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Execution Copy




SECOND AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT




     THIS SECOND AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is dated as of December
19, 2008, by and among THE MERIDIAN RESOURCE CORPORATION, a Texas corporation (the
“Borrower”), the several banks, financial institutions and other entities from time to time
parties to the Credit Agreement (as defined below) (collectively, the “Lenders”), and
FORTIS CAPITAL CORP. (“Fortis”), as administrative agent for the Lenders.



R E C I T A L S




     WHEREAS, the Borrower, Fortis as Administrative Agent, and the Lenders have entered into an
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 23, 2004 (as amended, the “Credit
Agreement”);



     WHEREAS, the Borrower, Fortis as Administrative Agent, and the Lenders have agreed to make
certain amendments to the Credit Agreement;



     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises herein contained and other good and valuable
consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be
legally bound, agree as follows:



     1. Defined Terms. All capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this
Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement. Unless otherwise
specified, all section references herein refer to sections of the Credit Agreement.



     2. Amendments to Credit Agreement.




     2.1 Definitions (Section 1).




     (a) ABR. The definition of “ABR” is amended to read as follows:




     “‘ABR’ – for any day, a rate per annum (rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the greater
of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds
Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%, and (c) the
Eurodollar Rate for an Interest Period of one month commencing on
such day. For purposes hereof: ‘Prime Rate’ shall mean the
rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by
Fortis Bank S.A./N.V. as its prime rate in effect at its principal
office in New York City (the Prime Rate not being intended to be the
lowest rate of interest charged by Fortis Bank S.A./N.V. in
connection with extensions of credit to debtors); and “Federal
Funds Effective Rate” shall mean, for any day, the weighted
average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with
members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds
brokers, as published on
the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of
new York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is



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a Business Day, the average of the quotations for the day of such
transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal
funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it. Any change in
the ABR due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds
Effective Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on
the effective day of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal
Funds Effective Rate, respectively.”




     (b) Applicable Margin. The definition of “Applicable Margin” is
amended to read as follows:




     “‘Applicable Margin’ – for any day with respect to
Eurodollar Loans and ABR Loans, the applicable per annum rate set
forth below opposite the Borrowing Base Usage in effect on any such
day:



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Eurodollar	 	ABR
	                   Borrowing Base Usage	 	Margin	 	Margin
	Less than or equal to 50%
	 	 	2.00	%	 	 	1.25	%
	Greater than 50% and less than or equal to 75%
	 	 	2.25	%	 	 	1.50	%
	Greater than 75% and less than or equal to 90%
	 	 	2.50	%	 	 	1.75	%
	Greater than 90%
	 	 	3.25	%	 	 	2.50	%







As used herein, “Borrowing Base Usage” on any day means the
percentage equivalent to the ratio of (i) the sum of the aggregate
principal amount of the Loans then outstanding and Letter of Credit
Outstandings on such day to (ii) the Borrowing Base in effect on
such day.”



     3. Borrowing Base. The Borrowing Base as of the effectiveness of this Amendment is
$95,000,000.00.



     4. Effectiveness of Amendment. This Amendment shall become effective upon receipt by
the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, of:




     (a) An executed copy of this Amendment;




     (b) A copy of a Confirmation of Guarantee, in form and substance satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent, duly executed by each Guarantor; and




     (c) Payment of all fees due and owing to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders.



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     5. Ratifications, Borrower Representations and Warranties.




     5.1 The terms and provisions set forth in this Amendment shall modify and supersede all
inconsistent terms and provisions set forth in the Credit Agreement and, except as expressly
modified and superseded by this Amendment, the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement
are ratified and confirmed and shall continue in full force and effect. The Borrower and
the Lenders agree that the Credit Agreement and the Loan Documents, as amended hereby, shall
continue to be legal, valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their respective
terms.




     5.2 To induce the Lenders to enter into this Amendment, the Borrower ratifies and
confirms that each representation and warranty set forth in the Credit Agreement is true and
correct in all material respects as if such representations and warranties were made on the
even date herewith (unless any such representations and warranties are stated to refer to a
specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of such earlier date), and further represents and
warrants (a) that there has occurred since the date of the last financial statements
delivered to the Lender no event or circumstance that has resulted or could reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (b) that no Event of Default exists on the
date hereof, and (c) that the Borrower is fully authorized to enter into this Amendment.



     6. Benefits. This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
Lender and the Borrower and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that
Borrower may not, without the prior written consent of the Lenders, assign any rights, powers,
duties or obligations under this Amendment, the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents.



     7. Construction. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Texas.



     8. Invalid Provisions. If any provision of this Amendment is held to be illegal,
invalid or unenforceable under present or future laws, such provision shall be fully severable and
the remaining provisions of this Amendment shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be
affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance.



     9. Entire Agreement. The Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, contains the
entire agreement among the parties regarding the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
written and oral agreements and understandings among the parties hereto regarding same.



     10. Reference to Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement and any and all other
agreements, documents or instruments now or hereafter executed and delivered pursuant to the terms
hereof or pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, are hereby amended so
that any reference in the Credit Agreement to the Credit Agreement shall mean a reference to the
Credit Agreement as amended hereby.



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     11. Counterparts. This Amendment may be separately executed in any number of
counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission), each of which shall be an
original, but all of which, taken together, shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
agreement.



[The Remainder of this Page Intentionally Left Blank]




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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of
the day and year first written above.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	THE MERIDIAN RESOURCE CORPORATION	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ Lloyd V. DeLano	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	Lloyd V. DeLano
	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
	 	 






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	 	 	FORTIS CAPITAL CORP., as Administrative	 	 
	 	 	Agent, Co-Lead Arranger, Bookrunner, Issuing	 	 
	 	 	Lender and a Lender	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ David Montgomery	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	 David Montgomery
	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Director
	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ Darrell Holley	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	Darrell Holley
	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Managing Director
	 	 






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	 	 	THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as Co-Lead Arranger, Syndication Agent and a Lender	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ David G. Mills	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	David G. Mills
	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Managing Director
	 	 






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	 	 	COMERICA BANK, as a Lender	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ Greg Smith	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	Greg Smith
	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Senior Vice President
	 	 






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	 	 	U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ Justin M. Alexander	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	Justin M. Alexander
	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Vice President
	 	 






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	 	 	ALLIED IRISH BANKS plc, as a Lender	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ Aiden L. Lanigan	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	Aiden L. Lanigan
	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Vice President
	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ Robert F. Moyle	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	Robert F. Moyle
	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Senior Vice President
	 	 






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