<PAGE>   1
                                                                EXHIBIT 10.2

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into
this 7th day of September, 1995, by and between HUGOTON ENERGY CORPORATION, a
Kansas corporation (hereinafter referred to as the "Company") and JAY W. DECKER
(hereinafter referred to as "Employee").

         WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in the oil and gas business;

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Employee as Executive
Vice-President of the Company and Employee desires to be employed by the
Company in that capacity; and

         WHEREAS, the Company and Employee desire to set forth in writing the
terms and conditions of their agreements and understandings;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, of the mutual
promises herein contained, and of other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties,
intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

         1.      Term of Employment The Company shall employ Employee in the
capacity set forth herein for a term of three (3) years commencing on September
8, 1995, and ending on September 7, 1998 (the "Employment Period"), unless
sooner terminated as hereinafter provided on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement

         2.      Responsibilities of Employee.


                 (a) In employment by the Company, Employee shall undertake and
assume the responsibility of performing for and on behalf of the Company any
and all duties as determined from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer
of the Company and shall report only to the Chief Executive Officer.

                 (b)      Employee agrees to devote eighty percent (80%) of his
time and effort to his duties as an employee of the Company. Employee may
devote his other time to other business and financial interests, provided that
such other activities do not interfere with the performance of Employee's
responsibility as Executive Vice-President and are not in violation of
paragraph 6 hereof.


<PAGE>   2
         3.      Compensation. As compensation for the services to be rendered
by Employee for the Company under this Agreement, Employee shall be entitled to
the following:

                 (a)      The Company shall pay Employee during the period in
which Employee is employed by the Company an annual salary of not less than One
Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($160.000.00), payable periodically for such
periods as may be established by the Company for payment of its employees under
its normal payroll practices. Such salary shall be adjusted annually to take
into consideration fluctuations in the Consumer Price Index. The term "Consumer
Price Index" shall mean the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (1982
to 1984 = 100) released by the United States Department of Labor. Bureau of
Labor Statistics, relating to consumer prices for all items in the city of
Wichita, Kansas..

                 (b)      Employee may receive a bonus and fringe benefits each
year in amounts to be determined by the Company's Board of Directors (the
"Board"). Such bonus may, in the discretion of the Board, be based, in part,
upon the Company meeting certain financial goals, which goals may be agreed
upon by the Board and Employee.

                 (c)      On September 8, 1995, the Company shall grant
Employee the option to purchase 125,000 shares of stock of the Company at a
purchase price of $8.25 per share ("Option 1"). Option I shall vest as follows:
the option to purchase twenty-five percent (25%) of such shares shall vest
immediately on the date of grant. the option to purchase twenty-five percent
(25%) of such shares shall vest twelve (12) months after the date of grant, the
option to purchase twenty-five percent (25%) of such shares shall vest
twenty-four (24) months after the date of grant and twenty-five percent (25%)
of such shares shall vest thirty-six (36) months after the date of grant;
provided however, such vesting shall only occur if Employee is still employed
by the Company.

                 (d)      In addition, if Employee is still employed by Company
on September 8, 1996:

                          (i)  the Company shall grant Employee the option to
                          purchase an additional I 125,000 shares of stock of
                          the Company at a price equal to the fair market
                          value of such shares on the date of the grant
                          ("Option 2"). Option 2 shall vest as follows: the
                          option to purchase twenty-five percent (25%) of such
                          shares shall vest immediately on the date of grant,
                          the option to purchase twenty-five percent (25%) of
                          such shares shall vest twelve (12) months after the
                          date of grant, the option to purchase twenty-five
                          percent (25%) of such shares shall vest twenty- four
                          (24) months after the date of grant and twenty-five
                          percent (25%) of such shares shall vest thirty-six
                          (36) months after the date of grant, provided.
                          however. such vesting shall only occur if Employee
                          is still employed by the Company. 





                                       2
<PAGE>   3
                           (ii)      Employee shall be entitled to receive a
                           bonus from the Company equal to the difference
                           between the fair market value on the date of grant
                           of the shares covered by Option 2 and $1,031-250.00
                           ($8.25 times 125,000 shares).

         4.      Expenses. Employee shall be reimbursed for all reasonable
business expenses incurred by him in connection with or incident to the
performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder upon the Employee's
submission to the Company of vouchers or expense statements evidencing such
expenses in such form or format as the Company may reasonably require.

         5.      Vacation and Other Benefits.

                 (a)      Vacation. Employee shall be entitled to six (6) weeks
of paid vacation per year during the Employment Period. In addition, Employee
shall be entitled to participate in all other present and future benefit plans
provided by the Company to its employees and for which Employee meets the
eligibility requirements thereof

                 (b)      Medical Insurance. The Company shall provide Employee
and his dependents with medical insurance coverage under the Company's medical
insurance plan, and such coverage shall be consistent with Employer's current
medical insurance coverage offered to its executive officers.

          6.     Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure- Injunctive Relief.  
Employee acknowledges that the services he is to render are of a special and 
unusual character with unique value to the Company. In view of the value to 
the Company of the services of Employee for which the Company has contracted 
hereunder, because of certain confidential information to be obtained by or 
disclosed to Employee, and as a inducement to the Company to enter into this 
Agreement and to pay to Employee the compensation stated herein, Employee 
covenants and agrees as follows:

                 (a)      During the period in which Employee is employed by
         the Company and for a period of up to ninety (90) days thereafter in
         which Employee is not employed by the Company but is receiving any
         payment from the Company, Employee shall not, without the consent of
         the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), directly or
         indirectly be employed by or render consulting or other services in
         connection with any business enterprise or person which operates a
         business in the oil and gas industry in those states in which the
         Company or its subsidiaries owns or operates properties.

                 (b)      During the period in which Employee is employed by
         the Company, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, in any
         capacity (including, without limitation, as a proprietor investor.
         director or officer), be financially interested in or engage in any
         business similar to or related to the business of the Company





                                       3
<PAGE>   4
         if such business is in competition with the Company in those states in
         which the Company or its subsidiaries owns or operates properties;
         however, it is specifically agreed between the parties that Employee
         may continue to be financially interested in and engage in any
         business similar to or related to the Company's business which he is
         interested in or engaged in on the date of this Agreement, including
         the ownership of oil and gas interests. Notwithstanding for foregoing,
         Employee may own up to ten percent (10%) of the equity or debt of any
         company or entity as a personal investment.

                 (c)      During the period in which Employee is employed by the
         Company and thereafter. Employee will not disclose to any, third party
         or directly or indirectly make use of, other than in connection with
         the business and affairs of the Company, any knowledge or information
         pertaining to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, their business
         or personnel or policies for any reason without the prior consent of
         the Company's Board.

                 (d)      During the Employment Period, Employee may not
         solicit, raid, entice or induce 1) any person, firm or corporation
         that is a customer of the Company to become a customer of another
         firm, corporation or person; or 2) any person that is employed by the
         Company or its subsidiaries to become employed by any, other person,
         firm or company.

                 (e)      Employee acknowledges and agrees that the services to
         be rendered by him are of a special, unique and extraordinary,
         character and, in connection with such services, he will have access
         to confidential and proprietary information vital to the Company's and
         its subsidiaries' businesses. By reason of this, Employee consents and
         agrees that if he violates any of the provisions of this Section 6,
         the Company and its subsidiaries would sustain irreparable harm and.
         therefore, in addition to any other remedies which the Company may
         have under this Agreement or otherwise, the Company shall be entitled
         to an injunction restraining Employee from committing or continuing
         any such violation of this Agreement.

         7.      Termination By the Company For Cause.

         (a)     The Company may terminate Employee's employment under this
Agreement for Cause. The termination shall be evidenced by written notice
thereof to the Employee and shall specify the Cause for termination. For
purposes hereof.  the term "Cause" shall mean (i) the inability of Employee.
through sickness or other incapacity. to perform his duties under this
Agreement for a period of six (6) months. (ii) dishonesty, theft, or conviction
of a crime involving moral turpitude, in each case only if it could reasonably
effect his ability to perform assigned duties for the Company or cause a
material adverse effect on the Company, (iii) commission of a material act of
fraud against the Company or its subsidiaries. or (iv) failure of Employee to
observe or perform his material duties and obligations as an employee of






                                       4
<PAGE>   5
Company or a material breach of this Agreement, after thirty (30) days advance
written notice of such failure which has not been cured.

         (b) If Employee's employment with the Company is terminated for
Cause, Employee shall be paid his salary through the month of his termination.

         8.      Termination By the Company Without Cause

         (a)     The Company may terminate Employee's employment under this
Agreement without Cause. The termination shall be evidenced by written notice
thereof to the Employee and shall specify that the termination was without
Cause.  An involuntary transfer of Employee shall be considered termination
without Cause.

         (b)     If Employee's employment with the Company is terminated
without Cause, Employee shall be entitled to receive, within a time frame and
upon a payment schedule to be mutually agreed upon by the Company and
Employee (but not to exceed one (1) year), the amount of his entire salary for
the remaining term of this Agreement; provided, however, the period for
receiving such payment shall not exceed one (1) year or the remaining term of
this Agreement, whichever is less. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
payment referred to above is not made within thirty (30) days of Employee's
termination, all unpaid amounts shall bear interest at a rate equal to the New
York Prime (as published in the Wall Street Journal) on the date of such
termination. In addition, he shall become immediately vested in the options
described in paragraph (3) (c) and (d) if they have been previously granted.

         9.      Burden and Benefit. This Agreement shall be binding upon. and
shall inure to the benefit of, the Company and Employee, and their respective
heirs, personal and legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
Employees rights and obligations may not be assigned without the proper
written consent of the Company.

         10.     Governing Law  It is understood and agreed that the
construction and interpretation of this Agreement shall at all times and in all
respects be governed by the laws of the State of Kansas.

         11.     Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed
severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any one or more of the
provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity and enforceability
of the other provisions.

         12.     Notice. Any notice required to be given shall be sufficient if
it is in writing and sent BY certified or registered mail, return receipt
requested, first-class postage prepaid to his last known  residence in the case
of Employee, and to its principal office in the State of Kansas in the case of
the Company.





                                       5
<PAGE>   6





          13.    Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement
and understanding by and between the Company and Employee with respect to the
employment of Employee, and no representations, promises, agreements, or
understandings, written or oral, not contained herein shall be of any force or
effect. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be valid unless it
is in writing and signed by the party against whom the waiver is sought to be
enforced. No valid waiver of any provision of this Agreement at any time shall
be deemed a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement at such time or any
other time.

         14.     Modification. No amendment, alteration or modification to any 
of the provisions of this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and
signed by both parties.

         15.     Paragraph Headings. The paragraph headings have been inserted
for convenience only and are not to be considered when construing the
provisions of this Agreement.

         16.     Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Employee have executed this 
Agreement on the day and year first above written.

"COMPANY"                                              "EMPLOYEE"
                                                                        
HUGOTON ENERGY CORPORATION                                              
                                                                        
                                            /s/ JAY W. DECKER            
                                            ---------------------------- 
                                                          JAY W. DECKER  

By:     /s/ W. MARK WOMBLE
        -------------------------
NAME:   W. Mark Womble
        -------------------------
Title:  Executive Vice President
        -------------------------

ATTEST:

    /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
---------------------------------





                                       6