Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                                       OF
                                 JAMES C. ECKERT

This Employment Agreement (this "Agreement") is made effective as of July 1,
2004, between OMNI Energy Services Corp., Inc., a Louisiana corporation ("OMNI"
or the "Company") and James C. Eckert, a resident of Yazoo County Mississippi
("Employee"). In order to protect the goodwill of OMNI and in consideration of
the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereby agree
as follows:

      1. Employment. OMNI hereby agrees to employ Employee and Employee hereby
agrees to work for OMNI as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Employee
shall report directly to the Board of Directors and shall perform such duties as
are commensurate with his position. So long as Employee is employed by OMNI,
Employee shall devote Employee's skill, energy and substantially all of his
business-related efforts to the faithful discharge of Employee's duties as a
salaried, exempt employee of OMNI. In providing services hereunder, Employee
shall comply with and follow all written directives, policies, standards and
regulations from time to time established by the Board of Directors and
applicable to executive officers of OMNI generally.

      2. Term of Employment. Employee's employment by OMNI pursuant to this
Agreement shall continue in effect until December 31, 2008 (the "Initial
Period"). Employee's employment shall be automatically extended for additional,
successive one year periods (the "Additional Periods") commencing on January 1,
2009, unless either party gives notice of non-renewal as provided in Section
6(d) or otherwise terminates this Agreement in accordance with the other
provisions of Section 6.

      3. Representations and Warranties. Employee represents and warrants that
Employee is under no contractual or other restrictions or obligations that will
limit Employee's activities on behalf of OMNI or will prohibit or limit the
disclosure or use by Employee of any information which directly or indirectly
relates to the business of OMNI or the services to be rendered by Employee under
this Agreement.

      4. Compensation. Subject to the provisions of Section 6, Employee will be
entitled to the compensation and benefits set forth in this Section 4.

            a. During the Initial Period, OMNI shall pay Employee an Annual Base
      Salary, payable semi-monthly, in equal semi-monthly installments at a rate
      equal to $200,000.00 per year for the remainder of the 2004 calendar year.
      In each subsequent calendar year during the term of this Agreement, OMNI
      shall pay to Employee an Annual Base Salary (not less than $200,000.00 per
      year) determined by the OMNI Board of Directors following its annual
      salary and performance review. Employee's Annual Base Salary will be
      reviewed at least annually in the first quarter of each fiscal year of
      Employee's employment hereunder, commencing in the first quarter of fiscal
      year 2005.

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            b. Employee shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus. The bonus
      will be determined and if appropriate, awarded by the OMNI Board of
      Directors during each calendar year beginning with the 2004 calendar year,
      but will be paid following the closing of the books and records of OMNI
      for each such calendar year, but not later than April 1 of the following
      calendar year. The annual bonus will be calculated by the Company's
      auditors based upon the bonus plan submitted by the Board.

            c. All payments of salary and other compensation to Employee shall
      be made after deduction of any taxes required to be withheld with respect
      thereto under applicable federal and state laws.

      5. Fringe Benefits; Expenses.

            a. During the term of employment of Employee hereunder, Employee
      shall be entitled to participate in all employee benefit plans sponsored
      by OMNI and made available for OMNI salaried, exempt employees and
      executive officers, including vacation, sick leave and disability leave,
      health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plans,
      benefit plans, incentive plans and 401(k) plans.

            b. OMNI will reimburse Employee for all reasonable business expenses
      incurred by Employee in the scope of Employee's employment, including the
      rent and utilities of a two bedroom apartment or house in the Lafayette
      area; provided, however, that Employee must file expense reports with
      respect to all such expenses and otherwise comply with OMNI's policies as
      are in effect from time-to-time and are made known to Employee. To the
      extent any such benefit is considered a "non-accountable plan"
      reimbursement under the rules of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as
      amended, then such amount will be included as compensation to the Employee
      and reported in his Form W-2.

            c. During the term of employment of Employee hereunder, Employee
      shall be entitled to paid vacation during each calendar year (prorated for
      any partial year) and to paid holidays and other paid leave set forth in
      and in accordance with OMNI's policies in effect from time-to-time for
      other salaried, exempt employees. Any vacation not used during a calendar
      year may not be used during any subsequent period. Employee shall be
      compensated for any unused vacation upon termination of this Agreement for
      any reason.

            d. Immediately upon Employee's exercise or sale of any of the March
      Options (as defined in Employment and Non-Competition Agreement dated
      March 12, 2001 between OMNI and Employee), OMNI shall pay employee an
      amount in cash equal to the tax benefit payment provided for in the March
      12, 2001 Agreement.

            e. OMNI shall reimburse Employee for individual and dependant health
      insurance premiums not to exceed the sum of $450 per month.

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      6. Termination or Non-Renewal of Employment.

            a. Termination by Either Party. Either OMNI or Employee may
      terminate Employee's employment hereunder at any time during the term of
      this Agreement by delivery of thirty (30) days prior written notice by the
      terminating party to the other party. Promptly after such termination of
      employment, in addition to any other payments or benefits provided in this
      Section 6, OMNI shall pay to Employee an amount equal to the sum of (i)
      Employee's earned but unpaid Annual Base Salary through the date of
      termination of employment at the rate in effect at the time of such
      termination, and (ii) vacation pay earned but not taken to the date of
      such termination.

            b. Termination for Cause; Resignation. If OMNI terminates Employee's
      employment for Cause (by delivering written notice of that termination
      setting forth the event or events constituting Cause and the effective
      date of such termination) or if the Employee terminates employment, the
      payments due to Employee hereunder shall be limited to the amounts
      described in Section 6(a) and Section 5(d), except that the Section 5(d)
      tax benefit payment shall be limited to the gain, if any, attributable to
      option share values on the date of termination.

            c. Termination Without Cause. If OMNI terminates Employee's
      employment without Cause (except as provided in Section 6(d) below), then
      OMNI shall, and only if and as long as Employee is not in breach of his
      obligations under Sections 7 and 8 of this Agreement, promptly pay or
      otherwise provide to Employee, in addition to those amounts set forth in
      Section 6(a): (i) an amount equal to Employee's monthly Annual Base Salary
      then in effect, payable semi-monthly and in accordance with OMNI's normal
      payroll practices, for a period equal to the lesser of thirty (30) months
      or the number of months remaining in the Initial Period or the Additional
      Period, but in no event shall Employee be paid for less than twenty-four
      (24) months; (ii) an annual bonus calculated on a daily pro-rata basis to
      the bonus which would otherwise be payable under Section 4(b); and (iii)
      an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value, on the date of
      termination of employment, of the nonvested, if any, Restricted Shares
      granted Employee and the amount of the nonvested Stock-Based Award granted
      Employee on November 4, 2003 pursuant to the Incentive Agreement dated of
      even date herewith. Employee agrees that the above payment shall be a full
      settlement of OMNI's obligations to Employee hereunder in the event of a
      termination without Cause.

            d. Non-Renewal of Employment. Either OMNI or Employee may elect not
      to renew Employee's employment hereunder at the end of the Initial Period,
      or at the end of any Additional Period thereafter, by delivery of sixty
      (60) calendar days prior written notice by the electing party to the other
      party. At the expiration of the employment term, OMNI shall pay to
      Employee an amount equal to the sum of (i) Employee's earned but unpaid
      Annual Base Salary through the date of termination of employment at the
      rate then in effect and (ii) vacation pay earned but not taken to the date
      of such termination.

            e. Waiver of Claims. In the event this Agreement is terminated by
      OMNI without Cause, Employee agrees to accept, in full settlement of any
      and all claims, losses, damages and other demands that Employee may have
      hereunder arising out of such termination or non-renewal, as liquidated
      damages and not as a penalty, the payments,

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      benefits and vesting of rights set forth in this Agreement. Employee
      hereby waives any and all rights Employee may have to bring any cause of
      action or proceeding contesting any such termination or non-renewal;
      provided, however, that such waiver shall not be deemed to affect
      Employee's rights to enforce any other obligations of OMNI unrelated to
      this Agreement. Under no circumstances shall Employee be entitled to any
      compensation or confirmation of any benefits under this Agreement for any
      period of time following Employee's date of termination if Employee's
      termination is for Cause, except with respect to the payment referred to
      in Section 5(d) hereof.

            f. Death. If Employee dies during his employment by OMNI under this
      Agreement, (i) the Employee's employment will terminate on the date of his
      death, (ii) OMNI will pay to Employee's estate the remainder of Employee's
      Annual Base Salary at the rate then in effect and any accrued incentive
      bonus through the end of the twelfth (12th) calendar month following the
      month in which such death occurred, and (iii) Employee's estate shall be
      entitled to all rights and benefits that Employee may have under the terms
      of this Agreement and under the terms of OMNI's employee benefit plan(s),
      and stock incentive plan(s).

            g. Disability. If Employee becomes disabled during his employment by
      OMNI under this Agreement (i) the Employee's employment will terminate on
      the date of Disability, (ii) OMNI will pay to Employee the remainder of
      Employee's Annual Base Salary at the rate then in effect and any accrued
      incentive bonus through the end of the twelfth (12th) calendar month
      following the month in which such Disability occurred, and (iii) Employee
      shall be entitled to all rights and benefits that Employee may have under
      the terms of this Agreement and under the terms of OMNI's employee benefit
      plan(s), stock incentive plan(s) and disability policy(s).

            h. Offices; Directorships. Upon termination of Employee's
      employment, Employee shall be deemed to have resigned from all offices,
      directorships, and committee positions then held with OMNI, or any
      Affiliate.

      7. Covenant Not to Compete; Non-solicitation.

            a. During Employee's employment with OMNI or any of its Affiliates
      and thereafter during the Restricted Period (as defined in Exhibit A
      attached hereto), Employee will not (i) engage in or carry on, directly or
      indirectly, either in Employee's individual capacity or as a member of a
      partnership or as a shareholder, investor, owner, officer or director of a
      company or other entity, or as an employee, agent, associate or consultant
      of any person, partnership, corporation or other entity, any business in
      Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi or any parish, county or municipality
      thereof or the offshore waters within one-hundred (100) miles of the coast
      of any such state that directly competes with any services or products
      produced, sold, conducted, developed, or in the process of development by
      OMNI or its Affiliates on the date of termination of Employee's
      employment, and (ii) whether for the Employee's own account or the account
      of any other Person (A) solicit, employ, or otherwise engage as an
      employee, independent contractor, or otherwise, any Person who is an
      employee of OMNI or any of its Affiliates or in any manner induce or
      attempt to induce any employee of OMNI and any such Affiliate to terminate
      his employment with OMNI or such Affiliate or (B) interfere with

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      OMNI's or any of its Affiliate's relationship with any Person, including
      any Person who at any time during the Employee's employment with OMNI was
      an employee, contractor, supplier, or customer of OMNI or any such
      Affiliate.

            b. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall not be deemed to be
      in violation of Section 7(a)(i) based solely on the ownership of less than
      five (5%) percent of any class of securities registered under the
      Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended or the ownership of less than
      16% of the common stock of M and N Services, Inc.

            c. Employee acknowledges that the limitations set forth herein this
      Section 7 are reasonable and necessary for the protection of OMNI and its
      Affiliates. In this regard, Employee specifically agrees that the
      limitations as to period of time and geographic area, as well as all other
      restrictions on Employee's activities specified herein, are reasonable and
      necessary for the protection of OMNI and its Affiliates. In particular,
      Employee acknowledges that the parties anticipate that Employee will be
      actively seeking markets for the products and services of OMNI and its
      Affiliates throughout the United States and during Employee's employment
      with OMNI.

            d. In the event that there shall be any violation of the covenants
      set forth in this Section 7, then the time limitation thereof shall be
      automatically extended for a period of time equal to the period of time
      during which such violation continues; and in the event OMNI is required
      to seek relief from such violation in any court, board of arbitration or
      other tribunal, then the covenant shall be extended for a period of time
      equal to the pendency of such proceedings, including all appeals.

            e. Employee agrees that the remedy at law for any breach by Employee
      of this Section 7 will be inadequate and that OMNI shall also be entitled
      to injunctive relief.

      8. Confidential Information. During the term of Employee's employment
hereunder, and for three (3) years after the last payment made under this
Agreement, Employee shall not use or disclose, without the prior written consent
of OMNI, Confidential Information (as defined in Exhibit A attached hereto)
relating to OMNI or any of its Affiliates, and upon termination of Employee's
employment will return to OMNI all written materials in Employee's possession
embodying such Confidential Information. Employee will promptly disclose to OMNI
all Confidential Information, as well as any business opportunity related to
OMNI which comes to Employee's attention during the term of Employee's
employment with OMNI. Employee will not take advantage of or divert any such
business opportunity for the benefit of Employee or any other Person (as defined
in Exhibit A attached hereto) without the prior written consent of OMNI.
Employee agrees that the remedy at law for any breach by Employee of this
Section 8 will be inadequate and that OMNI shall also be entitled to injunctive
relief. Omni acknowledges that Employee had been engaged in the seismic
recording, data processing and acquisition, surveying, drilling and related
businesses for many years prior to his employment with the Company. The
provisions of this Section 8 are therefore intended solely to prohibit the
unauthorized use or disclosure of Confidential Information and not as
restrictions on Employee's ability to engage in a competing business or business
activities (for instance under a doctrine of "inevitable disclosure of trade
secrets") which shall be governed solely by the provisions of Section 7.

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      9. Intellectual Property.

            a. To the extent they relate to, or result from, directly or
      indirectly, the actual or anticipated operations of OMNI or any of its
      Affiliates, Employee hereby agrees that all patents, trademarks,
      copyrights, trade secrets, and other intellectual property rights, all
      inventions, whether or not patentable, and any product, drawing, design,
      recording, writing, literary work or other author's work, in any other
      tangible form developed in whole or in part by Employee during or prior to
      the term of this Agreement, or otherwise developed, purchased or acquired
      by OMNI or any of its Affiliates, shall be the exclusive property of OMNI
      or such Affiliate, as the case may be ("Intellectual Property").

            b. Employee will hold all Intellectual Property in trust for OMNI
      and will deliver all Intellectual Property in Employee's possession or
      control to OMNI upon request and, in any event, at the end of Employee's
      employment with OMNI.

            c. Employee shall assign and does hereby assign to OMNI all property
      rights that Employee may now or hereafter have in the Intellectual
      Property. Employee shall take such action, including, but not limited to,
      the execution, acknowledgment, delivery and assistance in preparation of
      documents, and the giving of testimony, as may be requested by OMNI to
      evidence, transfer, vest or confirm OMNI's right, title and interest in
      the Intellectual Property.

            d. Employee will not contest the validity of any invention, any
      copyright, any trademark or any mask work registration owned by or vesting
      in OMNI or any of its Affiliates under this Agreement.

      10. Mediation. Any controversy which may arise under this Agreement,
whether it be between Employee and the Company or any of its officers,
directors, shareholders, employees, agents, benefit plans, or affiliates, shall
first be heard before a mutually agreed upon mediator. Any mediation shall take
place in Lafayette, Louisiana, or as otherwise agreed upon by the parties within
90 days of a parties written request for mediation. However, employee retains
any and all rights he may have to complain to, and file charges with, any
administrative agency dealing with the rights of employees and to participate in
all administrative proceedings before those agencies. This provision shall not
preclude either party from seeking temporary injunctive relief from a court of
competent jurisdiction.

      11. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the terms defined in Exhibit A
have the meanings assigned to such terms in such exhibit.

      12. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
required by or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
sufficiently delivered if delivered by hand, by courier service, or sent by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the parties at their
respective addresses listed below:

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                  a.       If to Employee:

                           James C. Eckert
                           P.O. Box 861
                           Brandon, MS 39042

                  b.       If to OMNI:

                  OMNI Energy Services Corp.

                           P.O. Box 3761
                           Lafayette, LA 70502-3761
                           Attention: President

Any party may change such party's address by furnishing notice to the other
party in accordance herewith, except that notices of changes of address shall be
effective only upon receipt.

      13. Assignment. This Agreement is personal to Employee, and Employee shall
not assign any of Employee's rights or delegate any of Employee's duties
hereunder without the prior written consent of OMNI. OMNI shall have the right
to assign this Agreement to a successor in interest in connection with a merger,
sale of substantially all assets, or the like; provided however, that an
assignment of this Agreement to an entity with operations, products or services
outside of the industries in which OMNI or Omni is then active shall not be
deemed to expand the scope of Employee's covenant not to compete with such
operations, products or services without Employee's written consent. OMNI shall
require any Person who is the successor (whether direct or indirect, by
purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization, or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of OMNI to expressly assume and
agree to perform, by a written agreement, all of the obligations of OMNI under
this Agreement.

      14. Survival. The provisions of this Agreement shall survive the
termination of Employee's employment hereunder in accordance with their terms.

      15. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and
enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Louisiana without regard
to the choice-of-law principles thereof.

      16. Choice of Forum; Consent to Jurisdiction. Any suit, action or
proceeding arising with respect to the validity, construction, enforcement or
interpretation of this Agreement, and all issues relating in any manner thereto,
shall be brought in the United States District Court for the Western District of
Louisiana, Lafayette Division, or in the event that federal jurisdiction does
not pertain, in the state court's of the State of Louisiana in Lafayette Parish.
Each of the parties hereto hereby submits and consents to the jurisdiction of
such courts for the purpose of any such suit, action or proceeding and hereby
irrevocably waives (a) any objection which any of them may now or hereafter have
to be laying of venue in such courts, and (b) any claim that any such suit,
action or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient
forum.

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      17. Binding Upon Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and
shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.

      18. Entire Agreement. The parties acknowledge the existence of outstanding
Stock Option Agreements, as well as an outstanding Incentive Agreement and a
Stock-Based Award Incentive Agreement. Otherwise, this Agreement constitutes the
entire agreement between OMNI and Employee with respect to the terms of
employment of Employee by OMNI and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, whether written or oral, between them concerning such terms of
employment except with respect to the payment referred to in Section 5(d)
hereof. Omni agrees that the benefits and protections afforded Employee pursuant
to the exculpation and indemnity provisions of Omni's bylaws and articles of
incorporation will not be diminished during the term of this Agreement.

      19. Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented, and any obligation hereunder may be waived, only by a written
instrument executed by the parties hereto. The waiver by either party of a
breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of any
subsequent breach. No failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay
in exercising, any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver hereof,
nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or remedy by such
party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right or remedy.

      20. Cumulative Rights And Remedies. All rights and remedies hereunder are
cumulative and are in addition to all other rights and remedies provided by law,
agreement or otherwise. Employee's obligations to OMNI and OMNI's rights and
remedies hereunder are in addition to all other obligations of Employee and
rights and remedies of OMNI created pursuant to any other agreement.

      21. Construction. Each party to this Agreement has had the opportunity to
review this Agreement with legal counsel. This Agreement shall not be construed
or interpreted against any party on the basis that such party drafted or
authored a particular provision, parts of or the entirety of this Agreement.

      22. Severability. In the event that any provision or provisions of this
Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable by any court of law or
otherwise, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless
continue to be valid, legal and enforceable as though the invalid or
unenforceable parts had not been included therein. In addition, in such event
the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as
to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible with respect
to those provisions which were held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

      23. Attorneys' Fees and Costs. If any action at law or in equity is
brought to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing
party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and necessary
disbursements in addition to any other relief to which it may be entitled.

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      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, OMNI and Employee have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.

                                 COMPANY:

                                 OMNI ENERGY SERVICES CORP.

                                 BY:____________________________________________
                                 NAME:__________________________________________
                                 TITLE:_________________________________________

                                 EMPLOYEE:

                                 _______________________________________________
                                 JAMES C. ECKERT

                                 COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

                                 BY:____________________________________________
                                 NAME:__________________________________________
                                 TITLE:_________________________________________

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                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                                   DEFINITIONS

      "Annual Base Salary" means the salary of Employee in effect at the
relevant time determined in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof.

      "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, each other Person who
controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Person
specified.

            "Cause" when used in connection with the termination of employment
with OMNI, means termination of employment at the direction of the Board of the
Company upon conviction of Employee of any felony involving moral turpitude,
including any felony for theft or embezzlement of Company property, or
conviction of a violation of federal securities laws.

      "Confidential Information" includes information conveyed or assigned to
OMNI or any of its Affiliates by Employee or conceived, compiled, created,
developed, discovered or obtained by Employee from and during Employee's
employment relationship with OMNI, whether solely by Employee or jointly with
others, which concerns the affairs of OMNI or its Affiliates and which OMNI
could reasonably be expected to desire be held in confidence, or the disclosure
of which would likely be embarrassing, detrimental or disadvantageous to OMNI or
its Affiliates and without limiting the generality of the foregoing includes
information relating to inventions, and the trade secrets, technologies,
algorithms, methods, products, services, finances, business plans, marketing
plans, legal affairs, supplier lists, client lists, potential clients, business
prospects, business opportunities, personnel assignments, contracts and assets
of OMNI or any of its Affiliates and information made available to OMNI or any
of its Affiliates by other parties under a confidential relationship.
Confidential Information, however, shall not include information (a) which is,
at the time in question, generally known in the industry or in the public domain
through no wrongful act of Employee, (b) which is later disclosed to Employee by
one not under obligations of confidentiality to OMNI or any of its Affiliates or
Employee, (c) which is required by court or governmental order, law or
regulation to be disclosed, or (d) which OMNI has expressly given Employee the
right to disclose pursuant to written agreement.

      "Disability" means that Employee (i) has become physically or mentally
incapable (excluding infrequent and temporary absences due to ordinary
illnesses) of properly performing the services required of him in accordance
with his employment obligations, (ii) such incapacity shall exist or be
reasonably expected to exist for more than 180 days in the aggregate during any
period of 12 consecutive months, and (iii) either Employee or the Compensation
Committee shall have given the other 60 days written notice of his or its
intention to terminate Employee's active employment because of such Disability.
Notwithstanding the foregoing definition, Employee shall be deemed to have
become disabled for purposes of this Agreement, if the insurer providing OMNI's
Disability policy shall find, during the term of such policy and pursuant to the
provisions of such policy, that Employee is so mentally or physically disabled
as to be unable to reasonably engage in his job responsibility and that such
Disability is permanent and will be continuous during the remainder of
Employee's life, and either the Employee or the Compensation Committee shall
have given the other 60 days written notice of his or its intention to terminate
Employee's active employment because of such Disability.

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      "Fair Market Value" means the average closing price per share of Company
common stock on the NASDAQ National Market over the five trading days prior to
the date of termination, times the number of nonvested Restricted Shares granted
Employee and the amount of the nonvested Stock-Based Award granted Employee on
November 4, 2003 pursuant to the Incentive Agreement dated of even date
herewith.

      "Person" means any individual, corporation, trust, partnership, limited
partnership, foundation, association, limited liability company, limited
liability partnership, joint stock association or other legal entity.

      "Restricted Period" means the period beginning on the effective date of
the termination of Employee's employment with OMNI and its Affiliates and ending
two (2) years after the termination of Employee's employment

      "Without Cause" When used in connection with the termination of employment
with OMNI, means the termination of Employee's employment by OMNI for any reason
that is not the result of death, Disability or termination for Cause.

                                       11<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.5

                                 JAMES C. ECKERT
                                STOCK-BASED AWARD
                               INCENTIVE AGREEMENT

      WHEREAS, Section 8 of the Fourth Amended and Restated Omni Energy Services
Corp. Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") authorizes the Compensation Committee of
the Board of Directors (or a subcommittee thereof) (the "Committee") to grant
stock-based awards to eligible participants in the Plan;

      WHEREAS, James C. Eckert is such an eligible participant (the "Employee");

      WHEREAS, under Section 10.6 of the Plan, a participant receiving a grant
of a stock-based award shall enter into an incentive agreement with OMNI Energy
Services Corp. (the "Company") setting forth the conditions of the grant; and

      WHEREAS, the Committee has awarded the Employee the stock-based award set
forth below;

      NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Employee hereby, for mutual good and
valuable consideration the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, enter into
this Stock-Based Award Incentive Agreement (the "Agreement"):

      1.    Grant of Stock-Based Award

            The Employee has been granted, effective October 1, 2003, the
      following stock-based award ("Stock-Based Award"):

            55% of 10% of the FMV greater than or equal to $1.00 but less than
            $1.50, plus

            55% of 15% of the FMV greater than or equal to $1.50 but less than
            $2.50; plus

            55% of 20% of the FMV greater than or equal to $2.50 but less than
            $10.00; plus

            55% of 15% of the FMV greater than or equal to $10.00 but less than
            $20.00; plus

            55% of 10% of the FMV greater than or equal to $20.00.

<PAGE>

      2.    Payment of Stock-Based Award

            The amount of the Stock-Based Award ("SBA") shall become fixed: (a)
      on the date of the Employee's termination of employment (for any reason
      other than resignation or Termination for Cause), (b) 90 days after the
      Employee's death or Disability or (c) upon a Change of Control. The amount
      of the SBA shall be paid in full, upon the occurrence of any of the events
      described in subparagraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) below, as follows:

            (i)   In cash in the event of a Change of Control;

            (ii)  In cash in the event of receipt by the Company of a bona fide
                  fair value offer the acceptance of which (though rejected by
                  the Board and not submitted to the Shareholders for a vote)
                  would result in a Change of Control, provided that the offer
                  is supported by an independent fairness opinion;

            (iii) In cash or on other mutually agreeable terms in the event of
                  Termination Without Cause; or

            (iv)  In the event of resignation or Termination for Cause, 100% of
                  the SBA shall be forfeited.

      3.    Definitions

            For purposes of this Agreement:

            (a)   "FMV" shall mean Fair Market Value which shall be the average
                  closing price per Share on the NASDAQ National Market over the
                  five prior trading days times the number of issued and
                  outstanding Shares; provided however, that for purposes of a
                  death or Disability valuation, the FMV shall be the average
                  closing price per Share on the NASDAQ National Market over the
                  ten (10) trading days commencing with the ninetieth (90th) day
                  following the death or the Disability determination;

            (b)   "Share" shall mean a share of common stock, $.01 par value per
                  share, of the Company;

            (c)   The term "Change of Control" is defined to include:

                  (i)   A tender offer or exchange offer made and consummated
                        for ownership of Company stock representing 80% or more
                        of the combined voting power of the Company's
                        outstanding securities;

                                       2

<PAGE>

                  (ii)  The sale or transfer of substantially all of the
                        Company's assets to another corporation which is not a
                        wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company;

                  (iii) Any merger or consolidation of the Company with another
                        corporation, where less than 20% of the outstanding
                        voting shares of the surviving or resulting corporation
                        are owned in the aggregate by the Company's stockholders
                        as of the record date entitling shareholders to vote on
                        a merger or consolidation; or

                  (iv)  Any contested election or other event (including one or
                        more voluntary resignations) which results in a 50% or
                        greater change in the composition of the independent
                        members of the Company's board of directors during the
                        period commencing on the day after the Company's annual
                        shareholders' meeting and ending at the close of
                        business of the Company's next annual shareholders'
                        meeting.

            (d)   The term "Disability" shall mean that Employee (i) has become
                  physically or mentally incapable (excluding infrequent and
                  temporary absences due to ordinary illnesses) of properly
                  performing the services required of him in accordance with his
                  employment obligations, (ii) such incapacity shall exist or be
                  reasonably expected to exist for more than 180 days in the
                  aggregate during any period of 12 consecutive months, and
                  (iii) either Employee or the Committee shall have given the
                  other 60 days written notice of his or its intention to
                  terminate Employee's active employment because of such
                  Disability. Notwithstanding the foregoing definition, Employee
                  shall be deemed to have become disabled for purposes of this
                  Agreement, if the insurer providing the Company Disability
                  policy shall find, during the term of such policy and pursuant
                  to the provisions of such policy, that Employee is so mentally
                  or physically disabled as to be unable to reasonably engage in
                  his job responsibility and that such Disability is permanent
                  and will be continuous during the remainder of Employee's
                  life, and either the Employee or the Committee shall have
                  given the other 60 days written notice of his or its intention
                  to terminate Employee's active employment because of such
                  Disability;

            (e)   The term "Termination for Cause" shall mean termination of
                  employment of the Employee at the direction of the Board of
                  the Company upon occurrence of any of the following events:

                  (i)   Employee's gross negligence or willful misperformance of
                        his duties for a period of thirty (30) days after
                        written notice of such determination by the Board and
                        Employee's failure to correct such conduct within such
                        thirty-day period;

                                       3

<PAGE>

                  (ii)  Employee's conviction of a felony;

                  (iii) Employee's conviction of any crime other than a felony
                        involving moral turpitude or dishonesty which, in the
                        reasonable opinion of the Board of the Company, after
                        consultation with the Employee, would impair Employee's
                        ability to perform his duties on a regular basis;

                  (iv)  Employee's willful failure or refusal to comply with
                        written Company policies, standards or regulations after
                        publication thereof and for a period of thirty (30) days
                        after written notice of such failure or refusal and the
                        reasonable determination of the Board that such
                        continued failure or refusal is likely to have a
                        material adverse impact on the Company;

                  (v)   Employee's breach of his duty of loyalty to the Company
                        where the Board of the Company determines that such
                        breach is reasonably likely to have a material adverse
                        impact on the Company and Employee fails to cure such
                        breach within thirty (30) days after written notice
                        thereof from the Company; or

                  (vi)  Reasonable determination by the Board of the Company
                        that Employee has committed a crime of fraud against, or
                        theft or embezzlement from, the Company.

            (f)   The term "Termination Without Cause" shall mean any
                  termination of employment that is not the result of
                  resignation, death, Disability or Termination for Cause;

            (g)   All other defined terms (reflected by an initial
                  capitalization) shall have the same meaning as under the Plan.

      4.    No Voting Rights

            The Employee shall have none of the rights of a shareholder with
      respect to the SBA.

      5.    No Right to Assign

            The SBA may not be assigned, pledged, alienated or transferred, but
      are heritable.

      6.    Tax Benefit Rights

            Any Tax Benefit Rights with respect to the SBA have been separately
      negotiated and granted outside this Agreement.

                                       4

<PAGE>

      7.    Other Terms and Conditions

            This Agreement shall be subject to the terms of the Plan (including
      tax withholding under Section 10 of the Plan), which shall be controlling.

      8.    Amendment

            This Agreement may be amended by written agreement signed by all the
      Signatories below.

      9.    Term

            This Agreement and all rights granted herein shall terminate on
      December 31, 2008 or upon termination of Employee's employment, whichever
      occurs last.

                                         EMPLOYEE:

      June __, 2004                      ____________________________
                                         James C. Eckert

                                         COMPENSATION COMMITTEE:

      June___, 2004                      By: _________________________
                                         Name: _______________________
                                         Title: ________________________

                                         COMPANY:

                                         Omni Energy Services Corp.

      June___, 2004                      By: _________________________
                                         Name: _______________________
                                         Title: ________________________

                                       5

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