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                                                                  Exhibit 10.82

                             MR DAVID L. BRADSHAW

                   EMPLOYMENT AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT


This Employment Agreement (this "Agreement") is made between TIPPERARY
CORPORATION, a Texas Corporation, with its principal place of business at 633
Seventeenth Street, Suite 1550, Denver, Colorado 80202 (the "Company") and David
L. Bradshaw, residing at 8998 West Brandt Drive, Littleton, Colorado 80123
("Executive").


WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company desire and agree to formalize an
employment relationship between them by means of this Agreement.


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein
contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, it is mutually covenanted and
agreed by and between the parties as follows:


1.   EMPLOYMENT. The Company hereby employs the Executive and the Executive
     hereby accepts employment in the positions of Chairman, President and Chief
     Executive Officer.

2.   BASIC COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS. For the services rendered by the Executive
     to the Company, the Company shall pay the Executive a salary at the rate of
     $210,000 per year to be paid to the Executive in equal installments in
     accordance with the normal payroll policies of the Company (the "Basic
     Compensation") or as otherwise shall be agreed upon from time to time by
     the parties hereto. In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to any
     benefits and permitted to participate in any benefit plans, including
     without limitation any health care plans and paid vacation and sick leave,
     that the Company provides to its executives generally.

3.   BONUSES. In addition to the Basic Compensation, at the recommendation of
     the Compensation Committee and approval by the Board of Directors of the
     Company, the Executive may also receive additional compensation in the form
     of bonuses ("Bonuses") at times and in amounts to be determined by the
     Company's Compensation Committee based upon corporate and individual
     performance.

4.   AUTOMOBILE. The Company shall provide the Executive with the use of an
     automobile of the Executive's choice, provided that the monthly lease
     payment shall not exceed $1,000. The Company shall pay all reasonable
     expenses of operation of the automobile, including insurance and
     maintenance and repairs.

5.   CLUB MEMBERSHIP. The Executive will be entitled to join a Country Club
     suitable for business entertainment from time to time. The Company will pay
     the Club
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     membership fee, annual dues and all appropriate business entertainment
     expenses.

6.   DENVER OFFICE. The Executive shall office in Denver, Colorado.

7.   TERM. This Agreement shall commence on the date hereof, and shall remain in
     effect for a period of two (2) years (the "Employment Term") and will
     automatically renew for successive two (2) year periods, on a continuous
     basis, unless employment is terminated in accordance with Section 8 or 9
     hereunder.

8.   TERMINATION WITHOUT COMPENSATION.

     8.1  Total Disability.  If the Executive become "totally disabled", as
          defined below, the Company may terminate this Agreement by notice to
          the Executive, and as of the termination date, the Company shall have
          no further liability or obligation to the Executive hereunder except
          as follows: the Executive shall receive any unpaid Basic Compensation
          and Bonuses, if any, that have accrued through the date of
          termination.  For the purposes hereof, the Executive shall be deemed
          to be "totally disabled" if the Executive is considered totally
          disabled according to the definition under any group disability plan
          maintained by the Company and in effect at the time of termination, or
          in the absence of any plan, under applicable Social Security
          regulations.  In the event of any dispute under the Section 7.1, the
          Executive shall submit to a physical examination by a licensed
          physician mutually satisfactory to the Company and the Executive, the
          cost of such examination to be paid by the Company, and the
          determination of such physician shall be determinative.

     8.2  Death.  If the Executive dies during employment with the Company, this
          Agreement shall terminate on the date of death, and thereafter the
          Company shall not have any further liability or obligation to the
          Executive, his executors, administrators, heirs, assigns or any other
          person claiming under or through the Executive's estate except that
          the Executive's estate shall receive any unpaid Basic Compensation and
          Bonuses, if any, that have accrued through the date of death.

     8.3  Cause.  The Company may terminate the Employment Term for "cause", as
          defined herein below, by giving the Executive 15 days notice of the
          termination date, and as of the termination date, the Company shall
          have no further liability or obligation to the Executive hereunder
          except the Executive shall receive any unpaid Basic Compensation and
          Bonuses, if any, that have accrued through the date of termination,
          less any liabilities that the Executive may have to the Company.  For
          purposes of the Agreement, "cause", shall mean the Executive's (i)
          failure to observe or perform any of the material terms or provisions
          of this Agreement, (ii) failure to comply fully with the lawful
          directives of the Board of

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          Directors, (iii) disclosure or use of any confidential information of
          the Company, (iv) participation directly or indirectly or providing
          information which results in competition with the Company, (v)
          deception, (vi) wilful misconduct, (vii) material neglect of the
          Company's business, (viii) conviction of a felony or other crime
          involving moral turpitude, (ix) misappropriation of funds, or (x)
          habitual insobriety.


9.   TERMINATION WITH COMPENSATION

     The Company shall have the right to terminate the Agreement without cause
     any time by giving the Executive one year's notice of the termination date.
     Under such circumstances, the Company shall pay any unpaid Basic
     Compensation and Bonuses, if any, that have accrued through the date of
     termination, and shall continue to pay to the Executive the Basic
     Compensation which accrues for one year following the termination date (the
     "Termination Compensation"), and  the Company shall have no other liability
     or obligation to the Executive.  The Executive shall not be entitled to any
     Termination Compensation unless the Executive executes and delivers to the
     Company a release, in a form satisfactory to the Company, whereby the
     Executive releases the Company from any obligations and liabilities of any
     type with exception to the Termination Compensation as provided herein.
     The Termination Compensation shall be provided in consideration for the
     above-specified release.

10.  DUTIES AND EXTENT OF SERVICES. The Executive shall, on a full time basis,
     devote his entire business efforts to the Company, as Chairman, President
     and Chief Executive Officer, and shall perform in a timely and professional
     manner acceptable to the Company, those tasks assigned by the Company in
     conjunction with such positions; provided, however, that the Executive may
     engage in personal investment activities so long as such activities do not
     interfere with the performance of his duties to the Company herein.

11.  OWNERSHIP. The Executive agrees that all developments made and developments
     and works created by the Executive or under the Executive's direction in
     connection with the Company's assignments are works for hire and shall be
     the sole and complete property of the Company.

12.  NONDISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

     12.1  Nondisclosure. During the term of employment and forever thereafter,
           the Executive agrees to keep confidential all information provided by
           the Company, its executives, directors, agents, or any other person
           or entity, excepting only such information as is already known to the
           public, and including any such information and material relating to
           any customer, vendor, licensor, licensee, or other party

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           transacting business with the Company, and not to release, use, or
           disclose the same except with the prior written permission of the
           Company. The Executive further agrees to consider all information or
           products with which the Executive becomes familiar as an Executive of
           the Company to be confidential and the exclusive property of the
           Company which will not be converted or disclosed to anyone for any
           purpose whatsoever. All records, files, memorandums, reports, price
           lists, customer lists, maps, plans, sketches, documents and the like,
           relating to the business of the Company, which the Executive shall
           use or prepare or come into contact with, shall remain the sole
           property of the Company. A breach of this Section 12.1 shall give
           rise to "cause" under which the Executive may be terminated under
           Section 8.3.

     12.2  Possession. The Executive agrees that, upon request by the Company,
           and in any event upon termination of employment, the Executive shall
           turn over to the Company all documents, papers, or other material in
           his possession or under his control which may contain or be derived
           from confidential information, together with all documents, notes, or
           other work product which is connected with or derived from the
           Executive's services to the Company whether or not such material is
           at the date hereof in the Executive's possession. The Executive
           agrees that the Executive shall have no proprietary interest in any
           work product developed or used by the Executive and arising out of
           his employment by the Company. A breach of this section 12.2 shall
           give rise to "cause" under which the Executive may be terminated
           under Section 8.3.

     12.3  Survival of Covenant. The undertakings of the Section 12 of this
           Agreement shall survive the termination or cancellation of the
           Agreement or of the Executive's employment.


13.  COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE. For a period of 24 months from the date of any
     termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive
     shall not, directly or indirectly, accept employment with or render any
     services to any business engaged in the exploration for or production of
     oil and gas in Queensland Australia, form an association which is
     competitive with the Company, or form an association with or employ or
     offer to employ in a business competitive with the Company, anyone who is
     or has been a director, officer, shareholder, employee or Executive of the
     Company.

     The Executive acknowledges that the restrictions imposed by this Agreement
     are fully understood by him and will not preclude the Executive from
     becoming gainfully employed following a termination of employment with the
     Company.

14.  REMEDIES. The Executive agrees that this Agreement is intended to protect
     and preserve legitimate business interests of the Company. It is further
     agreed that any breach

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     of this Agreement may render irreparable harm to the Company. In the event
     of a breach by the Executive, the Company shall have available to it all
     remedies provided by law, including, but not limited to, permanent
     injunctive relief to restrain the Executive from violating this Agreement.
     The Company shall also be entitled to commence legal action against the
     Executive for any breach of any confidentiality agreement and/or
     confidentiality programs in effect at any time between the Executive and
     the Company. Notwithstanding any legal remedies available to the Company as
     a result of a breach of this Agreement, in the event of a breach by the
     Executive, the Company shall immediately be entitled to withhold and avoid
     payment of any sums of money or other benefits than due or that become due
     under this or any other Agreement between the Executive and the Company.

15.  GENERAL PROVISIONS.

     15.1  No Waiver. The failure of the Company to terminate this Agreement for
           the breach of any condition or covenant herein by the Executive shall
           not affect the Company's right to terminate for subsequent breaches
           of the same or other conditions or covenants. The failure of either
           party to enforce at any time or for any period of time any of the
           provisions of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of
           such provisions or of the right of the party thereafter to enforce
           each and every such provision.

     15.2  Notices. All notices and other required communications to the parties
           shall be in writing and shall be addressed respectively as follows,
           unless and until directed otherwise in writing:-

           If to Company

           Chairman of the Compensation Committee of
           The Board of Directors
           Tipperary Corporation
           633 Seventeenth Street Suite 1550
           Denver, Colorado 80202

           Tel: (303) 293 - 9379
           Fax: (303) 203 - 3428

           If to Executive

           David L Bradshaw
           8998 West Brandt Drive
           Littleton, Colorado 80123

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           Tel: (303) 933 - 1168
           Fax: (303) 979 - 6578


     15.3  Entire Contract and Facsimile Execution. This Agreement shall
           constitute the entire contract between the parties and supercedes all
           existing agreements between them, whether oral or written, with
           respect to the subject matter hereof. No change, modification or
           amendment of this Agreement shall be of any effect unless in writing
           signed by the Executive and by a Director of the Compensation
           Committee of the Company.

     15.4  Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in
           accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by,
           the laws of the State of Colorado without regard to principles of
           conflicts of laws.

     15.5  Severability. Should any provision of this Agreement not be
           enforceable in any jurisdiction, the remainder of the Agreement shall
           not be affected thereby.

     15.6  Captions. The captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and
           shall not affect the construction or interpretation of any term or
           provision hereof.

     15.7  Attorney Fees. In the event of a dispute between the parties that
           results in litigation or arbitration regarding this Agreement, the
           prevailing party, as determined by the finder of fact, shall be
           entitled to an award of reasonable attorney fees.

     15.8  Further Assurances. Without further consideration, each party agrees
           to take such further acts and execute such further documents as are
           necessary or appropriate to effectuate the purpose and intent of this
           Agreement.

     15.9  Duration. This Agreement shall continue to bind the parties for as
           long as any obligations remain under the terms of this contract.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have signed this Agreement on this 18th
day of September, 2001.

                              EXECUTIVE:


                              /s/ David L. Bradshaw
                              --------------------------------

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                                 TIPPERARY CORPORATION

                                 By: /s/ Marshall Lees
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                                     (Chairman of the Compensation Committee)

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