**Exhibit      10.9**

**PLEDGE      AGREEMENT**

**THIS      PLEDGE AGREEMENT**
**Agreement**
**SONTERRA      OIL & GAS, INC.**
**Pledgor**
**VIKING      ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC,**
**Pledgee**

**WHEREAS:**

**Buyer**
**Purchase      Agreement**
**New      Sonterra Shares**
**Sonterra      Common Stock**
**Deposit      Note**

**Sonterra**
**Exchange      Agreement**
**Sonterra      Equity Note**
**Sonterra      Warrants**

**Sonterra      Non-Equity Note**

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**RCGI      Common Stock**
**RCGI      Common Shares**
**New      RCGI Common Shares**
**RCGI      Warrant**
**Warrant      Shares**
**Warrant      Exercise Price**
**Initial      RCGI Note**

**Additional      RCGI Notes**
**Notes**

**Operations**
**Pledge      Entity**
**Pledge      Entities**

**Security      Agreement**

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**NOW,      THEREFORE**

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| **XXX.** | **Defined                Terms****.                Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein                shall                have the meanings given them in the** **Exchange                Agreement.** |
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| **XXXI.** | **Pledge****.** |
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| A. | Pledgor                hereby pledges, assigns, hypothecates, delivers and grants to Pledgee,                for                the benefit of itself and Buyer, a first lien on and first priority                perfected security interest in (i) all of the Capital Stock or other                equity interests of the Pledge Entities now owned or hereafter acquired                by                Pledgor (collectively, the “**Pledged                Shares**”),                (ii) all other property hereafter delivered to, or in the possession                or in                the custody of, Pledgee, in substitution for or in addition to the                Pledged                Shares, (iii) any other property of Pledgor described in Section                4                below or otherwise, whether now or hereafter delivered to, or in                the                possession or custody of Pledgor, and (iv) all proceeds of the collateral                described in the preceding clauses                (i),                (ii)                and (iii)                (the collateral described in clauses                (i)                through (iv)                of                this Section                2                being collectively referred to as the “**Pledged                Collateral**”),                as collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and performance                when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise)                of                the Liabili-ties (as defined in the Security Agreement). All of the                Pledged Shares now owned by Pledgor which are presently represented                by                certificates are listed on Exhibit A                hereto, which certificates, with undated assignments separate from                certificates or stock powers duly executed in blank by Pledgor and                irrevocable proxies, are being delivered to Pledgee simultaneously                herewith. Upon the creation or acquisition of any new Pledged Shares,                Pledgor shall execute an Addendum in the form of Exhibit                B                attached hereto (a “**Pledge                Addendum**”).                Any Pledged Collateral described in a Pledge Addendum executed by                Pledgor                shall thereafter be deemed to be listed on Exhibit                A                hereto. Pledgee shall maintain possession and custody of the certificates                representing the Pledged Shares and any additional Pledged                Collateral. |
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| B. | Pledgor                shall cause each Pledged Share consisting of either (i) a membership                interest in a Person that is a limited liability company or (ii)                a                partnership interest in a Person that is a partnership (if any) to                be                “securities” governed by Article 8 of the UCC at all times. Pledgor shall                cause the applicable Persons to issue certificates evidencing such                membership interests or partnership interests (if any) to Pledgor.                Pledgor                shall not cause and shall not permit any Pledged Entity which is                not a                corporation to “opt-out” of Article 8 of the UCC. Pledgor shall not take,                and shall not permit any Pledged Entity which is not a corporation                to                take, any actions to cause the capital stock, membership interests,                partnership interests or similar equity interests of such Pledged                Entity                to cease to be classified as “securities” governed by Article 8 of the                UCC. |
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| **XXXII.** | **Representations                and Warranties of Pledgor****.** **Pledgor                represents and warrants to Pledgee, and covenants with Pledgee,                that:** |
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| A. | Exhibit                A                sets forth (i) the authorized capital stock or other equity interests                of                each Pledge Entity, (ii) the number of shares of capital stock or                other                equity interests of each Pledge Entity that are issued and outstanding                as                of the date hereof, and (iii) the percentage of the issued and outstanding                shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each Pledge                Entity                held by Pledgor. Pledgor is the record and beneficial owner of, and                has                good and marketable title to, the Pledged Shares, and such shares                are and                will remain free and clear of all pledges, liens, security interests                and                other encumbrances and restrictions whatsoever, except the liens                and                security interests in favor of Pledgee created by this                Agreement; |
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| B. | Except                as set forth on Exhibit                A,                there are no outstanding options, warrants or other similar agreements                with respect to the Pledged Shares or any of the other Pledged                Collateral; |
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| C. | this                Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of Pledgor,                enforceable against Pledgor in accordance with its terms except to                the                extent that such enforceability is subject to applicable bankruptcy,                insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance and moratorium                laws and                other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’                rights generally, or the availability of equitable remedies, which                are                subject to the discretion of the court before which an action may                be                brought; |
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| D. | the                Pledged Shares have been duly and validly authorized and issued,                are fully                paid and non-assessable, and the Pledged Shares listed on Exhibit                A                constitute all of the issued and outstanding capital stock or other                equity                interests of the Pledge Entities; |
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| E. | no                consent, approval or authorization of or designation or filing with                any                governmental or regulatory authority on the part of Pledgor is required                in                connection with the pledge and security interest granted under this                Agreement; |
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| F. | the                execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not violate                any                provision of any applicable law or regulation or of any order, judgment,                writ, award or decree of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority,                domestic or foreign, which are applicable to Pledgor, or of the articles                or certificate of incorporation, bylaws or                any other similar organizational documents of                Pledgor or any Pledge Entity or of any securities issued by Pledgor                or any                Pledge Entity or of any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract, or                other                agreement, instrument or undertaking to which Pledgor or any Pledge                Entity                is a party or which is binding upon Pledgor or any Pledge Entity                or upon                any of the assets of Pledgor or any Pledge Entity, and will not result                in                the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance on                or                security interest in any of the assets of Pledgor or any Pledge Entity,                except as otherwise contemplated by this                Agreement; |
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| G. | assuming                the Pledgee retains control of and holds all certificates and executed                stock powers for the Pledged Shares and the Pledged Collateral, the                pledge, assignment and delivery of the Pledged Shares and the other                Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Agreement creates a valid first                lien                on and perfected first priority security interest in such Pledged                Shares                and Pledged Collateral and the proceeds thereof in favor of Pledgee,                subject to no prior pledge, lien, mortgage, hypothecation, security                interest, charge, option or encumbrance or to any agreement purporting                to                grant to any third party a security interest in the property or assets                of                Pledgor which would include the Pledged Shares or any other Pledged                Collateral. Until this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section                11                hereof, Pledgor covenants and agrees that it will defend, for the                benefit                of Pledgee, Pledgee’s right, title and security interest in and to the                Pledged Shares, the other Pledged Collateral and the proceeds thereof                against the claims and demands of all other persons or entities;                and |
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| H. | Neither                Pledgor nor any Pledged Entity (i) will become a person whose property                or                interests in property are blocked or subject to blocking pursuant                to                Section 1 of Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 Blocking                Property                and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to                Commit                or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079(2001), (ii) will engage                in any                dealings or transactions prohibited by Section 2 of such executive                order,                or (iii) will otherwise become a person on the list of Specially                Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons or subject to the limitations                or                prohibitions under any other Office of Foreign Asset Control regulation                or                executive order. |
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| **XXXIII.** | **Dividends,                Distributions, Etc.** **If,                prior to irrevocable repayment in full in cash of the Liabilities,                Pledgor                shall receive any certificate (including, without limitation, any                certificate representing a dividend or a distribution in connection                with                any reclassification, increase or reduction of capital, or issued                in                connection with any reorganization, merger or consolidation), or                any                options or rights, whether as an addition to, in substitution for,                or in                exchange for any of the Pledged Shares or otherwise, Pledgor agrees,                in                each case, to accept the same as Pledgee’s agent and to hold the same in                trust for Pledgee, and to deliver the same promptly (but in any event                within five Business Days) to Pledgee in the exact form received,                with the                endorsement of Pledgor when necessary and/or with appropriate undated                assignments separate from certificates or stock powers duly executed                in                blank, to be held by Pledgee subject to the terms hereof, as additional                Pledged Collateral. Pledgor shall promptly deliver to Pledgee (i)                a Pledge                Addendum with respect to such additional certificates, and (ii) any                financing statements or amendments to financing statements as requested                by                Pledgee in writing. Pledgor hereby authorizes Pledgee to attach each                such                Pledge Addendum to this Agreement. In case any distribution of capital                shall be made on or in respect of the Pledged Shares or any property                shall                be distributed upon or with respect to the Pledged Shares pursuant                to the                recapitalization or reclassification of the capital of the issuer                thereof                or pursuant to the reorganization thereof, the property so distributed                shall be delivered to Pledgee to be held by it as additional Pledged                Collateral. Except as provided in****Section                5(b)****below, all sums of money and property so paid or distributed in respect                of                the Pledged Shares which are received by Pledgor shall, until paid                or                delivered to Pledgee, be held by Pledgor in trust as additional Pledged                Collateral.** |
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| **XXXIV.** | **Voting                Rights; Dividends; Certificates****.** |
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| A. | So                long as no Event of Default (as defined in the Notes) has occurred                and is                continuing, Pledgor shall be entitled (subject to the other provisions                hereof, including, without limitation, Section                8                below) to exercise its voting and other consensual rights with respect                to                the Pledged Shares and otherwise exercise the incidents of ownership                thereof in any manner not inconsistent with this Agreement or the                Exchange                Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. Pledgor hereby grants                to                Pledgee or its nominee, an irrevocable proxy to exercise all voting                and                corporate rights relating to the Pledged Shares in any instance,                which                proxy shall be effective, at the discretion of Pledgee, upon the                occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default.** **Upon                the request of Pledgee at any time, Pledgor agrees to deliver to                Pledgee                such further evidence of such irrevocable proxy or such further                irrevocable proxies to vote the Pledged Shares as Pledgee may                request. |
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| B. | So                long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,                Pledgor                shall be entitled to receive cash dividends or other distributions                made in                respect of the Pledged Shares, to the extent permitted to be made                pursuant                to the terms of the Notes. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance                of an Event of Default, in the event that Pledgor, as record and                beneficial owner of the Pledged Shares, shall have received or shall                have                become entitled to receive, any cash dividends or other distributions                in                the ordinary course, Pledgor shall deliver to Pledgee, and Pledgee                shall                be entitled to receive and retain, for the benefit of Pledgee and                Buyer,                all such cash or other distributions as additional security for the                Liabilities. |
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| C. | Subject                to any sale or other disposition by Pledgee of the Pledged Shares,                any                other Pledged Collateral or other property pursuant to this Agreement,                upon the indefeasible full payment in cash, satisfaction and termination                of all of the Liabilities and the termination of this Agreement pursuant                to Section                11                hereof and of the liens and security interests hereby granted, the                Pledged                Shares, the other Pledged Collateral and any other property then                held as                part of the Pledged Collateral in accordance with the provisions                of this                Agreement shall be returned to Pledgor or to such other persons or                entities as shall be legally entitled                thereto. |
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| D. | Pledgor                shall cause all Pledged Shares to be certificated at all times while                this                Agreement is in effect. |
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| **XXXV.** | **Rights                of Pledgee****.** **Pledgee                shall not be liable for failure to collect or realize upon the Liabilities                or any collateral security or guaranty therefor, or any part thereof,                or                for any delay in so doing, nor shall Pledgee be under any obligation                to                take any action whatsoever with regard thereto. Any or all of the                Pledged                Shares held by Pledgee hereunder may, if an Event of Default has                occurred                and is continuing, without notice, be registered in the name of Pledgee                or                its nominee, and Pledgee or its nominee may thereafter without notice                exercise all voting and corporate rights at any meeting with respect                to                any Pledge Entity and exercise any and all rights of conversion,                exchange,                subscription or any other rights, privileges or options pertaining                to any                of the Pledged Shares as if it were the absolute owner thereof, including,                without limitation, the right to vote in favor of, and to exchange                at its                discretion any and all of the Pledged Shares upon, the merger,                consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other readjustment                with                respect to any Pledge Entity or upon the exercise by any Pledge Entity,                Pledgor or Pledgee of any right, privilege or option pertaining to                any of                the Pledged Shares, and in connection therewith, to deposit and deliver                any and all of the Pledged Shares with any committee, depository,                transfer                agent, registrar or other designated agency upon such terms and conditions                as Pledgee may reasonably determine, all without liability except                to                account for property actually received by Pledgee, but Pledgee shall                have                no duty to exercise any of the aforesaid rights, privileges or options                and                shall not be responsible for any failure to do so or delay in so                doing.** |
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| **XXXVI.** | **Remedies****.** **Upon                the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default,                Pledgee                may exercise in respect of the Pledged Collateral, in addition to                other                rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to                it, all                the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial                Code (“**UCC**”)                in effect in the State of New York from time to time, whether or                not the                UCC applies to the affected Pledged Collateral (or the Uniform Commercial                Code as in effect in any other relevant jurisdiction). Pledgee also,                without demand of performance or other demand, advertisement or notice                of                any kind (except the notice specified below of time and place of                public or                private sale) to or upon Pledgor or any other person or entity (all                and                each of which demands, advertisements and/or notices are hereby expressly                waived), may upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an                Event of                Default forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon                the                Pledged Collateral, or any part thereof, and/or may forthwith date                and                otherwise fill in the blanks on any assignments separate from certificates                or stock power or otherwise sell, assign, give an option or options                to                purchase, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of and deliver said                Pledged Collateral, or any part thereof, in one or more portions                at one or                more public or private sales or dispositions, at any exchange or                broker’s                board or at any of Pledgee’s offices or elsewhere upon such terms and                conditions as Pledgee may deem advisable and at such prices as it                may deem                best, for any combination of cash and/or securities or other property                or                on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit                risk,                with the right to Pledgee upon any such sale, public or private,                to                purchase the whole or any part of said Pledged Collateral so sold,                free of                any right or equity of redemption in Pledgor, which right or equity                is                hereby expressly waived or released. Pledgee shall apply the net                proceeds                of any such collection, recovery, receipt, appropriation, realization,                sale or disposition, after deducting all costs and expenses of every                kind                incurred therein or incidental to the safekeeping of any and all                of the                Pledged Collateral or in any way relating to the rights of Pledgee                hereunder, including attorneys’ fees and legal expenses, to the payment,                in whole or in part, of the Liabilities, in such order as Pledgee                may                elect. Pledgor shall remain liable for any deficiency remaining unpaid                after such application. Only after so paying over such net proceeds                and                after the payment by Pledgee of any other amount required by any                provision                of law, including, without limitation, Section 9-608 of the UCC,                need                Pledgee account for the surplus, if any, to Pledgor. Pledgor agrees                that                Pledgee need not give more than ten (10) days’ notice of the time and                place of any public sale or of the time after which a private sale                or                other intended disposition is to take place and that such notice                is                reasonable notification of such matters. No notification need be                given to                Pledgor if it has signed after default a statement renouncing or                modifying                any right to notification of sale or other intended disposition.** |
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| **XXXVII.** | **No                Disposition, Etc.** **Until                the irrevocable payment in full in cash of the Liabilities, Pledgor                agrees                that it will not sell, assign, transfer, exchange, or otherwise dispose                of, or grant any option with respect to, the Pledged Shares or any                other                Pledged Collateral, nor will Pledgor create, incur or permit to exist                any                pledge, lien, mortgage, hypothecation, security interest, charge,                option                or any other encumbrance with respect to any of the Pledged Shares                or any                other Pledged Collateral, or any interest therein, or any proceeds                thereof, except for the lien and security interest of Pledgee provided                for                by this Agreement and the Security Agreement and Permitted Liens,                as                defined in the Exchange                Agreement.** |
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| **XXXVIII.** | **Sale                of Pledged Shares****.** |
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| A. | Pledgor                recognizes that Pledgee may be unable to effect a public sale or                disposition (including, without limitation, any disposition in connection                with a merger of a Pledge Entity) of any or all the Pledged Shares                by                reason of certain prohibitions contained in the Securities Act of                1933, as                amended (the “**1933                Act**”),                and applicable state securities laws, but may be compelled to resort                to                one or more private sales or dispositions thereof to a restricted                group of                purchasers who will be obliged to agree, among other things, to acquire                such securities for their own account, for investment and not with                a view                to the distribution or resale thereof. Pledgor acknowledges and agrees                that any such private sale or disposition may result in prices and                other                terms (including the terms of any securities or other property received                in                connection therewith) less favorable to the seller than if such sale                or                disposition were a public sale or disposition and, notwithstanding                such                circumstances, agrees that any such private sale or disposition shall                be                deemed to be reasonable and affected in a commercially reasonable                manner.                Pledgee shall be under no obligation to delay a sale or disposition                of any                of the Pledged Shares in order to permit Pledgor or a Pledge Entity                to                register such securities for public sale under the 1933 Act, or under                applicable state securities laws, even if Pledgor or a Pledge Entity                would                agree to do so. |
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| B. | Pledgor                further agrees to do or cause to be done all such other acts and                things as                may be reasonably necessary to make such sales or dispositions of                the                Pledged Shares valid and binding and in compliance with any and all                applicable laws, regulations, orders, writs, injunctions, decrees                or                awards of any and all courts, arbitrators or governmental                instrumentalities, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over                any such                sales or dispositions, all at Pledgor's expense; provided that Pledgor                shall not have any obligation to register the Pledged Shares as securities                under the 1933 Act or the applicable state securities laws solely                by                virtue of this Section                9(b).                Pledgor further agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained                in                Sections                4,                5(a),                5(b),                8,                9                and 24                will cause irreparable injury to Pledgee and that Pledgee has no                adequate                remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as a consequence, agrees,                without limiting the right of Pledgee to seek and obtain specific                performance of other obligations of Pledgor contained in this Agreement,                that each and every covenant referenced above shall be specifically                enforceable against Pledgor, and Pledgor hereby waives and agrees                not to                assert any defenses against an action for specific performance of                such                covenants. |
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| C. | Pledgor                further agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Buyer, Pledgee and                their                respective successors and assigns, their respective officers, directors,                employees, attorneys and agents, and any person or entity in control                of                any thereof, from and against any loss, liability, claim, damage                and                expense, including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses (in                this                paragraph collectively called the “**Indemnified                Liabilities**”),                under federal and state securities laws or otherwise insofar as such                Indemnified Liability (i) arises out of or is based upon any untrue                statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained                in any                registration statement, prospectus or offering memorandum or in any                preliminary prospectus or preliminary offering memorandum or in any                amendment or supplement to any thereof or in any other writing prepared                by                Pledgor in connection with the offer, sale or resale of all or any                portion                of the Pledged Collateral unless such untrue statement of material                fact                was provided by Pledgee, in writing, specifically for inclusion therein,                or (ii) arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission                to                state therein a material fact required to be stated or necessary                to make                the statements therein not misleading, such indemnification to remain                operative regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of                Pledgee                or any successor thereof, or any person or entity in control of any                thereof. In connection with a public sale or other distribution,                Pledgor                will provide customary indemnification to any underwriters, their                successors and assigns, officers and directors and each person or                entity                who controls any such underwriter (within the meaning of the 1933                Act). If                and to the extent that the foregoing undertakings in this paragraph                may be                unenforceable for any reason, Pledgor agrees to make the maximum                contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified                Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law. The obligations                of                Pledgor under this paragraph                (c)                shall survive any termination of this                Agreement. |
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| D. | Pledgor                further agrees to waive any and all rights of subrogation it may                have                against a Pledge Entity upon the sale or disposition of all or any                portion                of the Pledged Collateral by Pledgee pursuant to the terms of this                Agreement until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with                Section                11                below. |
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| **XXXIX.** | **No                Waiver; Cumulative Remedies****.                Pledgee shall not by any act, delay, omission or otherwise be deemed                to                have waived any of its remedies hereunder, and no waiver by Pledgee                shall                be valid unless in writing and signed by Pledgee, and then only to                the                extent therein set forth. A waiver by Pledgee of any right or remedy                hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to                any right                or remedy which Pledgee would otherwise have on any further occasion.                No                course of dealing between Pledgor and Pledgee and no failure to exercise,                nor any delay in exercising on the part of Pledgee or Buyer of, any                right,                power or privilege hereunder or under the other Transaction Documents                shall impair such right or remedy or operate as a waiver thereof;                nor                shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege                hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise                of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein                provided are cumulative and may be exercised singly or concurrently,                and                are not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law or in                the                Exchange Agreement.** |
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| **XL.** | **Termination****.** **This                Agreement and the liens and security interests granted hereunder                shall                terminate and Pledgee shall return any Pledged Shares or other Pledged                Collateral then held by Pledgee in accordance with the provisions                of this                Agreement to Pledgor upon the termination of the Notes and the full                and                complete performance and indefeasible satisfaction of all of the                Liabilities (i) in respect of the Notes (including, without limitation,                the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all such Liabilities)                and (ii)                with respect to which claims have been asserted by Pledgee and/or                Buyer.** |
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| **XLI.** | **Possession                of Collateral****.** **Beyond                the exercise of reasonable care to assure the safe custody of the                Pledged                Shares in the physical possession of Pledgee pursuant hereto, neither                Pledgee, nor any nominee of Pledgee, shall have any duty or liability                to                collect any sums due in respect thereof or to protect, preserve or                exercise any rights pertaining thereto (including any duty to ascertain                or                take action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities,                tenders or other matters relating to the Pledged Collateral and any                duty                to take any necessary steps to preserve rights against any parties                with                respect to the Pledged Collateral), and shall be relieved of all                responsibility for the Pledged Collateral upon surrendering them                to                Pledgor. Pledgor assumes the responsibility for being and keeping                itself                informed of the financial condition of a Pledge Entity and of all                other                circumstances bearing upon the risk of non-payment of the Liabilities,                and                Pledgee shall have no duty to advise Pledgor of information known                to                Pledgee regarding such condition or any such circumstance. Pledgee                shall                have no duty to inquire into the powers of a Pledge Entity or its                officers, directors, managers, members, partners or agents thereof                acting                or purporting to act on its behalf.** |
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| **XLII.** | **Taxes                and Expenses****.                Pledgor will upon demand pay to Pledgee, (a) any taxes (excluding                income                taxes, franchise taxes or other taxes levied on gross earnings, profits                or                the like of Pledgee) payable or ruled payable by any Governmental                Authority (as defined in the Security Agreement) in respect of this                Agreement, together with interest and penalties, if any, and (b)                all                expenses, including the fees and expenses of counsel for Pledgee                and of                any experts and agents that Pledgee may incur in connection with                (i) the                administration, modification or amendment of this Agreement, (ii)                the                custody or preservation of, or the sale of, collection from, or other                realization upon, any of the Pledged Collateral, (iii) the exercise                or                enforcement of any of the rights of Pledgee hereunder, or (iv) the                failure                of Pledgor to perform or observe any of the provisions                hereof.** |
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| **XLIII.** | **Pledgee                Appointed Attorney-In-Fact****.                Pledgor hereby irrevocably appoints Pledgee as Pledgor’s attorney-in-fact,                with full authority in the place and stead of Pledgor and in the                name of                Pledgor or otherwise, from time to time in Pledgee’s discretion, to take                any action and to execute any instrument that Pledgee deems reasonably                necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement,                including, without limitation, to receive, endorse and collect all                instruments made payable to Pledgor representing any dividend, interest                payment or other distribution in respect of the Pledged Collateral                or any                part thereof and to give full discharge for the same, when and to                the                extent permitted by this Agreement; provided that the power of attorney                granted hereunder shall only be exercised by Pledgee after the occurrence                and during the continuance of an Event of                Default.** |
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| **XLIV.** | **Governing                Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial****.                All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement                and                interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal                laws of                the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law                or                conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York                or any                other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws                of any                jurisdiction other than the State of New York. Each party hereby                irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the state                and                federal courts sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan,                for                the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith                or                with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and                hereby                irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action                or                proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the                jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding                is                brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit,                action or                proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal                service of process and consents to process being served in any such                suit,                action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the                address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that                such                service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and                notice                thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any                way any                right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Notwithstanding                the                foregoing, the Pledgee may enforce its rights and remedies in any                other                jurisdiction applicable to the Pledged Collateral. EACH PARTY HEREBY                IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST,                A                JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION                HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED                HEREBY.** |
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| **XLV.** | **Counterparts****.                This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts,                all                of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall                become                effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered                to the other party; provided that a facsimile, .pdf or similar                electronically transmitted signature shall be considered due execution                and                shall be binding upon the signatory thereto with the same force and                effect                as if the signature were an original                signature.** |
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| **XLVI.** | **Headings****.                The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference and                shall                not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this                Agreement.** |
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| **XLVII.** | **Severability****.                If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable                in                any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect                the                validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in                that                jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of                this                Agreement in any other                jurisdiction.** |
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| **XLVIII.** | **Entire                Agreement; Amendments****.                This Agreement supersedes all other prior oral or written agreements                between each Pledgor, Pledgee, Buyer and their affiliates and persons                acting on their behalf with respect to the matters discussed herein,                and                this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and instruments referenced                herein and therein contain the entire understanding of the parties                with                respect to the matters covered herein and                therein.** |
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| **XLIX.** | **Notices****.                All notices, approvals, requests, demands and other communications                hereunder shall be delivered or made in the manner set forth in,                and shall                be effective in accordance with the terms of, the Exchange Agreement,                in                the case of communications to the Collateral Agent, directed to the                notice                address set forth in the Security                Agreement.** |
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| **L.** | **Successors                and Assigns****.                This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of                the                parties and their respective successors and assigns, including any                purchasers of the Notes. Pledgor shall not assign this Agreement                or any                rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent                of                Pledgee. Pledgee may assign its rights hereunder without the consent                of                Pledgor, in which event such assignee shall be deemed to be Pledgee                hereunder with respect to such assigned                rights.** |
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| **LI.** | **No                Third Party Beneficiaries****.                This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto                and their                respective successors and permitted assigns, and is not for the benefit                of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other person                or                entity.** |
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| **LII.** | **Surviva****l.                All representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of Pledgor                and                Pledgee shall survive the execution and delivery of this                Agreement.** |
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| **LIII.** | **Further                Assurances****.                Pledgor agrees that at any time and from time to time upon the written                request of Pledgee, Pledgor will execute and deliver all assignments                separate from certificates or stock powers, financing statements                and such                further documents and do such further acts and things as Pledgee                may                reasonably request consistent with the provisions hereof in order                to carry                out the intent and accomplish the purpose of this Agreement and the                consummation of the transactions contemplated                hereby.** |
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| **LIV.** | **No                Strict Construction****.                The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language                chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules                of                strict construction will be applied against any                party.** |
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| **LV.** | **Pledgee                Authorized****.                Pledgor hereby authorizes Pledgee to file one or more financing or                continuation statements and amendments thereto (or similar documents                required by any laws of any applicable jurisdiction) relating to                all or                any part of the Pledged Shares or other Pledged Collateral without                the                signature of Pledgor.** |
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| **LVI.** | **Pledgee                Acknowledgement****.****Pledgor                acknowledges receipt of an executed copy of this Agreement. The Pledgor                waives the right to receive any amount that it may now or hereafter                be                entitled to receive (whether by way of damages, fine, penalty, or                otherwise) by reason of the failure of the Pledgee to deliver to                the                Pledgor a copy of any financing statement or any statement issued                by any                registry that confirms registration of a financing statement relating                to                this Agreement.** |
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| **LVII.** | **Collateral                Agent****.****The                terms and provisions of****Section                5.12****of the Security Agreement which set forth the appointment of the                Collateral Agent and the indemnifications to which the Collateral                Agent is                entitled are hereby incorporated by reference herein as if fully                set forth                herein.** |
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**[Signature      Page Follows]**

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|   | PLEDGOR:                                                                                                                |
|--------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   |                                                                                                                    |   |
|   | **SONTERRA                OIL & GAS, INC.** (f/k/a Sonterra Resources, Inc.), a Delaware                corporation |
|   |                                                                                                                    |
|   |                                                                                                                    |   |
|   | By:                                                                                                                     | /s/                Michael J. Pawelek |
|   | Name:                                                                                                                   | Michael                J. Pawelek |
|   | Title:                                                                                                                  | President |
|   |                                                                                                                    |   |

|   | PLEDGEE:                                                                                                                                             |                                   |
|--------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
|   |                                                                                                                                                 |                                   |
|   | **VIKING                ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC,** a California limited liability company, in                its capacity as collateral agent for Buyer |
|   |                                                                                                                                                 |
|   |                                                                                                                                                 |                                   |
|   | By:                                                                                                                                                  | /s/                S. Michael Rudolph  |
|   | Name:                                                                                                                                                | S.                Michael Rudolph      |
|   | Title:                                                                                                                                               | Chief                Financial Officer |
|   |                                                                                                                                                 |                                   |

**[Signature      Page to Pledge Agreement]**

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