EXHIBIT VERSION

PDC ENERGY, INC.
2016 PERFORMANCE SHARE AGREEMENT
This Performance Share Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement")
dated January __, 2016 is by and between PDC Energy. Inc., a Nevada Corporation
(hereinafter referred to as the "Company") and _________________ (hereinafter
referred to as "Executive").
ARTICLE 1

PURPOSE OF AGREEMENT

1.1    Purpose of Grant. Pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated 2010
Long-Term Equity Compensation Plan (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan") and
subject further to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company and
Executive enter into this Agreement pursuant to which the Executive may earn
Performance Shares. Each Performance Share represents the value of one share of
$0.01 par value common stock of the Company. Upon the Company's achievement of
pre-determined objectives for a specified performance period (hereinafter
referred to as the "Performance Period"), the Company will distribute to the
Executive a number of Shares equal to the number of Performance Shares earned by
the Executive for the Performance Period.
1.2    Committee Authority. The Plan is administered by the Compensation
Committee of the Board (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee"). Under the
Plan, the Committee has, among its other powers, the authority to determine the
final payout under the Agreement.

ARTICLE 2

PERFORMANCE CONDITIONS

2.1    Performance Period. Pursuant to this Agreement, the Performance Period
will be the three year period beginning January 1, 2016 and ending on December
31, 2018.

2.2    Performance Award. Executive has a target of _______ Performance Shares
(hereinafter referred to as the "Target Award") for the Performance Period. The
range of Performance Shares which may be earned by the Executive for the
Performance Period is -0- to [Insert number equal to 200% of Target Award].

2.3    Performance Metric. Subject to Section 2.8, Awards of Performance Shares
will be paid out to the Executive, if at all, following the close of the
Performance Period based upon Total Shareholder Return ("TSR") of the Company
relative to TSR for the Peer Companies (defined below) for such Performance
Period (the "Performance Metric").

2.4    Total Shareholder Return (TSR).

(a)General. For purposes of the Performance Metric, except as otherwise provided
in 2.4(b) or Section 2.8 below, TSR for a company, including the Company, will
be a percentage equal to (x) the “Performance Period Value Change” (as defined
below) divided by (y) the “Beginning Value” (as defined below).

(i)“Performance Period Value Change” shall mean:

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(1)Average Share Price for the last twenty (20) business days of the Performance
Period,
minus
(2)Beginning Value,
 
plus
(3)Dividends (cash or stock based on ex-dividend date) paid per share of company
common stock over the Performance Period.

(ii)“Beginning Value” shall mean the Average Share Price for the twenty (20)
business days preceding the beginning of the Performance Period.

(b)Acquired Companies. Notwithstanding the foregoing, TSR for any Acquired
Company (as defined in Section 2.6, below) will be a percentage equal to the
difference between (x) the product of (I) 100% plus the “Independent Period TSR”
(as defined below) multiplied by (II) 100% plus the “Index Return” (as defined
below), minus (y) 100%.

(i)“Independent Period TSR” shall mean the “Independent Period Value Change” (as
defined below) divided by the Beginning Value.

(ii)“Independent Period Value Change” shall mean:

(1)The closing share price of the Acquired Company on the date on which the
acquisition of the Acquired Company occurs (the date of the acquisition being
the “Acquisition Date”), or if there is no closing price on the Acquisition
Date, then on the most recent trading day preceding the Acquisition Date,

minus
(2)Beginning Value,

plus
(3)Dividends (cash or stock based on ex-dividend date) paid per share of company
common stock between the beginning of the Performance Period and the Acquisition
Date,

(iii)“Index Return” shall mean:

(1)The difference of (A) the average daily index value of the SIG Oil
Exploration & Production Index or any successor index thereto (“EPX”) for the
last twenty (20) business days of the Performance Period, minus (B) the index
value of the EPX on the Acquisition Date.

divided by
(2)The index value of the EPX on the Acquisition Date.

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2.5    Average Share Price. For purposes of determining the TSR used in the
Performance Metric, the "Average Share Price" means the average daily closing
price of the shares on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (or if the company is not
listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, then on the principal securities
exchange on which such shares are tracked) as published by a reputable source
over the relevant measuring period.

2.6    Peer Companies. For purposes of the Performance Metric for the relevant
Performance Period, the "Peer Companies" means the companies listed on Schedule
A. Failed Companies (as defined below), Delisted Companies (as defined below),
and Acquired Companies (as defined below) shall remain as Peer Companies, with
Failed Companies and Delisted Companies treated in the manner set forth in
Section 2.7, and the TSR of any Acquired Companies calculated in accordance with
Section 2.4(b), above. “Failed Companies,” shall mean Peer Companies that cease
to be publicly traded on a national securities exchange as of the end of the
Performance Period as a result of a liquidation commenced under Chapter 7 of the
Bankruptcy Code, an assignment of the Company’s assets for the benefit of
creditors under applicable state law, or the commencement of a reorganization
proceeding under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. “Delisted Companies” shall
mean Peer Companies that cease to be publicly traded on a national securities
exchange at any time during the Performance Period (irrespective of whether they
again become publicly traded on a national securities exchange during the
Performance Period) as a result of any involuntary failure to meet the listing
requirements of such national securities exchange (such as any failure to meet
the minimum common stock price requirement of the exchange), but shall not
include any Peer Company that does not meet the listing requirements as a result
of any voluntary going private or similar transaction. “Acquired Companies”
shall mean Peer Companies that cease to be independently publicly traded on a
national securities exchange during the Performance Period as a result of being
acquired by another entity (irrespective of whether such acquiring entity is
itself publicly traded). No companies may be added to the list during the
Performance Period.

2.7    Award Determination. At the end of the Performance Period, the Peer
Companies and the Company shall be ranked together based on their TSR for the
Performance Period with the highest TSR being number 1 and the lowest TSR being
the number of Peer Companies, including the Company, remaining in the group at
the end of the Performance Period, with any and all Failed Companies and
Delisted Companies being ranked in last place on the list. Based on the
Company's relative TSR rank among the Peer Companies for the Performance Period,
Executive will have earned Performance Shares as determined by the Company's
rank as follows:

•
If the Company is ranked at or above the 90th percentile of the Peer Companies,
200% of the Target Award

•
If the Company is ranked at the 50th percentile or median of the Peer Companies,
including the Company, 100% of the Target Award

•
If the Company is ranked at the 25th percentile of the Peer Companies, including
the Company, 50% of the Target Award

•
If the Company is ranked below the 25th percentile of the Peer Companies,
including the Company, no award will be paid

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If the Company is ranked between any of these payout levels, the percentage
multiple of the Target Award will be interpolated based on the actual percentile
ranking of the Company (rounded to the nearest whole percentile) in relation to
the payout levels. Notwithstanding the preceding, if the Company's overall TSR
is negative, no more than one hundred percent (100%) of the Target Award will be
paid to the Executive. Any partial shares will be rounded up to the next whole
number.
2.8    Termination of Continuous Service or Change in Control Prior to End of
Performance Period.

[(a)    Voluntary or Involuntary Termination Prior to Change in Control. If the
Executive voluntarily terminates Continuous Service or if the Company terminates
the Executive's Continuous Service during the Performance Period, in either case
before a Change in Control, all Performance Shares will be immediately
forfeited.][ALTERNATIVE 1 - FOR EXECUTIVES WITH EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS.]
[(a)    Voluntary or Involuntary Termination Prior to Change in Control.
(i)General. Except as provided below, if the Executive voluntarily terminates
Continuous Service or if the Company terminates the Executive's Continuous
Service during the Performance Period, in either case before a Change in
Control, all Performance Shares will be immediately forfeited. If Executive
remains in Continuous Service throughout the Performance Period, the Performance
Shares shall vest and be earned as stated in Section 2.3 - 2.7 above based on
the relative TSR of the Company.

(ii)Termination without Cause; Resignation for Good Reason prior to a Change in
Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that prior to a Change in
Control Executive’s Continuous Service is terminated by the Company without
“Cause” or by Executive for “Good Reason” (each as defined in the Company
severance Plan in which Executive is a participant), then the Executive may be
eligible to receive payment of all or a portion of the Performance Shares, if
any, that Executive would have received at the end of the Performance Period
(based on achievement of the Performance Metric) had Executive not terminated
Continuous Service (the “Potential Shares”). Within forty-five days of the date
of termination, the Committee shall determine, in its sole and absolute
discretion, the portion, if any, of the Potential Shares that Executive shall be
entitled to receive, which determination shall be based on such factors as the
Committee deems relevant, including, but not limited to, the length of
Executive’s Continuous Service during the Performance Period and the
circumstances surrounding Executive’s termination. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Committee shall maintain discretion at any time prior to payment
to reduce or eliminate the payment to which Executive is otherwise due based on
Executive’s failure to comply with any post-termination restrictive
covenants.][ALTERNATIVE 2 - FOR EXECUTIVES IN THE SEVERANCE PLAN.]

(b)    Death or Disability. Notwithstanding Section 2.8(a), in the event of the
death or Disability of the Executive during the Performance Period, in either
case before a Change in Control, the Executive (or Executive’s estate) will
receive a pro-rata payment (based on the number of completed months during the
Performance Period compared to the total number of months in the Performance
Period) based on actual results at the end of the Performance Period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the triggering event is due to a death that
occurs during the first two (2) years of the Performance Period, such pro-rata
payment will be based on actual results through the date of death with the
Performance Metric calculated with reference to the Average Share Price for the
twenty (20) business days prior to the date of death.

(c)    Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control:

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(1)If less than one-half of the Performance Period has elapsed with respect to
the Performance Shares, then one hundred percent (100%) of the Target Award for
the Performance Period will be paid to the Executive.

(2)If at least one-half of the Performance Period has elapsed with respect to
the Performance Shares, then the Executive will receive the greater of (A) one
hundred percent (100%) of the Target Award or (B) the percentage corresponding
to the actual performance level achieved as of the date of the Change in
Control.

(d)    Continuous Service. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Continuous
Service” shall mean Executive’s uninterrupted service to the Company or an
Affiliate as an Employee, Non-Employee Director, or consultant. The Committee
shall determine in its discretion whether and when Executive’s Continuous
Service has ended (including as a result of any leave of absence); provided,
however, that Executive’s Continuous Service shall not be deemed to have ended
in the event Executive retires or otherwise terminates as an Employee but
continues to perform services as a Non-Employee Director or consultant.

2.9    Payment of Performance Shares.

(a)    Performance Shares earned for the Performance Period will be issued to
the Executive only following the Committee's formal review and certification of
the actual TSR performance results for the Performance Period.

(b)    Performance Shares payable to an Executive pursuant to Section 2.3
following the close of the Performance Period will be paid in a lump sum
distribution of Shares to the Executive within seventy-four (74) days following
the close of the Performance Period.

(c)    Performance Shares payable to an Executive pursuant to Section 2.8(b)
will be paid in a lump sum distribution of Shares to the Executive within
seventy-four (74) days following the close of the Performance Period, except in
the case of a death during the first two (2) years of the Performance Period, in
which case payment will be made within seventy-four (74) days following the date
of death.

(d)    Performance Shares payable to an Executive pursuant to Section 2.8(c)
following a Change in Control will be paid in a lump sum distribution of Shares
to the Executive within seventy-four (74) days following the date of the Change
in Control.

2.10    Tax Withholding. Executive shall make arrangements with the Company to
satisfy all applicable income and employment tax withholdings that may result
from the issuance of Shares hereunder, which withholdings may be satisfied (at
the election of Executive made prior to the payment date): (i) by Executive
paying to the Company directly in cash the amount of such withholdings, (ii) by
having the Company withhold from Shares paid to Executive a number of Shares
necessary to satisfy such tax withholding obligations, or (iii) by a combination
of the foregoing methods; provided, however, that in the absence of an
affirmative election by Executive prior to the payment date, the Company shall
satisfy such tax obligations pursuant to subsection (ii), above.

2.11    Dividend Equivalents. Executive shall be entitled to a cash payment with
respect to each Performance Share earned and payable under this Agreement in an
amount equal to the ordinary cash dividends that would have been payable to
Executive had Executive been the owner of an actual Share of stock (as opposed
to a Performance Share) from the first date of the Performance Period through
the date

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the Performance Share is paid. Such cash payment shall be made in a single lump
sum on the date on which payment is made in respect of the related Performance
Share pursuant to Section 2.9.

2.12    Stockholder Rights. An Executive will not have any voting or other
stockholder rights with respect to any Performance Shares. Executive shall have
full stockholder rights with respect to Shares issued as payment for Performance
Shares pursuant to Section 2.9.

2.13    Fractional Shares. The Company will not be required to issue any
fractional Shares pursuant to this Agreement. The Committee may provide for the
elimination of fractions or for the settlement of fractions in cash.

ARTICLE 3

GENERAL

3.1Capitalized Terms. All capitalized terms shall have the meeting ascribed to
them under this Agreement or, if not otherwise defined in this Agreement, then
such capitalized terms will have the meaning ascribed to them under the Plan.

3.2Construction. The provisions of this Agreement will be construed in a manner
consistent with the Plan. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of
the Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan will control.

3.3Compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. This Agreement and
all payments made hereunder are intended to be exempt from or to comply with the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code and this Agreement shall be interpreted
accordingly.

3.4Consent Relating to Personal Data. Executive voluntarily acknowledges and
consents to the collection, use, processing and transfer of personal data as
described in this Section even though Executive is not obliged to consent to
such collection, use, processing and transfer of personal data. The Company and
its subsidiaries hold, for the purpose of managing and administering the Plan,
certain personal information about Executive, including Executive’s name, home
address and telephone number, date of birth, social security number or other
employee identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any Shares or
directorships held in the Company, details of all equity awards or any other
entitlement to Shares awarded, canceled, purchased, vested, unvested or
outstanding in Executive’s favor (“Data”). The Company and/or its subsidiaries
will transfer Data among themselves as necessary for the purpose of
implementation, administration and management of Executive’s participation in
the Plan and the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries may each further
transfer Data to any third parties assisting the Company in the implementation,
administration and management of the Plan. These recipients may be located
throughout the world, including the United States. Executive authorizes them to
receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other
form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing Executive’s
participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may
be required for the administration of the Plan and/or the subsequent holding of
Shares on Executive’s behalf to a broker or other third party with whom
Executive may elect to deposit any Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan.
Executive may, at any time, review Data, require any necessary amendments to it
or withdraw the consents herein in writing by contacting the Company.

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3.5Other Employee Benefits. Except as specifically provided otherwise in any
relevant employee benefit plan, program, or arrangement, any amounts payable
hereunder are not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of
calculating any severance, resignation, redundancy, end of service payments,
bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar
payments.

3.6Electronic Delivery. EXECUTIVE HEREBY CONSENTS TO ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF THE
PLAN, AND ANY DISCLOSURE OR OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE PLAN, INCLUDING
FUTURE GRANT DOCUMENTS (COLLECTIVELY, THE “PLAN DOCUMENTS”). THE COMPANY WILL
DELIVER THE PLAN DOCUMENTS ELECTRONICALLY TO EXECUTIVE BY E-MAIL, BY POSTING
SUCH DOCUMENTS ON ITS INTRANET WEBSITE OR BY ANOTHER MODE OF ELECTRONIC DELIVERY
AS DETERMINED BY THE COMPANY IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION. EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT
HE OR SHE IS ABLE TO ACCESS, VIEW AND RETAIN AN E-MAIL ANNOUNCEMENT INFORMING
EXECUTIVE THAT THE PLAN DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE IN EITHER HTML, PDF OR SUCH
OTHER FORMAT AS THE COMPANY DETERMINES IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION.

3.7Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be given by hand delivery, by e-mail, by facsimile, or by
first class registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed, if to the
Company, to its Corporate Secretary, and if to Executive, to Executive’s address
now on file with the Company, or to such other address as either may designate
in writing. Any notice shall be deemed to be duly given as of the date delivered
in the case of personal delivery, e-mail, or facsimile, or as of the second day
after enclosed in a properly sealed envelope and deposited, postage prepaid, in
a United States post office, in the case of mailed notice.

3.8Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the Committee at any time without
Executive’s consent if such amendment does not reduce the benefits to which
Executive was entitled. In all other cases, this Agreement may not be amended or
otherwise modified unless evidenced in writing and signed by the Company and
Executive.

3.9Construction; Severability. The section headings contained herein are for
reference purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision hereof, and each other provision hereof shall be severable
and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.

3.10Waiver. Any provision contained in this Agreement may be waived, either
generally or in any particular instance, by the Committee appointed under the
Plan, but only to the extent permitted under the Plan.

3.11Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the Company and to Executive and their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

3.12Rights to Employment. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed
as giving Executive any right to be retained in the employ of the Company and
this Agreement is limited solely to governing the parties’ rights and
obligations with respect to the Performance Shares.

3.13Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to the choice
of law principles thereof.

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3.14Company Policies to Apply. The sale of any Shares received as payment
hereunder is subject to the Company’s policies regulating securities trading by
employees, all relevant federal and state securities laws and the listing
requirements of any stock exchange on which the shares of the Company’s Common
Stock are then traded. In addition, Executive’s participation in the Plan and
receipt of remuneration as a result of the Performance Shares is subject in all
respects to any Company compensation clawback policies that may be in effect
from time to time.
.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Executive hereby execute this Agreement to
be effective as of the day and year first above written.
ATTEST:
[Corporate Seal]                PDC ENERGY, INC.

By:                            
Sue Sander                    __________________________

Date:_____________________________________

EXECUTIVE

                                                    
Witness                    Signature

Date:                    

Please sign, date and return the signed agreement immediately to Kara Ullrich.
If you are not in the office, please fax or email by PDF immediately to Kara
Ullrich.

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SCHEDULE A
PEER COMPANIES
The following 13 companies compromise the Peer Companies for the 2016 - 2018
Performance Period:
•
Bill Barrett Corporation (BBG)

•
Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. (BCEI)

•
Callon Petroleum Company (CPE)

•
Carrizo Oil & Gas Inc. (CRZO)

•
Energen Corp. (EGN)

•
Gulfport Energy Corp. (GPOR)

•
Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. (LPI)

•
Matador Resources Company (MTDR)

•
Oasis Petroleum Inc. (OAS)

•
Parsley Energy, Inc. (PE)

•
SM Energy Company (SM)

•
Synergy Resources Corporation (SYRG)

•
WPX Energy, Inc. (WPX)

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