EXHIBIT 10.1
 THE MERIDIAN RESOURCE & EXPLORATION LLC
CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE PLAN  (As Adopted Effective December 15, 2008)




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THE MERIDIAN RESOURCE & EXPLORATION LLC
CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE PLAN  (As Adopted Effective December 15, 2008)
 WHEREAS, TMRX
 WHEREAS
 WHEREAS Plan
 NOW, THEREFORE




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TABLE OF CONTENTS
 PageARTICLE I ESTABLISHMENT AND OBJECTIVE
    
    
    11.1 Establishment
    
    
    11.2 Objective
    
    
    1ARTICLE II DEFINITIONS
    
    
    12.1 Capitalized Terms
    
    
    12.2 Number and Gender
    
    
    82.3 Headings
    
    
    8ARTICLE III ELIGIBILITY
    
    
    8ARTICLE IV BENEFITS
    
    
    94.1 Equity Based Compensation
    
    
    94.2 Benefits Following Termination of Employment or Affiliation Relationship
    
    
    94.3 Legal Fees
    
    
    10ARTICLE V TIME OF BENEFITS PAYMENTS
    
    
    10ARTICLE VI TERMINATION PROCEDURES AND COMPENSATION DURING DISPUTE
    
    
    106.1 Notice of Termination
    
    
    106.2 Termination Date
    
    
    116.3 Dispute Concerning Termination
    
    
    11ARTICLE VII WITHHOLDING
    
    
    11ARTICLE VIII DEATH OF PARTICIPANT
    
    
    12ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
    
    
    12ARTICLE X ADOPTION OF PLAN BY AFFILIATES
    
    
    12ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS
    
    
    1211.1 Plan Not an Employment Contract
    
    
    1211.2 Alienation Prohibited
    
    
    1211.3 Severability
    
    
    1311.4 Binding Effect
    
    
    1311.5 Other Amounts Due
    
    
    1311.6 Notices
    
    
    1311.7 Governing Law
    
    
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THE MERIDIAN RESOURCE & EXPLORATION LLC
CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE PLAN
 ARTICLE I
ESTABLISHMENT AND OBJECTIVE
 1.1 Establishment. Plan
 1.2 Objective.
 ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
 2.1 Capitalized Terms.
 Affiliate
 Annual Incentive Plan
 Applicable Factor
 Applicable Period
 Assets
 Base Compensation including
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excluding Base Compensation
 Beneficial Owner Beneficial Ownership
 Board
 Cause
 Change in Control
 unless
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Asset Sale unless
     Code
 Committee Committee provided however,
 Company
 Disability
 Effective Date
 Eligible Individual Eligible Individual
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Entity
 ERISA
 Exchange Act
 Expiration Date Term of
the Plan
 Good Reason 
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Highest Base Compensation
 Incumbent Director
    Incumbent Directors
  Level One Participant
 Level Two Participant
 Level Three Participant
 Merger
 Notice of Participation
 Participant
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Person
 Plan
 Renewal Date Term of the
Plan
 Section 409A
 Separation From Service
 Specified Employee
 Specified Owner
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Term of the Plan
 Expiration
Date
  Renewal Date
 Termination Date
 Termination of Employment or Affiliation Relationship
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TMRC
 TMRX
 Voting Securities
 2.2 Number and Gender.
 2.3 Headings.
 ARTICLE III
ELIGIBILITY
 Notice of
Participation
 Notice Term of the Plan provided however
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ARTICLE IV
BENEFITS
 4.1 Equity Based Compensation.
 4.2 Benefits Following Termination of Employment or Affiliation Relationship.
 Severance Payment
  Accident and Health Insurance Benefits COBRA
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Life Insurance
 4.3 Legal Fees
 ARTICLE V
TIME OF BENEFITS PAYMENTS
  ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION PROCEDURES AND COMPENSATION DURING DISPUTE
 6.1 Notice of Termination.
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6.2 Termination Date. Termination Date
 6.3 Dispute Concerning Termination.
 ARTICLE VII
WITHHOLDING
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ARTICLE VIII
DEATH OF PARTICIPANT
  ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
  ARTICLE X
ADOPTION OF PLAN BY AFFILIATES
    ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
 11.1 Plan Not an Employment Contract.
 11.2 Alienation Prohibited.
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11.3 Severability.
 11.4 Binding Effect.
 11.5 Other Amounts Due.
 11.6 Notices.
 11.7 Governing Law.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF
 THE MERIDIAN RESOURCE & EXPLORATION LLC
 /s/ JOSEPH A. REEVES, JR.
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