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                           MASTER SEPARATION AGREEMENT           Exhibit 10.22


         THIS MASTER SEPARATION AGREEMENT (this "Separation Agreement") is
entered into as of August 11, 1997, by and between SEITEL, INC., a Delaware
corporation ("Seitel"), and EAGLE GEOPHYSICAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
("Eagle").

                                    RECITALS

         A.     Seitel, a public company whose common shares are traded on the
New York Stock Exchange, owns indirectly 100% of the common stock of Eagle.

         B.     The Board of Directors of Seitel (the "Seitel Board") has
determined, subject to its further consideration and the satisfaction of certain
conditions, to separate the ownership of a majority of its equity ownership of
Eagle and its subsidiaries from Seitel and the Seitel Group (as hereinafter
defined), by means of an initial public offering by Eagle and Seitel of
5,880,000 shares of Eagle common stock (the "IPO") pursuant to a Registration
Statement (the "IPO Registration Statement") filed by Eagle with the SEC on June
2, 1997, as amended.

         C.     Subsequent to the execution of this Separation Agreement but
prior to or contemporaneously with the IPO, Eagle, which currently owns 19% of
the common stock of Energy Research International, a Cayman Islands corporation
("ERI"), will acquire the remaining 81% of the common stock of ERI (at which
time ERI shall become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eagle), in exchange for the
current holders of such 81% of the common stock of ERI receiving 600,000 newly
issued shares of common stock in Eagle.

         D.     The parties hereto have determined that it is necessary and
desirable to set forth the principal corporate transactions determined by Seitel
and Eagle to be appropriate to effect the IPO and to set forth other agreements
and undertakings by and between Seitel and Eagle that will govern certain other
matters following the IPO.

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

         1.01   General. As used in this Separation Agreement, the following
terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable
to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

         Administrative Services Agreement means the separate Administrative
Services Agreement, of even date herewith, between Seitel and Eagle.

         Affiliate means an Eagle Affiliate or a Seitel Affiliate, as the case
may be.


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         Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on
which banking institutions located in the State of Texas are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.

         Closing Date means the date on which the shares of Eagle Common Stock
offered in the IPO are paid for by and delivered to the underwriters of the IPO.

         Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         Confidential Information means as to the Seitel Group, information
concerning a member of the Eagle Group which was obtained by a member of the
Seitel Group prior to the Closing Date or furnished to it by a member of the
Eagle Group pursuant to this Separation Agreement or the Operative Agreements
and as to the Eagle Group, information concerning a member of the Seitel Group
which was obtained by a member of the Eagle Group prior to the Closing Date or
furnished to it by a member of the Seitel Group pursuant to this Separation
Agreement or the Operative Agreements.

         Control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person,
whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

         Eagle means Eagle Geophysical, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

         Eagle Affiliate means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one
or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by Eagle, provided, however,
that for purposes of this Separation Agreement none of the following Persons
shall be considered Eagle Affiliates: (i) Seitel or any Seitel Affiliate, and
(ii) any corporation less than 51% of whose voting stock is directly or
indirectly owned by Eagle, any partnership less than 51% of whose interests in
profits and losses is directly or indirectly owned by Eagle, and any corporation
(regardless of the percentage of its ownership) where the ownership by Eagle and
its Subsidiaries was made as a venture capital or a portfolio (as opposed to
operational) investment or where the equity ownership resulted from a default on
a loan to such corporation.

         Eagle Business means the onshore seismic data acquisition business
conducted by Seitel Geophysical, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Seitel prior
to December 31, 1996, the onshore seismic data acquisition business conducted by
Eagle from January 1, 1997 and the offshore seismic data acquisition business
conducted by Horizon Seismic, Inc. and Horizon Exploration, Ltd. and any
affiliates thereof before and after the Closing Date.

         Eagle Common Stock means the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of
Eagle.

         Eagle Group means collectively, Eagle and the Eagle Affiliates, or any
one or more of such companies.

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         Effective Date means the date on which the IPO Registration Statement
is declared effective by the SEC.

         Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement means the separate Employee
Benefits Allocation Agreement, of even date herewith, between Seitel and Eagle.

         ERI shall have the meaning given in the recitals to this Separation
Agreement.

         Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

         Group means the Seitel Group or the Eagle Group.

         Indemnifiable Losses means all losses, Liabilities, damages, claims,
demands, judgments or settlements of any nature or kind, known or unknown,
fixed, accrued, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, including,
without limitation, all reasonable costs and expenses (including, without
limitation, attorneys' fees, and defense and accounting costs) as such costs are
incurred relating thereto, suffered by an Indemnitee.

         Indemnifying Party means a Person who or which is obligated under this
Separation Agreement to provide indemnification.

         Indemnitee means a Person who or which is entitled to indemnification
under this Separation Agreement.

         Indemnity Payment means an amount that an Indemnifying Party is
required to pay to an Indemnitee pursuant to Article III.

         Insurance Proceeds means those monies received by an insured from an
insurance carrier or paid by an insurance carrier on behalf of the insured, in
either case, to the extent mutually agreed upon by Eagle and Seitel, net of any
applicable premium adjustment.

         IPO shall have the meaning given in the recitals to this Separation
Agreement.

         IPO Registration Statement shall have the meaning given in the recitals
to this Separation Agreement.

         Liabilities means all debts, liabilities and obligations, whether
absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated,
accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, whenever arising, and whether or not the
same would properly be reflected on a balance sheet, including all costs and
expenses relating thereto.

         Master Agreement means the Master Agreement for Geophysical Services
and applicable Job Supplements thereto entered into from time to time between
Eagle and any member of the Seitel Group


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pursuant to which Eagle agrees to conduct geophysical surveys for the benefit of
such member of the Seitel Group.

         Nasdaq National Market means the Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market.

         Offering Documents means collectively, (A) the IPO Registration
Statement, (B) any Prospectus subject to completion or any Prospectus filed with
the SEC under Rule 424 of the Securities Act used, in each case, in connection
with the offering of the Eagle Common Stock under the IPO Registration
Statement, (C) any other filing made with the SEC by a member of the Eagle Group
or (D) any amendment or supplement to any of the documents described in clauses
(A) through (C) above.

         Operative Agreements means collectively the Administrative Services
Agreement, the Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement, the Registration Rights
Agreement, the Sublease, the Tax Indemnity Agreement and any other agreements
between a member of the Seitel Group and a member of the Eagle Group relating to
the separation of the Groups.

         Person means an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a
corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or any
department or agency thereof.

         Prospectus means the prospectus forming a part of the IPO Registration
Statement.

         Representative means with respect to any Person, any of such Person's
directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors, accountants and
attorneys.

         SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         Seitel Affiliate means a Person that directly, or indirectly through
one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by Seitel; provided,
however, that for purposes of this Separation Agreement none of the following
Persons shall be considered Seitel Affiliates: (i) Eagle, and any Eagle
Affiliate, and (ii) any corporation less than 51% of whose voting stock is
directly or indirectly owned by Seitel, (iii) any partnership less than 51% of
whose interests in profits and losses is directly; or indirectly owned by
Seitel, and (iv) any corporation (regardless of the percentage of its ownership)
where the ownership by Seitel and its Subsidiaries was made as a venture,
capital or a portfolio (as opposed to operational) investment or where the
equity ownership resulted from a default on a loan to such corporation.

         Seitel Board shall have the meaning given in the recitals to this
Separation Agreement.

         Seitel Business means any businesses conducted by any member of the
Seitel Group in the past, at the date hereof or in the future.

         Seitel Group means collectively, Seitel and the Seitel Affiliates, or
any one or more of such companies.


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         Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, together
with the rules - and regulations promulgated thereunder.

         Sublease means the separate Sublease Agreement, of even date herewith,
between Seitel and Eagle.

         Subsidiary means with respect to any specified Person, any corporation
or other legal entity of which such Person or any of its subsidiaries Controls
or owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the stock or other equity
interest entitled to vote on the election of members to the board of directors
or similar governing body; provided, however, that for purposes of this
Separation Agreement, Eagle and the Eagle Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be
Subsidiaries of Seitel or any of the Seitel Subsidiaries.

         Tax means as defined in the Tax Indemnity Agreement.

         Tax Indemnity Agreement means the separate Tax Indemnity Agreement,
between Seitel and Eagle.

         Third-party Claim means any claim, suit, arbitration, inquiry,
proceeding or investigation by or before any court, any governmental or other
regulatory or administrative agency or commission or any arbitration tribunal
asserted by a Person who is not a member of the Seitel Group or the Eagle Group.

         1.02   References to Time. All references in this Separation Agreement
to times of the day shall be to local time in Houston, Texas.

                                   ARTICLE II

          CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS PRIOR TO AND IN CONNECTION WITH THE IPO

         2.01   Declaration of Dividend. Prior to the Effective Date, Eagle
shall declare a dividend to be paid at the close of business on the business day
immediately preceding the Closing Date (the Dividend Payment Date). The dividend
will be a dividend of all receivables of Eagle as of the Dividend Payment Date
from all members of the Seitel Group for profits of Eagle attributable to work
performed by Eagle for such members of the Seitel Group to and including the
Dividend Payment Date, less taxes and allocable overhead attributable to such
intercompany work. Such receivables shall include amounts attributable to
contracts then being performed, based on percent completion. Eagle shall set the
record date for determining shareholders entitled to payment of such dividend to
be a date (1) not less than ten nor more than 60 days prior to the Dividend
Payment Date, and (2) as of which the only stockholder of record shall be EHI
Holdings, Inc.

         2.02   The Eagle Board. Except as Eagle and Seitel may otherwise agree,
as of the Effective Date, the current members of Eagle's board of directors will
be: (i) William L. Lurie, Chairman; (ii) Paul A. Frame; (iii) Jay N. Silverman;
(iv) Gerald M. Harrison and (v) George Purdie. Seitel and Eagle shall take all
appropriate actions to cause such individuals to be elected to such positions.


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         2.03   IPO.

                (a)   Eagle, after consultation with Seitel, shall file such
amendments to the IPO Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to
cause the same to become and remain effective.

                (b)   Seitel and Eagle shall consult with each other regarding
the timing, pricing and other material matters with respect to the IPO.

                (c)   Eagle shall prepare, and Eagle shall file and seek to make
effective, an application for listing of the Eagle Common Stock on the Nasdaq
National Market, subject to official notice of issuance.

                (d)   Seitel shall cooperate in the preparation of the
Prospectus and the IPO Registration Statement and in Eagle's performance of its
other obligations under this Section 2.03.

                (e)   Eagle shall pay its own direct expenses relating to the
IPO (including the fees of its advisors and counsel), all of the fees and
reimbursable expenses of the underwriters relating to the IPO (except for the
underwriters' discount on shares of Eagle sold by Seitel as a selling
stockholder under the IPO Registration Statement), as well as all of the costs
of producing, printing, mailing and otherwise distributing the Prospectus.

         2.04   Financial Matters.

                (a)   Repayment of Intercompany Advances. Within five (5)
business days after the Closing Date, Eagle shall repay Seitel all amounts
advanced by Seitel on behalf of Eagle prior to the Closing Date with respect to
third-party work, plus accrued interest on the outstanding balance thereof at an
interest rate equal to Seitel's cost of funds.

                (b)   Repayment of Other Debt Owed to Seitel. Within five (5)
business days after the Closing Date, Eagle shall repay Seitel all other amounts
owed by any member of the Eagle Group to any member of the Seitel Group,
including all outstanding principal and accrued interest under the Amended and
Restated Promissory Note made by ERI payable to Seitel in the original principal
amount of $2,000,000 dated July 3, 1996 and all outstanding principal and
accrued interest under the Promissory Note made by ERI payable to Seitel in the
original principal amount of $2,679,040 dated November 15, 1996.

                (c)   Repayment of Third Party Debt Guaranteed by Seitel. Within
five (5) business days after the Closing Date, Eagle shall repay all amounts
owed by any member of the Eagle Group to any third party that is guaranteed by
any member of the Seitel Group or with respect to which any member of the Seitel
Group has any liability, including the approximately $13.4 million owed to
NationsBanc Leasing of North Carolina, the approximately $1.1 million owed to
Compass Bank, the approximately $264,000 owed to MetLife Capital Corporation,
the approximately $1.7 million owed to MetLife Capital, Limited Partnership, and
the approximately $268,000 owed to GE Capital Fleet Services, all as set forth
in the IPO Registration Statement. In


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lieu of repaying any such debt, Eagle may, within five (5) business days after
the Closing Date, obtain written confirmation from the lender of such debt of
such lender's intent to release all obligated members of the Seitel Group from
any and all liabilities with respect to such debt, so long as Eagle either
obtains such release within 30 days after the Closing Date or repays such debt
within such 30 day period.

                (d)   Other Obligations. Prior to the Closing Date, Seitel shall
advise Eagle as to all other outstanding guarantees, letter of credit
obligations, performance or surety bonds, comfort letters and other similar
obligations of any member of the Seitel Group relating to the Eagle Business.
Eagle shall, within 30 days after the Closing Date, obtain the release of all
members of the Seitel Group from all such obligations or liabilities, unless
otherwise agreed in writing by Eagle and Seitel.

      2.05    Execution and Delivery of Operative Agreements. Contemporaneously
with the execution and delivery of this Separation Agreement, Eagle and the
appropriate member(s) of the Seitel Group shall execute and deliver each of the
Operative Agreements.

                                   ARTICLE III

                    SURVIVAL, ASSUMPTION AND INDEMNIFICATION

      3.01    Survival of Agreements. All covenants and agreements of the
parties, hereto contained in this Separation Agreement shall survive the Closing
Date.

      3.02    Assumption and Indemnification.

              (a)     Subject to Section 3.02(c), from and after the Closing
Date, Seitel shall assume, and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each
member of the Eagle Group, each of their Representatives and each of the heirs,
executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing from and against:


                        (i)     all Liabilities of the Seitel Group under this
                Separation Agreement or any of the Operative Agreements;


                        (ii)    all Indemnifiable Losses of any such member or
                Representative relating to, arising out of or due to, directly
                or indirectly, the Seitel Business, any individual employed by
                any member of the Seitel Group on the Closing Date or the Seitel
                Group's Representatives, whether relating to or arising out of
                occurrences prior to, on or after the Closing Date;

                        (iii)   all Indemnifiable Losses of any such member or
                Representative relating to, arising out of or due to any untrue
                statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
                contained in any Offering Document or the omission or alleged
                omission to state in any of the Offering Documents a material
                fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
                statements therein not misleading, but only insofar as any such




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                insofar as any such statement or omission was made with respect
                to (A) a matter of historical fact relating to a member of the
                Seitel Group or (B) a matter of historical fact relating to a
                member of the Eagle Group (other than ERI, its subsidiaries,
                shareholders, officers, directors, employees, assets or
                business) relating to periods prior to the Closing Date or (C)
                the present or future intentions of Seitel or any member of the
                Seitel Group, which information is or was furnished by Seitel or
                its Representatives specifically for use in connection with the
                preparation of the Offering Documents; and

                        (iv)    all Indemnifiable Losses of any such member or
                Representative relating to, arising out of or due to any untrue
                statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
                contained in any Exchange Act report by Seitel or the omission
                or alleged omission to state in any such report a material fact
                required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
                statements therein not misleading; provided that Seitel will not
                be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
                Indemnifiable Losses arise out of or are based upon any such
                untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
                alleged omission made in any such report in reliance upon and in
                conformity with information furnished to Seitel by or on behalf
                of Eagle or its Representatives specifically for use in
                connection with the preparation of the report.

        (b)     Subject to Section 3.02(c), from and after the Closing Date,
Eagle shall assume, and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each member of
the Seitel Group, each of their Representatives and each of the heirs,
executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing from and against:

                        (i)     all Liabilities of the Eagle Group under this
                Separation Agreement or any of the Operative Agreements;

                        (ii)    all Indemnifiable Losses of any such member or
                Representative relating to, arising out of or due to, directly
                or indirectly, the Eagle Business, any individual employed by
                any member of the Eagle Group on the Closing Date or the Eagle
                Group's Representatives, whether relating to or arising out of
                occurrences prior to, on or after the Closing Date;

                        (iii)   all Indemnifiable Losses of any such member or
                Representative relating to, arising out of or due to any untrue
                statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
                contained in any Offering Document or the omission or alleged
                omission to state in any of the Offering Documents a material
                fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
                statements therein not misleading; provided that Eagle will not
                be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss,
                claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any
                such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
                alleged omission made with respect to (A) a matter of historical
                fact relating to a member of the Seitel Group or (B) a matter of
                historical fact relating to a member of the Eagle Group (other
                than ERI, its subsidiaries, shareholders, officers, directors,
                employees, assets or business) relating


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                to periods prior to the Closing Date or (C) the present or
                future intentions of Seitel or any member of the Seitel Group,
                which information is or was furnished by Seitel or its
                Representatives specifically for use in connection with the
                preparation of the Offering Documents; and

                        (iv)    all Indemnifiable Losses of any such member or
                Representative relating to, arising out of or due to any untrue
                statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
                contained in any Exchange Act report by Seitel or the omission
                or alleged omission to state in any such report a material fact
                required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
                statements therein not misleading, but only insofar as any such
                statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
                conformity with information furnished to Seitel by or on behalf
                of Eagle or its Representatives specifically for use in
                connection with the preparation of the report.

        (c)     This Section 3.02 shall not be applicable to any Indemnifiable
Losses or Liabilities related to matters that are specifically governed by the
indemnification provisions of any Operative Document (which matters shall be
governed by the specific indemnification provisions of the applicable Operative
Document) or to any Indemnifiable Losses or Liabilities related to Eagle
Business performed for the Seitel Group after the date hereof which is otherwise
governed by any Master Agreement. In the event any person is an employee or
Representative of both the Eagle Group and the Seitel Group, then for purposes
of Sections 3.2(a)(ii) and 3.2(b)(ii), the Group for whom such person is acting
when the action or omission or other event giving rise to the Indemnifiable Loss
occurs shall be the Indemnifying Party.

        (d)     If an Indemnitee realizes a Tax benefit or detriment by reason
of having incurred an Indemnifiable Loss for which such Indemnitee receives an
Indemnity Payment from an Indemnifying Party or by reason of receiving an
Indemnity Payment, then such Indemnitee shall pay to such Indemnifying Party an
amount equal to the Tax benefit, or such Indemnifying Party shall pay to such
Indemnitee an additional amount equal to the Tax detriment (taking into account
any Tax detriment resulting from the receipt of such additional amounts), as the
case may be. If, in the opinion of counsel to an Indemnifying Party reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to the affected Indemnitee, there is a
substantial likelihood that the Indemnitee will be entitled to a Tax benefit by
reason of an Indemnifiable Loss, the Indemnifying Party promptly shall notify
the Indemnitee and the Indemnitee promptly shall take any steps (including the
filing of such returns, amended returns or claims for refunds consistent with
the claiming of such Tax benefit) that, in the reasonable judgment of the
Indemnifying Party, are necessary and appropriate to obtain any such Tax
benefit. If, in the opinion of counsel to an Indemnitee reasonably satisfactory
in form and substance to the affected Indemnifying Party, there is a substantial
likelihood that the Indemnitee will be subjected to a Tax detriment by reason of
an Indemnification Payment, the Indemnitee promptly shall notify the
Indemnifying Party and the Indemnitee promptly shall take any steps (including
the filing of such returns or amended returns or the payment of Tax
underpayments consistent with the settlement of any Liability for Taxes arising
from such Tax detriment) that, in the reasonable judgment of the Indemnitee, are
necessary and appropriate to settle any Liabilities for Taxes arising from such
Tax detriment. If, following a payment by an Indemnitee or an Indemnifying Party
pursuant to this Section 3.02(d) in respect of a Tax benefit or detriment, there


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is an adjustment to the amount of such Tax benefit or detriment, then each of
Seitel and Eagle shall make appropriate payments to the other, including the
payment of interest thereon at the federal statutory rate then in effect, to
reflect such adjustment.

                  (e)   The amount which an Indemnifying Party is required to
pay to any Indemnitee pursuant to this Section 3.02 shall be reduced (including
retroactively) by any Insurance Proceeds and other amounts actually recovered by
such Indemnitee in reduction of the related Indemnifiable Loss, it being
understood and agreed that each of Seitel and Eagle shall use its best efforts
to collect any such proceeds or other amounts to which it or any of its
Subsidiaries is entitled, without regard to whether it is the Indemnifying Party
hereunder. If an Indemnitee receives an Indemnity Payment in respect of an
Indemnifiable Loss and subsequently receives Insurance Proceeds or other amounts
in respect of such Indemnifiable Loss, then such Indemnitee shall pay to such
Indemnifying Party an amount equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the
amount of such Indemnity Payment and the amount of such Insurance Proceeds or
other amounts actually received and (ii) the amount of such Indemnifiable Loss,
adjusted (at such time as appropriate adjustment can be determined) in each case
to reflect any premium adjustment attributable to such claim.

         3.03     Procedure for Indemnification.

                  (a)   If any Indemnitee receives notice of the assertion of
any Third-party Claim with respect to which an Indemnifying Party is obligated
under this Separation Agreement to provide indemnification, such Indemnitee
shall give such Indemnifying Party notice thereof promptly after becoming aware
of such Third-party Claim; provided, however, that the failure of any Indemnitee
to give notice as provided in this Section 3.03 shall not relieve any
Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Article III, except to the
extent that such Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure to
give notice. Such notice shall describe such Third-party Claim in reasonable
detail.

                  (b)   An Indemnifying Party, at such Indemnifying Party's own
expense and through counsel chosen by such Indemnifying Party (which counsel
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee), may elect to defend any
Third-party Claim. If an Indemnifying Party elects to defend a Third-party
Claim, then, within ten Business Days after receiving notice of such Third-party
Claim (or sooner, if the nature of such Third-party Claim so requires), such
Indemnifying Party shall notify the Indemnitee of its intent to do so, and such
Indemnitee shall cooperate in the defense of such Third-party Claim. After
notice from an Indemnifying Party to an Indemnitee of its election to assume the
defense of a Third-party Claim, such Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to
such Indemnitee under this Article III for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof;
provided, however, that such Indemnitee shall have the right to employ one law
firm as counsel to represent such Indemnitee (which firm shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Indemnifying Party) if, in such Indemnitee's reasonable
judgment, either a conflict of interest between such Indemnitee and such
Indemnifying Party exists in respect of such claim or there may be defenses
available to such Indemnitee which are different from or in addition to those
available to such Indemnifying Party, and in that event (i) the reasonable fees
and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by such Indemnifying Party
(it being understood, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable


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for the expenses of more than one separate counsel with respect to any
Third-party Claim (even if against multiple Indemnitees)) and (ii) each of such
Indemnifying Party and such Indemnitee shall have the right to conduct its own
defense in respect of such claim. If an Indemnifying Party elects not to defend
against a Third-party Claim, or fails to notify an Indemnitee of its election as
provided in this Section 3.03 within the period of ten Business Days described
above, such Indemnitee may defend, compromise and settle such Third-party Claim;
provided, however, that no such Indemnitee may compromise or settle any such
Third-party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party,
which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Indemnifying Party shall not, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnitee, (i) settle or compromise any Third-party Claim or consent to the
entry of any judgment which does not include as an unconditional term thereof
the delivery by the claimant or plaintiff to the Indemnitee of a written release
from all Liability in respect of such Third-party Claim or (ii) settle or
compromise any Third-party Claim in any manner that may adversely affect the
Indemnitee.

         3.04   Remedies Cumulative. The remedies provided in this Article III
shall be cumulative and shall not preclude assertion by any Indemnitee of any
other rights or the seeking of any other remedies against any Indemnifying
Party.

         3.05   Effect on Underwriting Documents. Notwithstanding anything t
the contrary that may be contained in the underwriting agreements relating to
the IPO or this Separation Agreement: (i) the provisions of Section 3.02(a) and
(b) shall govern and control the indemnification arrangements, and any claims or
losses arising hereunder, between the Seitel Group on the one hand and the Eagle
Group on the other with respect to liabilities arising under the IPO
Registration Statement; and (ii) the provisions of such underwriting agreements
shall govern and control the indemnification arrangements, and any claims or
losses arising thereunder, between the Eagle Group and the Seitel Group on the
one hand and the underwriters under the IPO Registration Statement on the other.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                          CERTAIN ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

         4.01   Continuing Contractual Agreements. Except as may be otherwise
provided in this Separation Agreement, to the extent that any member of either
Group is now providing or selling, or in the future may provide or sell, to any
member of the other Group any services, benefits or products pursuant to any
written or oral agreement or understanding whatsoever, such agreement or
understanding shall not be deemed altered, amended or terminated as a result of
this Separation Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby; and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such agreements
and understandings, already in existence, shall remain in full force and effect
without modification or amendment of any kind by virtue of this Separation
Agreement.

         4.02   Solicitation of Employees. For a period of one (1) year from
the date of this Separation Agreement, no member of either Group shall knowingly
solicit for proposed employment


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any Person who at the time is known by such member to be currently an employee
of the other Group, without the consent of the President of that employee's
employer.

         4.03   Software. Any computer software shall remain the property of
the Group that purchased, licensed or developed it, subject to the further
provisions of this Section 4.03. To the extent either Group has used or enhanced
such software, such Group shall have the right to continue to use such software
in its business operations. If any software purchased or licensed from a third
party has been used or is in the future usable by either Group, the parties
shall work together in good faith to obtain any required consent of the licenser
to permit use of such software by any Group that wishes to use it, and the cost
of obtaining such consent shall be allocated between the Groups in proportion to
the benefit to each Group from the use of such software, taking into account
both past use and expected future use. If such consent cannot be promptly and
reasonably obtained, any Group may continue to use such software provided such
Group furnishes the other Group (i) the written opinion of experienced outside
legal counsel to the effect that such continued use does not constitute a clear
violation of the terms of the license agreement and (ii) an indemnification in
form reasonably satisfactory to the other Group for any Liabilities caused by
such use. If either or both Groups wish to add a new module or other enhancement
to any software being used by both Groups, the parties will, in good faith,
agree to an allocation of the cost thereof in proportion to the expected use of
such module or enhancement, provided that enhancements made by a Group on
internally developed software shall be the property of the Group that paid for
the major portion of development costs. Except as provided in the preceding
sentences, neither Group shall be obligated to pay anything to the other Group
for the use of any software. If the parties cannot reach agreement after a
reasonable time and effort on the allocation of costs as provided herein, the
parties shall promptly submit the issue to an experienced, independent, mutually
acceptable software consultant, whose determination of such allocation shall be
final and binding on both parties; the fees and expenses of such consultant
shall be borne equally by the parties. The parties shall work together in good
faith to develop an inventory of software that may be affected by Section 4.03
as promptly as practicable; provided that it is understood that this Section
4.03 shall not apply to any software that is purchased, licensed or originally
developed after the Closing Date. The terms of this Section 4.03 are intended to
allocate costs between the parties hereto, and nothing contained in this Section
4.03 shall be construed to modify any of the terms of the agreements between a
software licensor and the Eagle Group or the Seitel Group.

         4.04   Further Assurances. In addition to the actions specifically
provided for elsewhere in this Separation Agreement and in the Tax Indemnity
Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall use its best efforts to take, or
cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things,
reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws, regulations and
agreements to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by
this Separation Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, each party hereto
shall cooperate with the other parties, and execute and deliver, or use its best
efforts to cause to be executed and delivered, all instruments, including
instruments of conveyance, assignment and transfer, and to make all filings
with, and to obtain all consents, approvals or authorizations of, any
governmental or regulatory authority or any other Person under any permit,
license, agreement, indenture or other instrument, and take all such other
actions as such party may reasonably be requested to take by any other party
hereto from time to


                                       12
<PAGE>   13
time, consistent with the terms of this Separation Agreement, in order to
effectuate the provisions and purposes of this Separation Agreement.

         4.05   Publicity. Seitel shall take all necessary action to ensure
that the members of the Seitel Group, and Eagle shall take all necessary action
to ensure that the members of the Eagle Group, shall take all reasonably
diligent action to discontinue the use of any existing printed material
implicitly or explicitly showing any parent-subsidiary relationship between
Seitel and Eagle or any members of their respective Groups as promptly after the
Closing Date as practicable and in any event no later than six months after the
Closing Date, except as otherwise provided in any Operative Agreement. After the
Closing Date, neither party hereto shall permit any member of its respective
Group to otherwise represent to third parties that it has a parent-subsidiary
relationship with the other Group.

                                    ARTICLE V

                              ACCESS TO INFORMATION

         5.01   Provision of Corporate Records. Prior to or as promptly as
practicable after the Closing Date, Seitel shall use reasonable efforts to
accommodate Eagle with respect to the delivery to Eagle of all corporate books
and records of the Eagle Group and copies of all corporate books and records of
the Seitel Group directly relating to the Eagle Assets, the Eagle Business or
the Liabilities of the Eagle Group, including in each case copies of all active
agreements, active litigation files and government filings. From and after the
Closing Date, all books, records and copies so delivered shall be the property
of Eagle.

         5.02   Access to Information. From and after the Closing Date, each of
Seitel and Eagle shall afford to the other, and shall cause the members of their
respective Groups to so afford, reasonable access and duplicating rights during
normal business hours to all information within such party's possession relating
to such other party's businesses, Assets or Liabilities, insofar as such access
is reasonably required by such other party. Without limiting the foregoing,
information may be requested under this Section 5.02 for audit, accounting,
claims, litigation and Tax purposes, as well as for purposes of fulfilling
disclosure and reporting obligations, as Eagle may reasonably request and which
are directly related to the Eagle Business.

         5.03   Production of Witnesses. After the Closing Date, each of Seitel
and Eagle shall use reasonable efforts, and shall cause the members of their
respective Groups to use reasonable efforts, to make available to the other,
upon written request, its directors, officers, employees and agents as witnesses
to the extent that any such Person may reasonably be required (giving
consideration to business demands of such Persons) in connection with any legal,
administrative or other proceedings in which the requesting party may from time
to time be involved.

         5.04   Reimbursement. Each Group providing information or witnesses
under Sections 5.01, 5.02 or 5.03 to the other Group shall be entitled to
receive from the recipient, upon the presentation of invoices therefor, payment
for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including


                                       13
<PAGE>   14
reasonable attorneys and accountants fees and expenses) as may be reasonably
incurred in providing such information or witnesses.

         5.05 Retention of Records. Except as otherwise required by law or
agreed in writing, or as otherwise provided in the Tax Indemnity Agreement, each
of Seitel and Eagle shall use reasonable efforts to accommodate the other with
respect to retention and provision of copies of any significant information in
such party's possession or under its control relating to the business, assets or
Liabilities of the other party.

         5.06 Confidentiality. From and after the Closing Date, each of Seitel
and Eagle shall hold, and shall cause its Affiliates and Representatives to
hold, the Confidential Information in strict confidence and shall not release or
disclose such Confidential Information to any other Person, except its
Representatives, who shall be bound by the provisions of this Section 5.06;
provided, however, that Seitel and Eagle and their Affiliates may disclose such
Confidential Information to the extent that (a) disclosure is required by
judicial or administrative process or, in the opinion of such party's counsel,
by other requirements of law or any regulatory body, or (b) such party can show
that such Confidential Information is or was (i) available to such party from a
third party and the recipient party was not aware that such third party was
obligated to not disclose such Confidential Information, (ii) available to such
party on a nonconfidential basis prior to its disclosure by the other party,
(iii) in the public domain other than by the breach of this Agreement or (iv)
lawfully acquired on a nonconfidential basis or independently developed by, or
on behalf of, such party. If either party to this Agreement or its Affiliate or
Representative becomes legally required to disclose any Confidential Information
subject to this Section, such party will promptly notify the other party and use
reasonable efforts to cooperate with the other party so that it may seek a
protective order or other appropriate remedy and/or waive compliance with this
Section. In the event that such protective order or other remedy is not
obtained, or that the other party waives compliance with this Section, such
party or its Affiliate or Representative will furnish only that portion of the
Confidential Information which it is advised by counsel is legally required and
will exercise its reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that
confidential treatment will be accorded such Confidential Information.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         6.01 Termination. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, this
Separation Agreement may be terminated if the IPO is abandoned, which decision
can be made at any time by and in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors
of Seitel without the approval of Eagle.

         6.02 Complete Agreement. This Separation Agreement, the Exhibits and
Schedules hereto and the agreements (including the Operative Agreements) and
other documents referred to herein and therein shall constitute the entire
agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof
and shall supersede all previous negotiations, commitments and writings with
respect to such subject matter.


                                       14
<PAGE>   15
         6.03   Authority. Each of the parties hereto represents to the other
that (i) it has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this
Separation Agreement, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this
Separation Agreement by it has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action, (iii) it has duly and validly executed the Agreement, (iv) this
Separation Agreement is a valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it
in accordance with its terms subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally and general equity principles.

         6.04   Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in this Separation
Agreement and the Operative Agreements, all costs and expenses of any party
hereto in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and
implementation of this Separation Agreement and in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Separation Agreement shall
be paid by the party for whose benefit such costs and expenses are incurred,
with any costs and expenses that cannot be allocated on the foregoing basis to
be divided equally between the parties hereto.

         6.05   Governing Law. This Separation Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas (other than the
laws regarding choice of laws and conflicts of laws) as to all matters,
including matters of validity, construction, effect, performance and remedies.

         6.06   Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder (collectively, "Notices") shall be in writing and shall
be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery
in person, by cable, telegram, telex, telecopy or other standard form of
telecommunications, or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested, addressed as follows:

         If to Seitel:

         Seitel, Inc.
         50 Briar Hollow Lane
         West Building, 7th Floor
         Houston, Texas  77027
         Attention:  Paul A. Frame, President

         If to Eagle:

         Eagle Geophysical, Inc.
         50 Briar Hollow Lane
         West Building, 6th Floor
         Houston, Texas  77027
         Attention:  Jay N. Silverman, President


or to such other address as any party hereto may have furnished to the other
parties by a notice in writing in accordance with this Section 6.06.


                                       15
<PAGE>   16
         6.07   Amendment and Modification. This Separation Agreement may be
amended or modified in any material respect only by a written agreement signed
by both of the parties hereto.

         6.08   Successors and Assigns; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This
Separation Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, their successors and permitted
assigns, and the members of their respective Groups, but neither this Separation
Agreement nor any of the rights, interests and obligations hereunder shall be
assigned by either party hereto without the prior written consent of the other
party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). Except for the
provisions of Sections 3.02 and 3.03 relating to Indemnities, which are also for
the benefit of the Indemnitees, this Separation Agreement is solely for the
benefit of the parties hereto and their Subsidiaries and Affiliates and is not
intended to confer upon any other Persons any rights or remedies hereunder.

         6.09   Counterparts. This Separation Agreement may be executed in one
or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

         6.10   No Waiver. No failure by either party to take any action or
assert any right hereunder shall be deemed to be a waiver of such right in the
event of the continuation or repetition of the circumstances giving rise to such
right, unless expressly waived in writing by the party against whom the
existence of such waiver is asserted.

         6.11   Interpretation. The Article and Section headings contained in
this Separation Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part
of the agreement of the parties hereto and shall not in any way affect the
meaning or interpretation of this Separation Agreement.

         6.12   Legal Enforceability. Any provision of this Separation
Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to
such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof. Any such
prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or
render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Each party
acknowledges that money damages would be an inadequate remedy for any breach of
the provisions of this Separation Agreement and agrees that the obligations of
the parties hereunder shall be specifically enforceable.


                                  SEITEL, INC.



                                  By: /s/ Debra D. Valice
                                      --------------------------------------
                                      Debra D. Valice, Senior Vice President


                                  EAGLE GEOPHYSICAL, INC.



                                  By: /s/ Jay N. Silverman
                                      --------------------------------------
                                      Jay N. Silverman, President


                                       16