Document:

Exhibit 10.1

                              UNION DRILLING, INC.

                   AMENDED AND RESTATED 2000 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                     Originally Adopted as of March 16, 2000
                   Amended and Restated as of December 1, 2000
                     Amended and Restated as of June 1, 2003

                              Union Drilling, Inc.
                        South Pittsburgh Technology Park
                              3117 Washington Pike
                         Bridgeville, Pennsylvania 15017

                              UNION DRILLING, INC.

                   AMENDED AND RESTATED 2000 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                                Table of Contents

Section                                                                     Page
-------                                                                     ----
1.        Purpose.............................................................1
2.        Definitions.........................................................1
3.        Shares Subject to Plan..............................................3
4.        Grant of Stock Option...............................................3
5.        Certificates for Stock..............................................6
6.        Beneficiary.........................................................7
7.        Administration of the Plan..........................................7
8.        Amendment or Discontinuance.........................................8
9.        Adjustment in Event of Change in Common Stock.......................8
10.       Miscellaneous.......................................................8
11.       Effective Date and Stockholder Approval............................10

                              UNION DRILLING, INC.
                   AMENDED AND RESTATED 2000 STOCK OPTION PLAN

1.   Purpose

     The purpose of the Union Drilling, Inc. Amended and Restated 2000 Stock
Option Plan is to attract and retain persons of ability as directors, officers
and employees of Union Drilling, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates, and
encourage such directors, officers and employees to continue to exert their best
efforts on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates.

2.   Definitions

     When used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

     "Beneficiary" means the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated pursuant to
Section 6 who shall be entitled to exercise any Options held by the Optionee at
the time of his or her death.

     "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

     "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now in effect or as
hereafter amended. All citations to sections of the Code are to such sections as
they may from time to time be amended or renumbered.

     "Committee" means any committee (including, without limitation, any
Compensation Committee of the Board) that may be appointed by the Board to grant
Options hereunder and/or to administer the Plan pursuant to Section 7 hereof.

     "Company" means Union Drilling, Inc. and its successors and assigns.

     "Director" means any present or former member of the Board.

     "Employee" means an employee of any Participating Company (including a
Director or Officer, to the extent he or she is deemed an employee under common
law) who, in the judgment of the Board, is responsible for or contributes to the
growth or profitability of the business of any Participating Company.

     "Exchange" means the principal exchange on which the Stock is listed or, if
the Stock is not listed on an exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market of the National
Association of Securities Dealers.

     "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

     "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date in issue, the closing sales price
on the Exchange of one share of Stock on such date or, if no sales of Stock have
taken place on such

date, the closing sales price of one share of Stock on the most recent date on
which sales prices were reported on the Exchange. In the event that the
Company's shares are not publicly traded on the Exchange, the Board shall
determine the fair market value for all purposes.

     "Immediate Family Members" means children, grandchildren, spouse or common
law spouse, siblings or parents of the Optionee, or bona fide trusts,
partnerships or other entities controlled by and of which the beneficiaries are
Immediate Family Members of the Optionee.

     "Officer" means any person holding an office of the Company or of its Board
of Directors under the By-laws of the Company, whether or not a salaried
employee of any Participating Company.

     "Option" means an option to purchase Stock subject to the applicable
provisions of Section 4 and granted in accordance with the terms of the Plan and
which, in the case of an Option granted to an Employee, may be an incentive
stock option qualified under Section 422 of the Code or a nonqualified stock
option and which, in the case of an Option granted to an Optionee that is not an
Employee, shall be a nonqualified stock option.

     "Option Agreement" means any written agreement evidencing an Option granted
to a Director, an Officer or an Employee under the Plan.

     "Optionee" means a Director, Officer or Employee who has been granted an
Option under the Plan.

     "Participating Company" means the Company or any subsidiary or other
affiliate of the Company which at the time such option is granted under the plan
qualifies as a "subsidiary corporation" of the Company under the definition of
such term contained in Section 424(f) of the Code.

     "Plan" means the Union Drilling, Inc. Amended and Restated Stock 2000
Option Plan, as the same may be amended, administered or interpreted from time
to time.

     "Stock" means the common stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company.

     "Substitute Options" means Options granted in assumption of, or in
substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company acquired by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or with which the company or any of its
subsidiaries combines.

     "Ten Percent Stockholder" means an Employee who, at the time of grant of an
Option to him or her, owns stock possessing more than 10 percent of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company.

     "Total Disability" means the complete and permanent inability of an
Employee to perform all of his or her duties as such, as determined by the Board
in its sole discretion upon the

                                       2

basis of such evidence, including independent medical reports and data, as the
Board deems appropriate or necessary.

3.   Shares Subject to Plan

     (a) The aggregate number of shares of Stock which may be subject to
purchase by exercising Options granted under the Plan is 600,000 Shares, subject
to adjustment in accordance with Section 9 below. Such shares shall be made
available from either authorized and unissued shares or shares held by the
Company in its treasury. If, for any reason, any shares of Stock subject to
purchase by exercising an Option under the Plan are not delivered or are
reacquired by the Company, for reasons including, but not limited to,
termination of employment or relationship with the Company, or expiration or
cancellation with the consent of an Optionee of an Option, such shares of Stock
shall again become available under the Plan, provided, however, that for
purposes of meeting the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, no Employee
who is a covered employee under Section 162(m) of the Code shall receive a grant
of options in excess of the amount specified under this Section 3, computed as
if any Option which is canceled reduced the maximum number of shares of Stock
available under the Plan.

     (b) In the event that any Option granted hereunder (other than a Substitute
Option) is exercised through the delivery of shares of Stock, or in the event
that withholding tax liabilities arising from such Option are satisfied by the
withholding of shares of Stock by the Company, the number of shares of Stock
subject to purchase by exercising an Option under the Plan shall be increased by
the number of shares of Stock so surrendered or withheld.

     (c) Any shares of Stock covered by a Substitute Option shall not be deemed
to have been delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares
of Stock available for delivery under the Plan.

4.   Grant of Stock Option

     (a) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall (i) determine
and designate from time to time those Directors, Officers and Employees to whom
Options are to be granted; (ii) determine whether such Options shall be
incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options or a combination of
incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options, (iii) determine the
number of shares of Stock subject to each Option; and (iv) determine the time or
times when and the manner in which each Option shall be exercisable and the
duration of the exercise period; provided, however, that (A) no option which is
an incentive stock option shall be granted after the expiration of ten years
from the effective date of the Plan, (B) the aggregate Fair Market Value
(determined as of the date an Option is granted) of the Stock for which
incentive stock options (including incentive stock options granted under any
other plan of the Company) granted to any Optionee under this Plan may first
become exercisable in any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000, and (C) the
aggregate number of shares of Stock for which Options are granted to any one
participant in any one calender year shall not exceed 250,000.

                                       3

     (b) The exercise period for an Option shall be no more than ten years from
the date of grant, provided, however, that, in the case of an incentive stock
option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, such period, including extensions,
shall be no more than five years from the date of grant.

     (c) The Option exercise price per share shall be determined by the Board at
the time the Option is granted and shall be at least equal to the par value of
one share of Stock if the Stock has a par value; provided, however, that the
exercise price for an Option (other than a Substitute Option) shall be not less
than the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant, or in the case of
an incentive stock option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, 110 percent of
the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.

     (d) No part of any Option may be exercised by an Optionee until such
Optionee shall have (i) remained in the service of a Participating Company for
such period or periods, if any, as the Board may specify, after the date on
which the Option is granted, or (ii) achieved such performance or other
criteria, if any, as the Board may specify.

     (e) (i) If an Employee who has been granted an Option retires, his or her
Options may be exercised, to the extent that the Employee shall have been
entitled to do so on the date of his or her retirement, at any time, or from
time to time, within three months after the date of the Employee's retirement or
within such other period, and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Board
may specify, but no later than the expiration date specified in Section 4(b)
above.

          (ii) If the Employee's employment by a Participating Company
terminates because of his or her death or Total Disability, he or she may
exercise his or her Options (or such options may be exercised by his or her
Beneficiary in the case of his or her death, including, if applicable, his or
her executors or administrators), to the extent that he or she shall have been
entitled to do so at the date of the termination of his or her employment, at
any time, or from time to time, within twelve months after the date of the
termination of his or her employment or within such other period, and subject to
such terms and conditions, as the Board may specify, but not later than the
expiration date specified in Section 4(b) above.

          (iii) If an Employee's employment by a Participating Company
voluntarily terminates or if his or her employment terminates because of
involuntary termination of employment by the Participating Company with cause
(as determined by the Board in its sole discretion), all outstanding Options
shall be forfeited as of the date of termination or at such later date, and
subject to such terms and conditions, as the Board may specify, but not later
than the expiration date specified in Section 4(b) above.

          (iv) If an Employee's employment terminates because of involuntary
termination of employment by the Participating Company without cause (as
determined by the Board in its sole discretion) he or she may exercise his or
her Options to the extent that he or she shall have been entitled to do so at
the date of the termination of his or her employment, at any time, or from time
to time, within three months after the date of the termination of his or her
employment,

                                       4

or within such other period, and subject to such terms and conditions, as the
Board may specify, but not later than the expiration date specified in Section
4(b) above.

     (f) No Option granted under the Plan shall be transferable other than by
will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and during the lifetime of the
Optionee, an Option shall be exercisable only by him or her; provided, however,
that a nonqualified stock option may be transferred pursuant to a qualified
domestic relations order and the Board, in its sole discretion, may allow for
transferability of nonqualified stock options by an Optionee to Immediate Family
Members, provided that such transfer of Options is not for value (within the
meaning of the General Instructions to Form S-8 of the Securities and Exchange
Commission).

     (g) With respect to an incentive stock option, the Board shall specify such
additional terms and provisions as the Board may determine to be necessary or
desirable in order to qualify such Option as an incentive stock option within
the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

     (h) Each Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by a written
Option Agreement or by a notice to the recipient of the grant of such Option, in
either case in a form approved by the Board. Each Option granted under the Plan
shall be subject to the express terms and conditions, if any, required under the
Plan or as required by the Board for the form of Option granted and such other
terms and conditions as the Board may specify. Further, each such Option
Agreement or notice shall provide that unless at the time of exercise of the
Option there shall be, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, a valid and
effective registration statement under the Securities Act and appropriate
qualification and registration under applicable state securities laws relating
to the Stock being acquired pursuant to the Option, the Optionee shall upon
exercise of the Option give a representation that he or she is acquiring such
shares for his or her own account for investment and not with a view to, or for
sale in connection with, the resale or distribution of any such shares. In the
absence of such registration statement, the Optionee shall be required to
execute a written affirmation, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company,
of such investment intent and to further agree that he or she will not sell or
transfer any Stock acquired pursuant to the Option until he or she requests and
receives an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company to the effect that
such proposed sale or transfer will not result in a violation of the Securities
Act, or a registration statement covering the sale or transfer of the shares has
been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or he or she
obtains a no-action letter from the Securities and Exchange Commission with
respect to the proposed transfer.

     (i) Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the purchase price of the
shares as to which an Option shall be exercised shall be paid to the Company at
the time of exercise either in cash or in Stock already owned by the Optionee,
or a combination of cash and Stock, or in such other consideration acceptable to
the Board (including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the
relinquishment of a portion of the Option) as the Board deems appropriate,
having a total Fair Market Value equal to the purchase price. For purposes of
this Section 4(i), the fair market value of the portion of an Option that is
relinquished shall be the excess of:

                                       5

          (x)  the Fair Market Value at the time of exercise of the number of
               shares of Stock subject to the portion of the Option that is
               relinquished over

          (y)  the aggregate exercise price specified in the Option with respect
               to such shares.

5.   Certificates for Stock

     (a) Each Optionee, upon the exercise of an Option granted under the Plan,
shall be issued a certificate for the shares of Stock purchased through such
exercise. Such certificate shall be registered in the name designated by the
Optionee.

     (b) The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates
for shares of Stock prior to (i) the listing of such shares on any Exchange on
which the Stock may then be listed or (ii) the completion of any registration or
qualification of such shares under any federal or state law, or any ruling or
regulation of any governmental body, which the Board shall, in its sole
discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable.

     (c) All certificates for shares of Stock delivered under the Plan shall
also be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Board
may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Stock is
then listed and any applicable federal or state securities laws, and the Board
may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates to make
appropriate reference to such restrictions. The foregoing provisions of this
Section 5(c) shall not be effective if and to the extent that the shares of
Stock delivered under the Plan are covered by an effective and current
registration statement under the Securities Act, or if, and so long as, the
Board determines that application of such provisions is no longer required or
desirable. In making such determination, the Board may rely upon an opinion of
counsel for the Company.

     (d) Each Optionee who receives shares of Stock upon exercise of an Option
shall have all of the rights of a stockholder, including the right to vote the
shares and receive dividends and other distributions, from the date of issuance
to him or her of a certificate or certificates for such shares. No Optionee
granted an Option shall have any right as a stockholder with respect to any
shares subject to such Option prior to the date of issuance to him or her of a
certificate or certificates for such shares.

     (e) Each Optionee who receives Stock upon exercise of an Option that is an
incentive stock option shall give the Company prompt notice of any sale of such
Stock prior to the expiration of any applicable holding period for incentive
stock options prescribed by the Code, which holding period is currently until
the later of (i) two years after the grant of such Option or (ii) one year after
the date of such exercise.

                                       6

6.   Beneficiary

     (a) Each Optionee shall file with the Company a written designation of one
or more persons as the Beneficiary who shall be entitled to exercise any Options
held by the Optionee at the time of his or her death. An Optionee may from time
to time revoke or change his or her Beneficiary designation without the consent
of any prior Beneficiary by filing a new designation with the Company. The last
such designation received by the Company shall be controlling; provided,
however, that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be
effective unless received by the Company prior to the Optionee's death, and in
no event shall it be effective as of a date prior to such receipt.

     (b) If no such Beneficiary designation is in effect at the time of an
Optionee's death, or if no designated Beneficiary survives the Optionee, or if
such designation conflicts with law, the Optionee's estate shall be entitled to
exercise any Options held by the Optionee at the time of the Optionee's death.
If the Board is in doubt as to the right of any person to exercise such Options,
the Board may suspend the right to exercise such Option, without liability,
until the Company determines the rights thereto, or the Company may transfer
such Option into any court of appropriate jurisdiction and such transfer shall
be a complete discharge of the liability of the Company therefor.

7.   Administration of the Plan

     (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Board or by any committee
(including, without limitation, any Compensation Committee of the Board) as may
be appointed by the Board for the purpose of granting Options hereunder and/or
otherwise administering the Plan. If the Board has appointed a Committee, all
references to the Board made herein shall include the Committee; provided,
however, that the Committee shall not be authorized to amend the Plan.

     (b) All decisions, determinations or actions of the Board made or taken
pursuant to grants of authority under the Plan shall be made or taken in the
sole discretion of the Board and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all
persons for all purposes.

     (c) The Board shall have full power, discretion and authority to interpret,
construe and administer the Plan and any part thereof, and its interpretations
and constructions thereof, and actions taken thereunder shall be, except as
otherwise determined by the Board, final, conclusive and binding on all persons
for all purposes.

     (d) The Board's decisions and determinations under the Plan need not be
uniform and may be made selectively among Directors, Officers and Employees,
whether or not such Directors, Officers and Employees are similarly situated.

     (e) The act of a majority of the members of the Board present at a meeting
of the Board duly called and held shall be the act of the Board. Any decision or
determination reduced to writing and signed by all members of the Board shall be
as fully effective as if made by unanimous vote at a meeting duly called and
held.

                                       7

8.   Amendment or Discontinuance

     The Board may, at any time and for any reason, amend or terminate the Plan.
No amendment or termination shall retroactively impair the rights of any person
with respect to an Option.

9.   Adjustment in Event of Change in Common Stock

     (a) Subject to Section 9(b), if the outstanding shares of Stock of the
Company are increased, decreased, or exchanged for a different number or kind of
shares or other securities, or if additional shares or new or different shares
or other securities are distributed with respect to such shares of Stock or
other securities, through merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially
all of the property of the Company, reorganization, recapitalization,
reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other
distribution with respect to such shares of Stock or other securities, an
appropriate and proportionate adjustment shall be made in (i) the maximum number
and kind of shares provided in Section 3 and in clause C of Section 4(a), (ii)
the number and kind of shares or other securities subject to the outstanding
Options, and (iii) the price for each share or other unit of any other
securities subject to outstanding Options without change in the aggregate
purchase price or value as to which such Options remain exercisable or subject
to restrictions. Any adjustment under this Section 9(a) will be made by the
Board, whose determination as to what adjustments will be made and the extent
thereof will be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional interests will be
issued under the Plan resulting from any such adjustment.

     (b) Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, the Board, in its
sole discretion at the time of grant of an Option or otherwise may, in an Option
Agreement, in a notice of the grant of an Option or otherwise, provide that,
with an Optionee's consent, upon the occurrence of certain events, including a
change in control of the Company (as determined by the Board), any outstanding
Options not theretofore exercisable shall immediately become exercisable in
their entirety and that any such Option may be purchased by the Company for cash
at a price to be determined by the Board.

10.  Miscellaneous

     (a) Nothing in this Plan or any Option Agreement entered into or notice of
grant given pursuant hereto shall confer upon any employee any right to continue
in the employ of any Participating Company or interfere in any way with the
right of any Participating Company to terminate his or her employment at any
time.

     (b) No Option granted under the Plan shall be deemed salary or compensation
for the purpose of computing benefits under any employee benefit plan or other
arrangement of any Participating Company for the benefit of its employees unless
the Company shall determine otherwise.

                                       8

     (c) No person shall have any claim to an Option until it is actually
granted under the Plan. To the extent that any person acquires a right to
receive payments from the Company under this Plan, such right shall be no
greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.

     (d) Absence on leave approved by a duly constituted officer of a
Participating Company shall not be considered interruption or termination of
employment for any purposes of the Plan; provided, however, that no Option that
is an incentive stock option may be granted to an employee while he or she is
absent on leave.

     (e) If the Board shall find that any person to whom any Option, or portion
thereof, is granted under the Plan is unable to care for his or her affairs
because of illness or accident, or is a minor, then any payment due him or her
(unless a prior claim therefor has been made by a duly appointed legal
representative) may, if the Board so directs the Company, be paid to his or her
spouse, a child, a relative, an institution maintaining or having custody of
such person deemed by the Board to be a proper recipient on behalf of such
person otherwise entitled to payment. Any such payment shall be a complete
discharge of the liability of the Company therefor.

     (f) The right of any Optionee or other person to any Option or Stock under
the Plan may not be assigned, transferred, pledged or encumbered, except as
provided herein or as may otherwise be required by law. If, by reason of any
attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, or encumbrance or any bankruptcy or
other event happening at any time, any amount payable under the Plan would be
made subject to the debts or liabilities of the Optionee or his or her
Beneficiary or would otherwise devolve upon anyone else and not be enjoyed by
the Optionee or his or her Beneficiary, then the Board may terminate such
person's interest in any such payment and direct that the same be held and
applied to or for the benefit of the Optionee, his or her Beneficiary or any
other persons deemed to be the natural objects of his or her bounty, taking into
account the expressed wishes of the Optionee (or, in the event of his or her
death, those of his or her Beneficiary) in such manner as the Board may deem
proper.

     (g) Copies of the Plan and all amendments, administrative rules and
procedures and interpretations shall be made available to all Optionees at all
reasonable times at the Company's headquarters.

     (h) The Board may cause to be made, as a condition precedent to the grant
of any Option, or otherwise, appropriate arrangements with the Optionee or his
or her Beneficiary, for the withholding of any federal, state, local or foreign
taxes.

     (i) The Plan and the grant of Options shall be subject to all applicable
federal and state laws, rules, and regulations and to such approvals by any
government or regulatory agency as may be required.

     (j) All elections, designations, requests, notices, instructions and other
communications from an Optionee, Beneficiary or other person to the Board,
required or permitted under the Plan, shall be in such form as is prescribed
from time to time by the Board

                                       9

and shall be mailed by first class mail or delivered to such location as shall
be specified by the Board in an Option Agreement, a notice of grant or
otherwise.

     (k) The terms of the Plan shall be binding upon the Company and its
successors and assigns.

     (l) Captions preceding the sections hereof are inserted solely as a matter
of convenience and in no way define or limit the scope or intent of any
provision hereof.

11.  Effective Date and Stockholder Approval

     The original effective date of the Plan was March 16, 2000, subject to
approval by the Company's stockholders, which approval was obtained on March 16,
2000. The effective date of the most recent amendment and restatement of the
Plan shall be June 1, 2003, subject to approval by the Company's stockholders.
Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, Options may be granted as
provided herein on the effective date of the amendment and restatement of the
Plan or at any time thereafter subject to such subsequent stockholder approval.
If the amendment and restatement of the Plan is not approved by the Company's
stockholders within the time required by the Code, the amendment and restatement
of the Plan and all Options granted hereunder that could not have been granted
pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Plan as originally adopted shall
thereupon become null and void; provided, that, irrespective of any failure to
obtain requisite stockholder approval of the amendment and restatement of the
Plan within the time prescribed by the Code, any and all Options granted prior
to the date hereof or after the date hereof, in either case, in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the Plan as originally adopted and approved by the
stockholders, shall be or remain (as the case may be) duly and validly issued.

                                       10Exhibit 10.2

                                                Date of Grant: _________________

                           Number of Shares Subject to Option: _________________

                              UNION DRILLING, INC.

                   AMENDED AND RESTATED 2000 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                         FORM OF STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

          This Agreement, dated [Date] is made between Union Drilling, Inc.,
(the "Company") and [Name of Employee, Officer or Director] (the "Optionee"), an
[employee, officer and/or director] of the Company or one of its subsidiaries or
affiliates participating in the Plan (each a "Participating Company").

I.   Incentive Stock Option

     1. Grant of Incentive Stock Option. Pursuant to the provisions of the Union
Drilling, Inc. Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"), the
Company hereby grants to the Optionee, subject to the terms and conditions of
the Plan and subject further to the terms and conditions herein set forth, an
option ("Option") to purchase [Number of Shares] ([ ]) shares of the Company's
common stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Stock"), at the purchase price of $[ ]
per share, such Option to be exercisable and exercised as hereinafter provided.
The Option granted under this Part II is not an incentive stock option within
the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     2. Specific Terms and Conditions.

     (a) Exercise of Option. Subject to the other terms of this Agreement
regarding the exercisability of this Option (including, without limitation,
Section 4), this Option may be exercised in accordance with the following:

     On or After This Date:             This Option Shall be
                                        Exercisable With Respect to
                                        The Following Cumulative
                                        Number of Shares:

     ________________________________   ________________________________________

     ________________________________   ________________________________________

     ________________________________   ________________________________________

     ________________________________   ________________________________________

This Option may be exercised, to the extent exercisable by its terms, from time
to time in whole or in part at any time prior to the expiration thereof. Any
exercise shall be accompanied by a written notice to the Company specifying the
number of shares as to which this Option is being exercised. Notation of any
partial exercise or installment exercise shall be made by the Company on
Schedule A hereto.

     (b) Notification of Disqualifying Disposition. The Employee hereby agrees
to notify the Company in writing in the event shares acquired pursuant to the
exercise of this Option are transferred, other than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution, within two years after the date indicated above or
within one year after the issuance of such shares pursuant to such exercise.

     3. Incentive Stock Option Dollar Amount Limitation. To the extent that the
aggregate fair market value (determined on the Date of Grant) of stock with
respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by
the Optionee in any calendar year (under all stock option plans of the Company
and any affiliate of the Company) exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be
treated as options that are not incentive stock options.

II.  Nonqualified Stock Option

     1. Grant of Nonqualified Stock Option. Pursuant to the provisions of the
Union Drilling, Inc. Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"),
the Company hereby grants to the Optionee, subject to the terms and conditions
of the Plan and subject further to the terms and conditions herein set forth, an
option ("Option") to purchase [Number of Shares] ([ ]) shares of the Company's
common stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Stock"), at the purchase price of $[ ]
per share, such Option to be exercisable and exercised as hereinafter provided.
The Option granted under this Part II is not an incentive stock option within
the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     2. Specific Terms and Conditions.

     (a) Exercise of Option. Subject to the other terms of this Agreement
regarding the exercisability of this Option, this Option may be exercised in
accordance with the following:

     On or After This Date:             This Option Shall be
                                        Exercisable With Respect to
                                        The Following Cumulative
                                        Number of Shares:

     ________________________________   ________________________________________

     ________________________________   ________________________________________

     ________________________________   ________________________________________

     ________________________________   ________________________________________

                                      -2-

This Option may be exercised, to the extent exercisable by its terms, from time
to time in whole or in part at any time prior to the expiration thereof. Any
exercise shall be accompanied by a written notice to the Company specifying the
number of shares as to which this Option is being exercised. Notation of any
partial exercise or installment exercise shall be made by the Company on
Schedule B hereto.

III. General Terms and Conditions

     1. Payment of Purchase Price Upon Exercise. At the time of any exercise of
an Option, the purchase of the shares as to which any such Option shall be
exercised shall be paid in full to the Company in cash or in Stock already owned
by the Optionee, or a combination of cash and Stock, or in such other
consideration acceptable to the Board of Directors of the Company or any
Committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company to administer the
Plan (hereinafter, the "Committee") (including, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, the relinquishment of a portion of the Option) as the Committee
deems appropriate, having a total Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan)
equal to the purchase price. The fair market value of the portion of an Option
that is relinquished shall be determined as provided in the Plan.

     2. Expiration Date. Each Option granted pursuant to this Agreement shall
expire ten years from the Date of Grant indicated above, except that each Option
granted under Part I hereof shall expire five years from the Date of Grant
indicated above if the Optionee possesses more than ten percent of the total
combined voting power of all classes of Stock of the Company.

     3. Issuance of Certificates. The Optionee shall be issued a certificate for
any shares as to which an Option shall be exercised. Such shares shall be
subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may
deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Stock is
then listed and any applicable federal or state securities laws, and the
Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates to
make appropriate reference to such restrictions. The foregoing provision shall
not be effective if and to the extent that the shares of Stock delivered under
the Plan are covered by an effective and current registration statement under
the Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act"), or if, and so long as, the Committee
determines that application of such provisions is no longer required or
desirable. In making such determination, the Committee may rely upon an opinion
of counsel for the Company. The Company shall not be required to issue or
deliver any certificates for shares of Stock prior to (i) the listing of such
shares on any stock exchange on which the Stock may then be listed, or (ii) the
completion of any registration or qualification of such shares under any federal
or state law, or any ruling or regulation of any governmental body, which the
Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable.

     4. Conditions. If the Optionee is an employee of any Participating Company
(hereinafter sometimes referred to as an "Employee Optionee"), such Employee
Optionee may not exercise any part of an Option until the Employee Optionee has
remained in the employ of

                                      -3-

one or more Participating Companies for three months after the date on which the
Option was granted.

     5. Exercise in the Event of Death, Retirement, Total Disability, or
Termination of Employment. If the Employee Optionee's employment with the
Company and all Participating Companies terminates due to his or her death,
retirement or Total Disability or his discharge by a Participating Company
without Cause, then any Option granted pursuant to this Agreement may be
exercised by the Employee Optionee (or, in the event of the Employee Optionee's
death, the Employee Optionee's Beneficiary under the Plan) within three months
(twelve months in the event of termination due to death or Total Disability)
after the date of the Employee Optionee's termination of employment, or at such
later date, and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Committee may
specify, but not later than the expiration dates specified in Section III.2. All
determinations as to whether an Employee Optionee's termination is without Cause
shall be made by the Committee, in its sole discretion.

     Upon the termination of Employee Optionee's employment by a Participating
Company for cause or the resignation of the Employee Optionee, all Options
granted pursuant to this Agreement automatically shall expire as of the date of
such termination, or at such later date, and subject to such terms and
conditions, as the Committee may specify, but not later than the expiration
dates specified in Section III.2. All determinations as to whether the Employee
Optionee's termination is voluntary shall be made by the Committee, in its sole
discretion.

     6. Nontransferability. No Option shall be transferable other than by will
or by the laws of descent and distribution, and during the lifetime of the
Optionee, an Option shall be exercisable only by him or her; provided, however,
that a nonqualified stock option may be transferred pursuant to a qualified
domestic relations order and the Committee, in its discretion, may allow for
transferability of nonqualified stock options by an Optionee to Immediate Family
Members (as defined in the Plan), provided that such transfer of Options is not
for value (within the meaning of the General Instructions to Form S-8 of the
Securities and Exchange Commission). If, by reason of any attempted assignment,
transfer, pledge, or encumbrance or any bankruptcy or other event happening at
any time, any shares issuable or amount payable under an Option would be made
subject to the debts or liabilities of the Optionee or his or her Beneficiary,
then the Committee may terminate such person's interest in any such shares or
payment and direct that the same be held and applied to or for the benefit of
the Optionee, his or her Beneficiary or any other persons deemed to be the
natural objects of his or her bounty, taking into account the expressed wishes
of the Optionee (or, in the event of his or her death, those of his or her
Beneficiary) in such manner as the Committee may deem proper.

     7. Registration. Unless at the time of exercise there is a valid and
effective registration statement under the 1933 Act and appropriate
qualification and registration under applicable state securities laws relating
to the Stock being acquired pursuant to an Option, the Optionee shall upon
exercise of the Option give a representation that he or she is acquiring such
shares for his or her own account for investment and not with a view to, or for
sale in connection with, the resale or distribution of any such shares. In the
absence of such registration statement, the Optionee shall be required to
execute a written affirmation, in a form reasonably satisfactory

                                      -4-

to the Company, of such investment intent and to further agree that he or she
will not sell or transfer any Stock acquired pursuant to the Option until he or
she requests and receives an opinion of the Company's counsel to the effect that
(i) such proposed sale or transfer will not result in a violation of the 1933
Act, or (ii) a registration statement covering the sale or transfer of the
shares has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or
(iii) he or she obtains a no-action letter from the Securities and Exchange
Commission with respect to the proposed transfer.

     8. Adjustments. In the event of any change in the outstanding Stock of the
Company by reason of any stock dividend or distribution, recapitalization,
merger, consolidation, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or other events
as specified in the Plan, the number and kind of shares subject to any Option
and their purchase price per share shall be appropriately adjusted consistent
with such change in such manner as the Committee may deem equitable to prevent
substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to the Optionee
hereunder. Any adjustments so made shall be final and binding upon the Optionee.

     9. No Rights as Stockholder. The Optionee shall have no rights as a
stockholder with respect to any shares of Stock subject to any Option prior to
the date of issuance to him or her of a certificate or certificates for such
shares.

     10. No Right to Continued Employment. This Agreement shall not confer upon
the Optionee any right with respect to continuance of employment by any
Participating Company nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of any
Participating Company to terminate his or her employment at any time.

     11. Compliance With Law and Regulations. This Agreement and the obligation
of the Company to sell and deliver shares of Stock hereunder shall be subject to
all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations and to such
approvals by any government or regulatory agency as may be required. If at any
time the Committee shall determine that (i) the listing, registration or
qualification of the shares of Stock subject or related thereto upon any
securities exchange or under state or federal law, or (ii) the consent or
approval of any government regulatory body, or (iii) an agreement by the
recipient of an award with respect to the disposition of shares of Stock is
necessary or desirable as a condition of or in connection with the issuance or
purchase of shares of Stock hereunder, such Option may not be exercised in whole
or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent, approval
or agreement shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not
acceptable to the Committee. Moreover, an Option may not be exercised if its
exercise or the receipt of shares of Stock pursuant thereto would be contrary to
applicable law.

     12. Tax Withholding Requirements. The Company shall have the right to
require the Optionee to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy any
federal, state or local withholding tax requirements prior to the delivery of
any certificate or certificates for Stock.

                                      -5-

IV.  Miscellaneous

     1. Optionee Bound by Plan. The Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of a
copy of the Plan and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions thereof.

     2. Notices. Any notice hereunder to the Company shall be addressed to it at
its office, South Pittsburgh Technology Park, 3117 Washington Pike, Bridgeville,
Pennsylvania 15017, Attention: Chairman of the Board, and any notice hereunder
to the Optionee shall be addressed to the Optionee at his or her address on the
records of the Company, subject to the right of either party to designate at any
time hereafter in writing some other address.

     3. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Union Drilling, Inc. has caused this Agreement to be
executed by a duly authorized officer and the Optionee has executed this
Agreement both as of the day and year first above written.

                                        UNION DRILLING, INC.

                                        By:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name: Thomas H. O'Neill, Jr.
                                        Title: Chairman

                               (L.S.)
-------------------------------
[Name], Optionee

                                      -6-

                                   SCHEDULE A

                              UNION DRILLING, INC.

                     NOTATIONS AS TO PARTIAL OR INSTALLMENT

                        EXERCISE - INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION

           Number of   Balance of
 Date of     Shares     Shares on   Authorized   Notation
Exercise   Purchased     Option      Signature     Date
--------   ---------   ----------   ----------   --------

                                   SCHEDULE B

                              UNION DRILLING, INC.

                     NOTATIONS AS TO PARTIAL OR INSTALLMENT

                      EXERCISE - NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION

           Number of   Balance of
 Date of     Shares     Shares on   Authorized   Notation
Exercise   Purchased     Option      Signature     Date
--------   ---------   ----------   ----------   --------

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