BELCO OIL & GAS CORP
10-Q, EX-10, 2000-08-14
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
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                                  $250,000,000

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      among

                             BELCO OIL & GAS CORP.,
                                   as Borrower

                               The Several Lenders
                        from Time to Time Parties Hereto

                             BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
                              as Syndication Agent

                                BANK OF AMERICA,
                             as Documentation Agent

                              FLEET NATIONAL BANK,
                               as Collateral Agent

                                       and

                           THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                             as Administrative Agent

  Dated as of September 23, 1997, as Amended and Restated as of June 30, 2000



<PAGE>



     CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of September 3, 1997, as amended and restated as
of June 30,  2000,  among  BELCO  OIL & GAS  CORP.,  a  Nevada  corporation (the
"Borrower"),  the several banks,  financial institutions and other entities from
time to time parties to this Agreement (the "Lenders"),  BANK OF AMERICA,  N.A.,
as documentation agent (in such capacity,  the "Documentation  Agent"),  BANKERS
TRUST COMPANY, as syndication agent (in such capacity, the "Syndication Agent"),
FLEET NATIONAL  BANK, as collateral  agent (in such  capacity,  the  "Collateral
Agent") and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as administrative agent (in such capacity,
the "Administrative Agent").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS,  the  Borrower  entered  into  a  Credit  Agreement,  dated  as of
September 23, 1997 (the "Existing Credit  Agreement"),  with The Chase Manhattan
Bank, as administrative agent, and the financial institutions parties thereto as
lenders;

     WHEREAS,  the parties  hereto have agreed to amend and restate the Existing
Credit  Agreement as provided in this  Agreement,  which  Agreement shall become
effective upon the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section
6.1 hereof; and

     WHEREAS,  it is the intent of the parties  hereto that this  Agreement  not
constitute a novation of the  obligations  and  liabilities  existing  under the
Existing Credit  Agreement or evidence  repayment of any of such obligations and
liabilities  and that this  Agreement  amend and  restate  in its  entirety  the
Existing  Credit  Agreement  and  re-evidence  the  obligations  of the Borrower
outstanding thereunder;

     NOW  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the above  premises  and the  mutual
covenants  hereinafter  set forth,  the parties  hereto hereby agree that on the
Restatement  Effective  Date (as defined  below) the Existing  Credit  Agreement
shall be amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

                             SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

     1.1 Defined Terms.  As used in this  Agreement,  the following  terms shall
have the following meanings:

     "ABR": for any day, a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the
next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the  greatest  of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such
day,  (b) the Base CD Rate in  effect  on such  day plus 1% and (c) the  Federal
Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. For purposes  hereof:
"Prime Rate" shall mean the rate of interest per annum  publicly  announced from
time to time by Chase as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New
York City (the Prime Rate not being  intended  to be the lowest rate of interest
charged by Chase in connection with  extensions of credit to debtors);  "Base CD
Rate" shall mean the sum of (a) the product of (i) the Three-Month  Secondary CD
Rate and (ii) a fraction,  the numerator of which is one and the  denominator of
which is one minus the C/D Reserve  Percentage and (b) the C/D Assessment  Rate;
"Three-Month  Secondary CD Rate" shall mean,  for any day, the secondary  market
rate for three-month certificates of deposit reported as being in effect on such
day (or, if such day shall not be a Business  Day, the next  preceding  Business
Day) by the Board through the public  information  telephone line of the Federal
Reserve  Bank of New York (which rate will,  under the current  practices of the
Board, be published in Federal Reserve  Statistical Release H.15(519) during the
week  following such day), or, if such rate shall not be so reported on such day
or such next  preceding  Business  Day,  the  average  of the  secondary  market
quotations for  three-month  certificates of deposit of major money center banks
in New York City received at  approximately  10:00 A.M.,  New York City time, on
such day (or,  if such day shall not be a Business  Day,  on the next  preceding
Business Day) by the  Administrative  Agent from three New York City  negotiable
certificate of deposit dealers of recognized standing selected by it; and


<PAGE>



     "Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate" shall  mean,  for any day,  the  weighted
average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the
Federal  Reserve System  arranged by federal funds brokers,  as published on the
next  succeeding  Business Day by the Federal  Reserve Bank of New York,  or, if
such rate is not so published  for any day which is a Business  Day, the average
of  the   quotations  for  the  day  of  such   transactions   received  by  the
Administrative  Agent from three federal  funds  brokers of recognized  standing
selected  by it.  Any change in the ABR due to a change in the Prime  Rate,  the
Three-Month  Secondary  CD Rate or the  Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate shall be
effective as of the opening of business on the  effective  day of such change in
the Prime Rate, the Three-Month Secondary CD Rate or the Federal Funds Effective
Rate, respectively.

     "ABR Loans":  Loans the rate of interest  applicable to which is based upon
the ABR.

     "Administrative Agent": as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

     "Affiliate":  as to any Person,  any other Person (other than a Subsidiary)
which,  directly or indirectly,  is in control of, is controlled by, or is under
common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition,  "control" of
a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, either to (a) vote 10% or more
of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or
persons  performing similar functions) of such Person or (b) direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such Person,  whether by contract or
otherwise;  provided  that no Person  shall be deemed  to be an  Affiliate  of a
Person solely by virtue of being a Director of such Person.

     "Agents":   the  collective   reference  to  the  Syndication   Agent,  the
Documentation Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent.

     "Aggregate  Revolving  Credit  Exposure":  as to any Lender at any time, an
amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate  principal amount of all Loans made
by such Lender then outstanding and (b) such Lender's  Commitment  Percentage of
the Letter of Credit Outstandings at such time.

     "Agreement":  this  Amended  and  Restated  Credit  Agreement,  as  further
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

     "Applicable  Margin":  for any day with  respect  to any Type of Loan,  the
applicable  per annum  rate set forth  below in the column for such Type of Loan
and opposite the Borrowing Base Usage in effect on such day:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                        Eurodollar      ABR
Borrowing Base Usage                                    Margin          Margin
<S>                                                     <C>             <C>

Less than or equal to 25%                               1.125%          0.000%
Greater than 25% and less than or equal to 50%          1.250%          0.000%
Greater than 50% and less than or equal to 75%          1.375%          0.000%
Greater than 75% and less than or equal to 90%          1.500%          0.125%
Greater than 90%                                        1.625%          0.250%

</TABLE>


<PAGE>



     As used  herein,  "Borrowing  Base  Usage" on any day means the  percentage
equivalent of the ratio of (i) the sum of the aggregate  principal amount of the
Loans then outstanding and Letter of Credit Outstandings on such day to (ii) the
Borrowing Base in effect on such day.

     "Assignee": as defined in subsection 11.6(c).

     "Assignment and Acceptance": as defined in subsection 11.6(c).

     "Available  Commitment":  as to any Lender at any time,  an amount equal to
the  excess,  if  any,  of (a) the  amount  of such  Lender's  Revolving  Credit
Commitment over (b) such Lender's Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure.

     "Board": the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United
States.

     "Borrower": as defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

     "Borrower  Redetermination  Notice":  a  notice  from the  Borrower  to the
Administrative  Agent requesting that the  Administrative  Agent redetermine the
Borrowing Base,  which notice may be sent by the Borrower at any time,  provided
no more than two such  notices  may be  delivered  by the  Borrower  during  any
consecutive 12 month period.

     "Borrowing Base": at any time of  determination,  the amount then in effect
as determined in accordance with subsection 4.9;  provided,  however,  that from
the date hereof  until such time as the  Borrowing  Base is so  redetermined  in
accordance with subsection 4.9, the Borrowing Base shall be $200,000,000.

     "Borrowing  Base  Availability":  as to any  Lender at any time,  an amount
equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender's  Commitment  Percentage of the
Borrowing Base in effect at such time over (b) such Lender's Aggregate Revolving
Credit Exposure.

     "Borrowing Base Deficiency": as defined in subsection 4.10.

     "Borrowing  Base  Period":  (a)  initially,  the period  commencing  on the
Restatement  Effective Date and ending on the next  succeeding  Re-determination
Date  and  (b)  thereafter,  each  period  commencing  on  the  last  day of the
immediately  preceding  Borrowing Base Period and ending on the next  succeeding
Re-determination Date.

     "Borrowing  Base Usage":  as defined  under the  definition  of  Applicable
Margin.

     "Borrowing  Date":  any  Business  Day  specified  in a notice  pursuant to
subsection  2.2 or 3.2 as a date on which the  Borrower  requests the Lenders to
make Loans or the Issuing Lender to issue a Letter of Credit hereunder.

     "Business  Day":  any day that is not a  Saturday,  Sunday  or other day on
which  commercial  banks in New York City are  authorized  or required by law to
remain closed;  provided that, when used in connection  with a Eurodollar  Loan,
the term  "Business  Day" shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open
for dealings in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

     "Capital Lease": any lease of property,  real or personal,  the obligations
of the lessee in respect of which are  required  in  accordance  with GAAP to be
capitalized on a balance sheet of the lessee.

     "Capital Stock":  any and all shares,  interests,  participations  or other
equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation,  any and all
equivalent ownership interests

<PAGE>




in a Person (other than a corporation) and any and all warrants,  rights or
options to purchase any of the foregoing.

     "Cash Equivalents": (a) securities with maturities of one year or less from
the date of  acquisition  issued or fully  guaranteed  or  insured by the United
States  Government  or any agency  thereof,  (b)  certificates  of  deposit  and
eurodollar  time deposits  with  maturities of one year or less from the date of
acquisition  and overnight bank deposits of any Lender or of any commercial bank
(i) having  capital  and surplus in excess of  $500,000,000  or (ii) which has a
short-term commercial paper rating which satisfies the requirements set forth in
clause (d) below, (c) repurchase  obligations of any Lender or of any commercial
bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition, having a term
of not more than 30 days with respect to securities issued,  fully guaranteed or
insured by the United States  Government or any agency  thereof,  (d) commercial
paper of a domestic  issuer  rated at least A-2 by Standard  and Poor's  Ratings
Group  ("S&P")  or P-2 by  Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.  ("Moody's"),  (e)
securities  with  maturities  of one year or less  from the date of  acquisition
issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United
States,  by any  political  subdivision  or taxing  authority of any such state,
commonwealth or territory or by any foreign government,  the securities of which
state,  commonwealth,  territory,  political  subdivision,  taxing  authority or
foreign  government  (as the  case  may be) are  rated at least A by S&P or A by
Moody's,  (f)  securities  with  maturities of one year or less from the date of
acquisition  backed by  standby  letters  of credit  issued by any Lender or any
commercial bank satisfying the  requirements of clause (b) of this definition or
(g) shares of money market mutual or similar funds which invest  exclusively  in
assets   satisfying  the  requirements  of  clauses  (a)  through  (f)  of  this
definition.

     "C/D Assessment  Rate":  for any day as applied to any ABR Loan, the annual
assessment  rate in effect on such day which is  payable by a member of the Bank
Insurance Fund  maintained by the Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation  (the
"FDIC") classified as well-capitalized and within supervisory subgroup "B" (or a
comparable successor  assessment risk  classification)  within the meaning of 12
C.F.R. Section 327.4 (or any successor provision) to the FDIC (or any successor)
for the FDIC's (or such  successor's)  insuring time deposits at offices of such
institution in the United States.

     "C/D  Reserve  Percentage":  for any day as applied  to any ABR Loan,  that
percentage  (expressed  as a  decimal)  which  is in  effect  on  such  day,  as
prescribed by the Board,  for determining the maximum reserve  requirement for a
Depositary  Institution  (as defined in  Regulation  D of the Board as in effect
from time to time) in  respect  of new  non-personal  time  deposits  in Dollars
having a maturity of 30 days or more.

     "Change of Control": the occurrence of any of the following:

     (i) the sale, lease, transfer,  conveyance or other disposition (other than
by way of merger or consolidation),  in one or a series of related transactions,
of all or  substantially  all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole to any  "Person" or group of related  Persons (a  "Group")  (as
such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"));

     (ii) the consummation of any transaction  (including,  without  limitation,
any purchase,  sale,  acquisition,  disposition,  merger or  consolidation)  the
result of which is that any "person" (as defined above) or Group, other than one
or more  Designated  Persons,  becomes the  "beneficial  owner" (as such term is
defined in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5  under the  Exchange  Act) of (a) more than
40% of the  aggregate  voting  power  of all  classes  of  Capital  Stock of the
Borrower having the right to elect directors under ordinary  circumstances  at a
time when the Designated  Persons in the aggregate do not  beneficially own more
than 50% of the  aggregate  voting power of all classes of Capital  Stock of the
Borrower, or (b) 50% or more of the aggregate


<PAGE>



voting power of all classes of Capital Stock of the Borrower having the right to
elect directors under ordinary circumstances, at any time;

     (iii) the Designated  Persons shall cease to be the beneficial owners of an
aggregate  of at least  20% of the  aggregate  voting  power of all  classes  of
Capital Stock of the Borrower having the right to elect directors under ordinary
circumstances;

     (iv) the adoption of a plan relating to the  liquidation  or dissolution of
the Borrower; and

     (v) during  any period of two  consecutive  years,  individuals  who at the
beginning of such period  constituted the Board of Directors  (together with any
new directors whose election by such Board of Directors or whose  nomination for
election  by the  shareholders  of the  Borrower  was  approved  by a vote  of a
majority of the  directors of the Borrower  then still in office who were either
directors at the beginning of such period or whose  election or  nomination  for
election  was  previously  so  approved)  cease for any reason to  constitute  a
majority of the Board of Directors then in office.

     "Chase": The Chase Manhattan Bank.

     "Coda": Coda Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

     "Coda Indenture": that certain Indenture, dated as of March 18, 1996, among
the  Borrower  (as  successor  to Coda  by the  Coda  Merger),  as  issuer,  its
Subsidiaries,  as  subsidiary  guarantors,  and  Texas  Commerce  Bank  National
Association,  as trustee,  relating to the Coda Notes,  as  supplemented  by the
First  Supplemental Coda Indenture,  the Second  Supplemental Coda Indenture and
the Third Supplemental Coda Indenture.

     "Coda  Merger":  the merger of the  Borrower  with and into Coda,  with the
Borrower as the surviving corporation.

     "Coda Notes":  the 10-1/2%  Senior  Subordinated  Notes of the Borrower (as
successor  to Coda by the Coda  Merger)  due 2006,  issued  pursuant to the Coda
Indenture.

     "Code": the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

     "Collateral Agent": as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

     "Commitments": the collective reference to the Revolving Credit Commitments
and the L/C Commitment.

     "Commitment Fee Rate":  for any day, a rate per annum equal to (a) 0.25% if
the Borrowing Base Usage in effect on such day is less than or equal to 25%, (b)
0.30% if the Borrowing  Base Usage in effect on such day is greater than 25% and
less than or equal to 50%,  (c) 0.35% if the  Borrowing  Base Usage in effect on
such day is  greater  than 50% and less  than or equal to 75%,  (d) 0.40% if the
Borrowing  Base Usage in effect on such day is greater than 75% and less than or
equal to 90% and (e) 0.50% if the Borrowing  Base Usage in effect on such day is
greater than 90%.

     "Commitment Percentage": as to any Lender at any time, the percentage which
such Lender's  Revolving  Credit  Commitment  then  constitutes of the aggregate
Revolving  Credit  Commitments  (or,  at any time  after  the  Revolving  Credit
Commitments shall have expired or terminated, the percentage which the aggregate
principal  amount of such  Lender's  Revolving  Credit  Loans  then  outstanding
constitutes of the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans then
outstanding).


<PAGE>



     "Commitment   Period":  the  period  from  and  including  the  Restatement
Effective Date to but not including the Termination Date or such earlier date on
which the Commitments shall terminate as provided herein.

     "Commodity  Price  Risk  Management  Agreement":  a  commodity  price  risk
management  or purchase  agreement  or similar  arrangement  entered into in the
ordinary  course of  business  with the  intent of  achieving  more  predictable
revenues and cash flows and reducing the exposure to fluctuations in oil and gas
prices.

     "Commonly Controlled Entity": an entity, whether or not incorporated, which
is under common control with the Borrower  within the meaning of Section 4001 of
ERISA or is part of a group which  includes the Borrower and which is treated as
a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

     "Consolidated  Interest  Expense":  with  respect to the  Borrower  and its
Restricted  Subsidiaries on a consolidated  basis for any period, the sum of (i)
gross interest expense  (including all cash and accrued interest expense) of the
Borrower  and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  for such  period on a  consolidated
basis,  including to the extent included in interest  expense in accordance with
GAAP (x) the  amortization of debt discounts and (y) the portion of any payments
or accruals  with respect to Capital  Leases  allocable to interest  expense and
(ii) capitalized  interest of the Borrower and its Restricted  Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis.

     "Consolidated Net Income":  for any period,  net income of the Borrower and
its Restricted  Subsidiaries  determined on a  consolidated  basis in accordance
with GAAP,  provided  that  "Consolidated  Net Income" shall not include any (i)
non-cash gains,  losses or charges resulting from the net change in value of the
Borrower's   mark-to-market   portfolio  of  commodity   price  risk  management
activities for that period,  (ii) any extraordinary or nonrecurring gain or loss
together  with  any  related  provision  for  taxes  on  such  extraordinary  or
nonrecurring gain or loss and (iii) all non-cash extraordinary expenses.

     "Contractual  Obligation":  as to any Person, any provision of any security
issued by such Person or of any  agreement,  instrument or other  undertaking to
which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

     "Control": the possession,  directly or indirectly,  of the power to direct
or cause the  direction  of the  management  and  policies of a Person,  whether
through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.

     "Default":  any of the events  specified in  Section 9,  whether or not any
requirement  for the giving of notice,  the lapse of time, or both, or any other
condition, has been satisfied.

     "Designated  Persons":  (1) Robert A. Belfer, Renee E. Belfer,  Laurence D.
Belfer, and Jack Saltz, (2) the spouses or descendants of such individuals,  (3)
the estates or legal representatives of the individuals named in clauses (1) and
(2), and (4) trusts  created for the benefit of Persons named in clauses (1) and
(2).

     "Disqualified Stock": means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the
terms  of  any  security  into  which  it is  convertible  or  for  which  it is
exchangeable)  or upon the  happening  of any event,  matures or is  mandatorily
redeemable for any consideration other than Capital Stock, pursuant to a sinking
fund obligation or otherwise, is convertible or is exchangeable for Indebtedness
or  Disqualified  Stock or redeemable for any  consideration  other than Capital
Stock at the  option of the holder  thereof,  in whole or in part on or prior to
the date that is one year after the earlier of (x) the  Termination  Date or (y)
the  date on  which  there  are no  Loans,  Reimbursement  Obligations  or other
obligations hereunder outstanding and the Commitments are terminated.


<PAGE>



     "Documentation Agent": as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

     "Dollars"  and "$":  dollars in lawful  currency  of the  United  States of
America.

     "Domestic  Subsidiary":  any Restricted Subsidiary organized under the laws
of any jurisdiction  within the United States of America (including  territories
thereof).

     "EBITDA":  with respect to the Borrower,  for any period,  Consolidated Net
Income  for  that  period,  plus,  to  the  extent  deducted  from  revenues  in
determining Consolidated Net Income for that period, (a) the aggregate amount of
Consolidated  Interest  Expense for that  period,  (b) the  aggregate  amount of
letter of credit fees paid  during  that  period,  (c) the  aggregate  amount of
income  tax  expense  for  that  period  and (d)  all  amounts  attributable  to
depreciation,  depletion and  amortization  for that period,  and minus,  to the
extent  included  in revenues in  determining  Consolidated  Net Income for that
period,  all non-cash  extraordinary  income  during that  period,  in each case
determined in accordance with GAAP and without duplication of amounts.

     "Environmental  Laws": with respect to any Person, any and all laws, rules,
orders,  regulations,  statutes,  ordinances,  codes,  decrees, or other legally
enforceable  requirement  (including,  without  limitation,  common  law) of any
foreign government,  the United States, or any state, local,  municipal or other
governmental  authority,  having jurisdiction over such Person or its Properties
and  regulating,  relating  to or imposing  liability  or  standards  of conduct
concerning  protection of the  environment  or of human health,  as has been, is
now, or may at any time hereafter be, in effect.

     "Environmental  Permits":  any and all  permits,  licenses,  registrations,
notifications,  approvals, exemptions and any other authorization required under
any Environmental Law.

     "Equity Interests": Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights
to acquire  Capital Stock (but  excluding any debt security that is  convertible
into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

     "ERISA":  the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
from time to time.

     "Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements": for any day as applied to a Eurodollar
Loan, the aggregate  (without  duplication) of the maximum rates (expressed as a
decimal)  of  reserve  requirements  in effect on such day  (including,  without
limitation,  basic,  supplemental,  marginal and  emergency  reserves  under any
regulations of the Board or other  Governmental  Authority  having  jurisdiction
with  respect  thereto)  dealing  with  reserve   requirements   prescribed  for
eurocurrency  funding  (currently  referred to as "Eurocurrency  Liabilities" in
Regulation D of the Board)  maintained  by a member bank of the Federal  Reserve
System.

     "Eurodollar  Base  Rate":  with  respect to each day during  each  Interest
Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan, the rate per annum equal to the rate per
annum for Dollar  deposits with a maturity  comparable  to such Interest  Period
which appears on the Telerate British Bankers Assoc.  Interest  Settlement Rates
Page at  approximately  10:00 a.m.,  London time, two Business Days prior to the
commencement  of such  Interest  Period;  provided that if there shall no longer
exist a Telerate British Bankers Assoc.  Interest Settlement Rates Page (or such
page is not available on the relevant  Business Day),  the Eurodollar  Base Rate
shall mean an interest rate per annum equal to the average (rounded  upward,  if
necessary,  to the next 1/16th of 1%) of the respective rates per annum notified
to the Administrative Agent by each of the Reference Banks as the average of the
rates at which Dollar deposits (in an amount comparable to the amount of Chase's
Eurodollar Loan to be outstanding during such Interest Period and for a maturity
comparable  to such  Interest  Period)  are  offered to such  Reference  Bank in
immediately  available  funds by prime banks in the London  interbank  market at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time,


<PAGE>



two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest  Period.  "Telerate
British Bankers Assoc.  Interest  Settlement  Rates Page" shall mean the display
designated  as  Page  3750  on   Teleratesystem   Incorporated  (or  such  other
replacement page thereof used to display London interbank offered rates of major
banks).

     "Eurodollar Loans": Loans the rate of interest applicable to which is based
upon the Eurodollar Rate.

     "Eurodollar  Rate":  with respect to each day during each  Interest  Period
pertaining  to a Eurodollar  Loan, a rate per annum  determined  for such day in
accordance with the following  formula (rounded upward to the nearest 1/100th of
1%):

                              Eurodollar Base Rate

                    1.00 - Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements

     "Event of Default": any of the events specified in Section 9, provided that
any  requirement  for the giving of notice,  the lapse of time,  or both, or any
other condition, has been satisfied.

     "Existing Credit Agreement": as defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

     "Extension of Credit": as to any Lender, the making of, or the issuance of,
or participation  in, a Loan by such Lender or the issuance of, or participation
in, a Letter of Credit by such Lender.

     "First  Supplemental  Coda Indenture":  the First  Supplemental  Indenture,
dated as of April 25, 1996, to the Coda Indenture.

     "Foreign  Subsidiary":  any  Restricted  Subsidiary  which is organized and
existing  under the laws of any  jurisdiction  outside of the  United  States of
America.

     "GAAP":  generally accepted  accounting  principles in the United States of
America in effect from time to time;  provided that for purposes of  determining
compliance  with the  covenants  contained  in  Section  8,  "GAAP"  shall  mean
generally accepted  accounting  principles in the United States of America as in
effect on the date hereof and applied on a basis consistent with the application
used in the financial statements referred to in subsection 5.1; provided further
that if  changes  are made to or  required  by GAAP which  materially  alter the
calculations required under subsection 8.1 hereof, the Borrower may request that
the  Administrative  Agent and the Required  Lenders  amend such  subsection  to
reflect such changes in GAAP and to apply such new accounting  principles in the
preparation of its subsequent financial statements.

     "Governmental  Authority":  any  nation or  government,  any state or other
political   subdivision   thereof,  any  agency,   authority,   instrumentality,
regulatory  body,  court,  central  bank or other entity  exercising  executive,
legislative,  judicial,  taxing,  regulatory or  administrative  functions of or
pertaining  to  government,  and  any  securities  exchange  or  self-regulatory
organization.

     "Guarantee  Obligation":  as to any Person (the "guaranteeing person"), any
obligation  of (a) the  guaranteeing  person or (b) another  Person  (including,
without limitation,  any bank under any letter of credit) to induce the creation
of which the guaranteeing person has issued a reimbursement, counterindemnity or
similar  obligation,  in either case guaranteeing or in effect  guaranteeing any
Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations (the "primary obligations")
of any other  third  Person  (the  "primary  obligor")  in any  manner,  whether
directly or indirectly,  including,  without  limitation,  any obligation of the
guaranteeing person, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such primary
obligation or any property constituting direct or


<PAGE>



indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (1) for the purchase
or payment of any such primary  obligation or (2) to maintain working capital or
equity capital of the primary  obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or
solvency  of the primary  obligor,  (iii) to purchase  property,  securities  or
services  primarily  for the purpose of assuring  the owner of any such  primary
obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary
obligation  or (iv)  otherwise to assure or hold  harmless the owner of any such
primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided,  however, that the
term Guarantee  Obligation  shall not include  endorsements  of instruments  for
deposit or  collection  in the ordinary  course of  business.  The amount of any
Guarantee  Obligation of any guaranteeing person shall be deemed to be the lower
of (a) an amount  equal to the  stated  or  determinable  amount of the  primary
obligation  in respect of which such  Guarantee  Obligation  is made and (b) the
maximum amount for which such guaranteeing  person may be liable pursuant to the
terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee Obligation, unless such primary
obligation  and the  maximum  amount for which such  guaranteeing  person may be
liable  are not  stated  or  determinable,  in  which  case the  amount  of such
Guarantee  Obligation shall be such  guaranteeing  person's  maximum  reasonably
anticipated  liability in respect  thereof as determined by the Borrower in good
faith.  Obligations  of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  pursuant to indemnities
which (a) are granted in the  ordinary  course of business,  including,  without
limitation,  such  obligations in connection  with stock purchase  agreements or
asset  purchase and sale  agreements  and (b) do not cover  Indebtedness  of the
types  described in clauses (a) through (f) of the  definition of  Indebtedness,
shall not constitute "Guarantee Obligations" for purposes of this Agreement.

     "Guarantors":   the  Restricted   Subsidiaries   party  to  the  Subsidiary
Guarantee.

     "Hedging  Agreement":  any Interest Rate  Protection  Agreement,  Commodity
Price Risk Management Agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement,  commodity
price  protection  agreement  or other  interest  or currency  exchange  rate or
commodity price hedging arrangement.

     "Hydrocarbon  Interests":  all rights,  titles,  interests  and estates now
owned or hereafter  acquired in and to oil and gas leases,  oil, gas and mineral
leases,  or other  liquid or gaseous  hydrocarbon  leases,  mineral fee or lease
interests,  farm-outs  overriding  royalty  and  royalty  interests,  net profit
interests,  oil  payments,  production  payment  interests  and similar  mineral
interests, including any reserved or residual interest of whatever nature.

     "Hydrocarbons":  oil, gas, casinghead gas, condensate,  distillate,  liquid
hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons, all products refined, separated, settled and
dehydrated  therefrom and all products  refined  therefrom,  including,  without
limitation,  kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas, refined lubricating oils, diesel
fuel, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, helium, sulfur and all other minerals.

     "Increased Facility Activation Notice": a notice  substantially in the form
of Exhibit F-2.

     "Increased  Facility  Closing Date": any Business Day designated as such in
an Increased Facility Activation Notice.

     "Indebtedness":  of any  Person  at any date (a) all  indebtedness  of such
Person for  borrowed  money or for the  deferred  purchase  price of property or
services (other than current trade  liabilities  incurred in the ordinary course
of business  and payable in  accordance  with  customary  practices  and accrued
current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business),  (b) any other
indebtedness  of such Person which is evidenced  by a note,  bond,  debenture or
similar instrument, (c) all obligations of such Person under Capital Leases, (d)
all  obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit and  acceptances
issued or created for the account of such Person,  (e) all  obligations  of such
Person under  Commodity  Price Risk  Management  Agreements  and  Interest  Rate
Protection Agreements,  (f) all obligations of others of the type referred to in
clauses (a) through (e) above and which are secured by any Lien on any property


<PAGE>



owned by such Person even though such Person has not assumed or otherwise become
liable  for the  payment  thereof,  except  that the  amount of any  nonrecourse
obligation  shall be  deemed  to be the  lesser  of the  value  of the  property
securing such  obligation  and the amount of such  obligation so secured and (g)
all  Guarantee  Obligations  with respect to the items  described in clauses (a)
through (e) above;  provided that, for purposes of calculating the covenants set
forth in subsection 8.1,  "Indebtedness"  shall exclude  obligations of the type
referred to in clause (e) above.

     "Initial  Reserve  Report":  the Reserve Report dated February 16, 2000 and
delivered by the Borrower and prepared by Miller & Lents,  Ltd.  pursuant to the
Existing Credit Agreement.

     "Insolvency":  with respect to any  Multiemployer  Plan, the condition that
such Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.

     "Insolvent": pertaining to a condition of Insolvency.

     "Interest  Payment  Date":  (a) as to any ABR  Loan,  the  last day of each
March,  June,  September and December,  commencing  September 30, 2000,  and the
Termination  Date,  (b) as to any Eurodollar  Loan having an Interest  Period of
three months or less,  the last day of such Interest  Period,  and (c) as to any
Eurodollar  Loan having an Interest  Period longer than three  months,  each day
which is three months, or a whole multiple thereof,  after the first day of such
Interest Period and the last day of such Interest Period.

     "Interest Period": with respect to any Eurodollar Loan:

     (i) initially,  the period  commencing on the borrowing or conversion date,
as the case may be, with respect to such  Eurodollar  Loan and ending one,  two,
three or six (or, to the extent available to all Lenders, nine or twelve) months
thereafter,  as selected by the Borrower in its notice of borrowing or notice of
conversion, as the case may be, given with respect thereto; and

     (ii)  thereafter,  each  period  commencing  on the  last  day of the  next
preceding  Interest  Period  applicable to such  Eurodollar Loan and ending one,
two, three or six (or, to the extent  available to all Lenders,  nine or twelve)
months  thereafter,  as selected by the  Borrower by  irrevocable  notice to the
Administrative  Agent not less than three Business Days prior to the last day of
the then current Interest Period with respect thereto;

     provided that, all of the foregoing provisions relating to Interest Periods
are subject to the following:

     (1) if any  Interest  Period  would  otherwise  end on a day  that is not a
Business  Day,  such  Interest  Period shall be extended to the next  succeeding
Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to carry such Interest
Period into another calendar month in which event such Interest Period shall end
on the immediately preceding Business Day;

     (2) any Interest  Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar
month (or on a day for which there is no  numerically  corresponding  day in the
calendar  month  at the end of  such  Interest  Period)  shall  end on the  last
Business Day of a calendar month; and

     (3) the  Borrower  shall  select  Interest  Periods  so as not to require a
payment or prepayment of any Eurodollar  Loan during an Interest Period for such
Loan.


<PAGE>



     "Interest Rate Protection Agreement":  an interest rate swap, cap or collar
agreement  or similar  arrangement  entered  into with the intent of  protecting
against  fluctuations  in interest  rates or the  exchange of notional  interest
obligations, either generally or under specific contingencies.

     "Investments": as defined in subsection 8.8.

     "Issuing  Lender":  Chase  or  any  of its  respective  Affiliates,  in its
capacity as issuer of a Letter of Credit,  and any other Lender to whom Chase or
any of its respective  Affiliates  assigns (with the consent of such Lender) its
obligations to issue Letters of Credit hereunder.

     "L/C Application": as defined in subsection 3.2.

     "L/C  Commitment":  the Issuing  Lender's  obligation  to issue  Letters of
Credit pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement.

     "L/C Participating  Interest":  with respect to any Letter of Credit (a) in
the case of the Issuing Lender with respect thereto, its interest in such Letter
of Credit and any L/C  Application  relating  thereto after giving effect to the
granting of participating  interests therein, if any, pursuant hereto and (b) in
the case of each Participating Lender, its undivided  participating  interest in
such Letter of Credit and any L/C Application relating thereto.

     "Lender Redetermination Notice": a notice from the Supermajority Lenders to
the Borrower  giving notice of their election to redetermine the Borrowing Base,
which notice may be sent by the Supermajority Lenders at any time they so elect,
provided that such an election can be made by the Supermajority  Lenders no more
than once during any consecutive 12 month period.

     "Letters of Credit": as defined in subsection 3.1(a).

     "Letter of Credit Outstandings":  at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate
amount  available for drawing under Letters of Credit then  outstanding  and (b)
the  aggregate  amount of drawings  under  Letters of Credit which have not then
been reimbursed pursuant to subsection 3.5.

     "Lien":   any  mortgage,   pledge,   hypothecation,   assignment,   deposit
arrangement,  encumbrance,  lien (statutory or other),  charge or other security
interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential
arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, any
conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any Capital Lease having
substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

     "Loan": as defined in subsection 2.1(a).

     "Loan Documents":  this Agreement,  any Notes, the  Pledge  Agreement,  the
Subsidiary Guarantee and the L/C Applications.

     "Loan Parties": the Borrower, the Guarantors and the Pledgors.

     "Material  Adverse Effect":  a material adverse effect on (a) the business,
assets,  property,  condition  (financial  or  otherwise)  or  prospects  of the
Borrower and its Restricted  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  (b) the ability of
the  Loan  Parties  to  perform  their  respective  obligations  under  the Loan
Documents or (c) the validity or enforceability of this or any of the other Loan
Documents or the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
hereunder or thereunder.

     "Materials of Environmental  Concern": any gasoline or petroleum (including
crude oil or any  fraction  thereof) or petroleum  products or any  hazardous or
toxic substances, materials, or


<PAGE>



wastes,  defined  or  regulated  as  such in or  under  any  Environmental  Law,
including,  without  limitation,   asbestos  or  asbestos  containing  material,
polychlorinated   biphenyls,   urea-  formaldehyde  insulation,  and  any  other
substance  that is regulated  pursuant to or could give rise to liability  under
any Environmental Law.

     "Multiemployer  Plan": a Plan which is a  multiemployer  plan as defined in
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

     "New Lender": as defined in subsection 2.1(d).

     "New Lender Supplement": as defined in subsection 2.1(d).

     "Non-Excluded Taxes": as defined in subsection 4.13(a).

     "Non-Recourse Debt":  Indebtedness (i) as to which neither the Borrower nor
any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries (a) provides any guarantee or credit support
of any kind  (including  any  undertaking,  guarantee,  indemnity,  agreement or
instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), or (b) is directly or indirectly
liable (as  guarantor or  otherwise);  and (ii) no default with respect to which
(including  any rights  that the holders  thereof  may have to take  enforcement
action against an Unrestricted  Subsidiary) would permit (upon notice,  lapse of
time,  or both) any holder of any other  Indebtedness  of the Borrower or any of
its Restricted  Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other  indebtedness or
cause the  payment  thereof to be  accelerated  or  payable  prior to its stated
maturity;  and  (iii)  the  explicit  terms of which  provide  that  there is no
recourse   against  any  of  the  assets  of  the  Borrower  or  its  Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary).

     "Non-U.S. Lender": as defined in subsection 4.13(b).

     "Notes": as defined in subsection 2.3(e).

     "Oil and Gas Business":  (a) the  acquisition,  exploration,  exploitation,
development,  operation and  disposition  of interests in Oil and Gas Properties
and  Hydrocarbons,  including  the  acquisition,  ownership and  disposition  of
interests in Persons  engaged in the Oil and Gas  Business;  (b) the  gathering,
marketing,  treating,  processing,  storage,  selling  and  transporting  of any
production from such interests or Properties, including, without limitation, the
marketing of  Hydrocarbons  obtained from  unrelated  Persons;  (c) any business
relating  to  or  arising  from  exploration  for  or  development,  production,
treatment, processing, storage, transportation or marketing of Hydrocarbons; (d)
any business  relating to oilfield sales and service,  and (e) any activity that
is ancillary or necessary or desirable to facilitate the activities described in
clauses (a) through (d) of this definition.

     "Oil and Gas  Properties":  Hydrocarbon  Interests;  the  Properties now or
hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests;  all presently existing
or future  unitization,  pooling agreements and declarations of pooled units and
the units created thereby  (including without limitation all units created under
orders, regulations and rules of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction)
which may affect all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests; all pipelines,
gathering  lines,  compression  facilities,  tanks and  processing  plants;  all
interests  held in  royalty  trusts  whether  presently  existing  or  hereafter
created;  all  Hydrocarbons  in and  under and  which  may be  produced,  saved,
processed  or  attributable  to the  Hydrocarbon  Interests,  the lands  covered
thereby and all Hydrocarbons in pipelines, gathering lines, tanks and processing
plants and all rents, issues, profits,  proceeds,  products,  revenues and other
incomes  from or  attributable  to the  Hydrocarbon  Interests;  all  tenements,
hereditaments,  appurtenances and Properties in any way appertaining, belonging,
affixed or  incidental to the  Hydrocarbon  Interests,  and all rights,  titles,
interests and estates described or referred to above, including any and all real
property,  now owned or hereafter  acquired,  used or held for use in connection
with the operating, working


<PAGE>



or  development of any of such  Hydrocarbon  Interests or Property and including
any and all surface leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitude together with
all additions,  substitutions,  replacements,  accessions and attachments to any
and all of the foregoing;  all oil, gas and mineral leasehold and fee interests,
all overriding royalty  interests,  mineral  interests,  royalty interests,  net
profits interests,  net revenue interests,  oil payments,  production  payments,
carried interests and any and all other interests in Hydrocarbons;  in each case
whether now owned or hereafter acquired directly or indirectly.

     "Participants": as defined in subsection 11.6(b).

     "Participating  Lender":  with respect to any Letter of Credit,  any Lender
(other than the  Issuing  Lender  with  respect to such  Letter of Credit)  with
respect to its L/C Participating Interest in such Letter of Credit.

     "PBGC": the Pension Benefit Guaranty  Corporation  established  pursuant to
Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA.

     "Permitted Business Acquisition":  the formation of a new Subsidiary or any
acquisition  of all or  substantially  all the  assets  of, or shares of capital
stock, partnership interests, joint venture interests, limited liability company
interests or other similar equity  interests in, a Person or division or line of
business of a Person (or any subsequent  investment made in a Person  previously
acquired in a Permitted  Business  Acquisition),  if  immediately  after  giving
effect  thereto:  (a) no Default or Event of Default  shall have occurred and be
continuing or would result therefrom, (b) all transactions related thereto shall
be consummated in accordance  with  applicable  laws, (c) such acquired or newly
formed corporation, partnership, association or other business entity shall be a
Restricted  Subsidiary  and all of the Capital  Stock of such  acquired or newly
formed corporation,  partnership, association or other business entity are owned
directly by the Borrower or a domestic  Wholly-Owned  Restricted  Subsidiary and
all actions required to be taken, if any, with respect to such acquired or newly
formed  Subsidiary  under  subsection  7.9 shall  have been  taken,  (d)(i)  the
Borrower  shall be in  compliance,  on a pro forma basis after giving  effect to
such  acquisition or formation,  with the covenants  contained in subsection 8.1
recomputed as at the last day of the most recently  ended fiscal  quarter of the
Borrower as if such  acquisition  had occurred on the first day of each relevant
period for testing such compliance, and the Borrower shall have delivered to the
Administrative Agent an officers' certificate to such effect,  together with all
relevant  financial  information for such Person or assets and (ii) any acquired
or newly formed Subsidiary shall not be liable for any Indebtedness or Guarantee
Obligations  (except for  Indebtedness  and Guarantee  Obligations  permitted by
subsections 8.2 and 8.4) and (e) any acquired or newly formed  Subsidiary  shall
not have  (except  for  Indebtedness  and  Guarantee  Obligations  permitted  by
subsections  8.2 and 8.4) any material  liabilities  (contingent  or otherwise),
including,   without  limitation,   liabilities  under  Environmental  Laws  and
liabilities  with respect to any Plan,  and the Borrower shall have delivered to
the Administrative Agent a certificate, signed by a Responsible Officer, that to
the best of such officer's knowledge, no such material liabilities exist.

     "Permitted Business  Investments":  investments made in the ordinary course
of, and of a nature that is or shall have become  customary  in, the Oil and Gas
Business  as  a  means  of  actively   exploiting,   exploring  for,  acquiring,
developing,  processing,  gathering,  marketing,  storing,  treating, selling or
transporting  oil  and  gas  through  agreements,   transactions,  interests  or
arrangements  which permit one to share risks or costs,  comply with  regulatory
requirements  regarding local ownership or satisfy other objectives  customarily
achieved through the conduct of Oil and Gas Business jointly with third parties,
including,  without  limitation,  the entry into operating  agreements,  working
interests,  royalty interests,  mineral leases, processing agreements,  farm-out
and farm-in agreements,  division orders, contracts for the sale, transportation
or exchange of oil or natural  gas,  unitization  and pooling  declarations  and
agreements and area of mutual interest agreements, production sharing agreements
or other similar or customary


<PAGE>



agreements,   transactions,   properties,   interests,   and   investments   and
expenditures  in  connection  therewith;  provided that an investment in capital
stock, partnership interests, joint venture interests, limited liability company
interests or other similar  equity  interests in a Person shall not constitute a
Permitted Business Investment.

     "Permitted  Subordinated  Refinancing  Debt":  Indebtedness of the Borrower
issued in  exchange  for, or the net  proceeds  of which are used to  refinance,
replace, defease or refund, any Subordinated Indebtedness; provided that (a) the
principal amount of such Permitted Subordinated Refinancing Debt does not exceed
the principal  amount (or accreted  value,  if applicable)  of the  Subordinated
Indebtedness so refinanced,  replaced,  defeased or refunded, plus the amount of
premiums,  prepayments,  penalties  and  other  amounts  required  to be paid in
connection therewith and the reasonable and customary fees and expenses incurred
in connection  therewith,  (b) the  subordination  provisions in such  Permitted
Subordinated  Refinancing  Debt are no less  favorable  to the Lenders  than the
subordination  provisions  contained  in  the  Subordinated  Indebtedness  being
refinanced,  (c) the interest rate on such  Permitted  Subordinated  Refinancing
Debt is no higher than the interest rate on the Subordinated  Indebtedness being
refinanced  and the interest  periods are no shorter  than the interest  periods
with  respect to the  Subordinated  Indebtedness  being  refinanced  and (d) the
timing and amounts of principal repayments (including any sinking fund therefor)
on such  Permitted  Subordinated  Refinancing  Debt are no sooner  and  greater,
respectively,  than the timing and  amounts of  principal  repayments  under the
Subordinated Indebtedness being refinanced.

     "Person":  an  individual,  partnership,   corporation,  limited  liability
company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association,
joint venture, Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever nature.

     "Plan": at a particular time, any employee benefit plan which is subject to
Title IV of ERISA and in respect of which the Borrower or a Commonly  Controlled
Entity is (or, if such plan were  terminated  at such time,  would under Section
4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an  "employer"  as  defined  in  Section  3(5) of
ERISA.

     "Pledge Agreement": the Pledge Agreement dated as of September 23, 1997, as
amended and restated, to be executed and delivered on the date hereof by each of
the Pledgors,  substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1, as amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time.

     "Pledged  Securities":  the  Capital  Stock  of each  direct  and  indirect
Restricted  Subsidiary of the Borrower and each other Subsidiary of the Borrower
(whether now formed or hereafter acquired) whose Capital Stock is pledged to the
Lenders pursuant to the Pledge Agreement or subsection 7.9.

     "Pledgors":  the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries  which is a party to
the Pledge Agreement on the Restatement  Effective Date or which becomes a party
to a pledge agreement pursuant to subsection 7.9.

     "Properties":  any kind of facility,  fixture,  property or asset,  whether
real,  personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible owned, leased or operated by
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.

     "Proved  Reserves":  the  estimated  quantities  of crude oil,  condensate,
natural gas and natural gas liquids that  adequate  geological  and  engineering
data  demonstrate  with  reasonable  certainty to be recoverable in future years
from proved reservoirs under existing  economic and operating  conditions (i.e.,
prices and costs as of the date the estimate is made).


<PAGE>



     "Re-determination  Date":  each date that the  redetermined  Borrowing Base
becomes  effective  subject to the notice  requirements  specified in subsection
4.9.

     "Reference Banks": four major banks in the London interbank market selected
by the Administrative Agent.

     "Register": as defined in subsection 11.6(d).

     "Regulation U": Regulation U of the Board as in effect from time to time.

     "Reimbursement  Obligations":  the  obligation of the Borrower to reimburse
the Issuing Lender pursuant to subsection 3.5 for amounts drawn under Letters of
Credit  issued  by the  Issuing  Lender  in  accordance  with the  terms of this
Agreement and the related L/C Applications.

     "Reorganization":  with respect to any  Multiemployer  Plan,  the condition
that such plan is in reorganization within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA.

     "Reportable  Event":  any of the  events  set forth in  Section  4043(c) of
ERISA,  other  than those  events as to which the  thirty  day notice  period is
waived under regulations issued by the PBGC.

     "Required  Lenders":  at any time,  Lenders the  Commitment  Percentages of
which aggregate at least 51%.

     "Requirement  of Law":  as to any Person,  the  certificate  or articles of
incorporation and by-laws or other organizational or governing documents of such
Person,  and  any  law,  treaty,  rule  or  regulation  or  determination  of an
arbitrator or a court or other Governmental  Authority,  in each case applicable
to or binding upon such Person or any of its Property or to which such Person or
any of its Property is subject.

     "Reserve  Report":  a  report  prepared  by the  Borrower  in form and with
attachments  consistent  with the Initial Reserve Report with respect to the Oil
and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Restricted  Subsidiaries and, for any
reserve  report  dated as of  December  31,  audited by Miller & Lents,  Ltd. or
another  independent  engineering  firm selected by the Borrower and  reasonably
acceptable to the  Administrative  Agent. Each Reserve Report shall be certified
as materially accurate by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

     "Responsible  Officer": of any Loan Party, the chief executive officer, the
president or any vice president of such Loan Party or, with respect to financial
matters,  the chief  financial  officer or  treasurer of such Loan Party and, in
either case, any other officer having substantially similar authority.

     "Restatement  Effective Date":  the date on which the conditions  precedent
set forth in Section 6.1 shall have been satisfied, which date is June 30, 2000.

     "Restricted  Subsidiaries":  the  collective  reference  to any  direct  or
indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary under
this Agreement.

     "Revolving  Credit  Commitment":  as to any Lender,  the obligation of such
Lender to make Loans to the Borrower hereunder in an aggregate  principal amount
at any one time  outstanding  not to exceed the amount set forth  opposite  such
Lender's  name on Schedule  1.1(a) (which  amount,  with respect to the Lenders,
initially  shall equal  $250,000,000  in the  aggregate),  as such amount may be
changed from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.


<PAGE>



     "Revolving Credit Loans": as defined in subsection 2.1(a).

     "Revolving Credit Note": as defined in subsection 2.3(e).

     "Second  Supplemental Coda Indenture":  the Second Supplemental  Indenture,
dated as of February 25, 1998, to the Coda Indenture.

     "Senior Subordinated Indenture":  the Indenture,  dated as of September 23,
1997,  between the  Borrower and The Bank of New York,  as trustee,  pursuant to
which the Senior Subordinated Notes were issued.

     "Senior  Subordinated Notes": the subordinated notes of the Borrower issued
on September 23, 1997 pursuant to the Senior Subordinated Indenture.

     "Single Employer Plan": any Plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but
which is not a Multiemployer Plan.

     "Subordinated Debt Offering  Memorandum":  the Offering  Memorandum,  dated
September 17, 1997, related to the issuance of the Senior Subordinated Notes, as
such Offering  Memorandum  shall be further  amended,  supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.

     "Subordinated  Indebtedness":  the  Senior  Subordinated  Notes,  Permitted
Subordinated  Refinancing  Debt  and  any  other  Indebtedness  of the  Borrower
contractually   subordinated  to  the  prior  payment  in  full  of  the  Loans,
Reimbursement  Obligations  and any  other  obligations  hereunder  in a  manner
reasonably  acceptable  to the Required  Lenders as  evidenced by their  written
approval.

     "Subordinated  Note  Documents":  the  collective  reference  to the Senior
Subordinated  Notes, the Senior  Subordinated  Indenture,  the Subordinated Debt
Offering  Memorandum,  the Coda  Indenture and each  agreement,  instrument  and
document delivered in connection therewith or relating thereto.

     "Subsidiary":  as  to  any  Person,  a  corporation,  partnership,  limited
liability  company or other  entity of which  more than 50% of the total  voting
power of shares of stock or other equity  ownership  interests  having  ordinary
voting power  (other than stock or such other  ownership  interests  having such
power only by reason of the happening of a contingency)  to vote in the election
of directors,  a managing  general  partner,  or majority of general partners or
other managers or trustees thereof, is at the time owned or controlled, directly
or  indirectly by such Person or one or more of the other  Subsidiaries  of such
Person (or a combination thereof). Unless otherwise qualified, all references to
a "Subsidiary" or to  "Subsidiaries" in this Agreement shall refer to any direct
or indirect Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

     "Subsidiary  Guarantee":  the Guarantee  Agreement dated as of February 25,
1998, as amended and  restated,  to be executed and delivered on the date hereof
by each of the Guarantors, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2, as amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time

     "Supermajority Lenders": at any time, Lenders the Commitment Percentages of
which aggregate at least 75%.

     "Syndication Agent": as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

     "Termination Date": January 31, 2004.



<PAGE>



     "Third  Supplemental  Coda Indenture":  the Third  Supplemental  Indenture,
dated as of February 25, 1998, to the Coda Indenture.

     "Tranche":  the collective  reference to Eurodollar  Loans the then current
Interest  Periods with respect to all of which begin on the same date and end on
the same later date (whether or not such Loans shall  originally  have been made
on the same day); Tranches may be identified as "Eurodollar Tranches".

     "Transferee": as defined in subsection 11.6(f).

     "Type": as to any Loan, its nature as an ABR Loan or a Eurodollar Loan.

     "Uniform Customs": the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits
(1993 Revision),  International  Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 500, as the
same may be amended from time to time.

     "Unrestricted  Subsidiary":  (i) each  Subsidiary  listed on Schedule  5.15
hereof and designated an "Unrestricted  Subsidiary",  so long as such Subsidiary
satisfies  the  requirements  of an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  set  forth in the
proviso  below,  (ii)  any  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  which  at the  time of
determination shall be an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the Board of
Directors of the  Borrower,  as provided  below) and (iii) any  Subsidiary of an
Unrestricted  Subsidiary;  provided, that the Board of Directors of the Borrower
may designate any  Subsidiary of the Borrower  (including  any newly acquired or
newly formed  Subsidiary  or a Person  becoming a Subsidiary  through  merger or
consolidation  or Investment  therein) to be an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary or the
Borrower may  designate a Subsidiary as an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary on Schedule
5.15 hereof only if (a) such  Subsidiary  does not own any Capital  Stock of, or
own or hold any Lien on any  Property of, any other  Subsidiary  of the Borrower
which is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated an "Unrestricted
Subsidiary";  (b) all the Indebtedness of such Subsidiary  shall, at the date of
designation, and will at all times thereafter, consist of Non-Recourse Debt; (c)
the Borrower  certifies that such  designation  complies with the limitations of
the  covenants  contained  in  subsection  8.8 and  subsection  8.17;  (d)  such
Subsidiary,  either  alone  or in the  aggregate  with  all  other  Unrestricted
Subsidiaries, does not operate, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all
of the business of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries;  (e) such Subsidiary does
not, directly or indirectly, own any Indebtedness of or Equity Interests in, and
has no  investments  in, the  Borrower or any  Restricted  Subsidiary;  (f) such
Subsidiary is a Person with respect to which neither the Borrower nor any of its
Restricted  Subsidiaries  has any direct or indirect  obligation  to maintain or
preserve  such Person's  financial  condition or to cause such Person to achieve
any specified levels of operating  results;  and (g) on the date such Subsidiary
is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary,  such Subsidiary is not a party to any
agreement,  contract,  arrangement  or  understanding  with the  Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary with terms substantially less favorable to the Borrower or
such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might have been obtained from Persons
who are not  Affiliates of the Borrower.  Any such  designation  by the Board of
Directors of the Borrower  shall be  evidenced  to the  Administrative  Agent by
filing with the  Administrative  Agent a resolution of the Board of Directors of
the Borrower  giving  effect to such  designation  and an officers'  certificate
certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.  If, at
any  time,  any  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  would  fail  to  meet  the  foregoing
requirements as an Unrestricted  Subsidiary,  it shall thereafter cease to be an
Unrestricted  Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement and any  Indebtedness of
such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred as of such date.

     "Wholly-Owned  Restricted  Subsidiary":  a  Restricted  Subsidiary  of  the
Borrower,  all of the outstanding  Capital Stock of which (other than directors'
qualifying shares) is owned,  directly or indirectly,  by the Borrower or one or
more other Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower.


<PAGE>



     1.2 Other Definitional Provisions.  (a) Unless otherwise specified therein,
all terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in
any Loan  Document  or any  certificate  or  other  document  made or  delivered
pursuant hereto or thereto.

     (b) As used herein and in any Loan Document,  and any  certificate or other
document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, accounting terms relating
to the Borrower or any  Subsidiary of the Borrower not defined in subsection 1.1
and  accounting  terms  partly  defined  in  subsection  1.1,  to the extent not
defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP. References
in this  Agreement or any other Loan Document to financial  statements  shall be
deemed to include all related schedules and notes thereto.

     (c) The words  "hereof",  "herein"  and  "hereunder"  and words of  similar
import when used in this Agreement  shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and
not to any  particular  provision of this  Agreement,  and Section,  subsection,
Schedule  and  Exhibit   references  are  to  this  Agreement  unless  otherwise
specified.

     (d) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally  applicable
to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

     (e) References in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to knowledge of
any Loan Party of events or circumstances  shall be deemed to refer to events or
circumstances of which a Responsible Officer has actual knowledge or through the
use of reasonable and customary diligence should have had knowledge.

           SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF REVOLVING CREDIT COMMITMENTS

     2.1 Revolving Credit  Commitments.  (a) Subject to the terms and conditions
hereof,  each Lender severally agrees to make revolving credit loans ("Revolving
Credit  Loans"  or  "Loans")  to the  Borrower  from  time  to time  during  the
Commitment  Period in an aggregate  principal amount at any one time outstanding
not to exceed the amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment,  provided
that no Lender shall make any  Revolving  Credit  Loans if, after giving  effect
thereto,  the  sum of  such  Lender's  Revolving  Credit  Loans  and  Commitment
Percentage of Letter of Credit  Outstandings  (in each case, after giving effect
to the Loans  requested  to be made and the  Letters of Credit  requested  to be
issued on such date)  exceeds the lesser of (i) such Lender's  Revolving  Credit
Commitment  and (ii) such Lender's  Commitment  Percentage of the Borrowing Base
then in effect.  During the Commitment Period the Borrower may use the Revolving
Credit  Commitments by borrowing,  prepaying the Revolving Credit Loans in whole
or in part,  and  reborrowing,  all in accordance  with the terms and conditions
hereof.

     (b) The  Revolving  Credit  Loans may from  time to time be (i)  Eurodollar
Loans,  (ii) ABR Loans or (iii) a  combination  thereof,  as  determined  by the
Borrower and notified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with subsections
2.2  and  4.3,  provided  that  no  Revolving  Credit  Loan  shall  be made as a
Eurodollar Loan after the day that is one month prior to the Termination Date.

     (c) The Borrower and any one or more Lenders  (including  New Lenders) may,
with the consent of the Administrative  Agent, at any time after the Restatement
Effective  Date agree that such  Lenders  shall obtain or increase the amount of
their  Revolving   Credit   Commitments  by  executing  and  delivering  to  the
Administrative  Agent an Increased Facility Activation Notice specifying (i) the
amount of such increase and (ii) the applicable Increased Facility Closing Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments in
respect of all Lenders may not be increased by more than  $100,000,000  and (ii)
each increase  effected  pursuant to this paragraph shall be in a minimum amount
of at least  $25,000,000.  No Lender shall have any obligation to participate in
any increase  described in this paragraph  unless it agrees to do so in its sole
discretion.


<PAGE>



     (d) Any additional bank, financial  institution or other entity which, with
the consent of the Borrower and the  Administrative  Agent (which  consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld),  elects to become a "Lender" under this Agreement
in connection with any  transaction  described in Section 2.1(c) shall execute a
New Lender  Supplement (each, a "New Lender  Supplement"),  substantially in the
form of Exhibit F-1, whereupon such bank, financial  institution or other entity
(a "New  Lender")  shall become a Lender for all purposes and to the same extent
as if  originally  a party  hereto  and  shall be bound by and  entitled  to the
benefits of this Agreement.

     (e) Unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall
borrow Revolving Credit Loans under the increased  Revolving Credit  Commitments
from each Lender  participating  in the relevant  increase  described in Section
2.1(c)  (i) if ABR Loans are  outstanding  on the  relevant  Increased  Facility
Closing  Date,  in an  amount  of ABR  Loans  that  will  result  in  each  such
participating Lender having ABR Loans outstanding in a principal amount equal to
its Commitment  Percentage of the aggregate  outstanding principal amount of ABR
Loans and (ii) if Eurodollar  Loans are  outstanding  on the relevant  Increased
Facility  Closing  Date,  in an  amount of  Eurodollar  Loans on such date (if a
borrowing of Eurodollar  Loans is being continued for another Interest Period on
such date)  and/or  such later dates on which  borrowings  of  Eurodollar  Loans
outstanding  on the  Increased  Facility  Closing Date are continued for another
Interest  Period  that will  result,  in each case,  in each such  participating
Lender  having  Eurodollar  Loans  made by it  included  in each  such  extended
borrowing  in a  principal  amount  equal to its  Commitment  Percentage  of the
aggregate  outstanding  principal  amount of Eurodollar  Loans  included in such
borrowing.

     2.2 Procedure for Revolving Credit Borrowing. The Borrower may borrow under
the Revolving Credit  Commitments  during the Commitment  Period on any Business
Day, provided that the Borrower shall give the Administrative  Agent irrevocable
notice (which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 10:00
a.m.,  New York  City  time,  (a) three  Business  Days  prior to the  requested
Borrowing  Date,  if all or any part of the  requested  Revolving  Credit  Loans
initially  are to be  Eurodollar  Loans  or (b) one  Business  Day  prior to the
requested Borrowing Date, otherwise),  specifying (i) the amount to be borrowed,
(ii) the  requested  Borrowing  Date,  (iii)  whether the  borrowing is to be of
Eurodollar  Loans, ABR Loans or a combination  thereof and (iv) if the borrowing
is to be entirely or partly of Eurodollar Loans, the respective  amounts of each
such Type of Loan and the  respective  lengths of the initial  Interest  Periods
therefor.  Each borrowing under the Revolving Credit  Commitments shall be in an
amount equal to (x) in the case of ABR Loans,  $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of
$500,000 in excess thereof (or, if the then Available  Commitments are less than
$1,000,000,  such  lesser  amount)  and  (y) in the  case of  Eurodollar  Loans,
$1,000,000 or a whole  multiple of $500,000 in excess  thereof.  Upon receipt of
any such notice  from the  Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent shall  promptly
notify  each  Lender  thereof.  Each Lender will make the amount of its pro rata
share of each borrowing available to the Administrative Agent for the account of
the Borrower at the office of the  Administrative  Agent specified in subsection
11.2 prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Borrowing Date requested by
the Borrower in funds immediately  available to the  Administrative  Agent. Such
borrowing will then be made available to the Borrower no later than 1:00 p.m. by
the  Administrative  Agent crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of
such  office  with  the   aggregate  of  the  amounts  made   available  to  the
Administrative  Agent  by the  Lenders  and in like  funds  as  received  by the
Administrative Agent.

     2.3  Repayment  of  Loans;  Evidence  of  Debt.  (a)  The  Borrower  hereby
unconditionally  promises to pay to the Administrative  Agent for the account of
each Lender the then unpaid  principal amount of each Loan of such Lender on the
Termination Date (or such earlier date on which the Loans become due and payable
pursuant to Section 9). The Borrower  hereby  further  agrees to pay interest on
the unpaid  principal amount of the Loans from time to time outstanding from the
Restatement  Effective  Date to but not including the date the Loans are paid in
full at the rates per annum, and on the dates, set forth in subsection 4.1.

     (b) Each Lender shall  maintain in  accordance  with its usual  practice an
account or  accounts  evidencing  Indebtedness  of the  Borrower  to such Lender
resulting from each Loan of such


<PAGE>



Lender  from time to time,  including  the  amounts of  principal  and  interest
payable and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement.

     (c) The  Administrative  Agent  shall  maintain  the  Register  pursuant to
subsection 11.6(d),  and a subaccount therein for each Lender, in which shall be
recorded (i) the amount of each Loan made  hereunder,  the Type thereof and each
Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest
due and  payable or to become due and payable  from the  Borrower to each Lender
hereunder  and (iii) both the amount of any sum  received by the  Administrative
Agent hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender's share thereof.

     (d) The  entries  made in the  Register  and the  accounts  of each  Lender
maintained  pursuant to  subsection  2.3(b)  shall,  to the extent  permitted by
applicable  law, be prima facie  evidence  of the  existence  and amounts of the
obligations  of the  Borrower  therein  recorded;  provided,  however,  that the
failure of the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender to maintain  the Register or
any such  account,  or any error  therein,  shall not in any  manner  affect the
obligation of the Borrower to repay (with applicable interest) the Loans made to
such Borrower by such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

     (e) The Borrower agrees that, upon the request to the Administrative  Agent
by any Lender, the Borrower will execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory
note of the  Borrower  evidencing  the  Revolving  Credit  Loans of such Lender,
substantially  in the form of Exhibit A with  appropriate  insertions as to date
and principal amount (a "Revolving Credit Note" or "Note").

                          SECTION 3. LETTERS OF CREDIT

     3.1 The L/C Commitment. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the
Issuing Lender,  in reliance on the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in
subsection  3.4(a),  agrees to issue letters of credit ("Letters of Credit") for
the account of the Borrower on any Business Day during the Commitment  Period in
such form as may be approved from time to time by the Issuing  Lender;  provided
that the Issuing  Lender  shall not issue any Letter of Credit if,  after giving
effect to such  issuance  and after giving  effect to any Loans  requested to be
made or Letters of Credit requested to be issued on such date, (i) the Letter of
Credit  Outstandings  would exceed  $40,000,000 or (ii) the sum of the Revolving
Credit  Loans and Letter of Credit  Outstandings  would exceed the lesser of (x)
the Revolving Credit Commitments and (y) the Borrowing Base then in effect. Each
Letter of Credit shall (i) be issued to support  obligations  of the Borrower or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,  contingent or otherwise,  which finance the
working   capital  and  business  needs  of  the  Borrower  and  its  Restricted
Subsidiaries,  and (ii) shall  expire no later than the  earlier of (x) one year
after the date of issuance and (y) five Business  Days prior to the  Termination
Date,  provided that any Letter of Credit with a one-year  tenor may provide for
the extension  thereof for additional  one-year periods (which shall in no event
extend beyond the date  referred to in clause (y) above).  Each Letter of Credit
shall be denominated in Dollars.

     (b) Each Letter of Credit  shall be subject to the Uniform  Customs and, to
the extent not inconsistent therewith, the laws of the State of New York.

     (c) The  Issuing  Lender  shall not at any time be  obligated  to issue any
Letter of Credit  hereunder if such issuance  would  conflict with, or cause the
Issuing Lender or any Participating  Lender to exceed any limits imposed by, any
applicable Requirement of Law.

     3.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit. The Borrower may from time
to time request that the Issuing  Lender issue a Letter of Credit by  delivering
to the Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent at their respective addresses
for  notices  specified  herein a letter of credit  application  in the  Issuing
Lender's  then   customary  form  (an  "L/C   Application")   completed  to  the
satisfaction of the Issuing Lender, and such other  certificates,  documents and
other papers and  information  as may be customary and as the Issuing Lender may
reasonably request. Upon receipt of any


<PAGE>



L/C  Application,  the Issuing Lender will process such L/C  Application and the
certificates,  documents  and other  papers and  information  delivered to it in
connection  therewith in  accordance  with its  customary  procedures  and, upon
receipt by the Issuing Lender of confirmation from the Administrative Agent that
issuance  of such  Letter of Credit  will not  contravene  subsection  3.1,  the
Issuing Lender shall promptly issue the Letter of Credit requested  thereby (but
in no event shall the  Issuing  Lender be required to issue any Letter of Credit
earlier  than  three  Business  Days after its  receipt  of the L/C  Application
therefor  and all such  other  certificates,  documents  and  other  papers  and
information  relating  thereto) by issuing the original of such Letter of Credit
to the  beneficiary  thereof or as otherwise may be agreed by the Issuing Lender
and the  Borrower.  The Issuing  Lender  shall  furnish a copy of such Letter of
Credit to the Borrower  and the  Administrative  Agent  promptly  following  the
issuance  thereof,  and,  thereafter,  the  Administrative  Agent shall promptly
furnish a copy thereof to the Lenders.

     3.3 Fees,  Commissions and Other Charges. (a) The Borrower shall pay to the
Administrative  Agent,  for  the  account  of (i)  the  Issuing  Lender  and the
Participating Lenders, a letter of credit commission with respect to each Letter
of Credit, computed for the period from the date such Letter of Credit is issued
to the date upon  which the next  payment  is due under  this  subsection  (and,
thereafter,  from the date of  payment  under this  subsection  to the date upon
which the next payment is due under this subsection) at the rate per annum equal
to the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time for Eurodollar Loans of the
daily aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit for the
period  covered by clause (i) above  during  such  period,  and (ii) the Issuing
Lender,  a letter of credit  commission with respect to each Letter of Credit in
an amount  equal to the greater of (A) 0.125% per annum of the stated  amount of
such Letter of Credit  (and an  additional  0.125% of the stated  amount of such
Letter of Credit on each annual  anniversary  of its issuance date) and (B) $500
(and an additional $500 on each annual  anniversary of its issuance  date).  The
letter of credit commissions payable pursuant to clause (i) and (ii) above shall
be payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March,  June,  September
and December, commencing September 30, 2000, and on the Termination Date.

     (b) In addition to the foregoing fees and  commissions,  the Borrower shall
pay or  reimburse  the Issuing  Lender for such normal and  customary  costs and
expenses as are incurred or charged by the Issuing Lender in issuing,  effecting
payment under,  amending,  negotiating or otherwise  administering any Letter of
Credit.

     (c) The Administrative Agent shall, promptly following its receipt thereof,
distribute  to the  Issuing  Lender and the  Participating  Lenders all fees and
commissions  received by the Administrative  Agent for their respective accounts
pursuant to this subsection.

     3.4 L/C  Participations.  (a)  Effective  on the date of  issuance  of each
Letter of Credit,  the  Issuing  Lender  irrevocably  agrees to grant and hereby
grants to each Participating  Lender, and each Participating  Lender irrevocably
agrees to accept and purchase and hereby  accepts and purchases from the Issuing
Lender, on the terms and conditions  hereinafter  stated, for such Participating
Lender's own account and risk an undivided  interest equal to such Participating
Lender's  Commitment  Percentage in the Issuing Lender's  obligations and rights
under each Letter of Credit issued by the Issuing  Lender and the amount of each
draft  paid  by  the  Issuing  Lender  thereunder.   Each  Participating  Lender
unconditionally  and irrevocably agrees with the Issuing Lender that, if a draft
is paid  under any  Letter  of  Credit  for  which  such  Issuing  Lender is not
reimbursed  in full  by the  Borrower  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of this
Agreement,  such Participating Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for
the account of the Issuing  Lender,  upon demand at the  Administrative  Agent's
address  specified in  subsection  11.2,  an amount equal to such  Participating
Lender's Commitment Percentage of the amount of such draft, or any part thereof,
which is not so reimbursed. On the date that any Assignee becomes a Lender party
to this Agreement in accordance with subsection 11.6, participating interests in
any outstanding  Letters of Credit held by the transferor Lender from which such
Assignee  acquired its interest  hereunder shall be  proportionately  reallotted
between such Assignee and such  transferor  Lender.  Each  Participating  Lender
hereby agrees that its obligation to  participate in each Letter of Credit,  and
to pay or to reimburse  the Issuing  Lender for its  participating  share of the
drafts drawn or amounts otherwise paid thereunder, is absolute,  irrevocable and
unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstances whatsoever


<PAGE>



(including,  without limitation, the occurrence or continuance of any Default or
Event of  Default),  and that each such payment  shall be made  without  offset,
abatement, withholding or other reduction whatsoever.

     (b) If any amount  required to be paid by any  Participating  Lender to the
Issuing  Lender  pursuant to  subsection  3.4(a) in respect of any  unreimbursed
portion of any draft paid by the  Issuing  Lender  under any Letter of Credit is
paid to the  Issuing  Lender  within  three  Business  Days  after the date such
payment is due, such Participating Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent,
for the account of the Issuing Lender, on demand, an amount equal to the product
of (i) such amount,  times (ii) the daily average  Federal Funds  Effective Rate
during the period from and  including the date such draft is paid to the date on
which such payment is immediately available to the Issuing Lender, times (iii) a
fraction the  numerator  of which is the number of days that elapse  during such
period and the  denominator  of which is 360. If any such amount  required to be
paid by any  Participating  Lender pursuant to subsection  3.4(a) is not in fact
made  available  to the  Administrative  Agent,  for the  account of the Issuing
Lender, by such  Participating  Lender within three Business Days after the date
such payment is due,  the Issuing  Lender shall be entitled to recover from such
Participating  Lender, on demand,  such amount with interest thereon  calculated
from such due date at the rate per annum  applicable to ABR Loans  hereunder.  A
certificate of the Issuing  Lender  submitted to any  Participating  Lender with
respect to any amounts  owing under this  subsection  shall be conclusive in the
absence of manifest error.

     (c) Whenever,  at any time after the Issuing  Lender has paid a draft under
any Letter of Credit and has received from any Participating Lender its pro rata
share of such payment in accordance with subsection  3.4(a),  the Issuing Lender
receives  any  reimbursement  on account of such  unreimbursed  portion,  or any
payment of  interest  on account  thereof,  the  Issuing  Lender will pay to the
Administrative Agent, for the account of such Participating Lender, its pro rata
share  thereof;  provided,  however,  that in the  event  that any such  payment
received by the Issuing  Lender  shall be required to be returned by the Issuing
Lender, such Participating  Lender shall return to the Administrative  Agent for
the account of the Issuing Lender, the portion thereof previously distributed to
it.

     3.5  Reimbursement  Obligation  of the  Borrower.  If any  draft  shall  be
presented  for  payment  under any Letter of Credit,  the Issuing  Lender  shall
notify  the  Borrower  and the  Administrative  Agent of the date and the amount
thereof.  The Borrower  agrees to reimburse the Issuing Lender (whether with its
own funds or, subject to the limitations on amounts set forth in subsection 2.2,
with proceeds of the  Revolving  Credit Loans) on each date on which the Issuing
Lender  pays a draft so  presented  under any Letter of Credit for the amount of
(i) such  draft so paid and (ii) any  taxes,  fees,  charges  or other  costs or
expenses  incurred by the Issuing Lender in connection  with such payment.  Each
such  payment  shall be made to the  Issuing  Lender at its  address for notices
specified  herein  in  lawful  money of the  United  States  of  America  and in
immediately  available  funds.  Interest shall be payable on any and all amounts
remaining  unpaid by the Borrower under this subsection from the date of payment
of the  applicable  draft  until  payment  in full  thereof,  (x) for the period
commencing on the date of payment of the applicable draft to the date which is 3
days  thereafter,  at the rate which  would be payable on ABR Loans at such time
and (y) thereafter, at the rate which would be payable on ABR Loans at such time
plus 2%.

     3.6 Obligations Absolute. (a) The Borrower's obligations under this Section
3 shall be  absolute  and  unconditional  under  any and all  circumstances  and
irrespective  of any  set-off,  counterclaim  or defense  to  payment  which the
Borrower or any other Person may have or have had against the Issuing  Lender or
any other Lender or any  beneficiary  of a Letter of Credit.  The Borrower  also
agrees with the Issuing  Lender that the Issuing Lender shall not be responsible
for, and the Borrower's  obligations  under subsection 3.5 shall not be affected
by,  among other  things,  the  validity or  genuineness  of documents or of any
endorsements  thereon,  even  though  such  documents  shall in fact prove to be
invalid,  fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among the Borrower and
any  beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other party to which such Letter
of Credit may be  transferred or any claims  whatsoever of the Borrower  against
any  beneficiary  of such Letter of Credit or any such  transferee.  The Issuing
Lender  shall not be liable for any error,  omission,  interruption  or delay in
transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message


<PAGE>



or advice, however transmitted,  in connection with any Letter of Credit, except
for errors or  omissions  caused by the Issuing  Lender's  gross  negligence  or
willful misconduct.  The Borrower agrees that any action taken or omitted by the
Issuing  Lender under or in connection  with any Letter of Credit or the related
drafts or  documents,  if done in the  absence  of gross  negligence  or willful
misconduct and in accordance with the standards of care specified in the Uniform
Commercial Code of the State of New York, including, without limitation, Article
V  thereof,  shall be  binding  on the  Borrower  and  shall  not  result in any
liability of such Issuing Lender to the Borrower.

     (b) Without  limiting  the  generality  of the  foregoing,  it is expressly
agreed that the absolute and unconditional nature of the Borrower's  obligations
under this Section 3 to reimburse  the Issuing  Lender for each drawing  under a
Letter  of  Credit  will  not be  excused  by the  gross  negligence  or  wilful
misconduct of the Issuing Lender.  However, the foregoing shall not be construed
to excuse the Issuing Lender from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any
direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages,  claims in respect of which
are hereby  waived by the Borrower to the extent  permitted by  applicable  law)
suffered  by the  Borrower  that  are  caused  by  the  Issuing  Lender's  gross
negligence  or  wilful  misconduct  in  determining  whether  drafts  and  other
documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.

     3.7 Letter of Credit  Payments.  Without  limitation of subsection 3.6, the
responsibility  of the Issuing  Lender to the  Borrower in  connection  with any
draft presented for payment under any Letter of Credit shall, in addition to any
payment  obligation  expressly provided for in such Letter of Credit, be limited
to determining  that the documents  (including each draft)  delivered under such
Letter of Credit in connection with such presentment are in conformity with such
Letter of Credit.

     3.8  L/C  Applications.  To the  extent  that  any  provision  of  any  L/C
Application,  including any reimbursement  provisions contained therein, related
to any Letter of Credit is  inconsistent  with the provisions of this Section 3,
the provisions of this Section 3 shall prevail.

                          SECTION 4. GENERAL PROVISIONS

     4.1 Interest Rates and Payment Dates.  (a) Each  Eurodollar Loan shall bear
interest for each day during each Interest Period with respect thereto at a rate
per annum equal to the Eurodollar  Rate determined for such Interest Period plus
the Applicable Margin in effect on such day.

     (b) Each ABR Loan  shall  bear  interest  for each day at a rate per  annum
equal to the ABR in effect on such day plus the  Applicable  Margin in effect on
such day.

     (c) If all or a portion of (i) any principal of any Loan, (ii) any interest
payable thereon,  (iii) any commitment fee, (iv) any Borrowing Base increase fee
or (v) any other amount payable hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at
the stated maturity,  by acceleration or otherwise),  the principal of the Loans
and any such overdue  interest,  commitment fee,  Borrowing Base increase fee or
other amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum which is (x) in the case of
principal,  the rate that would otherwise be applicable  thereto pursuant to the
foregoing  provisions of this  subsection plus 2% or (y) in the case of any such
overdue interest,  commitment fee,  Borrowing Base increase fee or other amount,
the ABR plus 2%,  in each  case  from the date of such  non-payment  until  such
overdue  principal,  interest,  commitment  fee,  Borrowing Base increase fee or
other amount is paid in full (as well after as before judgment).

     (d) Interest  shall be payable in arrears on each  Interest  Payment  Date,
provided that interest  accruing  pursuant to subsection 4.1(c) shall be payable
from time to time on demand.

     4.2  Computation  of Interest and Fees.  (a)  Whenever,  in the case of ABR
Loans,  it is  calculated  on the basis of the  Prime  Rate,  interest  shall be
calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-, as the case may be) day year for the
actual days elapsed; and, otherwise, interest and fees shall be calculated


<PAGE>



on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed.  The  Administrative
Agent shall as soon as  practicable  notify the Borrower and the Lenders of each
determination  of a Eurodollar  Rate.  Any change in the interest rate on a Loan
resulting from a change in the ABR, the Eurocurrency Reserve  Requirements,  the
C/D Assessment Rate or the C/D Reserve  Percentage  shall become effective as of
the opening of business on the day on which such change becomes  effective.  The
Administrative  Agent shall as soon as  practicable  notify the Borrower and the
Lenders of the  effective  date and the amount of each such  change in  interest
rate.

     (b) Each  determination  of an interest  rate by the  Administrative  Agent
pursuant to any provision of this  Agreement  shall be conclusive and binding on
the   Borrower  and  the  Lenders  in  the  absence  of  manifest   error.   The
Administrative  Agent  shall,  at the  request of the  Borrower,  deliver to the
Borrower  a  statement  showing  the  quotations  and  calculations  used by the
Administrative  Agent in  determining  any interest  rate pursuant to subsection
4.1(a).

     4.3 Conversion and  Continuation  Options.  (a) The Borrower may elect from
time  to  time  to  convert   Eurodollar  Loans  to  ABR  Loans  by  giving  the
Administrative  Agent at least one Business  Day's prior  irrevocable  notice of
such election,  provided that any such conversion of Eurodollar Loans is subject
to the terms of  subsection  4.14.  The  Borrower may elect from time to time to
convert  ABR Loans to  Eurodollar  Loans by giving the  Administrative  Agent at
least three Business Days' prior irrevocable  notice of such election.  Any such
notice of conversion to Eurodollar Loans shall specify the length of the initial
Interest Period or Interest  Periods  therefor.  Upon receipt of any such notice
the Administrative  Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof.  All or any
part of outstanding  Eurodollar Loans and ABR Loans may be converted as provided
herein,  provided that (i) no Loan may be converted into a Eurodollar  Loan when
any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent
has or the  Required  Lenders  have  determined  that such a  conversion  is not
appropriate  and (ii) no Loan may be converted into a Eurodollar  Loan after the
date that is one month prior to the Termination Date.

     (b) Any  Eurodollar  Loans may be continued as such upon the  expiration of
the then current  Interest  Period with respect  thereto by the Borrower  giving
notice to the  Administrative  Agent, in accordance with clause (ii) of the term
"Interest  Period"  set  forth in  subsection  1.1,  of the  length  of the next
Interest Period to be applicable to such Loans, provided that no Eurodollar Loan
may be  continued  as such (i) when any Event of  Default  has  occurred  and is
continuing  and  the  Administrative  Agent  has or the  Required  Lenders  have
determined  that such a continuation  is not  appropriate or (ii) after the date
that is one month prior to the Termination Date and provided,  further,  that if
the  Borrower  shall  fail to give such  notice or if such  continuation  is not
permitted,  such Loans shall be automatically converted to ABR Loans on the last
day of such then expiring Interest Period.

     4.4 Minimum Amounts Maximum Number of Tranches. All borrowings, conversions
and  continuations  of Loans  hereunder and all  selections of Interest  Periods
hereunder  shall be in such  amounts and be made  pursuant to such  elections so
that, after giving effect thereto,  the aggregate  principal amount of the Loans
comprising  each  Eurodollar  Tranche  shall be equal to  $1,000,000  or a whole
multiple  of $500,000  in excess  thereof.  In no event shall there be more than
eight Eurodollar Tranches outstanding at any time.

     4.5 Optional Prepayments and Commitment  Reductions.  (a) The Borrower may,
at any time  and  from  time to time,  prepay  the  Loans,  in whole or in part,
without premium or penalty,  upon at least one Business Day's irrevocable notice
to the  Administrative  Agent in the case of ABR Loans,  and upon at least three
Business Day's  irrevocable  notice to the  Administrative  Agent in the case of
Eurodollar  Loans, in each case specifying the date and amount of prepayment and
whether  the  prepayment  is of  Eurodollar  Loans,  ABR Loans or a  combination
thereof,  and, in each case if of a combination thereof, the amount allocable to
each;  provided that any prepayment of a Eurodollar Loan is subject to the terms
of subsection  4.14 hereof.  Upon receipt of any such notice the  Administrative
Agent shall promptly  notify each Lender  thereof.  If any such notice is given,
the  amount  specified  in such  notice  shall  be due and  payable  on the date
specified therein, together with any amounts payable pursuant


<PAGE>



to  subsection  4.14.  Partial  prepayments  shall be in an aggregate  principal
amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof; provided
that if  outstanding  principal  amount  of a Loan is less  than  $500,000,  the
Borrower may prepay the full amount of such Loan.

     (b) Subject to subsection  4.5(c),  the Borrower shall have the right, upon
not less than  three  Business  Days'  notice to the  Administrative  Agent,  to
terminate the Revolving Credit  Commitments or, from time to time, to reduce the
amount of the Revolving  Credit  Commitments.  Any such reduction shall be in an
amount equal to $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof and
shall  reduce  permanently  the  Revolving  Credit  Commitments  then in effect.
Termination  of the  Revolving  Credit  Commitments  shall  also  terminate  the
obligation of the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit.

     (c) In the event of any  termination of the Revolving  Credit  Commitments,
the Borrower  shall on the date of such  termination  repay or prepay all of its
outstanding Revolving Credit Loans (together with accrued and unpaid interest on
the Revolving  Credit Loans),  reduce the Letter of Credit  Outstandings to zero
and cause all  Letters of Credit to be  canceled  and  returned  to the  Issuing
Lender (or shall cash  collateralize the Letter of Credit  Outstandings on terms
and pursuant to documentation  reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Lender and
the  Administrative  Agent).  In the  event  of  any  partial  reduction  of the
Revolving Credit Commitments, then (i) at or prior to the effective date of such
reduction, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of
the  Aggregate  Revolving  Credit  Exposure  of all the  Lenders and (ii) if the
Aggregate  Revolving  Credit  Exposure  of all  the  Lenders  would  exceed  the
aggregate  Revolving Credit  Commitments  after giving effect to such reduction,
then, prior to giving effect to such reduction,  the Borrower shall, on the date
of such reduction,  first, repay or prepay Revolving Credit Loans (together with
accrued and unpaid interest on the Revolving Credit Loans) and,  second,  reduce
the Letter of Credit  Outstandings (or cash  collateralize  the Letter of Credit
Outstandings on terms and pursuant to documentation  reasonably  satisfactory to
the  Issuing  Lender  and the  Administrative  Agent),  in an  aggregate  amount
sufficient to eliminate such excess.

     (d) The Loans shall be repaid, and the Letter of Credit  Outstandings shall
be reduced or cash  collateralized,  to the extent required by subsection  4.10.
All such repayments and cash collateralization  shall be made in accordance with
subsection 4.5.

     (e) (i) In the event the amount of any  prepayment of the Loans required to
be made above shall exceed the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding ABR
Loans (the amount of any such excess  being  called the  "Excess  Amount"),  the
Borrower  shall have the right,  in lieu of making such  prepayment  in full, to
prepay all the  outstanding  applicable ABR Loans and to deposit an amount equal
to the  Excess  Amount  with,  and  (ii) in the  event  that  Letter  of  Credit
Outstandings are required to be cash collateralized,  the Borrower shall deposit
an amount equal to the aggregate  amount of Letter of Credit  Outstandings to be
cash collateralized  with, the Administrative Agent in a cash collateral account
maintained   (pursuant  to   documentation   reasonably   satisfactory   to  the
Administrative   Agent)  by  and  in  the  sole  dominion  and  control  of  the
Administrative   Agent.   Any  amounts  so  deposited   shall  be  held  by  the
Administrative  Agent as collateral  for the  obligations  of the Borrower under
this Agreement and applied to the prepayment of the applicable  Eurodollar Loans
at the end of the  current  Interest  Periods  applicable  thereto  or Letter of
Credit  Outstandings,  as the case may be, or,  during an Event of  Default,  to
payment  of any  obligations  under this  Agreement  (including  obligations  in
respect of the Letters of Credit).  On any Business  Day on which (i)  collected
amounts  remain on deposit in or to the credit of such cash  collateral  account
after giving effect to the payments made on such day pursuant to this subsection
4.5(e) and (ii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative  Agent a
written  request or a telephonic  request (which shall be promptly  confirmed in
writing)  that  such  remaining  collected  amounts  be  invested  in  the  Cash
Equivalent  specified in such request,  the  Administrative  Agent shall use its
reasonable  efforts  to invest  such  remaining  collected  amounts in such Cash
Equivalent,   provided,  however,  that  the  Administrative  Agent  shall  have
continuous  dominion and full control  over any such  investments  (and over any
interest  that  accrues  thereon) to the same extent  that it has  dominion  and
control over such cash collateral  account and no Cash  Equivalent  shall mature
after the end of the


<PAGE>



Interest  Period for which it is to be applied.  The Borrower shall not have the
right to  withdraw  any  amount  from such  cash  collateral  account  until the
applicable  Eurodollar  Loans and accrued  interest thereon and Letter of Credit
Outstandings are paid in full or if a Default or Event of Default then exists or
would result.  Any prepayment or  collateralization  pursuant to this subsection
4.5(e)  shall be  applied  in the order set forth in clause  (ii) of the  second
sentence of subsection 4.5(c).

     4.6 Commitment  Fee;  Borrowing Base Increase Fee;  Administrative  Agent's
Fee; Other Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative  Agent for
the account of each Lender:

     (i) a commitment  fee for the period from and  including,  for each Lender,
the  Restatement  Effective  Date to but not  including  the  Termination  Date,
computed at the Commitment Fee Rate on the average daily amount of the lesser of
(A)  the  Available  Commitment  of such  Lender  and  (B)  the  Borrowing  Base
Availability with respect to such Lender, during the period for which payment is
made,  payable  quarterly  in  arrears  on the  last  day of each  March,  June,
September and December (commencing on September 30, 2000) and on the Termination
Date or such earlier date as the Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate as
provided herein; and

     (ii)  after  the  Borrowing  Base  Period  commencing  on  the  Restatement
Effective Date, a Borrowing Base increase fee in an amount equal to 0.15% of the
excess,  if any, of (A) the Borrowing Base then in effect over (B) the Borrowing
Base in  effect on the first day of the  immediately  preceding  Borrowing  Base
Period, payable on the first day of each Borrowing Base Period .

Commitment and Borrowing Base increase fees shall be nonrefundable when paid.

     (b) The Borrower shall pay to the  Administrative  Agent the fees set forth
in the fee letter agreement,  dated June 6, 2000, among the Borrower,  Chase and
Chase Securities Inc., on the dates specified therein.

     4.7 Inability to Determine  Interest Rate. If prior to the first day of any
Interest Period:

     (a) the  Administrative  Agent shall have determined  (which  determination
shall  be  conclusive  and  binding  upon  the  Borrower)  that,  by  reason  of
circumstances  affecting the relevant  market,  adequate and reasonable means do
not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period, or

     (b) the  Administrative  Agent shall have received notice from the Required
Lenders  that  the  Eurodollar  Rate  determined  or to be  determined  for such
Interest  Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders
(as  conclusively  certified  by such  Lenders) of making or  maintaining  their
affected Loans during such Interest Period, the Administrative  Agent shall give
telecopy or telephonic notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders as soon as
practicable  thereafter.  If such  notice  is  given  (x) any  Eurodollar  Loans
requested to be made on the first day of such  Interest  Period shall be made as
ABR Loans,  (y) any Loans that were to have been  converted  on the first day of
such Interest Period to Eurodollar Loans shall be continued as ABR Loans and (z)
any outstanding  Eurodollar  Loans shall be converted,  on the first day of such
Interest  Period,  to ABR Loans.  Until such  notice has been  withdrawn  by the
Administrative  Agent, no further Eurodollar Loans shall be made or continued as
such,  nor shall the  Borrower  have the right to  convert  Loans to  Eurodollar
Loans.

     4.8 Pro Rata  Treatment  and Payments.  (a) Each  borrowing by the Borrower
from the  Lenders  hereunder,  each  payment by the  Borrower  on account of any
commitment fee or Borrowing Base increase fee hereunder and any reduction of the
Revolving Credit  Commitments of the Lenders shall be made pro rata according to
the respective Commitment Percentages of the Lenders. Each payment


<PAGE>



(including  each  prepayment)  by the  Borrower on account of  principal  of and
interest  on the  Loans  shall  be made  pro rata  according  to the  respective
outstanding  principal  amounts  of the  Loans  then  held by the  Lenders.  All
payments (including  prepayments) to be made by the Borrower hereunder,  whether
on account of principal,  interest, fees or otherwise, shall be made without set
off or  counterclaim  and shall be made prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time,
on the due date  thereof to the  Administrative  Agent,  for the  account of the
Lenders,  at the Administrative  Agent's office specified in subsection 11.2, in
Dollars and in  immediately  available  funds.  The  Administrative  Agent shall
distribute  such payments to the Lenders  promptly upon receipt in like funds as
received.  Subject to the proviso in clause (1) of the  definition  of "Interest
Period",  if any payment hereunder becomes due and payable on a day other than a
Business  Day, such payment  shall be extended to the next  succeeding  Business
Day,  and,  with respect to payments of  principal,  interest  thereon  shall be
payable at the then applicable rate during such extension.

     (b) Unless the Administrative  Agent shall have been notified in writing by
any Lender  prior to a borrowing  that such Lender will not make the amount that
would  constitute its Commitment  Percentage of such borrowing  available to the
Administrative  Agent, the  Administrative  Agent may assume that such Lender is
making such amount available to the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative
Agent may, in reliance upon such  assumption,  make  available to the Borrower a
corresponding amount. If such amount is not made available to the Administrative
Agent by the required time on the Borrowing Date therefor, such Lender shall pay
to the Administrative  Agent, on demand,  such amount with interest thereon at a
rate equal to the daily  average  Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate for the period
until such Lender makes such amount immediately  available to the Administrative
Agent. A certificate of the  Administrative  Agent  submitted to any Lender with
respect to any amounts  owing under this  subsection  shall be conclusive in the
absence of  manifest  error.  If such  Lender's  Commitment  Percentage  of such
borrowing  is not made  available  to the  Administrative  Agent by such  Lender
within three Business Days after such Borrowing Date, the  Administrative  Agent
shall also be entitled to recover such amount with interest  thereon at the rate
per annum applicable to ABR Loans hereunder, on demand, from the Borrower.

     4.9  Computation  of Borrowing  Base. (a) The Borrowing Base in effect from
time to time shall  represent  the  maximum  principal  amount  (subject  to the
aggregate  amount of the Revolving  Credit  Commitments)  of Loans and Letter of
Credit Outstandings that the Lenders will allow to remain outstanding during the
Commitment  Period.  The Borrowing  Base shall be determined in accordance  with
this  subsection 4.9. The Borrowing Base will be based upon the value of certain
Proved  Reserves  attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and
its Restricted  Subsidiaries and other assets of the Borrower and its Restricted
Subsidiaries  acceptable  to the  Agents in their sole  discretion,  and will be
determined by the Agents in  accordance  with  paragraph (d) of this  subsection
4.9, subject to approval by the Supermajority Lenders. Until the Commitments are
no longer in effect,  all Letters of Credit have terminated and all of the Loans
and all other  obligations under this Agreement are paid in full, this Agreement
shall be subject to the then effective  Borrowing  Base.  During the period from
and after the Restatement Effective Date until the first  Re-determination Date,
the amount of the Borrowing Base shall be $200,000,000;

     (b) Prior to March 1 and September 1 of each year (commencing  September 1,
2000),  the  Borrower  shall  furnish to the Agents and to each  Lender  Reserve
Reports,  which Reserve Reports shall be dated as of the  immediately  preceding
December 31 (in the case of Reserve  Reports due on March 1) and June 30 (in the
case of Reserve  Reports due on September  1), and shall set forth,  among other
things,  (i) the Oil and Gas  Properties,  then  owned by the  Borrower  and its
Restricted  Subsidiaries,  (ii) the Proved Reserves attributable to such Oil and
Gas  Properties  and (iii) a projection of the rate of production and net income
of the Proved Reserves as of the date of such Reserve Report,  all in accordance
with the guidelines published by the Securities and Exchange Commission and such
assumptions as the Agents shall provide.  Concurrently  with the delivery of the
Reserve  Reports,  the Borrower shall furnish to the Agents and to each Lender a
certificate of a Responsible  Officer showing any additions to or deletions from
the Oil and Gas  Properties  listed in the Reserve  Report,  which  additions or
deletions  were made by the Borrower and its Restricted  Subsidiaries  since the
date of the previous Reserve Report.


<PAGE>



     (c) The  Borrowing  Base shall be  re-determined  (i) after  receipt by the
Agents of each  scheduled  Reserve  Report,  (ii) upon the  delivery of a Lender
Redetermination Notice to the Borrower and (iii) upon the delivery of a Borrower
Redetermination  Notice to the Agents,  all as provided in this  subsection 4.9.
Within 15 days  after the  delivery  of a Borrower  Redetermination  Notice or a
Lender  Redetermination  Notice, the Borrower shall furnish to the Agents and to
each Lender a Reserve  Report as of the most  recent  practicable  date.  If the
Borrower fails to deliver a Reserve  Report within the time period  provided for
in the preceding  sentence,  then the Agents shall have the right to rely on the
last  Reserve  Report  previously  delivered  by  the  Borrower  with  any  such
adjustments and taking into account any additional information as the Agents may
deem  appropriate,  in their sole discretion.  On or before the date which is 30
days after receipt (i) of a scheduled  semi-annual  Reserve  Report or (ii) of a
Reserve Report in connection with a Lender  Redetermination Notice or a Borrower
Redetermination  Notice,  the Agents shall  re-determine  the Borrowing  Base in
their sole discretion,  and the Agents shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders
of their  re-determination  of the Borrowing Base.  Within 10 days after receipt
from the Agents of the amount of their  re-determination  of the Borrowing Base,
each Lender shall notify the Agents  stating  whether or not such Lender  agrees
with that  re-determination.  Failure of any Lender to give such  notice  within
such  period  of time  shall be  deemed  to  constitute  an  acceptance  of such
re-determination. If the Supermajority Lenders agree with that re-determination,
then the Agents  promptly  shall notify the Borrower of the Borrowing Base as so
re-determined,  whereupon that re-determined  value shall  automatically  become
effective  (and  shall  remain  effective  until  the  Borrowing  Base is  again
re-determined  as  provided in this  subsection  4.9(c)).  If the  Supermajority
Lenders have not approved or are not deemed to have approved the Borrowing  Base
within the 10 day period following their receipt of the proposed amount from the
Agents,  the  Borrowing  Base  shall be set at the  amount  of the then  current
Borrowing  Base and the  Borrowing  Base shall  remain at such  level  until the
Supermajority  Lenders,  utilizing the procedure outlined herein, agree on a new
Borrowing Base.  Each  re-determination  provided for by this subsection  4.9(c)
shall be made in accordance with the provisions of subsection  4.9(d). It is the
intention  of  the  Borrower  and  the  Lenders  that  the  Borrowing   Base  be
redetermined within 45 days after the furnishing of each Reserve Report, subject
to the provisions of this paragraph (c).

     (d) (i) All determinations and re-determinations by the Agents provided for
in this subsection 4.9 (and any  determinations  and decisions by either or both
of the Agents and the Supermajority Lenders in connection  therewith,  including
effecting  any  re-determination  of the value of any  component  contained in a
Reserve  Report)  shall be made by the  Agents  and the  Lenders  in their  sole
discretion and shall be made on a reasonable  basis and in good faith based upon
the application by the Agents and the Lenders of their respective normal oil and
gas lending criteria as they exist at the time of determination.

     (ii)  All  re-determinations  in the  Borrowing  Base  referred  to in this
subsection 4.9 shall become effective immediately upon the delivery of notice by
the Agents to the Borrower of the re-determination.

     4.10  Borrowing  Base  Compliance.  If,  upon  any  redetermination  of the
Borrowing  Base  pursuant to  subsection  4.9, the  Aggregate  Revolving  Credit
Exposure of the  Lenders  exceeds  the  Borrowing  Base then in effect (any such
excess,  the  "Borrowing  Base  Deficiency"),  the  Borrower  shall  prepay  the
Revolving  Credit  Loans  and then  cash  collateralize  the  Letter  of  Credit
Outstandings in an amount equal to 50% of the Borrowing Base  Deficiency  within
90 days  after  the  effective  date of the  redetermination  resulting  in such
Borrowing  Base  Deficiency,  and within the next 90 days  prepay the  Revolving
Credit Loans and then cash collateralize the Letter of Credit Outstandings in an
amount  equal to the  balance of such  Borrowing  Base  Deficiency  in each case
together with interest accrued to the date of such payment or prepayment and any
amounts  payable  under  subsection  4.14.  If at any other time there  exists a
Borrowing Base Deficiency,  the Borrower shall immediately  prepay the Revolving
Credit Loans and then cash collateralize the Letter of Credit Outstandings in an
amount equal to 100% of such  Borrowing Base  Deficiency  together with interest
accrued to the date of such payment or prepayment and any amounts  payable under
subsection 4.14.  Prepayments and collateralization  pursuant to this subsection
4.10 shall be made as set forth in subsection 4.5(c).


<PAGE>



     4.11  Illegality.  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  herein,  if  the
adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the  interpretation or
application  thereof after the date hereof shall make it unlawful for any Lender
to make or maintain  Eurodollar  Loans as contemplated by this Agreement (a) the
commitment  of  such  Lender  hereunder  to  make  Eurodollar  Loans,   continue
Eurodollar  Loans as such  and  convert  ABR  Loans to  Eurodollar  Loans  shall
forthwith be canceled and (b) such Lender's Loans then outstanding as Eurodollar
Loans, if any, shall be converted  automatically  to ABR Loans on the respective
last days of the then  current  Interest  Periods  with respect to such Loans or
within such  earlier  period as required  by law.  If any such  conversion  of a
Eurodollar  Loan  occurs on a day which is not the last day of the then  current
Interest Period with respect thereto, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such
amounts, if any, as may be required pursuant to subsection 4.14.

     4.12  Requirements  of Law.  (a) If the  adoption  of or any  change in any
Requirement of Law or in the  interpretation  or  application  thereof after the
date hereof or compliance  by any Lender with any request or directive  (whether
or not  having  the force of law) from any  central  bank or other  Governmental
Authority made subsequent to the date hereof:

     (i) shall subject any Lender to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect
to this  Agreement,  any Note, any Letter of Credit,  any L/C Application or any
Eurodollar  Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such
Lender in respect  thereof (except for Non- Excluded Taxes covered by subsection
4.13,  changes in the rate or  computation  of tax on the  overall net income of
such  Lender,  franchise  taxes  imposed in lieu of net  income  taxes and doing
business taxes);

     (ii) shall impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve,  special deposit,
compulsory loan or similar requirement against assets held by, deposits or other
liabilities  in or for the account of,  advances,  loans or other  extensions of
credit by, or any other acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender which
is not otherwise included in the determination of the Eurodollar Rate hereunder;
or

     (iii) shall  impose on such Lender any other  condition;  and the result of
any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender,  by an amount which
such Lender deems to be material,  of making,  converting  into,  continuing  or
maintaining Eurodollar Loans or issuing or participating in Letters of Credit or
to reduce any amount receivable hereunder in respect thereof,  then, in any such
case, the Borrower shall promptly, following receipt of the certificate required
in subsection 4.12(c), pay such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduced amount receivable.

     (b) If any Lender shall have  determined that the adoption of or any change
in any Requirement of Law regarding capital adequacy or in the interpretation or
application thereof or compliance by such Lender or any corporation  controlling
such Lender with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or
not having the force of law) from any Governmental  Authority made subsequent to
the date  hereof  shall have the effect of  reducing  the rate of return on such
Lender's  or such  corporation's  capital as a  consequence  of its  obligations
hereunder  or under any Letter of Credit to a level below that which such Lender
or such  corporation  could  have  achieved  but for such  adoption,  change  or
compliance  (taking  into  consideration  such  Lender's  or such  corporation's
policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender to
be material,  then from time to time,  the Borrower  shall  promptly,  following
receipt of the certificate  required in subsection  4.12(c),  pay to such Lender
such  additional  amount or  amounts  as will  compensate  such  Lender for such
reduction.

     (c) If any Lender becomes entitled to claim any additional amounts pursuant
to this  subsection,  it shall promptly  notify the Borrower (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent) of the event by reason of which it has become so entitled,
such notice to include a description,  in reasonable detail, of the event giving
rise to its claim for such additional amounts;  provided that the Borrower shall
not be required to  compensate  a Lender  pursuant  to this  subsection  for any
additional costs incurred more than


<PAGE>



six months prior to the date on which such Lender  notifies the Borrower of such
event giving rise to such  additional  costs and of such  Lender's  intention to
claim compensation  therefor;  and provided,  further,  that, if any adoption or
change of any  Requirement  of Law or other event  giving rise to such claim for
additional  compensation is retroactive,  then the six-month  period referred to
above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive  effect thereof.  A
certificate as to any additional  amounts  payable  pursuant to this  subsection
submitted  by such  Lender to the  Borrower  (with a copy to the  Administrative
Agent) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest  error.  The agreements in
this subsection  shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment
of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

     4.13 Taxes.  (a) All payments made by the Borrower under this Agreement and
any Notes shall be made free and clear of, and without  deduction or withholding
for or on  account  of,  any  present or future  income,  stamp or other  taxes,
levies,  imposts,  duties,  charges,  fees,  deductions or withholdings,  now or
hereafter imposed, levied,  collected,  withheld or assessed by any Governmental
Authority,  excluding net income taxes,  franchise taxes (imposed in lieu of net
income taxes) and doing  business taxes imposed on the  Administrative  Agent or
any  Lender  as  a  result  of  a  present  or  former  connection  between  the
Administrative  Agent or such Lender and the  jurisdiction  of the  Governmental
Authority  imposing such tax or any political  subdivision  or taxing  authority
thereof or therein  (other  than any such  connection  arising  solely  from the
Administrative Agent or such Lender having executed,  delivered or performed its
obligations  or received a payment  under,  or enforced,  this  Agreement or any
Note). If any such non-excluded taxes, levies,  imposts,  duties,  charges, fees
deductions or  withholdings  ("Non-Excluded  Taxes") are required to be withheld
from any amounts payable to the Administrative  Agent or any Lender hereunder or
under any Note,  the  amounts  so payable  to the  Administrative  Agent or such
Lender shall be increased to the extent necessary to yield to the Administrative
Agent or such Lender (after payment of all  Non-Excluded  Taxes) interest or any
such other amounts payable hereunder at the rates or in the amounts specified in
this Agreement,  provided,  however,  that the Borrower shall not be required to
increase any such amounts payable to any Non-U.S. Lender if such Non-U.S. Lender
fails to comply  with the  requirements  of  paragraph  (b) of this  subsection.
Whenever  any  Non-Excluded  Taxes are payable by the  Borrower,  as promptly as
possible thereafter the Borrower shall send to the Administrative  Agent for its
own account or for the account of such  Lender,  as the case may be, a certified
copy of an original  official  receipt  received by the Borrower showing payment
thereof. If, when the Borrower is required by this subsection 4.14(a) to pay any
Non-Excluded Taxes, the Borrower fails to pay any Non-Excluded Taxes when due to
the appropriate taxing authority or fails to remit to the  Administrative  Agent
the required receipts or other required documentary evidence, the Borrower shall
indemnify the  Administrative  Agent and the Lenders for any incremental  taxes,
interest or penalties that may become payable by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender as a result of any such failure.  The agreements in this subsection shall
survive the  termination  of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all
other amounts payable hereunder.

     (b) Each Lender (or Transferee)  that is not a "U.S.  Person" as defined in
Section  7701(a)(30)  of the Code (a  "Non-U.S.  Lender")  shall  deliver to the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a Participant,  to the
Lender  from which the  related  participation  shall have been  purchased)  two
copies of either U.S.  Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8ECI,  or,
in  the  case  of  a  Non-U.S.  Lender  claiming  exemption  from  U.S.  federal
withholding  tax under  Section  871(h) or  881(c) of the Code with  respect  to
payments  of  "portfolio  interest",  a statement  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit G and a Form W-8BEN,  or any subsequent  versions  thereof or successors
thereto,  properly completed and duly executed by such Non-U.S.  Lender claiming
complete  exemption from, or a reduced rate of, U.S. federal  withholding tax on
all payments by the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan  Documents.
Such forms shall be delivered by each  Non-U.S.  Lender on or before the date it
becomes a party to this  Agreement  (or, in the case of any  Participant,  on or
before  the date such  Participant  purchases  the  related  participation).  In
addition,  each  Non-U.S.  Lender  shall  deliver such forms  promptly  upon the
obsolescence  or  invalidity of any form  previously  delivered by such Non-U.S.
Lender.  Each Non-U.S.  Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower at any time it
determines  that  it is no  longer  in a  position  to  provide  any  previously
delivered  certificate  to the  Borrower  (or any  other  form of  certification
adopted by the U.S. taxing  authorities for such purpose).  Notwithstanding  any
other


<PAGE>



     provision  of this  paragraph,  a Non-U.S.  Lender shall not be required to
deliver any form pursuant to this  paragraph  that such  Non-U.S.  Lender is not
legally able to deliver.

     (c) A Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of non-U.S.
withholding  tax under the law of the  jurisdiction  in which  the  Borrower  is
located,  or any treaty to which such  jurisdiction is a party,  with respect to
payments under this Agreement  shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the
Administrative  Agent),  at the time or times  prescribed by  applicable  law or
reasonably  requested by the  Borrower,  such  properly  completed  and executed
documentation  prescribed by  applicable  law as will permit such payments to be
made without  withholding  or at a reduced  rate,  provided  that such Lender is
legally entitled to complete, execute and deliver such documentation and in such
Lender's judgment such completion,  execution or submission would not materially
prejudice the legal position of such Lender.

     (d) The  agreements in this Section shall survive the  termination  of this
Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

     4.14  Indemnity.  The Borrower  agrees to indemnify each Lender and to hold
each Lender  harmless  from any loss or expense which such Lender may sustain or
incur (other than through such Lender's gross negligence or willful  misconduct)
as a  consequence  of (a)  default by the  Borrower  in making a  borrowing  of,
conversion into or continuation of Eurodollar Loans after the Borrower has given
a  notice  requesting  the  same  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of this
Agreement,  (b) default by the Borrower in making any prepayment of a Eurodollar
Loan  after the  Borrower  has given a notice  thereof  in  accordance  with the
provisions of this  Agreement or (c) the making of a prepayment of or conversion
of  Eurodollar  Loans on a day which is not the last day of an  Interest  Period
with  respect  thereto.  To be entitled  to such  indemnity,  such Lender  shall
provide  the  Borrower   with  a  certificate   showing  in  reasonable   detail
calculations  utilized to ascertain  the amount of such  Lender's  losses (which
calculations shall be conclusive, absent manifest error) and the Borrower shall,
promptly  following  receipt of such  certificate,  pay the  Lender the  amounts
calculated  therein;  provided  that  the  Borrower  shall  not be  required  to
compensate a Lender  pursuant to this subsection for any loss incurred more than
six months prior to the date on which such Lender  notifies the Borrower of such
event giving rise to such  additional  costs and of such  Lender's  intention to
claim compensation therefor. Such indemnification may include an amount equal to
the excess,  if any, of (i) the amount of interest  which would have  accrued on
the amount so prepaid, or converted, or not so borrowed, converted or continued,
for the period from the date of such prepayment or conversion or of such failure
to borrow, convert or continue to the last day of the applicable Interest Period
(or,  in the case of a failure to  borrow,  convert or  continue,  the  Interest
Period that would have  commenced  on the date of such  failure) in each case at
the applicable  rate of interest for such  Eurodollar  Loans provided for herein
(excluding,  however,  the percentage  added to the Eurodollar  Rate pursuant to
subsection  4.1(a) to the  extent  included  therein)  over  (ii) the  amount of
interest (as  reasonably  determined by such Lender) which would have accrued to
such  Lender on such amount by placing  such amount on deposit for a  comparable
period with leading  banks in the  interbank  eurodollar  market.  This covenant
shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and
all other amounts payable hereunder.

     4.15 Change of Lending Office.  (a) Each Lender agrees that if it makes any
demand for  payment  under  subsection  4.12 or 4.13(a),  or if any  adoption or
change of the type described in subsection  4.11 shall occur with respect to it,
it will use reasonable  efforts  (consistent  with its internal policy and legal
and  regulatory   restrictions  and  so  long  as  such  efforts  would  not  be
disadvantageous  to it, as  determined  in its sole  discretion)  to designate a
different  lending  office if the making of such a  designation  would reduce or
obviate the need for the  Borrower to make  payments  under  subsection  4.12 or
4.13(a),  or would  eliminate  or reduce  the effect of any  adoption  or change
described in subsection 4.11.

     (b) If any Lender  shall  assert  that any  adoption  or change of the type
described in  subsection  4.11 hereof has occurred with respect to it, or if any
Lender  requests  compensation  under  subsection  4.12,  or if the  Borrower is
required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any


<PAGE>



Governmental  Authority  for the account of any Lender  pursuant  to  subsection
4.13, or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund Loans hereunder,  then
the Borrower may, at its expense and effort,  upon notice to such Lender and the
Administrative  Agent,  require such Lender to, and such Lender  promptly shall,
assign and delegate,  without  recourse (in  accordance  with and subject to the
restrictions  contained  in  subsection  11.6),  all its  interests,  rights and
obligations  under  this  Agreement  to  an  assignee  that  shall  assume  such
obligations  (which  assignee may be another  Lender,  if a Lender  accepts such
assignment);  provided that (i) if such assignee is not a Lender or an Affiliate
thereof,  the  Borrower  shall have  received the prior  written  consent of the
Administrative Agent and Issuing Lender which consents shall not unreasonably be
withheld or delayed,  (ii) such Lender shall have received  payment of an amount
equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in Letters of
Credit, accrued interest thereon,  accrued fees and all other amounts payable to
it  hereunder,  from the  assignee  (at least to the extent of such  outstanding
principal)  and the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the
case of any  such  assignment  resulting  from a claim  for  compensation  under
subsection  4.12 or payments  required to be made pursuant to  subsection  4.13,
such  assignment  will result in a reduction  in such  compensation  or payments
compared to the  compensation  or payments  payable to the assigning  Lender.  A
Lender  shall not be required to make any such  assignment  and  delegation  if,
prior  thereto,  as a result  of a  waiver  by such  Lender  or  otherwise,  the
circumstances  entitling the Borrower to require such  assignment and delegation
no longer exist or cease to apply.

                    SECTION 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     To induce  the  Administrative  Agent and the  Lenders  to enter  into this
Agreement  and to make the Loans  and issue or  participate  in the  Letters  of
Credit, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative  Agent
and each Lender that:

     5.1  Financial  Condition.  (a)  The  consolidated  balance  sheets  of the
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries at December 31, 1998 and December 31,
1999 and the related  consolidated  statements of operations,  of  stockholders'
equity and of cash flows for the  respective  fiscal  years ended on such dates,
together  with the related notes and  schedules  thereto,  reported on by Arthur
Andersen LLP,  copies of which have  heretofore  been  furnished to each Lender,
present fairly in all material respects the consolidated  financial condition of
the  Borrower  and  its  consolidated  Subsidiaries  as at such  dates,  and the
consolidated  results of their operations and their  consolidated cash flows for
the respective fiscal years then ended.

     (b) The unaudited condensed  consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and
its  consolidated  Subsidiaries  at March  31,  2000 and the  related  unaudited
condensed consolidated statements of operations,  of stockholders' equity and of
cash flows for the 3-month period ended on such dates, together with the related
notes and schedules thereto, certified by a Responsible Officer, copies of which
have  heretofore  been furnished to each Lender,  present fairly in all material
respects the  consolidated  financial  condition of each of the Borrower and its
consolidated  Subsidiaries  as at such dates,  and the  consolidated  results of
their respective  operations and their  consolidated  cash flows for the 3-month
period then ended (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments).

     (c) All such financial  statements  referred to in  subsections  5.1(a) and
(b),  including the related  schedules and notes thereto,  have been prepared in
accordance  with GAAP  applied  consistently  throughout  the  periods  involved
(except as approved by such accountants or Responsible  Officer, as the case may
be, and as disclosed  therein).  On the Restatement  Effective Date,  except for
this Agreement,  the other Loan Documents,  the Subordinated  Note Documents and
the matters disclosed in Schedule 5.1 and 5.20,  neither the Borrower nor any of
its consolidated Subsidiaries have, at the date of the most recent balance sheet
referred to above, any material Guarantee  Obligation,  contingent  liability or
liability  for taxes,  or any  long-term  lease or unusual  forward or long-term
commitment,  including, without limitation, any Hedging Agreements, which is not
reflected in the financial statements referred to in subsection 5.1(a) or 5.1(b)
or in the notes thereto to the extent  required by GAAP.  During the period from
January  1,  2000 to and  including  the date  hereof,  there  has been no sale,
transfer or other


<PAGE>



disposition  by the  Borrower  or any of its  consolidated  Subsidiaries  of any
material  part of its business or Property and no purchase or other  acquisition
of any business or Property  (including  any capital  stock of any other Person)
material in relation to the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and
its  consolidated  Subsidiaries at December 31, 1999, other than as set forth on
Schedule 5.1.

     5.2 No Change.  (a) Since December 31, 1999, there has been no development,
circumstance  or event which has had or could  reasonably  be expected to have a
Material  Adverse Effect,  and (b) during the period from January 1, 2000 to and
including  the date  hereof  no  dividends  or  other  distributions  have  been
declared, paid or made upon the Capital Stock of the Borrower nor has any of the
Capital Stock of the Borrower  been  redeemed,  retired,  purchased or otherwise
acquired for value by the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries,  other than,  in
each case, as set forth in Schedule 5.2.

     5.3 Existence; Compliance with Law. Each of the Borrower and its Restricted
Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized,  validly existing and in good standing under
the  laws of the  jurisdiction  of its  organization,  (b)  has  the  corporate,
partnership  or  limited  liability  company  (as the  case  may be)  power  and
authority,  and the legal right,  to own and operate its Property,  to lease the
property  it  operates  as lessee and to  conduct  the  business  in which it is
currently engaged,  (c) is duly qualified and in good standing under the laws of
each  jurisdiction  where its  ownership,  lease or operation of Property or the
conduct of its business  requires  such  qualification  and (d) is in compliance
with all applicable Requirements of Law except to the extent that the failure to
be so qualified or to comply with such  Requirements of Law could not reasonably
be expected to have, in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

     5.4 Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations. The Borrower and each of
the other Loan  Parties  has the  corporate,  partnership  or limited  liability
company (as the case may be) power and authority,  and the legal right, to make,
deliver and perform the Loan  Documents  to which it is a party and, in the case
of the Borrower,  to borrow  hereunder  and has taken all  necessary  corporate,
partnership  or  limited  liability  company  (as the  case  may be)  action  to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which
it is a party. No consent or authorization  of, filing with,  notice to or other
act by or in  respect  of, any  Governmental  Authority  or any other  Person is
required  in  connection   with  the  borrowings   hereunder  or  the  delivery,
performance, validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents to which each Loan
Party is a party other than those which have been obtained and are in full force
and effect.  This  Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document to which any
Loan Party is a party will be, duly  executed  and  delivered  on behalf of such
Loan Party.  This Agreement  constitutes,  and each other Loan Document to which
any Loan Party is a party when executed and delivered will constitute,  a legal,
valid and binding  obligation of such Loan Party  enforceable  against such Loan
Party in  accordance  with its  terms,  subject to the  effects  of  bankruptcy,
insolvency,  fraudulent transfer or conveyance,  reorganization,  moratorium and
other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general
equitable  principles  (whether  considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)
and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

     5.5 No Legal Bar.  The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of the Loan
Documents, the borrowings hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof will not
violate any  applicable  Requirement  of Law or  Contractual  Obligation  of the
Borrower or of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,  to the extent such violation
could  reasonably  be  expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect and will not
result in, or require,  the creation or  imposition of any Lien on any of its or
their respective  Properties or revenues pursuant to any such Requirement of Law
or Contractual  Obligation,  other than the Liens created pursuant to the Pledge
Agreement.

     5.6 No Material Litigation.  No litigation,  investigation or proceeding of
or before  any  arbitrator  or  Governmental  Authority  is  pending  or, to the
knowledge of the  Borrower,  threatened by or against the Borrower or any of its
Restricted  Subsidiaries or against any of its or their respective Properties or
revenues  (a)  with  respect  to  any  of  the  Loan  Documents  or  any  of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby or thereby,  or (b) which could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


<PAGE>



     5.7 No Default. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
is in default under or with respect to any of its Contractual Obligations in any
respect which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

     5.8  Ownership  of  Property;  Liens.  (a)  Except  for  the  Oil  and  Gas
Properties, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries each have good title in
fee simple to, or a valid leasehold  interest in, all its material real Property
and material interests in real Property, and good title to, or a valid leasehold
interest  in, all its other  material  Property,  and none of such  Property  is
subject to any Lien except as permitted by subsection 8.3.

     (b) The  Borrower  and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  each  have  good  and
defensible  title  to all of its Oil and Gas  Properties  included  in the  most
recent Reserve Report which are not personal property and good title to all such
Oil and Gas Properties which are personal  property and material to the Borrower
and  its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  taken  as  a  whole,  except  for  (i)  such
imperfections  of title as do not in the aggregate  materially  detract from the
value  thereof to, or the use thereof in, the business of the Borrower or any of
its Restricted  Subsidiaries,  (ii) Oil and Gas Properties disposed of since the
date of the most recent  Reserve  Report as permitted by subsection  8.6 hereof,
and (iii) Liens  permitted by subsection  8.3 hereof.  The quantum and nature of
the interest of the Borrower and its Restricted  Subsidiaries  in and to the Oil
and Gas  Properties as set forth in each Reserve  Report  (including the Initial
Reserve Report)  includes the entire interest of the Borrower and its Restricted
Subsidiaries  in such  Oil and Gas  Properties  as of the  date of such  Reserve
Report and are complete and accurate in all material  respects as of the date of
such Reserve Report; and there are no "back-in" or "reversionary" interests held
by third parties which could materially  reduce the interest of the Borrower and
its Restricted  Subsidiaries in such Oil and Gas Properties  except as expressly
set forth in such Reserve Report. The ownership of the Oil and Gas Properties by
the Borrower and its Restricted  Subsidiaries  shall not in any material respect
obligate  any such  Person  to bear  the  costs  and  expenses  relating  to the
maintenance,  development  or operations of each such Oil and Gas Property in an
amount in  excess of the  working  interest  of such  Person in each Oil and Gas
Property set forth in the most recent Reserve Report.

     5.9  Intellectual  Property.  Each  of  the  Borrower  and  its  Restricted
Subsidiaries   owns,  or  is  licensed  to  use,  all  trademarks,   tradenames,
copyrights,  technology, know-how and processes necessary for the conduct of its
business as currently  conducted  except for those the failure to own or license
which could not  reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect (the
"Intellectual  Property").  No claim has been  asserted  and is  pending  by any
Person  challenging or questioning the use of any such Intellectual  Property or
the validity or effectiveness of any such  Intellectual  Property,  nor does the
Borrower  know of any valid basis for any such claim which could  reasonably  be
expected  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect.  The  use of  such  Intellectual
Property by the Borrower and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  does not infringe on
the rights of any Person,  except for such claims and infringements that, in the
aggregate, could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     5.10  No  Burdensome  Restrictions.  No  applicable  Requirement  of Law or
Contractual  Obligation  of the Borrower or any of its  Restricted  Subsidiaries
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     5.11 Taxes. Each of the Borrower and its Restricted  Subsidiaries has filed
all material tax returns which, to the knowledge of such Person, are required to
be filed by it and has paid or caused to be paid all taxes shown on said returns
and all material assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied upon it
or upon any of its Property or income which are due and payable, other than such
taxes,  assessments,  fees and other governmental  charges, if any, as are being
diligently  contested  in good  faith and by  appropriate  proceedings  and with
respect to which there have been established  adequate  reserves on the books of
the Borrower or its Restricted  Subsidiaries,  as the case may be, in accordance
with GAAP. No tax Lien has been filed and, to the knowledge of the Borrower,  no
claim is being asserted, with respect to any such taxes or material assessments,
fees or other governmental charges,  other than claims which are being contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings, provided that


<PAGE>



adequate  reserves with respect thereto are being maintained on the books of the
Borrower  or the  applicable  Restricted  Subsidiary,  as the  case  may be,  in
conformity with GAAP.

     5.12 Federal Reserve Regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Loans, and
no other Extensions of Credit hereunder, will be used for "buying" or "carrying"
any "margin  stock" within the  respective  meanings of each of the quoted terms
under  Regulation U as now and from time to time  hereafter in effect or for any
purpose  that  violates  the  provisions  of the  Regulations  of the Board.  If
requested by any Lender or the  Administrative  Agent, the Borrower will furnish
to the Administrative  Agent and each Lender a statement to the foregoing effect
in  conformity  with  the  requirements  of FR  Form  G-3  or FR  Form  U-1,  as
applicable, referred to in Regulation U.

     5.13 ERISA.  Except where the liability could not reasonably be expected to
have  a  Material  Adverse  Effect:  (a)  neither  a  Reportable  Event  nor  an
"accumulated  funding deficiency" (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code
or Section 302 of ERISA) has occurred  during the five-year  period prior to the
date on which this  representation  is made or deemed  made with  respect to any
Plan, and each Plan has complied with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the
Code; (b) no termination of a Single Employer Plan has occurred,  and no Lien on
property of the Borrower or any Commonly  Controlled Entity in favor of the PBGC
or a Plan has arisen, during such five-year period; (c) the present value of all
accrued  benefits  under each Single  Employer Plan (based on those  assumptions
used to fund such Plans) did not, as of the last annual  valuation date prior to
the date on which this  representation  is made or deemed made, exceed the value
of the assets of such Plan allocable to such accrued  benefits;  (d) neither the
Borrower  nor any  Commonly  Controlled  Entity  has had a  complete  or partial
withdrawal  from any  Multiemployer  Plan,  and  neither  the  Borrower  nor any
Commonly  Controlled Entity would become subject to any liability under ERISA if
the Borrower or any such Commonly  Controlled Entity were to withdraw completely
from all Multiemployer Plans as of the valuation date most closely preceding the
date on  which  this  representation  is made or  deemed  made;  and (e) no such
Multiemployer Plan is in Reorganization or Insolvent.

     5.14 Investment  Company Act; Other  Regulations.  Neither the Borrower nor
any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries is (a) an "investment company", or a company
"controlled"  by an "investment  company",  within the meaning of the Investment
Company  Act of 1940,  as amended or (b) a "holding  company"  as defined in, or
subject to regulation  under,  the Public Utility  Holding  Company Act of 1935.
Neither  the  Borrower  nor any of its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  is  subject to
regulation  under  any  Federal  or State  statute  or  regulation  (other  than
Regulation X of the Board) which limits its ability to incur  Indebtedness under
this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

     5.15  Subsidiaries.  The Persons listed on Schedule 5.15 constitute all the
Subsidiaries  of the Borrower at the date hereof.  Such  Schedule sets forth the
status of such Subsidiaries,  as of the date hereof, as Restricted  Subsidiaries
or  Unrestricted  Subsidiaries  and sets  forth the net book value of the assets
owned by each of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries listed on such Schedule.

     5.16 Purpose of Loans.  The proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit
will be used for working capital and for the general  corporate  purposes of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

     5.17 Environmental  Matters.  Other than exceptions to any of the following
that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to give
rise to a Material Adverse Effect:

     (a) each of the  Borrower  and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries:  (i) is,  and
within  the  period of all  applicable  statutes  of  limitation  has  been,  in
compliance with all applicable  Environmental Laws; (ii) holds or is entitled to
the benefits of all  Environmental  Permits  (each of which is in full force and
effect)  required  for  any of its  current  or  planned  operations  or for any
Property owned,  leased,  or otherwise  operated by it; (iii) is, and within the
period of all applicable statutes of limitation has been, in compliance with all
of its Environmental  Permits; and (iv) reasonably believes that (A) each of its
Environmental Permits will be timely renewed without expense, (B)


<PAGE>



any  additional  Environmental  Permits  which it has reason to believe  will be
required will be timely obtained without expense, and (C) the costs of complying
with  such   renewed  or   additional   Environmental   Permits  and  any  other
Environmental Laws applicable to or reasonably expected to apply to the Borrower
and  its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  will  not  exceed  the  Borrower's  and  its
Subsidiaries'  existing  costs  of  complying  with  Environmental  Permits  and
Environmental Laws.

     (b) Materials of Environmental Concern have not been transported,  disposed
of, emitted,  discharged, or otherwise released or threatened to be released, to
or at any real property  presently or formerly owned,  leased or operated by the
Borrower or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  or at any other  location,  which could
reasonably  be expected  to (i) give rise to  liability  of the  Borrower or any
Restricted  Subsidiary  under any applicable  Environmental  Law, (ii) interfere
with the  Borrower's  continued  operations,  or (iii) impair the fair  saleable
value of any  material  real  property  owned or leased by the  Borrower  or any
Restricted Subsidiary.

     (c) no judicial,  administrative,  or arbitral  proceeding  (including  any
notice of violation or alleged violation) under or relating to any Environmental
Law to which the Borrower or any  Restricted  Subsidiary is, or to the knowledge
of the Borrower will be, named as a party is pending or, to the knowledge of the
Borrower, threatened.

     (d) the Borrower has not received any written request for  information,  or
been notified that it or any Restricted Subsidiary is a potentially  responsible
party under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response,  Compensation, and
Liability Act or any similar Environmental Law, or with respect to any Materials
of Environmental Concern.

     (e) neither the Borrower nor any Restricted  Subsidiary has entered into or
agreed to any consent decree,  order, or settlement or other  agreement,  nor is
subject to any judgment,  decree, or order or other agreement,  in any judicial,
administrative,  arbitral,  or  other  forum,  relating  to  compliance  with or
liability under any Environmental Law.

     (f) neither  the  Borrower  nor any  Restricted  Subsidiary  has assumed or
retained,  by contract or operation of law, any liabilities of any kind,  fixed,
contingent or otherwise, under any Environmental Law.

     5.18 No  Material  Misstatements.  (a) All  written  information,  reports,
financial  statements,  exhibits  and  schedules  furnished  to any Agent or any
Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries in connection
with the  negotiation  of any Loan  Document  or included  therein or  delivered
pursuant  thereto,  when taken as a whole,  did not contain,  and as they may be
amended, supplemented or modified from time to time, will not contain, as of the
date such statements were made, any untrue statements of a material fact and did
not omit,  and as they may be amended,  supplemented  or  modified  from time to
time,  will not omit,  to state as of the date such  statements  were made,  any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements  contained  therein,  in
the light of the  circumstances  under which they were, are or will be made, not
materially misleading.

     (b)  All  projections  and  estimates   concerning  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries  that are or have been made available to any Agent or any Lender by
or on behalf of the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries,  have been or will be
prepared  based on good  faith  estimates  and  based  upon  assumptions  either
provided by one or more of the Agents and the  Lenders,  required by  applicable
Requirements  of Law or believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time of
such preparation.

     5.19  Insurance.  Each  of the  Borrower  and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries
carries  and  maintains  with  respect  to its  insurable  properties  insurance
(including,  to the extent consistent with past practices,  self-insurance) with
financially  sound and  reputable  insurers  of the  types,  to such  extent and
against  such  risks as is  customary  with  companies  in the  same or  similar
businesses.


<PAGE>



     5.20 Future  Commitments.  As of the date hereof and as of the  Restatement
Effective  Date,  except as set forth on Schedule 5.20, on a net basis there are
no material gas imbalances,  take-or- pay or other  prepayments  with respect to
any Oil and Gas  Property of the  Borrower or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  which
would require the Borrower or any Restricted  Subsidiary to deliver Hydrocarbons
produced  from  Oil and Gas  Properties  at some  future  time  without  then or
thereafter receiving full payment therefor.

     5.21 Pledge  Agreement.  (a) The provisions of the Pledge Agreement and the
initial   transaction   statements,   where   applicable,   delivered   to   the
Administrative  Agent pursuant to the forms attached to the Pledge Agreement are
effective  to  create  in favor of the  Administrative  Agent,  for the  ratable
benefit of the Lenders, a legal, valid and enforceable  security interest in the
Pledged Securities and proceeds thereof and, (i) when certificates  representing
or   constituting   any  of  the  Pledged   Securities   are  delivered  to  the
Administrative  Agent and (ii) when UCC-1 financing  statements are filed in the
offices set forth in Schedule  5.21,  the Pledge  Agreement  shall  constitute a
fully  perfected  first  priority lien on, and security  interest in, all right,
title and interest of the pledgor party therein in such Pledged  Securities  and
the  proceeds  thereof,  in each case prior and  superior  in right to any other
Person.

     (b) On the  Restatement  Effective Date, the shares of Capital Stock listed
on  Schedule  I to the  Pledge  Agreement  will  constitute  all the  issued and
outstanding  shares  of  Capital  Stock of the  issuers  thereof  listed on said
Schedule  owned by the Loan Parties;  all such shares have been duly and validly
issued and are fully paid and  nonassessable;  and the relevant  Pledgor of said
shares is the record and beneficial owner of said shares.

     5.22 Coda  Indenture.  The execution,  delivery and performance of the Loan
Documents, the Extensions of Credit and the incurrence of Indebtedness hereunder
and the use of the proceeds of such  Extensions  of Credit have not violated and
will not violate any applicable  provision of the Coda Indenture.  The Notes and
the Indebtedness  evidenced hereby and thereby are "Senior Debt" and "Designated
Senior Debt" as such terms are defined in the Coda Indenture, and the Subsidiary
Guarantee is a "Senior Guarantee" as such term is defined in the Coda Indenture.

                         SECTION 6. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     6.1  Conditions  to Initial  Extensions  of Credit.  The  agreement of each
Lender to make the initial  Loan  requested  to be made by it and of the Issuing
Lender to issue the  initial  Letter of Credit to be issued by it is  subject to
the  satisfaction,  immediately prior to or concurrently with the making of such
Loan and the  issuance  of such  Letter of Credit on the  Restatement  Effective
Date, of the following conditions precedent:

     (a) Loan Documents.  The Administrative Agent shall have received (with the
number of original counterparts  requested by the Administrative Agent) (i) this
Agreement,  executed and delivered by a duly authorized  officer of the Borrower
and each Agent,  with a counterpart for each Lender,  (ii) the Pledge Agreement,
executed and delivered by a duly  authorized  officer of each Loan Party thereto
and (iii) the Subsidiary Guarantee,  executed and delivered by a duly authorized
officer of each Loan Party thereto.

     (b) Existing Credit Agreement.  (i) All accrued and unpaid interest,  fees,
commission  and other amounts  (other than  principal)  owing under the Existing
Credit Agreement shall have been paid.

     (ii) The Loans  outstanding  under the Existing Credit Agreement shall have
been reallocated as directed by the  Administrative  Agent, with the result that
the Loans  will be held by the  Lenders  in  accordance  with  their  respective
Commitment Percentages.

     (iii) Each lender  party to the  Existing  Credit  Agreement  that will not
continue as a Lender hereunder and each Lender hereunder will make such payments
among themselves as


<PAGE>



directed by the Administrative  Agent so that, after giving effect thereto,  the
outstanding  Loans  will  be  held  by the  Lenders  in  accordance  with  their
respective  Commitment  Percentages and with Interest  Periods that all begin on
the Closing Date and end on the same later date.

     (c) Related Agreements.  The Administrative  Agent shall have received true
and correct  copies,  certified  as to  authenticity  by the  Borrower,  of such
documents or  instruments as may be reasonably  requested by the  Administrative
Agent, including,  without limitation, a copy of any debt instrument or security
agreement to which the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  will be a party after the
Restatement Effective Date.

     (d) Borrowing  Certificate.  The  Administrative  Agent shall have received
(with the  number  of  original  counterparts  requested  by the  Administrative
Agent),  a certificate of the Borrower,  dated the  Restatement  Effective Date,
substantially  in the  form  of  Exhibit  D,  with  appropriate  insertions  and
attachments,  satisfactory  in form and substance to the  Administrative  Agent,
executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

     (e) Proceedings of the Loan Parties.  The  Administrative  Agent shall have
received   (with  the  number  of  original   counterparts   requested   by  the
Administrative   Agent),   a  copy  of  the  resolutions  or  other   equivalent
authorization,  in form and substance  satisfactory to the Administrative Agent,
of the Board of Directors (or partners or members,  as appropriate) of each Loan
Party authorizing (i) the execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the  Loan  Documents  to  which  it is a party  and  (ii) in the case of the
Borrower, the borrowings contemplated  hereunder,  certified by the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary of such Loan Party (or of its general partner or managing
member, as appropriate) as of the Restatement  Effective Date, which certificate
shall be in form and substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to the  Administrative
Agent and shall state that the resolutions (or other  equivalent  authorization)
thereby certified have not been amended, modified, revoked or rescinded.

     (f) Loan Party Incumbency Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have
received   (with  the  number  of  original   counterparts   requested   by  the
Administrative Agent), a certificate of each Loan Party, dated the Closing Date,
as to the incumbency and signature of the officers of such Loan Party (or of its
general partner or managing member, as appropriate), executing any Loan Document
reasonably  satisfactory  in form and  substance  to the  Administrative  Agent,
executed  by the  President  or any  Vice  President  and the  Secretary  or any
Assistant   Secretary  (or  by  its  general  partner  or  managing  member,  as
appropriate) of such Loan Party.

     (g) Constitutional  Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received
(with the  number  of  original  counterparts  requested  by the  Administrative
Agent),  true and complete copies of the  constitutional  documents of each Loan
Party,  certified as of the Closing Date as complete and correct  copies thereof
by the  Secretary  or an  Assistant  Secretary  (or by its  general  partner  or
managing member, as appropriate) of such Loan Party.

     (h) Consents,  Licenses and  Approvals.  All  governmental  and third party
approvals   (including   consents)  necessary  or,  in  the  discretion  of  the
Administrative Agent,  advisable in connection with the continuing operations of
the Borrower and its Restricted  Subsidiaries  and the  execution,  delivery and
performance of the Loan Documents  shall have been obtained and be in full force
and effect,  and all applicable  waiting  periods shall have expired without any
action  being  taken  or  threatened  by any  competent  authority  which  would
restrain,  prevent or otherwise  impose material and adverse  conditions on this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions  contemplated hereby
and thereby.  The Administrative  Agent shall have received,  with a counterpart
for each Lender, a certificate of the Borrower as to the foregoing.

     (i) Fees.  Each of the Lenders and the Agents shall have  received all fees
and expenses required to be paid on or before the Restatement Effective Date for
which invoices have been presented.


<PAGE>



     (j) Legal  Opinions.  The  Administrative  Agent shall have received (i) an
executed  legal opinion of Vinson & Elkins  L.L.P.,  counsel to the Borrower and
each Pledgor and Guarantor, substantially in the form of Exhibit C and (ii) such
other legal opinions as the Administrative  Agent may reasonably  require,  each
satisfactory  in form and  substance  to the  Administrative  Agent.  Such legal
opinions shall cover all matters  incident to the  transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require.

     (k) Pledged  Securities.  The Administrative  Agent shall have received the
certificates  representing the certificated  Pledged Securities pledged pursuant
to the Pledge  Agreement,  together  with an undated  stock  power for each such
certificate  executed  in  blank by a duly  authorized  officer  of the  Pledgor
thereof, endorsed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the Pledgor thereof.

     (l) Actions to Perfect Liens. The Administrative  Agent shall have received
evidence in form and substance satisfactory to it that all filings,  recordings,
registrations and other actions,  including,  without limitation,  the filing of
duly executed financing  statements on form UCC-1,  necessary or, in the opinion
of the  Administrative  Agent,  desirable  to perfect  the Liens  created by the
Pledge Agreement shall have been completed.

     (m)  Additional  Matters.  All  corporate  and other  proceedings,  and all
documents,   instruments   and  other  legal  matters  in  connection  with  the
transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall
be reasonably  satisfactory in form and substance to the  Administrative  Agent,
and the Administrative Agent shall have received such other documents in respect
of any aspect or consequence of the transactions  contemplated hereby or thereby
as it shall reasonably request.

     6.2 Conditions to Each Extension of Credit. The agreement of each Lender to
make any Extension of Credit  requested to be made by it on any date (including,
without limitation, its initial Extension of Credit and any renewal or extension
of a  Letter  of  Credit)  is  subject  to the  satisfaction  of  the  following
conditions precedent:

     (a)  Representations  and  Warranties.  Each  of  the  representations  and
warranties made by each Loan Party in or pursuant to the Loan Documents shall be
true  and  correct  on and as of such  date  as if  made on and as of such  date
(unless such  representations  and warranties are stated to relate to a specific
earlier date, in which case such  representations  and warranties  shall be true
and correct as of such earlier date).

     (b) No Default.  No Default or Event of Default  shall have occurred and be
continuing  on such  date or after  giving  effect to the  Extensions  of Credit
requested to be made on such date.

     Each  borrowing  by, and Letter of Credit issued on behalf of, the Borrower
hereunder shall constitute a  representation  and warranty by the Borrower as of
the date thereof that the conditions contained in (a) and (b) of this subsection
have been satisfied.

                        SECTION 7. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     The Borrower  hereby  agrees  that,  so long as the  Commitments  remain in
effect, any Loan, Note or Letter of Credit remains outstanding and unpaid or any
amount is owing to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any
other Loan  Document,  the Borrower shall and (except in the case of delivery of
financial  information,  reports and notices) shall cause each of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to:


<PAGE>



     7.1 Financial  Statements.  Furnish to the Administrative Agent and to each
of the Lenders:

     (a) as soon as available,  but in any event within 90 days after the end of
each fiscal year of the Borrower,  (i) a copy of the consolidated  balance sheet
of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such year and
the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash
flows for such year,  setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures
for  the  previous  year,   reported  on  without  a  "going  concern"  or  like
qualification  or exception,  or  qualification  arising out of the scope of the
audit, by Arthur Andersen LLP or other independent  certified public accountants
of nationally  recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders
and  (ii) a copy of the  consolidated  balance  sheet  of the  Borrower  and its
Restricted  Subsidiaries as at the end of such year and the related consolidated
statements  of  operations,  stockholders'  equity and cash flows for such year,
setting  forth in each case in  comparative  form the figures  for the  previous
year,  certified by a Responsible Officer as being fairly stated in all material
respects; and

     (b) as soon as available, but in any event not later than 45 days after the
end of each of the first three  quarterly  fiscal periods of each fiscal year of
the Borrower and its consolidated  Subsidiaries,  (i) the unaudited consolidated
balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of
such quarter and the related  unaudited  consolidated  statements of operations,
stockholders'  equity  and  cash  flows  of the  Borrower  and its  consolidated
Subsidiaries for such quarter and the portion of the fiscal year through the end
of such  quarter  and  (ii)  the  unaudited  consolidated  balance  sheet of the
Borrower and its Restricted  Subsidiaries  as at the end of such quarter and the
related unaudited  consolidated  statements of operations,  stockholders' equity
and cash flows of the Borrower and its Restricted  Subsidiaries for such quarter
and the portion of the fiscal  year  through  the end of such  quarter,  setting
forth in each  case in  comparative  form the  figures  for the  previous  year,
certified  by a  Responsible  Officer  as being  fairly  stated in all  material
respects (subject to normal year-end and audit adjustments);

     all such financial statements shall be complete and correct in all material
respects  and shall be prepared in  accordance  with GAAP  applied  consistently
throughout  the  periods  reflected  therein and with prior  periods  (except as
approved  by such  accountants  or  officer,  as the case may be, and  disclosed
therein).

     7.2 Certificates;  Other Information.  Furnish to the Administrative  Agent
and to each of the Lenders:

     (a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial  statements referred to
in subsections  7.1(a) and (b), a certificate of a Responsible  Officer  stating
that,  to the  best of such  officer's  knowledge,  during  such  period  (i) no
Subsidiary  has been formed or acquired (or, if any  Restricted  Subsidiary  has
been formed or acquired,  the Borrower and such Restricted  Subsidiary  complied
with the  requirements  of  subsection  7.9 with  respect  thereto) and (ii) the
Borrower has observed or performed all of its  covenants  (and setting forth the
calculations  used to  determine  compliance  with the  covenants  set  forth in
subsection 8.1) and other agreements,  and satisfied every condition,  contained
in this  Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents to be  observed,  performed or
satisfied  by it, and that such officer has obtained no knowledge of any Default
or Event of Default except as specified in such certificate;

     (b)  within  five days  after the same are  sent,  copies of all  financial
statements and reports which the Borrower sends to its stockholders,  and within
five days  after the same are  filed,  copies of all  financial  statements  and
reports,  if any,  which the Borrower may make to, or file with,  the Securities
and Exchange Commission or any successor or analogous Governmental Authority;

     (c) promptly  upon receipt  thereof,  copies of all reports and  management
letters  submitted to the Borrower or any  Restricted  Subsidiary by independent
public accountants in


<PAGE>



connection  with any interim or special  audit of the books or operations of the
Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary made by such accountants;

     (d) together with any Reserve Report delivered  pursuant to subsection 4.9,
a schedule  identifying  the pricing and notional  volumes on the open Commodity
Price Risk Management Agreements of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries
as of the fiscal quarter ending on the date of such Reserve Report;

     (e) deliver to the  Administrative  Agent within 30 days of  obtaining  any
renewal or  replacement  insurance  policies as and when  required by subsection
7.5,  certificates  of  insurance  evidencing  the  Borrower's  compliance  with
subsection 7.5;

     (f) promptly,  such additional  financial and other information  concerning
the  Borrower  and  its   Subsidiaries   as  any  Lender  (acting   through  the
Administrative Agent) may from time to time reasonably request; and

     (g) concurrently with the delivery of the financial  statements referred to
in subsections  7.1(a) and (b), a certificate of a Responsible  Officer  stating
that, to the best of such  officer's  knowledge,  all  Extensions of Credit made
during such period were  permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09 of the Coda
Indenture,  and setting forth in reasonable detail any calculations necessary to
determine compliance with such covenant.

     7.3 Payment of  Obligations.  Pay,  discharge  or  otherwise  satisfy at or
before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may be, all of its
material  obligations  of whatever  nature,  except where the amount or validity
thereof is currently  being  contested in good faith by appropriate  proceedings
and reserves in conformity  with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on
the books of the Borrower or the applicable Restricted  Subsidiary,  as the case
may be.

     7.4 Conduct of Business and  Maintenance of Existence;  Compliance with Law
and Contractual Obligations.  Continue to engage in business of the same general
type as now  conducted  by it and  preserve,  renew  and keep in full  force and
effect its corporate  existence and take all  reasonable  action to maintain all
rights,  privileges and franchises  necessary or desirable in the normal conduct
of its business,  except as otherwise  permitted by subsection  8.5; comply with
all Contractual  Obligations  and  Requirements of Law except to the extent that
failure to comply  therewith  could not  reasonably  be expected to have, in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

     7.5 Maintenance of Property; Insurance. Keep all material property owned or
leased by it that is useful and  necessary in its business in good working order
and condition,  ordinary wear and tear excepted; maintain with financially sound
and reputable  insurance  companies insurance of such types, in such amounts and
against such risks as is customary to be maintained by companies  engaged in the
same or a  similar  business  in the  same  general  area;  and  furnish  to the
Administrative Agent, upon written request, full information as to the insurance
carried.

     7.6  Inspection of Property;  Books and Records;  Discussions.  Keep proper
books of  records  and  account  in which  full,  true and  correct  entries  in
conformity  with GAAP and all  Requirements of Law shall be made of all dealings
and  transactions in relation to its business and activities;  and permit,  upon
reasonable  prior  notice,  representatives  of any Lender to visit,  subject to
compliance  with the terms of any  applicable  Requirements  of Law or corporate
policy,  and inspect any of its  properties  and examine and make abstracts from
any of its books and records  during normal  business  hours and as often as may
reasonably  be  requested  through the  Administrative  Agent and to discuss the
business,  operations,  properties  and  financial  and other  condition  of the
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  with  officers and employees of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries and with its independent certified public accountants.

     7.7 Notices. Promptly give notice to the Administrative Agent of:


<PAGE>



     (a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

     (b) any (i) default or event of default under any Contractual Obligation of
the  Borrower  or  any  of  its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  or  (ii)  litigation,
investigation  or proceeding which may exist at any time between the Borrower or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Governmental  Authority,  which could
reasonably  be expected  to have,  in the opinion of a  Responsible  Officer,  a
Material Adverse Effect;

     (c) any  litigation  or  proceeding  affecting  the  Borrower or any of its
Restricted  Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected, in the opinion of a
Responsible  Officer, to result in an adverse judgment of $1,000,000 or more not
covered by insurance or in which injunctive or similar relief is sought;

     (d) the  following  events,  as soon as possible and in any event within 30
days after the  Borrower  knows or has reason to know  thereof to the extent any
such event could reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect:  (i)
the occurrence or expected  occurrence of any  Reportable  Event with respect to
any Single  Employer Plan, a failure by the Borrower or any Commonly  Controlled
Entity to make any required  contribution to a Plan, the creation of any Lien on
the property of the Borrower or any Commonly  Controlled  Entity in favor of the
PBGC or a Plan or any  withdrawal  by the  Borrower or any  Commonly  Controlled
Entity  from,  or  the  termination,   Reorganization   or  Insolvency  of,  any
Multiemployer  Plan or (ii) the  institution of proceedings or the taking of any
other action by the PBGC or the Borrower or any  Commonly  Controlled  Entity or
any  Multiemployer  Plan with respect to the  withdrawal  by the Borrower or any
Commonly   Controlled  Entity  from,  or  the  terminating,   Reorganization  or
Insolvency of, any Plan; and

     (e) any other event which could  reasonably be expected to have or has had,
in the opinion of a Responsible Officer, a Material Adverse Effect.

     Each notice pursuant to this subsection shall be accompanied by a statement
of a Responsible  Officer  setting forth details of the  occurrence  referred to
therein and stating what the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries have taken
or propose to take with respect thereto.

     7.8  Environmental  Laws. (a) (i) Comply with all  Environmental  Laws, and
obtain, comply with and maintain any and all Environmental Permits necessary for
its operations as conducted and as planned; and (ii) take all reasonable efforts
to ensure that all of its tenants, subtenants, contractors,  subcontractors, and
invitees  comply  with all  Environmental  Laws,  and  obtain,  comply  with and
maintain any and all Environmental Permits, applicable to any of them insofar as
any  failure to so comply,  obtain or maintain  reasonably  could be expected to
have a  Material  Adverse  Effect.  For  purposes  of  this  subsection  7.8(a),
noncompliance  by the Borrower or any of its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  with any
applicable  Environmental  Law or  Environmental  Permit  shall be deemed not to
constitute a breach of this covenant  provided that, upon learning of any actual
or suspected  noncompliance,  the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall
promptly  undertake all reasonable efforts to achieve  compliance,  and provided
further that, in any case, such non-compliance, and any other noncompliance with
Environmental  Law,  individually  or in the aggregate,  could not reasonably be
expected to give rise to a Material  Adverse  Effect or materially and adversely
affect the value of any material  Property  considered  for  calculation  of the
Borrowing Base.

     (b) Comply with all orders and directives of all  Governmental  Authorities
regarding  Environmental Laws, other than such orders and directives as to which
an appeal or other  appropriate  action to contest such order or  directive  has
been timely and properly taken in good faith, or where non- compliance could not
reasonably be expected to give rise to a Material Adverse Effect.

     (c) Prior to acquiring any ownership or leasehold interest in real property
or other  interest  in any real  property  that could give rise to the  Borrower
being subject to potential significant


<PAGE>



liability under or violations of any Environmental Law which potential liability
or  violations,  if incurred,  could  reasonably  be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect:  (i) notify the  Administrative  Agent; and (ii) if requested by
the Administrative  Agent,  provide to the Administrative Agent a written report
by an environmental consultant reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent
assessing  the  presence  or  potential  presence of  significant  levels of any
Materials of Environmental  Concern on, under, in, or about the property,  or of
other  conditions that could give rise to potentially  significant  liability or
violations of any Environmental Law.

     7.9 Additional Collateral.  (a) With respect to any Person that, subsequent
to the Restatement Effective Date, becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (other than a
Foreign Subsidiary),  promptly: (i) cause the Capital Stock of such Person owned
by  the  Borrower  and  any   Restricted   Subsidiary   to  be  pledged  to  the
Administrative  Agent,  for the  ratable  benefit of the  Lenders,  pursuant  to
documentation  reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and take all
actions  reasonably  necessary or advisable to cause the Lien thereon to be duly
perfected in accordance with all applicable Requirements of Law, and deliver any
certificates  representing  such  Capital  Stock  to the  Administrative  Agent,
together  with undated  stock powers  executed and  delivered in blank by a duly
authorized  officer of the Borrower or such Restricted  Subsidiary,  as the case
may be,  and (ii) if  requested  by the  Administrative  Agent,  deliver  to the
Administrative  Agent legal opinions relating to the matters described in clause
(i) immediately  preceding,  which opinions shall be in form and substance,  and
from counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

     (b)  With  respect  to any  Person  that,  subsequent  to  the  Restatement
Effective  Date,  becomes a Restricted  Subsidiary and is a Foreign  Subsidiary,
promptly:  (i)  execute  and  deliver to the  Administrative  Agent a new pledge
agreement  as the  Administrative  Agent  shall  deem  reasonably  necessary  or
advisable to grant to the Administrative  Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders,
a Lien on the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary which is owned by the Borrower or
any Restricted  Subsidiary (provided that in no event shall more than 65% of the
Capital Stock of any such Subsidiary be required to be so pledged), (ii) deliver
to the  Administrative  Agent any certificates  representing such Capital Stock,
together  with undated  stock powers  executed and  delivered in blank by a duly
authorized  officer of the Borrower or such Restricted  Subsidiary,  as the case
may be,  and take or cause to be taken all such other  actions  under the law of
the jurisdiction of organization of such Foreign Subsidiary as may be reasonably
necessary or  advisable to perfect such Lien on such Capital  Stock and (iii) if
requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent legal
opinions  relating to the matters  described in clauses (i) and (ii) immediately
preceding,  which  opinions  shall be in form and  substance,  and from counsel,
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

     7.10 Maintenance and Operation of Property.  To the extent that the failure
to comply could  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect and
consistent with the standards of a reasonably prudent operator:

     (a) Maintain,  develop, and operate Borrower's Oil and Gas Properties,  and
oil and gas gathering assets in a good and workmanlike  manner,  and observe and
comply with all of the terms and provisions,  express or implied, of all oil and
gas  leases  relating  to the  Properties  so long as the oil and gas leases are
capable of producing  Hydrocarbons  in  quantities  and at prices  providing for
continued efficient and profitable operation of business;

     (b) Comply in all  material  respects  with all  contracts  and  agreements
applicable to or relating to Borrower's Oil and Gas Properties or the production
and sale of Hydrocarbons therefrom;

     (c) At all times, maintain, preserve, and keep all operating equipment used
with respect to  Borrower's  Oil and Gas  Properties,  and oil and gas gathering
assets in proper repair, working order and condition,  and make all necessary or
appropriate repairs, renewals, replacements,  additions and improvements thereto
so that the efficiency of the operating equipment shall at all times be properly
preserved and maintained, provided that no item of


<PAGE>



operating  equipment  need  be  so  repaired,  renewed,  replaced,  added  to or
improved, if Borrower or its Subsidiaries shall in good faith determine that the
action is not necessary or desirable for its continued  efficient and profitable
operation of business.

     (d) With  respect to  Borrower's  Oil and Gas  Properties,  and oil and gas
gathering  assets  which are  operated  by  operators  other than  Borrower or a
Restricted Subsidiary,  use reasonable efforts to enforce in a manner consistent
with the industry practice the operators'  contractual  obligations to maintain,
develop,  and  operate  such  Properties  subject  to the  applicable  operating
agreements.

     7.11  Further  Assurances.  Upon the request of the  Administrative  Agent,
promptly  perform or cause to be performed any and all acts and execute or cause
to be executed any and all documents (including,  without limitation,  financing
statements and  continuation  statements) for filing under the provisions of the
Uniform  Commercial Code or any other  Requirement of Law which are necessary or
advisable to maintain in favor of the  Administrative  Agent, for the benefit of
the Lenders,  Liens on the Collateral (as defined in the Pledge  Agreement) that
are duly perfected in accordance with all applicable Requirements of Law.

                          SECTION 8. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     The Borrower  hereby  agrees  that,  so long as the  Commitments  remain in
effect, any Loan, Note or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding and unpaid or
any amount is owing to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder or under
any other Loan  Document,  the  Borrower  shall not,  and shall not (except with
respect to subsection  8.1) permit any  Restricted  Subsidiary  to,  directly or
indirectly:

     8.1 Financial Covenant Conditions.  (a) Total Debt Interest Coverage Ratio.
Permit, for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending after the date
hereof, the ratio of EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense of the Borrower and
its Restricted Subsidiaries for such four consecutive fiscal quarters to be less
than 2.5 to 1.0.

     (b)  Current  Ratio.   Permit  the  ratio  of  current  assets  to  current
liabilities  at any  time to be  less  than  1.0 to 1.0  (for  purposes  of this
calculation,  (i) current  assets will include an amount equal to the  Borrowing
Base  Availability  and (ii) both current  assets and current  liabilities  will
exclude the amount  capitalized (or otherwise  treated as an asset or liability,
as  applicable)  on the  Borrower's  balance sheet as a result of the Borrower's
mark-to-market  portfolio  of commodity  price risk  management  activities  (as
permitted or required in accordance with GAAP).

     8.2 Limitation on Indebtedness.  Create,  incur,  assume or suffer to exist
any Indebtedness, except:

     (a) Indebtedness of the Borrower under the Loan Documents;

     (b)  Indebtedness  of the Borrower  issued to any  Wholly-Owned  Restricted
Subsidiary and Indebtedness of any Wholly-Owned  Restricted Subsidiary issued to
the Borrower or any other Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary;

     (c) (i) Indebtedness of the Borrower  evidenced by the Senior  Subordinated
Notes and (ii) Permitted Subordinated Refinancing Debt related thereto, if any;

     (d) Guarantee Obligations permitted by subsection 8.4;



<PAGE>



     (e)   Indebtedness  of  the  Borrower  and  its   Wholly-Owned   Restricted
Subsidiaries  existing on the Restatement  Effective Date and listed on Schedule
8.2(e), but not any extensions, renewals or replacements of such Indebtedness;

     (f) Indebtedness of the Borrower under Interest Rate Protection  Agreements
entered into for the purpose of limiting interest rate risks,  provided that the
obligations  under  such  agreements  are  related  to  payment  obligations  on
Indebtedness otherwise permitted by the terms of this covenant;

     (g)  Indebtedness  of the Borrower under  Commodity  Price Risk  Management
Agreements provided that such contracts were entered into in the ordinary course
of business for the purpose of limiting risks that arise in the ordinary  course
of business of the Borrower and its Restricted  Subsidiaries;  provided that the
aggregate  amount of such  Commodity  Price Risk  Management  Agreements may not
exceed the  following:  (i) for oil, the total volumes to be hedged for any year
shall  not  exceed  80%  of  expected  oil  production  of the  Borrower  or the
Restricted  Subsidiary  for such year,  whichever is the party to the  Commodity
Price Risk Management Agreement and (ii) for gas, the total volumes to be hedged
for any year shall not exceed 80% of expected gas  production of the Borrower or
the Restricted Subsidiary for such year, whichever is the party to the Commodity
Price Risk Management Agreement;

     (h) other  Subordinated  Indebtedness  that is  issued on terms  reasonably
satisfactory  to each Agent and the Required  Lenders with respect to provisions
regarding   maturity,   interest   rate,   covenants,   events  of  default  and
subordination   language  (which  provisions  shall  be  consistent  with  those
applicable to similarly-rated  issuers engaging in similar transactions) and any
Permitted  Subordinated  Refinancing Debt related  thereto,  provided that after
giving  effect to the issuance of such  Subordinated  Indebtedness  or Permitted
Subordinated  Refinancing  Debt related  thereto,  the Borrower is in compliance
with the covenants contained in subsection 8.1 and subsection 8.7 hereof;

     (i) additional  Indebtedness  of the Borrower not to exceed  $25,000,000 in
aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding; and

     (j) additional  Indebtedness of Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries not to
exceed $5,000,000 in aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding.

     8.3 Limitation on Liens. Create,  incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien
upon any of its  property,  assets or  revenues,  whether now owned or hereafter
acquired, except for:

     (a) Liens for taxes,  assessments,  fees and other governmental charges and
claims  that are not yet due or  which  are  being  contested  in good  faith by
appropriate  proceedings,  provided that adequate  reserves with respect thereto
are  maintained  on the  books  of the  Borrower  or the  applicable  Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be, in conformity with GAAP;

     (b)  carriers',  warehousemen's,   suppliers'  mechanics',   materialmen's,
vendors',  repairmen's,  landlords' and other like Liens arising in the ordinary
course of business  securing  obligations  which are not overdue for a period of
more than 120 days or which are being  contested  in good  faith by  appropriate
proceedings;

     (c) Liens  incurred or deposits made in the ordinary  course of business in
connection with workers' compensation,  unemployment insurance or other kinds of
social security,  or to secure the payment or performance of tenders,  statutory
or regulatory  obligations,  surety or appeal bonds,  performance bonds or other
obligations  of a like  nature  incurred  in the  ordinary  course  of  business
(including  lessee  or  operator   obligations   under  statutes,   governmental
regulations or instruments related to the ownership,  exploration and production
of oil, gas and minerals on state or federal lands or waters);


<PAGE>



     (d) Liens  constituting  survey  exceptions,  encumbrances,  easements  and
reservations  of,  or  rights of others  for,  rights-of-way,  zoning  and other
restrictions  as to the use of real  properties  and other similar  encumbrances
incurred in the ordinary  course of business  which,  with respect to all of the
foregoing,  do not secure the payment of  Indebtedness  of the type described in
clauses (a)-(d) of the definition  thereof and which, in the aggregate,  are not
substantial in amount and which do not in any case  materially  detract from the
value and use of the Property  subject thereto or materially  interfere with the
ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

     (e) Liens  existing  on the date of this  Agreement  and listed on Schedule
8.3,  provided that no such Lien is amended after the date of this  Agreement to
cover any additional Property or to secure additional Indebtedness;

     (f) Liens arising under  operating  agreements,  joint venture  agreements,
partnership  agreements,  oil and gas leases,  farm-out and farm-in  agreements,
division orders,  contracts for the sale,  transportation  or exchange of oil or
natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual
interest  agreements  that are customary in the Oil and Gas  Business;  provided
that the amount of any obligations secured thereby that are delinquent, that are
not diligently  contested in good faith and for which adequate  reserves are not
maintained by the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary,  as the case
may be, do not exceed, at any time outstanding, the amount owing by the Borrower
or any Restricted  Subsidiary,  as applicable,  for one month's billed operating
expenses or other  expenditures  attributable  to such entity's  interest in the
Property covered thereby;

     (g)  Liens  reserved  in oil and gas  mineral  leases  for  bonus or rental
payments and for  compliance  with the terms of such leases,  provided  that the
amount of any  obligations  secured  thereby that are  delinquent,  that are not
diligently  contested  in good  faith and for which  adequate  reserves  are not
maintained by the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary,  as the case
may be, do not exceed, at any time outstanding, the amount owing by the Borrower
or any Restricted  Subsidiary,  as applicable,  for one month's  payments as due
thereunder;

     (h) Liens on pipeline or pipeline  facilities that arise under operation of
law;

     (i) Liens on the Capital Stock of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

     (j) Liens created pursuant to any Loan Document;

     (k) Liens securing  Indebtedness  otherwise permitted by subsection 8.2 not
to exceed $5,000,000 in aggregate amount at any time outstanding;  provided that
no such Liens under this  clause (k) shall  encumber  any  Capital  Stock of any
Restricted  Subsidiary;  and  .  (l)  Liens  created  pursuant  to  any  Hedging
Agreement, provided that:

     (i) such Lien is in the form of amounts  on deposit in  cash-collateralized
margin accounts; and

     (ii) the  aggregate  amount of (A) all such  deposits and (B) any Letter of
Credit  Outstandings under Letters of Credit issued to support obligations under
any Hedging Agreement does not exceed (1) on or after the Restatement  Effective
Date and before June 30,  2001,  $50,000,000,  (2) on or after June 30, 2001 and
before  June  30,  2002,  $40,000,000  and  (3)  on  or  after  June  30,  2002,
$30,000,000.

     8.4 Limitation on Guarantee Obligations. Create, incur, assume or suffer to
exist any Guarantee Obligation except:



<PAGE>



     (a) Guarantee  Obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to the
Senior Subordinated Notes and Permitted Subordinated Refinancing Debt, (x) which
Guarantee  Obligations  shall  contain  subordination  provisions  which are not
materially less favorable to the Lenders than the subordination  provisions with
respect  to the  Senior  Subordinated  Notes  and (y) so long  as,  prior  to or
concurrently  with  incurring  such Guarantee  Obligation,  (i) such  Restricted
Subsidiary  guarantees  the  obligations  of the Borrower  under this  Agreement
pursuant   to   documentation   and  terms   reasonably   satisfactory   to  the
Administrative  Agent and (ii) if requested by the  Administrative  Agent,  such
Restricted  Subsidiary shall also deliver to the Administrative Agent an opinion
of  counsel,  regarding  such legal  matters as the  Administrative  Agent shall
reasonably request;

     (b)  Guarantee  Obligations  in  existence on the date hereof and listed on
Schedule 8.4;

     (c)  other  Guarantee   Obligations  of  the  Borrower  or  any  Restricted
Subsidiary  of  Indebtedness  of the  Borrower  or any  Wholly-Owned  Restricted
Subsidiary  permitted by subsection 8.2,  provided that prior to or concurrently
with any Restricted  Subsidiary  incurring such Guarantee  Obligation,  (x) such
Guarantee   Obligations  shall  contain   subordination   provisions  which  are
reasonably  satisfactory  to the  Required  Lenders and (y) (i) such  Restricted
Subsidiary  guarantees  the  obligations  of the Borrower  under this  Agreement
pursuant   to   documentation   and  terms   reasonably   satisfactory   to  the
Administrative  Agent and (ii) if requested by the  Administrative  Agent,  such
Restricted  Subsidiary shall also deliver to the Administrative Agent an opinion
of  counsel,  regarding  such legal  matters as the  Administrative  Agent shall
reasonably request; and

     (d) Guarantee Obligations arising under the Loan Documents.

     8.5 Limitation on Fundamental Changes. Enter into any merger, consolidation
or amalgamation as a constituent party, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself
(or suffer any liquidation or  dissolution),  or convey,  sell,  lease,  assign,
transfer or  otherwise  dispose of, all or  substantially  all of its  Property,
business  or  assets,  or make any  material  change  in its  present  method of
conducting business except:

     (a) (i) any  Restricted  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  (including a Foreign
Subsidiary)  may be merged or consolidated  with or into the Borrower  (provided
that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving  corporation)  or with or
into any one or more  Wholly-Owned  Restricted  Subsidiaries  which are Domestic
Subsidiaries   (provided  that  such  Wholly-Owned   Restricted   Subsidiary  or
Subsidiaries  shall be the continuing or surviving  Person) and (ii) any Foreign
Subsidiary of the Borrower may be merged or consolidated with or into any one or
more  Wholly-  Owned  Restricted  Subsidiaries  which are  Foreign  Subsidiaries
(provided that such Wholly- Owned Restricted Subsidiary or Subsidiaries shall be
the continuing or surviving Person);

     (b) (i) any Wholly-Owned  Restricted  Subsidiary  (including a Wholly-Owned
Restricted  Subsidiary which is a Foreign  Subsidiary) of the Borrower may sell,
lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary
liquidation  or  otherwise)  to  the  Borrower  or any  Wholly-Owned  Restricted
Subsidiary which is a Domestic  Subsidiary and (ii) any Wholly- Owned Restricted
Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  which is a Foreign  Subsidiary  may  sell,  lease,
transfer  or  otherwise  dispose  of any or all of its  assets  (upon  voluntary
liquidation or otherwise) to any Wholly-Owned  Restricted  Subsidiary which is a
Foreign Subsidiary; and

     (c) any  Wholly-Owned  Restricted  Subsidiary may be merged or consolidated
with any Person  acquired in connection  with a Permitted  Business  Acquisition
made  in the  ordinary  course  of the  Oil  and  Gas  Business,  provided  such
Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving Person.


<PAGE>



     8.6 Limitation on Sale of Assets. Convey, sell, lease, assign,  transfer or
otherwise dispose of any of its property, business or assets (including, without
limitation, receivables and leasehold interests), whether now owned or hereafter
acquired,  or issue or sell any shares of the Borrower's  Disqualified  Stock or
such Restricted Subsidiary's Capital Stock to any Person other than the Borrower
or any domestic Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary, except:

     (a) the  sale or  discount  without  recourse  of any  accounts  receivable
arising in the ordinary  course of business in connection with the compromise or
collection thereof;

     (b) the sale of Hydrocarbons in the ordinary course of business as and when
produced or after the production thereof;

     (c) as permitted by subsection 8.5(b);

     (d) the abandonment,  farm-out, lease or sublease of Oil and Gas Properties
not containing Proved Reserves in the ordinary course of business;

     (e) the  sale of Oil and Gas  Properties  in  connection  with  tax  credit
transactions  complying  with  Section  29 of the  Code or any  other  analogous
provision whether now existing or hereafter enacted,  which sale does not result
in a reduction in the  Borrower's or its Restricted  Subsidiaries',  as the case
may be,  right to  receive  the cash flow from such Oil and Gas  Properties  and
which sale is on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

     (f) sales or other  dispositions of Proved Reserves,  provided that (i) the
amount of all sales or other  dispositions  of Proved  Reserves  made during any
Borrowing Base Period may not exceed  $10,000,000,  unless,  simultaneously with
any  such  sale or  disposition  which  (together  with  prior  sales  or  other
dispositions  made during such  Borrowing  Base  Period)  exceeds the  foregoing
limit,  the Borrowing  Base is reduced by an amount agreed to at the time by the
Supermajority  Lenders  pursuant to the procedures set forth in subsection  4.9;
(ii)  any  conversion  of a  Restricted  Subsidiary,  which  owns,  directly  or
indirectly,  Proved Reserves,  to an Unrestricted  Subsidiary in conformity with
subsection  8.17  shall  be  deemed  to be a sale of such  Proved  Reserves  for
purposes of this  subsection  8.6;  and (iii) the  Borrower  and any  Restricted
Subsidiary  may at any  time  sell  or  otherwise  dispose  of the  Electra  and
Burkburnett  properties located in Wichita County,  Texas, and Wilbarger County,
Texas,  and described in the Initial Reserve Report without regard to the dollar
limitation set forth in clause (i) of this subsection;

     (g) sales or other  dispositions of Property not  constituting  Oil and Gas
Properties  (other than the Capital Stock of any Restricted  Subsidiaries of the
Borrower); and

     (h) dispositions occurring as the result of a casualty event, event of loss
or condemnation or expropriation.

     8.7  Limitation  on  Restricted  Payments.  Declare or pay any  dividend on
(other than dividends  payable solely in common stock of the Borrower),  or make
any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other  analogous
fund for, the purchase, redemption,  defeasance, retirement or other acquisition
of, any shares of any class of Capital  Stock of the Borrower or any  Restricted
Subsidiary  or any  warrants  or options to  purchase  any such  Capital  Stock,
whether now or hereafter outstanding,  or make any other distribution in respect
thereof,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  whether in cash or  Property  or in
obligations of the Borrower or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  (such  declarations,
payments,  setting  apart,  purchases,  redemptions,   defeasance,  retirements,
acquisitions  and  distributions  being herein  called  "Restricted  Payments"),
except that:

     (a) any  Restricted  Subsidiary  may declare and pay  dividends  to or make
other  distributions  to the  Borrower or to any other  Wholly-Owned  Restricted
Subsidiary; and



<PAGE>



     (b) so  long  as no  Default  or  Event  of  Default  has  occurred  and is
continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower may make a Restricted Payment
if such Restricted Payment,  together with the aggregate of all other Restricted
Payments  made  by the  Borrower  and  its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  after  the
Restatement  Effective Date, is less than the sum of (i) 50% of the Consolidated
Net Income of the Borrower for the period (taken as one accounting  period) from
the  beginning  of the first fiscal  quarter  commencing  after the  Restatement
Effective Date to the end of the  Borrower's  most recently ended fiscal quarter
for which financial  statements have been delivered to the Administrative  Agent
and the  Lenders  pursuant  to  subsection  7.1 at or  prior to the time of such
Restricted  Payment  (or, if such  Consolidated  Net Income for such period is a
deficit,  less 100% of such  deficit),  plus (ii) 50% of the  aggregate net cash
proceeds received from the issue or sale after the Restatement Effective Date of
Capital Stock of the Borrower  (other than Capital Stock sold to a Subsidiary of
the  Borrower  and other than  Disqualified  Stock),  minus  (iii) the amount of
Subordinated   Indebtedness  previously  redeemed  or  repurchased  pursuant  to
subsection  8.9(a)(ii)  and  minus  (iv)  the  amount  by  which  the sum of all
Investments previously made in Unrestricted  Subsidiaries pursuant to subsection
8.8(g) exceeds $10,000,000;  provided, however, that the foregoing provisions of
this paragraph shall not prohibit Restricted Payments,  which, together with the
aggregate  of all  other  Restricted  Payments  made  by the  Borrower  and  its
Restricted Subsidiaries after the Restatement Effective Date (in addition to all
amounts which are included in clauses (iii) and (iv) immediately preceding),  do
not exceed $40,000,000.  The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash)
shall be the fair  market  value (as  determined  in good  faith by the Board of
Directors  of the  Borrower  or  certified  to  the  Administrative  Agent  by a
Responsible  Officer of the  Borrower)  on the date of the  proposed  Restricted
Payment.

     8.8 Limitation on Investments,  Loans and Advances. Make any advance, loan,
extension  of  credit  or  capital  contribution  to,  or  incur  any  Guarantee
Obligation on behalf or for the benefit of, or purchase any stock, bonds, notes,
debentures or other securities of or any assets constituting a business unit of,
or make any other investment (including by the issuance of letters of credit) in
(collectively, "Investments"), any Person except:

     (a) extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;

     (b) Investments in Cash Equivalents;

     (c) loans and  advances to officers  and  employees  of the Borrower or any
Restricted  Subsidiary for travel,  entertainment and relocation expenses in the
ordinary  course of business in an  aggregate  amount for the  Borrower  and its
Restricted Subsidiaries not to exceed $1,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

     (d) Investments constituting Permitted Business Investments made or entered
into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business;

     (e)  Investments  constituting  Permitted  Business  Acquisitions  made  or
entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business;

     (f) Investments by the Borrower in any Wholly-Owned  Restricted  Subsidiary
and Investments by any Wholly-Owned  Restricted Subsidiary in the Borrower or in
other Wholly- Owned Restricted Subsidiaries, provided that the net book value of
Investments  made  after  the  Restatement  Effective  Date  in  any  Restricted
Subsidiaries which are Foreign Subsidiaries shall not exceed 25% of the net book
value of the  assets of the  Borrower  and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  in the
aggregate at any time outstanding after taking into account any return after the
Restatement  Effective  Date from  dividends,  distributions  and  repayments in
respect of such Investment;


<PAGE>



     (g)   Investments  by  the  Borrower  or  any   Restricted   Subsidiary  in
Unrestricted   Subsidiaries;   provided  that  the  aggregate   amount  of  such
Investments  (net of any cash  received as  dividends or  distributions  on such
Investments or from the sale of such  Investments)  does not exceed,  at any one
time outstanding,  $10,000,000, unless (after deducting that excess, pursuant to
subsection  8.7(b)(iv),  from the amount of  Restricted  Payments  permitted  by
subsection  8.7(b))  the  Borrower  would  be able to  make,  at such  time,  an
additional  Restricted Payment pursuant to subsection  8.7(b);  provided further
that the cumulative  outstanding  investment in any Restricted Subsidiary on the
date that such Restricted Subsidiary is converted to an Unrestricted  Subsidiary
in conformity  with  subsection  8.17 shall be deemed an investment made on such
conversion  date in an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  for  purposes  of  determining
compliance with this subsection 8.8(g); and

     (h) Investments by the Borrower or any Restricted  Subsidiary in securities
which trade on the New York Stock  Exchange,  the American Stock Exchange or the
NASDAQ Stock Market (including Investments existing on the Restatement Effective
Date  and  listed  on  Schedule  8.8  hereof,   but  excluding   Investments  in
Unrestricted Subsidiaries) in an aggregate amount (valued at cost) not to exceed
$25,000,000 at any one time outstanding.

     8.9 Limitation on Optional  Payments and Modifications of Debt Instruments,
Other  Material  Agreements.  (a) Make any  voluntary  or  optional  payment  or
prepayment on or redemption,  defeasance or purchase of any Indebtedness  (other
than Indebtedness  under this Agreement) or amend,  modify or change, or consent
or agree to any amendment, modification or change to any of the terms (including
the subordination provisions) of the Senior Subordinated Notes, the Subordinated
Indebtedness issued in exchange for the Coda Notes or any Permitted Subordinated
Refinancing  Debt;  provided  that as long as no Default or Event of Default has
occurred or is  continuing  or would  exist after  giving  effect  thereto,  the
Borrower may redeem or repurchase Subordinated  Indebtedness otherwise permitted
by this Agreement (i) with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of Permitted
Subordinated  Refinancing  Debt and (ii) to the extent that, after deducting the
amount  of  the  proposed  redemption  or  repurchase,  pursuant  to  subsection
8.7(b)(iii),  from the amount of  Restricted  Payments  permitted by  subsection
8.7(b),  the Borrower would be able to make an additional  Restricted Payment at
such time pursuant to subsection 8.7(b).

     (b) Designate any Indebtedness as "Designated Senior Debt" under the Senior
Subordinated Indenture without the consent of the Required Lenders.

     8.10 Limitation on  Transactions  with  Affiliates.  Except as described in
Schedule 8.10, enter into any transaction,  including,  without limitation,  any
purchase,  sale,  lease or exchange of Property or the rendering of any service,
with any Affiliate  (other than  transactions  between or among the Borrower and
its  Wholly-Owned  Restricted  Subsidiaries)  unless  such  transaction  is  (a)
otherwise  permitted  under this  Agreement,  (b) in the ordinary  course of the
Borrower's or the applicable Restricted  Subsidiary's business and (c) upon fair
and  reasonable  terms  no less  favorable  to the  Borrower  or the  applicable
Restricted Subsidiary,  as the case may be, than it would obtain in a comparable
arm's length  transaction  with a Person  which is not an  Affiliate  or, in the
event no comparable  transaction  with an unaffiliated  Person is available,  on
terms  that are fair  from a  financial  point  of view to the  Borrower  or the
applicable  Restricted  Subsidiary.   For  purposes  of  this  subsection  8.10,
"Affiliate" shall include any Unrestricted Subsidiary.

     8.11  Limitation on Sales and  Leasebacks.  Enter into any  arrangement  (a
"Sale and Leaseback  Transaction")  with any Person providing for the leasing by
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of real or personal Property which has
been  or is to be  sold  or  transferred  by the  Borrower  or  such  Restricted
Subsidiary  to such Person or to any other Person to whom funds have been or are
to be  advanced  by such  Person  on the  security  of such  property  or rental
obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.


<PAGE>



     8.12  Limitation  on Changes in Fiscal Year.  Permit the fiscal year of the
Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries to end on a day other than December 31.

     8.13 Limitation on Negative Pledge Clauses.  Enter into with any Person any
agreement  which  prohibits  or  limits  the  ability  of  the  Borrower  or any
Restricted  Subsidiary to create,  incur,  assume or suffer to exist any Lien in
favor of any of the  Administrative  Agent, the Lenders under the Loan Documents
and  their  respective   assignees  under  the  Loan  Documents  or  any  Person
refinancing  all or a portion of the  Commitments  hereunder  (each, a "Negative
Pledge Clause"), upon any of its Property, assets or revenues, whether now owned
or hereafter acquired; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to a Negative
Pledge Clause to the extent such  Negative  Pledge Clause (i) is contained in an
agreement which creates a Lien permitted by subsections  8.3(c), (f), (i) or (k)
and (ii) only applies to the Property encumbered by such Lien.

     8.14  Limitation  on Lines of  Business.  Enter into any  business,  either
directly  or  through  any  Restricted  Subsidiary,  except  for the Oil and Gas
Business  and  those  businesses  in  which  the  Borrower  and  its  Restricted
Subsidiaries  are engaged on the date of this  Agreement  or which are  directly
related thereto.

     8.15 Forward Sales.  Except in accordance with usual and customary practice
in the Oil and Gas  Business  and  except  for gas  imbalances  not in excess of
2,500,000  mcf, enter into or permit to exist any advance  payment  agreement or
other  arrangement  pursuant to which the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries,
having  received  full  or  substantial  payment  of the  purchase  price  for a
specified  quantity of Hydrocarbons upon entering such agreement or arrangement,
is required to deliver,  in one or more  installments  subsequent to the date of
such agreement or  arrangement,  such quantity of  Hydrocarbons  pursuant to and
during the terms of such agreement or arrangement.

     8.16  Hedging  Agreements.  Enter into any  Hedging  Agreement,  other than
Hedging  Agreements  entered into in the ordinary  course of business to achieve
more predictable  revenues and cash flows and reduce exposure to fluctuations in
interest  rates  and oil and gas  prices  to which  the  Borrower  or any of its
Restricted  Subsidiaries  is  exposed  in the  conduct  of its  business  or the
management of its  liabilities,  provided  that the aggregate  amount of Hedging
Agreements  which are Commodity Price Risk Management  Agreements may not exceed
the  following:  (i) for oil, the total  volumes to be hedged for any year shall
not exceed 80% of expected  oil  production  of the  Borrower or the  Restricted
Subsidiary  for such year,  whichever is the party to the Hedging  Agreement and
(ii) for gas,  the total  volumes to be hedged for any year shall not exceed 80%
of expected gas production of the Borrower or the Restricted subsidiary for such
year, whichever is the party to the Hedging Agreement.

     8.17  Unrestricted  Subsidiaries.  (a) Create or  otherwise  designate  any
Subsidiary  as an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  unless  the  terms set forth in the
definition  of  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  are  complied  with  respect  to  such
Subsidiary  and no Default  would  result  from the  designation,  creation  and
operation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary.

     (b) Without the prior written consent of the Supermajority Lenders,  change
the  characterization  of a  Subsidiary  from  a  Restricted  Subsidiary  to  an
Unrestricted   Subsidiary  or  an   Unrestricted   Subsidiary  to  a  Restricted
Subsidiary;  provided  however,  the prior written consent of the  Supermajority
Lenders  shall  not  be  required  to  (i)  change  the  characterization  of an
Unrestricted Subsidiary to a Restricted Subsidiary if (A) no Default or Event of
Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing  at such time or would  result
therefrom,  (B) after  giving  effect to such  re-characterization,  each of the
representations  and  warranties  made by each Loan Party in or  pursuant to the
Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date
of such  re-characterization,  (C) such Subsidiary  shall have complied with the
provisions of subsection  7.9 and (D) the Borrower  provides the  Administrative
Agent five days advance  written  notice of its intent to  re-characterize  such
Subsidiary or (ii) change the characterization of a Restricted  Subsidiary to an
Unrestricted  Subsidiary  if (A) no  Default  or Event  of  Default  shall  have
occurred and be  continuing  or would result  therefrom,  and assuming  that all
investments  made by the  Borrower or any other  Subsidiary  in such  Restricted
Subsidiary prior to the


<PAGE>



date of such  re-characterization were investments in an Unrestricted Subsidiary
and (B) the Borrower provides the Administrative Agent five days advance written
notice of its  intent to  re-characterize  such  Subsidiary.  If any  Restricted
Subsidiary is designated as an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary in accordance  with the
terms of this Agreement,  the Administrative Agent shall, and the Lenders hereby
instruct the Administrative  Agent to, release,  upon the written request of the
Borrower,  such Subsidiary from any Guarantee Obligations arising under the Loan
Documents and the Capital Stock of such  Subsidiary from the Liens created under
the Pledge Agreement; provided that such Subsidiary shall not have any Guarantee
Obligations with respect to, or Liens in favor of, any Subordinated Indebtedness
that are not so released.  The  Administrative  Agent, at the Borrower's request
and expense,  shall execute such releases,  termination statements or agreements
as may be  reasonably  necessary to effect the release of Guarantee  Obligations
under the Loan Documents or Liens created under the Pledge Agreement.

     (c)  Permit  any  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  to  fail  to  comply  with  the
requirements set forth in the definition of "Unrestricted Subsidiary."

                          SECTION 9. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing:

     (a)  The  Borrower  shall  fail  to pay any  principal  of any  Loan or any
Reimbursement  Obligation  when due in  accordance  with the  terms  thereof  or
hereof; or the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan, or any other
amount  payable  hereunder,  within  five days after any such  interest or other
amount becomes due in accordance with the terms thereof or hereof; or

     (b) Any  representation  or warranty  made or deemed made by any Loan Party
herein or in any other Loan  Document or which is contained in any  certificate,
document or financial or other statement furnished by it at any time under or in
connection  with this  Agreement or any such other Loan Document  shall prove to
have been incorrect in any material  respect on or as of the date made or deemed
made; or

     (c) The Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall default in the
observance  or  performance  of any  agreement  applicable  to it  contained  in
subsection 4.10, subsection 7.9 or Section 8 of this Agreement; or

     (d) The Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall default in the
observance or performance of any other  agreement  applicable to it contained in
this Agreement or any other Loan Document  (other than as provided in paragraphs
(a) through (c) of this Section), and such default shall continue unremedied for
a  period  of 30  consecutive  days  after  the  earlier  of (i) the  Borrower's
obtaining  knowledge  of such  default or (ii) the  receipt by the  Borrower  of
notice thereof from the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or

     (e) The Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall (i) default in
any payment of  principal  of or interest  of any  Indebtedness  (other than the
Loans),  or in the  payment  of any  Guarantee  Obligation,  in  excess,  in the
aggregate, of $5,000,000, beyond the period of grace (not to exceed 30 days), if
any,  provided in the instrument or agreement  under which such  Indebtedness or
Guarantee  Obligation  was  created;  or  (ii)  default  in  the  observance  or
performance  of  any  other   agreement  or  condition   relating  to  any  such
Indebtedness or Guarantee Obligation or contained in any instrument or agreement
evidencing,  securing  or  relating  thereto,  or any other event shall occur or
condition  exist,  the effect of which default or other event or condition is to
cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or beneficiary or
beneficiaries  of such Guarantee  Obligation (or a trustee or agent on behalf of
such  holder or holders or  beneficiary  or  beneficiaries)  to cause,  with the
giving of notice  if  required,  such  Indebtedness  to become  due prior to its
stated maturity or such Guarantee Obligation to become


<PAGE>



payable,  provided that the aggregate  principal amount of all such Indebtedness
and Guarantee Obligations which would then become due and payable would equal or
exceed $5,000,000; or

     (f) (i) The Borrower or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries  shall commence
any case, proceeding or other action (A) under any existing or future law of any
jurisdiction,   domestic  or  foreign,   relating  to  bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered
with  respect to it, or seeking to  adjudicate  it a bankrupt or  insolvent,  or
seeking  reorganization,   arrangement,   adjustment,  winding-up,  liquidation,
dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (B)
seeking  appointment  of a receiver,  trustee,  custodian,  conservator or other
similar official for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets, or the
Borrower or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries  shall make a general assignment
for the benefit of its creditors;  or (ii) there shall be commenced  against the
Borrower or any of its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  any case,  proceeding or other
action of a nature  referred  to in clause  (i) above  which (A)  results in the
entry of an order for  relief or any such  adjudication  or  appointment  or (B)
remains undismissed,  undischarged or unbonded for a period of 90 days; or (iii)
there  shall  be  commenced  against  the  Borrower  or any  of  its  Restricted
Subsidiaries any case,  proceeding or other action seeking issuance of a warrant
of  attachment,  execution,  distraint  or similar  process  against  all or any
substantial  part of its assets  which  results in the entry of an order for any
such relief which shall not have been vacated,  discharged,  or stayed or bonded
pending  appeal within 90 days from the entry  thereof;  or (iv) the Borrower or
any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries  shall take any action in furtherance of, or
indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence  in, any of the acts set
forth in clause (i),  (ii),  or (iii)  above;  or (v) the Borrower or any of its
Restricted  Subsidiaries  shall  generally  not, or shall be unable to, or shall
admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts as they become due; or

     (g) (i) Any Person shall engage in any "prohibited transaction" (as defined
in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code)  involving  any Plan,  (ii)
any  "accumulated  funding  deficiency"  (as  defined in Section  302 of ERISA),
whether or not waived,  shall exist with respect to any Single  Employer Plan or
any  Lien in  favor  of the PBGC or a Plan  shall  arise  on the  assets  of the
Borrower or any Commonly Controlled Entity, (iii) a Reportable Event shall occur
with respect to, or proceedings shall commence to have a trustee appointed, or a
trustee shall be appointed,  to administer or to terminate,  any Single Employer
Plan,  which Reportable Event or commencement of proceedings or appointment of a
trustee is, in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders,  likely to result
in the  termination  of such Plan for  purposes  of Title IV of ERISA,  (iv) any
Single Employer Plan shall terminate for purposes of Title IV of ERISA,  (v) the
Borrower or any Commonly  Controlled Entity shall, or in the reasonable  opinion
of the Required  Lenders is likely to, incur any liability in connection  with a
withdrawal from, or the Insolvency or Reorganization of, a Multiemployer Plan or
(vi) any other event or  condition  shall occur or exist with respect to a Plan;
and in each case in clauses (i) through  (vi)  above,  such event or  condition,
together with all other such events or conditions, if any, could have a Material
Adverse Effect; or

     (h) One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered  against the Borrower
or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  involving in the  aggregate a liability  (to the
extent not paid or covered by insurance)  of  $1,000,000  or more,  and all such
judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated,  discharged,  stayed or bonded
pending appeal within 60 days after the entry thereof; or

     (i) (i) Either the  Pledge  Agreement  or the  Subsidiary  Guarantee  shall
cease,  for any  reason,  to be in full  force  and  effect  or any  Pledgor  or
Guarantor  shall so assert in  writing  or (ii) the Lien  created  by the Pledge
Agreement  shall cease to be  enforceable  and of the same  effect and  priority
purported to be created thereby; or

     (j)  The  subordination  provisions  contained  in  any  Subordinated  Note
Document or any other Subordinated  Indebtedness shall cease, for any reason, to
be in full force and effect, or any


<PAGE>



Person  that is a party  thereto  or  holders  of at least 25% of the  aggregate
principal amount of such Subordinated  Indebtedness  shall so assert in writing;
or

     (k) A Change of Control shall occur;

     then,  and in any such  event,  (A) if such  event  is an Event of  Default
specified in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (f) of this Section,  automatically
the  Commitments  shall  immediately  terminate  and the Loans  hereunder  (with
accrued and unpaid  interest  thereon)  and all other  amounts  owing under this
Agreement  (including,  without limitation,  all Letter of Credit  Outstandings,
whether or not the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit shall
have presented the documents  required  thereunder) and the other Loan Documents
shall  immediately  become due and  payable,  and (B) if such event is any other
Event of Default, either or both of the following actions may be taken: (i) with
the consent of the Required Lenders,  the Administrative  Agent may, or upon the
request of the Required  Lenders,  the  Administrative  Agent shall,  by written
notice to the Borrower,  declare the  Commitments  to be  terminated  forthwith,
whereupon the Commitments shall immediately terminate; and (ii) with the consent
of the Required Lenders,  the  Administrative  Agent may, or upon the request of
the Required Lenders,  the Administrative  Agent shall, by written notice to the
Borrower, declare the Loans hereunder (with accrued and unpaid interest thereon)
and all other amounts owing under this Agreement (including, without limitation,
all amounts of Letter of Credit  Outstandings,  whether or not the beneficiaries
of the then  outstanding  Letters of Credit shall have  presented  the documents
required  thereunder)  and  the  other  Loan  Documents  to be due  and  payable
forthwith, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable.

     With respect to all Letters of Credit with respect to which presentment for
honor  shall not have  occurred at the time of an  acceleration  pursuant to the
preceding  paragraph,  the  Borrower  shall  at  such  time  deposit  in a  cash
collateral  account  opened by the  Administrative  Agent an amount equal to the
aggregate then unexpired amount that is available to be drawn under such Letters
of Credit.  The Borrower  hereby  grants to the  Administrative  Agent,  for the
benefit of the Issuing Lender and the L/C  Participants,  a security interest in
such cash  collateral  to secure  all  obligations  of the  Borrower  under this
Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents.  Amounts held in such cash  collateral
account  shall be applied by the  Administrative  Agent to the payment of drafts
drawn under such Letters of Credit,  and the unused  portion  thereof  after all
such Letters of Credit  shall have  expired,  been  canceled or been fully drawn
upon,  if any,  shall be  applied to repay  other  obligations  of the  Borrower
hereunder  and under the  Notes.  After all such  Letters  of Credit  shall have
expired,  been canceled or been fully drawn upon, all Reimbursement  Obligations
shall have been satisfied and all other  obligations  of the Borrower  hereunder
and  under  the  other  Loan  Documents  shall  have  been  paid  in  full,  the
Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to, and shall, release the balance, if
any, in such cash collateral account to the Borrower. The Borrower shall execute
and deliver to the  Administrative  Agent, for the account of the Issuing Lender
and  the  L/C  Participants,  such  further  documents  and  instruments  as the
Administrative  Agent may  reasonably  request  to  evidence  the  creation  and
perfection  of the within  security  interest in such cash  collateral  account.
Except as expressly provided above in this Section, presentment, demand, protest
and all other notices of any kind are hereby expressly waived.

                             SECTION 10. THE AGENTS

     10.1  Appointment.  (a)  Each  Lender  hereby  irrevocably  designates  and
appoints Chase as  Administrative  Agent of such Lender under this Agreement and
the other  Loan  Documents,  and each such  Lender  irrevocably  authorizes  the
Administrative  Agent, in such capacity, to take such action on its behalf under
the  provisions of this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents and to exercise
such  powers  and  perform  such  duties  as  are  expressly  delegated  to  the
Administrative  Agent  by the  terms  of  this  Agreement  and  the  other  Loan
Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.
Notwithstanding  any  provision  to the  contrary  contained  elsewhere  in this
Agreement,   the   Administrative   Agent   shall   not  have  any   duties   or
responsibilities,  except those  expressly  set forth  herein,  or any fiduciary
relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions,


<PAGE>



responsibilities,  duties,  obligations or  liabilities  shall be read into this
Agreement  or  any  other  Loan   Document  or  otherwise   exist   against  the
Administrative Agent.

     (b) Each Lender  hereby  designates  and appoints  Bankers Trust Company as
Syndication  Agent,  Bank of America as  Documentation  Agent and Fleet National
Bank as Collateral Agent, and each such Lender irrevocably  authorizes each such
Agent, in such capacity,  to take such action on its behalf under the provisions
of this  Agreement  and to exercise  such powers and perform  such duties as are
expressly delegated to such Agent by the terms of this Agreement,  together with
such other powers as are  reasonably  incidental  thereto.  Notwithstanding  any
provision to the contrary  contained  elsewhere in this  Agreement,  none of the
Syndication  Agent, the Documentation  Agent and the Collateral Agent shall have
any duties or responsibilities,  except those expressly set forth herein nor any
fiduciary  relationship with any Lender,  and no implied  covenants,  functions,
responsibilities,  duties,  obligations or  liabilities  shall be read into this
Agreement or otherwise exist against such Agents.

     10.2  Delegation  of Duties.  Any Agent may execute any of its duties under
this   Agreement  and  the  other  Loan   Documents  by  or  through  agents  or
attorneys-in-fact  and shall be  entitled  to advice of counsel  concerning  all
matters  pertaining  to such  duties.  No  Agent  shall be  responsible  for the
negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys  in-fact selected by it with
reasonable care.

     10.3 Exculpatory Provisions. No Agent nor any officer, director,  employee,
agent,  attorney-in-fact  or  Affiliate of any Agent shall be (i) liable for any
action  lawfully  taken or omitted to be taken by it or such Person  under or in
connection  with this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document  (except for its or
such Person's own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or (ii) responsible in
any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals,  statements,  representations
or warranties  made by any Loan Party or any officer  thereof  contained in this
Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or
other document referred to or provided for in, or received by any Agent under or
in connection  with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value,
validity,  effectiveness,  genuineness,  enforceability  or  sufficiency of this
Agreement  or any other Loan  Document  or for any  failure of any Loan Party to
perform its  obligations  hereunder or  thereunder.  No Agent shall be under any
obligation  to any Lender to  ascertain  or to inquire as to the  observance  or
performance  of any of the  agreements  contained  in, or  conditions  of,  this
Agreement or any other Loan  Document,  or to inspect the  properties,  books or
records of any Loan Party.

     10.4  Reliance  by  Administrative  Agent.  Each Agent shall be entitled to
rely,  and  shall  be fully  protected  in  relying,  upon  any  Note,  writing,
resolution, notice, consent, certificate,  affidavit, letter, telecopy, telex or
teletype message, statement, order or other document or conversation believed by
it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper
Person or Persons and upon advice and  statements of legal  counsel  (including,
without limitation,  counsel to the Loan Parties),  independent  accountants and
other  experts  selected by such Agent.  The  Administrative  Agent may deem and
treat the  payee of any Note as the  owner  thereof  for all  purposes  unless a
written  notice of assignment,  negotiation or transfer  thereof shall have been
filed with the  Administrative  Agent.  Each Agent shall be fully  justified  in
failing or refusing to take any action  under this  Agreement  or any other Loan
Document  unless  it shall  first  receive  such  advice or  concurrence  of the
Required  Lenders  (or,  where  unanimous  consent of the  Lenders is  expressly
required  hereunder,  such Lenders) as it deems appropriate or it shall first be
indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and
expense  which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or  continuing  to take
any such action.  Each Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or
in refraining from acting,  under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in
accordance with a request of the Required  Lenders (or, where unanimous  consent
of the Lenders is expressly required hereunder,  such Lenders), and such request
and any action  taken or failure to act pursuant  thereto  shall be binding upon
all the Lenders and all future holders of the Loans.

     10.5 Notice of  Default.  The  Administrative  Agent shall not be deemed to
have  knowledge or notice of the  occurrence  of any Default or Event of Default
hereunder unless the  Administrative  Agent has received notice from a Lender or
the Borrower referring to this Agreement,


<PAGE>



describing  such  Default or Event of Default and stating  that such notice is a
"notice of default".  In the event that the Administrative Agent receives such a
notice, the Administrative  Agent shall give notice thereof to the Lenders.  The
Administrative  Agent  shall take such action  with  respect to such  Default or
Event of  Default  as shall be  reasonably  directed  by the  Required  Lenders;
provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received such
directions,  the  Administrative  Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take
such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or
Event of  Default  as it shall  deem  advisable  in the  best  interests  of the
Lenders.

     10.6  Non-Reliance  on Agents  and Other  Lenders.  Each  Lender  expressly
acknowledges  that  no  Agent  nor  any  officer,  director,   employee,  agent,
attorney-in-fact  or  Affiliate  of any  Agent has made any  representations  or
warranties  to it and that no act by any Agent  hereafter  taken,  including any
review of the  affairs  of any Loan  Party,  shall be deemed to  constitute  any
representation  or  warranty  by any  such  Agent  to any  Lender.  Each  Lender
represents to each Agent that it has,  independently  and without  reliance upon
any Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it
has deemed  appropriate,  made its own appraisal of and  investigation  into the
business,   operations,    property,   financial   and   other   condition   and
creditworthiness  of each  Loan  Party  and  made its own  decision  to make its
Extensions of Credit  hereunder and enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also
represents that it will,  independently  and without  reliance upon any Agent or
any other Lender,  and based on such documents and  information as it shall deem
appropriate at the time,  continue to make its own credit  analysis,  appraisals
and decisions in taking or not taking action under this  Agreement and the other
Loan Documents,  and to make such  investigation as it deems necessary to inform
itself as to the business,  operations,  property, financial and other condition
and  creditworthiness of each Loan Party. Except for notices,  reports and other
documents  expressly  required  to be  furnished  to  the  Lenders  by an  Agent
hereunder,  no Agent shall have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender
with any  credit  or other  information  concerning  the  business,  operations,
property,  condition (financial or otherwise),  prospects or creditworthiness of
any Loan Party which may come into the  possession of such Agent or any officer,
director, employee, agent, attorney-in-fact or Affiliate of such Agent.

     10.7  Indemnification.  The Lenders  agree to  indemnify  each Agent in its
capacity  as such (to the extent not  reimbursed  by the  Borrower  and  without
limiting  the  obligation  the  Borrower to do so),  ratably  according to their
respective Commitment Percentages in effect on the date on which indemnification
is  sought,  from and  against  any and all  liabilities,  obligations,  losses,
damages, penalties,  actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
of any kind whatsoever which may at any time (including,  without limitation, at
any time  following  the payment of the  obligations  under this  Agreement)  be
imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent in any way relating to or
arising out of, the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents
or any  documents  contemplated  by or  referred  to  herein or  therein  or the
transactions  contemplated  hereby or thereby or any action  taken or omitted by
such Agent under or in connection  with any of the  foregoing;  provided that no
Lender  shall be liable  for the  payment of any  portion  of such  liabilities,
obligations,  losses,  damages,  penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits, costs,
expenses or disbursements resulting solely from such Agent's gross negligence or
willful misconduct.  The agreements in this subsection shall survive the payment
of all obligations under this Agreement and all other amounts payable hereunder.

     10.8 Agents in Their Individual Capacity. Each Agent and its Affiliates may
make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business
with any Loan Party as though such Agent were not an Agent  hereunder  and under
the other Loan  Documents.  With respect to the Extensions of Credit made by it,
each Agent shall have the same rights and powers  under this  Agreement  and the
other Loan  Documents  as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were
not an Agent,  and the terms "Lender" and "Lenders"  shall include such Agent in
its individual capacity.

     10.9  Successor  Administrative  Agent.  Each  Agent  may  resign  from its
position as an Agent upon 30 days' notice to the Lenders.  If the Administrative
Agent shall resign as  Administrative  Agent under this  Agreement and the other
Loan Documents, then the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a
successor agent for the Lenders,  which successor agent, with the consent of the
Borrower  (such  consent  not to be  unreasonably  withheld or  delayed),  shall
succeed to the rights, powers


<PAGE>



and duties of the Administrative  Agent hereunder;  provided that if any Default
or Event of Default  shall  have  occurred  and be  continuing,  the  Borrower's
consent  shall not be required  for a successor  agent to succeed to the rights,
powers and duties of the  Administrative  Agent  hereunder.  Effective upon such
appointment  and  approval,  the term  "Administrative  Agent"  shall  mean such
successor agent, and the former Administrative Agent's rights, powers and duties
as Administrative Agent shall be terminated, without any other or further act or
deed on the part of such  former  Administrative  Agent or any of the parties to
this  Agreement  or any  holders  of  the  Loans.  After  any  retiring  Agent's
resignation  from its position as an Agent,  the  provisions  of this Section 10
shall inure to its benefit as to any actions  taken or omitted to be taken by it
while it was an Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

     10.10 Issuing  Lender.  The provisions of this Section 10 applicable to the
Administrative Agent shall apply to the Issuing Lender in the performance of its
duties under the Loan Documents, mutatis mutandis.

                            SECTION 11. MISCELLANEOUS

     11.1  Amendments  and Waivers.  Neither this  Agreement  nor any other Loan
Document,  nor any terms  hereof or  thereof  may be  amended,  supplemented  or
modified  except in  accordance  with the  provisions  of this  subsection.  The
Required Lenders may, or, with the written consent of the Required Lenders,  the
Administrative  Agent may, from time to time, (a) enter into with the applicable
Loan Parties written amendments,  supplements or modifications hereto and to the
other Loan  Documents for the purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement
or the other Loan  Documents or changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders
or of the applicable Loan Parties  hereunder or thereunder or (b) waive, on such
terms and conditions as the Required Lenders or the Administrative Agent, as the
case may be, may specify in such  instrument,  any of the  requirements  of this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any Default or Event of Default and its
consequences;  provided,  however,  that no such  waiver and no such  amendment,
supplement or modification  shall (i) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or
extend the  Termination  Date,  or reduce the stated rate of any interest or fee
payable   hereunder  or  extend  the  scheduled  date  of  any  payment  thereof
(including,  without limitation, any payment required under Section 4.10 hereof)
or  increase  the  amount  or  extend  the  expiration   date  of  any  Lender's
Commitments,  in each case without the consent of each Lender affected  thereby,
or (ii) amend,  modify or waive any  provision of this  subsection or reduce the
percentage  specified in the  definition  of Required  Lenders or  Supermajority
Lenders (or modify any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document to
provide  that an action  currently  requiring  the approval of or consent by the
Supermajority  Lenders  may be taken  with the  consent or  approval  by a lower
percentage  of Lenders),  or consent to the  assignment  or transfer by any Loan
Party of any of its rights and  obligations  under this  Agreement and the other
Loan Documents or release of all or substantially all of the Pledged Securities,
other than in accordance  with the terms of the applicable  Loan  Documents,  in
each case without the written  consent of all the Lenders and the  Borrower,  or
(iii)  change  subsection  4.8(a) or  subsection  11.7(a) in a manner that would
alter the pro rata  sharing of payments  required  thereby,  without the written
consent of each Lender, or (iv) amend,  modify or waive any provision of Section
10 without  the  written  consent of the then  Administrative  Agent and Issuing
Lender. Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or modification shall
apply equally to each of the Lenders and shall be binding upon the Loan Parties,
the Lenders,  the  Administrative  Agent and all future holders of the Loans. In
the case of any waiver,  the Loan  Parties,  the Lenders and the  Administrative
Agent shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder and under
the other Loan  Documents,  and any Default or Event of Default  waived shall be
deemed  to be cured  and not  continuing;  no such  waiver  shall  extend to any
subsequent or other  Default or Event of Default or impair any right  consequent
thereon.

     11.2 Notices.  All notices,  requests and demands to or upon the respective
parties  hereto to be  effective  shall be in writing  (including  by  facsimile
transmission) and, unless otherwise  expressly provided herein,  shall be deemed
to have  been  duly  given  or made (a) in the  case of  delivery  by hand or by
courier  service,  when  delivered,  (b) in the case of delivery by mail,  three
Business Days after being deposited in the mails, postage prepaid, or (c) in the
case of  delivery  by  facsimile  transmission,  when sent and  receipt has been
confirmed, addressed as follows in the case of the Borrower and the


<PAGE>



Administrative Agent, and as set forth in Schedule 11.2 in the case of the other
parties  hereto,  or to such other  address as may be hereafter  notified by the
respective parties hereto in writing:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                             <C>

The Borrower:                   Belco Oil & Gas Corp.
                                767 Fifth Avenue, 46th Floor
                                New York, New York 10153
                                Attention:  Dominick J. Golio,
                                            Chief Financial Officer

                               Fax: (212) 644-2230

                              Tel.: (212) 508-9513

The Administrative Agent:       The Chase Manhattan Bank

                                One Chase Manhattan Plaza, 8th Floor

                                New York, NY 10081
                                Attention:  Joselin Fernandes,
                                            Loan and Agency Services

                               Fax: (212) 552-5777

                              Tel.: (212) 552-7414

                                With a copy to:

                                Chase Bank of Texas, N.A.
                                600 Travis Street, 20th floor
                                Houston, Texas 77002
                                Attention:  June Brand
                                Fax:  (713) 216-4117
                                Tel.:  (713) 216-4327
</TABLE>

     provided that any notice,  request or demand to or upon the  Administrative
Agent or any Lender  pursuant to  subsection  2.2,  4.3, 4.5 or 4.8 shall not be
effective until received.

     11.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay in
exercising,  on the part of any Agent,  the Issuing  Lender or any  Lender,  any
right,  remedy,  power or privilege  hereunder or under the other Loan Documents
shall operate as a waiver thereof;  nor shall any single or partial  exercise of
any right,  remedy,  power or privilege  hereunder preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.
The rights,  remedies,  powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and
not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

     11.4 Survival of Representations  and Warranties.  All  representations and
warranties  made  hereunder,  in the other Loan  Documents  and in any document,
certificate or statement  delivered  pursuant  hereto or in connection  herewith
shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the
Extensions of Credit hereunder.

     11.5  Payment of  Expenses  and Taxes.  The  Borrower  agrees (a) to pay or
reimburse the  Administrative  Agent and its Affiliates for all their reasonable
and documented  out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
development,  syndication,  preparation  and  execution  of, and any  amendment,
supplement or  modification  to, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and
any other  documents  prepared  in  connection  herewith or  therewith,  and the
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby,  including,
without limitation,  the reasonable fees and disbursements of (i) counsel to the
Administrative Agent and (ii) the Administrative Agent customarily charged by it
in connection with syndicated  credits,  (b) to pay or reimburse each Lender and
the  Administrative  Agent  for all its  reasonable  and  documented  costs  and
expenses  incurred in connection  with the  enforcement or  preservation  of any
rights  under  this  Agreement,  the other  Loan  Documents  and any such  other
documents,  including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements
of counsel to the


<PAGE>



Administrative Agent and to the several Lenders, (c) to pay, indemnify, and hold
each Lender and the  Administrative  Agent (and their respective  Affiliates and
their respective directors,  officers,  employees and agents) harmless from, any
and all recording and filing fees and any and all  liabilities  with respect to,
or resulting from any delay in paying,  stamp,  excise and other taxes,  if any,
which  may be  payable  or  determined  to be  payable  in  connection  with the
execution  and  delivery of, or  consummation  or  administration  of any of the
transactions  contemplated by, or any amendment,  supplement or modification of,
or any waiver or consent under or in respect of, this Agreement,  the other Loan
Documents and any such other documents, and (d) to pay, indemnify, and hold each
Lender and the Administrative Agent (and their respective  directors,  officers,
employees,  agents and  affiliates)  harmless from and against any and all other
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs,  expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature  whatsoever with respect
to the execution, delivery, enforcement,  performance and administration of this
Agreement,  the other Loan  Documents or the use or the proposed use of proceeds
contemplated  by  this  Agreement,  including,  without  limitation,  any of the
foregoing  relating to the violation of,  noncompliance with or liability under,
any Environmental Law applicable to any Loan Party or any of the Properties (all
the foregoing in this clause (d), collectively,  the "indemnified liabilities");
provided that the Borrower shall have no obligation under this clause (d) to any
Administrative  Agent  or any  Lender  (or any of  their  respective  directors,
officers,   employers,  agents  or  Affiliates),  with  respect  to  indemnified
liabilities  to the  extent  such  liabilities  are  determined  by a  court  of
competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from
the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Person; provided further that
the Borrower shall not be liable under this clause (d) for the legal expenses of
more than one primary firm or more than one local counsel in each state or other
jurisdiction in which an  indemnifiable  action is brought unless the use of one
primary firm or one local counsel by the indemnified  parties would present such
firm or counsel with a conflict of interest. Without limiting the foregoing, and
to the extent  permitted by applicable  law, the Borrower  agrees not to assert,
and hereby  waives,  and to cause  each of its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  not to
assert  and to so waive,  all  rights for  contribution  or any other  rights of
recovery with respect to all claims,  demands,  penalties,  fines,  liabilities,
settlements,  damages,  costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature,  under or
related  to  Environmental  Laws,  that any of them  might  have by  statute  or
otherwise  against any  Indemnitee.  The  agreements  in this  subsection  shall
survive  repayment of the Loans and all other amounts payable  hereunder and the
termination of this Agreement.

     11.6  Successors  and Assigns;  Participations  and  Assignments.  (a) This
Agreement  shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower,  each
Lender,  each Agent, all future holders of the Loans and any Notes hereunder and
their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower may not assign
or transfer any of its rights or obligations  under this  Agreement  without the
prior written consent of each Lender.

     (b) Any Lender may, in the  ordinary  course of its  commercial  banking or
lending business and in accordance with applicable law and at no cost or expense
to the  Borrower,  at any  time  sell to one or more  banks  or  other  entities
("Participants")  participating  interests in any Loan owing to such Lender, any
Commitment  of such Lender or any other  interest of such Lender  hereunder  and
under the other Loan  Documents.  In the event of any such sale by a Lender of a
participating  interest to a Participant,  (i) such Lender's  obligations  under
this  Agreement to the other parties to this Agreement  shall remain  unchanged,
(ii) such Lender shall remain solely  responsible for the  performance  thereof,
(iii)  such  Lender  shall  remain  the  holder  of any such  Loan (and any Note
evidencing  such Loan) for all purposes  under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents,  (iv) the Borrower  and each Agent shall  continue to deal solely and
directly  with  such  Lender  in  connection   with  such  Lender's  rights  and
obligations  under this Agreement and the other Loan  Documents,  and (v) in any
proceeding  under the  Bankruptcy  Code,  the  Lender  shall  be, to the  extent
permitted by law, the sole  representative  with respect to the obligations held
in the name of such  Lender,  whether  for its own account or for the account of
any  Participant.  No  Lender  shall  be  entitled  to  create  in  favor of any
Participant, in the participation agreement pursuant to which such Participant's
participating  interest  shall be  created or  otherwise,  any right to vote on,
consent to or approve any matter  relating to this  Agreement  or any other Loan
Document  except for those  specified  in clauses (i) and (ii) of the proviso to
subsection 11.1. The Borrower agrees that each Participant  shall be entitled to
the benefits of subsections 4.13 and 4.14 with respect to its


<PAGE>



participation in the Commitments and the Loans and Letters of Credit outstanding
from  time  to  time  as if it was a  Lender;  provided  that,  in the  case  of
subsection 4.13, such  Participant  shall have complied with the requirements of
said subsection and provided,  further, that no Participant shall be entitled to
receive any greater amount  pursuant to any such  subsection than the transferor
Lender  would  have been  entitled  to  receive  in respect of the amount of the
participation  transferred by such transferor  Lender to such Participant had no
such transfer occurred.

     (c) Any Lender may, in the  ordinary  course of its  commercial  banking or
lending  business and in accordance  with  applicable  law, at any time and from
time to time,  assign to any Lender or (with the prior  written  consent of each
Issuing Lender) any Affiliate  thereof or (with the prior written consent of the
Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender and, so long as no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing,  the Borrower,  which consent, in
each  case,  shall  not be  unreasonably  withheld),  to an  additional  bank or
financial  institution  or other entity (an  "Assignee")  all or any part of its
rights  and  obligations  under  this  Agreement  and the other  Loan  Documents
including,   without   limitation,   its  Revolving  Credit   Commitments,   L/C
Commitments, Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Participating Interests, pursuant to
an Assignment and Acceptance,  substantially  in the form of Exhibit E, executed
by such Assignee, such assigning Lender (and, in the case of an Assignee that is
not then a Lender, by the Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent and each Issuing
Lender)  and  delivered  to the  Administrative  Agent  for its  acceptance  and
recording  in the  Register,  provided  that (i)  (unless the  Borrower  and the
Administrative  Agent  otherwise  consent in  writing)  no such  transfer  to an
Assignee (other than a Lender or any Affiliate thereof) shall be in an aggregate
principal  amount less than  $5,000,000 in the aggregate  (or, if less, the full
amount of such assigning  Lender's  Revolving  Credit Loans,  L/C  Participating
Interests and Revolving  Credit  Commitments) and (ii) if any Lender assigns all
or any part of its rights and  obligations  under this  Agreement  to one of its
Affiliates  in  connection  with  or in  contemplation  of  the  sale  or  other
disposition  of its interest in such  Affiliate,  the  Borrower's  prior written
consent shall be required for such  assignment.  Upon such execution,  delivery,
acceptance and recording,  from and after the effective date determined pursuant
to such Assignment and Acceptance,  (x) the Assignee thereunder shall be a party
hereto and, to the extent provided in such  Assignment and Acceptance,  have the
rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder with a Revolving Credit  Commitment
and L/C Commitment as set forth therein, and (y) the assigning Lender thereunder
shall, to the extent  provided in such  Assignment and  Acceptance,  be released
from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and
Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender's rights
and obligations under this Agreement,  such assigning Lender shall cease to be a
party hereto). Notwithstanding any provision of this paragraph (c) and paragraph
(e) of this subsection,  the consent of the Borrower shall not be required, and,
unless  requested by the Assignee and/or the assigning  Lender,  new Notes shall
not be required to be executed and delivered by the Borrower, for any assignment
which occurs at any time when any of the events  described in Section 9(f) shall
have occurred and be continuing.

     (d) The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Borrower,  shall maintain at
the address of the Administrative Agent referred to in subsection 11.2 a copy of
each Assignment and Acceptance  delivered to it and a register (the  "Register")
for the  recordation of the names,  addresses and banking offices of the Lenders
and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans owing to, each Lender
from time to time.  The  entries in the  Register  shall be  conclusive,  in the
absence of manifest error, and the Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent and the
Lenders  may (and,  in the case of any Loan or other  obligation  hereunder  not
evidenced  by a Note,  shall)  treat each  Person  whose name is recorded in the
Register  as the  owner of a Loan or other  obligation  hereunder  as the  owner
thereof  for all  purposes  of this  Agreement  and the  other  Loan  Documents,
notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  Any assignment of any Loan or other
obligation  hereunder not  evidenced by a Note shall be effective  against third
parties only upon  appropriate  entries with respect  thereto  being made in the
Register.  The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any
Lender  at any  reasonable  time and from  time to time  upon  reasonable  prior
notice.

     (e)  Notwithstanding  anything  in  this  Agreement  to  the  contrary,  no
assignment  under  subsection  11.6(c) of any rights or obligations  under or in
respect of the Loans, the Notes or the Letters


<PAGE>



of Credit shall be  effective  unless and until the  Administrative  Agent shall
have recorded the assignment pursuant to subsection 11.6(d). Upon its receipt of
an Assignment  and  Acceptance  executed by an assigning  Lender and an Assignee
(and,  in the case of an  Assignee  that is not then a  Lender  or an  affiliate
thereof, by the Borrower and the Administrative  Agent) together with payment to
the  Administrative  Agent of a registration and processing fee of $3,500 (other
than in the case of an  assignment  by a Lender to an affiliate of such Lender),
the  Administrative   Agent  shall  (i)  promptly  accept  such  Assignment  and
Acceptance and (ii) on the effective date determined pursuant thereto record the
information contained therein in the Register and give notice of such acceptance
and  recordation to the Lenders and the Borrower.  On or prior to such effective
date, the assigning Lender shall surrender any outstanding  Notes held by it all
or a portion of which are being assigned,  and the Borrower, at its own expense,
shall, upon the request to the  Administrative  Agent by the assigning Lender or
the Assignee, as applicable, execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (in
exchange for the  outstanding  Notes of the  assigning  Lender) a new  Revolving
Credit Note to the order of such  Assignee  in an amount  equal to the lesser of
(A) the  amount  of such  Assignee's  Revolving  Credit  Commitment  and (B) the
aggregate  principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans made by such Assignee,
after giving  effect to such  Assignment  and  Acceptance  and, if the assigning
Lender has retained a Revolving  Credit  Commitment  hereunder,  a new Revolving
Credit  Note to the order of the  assigning  Lender  in an  amount  equal to the
lesser of (A) the amount of such Lender's  Revolving  Credit  Commitment and (B)
the  aggregate  principal  amount of all  Revolving  Credit  Loans  made by such
Lender,  after giving effect to such  Assignment  and  Acceptance.  Any such new
Notes shall be dated the  Restatement  Effective Date and shall  otherwise be in
the form of the Note  replaced  thereby.  The  assigning  Lender shall  promptly
return its old Note to the Borrower marked "canceled".

     (f) The Borrower  authorizes  each Lender to disclose to any Participant or
Assignee (each, a  "Transferee")  and any  prospective  Transferee,  any and all
financial  information in such Lender's  possession  concerning the Loan Parties
and their  Affiliates which has been delivered to such Lender by or on behalf of
the  Borrower  pursuant to this  Agreement  or which has been  delivered to such
Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection  with such Lender's  credit
evaluation of the Loan Parties and their Affiliates prior to becoming a party to
this Agreement;  provided such Person agrees to maintain the  confidentiality of
such information in accordance with subsection 11.15.

     (g) For avoidance of doubt, the parties to this Agreement  acknowledge that
the  provisions of this  subsection  concerning  assignments  of Loans and Notes
relate only to absolute  assignments  and that such  provisions  do not prohibit
assignments  creating security interests,  including,  without  limitation,  any
pledge or assignment by a Lender of any Loan or Note to any Federal Reserve Bank
in accordance with applicable law.

     11.7 Adjustments;  Set-off. (a) If any Lender (a "Benefitted Lender") shall
at any time  receive  any  payment of all or part of its Loans or  Reimbursement
Obligations,  or interest thereon,  or receive any collateral in respect thereof
(whether  voluntarily  or  involuntarily,  by  set-off,  pursuant  to  events or
proceedings  of the nature  referred to in Section  9(f),  or  otherwise),  in a
greater proportion than any such payment to or collateral  received by any other
Lender,  if any,  in  respect  of such  other  Lender's  Loans or  Reimbursement
Obligations, or interest thereon, such Benefitted Lender shall purchase for cash
from the other  Lenders a  participating  interest in such  portion of each such
other Lender's Loans or Reimbursement  Obligations,  or shall provide such other
Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral,  or the proceeds  thereof,  as
shall be necessary to cause such  Benefitted  Lender to share the excess payment
or benefits of such  collateral  or proceeds  ratably  with each of the Lenders;
provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits
is thereafter  recovered  from such  Benefitted  Lender,  such purchase shall be
rescinded,  and the purchase price and benefits returned,  to the extent of such
recovery, but without interest.

     (b) In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders  provided by law,
each  Lender  shall  have the  right,  during  the  continuation  of an Event of
Default,  without prior notice to the Borrower,  any such notice being expressly
waived by the  Borrower to the extent  permitted  by  applicable  law,  upon any
amount becoming due and payable by the Borrower hereunder (whether at the stated
maturity, by


<PAGE>



acceleration  or  otherwise) to set-off and  appropriate  and apply against such
amount any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand,  provisional or
final), in any currency,  and any other credits,  indebtedness or claims, in any
currency,  in each case  whether  direct or  indirect,  absolute or  contingent,
matured or unmatured,  at any time held or owing by such Lender or any branch or
agency thereof to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower,  as the case
may  be.  Each  Lender   agrees   promptly  to  notify  the   Borrower  and  the
Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Lender,
provided  that, to the extent  permitted by applicable  law, the failure to give
such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

     11.8  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be executed by one or more of the
parties to this Agreement on any number of separate  counterparts  (including by
facsimile  transmission),  and all of said counterparts  taken together shall be
deemed to constitute  one and the same  instrument.  A set of the copies of this
Agreement  signed by all the parties  shall be lodged with the  Borrower and the
Administrative Agent.

     11.9  Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective
to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability  without  invalidating the
remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render  unenforceable such provision in any
other jurisdiction.

     11.10  Integration.  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents  represent
the agreement of the Borrower,  the other Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders  with  respect to the subject  matter  hereof,  and there are no
promises,  undertakings,  representations  or warranties  by the  Administrative
Agent or any Lender relative to subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or
referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.

     11.11  GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND  OBLIGATIONS OF THE
PARTIES  HEREUNDER  SHALL BE  GOVERNED  BY, AND  CONSTRUED  AND  INTERPRETED  IN
ACCORDANCE  WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,  WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS
OF LAW.

     11.12 Submission To Jurisdiction;  Waivers. The Borrower hereby irrevocably
and unconditionally:

     (a) submits for itself and its Property in any legal  action or  proceeding
relating to this  Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party,
or for recognition and  enforcement of any judgment in respect  thereof,  to the
non-exclusive  general  jurisdiction of the Courts of the State of New York, the
courts of the United  States of America for the  Southern  District of New York,
and appellate courts from any thereof;

     (b)  consents  that any such  action or  proceeding  may be brought in such
courts and waives any objection  that it may now or hereafter  have to the venue
of any such  action  or  proceeding  in any such  court or that  such  action or
proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim
the same;

     (c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding  may be
effected  by mailing a copy  thereof by  registered  or  certified  mail (or any
substantially  similar form of mail),  postage  prepaid,  to the Borrower at its
address  set forth in  subsection  11.2 or at such  other  address  of which the
Administrative Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

     (d) agrees that nothing  herein shall affect the right to effect service of
process in any other manner  permitted by law or shall limit the right to sue in
any other jurisdiction; and


<PAGE>



     (e) waives,  to the maximum  extent not prohibited by law, any right it may
have to claim or recover in any legal action or  proceeding  referred to in this
subsection any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

     11.13   Acknowledgments;   Designated  Senior  Debt.  The  Borrower  hereby
acknowledges that:

     (a) it has been  advised  by  counsel  in the  negotiation,  execution  and
delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

     (b) no Agent nor any Lender has any fiduciary  relationship with or duty to
the Borrower  arising out of or in connection  with this Agreement or any of the
other Loan Documents,  and the relationship  between the Agents and the Lenders,
on one hand,  and the Borrower,  on the other hand,  in  connection  herewith or
therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor;

     (c) no joint  venture is created  hereby or by the other Loan  Documents or
otherwise  exists by virtue of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby among the
Agents and the Lenders or among the Borrower, the Agents and the Lenders; and

     (d) the  Notes  and the  Indebtedness  evidenced  hereby  and  thereby  are
"Designated  Senior  Debt" as such term is defined  in the  Senior  Subordinated
Indenture and as such term is defined in the Coda Indenture,  and the Subsidiary
Guarantee is a "Senior Guarantee" as such term is used in the Coda Indenture.

     11.14  WAIVERS OF JURY  TRIAL.  THE PARTIES  HERETO  HEREBY  KNOWINGLY  AND
INTENTIONALLY,  IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL
ACTION OR PROCEEDING  RELATING TO THIS  AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND
FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

     11.15  Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank
and the Lenders agrees to maintain the  confidentiality  of the  Information (as
defined  below),  except that  Information  may be disclosed  (a) to its and its
Affiliates' directors,  officers,  employees and agents,  including accountants,
legal counsel and other advisors (it being  understood  that the Persons to whom
such  disclosure  is made will be  informed of the  confidential  nature of such
Information and instructed to keep such  Information  confidential),  (b) to the
extent  requested by any  regulatory  authority,  (c) to the extent  required by
applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process,  (d)
to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any
remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding  relating to this Agreement
or the enforcement of rights hereunder,  (f) subject to an agreement  containing
provisions  substantially the same as those of this Section,  to any assignee of
or Participant in, or any prospective  assignee of or Participant in, any of its
rights or obligations under this Agreement, (g) with the consent of the Borrower
or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly  available other than
as a  result  of a breach  of this  Section  or (ii)  becomes  available  to the
Administrative  Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis
from a source  other  than  the  Borrower.  For the  purposes  of this  Section,
"Information"  means all information  received from the Borrower relating to the
Borrower or its business,  other than any such  information that is available to
the  Administrative  Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a  nonconfidential
basis  prior  to  disclosure  by the  Borrower;  provided  that,  in the case of
information  received from the Borrower after the date hereof,  such information
is  clearly  identified  at the time of  delivery  as  confidential.  Any Person
required to maintain  the  confidentiality  of  Information  as provided in this
Section shall be  considered  to have  complied with its  obligation to do so if
such  Person  has   exercised   the  same   degree  of  care  to  maintain   the
confidentiality  of such  Information  as such  Person  would  accord to its own
confidential information.

                  [Remainder of page intentionally left blank]



<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have caused this  Agreement to be
duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly  authorized  officers as of
the day and year first above written.

                                        BELCO OIL & GAS CORP.



                                       By:

                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Title:

<PAGE>


                                        THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as
                                          Administrative Agent, Issuing Lender
                                          and as a Lender



                                       By:

                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Title:

<PAGE>


                                        BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as
                                          Syndication Agent and as a Lender



                                       By:

                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Title:

<PAGE>


                                        BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as
                                          Documentation Agent and as a Lender

                                       By:

                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name:  J. Scott Fowler
                                           Title: Managing Director

<PAGE>


                                        FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as
                                          Collateral Agent and as a Lender

                                       By:

                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Title:

<PAGE>


                                        FORTIS CAPITAL CORP.




                                       By:

                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                           Title:


                                       By:

                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

<PAGE>


                                        BANK ONE TEXAS, N.A.





                                       By:

                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

<PAGE>


                                        CHRISTIANIA BANK OG KREDITKASSE ASA


                                       By:

                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                           Title:


                                       By:

                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

<PAGE>


                                        BANK OF SCOTLAND





                                       By:

                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

<PAGE>


                                        THE SANWA BANK LIMITED




                                       By:

                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

<PAGE>


                           Schedule 1.1(a) Commitments

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                                     <C>

                                                        Revolving Credit

Lender                                                  Commitment
                                                        ($MM)
-----------------------------------------------         ------------------------
The Chase Manhattan Bank - Administrative Agent         $35
Bankers Trust Company - Syndication Agent               $35
Bank of America, N.A. - Documentation Agent             $35
Fleet National Bank - Collateral Agent                  $35
The Sanwa Bank Limited                                  $20
Christiania Bank OG Kreditkasse ASA                     $25
Bank One Texas, N.A.                                    $25
Bank of Scotland                                        $10
Fortis Capital Corp.                                    $30
                                                        ----
TOTALS                                                  $250
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


          Schedule 5.1 Sales, Transfers and Dispositions; Acquisitions

     The Borrower has spent  approximately  $68,500,000  on oil and gas property
acquisitions since January 1, 2000.


<PAGE>


                           Schedule 5.15 Subsidiaries

     The Persons listed on Schedule 5.15 constitute all the  Subsidiaries of the
Borrower at the date hereof.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                                     <C>

Restricted Subsidiaries                                 Net Book Value
                                                        Of Assets ($Mill.)
-----------------------                                 ------------------
Belco Energy Corp., a Nevada corporation                $22.5

Belco Energy I L.P., a Delaware limited partnership     $ 1.2

BOG Wyoming LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company    ($0.1)

Belco Finance Co., a Wyoming corporation                $32.8

Gin Lane Company, a Delaware corporation                $ 1.0

Fortune Corp., a Texas corporation                         -0-

Electra Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation            ($0.2)


Unrestricted Subsidiaries

-------------------------
Belco Energy (Cayman Islands) Corp., a Cayman Islands
 corporation                                               -0-
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


            Schedule 5.2 Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions, Etc.

     1. Preferred stock dividends paid since January 1, 2000:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                     <C>
Date                                    Amount
----                                    ------
March 15, 2000                          $1,613,341
June 15, 2000                           $1,541,556
    TOTALS                              $3,154,897
</TABLE>


     2. Purchases of Capital Stock since January 1, 2000:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                     <C>                     <C>

                                        Shares

Date                                    Re-acquired             Amount
----                                    -----------             ------
January 6, 2000                         4,200*                  $61,950
June 15, 2000                           2,500*                   36,819
     TOTALS                             6,700                   $98,769
</TABLE>


*Belco 6 1/2% Convertible Preferred Stock


<PAGE>


                         Schedule 5.20 Future Commitment

     Joint  Development  Agreement  effective  November  1,  1996,  between  the
Borrower  and Andex  Partners and Andover  Partners  under which the Borrower is
obligated to expend $20,000,000 on seismic,  leasing and exploratory  activities
in Green River and Wind River Basins of Wyoming.  As of May 31, 2000,  less than
$2,000,000 remains to be expended by the Borrower pursuant to this obligation.


<PAGE>


                      Schedule 8.2(e) Existing Indebtedness

     None.

<PAGE>


                     Schedule 5.21 UCC Filing Jurisdictions

     Filing the UCC-1 Financing Statements for the Borrower,  Belco Energy Corp.
and BOG Wyoming LLC with the following offices:

         1)       Secretary of State of New York
         2)       UCC Filing Office of New York County, New York

<PAGE>


                        Schedule 8.8 Existing Investments

     None.

<PAGE>


                       Schedule 8.4 Guarantee Obligations

     None.

<PAGE>


                           Schedule 8.3 Existing Liens

     None.

<PAGE>


                      Schedule 8.10 Affiliate Transactions

     None.

<PAGE>


                       Schedule 11.2 Addresses of Notices

                                     LENDERS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                     <C>

BANK OF AMERICA                         BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
901 Main Street, 64th Floor             130 Liberty Street, MS 2303
Dallas, TX  95202                       New York, New York 10006
Attention:    J. Scott Fowler           Attention:    Tad Neafsey
Telephone:  (214) 209-3747              Telephone:   (212) 250-2771
Facsimile:    (214) 209-1286            Facsimile:     (212) 250-2923

BANK OF SCOTLAND                        FLEET NATIONAL BANK
1021 Main, Suite 1370                   100 Federal Street, MS 010802
Houston, Texas 77002                    Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Attention:    Rex McSwain               Attention:     George Passela
Telephone:  (713) 651-1870              Telephone:    (617) 434-7160
Facsimile:    (713) 651-9714            Facsimile:      (617) 434-3652

BANK ONE TEXAS, N.A.                    FORTIS CAPITAL CORP.
1717 Main Street, MC TX12448            100 Crescent Court, Suite 1777
Dallas, Texas 75201                     Dallas, TX 75201
Attention:     Reed Thompson            Attention:     Darrell Holley
Telephone:   (214) 290-2162             Telephone:    (214) 953-9307
Facsimile:     (214) 290-2332           Facsimile:      (214) 754-5981

CHRISTIANIA BANK OG                     THE SANWA BANK LIMITED
KREDITKASSE ASA                         1200 Smith Street, Suite 2670
11 West 42nd Street, 7th Floor          Houston, Texas 77002
New York, New York 10036                Attention:     Clyde Redford
Attention:     Peter M. Dodge           Telephone:     (713) 652-3190
Telephone:    (212) 827-4835            Facsimile:       (713) 654-1462
Facsimile:      (212) 827-4888
</TABLE>



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