Document:

Pacific China Asia

      

PRODUCTION SHARING CONTRACT

FOR EXPLOITATION OF COALBED METHANE RESOURCES

IN BAOTIAN-QINGSHAN, GUIZHOU PROVINCE,

THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

 CHINA UNITED COALBED METHANE CORP. LTD.,

AND

ASIACANADA ENERGY INC, ALBERTA

BEIJING, CHINA

Contents

Preamble

1

Article 1

Definitions

2

Article 2

Objective of the Contract

7

Article 3

Contract Area

7

Article 4

Contract Term

8

Article 5

Relinquishment of Contract Area

10

Article 6

Minimum Exploration Work Commitment

and Expected Minimum Exploration

Expenditures

12

Article 7

Management Organization

and Its Functions

14

Article 8

Operator

19

Article 9

Assistance Provided by CUCBM

23

Article 10

Work Program and Budget

24

Article 11

Determination of Commerciality of CBM

26

Article 12

Financing and Cost Recovery

28

Article 13

CBM Production and Allocation

30

Article 14

Quality, Quantity, Price, and Destination of CBM

34

Article 15

Employment of Personnel, and Procurement of Goods and

Services

38

Article 16

Training of Chinese Personnel

39

Article 17

Ownership of Assets and Data

41

Article 18

Accounting, Auditing and

Personnel Costs

42

Article 19

Taxation

44

Article 20

Insurance

44

Article 21

Confidentiality

46

Article 22

Assignment

48

Article 23

Health, Safety and 

Environmental Protection

49

Article 24

Force Majeure

50

Article 25

Consultation and Arbitration

51

Article 26

Effectiveness and Termination

of the Contract

52

Article 27

The Applicable Law

54

Article 28

Language of the Contract and

Working Language

54

Article 29

Miscellaneous

54

Annex I

Geographical Location and Coordinates

of Connecting Points of the Boundary

Lines of the Contract Area                             I-1

Annex II

Accounting Procedure                                    II-1

Annex III

Personnel Costs                                            III-1

Annex IV

Data Control                                                  IV-1

Preamble

This Contract is entered into in Beijing on this      day of ______, _____, by and between China United CBM Corporation Ltd. (hereafter abbreviated as "CUCBM"), a company organized and existing under the laws of the People's Republic of China, having its headquarters domiciled in Beijing, the People's Republic of China as one part; and AsiaCanada Energy Inc., ALBERTA, a company organized and existing under the laws of the Province of Alberta, Canada, having its headquarters domiciled in Calgary, Alberta (hereinafter referred to as the "Foreign Contractor" or "Contractor") as the other part.

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, all coalbed methane resources under the territory and internal waters of the People's Republic of China and within the limits of national jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China are owned by the People's Republic of China; and

WHEREAS, CUCBM shall be responsible for business matters in respect of the ex­ploitation of coalbed methane resources in cooperation with foreign enterprises, and for negotiating, entering into and implementing contracts for the exploitation of coalbed methane resources in cooperation with foreign enterprises and to have the exclu­sive right to explore for, develop and produce the coalbed methane in cooperation with foreign enterprises in areas approved by the State Council for exploitation of coalbed methane resources in cooperation with foreign enterprises and the exclusive authority to enter into this Contract as authorized by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China; and

WHEREAS, the Foreign Contractor desires and agrees to provide funds, and apply appropriate technology and managerial experience to cooperate with CUCBM for the exploitation of coalbed methane resources within the Contract Area and agrees to be subject to the laws, decrees, and other rules and regulations of the People's Republic of China in the implementation of the Contract.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS MUTUALLY AGREED as hereafter set forth:

1

Article 1

Definitions

The following words and terms used in the Contract shall have, unless otherwise specified herein, the following meanings:

1.1

"Coalbed Methane" or "CBM" means any gas mainly consisting of methane stored in coal seams and/or adjacent strata (including in the overlying and underlying strata) within the Contract Area.

1.2

“JMC” means the joint management committee established in accordance with Article 7 hereof.

1.3

"Coalbed Methane Discovery" or "CBM Discovery" means a potential Coalbed Methane reservoir worth further evaluation proved by exploration within the Contract Area.

1.4

"Coalbed Methane Field" or "CBM Field" means an accumulation of Coalbed Methane or otherwise within the Contract Area which has been determined to be of commercial value and for which it has been decided to proceed with development.  The accumulation may be bounded by but is not limited to geologic structure, fault blocks, coal discontinuities or topographical features.  Fields may also be designated as areas of similar geologic characteristics including but not limited to coal thickness, drill depths, and gas content.

1.5

"Petroleum" means Crude Oil and Natural Gas deposited in the subsur­face and being extracted or already extracted, including any valuable non-hydrocarbon substances produced in association with Crude Oil and/or Natural Gas separated or extracted therefrom.

1.6

"Coalbed Methane Operations" or "CBM Operations" means the Exploration Operations, the Develop­ment Operations, the Production Operations, and other activities related to these Operations carried out under the Contract.

1.7

"Liquid Hydrocarbons" means any liquid hydrocarbons extracted from CBM. 

1.8

"Exploration Operations" means operations carried out for the purpose of discovering and evaluating CBM bearing areas by means of geological, geo­physical, geochemical and other methods including exploratory well drilling; all the work undertaken to determine the commerciality of areas in which CBM has been discovered including core drill­ing, modeling, area selection, feasibility studies, Pilot Development (including production therefrom), formulation of the Overall Development Pro­gram; and activities related to all such operations including negotiation and execution of longterm transportation and sales contracts.

2

1.9

"Development Operations" means operations carried out for the realiza­tion of CBM production from the date of approval of the Overall Development Program for any CBM Field, including planning, design, construction, installation, drill­ing, developing transportation systems, and the related research work as well as production activities, carried out before the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production.

1.10

"Production Operations" means operations and all activities related thereto carried out for CBM production of each CBM Field from the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production, including, but not limited to extraction, injection, stimulation, treatment, storage, transportation and lifting, etc.

1.11

"Contract Area " means a surface area demarcated with geographic co­ordinates for the cooperative exploitation of CBM resources, and in the Contract, means the surface area stipulated in Article 3.1 hereof.

1.12

"Exploration Area" means the surface area within the Contract Area which has not been relinquished before the expiration of the exploration period hereof and in which Development Operations and Production Operations have not begun.

1.13

"Development Area" means a portion of the Contract Area covering a CBM Field which has been designated for development. The Development Area(s) shall be proposed by the Oper­ator, demarcated by the JMC and de­lineated as such in the Overall Development Program submitted for approval and approved by the Department Designated by the State Council.

1.14

"Production Area" means a surface area within any Development Area for the purpose of the performance of the Production Operations within the said Development Area. The Production Area proposed by the Operator, demarcated by JMC shall be submitted to CUCBM for approval before the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production.

1.15

"Date of Commencement of Commercial Production"for any CBM Field means the date of commencement of the production of CBM from such CBM Field proposed and announced by JMC in ac­cordance with the provisions in Article 7.2.5 hereof.

1.16

"Calendar Year" means a period of twelve (12) consecutive Gregorian months under the Gregorian Calendar, beginning on the first day of Jan­uary and ending on the thirty-first day of December in the same year.

1.17

"Contract Year" means a period of twelve (12) consecutive Gregorian months under the Gregorian Calendar, within the term of the Contract, beginning on the Date of Commencement of the Implementation of the Contract or any anniversary thereof.

3

1.18

"Production Year" means in respect of each CBM Field, a period of twelve (12) consecutive Gregorian months under the Grego­rian Calendar, beginning on the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production of such CBM Field or any anniversary thereof.

1.19

"Calendar Quarter" means a period of three (3) consecutive Gregorian months under the Gregorian Calendar, beginning on the first day of Jan­uary, the first day of April, the first day of July, or the first day of Oc­tober.

1.20

"Exploration Well" means any well drilled within the Contract Area during the exploration period for the purpose of searching for CBM accumulations, including wells drilled for the purpose of obtaining geological and geophysical parameters, any dry hole(s) and discovery well(s).

1.21

“Pilot Development” means the installation and operation of necessary equipment within the Contract Area (including wells) aiming at evaluating, through pilot production of Coalbed Methane, the potential commercial value of the Coalbed Methane in a specific area.

1.22

"Development Well" means a well drilled after the date of approval of the Overall Development Program for CBM Field for the purpose of producing CBM, increasing production or accelerat­ing extraction of CBM, including production wells, injection wells and dry holes.

1.23 

"Work Program" means all types of plans formulated for the perfor­mance of the CBM Operations, including but not limited to plans for exploration, de­velopment, production, transportation and sales.

1.24

"Overall Development Program" means a plan prepared by the Operator for the development of a CBM Field or part of a CBM Field (phased development) which has been reviewed and adopted by JMC, confirmed by CUCBM and approved by the Department Designated by the State Council, and such plan shall include, but not be limited to, recoverable reserves, the Development Well pattern, master design, production profile, economic analysis and time schedule of the Development Operations.

1.25

"Deemed Interest" means interest accruing on the development costs calculated in accordance with the rate of interest stipulated in Article 12.2.3.2 hereof when the development costs incurred in each CBM Field within the Contract Area are recovered by the Parties.

1.26

"CBM Field Straddling a Boundary" means a CBM Field extending from the Contract Area to one or more other contract areas and/or areas in respect of which no CBM contracts have been signed.

4

1.27

"Annual Gross Production of CBM" means the total amount of CBM produced from each CBM Field within the Contract Area considered separately in each Calendar Year, less the amount of CBM used for CBM Operations in such CBM Field within the Contract Area and the amount of losses, which is saved and measured by a measuring device at the Delivery Point as specified in Article 14.3.1 hereof.

1.28

"Annual Gross Production of Liquid Hydrocarbons" means the total amount of Liquid Hydrocarbons produced from each CBM Field within the Contract Area con­sidered separately in each Calendar Year, less the amount of Liquid Hydrocarbons used for CBM Operations in such CBM Field within the Contract Area and the amount of losses, which is saved and mea­sured by a measuring device at the Delivery Point as specified in Article 14.3.1 hereof.

1.29

"Basement" means igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks or rocks of such nature which, or formations below which, could not contain CBM deposits in accordance with the knowledge generally accepted in the international Coalbed Methane industry circle and shall also include such im­penetrable rock substances as salt domes, mud domes and any other rocks which make further drilling impracticable or economically unjusti­fiable by the modern drilling technology normally utilized in the inter­national Coalbed Methane industry.

1.30

"Contractor" means the Foreign Contractor specified in the Preamble hereto, including assignee(s) in accordance with Article 22 hereof.

1.31

"Parties" means CUCBM and the Contractor.

1.32

"Party" means either of the Parties.

1.33

"Operator" means the entity responsible for the performance of the CBM Operations under the Contract.

1.34

"Subcontractor" means an entity which provides the Operator with goods or services for the purpose of the Contract.

1.35

"Third Party" means any individual or entity except CUCBM, the Contrac­tor and any of their Affiliates.

1.36

"Chinese Personnel" means any citizen of the People's Republic of Chi­na, including CUCBM's personnel and Chinese citizens employed by the Contractor and/or the Subcontractor(s), involved in Coalbed Methane Opera­tions under the Contract.

5

1.37

"Expatriate Employee" means any person employed by the Contractor, Subcontractor(s), or CUCBM who is not a citizen of the People's Republic of China. Overseas Chinese who reside abroad and have the nationality of the People's Republic of China and other Chinese abroad, when they are employed by the Contractor, Subcontractor(s) or CUCBM, shall also be deemed to be Expatriate Employees within the scope of the Contract.

1.38

"Affiliate" means in respect of the Contractor:

(a)

any entity in which any company comprising Contractor directly or indi­rectly holds fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting rights carried by its share capital; or

(b)

any entity which directly or indirectly holds fifty percent (50%) or more of the aforesaid voting rights of any company comprising the Contrac­tor; or

(c)

any other entity whose aforesaid voting rights are held by an entity mentioned in (b) above in an amount of fifty percent (50%) or  more; 

    

"Affiliate" means, in respect of CUCBM, any subsidiary, branch, or re­gional corporation of CUCBM and any entity in which CUCBM directly or indirectly holds fifty percent (50%) or more of the  voting rights carried by its share capital.

1.39

"Delivery Point" means a point or points agreed upon by the Parties for the delivery of CBM or Liquid Hydrocarbon located within or outside the Contract Area and specified in the Overall Development Program.

1.40

"Department Designated by the State Council. " means the department which is designatedby the State Council of the People's Republic of China to be responsible for administration of the Coalbed Methane industry of the People's Republic of China.

1.41      "Date of Commencement of the Implementation of the Contract" means the first day of the month following the month in which the Contractor has re­ceived notification from CUCBM in writing, together with the original certificate, of the approval of the Contract by the Min­istry of Commerce  of the People's Republic of China.

 

6

Article 2

Objective of the Contract

2.1

The objective of the Contract is to explore for, develop, produce and sell Coalbed Methane or Liquid Hydrocarbons that may exist in the Contract Area.

2.2

The Contractor shall apply appropriate technology and as­sign competent experts to perform the Coalbed Methane Operations.

2.3

During the performance of the CBM Operations, the Contractor shall, as far as practicable and appropriate, train Chinese personnel in accordance with Arti­cle 16 hereof.

2.4

The Contractor shall bear all the exploration costs required for the Ex­plora­tion Operations. In the event that any CBM Field is dis­covered within the Contract Area, the development costs of such CBM Field shall be borne by the Parties in proportion to their participating interests: forty percent (40%) by CUCBM and sixty percent (60%) by the Contractor. In the event that CUCBM opts to participate at a level less than forty percent (40%) of the participat­ing interests, or not to participate in the development of the CBM Field, the Contractor shall bear the remaining development costs neces­sary for the development of the CBM Field in accordance with Ar­ticle 12.1.2 hereof.

2.5

If any CBM Field is discovered within the Contract Ar­ea, the CBM and/or Liquid Hydrocarbons produced therefrom shall be allo­cated in accor­dance with Articles 12 and 13 hereof.

2.6

Nothing contained in the Contract shall be deemed to confer any right on the Contractor other than those rights expressly granted hereunder. 

Article 3

Contract Area

3.1

The Contract Area as of the date of signature of the Contract covers a total area of Nine Hundred Forty Six Point Eight Nine Nine ( 946.899 ) square kilometers, consisting of Baotian and Qingshan as marked out by the geographic location and the coordinates of the connecting points of the boundary lines shown on An­nex I attached hereto.

The said total area of the Contract Area shall be reduced in accordance with Articles 4, 5 and 11 hereof.

7

3.2

Except for the rights as expressly provided by the Contract, no right is granted in favor of the Contractor to the surface area, subsurface area, lake bed, stream bed, subsoil and any bodies of water or any natural resources or aquatic resources other than CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons, existing therein and any things under the surface within the Contract Area.

3.3

CUCBM shall obtain and/or shall use its best efforts to assist the Operator to obtain all necessary governmental licenses, permits and approvals for the Contract Area with respect to the CBM Operations.

Article 4

Contract Term

4.1

The term of the Contract shall include an exploration period, a develop­ment period and a production period. 

4.2

The exploration period, beginning on the Date of Commencement of the Implementation of the Contract, shall be divided into two (2) phases and shall consist of four(4) consecutive Contract Years, unless the Contract is sooner ter­minated, or the exploration period is extended in accordance with Article 24 hereof and Article 4.3 herein. The two (2) phases shall be as follows: 

the first phase of two  (2.0) Contract Years (the first Contract Year through the twelve month of the second Contract Year) for core testing; 

the second phase of two (2.0) Contract Years (the first month of the third Contract Year through the fourth Contract Year) for Pilot Development. 

8

4.3

When time is insufficient to complete the Pilot Development work on a CBM Discovery made shortly before the expiration of the exploration period or when the time of the Pilot Development work on a CBM Discov­ery in accordance with the Pilot Development Work Program approved by JMC as stated in Article 11 hereof extends beyond the exploration period and/or where there is no transportation or market access or consuming facilities and/or the Parties have not completed long-term transportation and sales agreements in respect of the CBM, CBM Products or Liquid Hydrocarbons, the exploration period as described in Article 4.2 herein shall be extended. The period of extension shall be approved by Ministry of Commerce and which shall be a reasonable period of time, in accordance with international CBM practice, required to com­plete the above-mentioned work and for transportation and market access and consuming facilities to develop and for the Parties to negotiate longterm transportation and sales agreements in respect of the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons in order to enable JMC to make a deci­sion on the commerciality of the said CBM Discovery in accordance with Arti­cle 11 hereof and submits an acceptable Overall Development Program to the Department Designated by the State Council, and until the Department Designated by the State Council. makes its final decision on the Overall Development Program.  

4.4

The development period of any CBM Field within the Contract Area shall begin on the date of approval of the Overall Development Program of the said CBM Field, and end on the date of the entire completion of the Develop­ment Operations set forth in the Overall Development Program (which may continue beyond the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production), exclud­ing the time for carrying out other additional de­velopment projects during the pro­duction period in accordance with Article 11.10 hereof.

4.5

The production period of any CBM Field within the Contract Area shall be a period beginning on the Date of Commencement of commercial production of the said CBM Field up to the Date of the expiration of the production period as specified in the Overall Development Program approved. However, the period shall not go beyond twenty (20) Consecutive Production Years beginning on the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production of the said CBM Field, unless otherwise provided in Article 4.6 herein and Article 24 hereof. Under such circumstances as where the construction of an CBM Field is to be conducted on a large scale, and the time span required therefore is long, or where separate production of each of the multiple CBM producing zones of an CBM Field is required, or under other special circumstances, the production period thereof shall, when it is necessary, be properly extended with the approval of the Department Designated by the State Council..

4.6

Suspension or abandonment of production of a CBM Field.

9

4.6.1

Suspension of production from a CBM Field within the production period

       

In the event that the Parties agree to suspend temporarily production from a CBM Field, which has entered into commercial production, the Pro­duction Area covered by the CBM Field shall be retained within the Contract Area. In no event shall the period of such retention extend beyond the date of the expiration of the production period of that CBM Field, unless extended pursuant to Article 24.4 hereof. The duration of the relevant period of production suspension and the arrangement for the maintenance opera­tions during the aforesaid period of suspension shall be proposed by the Operator, and shall be decided by JMC through discussion. With respect to the aforesaid CBM Field which has been suspended and retained within the Contract Area, in the event that production is restored during the period of such retention, the production period of that CBM Field shall be extended corre­spondingly. In the event that the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the restora­tion of production by the expiration of the production suspension period decid­ed by JMC through discussion, the Party who wishes to restore produc­tion shall have the right to restore production solely. The other Party may later elect to participate in production by paying to the other party its participating interest share of the costs incurred in restoring such production, but shall have no rights or obligations in respect of such CBM Field for the production during such solely restored production period.

In any event, the obligation for abandonment and site restoration shall rest solely with the Party(s) which participate in the restored production; which shall indemnify and hold harmless any other non-participating Party from any costs, expenses or claims arising out of such obligation.

4.6.2

Abandonment of production from a CBM Field within the production period.

4.6.2.1

During the production period, either Party to the Contract may propose to abandon production from any CBM Field within the Contract Area, provided, however, that prior written notice shall be given to the other Party to the Contract. The other Party shall make a response in writing within ninety (90) days from the date on which the said notice is received. If the other Party also agrees to aban­don production from the said CBM Field, then aban­don­ment costs shall be paid by the Parties in proportion to their participat­ing inter­ests in such CBM Field. The Parties shall aban­don such CBM Field in accordance with procedure agreed on by the Parties. From the date on which the abandonment is completed, the production period of such CBM Field shall be terminated and such CBM Field shall be exclud­ed from the Contract Area.

10

4.6.2.2

If the Contractor notifies CUCBM in writing of its decision to abandon production from a CBM Field, while CUCBM decides not to aban­don production from such CBM Field, then from the date on which the Contractor receives CUCBM's written response of its aforesaid decision, namely Abandonment Date, all of the Contractor's rights and obligations under the Con­tract in respect of the said CBM Field, including, but not limited to, any obligation with respect to abandonment and site restoration in respect of such CBM Field shall be transferred to CUCBM and terminated automatically with respect to Contractor, provided that the Contractor shall not transfer to CUCBM any of the Contractor's debts, existing liabilities and obligations in respect of the said CBM Field. In addition, the Con­tractor shall undertake and enjoy its respective existing obligations and rights under the Contract pri­or to the Abandonment Date. From the Abandonment Date, the said CBM Field shall be excluded from the Contract Area.

4.7

The term of the Contract shall not go beyond thirty (30) consecutive Contract Years from the Date of Commencement of the Implementation of the Contract, unless otherwise stipulated hereunder.  

Article 5

Relinquishment of the Contract Area

5.1

The Contractor shall relinquish a portion or portions of the Contract Ar­ea in accordance with the following provisions:

5.1.1

In any of the following cases, the Contractor shall relinquish the re­main­ing Contract Area, except for any Development Area, a possible or proposed Development Area and/or Production Area:

(a)

at the expiration of the last phase of the exploration period (including extensions) as men­tioned in Article 4.2 hereof; or

(b)

at the expiration of the said exploration phase if the Contractor exercises its option under Article 6.3 (b) of the Contract; or

(c) 

 at the expiration  of the extended period, in the event that the explo­ration period is extended in accordance with the first paragraph of Arti­cle 4.3 or Article 24 hereof.

5.1.2

In the execution of Articles 5.1.1 herein, a Production Area and/or Development Area or an area proposed by Contractor corresponding to a CBM Dis­covery with a possibility of or potential for Pilot Development or awaiting Pilot Development and/or under a Pilot Development or included in an Overall Devel­opment Program awaiting approval, shall not be regarded as an area to be relin­quished.

11

5.1.3

At the expiration of its production period of any CBM Field as specified in Article 4.5 hereof, such CBM Field within the Contract Area shall be excluded from the Contract Area.

5.2

Within ninety (90) days prior to the date of relinquishment of the Contract Area, the Contractor shall submit to CUCBM a report on its com­pleted Ex­ploration Operations on the areas proposed to be relinquished, including a map showing the proposed areas to be relinquished with the geographic location and the coordinates of the connecting points of the boundary lines.

5.3

In the exploration period, the Contractor shall bear the fee for CBM exploration right of the Contract Area paid in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China. In the development period and production period, CUCBM and the Contractor shall, in proportion to their respective participating interests, bear the fee for CBM mining right of the Development Area and Production Area paid in accordance with relevant laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China. The fees for CBM exploration and mining rights shall be paid pursuant to Article 5.2.20 of Annex II hereof. 

Article 6

Minimum Exploration Work Commitment

and Expected Minimum Exploration Expenditures

6.1

The Contractor shall begin to perform the Exploration Operations within six (6) months after the Date of Commencement of the Implementation of the Con­tract, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Parties.

6.2

The Contractor shall fulfill the minimum exploration work commitment and expected minimum exploration expenditures for each phase of the exploration period in accordance with the following provisions:

6.2.1

During the first phase of the exploration period, the Contractor shall:

Drill four (4) Exploration Wells. Minimum exploration expenditures are RMB 9,468,990 in U.S.dollars equivalent in each Calendar year.

6.2.2

During the second phase of the exploration period, the Contractor shall:

Drill eight (8) Pilot Vertical or (2) two Horizontal Development wells in two areas. Minimum exploration expenditures are RMB 9,468,990 in U.S.dollars equivalent in each Calendar year. 

12

6.2.3

With respect to the minimum exploration work commitment for each phase of the exploration period committed by the Contractor in accor­dance with Articles 6.2.1 and 6.2.2 herein, when calculating whether the minimum ex­ploration work commitment has been fulfilled, the number of Exploration Wells and Pilot Development wells shall be the basis of such calculation.

6.3

At the expiration of the first phase of the exploration period, the Contractor has options (a) or (c) and at the expiration of the second phase of the exploration period options (b) or (c) as follows:

(a) 

to enter the next phase and continue exploration; or

(b)

to conduct Development Operations and Production Opera­tions only on any CBM Discovery in accordance with the proce­dures under Arti­cle 11 hereof provided, however, that the minimum ex­ploration work commitments up to the date of such expiration of the said exploration phase have been fulfilled and the areas specified in Article 5 hereof have been relinquished; or

(c)

to terminate the Contract.

6.4

At the expiration of any phase of the exploration period, if the actual exploration work fulfilled by the Contractor is less than the minimum exploration work commitment set forth for the said exploration phase, and if the Contractor opts to enter the next phase and continue explora­tion under Article 6.3 (a) herein, the Contractor shall give reasons to CUCBM for the underfulfillment.  With the approval of relevant government department,the un­fulfilled balance of the said phase shall be added to the minimum explo­ration work commitment for the next exploration phase.

At any time within the exploration period, if there is any potential CBM Discov­ery, JMC shall, at the request of any Party to the Contract, dis­cuss the possibility of amending the exploration work.  Any Exploration Wells or Pilot Development wells added by any such amendment shall be deducted from and/or credited against the minimum ex­ploration work commitment.

6.5

Where the Contractor has fulfilled ahead of time the minimum explora­tion work commitment for any phase of the exploration period, the dura­tion of such exploration phase stipulated in Article 4.2 hereof shall not be shortened there­by, and if the exploration work actually fulfilled by the Contractor exceeds the minimum exploration work commitment for the said exploration phase, the excess part shall be deducted from and credited against the minimum exploration work commitment for the next exploration phase.

13

6.6

If any addition or deduction is made under Article 6.4 or Article 6.5 herein in regard to the minimum exploration work commitment for any phase of the exploration period, the increased or reduced exploration work shall become the new minimum exploration work commitment for the Contractor to fulfill in the said phase.

6.7 

At the expiration of any phase during the exploration period, if the ex­ploration work actually fulfilled by the Contractor is less than the mini­mum explo­ration work commitment for such phase or less than the new minimum exploration work commitment as mentioned in Article 6.6 herein, and if, regardless of whether the expected minimum exploration expenditures are fulfilled or not fulfilled, the Contractor opts to termi­nate the Contract under Article 6.3 (c) herein, or if the said phase is the last exploration phase, the Contractor shall, within thirty (30) days from the date of the decision of its election to terminate the Contract or with­in thirty (30) days from the date of the expiration of the exploration pe­riod, pay CUCBM only any unfulfilled balance of the minimum  explora­tion work commitment ( or of the new one ) in U.S. dollars after it has been converted into a cash equiva­lent using the method provided in An­nex II-Accounting Procedure hereto. Howev­er, if the minimum explora­tion work commitment for the exploration period is ful­filled while its expected corresponding minimum exploration expenditures are not ful­filled, the unfulfilled part shall be deemed as a saving and shall not be paid to CUCBM.

Article 7

Management Organization and Its Functions

7.1

For the purpose of the proper performance of the CBM Field, the Parties shall establish a JMC within forty-five (45) days from the Date of Commencement of the Implementation of the Contract.

7.1.1

CUCBM and the Contractor shall each have the right to appoint an equal number of representa­tives (two to five) to form JMC, and each Party to the Contract shall designate one of its representatives as its chief representative. The representative of the Operator of the companies comprising the Contractor shall be the chief representative of the Contractor. Either Party may replace any of its representatives, or designate anoth­er representative as its chief representative, by a written notice to the other Party, pursuant to Article 8.2 hereof. All the aforesaid representatives shall have the right to present their views on the proposals at the meetings held by JMC. When a deci­sion is to be made on any proposal, the chief representative from each Party to the Contract shall be the spokesman on behalf of the Party to the Contract.

14

The chairman of JMC shall be the chief representative designated by CUCBM, and the vice chairman shall be the chief representative designated by the Contractor. The chairman of JMC shall preside over meetings of JMC. In his absence, one rep­resentative present at the meeting from CUCBM shall be designated to act as the chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the vice chairman of JMC, one repre­sentative present at the meeting from the Contractor shall be designated to act as the vice chairman of the meeting. The Parties may, according to need, designate a reasonable number of advisers who may attend, but shall not be entitled to vote at JMC meetings.

7.1.2

A regular meeting of JMC shall be held at least once a Calendar Quarter, and other meetings, if necessary, may be held at any time at the request of any Party to the Contract, upon giving reasonable notice to the other Party of the date, time and location of the meeting and the items to be discussed.

7.2

The Parties shall empower JMC to:

7.2.1

Review and adopt the Work Programs and budgets proposed by the Operator and subsequent amendments thereto;

7.2.2

Determine the potential commerciality of each Coalbed Methane Discovery that has been made in accordance with the Operator's Pilot Development report and report its deci­sion to CUCBM for confirmation;

7.2.3

Review and adopt the Overall Development Program and budget for each CBM Field and the amendments to the budget;

7.2.4

Approve or confirm the following items of procurement and expenditures:

(a) 

approve procurement of any item within the budget with a unit price exceeding Five Hundred Thousand U.S. dollars (U.S. $500,000) and any single purchase or­der of total monetary value exceeding Two Million U.S. dollars (U.S. $2,000,000);

(b) 

approve a lease of equipment, or an engineering subcontract or a service con­tract within the budget of a monetary value exceeding One Million U.S. dollars (U.S. $1,000,000); and

(c) 

confirm excess expenditures pursuant to Article 10.2.1 hereof and the expendi­tures pursuant to Article 10.2.2 hereof;

7.2.5

Propose and announce the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production of each CBM Field within the Contract Area;

7.2.6

Determine the type and scope of information and data provided to any Third Party in accordance with Article 21.5 hereof;

15

7.2.7

Demarcate boundaries of the Development Area and the Production Area of each CBM Field;

7.2.8

Review and approve the Joint Operating Agreement in accor­dance with Article 8.8 hereof;

7.2.9

Review and approve the insurance program proposed by the Operator and emergency procedures on safety and environmental protection;

7.2.10

Review and approve personnel training programs;

7.2.11

Review and approve minutes and/or resolutions of JMC meetings, and dis­cuss, review, decide and approve other matters that have been proposed by either Party to the Contract or submitted by the expert groups pursuant to Article 7.4.2 hereof or by the Operator; and

7.2.12     Review and examine matters required to be submitted to relevant authorities of the Chinese Government and/or CUCBM for approval or confirmation.

7.3

Decisions of JMC shall be made unanimously through consultation. All deci­sions made unanimously shall be deemed as formal decisions and shall be equally binding upon the Parties. When matters upon which agreement cannot be reached arise, the Parties may convene another meeting in an attempt to find a new solu­tion thereto based on the principle of mutual benefit.

7.3.1

During the exploration period and any extension thereof, the parties shall endeavor to reach agreement through consultation on exploration programs and annual exploration Work Pro­grams. If the Parties fail to reach agreement through consultation within thirty (30) days of commencement of the consultation, the Contractor's proposal shall prevail, provided that such proposal is not in conflict with the rele­vant provisions in Articles 4, 5 and 6 hereof.

7.3.2

If it is considered by the chairman and/or the vice chairman or their nominees that a matter requires urgent handling or may be decided without convening a meeting, JMC may make decisions through telexes, facsimiles or the circulation of documents.

7.4

JMC shall establish the following subordinate bodies:

7.4.1

    Secretariat 

The secretariat shall be a permanent organization consisting of two (2) secretaries. One (1) secretary shall be appointed by each of the Parties.  The secretaries shall not be members of JMC, but may attend meetings of JMC as observers.  The duties of the secretariat are as follows:

16

(a)

to keep minutes of meetings;

(b) 

to prepare summaries of the resolutions for JMC meetings;

(c) 

to draft and transmit notices of meetings; and

(d) 

to receive and transmit proposals, reports or plans submitted by the Operator and/or proposed by any Party to the Contract, that require discussion, review or approval by JMC.

7.4.2

Expert Groups 

Advisory expert groups shall be established in accordance with the requirements of the Coalbed Methane Operations in various periods. Each expert group shall consist of an equal number of CUCBM Personnel and the Contractor's representatives, and, with the agreement of JMC, any other personnel. JMC shall discuss and decide upon their establishment or dissolution, size, tasks, location of their work and the appointment of their leaders in accordance with the requirements of their work. The expert groups which should be of a reasonable size and number shall have the following functions:

(a)

to discuss and study matters assigned to them by JMC and submitted by the Operator to JMC for its review and approval and any other matter assigned to them by JMC and to make constructive suggestions to JMC;

(b)

to have access to and observe and investigate the Coalbed Methane Operations con­ducted by the Operator without affecting such Operations at its office and operat­ing sites as work requires and to submit relevant reports to JMC; and

(c)

to attend meetings of JMC as observers at the request of JMC.

7.5

When one of the companies comprising the Contractor acts as the Operator, CUCBM shall have the right to assign professional representatives to the Operator's administrative and technical departments which are related to the CBM Opera­tions, who may work at length together with the Operator's staff. The Operator's staff shall regularly discuss their work with the professional representatives of CUCBM.

17

The professional representatives shall have access to the centers of research, de­sign, and data processing related only to the execution of the Contract and to the operating sites to observe all the activities and study all the information with re­spect to the CBM Operations. Whether to provide such access to the aforesaid centers outside the People's Republic of China shall be decided by JMC through discussion. If the decision is made, the Operator shall arrange such access and the Operator shall use all reasonable endeavors to assist the professional repre­sentatives to have access to Third Parties' sites. The work of professional represen­tatives of CUCBM shall be arranged by the manager(s) of the departments of the Op­erator in which professional representatives work.

Professional representatives of CUCBM, except for the professional representatives in charge of procurement who shall undertake their functions in accordance with Arti­cle 7.6 herein, shall not interfere in the decision making on relevant matters by departmental manager(s) of the Operator. However, such professional representa­tives shall have the right to make proposals and comments to departmental manag­er(s) of the Operator or to report directly to CUCBM's representatives in JMC.

7.5.1

On the principle of mutual cooperation and coordination, the Operator shall provide the professional representatives with necessary facilities and assistance to perform office work and to observe the operating sites.

7.5.2

The number of professional representatives, which shall be a reasonable num­ber and consistent with accepted international CBM industry practice and sound economic practice, shall be decid­ed by JMC through consultations.

7.6

When one of the companies comprising the Contractor acts as the Operator, in respect of the items listed in the procurement plan, the procedures and provisions hereunder shall be followed:

7.6.1

The procurement department of the Operator shall inform the professional rep­resentatives appointed by CUCBM in charge of procurement of all the items of pro­curement and specifications relating thereto.

7.6.2

The Operator shall be subject to Articles 15.1 and 15.3 hereof and reach agreement through consultation with the professional representatives of CUCBM in charge of procurement when preparing the procurement plan in accordance with the Work Program and budget. The professional representatives of CUCBM in charge of procurement shall work out an inventory listing the equipment and materials which can be made and provided in China and a list of manufacturers, engineering and construction companies and enterprises in China which can provide services and undertake subcontracting work.

18

7.6.3

Unless otherwise agreed upon by the Parties, the Operator shall, in general, make procurement by means of calling for bids and shall notify at the same time manufacturers and enterprises concerned both inside and outside China, and the work of calling for bids shall be done within the territory of China.

7.6.4

When any procurement is to be made by means of calling for bids, the manu­facturers and enterprises in China applying for bidding which are included in a list delivered in advance to the Operator by the professional representatives of CUCBM in charge of procurement shall be invited. The professional representatives of CUCBM in charge of procurement shall have the right to take part in the work of calling for bids, including examination of the list of bidders to be invited, prepar­ing and issuing bidding documents, opening bids, evaluation of bids, and shall have the right to consult with the Operator on the determination of award of contracts and to participate in negotiations for various contracts. The foregoing shall be han­dled in an expeditious, efficient and timely manner.

7.6.5

With respect to the items of procurement by means other than calling for bids, the Operator and the professional representatives of CUCBM in charge of procure­ment shall, in accordance with the provisions specified in Article 7.6.2 herein, define those items which are to be procured in the People's Republic of China and those items which are to be procured abroad.

7.7

All salaries, costs and expenses with respect to the staff members of the Parties in the subordinate bodies of the JMC established in accordance with Article 7.4 herein, those with respect to the professional representatives referred to in Article 7.5 herein, and those with respect to the representatives of JMC referred to in Ar­ticle 7.1.1 herein while attending JMC meetings, shall be paid by the Operator and charged respectively to the exploration costs, development costs and operating costs in accordance with Annex II- Accounting Procedure hereto.  During the exploration period, all salaries, costs and expenses with respect to the staff members of CUCBM in the subordinate bodies of JMC, the CUCBM professional representatives and the CUCBM representatives of JMC shall be paid by the Operator in accordance with Annex III - Personnel Costs hereto. All salaries, costs and expenses with respect to the above-mentioned personnel to be paid and charged during the development period and production period shall be determined by the Parties through consultation.  It is understood no salary duplication for any in­dividual shall be allowed. In the event any individual occupies more than one chargeable position, then the higher applicable salary shall be charged to the Joint Account for the period during which the higher position is occupied.

7.8

The specific responsibilities and working procedures within JMC shall be pro­posed by the Parties, and discussed and determined by JMC in accordance with the relevant provisions herein.

19

Article 8

Operator

8.1

The Parties agree that AsiaCanada Energy Inc., Alberta shall act as the Operator for the CBM Operations within the Contract Area, unless otherwise stipulated in Arti­cle 8.8 herein and Article 29.4 hereof.

8.2

For the implementation of the Contract, each company comprising the Contrac­tor shall register with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People's Republic of China, or if any of such companies is already registered, such company shall amend its registration to include in the Contract in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. CUCBM shall, at the request of the Contractor, provide assistance for this purpose.

The person designated by Operator to be in charge of CBM Operations shall have the full right to represent the Con­tractor in respect of the performance of the CBM Operations. The names, po­sitions and resumes of the staff and organization chart of the Operator shall be submitted in advance to CUCBM and the appointment of the Operator's senior staff must be subject to the consent of CUCBM.

8.3

The Operator shall have the following obligations:

8.3.1

To apply appropriate technology and business managerial experience of the Contractor or its Affiliates to perform the CBM Operations reasonably, economically and effi­ciently in accordance with sound international practice.

8.3.2

To prepare Work Programs and budgets related to the CBM Operations and to carry out the approved Work Programs and budgets.

8.3.3

To be responsible for procurement of installations, equipment, and supplies and entering into subcontracts and service contracts related to the CBM Oper­ations, in accordance with the approved Work Programs and budgets and the appli­cable provisions of Articles 7.2.4, 7.6 and 10.2 hereof.

8.3.4

To prepare in advance, in accordance with Article 16 hereof, a personnel training program and budget before the commencement of the Exploration Opera­tions, Development Operations and Production Operations respectively, and, in ac­cordance with the said program and budget, to be responsible for preparing an an­nual personnel training program and budget and carrying out the annual program and budget after approval by JMC.

8.3.5

To establish an insurance program, and to enter into and implement the insur­ance contracts in accordance with Article 20 hereof.

20

8.3.6

To issue cash-call notices to all the Parties to the Contract to raise the re­quired funds based on the approved budgets and in accordance with Article 12 hereof and Annex II - Accounting Procedure hereto.

8.3.7

To maintain complete and accurate accounting records of all the costs and expenditures of the CBM Operations in accordance with the provisions of An­nex II - Accounting Procedure hereto and to keep the accounting books secure and in good order. 

8.3.8

To make necessary preparation for regular meetings of JMC, and to submit in advance to JMC necessary information related to the matters to be reviewed and approved by JMC.

8.3.9

To inform directly or indirectly all the Subcontractors which render services for the CBM Operations in China and all the Expatriate Employees of the Op­erator and of Subcontractors who are engaged in the CBM Operations in Chi­na that they shall be subject to the laws, decrees, and other rules and regulations of the People's Republic of China.

8.3.10

To report its work to JMC as provided in Article 7.2 hereof.

8.4

In the course of the performance of the CBM Operations, any direct losses, arising strictly out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Operator, (excluding, for so long as the Contractor solely forms the Operator, per­sonnel specified in Article 1.2 of Annex III-Personnel Costs, hereto) shall be solely borne by the Operator. Losses arising from any cause other than strictly out of the gross negli­gence or willful misconduct of the Operator shall be borne by the Parties in accor­dance with their respective participating interests. The Operator shall make its best efforts in accordance with international CBM industry practice to include provisions similar to this Article 8.4 herein in related subcontracts and service con­tracts.

8.5

In the course of the performance of the CBM Operations, the Operator shall handle the information, samples or reports in accordance with the following provisions:

8.5.1

The Operator shall provide CUCBM with various information, samples and data in accordance with relevant regulations and Annex IV - Data Control hereto. The ownership of all the information, samples and data shall vest in CUCBM; and the Operator shall have the right to use and handle such infor­mation, samples and data in accordance with Annex IV - Data Control hereto. The information and data shall be reported to CUCBM at the same time that the Operator reports them to its parent corporation. Upon receipt by the Operator of any report from its parent corporation concerning such information and data, a copy of such report shall be furnished to CUCBM as soon as practicable.

21

8.5.2

The Operator shall furnish CUCBM in a timely manner with reports on safety, environmental protection and accidents related to the CBM Operations and with financial reports prepared in accordance with the provisions of Annex II - Accounting Procedure hereto.

8.5.3

The Operator shall provide the non-operator(s) of the Contractor with copies of the relevant data and reports reasonably required by non-operator(s) and referred to in Articles 8.5.1 and 8.5.2 herein.

8.5.4

The Operator shall, at the request of any Party to the Contract, furnish that Party to the Contract with the following:

8.5.4.1

Procurement plans for purchasing equipment and materials, inquiries, offers, orders and service contracts;

8.5.4.2

Technical manuals, technical specifications, design criteria, design documents (including design drawings), construction records and information, consumption statistics, equipment inventory, and spare parts inventory;

8.5.4.3

Technical investigation and cost analysis reports; and

8.5.4.4

Other information relating to the CBM Operations in the Contract Area already acquired by the Operator in the performance of the Contract.

8.6

In the course of performing the CBM Operations, the Operator shall abide by the laws, decrees, standards and other rules and regulations with respect to en­vironmental protection and safety of the People's Republic of China and shall en­deavor in accordance with the international CBM industry practice to:

8.6.1

Minimize the damage and destruction caused by the CBM Operations to community and ecological environment;

8.6.2

Control blowouts promptly and prevent or avoid waste or loss of CBM discovered in or produced from the Contract Area;

8.6.3

Prevent land, forests, vegetation, crops, buildings and other installations from being damaged and destroyed; and

8.6.4

Minimize the danger to personnel safety and health.

8.7

Project Management Team

In any CBM Field within the Contract Area where CUCBM has a par­ticipating interest in the development of the said Field, a project management team (hereafter referred to as "PMT") shall be established for the development of such CBM Field in the organization of the Operator within thirty (30) days from the date of approval of the Overall Development Program for the said Field.

22

PMT shall comprise those personnel designated by the Parties and the number of CUCBM's personnel shall be no less than one third (1/3) of the total number of personnel within PMT. The Contractor shall designate a person acting as the manager of PMT, and CUCBM shall designate a person acting as the deputy manager of PMT.

PMT shall be located at the Operator's office within the Chinese territory. The working location(s) of the members of PMT shall be decided according to the need of the work.

The specific organization, staffing and working system of PMT and responsibilities and competence of various positions including those of CUCBM's personnel assigned to PMT shall be determined by the Parties through consultation prior to the ap­proval of the Overall Development Program for the said CBM Field. The PMT shall exist for the period of the development of said CBM Field.

8.8

  Conduct of CBM Operations.

8.8.1     Not later than one year prior to the forecasted date of the full recovery of development costs and Deemed Interest thereon, (“Cost Recovery Date”), in accordance with the Overall Development Program for the first CBM Field within the Contract Area forecasted to recover said costs, the Parties shall commence good faith negotiations of a Joint Operating Agreement and Organization on the basis of the terms and conditions of this Contract.

  

8.8.2     It is the intent of the Contractor and CUCBM that effective no later than said Cost Recovery Date, all CBM Operations within the Contract Area will be conducted by the Contractor and CUCBM as Operator pursuant to such Joint Operating Agreement.

8.9      The expenses incurred in the transfer and takeover of the CBM Operations to CUCBM and Contractor as Operator shall be approved as a budget item and charged to the operating costs in ac­cordance with Annex II- Accounting Procedure.

8.10     With a view to efficiently conducting Work Programs approved by the JMC, the Operator shall have the right to use or occupy/and, including to obtain rights of way, inside or outside the Contract Area, subject to promulgated Chinese laws and regulations.

23

Article 9

Assistance Provided by CUCBM

9.1

To enable the Contractor to carry out expeditiously and efficiently the CBM Operations, CUCBM shall have the obligation to assist the Contractor at its request to:

9.1.1

Obtain the approvals or permits needed to open accounts with reputable banks in the PRC;

9.1.2

Go through the formalities of exchanging foreign currencies;

9.1.3

Obtain office space, office supplies, transportation and communication facili­ties and make arrangements for accommodations as required, at reasonable rates;

9.1.4

Go through the formalities of Customs;

9.1.5

Obtain entry and exit visas and residence permits for Expatriate Employees who will come to China for the performance of the Contract and for their dependents, who will visit them or reside in China and provide assistance for their transportation and moving as well as medical services and travel in China;

9.1.6

Obtain necessary permission to send abroad, if necessary, documents, data and samples for analysis or processing during the performance of the CBM Opera­tions; and

9.1.7

Maintain liaison with central and local governments, and contact and coordi­nate with departments engaged in fishing, aquatic plants, stock raising, agriculture, meteorology, ocean shipping, civil aviation, railway, transportation, electric power communica­tion and services for supply bases, for relevant matters and otherwise assist the Contractor in obtaining on a timely basis approvals necessary for the conduct of the CBM Operations under the Contract;

9.1.8

Lease or use warehouses, yards, terminal facilities, barges, aircrafts, pipelines and land, etc. in the implementation of the CBM Operations; and

9.1.9

Facilitate the Contractor and Subcontractors' registration in China such as registration with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, tax registration, registration with the Customs, etc.

9.2

In accordance with Article 15 hereof, CUCBM shall, at the request of the Contrac­tor, assist the Contractor with the recruitment of Chinese Personnel.

24

9.3

CUCBM shall, at the request of the Contractor, provide the Contractor with data and samples, if any, from the Contract Area within CUCBM’s and/or its Affiliates Control, at reasonable rates in accordance with any relevant rules and regulations and CUCBM shall also assist the Contractor to arrange the purchase of any other data including but not limited to environmental, hydrological, topographical and meteorological data at reasonable rates.

9.4

CUCBM shall, at the request of the Contractor, also assist the Contractor with matters other than those under Articles 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3 herein, including, but not limited to, the acquisition, at reasonable costs where applicable, of any rights of way necessary for transportation infrastructure, and the facilitation or bringing about of the granting of all approvals, per­mits and licenses related to the CBM Operations, including the relevant land use rights.

9.5

All expenses incurred in the assistance provided by CUCBM in accordance with this Article 9 shall be paid by the Contractor and shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of Annex II-Accounting Procedure hereto.

Article 10

Work Program and Budget

10.1

After the Date of Commencement of the Implementation of the Con­tract, the Operator shall propose and submit to JMC the annual Work Program and budget for the remainder of the same Calendar Year at the first regular meeting of JMC. Before the fifteenth (15th) of September of each Calendar Year, the Operator shall complete and submit to JMC for its review an annual Work Program and budget for the next Calen­dar Year except as otherwise agreed by CUCBM. JMC shall either adopt the annual Work Program and budget as submitted or make such mod­ifica­tions agreed by the Parties. The adopted annual Work Program and bud­get shall be submitted to CUCBM for review and approval within one (l) month as of the date on which they are submitted to JMC. Within fif­teen (15) days following the receipt of the annual Work Program and budget, CUCBM shall notify JMC in writing of its approval or disapproval or any modifications thereto with its detailed rea­sons. If CUCBM requests any modifications to the aforesaid annual Work Program and budget, the Parties shall promptly hold meetings to make modifications and any modifications agreed upon by the Parties shall be effected immediately. In case CUCBM fails to notify JMC in writing of its approval or disap­proval or any modifi­cation within fifteen (15) days, the annual Work Program and budget adopted by JMC shall be deemed to have been ap­proved by CUCBM. The Operator shall make its best efforts to perform the CBM Operations in accordance with the ap­proved annual Work Program and budget. For reviewing Work Program and budget by JMC, the Operator shall provide to JMC the supporting data when requested.  During the exploration period, the bud­gets so ap­proved by CUCBM shall be sufficient to allow the Operator to ful­fill the Work Programs including those Work Programs under Article 7.3.1 hereof and the obligations under the Contract.

25

10.2

The Operator may, in accordance with the following provisions, incur excess expenditures or expenditures outside the budget in carrying out the Work Program and budget, provided that the objectives of the ap­proved Work Program and budget are not changed.

10.2.1

In carrying out an approved budget for a single item, such as the drill­ing of a well, the Operator may, if necessary, incur excess expenditures of no more than ten percent (10%) of the budgeted amount. The Opera­tor shall report the aggregate amount of all such excess expen­ditures to JMC for confirmation on a Calendar Quarter basis.

10.2.2

For the efficient performance of the CBM Operations, the Operator may, without approval, undertake certain individual projects which are not included in the Work Program and budget, for a maximum expendi­ture of One Hundred Thousand U.S. dollars (U.S.$100,000), but the Op­erator shall, within ten (10) days after such expenditures are incurred, report to JMC for confirmation. In case of emergency, the Operator may incur emergency expenditures for the amount actual­ly needed but shall report such expenditures to JMC as soon as they are made. However, the said emergency expenditures shall not be subject to Articles 10.2.3 and 10.2.4 herein.

10.2.3

In the event that the aggregate of excess expenditures under Article 10.2.1 herein and expenditures under Article 10.2.2 herein incurred in a Calendar Year cause the total expenditures of that Calendar Year to ex­ceed the approved annual budget, such excess shall not exceed five per­cent (5%) of the approved an­nual budget for that Calendar Year. If the aforesaid excess is expected to be in ex­cess of five percent (5%) of the annual budget, the Operator shall present its rea­sons therefore to JMC and obtain its approval prior to incurring such expenditures.

10.2.4

When JMC confirms the excess expenditures mentioned in Articles 10.2.1 herein, and the expenditures mentioned in Article 10.2.2 herein:

(a)  

if expenditures or excess expenditures are determined to be reason­able, the Operator may incur such expenditures or excess expenditures again during the same Calendar Year, subject to Article 10.2 herein; or

(b) 

if expenditures or excess expenditures are determined to be unrea­sonable, the Operator shall not incur such expenditures or excess expen­ditures again during the same Calendar Year and such unreasonable ex­penditures or excess expenditures shall be dealt with in accordance with Article 5.4 of Annex II-Accounting Proce­dure hereto. However, with respect to the joint operation conducted by the Contractor and CUCBM specified in Article 8.8 hereof, this provision shall not be applicable.

26

Article 11

Determination of Commerciality of CBM

11.1

If any CBM Discovery is made within the Contract Area, the Oper­ator shall promptly report such discovery to JMC. If JMC or the Con­tractor makes a decision that a CBM Discovery is worthy of a Pilot Development, the Operator shall submit to JMC a Pilot Development Work Program which shall include disposal of any CBM and/or Liquid Hydrocarbons whether by sale, flaring or otherwise and timetable for such CBM Discovery as soon as possible.  Such Pilot Development Work Program shall be worked out no later than ninety (90) days from the date of the aforesaid decision made by JMC or the Contractor. The Pilot Development Work Program shall, in so far as is practicable, be based on conducting the Pilot Development work con­tinuously, with a view to commencing operations within one hundred and eighty (180) days from the date of the aforesaid decision made by JMC or the Contractor.

11.2

After the approval by JMC of the Pilot Development Work Program referred to in Article 11.1 herein, the Operator shall carry out the operations as soon as possible without unreasonable delay in accordance with the timetable set forth in the ap­proved Pilot Development Work Program.

11.3

Unless otherwise specified in the Pilot Development Work Program, within one hundred and eighty (180) days after the completion of the Pilot Development, the Operator shall submit to JMC a detailed Pilot Development report on the evaluation of the potential commerciality of the CBM Discovery for review and discussion. Under special circumstances, the above-mentioned period may be reasonably extended upon agreement of the Parties.

The Pilot Development report shall include the evaluation on geology, develop­ment, en­gineering and economics, the Maximum Efficient Rate (MER) and the estimated duration of the production peri­od determined in accordance with the international CBM industry practice.

11.4

If JMC decides unanimously that a CBM Discovery is non-commercial, at the request of the Contractor, the corresponding area covered by the CBM Discovery may be retained in the Contract Area during the exploration period.  But if, at the expiration of the exploration period, JMC unanimously still considers the said CBM Discovery to be non-commercial, the area covered by the CBM Discovery shall be excluded from the Contract Area.  The preceding shall not apply to a CBM Field which in the opinion of either Party has potential commercial value but which has not been developed due to a lack of market, a shortage of consuming facilities or lack of transportation facilities and/or inability to negotiate longterm transportation and/or sales agreements.

27

Prior to the expiration of the exploration period, if any Party considers that a CBM Discovery which has been determined to be non-commercial needs to be reappraised because of some favorable factors, the Operator shall work out a new evaluation report on that CBM Discovery and submit it to JMC for review and approval.

11.5

If the Contractor, prior to the expiration of the exploration period, advises JMC in writing that any CBM Discovery is non-commercial, the Contractor shall be deemed to have waived its rights of participating in the development of that CBM Field, then, CUCBM shall have the right to solely develop such potential CBM Field.

11.6

Where the Parties consider a CBM Discovery to be potentially commercial, as the Operator, the Contractor shall work out the Overall Development Program for that CBM Field. the Parties shall negotiate to reach an agreement on the development of the said CBM Field in a manner that shall not interfere unreasonably with the expansion of coal mining operations in the relevant coal field.  The Overall Development Program and the agreement concerning the development shall be a supplementary document and an integral part hereof after they are approved by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), and the Department Designated by the State Council, of the People’s Republic of China.  

11.7

Longterm CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons transportation and sales agreements shall be concluded prior to the determination of commerciality.

11.8

In the event of a CBM Field Straddling a Boundary or of a potentially commercial CBM Discovery straddling a bound­ary of the Contract Area, CUCBM shall organize the Contractor and the neighboring party(ies) involved, which may include CUCBM and/or it’s Affiliates, to work out a unitized or new Overall Devel­opment Program for such Field or Pilot Development work program for such CBM Discovery.  If such area is controlled solely by CUCBM and/or its Affiliates, then the Contract Area shall be extended to cover the CBM Field with the approval of Department Designated by the State Council.

11.9

If a CBM Discovery without commercial value within the Con­tract Area and a CBM Discovery outside the Contract Area can be most economically developed as a commercial CBM Field by common facilities jointly constructed; or if CBM Discovery without commercial value within the Contract Area, can be eco­nomically developed as a commercial CBM Field by linking it up with exist­ing facilities located outside the Contract Area, CUCBM shall organize the Contractor and the neighboring party(ies) involved, which may include CUCBM and/or its Affiliates, to work out an equitable agreement for construction or utiliza­tion and sharing the costs relative to said facilities.

28

11.10

In Article 11 those procedures which reference the Overall Development Program, shall be applied, by analogy in the following circumstances: additional development projects referring to the Overall Development Program designed ei­ther to improve the producing capability of the res­ervoir or to substantially in­crease the recoverable reserves therefrom through additional investments. Any extension of the production period of the CBM Field due to such additional development projects shall be subject to the related provision of Article 4.5 hereof.

11.11

Notwithstanding the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production or anything else to the contrary herein, the allocation of the production from a Pilot Development shall be governed by the principles set forth in Articles 12 and 13 hereof.

Article 12

Financing and Cost Recovery

12.1

Funds required for the CBM Operations shall be raised by the Op­erator in accordance with Work Programs and budgets determined pur­suant to the relevant provisions of the Contract, the provisions described in Annex II - Ac­counting Procedure hereto, and the provisions described here below. Payment for the investment provided by the Contractor shall be made in U.S. dollars or other convertible currency.

12.1.1

Solely the Contractor shall provide all the exploration costs required for Exploration Operations.  For purpose of the Contract, all costs incurred during the extended period described in Article 4.3 hereof shall be deemed exploration costs and shall be provided solely by the Contractor.

12.1.2

The development costs required for Development Operations in each CBM Field within the Contract Area shall be provided by CUCBM and the Contractor in proportion to their respective participating interests: forty percent (40%) by CUCBM and sixty percent (60%) by the Contractor, unless CUCBM applies the provisions of the sec­ond paragraph of this Article 12.1.2 herein.

In the event that CUCBM, at its option, decides not to participate in the develop­ment of a CBM Field or decides to participate in the development of such CBM Field to an extent of less than forty percent (40%) of the participating interest, CUCBM shall notify the Contractor in writing of its de­cision of non-participation or a specific lesser percentage of the participating inter­ests before the Operator submits the Pilot Development report to JMC for its review pursuant to Article 11.3 hereof. In such case, if CUCBM does not participate in the devel­opment of such CBM Field, the development costs there­in shall be borne solely by the Contractor, or in case CUCBM participates in the development of such CBM Field to an extent of less than forty percent (40%) of the participating interests, such de­velopment costs shall be borne by the Parties in pro­portion to their actu­al respective participating interests.

29

12.1.3

The operating costs incurred for the performance of the Production Op­erations of each CBM Field before the Date of Com­mencement of Commercial Production shall be considered as develop­ment costs. The operating costs so incurred after the Date of Com­mencement of Commercial Production shall be paid respectively by CUCBM and the Contractor in proportion to their participat­ing interests of the said CBM Field.

12.1.4

The Parties, on each others request, shall cooperate and assist each other to facilitate the financing of CBM Operations on the best terms and conditions available. For the purpose of implementation of the Contract, CUCBM agrees that the Con­tractor may, when financing, use the entitlement of its share of production under the Contract as a security for loans, pro­vided that the Contractor shall advise CUCBM in advance and the loan application therefore shall be examined by CUCBM, and provided further that the rights and interests of CUCBM under the Contract shall not be im­paired thereby.

12.2

All the costs incurred in the performance of CBM Operations shall be recovered in accordance with Annex II - Accounting Procedure here­to and the provisions described as follows:

12.2.1

The operating costs for any given Calendar Year actually incurred by CUCBM and the Contractor in respect of each CBM Field pursuant to Arti­cle 12.1.3 herein, shall be recovered in kind by the Parties out of the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons produced from the said CBM Field during that Calendar Year in accordance with Annex II - Accounting Procedure hereto, after the operating costs have been converted into a quantity of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons on the basis of the CBM price and Liquid Hydrocarbons price determined in accordance with Article 14 hereof. Unrecovered operating costs shall be carried forward to the succeeding (subsequent) Calendar Year(s).

12.2.2

The exploration costs incurred by the Contractor shall be recovered as follows:

After the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production of a CBM Field within the Contract Area, the exploration costs incurred by the Contractor in re­spect of the Contract Area shall be recovered in kind out of the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons pro­duced from any CBM Field within the Contract Area in accordance with Article 13.2.2.2 hereof, after the exploration costs have been converted into a quantity of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons based on the CBM price and Liquid Hydrocarbons price determined in accordance with Article 14 hereof. The explora­tion costs shall be recovered without any interest.

If no CBM Field is discovered within the Contract Area, the exploration costs incurred by the Contractor shall be deemed as its loss. Under no circumstances shall CUCBM reimburse the Contractor for such loss.

30

12.2.3

The development costs in respect of each CBM Field incurred by CUCBM and the Contractor and Deemed Interest thereon shall be recovered as follows:

12.2.3.1

After the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production of any CBM Field within the Contract Area, the development costs in respect of such CBM Field incurred by CUCBM and the Contractor and Deemed Interest thereon cal­culated in accordance with Article 12.2.3.2 herein shall be recovered in kind out of the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons produced from such CBM Field in accordance with Article 13.2.2.2 hereof, after the development costs and Deemed Interest thereon have been converted into a quantity of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons based on the CBM price and Liquid Hydrocarbons price determined in accordance with Article 14 hereof.

12.2.3.2

Deemed Interest on the development costs incurred by CUCBM and the Contractor for each CBM Field within the Contract Area shall be calculated at a fixed annual compound rate of nine percent (9%) from the first day of the month following the month in which such development costs expended by each Party to the Contract are actually received in the bank account of the Joint Account opened by the Operator. The detailed method of such calculation shall be as provided in Annex II - Accounting Proce­dure hereto.

12.2.4

Any CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons extracted and delivered from a CBM Field before the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production shall be allocated in accor­dance with Article 12 and Article 13 hereof.

Article 13

CBM Production and Allocation

13.1

The Operator shall, in accordance with the production profile, adjusted as the case may be, set forth in the approved Overall Development Program for each CBM Field, work out a CBM production plan for each CBM Field in each Calendar Year and carry out CBM production pursuant to such plan.

13.2

The Annual Gross Production of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons of each CBM Field within the Contract Area in each Calendar Year during the production period shall be allocat­ed in accordance with the following sequence and proportions:

13.2.1

The percentages of the Annual Gross Production of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) hereunder shall be used for payments of the Value Added Tax and of Royalty respectively and shall be paid in kind to the relevant authori­ties of the Chinese Government through CUCBM.

31

(a)

Value Added Tax shall be paid in accordance with relevant regulations of the People’s Republic of China; and

(b) 

Royalty shall be paid in accordance with relevant regulations of the People's Republic of China.

13.2.2

Seventy percent (70%) of the Annual Gross Production of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons shall be deemed as the "cost recovery CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" and shall be used for payments or for cost recovery in the following sequence:

13.2.2.1

Payment in kind for the operating costs actually incurred but not yet re­covered by the Parties pursuant to Article 12.2.1 hereof based on the price of the said "cost recovery CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" determined in accordance with Article 14 hereof.

13.2.2.2

The remainder of the "cost recovery CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" shall, after payment for operating costs in accordance with Article 13.2.2.1 herein, be deemed as "investment re­cov­ery CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons". Such "investment recovery CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" shall be used for the recov­ery of the ex­ploration costs in respect of the Contract Area which were incurred and not yet recovered by the Contractor, and shall be used for the recovery of the development costs in respect of the CBM Field itself which were incurred and not yet recovered by CUCBM and the Contractor in accordance with Articles 12.2.2 and 12.2.3 hereof, and Deemed Inter­est thereon. The method of recovery and the recovery sequence are as follows:

(a)

Beginning in the Calendar Year during which the production of any CBM Field within the Contract Area commences, the "investment recov­ery CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" referred to in Article 13.2.2.2 herein, based on the price which has been determined in accordance with Article 14 hereof, shall be paid in kind first to the companies com­prising the Contractor for the recov­ery of the exploration costs which were incurred in respect of, and have not yet been recovered from, the Contract Area.

The unrecovered exploration costs shall be carried forward to and recovered from the “investment recovery CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons” in succeeding Calendar Years until fully recovered by the Contractor.

(b)

Beginning in the Calendar Year during which the exploration costs incurred by the Contractor in respect of the Contract Area have been fully recovered, the remainder of the "investment recovery CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" of a CBM Field shall be used for the simultaneous recovery of the development costs incurred and not yet recovered respectively by CUCBM and the Con­tractor and Deemed Interest thereon in respect of such CBM Field in pro­portion to their 

32

respective participating interests therein based on the price of such remainder of the "investment recovery CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" determined in accordance with Article 14 hereof. The unrecovered development costs and Deemed Interest thereon shall be carried forward to and recovered from the "in­vestment recovery CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" in succeeding Calendar Years until fully recovered.

(c) 

During the production period of a CBM Field, costs for an additional devel­opment project incurred pursuant to Article 11.9 hereof and Deemed Interest there­on shall be recovered together with the unrecov­ered development costs and Deemed Interest thereon. If the development costs and Deemed Interest thereon have been fully recovered, then costs for the said additional development project and Deemed Interest thereon shall be recovered from the "investment recovery CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" of such CBM Field referred to in Article 13.2.2.2 herein in accordance with the pro­visions specified in Article 13.2 herein. The unrecovered costs for the additional development project and Deemed Interest thereon shall be carried for­ward to and recovered in succeeding Calendar Years until fully recov­ered.

(d) 

After the recovery of a CBM Field's development costs and Deemed Interest thereon and/or costs for the additional development project and Deemed Interest thereon from the said CBM Field by the Parties, the re­mainder of the "investment recovery CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" shall automatically be regarded as part of the "remainder CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" referred to in Article 13.2.3 herein.  By the date of expiration of the production period of a CBM Field pursuant to Article 4.5 hereof, if any development costs and Deemed In­terest there­on and/or costs for the additional development project incurred in respect of such CBM Field and Deemed Interest thereon have not yet been fully recov­ered, then such unrecovered costs and Deemed Interest there­on shall be regarded as a loss, and the Parties shall bear the loss in pro­portion to their respective partici­pating interests.

13.2.3

The remainder of the Annual Gross Production of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons after the allocation referred to in Articles 13.2.1 and 13.2.2 herein shall be deemed as "remainder CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons".  Such "remainder CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" shall be divided into "share CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" of the Chinese side and "allocable remainder CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons". The "allocable remainder CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" of each CBM Field in each Calendar Year shall be equal to the "remainder CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" of that Calendar Year multiplied by the factor (X) for each CBM Field within the Contract Area in that Calendar Year. The factor (X) of each CBM Field in each Calendar Year shall be determined in accordance with the following successive incremental tiers on the basis of the Annual Gross Production of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons from such CBM Field during that Calendar Year.

33

________________________________________________________________

Annual Gross Production

Factors (X) in Percentage

of

Applicable to Each

CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons

Production Tier of

  From Each CBM Field

Each CBM Field Within

  (Million Cubic Meters)

the Contract Area

________________________________________________________________

equal to or less than 500

Xl = 100 percent(100%)

over

500    to    800

X2 = 99 percent(99%)

over

800    to  1,200

X3 = 98 percent(98%)

over

1,200  to  1,800

X4 = 96 percent(96%)

over

1,800  to  2,500

X5 = 93 percent(93%)

over

2,500  to  5,000

X6 = 89 percent(89%)

over

5,000

X7 = 85 percent(85%)

________________________________________________________________

In the above table, it is assumed that each cubic meter of CBM has a heating value of thirty-six thousand and nine hundred sixty (36,960) BTU approximately. On this basis, a metric ton of Liquid Hydrocarbons in general will have a heating value of forty- three (43) million BTU, or equivalent to 1,164 cubic meters of CBM.  1.0 kilocalorie is equal to 3.97 BTU.  Adjustments will be made if actual heating value exceeds or is less than the above by ten percent (10%) or more.

An example of application in calculating the factor (X):

Assuming that there are two producing commercial CBM Fields A and B within the Contract Area and the Annual Gross Production of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons from CBM Field A in a Calendar Year is three thousand and sixty four (3,064) million cubic meters, and that from CBM Field B is four thousand five hundred and ninety (4,590) million cubic meters, the factor (X) of CBM Field A in that Calendar Year shall be:

500X1 + 300X2 +400X3 + 600X4 + 700x5 + 564X6

X = -------------------------------------------------------------------------X 100%

3,064

and the factor (X) of CBM Field B in that Calendar Year shall be:

500X1 + 300X2 + 400X3 + 600X4 + 700X5 + 2090X6

X = -------------------------------------------------------------------------X 100%

4,590

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13.2.4

The "allocable remainder CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" of each CBM Field in each Calendar Year referred to in Article 13.2.3 herein shall be shared by the Parties in proportion to their respective participating interests in the development costs, forty percent (40%) for CUCBM and sixty percent (60%) for the Contractor. In the event that CUCBM does not participate in the development of an CBM Field within the Contract Area, the Contractor shall obtain one hundred percent (100%) of the "allocable remainder CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" of that CBM Field. In the event that CUCBM participates to an extent less than forty percent (40%) in the development of an CBM Field within the Contract Area, the "allocable remainder CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" of such CBM Field in that Calendar Year shall be shared by the Parties in proportion to their actual respective participating interests in such CBM Field.

13.3

Pursuant to the method of allocation specified in this Article, the Con­tractor may obtain an aggregate amount of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons consisting of the following three categories and shall be subject to Article 1.7 of Annex II.

13.3.1

The total amount of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons as converted from the actual operating costs paid by the Contractor in all CBM Fields in proportion to its participating interests in the development costs stipulated in Article 13.2.2.1 hereof when recover­ing such costs;

13.3.2

The total amount of the "investment recovery CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" from all CBM Fields due to the Con­tractor provided for in Article 13.2.2.2 herein; and

13.3.3

The total amount of the "allocable remainder CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons" of all CBM Fields due to the Contractor in accordance with Article 13.2.4 herein.

Article 14

Quality, Quantity, Price,

and Destination of CBM

14.1

In accordance with Article 13.3 hereof, the Contractor may obtain the aggregate amount of three (3) categories of the Coalbed Methane and Liquid Hydrocarbons referred to in Articles 13.3.1, 13.3.2 and 13.3.3 hereof.

14.2

Quality of the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons.

35

14.2.1

The quality analysis of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons produced from each CBM Field within the Contract Area shall be undertaken at the Delivery Point. Such analy­sis shall be carried out on a sample taken by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (hereafter referred to as the "Bu­reau") or any representative agency authorized by the Bureau pursuant to standards issued by the State Bureau of Stan­dardization of the People's Republic of China or by the Department Designated by the State Council. Such proce­dure shall be implemented in such a manner so as to avoid any unrea­sonable delay in the production of such CBM and/or Liquid Hydrocarbons.

14.3

Quantity of the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons.

14.3.1

The quantity measurement of the CBM and/or Liquid Hydrocarbons produced from each CBM Field within the Contract Area, when being lifted, shall be made at a Delivery Point and with measuring devices both to be agreed upon by the Parties. A rele­vant measuring organization of the Chinese Govern­ment or a representative agency authorized thereby shall, at appropriate regular intervals, calibrate all the measuring devices, conduct special testing and issue certificates of qualification with respect thereto or con­firm their qualification before the measuring devices are put into use. The quality and quantity of the CBM and/or Liquid Hydrocarbons delivered shall be authenticat­ed in accor­dance with the commodity quality certificate and weight cer­tificate issued by the Bureau and such quality and quantity shall be the basis for the accounting settle­ment.

14.3.2 

If any Party to the Contract believes that the CBM or Liquid Hydrocarbons measuring devices, sampling or analysis are inaccurate, or has any objection to the results specified in the above mentioned certificates, on-site investigations, technical ex­changes and discussions may be conducted by the Parties to resolve the issue in a manner satis­factory to the Parties.

14.4

Determination of the Coalbed Methane and/or Liquid Hydrocarbons Price.

14.4.1

The price of various grades of the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons shall be expressed as a FOB price at the Delivery Point. Determination of the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons price shall be based on the actual free market price received by the Parties; and

a)

shall be determined each Calendar Quarter by CUCBM and each Party comprising Foreign Contractor individually; and

b)

shall be the volumetrically weighted average of the following components:

36

1.

In arm’s length transactions, the actual price received.

2.

For other than arm’s length transactions, the fair market price taking into account the prevailing market conditions.

The aforesaid price in arm's length transactions in this Article refers to a free market price at which a seller sells its CBM and/or Liquid Hydrocarbons to a buyer who is independent of the seller, but not including prices used for government to government transactions or other fixed or controlled prices which do not reflect the free market price, exchange or barter transactions. 

The price of the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons produced from the Contract Area shall be determined based on general pricing principles prevailing internationally taking into consideration such factors as the markets, quality and quantity of the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons and the prices of alternate energy resources agreed upon by the Parties with the objective of the Parties being to obtain the best price possible. 

The transportation costs to be used to determine the FOB price at the Delivery Point shall be agreed to during the negotiation of the longterm sales and purchase agreements and prior to the determination of commerciality and prior to the preparation and approval by the Parties of an Overall Development Program.  Such transportation costs shall be determined in accordance with inter­national Petroleum and CBM industry practice.

14.4.2

Where the CBM and/or Liquid Hydrocarbons produced from each CBM Field within the Contract Area differs in quality, the prices of such CBM with different quali­ty shall if practicable be individually determined.

14.4.3

The price of the Contractor’s share of the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons produced from all the CBM Fields within the Contract Area shall be denominated in U.S. dollars per cubic meter (based on BTU basis in accordance with Article 13.2.3), and payment made in U.S. dollars.

14.5

Terms of Payment for the Purchased CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons, Pursuant to Article 14.6 hereof. 

14.5.1

Before the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons price is determined, the Parties through consultation in accordance with the general international practice then prevailing shall agree upon the time limit for payment.

14.5.2

In case any Party is in default of such payment, such Party shall pay interest on arrears of the payment, starting from the first day of such default. The interest rate shall be the thirty-day term London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) for U.S. dollars quoted by Midland Bank in London at eleven (11:00) a.m. on the first working day following the due date of payment plus five percent (5%). 

37

14.6

Destination of the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons.

14.6.1

The destination of Contractor’s CBM, and Liquid Hydrocarbons obtained under the Contract shall be at the discretion of the Contractor.  The Contractor shall have the following non-exclusive options:

(1)

to join with CUCBM to market a part or all of their respective shares of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons and to sell such CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons jointly to prospective purchasers able to pay in U.S. dollars;

(2)

to sell directly its share of the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons to the Chinese users subject to the provisions of the relevant government departments; 

(3)

to sell its share of  the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons to CUCBM and/or its Affiliates, CUCBM and/or its Affiliates shall pay to the Contractor in U.S. dollars in accordance with Article 14.6.5; or

(4)

any other lawful destinations or buyers.

14.6.2

Transportation costs shall be determined in accordance with Article 14.4.1 herein.

14.6.3

The CBM price or value shall be determined in accordance with this Article 14 with the objective of the Parties being to produce the CBM at the MER and to obtain the best price possible.

14.6.4

Unless otherwise mutually agreed, the CBM Delivery Point shall be the most economically viable nearby pipeline having available capacity.

14.6.5

For the purpose of encouraging the exploration and development of CBM, CUCBM and/or its Affiliates will, upon request of Contractor, act as a buyer to purchase all or part of Contractor’s share of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons produced from the Contract Area in accordance with the following provisions.

14.6.5.1 

The Parties shall agree upon the volume and rates of delivery of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons by Contractor and to be purchased by CUCBM and/or its Affiliates.

14.6.5.2

The price of CBM and other essential terms and conditions including but not limited to Delivery Point and pipeline costs shall be determined pursuant to the provisions of Article 14 and shall unless otherwise mutually agreed be agreed upon prior to the determination of commerciality and preparation of the Overall Development Program.

38

14.6.5.3

The Purchase of the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons produced from the Contract Area shall be made at the Delivery Point, which unless otherwise mutually agreed, shall be the most economically viable nearby Natural Gas pipeline having available capacity.

14.6.5.4

Unless otherwise agreed by the Contractor, payments for CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons shall be made in U.S. Dollars in the bank account designated by Contractor.

14.6.6

In the case that CUCBM and/or its Affiliates have available capacity in the gas trunklines and/or pipeline infrastructure, once a CBM transportation contract with reasonable transportation costs determined in accordance with Article 14.4.1 and with due reference to Chinese CBM industry practice has been signed by and between CUCBM and/or its Affiliates and Contractor, Contractor shall be guaranteed access and priority use of such trunkline and/or pipeline infrastructure and any subsequent CBM or Natural Gas producer shall be subject to Contractors’ guaranteed access and priority use of such trunkline and/or pipeline infrastructure.

14.6.7

Both Parties understand that the construction of pipelines and related facilities (the “Pipeline”) is required for the purpose of transport CBM from the Contract Area.  The construction can either be included in the Overall Development Program or be developed as a separate project.  Unless otherwise agreed between the Parties in writing and subject to the applicable laws and regulations, the Contractor shall have the right to participate in the Pipeline and to all revenues generated thereof equal to its participating interest under this Contract. In either event, the decision to construct the Pipeline, its connection to the economically most viable pipeline and / or buyers, and all its operations shall be based on the Parties’ intention to maximize their profits under this Contract and the exploitation of the Pipeline.

Article 15

Employment of Personnel and Procurement of Goods and Services

15.1

For the performance of the CBM Operations, the Contractor's pro­curement of necessary goods, leasing equipment and signature of sub­contracts or other service contracts shall be subject to relevant regulations. The Contractor shall give preference to goods, equipment and service determined to be the most competitive in terms of price, quality and term of delivery.

15.2

The Contractor may give preference to employ Chinese Per­sonnel in the performance of the CBM Operations in accordance with relevant regulations. For this purpose, the Con­tractor may submit in advance to CUCBM a plan for the employment of Chinese Personnel listing all the posts and num­ber of the persons involved. CUCBM shall, at the request of the Contrac­tor and in 

39

accordance with the plan, provide or assist in recruiting Chi­nese employee candidates for such employment. For the performance of CBM Operations, the Contractor shall have the obligation to em­ploy com­petent personnel. The Contractor shall give preference in employing the Chinese Personnel who have participated in the train­ing program provided by the Contractor.

It is agreed between CUCBM and the Contractor that total Chinese Per­sonnel employment levels, including the costs thereof, for the purpose of conducting CBM Operations, including training therefore, shall always be consistent with conducting such operations in an efficient and economic manner in accordance with good and generally accepted inter­national CBM practices.

All Chinese employees shall sign employment contracts whose terms shall cover hiring, resignation and dismissal, production and work responsibilities, wages and bonuses, working hours and holidays, labor insurance and welfare bene­fits, labor protection and labor disci­pline. Such contracts shall include the right to dismiss such employees in accordance with the Chinese laws and regulations con­cerning such employees who do not observe such contract or other rules applicable to their work.

15.3

The engineering design corporations under or entrusted by CUCBM shall have the right to participate in the tendering for the master designs and engineering de­signs made by the Contractor for the purpose of the implementation of the Contract.

15.4

After the Contractor signs equipment leasing contracts, service con­tracts or subcontracts with CUCBM or its Affiliates in accordance with Article 15.1 herein, the Contractor shall endeavor to provide technical assis­tance to CUCBM or its Affiliates, at the request of CUCBM, so as to enable them to meet the needs of operations to be undertaken. The expenses so incurred by the Contractor shall be borne by CUCBM or its Affiliates.

Article 16

Training of Chinese Personnel

16.1

The Contractor agrees to provide training for the Chinese Personnel including workers, technical, eco­nomic, man­agerial, legal and other professional personnel, in order to improve their technical and/or managerial capabilities relating to CBM Operations, all in accordance with this Article 16.

40

16.2

Within ninety (90) days following the Date of Commencement of the Imple­mentation of the Contract, the Contractor shall, after consultation with CUCBM, complete and submit a training program for a reasonable number of the Chinese Personnel in the exploration period and the corresponding budget to JMC for review and approval, and upon approval by JMC, put it into practice. The Contractor shall, after consultation with CUCBM, complete and submit training programs and corresponding budgets for a reason­able number of the Chinese Personnel in the development period and production period, respectively, to JMC for its review and approval before the commencement of the Development Operations and Production Operations, and upon approval by JMC, put them into practice in time so as to have ample time in advance for such training.

16.3

The expenses and costs incurred for performing the training program stipulated in this Article shall be charged to the exploration costs if such costs are incurred before the date of approval of the Overall Development Program of the first CBM Field, and shall be charged to the devel­opment costs if such costs are incurred after the date of approval of the Overall Development Program of the first CBM Field, and before the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production of the first CBM Field, or shall be charged to the operating costs if such costs are incurred after the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production of the first CBM Field.

16.4

In the course of the implementation of the Contract, the Parties may have sci­entific and technical cooperation and academic exchange in connection with the CBM Operations. The relevant provisions concerning the program, participat­ing personnel and type related to the scientific and technical cooperation and aca­demic exchange shall be determined by the Parties. The expenses required by the scientific and technical cooperation and academic exchange (if any) shall be included in the budget specified in Article 16.2 herein and charged to the Joint Account. All in­ventions, experiments or research results arising from the said cooperation and academic exchange shall be shared by and belong to the Parties who, subject to the provisions of Article 21 hereof, shall not disclose them to any Third Party.

16.4.1

In the course of the implementation of the Contract, those scientific research projects, which are required for the CBM Operations but not carried out by the Parties, may, with the approval of JMC, be commissioned to, and carried out by, any Third Party. The Operator shall enter into subcontracts or service contracts with competent and competitive relevant scientific research departments. The afore­said required expenses shall be included in the budget specified in Article 16.2 herein and charged to the Joint Account. All inventions and experimental or re­search results developed from the aforesaid research projects carried out by a Third Party delegated by the Operator shall also be shared by and belong to the Parties who, subject to the provisions of Article 21 hereof, shall not disclose them to any other Third Parties. The Operator shall endeavor to incorporate the provi­sions herein in the subcontracts or service contracts signed with a Third Party.

41

16.5

Any technology or managerial experience, including proprietary technology, e.g. patented technology, know-how or other confidential technology that the Contractor transfers to CUCBM hereunder, shall remain the exclusive property of the Contractor and also be subject to the confidentiality restrictions of Article 21 here­of.

16.6

For the purpose of the implementation of this Article 16 - Training of Chinese Personnel, the costs and expenditures incurred by the Contractor annually for training of Chinese Personnel shall be forty-five thousand ($45,000) U.S. dollars during the exploration period and one hundred thousand ($100,000) U.S. dollars during the development and production periods unless otherwise agreed by the Parties. These costs and expenditure shall be charged to the Joint Account.

Article 17

Ownership of Assets and Data

17.1

All assets purchased, installed and constructed under the Work Program and budget for each CBM Field within the Contract Area shall be owned by CUCBM from the date on which all the development costs actually in­curred by the Contractor in the development period of such CBM Field have been fully recovered or from the date on which the production period expires, even though the aforesaid costs have not been fully recovered. The Opera­tor shall be responsible for the acceptance inspection or testing of the said assets and CUCBM may, as it deems necessary, send its experts to participate in such ac­ceptance inspection or testing.  In the production period, the Operator may use these aforesaid CUCBM-owned assets free of charge for performing the CBM Operations. Such assets shall not be used in any operations other than the CBM Operations or any operations by Third Parties without the consent of the Parties.

17.2

Equipment and facilities which are owned by a Third Party and are either leased by the Operator or temporarily brought into the territory of the People's Re­public of China for the performance of the CBM Operations shall not be deemed as assets owned by CUCBM. Such equipment and facilities may be exported from the People's Republic of China, and CUCBM shall assist in handling export formalities.

17.3

The ownership of all data, records, samples, vouchers and other original data obtained in the course of performing the CBM Operations shall vest in CUCBM, and the disclosure thereof by CUCBM shall be made in accordance with Article 21 hereof. However the Contractor shall, subject to any necessary approval as may be required and Article 21 hereof, have the right to use inside and outside the People’s Republic of China, and keep samples, copies of all data, records and vouchers for the purposes of the CBM Operations.

42

17.4

The facilities constructed for the conduct of CBM Operations hereunder, whether located within or outside the Contract Area, may be used for the common benefit of any and all CBM Fields within the Contract Area (“Common Facilities”) for so long as any CBM Field in the Contract Area is utilizing any of the Common Facilities.  CUCBM and Contractor shall be entitled to use, free of charge, excepting Operating Costs, such Common Facilities to the extent required for CBM Operations, hereunder.  Such right of use shall be permitted regardless of whether or not the costs related to such Common Facilities have been recovered and regardless of whether or not the production period of the relevant CBM Field on which the Common Facilities are located has been terminated.

The operating costs of the Common Facilities will be allocated to each CBM Field in proportion to the total Annual Gross Production of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbon, contribution of each CBM Field to the total Annual Gross Production of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons of all the CBM Fields within Contract Area utilizing such facilities.

Article 18

Accounting, Auditing and Personnel Costs

18.1

Accounting

Annex II - Accounting Procedure hereto contains the guidelines for the Opera­tor to keep accounting books and records and make financial set­tlements. The Op­erator shall keep and settle the accounts for all the fi­nancial activities in respect of the Contract Area and maintain all the accounting books and records in accordance with Annex II - Accounting Procedure hereto in order to accurately reflect the ex­ploration costs, de­velopment costs with Deemed Interest thereon and operating costs in­curred in the performance of the CBM Operations in respect of the Contract Area, as well as quantity and monetary value of the production and allo­cation of CBM.  The Operator shall submit detailed statements and relevant written reports to JMC and the depart­ments concerned.

18.2

Auditing.

18.2.1

Any non-Operator Party to the Contract shall have the right to audit all the Operator's Joint Account accounting books and records after the end of each Calendar Year and shall give the Operator a written notice of the au­diting results. The auditing shall be completed within twenty-four (24) months after the end of each Calendar Year. In the absence of any writ­ten notice of the exception in the audit­ing results given by the non-Op­erator Party within such period or if the annual Joint Account account­ing books and records of the 

43

Operator are not audited by any non-Oper­ator Party within such period, the Operator's Joint Account accounting books and records shall be deemed correct. A special auditing of the Operator's Joint Account accounting books and records may be made due to some special re­quirements during a Calendar Year.

18.2.2

If the auditing referred to in Article 18.2.1 herein is conducted, the Op­erator shall be given thirty (30) day notice prior to the date of com­mencement of such auditing. There shall be no impediment to normal CBM Operations dur­ing the period of any audit.

18.2.3

The auditors shall be entitled to access to all relevant Joint Account re­cords, files and other information and may inspect such sites and facili­ties as nec­essary.

18.2.4

Upon receipt of a notice of the non-Operator Party's exceptions in the auditing results, the Operator shall use its best efforts to reply in writing and resolve these matters in due time (no later than sixty (60) days thereafter).

18.3 

Personnel Costs.

18.3.1

The personnel costs mean the remuneration and other related charges paid in connection with personnel who are engaged whether temporarily or perma­nently in administration, management, accounting, finance, tax, employee relations, procurement, legal affairs, computer services, engi­neering, geology, geophysics, drilling and Production Operations as well as all other work for the implementation of the Contract.

18.3.1.1

The salary or wages of personnel of the JMC, of the personnel in the various subordinate bodies of the JMC, of the professional representatives referred to in Article 7.5 and of all employees engaged in the performance of the CBM Operations shall be included in the personnel costs as provided in Article 18.3.1 herein.

18.3.1.2

Personnel costs, which are classified as the overhead of the su­perior management organization pursuant to Article 5.2.18 of Annex II - Accounting Pro­cedure hereto shall not be included in the personnel costs mentioned herein.

18.3.2

After the Date of Commencement of the Implementation of the Con­tract, the Operator shall work out a staffing plan for its organization and a person­nel costs plan with respect thereto (including a plan of person­nel costs, such as basic salary or wage, overseas allowance and area al­lowance, etc.) before the be­ginning of each Calendar Year and submit such plan with the annual Work Pro­gram and budget to JMC for review and examination.

During the exploration period, the Operator shall submit a staffing plan for its organization and a personnel costs plan with the annual Work Program and budget to JMC for review and examination.

44

In the development period and production period, the Operator shall submit a staffing plan for its organization and a personnel costs plan with the annual Work Program and budget to JMC for review and approval and the Contractor shall provide to CUCBM with an itemized plan of personnel costs of the Expatriate Em­ployees. CUCBM shall bear the obligation of confidentiality to such information pro­vided by the Contractor.

The Operator shall charge the personnel costs of the Contractor's per­sonnel ac­tually incurred to the Joint Account. 

CUCBM shall have the right to audit the personnel costs charged to the Joint Ac­count, and when CUCBM acts as the Operator, the Contractor shall also have the right to audit such personnel costs.

18.3.3

The level of the salaries and wages paid to the representatives appointed by CUCBM to JMC established in accordance with Article 7.1 hereof, the Chinese Per­sonnel working in various subordinate bodies of JMC established in ac­cordance with Article 7.4 hereof, the professional representatives as­signed by CUCBM to all administrative and technical departments of the Operator (Contractor) in accor­dance with Article 7.5 hereof and CUCBM's personnel employed by the Contractor shall be determined pursuant to the provisions of Annex III - Personnel Costs hereto.

The salaries and wages of the Chinese Personnel other than CUCBM per­sonnel employed by the Operator shall be determined through consulta­tions and specified in the individual employment contracts. 

The settlement of all charges for the salaries and wages of CUCBM per­sonnel mentioned in Article 18.3.3 herein, shall be made between CUCBM and the Operator in accordance with Annex III (Personnel Costs) hereto. CUCBM personnel shall be responsible for any and all individual income tax due including but not limited to that due in accordance with the provisions of the individual income tax law of the People's Republic of China.

18.3.4

The Operator shall with­hold the indi­vidual income tax of the Expatriate Employees it is required to withhold and due in accordance with the provisions of the indi­vidu­al income tax law of the People's Republic of China.

Article 19

Taxation

19.1

Except for the taxes and duties for which the Contractor has the statutory obli­gation to file and pay for the CBM Operations, each of the companies com­prising the Contractor shall pay taxes measured by income to the Government of the People's Republic of China subject to the tax laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China applicable to the Contract.

45

19.2

The Operator shall advise the Subcontractors who render services for the Con­tract that they and their employees shall pay taxes to the Government of the People's Republic of China subject to the tax laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China.

Article 20

Insurance

20.1

The Operator shall work out an insurance program for the Exploration Opera­tions and submit it to JMC for review and approval within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the Date of Commencement of the Implementation of the Con­tract. The Operator shall, on behalf of the Parties, obtain the insurance contracts in accordance with such program as approved by JMC before commencement of CBM Operations within the Contract Area.

Similar provisions shall apply in respect of Development Operations and Produc­tion Operations.

20.2

All of the insurance items as approved in the insurance program shall be insured with the insurance companies established in accordance with the laws of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as insurance companies in the People’s Republic of China) and shall be in­sured in accordance with the laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China and on terms and conditions competitive with the world markets.

20.3

The insurance programs worked out by the Operator shall include, but not be limited to, the following insurance covering:

(a) 

damages to and expenses of all drilling installations and equipment, including damages to and expenses of the properties used on worksites and supply bases for the CBM Operations, while the equipment and properties owned by Third Par­ty rendering services to the Operator shall be handled in accordance with Article 20.5 herein;

(b) 

damages to and expenses of any of the equipment or installations for produc­tion, storage and transportation, and buildings in the course of construction and installation;

(c) 

damages to and expenses of the production in­stallations, facilities, equipment and pipelines in CBM fields;

(d) 

liability to Third Parties;

(e) 

liability for pollution and expenses for cleaning up in the course of drilling and the Production Operations;

(f) 

expenses for killing blowouts;

(g) 

liability incurred by the Operator in hiring land drilling rigs, vessels and air­craft serving the CBM Operations;

46

(h) 

liability for cleaning the remains; and

(i) 

losses and expenses incurred during the transportation and storage in transit of goods shipped from different parts of the world and other areas outside the Contract Area to the worksites.

20.4

In any insurance contracts, the deductibles shall be determined by the Parties through consultation, and losses within the deductible limits shall be borne by Par­ties in proportion to their respective participating interests in the relevant opera­tions.

20.5

When signing subcontracts or lease contracts, the Operator shall endeavor to require Subcontractors and lessors to insure their risks under the relevant subcon­tracts or lease contracts shall be insured with insurance companies in the People’s Republic of China in accordance with the laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China. The rates, terms and conditions of such insurance shall be com­petitive with world markets for similar risks.

20.6

In the course of the CBM Operations, the Parties shall cover separately personnel accidental death and injury insurance with respect to personnel assigned by them respectively. The premiums in respect thereof shall be dealt with in the following way: the premiums for personnel accidental death and injury insurance with respect to personnel whose costs are charged to the Joint Account pursuant to the provisions of the Contract shall be charged to the Joint Account, and those with respect to other personnel shall be borne respectively by the Parties by which they are assigned.

20.7

Insurance companies owned by or affiliated with any Party to the Contract, or the Parties themselves, may reinsure relevant insurance companies in the People’s Republic of China who have obtain the insurance contract by reaching an agreement with such companies if they are interested in covering any part of the insurance program hereof.

20.8

All motor vehicles used in the CBM Operations shall be insured with insurance companies in the People’s Republic of China in accor­dance with the laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China.

20.9

The premiums of insurance in the exploration period and the development pe­riod shall be charged respectively to the exploration costs and development costs while those in the production period shall be charged to the operating costs.

20.10

Any claim under the insurances of the agreed insurance program charged to the Joint Account shall be handled by the Operator and any recovery made from insurers shall be credited to the Joint Account.

47

Article 21

Confidentiality

21.1

CUCBM shall, in conformity with applicable laws and regulations of the Govern­ment of the People's Republic of China on confidentiality and by taking into ac­count international practice, determine in consultation with the Contractor the confidentiality periods for which the Contract and all documents, information, data and reports related to the CBM Operations within the Contract Area shall be kept confidential.

21.2

Without the written consent of the other Party, no Party to the Contract shall disclose, during such confidentiality periods, the Contract, documents, information, data and reports referred to in Article 21.1 herein or any other information regard­ed by JMC as confidential, to any Third Party except the Third Parties specified in Article 21.5 herein and to any Affiliate not directly connected with the implemen­tation of the Contract, and no Party to the Contract shall otherwise transfer, donate, sell or publish them in any way within the confidentiality periods. However, CUCBM may furnish the following original data and information or interpretation thereof with respect to the Contract Area to the relevant Third Parties:

(a) 

original data and information held by CUCBM for over two (2) years; and 

(b) 

interpretations of original data and information, which have been held by CUCBM for over five (5) years.

CUCBM shall require relevant Third Parties to undertake to keep confidential the aforesaid data, information, and interpretations thereof furnished to them by CUCBM. 

CUCBM shall, in conformity with relevant provisions of laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China and requests of relevant government departments and units, provide them with all documents, information, data and reports as mentioned herein.

21.3

During the term of the Contract and after the termination of the Contract, CUCBM shall not disclose to any Third Party any patent, know-how or proprietary technology transferred to CUCBM by the Contractor without the written consent of the Contractor except for any technology, the patent of which has expired and any proprietary and confidential technology which has entered the public domain.

48

21.4

After the termination of the Contract or after any assignment of rights and/or obligations of the Contract under Article 22 hereof, the Contractor and any assign­ee shall, within the confidentiality periods, continue to be obliged to keep confi­dential documents, information, data and reports mentioned in Article 21.2 herein except for official documents and information published with the consent of the Parties.

21.5

For the implementation of the Contract, CUCBM and each company comprising the Contractor may furnish the necessary documents, information, data and reports to Affiliates related to the CBM Operations. CUCBM and each com­pany comprising the Contractor may, after review by JMC and CUCBM, furnish the necessary documents, information, data and reports to the Third Party related to the CBM Operations. The Third Parties include:

21.5.1

Banks, credit institutions, investors or other financial guarantors from which financing is sought by any Par­ty to the Contract for the implementation of the Contract;

21.5.2

Third Parties which provide services for the CBM Operations, including Subcontractors and other service contractors; and

21.5.3

An assignee or assignees to whom the rights and/or obligations under the Contract may be assigned.

21.6

Necessary information, documents, data and reports may be furnished by the Parties or an Affiliate of the Parties related to CBM Operations in accordance with the laws of their home countries to the governments and stock exchanges, provided that the Parties report to JMC in advance.

21.7

CUCBM and each company comprising the Contractor when furnishing the docu­ments, information, data and reports to Third Parties and Affiliates as mentioned in Article 21.5 herein shall require them to assume the confidentiality obligations as set forth herein, or shall bear full responsibility for any violation thereof.

Article 22

Assignment

22.1

Any company comprising the Contractor may, after notice in writing to CUCBM, assign part or all of its rights and/or obligations under the Contract to any of its Affiliates. Such assignment, within sixty (60) days after receiving the notice, shall be approved by CUCBM, provided that the company comprising the Contractor who assigns, shall perform the assignment in accordance with the following provisions:

49

(a) 

Any company comprising the Contractor who assigns, shall submit to CUCBM copies of a written agreement on the corresponding part of its rights and/or obliga­tions to be assigned;

(b) 

Any company comprising the Contractor who assigns, shall guarantee in writing to CUCBM the performance of the assigned obligations; and

(c) 

No such assignment shall interfere with the performance of the CBM Op­erations or affect the organizational structure.

22.2

The Contractor may assign part or all of its rights and/or obligations under the Contract to any Third Party provided that such assignment shall be agreed by CUCBM in advance and approved by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China.  However, if the conditions offered by CUCBM are the same, CUCBM shall have the right of first refusal in respect of such assignment to be exercised by CUCBM in writing within sixty (60) days upon receipt of notice from the Contractor to assign to a Third Party, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Parties.

22.3

Upon notice to the Contractor, CUCBM may authorize its Affiliates to imple­ment the Contract, but CUCBM shall remain responsible for the performance of the Contract.

22.4

With prior consent of the Contractor and subject to the approval of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, CUCBM may assign part of its rights and/or obli­gations hereunder to any Third Party, provided that such assignment shall not interfere with the performance of CBM Opera­tions.

Article 23

Health, Safety and Environmental Protection

23.1

In the performance of the CBM Operations, the Operator shall be subject to the laws, decrees, regulations and standards on environmental protection and safety promulgated by the Chinese Government and carry out the operations ac­cording to international practice. The Operator shall make its best efforts to protect farmland, aquatic resources, forest reserves and other natural resources, and prevent pollution and damage to the atmosphere, rivers, lakes, groundwater, harbors, other land en­vironments and ecological environment and secure the safety and health of the op­erating personnel. The Operator shall use all reasonable endeavors to eliminate promptly any pollution occurring as a direct result of and in the performance of the CBM Operations and minimize its consequences. Economic losses caused by any pollution shall be charged to the Joint Account, unless otherwise provided in Article 8.4 hereof.

50

23.2

When competent authorities under the Chinese Government assign a person to inspect environmental protection, health and safety within the scope of the CBM Op­erations according to the laws, decrees, rules and regulations of the People’s Republic of China, the Operator shall provide all necessary facilities and assistance to enable the inspectors to carry out such inspection smoothly.

23.3

In the performance of the CBM Operations in any fixed fishing net casting area and /or aquatic breeding area, the Operator shall make prior contact with the relevant authorities of the Chinese Government provided that upon the Operator’s request, CUCBM shall promptly assist Operator in making such contacts. 

23.4

The Operator shall, subject to Article 4.6.2, after the completion of various CBM Operations, to the extent reasonable and practicable, level or restore or reclaim the land of the operating sites to the condition existing at the commencement of implementation of the Contract in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations.

Article 24

Force Majeure

24.1

No Party to the Contract shall be considered in default of the performance of any of its obligations hereunder, if any failure to perform or any delay in perform­ing its obligations is in conformity with all the events described as follows:

The performance of any obligations hereunder is prevented, hindered or delayed because of any event or combination of events which could not be foreseen and/or which is beyond the control of such Party; and

Any such event or combination of events is the direct cause of preventing, hinder­ing or delaying of such Party's performance of its obligations hereunder; and

When any such event or combination of events has occurred, such Party has taken all reasonable actions to overcome any cause that prevents, hinders or delays performance of its obligations and shall in so far as is practicable continue to perform its obligations hereunder.

24.2 

Notice of any event of force majeure and the conclusion thereof shall forth­with be given to the other Party by the Party claiming force majeure.

24.3

In the event of force majeure, the Parties shall immediately consult in order to find an equitable solution thereto and shall use all reasonable endeavors to mini­mize the consequences of such force majeure.

51

24.4

If the CBM Operations in the Contract Area are partially or entirely sus­pended as a result of the force majeure referred to in Article 24 herein, the peri­od of the CBM Operations may be extended by a period corresponding to such suspension. Within fifteen (15) days following the end of each Calendar Year, the Operator shall report to JMC in writing on the suspension of the CBM Opera­tions caused by force majeure, if any, during the preceding Calendar Year.

24.5

Should, however, the force majeure condition continue for a period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months, then, in such event, Contractor shall have the option to terminate this Contract without any further liability.

24.6

The provision of this Article 24 shall not apply in the case of default in the making of any payment of money under the Contract.

Article 25

Consultation and Arbitration

25.1

The Parties shall make their best efforts to settle amicably through consultation any dispute arising in connection with the performance or interpretation, or validity of any provision hereof.

25.2

Any dispute mentioned in Article 25.1 herein that has not been settled through such consultation within ninety (90) days after the dispute arises may be referred to arbitration at the request of and by either Party to the Contract. The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the following provisions:

25.2.1

If agreed upon by the Parties, such dispute shall be referred to arbitration conducted by the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission in accordance with the arbitration proceeding rules thereof.

25.2.2

If the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the arbitration arrangement men­tioned in Article 25.2.1 herein within sixty (60) days after a Party has requested in writing that a dispute be referred to arbitration, the Parties shall establish an ad hoc arbitration tri­bunal to conduct arbitration in accordance with the following provisions:

25.2.2.1

The ad hoc arbitration tribunal shall consist of three (3) arbitrators. The Parties shall each appoint an arbitrator and the two (2) arbitrators so appointed shall designate a third arbitrator. If one of the Parties does not appoint its arbitrator within sixty (60) days after the first appointment, or if the two (2) arbitrators once ap­pointed fail to appoint the third within sixty (60) days after the appointment of the second arbitrator, the relevant appointment shall be made by the Arbitration Insti­tute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, Sweden.

52

25.2.2.2

The third arbitrator shall be a citizen of a country which has formal diplo­matic relations with both the People's Republic of China and the home country of any of the companies comprising the Contractor, and shall not have any economic interests or relationship with the Parties.

25.2.2.3

The place of arbitration shall be determined by the Parties through consul­tations or, failing the agreement of the Parties within sixty (60) days after the ap­pointment of the third arbitrator, by the majority of arbitrators of the ad hoc arbi­tration tribunal.

25.2.2.4

The ad hoc arbitration tribunal shall conduct the arbitration in accordance with the arbitration rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law ("UNCITRAL") of 1976, as amended. However, if the above-mentioned arbitration rules are in conflict with the provisions of this Article 25, including the provisions con­cerning appointment of arbitrators, the provisions of this Article 25 shall prevail.

25.3

Both the Chinese and English languages shall be official languages used in the arbitrage proceedings. All hearing materials, statements of claim or defense, awards and the reasons supporting them shall be written in both Chinese and English.

25.4 

Any award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the Par­ties.

25.5

The right to arbitrate disputes under the Contract shall survive the termination of the Contract.

Article 26

Effectiveness and Termination of the Contract

26.1

The Contract shall, after it is signed, be approved by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) of the People's Republic of China. The date of such approval shall be the effective date of the Contract.  However, the Contractor's obligations shall begin on the Date of Commencement of the Imple­mentation of the Contract, as defined in Article 1, hereinabove. CUCBM shall notify the Contractor of the said approval in writing as soon as possible.

26.2

All annexes to the Contract shall be integral parts of the Contract. If there is any inconsistency between the provisions of the annexes and the main body of the Contract, the main body of the Contract shall prevail. All references to the Contract thereof refer to the main body of the Contract.

53

26.3

If in the course of implementation of the Contract, the Parties decide through consultation to make amendment or supplement to any part of the Contract, a writ­ten agreement signed by the authorized representatives of the Parties shall be re­quired. Such written agreement shall be subject to the approval of the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China should there be any significant modifications hereof. Such agreement shall be re­garded as an integral part of the Contract.

26.4

The Contract shall terminate under any of the following circumstances:

26.4.1

Exercise of the Contractor's election to terminate the Contract under Article 6.3 (c) hereof; or

26.4.2

Failure to discover any commercial CBM reservoir within the Contract Area by the expiration of the exploration period or the extended exploration period granted under Article 4.3 hereof; or

26.4.3

If there is only one (l) commercial CBM Field in production in the Contract Area, on termination of the production period of such CBM Field; or

26.4.4

If there are two (2) or more commercial CBM Fields and/or CBM Fields in production in the Contract Area, on termination of the production period of the CBM Field with the latest termination date; or

26.4.5

At the end of the last day of the thirtieth (30th) Contract Year from the Date of Commencement of the Implementation of the Contract unless otherwise extended pursuant to Arti­cles 4.5, 4.6.1, or 24.4 hereof.

26.4.6

Upon judgment of the court having jurisdiction, the Contractor cease to exist in any form.

26.5

Before the expiration of the first phase of the exploration period as specified in Article 4.2 hereof, the Contractor shall not propose termination of the Contract un­less the Contractor has fulfilled the minimum exploration work commitment for the first phase of the exploration period ahead of time.

26.6

If any Party to the Contract commits a material breach of the Contract, the other Party to the Contract shall have the right to demand that such breach be rem­edied within a reasonable period of time. If such breach is not remedied satisfactorily within such period of time, the complaining Party, arising from such breach shall have the right to terminate the Contract by giving ninety (90) days written notice to the other Party. However, no Party shall be deemed to have committed a material breach in the performance of any provision of the Contract concerning which there is any dispute between CUCBM and the Con­tractor, until such time as all disputes concerning such provision including any contention that a Party is in material breach, have been settled as provided in Arti­cle 25 hereof. During the time of such dispute, CUCBM and the Contractor shall continue to carry out their responsibilities pursuant to the Contract, which shall remain in full force and effect.

54

26.7 

Notwithstanding the abovementioned provisions, CUCBM shall have the right to terminate the Contract in case the Contractor fails to perform any of the following obligations:

26.7.1

Payment of the first installment of the signature fee of One hundred and Fifty thousand US Dollars (US$ 150,000) within thirty (30) days after approval of the Contract; or

26.7.2

Fulfillment of the minimum exploration work commitment for any phase of the exploration period as provided in Article 6.2 at the expiration such phase, 

26.7.3

Payment on schedule of the assistance fee pursuant to Article 5.2.14.3 of the Annex II attached hereto, the fees for exploration and mining rights pursuant to Article 5.2.20 of the Annex II; payment on schedule of the personnel costs and other expenses pursuant to Article 18.3.1 hereof and Annex III attached hereto as well as training of the Chinese Personnel pursuant to Article 16.6 hereof.

Article 27

The Applicable Law

27.1

The validity, interpretation and implementation of the Contract shall be gov­erned by the laws of the People's Republic of China. Failing the relevant provi­sions of the laws of the People's Republic of China for the interpretation or imple­mentation of the Contract, the principles of the applicable laws widely used in CBM resources countries acceptable to the Parties shall be applicable.

27.2

If a material change occurs to the Contractor's economic benefits after the ef­fective date of the Contract due to the promulgation of new laws, decrees, rules and regulations or any amendment to the applicable laws, decrees, rules and regu­lations of the People's Republic of China, the Parties shall consult promptly and make necessary revisions and adjustments to the relevant provisions of the Con­tract in order to maintain the Contractor's normal economic benefits hereunder.

Article 28

Language of the Contract and Working Language

28.1

The text of the Contract, annexes and supplementary documents attached here­to shall be written in both Chinese and English, and both versions shall have equal force and effect.

55

28.2

The Parties agree that both Chinese and English shall be used as working lan­guages. After the effective date of the Contract, technical documents and informa­tion concerning the CBM Operations hereunder including Work Programs and Budgets shall, in general, be written in English except for technical documents and information available previously and received from Third Parties.

Unless otherwise agreed by CUCBM, in consultation with the Contractor, documents and information in respect of administration shall be written in both Chinese and English. Forms for production and other reports and records shall be printed with headings in both Chinese and English and may be filled out in either Chinese or English.

Article 29

Miscellaneous

29.1

Any notice or written communication provided for in this Contract by any Party to any of the other Party, including but not limited to any and all offers, writings, or notices to be given hereunder, shall be made by facsimile or telegram, and confirmed by courier service delivered letter, promptly transmitted or addressed to the other Party.  The date of receipt of a notice of communication hereunder shall be deemed to be five(5) working days after dispatch of a facsimile or telegram. All notices and communications shall be sent to the appropriate address set forth below, until the same is changed by notice given in writing by one Party to the other Party:

Address of China United CBM Corporation, Ltd.:

China United Coalbed Methane Corporation, Ltd.

A88, Anwai Ave., Beijing 100011

P.R. China 

Tel:    86-10-6429-7887 

Fax:    86-10-6429-1881

For the attention of: 

Address of the representative of the Contractor:

AsiaCanada Energy Inc., Alberta,

#1900, 350-7th Avenue S.W.

Calgary, Alberta, T2P 3N9

Tel.:  

                    

Fax:  

                    

For the attention of: 

                    

                    

56

29.3

Either Party to the Contract may change its address or representative by a written notice to the other Party to the Contract.

29.4

Companies comprising the Contractor have the following percentages of participating interests as of the effective date of the Contract:

(I) AsiaCanada Energy Inc., Alberta. one hundred percent (100%);

Subject to Article 29.6 herein, the rights and obligations of each compa­ny com­prising the Contractor hereunder may, as between themselves, be varied by the op­erating agreement between such companies and the Contractor shall advise CUCBM in writing of any expected variation and, thereafter, of the actual variation.   If such variation leads to the transfer of the operatorship, or the compa­nies comprising the Contractor have made a decision to change the Op­erator, the Oper­ator referred to in Article 8.1 hereof may be replaced after obtaining a written con­sent from CUCBM.

29.5

The Contractor shall pay CUCBM a signature fee of one hundred and fifty thousand U.S. dollars (US $150,000) within thirty (30) days from the Date of Commencement of the Implementation of Contract, and one hundred and fifty thousand U.S. dollars (US $150,000) shall be paid within thirty (30) days from the first day of second Contract Year. The total signature fee is three hundred thousand U.S. dollars (US $300,000). And such signature fee shall, in no case, be charged to the Joint Account, nor be deemed recoverable costs.

29.6

Companies comprising the Contractor signing the Contract with CUCBM agree to undertake the obligations of the Contractor under the Contract jointly and severally.

29.7

Whenever alternative interpretations of the Contract are possible subject to Article 27.1 hereof, CUCBM and the Contractor agree that preference shall be giv­en to interpretations that will facilitate and promote the in­tent of the Contract.

29.8

It is the express and agreed intention of CUCBM and the Contractor that the terms and conditions of the Contract shall be applied, and that the grant of any consents or approvals required hereunder shall be given by each Party in a manner and under conditions which are at all times reasonable and in line with international CBM industry practice.

29.9

No waiver by any Party of any one or more defaults by another Party in the performance of the Contract shall operate or be construed as a waiv­er of any preceding or future default or defaults by the same Party, whether of a like or of a different character. Except as expressly pro­vided in this Contract, no Party shall be deemed to have waived, re­leased or modified any of its rights under the Con­tract unless such Party has expressly stated, in writing that it does waive, release or modify such right.

57

29.10

Each Party represents and warrants that it has the power, capacity and authority to enter into this Contract and that this Contract is a legal, valid and binding obligation enforceable against it or its successor in accordance with its terms.

In witness whereof, THIS CONTRACT is signed in Beijing by the authorized rep­resentatives of the Parties hereto on the first above-mentioned date.

	CHINA UNITED CBM CORPORATION, LTD.

	ASIACANADA ENERGY INC., ALBERTA

	By:                                                               

	By:                                                      

58

Annex I

Geographical Location and Coordinates of the Connecting Points of the Boundary Lines of the Contract Area 

59

	Annex I Geographical Location and Coordinates of the Connecting Points of the Boundary Lines of the Contract Area

	No.

	Longitude

	Latitude

	No.

	Longitude

	Latitude

	1

	104 ゚55′30′′

	25 ゚24′40′′

	20

	104 ゚51′00′′

	25 ゚35′00′′

	2

	104 ゚54′01′′

	25 ゚24′40′′

	21

	104 ゚51′00′′

	25 ゚38′00′′

	3

	104 ゚54′01′′

	25 ゚24′00′′

	22

	104 ゚54′00′′

	25 ゚38′00′′

	4

	104 ゚54′00′′

	25 ゚24′00′′

	23

	104 ゚54′00′′

	25 ゚40′00′′

	5

	104 ゚54′00′′

	25 ゚22′00′′

	24

	104 ゚58′00′′

	25 ゚40′00′′

	6

	104 ゚52′06′′

	25 ゚22′00′′

	25

	104 ゚58′00′′

	25 ゚41′45′′

	7

	104 ゚52′06′′

	25 ゚22′19′′

	26

	105 ゚00′00′′

	25 ゚41′45′′

	8

	104 ゚51′35′′

	25 ゚22′19′′

	27

	105 ゚00′00′′

	25 ゚43′00′′

	9

	104 ゚51′35′′

	25 ゚22′00′′

	28

	105 ゚04′00′′

	25 ゚43′00′′

	10

	104 ゚39′00′′

	25 ゚22′00′′

	29

	105 ゚04′00′′

	25 ゚38′00′′

	11

	104 ゚39′00′′

	25 ゚24′00′′

	30

	105 ゚05′00′′

	25 ゚38′00′′

	12

	104 ゚35′00′′

	25 ゚24′00′′

	31

	105 ゚05′00′′

	25 ゚36′00′′

	13

	104 ゚35′00′′

	25 ゚26′00′′

	32

	105 ゚07′00′′

	25 ゚36′00′′

	14

	104 ゚42′00′′

	25 ゚26′00′′

	33

	105 ゚07′00′′

	25 ゚31′00′′

	15

	104 ゚42′00′′

	25 ゚31′00′′

	34

	105 ゚05′00′′

	25 ゚31′00′′

	16

	104 ゚43′00′′

	25 ゚31′00′′

	35

	105 ゚05′00′′

	25 ゚30′00′′

	17

	104 ゚43′00′′

	25 ゚33′00′′

	36

	105 ゚03′00′′

	25 ゚30′00′′

	18

	104 ゚45′00′′

	25 ゚33′00′′

	37

	105 ゚03′00′′

	25 ゚29′00′′

	19

	104 ゚45′00′′

	25 ゚35′00′′

	38

	104 ゚55′30′′

	25 ゚29′00′′

1

Annex II

Accounting Procedure

Contents

Article

     

1  

General Provisions

     

2  

Definitions

     

3  

Cash Calls 

    

4  

Accounting and Management of Material 

    

5  

Expense Accounting

    

6  

Recovery of Costs and Deemed Interest            

     

7  

Accounting Reports          

8  

Audit                                  

    

9  

Transfer Procedure of the Joint Account

                  

                                                          

1

Annex II

Accounting Procedure

Article 1

General Provisions

 1.1 

This Accounting Procedure is an integral part of the Contract.

The definitions set forth in Article 1 of the Contract are equally applicable to this Accounting Procedure. The definitions and provisions in this Accounting Procedure have the same force and effect as those in the Contract.  If the provisions in this Accounting Procedure are in conflict with those in the Contract, the provisions in the Contract shall prevail.

1.2

Purpose: The purpose of this Accounting Procedure is to establish equitable control methods for determining charges and credits applicable to the CBM Operations according to the relevant provisions of the Contract, including the guidelines for accounting settlements in respect of managing funds and materials, financing and Accounting Records, and for compiling accounting statements. 

The Operator shall neither gain nor lose in relation to the other Parties to the Contract by means of the fact that it acts as the Operator.

1.3

Accounting methods:  The double-entry accrual method of accounting shall be used in this Accounting Procedure.

1.4    

Working language:  Chinese or both Chinese and English shall be used as the working languages for the Accounting Records and analyses of financial conditions in respect of the Joint Account, at the Operator's option.

1.5 

Currency for accounting: U.S. dollars shall be the unit of currency for accounting in the Joint Account and shall be the currency for the investments and reimbursements under the Contract. In case currencies other than U.S. dollars are used to carry out business activities, the relevant bank accounts and other current asset and current liability accounts shall be kept both in U.S. dollars and in the currencies used.

1.6

Currency translation: For the purpose of accounting, currency translation entered into the Joint Account shall be made in accordance with following guidelines:

The rate of exchange to be used for the conversion into U.S. dollars of cash calls received in Renminbi shall be the mid-rate of exchange applicable to any individual or commercial entity quoted by the People’s Bank of China at 11:00 a.m. on the date of receipt of such cash in the Operator's bank account(s).  If the relevant date is a non-business day of the People’s Bank of China, the rate quoted on the previous business day by the People’s Bank of China shall apply.

2

All other transactions recorded in the Joint Account which are made in Renminbi shall be translated into and recorded in U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange as quoted above on the last business day of the previous month, while those transactions which are made in currencies other than Renminbi and U.S. dollars shall be recorded in U.S. dollars at the actual cost in U.S. dollars of effecting the transaction.

Neither CUCBM nor the companies comprising the Contractor shall experience an exchange gain or loss, at the expense or benefit of the other Party. 

The Operator shall make its best efforts to minimize any exchange loss.

All gains or losses from currency conversion or translation shall be recorded in the Joint Account.

1.7

Foreign exchange business: foreign exchange business related to the CBM Operations shall be made in accordance with relevant regulations for foreign exchange control and rules for the implementation of such regulations of the People’s Republic of China.  These regulations provide that the Contractor can:

1.7.1

Open and maintain bank accounts, both inside and outside of the People’s Republic of China as may be required for CBM Operations agreed upon by CUCBM, as provided in Article 3 of this Accounting Procedure.

1.7.2

Buy and sell foreign exchange at the official foreign exchange rate applicable to all and any individual or commercial entity quoted by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the People’s Republic of China.

1.7.3

Retain and freely dispose of Renminbi or foreign exchange generated hereunder, but Contractor must remit back to the People’s Republic of China the amounts needed to pay taxes when they are due and payable according to the tax laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China, and other obligations when due and payable in the People’s Republic of China.

1.7.4

Remit abroad the foreign exchange proceeds from Contractor’s sales of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons sold in the People’s Republic of China, but Contractor must pay taxes when due and payable according to the tax laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China.

1.7.5

Make disbursements directly from internationally recognized bank accounts inside or outside of the People’s Republic of China for payments of salaries and wages of Expatriate Employees, purchased materials and various items of labor and service charges from Affiliates of Contractor and foreign Subcontractors to carry out the CBM Operations as specified in the Contract, after taxes are withheld according to the provisions of the tax laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China.

3

1.7.6

Transfer Renminbi according to the needs of the CBM Operations between Renminbi currency accounts opened within the People’s Republic of China.

1.7.7

Deposit foreign exchange receipts in the Bank of China in the original currency and such deposits need not be converted to Renminbi until needed.

1.7.8

Remit abroad excess foreign exchange or Renminbi, after conversion to foreign exchange, advanced or generated by the investing Parties and not expended or not to be expended and held by the Contractor for the investing parties in proportion to the extent of their respective percentage interests in such excess, provided that CUCBM’s share of such excess shall be returned to CUCBM.

1.8 

Accounting Records and Statements

1.8.1  

All Accounting Records related to the CBM Operations shall be established and maintained by the Operator within the territory of the People's Republic of China.

1.8.2

All vouchers, accounts, books and statements shall be prepared in accordance with the CBM Operations Accounting System established by CUCBM and the Contractor through consultation pursuant to the Accounting Regulations of the People's Republic of China for Enterprises with Foreign Investment.

1.8.3  

Annual accounting statements and important accounting books, including asset records, cash or bank journals, general and subsidiary ledgers, balance sheets, and annual gross CBM production allocation statements shall be maintained for the term of the Contract as specified in Article 4.7 of the Contract, or for any further period if required by the laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China. Other accounting vouchers and books shall be kept for fifteen (15) years. Quarterly and monthly statements shall be maintained for five (5) years.

Upon the expiration of the custody period, a list shall be made of the accounting files which are to be disposed of. Disposal of the accounting files shall only be made after the approval of CUCBM. The list of the accounting files disposed of shall be maintained with the annual accounting statements. 

4

Article 2

Definitions

The terms used in this Accounting Procedure shall have the definitions ascribed to them as follows:

2.1    

"Accounting Records" means all accounting books, source documents, original vouchers, approved documents, analytical data, work papers and accounting statements maintained for the CBM Operations.

2.2    

"Accounting System" means the CBM Operations Accounting System prepared by CUCBM and the Contractor through consultation pursuant to the Accounting Regulations of the People's Republic of China for Enterprises with Foreign Investment, specifying the accounting titles to be used by the Operator and instructions for implementation, forms and contents of various accounting statements and their preparation methods, including a material classification section, a definition of Controllable Material, standards for itemizing assets and the provisions for fixed asset accounting. 

2.3    

"Material" means materials, tools, facilities, equipment and consumables procured, leased or otherwise acquired and held for the CBM Operations.

2.4   

"Joint Account" means accounts established by the Operator for the implementation of the Contract to record all debts and credits related to the CBM Operations.

2.5   

"Controllable Material" means the Material referred to in the Accounting System described in Article 2.2 of this Accounting Procedure.

2.6   

"LIBOR" means the seven-day term London Inter-Bank Offered Rate for U.S. dollars for similar amounts to the sums in question, quoted by Midland Bank in London at 11:00 a.m. on the first business day of the relevant period.  If the Midland Bank is unable or fails to supply such daily quotation, that of Barclays Bank International Ltd. will be used, and failing this, National Westminster Bank PLC’s quotation will be used.

2.7   

"Investing Party" means any party that is contributing the funds for the CBM Operations in accordance with its participating interest determined pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Contract.

5

Article 3

Cash Calls

3.1   

Except as otherwise provided in the Contract, the Contractor shall provide all the exploration costs for the Exploration Operations according to the provision of Article 12.1.1 of the Contract and all the Investing Parties shall provide the development costs for the Development Operations in proportion to their respective participating interests as provided in Article 12.1.2 of the Contract.  In accordance with each approved annual budget, the Operator shall issue monthly cash call notices to each Investing Party to provide the Operator with funds to cover the planned expenditures of the next month.  Whether or not the cash call notices for the exploration costs are to be issued shall be at the option of the Operator.

3.2 

Development Operations cash call and default   

3.2.1    

According to the needs of the CBM Operations, the Operator shall regularly issue monthly cash call notices within the amount of approved annual budget to request each Investing Party to respectively make advances as specified by the Operator. The Operator shall, before twenty (20) days prior to the commencement of each month, issue cash call notices for the development costs and each Investing Party shall provide its percentage share of funds according to the requirement and within the time limit specified in the cash call notice. However the payment due date specified in the cash call notices shall not be earlier than the first working day of the month for which cash is called.  Each Investing Party shall transfer its percentage share of funds to the Operator's bank account(s) established by the Operator particularly for the CBM Operations.  Such bank account(s) will be interest bearing account(s) if possible. Such interest shall be credited directly to the respective CUCBM and Contractor accounts as applicable, in accordance with their respective percentage of participating interest.

Any excessive advances made by each Investing Party for any month shall be adjusted in the next cash call.

In case that the Operator, owing to the needs of the Development Operations, has to incur expenditures which are unforeseen in the cash call for any month, written notices shall be issued to all the Investing Parties who shall finance their own shares for additional amount within ten (10) days following the receipt of the written notice.

3.2.2 

Interest shall be paid by CUCBM or the companies comprising Contractor failing to pay its share of funds on the due date specified in the cash call at LIBOR on the delinquent date plus five percent (5%) on the delinquency of less than one (1) month and thereafter at the average LIBOR rate ruling throughout each subsequent month plus five percent (5%), such interest being compounded on a monthly basis throughout the period of the delinquency.  The non-defaulting party or parties shall make up the delinquent portion on 

6

behalf of the defaulting party or parties. When the defaulting party or parties pay cash to meet both the delinquent portion and accrued interest thereon, the Operator shall reimburse the non-defaulting party or parties who made up the delinquent portion.

All amount advanced by the non-defaulting party or parties plus accrued interest not reimbursed by the defaulting party shall constitute a debt due from the defaulting party or parties to the non-defaulting party or parties who shall be entitled to all remedies at law and equity. The Operator, or any non-defaulting party, if the Operator is a defaulting party, on behalf of the non-defaulting party or parties is entitled to take and sell the defaulting party's or parties' share of the Annual Gross Production of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons and apply the proceeds of the sale of such CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons against all sums due and payable by the defaulting party or parties including accrued interest. Any excess funds remaining from such proceeds after deduction of all amounts due, including interest and the costs, charges and expenses incurred by the Operator, or any non-defaulting party, if the Operator is a defaulting party, in connection with such sale, shall be paid over to the defaulting party. Any deficiency remaining due after deducting the proceeds of any such sale shall remain an obligation of the defaulting party or parties and may be collected as any other debt.

3.3 

Each monthly cash call notice shall clearly indicate the following information:  

3.3.1   

Annual development costs to be shared by each Investing Party as shown in the approved annual budget.

3.3.2  

Amount of funds advanced by each Investing Party at the end of the month prior to the month in which the cash call notice is prepared and the actual expenditures and the actual balance (i.e. funds unused) recorded in the Joint Account, accompanied by the bank statements related to the Joint Account for the previous month. 

3.3.3   

Amount of funds to be called from each Investing Party in the month for which the funds will be used and the estimated amounts of funds to be called in the following two (2) months.

3.3.4  

The date when funds are to be provided, the amount of funds, currency, account number, name of the account, the recipient bank and its address.

3.3.5

Where applicable, the participating Parties shall pay their participating interest share of such invoice, via wire transfer, within thirty (30) days of receipt of such invoice (“due date”).  In the event a Party falls to pay such participating interest share by such due date, the Parties shall be subject to the provisions of Article 3.2.2 of the Annex II and the other provision of the Contract.

7

3.4   

On the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production of any CBM Field, any development investment for the CBM Field advanced by the Investing Parties which has not been expended or will not be expended shall be returned to each of the Investing Parties in proportion to its share.

3.5 

In accordance with Article 12.1.3 of the Contract, the cash for the Production Operations undertaken by the Parties jointly and approved by JMC  shall  be  provided by all the Investing Parties to the Contract in proportion to their respective participating interests in the development  costs and shall bear no Deemed Interest. Based on the needs of the Production Operations, the Operator may make timely adjustment of the amount of cash to be provided by all the Investing Parties to the Contract.  The Operator shall issue quarterly cash call notices to call for cash for the Production Operations.  In proportion to its share, each Investing Party shall respectively provide advances on a monthly basis in accordance with the requirement and within the time limit specified in the cash call notice of the current month. The default provision specified in Article 3.2 of this Accounting Procedure shall also apply to any cash calls for Production Operations.

In case that the Operator, owing to the needs of the Production Operations, has to incur expenditures which are unforeseen in the cash call for any month, written notices with explanations shall be issued to all the Investing Parties who shall finance their own shares for additional amount within ten (10) days following the receipt of such written notice.       

3.6   

According to the requirement of the CBM Operations, the Operator shall indicate in any cash call notice the U.S. dollar equivalent of the total cash called. The Operator shall also specify the amounts of Renminbi and U.S. dollars required as estimated to make payment. CUCBM shall provide the advance of its own share either in Renminbi or in Renminbi and U.S. dollars with respect to the amounts called for by the Operator, but CUCBM's funding in Renminbi shall not exceed the total amount of Renminbi as indicated and called for by the Operator in any cash call notice. The Contractor shall provide the advance of its own share in U. S. dollars.

3.7 

Provisions for recording the sources of funds:

3.7.1  

Funds for exploration costs, development costs and operating costs, when received, pursuant to each cash call shall be credited against the relevant accounts of the Investing Parties in the Joint Account.

3.7.2  

In case CUCBM decides to develop a CBM Field for its sole account pursuant to Article 11.5 of the Contract, or undertakes any other operation for its sole account, the funds required shall be financed and accounted for separately.

3.7.3  

In accordance with Article 6.3 of the Contract, if the Contractor opts to terminate the Contract as provided in Article 6.3  (c) of the Contract or if the phase is the last phase of the exploration period, the Contractor shall, within 

8

thirty (30) days from the date of its decision to terminate the Contract or thirty (30) days from the date of the expiration of the exploration period, pay CUCBM in U.S. dollars the unfulfilled balance of the minimum exploration work commitment (or of the new commitment) for the exploration phase, converted into cash. The detailed method by which the unfulfilled balance of the minimum exploration work commitment is converted into U.S. dollars is that the actual average unit cost of the last portion of a seismic line shot under the Contract or of the last well drilled, excluding the abnormal drilling costs such as those of the sidetrack, fishing, severe loss of mud circulation, etc. (i.e. U.S. dollars/kilometer of seismic line; U.S. dollars/meter of drilling footage), is multiplied by the unfulfilled amount of the minimum exploration work commitment. The formula for such calculation is as follows:

I = Ac X Pu

in which:

I = converted cash amount of the unfulfilled balance of the minimum exploration work commitment;

Ac = actual average unit cost of the last portion of a seismic line shot or of the last well drilled; and

Pu = the unfulfilled amount of the minimum exploration work commitment (The unfulfilled amount of the seismic line shot is the difference between the kilometers specified in Article 6.2 of the Contract and actual kilometers shot. The unfulfilled footage of a unfulfilled Wildcat is the designed total depth of the Wildcat specified in accordance with Article 6.2 of the Contract). 

Article 4

Accounting and Management of Material

4.1 

Procurement of Material: 

The procurement of Material shall be implemented in accordance with the procedure specified in Articles 15.1 and 7.6 of the Contract.  In order to prevent overstocking of Material, the Operator shall use all reasonable best efforts to ensure that the procurement of Material shall be made in accordance with the Material procurement plans and that the quality of Material conforms to specifications and prices are fair and reasonable. The Operator does not warrant the Materials furnished beyond, or back of, the supplier's or manufacturer's guarantee. 

4.2 

Costs of procuring Material:

The costs of Material purchased shall be the invoice prices less discounts plus related transportation and other expenses, including expenses for freight to the destination, insurance premiums commensurate with the Material covered, fees of forwarding agents, duties, fees, handling expenses from shipside to and within any water or land terminal warehouse or yard, and any other reasonable expenses actually paid and expenses of inland transportation.     

9

4.3 

The provisions and procedures of Article 15.1 and Article 7.6 of the Contract and the following provisions shall be applied for pricing Material furnished from the stocks of the Parties and/or their Affiliates for use in the CBM Operations:

(1) 

New Material:

New Material shall be priced on the basis of current market value plus expenses in moving such Material directly to the job-site where Material is used.

(2) 

Used Material:

(a)

Material, which is in sound and serviceable condition and is suitable for reuse without reconditioning shall be priced by the Parties, and the ceiling price shall not exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the current market value of new Material.

(b)

Material which, after being reconditioned, will be further serviceable for its original function shall be priced by the Parties, and the ceiling price shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the current value of new Material.

(c)

Used Material which cannot be classified as (a) or (b) above shall be priced by the Parties through discussions at a value commensurate with its use.

(d)

If the Operator wishes to use a method other than the above for pricing used Material, such other method shall be agreed upon in advance by the Parties through consultations. 

4.4 

Price determination and leasing expense calculation method for properties purchased or leased from other contract areas:

The Operator may lease equipment and facilities and purchase Material and fuel from other contract areas within the People's Republic of China.  The Operator shall charge the leasing expenses or purchase price as agreed upon by the Operator and its suppliers. Such leasing expenses or purchase prices shall not exceed those currently prevailing in similar contract areas.

4.5    

For certain Material which is in short supply in the world markets and difficult to procure at published market prices and the lack of which will hinder normal operations, the Operator may, after the approval of JMC, purchase such Material urgently needed by the CBM Operations and charge actual purchase costs to the Joint Account.

10

4.6  

Disposal of Equipment and Material:

The Operator shall not dispose of or sell Material with book value exceeding Ten Thousand U.S. dollars (U.S. $10,000) without the prior consent of the Parties. The Operator shall use all reasonable endeavor to minimize losses in the disposal of or sales of such Material.

Sales of properties to Third Parties or Affiliates shall be recorded in accordance with actual sales income. No guaranty or warranty for Material sold or disposed of under this Article shall be given by the Operator to any purchaser.      

4.7   

Accounting for Material:

The costs of Material which is procured by the Operator and is directly used at the job-site shall be charged to the respective accounts of exploration costs, development costs or operating costs at actual purchase prices (as defined in Article 4.2 herein) and on the basis of the use of Material. Should such Material subsequently be used for other purposes, the relevant charges shall be transferred from the original cost accounts to the appropriate cost accounts.

Material for general use which is first stored in warehouses shall be subject to inventory control procedures.  The quantities, unit prices and total value shall be recorded for Material in inventory using perpetual inventory methods.  Material in stock shall be priced at purchase costs and the Operator, upon the commencement of or during the Contract period, has the freedom to choose one of the following pricing methods such as FIFO, weighted average method and moving average method, etc. for Material to be transferred out of the stock. Accounts for inventory Material shall be regarded as exploration costs development costs or operating costs and shall be recovered in accordance with Article 12.2 of the Contract.

 

At the request of any non-Operator, the Operator shall furnish to the non-Operator a detailed statement of Controllable Material.

The Operator shall conduct physical inventory of Material in warehouses prior to the annual final accounts or whenever depending upon the actual situation. The Operator shall give a written notice to JMC sixty (60) days before the date of proposed physical inventory in order to allow time for participation by the non-Operators and failure to participate by any non-Operator in the physical inventory shall be regarded as approval of the physical inventory conducted by the Operator.

If any gain or loss is found as a result of the physical inventory, the Operator shall compile a detailed statement of the gain or loss and attach to it an explanation for the gain or loss, which shall be submitted to JMC for examination and approval.

11

4.8  

In accordance with Article 17.1 of the Contract, the Operator shall exercise strict control over the fixed assets of the CBM Operations and set up accounts and record cards, and shall conduct physical inventory of the fixed assets at the year-end or whenever depending upon the actual situation to make sure that the book records, card records and physical fixed assets are in conformity. In case that any damage or loss arises to the fixed assets, the Operator shall determine the reasons and submit them to JMC for examination and approval.

Article 5

Expense Accounting

5.1   

Rules for accounting

5.1.1  

According to the provisions of Articles 12.1.1, 12.1.2 and 12.1.3 of the Contract, all development costs and operating costs of the Parties as well as the Contractor's exploration costs shall be recorded in the Joint Account separately.

The Operator shall establish and maintain three separate accounts, namely:

5.1.1.1   

exploration costs account, 

5.1.1.2   

development costs account 

5.1.1.3   

Operating costs account 

in which all charges and costs as classified pursuant to Articles 5.2 and 5.3 of this Accounting Procedure shall be reflected.

5.1.2 

If either CUCBM or the Contractor, in accordance with Article 11.5, or Article 12.1.2 of the Contract, makes the decision to develop a CBM Field for its sole account or to undertake any other operation for its own account, the relevant costs shall be accounted for separately.

5.1.3  

All items related to the CBM Operations such as discounts, deductions, allowances, interest income, gains from various services, indemnities from insurance and other miscellaneous income by the Operator, shall be credited to the relevant costs accounts.

5.1.4  

All direct services or research work (including personnel) provided by the superior organizations or Affiliates of CUCBM or of the Contractor and by the Third Parties for the CBM Operations shall be subject to the advance work order procedures on the basis of the annual budget or of the approval by JMC and shall be charged to the Joint Account after verification of relevant invoices.

12

The work order procedure shall be established through consultations at JMC meetings by both Parties within three (3) months as of the Date of Commencement of the Implementation of the Contract. The rates charged for direct services or research work (including personnel cost) provided by the superior organization or Affiliates of CUCBM or of the Contractor shall be competitive when compared with the rates of similar services furnished by the Third Parties. The Operator shall, in accordance with Article 15 of the Contract, give priority to use direct services of research work (including personnel) provided by CUCBM.

5.2 

Cost items:

The following items shall be chargeable to the Joint Account at Operator’s net cost.

5.2.1 

Subcontractor charges:

The charges paid to Subcontractors in accordance with contracts signed between the Operator and Subcontractors.

5.2.2 

Personnel expenses:

The contents and control of personnel expenses shall be as stipulated in Article 18.3 of the Contract.  

5.2.3  

Travel and living expenses:       

Travel and living expenses paid according to Article 18 of the Contract to the personnel involved in the CBM Operations.

5.2.4  

Material expenses:

Expenses paid in accordance with Article 4 of this Accounting Procedure to purchase Material for use in the CBM Operations.

5.2.5

Relocation and transportation expenses:

Relocation and transportation expenses for the personnel involved in the CBM Operations to be relocated into or out of the People's Republic of China and transferred from job-sites to job-sites within the People's Republic of China. 

5.2.6  

Maintenance, repair and leasing expenses:

Expenses for maintenance, repair or replacement of the properties used in the CBM Operations and the leasing expenses paid for leased properties and equipment.

13

5.2.7  

Insurance premiums:

Necessary net payment made for the insurance of the CBM Operations and related costs and expenses, including deductibles paid in the event of loss pursuant to Article 20.4 of the Contract.

5.2.8  

Legal expenses:

In order to protect the interests of Parties, all costs or expenses paid for attorney's fees, litigation or investigation, including expenses in securing evidences, mediation and settlements. The expenses for handling legal matters incurred for the interests of any Party to the Contract shall be borne solely by such Party.

5.2.9  

Taxes:

All taxes paid according to the tax laws of the People's Republic of China, except for the income taxes, value added tax based on production and royalty to be paid by the companies comprising the Contractor or CUCBM and individual income tax to be paid by employees and withheld by Operator and other related costs.

5.2.10

Energy expenses:

All costs in respect of fuel, electricity, heat, water or other energy used and consumed for the CBM Operations.

The costs of CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons produced and used in the same CBM Field (provided that the Parties have the same interest in such Fields) within the Contract Area by the Operator for the performance of the Development Operations and the Production Operations or for well stimulation or for maintaining the reservoir pressure shall not be charged.  However, the costs of transporting such CBM or Liquid Hydrocarbons to their points of use shall be charged under this item.

5.2.11

Field office facility charges:

The costs and expenses of establishing, maintaining and operating any offices, camps or housing facilities necessary for the performance of job-site operations, including a share of the costs of any office used by staff directing such operations (calculated by apportioning office costs and expenses on the basis of space occupied by such staff).

5.2.12  

Communication charges:

The costs of acquiring, leasing, installing, operating, repairing and maintaining communication systems, including radio and microwave facilities between the Contract Area and the base facilities.

14

5.2.13  

Ecological and environmental protection charges:

The charges for any measures undertaken for the CBM Operations within the Contract Area as required by relevant statutory regulations formulated by the authorities concerned or pursuant to the programs agreed by the Parties.

5.2.14   

Service charges:

5.2.14.1  

Technical service charges:

The charges paid for services, such as rock specimen analysis, CBM or Liquid Hydrocarbons quality tests, geological evaluation, data processing, design and engineering, well site geology, drilling supervision, special research programs and other technical services.

5.2.14.2   General service charges:

Professional consultant charges incurred for the common interests of both Parties and charges for other services to obtain original data needed for CBM Operations from outside sources, except legal service.  

5.2.14.3   CUCBM's assistance charges:

(a) 

The charges for the assistance provided by CUCBM for the Contractor to carry out the CBM Operations in accordance with Article 9 of the Contract. 

(b) 

For all assistance to be provided by the head office organization of CUCBM to the Contractor in the course of the Exploration, CUCBM shall charge an administrative fee of fifty thousand U.S. dollars (US $50,000) for each Calendar Year. If the whole process of the Exploration Operations conducted for any CBM Field in any Calendar Year is less than twelve (12) calendar months, the administrative fee for such Calendar Year shall be calculated in proportion to the actual calendar month(s) spent thereon (if the actual time spent thereon in any calendar month is less than thirty (30) days, the calculation shall be made based on a full calendar month). The aforesaid administrative fee shall be paid respectively on June 1st and December 1st each Calendar Year, with twenty five thousand U.S. dollars (US $25,000) for each time.

(c) 

For all assistance to be provided by the head office organization of CUCBM to the Contractor in the course of the Development Operations and the Production Operations before the implementation of a Joint Operating Agreement by the Parties, CUCBM shall charge an administrative fee of one hundred thousand U.S. dollars (U.S. $100,000) for each Calendar Year. If the whole process of the 

15

Development Operations conducted for any CBM Field in any Calendar Year is less than twelve (12) calendar months, the administrative fee for such Calendar Year shall be calculated in proportion to the actual calendar month(s) spent thereon (if the actual time spent thereon in any calendar month is less than thirty (30) days, the calculation shall be made based on a full calendar month). The aforesaid administrative fee shall be paid respectively on June 1st and December 1st each Calendar Year, with fifty thousand U.S. dollars (U.S. $50,000) for each time.

(d)

No additional assistance charges shall be due for the assistance to be provided by CUCBM per Article 9 unless agreed in writing by the Parties.  For the avoidance of doubt, this limitation does not relate to the reasonable, out of the pocket expenses (such as meals, transportation, accommodation and other travel expenses), approved in advance by the Parties and evidenced by appropriate receipts, CUCBM incurs in the process of providing the assistance.

5.2.15   

Damages and losses to the assets: 

All costs and expenses necessary for the repair, replacement or supplement of the assets resulting from damages or losses incurred by fire, flood, storm, theft or any other force majeure causes, excluding the losses specified in Article 8.4 of the Contract which shall be borne by the Operator alone.

5.2.16   

Personnel training costs:

Costs incurred for personnel training pursuant to Article 16 of the Contract-Training of Chinese Personnel.

5.2.17   

Miscellaneous expenses:

Any reasonable miscellaneous expenses needed for the CBM Operations excluded in the above items of expenses, such as bank charges, books, stationery and conference expenses as well as other reasonable expenses. 

5.2.18   

Overhead:

Overhead refers to the indirect costs for the managerial and operational services provided by the Operator's superior management organizations for the CBM Operations, including management, administration, accounting, treasury, inter company audit, tax, legal matters, procurement, employee relations, financing, the collection of economic data and costs for general consultation on such planning, design, research and operational activities, etc. to the extent that these are not chargeable under Article 5.1.4 of this Accounting Procedure. The overhead for the Exploration Operations shall be calculated in accordance with the following tiers and based on the sum of the total actual costs from Article 5.2.1 through Article 5.2.17,5.2.19 and 5.2.20 of this Accounting Procedure, but not including CUCBM's assistance charges under Article 5.2.14.3 of this Accounting Procedure.

16

Direct Costs for Exploration                    Percentage Rate

(U.S. $/Year)                            

%

First Tier: 0 to 5,000,000                      

5%

Second Tier: 5,000,001 to 15,000,000            

3%

Third Tier: 15,000,001 to 24,000,000        

2%

Fourth Tier: over 24,000,000                    

1%

For example, the overheads for direct costs of US $ 25,000,000 will be:

5% of US$ 5,000,000

US$ 250,000

3% of US$ 15,000,000 minus US$ 5,000,000

US$ 300,000

2% of US$ 24,000,000 minus US$ 15,000,000

US$ 180,000

1% of US$ 25,000,000 minus US$ 24,000,000

US$   10,000

Totals

US$740,000

The overhead rates for the Development Operations shall be agreed upon by the Parties through discussions at the time when the development budget is being prepared. However, direct costs for development shall not include investments on special items of construction which shall include, but not be limited to, gas processing facilities, terminal loading and other facilities of which the overhead rates shall be agreed upon through discussions between the Parties at the time when the development budget is being made.

When the first budget is prepared for the Calendar Year of Commencement of Commercial Production from each CBM Field, the overhead rates for production period and its related calculation method shall be agreed upon through discussions between the Parties.

The costs and expenses for offices established by the Operator within the Chinese territory which are not specifically dedicated to the CBM Operations shall be allocated by the Operator to the CBM Operations within the Contract Area or to other beneficiary Parties, including the Contractor, on the basis of actual service time recorded, or may be allocated by other methods agreed  upon by the Parties. The amount of allocation charged to the CBM Operations within the Contract Area shall be included in the cost item of Article 5.2.18 of this Accounting Procedure.  The costs and expenses incurred by the offices established by the Operator and its superior organizations outside the Chinese territory (excluding costs and expenses chargeable under Article 5.1.4 of this Accounting Procedure) has been included in the overhead and shall not be again charged to the Joint Account.

 

17

On the last working day of each month, the Operator shall make provision into the Joint Account for the overhead fees for the current month, calculated on the basis of cumulative actual expenditure for the Calendar Year to that date and payment shall be made from the Joint Account on the last working day of the following month. The final adjustment of the overhead shall be made at the end of the Calendar Year in respect to any difference between the actual payment by the Joint Account and the total overhead for that Calendar Year calculated on the annual cumulative actual investment expenditure at the end of such year. Any excess shall be refunded and deficiencies made good.

5.2.19   

General and administrative expenses:

General and administrative expenses refer to the administrative expenses incurred for any offices established by the Operator within the Chinese territory and for JMC and its subordinate bodies for the performance of the CBM Operations not otherwise directly chargeable pursuant to Article 5.2 of the Accounting Procedure in accordance with the provisions of the Contract.  Such expenses shall be classified according to minor accounts.

5.2.20

The fees for exploration and mining rights:

The fees for exploration and mining rights refer to the two sorts of fees which CUCBM pays the relevant department of State for owning CBM exploration right of the Contract Area and CBM mining right of the Development Area within the Contract Area, and which shall be respectively considered as the exploration costs and development costs (or operating costs). The Contractor shall transfer the specified fee to the bank account of CUCBM within thirty days from the date on receipt of the written notice for the payments of the exploration right fee or mining right fee from CUCBM.

5.3   

Except as otherwise provided in this Accounting Procedure, the allocation of common costs and expenses for each item of operations shall be charged in proportion to the exploration costs, development costs and operating costs actually incurred in each month.

5.4   

With respect to the expenditures or excess expenditures as mentioned in Article 10.2.4 (b) of the Contract which are determined by JMC to be unreasonable, JMC will form a joint team for further investigation to determine whether they shall be charged to the Joint Account or shall be borne by the Operator alone before the year-end final closing of accounts.

Article 6

Recovery of Costs and Deemed Interest

6.1  

According to the provisions of Article 12.2.2 of the Contract, the exploration costs shall bear no interest.

18

6.2 

The calculation of Deemed Interest on the development costs:

Deemed Interest on the development costs shall be calculated at the specified rate from the first day after the month in which the development funds of any of the Investing Parties have been received in the Operator's bank account for the Joint Account in accordance with the provisions of Article 12.2.3.2 of the Contract.

There are three hundred and sixty-five (365) days in each Calendar Year for the interest calculation and the interest shall be compounded once each Calendar Year on December 31st based on actual number of days eligible for the interest.

Worked Example

Development costs-- US $100 received on tenth of March

US $100 received on twentieth of March 

The aggregate amount received in March is US $200.

Deemed interest shall be calculated from the first of April through the end of such Calendar Year with a total number of two hundred and seventy-five (275) days.

275

Formula: Interest = US $200 X 9% X -------------

365

At the end of the year interest is added to the capital and interest thereon accrues until cost recovery is fully achieved, “i. e.,” interest is compounded at year end.

6.3   

Recovery of exploration costs, development costs with Deemed Interest thereon and operating costs.

6.3.1

In accordance with the provisions of Article 12.2.2 of the Contract, the exploration costs shall be recovered from the CBM Fields within the Contract Area which have been developed and are producing and in which development  the Contractor has participated.

6.3.2  

In accordance with the provisions of Articles 12.2.1, 12.2.3.1 and 12.2.3.2 of the Contract, the principal of development costs and Deemed Interest thereon and operating costs, respectively, of each CBM Field shall be recovered only from the production of each respective CBM Field.

19

6.3.3 

As at the date of completing sale of CBM or Liquid Hydrocarbons the Operator shall make separate records into Joint Account for the appropriate reimbursement of the principal of the exploration costs, development costs with Deemed Interest thereon and operating costs respectively in accordance with Article 12.2 of the Contract.  Written notices shall be sent by the Operator to CUCBM and the Investing Parties at the same time.  

6.4 

In accordance with the provisions of Article 18.1 of the Contract, the Operator shall establish complete books for recording the volume and value of CBM and/or Liquid Hydrocarbons, precisely reflecting the production and the disposal of the CBM and/or Liquid Hydrocarbons within the Contract term.

6.5   

CBM and Liquid production in each Calendar Year for each CBM Field within the production period shall be accounted according to the allocation proportions specified in Article 13 of the Contract and at the CBM and Liquid Hydrocarbons price determined pursuant to Article 14.4 of the Contract. 

Article 7

Accounting Reports

7.1  

The Operator shall provide relevant accounting reports and statements based on the Accounting System to CUCBM and each company comprising the Contractor.  Monthly reports shall be submitted within thirty (30) days after the end of each month, quarterly reports within forty-five (45) days after the end of each Calendar Quarter and annual reports within forty-five (45) days after the end of each Calendar Year. Monthly, quarterly and annual reports shall be submitted in accordance with requirements and formats specified in the Accounting System.            

7.2   

Any Investing Party to the Contract may require the Operator to allow its staff to have access to the Joint Account Accounting Records relating to the application of expenses in the stipulated custody period, upon giving thirty (30) days notice but such access shall not unduly hinder the Operator's normal operations. 

Article 8      

Audit 

8.1  

Audits shall be carried out in accordance with Article 18.2 of the Contract.

8.2  

The expenses of audits by any non-Operator shall be borne by the non-Operator which conducts the audit. The expenses for any joint audits conducted by more than one non-Operator shall be allocated in proportion to their respective participating interests in the development costs.

20

Article 9 

Transfer Procedure for the Joint Account

9.1   

When the Exploration Operations are successful and the Contract Area enters the development period, the Operator shall conduct an inventory and check of all the properties and accounts for CUCBM.  When each CBM Field within the Contract Area goes from development into production, or when the Contractor terminates the Contract, an inventory and check of all properties and accounts shall be conducted.

If the Contract Area has entered into the development period or the production period, the Operator (after taking an inventory of all properties taken by all Investing Parties) shall make a proposal to JMC for its approval listing the remaining equipment and Materials needed for the CBM Operations for the following period and which shall be carried forward to the next period in book values in the Joint Account. The Operator shall be responsible for the disposal of the equipment and materials not needed for the CBM Operations, the gains or losses derived from such disposal shall be allocated in accordance with the share of each Investing Party in proportion to the overall investment amount of all Investing Parties and be adjusted against the original accounts.  

If the Contract terminates, the method of an inventory to all of the remaining equipment and Materials shall be the same as mentioned above, and the gains and losses derived from such disposal shall be adjusted against the accounts of the original Investing Party in accordance with the above mentioned methods.  

9.2

In accordance with the provisions of Article 8.7 of the Contract, when the Joint Operators Group (JOG) pursuant to Article 8.8.1 herein becomes the Operator of all the said CBM Fields within the Contract Area, the former Operator shall transfer to JOG all of the Accounting Records relating to the Joint Account.

9.3

Upon the termination of the Contract, the Operator shall transfer all the relevant vouchers, books and statements over to CUCBM for custody.

9.4  

In conducting the transfer of the accounting books and inventory and check of all the properties in accordance with the provisions of this Accounting Procedure, the implementation procedure for the transfer and verification, the accounting files to be transferred and accounting matters to be settled as well as other details shall be agreed upon through consultation in advance between the Operator and CUCBM.  The transfer procedure shall be completed within the time period agreed upon by the Parties. Thereafter, owing to the needs of any Investing Party to the Contract, CUCBM shall allow that Party's staff access to the Accounting Records within the relevant Accounting Records custody period and provide them with duplicates, if necessary.

21

Annex III

Personnel Costs

        

Table of Contents

Article

Description

1            

General Provisions

2            

Employment of CUCBM Personnel

3            

Salaries and Wages of Personnel

4            

Other Expenses

5            

Settlement of Personnel Costs

1

Annex III

Personnel Costs

 

Article 1

General Provisions

1.1  

This Annex is an integral part of the Contract. The definitions set forth in Article 1 of the Contract are applicable to this Annex. If the provisions in this Annex are in conflict with those in the Contract, the provisions of the Contract shall prevail.

1.2   

The provisions in this Annex with respect to personnel costs shall only be applicable to the following personnel:

(1) 

representatives of JMC appointed by CUCBM referred to in Article 7.1 of the Contract;

(2) 

personnel of CUCBM in the subordinate bodies of JMC referred to in Article 7.4 of the Contract;

(3)  

professional representatives assigned by CUCBM to the Operator's (Contractor's) organizations referred to in Article 7.5 of the Contract; and

(4) 

personnel furnished by CUCBM to the Contractor (not including personnel recruited by CUCBM for the Contractor) referred to in Article 2 hereof.

1.3   

Personnel costs referred to in this Annex shall include salaries and wages of personnel specified in Article 3 hereof and other expenses specified in Article 4 hereof.     

1.4    

There is a table attached to this Annex, i.e. Table of Salary and Wage Standards of CUCBM Personnel.

1.5

All salaries, costs and expenses with respect to the staff members of CUCBM in the subordinate bodies of JMC, the CUCBM professional representatives and the CUCBM representatives of JMC to be paid and charged during the development period and production period shall be determined by the Parties through consultation.

Article 2       

Employment of CUCBM Personnel

2.1    

The Contractor may employ Chinese Personnel in accordance with Article 15.2 of the Contract.

2

2.1.1 

When employing the Chinese Personnel, the Contractor may request CUCBM’s assistance by submitting to CUCBM a personnel employment plan, which shall specify specialties, number of personnel necessary to be employed, and such requirements as to technique, experience and education, with respect to the personnel to be employed.

2.1.2 

CUCBM shall, within sixty (60) days from the date on which it receives the personnel employment plan submitted by the Contractor, notify the Contractor  in a written form of the following:

(1) 

names and specialties of employee candidates which will be furnished by CUCBM, as well as their health conditions, working experience and  education; and

(2) 

specialties and number of employee candidates to  be recruited by CUCBM  for the Contractor and  provided by the Chinese   organizations other than CUCBM, as well as recruitment arrangements with respect thereto.             

2.1.3 

The employee candidates furnished and recruited by CUCBM for the Contractor shall be engaged by the Contractor only when they have passed tests conducted by the Contractor or become qualified after being trained by the Contractor. The Contractor shall notify CUCBM in writing of the name list of the employee candidates whom it has decided to engage and whom it has decided not to employ promptly after the tests or training have been conducted. The Contractor shall explain the reason to CUCBM with respect to the employee candidates whom it has decided not to employ. Upon Contractor’s request, CUCBM shall promptly furnish or recruit additional employee candidates. 

 

2.2   

The employment contract(s) shall be signed for employment of personnel furnished by CUCBM per Article 2.1.2 (2) who have passed the tests conducted by the Contractor or become qualified after being trained by the Contractor. The said employment contract(s) shall include provisions with respect to employees, such as employment, dismissal, resignation, production and working assignments, salaries or wages and other expenses, awards and penalties, working time and vacations, labor insurance and welfare, labor protection and labor discipline.  In addition, the Parties shall work out specific stipulations with regard to the term of the employment contract(s), conditions of termination and modification of employment contract(s),   responsibilities in the case of violation of the contract, and rights and obligations of the Parties.

2.3  

The Contractor shall notify CUCBM in writing thirty (30) days before dismissing or replacing any personnel furnished by CUCBM and engaged by the Contractor.

3

However, in the case of defalcation and other serious offense, the Contractor has the right to immediately terminate the employment contract of such personnel and will promptly advise CUCBM of the reason for such action.

Article 3

Salaries and Wages of Personnel

3.1   

Salaries and wages of the personnel referred to in Article 1.2 hereof (hereinafter referred to as "CUCBM Personnel") shall be dealt with in accordance with the following provisions:

3.1.1  

CUCBM Personnel shall be divided into two parts, i.e. personnel of JMC and employees. Personnel of JMC shall fall into two categories and employees shall fall into five categories. The salaries and wages of the personnel in each category shall be classified as three levels. The levels of the personnel in each category shall be determined in accordance with the number of years of working experience they have. Those who have less than three (3) years of useful working experience shall be determined as Level One; those who have three (3) to ten (10) years of useful working experience shall be determined as Level Two; and those who have more than ten (10) years of useful working experience shall be determined as Level Three. The salary and wage standards with respect to Levels One, Two and Three of each category of personnel are specified in the Table of Salary and Wage Standards of CUCBM Personnel.

  

3.1.2   

The salary and wage standards specified in the Table of Salary and Wage Standards of CUCBM Personnel, which are expressed in 2004 U.S. dollars, shall be increased annually in the same percentage as the average annual increase percentage in base salaries granted to Expatriate Employees.

3.1.3  

The salary and wage standards of personnel at each level in each category specified in the Table of Salary and Wage Standards of CUCBM Personnel divided by twenty-one point five (21.5) shall be the daily salary and wage standards of personnel at such level in such category.

3.2   

Those CUCBM Personnel who have worked for a full Calendar Month or twenty (20) working days in a Calendar Month shall be paid in accordance with the monthly salary and wage standards; those CUCBM personnel who have worked for less than twenty (20) working days in a Calendar Month shall be paid in accordance with the daily salary and wage standards in Article 3.1.3.

4

3.3    

CUCBM's chief representative of JMC shall always be paid in accordance with the salary and wage standards with respect to representatives of JMC.  Other CUCBM's representatives of JMC shall be paid, for the period in which he or she attends JMC meetings, in accordance with the salary and wage standards with respect to representatives of JMC. If any professional representative (including the secretary) of CUCBM or any CUCBM expert working in expert group(s) is concurrently a representative of JMC (other than CUCBM's chief representative of JMC), then he or she shall be paid, for the period in which he or she attends JMC meetings, in accordance with the salary and wage standards with respect to representatives of JMC, and for the rest of the period in accordance with the salary and wage standards with respect to his or her actual post, i.e. the professional  representatives (including the secretary) shall be paid in accordance with the salary and  wage standards with respect to the professional  representatives, and CUCBM experts  working in expert group(s) shall be paid in accordance with  salary and wage standards with respect to the employees specified in the Table of Salary and Wage Standards of CUCBM Personnel.                  

3.4    

The initial determination and any subsequent modification with respect to any post and level of representatives of JMC appointed by CUCBM, secretaries, experts and professional representatives of CUCBM shall be made by CUCBM in accordance with the number of years of working experience and capabilities they have.

The levels of the personnel furnished by CUCBM and employed by the Contractor shall be determined in accordance with Article 3.1.1 herein, the posts of such personnel shall be determined by the Contractor on the basis of assessment, and the subsequent promotion and demotion with respect to the posts or levels of such personnel shall be determined by the Contractor. The aforesaid personnel shall be paid in accordance with the salary and wage standards corresponding to their new posts from the month following the month in which their posts or levels are promoted or demoted.

3.5 

The working time of the secretary, professional representatives and experts assigned by CUCBM to the subordinate bodies of JMC shall be determined in accordance with the working system of JMC. However, the professional representatives of CUCBM shall work for no more than five (5) days per week and eight (8) hours per day.                  

5

Article 4

Other Expenses   

      

4.1   

CUCBM Personnel shall be paid, in addition to the salaries and wages as stipulated in Article 3 hereof, the following expenses:

4.1.1 

Expenses for working meals and other miscellaneous personal expenses based on 21.5 average working days per Calendar Month are as follows:

     

Three hundred and one (301.00) U.S. dollars each month for working meals and other miscellaneous personal expenses for each CUCBM Personnel.

Those CUCBM Personnel who have worked for the full Calendar Month shall be paid in accordance with the monthly expenses for working meals and other miscellaneous expenses; those CUCBM Personnel who have worked for less than the full Calendar Month shall be paid as follows:

301  X   Number of Days Worked

21.5

4.1.2 

Home leave and expenses for visiting family:

4.1.2.1 

Any CUCBM Personnel who work in the Contract Area for the performance of the Contract and whose cumulative working time in one (1) Calendar Year reaches eleven (11) Calendar Months may enjoy a thirty (30) day home leave with pay.

4.1.2.2 

Standards of home leave expenses for CUCBM Personnel:

Two Hundred (200) U.S. dollars for each CUCBM personnel each time whose home is in the province(s) in which the Contract Area locates.

Three Hundred and Fifty (350) U. S. dollars for each CUCBM Personnel each time whose home is outside the province(s) in which the Contract Area locates.

If the work is performed, at the request of JMC, in the province outside the Contract Area, two hundred (200) US dollars for each CUCBM Personnel each time whose home is in the same province in which the work place is located and three hundred fifty (350) US dollars for each CUCBM Personnel each time whose home is outside the province in which the work place is located. 

4.1.3   

Premiums for accidental personal injury and death insurance and the expenses incurred in dealing with injuries or death of CUCBM Personnel, which shall include:

6

(a) 

premiums for accidental personal injury and death insurance calculated in accordance with insured amount and insurance premium rate with respect to CUCBM Personnel in each category; and 

(b) 

expenses actually incurred in dealing with injuries  or death in the event that accidental injuries  to or death of CUCBM Personnel occur.    

       

4.1.4 

Administrative expenses for CUCBM Personnel and expenses for CUCBM personnel on business trips. 

       

4.1.5 

Lodging expenses for CUCBM Personnel working for the purpose of performance of the CBM Operations during the period when they are not local residents there. 

4.2   

In the event that commodity prices or transportation fees increase, the standards of expenses referred to in Article 4.1.1 herein shall be adjusted equitably through consultation by the Parties.

Article 5

Settlement of Personnel Costs 

5.1    

Salaries and wages of personnel stipulated in Article 3 hereof and the expenses stipulated in Articles 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 hereof shall all be settled by the Operator with CUCBM. If the Operator has provided CUCBM Personnel with working meals and transportation, no expenses specified in Article 4.1.1 hereof shall be paid to CUCBM.

5.2    

The expenses referred to in Article 4.1.4 and Article 4.1.5 hereof shall be provided by the Operator or reimbursed based on receipts, bills or vouchers.

7

	

Table of Salary and Wage Standards of CUCBM Personnel

	 
	 
	 
	

Gross Monthly Salary and Wage Standard (USD)

	Category

	Ordinal No.

	Personnel

	Level One

	Level Two

	Level Three

	JMC

	1

	Representative of JMC appointed by CUCBM

	1,950

	2,860

	4,000

	 
	2

	Professional Representative (Including Secretary)

	1,560

	2,210

	2,860

	Employee

	1

	Senior Technical Personnel

	1,560

	2,210

	2,860

	 
	2

	Middle Level Technical Personnel

	1,300

	1,690

	1,950

	 
	3

	Ordinary Technical Personnel

	   900

	   1125

	   1680

	 
	4

	Ordinary Administrative Personnel

	   770

	   910

	   1050

	 
	5

	Technical Worker and Automobile Driver

	   670

	   825

	   975

	 
	6

	Common Labor

	450

	525

	600

8

Annex IV

Data Control

Table of Contents

Article  

Description

1         

General Provisions

2          

Ownership of the Data

3          

Control and Use of the Data

4          

Scope of the Data Provided for CUCBM

 

1

Annex  IV

Data Control 

Article  1

General Provision

This Annex IV is an integral part of the Contract. The definitions set forth in Article 1 of the Contract are equally applicable to this Annex. If the provisions in this Annex are in conflict with those in the Contract, the provisions in the Contract shall prevail.

Article  2

Ownership of the Data

2.1   

The ownership of all of the data, records, vouchers and other original data obtained and/or acquired by the Contractor in the implementation of the Contract shall vest in CUCBM. 

2.2   

The ownership and right of use of cores, rock samples and other samples obtained and/or acquired by the Contractor from the Contract Area shall vest in CUCBM.

2.3  

Within the validity period of the Contract, after the termination of the Contract and after the contractor assigns its rights and obligations, no data, information and samples mentioned in Articles 2.1 and 2. 2 hereof shall be disclosed in any way to a Third Party except as stipulated in Articles 3.4 and 3.5 hereof or be transferred, donated, exchanged, sold, or published in any form without the permission in writing of CUCBM.

Article  3

Control and Use of the Data

3.1  

During the implementation of the CBM Operations, the Contractor shall be responsible to keep in good order, all the data, information and samples stipulated in Articles 2.1 and 2.2 hereof within the territory of the People's Republic of China and shall furnish CUCBM in a timely manner with such data, information and samples for use and turn them over to CUCBM in a step-by-step or phase-by-phase manner.

3.2  

The Contractor shall have the right to use or duplicate the data and information mentioned in Article 2.1 hereof and use samples referred to in Article 2.2 hereof within and outside China and the results of research, interpretation, analysis and chemical examination shall be submitted or reported to CUCBM in a timely manner. The Contractor shall not use the above-mentioned data, information and samples for purposes other than those related to the implementation of the Contract.

2

3.3  

Any shipment abroad for use of the original data and information (such as original magnetic tapes, original recordings, etc.) referred to in Article 2.1 hereof and of the samples referred to in Article 2.2 hereof shall be subject to the consent in writing of CUCBM. Unless otherwise agreed by CUCBM, the size of any piece of core or amount of any batch of rock cuttings and samples to be shipped abroad shall not be greater than one half (1/2) of the total size or amount of the original piece or batch. The original data and information shipped abroad shall, upon completion of the use or duplication thereof, be shipped in a timely manner back to and be kept in China.

3.4  

If, for the purpose of implementation of the Contract, the Contractor need to provide the data and information for such Third Parties as banks or other credit institutions, Subcontractors and potential assignees to which the rights and interests under the Contract are assigned, the type and scope of the data and information to be provided shall be subject to review by CUCBM and the Contractor shall obtain from such Third Parties a written undertaking that they shall have the obligation to keep the provided data and information confidential.

3.5  

The Contractor may provide such data and information as may be requested by their parent corporations or Affiliates relating to the implementation of the Contract or by securities and exchange organizations  or the governments of the Contractor's  home countries, subject to the prior reporting thereof to CUCBM. The Contractor shall inform the aforesaid parent corporations or Affiliates which receive the data and information that they shall be obligated to keep such data and information confidential and shall request the security and exchange organizations or the governments of their home countries to keep such data and information confidential subject to international practice.

3.6  

Release of the data and information to the press shall be subject to the consultation and agreement between the Parties.

Article 4

Scope of the Data Provided for CUCBM      

In carrying out the CBM Operations, the Contractor shall provide CUCBM with data and information, including, but not limited to the following in duplicate:

4.1    

Overall programs and plans of operations and information and documents of designs of an individual project:

4. 1.1   

Overall and phased exploration program of the Contract Area;

4. 1.2   

Annual operational plans for exploration;

3

4. 1. 3 

Early development programs, Overall Development Programs and adjusted development programs of CBM Fields;

4. 1.4   

Annual and separate operational designs of geophysical survey;  

4. 1.5

Designs for single well drilling and for single well production testing of exploratory wells;  

4. 1.6  

Plans for production and production testing of wells and CBM Fields;

4. 1.7  

The content and general schedules of engineering project;

4. 1.8   

Basic designs of engineering projects (e.g. CBM and water treatment facilities, modules and pipelines);

4. 1. 9   

Annual and monthly operational progress charts for engineering projects;

4. 1. 10 

Procurement plans and schedules for engineering projects;

4. 1. 11  

Test-run and commissioning schedules for engineering projects.

4. 2      Information and documents on the progress of all operations:

4. 2. 1   

Daily (weekly), monthly and annual reports on geophysical survey;

4. 2. 2   

Daily, monthly and annual reports on well drilling and production testing;

4. 2. 3   

Daily, monthly and annual reports on production testing and production of wells and CBM Fields;

4. 2. 4   

Monthly and annual reports on operational progress of engineering projects;

4. 2. 5   

Other operational progress reports;

4. 2. 6   

Operational rules and unpatented technical manuals of CBM operations.

4. 3      Original data and information of CBM Operations:

4. 3. 1

Original magnetic tapes, original records, data, seismic sections, drawings and other relevant data and information of geophysical surveys;

4. 3. 2

Original records, data, drawings and other relevant data and information of geochemical survey;

4. 3. 3   

Original records, data, drawings, samples and other relevant information of seismic survey, well drilling, mud, drilling log, well logging, well testing, cementing, fracturing, well completion, dewatering and workover operations;

4

4. 3. 4   

Original records, data, drawings and other relevant information of production testing, production, injection and stimulation of wells and CBM Fields;    

4. 3. 5   

Original records, data and automatic recording cards of CBM metering;

4. 3. 6   

Original data and recording cards of CBM transportation, storage and marketing;

4. 3. 7   

All the samples (including cores, cuttings, CBM, Liquid Hydrocarbons, and water samples and mud samples) and results of analysis and chemical examination thereon;

4. 3. 8   

Data on physical properties of pay zones;

4. 3. 9   

Data on environment, hydrology and meteorology.

4.3.10

All original data provided for in this Article 4.3 shall be kept and stored under conditions guaranteed to preserve the data and data quality, all of which data shall be made available to Contractor when requested.

4. 4     Basic information of engineering projects:

4. 4. 1   

Instructions on design calculations and detailed design drawings of engineering projects;

4. 4. 2   

Technical specifications and standards of design, manufacture and installation, safety rules, environmental protection rules and operational rules;

4. 4. 3

Construction records of individual projects and order slips on design and construction alterations;

4. 4. 4   

Project commissioning drawings and manuals and original records or reports on project acceptance.

4. 5      Summary reports on operational results and reports on specialized research and comprehensive study of each CBM Operation:

4. 5. 1   

Reports on locations of geophysical survey, geochemical survey, well drilling and other operations;

4. 5. 2  

Operational reports on data processing and interpretation of geophysical and geochemical survey;

4. 5. 3   

Summary reports on drilling geology;

4. 5. 4   

Summary reports on production testing;

5

4. 5. 5   

Reports on physical properties study of CBM reservoirs and reports on reservoir simulations and analyses;

4. 5. 6  

Summary reports on geological structure drilling, reserves calculations of CBM and reports on feasibility study on CBM Field geology, development, engineering and economic evaluations;

4. 5. 7   

Reports on specialized and comprehensive studies on problems arising in the course of CBM Field exploration and development;

4. 5. 8   

Reports on experiment and research for engineering designs.

4. 6      Data and information on economic and planning:

4. 6. 1   

General budgets for basic development plans of CBM Field and calculation basis thereon;

4. 6. 2  

Data on production of CBM, output value and productivity of CBM Field;

4.6. 3   

Geophysics survey, well drilling work and budgets of CBM Field, as well as economic, technical and energy consumption data and information;

4. 6. 4  

Data on production, marketing, distribution and transportation of production from CBM Field;

4. 6. 5   

Information on investment and financing and accounting for engineering projects;

4. 6. 6   

Other financial data specified in the Accounting Procedure of the Contract.

6<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.01

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         AGREEMENT dated this 28th day of August, 2006, by and between Benihana
Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the "Company") and Jose I. Ortega (the
"Employee").

                                R E C I T A L S :

         The Company is desirous of employing Employee from the Effective Date
(as defined below) as its Chief Financial Officer, and Employee is desirous of
being so employed by the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set
forth.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, it is hereby agreed by and between the Company and Employee as
follows:

         1. ENGAGEMENT AND TERM. The Company hereby employs Employee and
Employee hereby accepts such employment by the Company on the terms and
conditions set forth herein, for a period commencing on September 1, 2006 (the
"Effective Date"), and ending, unless sooner terminated in accordance with the
provisions of Section 4 hereof, on August 31, 2009 (the "Employment Period").

         2. SCOPE OF DUTIES. Employee shall be employed by the Company as its
Chief Financial Officer. In such capacity, the Employee shall have such
authority, powers and duties as are customarily attendant upon such position. If
elected or appointed, Employee shall also serve, without additional
compensation, as Vice President - Finance and Treasurer of the Company and, if
and when elected, as a director and/or officer of any subsidiary or affiliate of
the Company, provided that his duties and responsibilities are not inconsistent
with those pertaining to his position as an executive. Employee shall faithfully
devote his full business time

<PAGE>

and efforts so as to advance the best interests of the Company. During the
Employment Period, Employee shall not be engaged in any other business activity,
whether or not such business activity is pursued for profit or other pecuniary
advantage, unless same is only incidental and is in no way, directly or
indirectly, competitive with, or opposed to the best interests of the Company.

         3. COMPENSATION.

            3.1. BASIC COMPENSATION. In respect of services to be performed by
the Employee during the Employment Period, the Company agrees to pay the
Employee an annual salary of One Hundred Eighty-Five Thousand Dollars ($185,000)
("Basic Compensation"), payable in accordance with the Company's customary
payroll practices for executive employees.

            3.2. DISCRETIONARY INCREASES. The Employees shall also be entitled
to such additional increments and bonuses as shall be determined from time to
time by the Board of Directors of the Company.

            3.3. STOCK OPTIONS. The Employee will be eligible to receive stock
options under the Company's stock option plans at the discretion of the
Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company
in accordance with policies existing at the time of such grants.

            3.4. OTHER BENEFITS.

                 (a) Employees shall be entitled to participate, at Company's
            expense, in the major medical health insurance plan, and all other
            health, insurance or other benefit plans applicable generally to
            executive officers of the Company.

                                       2
<PAGE>

                 (b) During the Employment Period, Employee will be entitled to
            paid vacations and holidays consistent with the Company's policy
            applicable to executives generally. All vacations shall be scheduled
            at the mutual convenience of the Company and the Employee.

         4. TERMINATION. The provisions of Section 1 of this Agreement
notwithstanding, the Company may terminate this Agreement and Employee's
employment hereunder in the manner and for the causes hereinafter set forth, in
which event the Company shall be under no further obligation to Employee other
than as specifically provided herein:

                 (a) If Employee is absent from work or otherwise substantially
            unable to assume his normal duties for a period of sixty (60)
            successive days or an aggregate of ninety (90) business days during
            any consecutive twelve-month period during the Employment Period
            because of physical or mental disability, accident, illness, or any
            other cause other than vacation or approved leave of absence or
            disability still exists, the Company may terminate the employment of
            Employee hereunder upon ten (10) days' written notice to Employee.

                 (b) In the event of the death of Employee, this Agreement
            shall immediately terminate on the date hereof.

                 (c) If Employee materially breached or violates any material
            term of his employment hereunder, or commits any criminal act or an
            act of dishonesty or moral turpitude, in the reasonable judgment of
            the Company's Board of Directors, then the Company may, in addition
            to other rights and remedies available at law or equity, immediately
            terminate this Agreement upon written notice to Employee

                                       3
<PAGE>

            with the date of such notice being the termination date and such
            termination being deemed for "cause."

                 (d) In the event Employee's employment shall be terminated by
            reason of the provisions of subparagraph (a) or (b) of this Section
            4, then in such event, the Company shall pay to Employee, if living,
            or other person or persons as Employee may from time to time
            designate in writing as the beneficiary of such payment a sum, equal
            to the Basic Compensation in effect at the time which such death or
            disability occurred, such payment to continue for three months after
            such death or disability.

         5. CHANGE IN CONTROL.

            5.1. In the event at any time during the Employment Period, a
majority of the Board of Directors is composed of persons who are not
"Continuing Directors," as hereinafter defined, and Employee's employment is
terminated by the Company other than for one of the reasons set forth in Section
4 hereof, Employee shall not be obligated to seek employment to mitigate his
damages, if any, to which he may be entitled by reason of Company's breach of
this Agreement.

            5.2. "Continuing Directors" shall mean (i) the directors of the
Company at the close of business on September 1, 2006 and (ii) any person who
was or is recommended to (A) succeed a Continuing Director by the Company's
Nominating Committee or (B) become a director as a result of an increase in the
size of the Board by a majority of the Continuing Directors then on the Board.

                                       4
<PAGE>

         6. DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE.
Employee agrees that his primary loyalty will be to the Company. Employee
acknowledges that the Company possesses confidential information, know-how,
customer lists, purchasing, merchandising and selling techniques and strategies,
and other information used in its operations of which Employee will obtain
knowledge, and that the Company will suffer serious and irreparable damage and
harm if this confidential information were disclosed to any other party or if
Employee used this information to compete against the Company. Accordingly,
Employee hereby agrees that except as required by Employee's duties to the
Company, Employee without the consent of the Company's Board of Directors, shall
not at any time during or after the term of this contract disclose or use any
secret or confidential information of the Company, including, without
limitation, such business opportunities, customer lists, trade secrets,
formulas, techniques and methods of which Employee shall become informed during
his employment, whether learned by him as an Employee of the Company, as a
member of the Board of Directors or otherwise, and whether or not developed by
the Employee, unless such information shall be or become public knowledge other
than as a result of the Employee's direct or indirect disclosure of the same.

         Employee further agrees that for a period of two years following the
termination of Employee's employment, except as a result of the breach by the
Company of any material term or condition hereof, Employee will not, directly or
indirectly, alone or with others, individually or through or by a corporate or
other business entity in which he may be interested as a partner, shareholder,
joint venturer, officer or director or otherwise, engage in the United States in
any "business which is competitive with that of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries" as hereinafter defined; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the foregoing
shall not be deemed to prevent the

                                       5
<PAGE>

ownership by Employee of up to five percent of any class of securities of any
corporation which is regularly traded on any stock exchange or over-the-counter
market. For the purpose of this Agreement, a "business which is competitive with
the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries," shall include only the
operation of restaurants selling Japanese, or other Asian food, or restaurants
of a type then being operated by the Company, or any of its subsidiaries.

         7. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES; USE OF AUTOMOBILE. The Company shall
further pay directly, or reimburse the Employee, for all other reasonable and
necessary expenses and disbursements incurred by him for and on behalf of the
Company in the performance of his duties during the Employment Period upon
submission of vouchers or other evidence thereof in accordance with the
Company's usual policies of expense reimbursement. The Employee shall receive an
allowance of $300 per month for automobile expenses, including the lease costs
or purchase price, gasoline, oil and garaging.

         8. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

            8.1. Section headings are for convenience only and shall not be
deemed to govern, limit, modify or supersede the provisions of this Agreement.

            8.2. This Agreement is entered into in the State of Florida and
shall be governed pursuant to the laws of the State of Florida. If any provision
of this Agreement shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof shall
continue to be fully effective.

            8.3. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties
regarding this subject matter. There are no contemporaneous oral agreements, and
all prior understandings, agreements, negotiations and representations are
merged herein.

                                       6
<PAGE>

            8.4. This Agreement may be modified only by means of a writing
signed by the party to be charged with such modification.

            8.5. Notices or other communications required or permitted to be
given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given upon the
receipt by the party to whom sent at the respective addresses set forth below or
to such other address as any party shall hereafter designate to the other in
writing delivered in accordance herewith:

            If to the Company:

                      Benihana Inc.
                      8685 Northwest 53rd Terrace
                      Miami, Florida  33166-0120
                      Attention:  President

            If to Employee:

                      Jose I. Ortega
                      8027 SW 91st Avenue
                      Miami, Florida  33173

            8.6. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be
binding upon, the Company, its successors and assigns, including, without
limitation, any entity that may acquire all or substantially all of the
Company's assets and business or into which the Company may be consolidated or
merged. This Agreement may not be assigned by Employee.

            8.7. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each
of which shall constitute the original thereof.

            8.8. This Agreement supersedes and replaces all previous Employment
Agreements, if any, between the Company and the Employee.

                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                       7
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have set their hands as of the date
first above written.

                                         BENIHANA INC.

                                         By: /s/ Joel A. Schwartz
                                            ---------------------
                                                 Joel A. Schwartz, President

                                             /s/ Jose I. Ortega
                                            -------------------
                                                 Jose I. Ortega

                                       8

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