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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.22

                      AGREEMENT FOR RELEASE AND TERMINATION


                  This Agreement for Release and Termination (this "Agreement")
is entered into on this 20th day of November, 1999, by and among United States
Exploration, Inc. ("UXP"), Kinder Morgan, Inc., formerly KN Energy, Inc.
("KMI"), HS Resources, Inc. ("HSR"), and Resource Gathering Systems, Inc.
("RGSI"), collectively referred to herein as the "Parties" and individually as a
"Party".

                  WHEREAS, pursuant to paragraph 3 of that certain letter
agreement dated July 30, 1991, between KN Energy, Inc. ("KNE") and Union Pacific
Resources Company ("UPRC'), referred to herein as the "July 30, 1991 Letter
Agreement", KNE granted to UPRC a right of first refusal to purchase any or all
of the Wattenberg Gas Gathering System (the "System") and a right to approve any
new operator or takeover of operatorship of the System under the circumstances
described therein, such rights collectively referred to herein as the "Right of
First Refusal";

                  WHEREAS, pursuant to an Assignment of Right of First Refusal
dated October 20, 1999, UPRC assigned and conveyed the Right of First Refusal to
UXP;

                  WHEREAS, KMI wishes to sell to HSR and HSR wishes to purchase
from KMI the System; and,

                  WHEREAS, KMI and HSR agree to grant certain benefits and
rights to UXP in return for UXP's waiver, release, and termination of the Right
of First Refusal:

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual benefits to be
derived herein, the Parties agree as follows:

                           1. CONDITION SUBSEQUENT: This Agreement shall
                  terminate if on or before December 31, 1999, HSR and KMI, do
                  not enter into a definitive agreement for the purchase and
                  sale of KMI's Wattenberg Gas Gathering System upon such terms
                  and conditions, exceptions and reservations as KMI and HSR
                  shall determine in their sole and unfettered judgment, there
                  being no obligation on the part of either such party to enter
                  into such definitive agreement. This condition referred to
                  hereinafter as the "Condition Subsequent".

                           2. WAIVER, RELEASE, AND TERMINATION AGREEMENT: KMI
                  and UXP agree to enter into the Waiver, Release, and
                  Termination Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit "A", by
                  reference made a part hereof, upon entering into this
                  Agreement.

                           3. COPAS OVERHEAD RATES: HSR and UXP agree to amend
                  the COPAS drilling and producing overhead rates under
                  operating agreements currently in effect


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                  whereunder HSR is the operator and UXP is the non-operator
                  (the "Operating Agreements") which shall affect overhead rates
                  charged on presently existing wells and future wells drilled
                  thereunder. Effective November 1, 1999, and for a period of
                  ten (10) years thereafter, the drilling and producing overhead
                  rates under the Operating Agreements shall be $5,000.00 and
                  $500.00 per month per well (to the 8/8ths interest),
                  respectively. After such ten-year period, the COPAS overhead
                  rates for all wells under the Operating Agreements shall be
                  subject to future escalation in accordance with the applicable
                  operating agreement.

                           4. UPRC/HSR EXPLORATION AGREEMENT: HSR and UPRC are
                  parties to that certain Exploration Agreement dated June 27,
                  1994 (the "Exploration Agreement"). UPRC has leased and
                  assigned certain interests to UXP which are subject to the
                  Exploration Agreement, and UPRC and UXP have entered into a
                  separate agreement whereby UPRC must offer to UXP any working
                  interest which may be available to UPRC under the Exploration
                  Agreement. Accordingly, HSR agrees to the following:

                                    a. CONFIDENTIALITY PROVISIONS: HSR hereby
                           waives the confidentiality provisions in the
                           Exploration Agreement insofar, and only insofar, as
                           will allow UPRC to disclose any information, except
                           seismic, non-public and interpretative information,
                           to UXP which UPRC is entitled to receive from HSR
                           under the Exploration Agreement and affects any of
                           the interests UXP previously has acquired from UPRC,
                           or which will allow UXP to make an informed decision
                           whether it wishes to participate for UPRC's interest
                           in any well under which UPRC has the option to
                           participate pursuant to the Exploration Agreement and
                           which must be offered to UXP. HSR shall provide such
                           information not presently in UPRC's possession
                           directly to UXP.

                                    b. Promptly upon entering into this
                           Agreement, HSR agrees to provide UXP with a list of
                           the acreage which currently is subject to the
                           Exploration Agreement.

                           5. RESOURCE GATHERING SYSTEMS, INC.: Resource
                  Gathering Systems, Inc. ("RGSI") is an affiliate of HSR, which
                  owns a mini-gathering system in the Wattenberg Field and
                  currently charges UXP $0.05/Mcf for gas gathered on its
                  system. RGSI agrees as follows:

                                    a. GATHERING FEE: Effective October 1, 1999,
                           RGSI agrees to discontinue the $0.05/Mcf fee charged
                           to UXP for any gas gathered in presently existing
                           wells or future wells, which are on properties
                           currently owned, which are, or will be, connected to
                           the RGSI mini-gathering system as it exists today or
                           as expanded in the future.


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                                    b. WELL CONNECTION COSTS: If HSR decides to
                           have RGSI gather gas from an HSR-operated well in
                           which UXP owns a working interest, HSR shall give UXP
                           notice of its plans and the estimated costs required
                           to have RGSI connect such well. If UXP decides to
                           have RGSI gather UXP's share of gas from such well,
                           UXP agrees to bear its proportionate share of the
                           costs to connect such well to the RGSI system, based
                           on its working interest in such well. Notwithstanding
                           the foregoing, HSR agrees that it shall bear the
                           entire cost to connect any of the following wells to
                           the RGSI mini-gathering system:

                  Dechant UPRR 41-1A
                  NE/NE Section 1-2N-65W

                  Ludwig UPRR 32-1 #2A
                  SW/NE Section 1-3N-66W


                           6. SEGREGATION OF UNITS ESTABLISHED FOR THE J-SAND
                  AND DAKOTA FORMATIONS: HSR and UXP shall use their reasonable,
                  diligent and good faith efforts to segregate some or all of
                  their jointly owned properties in the D-J Basin. HSR and UXP
                  shall devote such time, effort and personnel to the process as
                  may be needed in order for each to make a comprehensive
                  proposal to the other for such segregation, and to fairly
                  consider and respond to any proposals made by the other. HSR
                  shall make UXP a proposal for segregation by the last day of
                  February 2000. The terms of any proposal shall be entirely
                  within the discretion of the proposing party and the response
                  thereto exclusively within the discretion of the responding
                  party. Neither HSR nor UXP shall have any obligation to accept
                  any proposal of the other party, and no obligation to
                  segregate or exchange properties shall exist unless and until
                  HSR and UXP enter into and execute a written definitive
                  agreement to do so. The obligations under this paragraph 6
                  shall terminate December 31, 2000.

                           7. AMENDMENT TO THE GATHERING AGREEMENT: KMI agrees
                  to enter into and execute, and agrees to cause its subsidiary,
                  KN Gas Gathering, Inc. ("KNGG"), to enter into and execute the
                  Amendment of Gas Gathering Agreement (the "Gathering
                  Amendment") attached hereto as Exhibit "B", by reference made
                  a part hereof, upon KMI's entering into this Agreement. UXP
                  also agrees to execute the Gathering Amendment upon entering
                  into this Agreement.

                           8. AMENDMENT TO THE TRANSPORTATION AGREEMENT: KM
                  agrees to cause its subsidiary, KN Wattenberg Transmission
                  Limited Liability Company ("KNWTLLC"), to enter into and
                  execute the Amendment of Interruptible Transportation Service
                  Agreement ("Transportation Amendment") attached hereto as
                  Exhibit "C", by reference made a part hereof, upon KMI's
                  entering into this

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                  Agreement. UXP also agrees to execute the Transportation
                  Amendment upon entering into this Agreement.

                           9. AMENDMENT TO THE AGENCY AGREEMENT: KN Front Range
                  Gathering Company, now KNGG, as Agent, and UPRC, as Principal,
                  entered into that certain Agency Agreement dated March 29,
                  1993 (the "Agency Agreement"). UPRC assigned certain interests
                  to UXP which are subject to the Agency Agreement. KMI agrees
                  to cause its subsidiary, KNGG, to enter into and execute the
                  Amendment of Agency Agreement ("Agency Amendment") attached
                  hereto as Exhibit "D", by reference made a part hereof, upon
                  KMI's entering into this Agreement. UXP also agrees to execute
                  the Agency Amendment upon entering into this Agreement.

                           10. AMENDMENT TO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT: HSR and UXP
                  entered into that certain Development Agreement dated October
                  1, 1998, as amended, (the "Development Agreement") which
                  provides for the deepening of those wells listed on an exhibit
                  attached thereto. Promptly upon satisfaction of the Condition
                  Subsequent, HSR and UXP agree as follows:

                                    a. WELLBORE REIMBURSEMENT COSTS: Effective
                           October 1, 1999, the Development Agreement shall be
                           amended by eliminating any requirement to pay a
                           Wellbore Reimbursement Cost as contained therein. HSR
                           and UXP further agree that even after the Development
                           Agreement terminates no Wellbore Reimbursement Cost
                           will be charged on any of the wells described on
                           Exhibit A of the Development Agreement, which were
                           not deepened during the term of the Development
                           Agreement and which either HSR or UXP proposes to the
                           other party to deepen in the future.

                                    b. TERM OF DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT: The term
                           of the Development Agreement will expire on October
                           1, 2000. UXP and HSR agree to extend the term of the
                           Development Agreement to October 1, 2001.

                           11. USE OF WELLBORES FOR SHALLOW OPERATIONS: New
                  provisions shall be added to Section 4 of the Development
                  Agreement to provide that if either HSR or UXP (the "Owning
                  Party") owns or controls 100% of the interest in a target
                  Shallow Zone in a well described on Schedule III (a "Joint
                  Well") which the other party operates, and the Owning Party
                  desires to conduct Shallow Operations in the subject wellbore,
                  it shall be deemed that an Approved Operation was conducted
                  for purposes of Section 4 in that well. If the Owning Party is
                  the operator of the well, it shall allow the other party to
                  temporarily take over operations on the subject wellbore and
                  to conduct its proposed Shallow Operations until complete, but
                  subject to the other requirements of Section 4; provided,
                  however, that if a third party has an ownership interest in
                  the subject wellbore, the Owning Party's proposal to conduct a
                  Shallow Operation shall not commence until and unless the
                  Owning Party obtains the consent

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                  of such third party for the proposed Shallow Operations in the
                  subject wellbore. This provision shall survive the termination
                  of the Development Agreement.

                           12. OPERATING AGREEMENTS: With respect to any well
                  which HSR operates in the D-J Basin that UXP determines is no
                  longer producing in paying quantities for UXP's account, UXP
                  shall have the right to give HSR written notice that UXP
                  desires to surrender its entire interest in the currently
                  producing formation(s), limited to the wellbore only, to HSR
                  in exchange for HSR assuming UXP's proportionate share of the
                  plugging and abandonment costs and liabilities attributable to
                  such interests; provided, however, that HSR shall not have the
                  obligation to assume such cost obligations or liabilities if
                  HSR agrees to plug and abandon the affected formation(s)
                  following receipt of UXP's written notice in accordance with
                  the terms of the applicable operating agreement. If HSR elects
                  to assume UXP's plugging and abandonment costs and liabilities
                  which UXP desires to surrender, and if HSR subsequently
                  desires to deepen or recomplete the subject well to a
                  formation which UXP has retained an ownership interest, UXP
                  shall have the right to participate for its proportionate
                  share of the costs to deepen or recomplete the subject well,
                  all in accordance with the terms of the applicable operating
                  agreement, provided that UXP shall not regain its interest in
                  the previously surrendered formation, UXP shall again become
                  liable for its share of plugging and abandonment costs and UXP
                  shall receive a share of equipment that it previously owned
                  equal to its working interest share of the new producing
                  formation.

                           13. LUDWIG #2-5 WELL: HSR and UXP agree to enter into
                  an operating agreement for the Ludwig #2-5 Well located in the
                  NW/4NW/4 of Section 5, Township 3 North, Range 65 West, Weld
                  County, Colorado, using substantially the same form of
                  operating agreement as affecting the Ludwig #1-5 Well located
                  in the NW/4NE/4 of the same section, except naming UXP as
                  operator, providing for "15%" in the blank on line 15 of page
                  two, correctly reflecting the parties interests on Exhibit
                  "A", and incorporating all of the amendments contained in this
                  Agreement. UXP shall prepare such operating agreement for
                  HSR's execution.

                           14. PRODUCTION INFORMATION: Promptly following
                  satisfaction of the Condition Subsequent, and continuing
                  thereafter, HSR shall provide to UXP on a daily basis the
                  estimated gross daily production volumes and on a monthly
                  basis copies of the Gas Metering Volume Statements for each
                  HSR-operated well in which UXP has a working interest. Such
                  information shall be the same information as used and relied
                  on by HSR. However, HSR does not represent, warrant, or
                  guaranty the accuracy or completeness of such production data.
                  UXP acknowledges that use of or reliance on such data shall be
                  at UXP's sole risk. HSR shall have no obligation to allocate
                  to or identify the various owners in such gross daily
                  production volumes for purposes of delivering such data to UXP
                  pursuant to this Agreement. Additionally, HSR agrees to
                  provide UXP with information contained in the reports filed
                  with the Colorado Oil

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                  and Gas Conservation Commission and affecting UXP/HSR jointly
                  owned wells which HSR operates.

                           15. GAS IMBALANCES: HSR estimates that as of August
                  31, 1999, gas production for the account of UXP (including the
                  Weld County Partnership production interests, subject to
                  True's consent) is under delivered on wells which HSR operates
                  in the D-J Basin in the aggregate amount of 175,000 MMBtu. HSR
                  hereby agrees to cash-out UXP's gas imbalance at a price of
                  $2.50 per MMBtu within fifteen (15) days of satisfaction of
                  the Condition Subsequent. The parties acknowledge that the
                  foregoing is based on HSR's statement of imbalance, and that
                  UXP and HSR shall have the opportunity to verify such amount.
                  UXP and HSR shall work diligently to arrive at a final
                  reconciliation by December 31, 1999. The final reconciliation
                  amount will be made at $2.50 per MMBtu.

                           16. POOLING AGREEMENTS: It may be necessary for UXP
                  and HSR to enter into pooling agreements to hold various
                  leases acquired by UXP from UPRC. HSR agrees to enter into
                  such pooling agreements upon UXP's request, using
                  substantially the same form of pooling agreement as attached
                  to the Development Agreement. The pooled area will be limited
                  to the Drilling Unit for the applicable formations in a
                  completed well. Drilling Unit is defined in Paragraph 5b of
                  the Development Agreement. In no event will the pooled area be
                  greater than 320 acres.

                           17. DAKOTA FARMOUT AGREEMENT: Promptly following
                  satisfaction of the Condition Subsequent, HSR and UXP agree to
                  enter into a Farmout Agreement covering the Dakota Formation
                  under the lands and wellbores identified on Schedule II
                  attached hereto, by reference made a part hereof. Under the
                  agreement, HSR shall grant to UXP the right to commence, on or
                  before December 31, 2000: (i) operations for the deepening to
                  the Dakota Formation in any of the eleven (11) wellbores
                  identified on Schedule II, and (ii) operations for the
                  recompletion of the Dakota Formation in any of the six (6)
                  wellbores identified on Schedule II. HSR will reserve a
                  non-convertible overriding royalty interest, proportionately
                  reduced, equal to the difference between leasehold burdens
                  existing as of the date of this Agreement and twenty percent
                  (20%). UXP is under no obligation to commence any of the
                  operations. The only loss for failure to conduct an operation
                  shall be the loss of any assignment pursuant hereto associated
                  with such operation. UXP shall take over operations of a well
                  to conduct the deepening or recompletion operation therein,
                  and return operations to HSR once UXP's operations are
                  completed. After UXP has recouped from the proceeds of all
                  production produced, sold, and allocated to the Dakota
                  Formation in a well, after deducting all burdens payable out
                  of production and all production taxes, 100% of the costs
                  incurred by UXP to either deepen or recomplete such well,
                  including operating costs during such recoupment period, HSR
                  shall backin for a twenty-five percent (25%) working interest,
                  proportionately reduced by HSR's original interest in the
                  Dakota Formation in such well. Payout

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                  shall be on a well-by-well basis. The allocation formula to be
                  used shall be the same formula as previously used under the
                  Development Agreement. The farmout shall contain such other
                  standard provisions as HSR and UXP reasonably require.

                           18. JOINT RECOMPLETION OF DAKOTA FORMATION: Promptly
                  following satisfaction of the Condition Subsequent, and
                  subject to title approval, HSR and UXP agree to participate
                  for their proportionate share in the recompletion of the
                  Dakota Formation in the five (5) wellbores identified on
                  Schedule 11 in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
                  Development Agreement, as amended herein. HSR shall promptly
                  issue to UXP a separate AFE for each well setting out the
                  reasonable costs to recomplete the Dakota Formation.

                           19. PRESS RELEASES AND PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: No Party
                  hereunder shall issue any press release or make any public
                  announcement relating to the subject matter of this Agreement
                  prior to the Condition Subsequent having been met without the
                  prior approval of the other Parties, which approval shall not
                  be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that a Party may
                  make any public disclosure it believes in good faith is
                  required by applicable law or any listing or trading agreement
                  concerning its publicly traded securities (in which case the
                  disclosing Party will use its reasonable best efforts to
                  advise the other Parties prior to making the disclosure).

                           20. ENTIRE AGREEMENT: This Agreement, including the
                  exhibits attached hereto, constitutes the entire agreement
                  between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
                  and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or
                  representations by, between, or among the Parties, written or
                  oral, with respect to such subject matter.

                           21. SECTION 29 TAX CREDIT ISSUE: HSR represents and
                  warrants that it has the authority to enter into this
                  agreement on behalf of those parties holding legal title under
                  any Section 29 Tax Credit Transaction.

                           22. SUCCESSORS: This Agreement shall be binding upon
                  and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their
                  respective successors, assigns, subsidiaries, and affiliates.

                           23. GOVERNING LAW: This Agreement shall be governed
                  by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
                  Colorado without giving effect to any choice or conflict of
                  law provision or rule.

                           24. LEGAL FEES: The prevailing Party in any legal
                  proceeding brought under or to enforce this Agreement shall be
                  entitled to recover court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees
                  from the nonprevailing Party.


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                           25. FURTHER ASSURANCES: Each of the Parties will
                  execute, acknowledge, and deliver to the other such further
                  instruments and take such other actions, as may be reasonably
                  requested in order to further assure a Party of the rights and
                  benefits contemplated hereunder.

                           26. NOTICE OF SATISFACTION OF CONDITION SUBSEQUENT:
                  HSR and KMI shall notify Mr. Bruce Benson with UXP by
                  telephone at (303) 863-3551 on the day that the Condition
                  Subsequent is satisfied, to be followed immediately by a joint
                  written notice from HSR and KMI to the address shown below.
                  Within the first week of January, 2000, UXP shall be notified
                  by a joint written notice from HSR and KMI if the Condition
                  Subsequent was not satisfied by December 31, 1999. Failure of
                  the Condition Subsequent to be satisfied timely shall result
                  in this entire Agreement terminating ab initio, including the
                  Gathering Amendment, the Transportation Amendment, and the
                  Agency Amendment.



                [The rest of this page left intentionally blank]



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                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this
document on the date first above written.

                                          UNITED STATES EXPLORATION, INC.


                                          By: /s/ Bruce D. Benson
                                              ---------------------------------
                                               Bruce D. Benson, President

                                          Address for Notice:

                                               1560 Broadway, Suite 900
                                               Denver, Colorado 80202

                                          KINDER MORGAN, INC.


                                          By: /s/ Jack W. Ellis II
                                              ---------------------------------
                                               Name: Jack W. Ellis II
                                                    ---------------------------
                                               Title: VP & Controller
                                                     --------------------------

                                          HS RESOURCES, INC.


                                          By: /s/ Dale E. Cantwell
                                              ---------------------------------
                                               Dale E. Cantwell, Vice President

                                          RESOURCE GATHERING SYSTEMS, INC.


                                          By: /s/ Dale E. Cantwell
                                              ---------------------------------
                                               Dale E. Cantwell, Vice-President

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                                EXHIBITS OMITTED


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