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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


         This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") entered into and
made effective as of ____________, 2000, by and among Hydril Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and the stockholders of the Company whose
signatures appear on the signature pages of this Agreement under the caption
"Stockholders" (referred to herein individually as a "Stockholder" and
collectively as the "Stockholders"),

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company deems it in the best
interests of the Company to complete an initial public offering of shares of
common stock of the Company (the "IPO"); and

         WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, in order to facilitate future
sales of Common Stock of the Company which the Stockholders may obtain through
the exercise of Class B Common Stock held by them, and as consideration for the
Stockholders' willingness to enter into a lock-up agreement with respect to such
shares for a period of 270 days, the Stockholders and the Company desire to
enter into this Agreement as herein provided;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereto agree as follows:

         1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the meanings indicated:

         "Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth above.

         "Class B Common Stock" shall mean the Company's Class B Common Stock,
par value $.50 per share, or any successor class of the Company's Class B Common
Stock.

         "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any
successor thereto.

         "Common Stock" shall mean the Company's Common Stock, par value $.50
per share, or any successor class of the Company's Common Stock.

         "Company" shall have the meaning set forth above.

         "Demand Registration" shall have the meaning given it in Section 3
hereof.

         "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

         "Fair Market Value" of a share of Common Stock means, as of a
particular date, (i) if shares of Common Stock are listed on a national
securities exchange, the mean between the highest and lowest sales price per
share of Common Stock on the consolidated transaction


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reporting system for the principal national securities exchange on which shares
of Common Stock are listed on that date, or, if there shall have been no such
sale so reported on that date, on the last preceding date on which such a sale
was so reported, (ii) if shares of Common Stock are not so listed but are quoted
on the Nasdaq National Market, the mean between the highest and lowest sales
price per share of Common Stock reported by the Nasdaq National Market on that
date, or, if there shall have been no such sale so reported on that date, on the
last preceding date on which such a sale was so reported, (iii) if the Common
Stock is not so listed or quoted, the mean between the closing bid and asked
price on that date, or, if there are no quotations available for that date, on
the last preceding date for which those quotations are available, as reported by
the Nasdaq Stock Market, or, if not reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market, by the
National Quotation Bureau Incorporated, or (iv) if shares of Common Stock are
not publicly traded, the most recent value determined by an independent
appraiser appointed by the Company for that purpose.

         "Holder" shall mean any Person holding Registrable Securities.

         "Holder Indemnitees" shall have the meaning given it in Section 8(a)
hereof.

         "Initial Demand Registration" shall have the meaning given it in
Section 3(a) hereof.

         "Inspectors" shall have the meaning given it in Section 6(a)(xiii)
hereof.

         "Lock-up Expiration Date" shall mean 270 days after the date of the
final prospectus relating to the IPO.

         "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust,
unincorporated organization or government or a political subdivision, agency or
instrumentality thereof or other entity or organization of any kind.

         "Piggy-back Registration" shall have the meaning given it in Section
2(a) hereof.

         "Records" shall have the meaning given it in Section 6(a)(xiii) hereof.

         "Registrable Securities" shall mean (i) shares of Common Stock issuable
pursuant to the conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock held by the
Stockholders as of the date hereof (or pursuant to the conversion of any Class B
Stock or other securities issued in exchange for, as a dividend on, or in
replacement of, or otherwise issued or distributed in respect of (including
securities issued in a stock dividend, split or recombination) the shares of
Class B Common Stock held by the Stockholders as of the date hereof), and (ii)
any securities issued in exchange for, as a dividend on, or in replacement of,
or otherwise issued or distributed in respect of (including securities issued in
a stock dividend, split or recombination), any shares of Common Stock referred
to in clause (i) above; provided, however, that any securities described in
clause (i) or (ii) above shall cease to be Registrable Securities when and to
the extent that such securities (A) have been distributed to the public pursuant
to a registration statement covering such securities that has been declared
effective under the Securities Act, (B) have been transferred to any Person in a
manner such that such securities are deemed to cease being

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Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of Section 12(h) of this
Agreement, or (C) have been repurchased by the Company.

         "Registration Expenses" shall have the meaning given it in Section 7
hereof.

         "Registration Notice" shall have the meaning given it in Section 2
hereof.

         "Requesting Holder" and "Requesting Holders" shall have the meanings
given them in Section 3 hereof.

         "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         "Shelf Registration" shall have the meaning given it in Section 4
hereof.

         "Stockholder" and "Stockholders" shall have the meaning set forth
above.

         "Termination Date" shall have the meaning given it in Section 2 hereof.

         2. Piggy-back Registration Rights.

         (a) At any time prior to the fifth anniversary of the Lock-up
Expiration Date (the "Termination Date"), whenever the Company proposes to file
a registration statement under the Securities Act with the Commission with
respect to an underwritten offering of Common Stock for cash by the Company for
its own account, other than a registration relating to the offering or issuance
of Common Stock in connection with employee compensation or benefit plans on
Form S-8 (or any successor form) or on Form S-4 (or any successor form) relating
solely to a transaction within the scope of Rule 145, then the Company shall in
each case give written notice (a "Registration Notice") of such proposed filing
to the Holders at least 20 days before the anticipated filing date. Such notice
shall specify the approximate date on which the Company proposes to file such
registration statement and shall offer the Holders the opportunity to register
such number of Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request (a
"Piggy-back Registration"). Each Holder desiring to participate in such offering
shall notify the Company no later than ten days following the receipt of the
Registration Notice of the aggregate number of shares of Registrable Securities
that such Holder desires to sell in the offering. The Company shall use
reasonable efforts to cause the managing underwriter or underwriters of a
proposed underwritten offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by
the Holders to be included in the registration statement for such offering to be
included on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the
Company included therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the managing
underwriter or underwriters of such offering advises the Company that the total
amount of Common Stock which the Company, such Holders and any other Persons
intend to include in such offering is sufficiently large to materially and
adversely affect the success of such offering, then the amount of Common Stock
to be offered shall be allocated first, to the Company; second, to the Holders
on a pro rata basis based upon the number of shares of Common Stock that each
such Holder has requested to be included in such registration statement; and,
third, to any stockholder of the Company (other than a Holder) pro rata to the
extent necessary, in the opinion of such managing underwriter, to reduce the
total amount of securities to be included in such offering to the amount
recommended by such managing underwriter; provided, however, that the reduction
imposed upon Holders shall not be greater, on


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a percentage basis with respect to the Registrable Securities requested to be
included, than the reduction imposed upon other Persons whose piggy-back
registration rights are pari passu with those granted hereby with respect to the
amount of securities requested for inclusion in such registration.

         (b) The Company may withdraw any registration statement and abandon any
proposed offering initiated by the Company without the consent of any Holder,
notwithstanding the request of any such Holder to participate therein in
accordance with this provision, if the Company determines to do so in its sole
discretion.

         3. Demand Registration Rights.

         (a) At any time after March 31, 2001 and prior to the Termination Date,
the Holders or any one or more of them may request (each Holder making a request
for registration pursuant to this Section 3 or pursuant to Section 4 being
referred to in either case as a "Requesting Holder" and collectively as the
"Requesting Holders") in writing that the Company file a registration statement
under the Securities Act covering the registration of all or a part of the
shares of Registrable Securities then beneficially owned by such Requesting
Holders (a "Demand Registration"); provided, however, that (i) the Company shall
have no obligation to file a registration statement for a Demand Registration
pursuant to this Section 3 unless the Requesting Holders, together with the
Holders who request the registration of additional shares of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the following sentence, request the registration of
Registrable Securities having an aggregate Fair Market Value of at least $50
million calculated as of the date the request of the Requesting Holders is
received by the Company; (ii) the Company shall not be obligated to effect more
than (A) one Demand Registration in any twelve-month period, or (B) three Demand
Registrations in total prior to the Termination Date; and (iii) the registration
statement relating to the first Demand Registration shall not be declared
effective by the Commission before the Lock-up Expiration Date. Within ten days
of the receipt of such request, the Company shall give written notice of such
request to all other Holders and shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect
as soon as practicable the registration under the Securities Act in accordance
with Section 6 hereof (including, without limitation, the execution of an
undertaking to file post-effective amendments) of all shares of Registrable
Securities which the Holders request be registered within 30 days after the
mailing of such notice; provided, however, that, in the case of any registration
statement relating to a Demand Registration that is filed prior to the first
anniversary of the Lock-up Expiration Date, the Company shall not be required to
register more than 50% of the Registrable Securities outstanding on the Lock-up
Expiration Date, and that if Holders, in the aggregate, request the registration
of more than such number of Registrable Securities, then the amount of
Registrable Securities to be offered shall be reduced and allocated among such
Holders on a pro rata basis based upon the number of Registrable Securities that
each such Holder has requested to be included in such registration statement. If
the managing underwriter or underwriters of such offering advises the Company
that the total amount of securities which the Holders intend to include in such
offering is sufficiently large to materially and adversely affect the success of
such offering, then the amount of Registrable Securities to be offered shall be
reduced and allocated among such Holders on a pro rata basis based upon the
number of shares of Registrable Securities that each such Holder has requested
to be included in such registration statement to the extent necessary, in the
opinion of such lead managing underwriter, to reduce the total amount of
securities to be included in such offering

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to the amount recommended by such managing underwriter; provided, however, that
the number of shares of Registrable Securities to be included in such
underwriting and registration statement shall not be reduced unless all other
securities of the Company are first entirely excluded from the underwriting and
registration statement. In connection with a Demand Registration, the Requesting
Holders in their sole discretion, shall determine whether (A) to proceed with,
withdraw from or terminate such offering, (B) to select, subject to the
reasonable approval of the Company, a managing underwriter or underwriters in
connection with such offering, (C) to enter into an underwriting agreement for
such offering, and (D) to take such actions as may be necessary to close the
sale of Registrable Securities contemplated by such offering, including, without
limitation, waiving any conditions to closing such sale that may not have been
fulfilled. In the event the Requesting Holders exercise their discretion under
this Section 3(a) to terminate a proposed Demand Registration, the terminated
Demand Registration shall not constitute a Demand Registration under this
Section 3 if the determination to terminate such Demand Registration (i) follows
the exercise by the Company of any of its rights provided by Section 3(b) or
(c), (ii) results from a material adverse change in the condition (financial or
other), results of operations or business of the Company or (iii) occurs prior
to the initial filing of the registration statement.

         (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3(a), if the Company
shall furnish to the Requesting Holders a certificate signed by the President of
the Company stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors
of the Company, it would be detrimental to the Company and its stockholders for
such registration statement to be filed or to become effective and it is
therefore beneficial to defer the filing or effectiveness of such registration
statement, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing or
effectiveness for a period of not more than 90 days after receipt of the request
of the Requesting Holders; provided, however, that the Company may not utilize
this right under this Section 3(b) more than once in any twelve-month period.
The Company shall promptly give notice to the Requesting Holders at the end of
any delay period under this Section 3(b).

         (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3, if at
the time of any request by the Requesting Holders for a Demand Registration, the
Company has fixed plans to file within 90 days after such request for the sale
of any of its securities in a public offering under the Securities Act, no
Demand Registration shall be initiated under this Section 3 until 90 days after
the effective date of such registration statement unless the Company is no
longer proceeding diligently to effect such registration statement; provided,
however, that the Company shall provide the Requesting Holders the right to
participate in any underwritten public offering pursuant to, and subject to, the
provisions of Section 2 hereof.

         4. Shelf Registration Rights.

         (a) At any time after the Lock-Up Expiration Date and prior to the
Termination Date, the Holders or any one or more of them may request in writing
that the Company file a registration statement under the Securities Act covering
the registration of all or a part of the shares of Registrable Securities then
beneficially owned by such Requesting Holder(s) for the nonunderwritten offering
and sale thereof on a delayed or continuous basis (a "Shelf Registration"), and
the Company will thereupon (i) promptly give written notice of such request to
all other Holders; and (ii) use reasonable best efforts to effect, as soon as
practicable, the

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registration under the Securities Act in accordance with Section 6 hereof
(including, without limitation, the execution of an undertaking to file
post-effective amendments) of all shares of Registrable Securities which the
Requesting Holder(s) requests the registration of, together with all the shares
of Registrable Securities any other Holder or Holders requests the registration
of by written request provided to the Company within 15 days after the mailing
of such notice from the Company; provided, however, that (i) in order for any
request provided under this Section 4(a) to be effective, the Holder making such
request must certify in such request that it has a present intent to sell the
Registrable Securities it is requesting be registered; (ii) the Company shall
have no obligation to file a registration statement for a Shelf Registration
pursuant to this Section 4 unless the Requesting Holders, together with the
Holders who request the registration of additional shares of Registrable
Securities pursuant to this Section 4(a), request the registration of
Registrable Securities having an aggregate Fair Market Value of at least $15
million calculated as of the date the request of the Requesting Holder(s) is
received by the Company; (iii) if the registration statement relating to the
Shelf Registration is filed prior to the first anniversary of the Lock-up
Expiration Date, the Company shall not be required to register more than 50% of
the Registrable Securities outstanding on the Lock-up Expiration Date; (iv) the
Company shall not be required to effect more than two Shelf Registrations for
each Holder acting as a Requesting Holder; and (v) the Company shall not be
required to effect a Shelf Registration within 90 days of the effective date of
another registration statement subject to or filed pursuant to Section 2 or 3
hereof. In connection with a Shelf Registration, the Requesting Holders in their
sole discretion, shall determine whether (a) to proceed with, withdraw from or
terminate such offering and (b) to take such actions as may be necessary to
close the sale of Registrable Securities contemplated by such offering,
including, without limitation, waiving any conditions to closing such sale that
may not have been fulfilled. In the event such Requesting Holder exercises its
discretion under this Section 4(a) to terminate a proposed Shelf Registration,
the terminated Shelf Registration shall not constitute a Shelf Registration
under this Section 4 if the determination to terminate such Shelf Registration
(i) follows the exercise by the Company of any of its rights provided by Section
4(b) or (c), (ii) results from a material adverse change in the condition
(financial or other), results of operations or business of the Company or (iii)
occurs prior to the initial filing of the registration statement.

         (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4(a), if the Company
shall furnish to the Requesting Holder a certificate signed by the President of
the Company stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors
of the Company, it would be detrimental to the Company and its stockholders for
such registration statement to be filed or to become effective and it is
therefore beneficial to defer the filing or effectiveness of such registration
statement, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing or
effectiveness for a period of not more than 90 days after receipt of the request
of the Requesting Holder; provided, however, that the Company may not utilize
this right under this Section 4(b) more than once in any twelve-month period.
The Company shall promptly give notice to the Requesting Holder at the end of
any delay period under this Section 4(b).

         (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4, if at
the time of any request by the Requesting Holder for a Shelf Registration, the
Company has fixed plans to file within 90 days after such request for the sale
of any of its securities in a public offering under the Securities Act, no Shelf
Registration shall be initiated under this Section 4 until 90 days after the
effective date of such registration unless the Company is no longer proceeding
diligently to

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effect such registration; provided, however, that the Company shall provide the
Requesting Holder the right to participate in any underwritten public offering
pursuant to, and subject to, the provisions of Section 2 hereof.

         (d) This Section 4 shall have no force or effect unless the Company
shall be eligible to register Registrable Securities on Form S-3 (or a successor
form).

         (e) If the Company determines in good faith that the distribution of
any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration would
interfere with any pending financing, acquisition, corporate reorganization or
any other corporate development involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries
or would require premature disclosure thereof, and promptly gives each of the
Holders who have requested the registration of Registrable Securities written
notice of such determination, the Company shall be entitled to require such
Holders to suspend their distribution of Registrable Securities under the Shelf
Registration for a reasonable period of time which, for purposes of this Section
4(e), shall not exceed 60 days. Such written notice shall contain a general
statement of the reasons for such suspension and an estimate of the anticipated
period of suspension, and the Company shall promptly notify each of the Holders
who had Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration of the
expiration or earlier termination of such suspension. Following the expiration
or termination of any such suspension, the Company shall not be entitled to
impose another suspension pursuant to this Section 4(e) for at least 30 days.

         5. Holdback Agreements; Requirements of Holders.

         (a) Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities.
To the extent not inconsistent with applicable law, each Holder agrees not to
effect any public sale or other distribution of equity securities of the Company
(or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for equity
securities of the Company) during the 90-day period beginning on the effective
date of a registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission
(except for securities that may be included in such registration pursuant to the
provisions hereof or otherwise), but only if and to the extent requested in
writing by the Company or the managing underwriter or underwriters in the case
of an underwritten public offering.

         (b) Cooperation by Holders. The offering of Registrable Securities by
any Holder shall comply in all respects with the applicable terms, provisions
and requirements set forth in this Agreement, and such Holder shall timely
provide the Company with all information and materials required to be included
in a registration statement that relate to such Holder, and to take all such
action as may be reasonably required in order not to delay the registration and
offering of the securities by the Company. The Company shall have no obligation
to include in such registration statement shares of a Holder who has failed to
furnish such information which, in the written opinion of counsel to the
Company, is required in order for the registration statement to be in compliance
with the Securities Act.


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         6. Registration Procedures.

         (a) Whenever any Registrable Securities are to be registered pursuant
to Sections 2, 3 or 4 of this Agreement, the Company will use reasonable best
efforts to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities as
contemplated by such Section. In connection with any Piggy-back Registration,
Demand Registration or Shelf Registration, the Company will, subject to Sections
2, 3 or 4 hereof (as applicable), as expeditiously as possible:

             (i) after receipt of a request to file a registration statement or
         to include Registrable Securities in a registration statement, prepare
         and file with the Commission a registration statement which includes
         the Registrable Securities on any form for which the Company then
         qualifies and which counsel for the Company shall deem appropriate and
         available for the sale of the Registrable Securities to be registered
         thereunder in accordance with the intended method of distribution
         thereof, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration
         statement to become and remain effective for a period of at least 90
         days (or such shorter period during which Holders shall have sold all
         Registrable Securities that they requested to be registered); provided,
         however, that such 90-day period shall be extended for a period
         equal to the period that a Stockholder agrees to refrain from selling
         any securities included in such registration statement in accordance
         with Section 6(b) hereof;

             (ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments
         (including post-effective amendments) to the registration statement,
         and such supplements to the related prospectus as may be necessary (A)
         to keep the registration statement effective, (B) to appropriately
         reflect the plan of distribution of the securities registered
         thereunder in accordance with the applicable provisions of this
         Agreement, (C) for so long thereafter as a dealer is required by law to
         deliver a prospectus in connection with the offer and sale of the
         shares of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement
         and/or (D) so that neither such registration statement nor the related
         prospectus shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
         omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and so that
         such registration statement and the related prospectus will otherwise
         comply with applicable legal requirements;

             (iii) provide to any Holder requesting to include shares of
         Registrable Securities in such registration statement and a single
         counsel for all Holders of Registrable Securities requesting to include
         shares of Registrable Securities in such registration statement, which
         counsel shall be selected by the Holders of a majority of shares of
         Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration
         statement in the case of a registration under Section 2 hereof, or by
         the Requesting Holder(s) in the case of a registration under Sections 3
         or 4 hereof, and shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, an
         opportunity to review and provide comments with respect to such
         registration statement (and any post-effective amendment thereto) prior
         to such registration statement (or post-effective amendment) becoming
         effective;

             (iv) furnish to any Holder of Registrable Securities included in
         such registration statement and the underwriter or underwriters
         thereof, if any, without charge,


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             such number of conformed copies of the registration statement and
             any post-effective amendment thereto and such number of copies of
             the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any
             amendments or supplements thereto, and any documents incorporated
             by reference therein, as such Holder or underwriter may reasonably
             request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable
             Securities being sold by such Holder (it being understood that the
             Company consents to the use of the prospectus and any amendment or
             supplement thereto by each Holder of Registrable Securities covered
             by the registration statement and the underwriter or underwriters
             thereof, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the
             Registrable Securities covered by the prospectus or any amendment
             or supplement thereto);

             (v) notify each Holder of Registrable Securities included in such
         registration statement, and the managing underwriters participating in
         the distribution pursuant to such registration statement, if any,
         promptly (A) when the Company is informed that such registration
         statement or any post-effective amendment to such registration
         statement becomes effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for
         an amendment or any supplement to such registration statement or any
         related prospectus, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
         order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or of
         any order preventing or suspending the use of any related prospectus or
         the initiation or threat of any proceeding for that purpose, (D) of the
         suspension of the qualification of any shares of Registrable Securities
         included in such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction or
         the initiation or threat of a proceeding for that purpose, (E) of any
         determination by the Company that any event has occurred which makes
         untrue any statement of a material fact made in such registration
         statement or any related prospectus or which requires the making of a
         change in such registration statement or any related prospectus in
         order that the same will not contain any untrue statement of a material
         fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (F) of any
         determination by the Company that any event has occurred that would
         cause such registration statement or the prospectus contained therein
         not to be usable for resale of the Registrable Securities and (G) of
         the completion of the distribution contemplated by such registration
         statement if it relates to an offering by the Company;

             (vi) if at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order
         suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or any state
         securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an
         order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of
         the Registrable Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the
         Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal
         or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;

             (vii) upon the occurrence of any event (A) contemplated by Section
         6(a)(v)(E) above or (B) contemplated by Section 6(a)(v)(F) above, the
         Company shall, as promptly as practicable thereafter, prepare and file
         with the Commission a post-effective amendment to the registration
         statement of a supplement to the related prospectus so that, as
         thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities,
         such prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material
         fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
         therein, in light of the circumstances under which they

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             were made, not misleading, and use its reasonable best efforts to
             cause such amendment to be declared effective and such registration
             statement and the related prospectus to become usable for their
             intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter;

             (viii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable
         Securities included in such registration statement to be listed, by the
         date of the first sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
         registration statement, on each securities exchange (including, for
         this purpose, the Nasdaq National Market) on which the Common Stock of
         the Company is then listed or proposed to be listed, if any;

             (ix) otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all
         applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and use reasonable
         efforts to make generally available to its securities holders an
         earnings statement covering a period of 12 months, beginning within
         three months after the effective date of the applicable registration
         statement, which earnings statement satisfies the provisions of Section
         11(a) of the Securities Act;

             (x) as promptly as practicable after filing with the Commission of
         any document which is incorporated by reference into a registration
         statement, deliver a copy of such document to each Holder of
         Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement who
         requests such document;

             (xi) on or prior to the date on which the registration statement is
         declared effective, use its best efforts to register or qualify, and
         cooperate with the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such
         registration statement, the underwriter or underwriters thereof, if
         any, and their counsel, in connection with the registration or
         qualification of the Registrable Securities covered by the registration
         statement for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of
         each state and other jurisdiction of the United States as any such
         Holder or underwriter reasonably requests in writing, to use reasonable
         efforts to keep each such registration or qualification effective,
         including through new filings, or amendments or renewals, during the
         period such registration statement is required to be kept effective and
         to do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable
         the disposition in all such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities
         covered by the applicable registration statement; provided, that the
         Company will not be required to qualify generally to do business in any
         jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action
         which would subject it to general service of process or taxation in any
         such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

             (xii) cooperate with the Holders of Registrable Securities covered
         by the registration statement and the managing underwriter or
         underwriters thereof, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and
         delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends)
         representing securities to be sold under the registration statement,
         and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered
         in such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or
         such Holders may request, subject to the underwriters' obligation to
         return any certificates representing securities not sold;

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             (xiii) make available for inspection by any Holder of Registrable
         Securities included in such registration statement, any underwriter
         participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration
         statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any
         such Holder or underwriter (collectively, the "Inspectors"), all
         financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
         properties of the Company (collectively, the "Records"), as shall be
         reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence
         responsibilities, and cause the Company's officers, directors and
         employees to supply all Records reasonably requested by any such
         Inspector in connection with such registration statement; provided,
         that with respect to any Records that are confidential, the Inspectors
         shall execute such confidentiality agreements as the Company may
         reasonably request in order to ensure that the confidentiality of
         confidential Records will be maintained;

             (xiv) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain a "cold comfort"
         letter from the Company's independent public accountants in customary
         form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by cold
         comfort letters as the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
         Securities being sold may reasonably request;

             (xv) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such
         Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such
         registration statement;

             (xvi) enter into and perform its obligation under such customary
         agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary form) as
         the underwriters, if any, may reasonably request in order to expedite
         or facilitate the disposition of such shares of Registrable Securities;
         and

             (xvii) take such other actions as are reasonable and necessary to
         comply with the requirements of the Securities Act.

         (b) Each Holder, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the
happening of any event of the kind described in Section 6(a)(v)(E) or
6(a)(v)(F), will forthwith discontinue disposition of the Registrable Securities
until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended
prospectus contemplated by Section 6(a)(vii) or until it is advised in writing
by the Company that the use of the prospectus may be resumed, and has received
copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by
reference in the prospectus, and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder
will, or will request the managing underwriter or underwriters of such
Registrable Securities, if any, to deliver to the Company (at the Company's
expense) all copies in their possession or control, other than permanent file
copies then in such Holder's possession, of the prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.

         (c) If such registration statement refers to any Holder by name or
otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall
have the right to require (i) the insertion therein of language, in form and
substance satisfactory to such Holder, to the effect that the holding by such
Holder of such securities is not to be construed as a recommendation of such
Holder of the investment quality of the Company's securities covered thereby and
that such holding does not imply that such Holder will assist in meeting any
future financial requirements of

                                       11
<PAGE>   12
the Company, or (ii) in the event that such reference to such Holder by name or
otherwise is not required by the Securities Act (or the rules or regulations
thereunder) or any similar federal statute (or regulation) then in force, the
deletion of the reference to such Holder.

         7. Registration Expenses.

         (a) All expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance
with this Agreement, including, without limitation, all Commission or National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. registration and filing fees, fees and
expenses of compliance with securities or Blue Sky laws (including fees and
disbursements of counsel in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the
Registrable Securities), printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses,
internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of
its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be
registered on each securities exchange (including, for this purpose, the Nasdaq
National Market) on which similar securities issued by the Company are then
listed, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and its independent
certified public accountants (including the expenses of any special audit or
"cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance), fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Holders, and the fees and expenses of any
special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration
(but excluding any underwriting fees, discounts or commissions attributable to
the sale of Registrable Securities) (collectively, "Registration Expenses"),
will be borne by the Company; provided, that, with respect to the fees and
expenses of legal counsel for the Holders of Registrable Securities, the Company
shall only be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of one firm of legal
counsel retained by Holders as selected in accordance with Section 6(a)(iii)
hereof. All Registration Expenses will be paid by the Company whether or not the
related registration statement is declared effective. All expenses of Holders of
Registrable Securities incident to this Agreement which are not required to be
paid for by the Company pursuant to this Section 7 (including, without
limitation, all underwriting commissions and discounts applicable to shares of
Registrable Securities included in a registration statement pursuant to this
Agreement) shall be paid by Holders of Registrable Securities included or to be
included in a registration statement, with such Holders each paying their own
expenses and a pro rata part (based on the same proportion that the number of a
Holder's Registrable Securities included or to be included in the registration
statement bears to the total number of all Holders' Registrable Securities
included or to be included in the registration statement) of the common expenses
of such Holders.

         (b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each seller of
Registrable Securities shall pay such portion of the Registration Expenses as
may be required by applicable law.

         8. Indemnification; Contribution.

         (a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold
harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, each Holder which is a seller of
Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement, its officers,
directors, employees, agents and general or limited partners (and the directors,
officers, employees and agents thereof) and each other Person, if any, who
controls such Holder (within the meaning of either Section 15 of the

                                       12
<PAGE>   13
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (collectively, the "Holder
Indemnitees") from and against any loss, claim, damage, liability or action,
joint or several, to which any such Holder Indemnitee may become subject under
the Securities Act, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
registration statement in which such Registrable Securities were included as
contemplated hereby or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in any preliminary, final or summary prospectus,
together with the documents incorporated by reference therein (as amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have filed with the Commission any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading; and in each such case the Company will reimburse each
such Holder Indemnitee for any legal or any other expenses incurred by him in
connection with investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be liable to any such Holder Indemnitee in
any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement or
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or in any such preliminary, final or
summary prospectus, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any such Holder Indemnitee
specifically for inclusion therein; and provided, further, that, in the case of
a Shelf Registration, the Company shall not be liable to any such Holder
Indemnitee with respect to any preliminary prospectus to the extent that any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense of such Holder Indemnitee results
from the fact that such Holder Indemnitee sold Registrable Securities to a
Person to whom there was not sent or given, at or prior to the written
confirmation of such sale, a copy of the prospectus (excluding documents
incorporated by reference) or of the prospectus as then amended or supplemented
(excluding documents incorporated by reference) if the Company has previously
furnished copies thereof to such Holder Indemnitee in compliance with Section 6
of this Agreement and the loss, claim, damage, liability or expense of such
Holder Indemnitee results from an untrue statement or omission of a material
fact contained in such preliminary prospectus which was corrected in the
prospectus (or the prospectus as amended or supplemented). Such indemnity and
reimbursement of expenses shall remain in full force and effect regardless of
any investigation made by or on behalf of such Holder Indemnitee and shall
survive the transfer of such securities by such Holder. The Company also agrees
to indemnify any underwriters of the Registrable Securities, their officers,
partners and directors and each Person who controls such underwriters on
substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of the Holder
provided in this Section 8(a) or such other indemnification customarily obtained
by underwriters at the time of offering.

         (b) Conduct of Indemnification Proceeding. Promptly after receipt by a
Holder Indemnitee under Section 8(a) above of notice of the commencement of any
action, suit, proceeding, investigation or threat thereof made in writing with
respect to which a claim for indemnification may be made pursuant to this
Section 8, such Holder Indemnitee shall, if a claim in respect thereto is to be
made against the Company, give written notice to the Company of the

                                       13
<PAGE>   14
threat or commencement thereof; provided, however, that the failure so to notify
the Company shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any
Holder Indemnitee except to the extent that the Company is actually prejudiced
by such failure to give notice; and provided, further that the failure to notify
the Company shall not relieve the Company from any liability the Company may
have to any Holder Indemnitee otherwise than under this Section 8. In case any
such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation shall be brought against
any Holder Indemnitee and it shall notify the Company of the threat or
commencement thereof, the Company shall be entitled to participate therein and,
to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Holder Indemnitee. Such Holder Indemnitee shall have the
right to employ separate counsel in any such action and to participate in the
defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of such Holder Indemnitee unless (i) the Company has agreed to pay such
fees and expenses or (ii) the named parties to any such action or proceeding
include both such Holder Indemnitee and the Company, and such Holder Indemnitee
shall have been advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses
available to such Holder Indemnitee which are different from or additional to
those available to the Company, in which case, if such Holder Indemnitee
notifies the Company in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the
expense of the Company, the Company shall not have the right to assume the
defense of such action or proceeding on behalf of such Holder Indemnitee; it
being understood, however, that the Company shall not, in connection with any
one such action or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related
actions or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than
one separate firm of attorneys (together with appropriate local counsel) at any
time for all Holder Indemnitees. The Company shall not (i) without the prior
written consent of the Holder Indemnitee (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or
proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the Indemnitee is an actual or potential party to such
claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an
unconditional release of each Holder Indemnitee from all liability arising out
of such claim, action, suit or proceeding or (ii) be liable for any settlement
of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the Company or if
there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the Company
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Holder Indemnitee from and against any
loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.

         (c) Indemnification by the Holders. Each Holder will indemnify and hold
harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, the Company, its officers and
directors, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to
the same extent as the indemnity from the Company to a Holder Indemnitee
provided in Section 8(a), but only with respect to untrue statements or
omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in a registration
statement (or any amendment thereto) or any prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information
regarding the Holder furnished in writing to the Company by the Holder under an
instrument duly executed by such Holder expressly for use in such registration
statement (or any amendment thereto) or such prospectus (or any amendment or


                                       14
<PAGE>   15
supplement thereto); provided, however, that the Holder shall not be obligated
to provide such indemnity to the extent that losses, claims, damages and
liabilities result, directly or indirectly, from the failure of the Company to
promptly amend or take action to correct or supplement any such registration
statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement based on corrected or
supplemental information provided in writing by the Holder to the Company
expressly for such purpose; and provided, further, that in no event shall any
indemnity under this Section 8(c) by a Holder exceed the net proceeds from the
offering received by such Holder. In case any action or proceeding shall be
brought against the Company or its directors or officers, or any such
controlling person, in respect of which indemnity may be sought against a
Holder, such Holder shall have the rights and duties given to the Company and
the Company or its directors or officers or such controlling person shall have
the rights and duties given to the Holder Indemnitee under Section 8(b). Each
Holder will also indemnify and hold harmless any underwriters of the Registrable
Securities, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such
underwriters on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of
the Company provided in this Section 8(c).

         (d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8
is unavailable to the Company, a Holder or the underwriters in respect of any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to herein, then each
such party who would otherwise be the indemnifying party under this Section 8,
in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and judgments in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative fault of the Company, such Holder and the underwriters in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments; and provided, further, that in no
event shall any contribution under this Section 8(d) by a Holder exceed the net
proceeds from the offering received by such Holder. The relative fault of the
Company, such Holder and the underwriters shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by such party, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.

         9. Participation in Underwritten Registrations. No Holder may
participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Holder (a)
agrees to sell such Holder's securities on the terms of and on the basis
provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (b)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, custody
agreements, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required
under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

         10. Rule 144. The Company covenants that it will file the reports
required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder (or, if the Company
is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder,
make publicly available other nonconfidential information so long as necessary
to permit sales under Rule 144 under the Securities Act), and it will take such
other action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required
from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable Securities without
registration under the Securities Act within

                                       15
<PAGE>   16
the limitation of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144 under the Securities
Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (b) any similar rule or
regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission. Upon the request of any Holder,
the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has
complied with such requirements.

         11. Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after the
date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent
of the Holders of a majority of the outstanding Registrable Securities, enter
into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of
the Company which would grant to such holder or prospective holder registration
rights superior to or on parity with those granted under this Agreement.

         12. Miscellaneous.

         (a) Recapitalizations, Exchanges, etc. The provisions of this Agreement
shall apply, to the full extent set forth herein with respect to the Registrable
Securities, to any and all shares of equity capital of the Company or any
successor or assign of the Company (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of
assets or otherwise) that may be issued in respect of, in exchange for, or in
substitution of the Registrable Securities, in each case as the amounts of such
securities outstanding are appropriately adjusted for any equity dividends,
splits, reverse splits, combinations, recapitalizations and the like occurring
after the date of this Agreement.

         (b) Notices. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other
communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given when personally delivered or when mailed by United States
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed (i) if to Company, to: 3300 North Sam Houston Parkway East, Houston,
Texas 77032-3411, Attention: Chief Executive Officer (ii) if to a Stockholder,
at such Stockholder's address as shown on the stock transfer records of the
Company, or to such other address (as to a Stockholder) as such Stockholder may
furnish to the Company, or (as to the Company) as the Company may furnish to the
Stockholders except that notices of changes of address shall be effective only
upon receipt.

         (c) Applicable Law. This contract is entered into under, and shall be
construed in accordance with and governed for all purposes by, the laws of the
State of Texas, without regard to any principles of conflict of laws that, if
applied, might permit or require the application of the laws of a different
jurisdiction.

         (d) Amendment and Waiver. This Agreement may be amended, and the
provisions hereof may be waived, only by a written instrument signed by (i) the
Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities outstanding as of the date
of such determination and (ii) the Company; provided, that no amendment to this
Agreement may be made that materially and adversely affects the rights of any
Holder under this Agreement without the express written consent of such Holder.
No failure by either party hereto at any time to give notice of any breach by
the other party of, or to require compliance with, any condition or provision of
this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or
conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.


                                       16
<PAGE>   17

         (e) Severability. It is a desire and intent of the parties that the
terms, provisions, covenants and remedies contained in this Agreement shall be
enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. If any such term, provision,
covenant or remedy of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or
circumstances shall, to any extent, be construed to be invalid or unenforceable
in whole or in part, then such term, provision, covenant or remedy shall be
construed in a manner so as to permit its enforceability under the applicable
law to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any case, the remaining
provisions of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or
circumstances other than those to which they have been held invalid or
unenforceable shall remain in full force and effect.

         (f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         (g) Headings; Use of Certain Terms. The section and paragraph headings
in this Agreement have been inserted for purposes of convenience of reference
only and shall not be used for interpretive purposes. As used in this Agreement,
the words "herein", "hereof", and "hereunder" and other words of similar import
refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular paragraph,
subparagraph, section, subsection, or other subdivision. Whenever the context
may require, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding
masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns
and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa.

         (h) Binding Effect; Transfer of Rights Under this Agreement. Unless
otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns, and is not intended to
confer upon any other Person any right or remedies hereunder; provided, however,
that the rights and obligations of a Holder under this Agreement may be
transferred or assigned by a Holder only if such transferee (or such
distributee) shall, in connection with the transfer of such Registrable
Securities, provide the Company with a duly executed addendum to this Agreement,
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, pursuant to which
such transferee (or distributee) expressly and without qualification (i) assumes
all of the obligations of its transferor hereunder and (ii) agrees itself to be
bound by the terms hereof; provided, further, that any such transfer shall not
operate to release the transferring Holder from any of its obligations hereunder
existing on the date of such transfer. In the event any Registrable Securities
are transferred (or distributed) to a person who does not provide the addendum
referred to above in this Section 11(h), such Registrable Securities shall be
deemed to have ceased to be Registrable Securities effective upon such transfer
(or distribution).

         (i) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject
matter.


                                       17
<PAGE>   18


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.


                                    COMPANY:

                                    HYDRIL COMPANY


                                    By:
                                      -----------------------------------------

                                    Name:
                                         --------------------------------------

                                    Title:
                                           ------------------------------------



                                       18
<PAGE>   19


                                  STOCKHOLDERS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                  <C>                           <C>

                                                        SHARES OF
                                                         CLASS B                   SHARES OF
                                                       COMMON STOCK              COMMON STOCK
                                                       OWNED AS OF                 OWNED AS OF
STOCKHOLDERS                                         DATE OF AGREEMENT           DATE OF AGREEMENT
-------------                                        ------------------          ------------------

[Signature blocks to come]

</TABLE>



                                       19