Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.28

                                    AGREEMENT

         This Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into this 5th day
of December, 2000, by and between North Coast Energy, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and Garry Regan ("Regan").

                                    RECITALS

         Regan is the President of the Company and is directly responsible for
overseeing the sales and marketing activities associated with the Company's
annual formation of one or more drilling programs. In connection with the
formation of the North Coast Energy 1999 Appalachian Private Drilling Program in
fiscal year 2000, the Company raised $5.2 million in drilling program capital, a
Company record for a single drilling program. The Company acknowledges that this
success was due, in large part, to the initiative demonstrated by Regan in the
exercise of his responsibility for overseeing this endeavor, and the Company
desires to reward Regan for his efforts.

         Now Therefore, in consideration of the agreements hereinafter set forth
and other good and valuable consideration, the adequacy of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

         1. EFFECTIVENESS OF AGREEMENT. The Agreement shall become effective
only upon the satisfaction of the following conditions: (a) the approval of this
Agreement by the Board of Directors of the Company and (b) the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by all parties hereto.

         2. BONUS AWARD. The Company hereby grants Regan a one-time cash bonus
of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) payable within thirty (30) days of execution
hereof, in consideration of exemplary service performed during fiscal year 2000
in connection with the raising of $5.2 million in drilling program capital for
the North Coast Energy 1999 Appalachian Private Drilling Program.

         3. OBLIGATION OF REGAN. Regan agrees that he will, within thirty (30)
days of receipt of the cash bonus, purchase on the open market the number of
shares of common stock of the Company that are equal in value as of the date of
purchase to the cash bonus of $50,000, less that amount of money that is
reasonably withheld by Regan in order to cover anticipated federal, state and
local income taxes that may be due and payable by Regan as a result of his
receipt of the cash bonus.

         4. SECURITIES REPRESENTATION. Regan acknowledges that he has previously
traded in the stock of the Company, is familiar with its historical performance
and liquidity, and that the Company has made no representation concerning the
future performance of the common stock of the Company, events that may have an
effect on its future performance, or the ability of Regan to realize a return on
his investment. Regan represents that the only inducement to the purchase of the
referenced shares of common stock is the obligation that he has undertaken
pursuant to this Agreement to use his cash bonus in such manner, and that as of
the date hereof he has no claim

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under any applicable state or federal securities law with respect to the
purchase of the shares of the common stock of the Company or that would subject
the Company to an obligation to repurchase the shares from Regan or pay him any
form of damages with respect thereto.

         5. CONFIDENTIALITY. Both Regan and the Company agree to maintain the
confidentiality of this Agreement and not to disclose its contents until such
date as either party may be required to make a disclosure to the Securities and
Exchange Commission, NASD or other governmental agency.

         6. ADVICE OF COUNSEL. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that
he/it has been advised that he/it has the right to consult with and has
consulted with an attorney of his/its own choice prior to executing this
Agreement and has a full understanding of its terms and meaning.

         7. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement represents the entire agreement of
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings, whether in the form of past written
agreements, drafts of understanding or oral understandings; provided, however,
any other agreement executed contemporaneous with this Agreement and dealing
with subject matter other than the herein described cash bonus shall remain in
full force and effect.

         8. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed under and the
rights of the parties hereto shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio
without regard to the principles of conflict of laws thereof. Any action brought
by either party to this Agreement arising out of or pertaining to the subject
matter of this Agreement shall be brought in the Court of Common Pleas of Summit
County, Ohio, or in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
Both parties consent to and waive any objection to venue and jurisdiction in
either of the foregoing courts, and do further hereby acknowledge any of the
aforementioned courts to be a proper forum.

         9. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in multiple
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which
together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. The signature of any party
to any counterpart, including any facsimile thereof, may be appended to any
other counterpart and when so appended shall constitute an original.

         10. BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the
parties, their respective heirs, successors and assigns.

         11. NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, or twenty-four (24)
hours after being sent by confirmed facsimile transmission, with subsequent mail
delivery, or three (3) days after being mailed (by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested), in each case to parties at the following addresses,
or such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice:

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                                a)  If to Regan:

                                    6735 Walnut Drive
                                    Gates Mills, Ohio 44040

                                    With a copy to:

                                    James P. Farmer, Jr., Esq.
                                    Schneider, Smeltz, Ranney & LaFond P.L.L.
                                    Suite 1000
                                    1111 Superior Avenue
                                    Cleveland, Ohio 441 14-2507

                                b)  If to the Company:

                                    North Coast Energy, Inc.
                                    1993 Case Parkway
                                    Twinsburg, Ohio 44087

                                    Attn:General Counsel

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have represented to one another that
they have carefully read the foregoing terms of this Agreement, that they know
and understand the contents of this Agreement, that they have authority to
execute this Agreement, that they have undertaken to sign the same as their own
respective free act and deed, having declared their intention to be bound
contractually by all such terms and conditions, and

do hereby execute and deliver this Agreement this 5th day of December, 2000.

                                   NORTH COAST ENERGY, INC.

                                        By:     /s/  Omer Yonel
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Omer Yonel
                                                Chief Executive Officer

                                                /s/ Garry Regan
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Garry Regan (Individually)<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.29

                                    AGREEMENT

         This Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into this 5th day
of December, 2000, by and between North Coast Energy, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, (the "Company"), and Garry Regan ("Regan").

                                    RECITALS:

         Regan is the President of the Company and is directly responsible for
overseeing the sales and marketing activities associated with the Company's
annual formation of one or more drilling programs. In June 2000, Private
Placement Memorandums were distributed to interested broker-dealers in
connection with the private placement of up to $5,000,000 of units of
partnership interest in the North Coast Energy 2000 Appalachian Private Drilling
Program (the "2000 Drilling Program").

         The Company's budget for fiscal year 2001 (which ends on March 31,
2001), anticipates that at least $3.5 million in the sale of units in the 2000
Drilling Program will be realized as a result of Regan's and the broker-dealer
network's efforts, although there is no certainty that such level of success
will be realized. Nevertheless, the Company is desirous of surpassing the amount
budgeted for in drilling program capital and the Company's management is
cognizant that there is now less than one month in which the funds can be raised
since the Private Placement Memorandum specifies a December 28, 2000, offering
termination date. In addition, the Company is cognizant that Regan's Restated
Employment Agreement with the Company will expire on May 2, 2001, and the
Company has advised Regan that his contract will not be renewed. In view of the
short period of time remaining in Regan's term of employment, the Company's
management, as well as its Stock Option and Compensation Committee, have
reviewed various methods of providing Regan with additional incentive to assist
in surpassing the Company's budget target and have concluded that it is in the
Company's best interests to incentivize Regan on the commission basis
hereinafter set forth.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements hereinafter set
forth and other good and valuable consideration, the adequacy of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

         1.      EFFECTIVENESS OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall become
                 effective only upon the satisfaction of the following
                 conditions: (a) the approval of this Agreement by the Board of
                 Directors of the Company and (b) the execution and delivery of
                 this Agreement by all parties hereto.

         2.      OBLIGATION OF REGAN. Regan agrees to use his best efforts to
                 meet the Company's fiscal 2001 budgeted drilling funds
                 objective and to surpass that threshold of sales. A use of best
                 efforts shall not, however, be interpreted in such a manner as
                 would require Regan to neglect the other responsibilities of
                 his office and no specific amount of sales shall be required to
                 establish Regan' s performance hereunder.

         3.      PAYMENT OF COMMISSION. Subject to the provisions of Section 4
                 hereinbelow, the

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                  Company agrees to pay Regan a commission of four percent (4%)
                  of the aggregate subscription amount received by the North
                  Coast Energy 2000 Appalachian Private Drilling Program,
                  determined as of December 28, 2000. This commission will not
                  be due and payable until May 2, 2001, the last day of the term
                  of Regan's Restated Employment Agreement with the Company. The
                  Company may, in its sole discretion, elect to make payment of
                  the accrued commission, without interest, in two equal
                  installments, one payable on May 2, 2001, and the second on
                  July 2, 2001, the first business day of the ensuing fiscal
                  quarter. Such election shall be made and communicated to Regan
                  no later than April 20, 2001. Notwithstanding the date
                  prescribed for calculation of the commission, Regan shall not
                  be entitled to commission on any subscriptions which are
                  subsequently refunded to the investor, for any reason
                  whatsoever, or on any monies invested by the Company or any of
                  its affiliates. If any of the units upon which a commission is
                  to be paid are, as of May 2, 2001, the subject of litigation
                  or threatened litigation in which a claim for rescission of
                  the original subscription is made, then the Company may
                  withhold payment of the commission attributable to such units
                  until such time as the litigation is resolved.

         4.       DISCRETION OF COMPANY IN EXERCISE OF GREENSHOE PROVISION. It
                  is acknowledged by the parties that the Private Placement
                  Memorandum contains a greenshoe provision which enables the
                  Company, in its sole discretion, to increase the maximum
                  aggregate subscriptions that may be accepted by the Company
                  from $5,000,000 to $6,000,000. Notwithstanding any other
                  provision of the Agreement, the Company shall have no
                  obligation to accept more than $5,000,000 in maximum aggregate
                  subscriptions for the 2000 Drilling Program and Regan shall at
                  no time be entitled to or have a claim for any commission on
                  subscriptions accepted by the Company in excess of the maximum
                  aggregate amount of $5,000,000, it being agreed that only
                  those subscriptions up to and including an aggregate of
                  $5,000,000 shall be subject to the payment of a commission
                  hereunder.

         5.       NO GUARANTY OF CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT. Nothing contained in this
                  Agreement shall be so construed as to provide Regan with a
                  guaranty of continued employment under all circumstances for
                  the remainder of his Restated Employment Agreement, it being
                  understood that the Company reserves its rights thereunder
                  with respect to the provisions concerning termination for
                  cause.

         6.       CONFIDENTIALITY. . Both Regan and the Company agree to
                  maintain the confidentiality of this Agreement and not to
                  disclose its contents until such date as either party may be
                  required to make a disclosure to the Securities and Exchange
                  Commission, NASD or other governmental agency.

         7.       ADVICE OF COUNSEL. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges
                  that he/it has been advised that he/it has the right to
                  consult with and has consulted with an attorney of his/its own
                  choice prior to executing this Agreement and has a full
                  understanding of its terms and meaning.

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<PAGE>   3

         8.      ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement represents the entire
                 agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject
                 matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and
                 understandings, whether in the form of past written agreements,
                 drafts of understanding or oral understandings; provided,
                 however, any other agreement executed contemporaneous with this
                 Agreement and dealing with subject matter other than the herein
                 described incentive commission plan shall remain in full force
                 and effect.

         9.      GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed under and the
                 rights of the parties hereto shall be governed by the laws of
                 the State of Ohio without regard to the principles of conflict
                 of laws thereof. Any action brought by either party to this
                 Agreement arising out of or pertaining to the subject matter
                 of this Agreement shall be brought in the Court of Common
                 Pleas of Summit County, Ohio, or in the U.S. District Court
                 for the Northern District of Ohio. Both parties consent to and
                 waive any objection to venue and jurisdiction in either of the
                 foregoing courts, and do further hereby acknowledge any of the
                 aforementioned courts to be a proper forum.

         10.     COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in multiple
                 counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and
                 all of which together shall constitute one and the same
                 Agreement. The signature of any party to any counterpart,
                 including any facsimile thereof, may be appended to any other
                 counterpart and when so appended shall constitute an original.

         11.     BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
                 the parties, their respective heirs, successors and assigns.
                 Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, Regan shall not be
                 permitted to delegate his responsibilities hereunder, and any
                 such attempt to delegate the best efforts obligation contained
                 in Section 2 hereof to another person or entity shall act as a
                 termination of the obligation of the Company to pay a
                 commission to Regan on any units that may be sold after the
                 date of such attempted delegation.

         12.     NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall
                 be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered
                 personally, or twenty-four (24) hours after being sent by
                 confirmed facsimile transmission, with subsequent mail
                 delivery, or three (3) days after being mailed (by registered
                 or certified mail, return receipt requested), in each case to
                 parties at the following addresses, or such other address for a
                 party as shall be specified by like notice:

                          a)   If to Regan:

                               6735 Walnut Drive
                               Gates Mills, Ohio 44040

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<PAGE>   4

                               With a copy to:

                               James P. Farmer, Jr., Esq.
                               Schneider, Smeltz, Ranney & LaFond P.L.L.
                               Suite 1000
                               1111 Superior Avenue
                               Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2507

                          b)   If to the Company:

                               North Coast Energy, Inc.
                               1993 Case Parkway
                               Twinsburg, Ohio 44087

                               Attn:  General Counsel

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have represented to one another that
they have carefully read the foregoing terms of this Agreement, that they know
and understand the contents of this Agreement, that they have authority to
execute this Agreement, that they have undertaken to sign the same as their own
respective free act and deed, having declared their intention to be bound
contractually by all such terms and conditions, and do hereby execute and
deliver this Agreement this 5 day of December, 2000.

                                            NORTH COAST ENERGY, INC.

                                            By:    /s/ Omer Yonel
                                                   ---------------
                                                   Omer Yonel
                                                   Chief Executive Officer

                                                   /s/ Garry Regan
                                                   ----------------
                                                   Garry Regan (Individually)

                                      -4-

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