Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 10.9

                       1988 NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
                                       OF
                              NOBLE AFFILIATES, INC.

                  AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE APRIL 24, 2001

                                     RECITALS

    A.  Effective as of July 26, 1988 (the "Effective Date"), the board of
directors (the "Board of Directors") of Noble Affiliates, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), hereby adopts this 1988 Nonqualified Stock
Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Plan").

    B.  The purposes of the Plan are to provide to each of the directors of
the Company who is not also either an employee or an officer of the Company
added incentive to continue in the service of the Company and a more direct
interest in the future success of the operations of the Company by granting
to such directors options (the "Options", or individually, the "Option") to
purchase shares of the Company's common stock, $3.33-1/3 par value (the
"Common Stock"), subject to the terms and conditions described below.

                                   ARTICLE I

                                    GENERAL

    1.01  DEFINITIONS.  For purposes of this Plan and as used herein,
"non-employee director" shall mean an individual who (a) is now, or hereafter
becomes, a member of the Board of Directors by virtue of an election by the
shareholders of the Company, (b) is neither an employee nor an officer of the
Company and (c) has not elected to decline to participate in the Plan
pursuant to the next succeeding sentence.  A director otherwise eligible to
participate in the Plan may make an irrevocable, one-time election, by
written notice to the Company within 30 days after his initial election to
the Board of Directors or, in the case of the directors in office on the
Effective Date, prior to shareholder approval of the Plan, to decline to
participate in the Plan.  For purposes of this Plan, "employee" shall mean an
individual whose wages are subject to the withholding of federal income tax
under Section 3401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time (the "Code"), and "officer" shall mean an individual elected or
appointed by the Board of Directors or chosen in such other manner as may be
prescribed in the By-laws of the Company to serve as such, except that for
the purposes of this Plan, the Chairman of the Board will not be deemed to be
an officer of the Company.

    For purposes of this Plan, and as used herein, the "fair market value" of
a share of Common Stock is the closing sales price on the date in question
(or, if there was no reported sale on such date, on the last preceding day on
which any reported sale occurred) of the Common Stock on the New York Stock
Exchange.

    1.02  OPTIONS.  The Options granted hereunder shall be options that are
not qualified under Section 422A of the Code.

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                                   ARTICLE II

                                 ADMINISTRATION

    The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors.  The Board of
Directors shall have no authority, discretion or power to select the
participants who will receive Options, to set the number of shares to be
covered by each Option, or to set the exercise price or the period within
which the Options may be exercised, or to alter any other terms or conditions
specified herein, except in the sense of administering the Plan subject to
the express provisions of the Plan and except in accordance with Sections
3.02(a) and 6.02 hereof.  Subject to the foregoing limitations, the Board of
Directors shall have authority and power to adopt such rules and regulations
and to take such action as it shall consider necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Plan, and to construe, interpret and administer the
Plan.  The decisions of the Board of Directors relating to the Plan shall be
final and binding upon the Company, the Holders, as defined hereinafter, and
all other persons.  No member of the Board of Directors shall incur any
liability by reason of any action or determination made in good faith with
respect to the Plan or any stock option agreement entered into pursuant to
the Plan.

                                   ARTICLE III

                                    OPTIONS

    3.01  PARTICIPATION.  Each non-employee director shall be granted Options
to purchase Common Stock under the Plan on the terms and conditions herein
described.

    3.02  STOCK OPTION AGREEMENTS.  Each Option granted under the Plan shall
be evidenced by a written stock option agreement, which agreement shall be
entered into by the Company and the non-employee director to whom the Option
is granted (the "Holder"), and which agreement shall include, incorporate or
conform to the following terms and conditions, and such other terms and
conditions not inconsistent therewith or with the terms and conditions of
this Plan as the Board of Directors considers appropriate in each case:

          (a)  OPTION GRANT DATE.  Options shall be granted initially as of the
    Effective Date to each non-employee director serving the Company as a
    director on such date.  Thereafter, on each July 1 during the term of the
    Plan until and including July 1, 2001, Options shall be granted
    automatically to the incumbent non-employee directors serving the Company
    as directors on such date.  Beginning on February 1, 2002, Options shall be
    granted to incumbent non-employee directors each year on February 1 during
    the term of the Plan.  Options shall be granted to new non-employee
    directors at the time of their election or appointment.  The date of grant
    of an Option pursuant to the Plan shall be referred to hereinafter as the
    "Grant Date" of such Option.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the
    contrary, the Board of Directors may revoke, on or prior to July 1, 2001 or
    on or prior to each subsequent February 1, the next automatic grant of
    Options otherwise provided for by the Plan if no options have been granted
    to employees since the preceding Grant Date under the Company's 1982 Stock
    Option Plan or any other employee stock option plan that the Company might
    adopt hereafter.

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          (b)  NUMBER.  Each non-employee director serving the Company as a
    director on the Effective Date shall be granted, as of such date, an Option
    to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product
    obtained by multiplying (i) the number of completed years such director
    has served the Company as a director by (ii) 500.  Thereafter, as of each
    subsequent Grant Date prior to July 1, 2001, each then current
    non-employee director shall be granted an Option to purchase the number
    of shares of Common Stock equal to the nearest number of whole shares
    determined in accordance with the following formula, subject to
    adjustment in accordance with Section 5.02 hereof:

             30,000                    =       Number of Shares of
    ---------------------------                Common Stock
    Number of Non-Employee Directors

    "Number of Non-Employee Directors" shall mean the number of non-employee
    directors serving the Company as a director on such Grant Date.  The
    formula set forth above will not be affected by any decision of the Board
    of Directors to revoke an automatic grant.

          If, on any July 1 during the term of the Plan prior to July 1, 2001,
    fewer than 30,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment in
    accordance with Section 5.02 hereof) remain available for grant on such
    date, such smaller number will be substituted for 30,000 as the numerator
    in the formula described above to determine the number of shares of
    Common Stock to be subject to each Option to be granted to each
    non-employee director on such date.

          Beginning on July 1, 2001 and on each Grant Date thereafter, each new
    non-employee director shall be granted an Option to purchase 10,000
    shares of Common Stock, upon election to the Board of Directors as a
    director, for his or her first year of service as a director.  On each
    subsequent Grant Date, each then current incumbent non-employee director
    who has completed his or her first year of service as a director shall be
    granted an Option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock.

          (c)  PRICE.  The price at which each share of Common Stock covered
    by an Option may be purchased pursuant to this Plan shall be the fair
    market value of the shares on the Grant Date of such Option.

          (d)  OPTION PERIOD.  Each Option shall be exercisable from time to
    time over a period (the "Option Period") commencing one year from the
    Grant Date of such Option and ending upon the expiration of ten years
    from the Grant Date, unless terminated sooner pursuant to the provisions
    described in Section 3.02(e) below; provided, however, that any Option
    granted pursuant to the Plan shall become exercisable in full upon the
    mandatory retirement of the Holder as a regular director because of age
    in accordance with Article III of the By-laws of the Company.

          (e)  TERMINATION OF SERVICE, DEATH, ETC.  Each stock option agreement
    shall provide as follows with respect to the exercise of the Option granted
    thereby in the event that

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    the Holder ceases to be a non-employee director for the reasons described
    in this Section 3.02(e):

              (i)  If the Holder ceases to be a director of the Company on
          account of such Holder's (A) fraud or intentional misrepresentation,
          or (B) embezzlement, misappropriation or conversion of assets or
          opportunities of the Company or any direct or indirect majority-owned
          subsidiary of the Company, then the Option shall automatically
          terminate and be of no further force or effect as of the date the
          Holder's directorship terminated;

              (ii)  If the Holder shall die during the Option Period while a
          director of the Company (or during the additional five-year period
          provided by paragraph (iii) of this Section 3.02(e)), the Option may
          be exercised, to the extent that the Holder was entitled to exercise
          it at the date of Holder's death, within five years after such death
          (if otherwise within the Option Period), but not thereafter, by the
          executor or administrator of the estate of the Holder, or by the
          person or persons who shall have acquired the Option directly from the
          Holder by bequest or inheritance; or

              (iii)  If the directorship of a Holder is terminated for any
          reason (other than the circumstances specified in paragraphs (i) and
          (ii) of this Section 3.02(e)) within the Option Period, the Option may
          be exercised, to the extent the Holder was able to do so at the date
          of termination of the directorship, within five years after such
          termination (if otherwise within the Option Period), but not
          thereafter.

          (f)  TRANSFERABILITY.  An Option granted under the Plan shall not be
    transferable by the Holder other than by will or the laws of descent and
    distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as
    defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security
    Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder.  The designation of a
    beneficiary by a Holder does not constitute a transfer.

          (g)  AGREEMENT TO CONTINUE IN SERVICE.  Each Holder shall agree to
    remain in the continuous service of the Company, at the pleasure of the
    Company's shareholders, at least until the earlier of one year after the
    date of the grant of any Option or the mandatory retirement of the Holder
    as a regular director because of age in accordance with Article III of
    the By-laws of the Company, at the retainer rate and fee schedule then in
    effect or at such changed rate or schedule as the Company from time to
    time may establish.

          (h)  EXERCISE, PAYMENTS, ETC.  Each stock option agreement shall
    provide that the method for exercising the Option granted thereby shall
    be by delivery to the President of the Company of, or by sending by
    United States registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to
    the Company (for the attention of its President) of, written notice
    signed by Holder specifying the number of shares of Common Stock with
    respect to which such Option is being exercised.  Such notice shall be
    accompanied by the full amount of the purchase price of such shares.  Any
    such notice shall be deemed to be given on the date on which the same was
    deposited in a regularly maintained receptacle for the deposit of United
    States mail, addressed and sent as above-stated.  In addition to the
    foregoing, promptly after

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    demand by the Company, the exercising Holder shall pay to the Company an
    amount equal to applicable withholding taxes, if any, due in connection
    with such exercise.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                   [Deleted]

                                   ARTICLE V

                            AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK

    5.01  COMMON STOCK.  The total number of shares of Common Stock as to
which Options may be granted pursuant to the Plan shall be 550,000, in the
aggregate, except as such number of shares shall be adjusted from and after
the Effective Date in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02 hereof.
If any outstanding Option under the Plan shall expire or be terminated for
any reason before the end of the Option Period, the shares of Common Stock
allocable to the unexercised portion of such Option may again be subject to
the Plan.  The Company shall, at all times during the life of any outstanding
Options, retain as authorized and unissued Common Stock at least the number
of shares from time to time included in the outstanding Options or otherwise
assure itself of its ability to perform its obligation under the Plan.

    5.02  ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK.  In the event the Company
shall effect a split of the Common Stock or dividend payable in Common Stock,
or in the event the outstanding Common Stock shall be combined into a smaller
number of shares, the maximum number of shares as to which Options may be
granted under the Plan shall be increased or decreased proportionately.  In
the event that before delivery by the Company of all of the shares of Common
Stock in respect of which any Option has been granted under the Plan, the
Company shall have effected such a split, dividend or combination, the shares
still subject to the Option shall be increased or decreased proportionately
and the purchase price per share shall be increased or decreased
proportionately so that the aggregate purchase price for all the then
optioned shares shall remain the same as immediately prior to such split,
dividend or combination.

    In the event of a reclassification of the Common Stock not covered by the
foregoing, or in the event of a liquidation or reorganization, including a
merger, consolidation or sale of assets, the Board of Directors of the
Company shall make such adjustments, if any, as it may deem appropriate in
the number, purchase price and kind of shares covered by the unexercised
portions of Options theretofore granted under the Plan.  The provisions of
this Section 5.02 shall only be applicable if, and only to the extent that,
the application thereof does not conflict with any valid governmental
statute, regulation or rule.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

    6.01  TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.  The Plan shall terminate whenever the
Board of Directors adopts a resolution to that effect.  If not sooner
terminated under the preceding sentence, the Plan

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shall wholly cease and expire at the close of business on July 25, 2006.
After termination of the Plan, no Options shall be granted under this Plan,
but the Company shall continue to recognize Options previously granted.

    6.02  AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN.  Subject to the limitations set forth in
this Section 6.02, the Board of Directors may from time to time amend,
modify, suspend or terminate the Plan.  No such amendment, modification,
suspension or termination shall (a) impair any Options theretofore granted
under the Plan or deprive any Holder of any shares of Common Stock which he
might have acquired through or as a result of the Plan, or (b) be made
without the approval of the shareholders of the Company where such change
would (i) increase the total number of shares of Common Stock which may be
granted under the Plan or decrease the purchase price under the Plan (other
than as provided in Section 5.02 hereof), (ii) materially alter the class of
persons eligible to be granted Options under the Plan, (iii) materially
increase the benefits accruing to Holders under the Plan or (iv) extend the
term of the Plan or the Option Period.

    6.03  TREATMENT OF PROCEEDS.  Proceeds from the sale of Common Stock
pursuant to Options granted under the Plan shall constitute general funds of
the Company.

    6.04  EFFECTIVENESS.  This Plan shall become effective as of the
Effective Date, subject to the conditions stated in the following sentence.
This Plan and each Option granted or to be granted hereunder is conditional
on and shall be of no force and effect, and no Option shall be exercised,
unless and until, (a) shareholder approval of the Plan by the affirmative
votes of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present, or
represented, and entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders duly held not
later than the date of the next annual meeting of shareholders and (b)
receipt by the Company of a favorable response from the staff of the
Securities and Exchange Commission to the Company's position to the effect
that (i) the Plan will meet the requirements of Rule 16b-3 and (ii) the
receipt of Options under the Plan by non-employee directors will not prohibit
them from continuing to be "disinterested persons" within the meaning of
paragraphs (b) and (d)(3) of Rule 16b-3 with respect to the Company's
employee stock option plans.

    6.05  PARAGRAPH HEADINGS.  The paragraph headings included herein are
only for convenience, and they shall have no effect on the interpretation of
the Plan.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Amended and
Restated 1988 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors on
this 24th day of April, 2001, effective as of April 24, 2001.

                                   NOBLE AFFILIATES, INC.

                                   By   CHARLES D. DAVIDSON
                                      ----------------------------------
                                   Name:  Charles D. Davidson
                                   Title:  President and Chief Executive Officer

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February 1, 2002

Mr. Charles D. Davidson
Noble Affiliates, Inc.
350 Glenborough, Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77067

Re:  EMPLOYMENT AND CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENTS

Dear Chuck:

This letter is to confirm and implement the decision reached at the meeting of
the Compensation, Benefits and Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors
that you attended on January 28, 2002.

Following a full discussion of the pros and cons to you and Noble Affiliates,
Inc. (the "Company") of either (1) amending your Employment Agreement with the
Company dated October 2, 2000 (the "Employment Agreement"), to provide for the
change of control benefits provided under the form of Change of Control
Agreement the Company recently entered into with certain key employees, or (2)
terminating the Employment Agreement and entering into a Change of Control
Agreement in such form, you expressed a preference for and it was mutually
agreed to implement the latter course of action. Accordingly, pursuant to the
provisions of Section 12 of the Employment Agreement and in consideration of the
execution by the Company of the Noble Affiliates, Inc. Change of Control
Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A, the Employment Agreement is hereby
terminated in its entirety and replaced by the Noble Affiliates, Inc. Change of
Control Agreement already executed by the Company and attached hereto as
Exhibit A, such termination and replacement to be effective February 1, 2002
and upon your execution and delivery to Al Hoppe of both this letter and said
Change of Control Agreement.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Michael A. Cawley
----------------------------------------
Michael A. Cawley
Lead Independent Director of the
Board of Directors of Noble Affiliates, Inc.

AGREED:

/s/ Charles D. Davidson
----------------------------------------
Charles D. Davidson

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                             NOBLE AFFILIATES, INC.
                           CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT

     This Change of Control Agreement ("Agreement") is made and effective as of
the 1st day of February, 2002, by and between Noble Affiliates, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Employer"), and Charles D. Davidson ("Executive").

                                    RECITALS

     The Board of Directors of Employer (the "Board") has determined that it is
in the best interests of Employer to assure that Employer will have the
continued dedication of Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or
occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below). The Board believes it is
imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of Executive by virtue of the
personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change of
Control, to encourage Executive's full attention and dedication to Employer
currently and in the event of any threatened or pending Change of Control, and
to provide Executive with compensation and benefit arrangements upon a
Termination Event (as defined below) that ensure that such compensation and
benefits are competitive with other corporations.

                                    AGREEMENT

     Now, therefore, in consideration of Executive's continued employment by
Employer, as well as the promises, covenants and obligations contained herein,
Employer and Executive agree as follows:

     1.   PAYMENT OF SEVERANCE AMOUNT. Upon the occurrence of a Termination
Event (as defined in paragraph 2), Employer shall:

          (a)  pay Executive all salary, unreimbursed expenses incurred by
Executive in the performance of his duties for Employer and other compensation
and benefits that are accrued but unpaid through the date of the termination
constituting such Termination Event (the "Termination Date"), payable as a lump
sum cash payment within 30 days following the Termination Date;

          (b)  pay Executive an amount equal to Executive's Annual Cash
Compensation (as defined in paragraph 2) multiplied by a factor of 2.99, payable
as a lump sum cash payment within 30 days following the Termination Date;

          (c)  pay Executive an amount equal to Executive's pro-rata (measured
as (i) the number of days expired, as of Termination Date, in the then-current
calendar year, divided by (ii) 365) target bonus for the then-current year;

          (d)  provide Executive with life, disability, medical and dental
insurance at the level provided at either the date of the occurrence of a Change
of Control or the Termination Date, as Executive shall in his sole discretion
elect by providing written notice to Employer, for thirty-six (36) months
following the Termination Date or such shorter period until Executive shall
obtain substantially equivalent insurance coverage from a subsequent employer,
if any, in the same manner as if Executive's employment had not been terminated
until the end of such period. Executive shall immediately notify Employer upon
obtaining any insurance from a subsequent employer and shall provide all
information required by Employer regarding such insurance to enable Employer to
make a determination of whether such insurance is substantially equivalent;

          (e)  notwithstanding Executive's termination of employment, preserve
Executive's rights to purchase the shares of Employer's capital stock that are
subject to then-outstanding options that have been granted to Executive by
Employer (or pursuant to a stock option plan of Employer), so that all

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such options remain or become exercisable in accordance with their terms as if
Executive's employment had not terminated; and

          (f)  upon receiving a detailed invoice for same, reimburse, up to a
maximum cumulative amount of 15,000 Dollars, Executive for the reasonable fees
of no more than one out-placement (or similar) service provider engaged by
Executive to assist in finding employment opportunities for Executive during the
twelve-month period following a Termination Date.

     2.   DEFINITIONS.

          (a)  A "TERMINATION EVENT" shall be deemed to have occurred if at any
     time within 24 months after a Change of Control, Employer or any successor
     thereto shall terminate Executive's employment for any reason other than
     for (A) Cause, as defined below, (B) incapacity due to physical or mental
     illness or (C) death. For this purpose, Executive's employment shall be
     deemed to have been terminated upon the actual termination of his
     employment or upon the occurrence of a Constructive Termination (as defined
     below).

          (b)  A "CHANGE OF CONTROL" shall be deemed to have occurred if:

               (i)   individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the
     Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least
     fifty-one percent (51%) of the Board, provided that any person becoming a
     director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
     election by Employer's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a
     majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be, for
     purposes of this Agreement, considered as though such person were a member
     of the Incumbent Board;

               (ii)  the stockholders of Employer shall approve a
     reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case, with respect to
     which persons who were the stockholders of Employer immediately prior to
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation do not, immediately
     thereafter, own outstanding voting securities representing at least
     fifty-one percent (51%) of the combined voting power entitled to vote
     generally in the election of directors ("Voting Securities") of the
     reorganized, merged or consolidated company;

               (iii) the stockholders of Employer shall approve a liquidation or
     dissolution of Employer or a sale of all or substantially all of the stock
     or assets of Employer; or

               (iv)  any "person," as that term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of
     the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (other
     than Employer, any of its subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan of
     Employer or any of its subsidiaries, or any entity organized, appointed or
     established by Employer for or pursuant to the terms of such a plan),
     together with all "affiliates" and "associates" (as such terms are defined
     in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such person (as well as any
     "Person" or "group" as those terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of
     the Exchange Act), shall become the "beneficial owner" or "beneficial
     owners" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act),
     directly or indirectly, of securities of Employer representing in the
     aggregate twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (A) the then
     outstanding shares of common stock, par value $3.33-1/3 per share, of
     Employer ("Common Stock") or (B) the Voting Securities of Employer, in
     either such case other than solely as a result of acquisitions of such
     securities directly from Employer. Without limiting the foregoing, a person
     who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement,
     understanding, relationship or otherwise has or shares the power to vote,
     or to direct the voting of,

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     or to dispose, or to direct the disposition of, Common Stock or other
     Voting Securities of Employer shall be deemed the beneficial owner of such
     Common Stock or Voting Securities.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing, a "Change of Control" of Employer shall
     not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of subparagraph (iv) of this
     paragraph 2(b) solely as the result of an acquisition of securities by
     Employer which, by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock or other
     Voting Securities of Employer outstanding, increases (i) the proportionate
     number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by any person to
     twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then
     outstanding or (ii) the proportionate voting power represented by the
     Voting Securities of Employer beneficially owned by any person to
     twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of all then
     outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that if any person
     referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this sentence shall thereafter become
     the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Common Stock or other
     Voting Securities of Employer (other than a result of a stock split, stock
     dividend or similar transaction), then a Change of Control of Employer
     shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of subparagraph (iv) of this
     paragraph 2(b).

     (c)  "ANNUAL CASH COMPENSATION" shall, as determined on the Termination
Date, be equal to the sum of (i) plus (ii), where "(i)" equals Executive's
annualized salary in effect on the date of the earliest Change of Control to
occur during the 18-month period prior to the Termination Date, and "(ii)"
equals the greater of (A) Executive's annual target bonus for the then-current
bonus period and (B) the average annual bonus paid or payable by Employer to
Executive for the three-year period (or for the period of Executive's
employment, if Executive has not been employed for all of such three-year
period) immediately preceding the date of the Change of Control.

     (d)  For purposes of this Agreement, "CAUSE" shall mean (i) the willful and
continued failure by Executive to perform his duties as President and Chief
Executive Officer of Employer or any of its subsidiaries or his continued
failure to perform duties reasonably requested or reasonably prescribed by the
Board (other than as a result of Executive's death or disability), (ii) the
engaging by Executive in conduct that is materially monetarily injurious to
Employer or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) gross negligence or willful
misconduct by Executive in the performance of his duties that results in, or
causes, material monetary harm to Employer or any of its subsidiaries, or (iv)
Executive's commission of a felony or other civil or criminal offense involving
moral turpitude. In the case of (i), (ii) and (iii) above, a finding of Cause
for termination shall be made only after reasonable notice to Executive and an
opportunity for Executive, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board.
A determination of Cause by the Board shall be effective only if agreed upon by
a majority of the directors.

     (e)  A "CONSTRUCTIVE TERMINATION" of Executive's employment with Employer
shall be deemed to have occurred if Employer:

          (i)   demotes Executive to a lesser position, in title or
responsibility, as compared to the highest position held by him with Employer at
the earlier of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the date on which a
tentative agreement is reached by Employer, or a public announcement is made,
regarding a proposed Change of Control that ultimately occurs;

          (ii)  decreases Executive's total annual compensation (i.e., the sum
of his annual salary, his target bonus under Employer's annual incentive bonus
plan or similar plan in effect at the applicable time and the value of other
employment benefits provided to Executive by Employer) below the level in effect
at the earlier of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the date on which a
tentative agreement is reached by Employer, or a public announcement is made,
regarding a proposed Change of

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Control that ultimately occurs; provided, however, that a decrease in total
annual compensation that results solely from an amendment or termination of any
employee or group or other executive benefit plan, which amendment or
termination is applicable to all executives of Employer, shall not constitute a
Constructive Termination; or

          (iii) requires or requests Executive to relocate to a principal office
more than 50 miles from the principal office at which Executive is employed
immediately prior to a Change of Control; provided, however, that a such a
requirement or request for a relocation shall constitute a Constructive
Termination only if made in connection with, and within 12 months after
consummation of, the event or transaction that constitutes (or the approval of
which constitutes) the Change of Control, and such 12-month period shall apply,
for purposes of determining whether an event specified in this clause (iii)
constitutes a Termination Event, in lieu of the 24-month period specified in
paragraph 2(a). For purposes of this clause (iii), it shall be presumed (and
Employer shall have the burden of proof to overcome such presumption) that a
requirement or request for a relocation is "in connection with" such an event or
transaction if it is made within the 12-month period specified in this
clause (iii).

     3.   GROSS UP PAYMENT. In the event that (i) the Executive becomes
entitled to the payment and benefits provided under Section 1 of this Agreement
(the "Change of Control Payment") and any of the Change of Control Payment will
be subject to the tax (the "Excise Tax") imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or any successor provision, or
(ii) any payments or benefits received or to be received by the Executive
pursuant to the terms of any other plan, arrangement or agreement (the "Benefit
Payments") will be subject to the Excise Tax, the Employer shall pay to the
Executive an additional amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount
retained by the Executive, after deduction of any Excise Tax on the Change of
Control Payment and the Benefit Payments, and any federal, state and local
income tax and Excise Tax upon the payment provided for by this Section 3, shall
be equal to the Change of Control Payment and the Benefit Payments; provided,
however, that in determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, any Excise Tax
on the Change of Control Payment and the Benefit Payments shall be determined
using a rate no higher than twenty percent (20%).

     For purposes of determining whether any of the Change of Control Payment
or the Benefit Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such
Excise Tax:

          (i)   any payments or benefits received or to be received by the
     Executive in connection with a change in control of the Employer or the
     Executive's termination of employment (whether pursuant to the terms of
     this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the
     Employer, any person whose actions result in change in control or any
     person affiliated with the Employer or such persons) shall be treated as
     "parachute payments" within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code,
     and all "excess parachute payments" within the meaning of
     Section 280G(b)(1) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, except to
     the extent that, in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Board of
     Directors of the Employer, such payments or benefits (in whole or in part)
     do not constitute parachute payments, or such excess payments (in whole or
     in part) represent reasonable compensation for services actually rendered
     within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4) of the Code;

          (ii)  the amount of the Change of Control Payment and the Benefit
     Payments that shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax shall be equal
     to the lesser of (A) the total amount of the Change of Control Payment and
     the Benefits Payments or (B) the amount of excess parachute payments within
     the meaning of Sections 280G(b)(1) and (4) (after applying clause (i),
     above); and

                                      -4-
<Page>

          (iii) the value of any non-cash benefits or any deferred payment or
     benefit shall be determined by tax counsel, selected by the Board of
     Directors of the Employer, in accordance with the principles of
     Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

     For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, the
Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal
rate of federal income taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up
Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal
rates of taxation in the state and locality of the Executive's residence on the
date of termination, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which
could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes. In the event
that the Excise Tax is subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken
into account hereunder at the time of termination of the Executive's employment,
the Executive shall repay to the Employer at that time that amount of such
reduction in Excise Tax as is finally determined to be the portion of the
Gross-Up Payment attributable to such reduction plus interest on the amount of
such repayment at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. In the
event that the Excise Tax is determined to exceed the amount taken into account
hereunder at the time of the termination of the Executive's employment
(including by reason of any payment the existence or amount of which cannot be
determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment), the Employer shall make an
additional gross-up payment to the Executive in respect of such excess (plus any
interest payable with respect to such excess) at the time that the amount of
such excess is finally determined.

     4.   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, (i) if
to Employer, then addressed to its principal business office, to the attention
of the corporate Secretary of Employer, and (ii) if to Executive, to his or her
residence address as reflected in Employer's records (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).

     5.   APPLICABLE LAW. This contract is entered into under, and shall be
governed for all purposes by, the internal laws of the State of Texas, without
regard to principles of conflicts of law requiring the application of the law of
another State.

     6.   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.

     7.   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.

     8.   WITHHOLDING OF TAXES. Employer may withhold from any benefits payable
under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as may be required
pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.

     9.   NO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. Nothing in this Agreement shall give
Executive any rights (or impose any obligations) to continued employment by
Employer or any subsidiary thereof or successor thereto, nor shall it give
Employer any rights (or impose any obligations) with respect to continued
performance of duties by Executive for Employer or any subsidiary thereof or
successor thereto.

                                      -5-
<Page>

     10.  PAYMENT AUTHORITY. Any officer of Employer (other than Executive) is
authorized to issue and execute a check, initiate a wire transfer or otherwise
effect payment on behalf of Employer to satisfy Employer's obligations to pay
all amounts due to Executive under this Agreement.

     11.  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 hereunder, except as provided in the
remainder of this paragraph 11. Without limiting the foregoing, Executive'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 his will or by the laws of descent or distribution, and in the event
of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this paragraph 11 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
Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.

          (b)  Employer may: (i) as long as it remains obligated with respect
to this Agreement, cause its obligations hereunder to be performed by a
subsidiary or subsidiaries for which Executive performs services, in whole or in
part; (ii) assign this Agreement and its rights hereunder in whole, but not in
part, to any party with or into which it may hereafter merge or consolidate or
to which it may transfer all or substantially all of its assets, if said party
shall by operation of law or expressly in writing assume to the reasonable
satisfaction of Executive all liabilities of Employer hereunder as fully as if
it had been originally named Employer herein; but Employer may not otherwise
assign this Agreement or its rights hereunder. Subject to the foregoing, this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Employer's
successors and assigns.

          (c)  The provisions of this paragraph 11 shall not prohibit or
restrict the assignment or transfer by Executive of any otherwise assignable or
transferable right of Executive to purchase the shares of Employer's capital
stock that are subject to any outstanding option that has been granted to
Executive by Employer (or pursuant to a stock option plan of Employer).

     12.  RELEASE AND FULL SETTLEMENT. Any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, as a condition to the receipt of any payment hereunder
upon the occurrence of a Termination Event, Executive shall first execute a
release, in such reasonable form as may be approved by the Board, releasing the
Board, Employer and Employer's affiliates, shareholders, officers, directors,
employees and agents from any and all claims and from any and all causes of
action of any kind or character, including but not limited to all claims or
causes of action arising out of Executive's employment with Employer or the
termination of such employment, and the performance of Employer's obligations
hereunder and the receipt by Executive of the payments provided hereunder shall
constitute full settlement of all such claims and causes of action.

     13.  MODIFICATIONS. This Agreement shall not be varied, altered, modified,
canceled, changed or in any way amended except by mutual agreement of the
parties in a written instrument executed by the parties hereto or their legal
representatives.

     14.  DISPUTE PROCEDURE AND ARBITRATION. Any dispute arising in connection
with this Agreement shall be resolved as follows:

     (a)  If Executive believes that he has been denied any payment or benefit
he is entitled to

                                      -6-
<Page>

receive under this Agreement, within 60 days following such denial Executive
shall file a written claim for such denied payment or benefit with the Corporate
Secretary of Employer. Such written claim shall detail the arguments and attach
copies of the documents that support Executive's claim for the denied payment or
benefit. Within 30 days after the receipt of such written claim, the Corporate
Secretary shall cause such claim to be reviewed by the appropriate officer(s) or
director(s) of the Employer and notify Executive as to whether he is entitled to
such payment or benefit. Such a notification from the Corporate Secretary shall
be in writing and, if denying Executive's claim for such payment or benefit,
shall set forth the specific reason or reasons for the denial and make specific
reference to the pertinent provisions of this Agreement.

     (b)  Any dispute arising in connection with this Agreement that is not
resolved to the satisfaction of Executive pursuant to the procedure provided for
in paragraph 14(a) above, shall be finally resolved by arbitration in Houston,
Texas, governed by the Federal Arbitration Act and conducted pursuant to and in
accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of
the American Arbitration Association. Either the Employer or the Executive may
request arbitration by sending written notice to the other party. In any such
arbitration, the only issues to be considered and determined by the
arbitrator(s) shall be issues pertaining to legal and equitable rights and
obligations of the parties under this Agreement and any applicable law. A
decision and award of the arbitrator(s) shall be final, and may be entered in
any court having jurisdiction thereof, and application may be made to such court
for judicial acceptance and/or an order enforcing such decision and/or award.
Judicial review of any decision or award shall be in accordance with the Federal
Arbitration Act, except that review of any award of punitive or exemplary
damages shall be conducted as if the award of such damages were made by a jury
sitting in a federal district court in Houston, Texas. In the event the
arbitrator(s) determine there is a prevailing party in the arbitration, the
prevailing party shall recover from the losing party all costs of arbitration,
including but not limited to the fees of the arbitrator(s) and reasonable
attorneys' fees incurred by the prevailing party. The provisions of this
paragraph 14(b) shall not be construed to limit or to preclude either party from
bringing an action in any court of competent jurisdiction for injunctive relief.

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

                                       NOBLE AFFILIATES, INC.

                                       By: /s/ Michael A. Cawley
                                           -------------------------------------
                                       Name:   Michael A. Cawley
                                       Title:  Lead Independent Director
                                               Board of Directors

                                      EXECUTIVE

                                       /s/ Charles D. Davidson
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Charles D. Davidson

                                      -7-

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