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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                             BOIS D'ARC ENERGY, LLC
                            LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED)

                                   I. GENERAL

      1.    Purpose. The BOIS D'ARC ENERGY, LLC Long-term Incentive Plan (the
"Plan") has been established by BOIS D'ARC ENERGY, LLC, a Nevada limited
liability company (the "Company") to:

            (a)   attract and retain key executive and managerial employees;

            (b)   motivate participating employees, by means of appropriate
                  incentive, to achieve long-range goals;

            (c)   attract and retain well-qualified individuals to serve as
                  members of the Company's Board of Managers, and as independent
                  contractors and consultants;

            (d)   provide incentive compensation opportunities which are
                  competitive with those of other limited liability companies;
                  and

            (e)   further identify Participants' interests with those of the
                  Company's other stockholders through compensation alternatives
                  based on the Company's Units;

and thereby promote the Long-term financial interest of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, including the growth in value of the Company's equity and
enhancement of long-term returns.

      2.    Effective Date. The Plan is effective as of July 16, 2004, and its
            term shall extend until June 30, 2014.

      3.    Definitions. The following definitions are applicable to the Plan.

      "Act" shall mean the Nevada Limited Liability Company Act (Nev. Rev.
Stat. Section 86.011, et seq.) and any successor statute, as amended from time
to time.

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

      "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

      "Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

      "Disability" means the inability of a Participant, by reason of a physical
or mental impairment, to engage in any substantial gainful activity, of which
the Board shall be the sole judge.

      "Effective Date" means July 16, 2004.

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      "Fair Market Value" of any Unit means (i) if the Unit is listed on a
national securities exchange, the closing price on the Unit on a given date;
(ii) if the Unit is traded on an exchange or market in which prices are reported
on a bid and asked price, the average of the mean between the bid and asked
price for the Unit on a given date; and (iii) if the Unit is not listed on a
national securities exchange nor traded on the over-the-counter market, such
value as the Board, in good faith, shall determine.

      "Non-employee Manager" means each member of the Board who is not a
full-time employee of the Company.

      "Option Date" means, with respect to any Option, the date on which the
Option is awarded under the Plan.

      "Participant" means (i) any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary who
is selected by the Board or Committee to participate in the Plan; (ii) any
Non-employee Manager, to the extent provided in paragraph I.5(b) and (c), and
(iii) any consultant or independent contractor selected by the Board or
Committee to participate in the Plan.

      "Performance Unit" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Part IV.

      "Permitted Transferees" means members of the immediate family of the
Participant, trusts for the benefit of such immediate family members, and
partnerships in which substantially all of the interests are held by the
Participant and members of his or her immediate family. An immediate family
member shall mean any descendant (children, grandchildren and more remote
descendants), including step-children and relationships arising from legal
adoption, and any spouse of a Participant or a Participant's descendant.

      "Related Company" means any corporation during any period in which it is a
Subsidiary, or during any period in which it directly or indirectly owns 50% or
more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company
that are entitled to vote.

      "Restricted Period" has the meaning ascribed to it in Part III.

      "Restricted Unit" has the meaning ascribed to it in Part III.

      "Retirement" means (i) termination of employment in accordance with the
retirement procedures set by the Company from time to time; (ii) an employee's
termination of employment or a Non-employee Manager's ceasing to serve as a
member of the Board because of Disability; or (iii) an employee's termination of
employment, a Non-employee Manager's ceasing to serve as a member of the Board,
or a consultant's or independent contractor's ceasing to provide services to the
Company voluntarily with the consent of the Company (of which the Board shall be
the sole judge).

      "Unit" means the Company's Class B and Class C limited liability company
units, and any class of shares into which such Units may be exchanged at the
time of any conversion to a C corporation (whether through merger,
reorganization or otherwise).

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      "Option" means the right of a Participant to purchase Class B Units
pursuant to a Non-Qualified Option awarded pursuant to the provisions of the
Plan.

      "Subsidiary" means any corporation during any period of which 50% or more
of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote is
owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.

      "Transfer Restriction Agreement" means that certain Agreement among the
Unitholders of the Company, providing for rights of first refusal and transfer
restrictions.

      4.    Administration. The authority to manage and control the operation
and administration of the Plan shall be vested in the Board. Subject to the
provisions of the Plan, the Board will have authority to select employees,
consultants and independent contractors to receive awards of Options, Restricted
Units and/or Performance Units, to determine the time or times of receipt, to
determine the types of awards and the number and Class of Units covered by the
awards, to establish the terms, conditions, performance criteria, restrictions,
and other provisions of such awards, to determine the number and value of
Performance Units awarded and earned, and to cancel or suspend awards. In making
such award determinations, the Board may take into account the nature of
services rendered by the employee, consultant or independent contractor, his or
her present and potential contribution to the Company's success and such other
factors as the Board deems relevant. The Board is authorized to interpret the
Plan, to establish, amend, and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the
Plan, to determine the terms and provisions of any agreements made pursuant to
the Plan, and to make all other determinations that may be necessary or
advisable for the administration of the Plan. The Board may, from time to time,
delegate its authority to manage and control the operation and administration of
the Plan to the Committee. In such case, all references herein to the "Board"
shall be deemed to refer to the "Committee."

      A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of a
majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, or
acts approved in writing by all members of the Committee, shall be the acts of
the Committee, unless provisions to the contrary are embodied in the Company's
Bylaws or resolutions duly adopted by the Board. All actions taken and decisions
and determinations made by the Board or the Committee pursuant to the Plan shall
be binding and conclusive on all persons interested in the Plan. No member of
the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination taken
or made in good faith with respect to the Plan.

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      5.    Participation. (a) Employees, Consultants and Independent
Contractors. Upon the Effective Date, the Company's employees shall be awarded
(i) Non-Qualified Options for Class B Units and (ii) Restricted Class C Units,
all as set forth on Schedule A to the Plan, subject to vesting over five (5)
years, 20% per year (unless his service terminates during such period by reason
of Retirement, death or Disability, when the awards shall become 100% vested).
Thereafter, the Board shall determine and designate, from time to time, the key
executives and managerial employees, consultants or independent contractors of
the Company and/or its Subsidiaries who may receive awards under the Plan. In
the discretion of the Board, an eligible employee, consultant or independent
contractor may be awarded Options, Restricted Units or Performance Units or any
combination thereof, and more than one award may be granted to a Participant.
Except as otherwise agreed to by the Company and the Participant, any award
under the Plan shall not affect any previous award to the Participant under the
Plan or any other plan maintained by the Company or its Subsidiaries.

            (b) Non-employee Managers. Each Non-employee Manager (other than the
Chairman of the Board of Managers) shall be granted without further action by
the Board a Non-Qualified Option to purchase 5,000 Class B Units at the close of
business of each annual meeting of the unitholders of the Company. An individual
who is first elected and commences serving as a Non-employee Manager shall also
be granted without further action by the Board a Non-Qualified Option for 5,000
Class B Units on the date of such election as a Manager.

      The Non-Qualified Options shall be fully vested and exercisable by each
Non-employee Manager after the Manager has completed twelve (12) continuous
months of service as a member of the Board after the Option Date (unless his
service terminates during such period by reason of Retirement, death or
Disability, when the awards shall become 100% vested). The term of each
Non-Qualified Option shall be five (5) years from the Option Date, and the
exercise price shall be 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Units as of the
Option Date. The full purchase price of each Unit purchased upon exercise of a
Non-Qualified Option shall be paid in the manner set forth in Article III,
paragraph 3 hereof. All outstanding options become 100% vested and exercisable
if service as a member of the Board terminates by reason of death, Disability or
Retirement.

            (c) Chairman of the Board of Managers. At the Effective Date, the
Chairman of the Board of Managers shall receive an award of 500,000
Non-Qualified Options for Class B Units, and 500,000 Restricted Class C Units.
The awards shall become vested over five (5) years, 20% per year (unless his
service terminates during such period by reason of Retirement, death or
Disability, when the awards shall become 100% vested).

      6.    Units Subject to the Plan. (a) Awards to the Chairman, Employees,
Consultants and Independent Contractors. Subject to the provisions of paragraph
I.10, the number of Units available under the Plan for awards to the Chairman of
the Board of Managers, employees, consultants and independent contractors shall
not exceed 3,089,887 Class B Units and 6,179,775 Class C Units, in the
aggregate. In addition, the aggregate number of Units for which awards may be
granted shall be increased, if necessary, as of the first day of each fiscal
year commencing January 1, 2005, so that the number of Units available under
this Plan shall be no less than eleven percent (11%) of the number of Units
outstanding as of the close of business on the last day of the preceding fiscal
year. (Any increase in the aggregate number of Units shall be allocated 50% to
Class B Units and 50% to Class C Units.) If, for any reason, any award under the
Plan

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otherwise distributable in Units, or any portion of the award, shall expire,
terminate or be forfeited or canceled, or be settled in cash pursuant to the
terms of the Plan and, therefore, any such Units are no longer distributable
under the award, such Units shall again be available for award under the Plan.

      (b)   Class C Units. Unless otherwise provided in a Participant's Award
Agreement, a Class C Unit will not entitle such Participant to receive an
allocation of an initial capital account. As a result, an award of Class C Units
generally shall constitute an award of a "profits interest" in the Company
(i.e., there will be no capital account with respect to such Class C Units
attributed to the Participant at the time of issuance other than the amount, if
any, paid by a Participant in connection with the issuance of such Class C
Units).

      (c)   Awards to Non-Employee Managers. Subject to the provisions of
paragraph I.10, the number of Units available under the Plan for awards to
Non-employee Managers (other than the Chairman) shall not exceed three hundred
fifty thousand (350,000) Class B Units . If, for any reason, any Option award to
a Non-employee Manager under the Plan or any portion of such award, shall
expire, terminate or be forfeited or canceled, or be settled in cash pursuant to
the terms of the Plan and, therefore, any such Units are no longer distributable
under the award, such Units shall again be available for award to Non-employee
Managers under the Plan.

      7.    Compliance With Applicable Laws and Withholding of Taxes.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company shall have no
liability to issue any Units under the Plan unless such issuance would comply
with all applicable laws and the applicable requirements of any securities
exchange or similar authority. Prior to the issuance of any Units under the
Plan, the Company may require a written statement that the recipient is
acquiring the Units for investment and not for the purpose or with the intention
of distributing as amended, the Units. All awards and payments under the Plan to
employees are subject to withholding of all applicable taxes, which withholding
obligations may be satisfied, with the consent of the Board, through the
surrender of Units which the Participant already owns, or to which a Participant
is otherwise entitled under the Plan.

      Upon termination of the Restricted Period with respect to an award of
Restricted Units (or such earlier time, if any, as an election is made by the
Participant under Code Section 83(b), or any successor provisions thereto, to
include the value of such Units in taxable income), the Company shall have the
right to require the Participant to pay to the Company the amount of taxes that
the Company is required to withhold with respect to such Units or, in lieu
thereof, to retain or sell without notice a sufficient number of Units held by
it to cover the amount required to be withheld. The Company shall have the right
to deduct from all distributions paid with respect to a Restricted Unit award
the amount of taxes that the Company is required to withhold with respect to
such distribution payments, if any.

      8.    Transferability. Performance Units, and, during the period of
restriction, Restricted Units awarded under the Plan are not transferable except
as designated by the Participant by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution. If expressly permitted by the terms of the Option agreement,
Non-Qualified Options may be transferred by a Participant to Permitted
Transferees, provided that there is not any consideration for the transfer. Upon
receipt of a Unit, each unitholder shall be required to execute and become a
party to the Transfer Restriction Agreement.

      9.    Employment and Unitholder Status. The Plan does not constitute a
contract of employment, and selection as a Participant will not give any
employee the right to be retained in the

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employ of the Company or any Subsidiary. The Plan does not constitute or serve
as evidence of an agreement or understanding, express or implied, that the
Company will retain a consultant, independent contractor or Manager for any
period of time. Subject to the provisions of paragraph IV.3(a), no award under
the Plan shall confer upon the holder thereof any right as a unitholder prior to
the date on which he fulfills all service requirements and other conditions for
receipt of Units. If the redistribution of Units is restricted pursuant to
paragraph I.8, certificates representing such Units may bear a legend referring
to such restrictions.

      10.   Adjustments to Number and Kind of Securities Subject to the Plan. In
the event of any change in the outstanding Units of the Company by reason of any
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange of shares, an
initial public offering of securities by the Company, or other similar change,
the aggregate number of Units with respect to which awards may be made under the
Plan, the terms and the number of Units under any outstanding Options,
Performance Units, or Restricted Units, and the purchase price of a Unit under
Options, may be equitably adjusted by the Board in its sole discretion. In
addition, the Board may, in its sole discretion, make appropriate adjustment as
to the kind of shares or other securities deliverable with respect to
outstanding awards under the Plan.

      11.   Agreement With Company; Market Stand-Off. At the time of any awards
under the Plan, the Board will require a Participant (i) to enter into an
agreement with the Company in a form specified by the Board, agreeing to the
terms and conditions of the Plan and to such additional terms and conditions,
not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Board may, in its sole discretion,
prescribe, and (ii) to the extent the award consists of Units actually granted
to a Participant, to execute an addendum or joinder agreement pursuant to which
the Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Operating
Agreement of the Company, as amended, as a member of the Company. For such
period and on such terms as the managing underwriter may request in connection
with the public offering of Company securities, the Participants shall not (x)
offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any portion or contract to purchase,
purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to
purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
Company shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable
for Company shares (including, without limitation, shares of common stock or
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock
which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the Participant in accordance
with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission)
(collectively, "Company Securities") or (y) enter into any swap or other
arrangement that transfers all or a portion of the economic consequences
associated with the ownership of any Company Securities (regardless of whether
any of the transactions described in clause (x) or (y) is to be settled by the
delivery of Company Securities, in cash or otherwise), provided that the Company
notifies the Participant of the applicability of the lock-up. The Participant
shall enter into an agreement acknowledging the lock-up if requested by the
Company or such underwriter.

      12.   Amendment and Termination of Plan. The Board may at any time and in
any way amend, suspend or terminate the Plan. No amendment, suspension or
termination of the Plan shall alter or impair any Option, Restricted Unit or
Performance Unit previously awarded under the Plan without the consent of the
holder thereof.

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      13.   Business Combinations. For the purposes of the Plan, a "Change in
Control" shall mean:

            (a)   during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at
                  the beginning of such period constituted the Board cease for
                  any reason to constitute a majority thereof (unless the
                  election, or nomination for election by holders of the
                  Company's units or stock ("Company Equity"), of such member of
                  the Board was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3)
                  of the members of the Board then still in office who either
                  were members of the Board at the beginning of such period or
                  whose election or nomination for election was previously so
                  approved);

            (b)   a person, other than an "Excluded Person" as defined herein,
                  including a "group" as defined in Paragraph 13(d)(3) of the
                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, becomes the beneficial owner
                  of shares of any class of the Company Equity having 25% or
                  more of the total number of votes that may be cast for the
                  election of members of the Board; or

            (c)   consummation of a merger or other business combination of the
                  Company with or into another corporation pursuant to which the
                  Company does not survive or survives only as a subsidiary of
                  another entity, the sale or other disposition of all or
                  substantially all of the assets of the Company to another
                  person or entity, or any combination of the foregoing;

      provided, however, that a Change in Control will not include (A) any
      Financing Transaction (as defined in the Operating Agreement of the
      Company dated as of July 16, 2004) and any transaction entered into in
      connection therewith, (B) any reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale,
      lease, exchange or similar transaction which involves solely the Company
      and one or more entities wholly-owned, directly or indirectly, by the
      Company immediately prior to such event, or (C) the consummation of any
      transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following
      which the record holders of the voting Company Equity immediately prior to
      such transaction or series of transactions continue to hold 50% or more of
      the voting Company Equity of (i) any entity that owns, directly or
      indirectly, the Company Equity, (ii) any entity with which the Company has
      merged, or (iii) any entity that owns an entity with which the Company has
      merged. For purposes hereof, (i) an "Excluded Person" shall mean an
      original member of the Company or their affiliates, and (ii) a person will
      be deemed to be the beneficial owner of any voting securities of the
      Company which it would be considered to beneficially own under Securities
      and Exchange Commission Rule 13d-3 (or any similar or superseding statute
      or rule from time to time in effect). In the event of a Change in Control,
      all outstanding Options and Restricted Units will automatically become
      fully exercisable and/or vested, and Performance Units may be paid out in
      such manner and amounts as determined by the Committee.

                            II. NON-QUALIFIED OPTIONS

      1.    Definition. The award of a Non-Qualified Option under the Plan
entitles the Participant to purchase Class B Units at a price fixed at the time
the option is awarded, subject to the following terms of this Part II.

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      2.    Eligibility. The Board shall designate the Participants to whom
Non-Qualified Options are to be awarded under the Plan and shall determine the
number of Units to be awarded to each of them. No Non-employee Manager shall be
eligible to receive an award of a Non-Qualified Option except to the extent
granted pursuant to the formula set forth in Paragraph I.5(b) above.

      3.    Price. The purchase price of a Unit under each Non-Qualified Option
shall be determined by the Board; provided, however, that in no event shall such
price be less than 25% of the Fair Market Value of a Unit as of the Option Date.
The full purchase price of each Unit purchased upon the exercise of any
Non-Qualified Option shall be paid in cash at the time of such exercise. Units
acquired pursuant to the exercise of a Non-Qualified Option shall be subject to
such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Board may establish in
the award agreement.

      4.    Exercise. No Non-Qualified Option may be exercised by a Participant
after the Expiration Date applicable to that option. Unless otherwise specified
herein, each Option shall become and be exercisable at such time or times and
during such period or periods, in full or in such installments as may be
determined by the Board at the Option Date.

      5.    Option Expiration Date. The "Expiration Date" with respect to a
Non-Qualified Option or any portion thereof awarded to a Participant under the
Plan means the earliest of:

      (a)   the date of the liquidation or dissolution of the Company in
            accordance with Section 17.7 of the Operating Agreement of the
            Company dated as of July 16, 2004, in which case all outstanding
            Options shall be cancelled without payment of consideration to the
            holders thereof;

      (b)   the date established by the Board at the time of the award or set
            forth in paragraph I.5(b), as applicable;

      (c)   the date that is three months after the employee Participant's
            employment with the Company and all Subsidiaries or the consultant,
            independent contractor or Non-employee Manager Participant's service
            is terminated for reasons other than Retirement or death; or

      (d)   the date that is three years after the date the employee
            Participant's employment with the Company and all Subsidiaries or
            the consultant, independent contractor or Non-employee Manager
            Participant's service is terminated by reason of Retirement or
            death.

                              III. RESTRICTED UNITS

      1.    Definition. Restricted Unit awards are grants of Class C Units to
Participants, the vesting of which is subject to a required period of employment
and any other conditions established by the Board or by the terms of this Plan.

      2.    Eligibility. The Board shall designate the Participants to whom
Restricted Units are to be awarded and the number of Units that are subject to
the award.

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      3.    Terms and Conditions of Awards. All Restricted Units awarded to
Participants under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions and to such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the
Plan, as shall be prescribed by the Board in its sole discretion and as shall be
contained in the agreement referred to in paragraph I.11.

      (a)   Restricted Units awarded to Participants may not be sold, assigned,
            transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, except as hereinafter
            provided, for a period of ten years or such shorter period as the
            Board may determine, but no less than three years, after the time of
            the award of such Units (the "Restricted Period"). Such restrictions
            shall lapse as to the Restricted Units in accordance with the
            time(s) and number(s) of Units as to which the Restricted Period
            expires, as set forth in the Agreement with the Participant. Except
            for such restrictions, the Participant as owner of such Units shall
            have all the rights of a unitholder, including but not limited to
            the right to receive all distributions on such Units.

      (b)   The Board may in its discretion, at any time after the date of the
            award of Restricted Units, adjust the length of the Restricted
            Period to account for individual circumstances of a Participant or
            group of Participants, but in no case shall the length of the
            Restricted Period be less than one year.

      (c)   The grant of a Restricted Class C Unit to a Participant will not
            entitle such Participant to receive an allocation of an initial
            capital account. As a result, an award of Restricted Class C Units
            generally shall constitute an award of a "profits interest" in the
            Company (i.e., there will be no capital account with respect to such
            Class C Units attributed to the Participant at the time of issuance
            other than the amount, if any, paid by Participant in connection
            with the issuance of such Restricted Class C Units). Class C Units
            shall have no voting, approval, disapproval, or any other
            decision-making rights except as required under the Act.

      (d)   Except as otherwise determined by the Board in its sole discretion,
            a Participant whose employment or service with the Company and all
            Subsidiaries terminates prior to the end of the Restricted Period
            for any reason shall forfeit all Restricted Units remaining subject
            to any outstanding Restricted Unit award which have not then vested
            in accordance with the agreement entered into under paragraph I.11.

      (e)   Each certificate issued in respect of Restricted Units awarded under
            the Plan shall be registered in the name of the Participant and, at
            the discretion of the Board, each such certificate may be deposited
            with the Company or in a bank designated by the Board. Each such
            certificate shall bear the following (or a similar) legend:

            "The transferability of this certificate and the Units represented
            hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including
            forfeiture) contained in the BOIS D'ARC ENERGY, LLC Long-term
            Incentive Plan and an agreement entered into between the registered
            owner and BOIS D'ARC ENERGY, LLC. A copy of such plan and agreement
            is on file in the office of the Secretary of BOIS D'ARC ENERGY, LLC,
            600 Travis, Suite 6275, Houston, TX 77022, or if the Company changes
            its principal office, at the address of such new principal office."

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      (g)   As the Restricted Period for Restricted Units expires and such
            restrictions lapse, such Restricted Units shall be held by a
            Participant (or his or her legal representative, beneficiary or
            heir) free of all restrictions imposed by the Plan and the award
            agreement. Such Units shall nevertheless continue to be subject to
            any restriction imposed under applicable securities laws, and the
            unitholder shall be required to execute and become a party to the
            Transfer Restriction Agreement.

      (h)   Upon the liquidation or dissolution of the Company pursuant to
            Section 17.7 of the Operating Agreement of the Company dated as of
            July 16, 2004, the holders of any outstanding Class C Units shall be
            required to sell such Units to the Company for a total purchase
            price of one dollar ($1).

                    IV. DEFERRED UNITS AND PERFORMANCE UNITS

      1.    Definition. A "Deferred Unit" Award is the grant of a right to
receive Units in the future. Performance Units are awards to Participants who
may receive value for the Units at the end of a Performance Period. The number
of Units earned, and value received for them, will be contingent on the degree
to which the performance measures established at the time of the initial award
are met. The term "Performance Units" as used in Parts I through IV of the Plan
shall be deemed to include both Deferred Units and Performance Units.

      2.    Eligibility. The Board shall designate the Participants to whom
Deferred Units or Performance Units are to be awarded, and the number and Class
of Units to be the subject of such awards. No Non-employee Manager shall be
eligible to receive an award of a Performance Unit.

      3.    Terms and Conditions of Awards. For each Participant, the Board will
determine the timing of awards; the number and Class of Deferred Units or
Performance Units awarded; the value of Performance Units; which may be stated
either in cash or in Units; the performance measures used for determining
whether the Performance Units are earned; the performance period during which
the performance measures will apply; the relationship between the level of
achievement of the performance measures and the degree to which Performance
Units are earned; whether, during or after the performance period, any revision
to the performance measures or performance period should be made to reflect
significant events or changes that occur during the performance period; the
number of earned Performance Units that will be paid in cash and/or Units.; and
whether any distributions or distribution equivalents will be paid on Deferred
Units, either currently or on a deferred basis.

      4.    Payment. The Board will compare the actual performance to the
performance measures established for the performance period and determine the
number of Performance Units to be paid and their value. Payment for Performance
Units earned shall be wholly in cash, wholly in Units or in a combination of the
two, in a lump sum or installments, and subject to vesting requirements and such
other conditions as the Board shall determine. The Board will determine the
number of earned Units to be paid in cash and the number to be paid in Units.
For Performance Units awarded in Units, one Unit will be paid for each Unit
earned, or cash will be paid for each Unit earned equal to either (a) the Fair
Market Value of a Unit at the end of the Performance Period or (b) the Fair
Market Value of a Unit averaged for a number of days determined by the Board.
For Performance Units awarded in cash, the value of each Unit earned will be
paid in its initial cash value, or Units will be distributed based on the cash
value of the Units earned divided by (a) the Fair Market Value of a Unit at the
end of the Performance Period or (b) the Fair Market Value of

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a Unit averaged for a number of days determined by the Board.

      5.    Retirement, Death or Termination. A Participant whose employment or
service with the Company and all Subsidiaries terminates during a performance
period because of Retirement or death shall be entitled to the prorated value of
earned Performance Units, issued with respect to that performance period, at the
conclusion of the performance period based on the ratio of the months of
employment or service during the period to the total months of the performance
period. If a Participant's employment or service with the Company and all
Subsidiaries terminates during a performance period for any reason other than
Retirement or death, the Performance Units issued with respect to that
performance period will be forfeited on the date such Participant's employment
or service terminates. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Part IV,
if a Participant's employment or service with the Company and all Subsidiaries
terminates before the end of the Performance Period with respect to any
Performance Units awarded to him, the Board may determine that the Participant
will be entitled to receive all or any portion of the Units that he or she would
otherwise receive, and may accelerate the determination and payment of the value
of such Units or make such other adjustments as the Board, in its sole
discretion, deems desirable.

                                      -11-<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

      This Employment Agreement ("Agreement") executed by and between BOIS D'ARC
ENERGY, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (the "Company") with principal
offices in Houston, Texas, and GARY W. BLACKIE ("Employee").

      1.    Employment. The Company hereby agrees to employ Employee, and
Employee hereby agrees to render his service to the Company, in the capacity of
President of the Company, with such duties as may be assigned to him from time
to time by the Board of Managers or Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board").

      2.    Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall be effective commencing on
July 16, 2004 (the effective date of this Agreement) and shall have a term of
three (3) years. This Agreement shall, as of its first anniversary, and on each
annual anniversary thereof, be extended automatically, without further action by
the Employee or the Company, for an additional one (1) year, so that there
shall, as of July 16 of each year, be three (3) years remaining in the term of
this Agreement (the "Employment Period"), subject to earlier termination as
hereinafter provided. This Agreement shall terminate upon the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company, and if the liquidation or dissolution is pursuant to
Section 17.7 of the Operating Agreement of the Company, then the parties shall
have no further obligations to each other, including, without limitation,
pursuant to Paragraph 14 of this Agreement (other than payment to the Employee
of accrued base salary through the date of termination, and as set forth in
Paragraph 8 of this Agreement).

      3.    Place of Employment. Unless otherwise agreed by the Company and
Employee, throughout the term of this Agreement, Employee's base of operations
shall be located in Houston, Texas; provided if Employee is located away from
the base of operations, the Company shall reimburse Employee for the reasonable
cost of such remote office and the travel back to the base of operations.

      4.    Base Compensation. Employee shall be compensated by the Company at a
minimum base rate of $30,000.00 per month, payable semi-monthly on the fifteenth
and final days of each month during the period of Employee's employment under
this Agreement, subject to such increases and additional payments as may be
determined from time to time by the Board in its sole discretion. Employee shall
also be entitled to participate in any Company discretionary bonus plan. Such
compensation shall be in addition to any group insurance, pension, profit
sharing, and other employee benefits, which are extended from time to time to
Employee (and Employee's spouse) in the discretion of the Board and for which
Employee is eligible. Subject to such rules and procedures as are from time to
time specified by the Company, the Company shall also reimburse Employee for all
reasonable expenses incurred by him on behalf of the Company.

      5.    Performance of Services. Employee shall devote substantially all of
his working time to the business of the Company; provided, however, Employee
shall be allowed to participate in non-operated working interest ownership in
oil and gas exploration and production

                                                                               1
<PAGE>

activities onshore in the United States and in the state waters of the State of
Texas and shall be excused from performing any services for the Company
hereunder during periods of temporary incapacity and during vacations conforming
to the Company's standard vacation policy, without thereby in any way affecting
the compensation to which he is entitled hereunder.

      6.    Continuing Obligations. In order to induce the Company to enter into
this Agreement, the Employee hereby agrees that all documents, records,
techniques, business secrets and other information which have come into his
possession from time to time during his employment by the Company or which may
come into his possession during his employment hereunder, shall be deemed to be
confidential and proprietary to the Company and the Employee further agrees to
retain in confidence any confidential information known to him concerning the
Company and it's subsidiaries and their respective businesses so long as such
information is not publicly disclosed. In the event of a breach or threatened
breach by the Employee of the provisions of this Paragraph 6, the Company shall,
in addition to any other available remedies, be entitled to an injunction
restraining Employee from disclosing, in whole or in part, any such information
or from rendering any services to any person, firm or corporation to whom any of
such information may have been disclosed or is threatened to be disclosed.

      7.    Property of Company. All data, drawings, and other records and
written material prepared or compiled by Employee or furnished to Employee while
in the employ of the Company shall be the sole and exclusive property of the
Company, and none of such data, drawings or other records, or copies thereof,
shall be retained by Employee upon termination of his employment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall be under no obligation to return
public information.

      8.    Surviving Provisions. The provisions of Paragraphs 6 and 7 of this
Agreement shall continue to be binding upon Employee in accordance with their
terms, notwithstanding termination of Employee's employment hereunder for any
reason.

      9.    Death or Disability. The Employee's employment shall terminate
automatically upon the Employee's death during the Employment Period. If the
Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Employee has
occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability
set forth below), it may give to the Employee written notice of its intention to
terminate the Employee's employment. In such event, the Employee's employment
with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such
notice by the Employee (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within
the 30 days after such receipt, the Employee shall not have returned to
full-time performance of the Employee's duties. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Disability" shall mean the absence of the Employee from the Employee's duties
with the Company on a full-time basis for 150 consecutive business days as a
result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be
total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and
acceptable to the Employee or the Employee's legal representative.

      10.   Termination for Good Reason. The Employee's employment may be
terminated by the Employee for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Good Reason" shall mean:

                                                                               2
<PAGE>

            (a)   the assignment to the Employee of any duties inconsistent in
                  any respect with the Employee's position (including status,
                  offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties
                  or responsibilities as contemplated by Paragraph 1 of this
                  Agreement;

            (b)   any purported termination by the Company of the Employee's
                  employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this
                  Agreement;

            (c)   any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy
                  Paragraph 19(a) of this Agreement,

            (d)   the Company's requiring the Employee to reside in or be based
                  at any office or location other than as provided in Paragraph
                  3 of this Agreement, or

            (e)   following a Change in Control, the Company's requiring the
                  Employee to travel on Company business to a substantially
                  greater extent than during any period prior to the Change in
                  Control.

            Any good faith determination of "Good Reason" made by the Employee
shall be conclusive.

      11.   Termination for Cause. It is agreed and understood that the Company
cannot terminate the employment of the Employee under this Agreement except for
Cause, which shall mean:

            (a)   Should Employee for reasons other than illness or injury
                  absent himself from his duties without the consent of the
                  Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) for
                  more than twenty (20) consecutive business days;

            (b)   Should Employee be convicted of a felony involving moral
                  turpitude;

            (c)   Should Employee during the period of his employment by the
                  Company engage in any activity that would in the opinion of
                  the Board constitute a material conflict of interest with the
                  Company's oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico;
                  provided that termination for Cause based on this subparagraph
                  (c) shall not be effective unless the Employee shall have
                  received written notice from the Board of such activity (which
                  notice shall also include a demand for the Employee to cease
                  the activity giving rise to the conflict of interest) thirty
                  (30) days prior to his termination and the Employee has failed
                  after receipt of such notice to cease or commence efforts to
                  cease all activities creating the conflict of interest; or

            (d)   Should Employee be grossly negligent in the performance of his
                  duties hereunder, or materially in breach of his duties and
                  obligations under this Agreement; provided that termination
                  for Cause based on this subparagraph (d) shall not be
                  effective unless the Employee shall have received written
                  notice from the Board (which notice shall include a
                  description of the

                                                                               3
<PAGE>

                  reasons and circumstances giving rise to such notice) thirty
                  (30) days prior to his termination and the Employee has failed
                  after receipt of such notice to satisfactorily discharge the
                  performance of his duties hereunder or to comply with the
                  terms of this Agreement, as the case may be.

The Company may terminate Employee's employment for Cause under this Agreement
without advance notice, except as otherwise specifically provided for in
subparagraphs (c) and (d) above. Termination shall not affect any of the
Company's other rights and remedies.

      12.   Obligations of the Company upon Termination.

            (a)   Good Reason or Involuntary Termination Other Than for Cause.
                  If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate
                  the Employee's employment other than for Cause or the Employee
                  shall terminate employment for Good Reason, the Company shall
                  pay to the Employee in a lump sum in cash within 30 days after
                  the date of termination the aggregate of the following
                  amounts:

                  (1)   the sum of (A) the Employee's annual base salary through
                        the date of termination to the extent not theretofore
                        paid, (B) the product of the annual bonus paid or
                        payable, including any bonus or portion thereof which
                        has been earned but deferred (and annualized for any
                        fiscal year consisting of less than twelve full months
                        or during which the Employee was employed for less than
                        twelve full months), for the most recently completed
                        fiscal year during the Employment Period (the "Fiscal
                        Year Bonus"), if any, and a fraction, the numerator of
                        which is the number of days in the current fiscal year
                        through the date of termination, and the denominator of
                        which is 365, and (C) any compensation previously
                        deferred by the Employee (together with any accrued
                        interest or earnings thereon) and any accrued vacation
                        pay, in each case to the extent not theretofore paid
                        (the sum of the amounts described in clauses (A), (B)
                        and (C) shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Accrued
                        Obligations"); and

                  (2)   an amount equal to 1.5 times the sum of the Employee's
                        annual base salary and the Fiscal Year Bonus; and for
                        eighteen (18) months after the Employee's date of
                        termination, the Company shall continue group medical
                        benefits to the Employee and/or the Employee's family at
                        least equal to those which would have been provided to
                        them in accordance with the plans if the Employee's
                        employment had not been terminated; provided, however,
                        that if the Employee becomes re-employed with another
                        employer and is eligible to receive group medical
                        benefits under another employer-provided plan, the
                        medical benefits described herein shall be secondary to
                        those provided under such other plan during such
                        applicable period of eligibility.

                                                                               4
<PAGE>

                    All options to purchase shares or units in the Company
                    ("Company Equity") and restricted shares or units of
                    Company Equity shall vest in Employee's account upon the
                    effective date of Employee's termination under this
                    Paragraph. The Company will use reasonable efforts to
                    obtain the release of the Employee's Company Equity from
                    any trading restrictions other than (i) restrictions
                    imposed by contractual obligations with third parties or
                    (ii) restrictions under state or federal securities
                    laws; provided, however, that in no event will the
                    Company be required to register any unregistered shares
                    under the Securities Act.

                    In addition, the Company shall, at its sole expense as
                    incurred, provide the Employee with outplacement
                    services, the scope and provider of which shall be
                    selected by the Employee in his sole discretion, and the
                    Company shall assign to the Employee ownership of any
                    life insurance policies owned by the Company insuring
                    the Employee's life.

              (b)   Death. If the Employee's employment is terminated by
                    reason of the Employee's death during the Employment
                    Period, the Company shall pay to the Employee's legal
                    representatives the sum of (1) the Accrued Obligations,
                    and (2) an amount equal to six months' annualized total
                    compensation. Such amounts shall be paid in a lump sum
                    in cash within 30 days of the date of termination.

              (c)   Disability. If the Employee's employment is terminated
                    by reason of the Employee's Disability during the
                    Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate
                    without further obligations to the Employee, other than
                    for payment of Accrued Obligations. During the term of
                    this Agreement, the Company shall provide, at the
                    Company's expense, disability insurance for Employee
                    equal to sixty percent (60%) of Employee's Base
                    Compensation until Employee attains the age of
                    sixty-five (65) years. Accrued Obligations shall be paid
                    to the Employee in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of
                    the date of termination. In addition, the Company shall
                    assign to the Employee ownership of any life insurance
                    policies owned by the Company insuring the Employee's
                    life.

              (d)   Cause or Voluntary Termination Other than for Good
                    Reason. If the Employee's employment shall be terminated
                    for Cause during the Employment Period, or if the
                    Employee voluntarily terminates his employment other
                    than for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate
                    without further obligations to the Employee other than
                    the obligation to pay to the Employee his annual base
                    salary through the date of termination and the amount of
                    any compensation previously deferred by the Employee.
                    Such amounts shall be paid to the Employee in a lump sum
                    in cash within 30 days of the date of termination. If
                    the Employee voluntarily terminates his employment other
                    than for Good Reason on or after attaining the age of
                    sixty-one (61), all options to purchase Company Equity
                    and restricted shares

                                                                           5
<PAGE>

                  or units of Company Equity shall vest in Employee's account
                  upon the effective date of Employee's termination.

      13.   Change in Control. For the purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in
Control" shall mean:

            (a)   during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at
                  the beginning of such period constituted the Board cease for
                  any reason to constitute a majority thereof (unless the
                  election, or nomination for election by holders of the Company
                  Equity, of such member of the Board was approved by a vote of
                  at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Board then
                  still in office who either were members of the Board at the
                  beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for
                  election was previously so approved);

            (b)   a person, other than an "Excluded Person" as defined herein,
                  including a "group" as defined in Paragraph 13(d)(3) of the
                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, becomes the beneficial owner
                  of shares of any class of the Company Equity having 25% or
                  more of the total number of votes that may be cast for the
                  election of members of the Board ; or

            (c)   consummation of a merger or other business combination of the
                  Company with or into another corporation pursuant to which the
                  Company does not survive or survives only as a subsidiary of
                  another entity, the sale or other disposition of all or
                  substantially all of the assets of the Company to another
                  person or entity, or any combination of the foregoing;

provided, however, that a Change in Control will not include (A) any Financing
Transaction (as defined in the Operating Agreement of the Company dated as of
July 16, 2004) and any transaction entered into in connection therewith, (B) any
reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale, lease, exchange or similar
transaction which involves solely the Company and one or more entities
wholly-owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company immediately prior to such
event, or (C) the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated
transactions immediately following which the record holders of the voting
Company Equity immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions
continue to hold 50% or more of the voting securities of (i) any entity that
owns, directly or indirectly, the Company Equity, (ii) any entity with which the
Company has merged, or (iii) any entity that owns an entity with which the
Company has merged. For purposes hereof, (i) an "Excluded Person" shall mean an
original member of the Company or their affiliates, and (ii) a person will be
deemed to be the beneficial owner of any voting securities of the Company which
it would be considered to beneficially own under Securities and Exchange
Commission Rule 13d-3 (or any similar or superseding statute or rule from time
to time in effect).

      14.   Termination of Employment Following a Change of Control. Following a
Change of Control, if the Employee's employment is terminated for any reason
other than Cause, death or Disability, or if the Employee voluntarily terminates
his employment (a) within a period of six (6) months following the Change of
Control, or (b) for Good Reason, then the Company shall pay to the Employee the
Accrued Obligations and an amount equal to 2.99 times the sum

                                                                               6
<PAGE>

of the Employee's annual base salary and the highest annual bonus paid to the
Employee during the Employee's tenure with the Company; and for eighteen (18)
months after the Employee's date of termination, the Company shall continue
group medical benefits to the Employee and/or the Employee's family at least
equal to those which would have been provided to them in accordance with the
plans if the Employee's employment had not been terminated; provided, however,
that if the Employee becomes re-employed with another employer and is eligible
to receive group medical benefits under another employer provided plan, the
medical benefits described herein shall be secondary to those provided under
such other plan during such applicable period of eligibility. In addition, the
Company shall, at its sole expense as incurred, provide the Employee with
outplacement services, the scope and provider of which shall be selected by the
Employee in his sole discretion, and the Company shall assign to the Employee
ownership of any life insurance policies owned by the Company insuring the
Employee's life

      15.   Certain Additional Payments by the Company.

            (a)   Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding and
                  except as set forth below, in the event it shall be determined
                  that any payment or distribution by the Company to or for the
                  benefit of the Employee (whether paid or payable or
                  distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this
                  Agreement or otherwise, but determined without regard to any
                  additional payments required under this Paragraph 15) (a
                  "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by
                  Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties are
                  incurred by the Employee with respect to such excise tax (such
                  excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are
                  hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"),
                  then the Employee shall be entitled to receive an additional
                  payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that after
                  payment by the Employee of all taxes (including any interest
                  or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including,
                  without limitation, any income taxes (and any interest and
                  penalties imposed with respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed
                  upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Employee retains an amount of
                  the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the
                  Payments.

            (b)   Subject to the provisions of Paragraph 15(c), all
                  determinations required to be made under this Paragraph 15,
                  including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment is required and
                  the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be
                  utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by
                  Ernst & Young LLP or such other certified public accounting
                  firm as may be designated by the Employee (the "Accounting
                  Firm") which shall provide detailed supporting calculations
                  both to the Company and the Employee within 15 business days
                  of the receipt of notice from the Employee that there has been
                  a Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the
                  Company. In the event that the Accounting Firm is serving as
                  accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group
                  effecting the Change in Control, the Employee shall appoint
                  another nationally recognized accounting firm to make the
                  determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall
                  then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All
                  fees and expenses of the

                                                                               7
<PAGE>

                  Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. Any
                  Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this Paragraph 15
                  shall be paid by the Company to the Employee within five days
                  of the receipt of the Accounting Firm's determination. Any
                  determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the
                  Company and the Employee. As a result of the uncertainty in
                  the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the
                  initial determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is
                  possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made
                  by the Company should have been made ("Underpayment"),
                  consistent with the calculations required to be made
                  hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts its remedies
                  pursuant to Paragraph 15(c) and the Employee thereafter is
                  required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting
                  Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has
                  occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by
                  the Company to or for the benefit of the Employee.

            (c)   The Employee shall notify the Company in writing of any claim
                  by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would
                  require the payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment.
                  Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but no
                  later than ten business days after the Employee is informed in
                  writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the
                  nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is
                  requested to be paid. The Employee shall not pay such claim
                  prior to the expiration of the 30-day period following the
                  date on which it gives such notice to the Company (or such
                  shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes
                  with respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies
                  the Employee in writing prior to the expiration of such period
                  that it desires to contest such claim, the Employee shall:

                  (1)   give the Company any information reasonably requested by
                        the Company relating to such claim,

                  (2)   take such action in connection with contesting such
                        claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing
                        from time to time, including, without limitation,
                        accepting legal representation with respect to such
                        claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company,

                  (3)   cooperate with the Company in good faith in order
                        effectively to contest such claim, and

                  (4)   permit the Company to participate in any proceedings
                        relating to such claim;

                  provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay
                  directly all costs and expenses (including additional interest
                  and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and
                  shall indemnify and hold the Employee

                                                                               8
<PAGE>

                  harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income
                  tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto)
                  imposed as a result of such representation and payment of
                  costs and expenses. Without limitation of the foregoing
                  provisions of this Paragraph 15(c), the Company shall control
                  all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at
                  its sole option, may pursue or forego any and all
                  administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences
                  with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at
                  its sole option, either direct the Employee to pay the tax
                  claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any
                  permissible manner, and the Employee agrees to prosecute such
                  contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal,
                  in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more
                  appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided,
                  however, that if the Company directs the Employee to pay such
                  claim and sue for a refund, the Company shall advance the
                  amount of such payment to the Employee, on an interest-free
                  basis and shall indemnify and hold the Employee harmless, on
                  an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax
                  (including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed
                  with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed
                  income with respect to such advance; and further provided that
                  any extension of the statute of limitations relating to
                  payment of taxes for the taxable year of the Employee with
                  respect to which such contested amount is claimed to be due is
                  limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, the
                  Company's control of the contest shall be limited to issues
                  with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable
                  hereunder and the Employee shall be entitled to settle or
                  contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the
                  Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority.

            (d)   If, after the receipt by the Employee of an amount advanced by
                  the Company pursuant to Paragraph 15(c), the Employee becomes
                  entitled to receive any refund with respect to such claim, the
                  Employee shall (subject to the Company's complying with the
                  requirements of Paragraph 15(c)) promptly pay to the Company
                  the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or
                  credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If, after
                  the receipt by the Employee of an amount advanced by the
                  Company pursuant to Paragraph 15(c), a determination is made
                  that the Employee shall not be entitled to any refund with
                  respect to such claim and the Company does not notify the
                  Employee in writing of its intent to contest such denial of
                  refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such
                  determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall
                  not be required to be repaid and the amount of such advance
                  shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up
                  Payment required to be paid.

      16.   Payment of Certain Costs of Employee. If a dispute arises regarding
the interpretation or enforcement of this Agreement, all legal fees and expenses
incurred by the Employee in seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit
provided for in this Agreement or in otherwise pursuing his claim will be paid
by the Company, to the extent permitted by law. The Company further agrees to
pay prejudgment interest on any money judgment obtained by

                                                                               9
<PAGE>

the Employee calculated at the First National Bank of Chicago N.A. prime
interest rate in effect from time to time from the date that payment(s) to him
should have been made under this Agreement.

      17.   Indemnification; Directors, Managers and Officers Insurance. The
Company shall (a) during the Employment Period and thereafter without limitation
of time, indemnify and advance expenses to the Employee to the fullest extent
permitted by the laws of the State of Nevada from time to time in effect and (b)
during the Employment Period, acquire and maintain directors, managers and
officers liability insurance covering the Employee (and to the extent the
Company desires, other directors, managers and officers of the Company and its
affiliated companies) to the extent it is available at commercially reasonable
rates as determined by the Board ; provided, however, that in no event shall the
Employee be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this
Paragraph 17 with respect to any proceeding, or matter therein, brought or made
by the Employee against the Company other than one initiated by the Employee to
enforce the Employee's advancement of expenses as provided in this Paragraph 17
shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the Employee may at
any time be entitled under applicable law, the articles of incorporation or
bylaws of the Company, any agreement, a vote of security holders, a resolution
of the Board , or otherwise. The provisions of this Paragraph 17 shall continue
in effect notwithstanding termination of the Employee's employment hereunder for
any reason, including, without limitation, Employee's voluntary termination. In
furtherance thereof, and not by way of limitation, the Company shall reimburse
Employee for all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by Employee in
connection with Employee's obtaining and enforcing any right or benefit provided
by this Agreement. The reimbursement of such legal fees and expenses shall be
made within 30 days after Employee's request for payment accompanied by evidence
of the fees and expenses incurred. For a period of ten (10) years after the
termination, for any reason, of Employee's employment with the Company, the
Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and defend Employee, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any loss, cost or expense
related to or arising out of any action or claim with respect to (i) the Company
or its affiliated companies or (ii) any action taken or omitted by the Employee
(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, MATTERS THAT CONSTITUTE NEGLIGENCE OF THE
EMPLOYEE) for or on behalf of the Company or its affiliated companies, whether,
in either case, such action or claim, or the facts and circumstances giving rise
thereto, occurred or accrued before or after such termination of employment.

      18.   Mitigation. The Employee is not required to mitigate the amount of
any payments to be made by the Company pursuant to this Agreement by seeking
other employment or otherwise.

      19.   Successors.

            (a)   Except as may otherwise be provided under any other written
                  agreement between the Company and the Employee with respect to
                  the terms of Employee's employment in the event of a Change of
                  Control of the Company, the Company will require any successor
                  (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
                  consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the
                  business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement

                                                                              10
<PAGE>

                  in form and substance satisfactory to the Employee, to
                  expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the
                  same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be
                  required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.
                  Failure of the Company to obtain such agreement prior to the
                  effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this
                  Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon a conversion of
                  the Company to a "C" corporation pursuant to the Plan of
                  Conversion attached as Exhibit B to the Operating Agreement of
                  the Company, the converted corporation shall by operation of
                  law assume this Agreement with no further action on the part
                  of the Company or the Employee. As used in this Agreement,
                  "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined, any
                  successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which
                  executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this
                  Paragraph 19 or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms
                  and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.

            (b)   This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
                  enforceable by the Employee's personal or legal
                  representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
                  distributees, devisees and legatees.

      20.   No Inconsistent Obligations. Employee represents and warrants that
he has not previously assumed any obligations inconsistent with those of this
Agreement except as otherwise permitted pursuant to Paragraph 5 above.

      21.   Modification. This Agreement shall be in addition to all previous
agreements, written or oral, relating to Employee's employment by the Company,
and shall not be changed orally, but only by a written instrument to which the
Company and the Employee are both parties.

      22.   Binding Effect. This Agreement and the rights and obligations
hereunder shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective legal representatives, and shall also bind and inure to the
benefit of any successor of the Company by merger or consolidation or any
assignee of all or substantially all of its properties.

      23.   Bankruptcy. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, the insolvency or adjudication of bankruptcy of the Company, whether
voluntary or involuntary, shall terminate this Agreement and the rights and
obligations of Company and Employee hereunder shall be of no further force or
effect.

      24.   Law Governing. This Agreement made, accepted and delivered in Harris
County, Texas, is performable in Harris County, Texas, and it shall be construed
and enforced according to the laws of the State of Texas. Venue shall lie in
Harris County, Texas for the purpose of resolving and enforcing any dispute
which may arise under this Agreement and the parties agree that they will submit
themselves to the jurisdiction of the competent State or Federal Court situated
in Harris County, Texas.

      25.   Invalid Provision. In case any one or more of the provisions
contained in this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
respect, the validity, legality and

                                                                              11
<PAGE>

enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way
be impaired thereby.

      26.   Notices. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other
communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

            IF TO THE EMPLOYEE:

            GARY W. BLACKIE
            600 Travis, Suite 6275
            Houston, TX 77022

            IF TO THE COMPANY:

            BOIS D'ARC ENERGY, LLC
            600 Travis, Suite 6275
            Houston, TX 77022

            With a copy to:
            Comstock Resources, Inc.
            Attention: Chief Financial Officer
            5300 Town and Country Blvd., Suite 500
            Frisco, Texas 75034

or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.

                            [Signature page follows.]

                                                                              12
<PAGE>

      EXECUTED and effective as of the 16th day of July, 2004.

                                      BOIS D'ARC ENERGY, LLC

                                      By:  /s/ Wayne L. Laufer
                                         -----------------------------------
                                      Name: Wayne L. Laufer
                                      Title: Chief Executive Officer

                                      EMPLOYEE:

                                      /s/ Gary W. Blackie
                                      --------------------------------------
                                      Gary W. Blackie

                                                                              13

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