ST MARY LAND & EXPLORATION CO
8-K, 1997-01-28
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
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                               UNITED STATES
                                     
                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                     
                          Washington, D.C. 20549
                                     
                                 FORM 8-K
                                     
                              CURRENT REPORT
                                     
     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange
Act of 1934
                                     
                     Date of Report: January 28, 1997
                                     
                                     
                    ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter
                                     
                                     
             Delaware            0-20872           41-0518430
                                     
        (State of other     (Commission      (IRS Employer
         jurisdiction of     File No.         Identification No.)
         incorporation)
                                     
          1776 Lincoln Street, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203
          (Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)
                                     
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  
(303) 861-8140
                                     
                              Not applicable
                         (Former name and address)
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
EXPLANATORY NOTE:

The sole purpose of this current report on Form 8-K is to file
the three listed exhibits.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
     
     (c)  Exhibits

     10.1      Amended and Restated Credit Agreement between the
               Company and NationsBank of Texas, N.A. and Norwest
               Bank Colorado, National Association, dated 
               April 1, 1996

     10.2      Amended and Restated Credit Agreement between
               Panterra Petroleum, the Company, and First
               Interstate Bank, N.A., dated Ferbuary 6, 1995

     99        Employment Agreement between the Company and 
               Ralph H. Smith, effective October 1, 1995.
 

                                SIGNATURES

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


                              ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY

Date:  January 28, 1997       /s/ David L. Henry
                                  David L. Henry
                                  Its:   Chief Financial Officer 




                          AMENDED AND RESTATED
                             LOAN AGREEMENT
                                 Between
                   ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY
                                    
                                   and
                                    
                       NATIONSBANK OF TEXAS, N.A.
                                    
                                   and
                                    
               NORWEST BANK COLORADO, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
                                    
        (SUCCESSOR TO NORWEST BANK DENVER, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                               Dated as of
                                    
                              April 1, 1996

                             TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                  
      
                                                                  
    Page

     1.   Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .-1-

     2.   The Loans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .-8-
          (a)  Commitment Amounts. . . . . . . . . . .. . . .-8-
               (i)  Tranche A Loan . . . . . . . . . .. . . .-8-
               (ii) Tranche B Loan . . . . . . . . . .. . . .-8-
          (b)  Interest on the Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . -9-
               (i)  Computation of Interest. . . . . . . . . -9-
               (ii) Late Payment Rate. . . . . . . . . . . .-10-
               (iii)     Maximum Lawful Rate . . . . . . . .-10-
          (c)  The Revolving Loan Period . . . . . . . . . .-10-
               (i)  Requests for Advances. . . . . . . . . .-10-
               (ii) Prime Rate Advances. . . . . . . . . . .-10-
               (iii)     LIBOR Advances. . . . . . . . . . .-11-
          (d)  The Term Loan Period. . . . . . . . . . . . .-11-
          (e)  The Loan Date and Initial Advances. . . . . .-12-
          (f)  Payments by Borrower. . . . . . . . . . . . .-12-
          (g)  Prepayments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-12-
          (h)  Fees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-13-
               (i)  Transaction Fee. . . . . . . . . . . . .-13-
               (ii) Tranche A Loan Commitment Fee. . . . . .-13-
               (iii)     Tranche B Loan Commitment Fee . . .-13-
               (iv) Engineering Fee. . . . . . . . . . . . .-14-
               (v)  Conversion Fee . . . . . . . . . . . . .-14-
               (vi) Letter of Credit Fee . . . . . . . . . .-14-
               (vii)     Facility Fee. . . . . . . . . . . .-14-
          (i)  Inability to Determine Rates. . . . . . . . .-14-
          (j)  Illegality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-14-
          (k)  Increased Costs and Taxes . . . . . . . . . .-15-
          (l)  Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-16-
          (m)  Participations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-16-

     3.   Letters of Credit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-16-
          (a)  Issuance of Letters of Credit . . . . . . . .-16-
          (b)  Payments Treated as Prime Rate Advances . . .-17-

     4.   Asset Dispositions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-17-
          (a)  Mandatory Prepayments . . . . . . . . . . . .-17-
          (b)  Release Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-17-
          (c)  Release of Liens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-17-

     5.   Borrowing Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-17-
          (a)  Initial Aggregate Borrowing Base; Limitations 
               on Borrowing Base . . . . . . . . . . .. . . -17-
          (b)  Engineering Report. . . . . . . . . . .. . . -18-
          (c)  Determination of Aggregate Borrowing Base  . -18-
          (d)  Notification of Aggregate Borrowing Base.  . -18-
          (e)  Acceptance and Application of Aggregate  
               Borrowing Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -18-

     6.   Excess Debt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-19-
          (a)  Tranche A Loan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-19-
          (b)  Tranche B Loan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-20-

     7.   Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-20-
          (a)  Security Documents. . . . . . . . . . . . . .-20-
          (b)  Filing and Recordation. . . . . . . . . . . .-20-

     8.   Representations and Warranties . . . . . . . . . .-21-
          (a)  Corporate Existence . . . . . . . . . . . . .-21-
          (b)  Non-Contravention . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-21-
          (c)  Third Party Authorization . . . . . . . . . .-21-
          (d)  Corporate Authorization; Binding Effect . . .-22-
          (e)  Litigation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-22-
          (f)  Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-22-
          (g)  Liens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-22-
          (h)  Title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-22-
          (i)  Chief Executive Office. . . . . . . . . . . .-23-
          (j)  Use of Proceeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-23-
          (k)  Margin Stock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-23-
          (l)  Subsidiaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-23-
          (m)  ERISA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-23-
          (n)  Security Documents. . . . . . . . . . . . . .-23-
          (o)  Compliance with Laws. . . . . . . . . . . . .-23-
          (p)  Financial Condition . . . . . . . . . . . . .-24-
          (q)  Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-24-

     9.   Affirmative Covenants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-24-
          (a)  Payment and Performance of Loan . . . . . . .-24-
          (b)  Financial Statements. . . . . . . . . . . . .-24-
          (c)  Preservation of Existence, Etc. . . . . . . .-25-
          (d)  Maintenance of Property . . . . . . . . . . .-25-
          (e)  Payment of Other Obligations. . . . . . . . .-25-
          (f)  Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-26-
          (g)  Inspection of Property, Books and Records . .-26-
          (h)  Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-26-
          (i)  Compliance with Laws. . . . . . . . . . . . .-27-
          (j)  Further Assurances. . . . . . . . . . . . . .-27-
          (k)  Maintain Mortgage Collateral. . . . . . . . .-27-
          (l)  Ratios. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-27-
          (m)  Use of Proceeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-27-
          (n)  Shareholders Equity . . . . . . . . . . . . .-27-

     10.  Negative Covenants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-27-
          (a)  Indebtedness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-27-
          (b)  Liens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-28-
          (c)  Guaranty Obligations. . . . . . . . . . . . .-28-
          (d)  Loans and Advances. . . . . . . . . . . . . .-28-
          (e)  Investments; Joint Ventures . . . . . . . . .-28-
          (f)  Mergers and Consolidations. . . . . . . . . .-29-
          (g)  Change in Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . .-29-
          (h)  Burdensome Undertakings . . . . . . . . . . .-29-
          (i)  Change in Location of Business. . . . . . . .-29-
          (j)  New Subsidiaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-29-
          (l)  Disposition of Assets . . . . . . . . . . . .-30-
          (m)  ERISA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-30-

     11.  Events of Default. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-30-
          (a)  Non-Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-30-
          (b)  Other Defaults. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-30-
          (c)  Representation or Warranty. . . . . . . . . .-30-
          (d)  Security Documents. . . . . . . . . . . . . .-31-
          (e)  Judgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-31-
          (f)  Insolvency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-31-
          (g)  Bankruptcy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-31-
          (h)  Cross-Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-31-
          (i)  ERISA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-32-
          (j)  Loan Documents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-32-

     12.  Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-32-
          (a)  Automatic Acceleration of Loan. . . . . . . .-32-
          (b)  Optional Acceleration of Loan . . . . . . . .-32-
          (c)  Set-Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-33-

     13.  Conditions of Lending. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-33-
          (a)  Initial Advance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-33-
          (b)  Subsequent Advances . . . . . . . . . . . . .-34-

     14.  Indemnity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-35-

     15.  The Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-36-
          (a)  Appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-36-
          (b)  Delegation of Duties. . . . . . . . . . . . .-36-
          (c)  Exculpatory Provisions. . . . . . . . . . . .-36-
          (d)  Reliance by Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-36-
          (e)  Notice of Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-37-
          (f)  Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Banks . . . .-37-
          (g)  Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-38-
          (h)  Agent in Its Individual Capacity. . . . . . .-38-
          (i)  Successor Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-38-

     16.  Miscellaneous. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-38-
          (a)  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. . . . . . . .-38-
          (b)  Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-39-
          (c)  Counterpart Execution . . . . . . . . . . . .-40-
          (d)  Governing Law; Entire Agreement . . . . . . .-40-
          (e)  Amendments and Waivers. . . . . . . . . . . .-40-
          (f)  Inconsistent Provisions; Severability . . . .-40-
          (g)  Costs and Expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . .-40-
          (h)  Successors and Assigns. . . . . . . . . . . .-40-
          (i)  Effectiveness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-40-
          (j)  Waivers of Jury Trial . . . . . . . . . . . .-41-
          (k)  Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules . . .-41-
          (l)  References and Titles . . . . . . . . . . . .-41-

LIST
 OF SCHEDULES
     Schedule I:  Bank Commitments
     Schedule II:   Borrower's Shareholders Equity

LIST OF EXHIBITS
     Exhibit A - Form of Tranche A Note
     Exhibit B - Form of Tranche B Note
     Exhibit C - Request for Advance
     Exhibit D - Form of Standby Letter of Credit
     Exhibit E - Asset Sales Report
     Exhibit F - Net Revenue/Payment Calculation
     Exhibit G - Subsidiaries
     Exhibit H - Compliance Certificate
     Exhibit I -   Form of Mortgage
     Exhibit J -   Borrowing Resolution
     Exhibit K - Borrower's Form of Opinion


                   AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT


     THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"),
dated as of April 1, 1996 (the "Effective Date"), is between ST.
MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY, a Delaware corporation
("Borrower"), with an address of 1776 Lincoln Street, Denver,
Colorado 80203; each of the banks or financial institutions which
is or which may from time to time become a signatory hereto
(individually, a "Bank" and collectively, the "Banks");
NATIONSBANK OF TEXAS, N.A., a national banking association
("NationsBank"), with an address of Energy Banking Group,
#492-49, 901 Main, Dallas, Texas 75202, in its capacity as a Bank
and as agent for the Banks (in its capacity as agent, together
with its successors in such capacity, the "Agent"), and NORWEST
BANK COLORADO, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (Successor to Norwest Bank
Denver, National Association), a national banking association,
with an address of 1740 Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80274-8699.    

                              RECITALS

     A.   Borrower, the Banks and the Agent entered into a Loan
Agreement dated as of March 1, 1993 (the "Original Loan
Agreement"), by which the Banks agreed to loan Borrower certain
funds.  The Original Loan Agreement was amended by First
Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of June 15, 1993 (the "First
Amendment"), by Second Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of
February 25, 1994 (the "Second Amendment"), by Third Amendment to
Loan Agreement dated as of December 1, 1994 (the "Third
Amendment") and by Fourth Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of
April 1, 1995 (the "Fourth Amendment").  The Original Loan
Agreement as amended by the First Amendment, the Second
Amendment, the Third Amendment and the Fourth Amendment is
hereinafter called the "Loan Agreement."

     B.   Borrower and the Banks desire to amend the Loan
Agreement and to restate the provisions of the Loan Agreement as
so amended to read in its entirety as set forth herein, such that
the indebtedness which is the subject of this Agreement shall
constitute an extension and renewal of the indebtedness evidenced
by the Loan Agreement. 

                                 AGREEMENT

     Accordingly, the parties agree as follows:

     1.   Definitions.  As used herein, the following capitalized
terms shall have the following meanings:

          "Accounting Quarter" shall mean the three-month period
ending three calendar months preceding the calendar month in
which a payment on a Loan is due.

          "Adjusted LIBOR Rate" shall mean the LIBOR Rate plus
the Applicable Margin.

          "Adjusted Prime Rate" shall mean the Prime Rate plus
the Applicable Margin.

          "Advances" shall have the meaning set forth in
paragraph 2(a)(i).

          "Aggregate Borrowing Base" shall have the meaning set
forth in paragraph 5(a).

          "Applicable Margin" shall mean the following percentage
points:

          (a)  When Borrower's Debt to Capitalization Ratio is
less than 30% as of the date of the request for the Advance to
which such Applicable Margin applies:

               (i)  For a LIBOR Advance during the Tranche A
     Revolving Period for the Tranche A Loan and for a LIBOR
     Advance during the Tranche B Revolving Period for the
     Tranche B Loan: 0.50 percentage points.

               (ii) During the Term Loan Period: 0.75 percentage
     points.

               (iii)     For a Prime Rate Advance: zero (0)
     percentage points.

          (b)  When Borrower's Debt to Capitalization Ratio is
equal to or greater than 30% but less than 40% as of the date of
the request for the Advance to which such Applicable Margin
applies:

               (i)  For a LIBOR Advance during the Tranche A
     Revolving Period for the Tranche A Loan and for a LIBOR
     Advance during the Tranche B Revolving Period for the
     Tranche B Loan: 0.75 percentage points.

               (ii) During the Term Loan Period: 1.00 percentage  
   points.

               (iii)     For a Prime Rate Advance: zero (0)     
percentage points.

          (c)  When Borrower's Debt to Capitalization Ratio is
equal to or greater than 40% but less than 50% as of the date of
the request for the Advance to which such Applicable Margin
applies:

               (i)  For a LIBOR Advance during the Tranche A
     Revolving Period for the Tranche A Loan and for a LIBOR
     Advance during the Tranche B Revolving Period for the
     Tranche B Loan: 1.00 percentage points.


               (ii) During the Term Loan Period: 1.25 percentage
     points.

               (iii)     For a Prime Rate Advance: zero (0)
     percentage points.

          (d)  When Borrower's Debt to Capitalization Ratio is
equal to or greater than 50% as of the date of the request for
the Advance to which such Applicable Margin applies:

               (i)  For a LIBOR Advance during the Tranche A
     Revolving Period for the Tranche A Loan and for a LIBOR
     Advance during the Tranche B Revolving Period for the
     Tranche B Loan: 1.25 percentage points.

               (ii) During the Term Loan Period: 1.50 percentage  
points.

               (iii)     For a Prime Rate Advance: 0.125   
percentage points.

          "Business Day" shall mean a day other than Saturdays or
Sundays on which commercial banks are open for business with the
public in Dallas, Texas and Denver, Colorado, and, if the
applicable Business Day relates to a LIBOR Advance, it shall mean
such a day on which dealings are carried on in the applicable
interbank eurodollar market.

          "Commitment" shall mean as to any Bank, the obligation
of such Bank, subject to the terms of this Agreement, to make
Advances under the Tranche A Loan and Tranche B Loan to Borrower
hereunder in an aggregate principal amount at any one time
outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such
Bank's name on Schedule I, as such amount may be reduced from
time to time as provided herein; collectively, as to all Banks,
the "Commitments."

          "Commitment Percentage" shall mean as to any Bank at
any time, the percentage of the aggregate Commitments then
constituted by such Bank's Commitment, as more fully set forth
opposite such Bank's name in Schedule I.

          "Current Ratio" shall mean the ratio of 
Borrower's (i) consolidated current assets to (ii) consolidated
current liabilities less current maturities of long-term debt,
both determined in accordance with GAAP.

          "Debt" shall mean all indebtedness, liabilities and
obligations of Borrower on a consolidated basis, whether matured
or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, primary or secondary,
direct or indirect, absolute, fixed or contingent.

          "Debt to Capitalization Ratio"  means, for each Fiscal
Quarter, the ratio of (a) the Debt of Borrower (excluding any
provisions for deferred taxes) to (b) the sum of (i) the Debt of
Borrower (excluding any provisions for deferred taxes) plus (ii) 
Borrower's Shareholders' Equity which on the date hereof is the
amount set forth in Schedule II hereto and shall be increased or
decreased only when Borrower notifies the Banks of such increase
or decrease; provided, however, that the Banks may make such
change without receiving notice from Borrower based on
information then available to the Banks, but the Banks will have
no obligation to do so.  As used in this definition, the term
"Borrower's Shareholders' Equity" means the remainder of (1)
Borrower's and its subsidiaries' consolidated assets minus (2)
the sum of (x) Borrower's and its subsidiaries' consolidated
liabilities plus (y) all intangible assets (as defined by GAAP)
of Borrower and its subsidiaries.

          "Deductible Lease Expenses" shall mean for the
applicable Accounting Quarter the following expenses, determined
on a cash basis, relating to the Oil and Gas Properties: (i)
costs (other than depreciation, depletion or amortization costs)
incurred to operate and maintain or, to the extent not a capital
cost, to work over, wells and related equipment and facilities,
including applicable operating costs of support equipment and
facilities, incurred pursuant to a joint operating agreement
(excluding delay rentals) including management fees assessed for
the administration of the Oil and Gas Properties; (ii) all
royalty payments and other leasehold burdens payable out of
production; (iii) all severance, ad valorem, windfall profit and
similar taxes (excluding income taxes) assessed against either
the proceeds of production or the value of remaining reserves and
related personal property; and (iv) all reasonable out-of-pocket
costs incurred to deliver the product to the purchaser or to make
it marketable (but not including capital expenditures relating to
the delivery of the product or making it marketable).  Unless
otherwise provided, Deductible Lease Expenses shall not include
expenses associated with any amortization or impairment of
capitalized costs.

          "Designation Date" and "Determination Date" shall have
the meanings set forth in the definition of LIBOR Rate.

          "Effective Date" shall have the meaning ascribed to it
in the preamble to this Agreement.  

          "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, together with
all rules and regulations promulgated with respect thereto.

          "ERISA Plan" shall mean any pension benefit plan
subject to Title IV of ERISA maintained by Borrower or any member
of a controlled group (as defined in Section 4001 (a)(14) of
ERISA).

          "Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" shall mean the maximum
reserve percentage in effect on the date the LIBOR Rate for such
Interest Period is determined under regulations issued from time
to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any
emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement)
with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including
eurocurrency liabilities (or other, like liabilities representing
offshore dollar deposits) having a term equal to such Interest
Period.

          "Event of Default" shall have the meaning set forth in
paragraph 11.

          "Excess Debt" shall mean Tranche A Excess Debt or
Tranche B Excess Debt.

          "Fiscal Quarter" shall mean a three-month period ending
on the last day of each March, June, September and December of
any year.

          "Fiscal Year" shall mean a twelve-month period ending
on December 31 of any year.

          "GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting
principles and practices as consistently applied (except as
otherwise required due to changes in GAAP) by Borrower and
certified to by the firm of independent certified public
accountants regularly employed as Borrower's auditors, such
principles and practices at all times being consistent with
requirements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board in
effect from time to time, as applicable to the nature of the
business conducted by Borrower.  If any change in any accounting
principle or practice is required by the Financial Accounting
Standards Board (or any such successor) in order for such
principle or practice to continue as a generally accepted
accounting principle or practice, all reports and financial
statements required hereunder with respect to Borrower may be
prepared in accordance with such change only after notice of such
change is given to the Agent.

          "Gross Revenues" shall mean for the applicable
Accounting Quarter and determined on a cash basis Borrower's
gross revenues from sales of oil and gas production and related
Hydrocarbons from all the Oil and Gas Properties for such
Accounting Quarter, as reflected on Borrower's unaudited
financial statements for such Accounting Quarter.

          "Hydrocarbons" shall mean oil, gas, casinghead gas and
other hydrocarbons, whether solid, liquid or gaseous, and all
other associated or related substances in, on, under or
attributed to the Oil and Gas Properties.

          "Interest Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
paragraph 2(c)(iii).


          "Initial Engineering Reports" shall mean the
engineering report concerning the Oil and Gas Properties of
Borrower located in the state of Louisiana dated April 1, 1992,
prepared by Ryder Scott as of January 1, 1992, and the
engineering report concerning the Oil and Gas Properties of
Borrower located in states other than Louisiana dated March 23,
1992, prepared by Anderman/Smith Operating Company as of December
31, 1991, true and correct copies of which have been delivered to
the Agent.

          "Late Payment Rate" shall have the meaning set forth in
paragraph 2(b)(ii).

          "LIBOR Advance" shall mean an advance on a Loan for
which the interest accruing thereon is based upon the Adjusted
LIBOR Rate.

          "LIBOR Rate" shall mean:

          (a)  the rate with respect to each Interest Period
determined in good faith by the Agent in accordance with its
usual procedures (which determinations shall be conclusive) to be
the average of the rates per annum for deposits in U.S. dollars
offered for such Interest Period commencing on the first day of
such Interest Period (the "Designation Date") to major money
center banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at
approximately 11:00 a.m. London time two business days prior to
such Designation Date (the "Determination Date") and in an amount
equal to the amount to be subject to the proposed Adjusted LIBOR
Rate for such Interest Period;  

          (b)  divided by 1.0 less the then-applicable Eurodollar
Reserve Percentage determined as of the day two Business Days
prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

          "Loan" shall mean each of the loans provided for in
paragraphs 2(a) and 2(b), together with each additional loan, if
any, made to Borrower by the Banks, at the option of the Banks,
existing as well as contemplated; collectively, the "Loans."

          "Loan Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
paragraph 2(e).

          "Loan Documents" shall mean this Agreement, the Notes
and the Security Documents.

          "Mortgage Collateral" shall mean that portion of the
Oil and Gas Properties and related interests covered by the
Mortgages.

          "Mortgages" shall mean one or more mortgages, deeds of
trust, collateral mortgages, acts of collateral mortgage,
security agreements and assignments of proceeds of even date
herewith, in favor of the Agent on behalf of the Banks, covering
certain of the Oil and Gas Properties and related interests as
described therein, together with any and all amendments and
modifications of such documents.

          "Net Oil and Gas Revenues" for the applicable
Accounting Quarter shall mean Gross Revenues less Deductible
Lease Expenses.

          "Note" shall mean a Tranche A Note or a Tranche B Note
made by Borrower and payable to a Bank, together with any and all
renewals, extensions, amendments and changes of, or substitutions
for said note, and every other promissory note, if any, executed
by Borrower in favor of such Bank; collectively, the "Notes."

          "Oil and Gas Properties" shall mean those oil and gas
properties and related interests, whether now owned or hereafter
acquired by Borrower, but only to the extent included in the most
recent reserve report delivered pursuant to paragraph 5(b) or,
until the first delivery of such report hereunder, the Initial
Engineering Reports for the purpose of determining the Aggregate
Borrowing Base.

          "Prime Rate" shall mean an annual rate which equals the
floating commercial loan rate of NationsBank announced from time
to time as its prime rate but which may not be the lowest rate
charged by NationsBank, adjusted in each case as of the banking
day in which a change in the Prime Rate occurs.

          "Prime Rate Advance" shall mean an advance on a Loan
for which the interest accruing thereon is based upon the
Adjusted Prime Rate.

          "Release Value" shall mean the present value assigned
by the Agent to any property included in the Oil and Gas
Properties to be sold by Borrower, such value to be determined by
the Required Banks upon receipt of notice of a proposed
disposition pursuant to paragraph 4 and calculated, in accordance
with the standards set forth herein for the Banks' determinations
of the Aggregate Borrowing Base, as a percentage of the total
amount determined by the Banks pursuant to paragraph 5(a)(ii) in
effect at the time of the Release Value determination, such
percentage to be equal to the proportionate value assigned to
such property by the Banks in the total paragraph 5(a)(ii)
amount; provided, however, that if at the time of the Release
Value determination there is any Excess Debt outstanding (as
determined by the Agent pursuant to paragraph 6) or there would
be Excess Debt as the result of the proposed disposition, then
the Release Value shall be an amount determined by the Agent in
its sole discretion, but in any event not to exceed the amount
necessary to eliminate any Excess Debt then existing or arising
after taking into account the sale of such property.

          "Required Banks" shall mean at any time Banks, the
Commitment Percentages of which aggregate 75 percent.

          "Revolving Loan Period" shall mean the Tranche A
Revolving Period or the Tranche B Revolving Period.

          "Security Documents" shall have the meaning set forth
in paragraph 7.

          "Shareholders Equity" shall mean consolidated
shareholders' equity, determined in accordance with GAAP.

          "Term Loan Period" shall mean the period from the
earlier of (a) July 1, 1999 or (b) conversion of the Tranche A
Loan to a term loan pursuant to subparagraph 6(a)(i)(D), through
and including June 30, 2004.

          "Termination Event" shall mean (a) the occurrence with
respect to any ERISA Plan of (i) a reportable event described in
Section 4043(b)(5) of ERISA or (ii) any other reportable event
described in Section 4043 of ERISA other than a reportable event
not subject to the provision for 30-day notice to the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation under such regulations, or (b) the
withdrawal of Borrower from an ERISA Plan during a plan year in
which it was a "substantial employer" as defined in Section
4001(a)(2) of ERISA, or (c) the filing of a notice of intent to
terminate any ERISA Plan or the treatment of any ERISA Plan
amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA, or (d)
the institution of proceedings to terminate any ERISA Plan by the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation under Section 4042 of ERISA,
or (e) any other event or condition which might constitute
grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or
the appointment of a trustee to administer, any ERISA Plan or the
imposition of any liability or lien on the assets of Borrower
under ERISA.

          "Tranche A Borrowing Base" and "Tranche B  Borrowing
Base" shall have the meanings set forth in paragraph 5(e).

          "Tranche A Excess Debt" and "Tranche B Excess  Debt"
shall have the meanings set forth in paragraph 6.

          "Tranche A Loan" and "Tranche A Note" shall have the
meanings set forth in subparagraph 2(a)(i).

          "Tranche A Revolving Period" shall mean the period from
the date of this Agreement through and including the earlier of
(a) June 30, 1999 or (b) the conversion of the Tranche A Loan to
a term loan pursuant to subparagraph 6(a)(i)(D).

          "Tranche B Loan" and "Tranche B Note" shall have the
meanings set forth in subparagraph 2(a)(ii).

          "Tranche B Revolving Period" shall mean the period from
the date of this Agreement through and including the later of
(i) March 30, 1997 or (ii) the date to which the Tranche B Loan
is extended pursuant to subparagraph 2(a)(ii)(C).

          "Unmatured Event of Default" shall mean any event or
condition which with the passage of time or the giving of notice,
or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

     2.   The Loans.

          a.   Commitment Amounts.

               i.   Tranche A Loan.  Subject to the terms and
     conditions of this Agreement, each Bank agrees to make
     advances to Borrower ("Advances"), in one or more
     increments, an aggregate principal amount not to exceed its
     Commitment Percentage of $60,000,000 (the "Tranche A Loan"). 
     That part of the Tranche A Loan made by each Bank shall be
     evidenced by a promissory note of Borrower, substantially in
     the form of Exhibit A hereto, with appropriate insertions
     therein as to payee, date and principal amount, payable to
     the order of such Bank and evidencing the obligation of the
     Borrower to pay a principal amount equal to the aggregate
     unpaid principal amount of such Bank's Commitment Percentage
     of the Tranche A Loan.  Each promissory note executed by the
     Borrower in connection with the Tranche A Loan, together
     with any and all renewals, extensions, amendments and
     changes of, or substitutions for said note, is herein called
     a "Tranche A Note" and collectively, the "Tranche A Notes." 
     Absent an Event of Default, during the Tranche A Revolving
     Period Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow under the
     Tranche A Notes in accordance with paragraph 2(c) below;
     thereafter, the Tranche A Loan will be a term loan as
     provided in paragraph 2(d) below.

               ii.  Tranche B Loan. 

                    (1)  Subject to the terms and conditions of
          this Agreement, each Bank agrees to make Advances to
          Borrower, in one or more increments, an aggregate
          amount not to exceed its Commitment Percentage of
          $30,000,000 (the "Tranche B Loan").  That part of the
          Tranche B Loan made by each Bank shall be evidenced by
          a promissory note of the Borrower, substantially in the
          form of Exhibit B hereto, with appropriate insertions
          therein as to payee, date and principal amount, payable
          to the order of such Bank and evidencing the obligation
          of the Borrower to pay a principal amount equal to the
          aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Bank's
          Commitment Percentage of the Tranche B Loan.  Each
          promissory note executed by the Borrower in connection
          with the Tranche B Loan, together with any and all
          renewals, extensions, amendments and changes of, or
          substitutions for said note, is herein called a
          "Tranche B Note" and collectively, the "Tranche B
          Notes."  Absent an Event of Default, until maturity of
          the Tranche B Notes Borrower may borrow, prepay and
          reborrow under the Tranche B Notes in accordance with
          paragraph 2(c) below.  All remaining outstanding
          principal and interest on the Tranche B Loan shall be
          due and payable no later than March 30, 1997,  unless
          extended pursuant to subparagraph 2(a)(ii)(C) below.

                    (2)  At any time and from time to time until
          the maturity of the Tranche A Notes, Borrower may
          elect, subject to the approval of the Banks in the
          exercise of their sole discretion, to convert all or
          any portion of the aggregate Commitments under the
          Tranche B Loan into additional Commitments under the
          Tranche A Loan.  Such election shall be made in writing
          delivered to the Agent and, if approved by the Banks,
          such conversion shall occur upon payment of the
          Conversion Fee described in paragraph 2(h)(v) below and
          execution by Borrower of amendments to the Loan
          Documents in form and substance satisfactory to the
          Banks.  Any and all such conversion elections shall be
          in the amount of $2,000,000 or more.  Notwithstanding
          the foregoing, if such election is made concurrently
          with a determination of the Aggregate Borrowing Base,
          such election may be in any amount not to exceed the
          limitations set forth in this Agreement and shall not
          require the payment of the Conversion Fee.

                    (3)  Within ten days after an annual 
          determination of the Aggregate Borrowing Base by the
          Banks pursuant to paragraph 5(c) during the Tranche B
          Revolving Period, Borrower may elect, subject to the
          approval of the Banks in their sole discretion, to
          extend the maturity date of the Tranche B Notes by
          180 days.  Such election shall be made in writing
          delivered to the Agent and, if approved by the Banks,
          such extension shall be effective on the later of
          fifteen days after delivery of such election to the
          Agent or the date Borrower executes and delivers
          amendments to the Loan Documents in form and substance
          satisfactory to the Banks.

          b.   Interest on the Loans.

               i.   Computation of Interest.  The Loans shall
     bear interest on the outstanding principal amounts thereof
     at the Adjusted Prime Rate for Prime Rate Advances and at
     the Adjusted LIBOR Rate for LIBOR Advances.  Interest shall
     be computed as simple interest and on the basis of a year of
     365 days for Prime Rate Advances and on the basis of a year
     of 360 days for LIBOR Advances.  Interest on Prime Rate
     Advances shall be payable in arrears on the last day of each
     calendar quarter, beginning June 30, 1996, for Prime Rate
     Advances.  Interest on LIBOR Advances having an Interest
     Period of three months or less shall be payable in arrears
     on the last day of such Interest Period.  Interest on LIBOR
     Advances having an Interest Period of longer than three
     months shall be payable in arrears on each day which is
     three months or a whole multiple thereof after the first day
     of such Interest Period and on the last day of such Interest
     Period.

               ii.  Late Payment Rate.  Notwithstanding anything
     to the contrary contained in this Agreement, overdue
     principal, and (to the extent permitted under applicable
     law) overdue interest, whether caused by acceleration of
     maturity or otherwise, shall bear interest at a fluctuating
     rate, adjustable the day of any change in such rate, equal
     to four percentage points above the Adjusted Prime Rate (the
     "Late Payment Rate"), until paid, and shall be payable
     monthly or, at the option of the holder or holders of the
     Notes, on demand.

               iii. Maximum Lawful Rate.  Notwithstanding
     anything to the contrary herein, no rate of interest
     required hereunder shall exceed the maximum legal rate
     permitted under applicable law, and if such rate is found to
     exceed the maximum legal rate, Borrower shall be required to
     pay only the maximum legal rate.

          c.   The Revolving Loan Period.

               i.   Requests for Advances.  During the applicable
     Revolving Loan Period, each Bank shall make advances to
     Borrower under such Bank's Tranche A Note and Tranche B Note
     as Borrower from time to time requests by submission to the
     Agent of a Request for Advance in the form of Exhibit C
     hereto.  Each request for a Prime Rate Advance shall be in
     an amount of at least $100,000 and each request for a LIBOR
     Advance shall be in an amount of at least $500,000, or in
     each case such lesser amount equal to the unadvanced portion
     of the applicable portion of the Aggregate Borrowing Base. 
     Each such advance shall be evidenced by the Tranche A Note
     or Tranche B Note under which it is drawn.  Borrower shall
     not make any Request for Advance that would result in more
     than three LIBOR Advances outstanding at any one time
     hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Bank shall be
     obligated to make any Advance to Borrower that would result
     in the aggregate unpaid principal balance outstanding under
     either of such Bank's Notes (including, without limitation,
     the face amount of any letters of credit issued pursuant to
     paragraph 3) exceeding the amount of such Bank's Commitment
     Percentage of the Tranche A Borrowing Base or the Tranche B
     Borrowing Base, as the case may be, then in effect.  Within
     these limits and as long as no Event of Default or Unmatured
     Event of Default exists, during the applicable Revolving
     Loan Period Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow under
     the Notes.


               ii.  Prime Rate Advances.  Each Request for
     Advance relating to a Prime Rate Advance shall be submitted
     to the Agent on or before 1:30 p.m. Dallas, Texas time of
     the Business Day immediately preceding the day such Prime
     Rate Advance is requested to be made.  Upon receipt of a
     Request for Advance, the Agent shall promptly notify each
     Bank thereof.  Not later than 11:00 a.m. Dallas time on the
     next Business Day, each Bank shall make available to the
     Agent the amount of such Bank's Commitment Percentage of the
     amount specified in the Request for Advance in immediately
     available funds.  The Agent shall on such date credit the
     account of the Borrower on the books of such office of the
     Agent with the aggregate of the amounts made available to
     the Agent by the Banks and in like funds as received by the
     Agent.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Agent shall
     receive a Request for Advance relating to a Prime Rate
     Advance by 11:30 a.m. Dallas, Texas time on a Business Day,
     the Banks and Agent shall use their best efforts to fulfill
     their funding obligations set forth in paragraph 2(c)(ii) on
     the same Business Day.

               iii. LIBOR Advances.  Each Request for Advance
     relating to a LIBOR Advance shall be submitted to the Agent
     on or before 11:00 a.m. Dallas, Texas time of the third
     Business Day before such LIBOR Advance is requested to be
     made.  Prior to such time, Borrower shall contact the Agent,
     which shall advise Borrower of the Adjusted LIBOR Rate for
     such periods as Borrower may reasonably request from among
     the following periods:  30, 60, 90 and 180 days (as
     available).  When Borrower desires to make all or a portion
     of the outstanding principal balance of a Loan subject to
     the Adjusted LIBOR Rate, the Request for Advance shall
     designate one of such periods (the "Interest Period") and
     the amount of the outstanding principal balance of such Loan
     to be subject to such designation; provided, however, that
     no Interest Period shall extend beyond the maturity date of
     the applicable Notes, and Borrower may not choose an
     Interest Period and principal amount that would result in
     the aggregate principal amount subject to the Adjusted LIBOR
     Rate at any time during the Term Loan Period being greater
     than the then outstanding principal balance under the Loans
     after taking into account all principal payments required
     pursuant to paragraph 2(d) during such Interest Period.  The
     Adjusted LIBOR Rate determined on the Determination Date in
     accordance with the foregoing provisions for such Interest
     Period shall remain in effect until the end of such Interest
     Period.  Upon receipt of a Request for Advance, the Agent
     shall promptly notify each Bank thereof.  Not later than
     11:00 a.m. Dallas time on the third Business Day after
     Agent's receipt of the Request for Advance, each Bank shall
     make available to the Agent the amount of such Bank's
     Commitment Percentage of the amount specified in the Request
     for Advance in immediately available funds.  The Agent shall
     on such date credit the account of the Borrower on the books
     of such office of the Agent with the aggregate of the
     amounts made available to the Agent by the Banks and in like
     funds as received by the Agent.  If Borrower shall not
     timely follow the procedures set forth above for the
     Adjusted LIBOR Rate to apply at any time during the term of
     a Note or shall not designate an Interest Period, the
     Adjusted Prime Rate shall apply (and Borrower shall be
     deemed to have elected the Adjusted Prime Rate until
     completion of the Adjusted LIBOR Rate election procedures
     set forth above).  The election procedures set forth above
     may be effected by telephonic communications of Borrower and
     the Agent and confirmed the same day in writing, unless the
     Agent shall request the same to be effected in writing.

          d.   The Term Loan Period.  As of July 1, 1999, the
aggregate unpaid principal amount outstanding under the Tranche A
Notes shall be the principal amount of a term loan to Borrower
with a maturity date of June 30, 2004, which principal balance
and accrued interest thereon shall be repaid to the Banks by
quarterly payments, payable on or before the last day of each
calendar quarter, commencing September 30, 1999, in an amount
equal to the greater of (i) 1/20th of the outstanding principal
amount on July 1, 1999 plus accrued interest, or (ii) 60 percent
of Net Oil and Gas Revenues during the applicable Accounting
Quarter.  All remaining outstanding principal and interest on the
Tranche A Loan shall be due and payable no later than June 30,
2004.

          e.   The Loan Date and Initial Advances.  The initial
advance under the Loans has been made on a date and at a time
(the "Loan Date") as set forth in the Original Loan Agreement. 

          f.   Payments by Borrower.  All payments of principal
and interest hereof shall be made at the Agent's  offices at 901
Main, Dallas, Texas 75202 (or at such other place as the Agent
shall have designated to Borrower in writing at least one
Business Day prior to the due date or prepayment date, as the
case may be) by 2:00 p.m. Dallas, Texas time on the date due or
the date of prepayment (as the case may be) in immediately
available funds and without set-off or counterclaim or deduction
of any kind.  Each borrowing by Borrower from the Banks hereunder
and any reduction of the Commitments of the Banks shall be made
pro rata according to the respective Commitment Percentages of
the Banks.  Each payment (including each prepayment) by Borrower
to the Agent on account of principal of and interest on the Loans
shall be distributed pro rata to the Banks according to the
respective outstanding principal amounts of the Loans then held
by the Banks.  All payments received by each Bank hereunder shall
be applied first to accrued interest as of the date of payment
and then pro rata to the outstanding principal balances of such
Bank's Notes.  If any payment to be made by Borrower hereunder or
under the Notes shall become due on a day other than a Business
Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business
Day and such extension of time shall be included in computing any
interest and fees in respect of such payment; provided, however,
that with respect to LIBOR Advances, if the result of such
extension would be to carry such Interest Period into another
calendar month, then the Interest Period shall end on the
immediately preceding Business Day.

          g.   Prepayments.

               i.   The Loans may be prepaid in whole or in part,
     without penalty but subject to the provisions of
     subparagraph (ii) below concerning prepayment of LIBOR
     Advances, at any time, and from time to time, in integral
     multiples of $50,000.  Borrower shall give the Agent one
     Business Day's notice in advance of any prepayment of Prime
     Rate Advances and three Business Days' notice in advance of
     any prepayment of LIBOR Advances.  Each prepayment during
     the Term Loan Period shall be applied to the payment of
     principal indebtedness due in the inverse order of
     approaching maturities.

               ii.  If Borrower prepays any Loan at any time that
     such Loan is bearing interest at the Adjusted LIBOR Rate on
     any day other than the last day of the applicable Interest
     Period, Borrower shall pay on demand to the Banks an amount
     sufficient to compensate the Banks for all losses and
     expenses incurred by the Banks in connection with such
     prepayment (as determined by the Banks in good faith),
     including, without limitation losses and expenses incurred
     by the Banks in connection with the reemployment of funds
     prepaid and penalty charges for the prepayment of matched
     funds.  The Banks shall use reasonable efforts to mitigate,
     and in each case shall provide to Borrower calculations of,
     any such incidental losses and expenses.

          h.   Fees.

               i.   Transaction Fee.  Borrower has paid to the
     Agent a transaction fee as set forth in letter agreement
     between Borrower and Agent dated March 1, 1993.

               ii.  Tranche A Loan Commitment Fee.  During the
     Tranche A Revolving Period, Borrower shall pay to the Banks
     an unused commitment fee on the average daily difference
     between the Tranche A Borrowing Base then in effect and the
     aggregate outstanding principal amounts under the Tranche A
     Notes (including, without limitation, the face amount of any
     letters of credit issued pursuant to paragraph 3), at the
     following annual rates, payable quarterly in arrears,
     commencing June 30, 1996 (for the period from April 1, 1996
     through June 30, 1996) and ending on June 30, 1999:

                    (1)  When Borrower's Debt to Capitalization
          Ratio is less than 50% at all times during such
          quarter:  1/4 of 1 percent per annum.

                    (2)  When Borrower's Debt to Capitalization
          Ratio is equal to or greater than 50% at any time
          during such quarter:  1/2 of 1 percent per annum.

          For the purposes of this subparagraph 2(h)(ii), any
          increase in the Tranche A Borrowing Base pursuant to
          subparagraph 5(e) shall be effective as of the first
          day of the calendar quarter in which Borrower elects to
          increase the Tranche A Borrowing Base, and any decrease
          in the Tranche A Borrowing Base pursuant to
          subparagraph 5(e) shall be effective as of the date the
          Agent actually receives notice from Borrower of such
          reduction.

               iii. Tranche B Loan Commitment Fee.  During the
     Tranche B Revolving Period, Borrower shall pay to the Banks
     an unused commitment fee on the average daily difference
     between the Tranche B Borrowing Base then in effect and the
     aggregate outstanding principal amounts under the Tranche B
     Notes (including, without limitation, the face amounts of
     any letters of credit issued pursuant to paragraph 3), at
     the following annual rates, payable quarterly in arrears,
     commencing June 30, 1996 (for the period from April 1, 1996
     through June 30, 1996) and ending on the later of May 1,
     1997, or the date to which the Tranche B Loan is extended
     pursuant to subparagraph 2(a)(ii)(C):

                    (1)  When Borrower's Debt to Capitalization
          Ratio is less than 50% at all times during such
          quarter:  1/8 of 1 percent per annum.

                    (2)  When Borrower's Debt to Capitalization
          Ratio is equal to or greater than 50% at any time
          during such calendar quarter:  3/8 of 1 percent per
          annum.

     For the purposes of this subparagraph 2(h)(iii), any
     increase in the Tranche B Borrowing Base pursuant to
     subparagraph 5(e) shall be effective as of the first day of
     the calendar quarter in which Borrower elects to increase
     the Tranche B Borrowing Base, and any decrease in the
     Tranche B Borrowing Base pursuant to subparagraph 5(e) shall
     be effective as of the date the Agent actually receives
     notice from Borrower of such reduction.

               iv.  Engineering Fee.  Borrower shall pay to the
     Agent an annual engineering fee as set forth in letter
     agreement between Borrower and the Agent dated March 1,
     1993.

               v.   Conversion Fee.  Borrower shall pay the Banks
     1/4 of 1 percent of the amount of the Commitments under the
     Tranche B Loan that are converted to Commitments under the
     Tranche A Loan pursuant to subparagraph 2(a)(ii)(C).

               vi.  Letter of Credit Fee.  The fee for issuance
     of or renewal of each letter of credit pursuant to
     paragraph 3 below shall be one percent per annum of the face
     amount of such letter of credit.  The first year's fee shall
     be payable by Borrower at the time letters of credit are
     issued or renewed.  Subsequent annual fees shall be due and
     payable on the applicable letter of credit's anniversary
     date.  Annual fees shall be prorated for any period less
     than a year that the letter of credit remains outstanding.

               vii. Facility Fee.  Whenever Borrower accepts an
     Aggregate Borrowing Base pursuant to subparagraph 5(e) in
     excess of the Aggregate Borrowing Base then in effect,
     Borrower shall pay the Banks 1/4 of 1 percent of the amount
     of such excess, payable upon the later of the effective date
     of the increase in the Aggregate Borrowing Base or the date
     Borrower accepts such increase.

          i.   Inability to Determine Rates.  If the Agent
concludes, after following the procedures set forth herein for
determining the Adjusted LIBOR Rate, that the Adjusted LIBOR Rate
for an Interest Period cannot be determined, the Agent shall
forthwith notify Borrower of such conclusion, which shall be
conclusive absent manifest error.  Upon the receipt of any such
notice, Borrower's option to specify the Adjusted LIBOR Rate
shall be suspended until the Agent shall have concluded and
notified Borrower that the Adjusted LIBOR Rate may once again be
determined, and Borrower shall follow the procedures set forth
herein for the Adjusted LIBOR Rate to apply.  During any such
period that the Adjusted LIBOR Rate shall not apply, the Adjusted
Prime Rate shall apply.

          j.   Illegality.  If at any time any applicable law or
any interpretation or administration thereof (whether having the
force of law or not) by any governmental authority charged with
the interpretation or administration thereof shall make it
unlawful or contrary to any such law for the Agent to apply the
Adjusted LIBOR Rate to any Loan, the Adjusted Prime Rate shall
apply until such time as the Agent shall have concluded and
notified Borrower that the Adjusted LIBOR Rate may apply.  At
such time Borrower shall follow the procedures set forth herein
for the Adjusted LIBOR Rate to apply.

          k.   Increased Costs and Taxes.

               i.   If at any time any applicable law or any
     interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental
     authority or interpretation by any Bank of any such law:

                    (1)  shall subject such Bank to any tax, duty
          or other charge (including, but not limited to, any tax
          designed to discourage the purchase or acquisition of
          foreign securities or debt instruments by United States
          nationals) with respect to any Loan, Advance or Note,
          or shall materially change the basis of taxation of
          payments to such Bank of the principal of and interest
          on any Note (except for changes in the rate of tax on
          the overall net income of such Bank that is imposed by
          the jurisdiction in which such Bank's principal
          executive office is located); or

                    (2)  shall subject such Bank to, impose,
          modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit
          or similar requirements against assets or liabilities
          of, deposits with or for the account of or credit
          extended by such Bank or shall impose on such Bank any
          other conditions affecting this Agreement or any Loan
          or Note;

and the result of any of the foregoing is to impose any cost upon
such Bank or increase any cost to such Bank in order to apply the
Adjusted LIBOR Rate, or to reduce the amount of any sum received
or receivable by such Bank with respect to any Loan, Advance or
Note, then, within 15 calendar days after demand by such Bank
(and from time to time thereafter as specified by such Bank),
Borrower agrees to pay for the account of such Bank such
additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Bank for
such costs imposed or reduction of amount received.

               ii.  Each Bank will promptly notify Borrower of
     any event of which it has knowledge that will entitle such
     Bank to any additional amount or amounts pursuant to the
     foregoing paragraph.  A certificate of such Bank to
     Borrower, setting forth the basis for the determination of
     such additional amount or amounts necessary to compensate
     such Bank and certifying to Borrower that such Bank has
     actually incurred such amounts with respect to advances
     under any Loan or Note shall be conclusive and binding
     absent manifest error.

               iii. Upon receiving notice from a Bank that such
     Bank's cost of applying the Adjusted LIBOR Rate has been
     increased as a result of any of the reasons specified above,
     Borrower shall have the right, subject to the terms set
     forth in paragraph 2(f) with respect to payments other than
     at the end of an Interest Period, upon giving five Business
     Days' notice to such Bank, to convert to the Adjusted Prime
     Rate.

          l.   Adjustments.  If any bank (a "benefitted  Bank")
shall at any time receive any payment of all or part of its
Loans, 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
paragraph 12(c), or otherwise), in a greater proportion than any
such payment to or collateral received by any other Bank, if any,
in respect of such other Bank's Loans, or interest thereon, such
benefitted Bank shall purchase for cash from the other Banks such
portion of each such other Bank's Loans, or shall provide such
other Banks with the benefits of any such collateral, or the
proceeds thereof, as shall be necessary to cause such benefitted
Bank to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral
or proceeds ratably with each of the Banks; provided, however,
that if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is
thereafter recovered from such benefitted Bank, such purchase
shall be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned,
to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.  Borrower
agrees that each Bank so purchasing a portion of another Bank's
Loans may exercise all rights of payment (including, without
limitation, rights of set-off) with respect to such portion as
fully as if such Bank were the direct holder of such portion.

          m.   Participations.  Each Bank shall have the right to
grant participations in all or any part of such Bank's Notes,
Advances, Loans and Commitments hereunder to one or more pension
plans, investment funds, financial institutions or similar
purchasers; provided that (i) each Bank granting a participation
shall use its best efforts to give prior notice of any such
participation, but in any event shall promptly notify Agent and
Borrower thereof, (ii) each Bank granting a participation shall
retain the right to vote hereunder, and no participant shall be
entitled to vote hereunder on decisions requiring consent or
approval of the Banks, (iii) each Bank and Borrower shall be
entitled to deal with the Bank granting a participation in the
same manner as if no participation had been granted, and (iv) no
participant shall ever have any right by reason of its
participation to exercise any of the rights of the Banks
hereunder.  The Bank granting a participation shall be
responsible for any costs arising as a result of such
participation.


     3.   Letters of Credit.

          a.   Issuance of Letters of Credit.  Upon request of
Borrower received by the Agent at least three days prior to the
date of proposed issuance, the Agent in its sole discretion
consistent with existing bank policies may issue standby letters
of credit during the Tranche A Revolving Loan Period on the form
attached hereto as Exhibit D in such amounts and under such
circumstances as the Agent deems appropriate consistent with
existing bank policies.  The Banks may elect to participate in
the letters of credit issued by the Agent up to their respective
Commitment Percentages.  The issuance of letters of credit shall
be deemed advances under the Tranche A Loan.  Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Agent shall not be
obligated to issue, extend or amend any letter of credit such
that the new letter of credit (i) would result in the aggregate
unpaid principal balance outstanding under the Tranche A Loan
(including, without limitation, the face amount of any prior
letters of credit issued by the Agent pursuant to this
paragraph 3 that are still in effect) exceeding the amount of the
Tranche A Borrowing Base then in effect, or (ii) has an
expiration date later than June 30, 2004.

          b.   Payments Treated as Prime Rate Advances.  Each
payment by the Agent under the outstanding letters of credit
shall be deemed to be a Prime Rate Advance bearing interest from
the date of such payment, shall be entitled to all of the
benefits of the Security Documents and shall be subject to all
terms of this Agreement. 

     4.   Asset Dispositions.

          a.   Mandatory Prepayments.  Borrower shall make
mandatory prepayments on the Loan upon the sales, transfers or
other dispositions of any interest in any of the Oil and Gas
Properties.  Such prepayments shall be in an amount equal to the
amount by which the aggregate outstanding principal amount under
the Notes (including the face amount of any letters of credit)
exceeds the amount determined by the Banks pursuant to paragraph
5(a)(ii) then in effect after giving effect to such asset sale,
but not to exceed the Release Value.  Sales of any Oil and Gas
Properties shall result in an automatic reduction of the amount
determined by the Agent pursuant to paragraph 5(a)(ii) equal to
the Release Value for such assets sold and, to the extent
required under the provisions of paragraph 5, in the Aggregate
Borrowing Base.

          b.   Release Values.  Upon notification by Borrower of
a proposed sale and the properties to be sold, the Agent will
provide Release Values for such properties.  Such Release Values
shall be binding upon the Agent only for a period of 90 days
after delivery thereof to Borrower, shall not be binding or
usable between the parties for any purpose other than Release
Value (and with respect to Release Value, only for the property
specified) during such 90-day period and shall not be usable
between the parties for any purpose whatsoever after such 90-day
period, including without limitation as evidence of Release Value
for the applicable property or any other property after such
period. 

          c.   Release of Liens.  Upon consummation of any sale
pursuant to paragraph 4(a), Borrower shall immediately submit to
the Banks an Asset Sales Report in the form of Exhibit E hereto
and make any required prepayments resulting from such sale, and
the Agent shall then deliver to Borrower duly executed and
acknowledged releases of the Security Documents for any property
so sold and included in the Mortgage Collateral.  Borrower shall
pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with
such releases, including without limitation attorneys' fees
incurred by the Agent for the preparation or review thereof and
filing and recording fees therefor.  Borrower shall be
responsible for all such filing and recording.  The releases
described herein shall be delivered at the closing of such sale
provided that Borrower has complied with all of its obligations
set forth in this paragraph 4(c).

     5.   Borrowing Base.

          a.   Initial Aggregate Borrowing Base;  Limitations on
Borrowing Base.  The initial borrowing base (the "Aggregate
Borrowing Base") under this Agreement on the Effective Date shall
be $25,000,000.  The Tranche A Borrowing Base (hereinafter
defined) on the Effective Date shall be $22,000,000;  the Tranche
B Borrowing Base (hereinafter defined) on the Effective Date
shall be $3,000,000.  During the Revolving Loan Period, the
Aggregate Borrowing Base shall be the lesser of (i) the sum of
the then-existing Banks' Commitments under the Tranche A Loan and
the Tranche B Loan; (ii) the amount determined by the Banks in
the exercise of their sole discretion in accordance with this
paragraph 5; or (iii) the amount requested by Borrower pursuant
to paragraph 5(e).  During the Term Loan Period, the Aggregate
Borrowing Base shall be the lesser of: (i) the aggregate
principal amount of the Tranche A Notes outstanding on the date
of the Aggregate Borrowing Base determination, or (ii) the amount
determined by the Banks in the exercise of their sole discretion
in accordance with this paragraph 5.

          b.   Engineering Report.  No later than March 1 of each
year that this Agreement is in effect, commencing March 1, 1997,
Borrower shall submit to the Banks, in a format and using the
pricing and cost assumptions and discount factors required by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, a report, prepared by a
qualified independent or in-house engineer acceptable to the
Agent, setting forth, as of December 31 of the immediately
preceding year, all of the reserves (and the future volumes of
production and revenues to be derived therefrom) attributable to
all proved Oil and Gas Properties owned by Borrower as of such
date.

          c.   Determination of Aggregate Borrowing Base.  The
Banks shall determine the Aggregate Borrowing Base (which shall
never exceed $60,000,000) as of April 1 of each year that this
Agreement is in effect, commencing April 1996, based on the value
of the Oil and Gas Properties, such value to be determined by the
Banks taking into account the reports and information provided
pursuant to subparagraphs 5(b) above and 9(b)(vi) below and any
other information provided by Borrower to the Banks pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement or otherwise acquired by the Banks,
and all other discount factors, assumptions, criteria and general
credit considerations determined as appropriate by the Banks in
their sole discretion.  In addition to the annual determinations
of Aggregate Borrowing Base set forth above, the Banks may, or
upon request by Borrower shall, determine the Aggregate Borrowing
Base two additional times during any calendar year period in
accordance with the provisions of this paragraph 5(c).  If the
Banks cannot agree on the Aggregate Borrowing Base, the Aggregate
Borrowing Base shall be based on the lowest value assigned by any
Bank to the Oil and Gas Properties as set forth herein.

          d.   Notification of Aggregate Borrowing Base.  The
Agent shall give written notice to Borrower of the amount
determined pursuant to paragraph 5(a)(ii) and the Aggregate
Borrowing Base for such period as soon as possible after it has
made such determination, but in no event later than 45 days after
receipt by the Banks of the appropriate report pursuant to
paragraph 5(b).  Until the Agent has notified Borrower of the
Aggregate Borrowing Base for such period pursuant to this
subparagraph 5(d), the Aggregate Borrowing Base shall be the
amount determined pursuant to paragraph 5 for the immediately
preceding period.

          e.   Acceptance and Application of Aggregate  Borrowing
Base.  Within ten days after the Agent has given written notice
to Borrower of the Aggregate Borrowing Base offered by the Agent
for a period, Borrower shall give Agent written notice of
Borrower's acceptance of all or a portion of the Aggregate
Borrowing Base for such period.  In such notice, Borrower shall
allocate a portion of the Aggregate Borrowing Base so accepted by
the Borrower to the Tranche A Loan (the "Tranche A Borrowing
Base") and the remaining portion to the Tranche B Loan (the
"Tranche B Borrowing Base"), provided, however, that in no event
shall (i) more than $60,000,000 of the Aggregate Borrowing Base
be allocated to the Tranche A Loan, (ii) more than $30,000,000 of
the Aggregate Borrowing Base be allocated to the Tranche B Loan,
or (iii) more than 50 percent of Aggregate Borrowing Base be
allocated to the Tranche B Loan.

     6.   Excess Debt.

          a.   Tranche A Loan.  

               i.   If at any time during the Tranche A Revolving
     Period the Agent determines that the aggregate unpaid
     principal amount outstanding under the Tranche A Notes plus
     the aggregate face amount of any outstanding letters of
     credit issued hereunder exceeds the Tranche A Borrowing Base
     then in effect (such excess is hereinafter called the
     "Tranche A Excess Debt"), Borrower shall  notify Agent,
     within 10 Business Days after notice thereof from the Agent,
     of which of the following actions Borrower intends to take
     and shall, within the applicable time period provided below
     following receipt of notice from the Agent of the existence
     of such Tranche A Excess Debt, take such action:

                    (1)  Within thirty calendar days, repay the
          Tranche A Loan in an amount equal to the Tranche A
          Excess Debt;

                    (2)  Within thirty calendar days, begin
          making equal monthly payments of principal in an amount
          sufficient to amortize the Tranche A Excess Debt within
          six months after receipt of such notice from the Agent;

                    (3)  Within thirty calendar days, provide
          additional proved oil and gas properties as collateral
          for the Loans, which properties shall be acceptable to
          the Banks in their sole discretion, shall have a value
          sufficient to increase the Tranche A Borrowing Base by
          the amount of the Excess Debt and shall not have been
          considered previously by the Banks for inclusion in the
          value on which the Borrowing Base is determined, and
          within such thirty days, execute amendments to the
          Security Documents in form and substance satisfactory
          to the Banks; or

                    (4)  Within thirty calendar days, convert the
          aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Tranche A
          Notes to a term loan, which shall be subject to the
          provisions of paragraph 2(d).

Failure of Borrower to comply with this subparagraph 6(a)(i)
within the foregoing time periods shall be an immediate Event of
Default.

               ii.  If at any time during the Term Loan Period
     the Required Banks determine that the ratio of (A) the value
     (as determined by the Agent in its sole discretion) of the
     Mortgage Collateral supporting the Tranche A Loan to (B) the
     aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Tranche A
     Notes is less than 1.5 to 1, the amount payable under
     paragraph 2(d) shall be increased, in the sole discretion of
     the Required Banks, to up to 80 percent of Net Oil and Gas
     Revenues, until the aggregate outstanding principal amount
     plus the aggregate face amount of any outstanding letter of
     credit issued hereunder is equal to the Tranche A Borrowing
     Base after which time the amount shall be reduced to the
     amount required by paragraph 2(d); provided, however, that
     in no event shall the amount payable pursuant to
     paragraph 2(d) be reduced by the application of this
     subparagraph 6(a)(ii).  Any payment made pursuant to this
     subparagraph 6(a)(ii) shall be accompanied by a Net
     Revenue/Payment calculation in the form of Exhibit F
     attached hereto.

          b.   Tranche B Loan.  If at any time the Agent
determines that the aggregate unpaid principal amount outstanding
under the Tranche B Notes exceeds the Tranche B Borrowing Base
then in effect (such excess is hereinafter called the "Tranche B
Excess Debt"), Borrower shall take one of the following actions
within three Business Days following receipt of notice from the
Agent of the existence of such Tranche B Excess Debt:

               i.   Convert the Tranche B Excess Debt to
     principal outstanding under the Tranche A Loan, and execute
     and deliver to the Banks amendments to the Loan Documents
     satisfactory to the Banks; or

               ii.  Repay the Tranche B Loan in an amount equal
     to the Tranche B Excess Debt.

Failure to timely comply with this paragraph 6(b) shall be an
immediate Event of Default.

     7.   Security.

          a.   Security Documents.  The repayment of the Loans
and all extensions and renewals thereof, and the performance of
all obligations of Borrower hereunder, shall be secured by the
Mortgages and all other security agreements, deeds of trust,
mortgages, chattel mortgages, assignments of proceeds or
production, pledges, guaranties, financing statements,
continuation statements, extension agreements and other
agreements or instruments along with any extensions, renewals,
rearrangements, amendments and restatements thereof now or
hereafter delivered by Borrower to the Agent on behalf of the
Banks in connection with this Agreement or any transaction
contemplated hereby to secure or guarantee such payment or
performance (collectively, the "Security Documents").

          b.   Filing and Recordation.  Borrower hereby
authorizes the Agent to file and record the Security Documents in
all appropriate offices and jurisdictions upon or after the first 
to occur of the following:

               i.   The commencement of the Term Loan Period;

               ii.  The aggregate amount of principal, interest,
     fees and other debt outstanding under the Loans equals or
     exceeds 50% of the amount immediately theretofore determined
     by the Banks in accordance with paragraph 5(a)(ii) and of
     which the Agent has provided notice to Borrower pursuant to
     paragraph 5(d);
      or

               iii. An Event of Default or Unmatured Event of
     Default.

The Agent shall not file or record the Security Documents except
upon or after the occurrence of one of the foregoing events. 
Such filing and recording shall be in addition to all other
rights and remedies of the Banks hereunder or under applicable
laws, statutes or equitable principles.

     8.   Representations and Warranties.  Borrower represents
and warrants to the Agent and each Bank that:

          a.   Corporate Existence.  

               i.   Borrower is a corporation duly organized,
     validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
     Delaware, and is qualified to do business as a foreign
     corporation in every jurisdiction in which the nature of its
     business or the ownership of its assets requires such
     qualification and failure to so qualify could have a
     material adverse effect on Borrower, its business,
     operations, property, prospects, assets or condition
     (financial or otherwise);

               ii.  Borrower has the power and authority to own
     the property which it owns and to carry on its business as
     such business is now conducted; and

               iii. Borrower has all franchises, permits,
     licenses and similar agreements necessary to carry on its
     business as now conducted, and has not received any notices
     of default or termination under any of such agreements.

          b.   Non-Contravention.  The execution, delivery and
performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
herein and therein will not conflict with the articles of
incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or governing
documents of Borrower, or conflict with or result in any breach
of any mortgage or lien, or any lease, agreement, instrument,
order, judgment, decree, law, rule, regulation or any other
restriction of any kind or character to which Borrower is a party
or is subject or by which Borrower or its properties are bound or
affected.

          c.   Third Party Authorization.  No consent, approval,
exemption, authorization or order of or other action by, and no
notice to or filing with, any court or governmental authority or
third party is required in connection with the execution,
delivery or performance by Borrower of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document or to consummate any transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby.

          d.   Corporate Authorization; Binding Effect. Borrower
has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents.  The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and the performance and
observance of their terms, conditions and obligations, have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action by Borrower. 
This Agreement and the Notes are, and when executed by Borrower
the Security  Documents will be, legal, valid and binding
obligations of Borrower, enforceable in accordance with their
respective terms.

          e.   Litigation.  There are no actions, suits,
proceedings or claims against Borrower or any of its properties
pending or, to the knowledge of Borrower, threatened before any
court or by or before any governmental instrumentality, which
could have a material adverse effect on the business, operations,
property, prospects, assets or condition (financial or otherwise)
of Borrower or the ability of Borrower to perform its obligations
under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.  Borrower has
provided the Agent and the Banks with a copy of Borrower's 1995
annual report with reference to certain litigation as set forth
in Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statement
contained therein.  There exists no default or breach by Borrower
with respect to any order, writ, injunction, decree or demand of
any court or governmental instrumentality, nor does the
execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the other
Loan Documents result in any such default or breach.

          f.   Taxes.  Borrower has filed all required tax
returns and paid all taxes and other governmental charges or
levies imposed upon or against its income properties, including
the Oil and Gas Properties, before the same became in default,
including without limitation, all ad valorem taxes assessed
against the Oil and Gas Properties or any part thereof and all
occupation taxes and all production, severance, windfall profit,
excise and other taxes assessed against, or measured by,
production or the value or proceeds thereof, except those being
contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, for which
adequate reserves have been set up by Borrower and for which
there is no risk of loss of any of the Oil and Gas Properties.

          g.   Liens.  All property and assets of Borrower are
free and clear of all liens and encumbrances except the liens
contemplated hereby and by the Security Documents as described
herein or therein and except easements and rights-of-way
previously existing or arising in the ordinary course of business
which have no material adverse effect on the value of such
property or the operation of Borrower's business.  If on the Loan
Date such property or assets shall be subject to a lien in favor
of a third party securing a sum of money in a definitely
ascertainable amount, the Agent shall have the right, but not the
obligation, to deduct from the amount of the initial Advances
under the Loans the full amount of the principal, accrued
interest and prepayment premium, if any, payable thereon and
obtain a release of the lien by payment of the amount deducted.

          h.   Title.  Borrower has good and marketable title to
at least 70%, and good and defensible title to at least 30%, of
the Oil and Gas Properties included in the Aggregate Borrowing
Base, subject only to such liens as are otherwise specifically
permitted hereby or in the Mortgages.  As used herein, the term
"defensible title" means title subject to minor defects and
irregularities which are not such as to be likely to interfere
materially with the benefit and enjoyment of production from the
properties.

          i.   Chief Executive Office.  Borrower's place of
business, or if it has more than one, its chief executive office,
and the place where Borrower keeps its books and records
concerning the Oil and Gas Properties (including without
limitation, the records with respect to proceeds of production
from the Oil and Gas Properties and other accounts and contract
rights), is located in Denver, Colorado and has been there for at
least four months immediately preceding the date hereof.

          j.   Use of Proceeds.  The proceeds of the Loans will
be used solely for the following business or commercial purposes: 
general working capital, repayment of existing debt, development
drilling and exploration, acquisition of oil and gas properties
and companies as otherwise permitted hereby, issuance of letters
of credit pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and other
corporate purposes in the ordinary course of Borrower's business.

          k.   Margin Stock.  In no event shall any funds from
the Loans be used directly or indirectly for the purpose, whether
immediate, incidental or ultimate, of purchasing, acquiring or
carrying any "margin stock" or any "margin securities" (as such
terms are defined respectively in Regulation U, Regulation G and
Regulation X promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System) or to extend credit to others directly or
indirectly for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any such
margin stock or margin securities.  Borrower is not engaged
principally, or as one of Borrower's important activities, in the
business of extending credit to others for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying such margin stock or margin securities.

          l.   Subsidiaries.  Borrower has no subsidiaries,
except as set forth on Exhibit G hereto.

          m.   ERISA.  No Termination Event has occurred with
respect to any ERISA Plan, and Borrower is in compliance with
ERISA in all material respects.  Borrower is not required to
contribute to, or has any other absolute or contingent liability
in respect of, any "multiemployer plan" as defined in Section
4001 of ERISA.

          n.   Security Documents.  The warranties and
representations in the Security Documents are true and correct.

          o.   Compliance with Laws.  To the best of Borrower's
knowledge, after due inquiry of appropriate persons within
Borrower, Borrower is in compliance with all laws, rules and
regulations, and determination of any arbitrator or governmental
authority applicable to or binding upon it or any of its property
or to which it or any of its property is subject, except where
failure to so comply would not have a material adverse effect on
Borrower or any of the Oil and Gas Properties.

          p.   Financial Condition.  Since December 31, 1991,
there has been no material adverse change in the business,
financial position or results of operations of Borrower or its
subsidiaries.

          q.   Default.  As of the date hereof, there exists no
Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default.

     9.   Affirmative Covenants.  Unless waived in writing by the
Required Banks, until payment in full of the Loans and
termination of all Commitments by the Banks to make Advances
hereunder, Borrower shall:

          a.   Payment and Performance of Loan.  Duly and
punctually pay or cause to be paid in lawful money of the United
States, the principal and interest on the Loans upon the dates,
at the place and in the manner set forth in the Notes, in the
Security Documents and herein, and perform and observe all other
obligations of Borrower under this Agreement and the Security
Documents.

          b.   Financial Statements.  Keep proper books of record
and account in which full, true and correct entries will be made
of all business, dealings and affairs in accordance with GAAP,
and deliver to the Banks, at Borrower's expense and in format
acceptable to the Required Banks:

               i.   Within 120 calendar days after the end of
     each Fiscal Year, complete audited consolidated financial
     statements of Borrower, together with all notes thereto, and
     unaudited consolidating financial statements of Borrower
     prepared in reasonable detail in accordance with GAAP,
     together with an unqualified opinion, based on an audit
     conducted by independent certified public accountants
     selected by Borrower and acceptable to the Bank, stating
     that such audited consolidated financial statements present
     fairly the financial position for the periods indicated in
     conformity with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with
     prior years (except as otherwise required due to changes in
     GAAP);

               ii.  Within 60 calendar days after the end of each
     Fiscal Quarter, excluding the last quarter of each Fiscal
     Year, unaudited consolidated and consolidating financial
     statements of Borrower prepared in reasonable detail and in
     accordance with GAAP;

               iii. Together with delivery of each of the
     financial statements described in subparagraphs (i) and (ii)
     above, a certificate signed by the president or chief
     financial officer of Borrower in the form of Exhibit H
     attached hereto, stating that he or she has read this
     Agreement and made all other necessary investigations,
     attesting to the authenticity of such financial statements,
     showing the calculation of and compliance with the financial
     covenants contained in this Agreement, and stating that in
     making the examination and reporting on such financial
     statements, he or she concluded that, to the best of such
     officer's knowledge, there did not exist any condition or
     event at the end of such Fiscal Year or at the time of such
     certificate which constituted an Event of Default or
     Unmatured Event of Default, or, if such condition or event
     existed, specifying the nature and period of existence of
     any such condition or event; 

               iv.  Within 60 calendar days after the end of each
     calendar quarter, production and expense reports on all
     Hydrocarbons produced and marketed from the Oil and Gas
     Properties on an aggregate basis during such quarter,
     including the quantities involved, the actual revenues
     derived and ad valorem, production and severance taxes,
     together with information reflecting on a property-by-
     property basis all material gas imbalances and other changes
     in working interests and net revenue interests of Borrower
     with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties;

               v.   Promptly after the same are filed, copies of
     all financial statements and regular, periodical or special
     reports that Borrower may make to, or file with, the
     Securities Exchange Commission or any stock exchange; and
     promptly after the same are sent, copies of all other
     information sent to shareholders;

               vi.  Promptly, such additional financial and other
     information as the Banks may from time to time reasonably
     request, including without limitation reasonable detail with
     respect to the information provided on an aggregate basis
     pursuant to subparagraph 9(b)(iv) above; and

               vii. Upon each request for an advance pursuant to
     subparagraph 2(c)(i) and on the last day of each calendar
     quarter, a certificate signed by the president, chief 
     financial officer, vice president of finance or vice
     president of accounting and administration of Borrower
     stating the Borrower's Debt to Capitalization Ratio as of
     such date and for the quarter just ended.

          c.   Preservation of Existence, Etc.  Maintain in full
force and effect Borrower's existence and good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware and its rights to transact business
in the State of Colorado and in all other states where its
activities and ownership of assets are such that qualification to
transact business is necessary under the laws of such states and
failure to so qualify could have a material adverse effect on
Borrower, its business or assets.

          d.   Maintenance of Property.  Maintain, preserve and
keep in good repair and in good working order and condition the
Oil and Gas Properties and all properties used and useful in the
business of Borrower; provided, however, that Borrower shall not
be required to maintain any nonproductive oil and gas lease
during or after its primary term so long as such lease is not
included in the Oil and Gas Properties, and provided, further,
that with respect to Oil and Gas Properties operated by third
parties, Borrower shall use its best efforts to ensure compliance
with the foregoing.

          e.   Payment of Other Obligations.

               i.   Duly and punctually pay and discharge (A) all
     taxes, assessments and other governmental charges assessed
     against or imposed upon or with respect to Borrower or its
     properties or assets prior to the date when they shall
     become delinquent, except to the extent contested in good
     faith and by appropriate proceedings; (B) all charges for
     labor, materials and supplies which if unpaid might become a
     lien against any part of the property of Borrower unless the
     same are being contested in good faith and by appropriate
     proceedings; and (C) all federal and state social security,
     worker's compensation and similar taxes, payments and
     contributions for which Borrower may be liable, before the
     same become delinquent; and

               ii.  Duly and punctually pay all debt obligations
     (principal and interest), including without limitation,
     accounts payable and lease obligations, unless the same are
     being contested in good faith and by appropriate
     proceedings.

          f.   Insurance.  Except to the extent otherwise
specifically provided in the Security Documents, keep all of
Borrower's insurable property, real and personal, adequately
insured at all times against fire and against such other risks as
are customarily insured against by similar businesses of a
comparable size, and fully insure against its employer's and
public liability risks in financially sound and reputable
insurance companies, all in such amounts and with such carriers
as are consistent with industry standards, and with agreements by
each carrier that the Agent shall receive at least 10 calendar
days' notice prior to cancellation of any such policy.  In this
regard, if the Agent so requests, Borrower shall furnish to the
Agent copies of all insurance policies relating to the Oil and
Gas Properties and shall cause the Agent to be named as loss
payee thereof on behalf of the Banks as its or their interests
may appear.

          g.   Inspection of Property, Books and Records.  Upon
reasonable notice from the Agent or the Banks, permit the Banks'
duly authorized officers, employees and agents to inspect the Oil
and Gas Properties and the other property, books and records of
Borrower and to discuss Borrower's affairs, finances and accounts
with Borrower's officers and its independent accountants, and
furnish any other data which the Banks may reasonably request,
including, but not limited to, title, geological and engineering
data, all at the expense of Borrower and at any reasonable time
and as often as the Banks may reasonably request.

          h.   Notices.  Promptly give written notice to the
Agent of any of the following:  (i) any material adverse change
in the business, property, prospects, assets, operations or
condition (financial or otherwise), of Borrower, (ii) any Event
of Default or Unmatured Event of Default, (iii) the pendency or
threat of any litigation and of any tax deficiency or other
proceeding before any governmental body or official that could
materially affect Borrower, (iv) the occurrence of any
Termination Event, (v) any dispute, claim or litigation which may
have a material adverse effect on Borrower any of the Oil and Gas
Properties, or (vi) any fact which causes or may cause the Banks
to fail to have any valid, enforceable and perfected first
priority lien on any of the Mortgage Collateral, except as
expressly permitted by this Agreement or the Security Documents.

          i.   Compliance with Laws.  Comply with all applicable
laws, statutes, rules and regulations of the United States and of
any state or municipality, and of any official, arbitrator or
governmental authority, in respect of the conduct of business and
ownership of property by Borrower where failure to comply would
have a material adverse effect on Borrower or any of the Oil and
Gas Properties.

          j.   Further Assurances.  Subject to paragraph 7(b)
hereof, promptly and, insofar as not contrary to applicable law,
at Borrower's own expense, file and refile in such offices, at
such times and as often as may be necessary, every instrument and
every amendment thereto, and take such other action, as may be
necessary or desirable to create, perfect, maintain and preserve
all liens and security interests intended to be created by
Borrower in favor of the Agent on behalf of the Banks and the
rights and remedies of the Agent thereunder, furnish to the Agent
evidence satisfactory to the Agent of all such filings and
refilings, otherwise do all things necessary or expedient to be
done to effectively create, perfect, maintain and preserve the
liens and security interests intended to be created thereby as a
lien on real property and fixtures and a security interest in
personal property and fixtures, and pay all fees and expenses
(including counsel fees) incident to this Agreement and in
compliance with this paragraph 9(j).

          k.   Maintain Mortgage Collateral.  Maintain Mortgage
Collateral having a value of 75 percent of the value of the Oil
and Gas Properties included in the Aggregate Borrowing Base.  The
value of the Mortgage Collateral and such Oil and Gas Properties
shall be the same value assigned thereto in the Banks' annual
determination of the value of all the Oil and Gas Properties
pursuant to paragraph 5(c), prior to the application of discount
factors, assumptions, criteria and general credit considerations
used by the Banks to determine the Aggregate Borrowing Base from
such value.

          l.   Ratios.  Maintain a Current Ratio of not less than
1.0 to 1.0.  


          m.   Use of Proceeds.  Use the proceeds of the Loans
only for the permitted purposes set forth in paragraph 8(j).

          n.   Shareholders Equity.  Maintain Shareholders Equity
of not less than the sum of (i) $56,000,000 plus (ii) 50% of all
net income accrued after the Effective Date plus (iii) 75% of the
consideration received by Borrower in connection with the sale,
exchange or other transfer of any equity interest in Borrower. 
For these purposes, net income shall be determined on a
cumulative basis in accordance with GAAP, except that in the
event net income is less than zero, net income shall be deemed to
be zero.

     10.  Negative Covenants.  Unless waived in writing by the
Required Banks, until payment in full of the Loans and
termination of all Commitments by the Banks to make Advances
hereunder, Borrower shall not, without the prior written consent
of the Banks:

          a.   Indebtedness.  Incur any indebtedness, direct,
contingent, secured or unsecured, except (i) the Loans;
(ii) indebtedness which is secured by property or assets other
than the Oil and Gas Properties included in the Aggregate
Borrowing Base, and for which Borrower has no personal or
recourse liability; and (iii) unsecured indebtedness not
exceeding $1,000,000 in the aggregate.

          b.   Liens.  Create, assume, incur or permit to exist
any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien or other
encumbrance upon any of the Oil and Gas Properties included in
the Aggregate Borrowing Base, whether now owned or hereafter
acquired, real or personal, except (i) the Mortgages; (ii) liens
for taxes not delinquent or being contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been
set aside on Borrower's books; (iii) operator's, mechanic's,
workmen's, materialmen's and other like liens arising in the
ordinary course of business in respect of obligations not overdue
or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate
proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been set aside
on Borrower's books; and (iv) liens supporting the indebtedness
described in paragraph 10(a)(ii).

          c.   Guaranty Obligations.  Assume, guarantee, endorse
or otherwise become liable (whether as a partner or otherwise) in
connection with the obligations or stock of any person, firm or
corporation, except (i) in the ordinary course of its business as
operator or working interest owner of any of the Oil and Gas
Properties; (ii) endorsements of negotiable instruments for
deposit or collection and similar transactions in the ordinary
course of its business; (iii) secured indebtedness of Panterra
Petroleum, a Montana general partnership ("Panterra"), pursuant
to a First Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 22, 1993,
between Panterra and NationsBank of Texas, N.A., in its
individual capacity (the "Panterra Loan Agreement"), provided
that Borrower's liability for such indebtedness shall not exceed
$15,000,000 in the aggregate; and (iv) other guaranties and
contingent liabilities not to exceed $500,000 in the aggregate.

          d.   Loans and Advances.  During the pendency of any
Event of Default or an Unmatured Event of Default or the
existence of any Excess Debt, make any loans or advances to any
person, firm or corporation, except for (i) accounts receivable
or notes receivable arising from the sale or lease of goods or
services in the ordinary course of business, (ii) as part payment
on its ordinary equipment rental, repair, replacement and
operating needs, or (iii) advances to Subsidiaries in the
ordinary course of business not to exceed $20,000 per month.

          e.   Investments; Joint Ventures.  Purchase or acquire
the capital stock of, or equity interest in, any entity, firm or
corporation, including joint ventures, except (i) in connection
with the acquisition or development of oil and gas properties or
the marketing of production in the ordinary course of its
business or (ii) provided there exists no Unmatured Event of
Default and no Excess Debt at the time of or resulting from such
action, purchases and acquisitions of such capital stock or
equity interest not to exceed $500,000 in the aggregate per year. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as there exists no
Unmatured Event of Default and no Excess Debt at the time of or
resulting from such action, Borrower is authorized to acquire
capital stock or equity interest in Summo Minerals  Corporation
or a direct property interest in any property owned by Summo
Minerals Corporation provided that the aggregate consideration
paid by Borrower for such capital stock, equity or property 
interest does not exceed the sum of $10,000,000.

          f.   Mergers and Consolidations.  Merge or consolidate
into or with any corporation or other entity, or sell, lease,
convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all
of its assets to or with any corporation or other entity except
(i) in connection with the acquisition of oil and gas properties
in the ordinary course of its business and after the consummation
of which Borrower is the surviving entity, and (ii) any
consolidated subsidiary of the Borrower may merge, consolidate or
combine with or into, or transfer assets to the Borrower,
provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation; in both cases, so long as no Event of Default has
occurred or is continuing or would be caused (including without
limitation by the passage of time or the giving of notice or
both) by the consummation of such merger or consolidation or
disposition of assets.

          g.   Change in Business.  Change the nature of the
business conducted by it or engage in a kind of business
materially different from that which it presently conducts.

          h.   Burdensome Undertakings.  Undertake, or become
contractually bound to undertake, any action not in the ordinary
course of business that would materially adversely affect its
business, properties, prospects, assets, operations or condition
(financial or otherwise); or enter into any hedging agreement, 
options trading agreement, futures trading agreement, swap
agreement (including, without limitation, any crude oil, natural
gas or other hydrocarbons swap or price swap contract) or any
other agreement or option to swap commodities or prices or hedge
or speculate against future changes in commodity prices
(collectively, "Hedging Agreements"), other than Hedging
Agreements  between Borrower and (i) Enron Capital & Trade
Resources Corp., (ii) Natural Gas Clearinghouse, (iii) N.M.
Rothschild & Son, Ltd. or (iv)  one or more financial
institutions having a credit rating of Grade A or above as
defined by Moody's Investors Service.  

          i.   Change in Location of Business.  Move its place of
business or chief executive office or the place where Borrower
keeps its books and records concerning the Oil and Gas Properties
(including without limitation, the records with respect to the
proceeds of production from the Oil and Gas Properties and other
accounts and contract rights), from one state to another without
giving the Agent forty-five days' prior written notice of the
proposed new location thereof.

          j.   New Subsidiaries.  After the date hereof, form or
acquire any subsidiary corporation except in connection with the
acquisition or development of oil and gas properties or the
marketing of production in the ordinary course of its business.

          k.   Restricted Distributions.  During the pendency of
an Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default or the
existence of any Excess Debt, purchase, redeem or otherwise re-
acquire any of its capital stock, or any warrants, rights or
options to acquire such capital stock, make any distribution of
assets or declare or pay any cash or liquidating dividends or
make any other cash distribution with respect to its capital
stock; or at any time pay any dividends or other distributions in
an aggregate cumulative amount which would exceed the sum of
$3,000,000 plus 100 percent of Borrower's net income, determined
in accordance with GAAP and computed on a cumulative basis,
earned after December 31, 1991, taking into account dividends
actually declared or made, or distributions previously declared
or made after December 31, 1991.  Nothing contained herein shall
be deemed to restrict the payment of stock dividends.

          l.   Disposition of Assets.  Sell, transfer, lease,
exchange, alienate or dispose of any of the Oil and Gas
Properties included in the Aggregate Borrowing Base or any
interest therein except as follows:

               i.   equipment which is no longer needed and is
     disposed of in the ordinary course of business, which is
     worthless or obsolete or which is replaced by equipment of
     equal suitability and value;

               ii.  inventory (including oil and gas sold as
     produced and seismic data) which is sold in the ordinary
     course of business; and

               iii. sales of Oil and Gas Properties in compliance
     with paragraph 4 above.

          m.   ERISA.  Incur any obligation to contribute to any
"multiemployer plan" as defined in Section 4001 of ERISA.

     11.  Events of Default.  The occurrence of any of the
following shall constitute an event of default ("Event of
Default") hereunder:

          a.   Non-Payment.  Failure to (i) pay any installment
of principal of the Notes, including amounts due under letters of
credit pursuant to paragraph 3(b), as and when due, or (ii) pay
as and when provided any interest on the Notes, any fee or other
amount payable hereunder or under the Notes or any of the
Security Documents within five Business Days after its due date,
or (iii) comply with the provisions of paragraph 6 within the
time periods set forth therein.

          b.   Other Defaults.  Failure to (i) comply with the
covenant set forth in Section 9(m), (ii) observe any negative
covenant set forth in Section 10; or (iii) perform or observe any
other covenant, agreement, indemnity, condition or provision in
this Agreement or in the Notes and (with respect to this item
(iii) only), provided Borrower has given notice to the Agent of
such failure immediately upon Borrower's knowledge thereof or
Agent has given notice to Borrower, such failure continues
unremedied for 30 calendar days after notice from the Agent
confirming such failure, provided, further, that if Borrower
fails to give such notice immediately upon receipt of knowledge
thereof, the grace period described in this item (iii) shall not
apply.

          c.   Representation or Warranty.  Any representation or
warranty of Borrower, whether contained in this Agreement or in
any other Loan Document or in any certificate or other writing
required or contemplated by this Agreement, shall be false or
misleading in any material respect as of the date made or deemed
made; provided that with respect to a failure of the
representations contained in paragraph 8(h) of this Agreement or
Section 2.1 paragraphs B(2) and B(3) of the Mortgages, Borrower
shall have a reasonable opportunity after notice from Agent to
mortgage to Agent substitute oil and gas properties acceptable to
the Required Banks in their sole discretion and having a value at
least equal to the Mortgage Collateral as to which such
representation failed.

          d.   Security Documents.

               i.   Occurrence of any of the events of default
     defined in any of the Security Documents.

               ii.  After delivery thereof to the Agent, the
     Security Documents shall for any reason (other than pursuant
     to the terms thereof) fail to or cease to create a valid
     security interest in the collateral purported to be covered
     thereby or such security interest shall for any reason cease
     to be a first lien and priority security interest, and,
     after filing or recording thereof, shall cease to be a
     perfected first lien and priority security interest, subject
     only to those matters expressly permitted hereby or by the
     applicable Security Document.

          e.   Judgments.  Any money judgment, writ or warrant of
attachment, or similar process in an amount of $500,000 (in the
aggregate) or more shall be entered or filed against Borrower or
any of its assets and shall remain unvacated, unbonded or
unstayed for a period of 30 calendar days, or in any event later
than five calendar days prior to the date of any proposed sale
thereunder.

          f.   Insolvency.  Borrower shall become insolvent,
admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as they mature,
or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or apply for
or consent to the appointment of a receiver or trustee for it or
for a substantial part of its property or business; or such a
receiver or trustee otherwise shall be appointed and shall not be
discharged within 30 calendar days after such appointment.

          g.   Bankruptcy.  Bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings
for relief under any bankruptcy law or any other law for the
relief of debtors shall be instituted by or against Borrower
(except for an involuntary petition against Borrower, which shall
not constitute an Event of Default if such petition is vacated or
dismissed within 15 Business Days after the filing thereof), or
any order, judgment or decree shall be entered against Borrower
decreeing its dissolution or division.

          h.   Cross-Default.  Any event of default shall occur
as to any other agreement now or hereafter existing relating to
extensions of credit in an amount exceeding $500,000 to Borrower
by the Banks or by any third party, or any event which with the
passage of time or giving of notice, or both, would permit the
holder or holders of such indebtedness to cause such indebtedness
to be declared to be due and payable prior to its stated
maturity; or the indebtedness of Panterra under the Panterra Loan
Agreement shall be accelerated by the holder or holders of such
indebtedness.

          i.   ERISA.  Any Termination Event occurs with respect
to any ERISA Plan and the then-current value of such ERISA Plan's
benefits guaranteed under Title IV of ERISA exceeds the then
current value of such ERISA Plan's assets available for the
payment of such benefits by more than $500,000 (or in the case of
a Termination Event involving the withdrawal of a substantial
employer, the withdrawing employer's proportionate share of such
excess exceeds such amount).

          j.   Loan Documents.  Any of this Agreement, the Notes
or the Security Documents shall for any reason be revoked or
invalidated, or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect,
or Borrower shall contest in any manner the validity, binding
effect or enforceability thereof. 

     12.  Remedies.

          a.   Automatic Acceleration of Loan.  Upon the
occurrence of any Event of Default specified in paragraph 11(f)
or 11(g), the obligation of the Banks to make Advances on the
Loans shall automatically terminate and the unpaid principal
amounts of the Loans, together with the undrawn amount of the
outstanding letters of credit, and all interest and other amounts
payable hereunder, under the Notes or any of the Security
Documents, shall automatically become due and payable without
further act of the Banks.

          b.   Optional Acceleration of Loan.  Upon the
occurrence of any Event of Default (other than those specified in
paragraph 11(f) or 11(g), with the consent of the Required Banks,
the Agent may or upon request by the Required Banks, the Agent
shall:

               i.   declare all or any part of the Loans to be
     forthwith due and payable, together with all accrued and
     unpaid interest thereon and all other amounts payable
     hereunder or under any Note or any of the Security
     Documents, without presentment, demand, protest or other
     notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by
     Borrower;

               ii.  declare the Commitments terminated;

               iii. take any action in order to avoid extensions
     or renewals of any letters of credit issued pursuant to
     paragraph 3 or otherwise;

               iv.  with respect to any and all letters of credit
     issued hereunder that are then partially or wholly undrawn,
     and all other contingent, unmatured or unliquidated
     obligations of Borrower hereunder, declare and require that
     cash in an amount equal to the aggregate outstanding amount
     (including an amount equal to the undrawn amount of all
     outstanding letters of credit) of all such obligations be
     immediately paid over, pledged and delivered to the Agent to
     be held as cash collateral for such obligations; and

               v.   proceed with every remedy provided for herein
     or in the Notes, the Security Documents or any contract,
     agreement or undertaking supplemental hereto and shall have,
     without limitation, all of the rights of a secured party
     under the Uniform Commercial Codes as then in effect with
     respect to any security then held for the Loans. 

The enforcement of any rights of the Agent or the Banks as to the
security for the Loans shall not affect the rights of the Agent
or the Banks to enforce payment of the Loans and to recover
judgment for any portion thereof remaining unpaid. 

          c.   Set-Off.  Upon the occurrence of any Event of
Default, each Bank shall have the right (subject to
paragraph 2(f)) at any time and from time to time, without prior
notice to Borrower (which notice is hereby waived by Borrower to
the fullest extent permitted by law), to set-off and apply any
debt owing to Borrower by such Bank, including without
limitation, any deposits (general or special, time or demand,
provisional or final) now or hereafter maintained by Borrower
with such Bank, against any and all obligations of Borrower now
or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any of the other
Loan Documents, although such obligations may be contingent or
unmatured, and for such purpose Borrower hereby grants a security
interest in and assigns to each Bank all such deposit accounts. 

     13.  Conditions of Lending.

          a.   Initial Advance.  This extension and renewal of
the indebtedness evidenced by the Loan Agreement as hereby
amended and the Loan Documents is subject to the following
conditions:

               i.   Each Bank shall have received its respective
     Notes, duly executed and delivered by Borrower.

               ii.  The Agent shall have received counterparts of
     the Mortgages covering the Oil and Gas Properties, duly
     executed and acknowledged by the Borrower, together with the
     appropriate financing statements, as may be necessary or
     advisable under applicable law in order to perfect and
     maintain, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
     the liens and security interests created thereby.  The
     Mortgages shall be in the form and substance set forth in
     Exhibit I hereto.

               iii. All warranties, representations  and
     covenants in paragraph 8 and in the Security Documents shall
     be true on the Effective Date as if then given; Borrower
     shall have performed or observed all terms, conditions and
     obligations hereunder and under the Security Documents to be
     performed or observed on or prior to the Effective Date; and
     no condition or event shall exist which constitutes an Event
     of Default or Unmatured Event of Default.

               iv.  The Agent shall have received a certificate,
     dated the Effective Date and executed on behalf of Borrower
     by its president, vice president of finance, chief financial
     officer or vice president of accounting and administation,
     in form and content satisfactory to the Agent, stating the
     substance of the foregoing subparagraph (iii).

               v.   The Agent shall have received a certificate,
     dated the Effective Date and executed on behalf of Borrower
     by its secretary or other appropriate officer, which shall
     contain the names and signatures of the officers of Borrower
     authorized to execute this Agreement, the Notes and the
     Security Documents and which shall certify to the truth,
     correctness and completeness of the following exhibits
     attached thereto:  copies of resolutions duly adopted by the
     Board of Directors of Borrower authorizing the execution of
     this Agreement, the Notes and the Security Documents and the
     consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and
     therein; copies of the articles of incorporation of Borrower
     and all amendments thereto, certified by the appropriate
     official of Borrower's state of incorporation; and copies of
     the bylaws of Borrower and all amendments thereto.

               vi.  The Agent shall have received all other
     documents and assurances which it requires or which it may
     reasonably request in connection with the transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement, and such documents shall be
     certified, when appropriate, by proper authorities.  All
     such documents and all proceedings to be taken in connection
     with such transactions shall be satisfactory in form and
     substance to the Agent.

               vii. All legal matters incident to the Loans shall
     be satisfactory to counsel to the Agent, and the Agent shall
     have received on the Effective Date the legal opinion(s) of
     independent counsel to Borrower, dated the Effective Date
     and in a form substantially similar to that set forth in
     Exhibit K attached hereto covering legal matters in
     connection with the Loans, specifically including the
     matters referred to in paragraphs 8(a)(i), (a)(ii), (b),
     (c), (d) and (e) and which opinion(s) shall cover such other
     matters as the Banks or their counsel may reasonably
     request, except opinions on title to the Oil and Gas
     Properties.

               viii.     All fees and other expenses (including
     attorneys fees) payable by Borrower under the terms of this
     Agreement and ascertainable as of the Effective Date shall
     have been paid in full; provided, however, that fees and
     expenses other than recording and filing fees to the extent
     then due and payable shall be paid in full no later than two
     Business Days after the Effective Date.  If the first
     Advances on the Loans are made simultaneously with the
     execution of this Agreement, the foregoing expenses may be
     paid out of such Advances.

               ix.  The Agent shall have received a  borrowing
     resolution on the printed form as set forth in Exhibit J
     hereto, duly executed and delivered by Borrower.

          b.   Subsequent Advances.  The obligation of each of
the Banks to make subsequent Advances under the Loans as set
forth in paragraph 2(c) and issue letters of credit as set forth
in paragraph 3 is subject to satisfaction of the conditions set
forth in such paragraph and in paragraphs 13(a)(iii), (iv), (vi),
and (viii) as of the date of such advance or issuance.

     14.  Indemnity.  Borrower shall reimburse and pay each Bank
for all fees, costs and expenses (including without limitation,
attorneys' fees, court costs and legal expenses and consultants'
and experts' fees and expenses), reasonably incurred or expended
in connection with (i) the breach by Borrower of any
representation or warranty contained in this Agreement, the
Security Documents or any other documents and instruments
evidencing, securing or otherwise relating to the Loans, (ii) the
failure by Borrower to perform any agreement, covenant,
condition, indemnity or obligation contained in this Agreement,
the Security Documents or any other documents or instruments
evidencing, securing or otherwise relating to the Loans,
(iii) such Bank's exercise of any of its rights and remedies
under this Agreement, the Security Documents and the other
documents and instruments evidencing, securing or otherwise
relating to the Loans, or (iv) the protection of the Oil and Gas
Properties and the liens thereon and security interests therein. 
Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless each Bank and persons
or entities owned or controlled by or affiliated with such Bank
and their respective directors, officers, shareholders, partners,
employees, consultants and agents (herein individually called an
"Indemnified Party," and collectively called "Indemnified
Parties") from and against, and reimburse and pay Indemnified
Parties with respect to, any and all claims, demands,
liabilities, losses, damages (including without limitation,
actual, consequential, exemplary and punitive damages), causes of
action, judgments, penalties, fees, costs and expenses (including
without limitation,  attorneys' fees, court costs and legal
expenses and consultants' and experts' fees and expenses), of any
and every kind or character, known or unknown, fixed or
contingent, that may be imposed upon, asserted against or
incurred or paid by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party on
account of, in connection with, or arising out of (a) any bodily
injury or death or property damage occurring in or upon or in the
vicinity of the Oil and Gas Properties through any cause
whatsoever, (b) any act performed or omitted to be performed
hereunder or the breach of or failure to perform any warranty,
representation, indemnity, covenant, agreement or condition
contained in this Agreement, the Security Documents or any other
documents and instruments evidencing, securing or relating to the
Loans, (c) any transaction, act, omission, event or circumstance
arising out of or in any way connected with the Oil and Gas
Properties or with this Agreement, the Security Documents or any
other documents and instruments evidencing, securing or relating
to the Loans, and (d) subject to the exceptions and limitations
contained in the Mortgages, the violation of or failure to comply
with any statute, law, rule, regulation or order now existing or
hereafter occurring, including without limitation, "Environmental
Laws" (as defined in the Mortgages) and statutes, laws, rules,
regulations and orders relating to "Hazardous Substances" (as
defined in the Mortgages).  The foregoing indemnities shall not
apply to any Indemnified Party to the extent the subject of the
indemnification is caused by or arises out of the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of that or another Indemnified
Party or a successful suit by Borrower against such Indemnified
Party.  If Borrower and the Indemnified Party are jointly named
in any action covered by this paragraph 14, the Indemnified Party
shall cooperate in the defense of such action to the extent its
own rights or defenses are not compromised thereby.  Subject to
the exceptions and limitations contained in the Mortgages, the
foregoing indemnities shall not terminate upon release,
foreclosure or other termination of this Agreement or the
Security Documents, but shall survive such release, foreclosure
or termination and the repayment of the Loans.  Any amount to be
paid hereunder by Borrower to a Bank or for which Borrower has
indemnified an Indemnified Party shall be a demand obligation
owing by Borrower to such Bank and shall bear interest at the
Late Payment Rate until paid, and shall constitute a part of the
Loans and be indebtedness secured by the Security Documents.

     15.  The Agent.

          a.   Appointment.  Each Bank hereby irrevocably
designates and appoints NationsBank as the Agent of such Bank
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and each such
Bank irrevocably authorizes NationsBank as the Agent for such
Bank, 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
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 elsewhere in this Agreement, the Agent shall not have
any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth
herein, or any fiduciary relationship with any Bank, and no
implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties,
obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or
any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Agent.

          b.   Delegation of Duties.  The 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.  The Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or
misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with
reasonable care.

          c.   Exculpatory Provisions.  Neither the Agent nor any
of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact
or affiliates shall be (i) liable for any action lawfully taken
or omitted to be taken by it or such person or entity under or in
connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except
for its or such person's or entity's own gross negligence or
willful misconduct) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of
the Banks for any recitals, statements, representations or
warranties made by the Borrower 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 the 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 the Notes or any other Loan
Document or for any failure of the Borrower to perform its
obligations hereunder or thereunder.  The Agent shall not be
under any obligation to any Bank 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 the Borrower.

          d.   Reliance by Agent.  The Agent shall be entitled to
rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any Note,
writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit,
letter, cablegram, telegram, 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
Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by
the Agent.  The 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 Agent.  The 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 Banks as it deems appropriate or it
shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Banks
against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred
by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. 
The Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in
refraining from acting, under this Agreement and the Notes and
the other Loan Documents in accordance with a request of the
Required Banks, and such request and any action taken or failure
to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Banks and
all future holders of the Notes.

          e.   Notice of Default.  The Agent shall not be deemed
to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Unmatured
Event of Default or Event of Default hereunder unless the Agent
has received notice from a Bank or the Borrower referring to this
Agreement, describing such Unmatured Event of Default or Event of
Default and stating that such notice is a "notice of default." 
In the event that the Agent receives such a notice, the Agent
shall give notice thereof to the Banks.  The Agent shall take
such action with respect to such Unmatured Event of Default or
event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required
Banks; provided that unless and until the Agent shall have
received such directions, the Agent may (but shall not be
obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such
action, with respect to such Unmatured Event of Default or Event
of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of
the Banks.

          f.   Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Banks.  Each Bank
expressly acknowledges that neither the Agent nor any of its
officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or
affiliates has made any representations or warranties to it and
that no act by the Agent hereinafter taken, including any review
of the affairs of the Borrower, shall be deemed to constitute any
representation or warranty by the Agent to any Bank.  Each Bank
represents to the Agent that it has, independently and without
reliance upon the Agent or any other Bank, 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
the Borrower and made its own decision to make its Loans
hereunder and enter into this Agreement.  Each Bank also
represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon
the Agent or any other Bank, and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to
make its own credit 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 the
Borrower.  Except for notices, reports and other documents
expressly required to be furnished to the Banks by the Agent
hereunder, the Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to
provide any Bank with any credit or other information concerning
the business, operations, property, condition (financial or
otherwise), prospects or creditworthiness of the Borrower which
may come into the possession of the Agent or any of its officers,
directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates.

          g.   Indemnification.  The Banks agree to indemnify the
Agent in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by
the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower
to do so), ratably according to the respective amounts of their
original Commitments, 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 Notes) be imposed on, incurred by or
asserted against the Agent in any way relating to or arising out
of this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any
documents contemplated by or referred to here in or therein or
the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action
taken or omitted by the Agent under or in connection with any of
the foregoing; provided that no Bank 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 the Agent's gross negligence
or willful misconduct.  The agreements in this subsection shall
survive the payment of the Notes and all other amounts payable
hereunder.

          h.   Agent in Its Individual Capacity.  The Agent and
its affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from and
generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower as
though the Agent were not the Agent hereunder and under the other
Loan Documents.  With respect to Advances made by it and any Note
issued to it, the Agent shall have the same rights and powers
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as any Bank and
may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent, and the
terms "Bank" and "Banks" shall include the Agent in its
individual capacity.

          i.   Successor Agent.  The Agent may resign as Agent
upon 10 days' notice to the Banks.  If the Agent shall resign as
Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, then the
Required Banks shall appoint from among the Banks a successor
agent for the Banks, which successor agent shall be approved by
the Borrower, whereupon such successor agent shall succeed to the
rights, powers and duties of the Agent, and the term "Agent"
shall mean such successor agent effective upon its appointment,
and the former Agent's rights, powers and duties as Agent shall
be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the
part of such former Agent or any of the parties to this Agreement
or any holders of the Notes.  After any retiring Agent's
resignation as Agent, the provisions of this subsection shall
inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be
taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents.

     16.  Miscellaneous. 

          a.   No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.  No delay on the
part of any Bank in exercising any right, power, privilege or
remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any
single or partial exercise or waiver of any right, power,
privilege, or remedy hereunder preclude any other or further
exercise of such right, power, privilege, or remedy hereunder or
the exercise of any other right, power or privilege or remedy. 
The rights and remedies of each Bank contained herein are
cumulative and not exclusive of any right or remedy which such
Bank shall otherwise have pursuant to the Security Documents, the
Note or applicable law.  The obligations of Borrower contained
herein are cumulative, and compliance by Borrower with any
covenant shall not excuse compliance by Borrower with any other
covenant.

          b.   Notices.  All notices given hereunder shall be in
writing, shall be given by certified mail, return receipt
requested, overnight courier service, telecopy, facsimile or copy
delivered by hand, and, (i) if mailed, shall be deemed received
three Business Days after having been deposited in a receptacle
for United States mail, postage prepaid, (ii) if delivered by
overnight air courier service, shall be deemed received one
Business Day after having been deposited with such overnight air
courier service, postage prepaid, and (iii) if delivered by
telex, telecopy or hand delivery, shall be deemed received on the
day the notice is sent if the sender thereof exercises reasonable
efforts to confirm receipt thereof, in each case addressed as
follows:

               If to Borrower, to:

               St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
               1776 Lincoln Street, 11th Floor
               Denver, Colorado  80203
               Attention:  Richard C. Norris
               Fax. No.:  (303) 861-0934

               If to the Banks, to:

               NationsBank of Texas, N.A.
               Energy Banking Group
               #492-49
               901 Main
               Dallas, Texas  75202
               Fax. No.:  (214) 508-1285

               with copies to:

               NationsBank Energy Group Denver, Inc.
               370 17th Street, Suite 3250
               Denver, Colorado  80202-5632
               Fax. No.:  (303) 629-6363

               Norwest Bank Colorado, National Association
               1740 Broadway
               Denver, Colorado  80274-8699
               Attention:  J.  T.  Reagan
               Fax. No.:  (303) 863-5196

Any party may, by written notice so delivered to the other,
change the address or facsimile number to which delivery shall
thereafter be made.

          c.   Counterpart Execution.  This Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts which together will be but
one and the same instrument.  This Agreement shall become
effective whenever each party shall have signed at least one
counterpart.

          d.   Governing Law; Entire Agreement.  THIS AGREEMENT
AND THE NOTES SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE CONTRACTS UNDER THE LAWS OF
COLORADO AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF SUCH STATE.  Such documents, together with the
Security Documents, constitute and incorporate the entire
agreement among the Agent, the Banks and Borrower concerning the
subject matter of hereof and thereof, and supersedes and cancels
any prior or contemporaneous agreements, oral or written, between
any or all of the Agent, the Banks and Borrower concerning the
subject matter hereof.

          e.   Amendments and Waivers.  No amendment or waiver of
any provision of this Agreement, the Notes or any of the Security
Documents, and no consent with respect to any departure by
Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless the same shall be
in writing and signed by the Required Banks.  Any waiver shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose for which given.

          f.   Inconsistent Provisions; Severability.  In case of
any irreconcilable conflict between the provisions of this
Agreement and those of the Security Documents and the Notes, the
provisions of this Agreement shall govern.  The invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement, the Notes, any of the Security Documents or any
instrument or agreement required hereunder, shall not in any way
affect or impair the legality or enforceability of the remaining
provisions of this Agreement, the Notes, the Security Documents
and any instruments and agreements required hereunder.

          g.   Costs and Expenses.  Whether or not any funds are
disbursed hereunder, Borrower shall pay all of the Banks' costs
and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation,
execution, delivery and enforcement of this Agreement, the Notes
and the Security Documents, and any amendments, waivers or
modifications thereof, including reasonable fees and
disbursements of legal counsel and other consultants hired by one
or more of the Banks in connection therewith, the costs of the
Bank's inspection of the Oil and Gas Properties and the costs and
expenses of title or lien searches and filing and recording fees
and expenses.

          h.   Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be
binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns, except that Borrower
may not transfer or assign any of its rights or obligations
hereunder without the Banks' prior written consent.

          i.   Effectiveness.  Except as set forth in
paragraph 14, this Agreement shall continue in full force and
effect so long as any indebtedness or other obligation of
Borrower to the Banks remains unpaid or outstanding or Borrower
has any right to Advances hereunder.

          j.   Waivers of Jury Trial.  The Borrower, the Agent
and the Banks hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive trial
by jury in any legal action or proceeding relating to this
Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document and for any
counterclaim thereon.

          k.   Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules.  All
Exhibits and Schedules attached to this Agreement are a part
hereof for all purposes.

          l.   References and Titles.  All references in this
Agreement to Exhibits, Schedules, paragraphs, subparagraphs, and
other subdivisions refer to the Exhibits, Schedules, paragraphs,
subparagraphs and other subdivisions of this Agreement unless
expressly provided otherwise.  Headings are for convenience only
and do not constitute any part of such subdivisions and shall be
disregarded in construing the language contained in such
subdivisions.  The words "this Agreement," "this instrument,"
"herein," "hereof," "hereby," "hereunder" and words of similar
import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular subdivision unless expressly so limited.

          m.   Ratification.  The Loan Agreement and all other
Loan Documents as expressly restated or amended in connection
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect.  The Loan Agreement and all other rights
and powers created thereunder or under any of the other prior
Loan Documents as expressly restated, amended or reaffirmed in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents are in all respects ratified, confirmed
and continued in effect.  The liens and security interests
created under the original Security Documents are in all respects
brought forward, continued, ratified and reaffirmed as security
for all obligations under this Agreement.

     EXECUTED to be effective as of the day and year first above
written.

                                   ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION
                                   COMPANY



                                   By:                            
 
                                        David L. Henry, 
                                        Chief Financial Officer
                                        Vice President, Finance



                                   NATIONSBANK OF TEXAS, N.A.



                                   By:                            
        
                                   Michele L. Jones, 
                                   Vice President



                                   NORWEST BANK COLORADO,
                                   NATIONAL ASSOCIATION



                                   By:                            
        
                                        J.  T.  Reagan,
                                        Vice President



                                SCHEDULE I

                             Bank Commitments







Commitments



Name                               Tranche        Tranche
of                  Commitment        A             B
Bank                Percentage       Loan          Loan     



NationsBank         55%            $33,000,000    $16,500,000 


Norwest             45%            $27,000,000    $13,500,000








                               SCHEDULE II

                      Borrower's Shareholders' Equity


     Borrower's Shareholder's Equity as of April 1, 1996, the
date of the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, is $66,455,000.

                             LIST OF EXHIBITS





Exhibit    Title 


A         Form of Tranche A Note


B         Form of Tranche B Note


C         Request for Advance


D         Form of Standby Letter of Credit


E         Asset Sales Report


F         Net Revenue/Payment Calculation


G         Subsidiaries


H         Compliance Certificate


I         Form of Mortgage


J         Borrowing Resolution


K         Borrower's Form of Opinion



<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT A
                         (Form of Tranche A Note)

                              PROMISSORY NOTE

$______________                                           
Denver, Colorado
                                                             
April 1, 1996


     ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY, a Delaware corporation
("Borrower"), with an address of 1776 Lincoln Street, Denver,
Colorado 80203, for value received, hereby promises to pay to the
order of _______________________________, a national banking
association (the "Bank"), at the office of NationsBank of Texas,
N.A. at 901 Main, Dallas, Texas 75202, on or before June 30, 2004
(the "Maturity Date"), the principal sum of $_________________,
or so much thereof as may be advanced by the Bank pursuant to the
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement of even date herewith among
Borrower and each of the banks or financial institutions which is
or may from time to time become a signatory thereto, NationsBank
of Texas, N.A., as a bank and as agent for such banks and Norwest
Bank Colorado, National Association (successor to Norwest Bank
Denver, National Association) (as amended and restated, the "Loan
Agreement"), together with interest on the outstanding unpaid
principal balance at the rate provided below.  Such principal
amount shall be payable at the times and in the amounts set forth
in the Loan Agreement.

     This Note is given in extension,  renewal and increase of
the original Promissory Note dated March 1, 1993, as amended by
First Amendment to Promissory Note dated effective as of April 1,
1995, and is issued pursuant to and subject to the terms and
provisions of the Loan Agreement.  Except as otherwise defined
herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings
assigned in the Loan Agreement.

     The outstanding principal amount of this Note shall be
payable as provided in the Loan Agreement.  The entire
outstanding principal balance of this Note shall be due on the
Maturity Date (unless payable sooner pursuant to the terms of the
Loan Agreement), and shall bear interest initially at the
Adjusted Prime Rate for Prime Rate Advances and at the Adjusted
LIBOR Rate for LIBOR Advances.  Interest shall accrue daily and
shall be calculated and payable as provided in the Loan
Agreement.

     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Note, overdue principal, and (to the extent permitted under
applicable law) overdue interest, whether caused by acceleration
of maturity or otherwise, shall bear interest at the Late Payment
Rate and shall be payable on the last day of each calendar month
or, at the option of the holder hereof, on demand.


     This Note is secured by, and the holder of this Note is
entitled to the benefits of, the "Security Documents" (as defined
in the Loan Agreement).  Reference is made to the Security
Documents for a description of the property covered thereby and
the rights, remedies and obligations of the holder hereof in
respect thereto.

     The Bank shall maintain a record of all advances and
payments made and letters of credit issued under this Note until
June 30, 1999, as set forth on Schedule I hereto, which record
shall be prima facie evidence of the matters set forth therein
for all purposes, provided, however that the failure, error or
omission by the Bank to maintain such a record shall not diminish
or otherwise affect the obligation of Borrower to repay the Loan
and any other amounts due to the Bank.

     Time is of the essence hereof.  In the event of (a) any
default in any payment when due of the principal of this Note
when due and payable or the payment of interest on this Note, or
(b) any other "Event of Default" (as such term is defined in the
Loan Agreement), then the whole principal sum of this Note plus
accrued interest and all other obligations of Borrower to holder,
direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, now existing or
hereafter arising, shall, automatically if it is an Event of
Default described in paragraph 11(f) or 11(g) of the Loan
Agreement, or at the option of the Bank as to any other event
referred to above, become immediately due and payable without
notice or demand, and any or all of the rights and remedies
provided herein and in the Loan Agreement and the Security
Documents, as they may be amended, modified or supplemented from
time to time may be exercised by the Bank.

     If Borrower fails to pay any amount due under this Note and
the Bank has to take any action to collect the amount due or to
exercise its rights under the Security Documents, including
without limitation retaining attorneys for collection of this
Note, or if any suit or proceeding is brought for the recovery of
all or any part of or for protection of the indebtedness or to
foreclose the Security Documents or to enforce the Bank's rights
under the Security Documents, then Borrower agrees to pay on
demand all reasonable and out-of-pocket costs and expenses of any
such action to collect, suit or proceeding, or any appeal of any
such suit or proceeding, incurred by the Bank, including without
limitation the fees and disbursements of the Bank's attorneys and
their staff.

     Borrower waives presentment, notice of dishonor, notice of
acceleration and protest, and assents to any extension of time
with respect to any payment due under this Note, to any
substitution or release of collateral and to the addition or
release of any party, except as provided in the Loan Agreement. 
No waiver of any payment or other right under this Note shall
operate as a waiver of any other payment or right.


     If any provision in this Note shall be held invalid, illegal
or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality or
enforceability of any defective provisions shall not be in any
way affected or impaired in any other jurisdiction.

     No delay or failure of the holder of this Note in the
exercise of any right or remedy provided for hereunder shall be
deemed a waiver of such right by the holder hereof, and no
exercise of any right or remedy shall be deemed a waiver of any
other right or remedy that the holder may have.

     It is the intention of Borrower and the Bank to conform
strictly to applicable usury laws.  Accordingly, if the
transactions contemplated hereby would be usurious under
applicable law (including the laws of the United States of
America), then, in that event, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein or in any agreement entered into in connection
with or as security for this Note, it is agreed as follows: 
(i) the aggregate of all consideration which constitutes interest
under applicable law that is taken, reserved, contracted for,
charged or received under this Note or under any of the other
aforesaid agreements or otherwise in connection with this Note
shall under no circumstances exceed the maximum amount of
interest allowed by applicable law, and any excess shall be
canceled automatically and, if theretofore paid, shall be
credited on this Note by the holder hereof (or, to the extent
that this Note shall have been or would thereby be paid in full,
refund to Borrower); and (ii) in the event that maturity of this
Note is accelerated by reason of an election by the holder hereof
resulting from any default hereunder or otherwise, or in the
event of any required or permitted prepayment, then such
consideration that constitutes interest may never include more
than the maximum amount allowed by applicable law, and excess
interest, if any, provided for in this Note or otherwise shall be
canceled automatically as of the date of such acceleration or
prepayment and, if theretofore paid, shall be credited on this
Note (or, to the extent that this Note shall have been or would
thereby be paid in full, refunded to Borrower).

     This Note shall be construed in accordance with and governed
by the laws of the State of Colorado and of the United States of
America.  If, at any time, Texas law is determined to be
applicable to this Note, Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 5069
Ch. 15, as amended (which regulates certain revolving credit loan
accounts and revolving triparty accounts) shall not apply hereto;
and unless changed in accordance with law, the applicable rate
ceiling shall be the indicated (weekly) rate ceiling from time to
time in effect, as provided in Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann.
art. 5069-1.04, as amended.

     All notices given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
given as provided in paragraph 16(b) of the Loan Agreement.

     At the option of the holder hereof, an action may be brought
to enforce this Note in the District Court in and for the City
and County of Denver, State of Colorado, in the United States
District Court for the District of Colorado or in any other court
in which venue and jurisdiction are proper.  Borrower and all
signers or endorsers hereof consent to venue and jurisdiction in
the District Court in and for the City and County of Denver,
State of Colorado and in the United States District Court for the
District of Colorado and to jurisdiction and service of process
under Sections 13-1-124(1)(a) and 13-1-125, Colorado Revised
Statutes (1973), as amended, in any action commenced to enforce
this Note.

                           ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY


                           
                           By:____________________
                                 David L. Henry
                                 Chief Financial Officer and
                                 Vice President, Finance


                       Schedule I to Promissory Note


        Principal
         Amount     LIBOR                           Outstanding
       of Advance    or       LIBOR     Amount of    Principal
 Date    or L/C               Prime      Period       Payment     
        Balance   
                                 EXHIBIT B
                         (Form of Tranche B Note)

                              PROMISSORY NOTE
$_____________                                            
Denver, Colorado
                                                             
April 1, 1996

            ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY, a Delaware
corporation ("Borrower"), with an address of 1776 Lincoln Street,
Denver, Colorado 80203, for value received, hereby promises to
pay to the order of ________________________________, a national
banking association (the "Bank"), at the office of NationsBank of
Texas, N.A. at 901 Main, Dallas, Texas 75202, on or before March
30, 1997 (the "Maturity Date"), the principal sum of
$_____________, or so much thereof as may be advanced by the Bank
pursuant to the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement of even date
herewith among Borrower and each of the banks or financial
institutions which is or may from time to time become a signatory
thereto, NationsBank of Texas, N.A., as a bank and as agent for
such banks and Norwest Bank Colorado, National Association
(successor to Norwest Bank Denver, National Association) (as
amended and restated, the "Loan Agreement"), together with
interest on the outstanding unpaid principal balance at the rate
provided below.  Such principal amount shall be payable at the
times and in the amounts set forth in the Loan Agreement.

            This Note is given in extension, renewal and increase
of the original Promissory Note dated March 1, 1993 as amended by
First Amendment to Promissory Note dated effective as of February
25, 1994, Second Amendment to Promissory Note dated effective
December 1, 1994, and Third Amendment to Promissory Note dated
effective as of April 1, 1995, and is issued pursuant to and
subject to the terms and provisions of the Loan Agreement. 
Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein
shall have the meanings assigned in the Loan Agreement.

            The outstanding principal amount of this Note shall
be payable as provided in the Loan Agreement.  The entire
outstanding principal balance of this Note shall be due on the
Maturity Date (unless payable sooner pursuant to the terms of the
Loan Agreement) and shall bear interest initially at the Adjusted
Prime Rate for Prime Rate Advances and at the Adjusted LIBOR Rate
for LIBOR Advances.  Interest shall accrue daily and shall be
calculated and payable as provided in the Loan Agreement.

            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Note, overdue principal, and (to the extent permitted under
applicable law) overdue interest, whether caused by acceleration
of maturity or otherwise, shall bear interest at the Late payment
Rate and shall be payable on the last day of each calendar month
or, at the option of the holder hereof, on demand.

            This Note is secured by, and the holder of this Note
is entitled to the benefits of, the "Security Documents" (as
defined in the Loan Agreement).  Reference is made to the
Security Documents for a description of the property covered
thereby and the rights, remedies and obligations of the holder
hereof in respect thereto.

            The Bank shall maintain a record of all advances and
payments made until the Maturity Date, as set forth on Schedule I
hereto, which record shall be prima facie evidence of the matters
set forth therein for all purposes, provided,  however that the
failure, error or omission by the Bank to maintain such a record
shall not diminish or otherwise affect the obligation of Borrower
to repay the Loan and any other amounts due to the Bank.

            Time is of the essence hereof.  In the event of (a)
any default in any payment when due of the principal of this Note
when due and payable or the payment of interest on this Note, or
(b) any other "Event of Default" (as such term is defined in the
Loan Agreement), then the whole principal sum of this Note plus
accrued interest and all other obligations of Borrower to holder,
direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, now existing or
hereafter arising, shall, automatically if it is an Event of
Default described in paragraph 11(f) or 11(g) of the Loan
Agreement, or at the option of the Bank as to any other event
referred to above, become immediately due and payable without
notice or demand, and any or all of the rights and remedies
provided herein and in the Loan Agreement and the Security
Documents, as they may be amended, modified or supplemented from
time to time may be exercised by the Bank.

            If Borrower fails to pay any amount due under this
Note and the Bank has to take any action to collect the amount
due or to exercise its rights under the Security Documents,
including without limitation retaining attorneys for collection
of this Note, or if any suit or proceeding is brought for the
recovery of all or any part of or for protection of the
indebtedness or to foreclose the Security Documents or to enforce
the Bank's rights under the Security Documents, then Borrower
agrees to pay on demand all reasonable and out-of-pocket costs
and expenses of any such action to collect, suit or proceeding,
or any appeal of any such suit or proceeding, incurred by the
Bank, including without limitation the fees and disbursements of
the Bank's attorneys and their staff.

            Borrower waives presentment, notice of dishonor,
notice of acceleration and protest, and assents to any extension
of time with respect to any payment due under this Note, to any
substitution or release of collateral and to the addition or
release of any party, except as provided in the Loan Agreement. 
No waiver of any payment or other right under this Note shall
operate as a waiver of any other payment or right.


            If any provision in this Note shall be held invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity,
legality or enforceability of any defective provisions shall not
be in any way affected or impaired in any other jurisdiction.

            No delay or failure of the holder of this Note in the
exercise of any right or remedy provided for hereunder shall be
deemed a waiver of such right by the holder hereof, and no
exercise of any right or remedy shall be deemed a waiver of any
other right or remedy that the holder may have.

            It is the intention of Borrower and the Bank to
conform strictly to applicable usury laws.  Accordingly, if the
transactions contemplated hereby would be usurious under
applicable law (including the laws of the United States of
America), then, in that event, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein or in any agreement entered into in connection
with or as security for this Note, it is agreed as follows: 
(i) the aggregate of all consideration which constitutes interest
under applicable law that is taken, reserved, contracted for,
charged or received under this Note or under any of the other
aforesaid agreements or otherwise in connection with this Note
shall under no circumstances exceed the maximum amount of
interest allowed by applicable law, and any excess shall be
canceled automatically and, if theretofore paid, shall be
credited on this Note by the holder hereof (or, to the extent
that this Note shall have been or would thereby be paid in full,
refund to Borrower); and (ii) in the event that maturity of this
Note is accelerated by reason of an election by the holder hereof
resulting from any default hereunder or otherwise, or in the
event of any required or permitted prepayment, then such
consideration that constitutes interest may never include more
than the maximum amount allowed by applicable law, and excess
interest, if any, provided for in this Note or otherwise shall be
canceled automatically as of the date of such acceleration or
prepayment and, if theretofore paid, shall be credited on this
Note (or, to the extent that this Note shall have been or would
thereby be paid in full, refunded to Borrower).

            This Note shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of Colorado and of the United
States of America.  If, at any time, Texas law is determined to
be applicable to this Note, Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 5069
Ch. 15, as amended (which regulates certain revolving credit loan
accounts and revolving triparty accounts) shall not apply hereto;
and unless changed in accordance with law, the applicable rate
ceiling shall be the indicated (weekly) rate ceiling from time to
time in effect, as provided in Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann.
art. 5069-1.04, as amended.

            All notices given hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be given as provided in paragraph 16(b) of the Loan
Agreement.

            At the option of the holder hereof, an action may be
brought to enforce this Note in the District Court in and for the
City and County of Denver, State of Colorado, in the United
States District Court for the District of Colorado or in any
other court in which venue and jurisdiction are proper.  Borrower
and all signers or endorsers hereof consent to venue and
jurisdiction in the District Court in and for the City and County
of Denver, State of Colorado and in the United States District
Court for the District of Colorado and to jurisdiction and
service of process under Sections 13-1-124(1)(a) and 13-1-125,
Colorado Revised Statutes (1973), as amended, in any action
commenced to enforce this Note.

                         ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY


                         By:                                      
                                                   
                                David L. Henry
                               Chief Financial Officer and
                               Vice President, Finance


Schedule I to Promissory Note




                                 EXHIBIT C

                            REQUEST FOR ADVANCE


     Reference is made to that certain Amended and Restated Loan
Agreement dated as April 1, 1996,  (as from time to time amended,
the "Agreement"), among St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
("Borrower"), each of the banks or financial institutions which
is or may from time to time become a signatory thereto
(individually, a "Bank" and collectively, the "Banks"),
NationsBank of Texas, N.A., as agent for the Banks, and as a
Bank, and Norwest Bank Colorado, National Association. 
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings assigned to them in the Agreement.  Pursuant to the
terms of the Agreement, Borrower hereby requests the Banks to
make an advance to Borrower in the amount of $______________,
such advance being evidenced by the Notes, and specifies
___________, 199__, as the date Borrower desires for the Banks to
make such advance.  Borrower desires such advance to be:

               __________     a Prime Rate Advance

               __________     a LIBOR Advance

                         ________ Designated Period:  ____ days
                         ________ Interest Rate:  ______

     Borrower and the officer of Borrower signing this instrument
hereby certify that:

          (a)  Such officer is the duly elected, qualified and
acting officer of Borrower as indicated below such officer's
signature hereto.

          (b)  The representations and warranties of Borrower set
forth in the Agreement and the Security Documents delivered to
the Banks are true and correct on and as of the date hereof
(except to the extent that the facts on which such
representations and warranties are based have been changed by the
transactions contemplated by the Agreement), with the same effect
as though such representations and warranties had been made on
and as of the date hereof.  

          (c)  There does not exist on the date hereof any
condition or event which constitutes an Event of Default or an
Unmatured Event of Default which has not been waived in writing
by the Banks; nor will any such Event of Default or Unmatured
Event of Default exist upon Borrower's receipt and application of
the advance requested hereby.  Borrower will use the advance
hereby requested in compliance with the Agreement.

          (d)  Borrower has performed and complied with all
agreements and conditions in the Agreement required to be
performed or complied with by Borrower on or prior to the date
hereof (except those waived in writing by the Banks), and each of
the conditions precedent to advances contained in the Agreement
remains satisfied in all material respects.

          (e)  On the date hereof, the Debt to Capitalization
Ratio is ______________.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this instrument is executed as of
_____________, 199__.

                                   ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION
                                   COMPANY



                                   By:                            
        
                                                                  
        
                                        Title:                    
        


                                 EXHIBIT D

                     Form of Standby Letter of Credit


                                 EXHIBIT E

                            ASSET SALES REPORT


                                   Date of Report: __________




Property Description:
                       
                       
      




1. Gross Proceeds:

           
           
  




2. Sale Expenses:





3. Net Proceeds:



          
          
 


4. Current amount under Loan Agreement para. 5(a)(ii) (or initial
Aggregate Borrowing Base, if still in effect): 


           
           
  





5. Release Value: (           )



6.  Revised Aggregate Borrowing Base or para. 5(a)(ii) amount (4
minus 5):




          
          
 


7. Debt Outstanding: 


          
          
 


8. Required Payment (7 minus 6; if zero or less, enter "None"):

           
           






                                 EXHIBIT F

                 Calculation of Net Revenues and Payments


Accounting Quarter/Year:____________

Payment Quarter/Year:_______________




1. Gross Revenues $         
      


2. Less Deductible Lease Expenses:

a.   Lease Operating Expenses

b.   Royalties and lease burdens

c.   Production Taxes

d.   Transportation and processing costs


3. Net Oil and Gas Revenues (1 minus 2)
          
        


4. Dedication Rate       %


5. Calculated Payment Amount $         
       



                                 EXHIBIT G

                           LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES


     1.   Subsidiaries of Borrower:

          a.   St. Mary Minerals Inc.

          b.   Parish Corporation

          c.   St. Mary Operating Company

     2.   Subsidiaries of Parish Corporation

          a.   Chelsea Corporation

          b.   Lucy Corporation

          c.   Natasha Corporation


                                 EXHIBIT H

                           OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE
                   As Required Under Paragraph 9(b)(iii)
                           of the Loan Agreement
                          Dated __________, 199_


     The undersigned officer of St. Mary Land & Exploration
Company ("Borrower") pursuant to Section 9(b)(iii) of the Loan
Agreement dated as of April 1, 1996, (the "Loan Agreement") among
Borrower and each of the banks or financial institutions which is
or may from time to time become a signatory thereto
(individually, a "Bank" and collectively, the "Banks"),
NationsBank of Texas, N.A., as agent for the Banks and as a Bank,
and Norwest Bank Colorado, National Association, hereby certifies
as follows:

     Computations showing compliance as of ________, 199_ with:

     1.   [Section 9(l) Current Ratio]

          (a)  Minimum per agreement              ___________
          (b)  Actual                             ___________

     2.   [Section 9(n): Stockholders Equity]

          (a)  Minimum per agreement              $__________
          (b)  Actual                             ___________

     3.   The undersigned hereby certifies that the attached
financial statements are true, correct and complete to the best
of his/her knowledge and belief after due inquiry.

     4.   The undersigned has read the covenants and conditions
of the Loan Agreement to which this Certificate relates; this
Certificate is based upon an examination of the Loan Agreement
and of the accounts and other pertinent records of the Company.

     5.   In the opinion of the undersigned, he/she has made such
examination and investigation as is necessary to enable him/her
to express an informed opinion as to whether or not the covenants
and conditions of the Agreement as to which this Certificate
relates have been complied with, and, to the best of his/her
knowledge: (check either (a) or (b))

     ( )  (a)  There exists no Event of Default or unmatured
               Event of Default on the date hereof.

     ( )  (b)  There exists no default or Event of Default or
               Unmatured Event of Default on the date hereof
               except for the following matters: (Describe all
               such matters, specifying the nature, duration and
               status thereof and what action Borrower has taken
               or proposes to take with respect thereto).


                                                                  
        
                                   Name

                                                                  
        
                                   Title

                                                                  
        
                                   Date

                                 EXHIBIT I

                             Form of Mortgage


                                 EXHIBIT J

                               [Printed Form
                           Borrowing Resolution]


                                EXHIBIT "K"


                             __________, 1996    Draft      
                                                 5-22-96 of 
                                                 Borrowers form
                                                 of opinion

NationsBank of Texas, N.A.
Energy Banking Group
#492-49
901 Main
Dallas, Texas 75202
Attention: Michele L. Jones

Norwest Bank Denver, National Association 
1740 Broadway
Denver, Colorado 80274-8699
Attention:  J. T. Reagan

     Re:  Loan Agreement dated as of April 1, 1996

Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to St. Mary Land & Exploration
Company, a Delaware corporation ("Borrower"), in connection with
the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (the "Agreement") , dated
as of April 1, 1996, and the other Loan Documents, as defined in
such Agreement, between Borrower and NationsBank of Texas, N.A.
and Norwest Bank of Colorado, National Association and such other
lenders, if any, which may become participants thereunder (the
"Lenders").  While this firm represents Borrower on a regular
basis, our engagement has been limited to specific matters as to
which we have been consulted by Borrower. This opinion of counsel
is being delivered to you pursuant to paragraph 13(a)(vii) of the
Agreement.  Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings given to such terms in the Agreement.

     In our capacity as such counsel, we have examined the
originals, or copies identified to our satisfaction as being true
copies, of such records, documents and other instruments as in
our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render
the opinions expressed below.

     Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the limitations,
qualifications and exceptions set forth herein, it is our opinion
that:

          (a)  (i) Borrower is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware, and is qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation in every jurisdiction in which the nature of its
business or the ownership of its assets requires such
qualification and failure to so qualify could have a material
adverse effect on Borrower, its business, operations, property,
prospects, assets or condition (financial or otherwise); and (ii)
Borrower has the power and authority to own the property which it
owns and to carry on its business as such business is now
conducted.

          (b)  The execution, delivery and performance by
Borrower of the Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated therein will not
conflict with the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other
organizational or governing documents of Borrower, conflict with
any law, rule or regulation to which Borrower is subject, or to
the best of our knowledge conflict with or result in any breach
of any mortgage or lien, or any lease, agreement, instrument,
order, judgment, decree, or any other restriction of any kind or
character to which Borrower is a party or is subject or by which
Borrower or its properties are bound or affected.

          (c)  No consent, approval, exemption, authorization or
order of or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any
court or governmental authority or to the best of our knowledge
any third party is required in connection with the execution,
delivery or performance by Borrower of the Agreement or any other
Loan Document or to consummate any transactions contemplated
thereby.

          (d)  Borrower has full power and authority to enter
into the Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  The execution
and delivery of the Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and
the performance and observance of their terms, conditions and
obligations, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action by Borrower.  The Agreement and the Notes are, and when
executed by Borrower the Security Documents will be, legal, valid
and binding obligations of Borrower, enforceable in accordance
with their respective terms, except as such validity, binding
effect and enforceability may be limited or affected by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights or general principles of equity.

          (e)  To the best of our knowledge there are no actions,
suits, proceedings or other claims against Borrower or any of its
properties pending or threatened before any court or by or before
any governmental instrumentality, which could have a material
adverse effect on the business, operations, property, prospects,
assets or condition (financial or otherwise) of Borrower or the
ability of Borrower to perform its obligations under the
Agreement or the other Loan Documents.  To the best of our
knowledge, there exists no default or breach by Borrower with
respect to any order, writ, injunction, decree or demand of any
court or governmental instrumentality, nor does the execution,
delivery or performance of the Agreement or the other Loan
Documents result in any such default or breach.  The knowledge
referred to herein is in each instance without any independent
investigation and is derived solely from a review of our records
of matters on which we have been retained to represent or advise
the Borrower.  We have not been retained to represent the
Borrower for all of its litigation matters.  The Borrower has
provided you with a copy of Borrower's 1995 annual report with
reference to certain litigation as set forth in Note 7 of the
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained therein. 
There may be written agreements or instruments affecting the
Borrower, or claims or possible claims by or against the Borrower
or regulatory authorities with jurisdictions over the Borrower,
of which we have no knowledge.  We have made no independent
investigation to verify the accuracy or completeness of our
knowledge, and in particular we have not conducted searches in
the public records of any Court or any federal, state, municipal
or other governmental department, commission, board, agency or
instrumentality.

     Our opinions are subject to the following qualifications:

          1.   Except for the limited opinion expressed
inparagraph (d) above, we express no opinion as to Borrower's
rights in or title to the Oil and Gas Properties and we have not
independently investigated the status of Borrower's title to the
Oil and Gas Properties.

          2.   Except for the limited opinion expressed in
paragraph (d) above, we have not independently investigated any
real property records, fixture filings or UCC records naming
Borrower as debtor, and we express no opinion with respect to the
priority of the security interest in favor of the Lenders in the
Oil and Gas Properties.

          3.   We express no opinion as to any laws other than
the laws of the State of Colorado and the federal laws of the
United States.

          4.   This opinion is rendered as of the above date, and
we do not undertake to advise you of matters which may come to
our attention after the above date which may affect the opinions
expressed herein.

     This opinion is solely for the purposes contemplated by the
Agreement.  Without our prior written consent, this opinion may
not be utilized for any other purpose, nor may this opinion be
quoted in whole or in part or otherwise referred to in any report
or document or furnished to any person or entity, other than your
counsel or authorized employees, except in response to a valid
subpoena or other lawful purpose.

         Very truly yours,




cc: St. Mary Land & Exploration Company



                   AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
                                      
    THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT is made and
entered into as of February 6, 1995, by and between PANTERRA
PETROLEUM, a Montana general partnership ("Borrower"), and FIRST
INTERSTATE BANK OF DENVER, N.A., a national banking association
(the "Bank").

                                  RECITALS
                                      
    A. Borrower and NationsBank of Texas, N.A. ("NBT") entered
into a First Restated Credit Agreement dated as of September 14,
1993, as amended (the "Prior Credit Agreement"), in order to set
forth the terms upon which NBT would make a loan to Borrower and
by which the loan would be governed. NBT has assigned its rights
under the Prior Credit Agreement to the Bank.

    B. Borrower and the Bank wish to enter into this Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement in order to amend and restate in their
entirety the terms and provisions of the Prior Credit Agreement
and to provide for the terms upon which the Bank will refinance
the balance of the loan outstanding under the Prior Credit
Agreement and will make additional advances to Borrower and by
which the new loan will be governed. 

    C. The new loan will be secured by encumbrances on certain of
Borrower's oil and gas properties. 

    IN CONSIDERATION of the following covenants, Borrower and the
Bank agree as follows:

                                 ARTICLE I
                                      
                      DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
                                      
    Section 1.01. Certain Defined Terms. As used in this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings
(such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and
plural forms of the terms defined):

    "Advance" means any advance made to Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.01 hereof.

    "Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Credit Agreement,
as the same may be amended from time to time.

    "Amortization Period" means the time period commencing on the
day after the Conversion Date and ending on the fifth anniversary
of the Conversion Date.

    "Borrowing Base" means, at any time, the aggregate loan value
of the Oil and Gas Properties, as determined in accordance with
the provisions of Section 3.03 below; provided that the Borrowing
Base for the time period from the date of this Agreement through
June 30, 1995 shall be $18,500,000, unless Borrower and the Bank
hereafter mutually agree upon a different amount or unless the
Borrowing Base is redetermined or reduced pursuant to Section
3.03 below prior to such date.

    "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or
legal holiday in the State of Colorado on which banks are not
required to be open for business in Denver, Colorado. Any
Business Day in any way relating to any Fixed Rate Portion (such
as the day on which an Interest Period begins or ends) must also
be a day on which, in the judgment of the Bank, significant
transactions in dollars are carried out in the interbank
eurocurrency market.

    "Collateral" means any and all oil or gas properties, oil or
gas interests and related assets and properties covered by any of
the Collateral Documents.

    "Collateral Documents" means the deeds of trust, mortgages,
chattel mortgages, assignments of proceeds, security agreements,
financing statements, pledge agreements, assignments of and/or
amendments to any of the foregoing and other instruments in form
and substance satisfactory to the Bank executed by Borrower as
provided in Section 5.01, granting to and perfecting in favor of
the Bank first and prior liens on or security interests in any
portion of the Oil and Gas Properties required by the Bank to be
covered thereby. 

    "Commitment Amount" means, at any time, the lesser of: (a) 
the Borrowing Base, or (b)(1) during the Revolving Period,
$20,000,000, or (2) during the Amortization Period, the principal
balance of all outstanding Advances as of the close of business
on the Conversion Date, plus the face amount of all Letters of
Credit outstanding as of the close of business on the Conversion
Date, minus the aggregate amount of all principal payments
required to be made on the Loan pursuant to the terms of Sections
2.04(a) and/or 3.02 below prior to the date as of which the
determination of the "Commitment Amount" is being made.

    "Conversion Date" means: (a) February 6, 1997, or (b) such
earlier date as may be elected by Borrower pursuant to Section
3.03 below.

    "Current Ratio" means, at any time and from time to time, the
ratio of: (a) Borrower's current assets; to (b) Borrower's
current liabilities (excluding current maturities of the Loan),
all determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied. 

    "Debt" means (a) indebtedness for borrowed money or for the
deferred purchase price of property or services; (b) obligations
as lessee under leases which shall have been or should be, in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
regarded as capital leases; (c) obligations under direct or
indirect guarantees in respect of, and obligations (contingent or
otherwise) to assure a creditor against loss in respect of,
indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in
clause (a) or (b) above; and (d) liabilities in respect of
unfunded vested benefits under plans covered by Title IV of
ERISA.  

    "Deductible Lease Expenses" means, for any calendar month,
the following costs and expenses, to the extent such costs and
expenses are actually paid by Borrower in respect of the Oil and
Gas Properties (and not reimbursed to Borrower by others owning
interests in said properties) during that calendar month: (a)
costs (other than depreciation, depletion or amortization costs)
incurred to operate and maintain, or, to the extent not a capital
cost, to work over, wells and related equipment and facilities,
including applicable operating costs of support equipment and
facilities, incurred pursuant to a joint operating agreement
(excluding delay rentals); (b) all royalty payments and other
leasehold burdens payable out of production, except any such
burdens created by, through or under Borrower after January 1,
1995; (c) all severance, ad valorem and similar taxes (excluding
income taxes) assessed against either the proceeds of production
or the value of remaining reserves and related personal property;
and (d) all reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred to deliver
the product to the purchaser or to make it marketable (including
payment of COPAS overhead but not including capital expenditures
relating to the delivery of the product or making it marketable).
Unless otherwise provided, Deductible Lease Expenses shall not
include expenses associated with any amortization or impairment
of capitalized costs.      

     "Environmental Laws" means any federal, state or local
statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule
of common law now or hereafter in effect and in each case as
amended, and any judicial or administrative interpretation
thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent,
decree or judgment, relating to the environment, health, safety
or Hazardous Materials, including, without limitation, the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9601 et seq., the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6901 et seq., the
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. Sec. 1801 et
seq., the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251 et seq., the Toxic
Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 2601 et seq., the Clean
Air Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 7401 et seq., the Safe Drinking Water
Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 300f et seq., the Atomic Energy Act, 42
U.S.C. Sec. 2011 et seq., the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and
Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 136 et seq. and the Occupational
Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 651 et seq.

      "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as now in effect or as hereafter amended from time to
time. 

    "Event of Default" means any of the events described in
Section 8.01 hereof.

    "Eurodollar Rate" means, with respect to each particular
Fixed Rate Portion and the related Interest Period, the rate of
interest per annum (expressed as a percentage) determined by the
Bank, in accordance with its customary practices, to be
representative of the rates at which deposits of U.S. dollars are
offered to the Bank at approximately 9:00 a.m., Denver, Colorado
time, two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest
Period (by prime banks in the interbank eurocurrency market which
have been selected by the Bank in accordance with its customary
practices) for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period
in an amount equal or comparable to the amount of such Fixed Rate
Portion and for a period of time equal or comparable to the
length of such Interest Period. The Eurodollar Rate determined by
the Bank with respect to a particular Fixed Rate Portion shall be
fixed at such rate for the duration of the associated Interest
Period. If the Bank is unable so to determine the Eurodollar Rate
for any Fixed Rate Portion, Borrower shall be deemed not to have
elected such Fixed Rate Portion.

    "Fixed Rate" means, with respect to each particular Fixed
Rate Portion and the associated Eurodollar Rate and Reserve
Requirement, the rate of interest per annum calculated by the
Bank (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher 0.01
percent) determined pursuant to the following formula: 

   Fixed   =        Eurodollar Rate          + Fixed Rate
    Rate       1.00 - Reserve Requirement         Spread

If the Reserve Requirement changes during the Interest Period for
a Fixed Rate Portion, the Bank may, at its option, either change
the Fixed Rate for such Fixed Rate Portion or leave it unchanged
for the duration of such Interest Period.

    "Fixed Rate Portion" means any portion of the outstanding
principal balance of Advances made hereunder which Borrower
designates as such in a Rate Election.

   "Fixed Rate Spread" means: (a) for any and all times through
the Conversion Date, one and one-half percentage points, and (b)
for any and all times after the Conversion Date, one and
three-quarters percentage points. 

    "Gross Revenues" means, for any calendar month: (a) all
proceeds of sales of oil, gas and other products actually
received during that calendar month by Borrower from any of the
Oil and Gas Properties, (b) any and all amounts actually received
during that calendar month by Borrower as compensation or
reimbursement for operating any of the Oil and Gas Properties,
and (c) any and all other amounts actually received during that
calendar month by Borrower that are attributable to any of the
Oil and Gas Properties.  Gross Revenues shall include, without
limitation, all proceeds of sales of oil, gas and other products
received by Borrower in connection with oil and/or gas wells
included in the Oil and Gas Properties, whether drilled before or 
after the date hereof.

    "Guarantors" means St. Mary Land & Exploration Company, a
Delaware corporation, and Nance Petroleum Corporation, a Montana
corporation.

    "Hazardous Materials" means (a) crude oil, petroleum or
petroleum products or natural gas, in each case after the capture
and production thereof and to the extent so defined by an
Environmental Law; (b) asbestos in any form that is or could
become friable, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, and radon gas;
and (c) any substances defined as or included in the definition
of "hazardous substances," "hazardous wastes," "hazardous
materials," "extremely hazardous wastes," "restricted hazardous
wastes," "toxic substances," "toxic pollutants," "contaminants"
or "pollutants" under any applicable Environmental Law. 

    "Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to Borrower, all
liabilities of Borrower under: (a) interest rate swap agreements,
interest rate cap agreements, interest rate collar agreements and
all other agreements and arrangements designed to protect
Borrower against fluctuations in interest rates, or (b) commodity
hedge, commodity swap, exchange, collar or cap agreements, fixed
price agreements and all other agreements and arrangements
designed to protect Borrower against fluctuations in the price of
oil, gas or other hydrocarbons owned by Borrower.  

    "Interest Period" means, with respect to each particular
Fixed Rate Portion, a period of one, two, three or six months, as
specified in the Rate Election applicable thereto, beginning on
and including the date specified in such Rate Election (which
must be a Business Day) and ending on but not including the date
which corresponds numerically to such beginning date one, two,
three or six months thereafter (or if such month has no
numerically corresponding date, on the last Business Day of such
month); provided that each Interest Period which would otherwise
end on a day which is not a Business Day shall end on the next
succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day
is the first Business Day of a calendar month, in which case such
Interest Period shall end on the Business Day next preceding such
numerically corresponding day. No Interest Period may be elected
which would end after the Maturity Date.

    "Letter of Credit" means a standby letter of credit requested
by Borrower and issued by the Bank pursuant to Article II below. 

    "Loan" means the funds advanced to Borrower by the Bank
hereunder (including without limitation the refinancing of the
remaining balance of the loan made pursuant to the Prior Credit
Agreement) and the Letters of Credit issued by the Bank at the
request of Borrower as provided herein.


    "Loan Documents" shall mean this Agreement, the Note, the
guaranty agreements executed by Guarantors, Letters of Credit,
applications for Letters of Credit, the Collateral Documents and
any other documents executed by any Obligated Person pursuant
hereto.

    "Maturity Date" means the earlier of: (a) the fifth
anniversary of the Conversion Date, or (b) such date on which the
Loan is payable in full by reason of the occurrence of an Event
of Default, as established pursuant to Section 8.01 below.      

    "Minimum Payment" means: (a) with respect to any Payment Date
during the Revolving Period and the first Payment Date during the
Amortization Period, the amount of interest accrued through such
Payment Date; (b) with respect to the next 12 Payment Dates
during the Amortization Period: (1) 2.00 percent of the sum of
the outstanding principal balance of all Advances as of the close
of business on the Conversion Date, plus (2) the amount of
interest accrued through such Payment Date; (c) with respect to
the next 12 Payment Dates during the Amortization Period: (1)
1.75 percent of the sum of the outstanding principal balance of
all Advances as of the close of business on the Conversion Date,
plus (2) the amount of interest accrued through such Payment
Date; (d) with respect to the next 12 Payment Dates during the
Amortization Period: (1) 1.6 percent of the sum of the
outstanding principal balance of all Advances as of the close of
business on the Conversion Date, plus (2) the amount of interest
accrued  through such Payment Date; (e) with respect to the next 
12 Payment Dates during the Amortization Period: (1) 1.5 percent
of the sum of the outstanding principal balance of all Advances
as of the close of business on the Conversion Date, plus (2) the
amount of interest accrued through such Payment Date; (f) with
respect to the next 11 Payment Dates during the Amortization
Period: (1) 1.4 percent of the sum of the outstanding principal
balance of all Advances as of the close of business on the
Conversion Date, plus (2) the amount of interest accrued through
such Payment Date; and (g) with respect to the Maturity Date, the
outstanding principal balance of the Loan plus interest accrued
through the Maturity Date.

    "Net General and Administrative Expenses" means, for any
Quarter, the excess of: (a) Borrower's general and administrative
expenses, determined in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, for such Quarter, over (b) the amount
received by Borrower as reimbursement of overhead expenses
incurred by Borrower during such Quarter under operating
agreements naming Borrower as operator. 

    "Net Revenues" means, for any calendar month, Gross Revenues
for that calendar month less Deductible Lease Expenses for that
calendar month.

    "Note" means the Promissory Note of even date herewith, made
by Borrower, payable to the order of the Bank, in the form of
Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof, which Note
shall evidence the Loan.

    "Obligated Persons" means Borrower and Guarantors.

    "Oil and Gas Properties" means from time to time, all oil
and/or gas properties, pipelines, gathering systems, gas plants
and related interests owned by Borrower.

    "Payment Date" means the last Business Day of each month,
commencing February 28, 1995.

    Permitted Investment" means:

    (a) Any evidence of indebtedness issued or guaranteed by the
United States Government, maturing not more than one year after
the date of acquisition by Borrower; or

    (b) Commercial paper, maturing not more than nine months from
the date of issuance thereof, which is issued by: (i) a
corporation (other than an affiliate of Borrower) organized under
the laws of any state of the United States or of the District of
Columbia and rated A-1 by Standard & Poor's Corporation or P-1 by
Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or (ii) the Bank or its parent
company; or 

      (c) Any certificate of deposit, maturing not more than one
year from the date of issuance thereof, which is issued by a
commercial banking institution that is a member of the Federal
Reserve System and has a combined capital and surplus and
undivided profits of not less than U.S. $500,000,000; or

      (d) Any repurchase agreement entered into with a commercial
banking institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve
System and has a combined capital and surplus and undivided
profits of not less than U.S. $500,000,000, which: (i) is secured
by a fully perfected security interest in any obligation of the
type described in any of clauses (a) through (c) above, and (ii)
has a market value at the time such repurchase agreement is
entered into of not less than 100 percent of the repurchase
obligation of such commercial banking institution thereunder; or  

   (e) Any deposit account at a commercial banking institution
that is a member of the Federal Reserve System and has a combined
capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than U.S.
$500,000,000; or

   (f) Hedging Obligations of Borrower; or

   (g) Any investment involving the exploration, development,
drilling or re-working of Borrower's oil and/or gas properties or
the acquisition of additional oil and/or gas properties by
Borrower;


    (h) Any other investment owned by Borrower as of the date of
this Agreement, so long as Borrower does not increase such
investment after the date hereof. 

    "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation
(including a business trust), limited liability company, joint
stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture
or other entity, or a foreign state or political subdivision
thereof or any agency of such state or subdivision.  

    "Prime Rate" means an index rate which the Bank establishes
and quotes from time to time for pricing certain of its loans.
Information on the index rate currently in effect is announced
publicly and can be obtained by contacting the Bank. The Bank's
Prime Rate is not necessarily the lowest rate charged to
customers of the Bank, and the Bank may make loans at, above or
below this stated index rate. 

    "Prime Rate Portion" means any portion of the unpaid
principal balance of the Loan which is not a Fixed Rate Portion.
"Prime Rate Spread" means: (a) for any and all times through the
Conversion Date, zero; and (b) for any and all times after the
Conversion Date, one-quarter of one percentage point.

    "Prior Credit Agreement" means the agreement described in
Recital A above.

    "Quarter" shall mean each three-month period ending on any
March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31 during the term
hereof.

    "Rate Election" has the meaning given such term in Section
2.09 below.

    "Reserve Requirement" means, on any day with respect to each
particular Fixed Rate Portion, the maximum reserve requirement,
as determined by the Bank (including without limitation any
basic, emergency, supplemental, marginal or similar reserves),
expressed as a decimal and rounded to the next higher 0.0001,
which would then apply to the Bank under Regulation D with
respect to "Eurocurrency liabilities" (as such term is defined in
Regulation D) equal in amount to such Fixed Rate Portion, were
the Bank to have any such "Eurocurrency liabilities". If such
reserve requirement shall change after the date hereof, the
Reserve Requirement shall be automatically increased or
decreased, as the case may be, from time to time as of the
effective time of each such change in such reserve requirement.

    "Revolving Period" means the time period from the date of
this Agreement through the Conversion Date. 

    "Subordinated Debt" means the indebtedness and other
obligations of Borrower to any third party, to the extent that
the rights of any such third party to enforce the indebtedness
and other obligations of Borrower thereunder have been
subordinated to the rights of the Bank hereunder or in connection
herewith by subordination agreements executed by the holders of
the Subordinated Debt and satisfactory in form and substance to
the Bank.

    "Working Capital" means: (a) the aggregate current assets of
Borrower, minus (b) the aggregate current liabilities of Borrower
(excluding current maturities of the Loan), all determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied.  

    "Year" means the calendar year.

     Section 1.02. Computation of Time Periods. In this
Agreement, in the computation of periods of time from a specified
date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and
including," the words "to" and "until" each means "to but
excluding" and the word "through" means "to and including."

    Section 1.03. Accounting Terms. All accounting terms not
specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles consistent with those
applied in the preparation of the financial statements referred
to in Section 6.01(f) below.


                                ARTICLE II

                       AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE LOAN

     Section 2.01. The Loan. (a) Subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the Bank agrees to: (1) make advances to
Borrower from time to time at the request of Borrower upon at
least one Business Day's notice to the Bank from Borrower; and
(2) issue Letters of Credit from time to time requested upon
written notice to the Bank from Borrower no later than five days
prior to the requested date of issuance of each such Letter of
Credit; provided that the Bank shall not have any obligation to:
(A) make any Advance (except Advances made pursuant to Section
2.01(c) below) or issue any new Letter of Credit after the
Conversion Date; (B) make any Advance in an amount less than
$50,000; (c) make any Advance or issue or renew any Letter of
Credit, if, after the making of such Advance or the issuance or
renewal of such Letter of Credit, the aggregate amount of all
Advances outstanding hereunder plus the face amount of all
Letters of Credit outstanding hereunder would exceed the
Commitment Amount; or (D) issue or renew a Letter of Credit which
does not expire prior to the Maturity Date. Within the limitation
of the Commitment Amount and subject to the other terms and
provisions hereof, Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow
hereunder.

    (b) Each request by Borrower for the issuance of a Letter of
Credit shall be in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto and made
a part hereof, sent by Borrower to the Bank, and accompanied by
an application for issuance of a letter of credit on the Bank's
then-standard form, duly executed by Borrower.

    (c) Each payment by the Bank under or in connection with a
Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be an Advance bearing
interest from the date of such payment, shall be entitled to all
benefits of the Collateral Documents and shall be subject to all
terms of this Agreement and any and all other applicable Loan
Documents.

     (d) Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by the Bank) of
all of the conditions precedent to the initial Advance, as more
fully set forth in Article IV below, Borrower shall be deemed to
have requested, and the Bank shall be deemed to have made, the
initial Advance on February 6, 1995, in an amount equal to the
entire balance of principal, interest, fees and other amounts
outstanding in connection with the Prior Credit Agreement.      


     Section 2.02. Conditions. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, the Bank shall not be required to
make the initial Advance or any subsequent Advance hereunder or
to issue any Letter of Credit hereunder if the conditions
precedent to the making of the Loan specified in Article IV
hereof have not been satisfied. 

    Section 2.03. Interest Rates. Borrower shall pay interest on
the outstanding unpaid principal amount of the Loan, from the
date of the initial Advance until all principal amounts hereunder
have been repaid in full, all Letters of Credit have been
cancelled and this Agreement has been terminated, at an interest
rate per annum equal to: (a) up to and including the Maturity
Date: (1) as to the Prime Rate Portion, at a fluctuating annual
rate, adjustable as of the day of any change, equal to the Prime
Rate plus the Prime Rate Spread; and (2) as to each Fixed Rate
Portion, at an annual rate equal to the Fixed Rate for that Fixed
Rate Portion; and (b) from and after the Maturity Date, at the
Prime Rate plus four percentage points, but in no event less than
the Prime Rate in effect on the Maturity Date plus four
percentage points. 

     Section 2.04. Payments and Computations.

    (a) On each Payment Date, Borrower shall make a payment to
the Bank in the amount of the Minimum Payment, subject to
adjustment as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, including
without limitation as described in Section 3.02 below.  

    (b) Borrower shall make each payment hereunder and under the
Note not later than 12:00 noon (Denver, Colorado time) on the day
when due in lawful money of the United States of America to the
Bank at its office at 633 Seventeenth Street, Denver, Colorado
80202 or at any other location designated by the Bank. 

    (c) All computations of interest shall be made by the Bank on
the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, for the
actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the
last day) occurring in the period for which such interest is
payable; provided that, as to any and all Fixed Rate Portions,
computations of interest shall be made by the Bank on the basis
of a year of 360 days and the actual number of days elapsed.

    (d) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement with
respect to Fixed Rate Portions, should any such payment become
due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, the maturity
of such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business
Day, and, in the case of a payment of principal or past due
interest, interest shall accrue and be payable thereon for the
period of such extension.

    Section 2.05. Termination of Agreement. Borrower shall have
the right at any time and from time to time, upon not less than
three business days' prior written or telegraphic notice to the
Bank, to terminate this Agreement. Upon any termination of this
Agreement, Borrower shall, at the time of such termination,
prepay the Note in full and cause all Letters of Credit to be
terminated. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement with
respect to Fixed Rate Portions, any such prepayment shall be
without penalty or premium; provided that: (a) if Borrower
terminates this Agreement before February 6, 1996, Borrower
shallpay to the Bank a prepayment penalty in the amount of
$20,000, and (b) if Borrower terminates this Agreement on or
after February 6, 1996 but before February 6, 1997, Borrower
shall pay to the Bank a prepayment penalty in the amount of
$10,000

    Section 2.06. Use of Proceeds. Proceeds of the Loan shall be
used by Borrower exclusively for: (a) the refinancing of the
principal portion of the existing indebtedness of Borrower to
NationsBank of Texas, N.A. pursuant to the Prior Credit
Agreement, in the amount of approximately $14,450,000 plus
interest accrued as of the date of the initial Advance, (b) the
financing of Borrower's working capital requirements and capital
expenditures relating to (including without limitation the
issuance of Letters of Credit in connection with) the
acquisition, exploration and development of oil and gas
properties, and (c) the acquisition (and/or the financing of the
acquisition by existing partners of Borrower) of partnership
interests in Borrower owned by one or more of Borrower's
partners; provided that the aggregate amount of partnership
interests acquired or financed by Borrower shall not exceed
$2,500,000 and, if so required by the Bank, Borrower will enter
into hedges on crude oil and/or natural gas upon terms
satisfactory to the Bank prior to using any of the proceeds of
the Loan for the acquisition (and/or the financing of the
acquisition by existing partners of Borrower) of partnership
interests in Borrower. In no event shall the funds from the Loan
be used directly or indirectly for the purpose of purchasing,
acquiring or carrying any "margin stock" (as defined in
Regulation U promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System) or to extend credit to others directly or
indirectly for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin
stock.

    Section 2.07. Prepayment of the Loan. (a) During the
Revolving Period, Borrower shall have the right to prepay the
principal amount of the Loan at any time as provided herein;
provided that Borrower will not reduce the unpaid principal
balance of the Loan to an amount less than $10,000. Partial
prepayments shall be in the amount of $50,000 or integral
multiples thereof. Except as set forth in Section 2.05 above or
as set forth elsewhere in this Agreement with respect to Fixed
Rate Portions, each prepayment shall be without premium or
penalty. All prepayments shall first be applied to any and all
accrued interest and unpaid fees and then to unpaid principal.  

    (b) During the Amortization Period, Borrower shall have the
right to prepay the principal amount of the Loan at any time as
provided herein, upon at least two Business Days' prior notice to
the Bank. Partial prepayments shall be in the amount of $50,000
or integral multiples thereof. Except as set forth in Section
2.05 above and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement
with respect to Fixed Rate Portions, each prepayment shall be
without premium or penalty. All prepayments shall first be
applied to any and all accrued interest and unpaid fees and then
to unpaid principal. Prepayments will be applied to installment
payments of principal in the inverse order of approaching
maturities, unless otherwise agreed between Borrower and the
Bank.

    Section 2.08. Fees. (a) Borrower shall pay to the Bank,
within 15 days after the end of: (1) the period beginning on the
date of the initial Advance and ending on March 31, 1995, (2)
each Quarter thereafter through the Quarter prior to the Quarter
in which the Conversion Date occurs, and (3) the period beginning
on the first day of the Quarter in which the Conversion Date
occurs and ending on the Conversion Date, a commitment fee in an
amount equal to: (A) one-quarter of one percentage point per
annum, times (B) the excess of the Commitment Amount over the
aggregate outstanding principal balance of all Advances plus the
face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit, computed on a
daily basis for such Quarter (or other period) for which such
commitment fee is being paid. 

    (b) Borrower shall pay to the Bank, with respect to each
Letter of Credit a fee in an amount equal to the greater of: (i)
one percent per annum times the face amount of such Letter of
Credit, or (ii) $500.00, which fee shall be payable at the time
of issuance (and again at the time of any renewal) of such Letter
of Credit.

          Section 2.09. Rate Elections. Borrower may from time to
time designate all or any portion of the outstanding principal
balance of all Advances (including any yet-to-be-made Advances
which are to be made prior to or at the beginning of the
designated Interest Period but excluding any portion of such
Advances required to be repaid prior to the end of the designated
Interest Period) as a Fixed Rate Portion; provided that, without
the consent of the Bank, Borrower may make no such election
during the continuance of a Default and Borrower may make such an
election with respect to an already existing Fixed Rate Portion
only if such election will take effect at or after the
termination of the Interest Period applicable to such already
existing Fixed Rate Portion. Each election by Borrower of a Fixed
Rate Portion shall:  

         (a) Be made in writing in the form and substance of the
"Rate Election" attached hereto as Exhibit E, duly completed;

         (b) Specify the amount of the outstanding principal
balance of all Advances which Borrower desires to designate as a
Fixed Rate Portion, the first day of the Interest Period which is
to apply thereto, and the length of such Interest Period; and

          (c) Be received by the Bank not later than 10:00 a.m.,
Denver, Colorado time, on the second Business Day preceding the
first day of the specified Interest Period. 

Each election which meets the requirements of this Section
2.09(herein called a "Rate Election") shall be irrevocable.
Borrower may make no Rate Election which does not specify an
Interest Period complying with the definition of "Interest
Period" in Section 1.01, and the amount of the Fixed Rate Portion
elected in any Rate Election must be an integral multiple of
$100,000. Upon the termination of each Interest Period, the
portion of the Loan theretofore constituting the related Fixed
Rate Portion shall, unless the subject of a new Rate Election
then taking effect, automatically become a part of the Prime Rate
Portion and become subject to all provisions of the Loan
Documents governing the Prime Rate Portion. Borrower shall have
no more than five Fixed Rate Portions in effect at any time.  

          Section 2.10. Increased Cost of Fixed Rate Portions.
If any applicable domestic or foreign law, treaty, rule or
regulation (whether now in effect or hereafter enacted or
promulgated, including Regulation D) or any interpretation or
administration thereof by any governmental authority charged with
the interpretation or administration thereof (whether or not
having the force of law): 

         (a) Shall change the basis of taxation of payments to
the Bank of any principal, interest, or other amounts
attributable to any Fixed Rate Portion or otherwise due under
this Agreement in respect of any Fixed Rate Portion (other than
taxes imposed on the overall net income of the Bank or any
lending office of the Bank by any jurisdiction in which the Bank
or any such lending office is located); or

         (b) Shall change, impose, modify, apply or deem
applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirements
in respect of any Fixed Rate Portion (excluding those for which
the Bank is fully compensated pursuant to adjustments made in the
definition of Fixed Rate) or against assets of, deposits with or
for the account of, or Credit extended by, the Bank to the extent
the same relate to a Fixed Rate Portion; or

         (c) Shall impose on the Bank or the interbank
eurocurrency deposit market any other condition affecting any
Fixed Rate Portion, the result of which is to increase the cost
to the Bank of funding or maintaining any Fixed Rate Portion or
to reduce the amount of any sum receivable by the Bank in respect
of any Fixed Rate Portion by an amount deemed by the Bank to be
material;

then: (x) the Bank shall promptly notify Borrower in writing of
the  happening of such event, (y) Borrower shall upon demand pay
to the Bank such additional amount or amounts as will compensate
the Bank for any such event (on an after-tax basis), and (z)
Borrower may elect, by giving to the Bank not less than three
Business Days' notice, to convert all (but not less than all) of
any such Fixed Rate Portion into a part of the Prime Rate
Portion.

    Section 2.11 Availability. If the Bank shall determine (which
determination shall, upon notice thereof to Borrower, be
conclusive and binding on Borrower and the Bank) that: (a) the
introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any
law, treaty, rule or regulation makes it unlawful or
impracticable, or any central bank or other governmental
authority asserts that it is unlawful,for the Bank to make,
continue or maintain any Fixed Rate Portion or shall materially
restrict the authority of the Bank to purchase or take offshore
deposits of dollars (i.e., "eurodollars"), or (b) matching
deposits appropriate to fund or maintain any Fixed Rate Portion
are not available to it, or (c) the formula for calculating the
Eurodollar Rate does not fairly reflect the cost to the Bank of
making or maintaining loans based on such rate, then Borrower's
right to elect Fixed Rate Portions shall be suspended to the
extent and for the duration of such illegality, impracticability
or restriction and all Fixed Rate Portions (or portions thereof)
which are then outstanding or are then the subject of any Rate
Election and which cannot lawfully or practicably be maintained
or funded shall immediately become or remain part of the Prime
Rate Portion. Borrower agrees to indemnify the Bank and hold it
harmless against all costs, expenses, claims, penalties,
liabilities and damages which may result from any such change in
law, treaty, rule, regulation, interpretation or administration.  

   Section 2.12. Reimbursable Taxes. Borrower covenants and
agrees that:

    (a) Borrower will indemnify the Bank against, and reimburse
the Bank for, all present and future income, excise, stamp or
franchise taxes and other taxes, fees, duties, withholdings or
other charges of any nature whatsoever imposed, assessed, levied
or collected on or in respect of this Agreement insofar as it
pertains to a Fixed Rate Portion or any Fixed Rate Portions
(whether or not legally imposed, assessed, levied or collected),
but excluding taxes imposed on or measured by the Bank's net
income or receipts (such non-excluded items being called
"Reimbursable Taxes"). Such indemnification shall be on an
after-tax basis, taking into account any income taxes imposed on
the amounts paid as indemnity.

    (b) All payments by Borrower on account of principal of, and
interest on, the Loan and all other amounts payable by Borrower
to the Bank hereunder shall be made in full without set-off or
counterclaim and shall be made free and clear of and without
deduction or withholding for any Reimbursable Taxes, all of which
shall be for the account of Borrower. In the event that any
withholding or deduction from any payment to be made by Borrower
hereunder is required in respect of any Reimbursable Taxes
pursuant to any applicable law, rule or regulation, Borrower
shall pay on the due date of such payment, by way of additional
interest, such additional amounts as are needed to ensure that 
the amount actually received by the Bank will equal the full
amount the Bank would have received had no such withholding or
deduction been required. If Borrower shall make any deduction or
withholding as aforesaid, Borrower shall within 60 days
thereafter forward to the Bank an official receipt or other
official document evidencing payment of such deduction or
withholding.

    (c) If Borrower is ever required to pay any Reimbursable Tax
with respect to any Fixed Rate Portion, Borrower may elect, by
giving to the Bank not less than three Business Days' notice, to
convert all (but not less than all) of any such Fixed Rate
Portion into a part of the Prime Rate Portion, but such election
shall not diminish Borrower's obligation to pay all Reimbursable
Taxes.

    Section 2.13. Funding Losses. In addition to its other
obligations hereunder, Borrower will indemnify the Bank against,
and reimburse the Bank on demand for, any loss or expense
(including any loss or expense incurred by reason of the
liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired
by the Bank to make, continue or maintain any Fixed Rate Portion
or any Advance) as a result of: (a) any payment or prepayment
(whether authorized or required hereunder or otherwise) of all or
any portion of a Fixed Rate Portion on a date other than the
scheduled last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto; (b)
any payment or prepayment, whether required hereunder or
otherwise, of the Loan made after the delivery, but before the
effective date, of a Rate Election, if such payment or prepayment
prevents such Rate Election from becoming fully effective; (c)
the failure of any Advance to be made or of any Rate Election to
become effective due to any condition precedent not being
satisfied or due to any other action or inaction of any Obligated
Person; or (d) any conversion (whether authorized or required
hereunder or otherwise) of all or any portion of any Fixed Rate
Portion into the Prime Rate Portion or into a different Fixed
Rate Portion on a day other than the day on which the applicable
Interest Period ends.

      Section 2.14. Capital Reimbursement. If either (a) the
introduction or implementation of or the compliance with or any
change in or in the interpretation of any law, rule or
regulation, or (b) the introduction or implementation of or the
compliance with any request, directive or guideline from any
central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not
having the force of law) affects or would affect the amount of
capital required or expected to be maintained by the Bank or any
corporation controlling the Bank, then, upon demand by the Bank,
Borrower will pay to the Bank, from time to time as specified by
the Bank, such additional amount or amounts which the Bank shall
determine to be appropriate to compensate the Bank or any
corporation controlling the Bank in light of such circumstances,
to the extent that the Bank reasonably determines that the amount
of any such capital would be increased or the rate of return on
any such capital would be reduced by or in whole or in part based
upon the existence of the Loan or the Bank's commitments under
this Agreement or the existence of the Letters of Credit issued
hereunder. 

                     ARTICLE III
                                      
               OFFSET; INCREASED PAYMENTS
                                      
    Section 3.01. Bank Accounts and Offset. To secure the
repayment of the Loan, Borrower hereby grants to the Bank a
security interest, a lien, and a right of offset, each of which
shall be upon and against: (a) any and all moneys, securities or
other property (and the proceeds therefrom) of Borrower now or
hereafter held or received by or in transit to the Bank from or
for the account of Borrower, whether for safekeeping, custody,
pledge, transmission, collection or otherwise, (b) any and all
deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or
final) of Borrower with the Bank, and (c) any other credits and
claims of Borrower at any time existing against the Bank,
including without limitation claims under certificates of
deposit; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to amounts
which Borrower is holding as trustee for the benefit of any third
party. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, the Bank is
hereby authorized to foreclose upon, offset, appropriate, and
apply, at any time and from time to time, without notice to
Borrower, any and all items hereinabove referred to against the
Loan (whether or not the Loan is then due and payable).  

   Section 3.02. Increased Payments. At any time after the
occurrence of an Event of Default, the Bank shall have the right,
in its sole discretion, upon written notice to Borrower, to
require that future monthly payments of principal and interest
made by Borrower pursuant to this Agreement be in an amount equal
to the greatest of: (a) the amount set forth in Section 2.04, (b)
up to 70 percent of Gross Revenues for the calendar month two
months prior to the calendar month in which such payment is due,
or (c) up to 100 percent of Net Revenues for the calendar month
two months prior to the calendar month in which such payment is
due; provided that any such payments shall be in addition to any
amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.03 below.

    Section 3.03. Periodic Reviews and Borrowing Base
Determinations. As of approximately January 1 and July 1 of each
year, commencing July 1, 1995, through the Maturity Date, and at
such other times as the Bank may determine, the Bank will perform
a review of the Oil and Gas Properties and will determine the
Borrowing Base, taking into account such factors as the Bank in
its reasonable discretion deems appropriate. The Bank will give
notice to Borrower (as of approximately 10 days prior to the
effective date of any new determination of the Borrowing Base
pursuant hereto), of the amount of the new Borrowing Base;
provided that Borrower shall have the right, by giving notice to
the Bank, to make an irrevocable election to reduce the Borrowing
Base to an amount less than the amount so determined by the Bank.
If, at the time of any such determination or at any other time,
the then-outstanding principal balance of all Advances plus the 
face amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding hereunder
exceeds the Commitment Amount, Borrower shall, within 30 days of
any such determination: (a) mortgage, by instruments satisfactory
in form and substance to the Bank, sufficient additional
available assets or properties owned by Borrower and satisfactory
to the Bank to induce the Bank to make a re-determination of the
Borrowing Base which causes the Commitment Amount to be increased
by an amount sufficient to eliminate such excess; or (b) prepay
the outstanding principal balance of the Loan in an amount at
least equal to the amount of such excess; or (c) commence (and
thereafter continue) an amortization schedule under which
Borrower repays the Loan in an amount at least equal to the
excess in six equal monthly principal installments on the last
Business Day of each calendar month, which amounts shall be in
addition to the monthly interest payments and any other principal
payments otherwise due, such that the entire excess is paid
within six months; or (d) if the Conversion Date has not yet
occurred, elect to have the Conversion Date occur immediately.
Failure by Borrower to comply with the foregoing shall be deemed
an Event of Default hereunder.                                  

                                ARTICLE IV
                                      
                      CONDITIONS OF LENDING
                                      
    Section 4.01. Conditions Precedent to the Initial Advance.
The obligation of the Bank to make the initial Advance and to
refinance the amount outstanding under the Prior Credit Agreement
is subject to the receipt by the Bank of the following in form,
substance and date satisfactory to the Bank:  

    (a) The Note, duly executed by Borrower;

    (b) A certificate of the general partners of Borrower in the
form of Exhibit B-1 attached hereto and made a part hereof, which
shall contain the names and signatures of the persons entitled to
execute the Loan Documents on behalf of Borrower and which shall
certify to the truth, correctness and completeness of a copy of
the partnership agreement of Borrower and all amendments thereto;

    (c) A certificate of the Secretary of each of the Guarantors
in the form of Exhibit B-2 attached hereto and made a part
hereof, which shall contain the names and signatures of the
officers of the Guarantors entitled to execute the Loan Documents
to which each is a party and which shall certify to the truth,
correctness and completeness of: (1) a copy of the articles of
incorporation of such Guarantor and all amendments thereto; (2) a
copy of the bylaws of such Guarantor and all amendments thereto;
and (3) a copy of the resolutions duly adopted by the Board of
Directors of such Guarantor authorizing such Guarantor to execute
and deliver the Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party
and to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby; 

    (d) To the extent not heretofore executed and delivered, the
Collateral Documents, duly executed by Borrower, and recorded or
filed by the Bank or at the Bank's direction;

    (e) A compliance certificate in the form of Exhibit C
attached hereto and made a part hereof; 

    (f) Evidence satisfactory to the Bank of Borrower's title to
the properties subject to the Collateral Documents, which title
shall be free and clear of liens, encumbrances and defects,
except for liens and encumbrances in favor of the Bank;

    (g) A guaranty agreement executed and delivered by each
Guarantor, in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank;     

    (h) An opinion of Borrower's counsel in form and
substancesatisfactory to the Bank, relating to authority,
enforceability and other related matters; and 

    (i) Any other documents and instruments which the Bank shall
have reasonably requested including, without limitation:
partnership and corporate documents and records; documents
evidencing governmental authorizations, consents, approvals,
licenses and exemptions; and certificates of public officials and
of officers and representatives of the Obligated Persons and
other persons as to: (1) the accuracy and validity of or
compliance with all representations, warranties and covenants
made by Borrower in this Agreement, (2) the satisfaction of all
conditions contained herein or therein, and (3) all other matters
pertaining hereto. 

    Section 4.02. Additional Conditions Precedent to the
Advances.  The obligation of the Bank to make the initial Advance
and any and all subsequent Advances and to issue any and all
Letters of Credit is subject to the satisfaction of the following
conditions precedent:

    (a) Any and all representations and warranties made by
Borrower or any Guarantor in this Agreement or in any of the
other Loan Documents shall be true on and as of the date of the
requested Advance as if such representations and warranties had
been made on such date;

    (b) There shall not exist on the date of the requested
Advance or the date of issuance of the Letter of Credit any Event
of Default under this Agreement or any event or condition that,
with the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, would be
an Event of Default under this Agreement; and 

    (c) Borrower shall have performed and complied with all
agreements and conditions herein required to be performed or
complied with on or prior to the date of the requested Advance or
the date of issuance of the requested Letter of Credit.

                                 ARTICLE V
                            
                                 SECURITY
                             
    Section 5.01. Security. Payment of the Note and all other
obligations of Borrower hereunder shall be secured by liens on
and security interests in the Collateral, as created pursuant to
the Collateral Documents. To the extent the Collateral Documents
have not heretofore been recorded or filed, the Bank will record
or file (or cause to be recorded or filed) the Collateral
Documents at Borrower's expense promptly after execution and
delivery thereof. Borrower agrees that, at any time, at the
Bank's request, Borrower will promptly execute and deliver any
mortgages, deeds of trust, assignments, financing statements or
any other documents as may be necessary to create and perfect
enforceable liens or security interests in favor of the Bank on
any or all of the Oil or Gas Properties owned by Borrower as to
which the Bank requests that such liens and security interests be
created and perfected. 

    Section 5.02. Perfection and Protection of Security Interests
and Liens. Borrower will cause to be delivered to the Bank from
time to time any financing statements, continuation statements,
extension agreements and other documents, properly completed and
executed (and acknowledged when required) by Borrower, in form
and substance satisfactory to the Bank for the purpose of
creating, perfecting or protecting liens, pledges, security
interests and assignments in favor of the Bank in and to any of
the Oil and Gas Properties identified by the Bank.

    Section 5.03. Security Opinions. From time to time during the
term hereof, Borrower will deliver such opinions regarding the
Collateral, from counsel and in form and content reasonably
satisfactory to the Bank, as the Bank may reasonably request,
including without limitation opinions confirming that the nature
and extent of Borrower's title to the Collateral covered by the
Collateral Documents as provided in Section 5.01 (expressly
including the Borrower's working and net revenue interests
therein) conform to the assumptions used by the Bank in
evaluating the Collateral and that, pursuant to the Collateral
Documents, first enforceable liens thereon have been duly created
and perfected in favor of the Bank.

                                ARTICLE VI
                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     Section 6.01. Representations and Warranties of Borrower. To
induce the Bank to enter into this Agreement and to make the
Loan, Borrower represents and warrants to the Bank (which
representations and warranties shall survive the delivery of the
Note and shall be deemed to be continuing representations and
warranties until repayment in full of the Note and termination of
this Agreement) that:      

     (a) Existence; Standing. Borrower is a general partnership
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Montana. St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Nance Petroleum
Corporation is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the State of Montana.      

     (b) Qualification to Do Business. Each Obligated Person is
duly qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which a
failure so to qualify would have a material adverse effect on its
business.      

     (c) Due Authorization. The execution, delivery and
performance by Borrower of this Agreement, the Note and the other
Loan Documents to which it is a party are within its powers, have
been duly authorized by all necessary action, and do not
contravene Borrower's organizational documents or any law or any
contractual restriction binding on or affecting Borrower. The
execution, delivery and performance by Guarantors of the Loan
Documents to which each of them is a party are within Guarantors'
powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action, and do not contravene Guarantors' organizational
documents or any law or any contractual restriction binding on or
affecting any Guarantor.      

     (d) Approvals. No authorization or approval or other action
by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority
or regulatory body is required for the due execution, delivery
and performance by any Obligated Person of the Loan Documents to
which each is a party.

     (e) Binding Obligations. This Agreement is, and the Note,
the Collateral Documents and all other Loan Documents to which
Borrower is a party, when executed and delivered hereunder, will
be, legal, valid and binding obligations of Borrower, enforceable
against Borrower in accordance with their respective terms. The
Loan Documents to which each Guarantor is a party, when executed
and delivered hereunder, will be legal, valid and binding
obligations of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor
in accordance with their respective terms.      

     (f) Financial Statements. The balance sheets of Borrower and
St. Mary Land & Exploration Company as of June 30, 1994 and of
Nance Petroleum Corporation as of January 1, 1994, and the
related statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows of
Borrower and Guarantors for the fiscal periods then ended, copies
of which have been furnished to the Bank, fairly present the
financial condition of Borrower and Guarantors as at such dates
and the results of the operations of Borrower and Guarantors for
the period ended on such dates, all in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied. Since the
dates of said financial statements, there has been no material
adverse change in the financial condition or operations of
Borrower or Guarantors which has not been disclosed to the Bank
in writing.      

     (g) Use of Proceeds. None of the proceeds of the Loan will
be used to acquire any security in any transaction which is
subject to Sections 13 and 14 of the Securities and Exchange Act
of 1934.      

     (h) Regulation U. No Obligated Person is engaged in the
business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or
carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued
by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), and
none of the proceeds of the Loan will be used to purchase or
carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the
purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock.      

     (i) Other Obligations. No Obligated Person has with respect
to the Collateral any outstanding indebtedness, obligations,
liabilities (including contingent, indirect and secondary
liabilities and obligations), tax assessments against it, or
unusual forward or long-term commitments, or, with respect to its
other properties which are, in the aggregate, material (defined
as being in excess of $10,000) with respect to the financial
condition of such Obligated Person and, in either case, not shown
in the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(f) above
or in other writings heretofore delivered by Borrower or such
Obligated Person to the Bank.      

     (j) Full Disclosure. No certificate, statement or other
information delivered herewith or heretofore by any Obligated
Person to the Bank in connection with the negotiation of this
Agreement or in connection with any transaction contemplated
hereby contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits
to state any material fact known to any Obligated Person
necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein not
misleading as of the date presented. There is no fact known to
any Obligated Person that such Obligated Person has not disclosed
to the Bank in writing which could materially and adversely
affect the properties, business, prospects or condition
(financial or otherwise) of such Obligated Person.      

     (k) No Litigation. Except as heretofore disclosed to the
Bank in writing, there are no actions, suits or legal, equitable,
arbitrative or administrative proceedings pending or, to the
knowledge of Borrower, threatened against any Obligated Person at
law or in equity or before any federal, state, municipal or other
governmental department, commission, body, board, bureau, agency,
or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, and there are no
outstanding judgments, injunctions, writs, rulings or orders by
any court or governmental body against any Obligated Person, any
of their respective partners, shareholders, directors or
officers, which relate to the Collateral, or, with respect to any
Obligated Person generally, which do or may materially and
adversely (defined as being in excess of $10,000) affect any
Obligated Person, their respective ownership or use of any of
their respective assets or properties, their respective
businesses or financial condition or prospects, or the right or
ability of any Obligated Person to enter into any of the Loan
Documents to which it is a party or to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby or to perform their respective
obligations hereunder or in connection herewith.      

          (1) No ERISA Liability. Borrower has no knowledge of
the occurrence of any event with respect to any ERISA Plan which
could result in a liability of any Obligated Person to the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, other than the payment of
premiums (but no late payment charge) pursuant to Section 4007 of
ERISA.  

     (m) Title to Properties. Borrower has good and defensible
title to the interests in oil and gas wells, properties and
assets which are subject to the Collateral Documents, free and
clear of all liens, encumbrances, options, charges and
assessments other than those disclosed to the Bank in writing
prior to the actual execution hereof by Borrower, except minor
irregularities and defects of title which are not such as to
cause: (1) Borrower's use or enjoyment of the Collateral to be
diminished, or (2) the marketability of Borrower's title to,the
Collateral to be limited or impaired.      

     (n) Drilling and Operations. To the best of Borrower's
knowledge, except as heretofore disclosed to the Bank in writing,
the oil and gas wells identified in the Collateral Documents have
been drilled and operated in all material respects in accordance
with the terms of relevant leases and agreements and applicable
federal, state and local laws and regulations and are bottomed on
and producing from the drilling and spacing units or blocks
therefor.      

     (o) Environmental Matters. To the best of Borrower's
knowledge, except as previously disclosed by Borrower to the Bank
in writing:                

          (1) The Oil and Gas Properties do not contain, and have
not previously contained, in, on, or under, including, without
limitation, the soil and groundwater thereunder, any Hazardous
Materials which would interfere with the continued operation of
any of the Oil and Gas Properties or impair the fair saleable
value thereof;                

          (2) The Oil and Gas Properties and all operations and
facilities located at the Oil and Gas Properties are in
compliance with all Environmental Laws, and there are no
Hazardous Materials located on, in or under the Oil and Gas
Properties which would interfere with the continued operation of
any of the Oil and Gas Properties or impair the fair saleable
value of any thereof;                

          (3) Borrower has not received any complaint, judgment,
notice of violation, alleged violation, investigation or advisory
action of potential liability or of potential responsibility
regarding environmental protection matters or permit compliance
under the Environmental Laws with regard to the Oil and Gas
Properties, nor is Borrower aware that any governmental authority
is contemplating delivering to Borrower any such notice. Borrower
is not aware of any condition or occurrence on the Oil and Gas
Properties that could form the basis of any complaint, judgment,
notice of violation, alleged violation, investigation or advisory
action of potential liability or of potential responsibility
regarding environmental protection matters or permit compliance
under the Environmental Laws with regard to the Oil and Gas
Properties;

          (4) Hazardous Materials have not been generated, used,
treated, stored, handled, released or disposed of, as defined
under the Environmental Laws, at, on or under any of the Oil and
Gas Properties, nor have any Hazardous Materials been transported
from the Oil and Gas Properties to any other location, nor have
any Hazardous Materials from the Oil and Gas Properties been
used, treated, stored, handled, released or arranged for disposal
of or disposed of at any other location, other than crude oil and
natural gas produced on and transported from the Oil and Gas
Properties and Hazardous Materials customarily used in oil and
gas operations which would not interfere with the continued
operation of any of the Oil and Gas Properties or impair the fair
saleable value of any thereof; and                

          (5) There are no governmental, administrative actions
or judicial proceedings, including private party actions, pending
or contemplated under any Environmental Laws to which Borrower is
or, to Borrower's best knowledge, will be named as a party with
respect to the Oil and Gas Properties, nor are there any consent
decrees or other decrees, consent orders, administrative orders
or other orders, or other administrative or judicial requirements
outstanding under any Environmental Law with respect to any of
the Oil and Gas Properties.  

                                ARTICLE VII
                           COVENANTS OF BORROWER

     Section 7.01. Affirmative Covenants. So long as the Note or
any other amounts due the Bank hereunder shall remain unpaid or
any Letters of Credit remain outstanding, Borrower will, unless
the Bank shall otherwise consent in writing:      

          (a) Payment and Performance. Pay all amounts due under
the Loan Documents in accordance with the terms thereof and
observe, perform and comply with every covenant, term and
condition therein, express or implied.      

          (b) Books, Financial Statements and Reports. Maintain,
and cause Guarantors to maintain, a standard system of accounting
and furnish or cause to be furnished to the Bank the following
statements and reports at Borrower's expense:

               (1) As soon as available, and in any event within
90 days after the end of each fiscal year of each of Borrower,
Guarantors and any other present or future partner in Borrower,
complete financial statements for each such entity, prepared in
reasonable detail in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied. These financial
statements shall contain balance sheets as of the end of such
fiscal year and statements of earnings, of changes in financial
position, and of changes in stockholders' or members' equity for
such fiscal year, setting forth in comparative form the
corresponding figures for the preceding fiscal year. Borrower's
annual financial statements shall be accompanied by a report of
the chief financial officer of Borrower or an authorized officer
of the managing general partner of Borrower attesting to the
authenticity of such financial statements, showing the
calculation of (and Borrower's compliance with) all applicable
financial covenants, and confirming that there existed no
condition or event, at the end of such fiscal year or at the time
of the report, which constituted an Event of Default, or, if any
such condition or event existed, specifying the nature and period
of existence of any such condition or event. The annual financial
statements of Borrower and St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
shall be audited by, and the annual financial statements of Nance
Petroleum Corporation shall be reviewed by, an independent
certified public accountant acceptable to the Bank (and a copy of
an unqualified audit opinion (or, for Nance Petroleum
Corporation, a report or letter describing the results of its
review) by such certified public accountant shall be delivered to
the Bank with such financial statements).      

               (2) As soon as available, and in any event within
45 days after the end of each Quarter (except the last Quarter of
each Year), complete financial statements for Borrower, prepared
in reasonable detail in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied, and signed by the
chief financial officer of Borrower or an authorized officer of
the managing general partner of Borrower and consisting of at
least a balance sheet as at the close of such Quarter, and
statements of earnings, cash flow, changes in financial position
and changes in stockholders' equity for such Quarter and for the
period from the beginning of the Year to the close of such
Quarter. Borrower's quarterly financial statements shall be
accompanied by a report of the chief financial officer of
Borrower or an authorized officer of the 'managing general
partner of Borrower attesting to the authenticity of such
financial statements, showing the calculation of (and Borrower's
compliance with) all applicable financial covenants, and
confirming that there existed no condition or event, at the end
of such Quarter or at the time of the report, which constituted
an Event of Default, or, if any such condition or event existed,
specifying the nature and period of existence of any such
condition or event.      

               (3) Within 90 days after the end of each Year, an
estimate of the cash flow of Borrower for the then-current Year,
giving details as to anticipated revenues, expenses and cash
receipts and disbursements for such Year.      

               (4)    By November 15 of each Year, commencing
November 15, 1995, an engineering report and economic evaluation
prepared by one or more petroleum engineers chosen by Borrower
and acceptable to the Bank, prepared as of the subsequent
December 31, in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank,
covering all Oil and Gas Properties and setting forth the
estimated proven and producing and proven and nonproducing oil
and gas reserves attributable thereto, and accompanied by
Borrower's projection of the rate of production therefrom for the
life thereof.      

               (5) Within 90 days after the end of each month,
commencing with the month ending October 31, 1994, a production
report for such month on a well-by-well basis indicating, for all
oil or gas properties included in the Collateral or otherwise
owned by Borrower, amounts and types of production sold, the unit
sale price and gross proceeds of such sales, and the amounts of
operating expenses, capital expenditures and other amounts
expended on such properties.      

               (6) Promptly upon their becoming available, copies
of all financial statements, material reports, material notices,
proxy statements and other material information sent by any
Obligated Person to their respective shareholders and all
registration statements, material periodic reports and other
material statements and schedules filed by any Obligated Person
with any securities exchange, the Securities and Exchange
Commission or any similar governmental authority.      

          (c) Other Information and Inspections. Furnish to the
Bank any information which the Bank may from time to time
reasonably request concerning any covenant, provision or
condition of the Loan Documents or any matter in connection with
the business and operations of Borrower. In addition, Borrower
will permit representatives appointed by the Bank, including
independent accountants, agents, attorneys, appraisers and any
other persons, upon prior notice, to visit and inspect during
normal business hours any of the properties of Borrower,
including its books of account, other books and records, and any
facilities or other business assets, and to make copies
therefrom, photocopies thereof and photographs thereof, and to
write down and record any information such representatives
obtain. Borrower shall permit the Bank or its representatives to
investigate and verify the accuracy of the information furnished
to the Bank under or in connection with the Loan Documents and to
discuss all such matters with Borrower's officers, employees and
representatives. Borrower shall cause each of the Guarantors to
furnish to the Bank such information which the Bank may from time
to time reasonably request concerning the business and operations
of such Guarantor, to the extent that such information reasonably
relates to the performance by such Guarantor of its obligations
under any Loan Document.      

          (d) Notice of Material Events. Promptly notify the
Bank: (1) of any material adverse change in the financial
condition of any Obligated Person, (2) of the occurrence of an
Event of Default hereunder, (3) of the occurrence of any
acceleration of the maturity of any indebtedness owed by any
Obligated Person, or of any default under any indenture,
mortgage, agreement, contract or other instrument to which any
Obligated Person is a party or by which any of them is bound, if
such acceleration or default might result in a material adverse
claim (which shall include, without limitation, as to Borrower,
any claim of $100,000 or more and, as to any Guarantor, any claim
of $250,000 or more) asserted against any Obligated Person or
with respect to any of their respective properties, (4) of the
occurrence of a Reportable Event (as such term is defined in
Title IV of ERISA) with respect to any ERISA Plan, and (5) 'of
the filing of any suit or proceeding against any Obligated Person
in which an adverse decision could have a material adverse effect
upon its financial condition or upon its business and operations.
Without limitation, any suit involving a claim of $100,000 or
more against Borrower or $250,000 or more against any Guarantor
(which is not covered by effective insurance) shall be considered
a suit or proceeding in which an adverse decision could have a
material adverse effect upon the financial condition of such
Obligated Person. Borrower will also notify the Bank in writing
at least 30 Business Days prior to the date that any Obligated
Person changes its name or the location of its chief executive
office or principal place of business or the place where it keeps
its books and records concerning the Collateral. Borrower hereby
advises the Bank that the address of Borrower's chief executive
office and principal place of business is as shown in Section
9.02 and that the address of each Guarantor's chief executive
office and principal place of business is as shown in the
guaranty executed by each such Guarantor in connection herewith.  
   (e) Maintenance of Existence and Qualifications. Maintain and
preserve Borrower's existence as a partnership, and Borrower's
rights and franchises which pertain to the Collateral in full
force and effect and qualify to do business, if required, in all
states or jurisdictions in which the Collateral is located. Cause
to be maintained and preserved each Guarantor's existence as a
corporation and each Guarantor's rights and franchises which
pertain to the Collateral in full force and effect and cause each
Guarantor to qualify to do business in all states or
jurisdictions in which a failure so to qualify would have a
material adverse effect on its business.      

          (f) Maintenance of Properties. Preserve, operate and
maintain, or cause to be preserved, operated and maintained, the
Oil and Gas Properties in a good and workmanlike manner as a
prudent operator in accordance with good oil and gas industry
practices; maintain, preserve, protect and keep all property used
or useful in the conduct of Borrower's business with respect to
the Oil and Gas Properties, and cause to be maintained,
preserved, protected and kept, all property used or useful in the
conduct of Borrower's or Guarantors' respective businesses
relating to the Oil and Gas Properties in good condition and in
compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and
will from time to time make or cause to be made all repairs,
renewals and replacements needed to enable the business and
operations carried on in connection therewith to be promptly and
advantageously conducted at all times; and cause the Oil and Gas
Properties to be kept free and clear of liens, charges, security
interests, encumbrances, adverse claims and title defects of
every character other than: (1) the liens and security interests
created by the Collateral Documents, (2) taxes constituting a
lien but not due and payable, (3) defects or irregularities in
title which are not such as to interfere materially with the
development, operation or value of the Collateral and not such as
to materially affect title thereto, (4) those set forth or
referred to in the Collateral Documents, (5) those being
contested in good faith by Borrower and which do not, in the
judgment of the Bank, jeopardize the Bank's rights in and to the
Collateral, and (6) those consented to in writing by the Bank.    
 (g) Payment of Taxes, Etc. File or cause to be filed all
required tax returns and pay or cause to be paid all taxes and
other governmental charges or levies imposed upon any Obligated
Person or upon any Obligated Person's income, profits or property
before the same shall become in default; and pay or cause to be
paid all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which,
if unpaid, might become a lien or charge upon any Obligated
Person's property or any part thereof; and pay and discharge when
due all material debts, accounts, liabilities and charges now or
hereafter owed by any Obligated Person; and maintain, or cause to
be maintained, appropriate accruals and reserves for all such
liabilities in a timely fashion in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied; provided,
however, that Borrower or Guarantors may delay paying or
discharging, or causing to be paid or discharged, any such taxes,
charges, claims or liabilities so long as the validity thereof is
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and
Borrower or Guarantors have set aside on their books adequate
reserves therefor.      

          (h) Insurance. Maintain, and cause Guarantors to
maintain, insurance reasonably acceptable to the Bank against
liability on account of damages to persons or property.      

          (i) Books and Records. Maintain, and cause Guarantors
to maintain, complete and accurate books of account and records.  

          (j) Payment of Expenses. Pay all reasonable costs and
expenses of the Bank (including, without limitation as to type of
expense, reasonable attorneys' fees) in connection with: (1) any
and all amendments, modifications, supplements, consents, waivers
or other documents or instruments relating hereto or to any of
the Loan Documents (it being understood that the Bank will pay
for its own legal costs in connection with the preparation,
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Loan Documents
to be delivered prior to the initial Advance), (2) the filing,
recording, refiling and rerecording of any Collateral Documents
and all amendments, supplements or modifications thereto, and any
and all amendments, supplements or modifications thereto, and any
and all other documents or instruments or further assurances
required to be filed or recorded or refiled or rerecorded by the
terms hereof or of any Collateral Document, (3) the evaluation
and confirmation of Borrower's title to the Collateral as
requested by the Bank, and (4) the enforcement, after the
occurrence of an Event of Default, of the Loan Documents.     
(k) Performance on Borrower's Behalf. If any Obligated Person
fails to pay any taxes, insurance premiums or other amounts
required to be paid under any Loan Documents, the Bank may pay
the same and shall be entitled to immediate reimbursement by
Borrower therefor, and each amount paid shall constitute a part
of Borrower's indebtedness to the Bank, shall be secured by.the
Collateral Documents and shall bear interest from the date such
amount is paid by the Bank until the date such amount is repaid
to the Bank at the Prime Rate plus four percentage points per
annum.

          (l) Compliance with Agreements and Law. Perform all
material obligations required to be performed by any Obligated
Person under the terms of each indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, security agreement, lease, franchise, agreement, contract
or other instrument or obligation relating to the Collateral to
which any Obligated Person is a party or bywhich any of them or
any of the Collateral is bound, and conduct, and cause to be
conducted, the businesses and affairs of each Obligated Person in
compliance with the laws and regulations applicable thereto
(including but not limited to those relating to ecology,
pollution and environmental matters).      

          (m) Evidence of Compliance. Furnish to the Bank at
Borrower's expense all evidence which the Bank may from time to
time reasonably request, as to the accuracy and validity of or
compliance with all representations, warranties and covenants
made by any Obligated Person in the Loan Documents, the
satisfaction of all conditions contained therein, and all other
matters pertaining thereto.      

          (n) Accounts. Upon request by the Bank, establish or
maintain with, or, promptly after the date hereof, transfer to,
the Bank, all checking and savings accounts of Borrower,
including without limitation the general operating accounts and
payroll accounts of Borrower, and deposit any and all proceeds of
production received by Borrower from the Collateral into one or
more of said accounts.      

          (o) Environmental Laws. Comply with all Environmental
Laws and obtain and comply with and maintain any and all
licenses, approvals, registrations or permits required by the
Environmental Laws.      

          (p) Indemnity. Defend, indemnify and hold harmless the
Bank and its employees, agents, officers and directors, from and
against any claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities,
settlements, damages, costs and expenses of whatever kind or
nature known or unknown, contingent or otherwise, arising out of,
or in any way relating to the violation of or noncompliance with
any Environmental Laws applicable to the Oil and Gas Properties
or any other property owned or operated by Borrower, or any
orders, requirements or demands of governmental authorities
related thereto, including, without limitation, attorney's and
consultant's fees, investigation and laboratory fees,
environmental response and cleanup costs, court costs and
litigation expenses, except to the extent that any of the
foregoing arise out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct
of the party seeking indemnification therefor.      

          (q) Production Purchasers. Upon request by the Bank,
keep the Bank currently advised of the names and addresses of all
purchasers of production from the Collateral.

          (r) Further Assurances. Do, or cause to be done, such
further acts and execute such further instruments as the Bank may
reasonably determine to be necessary or desirable to carry out
the purposes of this Agreement, and maintain and perfect the
liens and security interests created by the Collateral Documents. 

     Section 7.02. Negative Covenants. So long as the Note and
any other amounts due hereunder shall remain unpaid, Borrower
will not, without the prior written consent of the Bank (which
consent will not be unreasonably withheld):      

          (a) Limitation on Distributions and Redemptions. Except
for loans as described in Section 2.06(c) above and for the
repayment of advances made in the ordinary course of business,
make any distribution or payment (including without limitation
the payment of any salary, bonus or other compensation) to any of
Borrower's partners or in respect of any partnership interest in
Borrower; or directly or indirectly make any capital contribution
to or purchase, redeem, acquire or retire any partnership
interest in Borrower (whether any such interest is now or
hereafter issued, outstanding or created); or cause or permit any
reduction or retirement of the Partnership interests in Borrower;
provided that, at the times when taxes (or estimated taxes) are
payable by the partners of Borrower (up to and including April 15
of the succeeding calendar year), if no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing (or would result from such
distribution), Borrower may make distributions in an aggregate
amount not greater than the product of: (1) the highest tax rate
payable by a corporation on ordinary taxable income under the tax
laws of the United States and of the State of Montana, the State
of North Dakota or the State of Colorado (whichever state has the
higher tax rate), times (2) the taxable income of Borrower for
the Quarter as to which the distribution is being made (or, if
such taxable income is not known at such time, the then-current
estimate of such taxable income); provided that when the actual
taxable income of Borrower is determined for any Year, Borrower
shall cause the partners of Borrower to repay to Borrower any
excess distributions made by reason of their being based upon the
estimated taxable income of Borrower for the Quarters included in
such Year.      

          (b) Limitation on Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume,
guarantee, endorse, become or be liable in any manner with
respect to, or suffer to exist, any Debt, liability or obligation
(including, without limitation, all Debt and all contingent or
secondary, or direct or indirect, debts, liabilities or
obligations whatsoever), except:      

               (1)    Borrower's indebtedness to the Bank; 

               (2) current debts, obligations and liabilities to
pay vendors, suppliers, and persons providing goods and services
normally required in the ordinary course of business (including
forward sales) and on ordinary trade terms which are not
delinquent or which are being contested in good faith;      

               (3) taxes, assessments and governmental charges or
levies which are not delinquent or which are being contested in
good faith;    
               (4)    contingent liabilities arising out of the
endorsement in the ordinary course of business of negotiable
instruments in the course of collection;  

               (5) Subordinated Debt; and                         
     
               (6) Debt shown on the financial statements of
Borrower dated as of June 30, 1994, as heretofore furnished to
the Bank.      

          (c) Limitation on Liens. Create, assume or permit to
exist any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, encumbrance, lien or
charge of any kind (including any security interest in or
vendor's lien on property purchased under conditional sales or
other title retention agreements and including any lease in the
nature of a title retention agreement) upon any of the Collateral
or any of Borrower's other assets, except:      

               (1) liens and security interests at any time
existing in favor of the Bank;      

               (2) statutory liens for taxes and other sums which
are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith;
and

               (3) mechanics' and materialmen's liens with
respect to obligations which are not delinquent or which are
being contested in good faith.      

          (d) Limitation on Combinations. Combine or consolidate
with or into any other entity, or permit any change in the
ownership of Borrower, without the prior written consent of the
Bank, which consent may be conditioned upon satisfaction of such
conditions as the Bank may specify to insure continuing liability
and obligation for payment of the Loan and continued perfection
and priority of the liens and security interests securing the
Loan.      

          (e) Limitation on Sales of Property. Sell, transfer,
lease, exchange, alienate or dispose of any material portion of
the Oil and Gas Properties or any other material assets now or
hereafter owned by Borrower, except sales of oil and gas
production in the ordinary course of business.      

          (f) Fiscal Year. Change the fiscal year currently in
effect for Borrower, which is a calendar year.     

          (g) Working Capital. Permit Borrower's Working Capital
to be less than $1.00 as of the end of any Quarter after the date
hereof.      

          (h) Current Ratio. Permit the Current Ratio of Borrower
to be less than 1.0:1.0 as of the end of any Quarter after the
date hereof.      

          (i) Partners' Capital Accounts. Permit the aggregate
capital accounts of Borrower's partners, determined in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, to be less than
$10,000,000 as of the end of any Quarter after the date hereof.   

          (j) Net General and Administrative Expenses. Permit the
Net General and Administrative Expenses of Borrower to exceed
$112,500 for any Quarter after the date hereof.      

          (k) Amendment of Contracts. Amend or permit any
amendment to any contract which releases, qualifies, limits,
makes contingent or otherwise detrimentally affects the rights
and benefits pledged and assigned to or acquired by the Bank
pursuant to any of the Collateral Documents.      

          (l) Limitation on Investments, New Businesses and
Changes in Ownership. (1) Make any expenditure or commitment or
incur any obligation or enter into or engage in any transaction
except in the ordinary course of business; (2) engage directly or
indirectly in any business or conduct any operations except in
connection with or incidental to the present businesses and
operations conducted by Borrower; (3) make any acquisitions of,
capital contributions to, or other investments in, any business
entities; (4) make any significant acquisitions or investments in
any properties other than actual or prospective oil and gas
properties; (5) purchase, acquire, hold or otherwise invest in,
or deposit any money into, any stock, bond, evidence of
indebtedness, deposit account or other security or investment
other than any Permitted Investment; or (6) permit any changes in
the ownership of partnership interests in Borrower by the present
owners thereof, which, in the aggregate, cause either: (A) the
aggregate partnership interests owned by the present owners of
Borrower to decrease by more than ten percentage points from
those in effect on the date hereof; or (B) the partnership
interest owned by any present owner of Borrower to decrease by
more than ten percentage points from that in effect on the date
hereof (such present ownership being St. Mary Land & Exploration
Company - 75.25 percent, and Nance Petroleum Corporation - 24.75
percent).      

          (m) Limitation on Credit Extensions. Extend credit,
make advances or make loans to any person or entity other than:
(1) normal and prudent extensions of credit to customers buying
goods and services in the ordinary course of business, which
extensions shall not be for longer periods than those extended by
similar businesses operated in a normal and prudent manner, (2)
business expense advances to employees of Borrower in the
ordinary course of business, (3) other loans in an amount of not
more than $100,000 in the aggregate at any time, (4) loans as
described in Section 2.06(c) above, and (5) advances to partners
of Borrower for payment of income taxes attributable to
Borrower's net income, pending reclassification of such advances
as distributions permitted under Section 7.02(a) above.     

          (n)ERISA Compliance. Permit any plan maintained by it
to: (1) engage in any "prohibited transaction," as such term is
defined in Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or (2) incur any "accumulated funding deficiency" (as
defined in Section 302 of ERISA, or (3) terminate in a manner
which could result in the imposition of a lien on the property of
Borrower pursuant to Section 4068 of ERISA.      

          (o) Guaranties. Assume, guaranty, endorse or otherwise
be or become directly or contingently liable for, or obligated to
purchase, pay or provide funds for payment of, any obligations or
indebtedness of any other Person, except for amounts not in
excess of $100,000 at any time.

                               ARTICLE VIII
            EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND THEIR EFFECT


     Section 8.01. Events of Default. Each of the following
events shall constitute an Event of Default under this Agreement: 

     (a) Borrower shall fail to pay any principal amount of, or
interest on, the Note within five Business Days of the due
date;or      

     (b) A default shall occur under the terms of any of the Loan
Documents; or      
     
     (c) Any written representation or warranty made by Borrower
herein or in connection with this Agreement shall prove to have
been incorrect in any material respect when made; or

     (d) Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term,
covenant or obligation set forth in Section 7.01 (o); or Section
7.02(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (k), (1), (m) or (o) of this
Agreement; or      

     (e) Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any other
term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement on its
part to be performed or observed and any such failure shall
remain unremedied for 30 days after written notice thereof shall
have been given to Borrower by the Bank; or      

     (f) Any Obligated Person shall fail to pay any Debt or any
interest or premium thereon when due (whether by scheduled
maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or
otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable
grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument
relating to such Debt; or any other default under any agreement
or instrument relating to any such Debt, or any other event,
shall occur and shall continue after the acceleration of the
maturity of such Debt; or any such Debt shall be declared to be
due and payable, or required to be prepaid (other than by a
regularly scheduled required prepayment), prior to the stated
maturity thereof; or      

     (g) Any Obligated Person shall: (1) generally not pay its
debts as such debts became due; or (2) admit in writing its
inability to pay its debts generally, or shall made a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (3) institute any
proceeding seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or
seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement,
adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of itself or its
debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an
order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, or
other similar official for itself or for any substantial part of
its property; or (4) suffer any proceeding to be instituted
against it for the purposes specified in the foregoing clause (3)
which shall continue for more than 60 days without discharge or
dismissal thereof; or (5) take any action to authorize any of the
actions set forth above in this Section 8.01(g); or      

     (h) Any judgment or order for the payment of money in excess
of $100,000 shall be rendered against any Obligated Person and
either: (1) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by
any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (2) there shall be
any period of 10 consecutive days during which a stay of
enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending
appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect, provided, in either
case, that Borrower or any Guarantor has not made bonding, surety
or other arrangements acceptable to the Bank.

     Section 8.02. Effect of the Occurrence of any Event of
Default. If any Event of Default described in Section 8.01 shall
occur, in addition to any other remedies available at law or in
equity, the Bank may, by notice to Borrower, declare the Loan and
the Note, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable
under this Agreement to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon
the Loan and the Note, all such interest and all such amounts
shall become and be forthwith due and payable, without
presentment, demand, protest, or further notice of any kind, all
of which are hereby expressly waived by Borrower.  

                                ARTICLE IX
                               MISCELLANEOUS


     Section 9.01. Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any
provision of the Loan Documents, nor consent to any departure by
any Obligated Person therefrom, shall in any event be effective
unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Bank and
then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the
specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.   

     Section 9.02. Notices, Etc. All notices and other
communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing in
mail, telegraphic communication or personal delivery,       

     if to Borrower at:  Panterra Petroleum          
                         550 North 31st Street, Suite 500
                         Billings, MT 59101
                         Attn: Robert T. Hanley       

     if to the Bank at:  First Interstate Bank of Denver, N.A.    
                         633 17th Street, 4N 010
                         Denver, CO 80270          
                         Attn: H. Allen Rheem, Jr.  

or, as to each of the parties, at such other address as shall be
designated by such party in a written notice to the other party.
All such notices and communications shall be effective when
received or actually so delivered addressed as aforesaid.         
 Section 9.03. The Bank's Damage Limitation.   The Bank shall not
be liable to any Obligated Person for consequential damages,
whatever the nature of a breach by the Bank in its obligations
relating to the transactions governed or contemplated by this
Agreement.

     Section 9.04. Arbitration. Subject to the provisions of the
next paragraph below, the Bank and Borrower agree to submit to
binding arbitration any and all claims, disputes and   
controversies between or among them (and their respective
employees, officers, directors, attorneys and other agents)
relating to the Loan and its negotiation, execution,
collateralization, administration, repayment, modification,
extension or collection. Such arbitration shall proceed in
Denver, Colorado, shall be governed by Colorado law (including
without limitation the provisions of CRS 13-21-102(5)) and shall
be conducted in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules
of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"). Any award
entered in an arbitration, whether on motions or at a hearing,
with or without testimony from witnesses, shall be made by a
written opinion stating the reasons for the award made. The
decision of any arbitration pursuant to this Agreement shall be
made based on Colorado law without reference to any choice of law
rules. Judgment on any award hereunder may be entered in any
court having jurisdiction.      

     Nothing in the preceding paragraph, nor the exercise of any
right to arbitrate thereunder, shall limit the right of any party
hereto: (a) to foreclose against any real or personal property
collateral by the exercise of the power of sale under a deed of
trust, mortgage, or other security agreement or instrument or
applicable law; (b) to exercise self-help remedies such as setoff
or repossession; or (c) to obtain provisional Or ancillary
remedies such as replevin, injunctive relief, attachment or
appointment of a receiver from a court having jurisdiction,
before, during or after the pendency of any arbitration
proceeding. The institution and maintenance of any action for
such judicial relief, or pursuit of provisional or ancillary
remedies, or exercise of self-help remedies shall not constitute
a waiver of the right or obligation of any party to submit any
claim or dispute to arbitration, including those claims or
disputes arising from exercise of any judicial relief, or pursuit
of provisional or ancillary remedies or exercise of self- help
remedies.      

     Arbitration hereunder shall be before a three-person panel
of neutral arbitrators, consisting of one person from each of the
following categories: (1) an attorney who has practiced in the
area of commercial law for at least 10 years or a retired judge
at the Colorado or United States District Court or an appellate
court level: (2) a person with at least 10 years experience in
commercial lending: and (3) a person with at least 5 years
experience in the petroleum industry. The AAA shall submit a list
of persons meeting the criteria outlined above for each category
of arbitrator, and the parties shall select one person from each
category in the manner established by the AAA.

     Section 9.05. Release. Upon full payment and satisfaction of
the Loan and all other amounts due in connection therewith as
provided herein, the parties shall thereupon automatically each
be fully, finally, and forever released and discharged from any
further claim, liability or obligation in connection with the
Loan.      

     Section 9.06. No Waiver; Remedies. No failure on the part of
the Bank to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right under
the Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall
any single or partial exercise of any right under the Loan
Documents preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.     

     Section 9.07. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of Borrower and the Bank
and their respective successors and assigns, except that Borrower
shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any
interest herein without the prior written consent of the Bank.
The Bank may assign to one or more banks or other entities all or
any part of, or may grant participations to one or more banks or
other entities in or to all or any part of, the Loan and the Note
and, to the extent of any such assignment or participation
(unless otherwise stated therein), the assignee or participant of
such assignment or participation shall have the same rights and
benefits hereunder and under the Note as it would have if it were
the Bank hereunder.      

     Section 9.08. GOVERNING LAW AND SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.
THE SUBSTANTIVE LAW OF COLORADO SHALL GOVERN ALL THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS OF THE LOAN, THIS AGREEMENT, THE
NOTE AND, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, ALL
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.    IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION CONCERNING
THE LOAN, THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTE, OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS,
THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE THAT THE EXCLUSIVE VENUE AND PLACE OF
JURISDICTION SHALL BE THE STATE OF COLORADO, CITY AND COUNTY OF
DENVER, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
DISTRICT OF COLORADO. FURTHER, BORROWER CONSENTS TO AND AGREES TO
FILE A GENERAL APPEARANCE IN THE EVENT IT RECEIVES A SERVICE OF
PROCESS.           

     Section 9.09. Relationship to Other Documents.    In the
event any provision hereof is in conflict with any provision of
the Collateral Documents, the provisions hereof shall be
controlling. Upon the refinancing or repayment of any and all
amounts due under or in connection with the Prior Credit
Agreement, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall
supersede the terms and provisions of the Prior Credit Agreement
in their entirety.

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


                              PANTERRA PETROLEUM
                              By:  St. Mary Land & Exploration
                                   Company, General Partner
                              /s/ Mark A. Hellerstein
                              By:  Mark A. Hellerstein, President 
                              By:  Nance Petroleum Corporation,
                                   General Partner                
                              /s/ Robert L. Nance
                              By:  Robert L. Nance, President     
                         

                              FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF DENVER     
                              By:  



ACCEPTED AND CONSENTED TO AS OF THE DATE OF THIS AGREEMENT:  

                              ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY 
                              /s/ Mark A. Hellerstein
                              By: Mark A. Hellerstein, President  

                              NANCE PETROLEUM CORPORATION         
                              /s/ Robert L. Nance
                              By: Robert L. Nance, President  








                                  August 3, 1995



Ralph H. Smith
7060 S. Yale, Suite 800
Copper Oakes Center
Tulsa, OK 47136-5741

Dear Ralph:

     I am pleased to inform you that our Board has elected you
Senior Vice President/ Mid-Continent effective October 1, 1995 on
the terms and conditions we discussed in mid-July.  This will
confirm our agreement regarding your employment by St. Mary Land
& Exploration Company on the following terms.

     1.   Effective date:  October 1, 1995.

     2.   Salary:  $167,000 per annum.

     3.   Benefit Plan Participation:  All standard benefit plans
offered by St. Mary, including the following.

                    Life insurance
                    Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
                    Medical insurance
                    Disability insurance
                    Dental insurance
                    Vision care reimbursement
                    Pension plan (after one year, but will
                    include 1996)
                    401(k) plan (after one year)

These plans are described in the St. Mary Land & Exploration
Company Employee Handbook, a copy of which will be provided to
you.

     4.   Vacation:  4 weeks per annum.

     5.   Participation:  You will participate in all Tulsa-
managed oil and gas interests acquired during each calendar year. 
Your initial participation for the period October - December 1995
shall be 7.5%.  Thereafter your participation shall be no less
than 2.5% and no more than 10%, the specific participation
percentage to be elected by you on a calendar year basis prior to
the start of each calendar year.  A failure by you to advise St.
Mary of your election prior to the start of a calendar year shall
be deemed to be an election by you to continue your participation
for the forthcoming year at the same level as existed for the
year just concluded.  All costs associated with your share of
these interests will be paid by you in proportion to your
participation.

     6.   Incentivized compensation:

          a.   Participate in the Stock Appreciation Rights
     Plan beginning January 1, 1996.

          b.   Participate in the Cash Bonus Plan beginning
     in 1996.

     7.   Existing interests:  You will retain your existing oil
and gas interests and will incur your pro rata share of all
exploration, development and operating costs.

     We have agreed that, as long you have oil and gas interests
administered by St. Mary or any related entity, you will combine
your interest (but not your title) with those of St. Mary and
others for revenue and joint interest billing purposes only.  In
addition, you will pay your pro rata share of all overhead costs
(net of COPAS reimbursements, interest earned by suspensed funds,
and charges to outsiders such as Dona and Kent) incurred with
respect to assets jointly owned by St. Mary and you.  As between
St. Mary, George, Dona and you, our respective shares of these
costs have been 65%-St. Mary and 5%-you.  Accordingly, as you and
St. Mary go forward with interests managed by the Tulsa office,
these costs will be shared 92.8571% by St. Mary and 7.1429% by
you.  However, there will be applied against your share of
overhead costs a credit equal to 2.5% of St. Mary's share of non-
overhead expenditures for leasehold acquisitions, exploration and
seismic programs and drilling operations on interests managed
from the Tulsa office, the credit to be reduced by the increase
in your vested interest in the Pension Plan for that calendar
year.

     We have also agreed that, if at some future time you dispose
of your working interests in properties managed by the Tulsa
office and terminate your ongoing participation with St. Mary in
the acquisition, exploration and development of Tulsa-managed
properties, as long as you are employed by St. Mary you will be
eligible to participate in the Company's Net Profits Interest
Bonus Plan in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Plan as a replacement for the credit against overhead described
above.  Under this Plan, an annual "pool" of oil and gas wells
completed, plugged and abandoned, or acquired by the Company
during each calendar year is created.  In addition, a separate
pool is created for any unusually large oil and gas project which
has commenced or been acquired during a calendar year.  When the
revenue from these pools equals 100% of all costs incurred with
respect to the interests in each pool plus all leasehold,
geological and geophysical costs incurred during that year
(together with interest at prime rate on the separate pools for
unusually large projects or acquisitions), 10% of the subsequent
net profits are distributable to participants in each such pool. 
When the Company has recovered 200% of such costs, the amount
distributable to pool participants increases to 20% of net
profits.

     This agreement is for an indefinite term, subject to the
right of each party to terminate it upon six months written
notice delivered to the other party.  We have agreed that, in the
event this employment relationship is terminated either by you or
by St. Mary, a copy will be made of all technical data and
records relating to the interests managed by the Tulsa office and
any other oil and gas properties in which you and St. Mary may
have a joint interest, and a copy will be provided to each party. 
The cost of the copies will be shared by you and St. Mary in
proportion to our overhead sharing ratios described above.

     Finally, certain furniture in the Tulsa office has been
purchased and contributed by you, and you shall be entitled to
that furniture at such time as this employment relationship is
terminated.

     If this letter satisfactorily sets for the terms of our
agreement, please indicate by signing below and returning one
copy to me.

                            Very truly yours,




                            Mark A. Hellerstein
                            President and Chief Executive Officer



Acknowledged and agreed to this ______ day of August, 1995 in
Tulsa, Oklahoma.




                                
_______________________________________
                                  Ralph H. Smith



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