Exhibit  10.1          Compensation  Plan


                             LEGAL SERVICE AGREEMENT

James W. Christian agrees to provide legal services to HYPERDYNAMICS CORPORATION
(the Company), as specified in this written Agreement (the "Agreement"), subject
to  the  following  terms  and  conditions.

                              TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.  SERVICES  TO  BE  PROVIDED

James W. Christian agrees to provide legal services to HYPERDYNAMICS CORPORATION
(a  Delaware  Corporation),  in  matters  related  to  the  lawsuit(s)  against
Southridge,  et  al.

2.  COMPENSATION

(A)  Company  shall  pay  to James W. Christian a total of 1,015,000 shares (the
"Shares") under this Agreement. Company agrees to register the Shares through an
S-8  Registration  Statement  within 45 days of its execution.  Within three (3)
days  after  the  effectiveness of the S-8 Registration Statement, Company shall
convey  to  James  W.  Christian certificates representing 115,000 shares of the
common  stock of Company.  Upon execution of an agreement with John M. O'Quinn &
Associates,  L.L.P.,  d/b/a  O'Quinn  &  Laminack,  but in no event prior to the
effective  date  of the S-8 Registration Statement, the Company will deliver the
remaining  900,000  Shares to James W. Christian.  All Shares will be subject to
the  "Lock  up/Leak out" provision set out in 2(E) below. If Company settles the
lawsuit  before  October  17,  2001,  then  James W. Christian will refund up to
900,000  Shares  after payment of all costs and expenses, which may include, but
not  be  limited  to,  legal  fees,  litigation support services, long-distance,
document production, databases, clerks, research, travel, depositions, and other
expenses  related  to  the  litigation.

(B) The Company acknowledges that James W. Christian may use the compensation or
proceeds  from  the  sale  of the shares to pay for expenses and persons that he
wants to contract with in connection with the prosecution of the lawsuit and for
litigation  support.  The  compensation  set  forth in this written Agreement is
non-refundable  except  as  provided  for  in  section  2(A).

(C)  Company  agrees to pay any sales, use, excise, or similar taxes that may be
imposed  by  federal,  state,  or local governments with respect to the services
provided  by  anyone  referenced  above.

(D)  If  compensation  due  under  this  Agreement as agreed by Company, are not
received,  interest  at  the  lawful  rate on all amounts due but unpaid will be
added  to  the  balance  due  to  James  W.  Christian  and all Lock Up/Leak Out
provisions  are  null  and  void.

(E)  Lock  Up/Leak  Out  Provision.

     Under  this written Agreement, James W. Christian agrees that he and/or his
assigns  will  not sell more than a maximum of one thousand five hundred (1,500)
shares  of  Company stock, in the aggregate with respect to the Shares described
above,  per  day  (defined  as  Company  common  stock traded on the OTC/BB with
symbol  HYPD)  into  the  open  market.

     As  soon as the S-8 registered shares are issued by the Company, the Shares
will  be  delivered  directly to a brokerage firm or escrow agent agreed upon by
the  parties,  and  no  reasonable  request will be denied. The brokerage firm's
account  manager  (Broker)  will be given written instruction and acknowledge to


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the  Company  this provision and receipt of the Shares agreeing not to sell more
than  1,500 shares per trading day (a day in which the OTC/BB market is open) in
aggregate with respect to the Shares. The brokerage firm's account manager shall
provide duplicate confirmation and account transaction statements to the Company
upon  request.  Company will be responsible for any costs related to its receipt
of  duplicate  confirmation  and duplicate account transaction statements.  Upon
written request by the Company, the brokerage firm will render a full accounting
of the trading history for the 1,015,000 Shares to document compliance with this
provision.  If  there  is  a charge for this service, the Company will pay same.

     The  Company  may approve in writing a block sale transaction of the Shares
under this Lock Up/Leak Out provision at its sole discretion. Such sales must be
approved  by  the president of the Company in writing as evidence of approval of
such  sale,  and  no  reasonable  request  will  be  denied.

     James  W. Christian may assign his position to a third party under the same
Lock  Up/Leak  Out  provision without approval of the Company provided this Lock
Up\Leak  Out  Provision is acknowledged in writing by Assignee and provided that
it  is  assured  that only 1,500 of the shares in the aggregate, with respect to
the  Shares  described  above,  are  sold  daily.


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IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties have executed this Agreement effective August
16,  2001.

HYPERDYNAMICS  CORPORATION


By:____________________________
/s/  Kent  Watts
Printed  Name:  Kent  Watts
Title:  President  &  CEO
Date  Effective:  August  16,  2001



By  ___________________________
/s/  James  W.  Christian,  Esq.
Date  Effective:  August  16,  2001


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