Exhibit 10.12

                                November 13, 2003

                                  SUPPLEMENTAL
                              LETTER LOAN AGREEMENT


The Beard Company
5600 N. May Avenue, Suite 320
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112

Gentlemen:

This Supplemental Letter Loan Agreement supplements and supersedes the previous
Supplemental Letter Loan Agreements between the parties hereto dated November 7,
2002 and June 6, 2003.

This Supplemental Letter Loan Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions
under which we have agreed to supplement your existing $3,000,000 long-term line
of credit with a short-term revolving loan to you in the principal amount of
$375,000.00 (the "Loan").

1. LENDER:          The William M. Beard and Lu Beard
                    1988 Charitable Unitrust (the "Unitrust").

2. BORROWER:        The Beard Company.

3. AMOUNT:          Such amounts as the Borrower may request from time to
                    time up to $375,000.00.  The Loan shall be evidenced
                    by a promissory note in the amount of $375,000.00 dated
                    as of today (the "Note").  The Borrower shall be permitted
                    to obtain advances, make prepayments, and obtain
                    additional advances, up to the amount of the Note.

4. INTEREST RATE:   A fixed rate of 10.00%.

5. REPAYMENT:       The outstanding principal balance (the "Indebtedness")
                    plus unpaid accrued interest shall be due and payable on
                    April 30, 2004.  The parties agree that any payments made
                    by Borrower to Lender shall be applied first to this Loan.

6. COLLATERAL:      The Lender, together with certain Note Holders, have
                    previously filed a Deed of Trust, Assignment of Production,
                    and Financing Statement of record (a "Lien") on its working
                    and overriding royalty interests in the McElmo Dome Unit in
                    Montezuma and Dolores Counties of Colorado ("Interests").
                    The Borrower will not sell, transfer, convey or otherwise
                    dispose of any of the Interests, whether pursuant to a
                    single transaction or a series of transactions.


7. COVENANT:        Until the Indebtedness has been paid in full, the
                    Borrower will not sell, transfer, convey or otherwise
                    dispose of, all or a substantial portion of its assets now
                    owned or hereafter acquired, whether pursuant to a single
                    transaction or a series of transactions, and the
                    Borrower will not merge or consolidate with any person
                    or entity or permit any such merger or consolidation
                    with the Borrower.  This paragraph specifically excludes
                    asset sales incurred in the normal course of business.

8. EVENTS OF
   DEFAULT:         If any of the following conditions or events ("Events of
                    Default") shall occur and be continuing:

                    A.   Failure of the Borrower to pay when due any
                         amounts, including principal or interest on the Note
                         (whether at the stated maturity, upon acceleration
                         or otherwise).

                    B.   Any Event of Default as specified in the Note

                    C.   Any default or breach in the performance of any
                         covenant, obligation, representation, warranty or
                         provision contained in this Letter Loan Agreement or
                         in the Note or in any other note or obligation of
                         Borrower to the Unitrust.

                    D.   The Borrower shall:  (i) apply for or consent to the
                         appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or
                         liquidator of the Borrower or any of its properties,
                         (ii) admit in writing the inability to pay, or
                         generally fail to pay, its debts when they come due,
                         (iii) make a general assignment for the benefit of
                         creditors, (iv) commence any proceeding relating to
                         the bankruptcy, reorganization, liquidation,
                         receivership, conservatorship, insolvency, readjustment
                         of debt, dissolution or liquidation of the Borrower,
                         or if corporate action should be taken by the Borrower
                         for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing,
                         (v) suffer any such appointment or commencement of a
                         proceeding as described in clause (i) or (iv) of this
                         paragraph, which appointment or proceeding is not
                         terminated or discharged within 60 days, or (vi)
                         become insolvent.

THEN upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in the foregoing
paragraphs the unpaid principal amount of and accrued interest on the Loan shall
automatically become immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand,
protest or other requirements of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly
waived by Borrower.

If the foregoing terms and conditions are acceptable to you, please acknowledge
your agreement by signing below and returning one copy of this Letter Loan
Agreement to us.

Sincerely,

LENDER:
THE WILLIAM M. BEARD AND LU BEARD
1988 CHARITABLE UNITRUST



WILLIAM M. BEARD                            LU BEARD
William M. Beard, Trustee                   Lu Beard, Trustee



Accepted effective this 13th day of November, 2003.

BORROWER:
THE BEARD COMPANY



HERB MEE, JR.
Herb Mee, Jr., President