Registration Rights Agreement



  
 Exhibit 4.2 

 

  
 WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION 
  
 (a Delaware corporation) 
  
 Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2012 
  
 REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

  
 Dated: May 11, 2004 
  

  

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 WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION 
 (a Delaware corporation) 
  
 $150,000,000 
 Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 
  
 REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT 
  
 May 11, 2004 
  
 MERRILL LYNCH & CO. 
 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith 
 Incorporated 
  
 Lehman Brothers Inc. 
 A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. 
 Petrie Parkman & Co., Inc. 
 Raymond James & Associates, Inc. 
 Banc One Capital Markets, Inc. 
 KeyBanc Capital Markets, a Division of
McDonald Investments, Inc.  
 as Representative(s) of the several Initial Purchasers 
  

	c/o	Merrill Lynch & Co. 

 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Smith 
 Incorporated 
  
 4 World Financial Center 
 New York, New York 10080 
  
 Dear Sirs: 
  
 Whiting Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), proposes to issue and sell to you
(the “Initial Purchasers”), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated May 5, 2004 (the “Purchase Agreement”), $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 71⁄4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012
(the “Initial Securities”). The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, to be dated as of the date hereof (the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (“Whiting Oil and Gas”), Whiting Programs, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Whiting Programs” and, collectively with Whiting Oil and Gas, the “Guarantors”), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee (the
“Trustee”). The Issuer and the Guarantors are collectively referred to herein as the “Company”. To satisfy a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers under the Purchase Agreement, the Company agrees
with the Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and the subsequent holders of the Securities (as defined below) (collectively the “Holders”), as follows: 
  
 1. Registered Exchange Offer. Unless not permitted by applicable law
(after the Company has complied with the ultimate paragraph of this Section 1), the Company shall prepare and, not later than 90 days (such 90th day being a “Filing Deadline”) after the date on which the Initial Purchasers purchase
the Initial Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (the “Closing Date”), file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement (the “Exchange Offer Registration
Statement”) on an appropriate form 

  

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under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to a proposed offer (the “Registered Exchange
Offer”) to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof), who are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and deliver to such
Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the Issuer issued under the Indenture, identical in all material respects to the Initial Securities and registered under the Securities Act (the
“Exchange Securities”). The Company shall (i) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act within 180 days after the Closing Date (such 180th day
being an “Effectiveness Deadline”) and (ii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective for not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is
mailed to the Holders (such period being called the “Exchange Offer Registration Period”). 
  
 If the Company commences the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company (i) will be entitled to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer 30 days after such
commencement (provided that the Company has accepted all the Initial Securities theretofore validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Registered Exchange Offer) and (ii) will be required to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer on or
prior to the 40th day after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective (the “Consummation Deadline”). 
  
 As soon as practicable after the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall commence the Registered
Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities electing to exchange the Initial Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an affiliate of
the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business and has no arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Securities and is
not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and without
material restrictions under the securities laws of the several states of the United States. 
  
 The Company acknowledges that, pursuant to current interpretations by the Commission’s staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder that is a
broker-dealer electing to exchange Initial Securities, acquired for its own account as a result of market making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange Securities (an “Exchanging Dealer”), is required to deliver a
prospectus containing substantially the information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto, (b) Annex B hereto, and (c) Annex C hereto in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer and (ii) an Initial Purchaser that elects to sell Securities (as defined below) acquired in exchange for Initial Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, is required to deliver a prospectus containing the
information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in connection with such sale. 
  

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 The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
effective and to amend and supplement the prospectus contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act for such period of time as such
persons must comply with such requirements in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided, however, that (i) in the case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial
Purchaser, such period shall be the lesser of 180 days or the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and the Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless such period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the
Company shall make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange Securities for a period of not less than 180-days after the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer. 
  
 If, upon consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall
issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in exchange (the “Private Exchange”) for the Initial Securities held by such Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt
securities of the Issuer issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects to the Initial Securities (the “Private Exchange Securities”). The Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange
Securities are herein collectively called the “Securities”. 
  
 In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall: 
  
 (a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate
letter of transmittal; 
  
 (b) keep the
Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders; 
  
 (c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange Offer, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;

  
 (d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered
Securities at any time prior to the close of business, New York City time, on the last business day on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and 
  
 (e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws. 
  
 As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the
Company shall: 
  
 (x) accept for exchange all
the Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange; and 
  

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 (y) cause the Trustee to deliver promptly to each Holder of the Initial Securities,
Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Initial Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange. 
  
 The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the
Indenture and that all the Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class separate from one another on any matter. 
  
 Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the
Initial Securities, from the date of original issue of the Initial Securities. 
  
 Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be required to represent to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by
such Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Initial Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning
of the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of
the Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a broker-dealer, that it will
receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus
in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. 
  
 Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all material
respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to such prospectus, does not include an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. 
  
 If following the date hereof there has been announced a change in Commission
policy with respect to exchange offers that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company raises a substantial question as to whether the Registered Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company will seek a no-action
letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer. The 

  

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Company will pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level. In connection with the foregoing, the Company will take all such other
actions as may be reasonably requested by the Commission or otherwise required in connection with the issuance of such decision, including without limitation (i) participating in telephonic conferences with the Commission and (ii) delivering to the
Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that the Registered Exchange Offer should be permitted. 
  
 2. Shelf Registration. If, (i) because of any change in law or in
applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Company is not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated by the 220th day after
the Closing Date (provided that if the Registered Exchange Offer shall be consummated after such 220-day period, then the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligation under this clause (ii) arising from the failure of the Registered Exchange
Offer to be consummated within such 220-day period shall cease), (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests within 90 days following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the Initial Securities (or the Private Exchange
Securities) not eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer or (iv) any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer) is not eligible to
participate in the Registered Exchange Offer or, in the case of any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer) that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer, such Holder does not receive freely tradeable Exchange Securities on the date of the
exchange and any such Holder so requests within 90 days following the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall take the following actions (the date on which any of the conditions described in the foregoing clauses (i) through
(iv) occurs, including in the case of clause (iii) or (iv) the receipt of the required notice, being a “Trigger Date”): 
  
 (a) The Company shall promptly (but in no event more than 75 days after the Trigger Date (such 75th day being a “Shelf Filing
Deadline”)) file with the Commission and thereafter use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared effective (x) in the case of clause (i) above, no later than 180 days after the Closing Date and (y) otherwise no later than 75 days
after the Shelf Filing Deadline (such 180th day or 75th day being an “Effectiveness Deadline”) a registration statement (the “Shelf Registration Statement” and, together with the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, a “Registration Statement”) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of
distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter, the “Shelf Registration”); provided, however, that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have
the Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder. 
  
 (b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously
effective in order to permit the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of the relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for such longer period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the 

  

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Closing Date or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold pursuant
thereto or (ii) are no longer subject to restrictions on resale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any successor rule thereto. 
  
 (c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and
the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and
the rules and regulations of the Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. 
  
 3.
Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf Registration contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall apply:

  
 (a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each
Initial Purchaser, prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an Initial Purchaser (with
respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the original offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to reflect in each such document, when
so filed with the Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the “Exchange Offer Procedures” section and the
“Purpose of the Exchange Offer” section and in Annex C hereto in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and include the information set forth in Annex D
hereto in the letter of transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser, include the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in
the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; (iv) include within the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan of Distribution,” which shall contain a summary
statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the Commission with respect to the potential “underwriter” status of any broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”), whether such positions or policies have been
publicly disseminated by the staff of the Commission or such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Company based upon advice of counsel (which may be in-house counsel), represent the prevailing views of the staff of the
Commission; and (v) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include the names of the Holders who propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling securityholders. 
  

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 (b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the
Securities and any Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the Company has received prior written notice that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be
accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been made): 
  
 (i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto has become effective; 
  
 (ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for additional information; 
  
 (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; 
  
 (iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose; and 
  
 (v) of the
happening of any event that requires the Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the prospectus does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading. 
  
 provided, however, that, in the case of a Registered Exchange Offer,
the Company shall not be required to give notice of (i) and (ii) above to the Holders of the Securities. 
  
 (c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement. 
  
 (d) If and to the extent requested in writing by any such Holder, the Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference). 
  
 (e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and
each Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, 

  

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including financial statements and schedules, and, if any Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all exhibits thereto (including those incorporated
by reference). 
  
 (f) The Company shall, during
the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration
Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders of the Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement. 
  
 (g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any
Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial
Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus,
or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement. 
  
 (h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement the Company shall register or qualify or
cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such states of
the United States as any Holder of the Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration
Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or to
taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or (iii) cause the Securities to be listed on any non-U.S. securities exchange. 
  
 (i) If the Securities have been issued in certificated form, then the Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the Securities to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends. 
  
 (j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above
during the period for which the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related 

  

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prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders of the Securities or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company
notifies the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes to the
prospectus have been made, then the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any such Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such prospectus, and the period of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement provided for in
Section 2(b) above and the Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 1 above shall each be extended by the number of days from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Initial
Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received such amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j). 
  
 (k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement, the Company will obtain a
CUSIP number for the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with certificates for the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company. 
  
 (l) The Issuer will comply with all rules and regulations of the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the
Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make generally available to its security holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section
11(a) of the Securities Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the Issuer’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the
Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period. 
  
 (m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such qualification. In the
event that such qualification would require the appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture. 
  
 (n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be
sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the Shelf Registration
Statement, including requiring the Holder to properly complete and execute such selling Security Holder notice and questionnaires, and any amendments or supplements thereto, as the Company may reasonably deem necessary or appropriate, and the
Company may exclude from such 

  

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registration the Securities of any Holder that fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request. 
  
 (o) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements
(including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to any Shelf
Registration. 
  
 (p) In the case of any Shelf
Registration, the Company shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection during normal business hours by the Holders of the Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and any
attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the Company’s officers,
directors, employees, outside reservoir engineers, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing inspection and
information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by Merrill Lynch & Co. and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in Section 4 hereof.

  
 (q) In the case of any Shelf Registration,
the Company, if requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause (i) its counsel to deliver an opinion or opinions in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the underwriters and updates
thereof relating to the Securities in customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement, covering the
matters customarily covered in opinions requested in similar underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such underwriters (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion may be subject to
customary qualifications and exceptions); (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all customary documents and certificates and updates thereof requested by any underwriters of the applicable Securities and (iii) its independent public accountants
and the independent public accountants with respect to any other entity for which financial information is provided in the Shelf Registration Statement to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any underwriter therefor a
comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by
Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72. 
  
 (r)
In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested by any Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the Company shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a signed
opinion in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Initial Purchaser or such 

  

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Participating Broker-Dealer, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in connection with Exchange Offer Registration Statements and
such other matters as may be reasonably requested (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion may be subject to customary qualifications and exceptions) and (ii) its independent public accountants and the independent public
accountants with respect to any other entity for which financial information is provided in the Registration Statement to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a comfort letter, in customary form, meeting the
requirements as to the substance thereof as set forth in Section 5(d) of the Purchase Agreement, with appropriate date changes. 
  
 (s) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to the
Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall mark, or caused to be marked, on the Initial Securities so exchanged that
such Initial Securities are being canceled in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in no event shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied. 
  
 (t) If so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of Securities covered by such Registration Statement, or by the managing underwriters, if any, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to (a) if the Initial Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such
Initial Securities, confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities covered by a Registration Statement, or (b) if the Initial Securities were not previously rated, cause the Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with the
appropriate rating agencies. 
  
 (u) In the event
that any broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or “assist in the distribution” (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the
“Rules”) of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”)) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof,
or otherwise, the Company will assist such broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules, including, without limitation, by (i) if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require, engaging a “qualified independent
underwriter” (as defined in Rule 2720) to participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement relating to such Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated
by such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of
underwriters provided in Section 5 hereof and (iii) providing such information to such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of the Rules. 
  

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 (v) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to take all other steps necessary
to effect the registration of the Securities covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby. 
  
 4. Registration Expenses. 
  
 (a) All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of and compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless
of whether a Registration Statement is ever filed or becomes effective, including without limitation; 
  
 (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses; 
  
 (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state “blue sky” or
securities laws; 
  
 (iii) all expenses of
printing (including printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; 
  
 (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; and 
  
 (v) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants or outside reservoir engineers of
the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance). 
  
 The Company will bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting
duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any person, including special experts, retained by the Company. 
  
 (b) In connection with any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and
the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who are selling or reselling Securities pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution” contained in the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not
more than one counsel, who shall be Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. unless another firm shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Shelf Registration Statement is being
prepared. 
  
 5. Indemnification. 
  
 (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Holder of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any Participating
Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons are referred to collectively as the “Indemnified Parties”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof (including, but
not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each Indemnified Party may become 

  

 13 








 
subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based
upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out
of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that (i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to
the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement
thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion
therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a) shall
not inure to the benefit of any Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus relating to such Securities was
required to be delivered by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer under the Securities Act in connection with such purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer results from the fact that
there was not sent or given to such person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person, a copy of the final prospectus if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer; provided further, however, that this indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such Indemnified Party. The Company shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors
and each person who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders.

  
 (b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally
and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions
in respect thereof, to which the Company or any such controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of or are
based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission
was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and 

  

 14 








 
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding
this clause, shall reimburse, as incurred, the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in
respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may otherwise have to the Company or any of its controlling persons. 
  
 (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 of notice of the commencement of any
action or proceeding (including a governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof;
but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any
such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after
notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other than
reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending
or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified
party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action, and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party. 
  
 (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in
connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Holder or such
other indemnified party, as the case may be, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent 

  

 15 








 
such statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first
sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d).
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the Securities
pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who
controls such indemnified party within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such indemnified party and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. 
  
 (e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall
remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party. 
  
 6. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances. 
  
 (a) By way of liquidated damages, additional interest (the “Additional Interest”) with
respect to the Securities shall be assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in clauses (i) through (iv) below being herein called a “Registration Default”): 
  
 (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is
not filed with the Commission on or prior to the Filing Deadline or Shelf Filing Deadline, as applicable; 
  
 (ii) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the applicable
Effectiveness Deadline; 
  
 (iii) the Registered
Exchange Offer has not been consummated on or prior to the Consummation Deadline; or 
  
 (iv) any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Agreement has been declared effective by the Commission but (A) such Shelf
Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective or (B) such Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable in connection with resales of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified herein because
either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the related prospectus forming part 

  

 16 








 
of such Shelf Registration Statement would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or (2) it shall be necessary to amend such Shelf Registration Statement or supplement the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder. 
  
 Each of the foregoing will
constitute a Registration Default whatever the reason for any such event and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is beyond the control of the Company or pursuant to operation of law or as a result of any action or inaction by the Commission.

  
 Additional Interest shall accrue on the Securities over and
above the interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.25% per
annum (the “Additional Interest Rate”) for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The Additional Interest Rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each
subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum Additional Interest Rate of 1.5% per annum. 
  
 (b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iv) hereof shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf
Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited financial
information with respect to the Company where such post-effective amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect to the Company that would
need to be described in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related
prospectus to describe such events; provided, however, that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 30 days, Additional Interest shall be payable in accordance with the above paragraph from the day such
Registration Default occurs until such Registration Default is cured. 
  
 (c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to Section 6(a) will be payable in cash on the regular interest payment dates with respect to the Securities. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying the
applicable Additional Interest Rate by the principal amount of the Securities and further multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest Rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis
of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360. 
  
 (d) “Transfer Restricted Securities” means each Security until (i) the date on which such Security has been exchanged by a person other than a broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security
in the Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer of an Initial Security for an Exchange Security, the date on which such Exchange Security is sold to a purchaser who receives from such
broker-dealer on 

  

 17 








 
or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Security has
been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date on which such Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is
saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act. 
  
 7.
Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required to file such
reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Securities, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales of their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants that it will take such further
action as any Holder of Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules
144 and 144A (including the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company will provide a copy of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any
Holder of Initial Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company to
register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act. 
  
 8. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will
administer the offering (“Managing Underwriters”) will be selected, with the reasonable approval of the Company, by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities to be included in
such offering. 
  
 No person may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements
and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements. 
  
 9. Miscellaneous. 
  
 (a) Remedies. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that
the payment of Additional Interest as provided in Section 6 hereof shall be the exclusive remedy for any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Sections 1 and 2 hereof. 
  
 (b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not on or after the
date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders
hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof. 
  

 18 








 (c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities affected by such amendment,
modification, supplement, waiver or consent. Without the consent of the Holder of each Security, however, no modification may change the provisions relating to the payment of Additional Interest. 
  
 (d) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail, facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery: 
  
 (1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company; 
  
 (2) if to the Initial Purchasers, to them in care of:

  
 Merrill Lynch & Co. 
 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated 
 1 Houston Center, 1221 McKinney Street, Suite 2700 
 Houston, Texas 77010 
 Fax No.: (713) 759-2539 
 Attention: Chris
Mize 
  
 with a copy to: 
  
 Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 
 1001 Fannin Street 
 2300 First City Tower

 Houston, Texas 77002-6760 
 Fax
No.: (713) 615-5306 
 Attention: C. Michael Harrington; or 
  

 19 








 (3) if to the Company at its address as follows: 
  
 Whiting Petroleum Corporation 
 Mile High Center 
 1700 Broadway, Suite 2300

 Denver, CO 80290-2300 
 Fax
No.: (303) 861-4023 
 Attention: James J. Volker, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer 
  
 with a copy to: 
  
 Foley & Lardner LLP 
 777 East Wisconsin Avenue 
 Milwaukee, WI
53202 
 Fax No.: (414) 297-4900 
 Attention: Benjamin F. Garmer, III 
  
 All such notices
and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged by recipient’s
facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery. 
  
 (e) Third Party Beneficiaries. The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one
hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.

  
 (f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be binding upon each of the parties hereto. 
  
 (g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of
which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. 
  
 (h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. 
  

(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. 
  
 (j) Severability. If
any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the
remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby. 
  

 20 








 (k) Securities Held by the Company. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified
percentage of principal amount of Securities is required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be affiliates solely by reason of their
holdings of such Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage. 
  
 (l) Submission to Jurisdiction. By the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the
competent Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. 
  

 21 








 If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the
Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the several Initial Purchasers and the Company in accordance with its terms. 
  

			
	 Very truly yours,

	
	 WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION

		
	By:	 	 /s/ James J. Volker

	 	 	

	 	 	 Name: James J. Volker

	 	 	 Title: President and CEO



  

			
	 WHITING OIL AND GAS CORPORATION

		
	By:	 	 /s/ James J. Volker

	 	 	

	 	 	 Name: James J. Volker

	 	 	 Title: President and CEO



  

			
	 WHITING PROGRAMS, INC.

		
	By:	 	 /s/ James J. Volker

	 	 	

	 	 	 Name: James J. Volker

	 	 	 Title: President and CEO



  

 Registration Rights Agreement Signature Page 








 The foregoing Registration 
 Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed 
 and accepted as of the date first 
 above written. 
  
 MERRILL
LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED 
 LEHMAN
BROTHERS INC. 
 A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC. 
 PETRIE PARKMAN & CO., INC. 
 RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC. 
 BANC
ONE CAPITAL MARKETS, INC. 
 KEYBANC CAPITAL MARKETS,
A DIVISION OF MCDONALD INVESTMENTS, INC. 
  

	By:	MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED 


			
	 
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Travis V. Armayor

	 	 	

	 	 	 Name: Travis V. Armayor

	 	 	 Title: Vice President


  

 Registration Rights Agreement Signature Page 








 ANNEX A 
  
 Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the
Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were
acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it will make this Prospectus available to any
broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of Distribution.” 
  









 ANNEX B 
  
 Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities, where such Initial Securities were acquired
by such broker-dealer as a result of market- making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See “Plan of Distribution.”

  









 ANNEX C 
  
 PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 
  
 Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus
in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial
Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make this prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until                      , 200  ,
all dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to deliver a prospectus.1 

 
 The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions,
through the writing of options on the Exchange Securities or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be
made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells
Exchange Securities that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the
meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal
states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. 
  
 For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Company will promptly
send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer
(including the expenses of one counsel for the Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act. 


	1	In addition, if applicable the legend required by Item 502(b) of Regulation S–K will appear on the outside back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.


  









 ANNEX D 
  
 If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Securities.
If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it acknowledges that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the
Securities Act.