) in a lump sum to
         such Participant not later than the required beginning date, or (ii)
         in installments commencing not later than the required beginning date,
         in accordance with Regulations to be issued by the Secretary of
         Treasury, over the life of such Participant or over the lives of such
         Participant and designated beneficiary (or over a period not extending
         beyond the life expectancy of such Participant or the life expectancy
         of such Participant and a designated beneficiary).

                 (d)      If the distribution of a Participant's interest has
         begun and if the Participant dies before his or her entire interest
         has been distributed to him or her, the remaining portion of such
         interest shall be distributed at least as rapidly as under the method
         of distribution being used as of the date of his death.  If a
         Participant dies before the distribution of the Participant's interest
         has begun, the entire interest of the Participant shall be distributed
         within five years after the death of such Participant.
         Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if any portion of the
         Participant's interest is payable to (or for the benefit of) a
         designated beneficiary, and if such portion will be distributed (in
         accordance with Regulations to be issued by the Secretary of the
         Treasury) over the life of such designated Beneficiary (or over a
         period not extending beyond the life expectancy of such Beneficiary),
         and if such distributions begin not later than one year after the date
         of the Participant's death or such later date as the Secretary of the
         Treasury may by Regulations prescribe, then for purposes of this
         section any portion of the Participant's interest payable to (or for
         the benefit of) a designated Beneficiary shall be treated as
         distributed on the date on which such distributions begin.
         Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the designated Beneficiary referred
         to in the preceding sentence is the surviving spouse of the
         Participant, the date on which the distributions are required to begin
         under the foregoing sentence shall not be earlier than the date on
         which the Participant would have attained age 70 1/2 and, if the
         surviving spouse dies before the distributions to such spouse begin,
         this provision shall be applied as if the surviving spouse were the
         Participant.

                 (e)      For purposes of the foregoing subsections, the
         following definitions shall apply:

                          (i)     The term "required beginning date" means
                 April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in
                 which the Participant attains age 70 1/2.

                          (ii)    The life expectancy of a Participant and the
                 Participant's





                                      -45-
<PAGE>   51
                 spouse (other than in the case of a life annuity) may  be
                 redetermined but not more frequently than annually.

                          (iii)   For purposes of this Section, any amount paid
                 to a child shall be treated as if it had been paid to the
                 surviving spouse if such amount will become payable to the
                 surviving spouse upon such child reaching majority (or other
                 designated event permitted under regulations to be issued by
                 the Secretary of Treasury).

         15.14   GOVERNING LAW.  All provisions of the Plan shall be construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado, except to the extent
pre-empted by federal law.


                                  ARTICLE XVI

                            ROLLOVERS AND TRANSFERS

         16.1    ROLLOVERS AND TRANSFERS INTO THE PLAN.  This Plan shall not
accept transfers or rollovers of any amounts, directly or indirectly, from any
other employer's retirement plan.

         16.2    ELIGIBLE ROLLOVER DISTRIBUTION.  Effective for distributions
made on or after January 1, 1993, a Participant may elect, at the time and in
the manner prescribed by the Committee, to have any portion of an Eligible
Rollover Distribution paid directly to an Eligible Retirement Plan specified by
the Participant in a Direct Rollover.  A Participant shall be limited to
designating only one Eligible Retirement Plan to receive such direct rollover.

         16.3    DEFINITIONS.

                 (a)      Eligible Rollover Distribution: An Eligible Rollover
         Distribution is any distribution of all or any portion of the balance
         to the credit of the Distributee, except that an Eligible Rollover
         distribution does not include: any distribution that is one of a
         series of substantially equal periodic payments (not less frequently
         than annually) made for the life (or life expectancy) of the
         Distributee or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of the
         Distributee and the Distributee's designated beneficiary, or for a
         specified period of ten years or more; any distribution to the extent
         such distribution is required under Section 401(a)(9) of the Code; and
         the portion of any distribution that is not includable in gross income
         (determined without regard to the exclusion for net unrealized
         appreciation with respect to the Stock).

                 (b)      Eligible Retirement Plan: An eligible Retirement Plan
         is an individual retirement account described in Section 408(a) of the
         Code, an individual retirement annuity described in Section 408(b) of
         the Code, an annuity plan





                                      -46-
<PAGE>   52
         described in Section 403(a) of the Code, or a qualified trust
         described in Section 401(a) of the Code, that accepts the
         Distributee's Eligible Rollover Distribution.  However, in the case of
         an Eligible Rollover Distribution to the surviving spouse, an Eligible
         Retirement Plan is limited to an individual retirement account or
         individual retirement annuity.

                 (c)      Distributee: A Distributee includes an Employee or
         Former Employee.  In addition, the Employee's or former Employee's
         surviving spouse and the Employee's or former Employee's spouse or
         former spouse who is the alternate payee under a qualified domestic
         relations order, as defined in Section 414(p) of the Code, are
         Distributees with regard to the interest of the spouse or former
         spouse.

                 (d)      Direct rollover: A Direct Rollover is a payment by
         the Plan to the Eligible Retirement Plan specified by the Distributee.


ATTEST:                                         PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY




By:/s/  BRUCE R. DEBOER                         By:/s/  ROBERT L. SMITH   
   -----------------------------                   ----------------------------
   Bruce R. DeBoer                                 Robert L. Smith
   Secretary                                       President

(Seal)





                                      -47-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 2




                              ESOP LOAN AGREEMENT


         This ESOP Loan Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is entered into as of
January 1, 1989, by and between PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation
("LENDER"), and the EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN OF PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY and
the trust established thereunder (the "PLAN").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Lender and the Plan desire to enter into an agreement through
which Lender will loan up to $2,000,000 to the Plan pursuant to a line of
credit loan which converts to a term loan; and

         WHEREAS, the proceeds of such loan shall be used for the purchase of
shares of Class A Common Stock, $.10 par value per share, or Class B Common
Stock, $.10 par value per share, of Lender (together, the "COMMON STOCK").

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                                       I.

                                    THE LOAN

         1.1     AMOUNT AND TIME OF LOAN.  Upon the terms and conditions and
relying upon the representations and warranties of the Plan made herein, Lender
shall from time to time lend to the Plan, and the Plan shall from time to time
borrow from Lender, on the terms set forth herein, the principal amount of
$2,000,000, or so much thereof as may be advanced and outstanding (each such
lending or advance, a "LOAN").  To evidence the
<PAGE>   2
Loans the Plan shall execute and deliver to Lender a note as described in
Section 1.2 below.

         1.2     THE NOTE.  The Loans shall be evidenced by a nonrecourse
promissory note (the "NOTE") in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT A.

         1.3     PAYMENTS.  Subject to the provisions of Section 1.5 below, the
Plan shall repay to the order of Lender the principal amount of the Note
outstanding on the Conversion Date in ten consecutive substantially equal
annual installments of principal plus interest based on a ten-year
amortization, commencing on April 1, 1991, and on each succeeding April 1
thereafter until and including April 1, 2000; provided, however, that the last
such installment shall be in the amount necessary to repay all outstanding
principal plus accrued and unpaid interest and the first such installment shall
reflect the applicable interest from the date amounts were advanced under the
line of credit.  The term "CONVERSION DATE" means the earlier of December 31,
1989 or the date the full $2,000,000 in permitted principal amount has been
advanced under the Note.  As soon as practicable after the Conversion Date, a
payment schedule shall be attached to the Note showing the required principal
and interest payments.

         1.4     INTEREST.  The Note shall bear interest on the unpaid
outstanding principal amount thereof until payment in full at a rate per annum
which shall from year to year be equal to the Base Rate.  The term "BASE RATE"
means, for the term of the Note, ten percent (10%).  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in no event shall such interest rate be in excess of the maximum
interest rate permissible by applicable law, if any, as the same exists from
day to day during the term thereof ("LAWFUL RATE").  Payment of accrued




                                     -2-
<PAGE>   3
interest shall be made on the same dates as principal payments are to be made
as set forth herein (specifically including Sections 1.3 and 1.5).

         1.5     OPTIONAL PREPAYMENTS.  The Plan may, at its option, prepay the
Note (in addition to payments required pursuant to Section 1.3 above), in whole
or in part, without premium or penalty, on any day of the year on which banks
are not required or authorized to close in Denver, Colorado (a "BUSINESS DAY")
upon giving at least one Business Day advance written notice to Lender.  Such
notice shall specify the date and amount of prepayment.  To the extent any such
prepayment that is made during the period beginning on the date hereof and
ending on April 1, 1991, or during any one-year period ending on each
subsequent April 1 thereafter (each such period being referred to herein as an
"ANNIVERSARY PERIOD"), when aggregated with other such prepayments made in the
corresponding Anniversary Period, does not exceed the amount of principal
installment due on the April 1 that ends such Anniversary Period pursuant to
Section 1.3, such prepayment shall be applied to the principal installment due
on such April 1.  Any prepayment which exceeds the amount of the principal
installment due on such April 1 shall be applied ratably to reduce the future
installments required pursuant to Section 1.3 and the payment schedule shall be
revised, with the new schedule reflecting lower annual installments due to the
reduced principal.

         1.6     SOURCE OF PLAN PAYMENTS.  Payments hereunder and under the
Note shall be made solely out of (i) the proceeds of any loan to the Plan,
PROVIDED that any such loan if made by a "DISQUALIFIED PERSON" (as defined in
Section 4975(e)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"CODE")) must qualify as an "exempt loan" under 





                                     -3-
<PAGE>   4
section 4975(d)(3) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, (ii)
contributions made by Lender and its subsidiaries and affiliates to the Plan to
enable the Plan to meet its obligations under the Loan and earnings
attributable to such contributions, (iii) any dividends paid on (or other
earnings of) shares of Common Stock owned by the Plan and acquired with the
proceeds of the Loan (provided that section 404(k)(2)(A)(iii) of the Code
applies to such use of dividends), and (iv) the proceeds of sale of Common
Stock owned by the Plan and acquired with the proceeds of the Loan which at the
time of the sale thereof remains subject to pledge pursuant to the Pledge
Agreement, so long as such use of proceeds complies with applicable
requirements of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

         1.7     PAYMENT PROCEDURES.  Payment of all principal and interest due
hereunder and under the Note shall be made in lawful money of the United States
to Lender at the address of Lender set forth in Section 6.7 below, or at such
other address as to which the trustee under the Plan shall be notified in
writing by Lender, in same day funds.  Whenever any payment hereunder or under
the Note shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such
payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension
of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest.

         1.8     SECURITY; NONRECOURSE LOAN.  The Loans shall be secured only
by a pledge of the Common Stock purchased with the proceeds of the Loans, in
accordance with the Pledge Agreement referred to in Section 2.1(b) below.
Lender acknowledges and agrees that (i) it shall have no recourse against the
Plan for repayment of the Loans and that (ii)





                                     -4-
<PAGE>   5
it shall have no recourse against assets of the Plan other than pursuant to the
Pledge Agreement referred to in Section 2.1(b) below.

         1.9     TRANSFER OF NOTE.  Lender may not assign or otherwise transfer
the Note to any other person or entity without the prior written consent of the
Plan.

                                      II.

                             CONDITIONS OF LENDING

         2.1     CONDITIONS.  The obligation of Lender to make the Loans is
subject to the following conditions precedent:

                 (a)      at the time of the Loans, Lender shall have received
         the duly executed Note;
         
                 (b)      at the time of the Loans, Lender shall have received
         a pledge agreement (the "PLEDGE AGREEMENT"), duly executed by the Plan
         in the form ofEXHIBIT B;

                 (c)      at the time of the Loans, Lender shall have received
         such certificates of the Plan as Lender may request which evidence the
         authority of the Plan to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Note,
         the Pledge Agreement, and any other instrument executed and delivered
         by the Plan in connection with this Agreement, together with
         appropriate certifications of the names and true signatures of the
         authorized representatives of the Plan executing such instruments;





                                     -5-
<PAGE>   6
                 (d)      the representations and warranties contained in
         Article III shall be true in all material respects on and as of the
         date of the Loans as though made on and as of such dates; and

                 (e)      the Plan shall not be in default in the due
         performance of any covenant made in this Agreement.

                                      III.

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         3.1     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PLAN.  The Plan
  represents and warrants to Lender:

                 (a)      assuming the correctness of Lender's representations
         in Section 3.2 below, the Plan is duly authorized and has the
         requisite authority and power to enter into and perform the
         obligations of the Plan under this Agreement, the Note and the Pledge
         Agreement and each of such instruments constitutes the legal, valid
         and binding obligation of the Plan enforceable against the Plan in
         accordance with its terms, except as limited or affected by (i)
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, conservatorship,
         rearrangement, moratorium or other similar laws of general application
         relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or providing for
         relief of debtors, including court decisions with respect to such
         laws, (ii) the refusal of a particular court to grant equitable
         remedies, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
         specific performance and injunctive relief, (iii) general principles
         of equity (regardless of whether such remedies





                                     -6-
<PAGE>   7
         are sought in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (iv) judicial
         discretion; the administrative committee of the Plan (the "COMMITTEE")
         is duly authorized and empowered on behalf of the Plan to execute,
         deliver and perform this Agreement, the Note and the Pledge Agreement;
         and all action on the Plan's and the Committee's part requisite for
         the due creation and issuance of the Note and for the due execution,
         delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Note and the Pledge
         Agreement has been duly and effectively taken;

                 (b)      the Plan is not a party to any contract or agreement
         or subject to any restriction which materially and adversely affects
         the assets or financial condition of the Plan;

                 (c)      neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
         the Note or the Pledge Agreement nor compliance with the terms and
         provisions hereof, of the Note or of the Pledge Agreement or of any
         instruments required hereby to which the Plan is a party will be
         contrary to the provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Plan
         or any material term or provision of any material, applicable law,
         regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or
         governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over it or any
         material term of any material agreement to which the Plan is a party
         or by which it is bound or to which it is subject; and

                 (d)      no liens on or security interests in the Common Stock
         purchased by the Plan with the proceeds of the Loans exist other than
         those





                                     -7-
<PAGE>   8
         in favor of Lender created by the instruments executed in connection
         herewith.

         3.2     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LENDER.  Lender represents
  and warrants to the Plan:

                 (a)      the Plan is a qualified plan under section 401 of 
         the Code and includes an employee stock ownership plan within the 
         meaning of section 4975(e)(7) of the Code, is duly created and 
         existing pursuant to the terms thereof, as amended, heretofore duly
         authorized and executed prior to the date of this Agreement and has 
         been duly created, organized and maintained in compliance with all 
         applicable laws, regulations and rulings, including, without 
         limitation, the requirements of a qualified employee stock ownership 
         plan as defined in section 4975(e)(7) of the Code and the regulations
         pertaining thereto;

                 (b)      Lender has the legal capacity to enter into the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and this Agreement does,
         and the Pledge Agreement and other instruments related thereto to
         which Lender is a party upon its creation, issuance, execution and
         delivery will, constitute valid and binding obligations of Lender,
         enforceable against such party in accordance with their terms, subject
         to the effect of liquidation, conservatorship, insolvency, bankruptcy,
         reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, and other similar
         laws generally affecting the rights of creditors, the application





                                     -8-
<PAGE>   9
         of equitable principles (whether in equity or at law) and the
         availability of equitable remedies (whether in equity or at law); and

                 (c)      the Plan provides that Lender and those of its
         subsidiaries and affiliates which have adopted the Plan may make
         contributions to the Plan in an amount necessary to enable the Plan to
         amortize timely any indebtedness owned by the Plan.

                                      IV.

                                   COVENANTS

         4.1     COVENANTS OF THE PLAN.  The Plan covenants and agrees that
until payment in full of the Loans, the Plan:

                 (a)      shall use the entire proceeds of the Loans only for
         the purpose of purchasing Common Stock;

                 (b)      shall promptly execute and deliver such further
         instruments and do such other acts as Lender may reasonably request
         for the purpose of protecting or perfecting any lien or security
         interest created or granted or intended to be created or granted in
         connection with this Agreement, the Note or the Pledge Agreement or in
         order to insure that any such lien or security interest is of first
         priority or in order to carry out more effectively the purposes and
         intent of this Agreement;





                                     -9-
<PAGE>   10
                 (c)      shall discharge its obligations under this Agreement,
         the Note, the Pledge Agreement and any and all related documents in a
         timely manner;

                 (d)      shall use all dividends received by the Plan with
         respect to shares of Common Stock acquired with the proceeds of the
         Loans, to the extent such use is required pursuant to the document
         governing the Plan, to discharge its obligations under this Agreement,
         the Note and the Pledge Agreement (provided that section
         404(k)(2)(A)(iii) of the Code is applicable to such use of dividends);

                 (e)      shall not incur liability as a guarantor;

                 (f)      shall not encumber the Common Stock acquired with the
         proceeds of the Loans, except for liens and security interests in
         favor of Lender pursuant to the Pledge Agreement; and

                 (g)      shall take no action which would cause the Plan to
         fail to comply with the Code and ERISA, as an employee stock ownership
         plan and trust qualified under sections 401(a), 501(a) and 4975(e)(7)
         of the Code, or which would cause the Loans to fail to qualify as an
         "exempt loan" pursuant to section 54.4975-7 of the Income Tax
         Regulations.

         4.2     COVENANTS OF LENDER.  Lender covenants and agrees that until
payment in full by the Plan of the Loans, Lender:

                 (a)      shall not take any action (other than termination of
         the Plan or the employee stock ownership portion of the Plan pursuant
         to a failure





                                     -10-
<PAGE>   11
         to qualify under the applicable provisions of the Code or ERISA) which
         would prejudice the Plan's existence or endanger its qualified status;

                 (b)      shall not take any action or fail to take any action
         which would impair the ability of the Plan to pay principal and
         interest payments due pursuant to Sections 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5 hereof or
         pursuant to the Note; and

                 (c)      shall release its security interest in Common Stock
         acquired by the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Pledge
         Agreement and applicable provisions of the Code and Income Tax
         Regulations.

                                       V.

                                    DEFAULT

         The failure of the Plan to make a payment of principal when the same
becomes due and payable in the amount specified in Section 1.3 or the failure
of the Plan to make a payment of interest for more than five days after the
same becomes due and payable in the amount specified in Section 1.4 and
pursuant to the Note (an "EVENT OF DEFAULT") shall constitute a default under
this Agreement, but will not result in acceleration of payments of principal
and interest not yet due.  In the event an Event of Default occurs under this
Agreement and is then continuing, the rights and remedies of Lender shall be
limited to those provided in the Pledge Agreement and to recovery of those cash
contributions made by Lender and its subsidiaries and affiliates to enable the
Plan to meet its obligations hereunder and under the Note which are received by
the Plan and not applied to payment of the Loans.  In no event can any such
recovery as a result of an Event of Default hereunder exceed the dollar amount
of such default.  For purposes of





                                     -11-
<PAGE>   12
the foregoing sentence, the dollar amount of a default shall be equal to the
difference between the amount paid to Lender by the Plan at the time a payment
of principal or interest is due pursuant to Sections 1.3 and 1.4 and the terms
of the Note and the aggregate amount of principal and interest which was due as
of such time.

                                      VI.

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

         6.1     No failure or delay on the part of Lender in exercising any
power or right hereunder or under the Note, the Pledge Agreement or other
instrument executed in connection herewith shall operate as a waiver thereof,
nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any
abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power,
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right or power.

         6.2     No modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement,
the Note, the Pledge Agreement or other instrument executed in connection
herewith nor consent to any departure by the Plan therefrom shall in any event
be effective unless the same shall be in writing, and then such waiver or
consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose
for which given.

         6.3     No notice to or demand on the Plan in any case shall entitle
the Plan to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances.

         6.4     This Agreement, the Note and the Pledge Agreement shall be
deemed to be contracts under the laws of the State of Colorado and for all
purposes shall be





                                     -12-
<PAGE>   13
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of Colorado and applicable
federal law.

         6.5     No provision of this Agreement, the Note, the Pledge Agreement
or any other instrument executed in connection herewith is intended or shall be
construed to require or permit the payment or collection of interest in excess
of the Lawful Rate.

         6.6     Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, it
is expressly understood and agreed that this Agreement is executed by the
Committee acting on behalf of the Plan, not in any individual capacity, but
solely as Plan administrator in the exercise of the power and authority as such
Committee; and no personal liability or personal responsibility for the
obligations of the Plan under this Agreement, the Note, the Pledge Agreement or
any agreements now or hereafter entered into in connection therewith is assumed
by or may at any time be asserted or enforceable against the Committee or any
member thereof.

         6.7     All notices, requests and demands hereunder shall be deemed to
have been given only upon receipt, and shall be given to or made upon the
respective parties hereto as follows:

         Plan:            Administrative Committee of the Employee Stock
                            Ownership Plan of Presidio Oil Company
                          5613 DTC Parkway
                          Suite 750
                          Englewood, Colorado  80111





                                     -13-
<PAGE>   14
         Lender:          Presidio Oil Company
                          5613 DTC Parkway
                          Suite 750
                          Englewood, Colorado  80111
                          Attention: Mr. Robert L. Smith

         6.8     This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however,
that the Plan shall not assign this Agreement or any of its rights and
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Lender.

         6.9     In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained
in the Note, this Agreement or the Pledge Agreement shall, for any reason, be
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of the
Note, this Agreement or the Pledge Agreement.

         6.10    All representations and warranties of the Plan and Lender
herein or in the other instruments related hereto, and all covenants and
agreements herein not fully performed before the effective date or dates of
this Agreement and of the other instruments related hereto, shall survive such
date or dates.

         6.11    The Note, this Agreement and the Pledge Agreement embody the
entire agreement and understanding between the Plan and Lender and supersede
all prior agreements and understandings between such parties relating to the
subject matter hereof and thereof.

         6.12    The exhibits attached to this Agreement are incorporated
herein and shall be considered a part of this Agreement for the purposes stated
herein.





                                     -14-
<PAGE>   15
         6.13    This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
and it shall not be necessary that the signatures of all parties hereto be
contained on any one counterpart hereof; each counterpart shall be deemed an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.





                                     -15-
<PAGE>   16
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused these presents to
be executed as of the date first written above.  


                                        PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY


                                        By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           George P. Giard, Jr.
                                           Chief Executive Officer and Chairman



                                        EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN OF
                                        PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY

                                        BY:  PLAN ADMINISTRATOR


                                        By: /s/ ROBERT L. SMITH
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Robert L. Smith 
                                           Administrative Committee Member




                                        By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           George P. Giard, Jr.
                                           Administrative Committee Member





                                     -16-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 3




                     FIRST AMENDMENT TO ESOP LOAN AGREEMENT


         THIS First Amendment ("AMENDMENT") to that ESOP Loan Agreement (such
Loan Agreement as is hereby and may hereafter be amended is herein referred to
as the ("LOAN AGREEMENT") made and entered into as of January 1, 1989 by and
between Presidio Oil Company, a Delaware Corporation ("LENDER") and the
Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Presidio Oil Company and the trust established
thereunder (the "PLAN"), is hereby made and entered into as of December 31,
1990.
                                  WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, Lender and the Plan entered into an agreement through which
Lender agreed to loan up to $2,000,000 to the Plan pursuant to a line of credit
loan which converts to a term loan; and

         WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend the Loan Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:

         1.      Section 1.3 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by adding
the following paragraph at the end thereof:

                 "Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, the Plan shall repay
                 to the order of Lender the principal amount of the Note
                 outstanding on the Conversion Date in eight consecutive
                 substantially equal annual installments of principal plus
                 interest based on an eight-year amortization, commencing on
                 April 1, 1991, and on each succeeding April 1 thereafter until
                 and including April 1, 1998; provided, however, that the first
                 such installment shall be increased to reflect a principal
                 component that is twice what would be required under a
                 standard eight-year amortization schedule and the remaining
                 seven





                                     -1-
<PAGE>   2
         installments shall be reduced to reflect the increased principal
         payment in the first installment and provided further that the last
         such installment shall be in the amount necessary to repay all
         outstanding principal plus accrued and unpaid interest.  A revised
         payment schedule is attached to this Amendment showing the required
         principal and interest payments."

         2.      Notwithstanding the payment provisions of the nonrecourse
promissory note referred to in the Loan Agreement (the "NOTE"), the parties
hereto agree that the payment provisions of the Note shall be modified as
provided in this First Amendment.




                                     -2-
<PAGE>   3
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First
Amendment to the ESOP Loan Agreement to be executed as of December 31, 1990.

                                 PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY


                                 By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.
                                     -----------------------------------
                                     George P. Giard, Jr.
                                     Chief Executive Officer and Chairman



                                 EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN OF
                                 PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY

                                        BY:  PLAN ADMINISTRATOR


                                        By: /s/ ROBERT L. SMITH
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            Robert L. Smith
                                            Administrative Committee Member




                                        By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            George P. Giard, Jr.
                                            Administrative Committee Member




                                     -3-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 4



                              ESOP LOAN AGREEMENT


         This ESOP Loan Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is entered into as of
January 1, 1990, by and between PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation
("LENDER"), and the EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN OF PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY and
the trust established thereunder (the "PLAN").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Lender and the Plan desire to enter into an agreement through
which Lender will loan up to $6,000,000 to the Plan pursuant to a line of
credit loan which converts to a term loan; and

         WHEREAS, the proceeds of such loan shall be used for the purchase of
shares of Class A Common Stock, $.10 par value per share, or Class B Common
Stock, $.10 par value per share, of Lender (together, the "COMMON STOCK").

          NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                                       I.

                                    THE LOAN

         1.1     AMOUNT AND TIME OF LOAN.  Upon the terms and conditions and
relying upon the representations and warranties of the Plan made herein, Lender
shall from time to time lend to the Plan, and the Plan shall from time to time
borrow from Lender, on the terms set forth herein, the principal amount of
$6,000,000, or so much thereof as may be advanced and outstanding (each such
lending or advance, a "LOAN").  To evidence the Loans the Plan shall execute
and deliver to Lender a note as described in Section 1.2 below.
<PAGE>   2
         1.2     THE NOTE.  The Loans shall be evidenced by a nonrecourse
promissory note (the "NOTE") in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT A.

         1.3     PAYMENTS.  Subject to the provisions of Section 1.5 below, 
the Plan  shall repay to the order of Lender the principal amount of the Note
outstanding on the Conversion Date in ten consecutive substantially equal
annual installments of principal plus interest based on a ten-year 
amortization, commencing on April 1, 1991, and on each succeeding April 1
thereafter until and including April 1, 2000; provided, however, that the last
such installment shall be in the amount necessary to repay all outstanding
principal plus accrued and unpaid interest and the first such installment shall
reflect the applicable interest from the date amounts were advanced under the
line of credit.  The term "CONVERSION DATE" means the earlier of December 31,
1990 or the date the full $6,000,000 in permitted principal amount has been
advanced under the Note.  As soon as practicable after the Conversion Date, a
payment schedule shall be attached to the Note showing the required principal
and interest payments.

         1.4     INTEREST.  The Note shall bear interest on the unpaid
outstanding principal amount thereof until payment in full at a rate per annum
which shall from year to year be equal to the Base Rate.  The term "BASE RATE"
means, for the term of the Note, ten percent (10%).  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in no event shall such interest rate be in excess of the maximum
interest rate permissible by applicable law, if any, as the same exists from
day to day during the term thereof ("LAWFUL RATE").  Payment of accrued
interest shall be made on the same dates as principal payments are to be made
as set forth herein (specifically including Sections 1.3 and 1.5).




                                     -2-
<PAGE>   3
         1.5     OPTIONAL PREPAYMENTS.  The Plan may, at its option, prepay the
Note (in addition to payments required pursuant to Section 1.3 above), in whole
or in part, without premium or penalty, on any day of the year on which banks
are not required or authorized to close in Denver, Colorado (a "BUSINESS DAY")
upon giving at least one Business Day advance written notice to Lender.  Such
notice shall specify the date and amount of prepayment.  To the extent any such
prepayment that is made during the period beginning on the date hereof and
ending on April 1, 1991, or during any one-year period ending on each
subsequent April 1 thereafter (each such period being referred to herein as an
"ANNIVERSARY PERIOD"), when aggregated with other such prepayments made in the
corresponding Anniversary Period, does not exceed the amount of principal
installment due on the April 1 that ends such Anniversary Period pursuant to
Section 1.3, such prepayment shall be applied to the principal installment due
on such April 1.  Any prepayment which exceeds the amount of the principal
installment due on such April 1 shall be applied ratably to reduce the future
installments required pursuant to Section 1.3 and the payment schedule shall be
revised, with the new schedule reflecting lower annual installments due to the
reduced principal.

         1.6     SOURCE OF PLAN PAYMENTS.  Payments hereunder and under the
Note shall be made solely out of (i) the proceeds of any loan to the Plan,
PROVIDED that any such loan if made by a "DISQUALIFIED PERSON" (as defined in
Section 4975(e)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"CODE")) must qualify as an "exempt loan" under section 4975(d)(3) of the Code
and the regulations thereunder, (ii) contributions made by Lender and its
subsidiaries and affiliates to the Plan to enable the Plan to meet its
obligations under the Loan and earnings attributable to such contributions,
(iii) any dividends paid on





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4
(or other earnings of) shares of Common Stock owned by the Plan and acquired
with the proceeds of the Loan (provided that section 404(k)(2)(A)(iii) of the
Code applies to such use of dividends), and (iv) the proceeds of sale of Common
Stock owned by the Plan and acquired with the proceeds of the Loan which at the
time of the sale thereof remains subject to pledge pursuant to the Pledge
Agreement, so long as such use of proceeds complies with applicable
requirements of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

         1.7     PAYMENT PROCEDURES.  Payment of all principal and interest due
hereunder and under the Note shall be made in lawful money of the United States
to Lender at the address of Lender set forth in Section 6.7 below, or at such
other address as to which the trustee under the Plan shall be notified in
writing by Lender, in same day funds.  Whenever any payment hereunder or under
the Note shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such
payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension
of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest.

         1.8     SECURITY; NONRECOURSE LOAN.  The Loans shall be secured only
by a pledge of the Common Stock purchased with the proceeds of the Loans, in
accordance with the Pledge Agreement referred to in Section 2.1(b) below.
Lender acknowledges and agrees that (i) it shall have no recourse against the
Plan for repayment of the Loans and that (ii) it shall have no recourse against
assets of the Plan other than pursuant to the Pledge Agreement referred to in
Section 2.1(b) below.

         1.9     TRANSFER OF NOTE.  Lender may not assign or otherwise transfer
the Note to any other person or entity without the prior written consent of the
Plan.





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5
                                      II.

                             CONDITIONS OF LENDING

         2.1     CONDITIONS.  The obligation of Lender to make the Loans is
subject to the following conditions precedent:

                 (a)      at the time of the Loans, Lender shall have received
         the duly executed Note;

                 (b)      at the time of the Loans, Lender shall have received
         a pledge agreement (the "PLEDGE AGREEMENT"), duly executed by the Plan
         in the form of EXHIBIT B;

                 (c)      at the time of the Loans, Lender shall have received
         such certificates of the Plan as Lender may request which evidence the
         authority of the Plan to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Note,
         the Pledge Agreement, and any other instrument executed and delivered
         by the Plan in connection with this Agreement, together with
         appropriate certifications of the names and true signatures of the
         authorized representatives of the Plan executing such instruments;

                 (d)      the representations and warranties contained in
         Article III shall be true in all material respects on and as of the
         date of the Loans as though made on and as of such dates; and

                 (e)      the Plan shall not be in default in the due
         performance of any covenant made in this Agreement.





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6
                                      III.

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         3.1     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PLAN.  The Plan
represents and warrants to Lender:

                 (a)      assuming the correctness of Lender's representations
         in Section 3.2 below, the Plan is duly authorized and has the
         requisite authority and power to enter into and perform the
         obligations of the Plan under this Agreement, the Note and the Pledge
         Agreement and each of such instruments constitutes the legal, valid
         and binding obligation of the Plan enforceable against the Plan in
         accordance with its terms, except as limited or affected by (i)
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, conservatorship,
         rearrangement, moratorium or other similar laws of general application
         relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or providing for
         relief of debtors, including court decisions with respect to such
         laws, (ii) the refusal of a particular court to grant equitable
         remedies, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
         specific performance and injunctive relief, (iii) general principles
         of equity (regardless of whether such remedies are sought in a
         proceeding in equity or at law), and (iv) judicial discretion; the
         administrative committee of the Plan (the "COMMITTEE") is duly
         authorized and empowered on behalf of the Plan to execute, deliver and
         perform this Agreement, the Note and the Pledge Agreement; and all
         action on the Plan's and the Committee's part requisite for the due
         creation and issuance of the





                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7
         Note and for the due execution, delivery and performance of this
         Agreement, the Note and the Pledge Agreement has been duly and
         effectively taken;

                 (b)      the Plan is not a party to any contract or agreement
         or subject to any restriction which materially and adversely affects
         the assets or financial condition of the Plan;

                 (c)      neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
         the Note or the Pledge Agreement nor compliance with the terms and
         provisions hereof, of the Note or of the Pledge Agreement or of any
         instruments required hereby to which the Plan is a party will be
         contrary to the provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Plan
         or any material term or provision of any material, applicable law,
         regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or
         governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over it or any
         material term of any material agreement to which the Plan is a party
         or by which it is bound or to which it is subject; and

                 (d)      no liens on or security interests in the Common Stock
         purchased by the Plan with the proceeds of the Loans exist other than
         those in favor of Lender created by the instruments executed in
         connection herewith.

         3.2     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LENDER.  Lender represents
and warrants to the Plan:

                 (a)      the Plan is a qualified plan under section 401 of the
         Code and includes an employee stock ownership plan within the meaning
         of section 4975(e)(7) of the Code, is duly created and existing
         pursuant to the terms





                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8
         thereof, as amended, heretofore duly authorized and executed prior to
         the date of this Agreement and has been duly created, organized and
         maintained in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and
         rulings, including, without limitation, the requirements of a
         qualified employee stock ownership plan as defined in section
         4975(e)(7) of the Code and the regulations pertaining thereto;

                 (b)      Lender has the legal capacity to enter into the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and this Agreement does,
         and the Pledge Agreement and other instruments related thereto to
         which Lender is a party upon its creation, issuance, execution and
         delivery will, constitute valid and binding obligations of Lender,
         enforceable against such party in accordance with their terms, subject
         to the effect of liquidation, conservatorship, insolvency, bankruptcy,
         reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, and other similar
         laws generally affecting the rights of creditors, the application of
         equitable principles (whether in equity or at law) and the
         availability of equitable remedies (whether in equity or at law); and

                 (c)      the Plan provides that Lender and those of its
         subsidiaries and affiliates which have adopted the Plan may make
         contributions to the Plan in an amount necessary to enable the Plan to
         amortize timely any indebtedness owned by the Plan.





                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9
                                      IV.

                                   COVENANTS

         4.1     COVENANTS OF THE PLAN.  The Plan covenants and agrees that
until payment in full of the Loans, the Plan:

                 (a)      shall use the entire proceeds of the Loans only for
         the purpose of purchasing Common Stock;

                 (b)      shall promptly execute and deliver such further
         instruments and do such other acts as Lender may reasonably request
         for the purpose of protecting or perfecting any lien or security
         interest created or granted or intended to be created or granted in
         connection with this Agreement, the Note or the Pledge Agreement or in
         order to insure that any such lien or security interest is of first
         priority or in order to carry out more effectively the purposes and
         intent of this Agreement;

                 (c)      shall discharge its obligations under this Agreement,
         the Note, the Pledge Agreement and any and all related documents in a
         timely manner;

                 (d)      shall use all dividends received by the Plan with
         respect to shares of Common Stock acquired with the proceeds of the
         Loans, to the extent such use is required pursuant to the document
         governing the Plan, to discharge its obligations under this Agreement,
         the Note and the Pledge Agreement (provided that section
         404(k)(2)(A)(iii) of the Code is applicable to such use of dividends);

                 (e)      shall not incur liability as a guarantor;





                                      -9-
<PAGE>   10
                 (f)      shall not encumber the Common Stock acquired with the
         proceeds of the Loans, except for liens and security interests in
         favor of Lender pursuant to the Pledge Agreement; and

                 (g)      shall take no action which would cause the Plan to
         fail to comply with the Code and ERISA, as an employee stock ownership
         plan and trust qualified under sections 401(a), 501(a) and 4975(e)(7)
         of the Code, or which would cause the Loans to fail to qualify as an
         "exempt loan" pursuant to section 54.4975-7 of the Income Tax
         Regulations.

         4.2     COVENANTS OF LENDER.  Lender covenants and agrees that until
payment in full by the Plan of the Loans, Lender:

                 (a)      shall not take any action (other than termination of
         the Plan or the employee stock ownership portion of the Plan pursuant
         to a failure to qualify under the applicable provisions of the Code or
         ERISA) which would prejudice the Plan's existence or endanger its
         qualified status;

                 (b)      shall not take any action or fail to take any action
         which would impair the ability of the Plan to pay principal and
         interest payments due pursuant to Sections 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5 hereof or
         pursuant to the Note; and

                 (c)      shall release its security interest in Common Stock
         acquired by the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Pledge
         Agreement and applicable provisions of the Code and Income Tax
         Regulations.





                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11
                                       V.

                                    DEFAULT

         The failure of the Plan to make a payment of principal when the same
becomes due and payable in the amount specified in Section 1.3 or the failure
of the Plan to make a payment of interest for more than five days after the
same becomes due and payable in the amount specified in Section 1.4 and
pursuant to the Note (an "EVENT OF DEFAULT") shall constitute a default under
this Agreement, but will not result in acceleration of payments of principal
and interest not yet due.  In the event an Event of Default occurs under this
Agreement and is then continuing, the rights and remedies of Lender shall be
limited to those provided in the Pledge Agreement and to recovery of those cash
contributions made by Lender and its subsidiaries and affiliates to enable the
Plan to meet its obligations hereunder and under the Note which are received by
the Plan and not applied to payment of the Loans.  In no event can any such
recovery as a result of an Event of Default hereunder exceed the dollar amount
of such default.  For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the dollar amount of
a default shall be equal to the difference between the amount paid to Lender by
the Plan at the time a payment of principal or interest is due pursuant to
Sections 1.3 and 1.4 and the terms of the Note and the aggregate amount of
principal and interest which was due as of such time.

                                      VI.

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

         6.1     No failure or delay on the part of Lender in exercising any
power or right hereunder or under the Note, the Pledge Agreement or other
instrument executed in connection herewith shall operate as a waiver thereof,
nor shall any single or partial





                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12
exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of
steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.

         6.2     No modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement,
the Note, the Pledge Agreement or other instrument executed in connection
herewith nor consent to any departure by the Plan therefrom shall in any event
be effective unless the same shall be in writing, and then such waiver or
consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose
for which given.

         6.3     No notice to or demand on the Plan in any case shall entitle
the Plan to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances.

         6.4     This Agreement, the Note and the Pledge Agreement shall be
deemed to be contracts under the laws of the State of Colorado and for all
purposes shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of
Colorado and applicable federal law.

         6.5     No provision of this Agreement, the Note, the Pledge Agreement
or any other instrument executed in connection herewith is intended or shall be
construed to require or permit the payment or collection of interest in excess
of the Lawful Rate.

         6.6     Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, it
is expressly understood and agreed that this Agreement is executed by the
Committee acting on behalf of the Plan, not in any individual capacity, but
solely as Plan administrator in the exercise of the power and authority as such
Committee; and no personal liability or personal responsibility for the
obligations of the Plan under this Agreement, the Note, the Pledge Agreement or
any agreements now or hereafter entered into in connection therewith is





                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13
assumed by or may at any time be asserted or enforceable against the Committee
or any member thereof.

         6.7     All notices, requests and demands hereunder shall be deemed to
have been given only upon receipt, and shall be given to or made upon the
respective parties hereto as follows:

         Plan:            Administrative Committee of the Employee Stock
                            Ownership Plan of Presidio Oil Company
                          5613 DTC Parkway
                          Suite 750
                          Englewood, Colorado  80111

         Lender:          Presidio Oil Company
                          5613 DTC Parkway
                          Suite 750
                          Englewood, Colorado  80111
                          Attention: Mr. Robert L. Smith

         6.8     This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however,
that the Plan shall not assign this Agreement or any of its rights and
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Lender.

         6.9     In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained
in the Note, this Agreement or the Pledge Agreement shall, for any reason, be
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of the
Note, this Agreement or the Pledge Agreement.

         6.10    All representations and warranties of the Plan and Lender
herein or in the other instruments related hereto, and all covenants and
agreements herein not fully performed before the effective date or dates of
this Agreement and of the other instruments related hereto, shall survive such
date or dates.





                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14
         6.11    The Note, this Agreement and the Pledge Agreement embody the
entire agreement and understanding between the Plan and Lender and supersede
all prior agreements and understandings between such parties relating to the
subject matter hereof and thereof.

         6.12    The exhibits attached to this Agreement are incorporated
herein and shall be considered a part of this Agreement for the purposes stated
herein.

         6.13    This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
and it shall not be necessary that the signatures of all parties hereto be
contained on any one counterpart hereof; each counterpart shall be deemed an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.





                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused these presents to
be executed as of the date first written above.

                                        PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY


                                        By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            George P. Giard, Jr.
                                            Chief Executive Officer and Chairman



                                        EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN OF
                                        PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY

                                             BY:  PLAN ADMINISTRATOR


                                             By: /s/ ROBERT L. SMITH
                                                 ------------------------------
                                                 Robert L. Smith
                                                 Administrative Committee Member




                                             By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.
                                                 ------------------------------
                                                 George P. Giard, Jr.
                                                 Administrative Committee Member





                                      -15-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 5


                              ESOP LOAN AGREEMENT


         This ESOP Loan Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is entered into as of
January 1, 1991, by and between PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation
("LENDER"), and the EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN OF PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY and
the trust established thereunder (the "PLAN").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Lender and the Plan desire to enter into an agreement through
which Lender will loan up to $4,000,000 to the Plan pursuant to a line of
credit loan which converts to a term loan; and

         WHEREAS, the proceeds of such loan shall be used for the purchase of
shares of Class A Common Stock, $.10 par value per share, or Class B Common
Stock, $.10 par value per share, of Lender (together, the "COMMON STOCK").

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                                       I.

                                    THE LOAN

         1.1     AMOUNT AND TIME OF LOAN.  Upon the terms and conditions and
relying upon the representations and warranties of the Plan made herein, Lender
shall from time to time lend to the Plan, and the Plan shall from time to time
borrow from Lender, on the terms set forth herein, the principal amount of
$4,000,000, or so much thereof as may be advanced and outstanding (each such
lending or advance, a "LOAN").  To evidence the Loans the Plan shall execute
and deliver to Lender a note as described in Section 1.2 below.
<PAGE>   2
         1.2     THE NOTE.  The Loans shall be evidenced by a nonrecourse
promissory note (the "NOTE") in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT A.

         1.3     PAYMENTS.  Subject to the provisions of Section 1.5 below, the
Plan shall repay to the order of Lender the principal amount of the Note
outstanding on the Conversion Date in ten consecutive substantially equal
annual installments of principal plus interest based on a ten-year
amortization, commencing on April 1, 1992, and on each succeeding April 1
thereafter until and including April 1, 2001; provided, however, that the last
such installment shall be in the amount necessary to repay all outstanding
principal plus accrued and unpaid interest and the first such installment shall
reflect the applicable interest from the date amounts were advanced under the
line of credit.  The term "CONVERSION DATE" means the earlier of December 31,
1991 or the date the full $4,000,000 in permitted principal amount has been
advanced under the Note.  As soon as practicable after the Conversion Date, a
payment schedule shall be attached to the Note showing the required principal
and interest payments.

         1.4     INTEREST.  The Note shall bear interest on the unpaid
outstanding principal amount thereof until payment in full at a rate per annum
which shall from year to year be equal to the Base Rate.  The term "BASE RATE"
means, for the term of the Note, ten percent (10%).  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in no event shall such interest rate be in excess of the maximum
interest rate permissible by applicable law, if any, as the same exists from
day to day during the term thereof ("LAWFUL RATE").  Payment of accrued
interest shall be made on the same dates as principal payments are to be made
as set forth herein (specifically including Sections 1.3 and 1.5).





                                     -2-
<PAGE>   3
         1.5     OPTIONAL PREPAYMENTS.  The Plan may, at its option, prepay the
Note (in addition to payments required pursuant to Section 1.3 above), in whole
or in part, without premium or penalty, on any day of the year on which banks
are not required or authorized to close in Denver, Colorado (a "BUSINESS DAY")
upon giving at least one Business Day advance written notice to Lender.  Such
notice shall specify the date and amount of prepayment.  To the extent any such
prepayment that is made during the period beginning on the date hereof and
ending on April 1, 1992, or during any one-year period ending on each
subsequent April 1 thereafter (each such period being referred to herein as an
"ANNIVERSARY PERIOD"), when aggregated with other such prepayments made in the
corresponding Anniversary Period, does not exceed the amount of principal
installment due on the April 1 that ends such Anniversary Period pursuant to
Section 1.3, such prepayment shall be applied to the principal installment due
on such April 1.  Any prepayment which exceeds the amount of the principal
installment due on such April 1 shall be applied ratably to reduce the future
installments required pursuant to Section 1.3 and the payment schedule shall be
revised, with the new schedule reflecting lower annual installments due to the
reduced principal.

         1.6     SOURCE OF PLAN PAYMENTS.  Payments hereunder and under the
Note shall be made solely out of (i) the proceeds of any loan to the Plan,
PROVIDED that any such loan if made by a "DISQUALIFIED PERSON" (as defined in
Section 4975(e)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"CODE")) must qualify as an "exempt loan" under section 4975(d)(3) of the Code
and the regulations thereunder, (ii) contributions made by Lender and its
subsidiaries and affiliates to the Plan to enable the Plan to meet its
obligations under the Loan and earnings attributable to such contributions,
(iii) any dividends paid on





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4
(or other earnings of) shares of Common Stock owned by the Plan and acquired
with the proceeds of the Loan (provided that section 404(k)(2)(A)(iii) of the
Code applies to such use of dividends), and (iv) the proceeds of sale of Common
Stock owned by the Plan and acquired with the proceeds of the Loan which at the
time of the sale thereof remains subject to pledge pursuant to the Pledge
Agreement, so long as such use of proceeds complies with applicable
requirements of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

         1.7     PAYMENT PROCEDURES.  Payment of all principal and interest due
hereunder and under the Note shall be made in lawful money of the United States
to Lender at the address of Lender set forth in Section 6.7 below, or at such
other address as to which the trustee under the Plan shall be notified in
writing by Lender, in same day funds.  Whenever any payment hereunder or under
the Note shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such
payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension
of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest.

         1.8     SECURITY; NONRECOURSE LOAN.  The Loans shall be secured only
by a pledge of the Common Stock purchased with the proceeds of the Loans, in
accordance with the Pledge Agreement referred to in Section 2.1(b) below.
Lender acknowledges and agrees that (i) it shall have no recourse against the
Plan for repayment of the Loans and that (ii) it shall have no recourse against
assets of the Plan other than pursuant to the Pledge Agreement referred to in
Section 2.1(b) below.

         1.9     TRANSFER OF NOTE.  Lender may not assign or otherwise transfer
the Note to any other person or entity without the prior written consent of the
Plan.





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5
                                      II.

                             CONDITIONS OF LENDING

         2.1     CONDITIONS.  The obligation of Lender to make the Loans is
subject to the following conditions precedent:

                 (a)      at the time of the Loans, Lender shall have received
         the duly executed Note;

                 (b)      at the time of the Loans, Lender shall have received
         a pledge agreement (the "PLEDGE AGREEMENT"), duly executed by the Plan
         in the form of EXHIBIT B;

                 (c)      at the time of the Loans, Lender shall have received
         such certificates of the Plan as Lender may request which evidence the
         authority of the Plan to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Note,
         the Pledge Agreement, and any other instrument executed and delivered
         by the Plan in connection with this Agreement, together with
         appropriate certifications of the names and true signatures of the
         authorized representatives of the Plan executing such instruments;

                 (d)      the representations and warranties contained in
         Article III shall be true in all material respects on and as of the
         date of the Loans as though made on and as of such dates; and

                 (e)      the Plan shall not be in default in the due
         performance of any covenant made in this Agreement.





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6
                                      III.

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         3.1     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PLAN.  The Plan
represents and warrants to Lender:

                 (a)      assuming the correctness of Lender's representations
         in Section 3.2 below, the Plan is duly authorized and has the
         requisite authority and power to enter into and perform the
         obligations of the Plan under this Agreement, the Note and the Pledge
         Agreement and each of such instruments constitutes the legal, valid
         and binding obligation of the Plan enforceable against the Plan in
         accordance with its terms, except as limited or affected by (i)
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, conservatorship,
         rearrangement, moratorium or other similar laws of general application
         relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or providing for
         relief of debtors, including court decisions with respect to such
         laws, (ii) the refusal of a particular court to grant equitable
         remedies, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
         specific performance and injunctive relief, (iii) general principles
         of equity (regardless of whether such remedies are sought in a
         proceeding in equity or at law), and (iv) judicial discretion; the
         administrative committee of the Plan (the "COMMITTEE") is duly
         authorized and empowered on behalf of the Plan to execute, deliver and
         perform this Agreement, the Note and the Pledge Agreement; and all
         action on the Plan's and the Committee's part requisite for the due
         creation and issuance of the





                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7
         Note and for the due execution, delivery and performance of this
         Agreement, the Note and the Pledge Agreement has been duly and
         effectively taken;

                 (b)      the Plan is not a party to any contract or agreement
         or subject to any restriction which materially and adversely affects
         the assets or financial condition of the Plan;

                 (c)      neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
         the Note or the Pledge Agreement nor compliance with the terms and
         provisions hereof, of the Note or of the Pledge Agreement or of any
         instruments required hereby to which the Plan is a party will be
         contrary to the provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Plan
         or any material term or provision of any material, applicable law,
         regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or
         governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over it or any
         material term of any material agreement to which the Plan is a party
         or by which it is bound or to which it is subject; and

                 (d)      no liens on or security interests in the Common Stock
         purchased by the Plan with the proceeds of the Loans exist other than
         those in favor of Lender created by the instruments executed in
         connection herewith.

         3.2     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LENDER.  Lender represents
and warrants to the Plan:

                 (a)     the Plan is a qualified plan under section 401 of the
         Code and includes an employee stock ownership plan within the meaning
         of section 4975(e)(7) of the Code, is duly created and existing 
         pursuant to the terms





                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8
         thereof, as amended, heretofore duly authorized and executed prior to
         the date of this Agreement and has been duly created, organized and
         maintained in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and
         rulings, including, without limitation, the requirements of a
         qualified employee stock ownership plan as defined in section
         4975(e)(7) of the Code and the regulations pertaining thereto;

                 (b)      Lender has the legal capacity to enter into the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and this Agreement does,
         and the Pledge Agreement and other instruments related thereto to
         which Lender is a party upon its creation, issuance, execution and
         delivery will, constitute valid and binding obligations of Lender,
         enforceable against such party in accordance with their terms, subject
         to the effect of liquidation, conservatorship, insolvency, bankruptcy,
         reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, and other similar
         laws generally affecting the rights of creditors, the application of
         equitable principles (whether in equity or at law) and the
         availability of equitable remedies (whether in equity or at law); and

                 (c)      the Plan provides that Lender and those of its
         subsidiaries and affiliates which have adopted the Plan may make
         contributions to the Plan in an amount necessary to enable the Plan to
         amortize timely any indebtedness owned by the Plan.





                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9
                                      IV.

                                   COVENANTS

         4.1     COVENANTS OF THE PLAN.  The Plan covenants and agrees that
until payment in full of the Loans, the Plan:

                 (a)      shall use the entire proceeds of the Loans only for
         the purpose of purchasing Common Stock;

                 (b)      shall promptly execute and deliver such further
         instruments and do such other acts as Lender may reasonably request
         for the purpose of protecting or perfecting any lien or security
         interest created or granted or intended to be created or granted in
         connection with this Agreement, the Note or the Pledge Agreement or in
         order to insure that any such lien or security interest is of first
         priority or in order to carry out more effectively the purposes and
         intent of this Agreement;

                 (c)      shall discharge its obligations under this Agreement,
         the Note, the Pledge Agreement and any and all related documents in a
         timely manner;

                 (d)      shall use all dividends received by the Plan with
         respect to shares of Common Stock acquired with the proceeds of the
         Loans, to the extent such use is required pursuant to the document
         governing the Plan, to discharge its obligations under this Agreement,
         the Note and the Pledge Agreement (provided that section
         404(k)(2)(A)(iii) of the Code is applicable to such use of dividends);

                 (e)      shall not incur liability as a guarantor;





                                      -9-
<PAGE>   10
                 (f)      shall not encumber the Common Stock acquired with the
         proceeds of the Loans, except for liens and security interests in
         favor of Lender pursuant to the Pledge Agreement; and

                 (g)      shall take no action which would cause the Plan to
         fail to comply with the Code and ERISA, as an employee stock ownership
         plan and trust qualified under sections 401(a), 501(a) and 4975(e)(7)
         of the Code, or which would cause the Loans to fail to qualify as an
         "exempt loan" pursuant to section 54.4975-7 of the Income Tax
         Regulations.

         4.2     COVENANTS OF LENDER.  Lender covenants and agrees that until
payment in full by the Plan of the Loans, Lender:

                 (a)      shall not take any action (other than termination of
         the Plan or the employee stock ownership portion of the Plan pursuant
         to a failure to qualify under the applicable provisions of the Code or
         ERISA) which would prejudice the Plan's existence or endanger its
         qualified status;

                 (b)      shall not take any action or fail to take any action
         which would impair the ability of the Plan to pay principal and
         interest payments due pursuant to Sections 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5 hereof or
         pursuant to the Note; and

                 (c)      shall release its security interest in Common Stock
         acquired by the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Pledge
         Agreement and applicable provisions of the Code and Income Tax
         Regulations.





                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11
                                       V.

                                    DEFAULT

         The failure of the Plan to make a payment of principal when the same
becomes due and payable in the amount specified in Section 1.3 or the failure
of the Plan to make a payment of interest for more than five days after the
same becomes due and payable in the amount specified in Section 1.4 and
pursuant to the Note (an "EVENT OF DEFAULT") shall constitute a default under
this Agreement, but will not result in acceleration of payments of principal
and interest not yet due.  In the event an Event of Default occurs under this
Agreement and is then continuing, the rights and remedies of Lender shall be
limited to those provided in the Pledge Agreement and to recovery of those cash
contributions made by Lender and its subsidiaries and affiliates to enable the
Plan to meet its obligations hereunder and under the Note which are received by
the Plan and not applied to payment of the Loans.  In no event can any such
recovery as a result of an Event of Default hereunder exceed the dollar amount
of such default.  For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the dollar amount of
a default shall be equal to the difference between the amount paid to Lender by
the Plan at the time a payment of principal or interest is due pursuant to
Sections 1.3 and 1.4 and the terms of the Note and the aggregate amount of
principal and interest which was due as of such time.

                                      VI.

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

         6.1     No failure or delay on the part of Lender in exercising any
power or right hereunder or under the Note, the Pledge Agreement or other
instrument executed in connection herewith shall operate as a waiver thereof,
nor shall any single or partial





                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12
exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of
steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.

         6.2     No modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement,
the Note, the Pledge Agreement or other instrument executed in connection
herewith nor consent to any departure by the Plan therefrom shall in any event
be effective unless the same shall be in writing, and then such waiver or
consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose
for which given.

         6.3     No notice to or demand on the Plan in any case shall entitle
the Plan to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances.

         6.4     This Agreement, the Note and the Pledge Agreement shall be
deemed to be contracts under the laws of the State of Colorado and for all
purposes shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of
Colorado and applicable federal law.

         6.5     No provision of this Agreement, the Note, the Pledge Agreement
or any other instrument executed in connection herewith is intended or shall be
construed to require or permit the payment or collection of interest in excess
of the Lawful Rate.

         6.6     Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, it
is expressly understood and agreed that this Agreement is executed by the
Committee acting on behalf of the Plan, not in any individual capacity, but
solely as Plan administrator in the exercise of the power and authority as such
Committee; and no personal liability or personal responsibility for the
obligations of the Plan under this Agreement, the Note, the Pledge Agreement or
any agreements now or hereafter entered into in connection therewith is





                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13
assumed by or may at any time be asserted or enforceable against the Committee
or any member thereof.

         6.7     All notices, requests and demands hereunder shall be deemed to
have been given only upon receipt, and shall be given to or made upon the
respective parties hereto as follows:

         Plan:            Administrative Committee of the Employee Stock
                            Ownership Plan of Presidio Oil Company
                          5613 DTC Parkway
                          Suite 750
                          Englewood, Colorado  80111

         Lender:          Presidio Oil Company
                          5613 DTC Parkway
                          Suite 750
                          Englewood, Colorado  80111
                          Attention: Mr. Robert L. Smith

         6.8     This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however,
that the Plan shall not assign this Agreement or any of its rights and
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Lender.

         6.9     In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained
in the Note, this Agreement or the Pledge Agreement shall, for any reason, be
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of the
Note, this Agreement or the Pledge Agreement.

         6.10    All representations and warranties of the Plan and Lender
herein or in the other instruments related hereto, and all covenants and
agreements herein not fully performed before the effective date or dates of
this Agreement and of the other instruments related hereto, shall survive such
date or dates.





                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14
         6.11    The Note, this Agreement and the Pledge Agreement embody the
entire agreement and understanding between the Plan and Lender and supersede
all prior agreements and understandings between such parties relating to the
subject matter hereof and thereof.

         6.12    The exhibits attached to this Agreement are incorporated
herein and shall be considered a part of this Agreement for the purposes stated
herein.

         6.13    This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
and it shall not be necessary that the signatures of all parties hereto be
contained on any one counterpart hereof; each counterpart shall be deemed an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.





                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused these presents to
be executed as of the date first written above.

                                     PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY
                                     

                                     By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.
                                         -------------------------------------
                                         George P. Giard, Jr.
                                         Chief Executive Officer and Chairman



                                     EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN OF
                                     PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY

                                          BY:  PLAN ADMINISTRATOR


                                          By: /s/ ROBERT L. SMITH
                                              --------------------------------
                                              Robert L. Smith
                                              Administrative Committee Member




                                          By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.
                                              --------------------------------
                                              George P. Giard, Jr.
                                              Administrative Committee Member





                                      -15-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 6




                             ESOP LOAN AGREEMENT


         This ESOP Loan Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is entered into as of
January 1, 1992, by and between PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation
("LENDER"), and the EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN OF PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY and
the trust established thereunder (the "PLAN").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Lender and the Plan desire to enter into an agreement through
which Lender will loan up to $3,000,000 to the Plan pursuant to a line of
credit loan which converts to a term loan; and

         WHEREAS, the proceeds of such loan shall be used for the purchase of
shares of Class A Common Stock, $.10 par value per share, or Class B Common
Stock, $.10 par value per share, of Lender (together, the "COMMON STOCK").

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                                       I.

                                    THE LOAN

         1.1     AMOUNT AND TIME OF LOAN.  Upon the terms and conditions and
relying upon the representations and warranties of the Plan made herein, Lender
shall from time to time lend to the Plan, and the Plan shall from time to time
borrow from Lender, on the terms set forth herein, the principal amount of
$3,000,000, or so much thereof as may be advanced and outstanding (each such
lending or advance, a "LOAN").  To evidence the
<PAGE>   2
Loans the Plan shall execute and deliver to Lender a note as described in
Section 1.2 below.

         1.2     THE NOTE.  The Loans shall be evidenced by a nonrecourse
promissory note (the "NOTE") in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT A.

         1.3     PAYMENTS.  Subject to the provisions of Section 1.5 below, the
Plan shall repay to the order of Lender the principal amount of the Note
outstanding on the Conversion Date in ten consecutive substantially equal
annual installments of principal plus interest based on a ten-year
amortization, commencing on April 1, 1993, and on each succeeding April 1
thereafter until and including April 1, 2002; provided, however, that the last
such installment shall be in the amount necessary to repay all outstanding
principal plus accrued and unpaid interest and the first such installment shall
reflect the applicable interest from the date amounts were advanced under the
line of credit.  The term "CONVERSION DATE" means the earlier of December 31,
1992 or the date the full $3,000,000 in permitted principal amount has been
advanced under the Note.  As soon as practicable after the Conversion Date, a
payment schedule shall be attached to the Note showing the required principal
and interest payments.

         1.4     INTEREST.  The Note shall bear interest on the unpaid
outstanding principal amount thereof until payment in full at a rate per annum
which shall from year to year be equal to the Base Rate.  The term "BASE RATE"
means, for the term of the Note, seven percent (7%).  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in no event shall such interest rate be in excess of the maximum
interest rate permissible by applicable law, if any, as the same



                                     -2-
<PAGE>   3
exists from day to day during the term thereof ("LAWFUL RATE").  Payment of
accrued interest shall be made on the same dates as principal payments are to
be made as set forth herein (specifically including Sections 1.3 and 1.5).

         1.5     OPTIONAL PREPAYMENTS.  The Plan may, at its option, prepay the
Note (in addition to payments required pursuant to Section 1.3 above), in whole
or in part, without premium or penalty, on any day of the year on which banks
are not required or authorized to close in Denver, Colorado (a "BUSINESS DAY")
upon giving at least one Business Day advance written notice to Lender.  Such
notice shall specify the date and amount of prepayment.  To the extent any such
prepayment that is made during the period beginning on the date hereof and
ending on April 1, 1993, or during any one-year period ending on each
subsequent April 1 thereafter (each such period being referred to herein as an
"ANNIVERSARY PERIOD"), when aggregated with other such prepayments made in the
corresponding Anniversary Period, does not exceed the amount of principal
installment due on the April 1 that ends such Anniversary Period pursuant to
Section 1.3, such prepayment shall be applied to the principal installment due
on such April 1.  Any prepayment which exceeds the amount of the principal
installment due on such April 1 shall be applied ratably to reduce the future
installments required pursuant to Section 1.3 and the payment schedule shall be
revised, with the new schedule reflecting lower annual installments due to the
reduced principal.

         1.6     SOURCE OF PLAN PAYMENTS.  Payments hereunder and under the
Note shall be made solely out of (i) the proceeds of any loan to the Plan,
PROVIDED that any such loan





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4
if made by a "DISQUALIFIED PERSON" (as defined in Section 4975(e)(2) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "CODE")) must qualify as an
"exempt loan" under section 4975(d)(3) of the Code and the regulations
thereunder, (ii) contributions made by Lender and its subsidiaries and
affiliates to the Plan to enable the Plan to meet its obligations under the
Loan and earnings attributable to such contributions, (iii) any dividends paid
on (or other earnings of) shares of Common Stock owned by the Plan and acquired
with the proceeds of the Loan (provided that section 404(k)(2)(A)(iii) of the
Code applies to such use of dividends), and (iv) the proceeds of sale of Common
Stock owned by the Plan and acquired with the proceeds of the Loan which at the
time of the sale thereof remains subject to pledge pursuant to the Pledge
Agreement, so long as such use of proceeds complies with applicable
requirements of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

         1.7     PAYMENT PROCEDURES.  Payment of all principal and interest due
hereunder and under the Note shall be made in lawful money of the United States
to Lender at the address of Lender set forth in Section 6.7 below, or at such
other address as to which the trustee under the Plan shall be notified in
writing by Lender, in same day funds.  Whenever any payment hereunder or under
the Note shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such
payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension
of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest.

         1.8     SECURITY; NONRECOURSE LOAN.  The Loans shall be secured only
by a pledge of the Common Stock purchased with the proceeds of the Loans, in
accordance with the





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5
Pledge Agreement referred to in Section 2.1(b) below.  Lender acknowledges and
agrees that (i) it shall have no recourse against the Plan for repayment of the
Loans and that (ii) it shall have no recourse against assets of the Plan other
than pursuant to the Pledge Agreement referred to in Section 2.1(b) below.

         1.9     TRANSFER OF NOTE.  Lender may not assign or otherwise transfer
the Note to any other person or entity without the prior written consent of the
Plan.

                                      II.

                             CONDITIONS OF LENDING

         2.1     CONDITIONS.  The obligation of Lender to make the Loans is
subject to the following conditions precedent:

                 (a)      at the time of the Loans, Lender shall have received
         the duly executed Note;

                 (b)      at the time of the Loans, Lender shall have received
         a pledge agreement (the "PLEDGE AGREEMENT"), duly executed by the Plan
         in the form of EXHIBIT B;

                 (c)      at the time of the Loans, Lender shall have received
         such certificates of the Plan as Lender may request which evidence the
         authority of the Plan to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Note,
         the Pledge Agreement, and any other instrument executed and delivered
         by the Plan in connection with this Agreement, together with
         appropriate certifications of





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6
         the names and true signatures of the authorized representatives of the
         Plan executing such instruments;

                 (d)      the representations and warranties contained in
         Article III shall be true in all material respects on and as of the
         date of the Loans as though made on and as of such dates; and

                 (e)      the Plan shall not be in default in the due
         performance of any covenant made in this Agreement.

                                      III.

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         3.1     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PLAN.  The Plan
represents and warrants to Lender:

                 (a)      assuming the correctness of Lender's representations
         in Section 3.2 below, the Plan is duly authorized and has the
         requisite authority and power to enter into and perform the
         obligations of the Plan under this Agreement, the Note and the Pledge
         Agreement and each of such instruments constitutes the legal, valid
         and binding obligation of the Plan enforceable against the Plan in
         accordance with its terms, except as limited or affected by (i)
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, conservatorship,
         rearrangement, moratorium or other similar laws of general application
         relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or providing for
         relief of debtors, including court decisions with respect to such
         laws, (ii) the





                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7
         refusal of a particular court to grant equitable remedies, including,
         without limiting the generality of the foregoing, specific performance
         and injunctive relief, (iii) general principles of equity (regardless
         of whether such remedies are sought in a proceeding in equity or at
         law), and (iv) judicial discretion; the trustee of the Plan (the
         "TRUSTEE") is duly authorized and empowered on behalf of the Plan to
         execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, the Note and the Pledge
         Agreement; and all action on the Plan's and such Trustee's part
         requisite for the due creation and issuance of the Note and for the
         due execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Note
         and the Pledge Agreement has been duly and effectively taken;

                 (b)      the Plan is not a party to any contract or agreement
         or subject to any restriction which materially and adversely affects
         the assets or financial condition of the Plan;

                 (c)      neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
         the Note or the Pledge Agreement nor compliance with the terms and
         provisions hereof, of the Note or of the Pledge Agreement or of any
         instruments required hereby to which the Plan is a party will be
         contrary to the provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Plan
         or any material term or provision of any material, applicable law,
         regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or
         governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction





                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8
         over it or any material term of any material agreement to which the
         Plan is a party or by which it is bound or to which it is subject; and

                 (d)      no liens on or security interests in the Common Stock
         purchased by the Plan with the proceeds of the Loans exist other than
         those in favor of Lender created by the instruments executed in
         connection herewith.

         3.2     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LENDER.  Lender represents
and warrants to the Plan:

                 (a)      the Plan is a qualified plan under section 401 of the
         Code and includes an employee stock ownership plan within the meaning
         of section 4975(e)(7) of the Code, is duly created and existing
         pursuant to the terms thereof, as amended, heretofore duly authorized
         and executed prior to the date of this Agreement and has been duly
         created, organized and maintained in compliance with all applicable
         laws, regulations and rulings, including, without limitation, the
         requirements of a qualified employee stock ownership plan as defined
         in section 4975(e)(7) of the Code and the regulations pertaining
         thereto;

                 (b)      Lender has the legal capacity to enter into the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and this Agreement does,
         and the Pledge Agreement and other instruments related thereto to
         which Lender is a party upon its creation, issuance, execution and
         delivery will, constitute valid and





                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9
         binding obligations of Lender, enforceable against such party in
         accordance with their terms, subject to the effect of liquidation,
         conservatorship, insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium,
         fraudulent transfer, and other similar laws generally affecting the
         rights of creditors, the application of equitable principles (whether
         in equity or at law) and the availability of equitable remedies
         (whether in equity or at law); and

                 (c)      the Plan provides that Lender and those of its
         subsidiaries and affiliates which have adopted the Plan may make
         contributions to the Plan in an amount necessary to enable the Plan to
         amortize timely any indebtedness owned by the Plan.

                                      IV.

                                   COVENANTS

         4.1     COVENANTS OF THE PLAN.  The Plan covenants and agrees that
until payment in full of the Loans, the Plan:

                 (a)      shall use the entire proceeds of the Loans only for
         the purpose of purchasing Common Stock;

                 (b)      shall promptly execute and deliver such further
         instruments and do such other acts as Lender may reasonably request
         for the purpose of protecting or perfecting any lien or security
         interest created or granted or intended to be created or granted in
         connection with this Agreement, the Note or the Pledge Agreement or in
         order to insure that any such lien or





                                      -9-
<PAGE>   10
         security interest is of first priority or in order to carry out more
         effectively the purposes and intent of this Agreement;

                 (c)      shall discharge its obligations under this Agreement,
         the Note, the Pledge Agreement and any and all related documents in a
         timely manner;

                 (d)      shall use all dividends received by the Plan with
         respect to shares of Common Stock acquired with the proceeds of the
         Loans, to the extent such use is required pursuant to the document
         governing the Plan, to discharge its obligations under this Agreement,
         the Note and the Pledge Agreement (provided that section
         404(k)(2)(A)(iii) of the Code is applicable to such use of dividends);

                 (e)      shall not incur liability as a guarantor;

                 (f)      shall not encumber the Common Stock acquired with the
         proceeds of the Loans, except for liens and security interests in
         favor of Lender pursuant to the Pledge Agreement; and

                 (g)      shall take no action which would cause the Plan to
         fail to comply with the Code and ERISA, as an employee stock ownership
         plan and trust qualified under sections 401(a), 501(a) and 4975(e)(7)
         of the Code, or which would cause the Loans to fail to qualify as an
         "exempt loan" pursuant to section 54.4975-7 of the Income Tax
         Regulations.





                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11
         4.2     COVENANTS OF LENDER.  Lender covenants and agrees that until
payment in full by the Plan of the Loans, Lender:

                 (a)      shall not take any action (other than termination of
         the Plan or the employee stock ownership portion of the Plan pursuant
         to a failure to qualify under the applicable provisions of the Code or
         ERISA) which would prejudice the Plan's existence or endanger its
         qualified status;

                 (b)      shall not take any action or fail to take any action
         which would impair the ability of the Plan to pay principal and
         interest payments due pursuant to Sections 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5 hereof or
         pursuant to the Note; and

                 (c)      shall release its security interest in Common Stock
         acquired by the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Pledge
         Agreement and applicable provisions of the Code and Income Tax
         Regulations.

                                       V.

                                    DEFAULT

         The failure of the Plan to make a payment of principal when the same
becomes due and payable in the amount specified in Section 1.3 or the failure
of the Plan to make a payment of interest for more than five days after the
same becomes due and payable in the amount specified in Section 1.4 and
pursuant to the Note (an "EVENT OF DEFAULT") shall constitute a default under
this Agreement, but will not result in acceleration of payments of principal
and interest not yet due.  In the event an Event of Default occurs under this
Agreement and is then continuing, the rights and remedies of Lender shall be





                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12
limited to those provided in the Pledge Agreement and to recovery of those cash
contributions made by Lender and its subsidiaries and affiliates to enable the
Plan to meet its obligations hereunder and under the Note which are received by
the Plan and not applied to payment of the Loans.  In no event can any such
recovery as a result of an Event of Default hereunder exceed the dollar amount
of such default.  For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the dollar amount of
a default shall be equal to the difference between the amount paid to Lender by
the Plan at the time a payment of principal or interest is due pursuant to
Sections 1.3 and 1.4 and the terms of the Note and the aggregate amount of
principal and interest which was due as of such time.

                                      VI.

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

         6.1     No failure or delay on the part of Lender in exercising any
power or right hereunder or under the Note, the Pledge Agreement or other
instrument executed in connection herewith shall operate as a waiver thereof,
nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any
abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power,
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right or power.

         6.2     No modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement,
the Note, the Pledge Agreement or other instrument executed in connection
herewith nor consent to any departure by the Plan therefrom shall in any event
be effective unless the same shall be





                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13
in writing, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the
specific instance and for the purpose for which given.

         6.3     No notice to or demand on the Plan in any case shall entitle
the Plan to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances.

         6.4     This Agreement, the Note and the Pledge Agreement shall be
deemed to be contracts under the laws of the State of Colorado and for all
purposes shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of
Colorado and applicable federal law.

         6.5     No provision of this Agreement, the Note, the Pledge Agreement
or any other instrument executed in connection herewith is intended or shall be
construed to require or permit the payment or collection of interest in excess
of the Lawful Rate.

         6.6     Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, it
is expressly understood and agreed that this Agreement is executed by the
Trustee acting on behalf of the Plan, not in its corporate or individual
capacity, but solely as Trustee under the Plan in the exercise of the power and
authority as such Trustee; and no personal liability or personal responsibility
for the obligations of the Plan under this Agreement, the Note, the Pledge
Agreement or any agreements now or hereafter entered into in connection
therewith is assumed by or may at any time be asserted or enforceable against
the Trustee or any officer, director or employee of the Trustee.





                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14
         6.7     All notices, requests and demands hereunder shall be deemed to
have been given only upon receipt, and shall be given to or made upon the
respective parties hereto as follows:

         Plan:            Trustee of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan
                            of Presidio Oil Company
                          5613 DTC Parkway
                          Suite 750
                          Englewood, Colorado  80111

         Lender:          Presidio Oil Company
                          5613 DTC Parkway
                          Suite 750
                          Englewood, Colorado  80111
                          Attention: Mr. Robert L. Smith

         6.8     This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however,
that the Plan shall not assign this Agreement or any of its rights and
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Lender.

         6.9     In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained
in the Note, this Agreement or the Pledge Agreement shall, for any reason, be
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of the
Note, this Agreement or the Pledge Agreement.

         6.10    All representations and warranties of the Plan and Lender
herein or in the other instruments related hereto, and all covenants and
agreements herein not fully performed before the effective date or dates of
this Agreement and of the other instruments related hereto, shall survive such
date or dates.





                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15
         6.11    The Note, this Agreement and the Pledge Agreement embody the
entire agreement and understanding between the Plan and Lender and supersede
all prior agreements and understandings between such parties relating to the
subject matter hereof and thereof.

         6.12    The exhibits attached to this Agreement are incorporated
herein and shall be considered a part of this Agreement for the purposes stated
herein.

         6.13    This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
and it shall not be necessary that the signatures of all parties hereto be
contained on any one counterpart hereof; each counterpart shall be deemed an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused these presents to
be executed as of the date first written above.  


                                        PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY                
                                                                            
                                        By: /s/ K. V. THOLSTROM             
                                            --------------------------------
                                            K. V. Tholstrom                 
                                            Vice President & General Manager





                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16
                                       EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP
                                       PLAN OF PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY



                                       By: /s/ ROBERT L. SMITH 
                                           ------------------------------
                                           Robert L. Smith, Trustee



                                       By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR. 
                                           ------------------------------
                                           George P. Giard, Jr., Trustee





                                     -16-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 7


                              ESOP LOAN AGREEMENT


         This ESOP Loan Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is entered into as of
January 1, 1993, by and between PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation
("LENDER"), and the EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN OF PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY and
the trust established thereunder (the "PLAN").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Lender and the Plan desire to enter into an agreement through
which Lender will loan up to $3,000,000 to the Plan pursuant to a line of
credit loan which converts to a term loan; and

         WHEREAS, the proceeds of such loan shall be used for the purchase of
shares of Class A Common Stock, $.10 par value per share, or Class B Common
Stock, $.10 par value per share, of Lender (together, the "COMMON STOCK").

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                                       I.

                                    THE LOAN

         1.1     AMOUNT AND TIME OF LOAN.  Upon the terms and conditions and
relying upon the representations and warranties of the Plan made herein, Lender
shall from time to time lend to the Plan, and the Plan shall from time to time
borrow from Lender, on the terms set forth herein, the principal amount of
$3,000,000, or so much thereof as may be advanced and outstanding (each such
lending or advance, a "LOAN").  To evidence the Loans the Plan shall execute
and deliver to Lender a note as described in Section 1.2 below.
<PAGE>   2
         1.2     THE NOTE.  The Loans shall be evidenced by a nonrecourse
promissory note (the "NOTE") in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT A.

         1.3     PAYMENTS.  Subject to the provisions of Section 1.5 below, the
Plan shall repay to the order of Lender the principal amount of the Note
outstanding on the Conversion Date in ten consecutive substantially equal
annual installments of principal plus interest based on a ten-year
amortization, commencing on April 1, 1994, and on each succeeding April 1
thereafter until and including April 1, 2003; provided, however, that the last
such installment shall be in the amount necessary to repay all outstanding
principal plus accrued and unpaid interest and the first such installment shall
reflect the applicable interest from the date amounts were advanced under the
line of credit.  The term "CONVERSION DATE" means the earlier of December 31,
1993 or the date the full $3,000,000 in permitted principal amount has been
advanced under the Note.  As soon as practicable after the Conversion Date, a
payment schedule shall be attached to the Note showing the required principal
and interest payments.

         1.4     INTEREST.  The Note shall bear interest on the unpaid
outstanding principal amount thereof until payment in full at a rate per annum
which shall from year to year be equal to the Base Rate.  The term "BASE RATE"
means, for the term of the Note, seven percent (7%).  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in no event shall such interest rate be in excess of the maximum
interest rate permissible by applicable law, if any, as the same exists from
day to day during the term thereof ("LAWFUL RATE").  Payment of accrued
interest shall be made on the same dates as principal payments are to be made
as set forth herein (specifically including Sections 1.3 and 1.5).





                                     A-2
<PAGE>   3
         1.5     OPTIONAL PREPAYMENTS.  The Plan may, at its option, prepay the
Note (in addition to payments required pursuant to Section 1.3 above), in whole
or in part, without premium or penalty, on any day of the year on which banks
are not required or authorized to close in Denver, Colorado (a "BUSINESS DAY")
upon giving at least one Business Day advance written notice to Lender.  Such
notice shall specify the date and amount of prepayment.  To the extent any such
prepayment that is made during the period beginning on the date hereof and
ending on April 1, 1994, or during any one-year period ending on each
subsequent April 1 thereafter (each such period being referred to herein as an
"ANNIVERSARY PERIOD"), when aggregated with other such prepayments made in the
corresponding Anniversary Period, does not exceed the amount of principal
installment due on the April 1 that ends such Anniversary Period pursuant to
Section 1.3, such prepayment shall be applied to the principal installment due
on such April 1.  Any prepayment which exceeds the amount of the principal
installment due on such April 1 shall be applied ratably to reduce the future
installments required pursuant to Section 1.3 and the payment schedule shall be
revised, with the new schedule reflecting lower annual installments due to the
reduced principal.

         1.6     SOURCE OF PLAN PAYMENTS.  Payments hereunder and under the
Note shall be made solely out of (i) the proceeds of any loan to the Plan,
PROVIDED that any such loan if made by a "DISQUALIFIED PERSON" (as defined in
Section 4975(e)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"CODE")) must qualify as an "exempt loan" under section 4975(d)(3) of the Code
and the regulations thereunder, (ii) contributions made by Lender and its
subsidiaries and affiliates to the Plan to enable the Plan to meet its
obligations





                                      A-3
<PAGE>   4
under the Loan and earnings attributable to such contributions, (iii) any
dividends paid on (or other earnings of) shares of Common Stock owned by the
Plan and acquired with the proceeds of the Loan (provided that section
404(k)(2)(A)(iii) of the Code applies to such use of dividends), and (iv) the
proceeds of sale of Common Stock owned by the Plan and acquired with the
proceeds of the Loan which at the time of the sale thereof remains subject to
pledge pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, so long as such use of proceeds
complies with applicable requirements of the Code and the regulations
thereunder.

         1.7     PAYMENT PROCEDURES.  Payment of all principal and interest due
hereunder and under the Note shall be made in lawful money of the United States
to Lender at the address of Lender set forth in Section 6.7 below, or at such
other address as to which the trustee under the Plan shall be notified in
writing by Lender, in same day funds.  Whenever any payment hereunder or under
the Note shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such
payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension
of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest.

         1.8     SECURITY; NONRECOURSE LOAN.  The Loans shall be secured only
by a pledge of the Common Stock purchased with the proceeds of the Loans, in
accordance with the Pledge Agreement referred to in Section 2.1(b) below.
Lender acknowledges and agrees that (i) it shall have no recourse against the
Plan for repayment of the Loans and that (ii) it shall have no recourse against
assets of the Plan other than pursuant to the Pledge Agreement referred to in
Section 2.1(b) below.





                                      A-4
<PAGE>   5
         1.9     TRANSFER OF NOTE.  Lender may not assign or otherwise transfer
the Note to any other person or entity without the prior written consent of the
Plan.

                                      II.

                             CONDITIONS OF LENDING

         2.1     CONDITIONS.  The obligation of Lender to make the Loans is
subject to the following conditions precedent:

                 (a)      at the time of the Loans, Lender shall have received
         the duly executed Note;

                 (b)      at the time of the Loans, Lender shall have received
         a pledge agreement (the "PLEDGE AGREEMENT"), duly executed by the Plan
         in the form ofEXHIBIT B;

                 (c)      at the time of the Loans, Lender shall have received
         such certificates of the Plan as Lender may request which evidence the
         authority of the Plan to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Note,
         the Pledge Agreement, and any other instrument executed and delivered
         by the Plan in connection with this Agreement, together with
         appropriate certifications of the names and true signatures of the
         authorized representatives of the Plan executing such instruments;

                 (d)      the representations and warranties contained in
         Article III shall be true in all material respects on and as of the
         date of the Loans as though made on and as of such dates; and





                                      A-5
<PAGE>   6
                 (e)      the Plan shall not be in default in the due
         performance of any covenant made in this Agreement.

                                      III.

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         3.1     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PLAN.  The Plan
represents and warrants to Lender:

                 (a)      assuming the correctness of Lender's representations
         in Section 3.2 below, the Plan is duly authorized and has the
         requisite authority and power to enter into and perform the
         obligations of the Plan under this Agreement, the Note and the Pledge
         Agreement and each of such instruments constitutes the legal, valid
         and binding obligation of the Plan enforceable against the Plan in
         accordance with its terms, except as limited or affected by (i)
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, conservatorship,
         rearrangement, moratorium or other similar laws of general application
         relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or providing for
         relief of debtors, including court decisions with respect to such
         laws, (ii) the refusal of a particular court to grant equitable
         remedies, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
         specific performance and injunctive relief, (iii) general principles
         of equity (regardless of whether such remedies are sought in a
         proceeding in equity or at law), and (iv) judicial discretion; the
         trustee of the Plan (the "TRUSTEE") is duly authorized and empowered
         on behalf of the Plan to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement,
         the Note





                                      A-6
<PAGE>   7
         and the Pledge Agreement; and all action on the Plan's and such
         Trustee's part requisite for the due creation and issuance of the Note
         and for the due execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement,
         the Note and the Pledge Agreement has been duly and effectively taken;

                 (b)      the Plan is not a party to any contract or agreement
         or subject to any restriction which materially and adversely affects
         the assets or financial condition of the Plan;

                 (c)      neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
         the Note or the Pledge Agreement nor compliance with the terms and
         provisions hereof, of the Note or of the Pledge Agreement or of any
         instruments required hereby to which the Plan is a party will be
         contrary to the provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Plan
         or any material term or provision of any material, applicable law,
         regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or
         governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over it or any
         material term of any material agreement to which the Plan is a party
         or by which it is bound or to which it is subject; and

                 (d)      no liens on or security interests in the Common Stock
         purchased by the Plan with the proceeds of the Loans exist other than
         those in favor of Lender created by the instruments executed in
         connection herewith.

         3.2     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LENDER.  Lender represents
and warrants to the Plan:





                                      A-7
<PAGE>   8
                 (a)      the Plan is a qualified plan under section 401 of the
         Code and includes an employee stock ownership plan within the meaning
         of section 4975(e)(7) of the Code, is duly created and existing
         pursuant to the terms thereof, as amended, heretofore duly authorized
         and executed prior to the date of this Agreement and has been duly
         created, organized and maintained in compliance with all applicable
         laws, regulations and rulings, including, without limitation, the
         requirements of a qualified employee stock ownership plan as defined
         in section 4975(e)(7) of the Code and the regulations pertaining
         thereto;

                 (b)      Lender has the legal capacity to enter into the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and this Agreement does,
         and the Pledge Agreement and other instruments related thereto to
         which Lender is a party upon its creation, issuance, execution and
         delivery will, constitute valid and binding obligations of Lender,
         enforceable against such party in accordance with their terms, subject
         to the effect of liquidation, conservatorship, insolvency, bankruptcy,
         reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, and other similar
         laws generally affecting the rights of creditors, the application of
         equitable principles (whether in equity or at law) and the
         availability of equitable remedies (whether in equity or at law); and

                 (c)      the Plan provides that Lender and those of its
         subsidiaries and affiliates which have adopted the Plan may make
         contributions to the Plan





                                      A-8
<PAGE>   9
         in an amount necessary to enable the Plan to amortize timely any
         indebtedness owned by the Plan.

                                      IV.

                                   COVENANTS

         4.1     COVENANTS OF THE PLAN.  The Plan covenants and agrees that
until payment in full of the Loans, the Plan:

                 (a)      shall use the entire proceeds of the Loans only for
         the purpose of purchasing Common Stock;

                 (b)      shall promptly execute and deliver such further
         instruments and do such other acts as Lender may reasonably request
         for the purpose of protecting or perfecting any lien or security
         interest created or granted or intended to be created or granted in
         connection with this Agreement, the Note or the Pledge Agreement or in
         order to insure that any such lien or security interest is of first
         priority or in order to carry out more effectively the purposes and
         intent of this Agreement;

                 (c)      shall discharge its obligations under this Agreement,
         the Note, the Pledge Agreement and any and all related documents in a
         timely manner;

                 (d)      shall use all dividends received by the Plan with
         respect to shares of Common Stock acquired with the proceeds of the
         Loans, to the extent such use is required pursuant to the document
         governing the Plan, to discharge its obligations under this Agreement,
         the Note and the Pledge





                                      A-9
<PAGE>   10
         Agreement (provided that section 404(k)(2)(A)(iii) of the Code is
         applicable to such use of dividends);

                 (e)      shall not incur liability as a guarantor;

                 (f)      shall not encumber the Common Stock acquired with the
         proceeds of the Loans, except for liens and security interests in
         favor of Lender pursuant to the Pledge Agreement; and

                 (g)      shall take no action which would cause the Plan to
         fail to comply with the Code and ERISA, as an employee stock ownership
         plan and trust qualified under sections 401(a), 501(a) and 4975(e)(7)
         of the Code, or which would cause the Loans to fail to qualify as an
         "exempt loan" pursuant to section 54.4975-7 of the Income Tax
         Regulations.

         4.2     COVENANTS OF LENDER.  Lender covenants and agrees that until
payment in full by the Plan of the Loans, Lender:

                 (a)      shall not take any action (other than termination of
         the Plan or the employee stock ownership portion of the Plan pursuant
         to a failure to qualify under the applicable provisions of the Code or
         ERISA) which would prejudice the Plan's existence or endanger its
         qualified status;

                 (b)      shall not take any action or fail to take any action
         which would impair the ability of the Plan to pay principal and
         interest payments due pursuant to Sections 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5 hereof or
         pursuant to the Note; and





                                      A-10
<PAGE>   11
                 (c)      shall release its security interest in Common Stock
         acquired by the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Pledge
         Agreement and applicable provisions of the Code and Income Tax
         Regulations.

                                       V.

                                    DEFAULT

         The failure of the Plan to make a payment of principal when the same
becomes due and payable in the amount specified in Section 1.3 or the failure
of the Plan to make a payment of interest for more than five days after the
same becomes due and payable in the amount specified in Section 1.4 and
pursuant to the Note (an "EVENT OF DEFAULT") shall constitute a default under
this Agreement, but will not result in acceleration of payments of principal
and interest not yet due.  In the event an Event of Default occurs under this
Agreement and is then continuing, the rights and remedies of Lender shall be
limited to those provided in the Pledge Agreement and to recovery of those cash
contributions made by Lender and its subsidiaries and affiliates to enable the
Plan to meet its obligations hereunder and under the Note which are received by
the Plan and not applied to payment of the Loans.  In no event can any such
recovery as a result of an Event of Default hereunder exceed the dollar amount
of such default.  For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the dollar amount of
a default shall be equal to the difference between the amount paid to Lender by
the Plan at the time a payment of principal or interest is due pursuant to
Sections 1.3 and 1.4 and the terms of the Note and the aggregate amount of
principal and interest which was due as of such time.





                                      A-11
<PAGE>   12
                                      VI.

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

         6.1     No failure or delay on the part of Lender in exercising any
power or right hereunder or under the Note, the Pledge Agreement or other
instrument executed in connection herewith shall operate as a waiver thereof,
nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any
abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power,
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right or power.

         6.2     No modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement,
the Note, the Pledge Agreement or other instrument executed in connection
herewith nor consent to any departure by the Plan therefrom shall in any event
be effective unless the same shall be in writing, and then such waiver or
consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose
for which given.

         6.3     No notice to or demand on the Plan in any case shall entitle
the Plan to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances.

         6.4     This Agreement, the Note and the Pledge Agreement shall be
deemed to be contracts under the laws of the State of Colorado and for all
purposes shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of
Colorado and applicable federal law.

         6.5     No provision of this Agreement, the Note, the Pledge Agreement
or any other instrument executed in connection herewith is intended or shall be
construed to require or permit the payment or collection of interest in excess
of the Lawful Rate.





                                      A-12
<PAGE>   13
         6.6     Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, it
is expressly understood and agreed that this Agreement is executed by the
Trustee acting on behalf of the Plan, not in its corporate or individual
capacity, but solely as Trustee under the Plan in the exercise of the power and
authority as such Trustee; and no personal liability or personal responsibility
for the obligations of the Plan under this Agreement, the Note, the Pledge
Agreement or any agreements now or hereafter entered into in connection
therewith is assumed by or may at any time be asserted or enforceable against
the Trustee or any officer, director or employee of the Trustee.

         6.7     All notices, requests and demands hereunder shall be deemed to
have been given only upon receipt, and shall be given to or made upon the
respective parties hereto as follows:

         Plan:            Trustee of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan
                            of Presidio Oil Company
                          5613 DTC Parkway
                          Suite 750
                          Englewood, Colorado  80111

         Lender:          Presidio Oil Company
                          5613 DTC Parkway
                          Suite 750
                          Englewood, Colorado  80111
                          Attention: Mr. Robert L. Smith

         6.8     This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however,
that the Plan shall not assign this Agreement or any of its rights and
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Lender.





                                      A-13
<PAGE>   14
         6.9     In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained
in the Note, this Agreement or the Pledge Agreement shall, for any reason, be
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of the
Note, this Agreement or the Pledge Agreement.

         6.10    All representations and warranties of the Plan and Lender
herein or in the other instruments related hereto, and all covenants and
agreements herein not fully performed before the effective date or dates of
this Agreement and of the other instruments related hereto, shall survive such
date or dates.

         6.11    The Note, this Agreement and the Pledge Agreement embody the
entire agreement and understanding between the Plan and Lender and supersede
all prior agreements and understandings between such parties relating to the
subject matter hereof and thereof.

         6.12    The exhibits attached to this Agreement are incorporated
herein and shall be considered a part of this Agreement for the purposes stated
herein.

         6.13    This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
and it shall not be necessary that the signatures of all parties hereto be
contained on any one counterpart hereof; each counterpart shall be deemed an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.





                                      A-14
<PAGE>   15
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused these presents to
be executed as of the date first written above.
                                               
                                               PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY



                                               By: /s/ CHRISTOPHER S. HARDESTY
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                   Christopher S. Hardesty
                                                   Vice President


                                               EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP
                                               PLAN OF PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY



                                               By: /s/ ROBERT L. SMITH 
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                   Robert L. Smith, Trustee



                                               By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR. 
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                   George P. Giard, Jr., Trustee





                                      A-15

<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 8




                                PLEDGE AGREEMENT


         THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), made effective January 1,
1989, between the Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Presidio Oil Company and the
trust established thereunder ("PLEDGOR"), and Presidio Oil Company, a Delaware
corporation, with its principal offices in Englewood, Colorado ("PLEDGEE").

                                WITNESSETH THAT:

         WHEREAS, Pledgee is loaning up to $2,000,000 to Pledgor pursuant to an
ESOP Loan Agreement (the "ESOP LOAN AGREEMENT") dated as of the date hereof
(capitalized terms used in this Pledge Agreement are defined in the ESOP Loan
Agreement, unless otherwise defined herein), the proceeds of such loan are to
be used for the purchase of Common Stock; and

         WHEREAS, the obligation of Pledgor to repay such indebtedness is
evidenced by a Non-recourse Promissory Note dated as of the date hereof in the
principal amount of $2,000,000; and

         WHEREAS, it is a condition to Pledgee's making of the Loan and
Pledgee's acceptance of the Note that Pledgor execute and deliver this
Agreement providing for its pledge of the Collateral as security for the
payment of the Note;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in
the ESOP Loan Agreement, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto
consent and agree as follows:
<PAGE>   2
         SECTION 1.       PLEDGE.  Pledgor hereby pledges and grants to Pledgee
a security interest (i) in the shares of Common Stock acquired at any time by
Pledgor with the proceeds of the Loans (the "SHARES") and the certificates
representing the Shares and (ii) to the extent (but only to the extent) that
proceeds of the Shares and certificates representing the Shares are permissible
as collateral pursuant to section 4975(e)(7) of the Code and the regulations
thereunder, in proceeds of the Shares and certificates representing the Shares
(the "COLLATERAL").

         SECTION 2.       SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS.  This Agreement secures the
payment of all obligations of Pledgor now or hereafter existing under the Note
and ESOP Loan Agreement (the "ESOP DOCUMENTS"), whether for principal, interest
or otherwise, and all obligations of Pledgor now or hereafter existing under
this Agreement (all such obligations of Pledgor being the "OBLIGATIONS").

         SECTION 3.       DELIVERY OF COLLATERAL.  All certificates or
instruments representing or evidencing the Collateral shall be delivered to and
held by or on behalf of Pledgee pursuant hereto and shall be in suitable form
for transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments
of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance satisfactory to
Pledgee.  Pledgee shall have the right, (i) if any Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, and (ii) upon compliance with all applicable
requirements existing under the Uniform Commercial Code as applicable in the
State of Colorado ("UCC"), in its discretion and with reasonable notice to
Pledgor, to transfer to or to register in the name of Pledgee or any of its
nominees that portion of the Collateral whose fair market value at the time of
such transfer does not exceed the dollar amount of such default.  In addition,
Pledgee at its expense shall have the right at any time upon




                                     -2-
<PAGE>   3
notice to the Pledgor to replace certificates or instruments representing or
evidencing the Collateral for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger
denominations.  Pledgee covenants and agrees to take due care and custody in
the maintenance, possession, protection and preservation of all Shares in its
possession.

         SECTION 4.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  Pledgor represents
and warrants as follows:

                 (a)      Pledgor is the legal owner of the Collateral free and
         clear of any lien, security interest, option or other charge or
         encumbrance except for the security interest created by this
         Agreement.

                 (b)      No authorization, approval, or other action by, and
         no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory
         body is required either (i) for the pledge by Pledgor of the
         Collateral pursuant to this Agreement or for the execution, delivery
         or performance of this Agreement by Pledgor or (ii) for the exercise
         by Pledgee of the rights provided for in this Agreement or the
         remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement
         (except as may be required in connection with such disposition by laws
         affecting the offering and sale of securities generally).

         SECTION 5.       FURTHER ASSURANCES.  Pledgor agrees that at any time
and from time to time, Pledgor will promptly execute and deliver all further
instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be necessary
or reasonable, as reasonably requested by Pledgee, in order to perfect and
protect any security interest granted or purported to be granted hereby or to
enable Pledgee to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with
respect to any Collateral, including, but not limited to, any action





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4
reasonably required to assist Pledgee in registering, at Pledgee's sole cost
and expense, all or any portion of the Shares pursuant to the Securities Act of
1933, as amended.

         SECTION 6.       DIVIDENDS; ETC.  Pledgor shall be entitled to receive
and retain any and all cash dividends paid in respect of the Collateral.  If,
while this Agreement is in effect, Pledgor shall become entitled to receive or
shall receive any stock certificate (including, without limitation, any
certificate representing a stock dividend or a distribution in connection with
any reclassification, increase or reduction of capital, or issued in connection
with any reorganization), whether as an addition to, in substitution of, or in
exchange for any Collateral, Pledgor agrees to deliver the same forthwith to
Pledgee in the exact form received, with the indorsement of Pledgor when
necessary and/or appropriate and undated stock powers with respect thereto duly
executed in blank, to be held by Pledgee, subject to the terms hereof, as
additional collateral security for the Obligations.  Any sums paid upon or in
respect of the Collateral upon the liquidation or dissolution of the issuer
thereof shall be paid over to Pledgee to be held by it as additional collateral
security for the Obligations; and in case any distribution of capital shall be
made on or in respect of the Collateral or any property shall be distributed
upon or with respect to the Collateral pursuant to the recapitalization or
reclassification of the capital of the issuer thereof or pursuant to the
reorganization thereof, the property so distributed shall be delivered to
Pledgee to be held by it as additional collateral security for the Obligations.
All sums of money and property so paid or distributed in respect of the
Collateral which are received by Pledgor shall, until paid or delivered to
Pledgee, be held by Pledgor as additional collateral security for the
Obligations.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rights of Pledgee and the
obligations of Pledgor described in this Section 6 shall be restricted if





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5
and to the extent necessary to comply with section 4975(e)(7) of the Code and
the regulations thereunder.

         SECTION 7.       TRANSFERS AND OTHER LIENS; ADDITIONAL SHARES.
Pledgor agrees that it will not (i) sell or otherwise dispose of, or grant any
option with respect to, any of the Collateral, except as permitted by the Code
and ERISA, or (ii) create or permit to exist any lien, security interest, or
other charge or encumbrance upon or with respect to any of the Collateral,
except for the security interest under this Agreement.

         SECTION 8.       AGENT APPOINTED ATTORNEY-IN-FACT.  Pledgor hereby
appoints Pledgee Pledgor's attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place
and stead of Pledgor and in the name of Pledgor or otherwise, from time to time
in Pledgee's discretion to take any action and to execute any instrument which
Pledgee may reasonably deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes
expressly provided for at Section 5 of this Agreement.

         SECTION 9.       AGENT MAY PERFORM.  If Pledgor fails to perform any
agreement contained herein, Pledgee may itself, at its own cost and expense,
perform, or cause performance of, such agreement.

         SECTION 10.      REMEDIES UPON DEFAULT.  If any Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing:

                 (a)      Pledgee  may exercise in respect of the Collateral,
         in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or
         otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured
         party under the UCC at that time, and Pledgee may also, without notice
         except as specified below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in
         one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any exchange,
         broker's board or at any of Pledgee's offices or





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6
         elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, and upon such
         other terms as are commercially reasonable.  Pledgor agrees that, to
         the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten days'
         notice to Pledgor of the time and place of any public sale or the time
         after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable
         notification.  Pledgee shall not be obligated to make any sale of
         Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given.  Pledgee
         may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by
         announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may,
         without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was
         so adjourned.

                 (b)      All cash proceeds received by Pledgee in respect of
         any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any
         part of the Collateral shall be applied, to the extent of the default,
         by Pledgee for the benefit of Pledgee against all or any part of the
         Obligations in default in such order as Pledgee shall elect.  Any
         surplus of such cash proceeds held by Pledgee and remaining after
         payment in full of all the Obligations in default shall be paid over
         to Pledgor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such
         surplus.

                 (c)      The number of Shares as to which Pledgee may exercise
         the rights set forth in this Section 10 may not exceed that number of
         Shares (then remaining subject to pledge hereunder) which is then
         equal in current fair market value to the amount of principal and
         interest then due and unpaid under the Note.  The remedies set forth
         in this Section 10 may only





                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7
         be exercised to the extent consistent with the restrictions on
         remedies set forth in Section 408(b)(3) of ERISA and the regulations
         thereunder and Section 4975(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of
         1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.

         SECTION 11.  AMENDMENTS, ETC.  No amendment or waiver of any provision
of this Agreement, nor consent to any departure by Pledgor herefrom, shall in
any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by
Pledgee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the
specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

         SECTION 12.  ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES.  All notices and other
communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing, shall be deemed
effective only upon receipt and shall be addressed to the parties hereto at
their respective addresses specified in Section 6.7 of the ESOP Loan Agreement.

         SECTION 13.  CONTINUING SECURITY INTEREST; TRANSFER OF NOTES; RELEASE 
                      OF SECURITY INTEREST.

                 (a)      This Agreement shall create a continuing security
         interest in the Collateral and shall (i) remain in full force and
         effect until payment in full of the Obligations, (ii) be binding upon
         Pledgor, its successors and assigns, and (iii) inure, together with
         the rights and remedies of Pledgee hereunder, to the benefit of
         Pledgee and its successors, transferees and assigns.  Without limiting
         the generality of the foregoing clause (iii), if  Pledgee, subject to
         Section 1.9 of the ESOP Loan Agreement, assigns or otherwise transfers
         the Note to any other person or entity, such other person





                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8
         or entity shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in
         respect thereof granted to Pledgee herein and shall be subject to the
         obligations of Pledgee set forth or referred to herein.

                 (b)      For each Plan Year (as that term is defined in the
         Plan),  Pledgee agrees to and shall release from pledge and reassign
         and deliver to Pledgor, free of all liens, security interests and
         encumbrances, rights and remedies attributable to Pledgee, whether
         under this Agreement or otherwise, a number of Shares equal to the
         number of Shares remaining subject to pledge under this Agreement
         immediately prior to the release multiplied by a fraction the
         numerator of which is the amount of principal paid through the date of
         such payment under the Note for such Plan Year and the denominator of
         which is the sum of the numerator plus the principal and interest to
         be paid under the Note for all future Plan Years.  For purposes of the
         preceding sentence, interest to be paid under the Note for all future
         Plan Years shall be calculated by using the Base Rate.  Upon such
         release, such Shares shall be released from pledge and shall no longer
         constitute Shares or Collateral.

         SECTION 14.  GOVERNING LAW; TERMS.  This Agreement shall be governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Colorado.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in Article 9 of the Uniform
Commercial Code in the State of Texas are used herein as therein defined.





                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Pledgor and Pledgee have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed and delivered by their respective representatives thereunto
duly authorized as of the date first above written.  


                                      PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY


                                      By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          George P. Giard, Jr.
                                          Chief Executive Officer and Chairman



                                      EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN OF
                                      PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY

                                          BY:  PLAN ADMINISTRATOR            
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                          By: /s/ ROBERT L. SMITH            
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              Robert L. Smith                
                                              Administrative Committee Member
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                          By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.       
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              George P. Giard, Jr.           
                                              Administrative Committee Member
                                      




                                     -9-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                      EXHIBIT 9




                    FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE PLEDGE AGREEMENT


         THIS First Amendment ("AMENDMENT") to that Pledge Agreement (such
Pledge Agreement as is hereby and may hereafter be amended is herein referred
to as the ("PLEDGE AGREEMENT") made and entered into as of January 1, 1989 by
and between the Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Presidio Oil Company and the
trust established thereunder ("PLEDGOR"), and Presidio Oil Company, a Delaware
corporation ("PLEDGEE"), is hereby made and entered into as of December 31,
1990.

                                  WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, Pledgor and Pledgee entered into the Pledge Agreement which
contained provisions for the release of security interest; and

         WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend the Pledge Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:

         1.      Section 13(b) of the Pledge Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting the phrase "and interest" in the two places in which it occurs.



                                     -1-
<PAGE>   2
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Pledgor and Pledgee have caused this First
Amendment to the Pledge Agreement to be duly executed as of December 31, 1990.

                                        PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY


                                        By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.  
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            George P. Giard, Jr.                
                                            Chief Executive Officer and Chairman



                                        EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN OF
                                        PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY

                                            BY: PLAN ADMINISTRATOR             
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                            By: /s/ ROBERT L. SMITH
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Robert L. Smith                
                                                Administrative Committee Member
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                            By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.       
                                                --------------------------------
                                                George P. Giard, Jr.           
                                                Administrative Committee Member
                                        




                                     -2-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                      EXHIBIT 10




                                PLEDGE AGREEMENT


         THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), made effective January 1,
1990, between the Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Presidio Oil Company and the
trust established thereunder ("PLEDGOR"), and Presidio Oil Company, a Delaware
corporation, with its principal offices in Englewood, Colorado ("PLEDGEE").

                                WITNESSETH THAT:

         WHEREAS, Pledgee is loaning up to $6,000,000 to Pledgor pursuant to an
ESOP Loan Agreement (the "ESOP LOAN AGREEMENT") dated as of the date hereof
(capitalized terms used in this Pledge Agreement are defined in the ESOP Loan
Agreement, unless otherwise defined herein), the proceeds of such loan are to
be used for the purchase of Common Stock; and

         WHEREAS, the obligation of Pledgor to repay such indebtedness is
evidenced by a Non-recourse Promissory Note dated as of the date hereof in the
principal amount of $6,000,000; and

         WHEREAS, it is a condition to Pledgee's making of the Loan and
Pledgee's acceptance of the Note that Pledgor execute and deliver this
Agreement providing for its pledge of the Collateral as security for the
payment of the Note;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in
the ESOP Loan Agreement, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto
consent and agree as follows:
<PAGE>   2
         SECTION 1.       PLEDGE.  Pledgor hereby pledges and grants to Pledgee
a security interest (i) in the shares of Common Stock acquired at any time by
Pledgor with the proceeds of the Loans (the "SHARES") and the certificates
representing the Shares and (ii) to the extent (but only to the extent) that
proceeds of the Shares and certificates representing the Shares are permissible
as collateral pursuant to section 4975(e)(7) of the Code and the regulations
thereunder, in proceeds of the Shares and certificates representing the Shares
(the "COLLATERAL").

         SECTION 2.       SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS.  This Agreement secures the
payment of all obligations of Pledgor now or hereafter existing under the Note
and ESOP Loan Agreement (the "ESOP DOCUMENTS"), whether for principal, interest
or otherwise, and all obligations of Pledgor now or hereafter existing under
this Agreement (all such obligations of Pledgor being the "OBLIGATIONS").

         SECTION 3.       DELIVERY OF COLLATERAL.  All certificates or
instruments representing or evidencing the Collateral shall be delivered to and
held by or on behalf of Pledgee pursuant hereto and shall be in suitable form
for transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments
of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance satisfactory to
Pledgee.  Pledgee shall have the right, (i) if any Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, and (ii) upon compliance with all applicable
requirements existing under the Uniform Commercial Code as applicable in the
State of Colorado ("UCC"), in its discretion and with reasonable notice to
Pledgor, to transfer to or to register in the name of Pledgee or any of its
nominees that portion of the Collateral whose fair market value at the time of
such transfer does not exceed the dollar amount




                                     -2-
<PAGE>   3
of such default.  In addition, Pledgee at its expense shall have the right at
any time upon notice to the Pledgor to replace certificates or instruments
representing or evidencing the Collateral for certificates or instruments of
smaller or larger denominations.  Pledgee covenants and agrees to take due care
and custody in the maintenance, possession, protection and preservation of all
Shares in its possession.

         SECTION 4.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  Pledgor represents
and warrants as follows:

                 (a)      Pledgor is the legal owner of the Collateral free and
         clear of any lien, security interest, option or other charge or
         encumbrance except for the security interest created by this
         Agreement.

                 (b)      No authorization, approval, or other action by, and
         no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory
         body is required either (i) for the pledge by Pledgor of the
         Collateral pursuant to this Agreement or for the execution, delivery
         or performance of this Agreement by Pledgor or (ii) for the exercise
         by Pledgee of the rights provided for in this Agreement or the
         remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement
         (except as may be required in connection with such disposition by laws
         affecting the offering and sale of securities generally).

         SECTION 5.       FURTHER ASSURANCES.  Pledgor agrees that at any time
and from time to time, Pledgor will promptly execute and deliver all further
instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be necessary
or reasonable, as reasonably requested by Pledgee, in order to perfect and
protect any security interest granted or purported to





                                     -3-
<PAGE>   4
be granted hereby or to enable Pledgee to exercise and enforce its rights and
remedies hereunder with respect to any Collateral, including, but not limited
to, any action reasonably required to assist Pledgee in registering, at
Pledgee's sole cost and expense, all or any portion of the Shares pursuant to
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         SECTION 6.       DIVIDENDS; ETC.  Pledgor shall be entitled to receive
and retain any and all cash dividends paid in respect of the Collateral.  If,
while this Agreement is in effect, Pledgor shall become entitled to receive or
shall receive any stock certificate (including, without limitation, any
certificate representing a stock dividend or a distribution in connection with
any reclassification, increase or reduction of capital, or issued in connection
with any reorganization), whether as an addition to, in substitution of, or in
exchange for any Collateral, Pledgor agrees to deliver the same forthwith to
Pledgee in the exact form received, with the indorsement of Pledgor when
necessary and/or appropriate and undated stock powers with respect thereto duly
executed in blank, to be held by Pledgee, subject to the terms hereof, as
additional collateral security for the Obligations.  Any sums paid upon or in
respect of the Collateral upon the liquidation or dissolution of the issuer
thereof shall be paid over to Pledgee to be held by it as additional collateral
security for the Obligations; and in case any distribution of capital shall be
made on or in respect of the Collateral or any property shall be distributed
upon or with respect to the Collateral pursuant to the recapitalization or
reclassification of the capital of the issuer thereof or pursuant to the
reorganization thereof, the property so distributed shall be delivered to
Pledgee to be held by it as additional collateral security for the Obligations.
All sums of money and property so paid or distributed in respect of the
Collateral which





                                     -4-
<PAGE>   5
are received by Pledgor shall, until paid or delivered to Pledgee, be held by
Pledgor as additional collateral security for the Obligations.  Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the rights of Pledgee and the obligations of Pledgor described
in this Section 6 shall be restricted if and to the extent necessary to comply
with section 4975(e)(7) of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

         SECTION 7.       TRANSFERS AND OTHER LIENS; ADDITIONAL SHARES.
Pledgor agrees that it will not (i) sell or otherwise dispose of, or grant any
option with respect to, any of the Collateral, except as permitted by the Code
or ERISA, or (ii) create or permit to exist any lien, security interest, or
other charge or encumbrance upon or with respect to any of the Collateral,
except for the security interest under this Agreement.

         SECTION 8.       AGENT APPOINTED ATTORNEY-IN-FACT.  Pledgor hereby
appoints Pledgee Pledgor's attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place
and stead of Pledgor and in the name of Pledgor or otherwise, from time to time
in Pledgee's discretion to take any action and to execute any instrument which
Pledgee may reasonably deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes
expressly provided for at Section 5 of this Agreement.

         SECTION 9.       AGENT MAY PERFORM.  If Pledgor fails to perform any
agreement contained herein, Pledgee may itself, at its own cost and expense,
perform, or cause performance of, such agreement.

         SECTION 10.  REMEDIES UPON DEFAULT.  If any Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing:

                 (a)      Pledgee  may exercise in respect of the Collateral,
         in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or
         otherwise available to





                                     -5-
<PAGE>   6
         it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC at
         that time, and Pledgee may also, without notice except as specified
         below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels
         at public or private sale, at any exchange, broker's board or at any
         of Pledgee's offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future
         delivery, and upon such other terms as are commercially reasonable.
         Pledgor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by
         law, at least ten days' notice to Pledgor of the time and place of any
         public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made
         shall constitute reasonable notification.  Pledgee shall not be
         obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale
         having been given.  Pledgee may adjourn any public or private sale
         from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed
         therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the
         time and place to which it was so adjourned.

                 (b)      All cash proceeds received by Pledgee in respect of
         any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any
         part of the Collateral shall be applied, to the extent of the default,
         by Pledgee for the benefit of Pledgee against all or any part of the
         Obligations in default in such order as Pledgee shall elect.  Any
         surplus of such cash proceeds held by Pledgee and remaining after
         payment in full of all the Obligations in default shall be paid over
         to Pledgor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such
         surplus.





                                     -6-
<PAGE>   7
                 (c)      The number of Shares as to which Pledgee may exercise
         the rights set forth in this Section 10 may not exceed that number of
         Shares (then remaining subject to pledge hereunder) which is then
         equal in current fair market value to the amount of principal and
         interest then due and unpaid under the Note.  The remedies set forth
         in this Section 10 may only be exercised to the extent consistent with
         the restrictions on remedies set forth in Section 408(b)(3) of ERISA
         and the regulations thereunder and Section 4975(d)(3) of the Internal
         Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.

         SECTION 11.       AMENDMENTS, ETC.  No amendment or waiver of any
provision of this Agreement, nor consent to any departure by Pledgor herefrom,
shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed
by Pledgee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the
specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

         SECTION 12.       ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES.  All notices and other
communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing, shall be deemed
effective only upon receipt and shall be addressed to the parties hereto at
their respective addresses specified in Section 6.7 of the ESOP Loan Agreement.

         SECTION 13.       CONTINUING SECURITY INTEREST; TRANSFER OF NOTES; 
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST.

                 (a)      This Agreement shall create a continuing security
         interest in the Collateral and shall (i) remain in full force and
         effect until payment in





                                     -7-
<PAGE>   8
         full of the Obligations, (ii) be binding upon Pledgor, its successors
         and assigns, and (iii) inure, together with the rights and remedies of
         Pledgee hereunder, to the benefit of Pledgee and its successors,
         transferees and assigns.  Without limiting the generality of the
         foregoing clause (iii), if  Pledgee, subject to Section 1.9 of the
         ESOP Loan Agreement, assigns or otherwise transfers the Note to any
         other person or entity, such other person or entity shall thereupon
         become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to
         Pledgee herein and shall be subject to the obligations of Pledgee set
         forth or referred to herein.

                 (b)      For each Plan Year (as that term is defined in the
         Plan),  Pledgee agrees to and shall release from pledge and reassign
         and deliver to Pledgor, free of all liens, security interests and
         encumbrances, rights and remedies attributable to Pledgee, whether
         under this Agreement or otherwise, a number of Shares equal to the
         number of Shares remaining subject to pledge under this Agreement
         immediately prior to the release multiplied by a fraction the
         numerator of which is the amount of principal paid through the date of
         such payment under the Note for such Plan Year and the denominator of
         which is the sum of the numerator plus the principal to be paid under
         the Note for all future Plan Years.  Upon such release, such Shares
         shall be released from pledge and shall no longer constitute Shares or
         Collateral.





                                     -8-
<PAGE>   9
         SECTION 14.       GOVERNING LAW; TERMS.  This Agreement shall be 
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of 
Colorado. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in Article 9 of the 
Uniform Commercial Code in the State of Texas are used herein as therein 
defined.





                                     -9-
<PAGE>   10
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Pledgor and Pledgee have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed and delivered by their respective representatives thereunto
duly authorized as of the date first above written.

                                      PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY                    
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                      By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.            
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          George P. Giard, Jr.                
                                          Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                      EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN OF        
                                      PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY                    
                                                                              
                                          BY:  PLAN ADMINISTRATOR            
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                          By: /s/ ROBERT L. SMITH            
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Robert L. Smith                
                                              Administrative Committee Member
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                          By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.       
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              George P. Giard, Jr.           
                                              Administrative Committee Member
                                      




                                     -10-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                      EXHIBIT 11




                                PLEDGE AGREEMENT


         THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), made effective January 1,
1991, between the Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Presidio Oil Company and the
trust established thereunder ("PLEDGOR"), and Presidio Oil Company, a Delaware
corporation, with its principal offices in Englewood, Colorado ("PLEDGEE").

                                WITNESSETH THAT:

         WHEREAS, Pledgee is loaning up to $4,000,000 to Pledgor pursuant to an
ESOP Loan Agreement (the "ESOP LOAN AGREEMENT") dated as of the date hereof
(capitalized terms used in this Pledge Agreement are defined in the ESOP Loan
Agreement, unless otherwise defined herein), the proceeds of such loan are to
be used for the purchase of Common Stock; and

         WHEREAS, the obligation of Pledgor to repay such indebtedness is
evidenced by a Non-recourse Promissory Note dated as of the date hereof in the
principal amount of $4,000,000; and

         WHEREAS, it is a condition to Pledgee's making of the Loan and
Pledgee's acceptance of the Note that Pledgor execute and deliver this
Agreement providing for its pledge of the Collateral as security for the
payment of the Note;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in
the ESOP Loan Agreement, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto
consent and agree as follows:
<PAGE>   2
         SECTION 1.       PLEDGE.  Pledgor hereby pledges and grants to Pledgee
a security interest (i) in the shares of Common Stock acquired at any time by
Pledgor with the proceeds of the Loans (the "SHARES") and the certificates
representing the Shares and (ii) to the extent (but only to the extent) that
proceeds of the Shares and certificates representing the Shares are permissible
as collateral pursuant to section 4975(e)(7) of the Code and the regulations
thereunder, in proceeds of the Shares and certificates representing the Shares
(the "COLLATERAL").

         SECTION 2.       SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS.  This Agreement secures the
payment of all obligations of Pledgor now or hereafter existing under the Note
and ESOP Loan Agreement (the "ESOP DOCUMENTS"), whether for principal, interest
or otherwise, and all obligations of Pledgor now or hereafter existing under
this Agreement (all such obligations of Pledgor being the "OBLIGATIONS").

         SECTION 3.       DELIVERY OF COLLATERAL.  All certificates or
instruments representing or evidencing the Collateral shall be delivered to and
held by or on behalf of Pledgee pursuant hereto and shall be in suitable form
for transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments
of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance satisfactory to
Pledgee.  Pledgee shall have the right, (i) if any Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, and (ii) upon compliance with all applicable
requirements existing under the Uniform Commercial Code as applicable in the
State of Colorado ("UCC"), in its discretion and with reasonable notice to
Pledgor, to transfer to or to register in the name of Pledgee or any of its
nominees that portion of the Collateral whose fair market value at the time of
such transfer does not exceed the dollar amount




                                     -2-
<PAGE>   3
of such default.  In addition, Pledgee at its expense shall have the right at
any time upon notice to the Pledgor to replace certificates or instruments
representing or evidencing the Collateral for certificates or instruments of
smaller or larger denominations.  Pledgee covenants and agrees to take due care
and custody in the maintenance, possession, protection and preservation of all
Shares in its possession.

         SECTION 4.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  Pledgor represents
and warrants as follows:

                 (a)      Pledgor is the legal owner of the Collateral free and
         clear of any lien, security interest, option or other charge or
         encumbrance except for the security interest created by this
         Agreement.

                 (b)      No authorization, approval, or other action by, and
         no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory
         body is required either (i) for the pledge by Pledgor of the
         Collateral pursuant to this Agreement or for the execution, delivery
         or performance of this Agreement by Pledgor or (ii) for the exercise
         by Pledgee of the rights provided for in this Agreement or the
         remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement
         (except as may be required in connection with such disposition by laws
         affecting the offering and sale of securities generally).

         SECTION 5.       FURTHER ASSURANCES.  Pledgor agrees that at any time
and from time to time, Pledgor will promptly execute and deliver all further
instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be necessary
or reasonable, as reasonably requested by Pledgee, in order to perfect and
protect any security interest granted or purported to





                                     -3-
<PAGE>   4
be granted hereby or to enable Pledgee to exercise and enforce its rights and
remedies hereunder with respect to any Collateral, including, but not limited
to, any action reasonably required to assist Pledgee in registering, at
Pledgee's sole cost and expense, all or any portion of the Shares pursuant to
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         SECTION 6.       DIVIDENDS; ETC.  Pledgor shall be entitled to receive
and retain any and all cash dividends paid in respect of the Collateral.  If,
while this Agreement is in effect, Pledgor shall become entitled to receive or
shall receive any stock certificate (including, without limitation, any
certificate representing a stock dividend or a distribution in connection with
any reclassification, increase or reduction of capital, or issued in connection
with any reorganization), whether as an addition to, in substitution of, or in
exchange for any Collateral, Pledgor agrees to deliver the same forthwith to
Pledgee in the exact form received, with the indorsement of Pledgor when
necessary and/or appropriate and undated stock powers with respect thereto duly
executed in blank, to be held by Pledgee, subject to the terms hereof, as
additional collateral security for the Obligations.  Any sums paid upon or in
respect of the Collateral upon the liquidation or dissolution of the issuer
thereof shall be paid over to Pledgee to be held by it as additional collateral
security for the Obligations; and in case any distribution of capital shall be
made on or in respect of the Collateral or any property shall be distributed
upon or with respect to the Collateral pursuant to the recapitalization or
reclassification of the capital of the issuer thereof or pursuant to the
reorganization thereof, the property so distributed shall be delivered to
Pledgee to be held by it as additional collateral security for the Obligations.
All sums of money and property so paid or distributed in respect of the
Collateral which





                                     -4-
<PAGE>   5
are received by Pledgor shall, until paid or delivered to Pledgee, be held by
Pledgor as additional collateral security for the Obligations.  Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the rights of Pledgee and the obligations of Pledgor described
in this Section 6 shall be restricted if and to the extent necessary to comply
with section 4975(e)(7) of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

         SECTION 7.       TRANSFERS AND OTHER LIENS; ADDITIONAL SHARES.
Pledgor agrees that it will not (i) sell or otherwise dispose of, or grant any
option with respect to, any of the Collateral, or (ii) create or permit to
exist any lien, security interest, or other charge or encumbrance upon or with
respect to any of the Collateral, except for the security interest under this
Agreement.

         SECTION 8.       AGENT APPOINTED ATTORNEY-IN-FACT.  Pledgor hereby
appoints Pledgee Pledgor's attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place
and stead of Pledgor and in the name of Pledgor or otherwise, from time to time
in Pledgee's discretion to take any action and to execute any instrument which
Pledgee may reasonably deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes
expressly provided for at Section 5 of this Agreement.

         SECTION 9.       AGENT MAY PERFORM.  If Pledgor fails to perform any
agreement contained herein, Pledgee may itself, at its own cost and expense,
perform, or cause performance of, such agreement.

         SECTION 10.      REMEDIES UPON DEFAULT.  If any Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing:

                 (a)      Pledgee  may exercise in respect of the Collateral,
         in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or
         otherwise available to





                                     -5-
<PAGE>   6
         it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC at
         that time, and Pledgee may also, without notice except as specified
         below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels
         at public or private sale, at any exchange, broker's board or at any
         of Pledgee's offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future
         delivery, and upon such other terms as are commercially reasonable.
         Pledgor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by
         law, at least ten days' notice to Pledgor of the time and place of any
         public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made
         shall constitute reasonable notification.  Pledgee shall not be
         obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale
         having been given.  Pledgee may adjourn any public or private sale
         from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed
         therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the
         time and place to which it was so adjourned.

                 (b)      All cash proceeds received by Pledgee in respect of
         any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any
         part of the Collateral shall be applied, to the extent of the default,
         by Pledgee for the benefit of Pledgee against all or any part of the
         Obligations in default in such order as Pledgee shall elect.  Any
         surplus of such cash proceeds held by Pledgee and remaining after
         payment in full of all the Obligations in default shall be paid over
         to Pledgor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such
         surplus.





                                     -6-
<PAGE>   7
                 (c)      The number of Shares as to which Pledgee may exercise
         the rights set forth in this Section 10 may not exceed that number of
         Shares (then remaining subject to pledge hereunder) which is then
         equal in current fair market value to the amount of principal and
         interest then due and unpaid under the Note.  The remedies set forth
         in this Section 10 may only be exercised to the extent consistent with
         the restrictions on remedies set forth in Section 408(b)(3) of ERISA
         and the regulations thereunder and Section 4975(d)(3) of the Internal
         Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.

         SECTION 11.  AMENDMENTS, ETC.  No amendment or waiver of any provision
of this Agreement, nor consent to any departure by Pledgor herefrom, shall in
any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by
Pledgee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the
specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

         SECTION 12.  ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES.  All notices and other
communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing, shall be deemed
effective only upon receipt and shall be addressed to the parties hereto at
their respective addresses specified in Section 6.7 of the ESOP Loan Agreement.

         SECTION 13.  CONTINUING SECURITY INTEREST; TRANSFER OF NOTES; RELEASE
                      OF SECURITY INTEREST.

                 (a)      This Agreement shall create a continuing security
         interest in the Collateral and shall (i) remain in full force and
         effect until payment in





                                     -7-
<PAGE>   8
         full of the Obligations, (ii) be binding upon Pledgor, its successors
         and assigns, and (iii) inure, together with the rights and remedies of
         Pledgee hereunder, to the benefit of Pledgee and its successors,
         transferees and assigns.  Without limiting the generality of the
         foregoing clause (iii), if  Pledgee, subject to Section 1.9 of the
         ESOP Loan Agreement, assigns or otherwise transfers the Note to any
         other person or entity, such other person or entity shall thereupon
         become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to
         Pledgee herein and shall be subject to the obligations of Pledgee set
         forth or referred to herein.

                 (b)      For each Plan Year (as that term is defined in the
         Plan),  Pledgee agrees to and shall release from pledge and reassign
         and deliver to Pledgor, free of all liens, security interests and
         encumbrances, rights and remedies attributable to Pledgee, whether
         under this Agreement or otherwise, a number of Shares equal to the
         number of Shares remaining subject to pledge under this Agreement
         immediately prior to the release multiplied by a fraction the
         numerator of which is the amount of principal paid through the date of
         such payment under the Note for such Plan Year and the denominator of
         which is the sum of the numerator plus the principal to be paid under
         the Note for all future Plan Years.  Upon such release, such Shares
         shall be released from pledge and shall no longer constitute Shares or
         Collateral.





                                     -8-
<PAGE>   9
         SECTION 14.       GOVERNING LAW; TERMS.  This Agreement shall be 
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of 
Colorado. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in Article 9 of the 
Uniform Commercial Code in the State of Texas are used herein as therein 
defined.





                                     -9-
<PAGE>   10
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Pledgor and Pledgee have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed and delivered by their respective representatives thereunto
duly authorized as of the date first above written.

                                      PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY


                                      By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.  
                                          --------------------------
                                          George P. Giard, Jr.  
                                          Chief Executive Officer and Chairman



                                      EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN OF
                                      PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY

                                          BY:  PLAN ADMINISTRATOR


                                          By: /s/ ROBERT L. SMITH 
                                              --------------------------
                                              Robert L. Smith 
                                              Administrative Committee Member




                                          By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.  
                                              --------------------------
                                              George P. Giard, Jr.  
                                              Administrative Committee Member





                                     -10-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                      EXHIBIT 12




                                PLEDGE AGREEMENT


         THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), made effective January 1,
1992, between the Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Presidio Oil Company and the
trust established thereunder ("PLEDGOR"), and Presidio Oil Company, a Delaware
corporation, with its principal offices in Englewood, Colorado ("PLEDGEE").

                                WITNESSETH THAT:

         WHEREAS, Pledgee is loaning up to $3,000,000 to Pledgor pursuant to an
ESOP Loan Agreement (the "ESOP LOAN AGREEMENT") dated as of the date hereof
(capitalized terms used in this Pledge Agreement are defined in the ESOP Loan
Agreement, unless otherwise defined herein), the proceeds of such loan are to
be used for the purchase of Common Stock; and

         WHEREAS, the obligation of Pledgor to repay such indebtedness is
evidenced by a Non-recourse Promissory Note dated as of the date hereof in the
principal amount of $3,000,000; and

         WHEREAS, it is a condition to Pledgee's making of the Loan and
Pledgee's acceptance of the Note that Pledgor execute and deliver this
Agreement providing for its pledge of the Collateral as security for the
payment of the Note;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in
the ESOP Loan Agreement, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto
consent and agree as follows:
<PAGE>   2
         SECTION 1.       PLEDGE.  Pledgor hereby pledges and grants to Pledgee
a security interest (i) in the shares of Common Stock acquired at any time by
Pledgor with the proceeds of the Loans (the "SHARES") and the certificates
representing the Shares and (ii) to the extent (but only to the extent) that
proceeds of the Shares and certificates representing the Shares are permissible
as collateral pursuant to section 4975(e)(7) of the Code and the regulations
thereunder, in proceeds of the Shares and certificates representing the Shares
(the "COLLATERAL").

         SECTION 2.       SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS.  This Agreement secures the
payment of all obligations of Pledgor now or hereafter existing under the Note
and ESOP Loan Agreement (the "ESOP DOCUMENTS"), whether for principal, interest
or otherwise, and all obligations of Pledgor now or hereafter existing under
this Agreement (all such obligations of Pledgor being the "OBLIGATIONS").

         SECTION 3.       DELIVERY OF COLLATERAL.  All certificates or
instruments representing or evidencing the Collateral shall be delivered to and
held by or on behalf of Pledgee pursuant hereto and shall be in suitable form
for transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments
of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance satisfactory to
Pledgee.  Pledgee shall have the right, (i) if any Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, and (ii) upon compliance with all applicable
requirements existing under the Uniform Commercial Code as applicable in the
State of Colorado ("UCC"), in its discretion and with reasonable notice to
Pledgor, to transfer to or to register in the name of Pledgee or any of its
nominees that portion of the Collateral whose fair market value at the time of
such transfer does not exceed the dollar amount of such default.  In addition,
Pledgee at its expense shall have the right at any time upon




                                     -2-
<PAGE>   3
notice to the Pledgor to replace certificates or instruments representing or
evidencing the Collateral for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger
denominations.  Pledgee covenants and agrees to take due care and custody in
the maintenance, possession, protection and preservation of all Shares in its
possession.

         SECTION 4.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  Pledgor represents
and warrants as follows:

                 (a)      Pledgor is the legal owner of the Collateral free and
         clear of any lien, security interest, option or other charge or
         encumbrance except for the security interest created by this
         Agreement.

                 (b)      No authorization, approval, or other action by, and
         no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory
         body is required either (i) for the pledge by Pledgor of the
         Collateral pursuant to this Agreement or for the execution, delivery
         or performance of this Agreement by Pledgor or (ii) for the exercise
         by Pledgee of the rights provided for in this Agreement or the
         remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement
         (except as may be required in connection with such disposition by laws
         affecting the offering and sale of securities generally).

         SECTION 5.       FURTHER ASSURANCES.  Pledgor agrees that at any time
and from time to time, Pledgor will promptly execute and deliver all further
instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be necessary
or reasonable, as reasonably requested by Pledgee, in order to perfect and
protect any security interest granted or purported to be granted hereby or to
enable Pledgee to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with
respect to any Collateral, including, but not limited to, any action





                                     -3-
<PAGE>   4
reasonably required to assist Pledgee in registering, at Pledgee's sole cost
and expense, all or any portion of the Shares pursuant to the Securities Act of
1933, as amended.

         SECTION 6.       DIVIDENDS; ETC.  Pledgor shall be entitled to receive
and retain any and all cash dividends paid in respect of the Collateral.  If,
while this Agreement is in effect, Pledgor shall become entitled to receive or
shall receive any stock certificate (including, without limitation, any
certificate representing a stock dividend or a distribution in connection with
any reclassification, increase or reduction of capital, or issued in connection
with any reorganization), whether as an addition to, in substitution of, or in
exchange for any Collateral, Pledgor agrees to deliver the same forthwith to
Pledgee in the exact form received, with the indorsement of Pledgor when
necessary and/or appropriate and undated stock powers with respect thereto duly
executed in blank, to be held by Pledgee, subject to the terms hereof, as
additional collateral security for the Obligations.  Any sums paid upon or in
respect of the Collateral upon the liquidation or dissolution of the issuer
thereof shall be paid over to Pledgee to be held by it as additional collateral
security for the Obligations; and in case any distribution of capital shall be
made on or in respect of the Collateral or any property shall be distributed
upon or with respect to the Collateral pursuant to the recapitalization or
reclassification of the capital of the issuer thereof or pursuant to the
reorganization thereof, the property so distributed shall be delivered to
Pledgee to be held by it as additional collateral security for the Obligations.
All sums of money and property so paid or distributed in respect of the
Collateral which are received by Pledgor shall, until paid or delivered to
Pledgee, be held by Pledgor as additional collateral security for the
Obligations.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rights of Pledgee and the
obligations of Pledgor described in this Section 6 shall be restricted if





                                     -4-
<PAGE>   5
and to the extent necessary to comply with section 4975(e)(7) of the Code and
the regulations thereunder.

         SECTION 7.       TRANSFERS AND OTHER LIENS; ADDITIONAL SHARES.
Pledgor agrees that it will not (i) sell or otherwise dispose of, or grant any
option with respect to, any of the Collateral, or (ii) create or permit to
exist any lien, security interest, or other charge or encumbrance upon or with
respect to any of the Collateral, except for the security interest under this
Agreement.

         SECTION 8.       AGENT APPOINTED ATTORNEY-IN-FACT.  Pledgor hereby
appoints Pledgee Pledgor's attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place
and stead of Pledgor and in the name of Pledgor or otherwise, from time to time
in Pledgee's discretion to take any action and to execute any instrument which
Pledgee may reasonably deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes
expressly provided for at Section 5 of this Agreement.

         SECTION 9.       AGENT MAY PERFORM.  If Pledgor fails to perform any
agreement contained herein, Pledgee may itself, at its own cost and expense,
perform, or cause performance of, such agreement.

         SECTION 10.      REMEDIES UPON DEFAULT.  If any Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing:

                 (a)      Pledgee  may exercise in respect of the Collateral,
         in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or
         otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured
         party under the UCC at that time, and Pledgee may also, without notice
         except as specified below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in
         one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any exchange,
         broker's board or at any of Pledgee's offices or





                                     -5-
<PAGE>   6
         elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, and upon such
         other terms as are commercially reasonable.  Pledgor agrees that, to
         the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten days'
         notice to Pledgor of the time and place of any public sale or the time
         after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable
         notification.  Pledgee shall not be obligated to make any sale of
         Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given.  Pledgee
         may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by
         announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may,
         without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was
         so adjourned.

                 (b)      All cash proceeds received by Pledgee in respect of
         any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any
         part of the Collateral shall be applied, to the extent of the default,
         by Pledgee for the benefit of Pledgee against all or any part of the
         Obligations in default in such order as Pledgee shall elect.  Any
         surplus of such cash proceeds held by Pledgee and remaining after
         payment in full of all the Obligations in default shall be paid over
         to Pledgor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such
         surplus.

                 (c)      The number of Shares as to which Pledgee may exercise
         the rights set forth in this Section 10 may not exceed that number of
         Shares (then remaining subject to pledge hereunder) which is then
         equal in current fair market value to the amount of principal and
         interest then due and unpaid under the Note.  The remedies set forth
         in this Section 10 may only





                                     -6-
<PAGE>   7
         be exercised to the extent consistent with the restrictions on
         remedies set forth in Section 408(b)(3) of ERISA and the regulations
         thereunder and Section 4975(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of
         1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.

         SECTION 11.       AMENDMENTS, ETC.  No amendment or waiver of any 
provision of this Agreement, nor consent to any departure by Pledgor herefrom, 
shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed
by Pledgee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the
specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

         SECTION 12.       ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES.  All notices and other
communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing, shall be deemed
effective only upon receipt and shall be addressed to the parties hereto at
their respective addresses specified in Section 6.7 of the ESOP Loan Agreement.

         SECTION 13.       CONTINUING SECURITY INTEREST; TRANSFER OF NOTES; 
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST.

                 (a)      This Agreement shall create a continuing security
         interest in the Collateral and shall (i) remain in full force and
         effect until payment in full of the Obligations, (ii) be binding upon
         Pledgor, its successors and assigns, and (iii) inure, together with
         the rights and remedies of Pledgee hereunder, to the benefit of
         Pledgee and its successors, transferees and assigns.  Without limiting
         the generality of the foregoing clause (iii), if Pledgee, subject to
         Section 1.9 of the ESOP Loan Agreement, assigns or otherwise transfers
         the Note to any other person or entity, such other person





                                     -7-
<PAGE>   8
         or entity shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in
         respect thereof granted to Pledgee herein and shall be subject to the
         obligations of Pledgee set forth or referred to herein.

                 (b)      For each Plan Year (as that term is defined in the
         Plan),  Pledgee agrees to and shall release from pledge and reassign
         and deliver to Pledgor, free of all liens, security interests and
         encumbrances, rights and remedies attributable to Pledgee, whether
         under this Agreement or otherwise, a number of Shares equal to the
         number of Shares remaining subject to pledge under this Agreement
         immediately prior to the release multiplied by a fraction the
         numerator of which is the amount of principal paid through the date of
         such payment under the Note for such Plan Year and the denominator of
         which is the sum of the numerator plus the principal to be paid under
         the Note for all future Plan Years.  Upon such release, such Shares
         shall be released from pledge and shall no longer constitute Shares or
         Collateral.

         SECTION 14.       GOVERNING LAW; TERMS.  This Agreement shall be 
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of 
Colorado. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in Article 9 of the 
Uniform Commercial Code in the State of Texas are used herein as therein 
defined.





                                     -8-
<PAGE>   9
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Pledgor and Pledgee have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed and delivered by their respective representatives thereunto
duly authorized as of the date first above written.

                                        PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY



                                        By: /s/ K. V. THOLSTROM 
                                            ---------------------------------
                                            K. V. Tholstrom
                                            Vice President & General Manager


                                        EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN OF
                                        PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY



                                        By: /s/ ROBERT L. SMITH 
                                            ---------------------------------
                                            Robert L. Smith, Trustee



                                        By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR.
                                            ---------------------------------
                                            George P. Giard, Jr., Trustee





                                     -9-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                      EXHIBIT 13




                                PLEDGE AGREEMENT


         THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), made effective January 1,
1993, between the Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Presidio Oil Company and the
trust established thereunder ("PLEDGOR"), and Presidio Oil Company, a Delaware
corporation, with its principal offices in Englewood, Colorado ("PLEDGEE").

                                WITNESSETH THAT:

         WHEREAS, Pledgee is loaning up to $3,000,000 to Pledgor pursuant to an
ESOP Loan Agreement (the "ESOP LOAN AGREEMENT") dated as of the date hereof
(capitalized terms used in this Pledge Agreement are defined in the ESOP Loan
Agreement, unless otherwise defined herein), the proceeds of such loan are to
be used for the purchase of Common Stock; and

         WHEREAS, the obligation of Pledgor to repay such indebtedness is
evidenced by a Non-recourse Promissory Note dated as of the date hereof in the
principal amount of $3,000,000; and

         WHEREAS, it is a condition to Pledgee's making of the Loan and
Pledgee's acceptance of the Note that Pledgor execute and deliver this
Agreement providing for its pledge of the Collateral as security for the
payment of the Note;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in
the ESOP Loan Agreement, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto
consent and agree as follows:
<PAGE>   2
         SECTION 1.       PLEDGE.  Pledgor hereby pledges and grants to Pledgee
a security interest (i) in the shares of Common Stock acquired at any time by
Pledgor with the proceeds of the Loans (the "SHARES") and the certificates
representing the Shares and (ii) to the extent (but only to the extent) that
proceeds of the Shares and certificates representing the Shares are permissible
as collateral pursuant to section 4975(e)(7) of the Code and the regulations
thereunder, in proceeds of the Shares and certificates representing the Shares
(the "COLLATERAL").

         SECTION 2.       SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS.  This Agreement secures the
payment of all obligations of Pledgor now or hereafter existing under the Note
and ESOP Loan Agreement (the "ESOP DOCUMENTS"), whether for principal, interest
or otherwise, and all obligations of Pledgor now or hereafter existing under
this Agreement (all such obligations of Pledgor being the "OBLIGATIONS").

         SECTION 3.       DELIVERY OF COLLATERAL.  All certificates or
instruments representing or evidencing the Collateral shall be delivered to and
held by or on behalf of Pledgee pursuant hereto and shall be in suitable form
for transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments
of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance satisfactory to
Pledgee.  Pledgee shall have the right, (i) if any Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, and (ii) upon compliance with all applicable
requirements existing under the Uniform Commercial Code as applicable in the
State of Colorado ("UCC"), in its discretion and with reasonable notice to
Pledgor, to transfer to or to register in the name of Pledgee or any of its
nominees that portion of the Collateral whose fair market value at the time of
such transfer does not exceed the dollar amount




                                     -2-
<PAGE>   3
of such default.  In addition, Pledgee at its expense shall have the right at
any time upon notice to the Trustee to replace certificates or instruments
representing or evidencing the Collateral for certificates or instruments of
smaller or larger denominations.  Pledgee covenants and agrees to take due care
and custody in the maintenance, possession, protection and preservation of all
Shares in its possession.

         SECTION 4.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  Pledgor represents
and warrants as follows:

                 (a)      Pledgor is the legal owner of the Collateral free and
         clear of any lien, security interest, option or other charge or
         encumbrance except for the security interest created by this
         Agreement.

                 (b)      No authorization, approval, or other action by, and
         no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory
         body is required either (i) for the pledge by Pledgor of the
         Collateral pursuant to this Agreement or for the execution, delivery
         or performance of this Agreement by Pledgor or (ii) for the exercise
         by Pledgee of the rights provided for in this Agreement or the
         remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement
         (except as may be required in connection with such disposition by laws
         affecting the offering and sale of securities generally).

         SECTION 5.       FURTHER ASSURANCES.  Pledgor agrees that at any time
and from time to time, Pledgor will promptly execute and deliver all further
instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be necessary
or reasonable, as reasonably requested by Pledgee, in order to perfect and
protect any security interest granted or purported to be





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4
granted hereby or to enable Pledgee to exercise and enforce its rights and
remedies hereunder with respect to any Collateral, including, but not limited
to, any action reasonably required to assist Pledgee in registering, at
Pledgee's sole cost and expense, all or any portion of the Shares pursuant to
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         SECTION 6.       DIVIDENDS; ETC.  Pledgor shall be entitled to receive
and retain any and all cash dividends paid in respect of the Collateral.  If,
while this Agreement is in effect, Pledgor shall become entitled to receive or
shall receive any stock certificate (including, without limitation, any
certificate representing a stock dividend or a distribution in connection with
any reclassification, increase or reduction of capital, or issued in connection
with any reorganization), whether as an addition to, in substitution of, or in
exchange for any Collateral, Pledgor agrees to deliver the same forthwith to
Pledgee in the exact form received, with the indorsement of Pledgor when
necessary and/or appropriate and undated stock powers with respect thereto duly
executed in blank, to be held by Pledgee, subject to the terms hereof, as
additional collateral security for the Obligations.  Any sums paid upon or in
respect of the Collateral upon the liquidation or dissolution of the issuer
thereof shall be paid over to Pledgee to be held by it as additional collateral
security for the Obligations; and in case any distribution of capital shall be
made on or in respect of the Collateral or any property shall be distributed
upon or with respect to the Collateral pursuant to the recapitalization or
reclassification of the capital of the issuer thereof or pursuant to the
reorganization thereof, the property so distributed shall be delivered to
Pledgee to be held by it as additional collateral security for the Obligations.
All sums of money and property so paid or distributed in respect of the
Collateral which





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5
are received by Pledgor shall, until paid or delivered to Pledgee, be held by
Pledgor as additional collateral security for the Obligations.  Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the rights of Pledgee and the obligations of Pledgor described
in this Section 6 shall be restricted if and to the extent necessary to comply
with section 4975(e)(7) of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

         SECTION 7.       TRANSFERS AND OTHER LIENS; ADDITIONAL SHARES.
Pledgor agrees that it will not (i) sell or otherwise dispose of, or grant any
option with respect to, any of the Collateral, or (ii) create or permit to
exist any lien, security interest, or other charge or encumbrance upon or with
respect to any of the Collateral, except for the security interest under this
Agreement.

         SECTION 8.       AGENT APPOINTED ATTORNEY-IN-FACT.  Pledgor hereby
appoints Pledgee Pledgor's attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place
and stead of Pledgor and in the name of Pledgor or otherwise, from time to time
in Pledgee's discretion to take any action and to execute any instrument which
Pledgee may reasonably deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes
expressly provided for at Section 5 of this Agreement.

         SECTION 9.       AGENT MAY PERFORM.  If Pledgor fails to perform any
agreement contained herein, Pledgee may itself, at its own cost and expense,
perform, or cause performance of, such agreement.

         SECTION 10.      REMEDIES UPON DEFAULT.  If any Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing:

                 (a)      Pledgee  may exercise in respect of the Collateral,
         in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or
         otherwise available to it,





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6
         all the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC at that
         time, and Pledgee may also, without notice except as specified below,
         sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at
         public or private sale, at any exchange, broker's board or at any of
         Pledgee's offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future
         delivery, and upon such other terms as are commercially reasonable.
         Pledgor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by
         law, at least ten days' notice to Pledgor of the time and place of any
         public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made
         shall constitute reasonable notification.  Pledgee shall not be
         obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale
         having been given.  Pledgee may adjourn any public or private sale
         from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed
         therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the
         time and place to which it was so adjourned.

                 (b)      All cash proceeds received by Pledgee in respect of
         any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any
         part of the Collateral shall be applied, to the extent of the default,
         by Pledgee for the benefit of Pledgee against all or any part of the
         Obligations in default in such order as Pledgee shall elect.  Any
         surplus of such cash proceeds held by Pledgee and remaining after
         payment in full of all the Obligations in default shall be paid over
         to Pledgor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such
         surplus.





                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7
                 (c)      The number of Shares as to which Pledgee may exercise
         the rights set forth in this Section 10 may not exceed that number of
         Shares (then remaining subject to pledge hereunder) which is then
         equal in current fair market value to the amount of principal and
         interest then due and unpaid under the Note.  The remedies set forth
         in this Section 10 may only be exercised to the extent consistent with
         the restrictions on remedies set forth in Section 408(b)(3) of ERISA
         and the regulations thereunder and Section 4975(d)(3) of the Internal
         Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.

         SECTION 11.       AMENDMENTS, ETC.  No amendment or waiver of any 
provision of this Agreement, nor consent to any departure by Pledgor herefrom,
shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed
by Pledgee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the
specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

         SECTION 12.       ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES.  All notices and other
communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing, shall be deemed
effective only upon receipt and shall be addressed to the parties hereto at
their respective addresses specified in Section 6.7 of the ESOP Loan Agreement.

         SECTION 13.       CONTINUING SECURITY INTEREST; TRANSFER OF NOTES; 
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST.

                 (a)      This Agreement shall create a continuing security
         interest in the Collateral and shall (i) remain in full force and
         effect until payment in full





                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8
         of the Obligations, (ii) be binding upon Pledgor, its successors and
         assigns, and (iii) inure, together with the rights and remedies of
         Pledgee hereunder, to the benefit of Pledgee and its successors,
         transferees and assigns.  Without limiting the generality of the
         foregoing clause (iii), if  Pledgee, subject to Section 1.9 of the
         ESOP Loan Agreement, assigns or otherwise transfers the Note to any
         other person or entity, such other person or entity shall thereupon
         become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to
         Pledgee herein and shall be subject to the obligations of Pledgee set
         forth or referred to herein.

                 (b)      For each Plan Year (as that term is defined in the
         Plan),  Pledgee agrees to and shall release from pledge and reassign
         and deliver to Pledgor, free of all liens, security interests and
         encumbrances, rights and remedies attributable to Pledgee, whether
         under this Agreement or otherwise, a number of Shares equal to the
         number of Shares remaining subject to pledge under this Agreement
         immediately prior to the release multiplied by a fraction the
         numerator of which is the amount of principal paid through the date of
         such payment under the Note for such Plan Year and the denominator of
         which is the sum of the numerator plus the principal to be paid under
         the Note for all future Plan Years.  Upon such release, such Shares
         shall be released from pledge and shall no longer constitute Shares or
         Collateral.





                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9
         SECTION 14.       GOVERNING LAW; TERMS.  This Agreement shall be 
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of 
Colorado. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in Article 9 of the 
Uniform Commercial Code in the State of Texas are used herein as therein 
defined.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Pledgor and Pledgee have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed and delivered by their respective representatives thereunto
duly authorized as of the date first above written.

                                       PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY



                                       By: /s/ CHRISTOPHER S. HARDESTY 
                                           ----------------------------
                                           Christopher S. Hardesty 
                                           Vice President


                                       EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP 
                                       PLAN OF PRESIDIO OIL COMPANY



                                       By: /s/ ROBERT L. SMITH 
                                           ----------------------------
                                           Robert L. Smith, Trustee



                                       By: /s/ GEORGE P. GIARD, JR. 
                                           ----------------------------
                                           George P. Giard, Jr., Trustee





                                      -9-


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