Document:

Severance Plan

 Exhibit 10.16 
 GEOMET, INC. SEVERANCE PLAN 
 THIS SEVERANCE PLAN (the “Plan”), made and
executed at Houston, Texas, by GeoMet, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is being established by the Company to provide for the payment of severance benefits to eligible employees of the Company and its
participating affiliates under the circumstances described below. 
 ARTICLE I 
 DEFINITIONS 
 1.1 Definitions. Where the following words
and phrases appear in the Plan, they shall have the respective meanings set forth below, unless their context clearly indicates to the contrary. 
 (a) “Affiliate” shall mean a parent corporation or a subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively, and any other
person with whom the Company would be considered a single employer under Section 414(b) of the Code (controlled group of corporations) or Section 414(c) of the Code (partnerships, proprietorships, etc., under common control), provided that
in applying Code Sections 1563(a)(1), (2) and (3) for purposes of determining a controlled group of corporations under Section 414(b) of the Code, the language “at least 50 percent” shall be used instead of “at least 80
percent” each place it appears in Code Sections 1563(a)(1), (2) and (3), and in applying Treasury Regulation Section 1.414(c)-2 for purposes of determining trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) that are under common
control for purposes of Section 414(c) of the Code, the language “at least 50 percent” shall be used instead of “at least 80 percent” each place it appears in Treasury Regulation Section 1.414(c)-2. 
 (a) “Base Pay” shall mean the annualized base rate of compensation payable by the Employer to a
Covered Employee in cash, including any amount that the Covered Employee could have received in cash had he or she not elected to contribute such amount to an employee benefit plan maintained by the Employer, but excluding overtime pay, call pay,
shift and area differentials, commissions, bonuses, added premiums, and all other forms of incentive or supplemental pay, employee benefits and perquisites paid or provided by the Employer. 
 (b) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. 
 (c) “Corporate Change” shall mean (1) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (2) a
reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company with one or more corporations (other than a merger or consolidation effecting a reincorporation of the Company in another state or any other merger or consolidation in which the stockholders of
the surviving corporation and their proportionate interests therein immediately after the merger or consolidation are substantially identical to the stockholders of the Company and their proportionate interests therein immediately prior to the
merger or consolidation) 

 
(collectively, a “Corporate Change Merger”), (3) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (4) the occurrence
of a Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Corporate Change” shall not include any public offering of equity of the Company pursuant to a registration that is effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Act”), or any private offering of equity of the Company pursuant to an exemption from the Act. A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if (1) individuals who were directors of the Company immediately prior to
a Control Transaction shall cease, within two years of such Control Transaction to constitute a majority of the Board (or of the Board of Directors of any successor to the Company or to a company which has acquired all or substantially all its
assets) other than by reason of an increase in the size of the membership of the applicable Board that is approved by at least a majority of the individuals who were directors of the Company immediately prior to such Control Transaction, or
(2) any entity, person or Group acquires shares of the Company in a transaction or series of transactions that result in such entity, person or Group directly or indirectly owning beneficially 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock. As used herein, “Control Transaction” means (1) any tender offer for or acquisition of capital stock of the Company pursuant to which any person, entity, or Group directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or
more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (2) any Corporate Change Merger of the Company, (3) any contested election of directors of the Company, or (4) any combination of the foregoing, any one of which results in a change in
voting power sufficient to elect a majority of the Board. As used herein, “Group” means persons who act “in concert” as described in Sections 13(d)(3) and/or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As used
herein, “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, $0.001 par value per share, or any stock or other securities hereafter issued or issuable in substitution or exchange for the Common Stock. 
 (d) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 
 (e) “Committee” shall mean the committee composed of the individuals serving from time to time as
Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Company’s Vice President – Administration and the Company’s Human Resources Manager (or such other
committee as may be appointed by the Board to administer the Plan). 
 (f) “Company”
shall mean GeoMet, Inc., Delaware corporation. 
 (g) A “Constructive Termination Event”
shall be deemed to have occurred with respect to a Covered Employee if within the period beginning sixty (60) days prior to and ending one (1) year following the occurrence of the first Corporate Change to occur after the Effective
Date the Employer: 
 (1) reduces such Covered Employee’s Base Pay or target bonus under any bonus or incentive
compensation plan of the Employer from the Base Pay being paid to or the bonus being targeted for him or her immediately prior to such Corporate Change; 
  

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 (2) makes a significant reduction in the level, or a significant increase in the cost to
such Covered Employee, of the employee benefits (including but not limited to medical, dental, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, and long-term disability benefits) and perquisites being provided to or for the benefit of such
Covered Employee from the level or cost applicable to him or her immediately prior to such Corporate Change; 
 (3) requires
or requests such Covered Employee to relocate to a principal place of employment that is more than twenty-five (25) miles from the location where he or she was principally employed immediately prior to such Corporate Change; or 
 (4) changes the status, position or responsibilities of such Covered Employee which, in such Covered Employee’s reasonable judgment,
represents a demotion from his or her status, position or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to such Corporate Change, or assigns duties or responsibilities to such Covered Employee which, in such Covered Employee’s reasonable
judgment, are inconsistent with his or her status, position or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to such Corporate Change. 
 (h) “Covered Employee” shall mean any individual employed by the Employer as an employee, excluding, however, (1) the individual who on the Effective Date was employed by the
Company as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Company’s Senior Vice President – Operations, the Company’s Senior Vice President –
Exploration, or the Company’s Financial Reporting Manager, (2) any temporary employee of the Employer, and (3) any individual treated by the Employer at the time of the performance of such individual’s services as either a leased
employee (within the meaning of Section 414(n) of the Code) or an independent contractor for federal income tax purposes, regardless of any subsequent employment, retroactive reclassification or retroactive treatment of such individual as an
employee of the Employer for tax or other purposes. 
 (i) “Effective Date” shall mean
January 29, 2007. 
 (j) “Employer” shall include the Company and each Affiliate
that adopts the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.4 of the Plan and their successors. 
 (k)
“ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. 
 (l) “Involuntary Termination” shall mean any termination of a Covered Employee’s employment with the Employer which: 
 (1) does not result from a voluntary resignation by the Covered Employee (other than a resignation pursuant to Section 1.1(l)(2)); or

  

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 (2) results from a resignation by a Covered Employee on or before the date which is sixty
(60) days after the date the Covered Employee is notified of a Constructive Termination Event applicable to him or her; 
 provided,
however, that the term “Involuntary Termination” shall not include a Termination for Cause or any termination as a result of the Covered Employee’s death, disability under circumstances entitling him or her to benefits under the
Employer’s long-term disability plan, or Retirement; and provided further that if such Covered Employee continues to provide services to or with respect to the Employer (or one of its affiliates or a successor employer) following his or her
termination of employment with the Employer, the “Involuntary Termination” of such Covered Employee shall not be deemed to have occurred until such Covered Employee has incurred a “separation from service” (within the meaning of
Section 409A(a)(2) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder) with respect to the Employer and its affiliates. 
 (m) “Payment Date” shall mean (1) with respect to a Covered Employee who is not a Specified Employee, the date that is ten (10) days after the later of the date of such Covered Employee’s Involuntary
Termination or the date of the occurrence of the first Corporate Change to occur after the Effective Date, and (2) with respect to a Covered Employee who is a Specified Employee, the earlier of (i) the date that is six (6) months
after the date of such Covered Employee’s Involuntary Termination, or (ii) the date that is thirty (30) days after the date of such Covered Employee’s death following his or her termination of employment with the Employer.

 (n) “Retirement” shall mean a Covered Employee’s voluntary resignation on or after the
date as of which he or she has attained age sixty-five (65), excluding a resignation at the request of the Employer or a resignation within sixty (60) days after such Covered Employee is notified of a Constructive Termination Event applicable
to him or her. 
 (o) “Specified Employee” shall mean a Covered Employee who is a specified employee
within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. 
 (p)
“Termination for Cause” shall mean any termination of a Covered Employee’s employment with the Employer by reason of a finding by the Employer of acts or omissions constituting, in the Employer’s
reasonable judgment, (1) a breach of duty by a Covered Employee in the course of his or her employment involving fraud, acts of dishonesty (other than inadvertent acts or omissions), disloyalty to the Employer, or moral turpitude constituting
criminal felony; (2) conduct by a Covered Employee that is materially detrimental to the Employer, monetarily or otherwise, or reflects unfavorably on the Employer or such Covered Employee to such an extent that the Employer’s best
interests reasonably require the termination of such Covered Employee’s employment; (3) acts or omissions of such Covered Employee materially in violation of such Covered Employee’s obligations under any written employment or other
agreement between such Covered Employee and the Employer or at law; (4) a Covered Employee’s failure to comply with or enforce Employer policies concerning equal employment opportunity, including engaging in sexually or otherwise harassing
conduct; (5) a Covered 

  

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Employee’s repeated insubordination; (6) a Covered Employee’s failure to comply with or enforce, in any material respect, all other personnel
policies of the Employer; (7) a Covered Employee’s failure to devote his or her full (or other required) working time and best efforts to the performance of his responsibilities to the Employer; or (8) a Covered Employee’s
conviction of, or entry of a plea agreement or consent decree or similar arrangement with respect to a felony or any violation of federal or state securities laws. 
 (q) “Week of Base Pay” shall mean the greater of (1) the Covered Employee’s Base Pay
immediately prior to the date on which the Corporate Change occurs, or (2) the Covered Employee’s Base Pay immediately prior to the date of his or her Involuntary Termination, in either case divided by fifty-two (52). 
 (r) “Welfare Benefits” shall mean the medical and dental care benefits being provided by the Employer to its
active employees from time to time. 
 1.2 Number and Gender. Wherever appropriate herein, words used in the singular shall be
considered to include the plural and the plural to include the singular. The masculine gender, where appearing in the Plan, shall be deemed to include the feminine gender. 
 1.3 Headings. The headings of Articles and Sections herein are included solely for convenience and if there is any conflict between such headings and the text of the Plan, the text shall control.

 ARTICLE II 
 SEVERANCE BENEFITS 
 2.1 Severance Benefits. Subject to the provisions of Sections 2.3, 2.5 and 2.6
hereof, if a Covered Employee’s employment by the Employer terminates in an Involuntary Termination within the period beginning sixty (60) days prior to and ending one (1) year following the occurrence of the first Corporate Change to
occur after the Effective Date, the Employer shall: 
 (a) pay to such Covered Employee on his or her Payment Date an amount
in cash equal to the sum of (1) two (2) Weeks of Base Pay for each full year or portion thereof of his or her period of continuous employment (which shall include two (2) separate periods of employment if the gap between the two
(2) periods of employment was less than one (1) year) with the Employer or one of its affiliates, (2) one (1) Week of Base Pay for each year or portion thereof by which such Covered Employee’s age exceeds the age of forty
(40) years, and (3) one (1) Week of Base Pay for each fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) or portion thereof of such Covered Employee’s (i) Base Pay immediately prior to the date on which such Corporate Change occurs, or
(ii) Base Pay immediately prior to the date of his or her Involuntary Termination; provided, however, that the total amount payable to such Covered Employee pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) shall not exceed an amount equal to fifty-two
(52) Weeks of Base Pay or be less than twelve (12) Weeks of Base Pay; and 
 (b) at its expense pay or reimburse
such Covered Employee for the COBRA premiums paid or incurred by such Covered Employee for the Welfare Benefits COBRA 

  

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continuation coverage elected by such Covered Employee pursuant to Section 601 of ERISA for himself or herself and, where applicable, his or her
eligible dependents, for a period of months from the end of the month during which such Involuntary Termination occurred equal to the longer of (1) six (6) months, or (2) the number of months (with any fraction of a month being
rounded to a full month) equal to the number of Weeks of Base Pay payable to such Covered Employee pursuant to Section 2.1(a) divided by 4.3; provided, however, that such payments or reimbursements shall terminate if the Covered Employee
becomes eligible to elect coverage for medical and dental care benefits under a welfare plan of another employer, and such Covered Employee shall be obligated hereunder to promptly report such eligibility to the Employer. 
 The severance benefits payable under this Section 2.1 shall be subject to any required tax withholding, and shall not constitute compensation that is taken into
account for the purposes of determining benefits or allocating contributions under any employee benefit plan (within the meaning of ERISA) maintained by the Employer. 
 2.2 Release and Full Settlement. Any provision of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, as a condition to the receipt of any severance benefit hereunder, a Covered Employee whose employment by the
Employer terminates in an Involuntary Termination shall execute a release and indemnity, in such reasonable form as may be approved by the Committee, releasing the Board, the Committee, the Employer and the Employer’s shareholders, partners,
officers, directors, employees and agents from, and indemnifying each such party against, any and all claims and causes of action of any kind or character, including but not limited to all claims or causes of action arising out of such Covered
Employee’s employment with the Employer and the termination of such employment (but excluding, however, the performance of the Employer’s obligations under this Plan), and the receipt by such Covered Employee of any benefit provided
hereunder shall constitute full settlement of all such claims and causes of action of such Covered Employee. 
 2.3 Mitigation.
A Covered Employee shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Article II by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Article II be
reduced by retirement benefits or by any compensation or benefit earned by the Covered Employee as the result of employment by another employer. 
 2.4 Severance Pay Plan Limitation. The Plan is intended to be an employee welfare benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA and the Department of Labor regulations promulgated thereunder. Accordingly, any
provision of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall any Covered Employee receive total payments under the Plan that exceed the equivalent of twice such Covered Employee’s “annual compensation” (as such term is
defined in 29 CFR § 2510.3-2(b)(2)) during the year immediately preceding his or her Involuntary Termination. If total payments under the Plan to a Covered Employee would otherwise exceed the limitation in the preceding sentence, the amount
payable to such Covered Employee pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be reduced in order to satisfy such limitation. 
 2.5 Parachute
Payment Limitation. Any provision of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, if a Covered Employee is a “disqualified individual” (as defined in Section 

  

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280G of the Code), and the severance benefits provided for under Section 2.1, together with any other payments or benefits which the Covered Employee
has the right to receive from the Employer, would constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G of the Code), the severance benefits provided for under Section 2.1 shall be either (a) reduced (but not below
zero) so that the aggregate present value of such payments received by the Covered Employee from the Employer will be one dollar ($1.00) less than three times the Covered Employee’s “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G of
the Code) and so that no portion of such payments received by the Covered Employee shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or (b) paid in full, whichever produces the better net after-tax result for the
Covered Employee (taking into account any applicable excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code and any applicable income tax). The determination as to whether any such reduction in the amount of the severance benefits provided for under
Section 2.1 is necessary shall be made by the Company in good faith, and such determination shall be conclusive and binding on the Covered Employee. If a reduced cash payment is made and through error or otherwise that payment, when aggregated
with other payments from the Employer (or its affiliates) used in determining if a “parachute payment” exists, exceeds one dollar ($1.00) less than three (3) times the Covered Employee’s base amount, the Covered Employee shall
immediately repay such excess to the Employer upon notification that an overpayment has been made. 
 ARTICLE III 
 ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN 
 3.1
Committee’s Powers and Duties. It shall be a principal duty of the Committee to see that the Plan is carried out, in accordance with its terms, for the exclusive benefit of persons entitled to participate in the Plan. The
Committee shall be the Plan’s named fiduciary and shall have full power to administer the Plan in all of its details, subject to applicable requirements of law. For this purpose, the Committee’s powers shall include, but not be limited to,
the following authority, in addition to all other powers provided by the Plan: 
 (a) to make and apply such rules and
regulations as it deems necessary or appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; 
 (b) to interpret the Plan, its
interpretation thereof to be final and conclusive on all persons claiming benefits under the Plan; 
 (c) to decide all
questions concerning the Plan and the eligibility of any person to participate in the Plan; 
 (d) to make determinations as
to the right of any person to receive a benefit under the Plan (including, without limitation, to determine whether and when there has been a termination of a Covered Employee’s employment and the cause of such termination); 
 (e) to appoint such agents, counsel, accountants, consultants, claims administrators and other persons as may be required to assist in
administering the Plan; 
  

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 (f) to allocate and delegate its responsibilities under the Plan and to designate other
persons to carry out any of its responsibilities under the Plan, any such allocation, delegation or designation to be in writing; 
 (g) to sue or cause suit to be brought in the name of the Plan; and 
 (h) to obtain from the Employer and from the
Covered Employees such information as is necessary for the proper administration of the Plan. 
 3.2 Member’s Own
Participation. No member of the Committee may act, vote, or otherwise influence a decision of the Committee specifically relating to himself or herself as a participant in the Plan. 
 3.3 Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee against any and all expenses and liabilities
arising out of his or her administrative functions or fiduciary responsibilities with respect to the Plan, including any expenses and liabilities that are caused by or result from an act or omission constituting the negligence of such member in the
performance of such functions or responsibilities, but excluding expenses and liabilities that are caused by or result from such member’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Expenses against which such member shall be indemnified
hereunder shall include, without limitation, the amounts of any settlement or judgment, costs, counsel fees, and related charges reasonably incurred in connection with a claim asserted or a proceeding brought or settlement thereof. 
 3.4 Compensation, Bond and Expenses. The members of the Committee shall not receive compensation for their services as members of the
Committee. To the extent required by applicable law, but not otherwise, Committee members shall furnish bond or security for the performance of their duties hereunder. Any expenses properly incurred by the Committee incident to the administration,
termination or protection of the Plan, including the cost of furnishing bond, shall be paid by the Company. 
 3.5 Claims
Procedure. A Covered Employee that the Committee determines is entitled to a benefit under the Plan is not required to file a claim for such benefit. A Covered Employee who is not paid a Plan benefit and who believes that he or she is
entitled to such benefit, or who has been paid a Plan benefit and who believes that he or she is entitled to a greater benefit, shall file a written claim for such benefit with the Committee no later than sixty (60) days after such Covered
Employee’s Payment Date. In any case in which a claim for a Plan benefit is submitted by a Covered Employee, the Committee shall furnish written notice to the claimant within sixty (60) days (or within 120 days if additional information
requested by the Committee necessitates an extension of the sixty-day period), which notice shall: 
 (a) state the specific
reason or reasons for the denial or modification; 
 (b) provide specific references to pertinent Plan provisions on which the
denial or modification is based; 
  

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 (c) provide a description of any additional material or information necessary for the
Covered Employee or his or her representative to perfect the claim, and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and 
 (d) explain the Plan’s claim review procedure as contained herein. 
 In the event a claim for a Plan
benefit is denied or modified, if the Covered Employee or his or her representative desires to have such denial or modification reviewed, he or she must, within sixty (60) days following receipt of the notice of such denial or modification,
submit a written request for review by the Committee of its initial decision. In connection with such request, the Covered Employee or his or her representative may review any pertinent documents upon which such denial or modification was based and
may submit issues and comments in writing. Within sixty (60) days following such request for review, the Committee shall, after providing a full and fair review, render its final decision in writing to the Covered Employee and his or her
representative, if any, stating specific reasons for such decision and making specific references to pertinent Plan provisions upon which the decision is based. If special circumstances require an extension of such sixty-day period, the
Committee’s decision shall be rendered as soon as possible, but not later than 120 days after receipt of the request for review. If an extension of time for review is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the Covered
Employee and his or her representative, if any, prior to the commencement of the extension period. 
 3.6 Mandatory Arbitration.
If a Covered Employee or his or her representative is not satisfied with the decision of the Committee pursuant to the Plan’s claims review procedure, such Covered Employee or his or her representative may, within sixty (60) days of
receipt of the written decision of the Committee, request by written notice to the Committee that his or her claim be submitted to arbitration pursuant to the employee benefit plan claims arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association.
Such arbitration shall be the sole and exclusive procedure available to a Covered Employee or his or her representative for review of a decision of the Committee. The Covered Employee or his or her representative and the Employer shall share equally
the cost of such arbitration, including but not limited to the fees of the arbitrator and reasonable attorneys’ fees, unless the arbitrator determines otherwise. The arbitrator’s decision shall be final and legally binding on both parties.
Judgment upon the arbitrator’s decision may be entered in any court of appropriate jurisdiction, and may not be challenged in any court, either at the place of arbitration or elsewhere. This Section shall be governed by the provisions of the
Federal Arbitration Act. 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 4.1 Funding. The benefits provided under the Plan shall be
unfunded and shall be provided from the Employer’s general assets. 
 4.2 Cost of Plan. The entire cost of the Plan shall
be borne by the Employer and no contributions shall be required of the Covered Employees. 
  

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 4.3 Plan Year. The Plan shall operate on a plan year consisting of the twelve consecutive
month period commencing on January 1 of each year (with a short plan year commencing on the Effective Date and ending on December 31, 2007). 
 4.4 Other Participating Employers. With the written consent of the Committee, any entity or organization eligible by law to participate in the Plan may adopt the Plan and become a participating Employer
hereunder by executing and delivering a written instrument evidencing such adoption to the Secretary of the Company. Such written instrument shall specify the effective date of the adoption of the Plan by such adopting Employer, may incorporate
specific provisions relating to the operation of the Plan which apply to the adopting Employer only, and shall become, as to such adopting Employer and its employees, a part of the Plan. Each adopting Employer shall be conclusively presumed to have
agreed to be bound by the terms of the Plan as amended from time to time. The provisions of the Plan shall be applicable with respect to each Employer separately, and amounts payable hereunder shall be paid by the Employer which employs the
particular Covered Employee. 
 4.5 Amendment and Termination. 
 (a) Prior to a Corporate Change, the Plan may be amended or modified in any respect and may be terminated, on behalf of all Employers, by
resolution adopted by the Board; provided, however, that no such amendment, modification or termination which would adversely affect the benefits or protections provided under the Plan to any individual who is a Covered Employee on the date such
amendment, modification or termination is adopted shall be effective as it relates to such individual unless no Corporate Change occurs prior to February 1, 2008, and any such attempted amendment, modification or termination shall be null and
void ab initio as it relates to such individual (it being understood that the removal of a Covered Employee from participation in the Plan shall, for the purposes of this Section, constitute an adverse affect to the benefits or protections
provided under the Plan to any Covered Employee so removed). 
 (b) Upon and after the occurrence of the first Corporate
Change to occur after the Effective Date, the Plan may not be amended, modified or terminated in any manner which would adversely affect the benefits or protections provided under the Plan to any individual who is a Covered Employee on the date such
Corporate Change occurred, and any such attempted amendment, modification or termination shall be null and void ab initio as it relates to such individual. 
 (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5, if any compensation or benefit provided by the Plan may result in
being subject to the tax imposed by Section 409A of the Code, the Board may modify the Plan as necessary or appropriate in the best interests of the Covered Employees (1) to exclude such compensation or benefit from being deferred
compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, or (2) to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and its related Code provisions (and the rules, regulations and other regulatory guidance relating thereto);
provided, however, that no amendment made pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4.5(c) shall reduce the value of the compensation or benefits that would be payable to a Covered Employee in connection with his or her Involuntary Termination
following a Corporate Change without the written consent of such Covered Employee. 
  

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 (d) Any provision of this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, if no Corporate Change
occurs prior to February 1, 2008, this Plan shall terminate and be null and void in its entirety on and after February 1, 2008. 
 4.6 No Contract of Employment. The adoption and maintenance of the Plan shall not be deemed to be a contract of employment between the Employer and any person or to be consideration for the employment of any person. Nothing
herein contained shall be deemed to give any person the right to be retained in the employ of the Employer or to restrict the right of the Employer to discharge any person at any time nor shall the Plan be deemed to give the Employer the right to
require any person to remain in the employ of the Employer or to restrict any person’s right to terminate his or her employment at any time. 
 4.7 Severability. Any provision in the Plan that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction by reason of applicable law shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating or affecting the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. 

4.8 Nonalienation. A Covered Employee shall have no right or ability to pledge, hypothecate, anticipate, assign or otherwise transfer any
benefit or right under the Plan, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. 
 4.9 Effect of Plan. The Plan is
intended to supersede all oral or written policies of the Employer and all oral or written communications to Covered Employees with respect to the subject matter of the Plan that were written or communicated prior to the Effective Date, and all such
prior policies and communications shall be null and void on and after the Effective Date. The Plan shall be binding upon the Employer and any successor of the Employer, by merger or otherwise, and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Covered Employees. In addition, upon the occurrence of a Corporate Change, all rights of a Covered Employee to eligibility and participation under the Plan shall vest and shall be considered a contract right enforceable against the Employer and
any successors thereto, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. 
 4.10 Code Section 409A Compliance. The Plan is
intended to provide compensation and benefits that are not subject to the tax imposed under Section 409A of the Code, and shall be interpreted and administered to the extent possible in accordance with such intent. Neither the Company nor any
other Employer makes any guarantee as to the tax treatment of any payments or benefits to be provided pursuant to the Plan. 
 4.11
Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas (without giving effect to any choice-of-law rules that may require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction), except
to the extent preempted by federal law. 
  

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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Plan has been executed by the Company on this 13th day of March, 2007.

  

			
	GEOMET, INC.
		
	 By:
	 	 /s/ J. Darby Seré

	 Name:
	 	J. Darby Seré
	 Title:
	 	President & Chief Executive Officer

  

 - 12 -Retention Bonus Agreement

 Exhibit 10. 17 
 GEOMET, INC. 
 RETENTION BONUS AGREEMENT 
 THIS RETENTION BONUS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), made and entered into in Houston, Texas, as of this 13th day of March, 2007 (the
“Effective Date”), by and between GEOMET, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and
                                         ,
an employee of the Company (“Employee”), 
 WITNESSETH THAT: 
 WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that it is in the best interest of the Company to assure that the
Company will have the continued dedication of Employee, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Corporate Change (as defined below); and 
 WHEREAS, the Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of Employee by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Corporate Change, to encourage
Employee’s full attention and dedication to the Company currently and in the event of any threatened or pending Corporate Change, and to provide Employee with compensation and benefit arrangements upon a Corporate Change which ensures that such
compensation and benefits are competitive with other employers; 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of premises and the covenants herein
made, the Company and Employee do hereby agree as follows: 
 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement, the following
words and phrases shall have the respective meanings set forth below, unless their context clearly indicates to the contrary: 
 (a) “Affiliate” shall mean a parent corporation or a subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively, and any other person with whom the
Company would be considered a single employer under Section 414(b) of the Code (controlled group of corporations) or Section 414(c) of the Code (partnerships, proprietorships, etc., under common control), provided that in applying Code
Sections 1563(a)(1), (2) and (3) for purposes of determining a controlled group of corporations under Section 414(b) of the Code, the language “at least 50 percent” shall be used instead of “at least 80 percent”
each place it appears in Code Sections 1563(a)(1), (2) and (3), and in applying Treasury Regulation Section 1.414(c)-2 for purposes of determining trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) that are under common control for
purposes of Section 414(c) of the Code, the language “at least 50 percent” shall be used instead of “at least 80 percent” each place it appears in Treasury Regulation Section 1.414(c)-2. 
 (b) “Base Pay” shall mean the annualized base rate of compensation payable by the Employer to
Employee in cash, including any amount that Employee could have received in cash had Employee not elected to contribute such amount to an employee 

 
benefit plan maintained by the Employer, but excluding overtime pay, call pay, shift and area differentials, commissions, bonuses, added premiums, and all
other forms of incentive or supplemental pay, employee benefits and perquisites paid or provided by the Employer. 
 (c)
“Corporate Change” shall mean (1) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (2) a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company with one or more corporations (other than a merger or consolidation
effecting a reincorporation of the Company in another state or any other merger or consolidation in which the stockholders of the surviving corporation and their proportionate interests therein immediately after the merger or consolidation are
substantially identical to the stockholders of the Company and their proportionate interests therein immediately prior to the merger or consolidation) (collectively, a “Corporate Change Merger”), (3) the sale of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company, or (4) the occurrence of a Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Corporate Change” shall not include any public offering of equity of the Company pursuant to a registration that is
effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) or any private offering of equity of the Company pursuant to an exemption from the Act. A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if
(1) individuals who were directors of the Company immediately prior to a Control Transaction shall cease, within two years of such Control Transaction to constitute a majority of the Board (or of the Board of Directors of any successor to the
Company or to a company which has acquired all or substantially all its assets) other than by reason of an increase in the size of the membership of the applicable Board that is approved by at least a majority of the individuals who were directors
of the Company immediately prior to such Control Transaction, or (2) any entity, person or Group acquires shares of the Company in a transaction or series of transactions that result in such entity, person or Group directly or indirectly owning
beneficially 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. As used herein, “Control Transaction” means (1) any tender offer for or acquisition of capital stock of the Company pursuant to which any person, entity, or Group
directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (2) any Corporate Change Merger of the Company, (3) any contested election of directors of the Company, or (4) any
combination of the foregoing, any one of which results in a change in voting power sufficient to elect a majority of the Board. As used herein, “Group” means persons who act “in concert” as described in Sections 13(d)(3) and/or
14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As used herein, “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, $0.001 par value per share, or any stock or other securities hereafter issued or issuable in substitution or
exchange for the Common Stock. 
 (d) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended. 
 (e) A “Constructive Termination Event” shall be deemed to have
occurred with respect to Employee if within the period beginning sixty (60) days prior to and ending ninety (90) days following the occurrence of the first Corporate Change to occur after the Effective Date the Employer: 
 (1) reduces Employee’s Base Pay or target bonus under any bonus or incentive compensation plan of the Employer from the Base Pay
being paid to or the bonus being targeted for Employee immediately prior to such Corporate Change; 
  

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 (2) makes a significant reduction in the level, or a significant increase in the cost to
Employee, of the employee benefits (including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, and long-term disability benefits) and perquisites being provided to or for the benefit of Employee from
the level or cost applicable to Employee immediately prior to such Corporate Change; 
 (3) requires or requests Employee to
relocate to a principal place of employment that is more than twenty-five (25) miles from the location where Employee was principally employed immediately prior to such Corporate Change; 
 (4) changes the status, position or responsibilities of Employee which, in Employee’s reasonable judgment, represents a demotion from
his or her status, position or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to such Corporate Change, or assigns duties or responsibilities to Employee which, in Employee’s reasonable judgment, are inconsistent with his or her status,
position or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to such Corporate Change. 
 (f)
“Employer” shall include the Company and any Affiliate that is employing or has employed Employee as an employee. 
 (g) “ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. 
 (h) “Involuntary Termination” shall mean any termination of Employee’s employment with the
Employer which: 
 (1) does not result from a voluntary resignation by Employee (other than a resignation pursuant to
Paragraph 1.1(h)(2)); or 
 (2) results from a resignation by Employee on or before the date which is sixty (60) days
after the date Employee is notified of a Constructive Termination Event applicable to Employee; 
 provided, however, that the term
“Involuntary Termination” shall not include a Termination for Cause or any termination as a result of Employee’s death or Employee’s disability under circumstances entitling Employee to benefits under the Employer’s
long-term disability plan; and provided further that if Employee continues to provide services to or with respect to the Employer (or one of its affiliates or a successor employer) following Employee’s termination of employment with the
Employer, the “Involuntary Termination” of Employee shall not be deemed to have occurred until Employee has incurred a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2) of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder) with respect to the Employer and its affiliates. 
  

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 (i) “Payment Date” shall mean (1) if Employee is not a
Specified Employee, the day that is ten (10) days after the later of the date of Employee’s Involuntary Termination or the date of the occurrence of the first Corporate Change to occur after the Effective Date, and (2) if Employee is
a Specified Employee, the earlier of (i) the date that is six (6) months after the date of Employee’s Involuntary Termination, or (ii) the date that is thirty (30) days after the date of Employee’s death following
Employee’s termination of employment with the Employer. 
 (j) “Retention Period” shall mean the
period beginning sixty (60) days prior to and ending ninety (90) following the occurrence of the first Corporate Change to occur after the Effective Date. 
 (k) “Specified Employee” shall mean a specified employee within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2) of the Code
and the regulations promulgated thereunder. 
 (l) “Termination for Cause” shall mean
any termination of Employee’s employment with the Employer by reason of a finding by the Employer of acts or omissions constituting, in the Employer’s reasonable judgment, (1) a breach of duty by Employee in the course of
Employee’s employment involving fraud, acts of dishonesty (other than inadvertent acts or omissions), disloyalty to the Employer, or moral turpitude constituting criminal felony; (2) conduct by Employee that is materially detrimental to
the Employer, monetarily or otherwise, or reflects unfavorably on the Employer or Employee to such an extent that the Employer’s best interests reasonably require the termination of Employee’s employment; (3) acts or omissions of
Employee materially in violation of Employee’s obligations under any written employment or other agreement between Employee and the Employer or at law; (4) Employee’s failure to comply with or enforce Employer policies concerning
equal employment opportunity, including engaging in sexually or otherwise harassing conduct; (5) Employee’s repeated insubordination; (6) Employee’s failure to comply with or enforce, in any material respect, all other personnel
policies of the Employer; (7) Employee’s failure to devote Employee’s full (or other required) working time and best efforts to the performance of his responsibilities to the Employer; or (8) Employee’s conviction of, or
entry of a plea agreement or consent decree or similar arrangement with respect to a felony or any violation of federal or state securities laws. 
 2. Retention Bonus. Subject to the provisions of Paragraphs 3 and 4 hereof: 
 (a) If Employee’s
employment by the Employer continues through the end of the last day of the Retention Period, the Employer shall pay to Employee on the date immediately following the last day of the Retention Period an amount in cash equal to
             percent (        %) of the Base Pay being paid to Employee immediately prior to the occurrence of the first Corporate
Change to occur after the Effective Date; or 
  

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 (b) If Employee’s employment by the Employer terminates in an Involuntary
Termination after the commencement of the Retention Period but prior to the end of the last day of the Retention Period, the Employer shall pay to Employee on Employee’s Payment Date an amount in cash equal to
             percent (        %) of the Base Pay being paid to Employee immediately prior to the occurrence of the first Corporate
Change to occur after the Effective Date. 
 The amount payable to Employee under this Paragraph 2 shall be subject to any required tax withholding, and
shall not constitute compensation that is taken into account for the purposes of determining benefits or allocating contributions under any employee benefit plan (within the meaning of ERISA) maintained by the Employer. Any payment to be made to
Employee pursuant to Paragraph 2(b) above shall be in addition to any payment due to Employee pursuant to Employer’s Severance Plan made effective as of January 29, 2007. 
 3. Notices. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given when personally delivered or when mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: 
 If to the Company to: 
 GeoMet, Inc. 
 909 Fannin, Suite 1850 
 Houston, Texas 77010 
 If to
Employee to: 
 or to such other address as either party may furnish to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of changes of
address shall be effective only upon receipt. 
 4. Applicable Law. This Agreement is entered into under, and shall be governed for all
purposes by, the laws of the State of Texas. 
 5. Severability. If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of
this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, then the invalidity or unenforceability of that provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, and all other provisions shall remain in full force and
effect. 
 6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. 
 7. Withholding. The Employer shall withhold from any
amount payable to Employee pursuant to this Agreement or from other remuneration payable to Employee, and 

  

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shall remit to the appropriate governmental authority if required by applicable law, any income, employment or other tax such entity is required by
applicable law to so withhold from and remit on behalf of Employee and any other amounts authorized in writing by Employee. 
 8. No
Continued Employment and Effect of Agreement. This Agreement shall not enlarge or otherwise affect the terms of Employee’s employment with the Employer, and the Employer may terminate Employee’s employment as freely and with the same
effect as if this Agreement had not been established. 
 9. Assignment. 
 (a) This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign or transfer
this Agreement or any rights or obligations under this Agreement, except as provided in the remainder of this Paragraph 11. Without limiting the foregoing, Employee’s right to receive payments hereunder shall not be assignable or transferable,
whether by pledge, creation of a security interest or otherwise, other than a transfer by Employee’s will or by the laws of descent or distribution, and in the event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this Paragraph 11 the
Employer shall have no liability to pay any amount so attempted to be assigned or transferred. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Employee’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. 
 (b) The Company may (1) as long as it remains obligated with
respect to this Agreement, cause the Company’s obligations hereunder to be performed by a subsidiary or subsidiaries for which Employee performs services, in whole or in part, or (2) assign this Agreement and the Company’s rights
hereunder in whole, but not in part, to any entity with or into which the Company may hereafter merge or consolidate or to which it may transfer all or substantially all of its assets, if said entity shall by operation of law or expressly in writing
assume all liabilities of the Company hereunder as fully as if it has been originally named the Company herein. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns.

 10. Modifications. This Agreement may not be amended or terminated except by a written instrument executed by the Company and
Employee or their legal representatives. 
 11. Code Section 409A Compliance. This Agreement is intended to provide compensation
that is not subject to the tax imposed under Section 409A of the Code, and shall be interpreted and administered to the extent possible in accordance with such intent. Neither the Company nor any other Employer makes any guarantee as to the tax
treatment of any payment to be made to or with respect to Employee pursuant to this Agreement. 
 12. Confidentiality. Employee agrees
to keep the terms of this Agreement confidential. Employee specifically agrees that Employee will not at any time disclose, or cause or permit the disclosure of, the terms of this Agreement except as may be necessary (a) in filing tax returns
or SEC filings, (b) in connection with enforcing the terms and conditions of this 

  

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Agreement in an appropriate proceeding, (c) in response to a valid subpoena or other lawful process, or (d) in complying with the requirements of
applicable law. If Employee breaches this nondisclosure provision, the Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief to obtain specific performance of this provision and shall be entitled to recover its costs and attorneys’ fees from Employee.

 13. Term of Agreement. If no Corporate Change occurs prior to February 1, 2008, this Agreement shall terminate and be null and
void in its entirety on and after February 1, 2008. 
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed and
delivered as of the day and year first above written. 
  

			
	GEOMET, INC.
		
	By:	 	  

	Name:	 	J. Darby Seré
	Title:	 	President & Chief Executive Officer
	
	EMPLOYEE
	
	  

	
	  

  

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