EXHIBIT 10.31
 
       

  RE:   2005 Award Letter Pursuant to

      2003 Long Term Incentive Plan

Dear                     :

     This letter (the “Award Letter”) confirms that, for the three-year period
ending December 31, 2007 (the “Performance Period”), the Compensation Committee
of Newpark Resources, Inc. (“Newpark” or the “Company”), has awarded to you (the
“Award”), pursuant to the Newpark Resources, Inc., 2003 Long Term Incentive Plan
(the “Plan”),                  shares of Deferred Stock (the “Award Shares”).
The Award Shares vest and become payable share for share in Common Stock
(“Stock”) of the Company, subject to satisfaction of the vesting criteria
(“Criteria”) set forth in Exhibit A (“Exhibit A”) attached to this Award Letter
and on the other terms and conditions set forth herein. Please acknowledge
receipt of this Award Letter by signing the enclosed copy in the space below for
“Particpant” and returning it to me.

     1. Compliance with Plan. The Award is granted pursuant to the Plan and is
subject in its entirety to the provisions of the Plan, all of which are
incorporated by reference herein. Terms used in this letter that are defined in
the Plan shall have the same meanings herein as in the Plan.

     2. Transfer Restrictions. Neither the Award Shares nor any interest in the
Award Shares may be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or
otherwise disposed of during the Performance Period. Any purported disposition
of Award Shares in violation of this Paragraph shall be null and void. Upon the
vesting of Award Shares in accordance with this Award Letter, the Stock issued
with respect to such vested Award Shares shall be free from the transfer
restrictions and risk of forfeiture, subject only to transfer restrictions, if
any, required for compliance with the Securities Act of 1933.

     3. Forfeiture Conditions.

          3.1 The Award Shares are subject to forfeiture, in whole or in part,
as provided herein and in Exhibit A.

          3.2 Except as provided in subparagraph 3.3, if your employment with
the Company or a subsidiary of the Company terminates or is terminated before
the end of the Performance Period, the Award Shares shall be immediately
forfeited by you and reacquired by the Company without any payment or other
consideration to you, and you shall have no further rights with respect to the
Award.

          3.3 Notwithstanding subparagraph 3.2:

 

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               3.3.1 All of the Award Shares shall vest upon the occurrence
before January 1, 2008, of a Change of Control of Newpark, provided you are
employed by Newpark or a subsidiary immediately before the Change of Control
occurs.

               3.3.2 If your employment with the Company or a subsidiary
terminates before the end of the Performance Period by reason of your death,
disability (as determined by the Committee) or retirement at normal retirement
age, and it is subsequently determined that the Criteria applicable to the
Performance Period were satisfied, a number of Award Shares determined by
multiplying the number of Award Shares that would have vested if your employment
had continued throughout the Performance Period by a fraction the numerator of
which is the number of whole months from December 31, 2004, until such
termination, and the denominator of which is 36, shall vest, and the balance of
the Award Shares shall be forfeited as provided in subparagraph 3.2.

     4. Share Certificates. No certificates for Stock or Award Shares shall be
issued with respect to unvested Award Shares. A share certificate representing
the Stock to be issued with respect to any Award Shares that have vested shall
be issued in your name as soon as practicable after such vesting occurs, and no
later than March 15, 2008.

     5. No Rights as a Shareholder. Unless and until Stock is issued with
respect to vested Award Shares, you shall have none of the rights of a
shareholder with respect to any Stock issuable on vesting of Award Shares.

     6. Adjustments. The number and kind of shares of Stock issuable with
respect to each Award Share that vests (initially one share of Common Stock for
each Award Share) shall be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain
events, as provided in Section 7 of the Plan.

     7. Miscellaneous.

          7.1 The Company shall have the right, at the time of your taxation
with respect to Award Shares or Stock, to make adequate provision for any
federal, state, local and foreign taxes which it believes are or may be required
by law to be withheld with respect to Award Shares or Stock, as specified in the
Plan.

          7.2 Nothing in the Plan or this Award Letter shall confer upon you any
right to continue in the employ of the Company or interfere in any way with the
right of the Company to terminate your employment at any time.

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          7.3 This Award Letter shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, U.S.A..

         

      Sincerely,
 
       

      James D. Cole, Chairman of the Board
And Chief Executive Officer
 
       
RECEIPT ACKNOWLEDGED:
       
 
       

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EXHIBIT A TO 2005 AWARD LETTER

     8. Definitions. Terms used in this Exhibit A that are defined in the Award
Letter to which this Exhibit A is attached shall have the same meanings herein
as in the Award Letter, including terms defined in the Award Letter by reference
to the Plan.

     9. Vesting Criteria. Award Shares shall vest at the end of the Performance
Period based on the performance of Newpark during the entire three year
Performance Period. No Award Shares vest if Newpark’s performance is below the
“Expected Level” (as shown in the table below) for the two indicated Criteria.
Vesting begins when Newpark achieves the “Expected Level” (as shown in the table
below) for either of the indicated Criteria, and the full Award vests and is
payable in Stock if Newpark’s performance is at or above the “Over Achievement”
level for both Criteria. For performance between the Expected Level and the Over
Achievement level, straight line interpolation, as determined by the Committee,
will be used to determine the number of Award Shares that vest. The Criteria for
the three year Performance Period ending December 31, 2007, are as follows:

                          Annualized Total   Average Return         Shareholder
Return   on Equity   Portion of Contingent     (50%)   (50%)   Award Vested
 
                   
Expected Level
  50th Percentile of OSX Industry Group     8 %     20 %
 
                   
Over-Achievement
Level
  75th Percentile of OSX Industry Group     14 %     100 %

     10. Forfeiture of Non-Vested Shares. Except as otherwise provided in the
Award Letter, all of the Award Shares that have not vested at the end of the
Performance Period shall be forfeited, and no Stock shall be issued with respect
to the forfeited Award Shares.

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