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Exhibit 10.9
 THE HOUSTON EXPLORATION COMPANY
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2004 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
NONQUALIFIED OPTION AGREEMENT
 Name
 IT IS AGREED
 Grant «Grant_Date» «Option_Granted» «Grant_Price»
 TERMS AND CONDITIONS
 Exercise Rights
 (a)
    
    General Rule. Employee automatically shall have the right
under this Agreement to exercise this Option in accordance with the following
schedule, if Employee continuously remains an employee of the Company or any
Affiliate from the Grant Date through the date specified in the schedule:The Option is exercisable according to the following schedule:
 (1)
    
    On the day after the first anniversary of the Grant
Date, the Option may be exercised with respect to up to 1/3 of the shares
subject to the Option;(2)
    
    after each succeeding anniversary of the Grant
Date, the Option may be exercised with respect to up to an additional 1/3
of the shares subject to the Option, so that after the expiration of the
third anniversary of the Grant Date the Option shall be vested and
exercisable in full; and(3)
    
    to the extent not exercised, installments shall be
cumulative and may be exercised in whole or in part.
 (b)
    
    Special Rules.




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(1)
    
    Employment Termination. If Employees
employment with the Company terminates for any reason, the portion, if
any, of this Option that is exercisable as of the date of such
termination (after taking into account § 2(b)(2), and (3)) shall remain
exercisable for one year following the termination and shall expire on
the first anniversary of the date of termination. However, to the extent
this Option is not exercisable as of the date of such termination of
employment, this Option shall expire immediately and automatically upon
such termination.(2)
    
    Death. If Employees employment with the
Company terminates because Employee dies, the Option shall vest and
become exercisable with respect to all of the shares of Stock underlying
the grant of the Option that have not previously vested and shall remain
exercisable for one year following the termination and shall expire on
the first anniversary of the date of termination.(3)
    
    Change of Control. The Option shall vest
and become exercisable with respect to all of the shares of Stock that
have not previously vested immediately prior to a Change of Control if
Employee has continued to be employed by the Company or an Affiliate
until such time.
 (c)
    
    Definitions.
 (1)
    
    Cause. For purposes of this Agreement,
Cause shall have the same meaning as defined in Employees employment
agreement in effect when Employees employment terminates or, if Employee
does not then have an employment agreement in effect at such time that
defines cause, then Cause shall mean:
 (A)
    
    any material failure of Employee to
perform Employees duties (other than any such failure resulting
from Employees incapacity due to illness or other disability) after
notice of such failure has been given to Employee and such failure
shall have continued for 30 days after receipt of such notice,(B)
    
    gross or willful negligence or
intentional wrongdoing or misconduct,(C)
    
    a material breach by Employee of
Employees duties as an employee of the Company or of Employees
employment agreement with the Company, or(D)
    
    conviction of Employee of a felony
offense involving moral turpitude.
 (2)
    
    Disability. For purposes of this Agreement,
Disability shall have the same meaning as defined in Employees
employment agreement in effect when Employees employment terminates or,
if Employee does not then have an employment agreement in effect at such
time that defines disability, then Disability shall have the meaning
of such terms as defined in the Plan.
 (d)
    
    Employment Status. A transfer between the Company and an
Affiliate or between Affiliates shall not be treated as a termination of
employment with the Company under the Plan or this Agreement.
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Life of Option
 Method of Exercise of Option Committee
 Stock Issuance
 Nontransferable
 No Right to Continue Service
 Stockholder Status
 Securities Registration; Legend
 Resolution of Disputes
 Withholding
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Amendment
 Notices
 Governing Law
 Binding Effect
 Headings and Sections
 Plan
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF
 THE HOUSTON EXPLORATION COMPANYCompany Officer«Name»Employee
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