Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

                                                                [EXECUTION COPY]

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                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                             dated as of May 2, 2002

                                      among

                            VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC.,
                                as the Borrower,

                                       and

                    CERTAIN COMMERCIAL LENDING INSTITUTIONS,
                                 as the Lenders,

                                       and

                                BANK OF MONTREAL,
                acting through certain U.S. branches or agencies,
                                    as Agent,

                                       and

       The Syndication Agent and the Co-Documentation Agents party hereto

                         ______________________________

                               BMO Nesbitt Burns,
                                   as Arranger

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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

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ARTICLE I    DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS .................................   1

     SECTION 1.1.  Defined Terms ..............................................   1

     SECTION 1.2.  Use of Defined Terms .......................................  16

     SECTION 1.3.  Cross-References ...........................................  16

     SECTION 1.4.  Accounting and Financial Determinations ....................  16

ARTICLE II   COMMITMENTS, BORROWING PROCEDURES AND NOTES ......................  17

     SECTION 2.1.  Commitments ................................................  17

     SECTION 2.2.  Termination and Reduction of Commitment Amount .............  19

     SECTION 2.3.  Borrowing Procedure ........................................  20

     SECTION 2.4.  Continuation and Conversion Elections ......................  20

     SECTION 2.5.  Funding ....................................................  21

     SECTION 2.6.  Notes ......................................................  21

     SECTION 2.7.  Determination of the Borrowing Base ........................  21

     SECTION 2.8.  Letters of Credit ..........................................  23

ARTICLE III  REPAYMENTS, PREPAYMENTS, INTEREST AND FEES .......................  28

     SECTION 3.1.  Repayments and Prepayments .................................  28

     SECTION 3.2.  Interest Provisions ........................................  29

     SECTION 3.3.  Fees .......................................................  31

ARTICLE IV   CERTAIN LIBO RATE AND OTHER PROVISIONS ...........................  32

     SECTION 4.1.  If LIBO Rate Lending Unlawful ..............................  32

     SECTION 4.2.  If Deposits Unavailable ....................................  32

     SECTION 4.3.  Increased LIBO Rate Loan Costs, etc ........................  32

     SECTION 4.4.  Funding Losses .............................................  32

     SECTION 4.5.  Increased Capital Costs ....................................  33

     SECTION 4.6.  Taxes ......................................................  33

     SECTION 4.7.  Payments, Computations, etc ................................  34

     SECTION 4.8.  Sharing of Payments ........................................  34

     SECTION 4.9.  Setoff .....................................................  35

     SECTION 4.10. Use of Proceeds ............................................  35

ARTICLE V    CONDITIONS TO BORROWING ..........................................  35
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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (continued)

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     SECTION 5.1.  Initial Borrowing .......................................    35

     SECTION 5.2.  Conditions Precedent to Revolving Loans .................    37

ARTICLE VI    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ...............................    38

     SECTION 6.1.  Organization, etc .......................................    38

     SECTION 6.2.  Due Authorization, Non-Contravention, etc ...............    38

     SECTION 6.3.  Government Approval, Regulation, etc ....................    38

     SECTION 6.4.  Validity, etc ...........................................    38

     SECTION 6.5.  Financial Information ...................................    38

     SECTION 6.6.  No Material Adverse Change ..............................    39

     SECTION 6.7.  Litigation, Labor Controversies, etc ....................    39

     SECTION 6.8.  Subsidiaries ............................................    39

     SECTION 6.9.  Ownership of Properties .................................    39

     SECTION 6.10. Taxes ...................................................    39

     SECTION 6.11. Pension and Welfare Plans ...............................    39

     SECTION 6.12. Environmental Warranties ................................    40

     SECTION 6.13. Regulations U, T and X ..................................    41

     SECTION 6.14. Accuracy of Information .................................    41

     SECTION 6.15. No Default ..............................................    41

     SECTION 6.16. No Violation of Applicable Law ..........................    41

     SECTION 6.17. Permits .................................................    41

ARTICLE VII   COVENANTS ....................................................    42

     SECTION 7.1.  Affirmative Covenants ...................................    42

     SECTION 7.2.  Negative Covenants ......................................    46

ARTICLE VIII  EVENTS OF DEFAULT ............................................    52

     SECTION 8.1.  Listing of Events of Default ............................    52

     SECTION 8.2.  Action if Bankruptcy ....................................    54

     SECTION 8.3.  Action if Other Event of Default ........................    54

ARTICLE IX    THE AGENT ....................................................    54

     SECTION 9.1.  Actions .................................................    54

     SECTION 9.2.  Funding Reliance, etc ...................................    55
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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (continued)

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     SECTION 9.3.     Exculpation ..................................................   55

     SECTION 9.4.     Successor ....................................................   56

     SECTION 9.5.     Loans by Bank of Montreal ....................................   56

     SECTION 9.6.     Credit Decisions .............................................   56

     SECTION 9.7.     Copies, etc ..................................................   56

     SECTION 9.8.     Syndication Agent and Co-Documentation Agents ................   57

ARTICLE X      MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS ............................................   57

     SECTION 10.1.    Waivers, Amendments, etc .....................................   57

     SECTION 10.2.    Notices ......................................................   57

     SECTION 10.3.    Payment of Costs and Expenses ................................   58

     SECTION 10.4.    Indemnification ..............................................   58

     SECTION 10.5.    Survival .....................................................   59

     SECTION 10.6.    Severability .................................................   59

     SECTION 10.7.    Headings .....................................................   59

     SECTION 10.8.    Execution in Counterparts, Effectiveness, etc ................   59

     SECTION 10.9.    Governing Law; Entire Agreement ..............................   59

     SECTION 10.10.   Successors and Assigns .......................................   59

     SECTION 10.11.   Sale and Transfer of Loans and Notes; Participations in
                      Loans and Notes ..............................................   60

     SECTION 10.12.   Other Transactions ...........................................   61

     SECTION 10.13.   Existing Letters of Credit ...................................   62

     SECTION 10.14.   Collateral Matters; Hedging Agreements .......................   62

     SECTION 10.15.   Forum Selection and Consent to Jurisdiction ..................   62

     SECTION 10.16.   Waiver of Jury Trial .........................................   63
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                                     -iii-

<PAGE>

                              SCHEDULE AND EXHIBITS

SCHEDULE 1     -   Disclosure Schedule*

EXHIBIT A      -   Form of Note
EXHIBIT B      -   Form of Borrowing Request
EXHIBIT C      -   Form of Continuation/Conversion Notice
EXHIBIT D      -   Form of Lender Assignment Agreement
EXHIBIT E-1    -   Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Borrower*
EXHIBIT E-2    -   Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Borrower*
EXHIBIT F      -   Commitments*
EXHIBIT G      -   Form of Issuance Request
EXHIBIT H      -   Exxon Properties*
EXHIBIT I      -   Form of Notice of Commitment Increase.

________________

*    Omitted. The Registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any such
     omitted Schedules or Exhibits to the Securities and Exchange Commission
     upon its request.

                                      -iv-

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         THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of May 2, 2002, among VINTAGE
PETROLEUM, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the various financial
institutions as are or may become parties hereto (collectively, the "Lenders"),
and BANK OF MONTREAL, acting through certain of its U.S. branches or agencies
("Bank of Montreal"), as administrative agent (the "Agent"), and the Syndication
Agent and the Co-Documentation Agents party hereto.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the Borrower is engaged directly and through its various
Subsidiaries in the businesses of exploration for and production of oil and gas,
oil and gas gathering and marketing, and related activities; and

         WHEREAS, the Borrower would like to obtain Commitments from the Lenders
pursuant to which Lenders agree to make Revolving Loans and to issue Letters of
Credit, in a maximum aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not
to exceed the amounts hereinafter provided, which will be made to the Borrower
from time to time prior to the Commitment Termination Date for such Commitments;
and

         WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing, on the terms and subject to the
conditions hereinafter set forth (including Article V), to extend such
Commitments and make such Loans to, and issue Letters of Credit for, the
Borrower; and

         WHEREAS, the proceeds of such Loans and the Revolving Loan Letters of
Credit will be used (a) for acquisitions of oil and gas properties, gathering
systems and related assets, and (b) for general corporate purposes and working
capital purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                        DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

         SECTION 1.1. Defined Terms. The following terms (whether or not
underscored) when used in this Agreement, including its preamble and recitals,
shall, except where the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings
(such meanings to be equally applicable to the singular and plural forms
thereof):

         "Acquisition" means any transaction, or any series of related
transactions, consummated after the date of this Agreement, by which the
Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (i) acquires any going business or all or
substantially all of the assets of any firm, corporation or division thereof,
whether through purchase of assets or otherwise or (ii) directly or indirectly
acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of
transactions) at least a controlling interest of the ownership of a Person.

         "Affiliate" of any Person means any other Person which, directly or
indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such
Person (excluding any trustee under, or

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any committee with responsibility for administering, any Plan). A Person shall
be deemed to be "controlled by" any other Person if such other Person possesses,
directly or indirectly, power (a) to vote 10% or more of the securities (on a
fully diluted basis) having ordinary voting power for the election of directors
or managing general partners; or (b) to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.

         "Agent" is defined in the preamble and includes each other Person as
shall have subsequently been appointed as the successor Agent pursuant to
Section 9.4.

         "Agreement" means, on any date, this Credit Agreement as originally in
effect on the Effective Date and as thereafter from time to time amended,
supplemented, amended and restated, or otherwise modified and in effect on such
date.

         "Alternate Base Rate" means, on any date and with respect to all Base
Rate Loans, a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the higher of (a)
the rate of interest most recently announced by Bank of Montreal at its Domestic
Office as its base rate for Dollar loans made in the United States; and (b) the
Federal Funds Rate most recently determined by the Agent plus 1/2%. The
Alternate Base Rate is not necessarily intended to be the lowest rate of
interest determined by Bank of Montreal in connection with extensions of credit.
Changes in the rate of interest on that portion of any Loans maintained as Base
Rate Loans will take effect simultaneously with each change in the Alternate
Base Rate. The Agent will give notice promptly to the Borrower and the Lenders
of changes in the Alternate Base Rate.

         "Applicable Lenders" means Lenders (including without limitation the
Agent) with an aggregate Percentage of at least 75% for all Borrowing Base
determinations.

         "Assignee Lender" is defined in Section 10.11.1.

         "Authorized Officer" means, relative to the Borrower, those of its
officers whose signatures and incumbency shall have been certified to the Agent
and the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.1.1.

         "Bank of Montreal" is defined in the preamble.

         "Base Rate Applicable Margin" means (a) on any date for which it is
determined and on which the outstanding principal balance of Borrowing Base Debt
shall be less than or equal to the Borrowing Base then in effect, zero percent
(0%); and (b) on any date on which the outstanding principal balance of
Borrowing Base Debt, including all Loans, exceeds the Borrowing Base then in
effect, three-quarters of one percent (.750%).

         "Base Rate Loan" means a Loan bearing interest at a fluctuating rate
determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

         "Borrower" is defined in the preamble.

         "Borrowing" means (i) the Loans of the same type and, in the case of
LIBO Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by all Lenders on the same
Business Day and pursuant to

                                      -2-

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the same Borrowing Request in accordance with Section 2.1 and (ii) Letters of
Credit issued pursuant to Section 2.1.3.

         "Borrowing Base" is defined in Section 2.7.1.

         "Borrowing Base Debt" means all Indebtedness for borrowed money
(including the Loans under this Agreement) and all obligations, contingent or
otherwise, relative to the face amount of all Letters of Credit and Other
Letters of Credit, whether or not drawn, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
but shall not include (i) Indebtedness pursuant to the Senior Notes, (ii)
Subordinated Debt, (iii) Indebtedness permitted by clauses (o) and (q) of
Section 7.2.2, (iv) Non-Recourse Indebtedness, (v) Indebtedness of any Subject
Subsidiary or (vi) any Contingent Liability of the Borrower (other than for
borrowed money permitted by clause (m) of Section 7.2.2).

         "Borrowing Base Properties" means the Oil and Gas Properties located in
the United States and Canada given value by the Agent and the Applicable Lenders
in the most recent determination of the Borrowing Base.

         "Borrowing Request" means a loan request and certificate duly executed
by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit B
hereto.

         "Business Day" means (a) any day which is neither a Saturday or Sunday
nor a legal holiday on which banks are authorized or required to be closed in
Chicago, Illinois; and (b) relative to the making, continuing, prepaying or
repaying of any LIBO Rate Loans, any day described in clause (a) which is also a
day on which dealings in Dollars are carried on in the London interbank market.

         "Cadipsa" means Cadipsa S.A., a Republic of Argentina corporation.

         "Capital Stock" in any Person means, for purposes of the definitions of
"Voting Stock" and "Change of Control," any and all shares, interests,
participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated)
in such Person and any rights (other than debt securities convertible into an
equity interest), warrants or options to subscribe for or to acquire an equity
interest in such Person; provided that Capital Stock of such Person shall not
include any equity security of such Person that by its terms (or by the terms of
any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) or
otherwise (including upon the happening of any event), is or could become
required to be redeemed for cash or other property or is or could become
redeemable for cash or other property at the option of the holder thereof, in
whole or in part, or is or could become exchangeable at the option of the holder
thereof for Indebtedness at any time, in whole or in part, in each case on or
prior to the first anniversary of the Stated Maturity (as defined in the
Indenture) for the payment of principal of the Borrower's $200,000,000 7 7/8%
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011, but "Capital Stock" shall not exclude any
equity security by virtue of the fact that it may be converted or exchanged at
the option of the holder for Capital Stock of the Borrower having no preference
as to dividends or liquidation over any other Capital Stock of the Borrower.

         "Capitalized Lease Liabilities" means all monetary obligations of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under any leasing or similar arrangement
which, in accordance with GAAP,

                                      -3-

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would be classified as capitalized leases, and, for purposes of this Agreement
and each other Loan Document, the amount of such obligations shall be the
capitalized amount thereof, determined in accordance with GAAP, and the stated
maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other
amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be
terminated by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

         "CERCLA" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

         "CERCLIS" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation
Liability Information System List.

         "Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following
events: (i) any "person" or "group" (within the meaning of Sections 13(d)(3) and
14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision to either of the
foregoing, including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or
disposing of securities within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the
Exchange Act), other than any one or more of the Permitted Holders, becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of 50% or
more of the total voting power of all classes of the Voting Stock of the
Borrower and/or warrants or options to acquire such Voting Stock, calculated on
a fully diluted basis, (ii) the sale, lease, conveyance or transfer of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Borrower (other than to any Restricted
Subsidiary which is wholly-owned by the Borrower or another wholly-owned
Restricted Subsidiary) shall have occurred, (iii) the stockholders of the
Borrower shall have approved any plan of liquidation or dissolution of the
Borrower, (iv) the Borrower consolidates with or merges into another Person or
any Person consolidates with or merges into the Borrower in any such event
pursuant to a transaction in which the outstanding Voting Stock of the Borrower
is reclassified into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other
than any such transaction where (A) the outstanding Voting Stock of the Borrower
is reclassified into or exchanged for Voting Stock of the surviving corporation
that is Capital Stock and (B) the holders of the Voting Stock of the Borrower
immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, not less than
a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving corporation immediately after
such transaction in substantially the same proportion as before the transaction,
or (v) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the
beginning of such period constituted the Borrower's Board of Directors (together
with any new directors whose election or appointment by such board or whose
nomination for election by the stockholders of the Borrower was approved by a
vote of a majority of the directors then still in office who were either
directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for
election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a
majority of the Borrower's Board of Directors then in office. For purposes of
this definition, a wholly-owned Subsidiary means any Subsidiary all of the
Voting Stock of which (except for director's qualifying shares) is owned
directly or indirectly by the Borrower and its other wholly-owned Subsidiaries.
Nothing set forth in this definition shall be construed to permit any
transaction which is prohibited by this Agreement, including any transaction not
permitted by Section 7.2.6.

         "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, reformed or
otherwise modified from time to time.

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         "Co-Documentation Agents" means the Persons named as the
"co-documentation agents" for the Lenders and each other Person as shall have
subsequently been appointed as a successor Co-Documentation Agent.

         "Commitment" means a Lender's commitment to make Loans and to issue or
participate in Letters of Credit as set forth in Section 2.1.

         "Commitment Amount" means the Revolving Period Commitment Amount.

         "Commitment Increase Effective Date" is defined in Section 2.1.6.

         "Commitment Termination Date" means the Revolving Period Commitment
Termination Date.

         "Commitment Termination Event" means (a) the occurrence of any Default
described in clauses (a) through (d) of Section 8.1.9 with respect to the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; or (b) the occurrence and continuance of
any other Event of Default and either (i) the declaration of the Loans to be due
and payable pursuant to Section 8.3 or the demand by an Issuer that the Borrower
deliver cash collateral pursuant to Section 2.8.7, or (ii) in the absence of
such declaration or demand, the giving of notice by the Agent, acting at the
direction of the Required Lenders, to the Borrower that the Commitments have
been terminated.

         "Compliance Certificate" means the certificate delivered pursuant to
Section 7.1.1(c).

         "Comprehensive Income" shall have the meaning assigned to such term by
GAAP.

         "Contingent Liability" means any agreement, undertaking or arrangement
by which any Person guarantees, endorses or otherwise becomes or is contingently
liable upon (by direct or indirect agreement, contingent or otherwise, to
provide funds for payment, to supply funds to, or otherwise to invest in, a
debtor, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss) the indebtedness,
obligation or any other liability of any other Person (other than by
endorsements of instruments in the course of collection), or guarantees the
payment of dividends or other distributions upon the shares of any other Person.
The amount of any Person's obligation under any Contingent Liability shall
(subject to any limitation set forth therein) be deemed to be the outstanding
principal amount (or maximum principal amount, if larger) of the debt,
obligation or other liability guaranteed thereby.

         "Continuation/Conversion Notice" means a notice of continuation or
conversion and certificate duly executed by an Authorized Officer of the
Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto.

         "Controlled Group" means all members of a controlled group of
corporations and all members of a controlled group of trades or businesses
(whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with the
Borrower, are treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or 414(c) of the
Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.

         "Coupon Purchase Transaction" means that certain series of transactions
pursuant to which Vintage Petroleum Canada Holdings, Inc. may, from time to
time, sell and assign to Bank

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

of Montreal, U.S. Branch, the right to receive interest payments accruing under
a certain Term Promissory Note dated December 31, 2001 from Vintage Petroleum
Canada Investments ULC, as further set forth in that certain Coupon Purchase
Agreement dated as of December 31, 2001, between Vintage Petroleum Canada
Holdings, Inc. and Bank of Montreal, U.S. Branch, together with any amendments,
supplements, restatements or other modifications from time to time.

         "Current Ratio" means the ratio of (a) consolidated current assets of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to (b) consolidated current liabilities
(excluding the current portion of Borrowing Base Debt) of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries. For purposes of the definition of "Current Ratio", any unused
portion of the Revolving Period Commitment Amount is deemed to be a current
asset of the Borrower.

         "Default" means any Event of Default or any condition, occurrence or
event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of
Default.

         "Designated Senior Indebtedness" shall have the meaning set forth for
such term in the Indenture.

         "Disbursement" is defined in Section 2.8.5.

         "Disbursement Date" is defined in Section 2.8.5.

         "Disclosure Schedule" means the Disclosure Schedule attached hereto as
Schedule 1, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time by the Borrower with the written consent of the Agent and the Required
Lenders.

         "Documentary Letter of Credit" means a letter of credit which is a
short term, self-liquidating trade-related contingency.

         "Dollar" and the sign "$" mean lawful money of the United States.

         "Domestic Office" means, relative to any Lender, the office of such
Lender designated as such below its signature hereto or designated in the Lender
Assignment Agreement, or such other office of a Lender (or any successor or
assign of such Lender) within the United States as may be designated from time
to time by notice from such Lender, as the case may be, to each other Person
party hereto.

         "Effective Date" means the date this Agreement becomes effective
pursuant to Section 10.8.

         "Engineering Report" means the most recent report regarding Oil and Gas
Properties delivered pursuant to either Section 2.7.1 or Section 2.7.2.

         "Environmental Laws" means all applicable laws, including without
limitation U.S. federal, or state or local statutes, laws, ordinances, codes,
rules and regulations (including consent decrees and administrative orders),
relating to public health and safety and protection of the environment.

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<PAGE>

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, and any successor statute of similar import, together with the
regulations thereunder, in each case as in effect from time to time. References
to sections of ERISA also refer to any successor sections.

         "Event of Default" is defined in Section 8.1.

         "Exchange Act" means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934
and any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

         "Existing Credit Agreement" means that certain Second Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 30, 2000, as previously amended,
by and between the Borrower, and the various lenders and agents party thereto.

         "Existing Letters of Credit" is defined in Section 10.13.

         "Federal Funds Rate" means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate
per annum equal for each day during such period to (a) the weighted average of
the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal
Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or,
if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York; or (b) if such rate is not so published for
any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on
such transactions received by Bank of Montreal from three federal funds brokers
of recognized standing selected by it.

         "Fiscal Quarter" means any quarter of a Fiscal Year.

         "Fiscal Year" means any period of twelve consecutive calendar months
ending on December 31st; references to a Fiscal Year with a number corresponding
to any calendar year (e.g., the "2000 Fiscal Year") refer to the Fiscal Year
ending on December 31st, occurring during such calendar year.

         "F.R.S. Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System or any successor thereto.

         "GAAP" is defined in Section 1.4.

         "Guaranty" means any Guaranty executed and delivered pursuant to
Section 7.1.11, together with any amendments, supplements, restatements or other
modifications from time to time.

         "Hazardous Material" means (a) any "hazardous substance", as defined by
CERCLA; (b) any "hazardous waste", as defined by the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act, as amended; (c) any petroleum product; or (d) any pollutant or
contaminant or hazardous, dangerous or toxic chemical, material or substance
within the meaning of any other applicable law, including without limitation
U.S. federal, or state or local law, regulation, ordinance or requirement
(including consent decrees and administrative orders), relating to or imposing
liability or

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

standards of conduct concerning any hazardous, toxic or dangerous waste,
substance or material, all as amended or hereafter amended.

         "Hedging Agreement" means, with respect to any Person, any swap
agreements, cap agreements and collar agreements, and all other agreements or
arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest
rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices.

         "Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, all
obligations and liabilities (including but not limited to obligations and
liabilities arising in connection with or as a result of early or premature
termination of a Hedging Agreement, whether or not occurring as a result of a
default thereunder) of such Person under a Hedging Agreement.

         "herein", "hereof", "hereto", "hereunder" and similar terms contained
in this Agreement or any other Loan Document refer to this Agreement or such
other Loan Document, as the case may be, as a whole and not to any particular
Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement or such other Loan Document.

         "Hydrocarbons" means oil, gas, casing head gas, condensate, distillate,
liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons, all products refined, separated,
settled and dehydrated therefrom and all products refined therefrom, including,
without limitation, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas, refined lubricating oils,
diesel fuel, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, helium, sulfur and all other
minerals.

         "Impermissible Qualification" means, relative to the opinion or
certification of any independent public accountant as to any financial statement
of the Borrower, any qualification or exception to such opinion or certification
(a) which is of a "going concern" or similar nature; (b) which relates to the
limited scope of examination of matters relevant to such financial statement; or
(c) which relates to the treatment or classification of any item in such
financial statement and which, as a condition to its removal, would require an
adjustment to such item the effect of which would be to cause the Borrower to be
in default of any of its obligations under Section 7.2.4.

         "including" means including without limiting the generality of any
description preceding such term, and, for purposes of this Agreement and each
other Loan Document, the parties hereto agree that the rule of ejusdem generis
shall not be applicable to limit a general statement, which is followed by or
referable to an enumeration of specific matters, to matters similar to the
matters specifically mentioned.

         "Increasing Lender" is defined in Section 2.1.6.

         "Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication: (a) all
obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments; (b) all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, relative to the face amount of all letters
of credit, whether or not drawn, and banker's acceptances issued for the account
of such Person; (c) all obligations of such Person as lessee under leases which
have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as Capitalized Lease
Liabilities; (d) all other items which, in accordance with GAAP, would be
included as liabilities on the liability side of the balance sheet of such
Person as of the date at which Indebtedness is to be determined; (e) net

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

mark-to-market value determined in accordance with GAAP of such Person in
respect of obligations and liabilities arising in connection with or as a result
of early or premature termination of a Hedging Agreement, whether or not
occurring as a result of a default thereunder; (f) whether or not so included as
liabilities in accordance with GAAP, all obligations of such Person to pay the
deferred purchase price of property or services, and indebtedness (excluding
prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased
by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other
title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been
assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse; and (g) all Contingent
Liabilities of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing. For all purposes
of this Agreement, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness
of any partnership or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or
a joint venturer.

         "Indemnified Liabilities" is defined in Section 10.4.

         "Indemnified Parties" is defined in Section 10.4.

         "Indenture" means that certain Indenture of the Borrower to JPMorgan
Chase Bank (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank) as Trustee entered into
with respect to the Borrower's outstanding $200,000,000 7 7/8% Senior
Subordinated Notes Due 2011, as such Indenture may from time to time be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified.

         "Independent Engineers" means Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.,
DeGolyer and MacNaughton and Outtrim Szabo Associates Ltd., or such other
engineering firm or firms as may be selected by the Borrower with the prior
approval of the Agent.

         "Interest Period" means, relative to any LIBO Rate Loans, the period
beginning on (and including) the date on which such LIBO Rate Loan is made or
continued as, or converted into, a LIBO Rate Loan pursuant to Section 2.3 or 2.4
and shall end on (but exclude) the day which numerically corresponds to such
date one, two, three or six months thereafter (or, if such month has no
numerically corresponding day, on the last Business Day of such month), in
either case as the Borrower may select in its relevant notice pursuant to
Section 2.3 or 2.4; provided, however, that (a) the Borrower shall not be
permitted to select Interest Periods to be in effect at any one time which have
expiration dates occurring on more than five different dates; (b) Interest
Periods commencing on the same date for Loans comprising part of the same
Borrowing shall be of the same duration; (c) if such Interest Period would
otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall
end on the next following Business Day (unless such next following Business Day
is the first Business Day of a calendar month, in which case such Interest
Period shall end on the Business Day next preceding such numerically
corresponding day); and (d) no Interest Period for a Revolving Loan may end
after the Stated Maturity Date for the Loans.

         "Issuance Request" means a request and certificate duly executed by the
chief executive, accounting, or financial Authorized Officer of the Borrower,
substantially in the form of Exhibit G attached hereto (with such changes
thereto as may be agreed from time to time by the Agent and the Borrower).

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

         "Issuer" means any affiliate, unit or agency of Bank of Montreal or any
other Lender which has agreed to issue one or more Letters of Credit at the
request of the Borrower.

         "Lender Assignment Agreement" means a Lender Assignment Agreement
substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto.

         "Lenders" is defined in the preamble.

         "Letter of Credit" means a Revolving Loan Letter of Credit.

         "Letter of Credit Collateral Account" is defined in Section 2.8.10.

         "Letter of Credit Commitment" means, relative to any Lender, such
Lender's obligation to issue (in the case of an Issuer) or participate in (in
the case of all Lenders) Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.1.3.

         "Letter of Credit Outstandings" means the Revolving Loan Letter of
Credit Outstandings.

         "Letter of Credit Sublimit" is defined in Section 2.8.3.

         "LIBO Rate" is defined in Section 3.2.1.

         "LIBO Rate Applicable Margin" means (a) on any date for which it is
determined prior to the Revolving Period Commitment Termination Date and on
which the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of the outstanding principal of
Borrowing Base Debt, including any Revolving Loans outstanding and Revolving
Loan Letter of Credit Outstandings, to the Borrowing Base then in effect shall
equal those ratios set forth below, the percentage set forth opposite such
ratio:

                Ratio of Borrowing Base Debt                    LIBO Rate
                     to Borrowing Base                      Applicable Margin
                ---------------------------                 -----------------
         Greater than or equal to 80%                            2.000%
         Greater than or equal to 50% and less                   1.750%
         than 80%
         Greater than or equal to 20% and less                   1.500%
         than 50%
         Less than 20%                                           1.250%

(b) on any date after the Revolving Period Commitment Termination Date, two
percent (2.000%); and (c) on any date on which the aggregate outstanding
principal balance of Borrowing Base Debt, including all Loans, exceeds the
Borrowing Base then in effect, two and one-quarter of one percent (2.250%).
Changes in the LIBO Rate Applicable Margin shall occur automatically with a
change in such ratio of the Borrowing Base Debt to the Borrowing Base.

         "LIBO Rate Loan" means a Loan bearing interest, at all times during an
Interest Period applicable to such Loan, at a fixed rate of interest determined
by reference to the LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted).

                                      -10-

<PAGE>

         "LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted)" is defined in Section 3.2.1.

         "LIBOR Office" means, relative to any Lender, the office of such Lender
designated as such below its signature hereto or designated in the Lender
Assignment Agreement or such other office of a Lender as designated from time to
time by notice from such Lender to the Borrower and the Agent, whether or not
outside the United States, which shall be making or maintaining LIBO Rate Loans
of such Lender hereunder.

         "LIBOR Reserve Percentage" is defined in Section 3.2.1.

         "Lien" means any security interest, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation,
assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise),
charge against or interest in property to secure payment of a debt or
performance of an obligation or other priority or preferential arrangement of
any kind or nature whatsoever.

         "Loan" means a Revolving Loan of either type; notwithstanding the
foregoing, Loan does not include participations in Letters of Credit, except to
the extent that a Loan is deemed made pursuant to Section 2.8.

         "Loan Documents" means, collectively, this Agreement, the Notes, any
Guaranty, any Mortgage and any related financing statements, any Letters of
Credit, each Issuance Request and each other document or instrument executed and
delivered in connection with this Agreement.

         "Material Domestic Subsidiary" means at any time any Subsidiary
organized under the laws of the United States that either (i) executes and
delivers a Mortgage with respect to its Oil and Gas Properties pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement or (ii) is designated by the Borrower in writing as a
"Material Domestic Subsidiary".

         "Maximum Commitment Amount" means an amount equal to $300,000,000 as
such amount may be increased pursuant to Section 2.1.6 or decreased pursuant to
Section 2.2.1.

         "Mortgage" means any mortgage which creates a first priority Lien on
the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries executed and
delivered pursuant to Section 7.1.9, as amended, supplemented, restated or
otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Net Proceeds" is defined in Section 7.2.7.

         "New Funds Amount" means the amount by which a New Lender's or an
Increasing Lender's outstanding Revolving Loans increase as of a Commitment
Increase Effective Date (without regard to any such increase as a result of
Revolving Loans made on such Commitment Increase Effective Date).

         "New Lender" is defined in Section 2.1.6.

         "Non-Recourse Indebtedness" shall mean any Indebtedness of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries with respect to which the holder thereof agrees that (i)
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are not personally liable and (ii) such holder
may require payment only to the extent specifically identified properties of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries are available to provide

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

therefor, such matters to be set forth in an agreement or other instrument in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required Lenders.

         "Note" means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Lender,
in the form of Exhibit A hereto (as such promissory note may be amended,
endorsed or otherwise modified from time to time), evidencing the aggregate
Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from outstanding Loans,
and also means all other promissory notes accepted from time to time in
substitution therefor or renewal thereof.

         "Notice of Commitment Increase" is defined in Section 2.1.6.

         "Obligations" means all obligations (monetary or otherwise) of the
Borrower arising under or in connection with this Agreement, the Notes, the
Letters of Credit and each other Loan Document.

         "Oil and Gas Properties" means oil, gas and other liquid or gaseous
hydrocarbon properties and interests of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired.

         "Organic Document" means, relative to the Borrower, its certificate of
incorporation, its by-laws and all shareholder agreements, voting trusts and
similar arrangements applicable to any of its authorized shares of capital
stock.

         "Other Letter of Credit" means a Documentary Letter of Credit or a
Standby Letter of Credit or similar instrument for which the Borrower or one or
more of its Subsidiaries is liable and which is not issued pursuant to this
Agreement.

         "Partially Increasing Lenders" is defined in Section 2.1.6.

         "Participant" is defined in Section 10.11.2.

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any entity
succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

         "Pension Plan" means a "pension plan", as such term is defined in
section 3(2) of ERISA, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA (other than a
multiemployer plan as defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), and to which the
Borrower or any corporation, trade or business that is, along with the Borrower,
a member of a Controlled Group, may have liability, including any liability by
reason of having been a substantial employer within the meaning of section 4063
of ERISA at any time during the preceding five years, or by reason of being
deemed to be a contributing sponsor under section 4069 of ERISA.

         "Percentage" means, relative to any Lender, the percentage set forth
opposite the name of such Lender in Column 1 of Exhibit F to this Agreement as
such percentage may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to Lender Assignment
Agreements executed by a Lender and its Assignee Lenders and delivered pursuant
to Section 10.11 or as a result of an increase of the Maximum Commitment Amount
as provided in Section 2.1.6.

                                      -12-

<PAGE>

         "Permitted Designee" means (i) a spouse or a child of a Permitted
Holder, (ii) trusts for the benefit of a Permitted Holder or a spouse or child
of a Permitted Holder, (iii) in the event of the death or incompetence of a
Permitted Holder, his estate, heirs, executor, administrator, committee or other
personal representative, or (iv) any Person so long as a Permitted Holder owns
at least 51% of the voting power of all classes of the Voting Stock of such
Person.

         "Permitted Holders" means Charles C. Stephenson, Jr., S. Craig George,
William C. Barnes, William L. Abernathy and their Permitted Designees.

         "Person" means any natural person, corporation, partnership, firm,
association, trust, government, governmental agency or any other entity, whether
acting in an individual, fiduciary or other capacity.

         "Plan" means any Pension Plan or Welfare Plan.

         "Proved Reserves" means those recoverable Hydrocarbons that have been
estimated with reasonable certainty, as demonstrated by geological and
engineering data, to be economically recoverable from the Oil and Gas Properties
by existing producing methods under existing economic conditions.

         "Quarterly Payment Date" means the first day of each March, June,
September and December or, if any such day is not a Business Day, the next
succeeding Business Day.

         "Reducing Lender" is defined in Section 2.1.6.

         "Reduction Amount" means the amount by which a Reducing Lender's or a
Partially Increasing Lender's outstanding Revolving Loans decrease as of a
Commitment Increase Effective Date (without regard to any such increase as a
result of Revolving Loans made on such Commitment Increase Effective Date).

         "Reimbursement Obligations" is defined in Section 2.8.6.

         "Release" means a "release", as such term is defined in CERCLA.

         "Required Lenders" means, at any time, Lenders (including the Agent)
holding at least 66-2/3% of the then aggregate outstanding principal amount of
the Notes then held by the Lenders, or, if no such principal amount is then
outstanding, Lenders (including the Agent) having at least 66-2/3% of the
Commitments.

         "Resource Conservation and Recovery Act" means the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 6901, et seq., as in effect
from time to time.

         "Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that has
not been designated an "Unrestricted Subsidiary" pursuant to the Indenture.

         "Revolving Loan" is defined in Section 2.1.1.

         "Revolving Loan Commitment" is defined in Section 2.1.1.

                                      -13-

<PAGE>

         "Revolving Loan Letter of Credit" means a Standby Letter of Credit or a
Documentary Letter of Credit in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by
Borrower and the applicable Issuer and issued pursuant to Section 2.1.3.

         "Revolving Loan Letter of Credit Applicable Margin" means (a) on any
date for which it is determined prior to the Revolving Period Commitment
Termination Date and on which the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of the
outstanding principal of Borrowing Base Debt, including any Revolving Loans
outstanding and Revolving Loan Letter of Credit Outstandings, to the Borrowing
Base then in effect shall equal those ratios set forth below, the percentage set
forth opposite such ratio:

           Ratio of Borrowing Base Debt                    Letter of Credit
                 to Borrowing Base                        Applicable Margin
            ---------------------------                   -----------------
         Greater than or equal to 80%                            2.000%

         Greater than or equal to 50% and
         less than 80%                                           1.750%

         Greater than or equal to 20% and
         less than 50%                                           1.500%

         Less than 20%                                           1.250%

(b) on any date after the Revolving Period Commitment Termination Date, two
percent (2.000%); and (c) on any date on which the aggregate outstanding
principal balance of Borrowing Base Debt, including all Loans, exceeds the
Borrowing Base then in effect, two and one-quarter of one percent (2.250%).
Changes in the Revolving Loan Letter of Credit Applicable Margin shall occur
automatically with a change in such ratio of the Borrowing Base Debt to the
Borrowing Base.

         "Revolving Loan Letter of Credit Outstandings" means, at any time, an
amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate face amount at such time of all
Revolving Loan Letters of Credit then outstanding and undrawn (as such aggregate
face amount shall be adjusted, from time to time, as a result of drawings, the
issuance of Revolving Loan Letters of Credit, or otherwise), plus (b) the then
aggregate amount of all unpaid and outstanding Reimbursement Obligations
relating to Revolving Loan Letters of Credit.

         "Revolving Period Commitment Amount" means, on any date, the lowest of
(i) the Borrowing Base then in effect, (ii) the Maximum Commitment Amount, as
such amount may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.2 or
increased pursuant to Section 2.1.6 and (iii) the amount (not less than the then
outstanding principal amount of the Loans) from time to time designated by the
Borrower in writing to the Agent provided that if the Borrower has reduced the
Maximum Commitment Amount pursuant to Section 2.2.1 or has designated pursuant
to this clause (iii) a Revolving Period Commitment Amount which is less than the
amount provided by the lesser of the amount permitted pursuant to the foregoing
clause (i) or clause (ii), then the Borrower will not designate an amount
pursuant to this clause (iii) which is an increase over the then Revolving
Period Commitment Amount without the consent of all of the Lenders except to the
extent of any increase of the Maximum Commitment Amount pursuant to Section
2.1.6.

                                      -14-

<PAGE>

         "Revolving Period Commitment Termination Date" means the earliest of
(a) the Stated Maturity Date; (b) the date on which the Revolving Period
Commitment Amount is terminated in full or reduced to zero pursuant to Section
2.2; and (c) the date on which any Commitment Termination Event occurs. Upon the
occurrence of any event described in clause (b) or (c), the Revolving Loan
Commitments shall terminate automatically and without any further action.

         "Senior Notes" means the $350,000,000 8 1/4% Senior Notes Due 2012, as
more particularly described in the "Description of the Notes" section of the
Senior Notes Offering Memorandum.

         "Senior Notes Offering" means the offer and sale of the Senior Notes
pursuant to that certain Senior Notes Offering Memorandum.

         "Senior Notes Offering Memorandum" means that certain Confidential
Offering Memorandum, dated April 25, 2002, relating to the offer of the Senior
Notes, together with any amendments, supplements, restatements or other
modifications from time to time.

         "Standby Letter of Credit" means a letter of credit (other than a
Documentary Letter of Credit).

         "Stated Amount" of each Letter of Credit and each Other Letter of
Credit means, on any date for which it is determined, the face amount of such
Letter of Credit or Other Letter of Credit as is in effect on such date.

         "Stated Expiry Date" is defined in Section 2.8.1.

         "Stated Maturity Date" means May 2, 2005.

         "Subject Subsidiary" means Cadipsa and Vintage Energy (Canada), or any
Subsidiary designated by the Borrower and approved by Lenders with an aggregate
Percentage of at least 75%; such Subsidiaries are sometimes collectively called
herein the "Subject Subsidiaries"; provided that the Borrower may by written
notice to the Agent designate any Subject Subsidiary as a Subsidiary.

         "Subordinated Debt" means all unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower
for money borrowed which is subordinated, upon terms satisfactory to the Agent
and the Required Lenders, in right of payment to the payment in full in cash of
all Obligations, and includes Borrower's $150,000,000 9% Senior Subordinated
Notes Due 2005, Borrower's $100,000,000 8 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due
2009, Borrower's $150,000,000 9 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2009, and
Borrower's $200,000,000 7 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2011.

         "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any partnership in
which such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is the sole general partner
or is the managing general partner (if there is more than one general partner)
and such partnership is consolidated with such Person for purposes of financial
reporting under GAAP, and (ii) any corporation of which more than 50% of the
outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of
the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time
capital stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall or might
have voting power upon the occurrence of any

                                      -15-

<PAGE>

contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person, by such
Person and one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person, or by one or more
other Subsidiaries of such Person provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing,
Subsidiaries of the Borrower shall not include, for the purposes of Article VI
(except Sections 6.7 and 6.8), Section 7.1 (except for the purposes of
consolidated financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.1.1) and
Article VIII and the definitions referred to therein, the Subject Subsidiaries.

         "Syndication Agent" means the Person named as the "syndication agent"
for the Lenders and each other Person as shall have subsequently been appointed
as the successor Syndication Agent.

         "Tangible Net Worth" means the consolidated net worth of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries after subtracting therefrom the aggregate amount of any
intangible assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including goodwill,
franchises, licenses, patents, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, service
marks and brand names.

         "Taxes" is defined in Section 4.6.

         "type" means, relative to any Loan, the portion thereof, if any, being
maintained as a Base Rate Loan or a LIBO Rate Loan.

         "United States" or "U.S." means the United States of America, its fifty
States and the District of Columbia.

         "Vintage Energy (Canada)" means Vintage Energy (Canada) Ltd. (formerly
known as Cometra Energy (Canada) Ltd.), a corporation organized under the laws
of Alberta, Canada.

         "Voting Stock" of any Person means Capital Stock of such Person which
ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing
similar functions) of such Person whether at all times or only so long as no
senior class of securities has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

         "Welfare Plan" means a "welfare plan", as such term is defined in
section 3(1) of ERISA.

         SECTION 1.2. Use of Defined Terms. Unless otherwise defined or the
context otherwise requires, terms for which meanings are provided in this
Agreement shall have such meanings when used in the Disclosure Schedule and in
each Note, Issuance Request, Borrowing Request, Continuation/Conversion Notice,
Loan Document, notice and other communication delivered from time to time in
connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

         SECTION 1.3. Cross-References. Unless otherwise specified, references
in this Agreement and in each other Loan Document to any Article or Section are
references to such Article or Section of this Agreement or such other Loan
Document, as the case may be, and, unless otherwise specified, references in any
Article, Section or definition to any clause are references to such clause of
such Article, Section or definition.

         SECTION 1.4. Accounting and Financial Determinations. Unless otherwise
specified, all accounting terms used herein or in any other Loan Document shall
be interpreted,

                                      -16-

<PAGE>

all accounting determinations and computations hereunder or thereunder
(including under Section 7.2.4) shall be made, and all financial statements
required to be delivered hereunder or thereunder shall be prepared, in
accordance with those generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied
in the preparation of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.5.

                                   ARTICLE II

                   COMMITMENTS, BORROWING PROCEDURES AND NOTES

         SECTION 2.1.   Commitments. On the terms and subject to the conditions
of this Agreement (including Article V), each Lender severally agrees to make
Loans and issue or participate in Letters of Credit pursuant to the commitments
described in this Section 2.1.

         SECTION 2.1.1. Revolving Loan Commitment. From time to time on any
Business Day occurring prior to the Revolving Period Commitment Termination
Date, each Lender will make loans (relative to such Lender, its "Revolving
Loans") to the Borrower equal to such Lender's Percentage of the aggregate
amount of the Borrowing requested by the Borrower to be made on such day. The
commitment of each Lender described in this Section 2.1.1 is herein referred to
as its "Revolving Loan Commitment". On the terms and subject to the conditions
hereof, the Borrower may from time to time borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving
Loans.

         SECTION 2.1.2. [Reserved].

         SECTION 2.1.3. Commitment to Issue Revolving Loan Letters of Credit.
From time to time on any Business Day prior to the Revolving Period Commitment
Termination Date, each Issuer will issue, and each Lender will participate in,
to the extent of each Lender's Percentage, the Revolving Loan Letters of Credit,
in accordance with the terms of Section 2.8.

         SECTION 2.1.4. [Reserved].

         SECTION 2.1.5. Lenders Not Permitted or Required To Make Loans or Issue
or Participate in Revolving Letters of Credit Under Certain Circumstances. No
Lender shall be permitted or required to (A) make any Revolving Loan if, after
giving effect thereto (i)(a) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all
Revolving Loans of all Lenders, plus all Revolving Loan Letter of Credit
Outstandings would exceed the Revolving Period Commitment Amount or (b) the
Borrowing Base Debt would exceed the Borrowing Base then in effect, or (ii) the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Loans of such Lender, together
with its Percentage of all Revolving Loan Letter of Credit Outstandings, would
exceed such Lender's Percentage of the Revolving Period Commitment Amount or (B)
issue (in the case of any Issuer) or participate in (in the case of each Lender)
any Revolving Loan Letter of Credit if, after giving effect thereto (i) (a) all
Revolving Loan Letter of Credit Outstandings plus the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of all Loans of all Lenders would exceed the Revolving Period
Commitment Amount, (b) the Borrowing Base Debt would exceed the Borrowing Base
then in effect, or (c) all Revolving Loan Letter of Credit Outstandings would
exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit or (ii) such Lender's Percentage of all
Revolving Loan Letter of Credit Outstandings together with the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of all Loans of such Lender would exceed such
Lender's Percentage of the Revolving Period Commitment Amount.

                                      -17-

<PAGE>

         SECTION 2.1.6. Procedures with respect to the Maximum Commitment
Amount. After May 31, 2002 and so long as no Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, the Borrower may request from time to time, and
subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, that the Maximum
Commitment Amount be increased by giving written notice thereof to the Agent;
provided, however, that any such notice must be given no later than 60 days
prior to the Revolving Period Commitment Termination Date. Each such notice (a
"Notice of Commitment Increase") shall be in the form of Exhibit I and specify
therein:

                    (i)   the effective date of such increase, which date (the
         requested "Commitment Increase Effective Date") shall be no earlier
         than five Business Days after receipt by the Agent of such notice;

                    (ii)  the amount of the requested increase; provided,
         however, that after giving effect to such requested increase, the
         Maximum Commitment Amount shall not exceed $350,000,000;

                    (iii) the identity of the then Lenders, if any, which have
         agreed with the Borrower to increase their respective Commitments in an
         amount such that their respective Percentages, after giving effect to
         such requested increase, will be the same or greater than their
         respective Percentages, prior to giving effect to such requested
         increase (each such then Lender being a then "Increasing Lender"), each
         other Lender which has agreed to increase its Commitment in an amount
         such that its Percentage after giving effect to such a requested
         increase will be less than its Percentage, prior to giving effect to
         such requested increase (each such Lender being a "Partially Increasing
         Lender") and the identity of each financial institution not already a
         Lender, if any, which has agreed with the Borrower to become a Lender
         to effect such requested increase in the Maximum Commitment Amount
         (each such assignee shall be reasonably acceptable to the Agent and the
         Issuer and each such assignee being a then "New Lender" and each Lender
         which has not agreed to increase its Commitment being a "Reducing
         Lender"), provided that in no case shall the dollar amount or the
         Percentage of a Lender's share of the Maximum Commitment Amount be
         increased without the express written consent of such Lender; and

                    (iv)  the dollar amounts of the respective shares of the
         Maximum Commitment Amount of the then existing Lenders and such New
         Lenders from and after the effective date of such increase.

         On or before each Commitment Increase Effective Date:

                    (i)   the Borrower, each Increasing Lender, each Partially
         Increasing Lender and each then New Lender shall execute and deliver to
         the Agent for its acceptance, as to form, documentation embodying the
         provisions of the Notice of Commitment Increase relating to the
         increase in the Maximum Commitment Amount to be effected on such
         Commitment Increase Effective Date; and

                    (ii)  upon acceptance of such documentation by the Agent,
         which acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld, and so long as no
         Default or Event of Default has

                                      -18-

<PAGE>

         occurred and is continuing, (A) the Agent shall give prompt notice of
         such acceptance to each Lender, (B) it shall become effective, and the
         Maximum Commitment Amount shall be increased to the amount specified
         therein, on such Commitment Increase Effective Date, (C) the Borrower
         shall execute and deliver a Note payable to the order of each then New
         Lender in the face principal amount equal to such New Lender's
         Percentage multiplied by the Maximum Commitment Amount and (D) upon the
         surrender of an existing Note by a Lender, the Borrower shall execute
         and deliver to each such Increasing Lender and each such Partially
         Increasing Lender, a new Note in the face principal amount equal to
         such Lender's Percentage multiplied by the Maximum Commitment Amount
         after giving effect to such increase.

         On each Commitment Increase Effective Date:

                  (i)  each then New Lender and each then Increasing Lender
         shall, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, deliver to the
         Agent such Lenders' New Funds Amount for such Commitment Increase
         Effective Date, which amount, for each such Lender, shall constitute
         Revolving Loans made by such Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Section
         2.1 on such Commitment Increase Effective Date; and

                  (ii) the Agent shall, by wire transfer of immediately
         available funds, pay to each then Reducing Lender and to each Partially
         Increasing Lender its Reduction Amount for such Commitment Increase
         Effective Date, which amount, for each such Lender, shall constitute a
         prepayment by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.1.4, ratably in
         accordance with the respective principal amounts thereof, of the
         principal amounts of all then outstanding Revolving Loans of such
         Lender.

         Effective as of each Commitment Increase Effective Date, each then New
Lender and each then Increasing Lender shall be deemed to have purchased and had
transferred to it, and each then Reducing Lender and each Partially Increasing
Lender shall be deemed to have sold and transferred to such New Lenders and
Increasing Lenders, such undivided interest and participation in such Reducing
Lender's and such Partially Increasing Lender's interest and participation in
all then outstanding Letters of Credit, the obligations of the Borrower with
respect thereto and any security therefor and any guaranty pertaining thereto at
any time existing as is necessary so that such undivided interests and
participations of all Lenders (including each then New Lender) shall accord with
their respective Lender's Percentages after giving effect to the increase in the
Maximum Commitment Amount on such Commitment Increase Effective Date.

         SECTION 2.2.   Termination and Reduction of Commitment Amount. The
Commitment Amount and Maximum Commitment Amount are subject to reduction from
time to time pursuant to this Section 2.2.

         SECTION 2.2.1. Optional. The Borrower may, from time to time on any
Business Day occurring after the time of the initial Borrowing hereunder,
voluntarily reduce either the Commitment Amount or Maximum Commitment Amount;
provided, however, that all such reductions shall require at least three
Business Days' prior notice to the Agent and be permanent (except for any
increases in the Maximum Commitment Amount pursuant to Section 2.1.6), and

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any partial reduction of the Commitment Amount or Maximum Commitment Amount
shall be in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 and in an integral multiple of
$1,000,000.

         SECTION 2.2.2. Mandatory as to Revolving Loans. The Revolving Period
Commitment Amount shall be reduced or terminated as described below:

              (a) Each Lender's Revolving Loan Commitment shall be automatically
         terminated on the Revolving Period Commitment Termination Date.

              (b) Each reduction in the Revolving Period Commitment Amount shall
         be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective
         Percentages. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of the
         Lenders, on the date of each termination or voluntary reduction, the
         Commitment Fees accrued pursuant to Section 3.3.1 on the amount of
         Commitments so terminated or reduced through the date of such
         termination or reduction.

         SECTION 2.2.3. [Reserved].

         SECTION 2.2.4. [Reserved].

         SECTION 2.3.   Borrowing Procedure. The Borrower may from time to time
irrevocably request that a Borrowing be made in (a) for Base Rate Loans, a
minimum amount of $300,000 and integral multiple of $100,000, (b) for LIBO Rate
Loans a minimum amount of $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000,000, or
(c) in the case of Revolving Loans, in the unused amount of the Revolving Period
Commitment Amount. Such request shall be made by delivering a Borrowing Request
to the Agent on or before 11:00 a.m. U.S. Central time, (x) on the Business Day
of such Borrowing in the case of a Base Rate Borrowing and (y) on a Business Day
not less than three nor more than five Business Days in advance of a LIBO Rate
Borrowing. On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, each
Borrowing shall be comprised of the type of Loans, and shall be made on the
Business Day, specified in such Borrowing Request. On or before 12:00 Noon (U.S.
Central time) on such Business Day each Lender shall deposit with the Agent same
day funds in an amount equal to such Lender's Percentage of the requested
Borrowing. Such deposit will be made to an account which the Agent shall specify
from time to time by notice to the Lenders. To the extent funds are received
from the Lenders, the Agent shall make such funds available to the Borrower by
wire transfer to the accounts the Borrower shall have specified in its Borrowing
Request. No Lender's obligation to make any Loan shall be affected by any other
Lender's failure to make any Loan.

         SECTION 2.4.   Continuation and Conversion Elections. By delivering a
Continuation/Conversion Notice to the Agent on or before 11:00 a.m., U.S.
Central time, on a Business Day, the Borrower may from time to time irrevocably
elect, on not less than three nor more than five Business Days' notice that all,
or any portion in an aggregate minimum amount of $5,000,000 and an integral
multiple of $1,000,000, of any Loans be, in the case of Base Rate Loans,
converted into LIBO Rate Loans or, in the case of LIBO Rate Loans, converted
into a Base Rate Loan or continued as a LIBO Rate Loan (in the absence of
delivery of a Continuation/Conversion Notice with respect to any LIBO Rate Loan
at least three Business Days before the last day of the then current Interest
Period with respect thereto, such LIBO Rate

                                      -20-

<PAGE>

Loan shall, on such last day, automatically convert to a Base Rate Loan);
provided, however, that (a) each such conversion or continuation shall be pro
rated among the applicable outstanding Loans of all Lenders, and (b) no portion
of the outstanding principal amount of any Loans may be continued as, or be
converted into, LIBO Rate Loans when any Default has occurred and is continuing.

         SECTION 2.5.   Funding. Each Lender may, if it so elects, fulfill its
obligation to make, continue or convert LIBO Rate Loans hereunder by causing one
of its foreign branches or Affiliates (or an international banking facility
created by such Lender) to make or maintain such LIBO Rate Loan; provided,
however, that such LIBO Rate Loan shall nonetheless be deemed to have been made
and to be held by such Lender, and the obligation of the Borrower to repay such
LIBO Rate Loan shall nevertheless be to such Lender for the account of such
foreign branch, Affiliate or international banking facility. In addition, the
Borrower hereby consents and agrees that, for purposes of any determination to
be made for purposes of Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4, it shall be conclusively
assumed that each Lender elected to fund all LIBO Rate Loans by purchasing
Dollar deposits in its LIBOR Office's interbank eurodollar market.

         SECTION 2.6.   Notes. Each Lender's Loans under its Commitment
initially shall be evidenced by a Note payable to the order of such Lender in a
maximum principal amount equal to such Lender's Percentage of the original
Maximum Commitment Amount. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes each
Lender to make (or cause to be made) appropriate notations on the grid attached
to such Lender's Notes (or on any continuation of such grid), which notations,
if made, shall evidence, inter alia, the date of, the outstanding principal of,
and the interest rate and Interest Period applicable to the Loans evidenced
thereby. Such notations shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower absent
manifest error; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender to make any
such notations shall not limit or otherwise affect any Obligations of the
Borrower.

         SECTION 2.7.   Determination of the Borrowing Base. The amount of the
Borrowing Base shall be $300,000,000 until the scheduled Borrowing Base
redetermination in connection with the delivery of the Engineering Report dated
June 30, 2002; provided however that, notwithstanding the foregoing, in the
event that at least $100,000,000 of the 9% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2005
have not been called and repaid in full in cash by Borrower within 45 days of
the Effective Date, the Agent with the approval of the Applicable Lenders may
redetermine the Borrowing Base in the same manner and subject to the same
approvals as prescribed in Section 2.7.1 for the redetermination of the
Borrowing Base.

         SECTION 2.7.1. Annual Scheduled Determinations of the Borrowing Base.
Promptly after December 31 of each calendar year commencing December 31, 2002,
and in any event prior to April 1 of the following calendar year, the Borrower
shall furnish to the Agent and each Lender a report in form and substance
satisfactory to the Agent, prepared or audited by the Independent Engineers,
which report shall be dated as of December 31st of such calendar year and shall
set forth the proven and producing oil and gas reserves attributable to the Oil
and Gas Properties and a projection of the rate of production and net operating
income with respect thereto, as of such date, and a projection of the rate of
production and net operating income with respect thereto, as of such date. Upon
receipt of such report relating to the Oil and Gas Properties, the Agent shall
make a determination within 25 days of the receipt of such report of

                                      -21-

<PAGE>

the amount of Borrowing Base Debt which the Borrower may maintain (herein as
determined and redetermined from time to time and in effect on any date called
the "Borrowing Base") on account of such reserves as of such December 31st,
subject to the approval of the Applicable Lenders as provided in this Section,
and upon such determination the Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders in
writing of the determination of the Borrowing Base. The determination of the
Borrowing Base made by the Agent shall be so made by the Agent in the exercise
of their sole discretion in accordance with the Agent's customary practices and
standards for oil and gas loans. The Applicable Lenders may approve the Agent's
determination of the Borrowing Base by written notice to the Agent within 15
days of the Agent's notification of its determination of the new Borrowing Base.
Any Applicable Lender that fails to respond to such recommendation made by the
Agent pursuant to this Section within such 15 days, shall be deemed to have
approved such recommendation. If the Applicable Lenders fail to approve a
determination of the Borrowing Base made by the Agent pursuant to this Section
within such 15 days, then the Applicable Lenders shall submit to the Agent in
writing within 5 days of the end of such 15 day period their individual
recommendations for such redetermined Borrowing Base in accordance with their
respective customary practices and standards for oil and gas loans, whereupon
the Agent shall designate the Borrowing Base at the largest amount approved by
the Applicable Lenders; provided, however, that it is expressly understood that
the Applicable Lenders and Agent have no obligation to agree upon or designate
the Borrowing Base at any particular amount.

         SECTION 2.7.2. Semi-Annual Scheduled Determination of the Borrowing
Base. In addition, within ninety (90) days after each June 30 (commencing June
30, 2002) the Borrower will make available for review by the Agent monthly
production data for each property included within the Oil and Gas Properties for
the six (6) month period preceding such date together with the Borrower's
projection of the rate of production and net operating income for such
properties (in the aggregate). Also to be made available are the reserves,
projected rate of income and net operating income on (i) any Oil and Gas
Properties which were developed by the Borrower subsequent to the preceding
December 31 and which are to be included in the Borrowing Base. Upon the receipt
of a report relating to the Oil and Gas Properties, the Agent shall make a
determination within 25 days of the receipt of such report of the Borrowing Base
as of the preceding June 30. The determinations of the Borrowing Base shall be
made in the same manner and be subject to the same approvals as prescribed with
respect to the annual redetermination as set forth in Section 2.7.1, and
likewise the Agent shall communicate the results of each such determination to
the Lenders. The Applicable Lenders may approve the determination of the
Borrowing Base by written notice to the Agent within 15 days of the Agent's
notification of its determination of the new Borrowing Base. Any Applicable
Lender that fails to respond to such recommendation made by the Agent pursuant
to this Section within such 15 days, shall be deemed to have approved such
recommendation. If the Applicable Lenders fail to approve a determination of the
Borrowing Base made by the Agent pursuant to this Section within such 15 days,
then the Applicable Lenders shall submit to the Agent in writing within 5 days
of the end of such 15 day period their individual recommendations for such
redetermined Borrowing Base in accordance with their respective customary
practices and standards for oil and gas loans, whereupon the Agent shall
designate the Borrowing Base at the largest amount approved by the Applicable
Lenders; provided, however, that it is expressly understood that the Applicable
Lenders and Agent have no obligation to agree upon or designate the Borrowing
Base at any particular amount.

                                      -22-

<PAGE>

         SECTION 2.7.3. Discretionary Determination of the Borrowing Base. If,
in addition to the foregoing scheduled annual and semi-annual determinations of
the Borrowing Base, the Lenders (or the Applicable Lenders) shall be requested
by the Borrower to redetermine the Borrowing Base, in their sole discretion
based on their respective customary practices and standards for oil and gas
loans, then the Borrower shall pay to the Agent a fee of $25,000 and to each
Lender (other than the Agent) a fee of $12,500 in connection with such
redetermination.

         SECTION 2.7.4. Reduction of the Borrowing Base Upon Sales of Borrowing
Base Properties. In the event of any sales, transfers, leases, contributions or
other conveyances of any Borrowing Base Property as permitted pursuant to
Section 7.2.7 between scheduled Borrowing Base redeterminations in an amount
generating aggregate sales proceeds in excess of ten percent (10%) of the most
recently determined Borrowing Base, the Agent with the approval of the
Applicable Lenders may redetermine the Borrowing Base in the same manner and
subject to the same approvals as prescribed in Section 2.7.1 for the
redetermination of the Borrowing Base.

         SECTION 2.7.5. Reduction of the Borrowing Base Upon Issuance of
Indebtedness. In the event of the issuance by Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.2.2(q), the
then effective Borrowing Base shall be reduced automatically on the date of
issuance of such Indebtedness by an amount equal to the aggregate principal
amount of such Indebtedness.

         SECTION 2.7.6. Release of Collateral. The Agent shall release any and
all Mortgages and related Liens covering Oil and Gas Properties upon their sale
as permitted by Section 7.2.7; provided, however, if a redetermination of the
Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 2.7.4 is required in connection with any such
sale, then any releases required by this Section shall only be delivered after
such redetermination of the Borrowing Base; provided further that no release of
any Mortgages shall be required if any mandatory prepayment required pursuant to
Section 3.1.2 has not been made by the Borrower; and provided further that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section will not obviate the requirement of
the Borrower to provide additional collateral pursuant to Sections 7.1.9.

         SECTION 2.8.   Letters of Credit.

         SECTION 2.8.1. Issuance Requests. By delivering to the Agent and the
applicable Issuer an Issuance Request on or before 11:30 a.m. (U.S. Central
time), the Borrower may request, from time to time prior to the Revolving Period
Commitment Termination Date, Revolving Loan Letters of Credit and on not less
than three nor more than ten Business Days' notice, that such Issuer issue an
irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit or Documentary Letter of Credit in such
form as may be mutually agreed to by the Borrower and such Issuer, in support of
obligations of the Borrower incurred in the Borrower's ordinary course of
business and which are described in such Issuance Request. Upon receipt of an
Issuance Request, the Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders thereof. Each
Revolving Loan Letter of Credit shall by its terms be stated to expire on a date
(its "Stated Expiry Date") no later than five Business Days before the Stated
Maturity Date.

         SECTION 2.8.2. Issuances. On the terms and subject to the conditions of
this Agreement (including Article V), the Issuer shall issue Revolving Loan
Letters of Credit in

                                      -23-

<PAGE>

accordance with the Issuance Requests made therefor. Each Issuer will make
available the original of each Revolving Loan Letter of Credit which it issues
in accordance with the Issuance Request therefor to the beneficiary thereof (and
will promptly provide each of the Lenders and the Borrower with a copy of such
Revolving Loan Letter of Credit). The Borrower will provide the Agent with a
copy of each Other Letter of Credit on the day such Other Letter of Credit is
issued.

         SECTION 2.8.3. Aggregate Amount Available Under Revolving Loan Letters
of Credit. The aggregate Stated Amount of all Revolving Loan Letters of Credit
outstanding at any one time shall not exceed $30,000,000 (the "Letter of Credit
Sublimit") and after issuance of any Revolving Loan Letter of Credit, the
aggregate Revolving Loan Letter of Credit Outstandings of all Revolving Loan
Letters of Credit plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Loans shall
not exceed the Commitment Amount.

         SECTION 2.8.4. Other Lenders' Participation. Each Revolving Loan Letter
of Credit issued pursuant to Section 2.8.2 shall, effective upon its issuance
and without further action, be issued on behalf of all Lenders (including the
Issuer thereof) pro rata according to their respective Percentages. Each Lender
shall, to the extent of its Percentage, be deemed irrevocably to have
participated in the issuance of any such Revolving Loan Letter of Credit and
shall be responsible to reimburse promptly the Issuer thereof for Reimbursement
Obligations which have not been reimbursed by the Borrower in accordance with
Section 2.8.5, or which have been reimbursed by the Borrower but must be
returned, restored or disgorged by such Issuer for any reason, and each Lender
shall, to the extent of its Percentage, be entitled to receive from the Agent a
ratable portion of the letter of credit fees received by the Agent pursuant to
Section 3.3.3, with respect to each Letter of Credit. In the event that the
Borrower shall fail to reimburse any Issuer, or if for any reason Revolving
Loans shall not be made to fund any Reimbursement Obligation, all as provided in
Section 2.8.5 and in an amount equal to the amount of any drawing honored by
such Issuer under a Letter of Credit issued by it, or in the event such Issuer
must for any reason return or disgorge such reimbursement, such Issuer shall
promptly notify each Lender of the unreimbursed amount of such drawing and of
such Lender's respective participation therein calculated on the basis of its
Percentage. Each Lender shall make available to such Issuer, whether or not any
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, an amount equal to its respective
participation, calculated on the basis of its Percentage, in same day or
immediately available funds at the office of such Issuer specified in such
notice if the Issuer shall notify the Agent on or before 11:30 a.m. (U.S.
Central time) of any Business Day by the close of business on such Business Day
or if the Issuer shall notify the Agent after 11:30 a.m. (U.S. Central time) of
any Business Day not later than 11:30 a.m. (U.S. Central time) on the Business
Day (under the laws of the jurisdiction of such Issuer) after the date notified
by such Issuer. In the event that any Lender fails to make available to such
Issuer the amount of such Lender's participation in such Letter of Credit as
provided herein, such Issuer shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand
from such Lender together with interest at the daily average Federal Funds Rate
for three Business Days (together with such other compensatory amounts as may be
required to be paid by such Lender to the Agent pursuant to the Rules for
Interbank Compensation of the council on International Banking or the
Clearinghouse Compensation Committee, as the case may be, as in effect from time
to time) and thereafter at the LIBO Rate plus the LIBO Rate Applicable Margin.
Nothing in this Section 2.8.4 shall be deemed to prejudice the right of any
Lender to recover from any Issuer any amounts made available by such

                                      -24-

<PAGE>

Lender to such Issuer pursuant to this Section 2.8.4 in the event that it is
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the payment with respect to
a Letter of Credit by such Issuer in respect of which payment was made by such
Lender constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of such
Issuer. Each Issuer shall distribute to each other Lender which has paid all
amounts payable by it under this Section 2.8.4 with respect to any Letter of
Credit issued by such Issuer such other Lender's Percentage of all payments
received by such Issuer from the Borrower in reimbursement of drawings honored
by such Issuer under such Letter of Credit when such payments are received.

         SECTION 2.8.5. Disbursements. Each Issuer will notify the Borrower and
the Agent promptly of the presentment for payment of any Letter of Credit,
together with notice of the date (the "Disbursement Date") such payment shall be
made. Subject to the terms and provisions of such Letter of Credit, the
applicable Issuer shall make such payment (the "Disbursement") to the
beneficiary (or its designee) of such Letter of Credit. Prior to 11:30 a.m.
(U.S. Central time) on the Disbursement Date, the Borrower will reimburse the
applicable Issuer for all amounts which it has disbursed under the Letter of
Credit. In the event the applicable Issuer is not reimbursed by the Borrower on
the Disbursement Date, or if such Issuer must for any reason return or disgorge
such reimbursement, the Lenders (including such Issuer) shall, on the terms and
subject to the conditions of this Agreement, fund the Reimbursement Obligation
therefor by making, on the next Business Day, Revolving Loans (in accordance
with each Lender's Percentage without regard to whether the underlying
Disbursement arises with respect to a Revolving Loan Letter of Credit) which are
Base Rate Loans as provided in Section 2.1.1 (the Borrower being deemed to have
given a timely Borrowing Request therefor for such amount); provided, however,
for the purpose of determining the availability of the Commitments to make Loans
immediately prior to giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such
Loans, such Reimbursement Obligation shall be deemed not to be outstanding at
such time. To the extent the applicable Issuer is not reimbursed in full in
accordance with the preceding sentences, the Borrower's Reimbursement Obligation
shall accrue interest at a fluctuating rate determined by reference to the LIBO
Rate, plus a margin of 2% per annum, payable on demand.

         SECTION 2.8.6. Reimbursement. The Borrower's obligation (a
"Reimbursement Obligation") under Section 2.8.5 to reimburse an Issuer with
respect to each Disbursement (including interest thereon), and each Lender's
obligation to make participation payments in each drawing which has not been
reimbursed by the Borrower, shall be absolute and unconditional under any and
all circumstances and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim, or defense to
payment which the Borrower may have or have had against any Lender or any
beneficiary of a Letter of Credit, including any defense based upon the
occurrence of any Default, any draft, demand or certificate or other document
presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or
insufficient, the failure of any disbursement to conform to the terms of the
applicable Letter of Credit (if, in the applicable Issuer's good faith opinion,
such disbursement is determined to be appropriate) or any non-application or
misapplication by the beneficiary of the proceeds of such disbursement, or the
legality, validity, form, regularity, or enforceability of such Letter of
Credit; provided, however, that nothing herein shall adversely affect the right
of the Borrower or any Lender to commence any proceeding against the applicable
Issuer for any wrongful disbursement made by such Issuer under a Letter of
Credit as a result of acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful
misconduct on the part of such Issuer.

                                      -25-

<PAGE>

         SECTION 2.8.7. Deemed Disbursements. Upon either (i) the occurrence and
during the continuation of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 8.1.9 or the
occurrence of the Revolving Period Commitment Termination Date or (ii) the
declaration by the Agent of all or any portion of the outstanding principal
amount of the Loans and other Obligations to be due and payable and/or the
commitments (if not theretofore terminated) to be terminated as provided in
Section 8.3, an amount equal to that portion of Letter of Credit Outstandings
attributable to outstanding and undrawn Letters of Credit shall, at the election
of the applicable Issuer acting on instructions from the Required Lenders, and
without demand upon or notice to the Borrower, be deemed to have been paid or
disbursed by such Issuer under such Letters of Credit (notwithstanding that such
amount may not in fact have been so paid or disbursed), and, upon notification
by such Issuer to the Agent and the Borrower of its obligations under this
Section, the Borrower shall be immediately obligated to reimburse such Issuer
the amount deemed to have been so paid or disbursed by such Issuer. Any amounts
so received by such Issuer from the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be
delivered to the Agent to be held as collateral security for the repayment of
the Borrower's obligations in connection with the Letters of Credit. All amounts
on deposit pursuant to this Section 2.8.7 shall, until their application to any
Obligation or their return to the Borrower, as the case may be, at the
Borrower's written request, be invested in high grade short-term liquid
investments acceptable to Agent and designated by the Borrower, which
investments shall be held by the Agent as additional collateral security for the
repayment of the Borrower's Obligations under and in connection with the Letters
of Credit and all other Obligations. Any losses, net of earnings, and reasonable
fees and expenses of such investments shall be charged against the principal
amount invested. The Agent, the Issuer and the Lenders shall not be liable for
any loss resulting from any investment made by the Agent at the Borrower's
request. The Agent is not obligated hereby, or by any other Loan Document, to
make or maintain any investment, except upon written request by the Borrower. At
any time when such Letters of Credit shall terminate and all Obligations to each
Issuer are either terminated or paid or reimbursed to each Issuer in full, the
Obligations of the Borrower under this Section 2.8.7 shall be reduced
accordingly (subject, however, to reinstatement in the event any payment in
respect of any of such Letters of Credit is recovered in any manner from such
Issuer), and the Agent will return to the Borrower the excess, if any, of the
aggregate amount held by the Agent and not theretofore applied to any
Reimbursement Obligation. At such time when all Events of Default shall have
been cured or waived, if the Revolving Period Commitment Termination Date shall
not have occurred for any reason, the Agent shall return to the Borrower all
amounts then on deposit with the Agent pursuant to this Section 2.8.7.

         SECTION 2.8.8. Nature of Reimbursement Obligations. The Borrower shall
assume all risks of the acts, omissions, or misuse of any Letter of Credit by
the beneficiary thereof. Neither any Issuer, the Agent nor any Lender (except to
the extent of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct) shall be
responsible for: (a) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness, or
legal effect of any Letter of Credit or any document submitted by any party in
connection with the application for and issuance of a Letter of Credit, even if
it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient,
inaccurate, fraudulent, or forged; (b) the form, validity, sufficiency,
accuracy, genuineness, or legal effect of any instrument transferring or
assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights
or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof in whole or in part, which may prove
to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; (c) failure of the beneficiary to
comply fully with conditions required in order to demand payment under a Letter
of Credit; (d) errors, omissions, interruptions, or

                                      -26-

<PAGE>

delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph,
telex, facsimile or otherwise; or (e) any loss or delay in the transmission or
otherwise of any document or draft required in order to make a Disbursement
under a Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof. None of the foregoing shall
affect, impair, or prevent the vesting of any of the rights or powers granted
any Issuer or any Lender hereunder. In furtherance and extension, and not in
limitation or derogation, of any of the foregoing, any action taken or omitted
to be taken by any Issuer in good faith shall be binding upon the Borrower and
shall not put such Issuer under any resulting liability to the Borrower.

         SECTION 2.8.9. Increased Costs; Indemnity. If by reason of (a) any
change in applicable law, regulation, rule, decree or regulatory requirement or
any change in the interpretation or application by any judicial or regulatory
authority of any law, regulation, rule, decree or regulatory requirement, or (b)
compliance by any Issuer or any Lender with any direction, or requirement of any
governmental or monetary authority, including Regulation D of the F.R.S. Board:
(i) any Issuer or any Lender shall be subject to any tax (other than taxes on
net income and franchises), levy, charge or withholding of any nature or to any
variation thereof or to any penalty with respect to the maintenance or
fulfillment of its obligations under this Section 2.8, whether directly or by
such being imposed on or suffered by such Issuer or such Lender; (ii) any
reserve, deposit or similar requirement is or shall be applicable, increased,
imposed or modified in respect of any Letters of Credit issued by any Issuer or
participations therein purchased by any Lender; or (iii) there shall be imposed
on any Issuer or any Lender any other condition regarding this Section 2.8, any
Letter of Credit or any participation therein, and the result of the foregoing
is directly to increase the cost to such Issuer or such Lender of issuing or
maintaining any Letter of Credit or of purchasing or maintaining any
participation therein, or to reduce any amount receivable in respect thereof by
such Issuer or such Lender, then and in any such case such Issuer or such Lender
may, at any time after the additional cost is incurred or the amount received is
reduced, notify the Agent and the Borrower thereof, and the Borrower shall pay
within 10 days of demand such amounts as such Issuer or Lender may in good faith
specify to be necessary to compensate such Issuer or Lender for such additional
cost or reduced receipt, together with interest on such amount from the date
demanded until payment in full thereof at a rate equal at all times to the
Alternate Base Rate per annum. The determination by such Issuer or Lender, as
the case may be, of any amount due pursuant to this Section 2.8.9, as set forth
in a statement setting forth the calculation thereof in reasonable detail,
shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the
Borrower.

         In addition to amounts payable as elsewhere provided in this Section
2.8, the Borrower hereby indemnifies, exonerates and holds each Issuer, the
Agent and each Lender harmless from and against any and all actions, causes of
action, suits, losses, costs, liabilities and damages, and expenses incurred in
connection therewith (irrespective of whether such Issuer, the Agent or such
Lender is a party to the action for which indemnification is sought), including
reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements, which such Issuer, the Agent or
such Lender may incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of
the issuance of the Letters of Credit, other than as a result of the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of such Issuer as determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction, or the failure of such Issuer to honor a drawing under
any Letter of Credit as a result of any act or omission, whether rightful or
wrongful, of any present or future government or governmental authority.

                                      -27-

<PAGE>

         SECTION 2.8.10. Letter of Credit Collateral Account. The Borrower
hereby agrees that it will, until the final expiration date of any Letter of
Credit and thereafter as long as any amount is payable to the Lenders in respect
of any Letter of Credit, maintain a special collateral account (the "Letter of
Credit Collateral Account") with the Agent, in the name of the Borrower but
under the sole dominion and control of the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders
and in which the Borrower shall have no interest other than as set forth in
Section 3.1.2. The Agent will invest any funds on deposit from time to time in
the Letter of Credit Collateral Account in short term investments, having a
maturity not exceeding 30 days. Nothing in this Section 2.8.10 shall (i)
obligate the Borrower to deposit any funds in the Letter of Credit Collateral
Account, (ii) obligate the Agent to require the Borrower to deposit any funds in
the Letter of Credit Collateral Account or (iii) limit the right of the Agent to
release any funds held in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account, other than as
required by Section 3.1.2. The Borrower hereby grants to the Agent for the
benefit of the Lenders a security interest in the Letter of Credit Collateral
Account and any funds or investments in such account.

                                  ARTICLE III

                   REPAYMENTS, PREPAYMENTS, INTEREST AND FEES

         SECTION 3.1.   Repayments and Prepayments. The Borrower shall make
mandatory repayments and prepayments and may also make voluntary prepayments
from time to time pursuant to this Section 3.1. Each prepayment made pursuant to
this Section shall be without premium or penalty, except as may be required by
Section 4.4.

         SECTION 3.1.1. Repayments. The Borrower shall repay in full the unpaid
aggregate principal amount of each Loan upon the Revolving Period Commitment
Termination Date.

         SECTION 3.1.2. Mandatory Prepayments on Loans. If at any time, the
aggregate principal amount of all Borrowing Base Debt outstanding shall exceed
the Borrowing Base then in effect, the Borrower shall, at the Borrower's option,
either (a) forthwith repay a portion of the Loans in an aggregate principal
amount equal to such excess or (b) pay an amount equal to such excess in no more
than five (5) substantially equal monthly installments, the first such payment
to be due within 30 days after the date on which it is first determined that
such principal amount of Borrowing Base Debt exceeds the Borrowing Base, and the
remaining payments due on the numerically corresponding day of each of the
subsequent months so that, upon the conclusion of such mandatory prepayments,
the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Borrowing Base Debt does not
exceed the Borrowing Base; provided that if the aggregate principal amount of
all Borrowing Base Debt outstanding shall exceed the Borrowing Base (i) as a
result of the reduction of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 7.2.7 or (ii)
without any reduction in the Borrowing Base, then the foregoing clause (b) shall
not apply. If a subsequent month does not contain a numerically corresponding
day, the Borrower shall make such payment on the last Business Day of such
month, or if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day, such
payment will be due on the preceding Business Day. In the event the aggregate of
all Letter of Credit Outstandings exceeds the Letter of Credit Sublimit, the
Borrower shall reduce the Letter of Credit Outstandings by an amount equal to
such excess or deposit cash collateral into the

                                      -28-

<PAGE>

Letter of Credit Collateral Account on account of and to secure its Obligations
with respect to Letters of Credit then in effect and not otherwise fully
collateralized, such cash deposits to be in an amount equal to such excess. In
addition, in the event the sum of the aggregate Letter of Credit Outstandings of
all Letters of Credit plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Loans
exceeds the Commitment Amount, the Borrower shall first make a mandatory
prepayment of the outstanding principal amount of the Loans, and second, deposit
cash collateral in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account, such prepayments
and/or cash deposits to be in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.
Mandatory prepayments pursuant to this Section 3.1.2 shall be in addition to and
not in lieu of principal payments required pursuant to Section 3.1.1; provided,
that such mandatory prepayments shall be applied against the next scheduled
repayment or repayments required pursuant to Section 3.1.1 if, as of the date
for such scheduled repayment, after giving effect to such scheduled repayment,
the Borrowing Base Debt shall be less than or equal to the Borrowing Base then
in effect.

         The Borrower shall, on each date when any reduction in the Revolving
Period Commitment Amount shall become effective pursuant to Section 2.2.1, make
a mandatory prepayment of all Revolving Loans equal to the excess, if any, of
the aggregate, outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans over the
Revolving Period Commitment Amount as so reduced and/or deposit cash collateral
in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account, such prepayments and or cash
deposits to be in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.

         SECTION 3.1.3. Repayment Upon Acceleration. The Borrower shall,
immediately upon any acceleration of the Stated Maturity Date of any Loans
pursuant to Section 8.2 or 8.3, repay all Loans.

         SECTION 3.1.4. Voluntary Repayments. The Borrower may, from time to
time on any Business Day prior to the Revolving Period Commitment Termination
Date, make a voluntary prepayment, in whole or in part, of the outstanding
principal amount of any Loans; provided, however, that (i) any such prepayment
(other than a prepayment pursuant to Section 2.1.6) shall be made pro rata among
Loans of the same type and, if applicable, having the same Interest Period of
all Lenders; (ii) no such prepayment of any LIBO Rate Loan (other than a
prepayment pursuant to Section 2.1.6) may be made on any day other than the last
day of the Interest Period for such Loan unless Borrower also pays all costs due
pursuant to Section 4.4 at the time of such prepayment; and (iii) all such
voluntary partial prepayments (other than a prepayment pursuant to Section
2.1.6) shall be in an aggregate minimum amount of $300,000 for Base Rate Loans
and $1,000,000 for LIBO Rate Loans and an integral multiple of $100,000;
provided that after giving effect to such partial prepayment, any outstanding
LIBO Rate Loans with the same Interest Period, if any, shall be in a minimum
aggregate principal amount of at least $5,000,000. Each prepayment of any Loans
made pursuant to this Section shall be without premium or penalty, except as may
be required by Section 4.4. No voluntary prepayment of principal of any
Revolving Loans shall cause a reduction in the Revolving Period Commitment
Amount.

         SECTION 3.2.   Interest Provisions. Interest on the outstanding
principal amount of Loans shall accrue and be payable in accordance with this
Section 3.2.

                                      -29-

<PAGE>

         SECTION 3.2.1. Rates. Pursuant to an appropriately delivered Borrowing
Request or Continuation/Conversion Notice, the Borrower may elect that Loans
comprising a Borrowing accrue interest at a rate per annum: (a) on that portion
maintained from time to time as a Base Rate Loan, equal to the sum of the
Alternate Base Rate from time to time in effect plus the Base Rate Applicable
Margin; and (b) on that portion maintained as a LIBO Rate Loan, during each
Interest Period applicable thereto, equal to the sum of the LIBO Rate (Reserve
Adjusted) for such Interest Period plus the LIBO Rate Applicable Margin.

         The "LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted)" means, relative to any Loan to be
made, continued or maintained as, or converted into, a LIBO Rate Loan for any
Interest Period, a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest
1/16 of 1%) determined pursuant to the following formula:

                  LIBO Rate         =                LIBO Rate
                                         ---------------------------------
              (Reserve Adjusted)          1.00 - LIBOR Reserve Percentage

         The LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) for any Interest Period for LIBO Rate
Loans will be determined by the Agent on the basis of the LIBOR Reserve
Percentage in effect on, and the applicable rates furnished to and received by
the Agent from Bank of Montreal, two Business Days before the first day of such
Interest Period.

         "LIBO Rate" means, relative to any Interest Period for LIBO Rate Loans,
the rate of interest equal to the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the
nearest 1/16 of 1%) of the rates per annum at which Dollar deposits in
immediately available funds are offered to Bank of Montreal's LIBOR Office in
the London interbank market as at or about 10:00 a.m. U.S. Central time two
Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period for delivery on the
first day of such Interest Period, and in an amount approximately equal to the
amount of Bank of Montreal's LIBO Rate Loan and for a period approximately equal
to such Interest Period.

         "LIBOR Reserve Percentage" means, relative to any Interest Period for
LIBO Rate Loans, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal) equal to the
maximum aggregate reserve requirements (including all basic, emergency,
supplemental, marginal and other reserves and taking into account any
transitional adjustments or other scheduled changes in reserve requirements)
specified under regulations issued from time to time by the F.R.S. Board and
then applicable to assets or liabilities consisting of and including
"Eurocurrency Liabilities", as currently defined in Regulation D of the F.R.S.
Board, having a term approximately equal or comparable to such Interest Period.

         All LIBO Rate Loans shall bear interest from and including the first
day of the applicable Interest Period to (but not including) the last day of
such Interest Period at the interest rate determined as applicable to such LIBO
Rate Loan.

         SECTION 3.2.2. Post-Maturity Rates. After the date any principal amount
of any Loan is due and payable (whether on the Stated Maturity Date, upon
acceleration or otherwise), or after any other monetary Obligation of the
Borrower shall have become due and payable, the Borrower shall pay, but only to
the extent permitted by law, interest (after as well as before

                                      -30-

<PAGE>

judgment) on such amounts at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate
plus a margin of 2%.

         SECTION 3.2.3. Payment Dates. Interest accrued on each Loan shall be
payable, without duplication: (a) on the Revolving Period Commitment Termination
Date; (b) except in the case of voluntary prepayment of Base Rate Loans, on the
date of any payment or prepayment, in whole or in part, of principal outstanding
on such Loan; (c) with respect to Base Rate Loans, on each Quarterly Payment
Date occurring after the date of the initial Borrowing hereunder; (d) with
respect to LIBO Rate Loans, the last day of each applicable Interest Period
(and, if such Interest Period shall exceed 90 days, on the 90th day of such
Interest Period); and (e) on that portion of any Loans the Stated Maturity Date
of which is accelerated pursuant to Section 8.2 or Section 8.3, immediately upon
such acceleration. Interest accrued on Loans or other monetary Obligations
arising under this Agreement or any other Loan Document after the date such
amount is due and payable (whether on the Revolving Period Commitment
Termination Date, upon acceleration or otherwise) shall be payable upon demand.

         SECTION 3.3.   Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay the fees set forth in
this Section 3.3. All such fees shall be non-refundable.

         SECTION 3.3.1. Commitment Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent
for the account of each Lender, for the period (including any portion thereof
when any of its Commitments are suspended by reason of the Borrower's inability
to satisfy any condition of Article V) commencing on the Effective Date and
continuing through the Revolving Period Commitment Termination Date, a
commitment fee at the rate of 0.500% per annum on each Lender's Percentage of
the average daily unused portion of the Maximum Commitment Amount. Such
commitment fees shall be payable by the Borrower in arrears on each Quarterly
Payment Date, commencing on June 1, 2002, and ending on the Revolving Period
Commitment Termination Date.

         SECTION 3.3.2. Agent's Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent
for its own account and for the account of each Lender, the fees as set forth in
the letter agreement between the Borrower and the Agent dated April 24, 2002.

         SECTION 3.3.3. Letter of Credit Face Amount Fee. The Borrower agrees to
pay to the Agent, for the account of each Lender, a fee for each Letter of
Credit for the period from and including the date of the issuance of such Letter
of Credit to (but not including) the date upon which such Letter of Credit
expires, at a per annum rate equal to the Revolving Loan Letter of Credit
Applicable Margin on the outstanding face amount of each Letter of Credit in the
case of Revolving Loan Letters of Credit. Borrower also agrees to pay to the
Agent, for the account of the Issuer, a fronting fee of 0.125% per annum on the
face amount of each Letter of Credit issued.

                                      -31-

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IV

                     CERTAIN LIBO RATE AND OTHER PROVISIONS

         SECTION 4.1. If LIBO Rate Lending Unlawful. If any Lender shall
determine (which determination shall, upon notice thereof to the Borrower and
the Lenders, be conclusive and binding on the Borrower) that the introduction of
or any change in or in the interpretation of any law makes it unlawful, or any
central bank or other governmental authority asserts that it is unlawful, for
such Lender to make, continue or maintain any Loan as, or to convert any Loan
into, a LIBO Rate Loan, the obligations of all Lenders to make, continue,
maintain or convert any such Loans shall, upon such determination, forthwith be
suspended until such Lender shall notify the Agent that the circumstances
causing such suspension no longer exist, and all LIBO Rate Loans shall
automatically convert into Base Rate Loans at the end of the then current
Interest Periods with respect thereto or sooner, if required by such law or
assertion.

         SECTION 4.2. If Deposits Unavailable. If the Agent shall have
determined that (a) Dollar deposits in the relevant amount and for the relevant
Interest Period are not available to Bank of Montreal in its relevant market; or
(b) by reason of circumstances affecting Bank of Montreal's relevant market,
adequate means do not exist for ascertaining the interest rate applicable
hereunder to LIBO Rate Loans, then, upon notice from the Agent to the Borrower
and the Lenders, the obligations of all Lenders under Section 2.3 and Section
2.4 to make or continue any Loans as, or to convert any Loans into, LIBO Rate
Loans shall forthwith be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and
the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.

         SECTION 4.3. Increased LIBO Rate Loan Costs, etc. The Borrower agrees
to reimburse each Lender for any increase in the cost to such Lender of, or any
reduction in the amount of any sum receivable by such Lender in respect of,
making, continuing or maintaining (or of its obligation to make, continue or
maintain) any Loans as, or of converting (or of its obligation to convert) any
Loans into, LIBO Rate Loans; provided, the Borrower shall only be obligated to
reimburse a Lender in respect of such increases or reductions if such Lender is
generally seeking such reimbursement from similar borrowers under similar
circumstances and Borrower shall not be obligated to reimburse a Lender in
respect of such increases or reductions in respect of any period prior to notice
thereof to Borrower. Such Lender shall promptly notify the Agent and the
Borrower in writing of the occurrence of any such event, such notice to state,
in reasonable detail, the reasons therefor and the additional amount required
fully to compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduced amount. Such
additional amounts shall be payable by the Borrower directly to such Lender
within five days of its receipt of such notice, and such notice shall, in the
absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the Borrower.

         SECTION 4.4. Funding Losses. In the event any Lender shall incur any
loss or expense (including any loss or expense incurred by reason of the
liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender
to make, continue or maintain any portion of the principal amount of any Loan
as, or to convert any portion of the principal amount of any Loan into, a LIBO
Rate Loan) as a result of (a) any conversion or repayment or prepayment of the
principal amount of any LIBO Rate Loan on a date other than the scheduled last
day of the

                                      -32-

<PAGE>

Interest Period applicable thereto, whether pursuant to Section 3.1 or
otherwise; (b) any Loans not being made as LIBO Rate Loans in accordance with
the Borrowing Request therefor; or (c) any Loans not being continued as, or
converted into, LIBO Rate Loans in accordance with the Continuation/Conversion
Notice therefor; then, upon the written notice of such Lender to the Borrower
(with a copy to the Agent), the Borrower shall, within five days of its receipt
thereof, pay directly to such Lender such amount as will (in the reasonable
determination of such Lender) reimburse such Lender for such loss or expense.
Such written notice (which shall include calculations in reasonable detail)
shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the
Borrower.

         SECTION 4.5. Increased Capital Costs. If any change in, or the
introduction, adoption, effectiveness, interpretation, reinterpretation or
phase-in of, any law or regulation, directive, guideline, decision or request
(whether or not having the force of law) of any court, central bank, regulator
or other governmental authority affects or would affect the amount of capital
required or expected to be maintained by any Lender or any Person controlling
such Lender, and such Lender determines (in its sole and absolute discretion)
that the rate of return on its or such controlling Person's capital as a
consequence of its Commitments or the Borrowings made by such Lender is reduced
to a level below that which such Lender or such controlling Person could have
achieved but for the occurrence of any such circumstance, then, in any such case
upon notice from time to time by such Lender to the Borrower, the Borrower
shall, within 5 days of its receipt of such notice, pay directly to such Lender
additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender or such controlling
Person for such reduction in rate of return; provided, the Borrower shall only
be obligated to pay such amounts to a Lender if such Lender is generally seeking
payment in respect of such amounts from similar borrowers under similar
circumstances and Borrower shall not be obligated to reimburse a Lender in
respect of such amounts in respect of any period prior to such notice to the
Borrower. A statement of such Lender as to any such additional amount or amounts
(including calculations thereof in reasonable detail) shall, in the absence of
manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the Borrower. In determining such
amount, such Lender may use any reasonable method of averaging and attribution
that it (in its sole and absolute discretion) shall deem applicable.

         SECTION 4.6. Taxes. In the event that any withholding or deduction from
any payment to be made by the Borrower hereunder is required in respect of any
present or future income, excise, stamp or franchise taxes and other taxes,
fees, duties, withholdings or other charges of any nature whatsoever imposed by
any taxing authority, but excluding franchise taxes and taxes imposed on or
measured by any Lender's or Issuer's net income or receipts (such non-excluded
items being called "Taxes") pursuant to any applicable law, rule or regulation,
then the Borrower will (a) pay directly to the relevant authority the full
amount required to be so withheld or deducted; and (b) promptly forward to the
Agent an official receipt or other documentation satisfactory to the Agent
evidencing such payment to such authority.

         If the Borrower fails to pay any Taxes when due to the appropriate
taxing authority or fails to remit to the Agent, for the account of the
respective Lenders or the Issuer, the required receipts or other required
documentary evidence, the Borrower shall indemnify the Lenders or the Issuer, as
the case may be, for any incremental Taxes, interest or penalties that may
become payable by any Lender as a result of any such failure. For purposes of
this Section 4.6, a

                                      -33-

<PAGE>

distribution hereunder by the Agent or any Lender or Issuer to or for the
account of any Lender or Issuer shall be deemed a payment by the Borrower.

         Upon the request of the Borrower or the Agent, each Lender and Issuer
that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States
shall, prior to the due date of any payments under the Notes, execute and
deliver to the Borrower and the Agent, on or about the first scheduled payment
date in each Fiscal Year, one or more (as the Borrower or the Agent may
reasonably request) United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN,
W-8EXP or W-8IMY or such other forms or documents (or successor forms or
documents), appropriately completed, as may be applicable to establish the
extent, if any, to which a payment to such Lender or Issuer is exempt from
withholding or deduction of Taxes.

         SECTION 4.7. Payments, Computations, etc. Unless otherwise expressly
provided, all payments by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, the Notes or
any other Loan Document shall be made by the Borrower to the Agent for the pro
rata account of the Lenders or the Issuer entitled to receive such payment. All
such payments required to be made to the Agent shall be made, without setoff,
deduction or counterclaim, not later than 12:00 Noon, United States Central
time, on the date due, in same day or immediately available funds, to such
account as the Agent shall specify from time to time by notice to the Borrower.
Funds received after that time shall be deemed to have been received by the
Agent on the next succeeding Business Day. The Agent shall promptly remit in
same day funds to each Lender or Issuer its share, if any, of such payments
received by the Agent for the account of such Lender or Issuer. All interest and
fees shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days (including the
first day but excluding the last day) occurring during the period for which such
interest or fee is payable over a year comprised of 360 days (or, in the case of
interest on a Base Rate Loan, 365 days or, if appropriate, 366 days). Whenever
any payment to be made shall otherwise be due on a day which is not a Business
Day, such payment shall (except as otherwise required by clause (c) of the
definition of the term "Interest Period" with respect to LIBO Rate Loans) be
made on the next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time shall be
included in computing interest and fees, if any, in connection with such
payment.

         SECTION 4.8. Sharing of Payments. If any Lender shall obtain any
payment or other recovery (whether voluntary, involuntary, by application of
setoff or otherwise) on account of any Loan or participation in a Letter of
Credit (other than pursuant to the terms of Sections 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5) in excess
of its pro rata share (calculated by reference to such Lender's Percentage) of
payments then or therewith obtained by all Lenders, such Lender shall purchase
from the other Lenders such participations in Loans made by them and
participations in Letters of Credit held by them as shall be necessary to cause
such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment or other recovery ratably
(calculated by reference to such Lender's Percentage) with each of them;
provided, however, that if all or any portion of the excess payment or other
recovery is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, the purchase shall
be rescinded and each Lender which has sold a participation to the purchasing
Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the ratable
extent of such recovery (calculated by reference to such Lender's Percentage)
together with an amount equal to such selling Lender's ratable share (according
to the proportion of (a) the amount of such selling Lender's required repayment
to the purchasing Lender to (b) the total amount so recovered from the
purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the
purchasing Lender in respect of

                                      -34-

<PAGE>

the total amount so recovered. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing
a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section 4.8 may, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including
pursuant to Section 4.9) with respect to such participation as fully as if such
Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such
participation. If under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar
law, any Lender receives a secured claim in lieu of a setoff to which this
Section 4.8 applies, such Lender shall, to the extent practicable, exercise its
rights in respect of such secured claim in a manner consistent with the rights
of the Lenders entitled under this Section 4.8 to share in the benefits of any
recovery on such secured claim.

         SECTION 4.9.   Setoff. Each Lender and Issuer shall, upon the
occurrence of any Default described in clauses (a) through (d) of Section 8.1.9
with respect to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any other Event of
Default, have the right to appropriate and apply to the payment of the
Obligations owing to it (whether or not then due), and (as security for such
Obligations) the Borrower hereby grants to each Lender and Issuer a continuing
security interest in, any and all balances, credits, deposits, accounts or
moneys of the Borrower then or thereafter maintained with such Lender or Issuer;
provided, however, that any such appropriation and application shall be subject
to the provisions of Section 4.8. Each Lender and Issuer agrees promptly to
notify the Borrower and the Agent after any such setoff and application made by
such Lender or Issuer; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice
shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights of each
Lender and Issuer under this Section 4.9 are in addition to other rights and
remedies (including other rights of setoff under applicable law or otherwise)
which such Lender or Issuer may have.

         SECTION 4.10.  Use of Proceeds. The Borrower shall apply the proceeds
of each Borrowing in accordance with the fourth recital; provided that the
Borrower will not and will not permit any Subsidiary to use any proceeds to fund
an Acquisition not approved by the board of directors or other governing body of
the target or selling company or to acquire any "margin stock" (as defined in
F.R.S. Regulation U) in violation of Regulation T, X or U of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

                                   ARTICLE V

                             CONDITIONS TO BORROWING

         SECTION 5.1.   Initial Borrowing. The obligations of the Lenders to
fund the initial Borrowing and to issue the initial Letter of Credit shall be
subject to the prior or concurrent satisfaction of each of the conditions
precedent set forth in this Section 5.1.

         SECTION 5.1.1. Resolutions, etc. The Agent shall have received from the
Borrower a certificate, dated the date of the initial Borrowing or the issuance
of the initial Letter of Credit, of its Secretary or Assistant Secretary as to
(a) resolutions of its Board of Directors then in full force and effect
authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Notes
and each other Loan Document to be executed by it; and (b) the incumbency and
signatures of those of its officers authorized to act with respect to this
Agreement, the Notes and each other Loan Document executed by it, upon which
certificate each

                                      -35-

<PAGE>

Lender may conclusively rely until it shall have received a further certificate
of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower canceling or amending
such prior certificate.

         SECTION 5.1.2.  Delivery of Loan Documents. The Agent shall have
received this Agreement and each Note duly executed and delivered by the
Borrower and each other party thereto.

         SECTION 5.1.3.  [Reserved].

         SECTION 5.1.4.  Compliance with Representations and Warranties. The
Agent shall have received a certificate from an Authorized Officer confirming
compliance with Section 5.2.1 and stating that, after giving effect to Loans or
Letters of Credit comprising the initial Borrowings, Borrowing Base Debt shall
not exceed the Borrowing Base then in effect.

         SECTION 5.1.5.  Opinions of Counsel. The Agent shall have received an
opinion, dated the date of the initial Borrowing and addressed to the Agent and
all Lenders and Issuers, from Conner & Winters, a Professional Corporation,
counsel to the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit E-1 hereto and the
Agent shall be satisfied that it will receive within 30 days of the initial
Borrowing an opinion from Conner & Winters, a Professional Corporation, counsel
to the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit E-2 hereto.

         SECTION 5.1.6.  Closing Fees, Expenses, etc. The Agent shall have
received for its own account, or for the account of each Lender, as the case may
be, all fees, costs and expenses due and payable pursuant to Sections 3.3 and
10.3.

         SECTION 5.1.7.  [Reserved].

         SECTION 5.1.8.  Receipt of Financial Statements. The Agent shall have
received copies of the audited, consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001, and the related consolidated
statements of operations, comprehensive income and changes in combined equity
and consolidated statement of cash flows for the period ended December 31, 2001.
Such financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP and shall
fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

         SECTION 5.1.9.  Termination of Existing Credit Agreement. The Agent
shall have received evidence satisfactory to the Agent that (i) the Company has
given notice to terminate all commitments under the Existing Credit Agreement
and (ii) any and all obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement have been
repaid in full except for any obligations associated with the Existing Letters
of Credit.

         SECTION 5.1.10. Completion of Senior Notes Offering. The Agent shall
have received evidence satisfactory to the Agent that Borrower has received
gross proceeds of at least $240,000,000 from the Senior Notes Offering.

         SECTION 5.1.11. Confirmation of Contingent Liabilities. The Agent shall
have received a summary of all material Contingent Liabilities entered into by
Borrower and its Subsidiaries since December 31, 2001.

                                      -36-

<PAGE>

     SECTION 5.1.12. Other Assurances and Information. The Agent shall have
received such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as
the Agent or any of the Lenders may reasonably require.

     SECTION 5.2. Conditions Precedent to Revolving Loans. The obligation of
each Lender to fund any Revolving Loan and of each Issuer to issue a Letter of
Credit on the occasion of any Borrowing (including the initial Borrowing) shall
be subject to the satisfaction of each of the conditions precedent set forth in
this Section 5.2.

     SECTION 5.2.1. Compliance with Warranties, No Default, etc. Both before and
after giving effect to any Borrowing (but, if any Default of the nature referred
to in Section 8.1.5 shall have occurred with respect to any other Indebtedness,
without giving effect to the application, directly or indirectly, of the
proceeds thereof) the following statements shall be true and correct: (a) the
representations and warranties set forth in Article VI (excluding, however,
those contained in Section 6.7) shall be true and correct with the same effect
as if then made (unless stated to relate solely to an early date, in which case
such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier
date); (b) except as disclosed by the Borrower to the Agent and the Lenders
pursuant to Section 6.7 (i) no labor controversy, litigation, arbitration or
governmental investigation or proceeding shall be pending or, to the knowledge
of the Borrower, threatened against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
which might materially adversely affect the Borrower's consolidated business,
operations, assets, revenues, properties or prospects or which purports to
affect the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the Notes or
any other Loan Document; and (ii) no development shall have occurred in any
labor controversy, litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or
proceeding disclosed pursuant to Section 6.7 which might materially adversely
affect the consolidated businesses, operations, assets, revenues, properties or
prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; (c) no Default shall have then
occurred and be continuing, and neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries
are in material violation of any law or governmental regulation or court order
or decree; (d) the Borrower is in compliance with the Current Ratio and Tangible
Net Worth tests required by Section 7.2.4, and, immediately after giving effect
to the proposed Borrowing, the Borrowing Base Debt of the Borrower shall not
exceed the Borrowing Base and (e) the Loans and Letters of Credit requested will
constitute Designated Senior Indebtedness.

     SECTION 5.2.2. Borrowing Request. The Agent shall have received a Borrowing
Request for such Borrowing of a Loan and an Issuance Request for each Borrowing
which is in the form of the issuance of a Letter of Credit. Each of the delivery
of a Borrowing Request or Issuance Request shall constitute a representation and
warranty by the Borrower that, on the date of such Borrowing (both immediately
before and after giving effect to such Borrowing and the application of the
proceeds thereof), the statements made in Section 5.2.1 are true and correct.

     SECTION 5.2.3. Satisfactory Legal Form. All documents executed or submitted
pursuant hereto by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall
be satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent and its counsel; the Agent
and its counsel shall have received all information, approvals, opinions,
documents or instruments as the Agent or its counsel may reasonably request.

                                      -37-

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VI

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     In order to induce the Lenders and the Agent to enter into this Agreement
and to make Loans hereunder, and the Issuer to issue Letters of Credit and the
Lenders to participate in Letters of Credit, the Borrower represents and
warrants unto the Agent and each Lender and Issuer as set forth in this Article
VI.

     SECTION 6.1. Organization, etc. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries
is a corporation or partnership validly organized and existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
organization, is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a
foreign corporation or partnership in each jurisdiction where the nature of its
business requires such qualification, and has full power and authority and holds
all requisite governmental licenses, permits and other approvals to enter into
and perform its Obligations under this Agreement, the Notes and each other Loan
Document and to own and hold under lease its property and to conduct its
business substantially as currently conducted by it.

     SECTION 6.2. Due Authorization, Non-Contravention, etc. The execution,
delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, the Notes and each
other Loan Document executed or to be executed by it, are within the Borrower's
corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action,
and do not (a) contravene the Borrower's Organic Documents; (b) contravene any
contractual restriction, law or governmental regulation or court decree or order
binding on or affecting the Borrower; or (c) result in, or require the creation
or imposition of, any Lien on any of the Borrower's properties.

     SECTION 6.3. Government Approval, Regulation, etc. No authorization or
approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental
authority or regulatory body or other Person is required for the due execution,
delivery or performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, the Notes or any
other Loan Document. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an
"investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended, or a "holding company", or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding
company", or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a "subsidiary company"
of a "holding company", within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company
Act of 1935, as amended.

     SECTION 6.4. Validity, etc. This Agreement constitutes, and the Notes and
each other Loan Document executed by the Borrower will, on the due execution and
delivery thereof, constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligations of the
Borrower enforceable in accordance with their respective terms except as
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally.

     SECTION 6.5. Financial Information. The audited, consolidated balance sheet
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2001, and the related
consolidated statements of earnings and cash flows of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, copies of which have been furnished to the Agent and each Lender,
have been prepared in accordance with GAAP

                                      -38-

<PAGE>

consistently applied, and present fairly the consolidated financial condition of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the date thereof and the results of
their operations for the period then ended.

     SECTION 6.6.  No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the financial
statements described in Section 6.5, other than changes resulting from
fluctuations in oil and gas prices, there has been no material adverse change in
the financial condition, operations, assets, business, properties or prospects
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as disclosed in
Item 6.6 of the Disclosure Schedule.

     SECTION 6.7.  Litigation, Labor Controversies, etc. There is no pending or,
to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened litigation, action, proceeding, or
labor controversy affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of
their respective properties, businesses, assets or revenues, which may
materially adversely affect the financial condition, operations, assets,
business, properties or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, or which purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of
this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document, except as disclosed in
Item 6.7 ("Litigation") of the Disclosure Schedule.

     SECTION 6.8.  Subsidiaries. The Borrower has no Subsidiaries, except those
Subsidiaries which are identified in Item 6.8 Existing Subsidiaries") of the
Disclosure Schedule.

     SECTION 6.9.  Ownership of Properties. The Borrower and each of its
Subsidiaries owns good and defensible title to all of its properties and assets,
real and personal, tangible and intangible, of any nature whatsoever (including
patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks and copyrights), free and clear
of all Liens, charges or claims (including infringement claims with respect to
patents, trademarks, copyrights and the like), except those which would not have
a material adverse effect on the financial conditions, operations, assets,
business, properties or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, and except as permitted pursuant to Section 7.2.3. For the purposes of
this representation, good and defensible title shall mean record title which may
be subject to minor defects and irregularities which (a) do not materially
reduce Borrower's net revenue interests or increase Borrower's working interests
(without a corresponding and proportional increase in Borrower's net revenue
interests) therein, and (b) are not likely to interfere materially with the
benefit and enjoyment of production from such properties.

     SECTION 6.10. Taxes. To the best of the Borrower's knowledge, Borrower and
each of its Subsidiaries has filed all tax returns and reports required by law
to have been filed by it and has paid all taxes and governmental charges thereby
shown to be owing, except any such taxes or charges which are being diligently
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate
reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside on its books.

     SECTION 6.11. Pension and Welfare Plans. No steps have been taken to
terminate any Pension Plan, and no contribution failure has occurred with
respect to any Pension Plan sufficient to give rise to a Lien under section
302(f) of ERISA. No condition exists or event or transaction has occurred with
respect to any Pension Plan which might result in the incurrence by

                                      -39-

<PAGE>

the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group of any material liability,
fine or penalty. Neither the Borrower nor any member of the Controlled Group has
any contingent liability with respect to any post-retirement benefit under a
Welfare Plan, other than liability for continuation coverage described in Part 6
of Title I of ERISA.

     SECTION 6.12. Environmental Warranties. To the best of Borrower's knowledge
after reasonable investigation, except as set forth in Item 6.12 ("Environmental
Matters") of the Disclosure Schedule: (a) all facilities and property (including
underlying groundwater) owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries have been, and continue to be, owned or leased by the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries in material compliance with all Environmental Laws; (b) there
have been no past, and there are no pending or threatened (i) claims,
complaints, notices or requests for information received by the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries with respect to any alleged violation of any Environmental
Law, or (ii) complaints, notices or inquiries to the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries regarding potential liability under any Environmental Law; (c)
there have been no Releases (or, in Argentina, release) of Hazardous Materials
at, on or under any property now or previously owned or leased by the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries that, singly or in the aggregate, have, or may
reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the financial
condition, operations, assets, business, properties or prospects of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (d) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
have been issued and are in material compliance with all permits, certificates,
approvals, licenses and other authorizations relating to environmental matters
and necessary or desirable for their businesses; (e) no property now or
previously owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is listed
or proposed for listing (with respect to owned property only) on the National
Priorities List pursuant to CERCLA, on the CERCLIS or on any similar state list
of sites requiring investigation or clean-up; (f) there are no underground
storage tanks, active or abandoned, including petroleum storage tanks, on or
under any property now or previously owned or leased by the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries that, singly or in the aggregate, have, or may reasonably be
expected to have, a material adverse effect on the financial condition,
operations, assets, business, properties or prospects of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (g) neither Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the
Borrower has directly transported or directly arranged for the transportation of
any Hazardous Material to any location which is listed or proposed for listing
on the National Priorities List pursuant to CERCLA, on the CERCLIS or on any
similar state list or which is the subject of federal, state or local
enforcement actions or other investigations which may lead to material claims
against the Borrower or such Subsidiary thereof for any remedial work, damage to
natural resources or personal injury, including claims under CERCLA; (h) there
are no polychlorinated biphenyls or friable asbestos present at any property now
or previously owned or leased by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower
that, singly or in the aggregate, have, or may reasonably be expected to have, a
material adverse effect on the financial condition, operations, assets,
business, properties or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as
a whole; and (i) no conditions exist at, on or under any property now or
previously owned or leased by the Borrower or any Subsidiary which, with the
passage of time, or the giving of notice or both, would give rise to liability
under any Environmental Law which singly or in the aggregate have, or may
reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the financial
condition, operations, assets, business, properties or prospects of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                                      -40-

<PAGE>

     SECTION 6.13. Regulations U, T and X. The Borrower is not engaged in the
business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin
stock, and no proceeds of any Loans will be used for a purpose which violates,
or would be inconsistent with, F.R.S. Board Regulation U, T or X. Terms for
which meanings are provided in F.R.S. Board Regulation U, T or X or any
regulations substituted therefor, as from time to time in effect, are used in
this Section with such meanings.

     SECTION 6.14. Accuracy of Information. All factual information heretofore
or contemporaneously furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower in writing to the
Agent or any Lender or Issuer for purposes of or in connection with this
Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby is, and all other such factual
information hereafter furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Agent or
any Lender or Issuer will be, true and accurate in every material respect on the
date as of which such information is dated or certified and as of the date of
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Agent and such Lender or Issuer,
and such information is not, or shall not be, as the case may be, incomplete by
omitting to state any material fact necessary to make such information not
misleading.

     SECTION 6.15. No Default. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in
default in any respect materially and adversely affecting the business,
property, assets, operations or condition, financial or otherwise, of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, with respect to any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which the Borrower
is a party or by which the Borrower or its properties is/are bound or affected.

     SECTION 6.16. No Violation of Applicable Law. To the best of the Borrower's
knowledge, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has violated any
applicable statute, regulation or ordinance of the United States of America or
any foreign country, or any state, municipality or other jurisdiction, or of any
agency thereof in any respect materially and adversely affecting the business,
property, assets, operations or condition, financial or otherwise, of Borrower
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and the Borrower has not received any
notice of probable violation from the Department of Energy or the Environmental
Protection Agency. The Borrower is using the Borrower's best efforts to comply
or cause its Subsidiaries to comply with all statutes, rules and regulations
relating to environmental standards and controls in all jurisdictions where the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries are presently doing business.

     SECTION 6.17. Permits. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have all
governmental and private permits, certificates, consents and franchises which in
any respect are material to the business, property, assets, operations or
condition, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to carry
on the Borrower's and such Subsidiaries' business as now being conducted, and to
own or lease and operate the Borrower's and such Subsidiaries' properties as now
owned or leased. All such governmental and private permits, certificates,
consents and franchises are valid and subsisting, and the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries are not in violation thereof in a manner which would have a
material and adverse effect thereon.

                                      -41-

<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE VII

                                    COVENANTS

     SECTION 7.1. Affirmative Covenants. The Borrower agrees with the Agent and
each Lender that, until all Commitments have terminated and all Obligations have
been paid and performed in full, the Borrower will perform the obligations set
forth in this Section 7.1.

     SECTION 7.1.1. Financial Information, Reports, Notices, etc. The Borrower
will furnish, or will cause to be furnished, to each Lender and the Agent copies
of the following financial statements, reports, notices and information: (a) as
soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the
first three Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, consolidated
balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal
Quarter and consolidated statements of earnings and cash flows of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter and for the period commencing at
the end of the previous Fiscal Year and ending with the end of such Fiscal
Quarter, certified by the chief accounting or financial Authorized Officer of
the Borrower; (b) as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after
the end of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, a complete copy of the annual audit
report for such Fiscal Year for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including
therein consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of
the end of such Fiscal Year and consolidated statements of earnings and cash
flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, in each case
certified (without any Impermissible Qualification) by Arthur Andersen LLP or
other independent public accountants selected by the Borrower and reasonably
acceptable to the Agent and the Required Lenders, together with a certificate
from such accountants (i) containing a computation of, and showing compliance
with, each of the financial ratios and restrictions contained in Section 7.2.4
and (ii) containing a computation of the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio
(as defined in the Indenture) as of the date of such statements and to the
effect that, in making the examination necessary for the signing of such annual
report by such accountants, they have not become aware of any Default or Event
of Default that has occurred and is continuing, or, if they have become aware of
such Default or Event of Default, describing such Default or Event of Default
and the steps, if any, being taken to cure it; (c) as soon as available and in
any event within 45 days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter, a certificate,
executed by the chief accounting or financial Authorized Officer of the
Borrower, showing (in reasonable detail and with appropriate calculations and
computations in all respects satisfactory to the Agent) (i) compliance with the
financial covenants set forth in Section 7.2.4, (ii) containing a computation of
the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Indenture) as of the
date of such statements and (iii) listing all material Contingent Liabilities
entered into by Borrower and its Subsidiaries since the previous Compliance
Certificate; (d) forthwith upon the occurrence of each Default, a statement of
the chief accounting or financial Authorized Officer of the Borrower setting
forth details of such Default and the action which the Borrower has taken and
proposes to take with respect thereto; (e) as soon as possible and in any event
within three days after (i) the occurrence of any adverse development with
respect to any litigation, action, proceeding, or labor controversy described in
Section 6.7, or (ii) the commencement of any labor controversy, litigation,
action or proceeding of the type described in Section 6.7, notice thereof and
copies of all documentation relating thereto; (f) promptly after the sending or
filing thereof, copies of all reports which the Borrower sends to any of its
security holders, and all reports and registration statements which the

                                      -42-

<PAGE>

Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries files with the Securities and Exchange
Commission or any national securities exchange; (g) immediately upon becoming
aware of the institution of any steps by the Borrower or any other Person to
terminate any Pension Plan, or the failure to make a required contribution to
any Pension Plan, if such failure is sufficient to give rise to a Lien under
section 302(f) of ERISA, or the taking of any action with respect to a Pension
Plan which could result in the requirement that the Borrower furnish a bond or
other security to the PBGC or such Pension Plan, or the occurrence of any event
with respect to any Pension Plan which could result in the incurrence by the
Borrower of any material liability, fine or penalty, or any material increase in
the contingent liability of the Borrower with respect to any post-retirement
Welfare Plan benefit, notice thereof and copies of all documentation relating
thereto; and (h) such other information respecting the condition or operations,
financial or otherwise, of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as any Lender
through the Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

     SECTION 7.1.2. Compliance with Laws, etc. The Borrower will, and will cause
each of its Subsidiaries to, comply in all material respects with all applicable
laws, rules, regulations and orders, such compliance to include (without
limitation) the payment, before the same become delinquent, of all taxes,
assessments and governmental charges imposed upon it or upon its property except
to the extent being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have
been set aside on its books. The Borrower will maintain and preserve its
corporate existence and qualification as a foreign corporation.

     SECTION 7.1.3. Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause
each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain, preserve, protect and keep its material
properties in good repair, working order and condition, and make necessary and
proper repairs, renewals and replacements so that its business carried on in
connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times, all in accordance
with approved practices of prudent operators and standards prevailing in the oil
and gas industry and within limits imposed by joint operating agreements.

     SECTION 7.1.4. Insurance. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries to, maintain or cause to be maintained, with responsible insurance
companies insurance with respect to its properties and business against such
casualties and contingencies and of such types and in such amounts as is
customary in the case of similar businesses and will, upon request of the Agent,
furnish to each Lender at reasonable intervals a certificate of an Authorized
Officer of the Borrower setting forth the nature and extent of all insurance
maintained by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with this Section.

     SECTION 7.1.5. Books and Records. The Borrower will, and will cause each of
its Subsidiaries to, keep books and records which accurately reflect all of its
business affairs and transactions and permit the Agent and each Lender and
Issuer or any of their respective representatives, at reasonable times and
intervals, to visit all of its offices, to discuss its financial matters with
its officers and to examine any of its books or other corporate records.

     SECTION 7.1.6. Environmental Covenant. The Borrower will, and will cause
each of its Subsidiaries to (a) use and operate all of its facilities and
properties in material compliance with all Environmental Laws, keep all
necessary permits, approvals, certificates, licenses and other authorizations
relating to environmental matters in effect and remain in material

                                      -43-

<PAGE>

compliance therewith, and handle all Hazardous Materials in material compliance
with all applicable Environmental Laws; (b) immediately notify the Agent and
provide copies upon receipt of all written claims, complaints, notices or
inquiries relating to the condition of its facilities and properties or
compliance with Environmental Laws, and shall promptly cure and have dismissed
with prejudice any actions and proceedings relating to compliance with
Environmental Laws; and (c) provide such information and certifications which
the Agent may reasonably request from time to time to evidence compliance with
this Section 7.1.6.

     SECTION 7.1.7. Employee Benefit Plans. With respect to each Plan of
Borrower, if any: (a) at all times make prompt payments of contributions with
respect to each such Plan, so as to meet the minimum funding standards required
by sections 302 through 305 of ERISA; (b) upon the receipt of reasonable written
request from the Lenders, promptly furnish the Lenders with copies of each
report required to be filed pursuant to ss.103 of ERISA in connection with such
Plan for each plan-year, including any certified financial statements or
actuarial statements required under said ss.103; (c) immediately notify the
Lenders of any fact, including, but not limited to, any "Reportable Event" (as
that term is defined in ss.4043 of ERISA) arising in connection with any such
Plan which might constitute grounds for the termination thereof or for the
appointment by the appropriate United States District Court of a trustee to
administer such Plan, and, within thirty (30) days after the occurrence of any
Reportable Event, deliver to the Lenders a statement from Borrower's President
detailing such Reportable Event and Borrower's proposed action with respect
thereto; and (d) promptly upon their request therefor, furnish the Lenders such
additional information concerning any such Plan as the Lenders may reasonably
request.

     SECTION 7.1.8. Designated Senior Indebtedness. The Borrower and the Lenders
hereby agree that all Obligations of the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement and
each other Loan Document constitute Designated Senior Indebtedness for purposes
of the Subordinated Debt. The Borrower furthermore agrees that it shall deliver
all notices and take such other action as may be required by the documentation
of such Subordinated Debt such that the Obligations of the Borrower under this
Agreement shall at all times constitute Designated Senior Indebtedness.

     SECTION 7.1.9. Delivery of Security Documents. The Borrower agrees to, and
will cause its Subsidiaries parties thereto, to execute and deliver, no later
than sixty (60) days from the Effective Date, Mortgages and related financing
statements, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent in its sole
discretion, as are necessary to grant, confirm and perfect first and prior liens
or security interests in at least eighty percent (80%) of the present value of
the Proved Reserves (whether developed or undeveloped) located in the United
States of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; together with

          (i)  evidence of the completion (or satisfactory arrangements for the
     completion) of all recordings and filings of the Mortgages and such
     financings statements as may be necessary or, in the reasonable opinion of
     the Agent, desirable to create a valid, perfected first priority Lien
     against the properties purported to be covered thereby; and

          (ii) such other approvals or documents (other than title opinions) as
     the Agent may reasonably request.

                                      -44-

<PAGE>

     SECTION 7.1.10. [Reserved].

     SECTION 7.1.11. Guaranties. The Borrower will cause each Person that
becomes a Material Domestic Subsidiary after the date hereof to execute and
deliver to the Agent a Guaranty, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent
in its sole discretion, within 5 Business Days after the date such Person
becomes a Material Domestic Subsidiary.

     SECTION 7.1.12. Further Assurances. The Borrower will, and will cause each
Subsidiary to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements,
agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the
filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds
of trust and other documents) that may be required under any applicable law, or
that the Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, to effect the
transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or to grant, preserve, protect
or perfect the Liens created or intended to be created by the Loan Documents or
the validity or priority of any such Lien, all at the expense of the Borrower.
The Borrower also agrees to provide to the Agent, from time to time upon
reasonable request of the Agent, information that is in the possession of the
Borrower or its Subsidiaries or otherwise reasonably obtainable by any of them,
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent as to the perfection and priority of the
Liens created or intended to be created by the Loan Documents.

          (i)   If any material Oil and Gas Properties located in the United
     States or improvements thereto or any interest therein are acquired by the
     Borrower or any Subsidiary after the Effective Date, the Borrower will
     notify the Agent and the Lenders thereof, and, if requested by the Agent or
     the Required Lenders and if required by subsection 7.1.12(iii), the
     Borrower will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the
     Obligations and will take, and cause the Subsidiary to take, such actions
     as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Agent to grant and
     perfect such Liens, all at the expense of the Borrower.

          (ii)  The Borrower hereby authorizes the Agent and the Lenders to file
     one or more financing statements or continuation statements, and amendments
     thereto, relative to all or any part of the collateral hereunder without
     the signature of the Borrower or any relevant Subsidiary where permitted by
     law. A carbon, photographic or other reproduction of any security documents
     or any financing statement covering the collateral hereunder or any part
     thereof shall be sufficient as a financing statement where permitted by
     law.

          (iii) Without limiting any other provision of this Section, the
     Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to take, such
     actions and execute and deliver such documents and instruments as the Agent
     shall reasonably require to ensure that the Agent shall, at all times, have
     received currently effective, duly executed Loan Documents encumbering Oil
     and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries constituting eighty
     percent (80%) of present value of the Proved Reserves (whether developed or
     undeveloped) located in the United States as specified in the Engineering
     Report as adjusted for any acquisitions or divestitures, in form and
     substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

                                      -45-

<PAGE>

          (iv) If the Agent shall determine that, as of the date of any
     Borrowing Base redetermination, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
     shall have failed to comply with the preceding subsection 7.1.12(iii), the
     Agent may notify the Borrower in writing of such failure and, within 30
     days from and after receipt of such written notice by the Borrower, the
     Borrower or its Subsidiaries (as applicable) shall execute and deliver to
     the Agent supplemental or additional Loan Documents, in form and substance
     reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel, securing payment of
     the Obligations and covering additional Oil and Gas Properties located in
     the United States not then encumbered by any Loan Documents (together with
     current valuations and engineering reports and such other documents as the
     Agent may reasonably require, including opinions of counsel, each of which
     shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent) such
     that the Agent shall have received currently effective duly executed Loan
     Documents encumbering Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its
     Subsidiaries constituting at least eighty percent (80%) of the present
     value of the Proved Reserves located in the United States as specified in
     the Engineering Report as adjusted for any acquisitions or divestitures.

     SECTION 7.2.   Negative Covenants. The Borrower agrees with the Agent and
each Lender and Issuer that, until all Commitments have terminated and all
Obligations have been paid and performed in full, the Borrower will perform the
obligations set forth in this Section 7.2.

     SECTION 7.2.1. Business Activities. The Borrower will not, and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any business activity, except those
described in the first recital and such activities as may be incidental or
related thereto.

     SECTION 7.2.2. Indebtedness. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any
of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist or otherwise
become or be liable in respect of any Indebtedness, other than, without
duplication, the following:

          (a)  Indebtedness in respect of the Loans and other Obligations,
     including, without limitation, Indebtedness with respect to the Existing
     Letters of Credit which are identified in Item 7.2.2(a) of the Disclosure
     Schedule;

          (b)  Indebtedness in respect of Guaranties by any Material Domestic
     Subsidiary of the Loans and other Obligations;

          (c)  unsecured trade debt incurred in the ordinary course of business
     (including open accounts extended by suppliers on normal trade terms in
     connection with purchases of goods and services, but excluding Indebtedness
     incurred through the borrowing of money or Contingent Liabilities);

          (d)  lease obligations under leases covering Borrower's or any of its
     Subsidiary's business premises (which shall include storage yard
     facilities);

          (e)  lease obligations arising from the leasing of equipment located
     upon the Borrower's or any of its Subsidiary's properties and utilized in
     the production of oil and gas therefrom;

                                      -46-

<PAGE>

          (f) lease obligations, not to exceed $5,000,000 in any Fiscal Year
     arising from the lease of equipment used in the ordinary course of business
     of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

          (g) current indebtedness to operators under joint operating agreements
     or compulsory pooling orders;

          (h) advances made as operator on behalf of non-operators pursuant to
     joint operating agreements or pooling orders;

          (i) Other Letters of Credit of the Borrower, provided such
     reimbursement obligations in respect thereof are not in excess of
     $5,000,000 at any time outstanding in the aggregate;

          (j) funds held for and payments due to third parties from production
     from properties;

          (k) unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower's Subsidiaries owing to the
     Borrower or to other Subsidiaries of the Borrower and unsecured
     Indebtedness of the Borrower owing to its Subsidiaries;

          (l) Indebtedness constituting deferred tax liability;

          (m) Indebtedness arising in connection with guaranties by the Borrower
     of the obligations of its Subsidiaries otherwise permitted by the terms of
     this Agreement, provided, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of
     Indebtedness and other obligations of Subsidiaries guaranteed by the
     Borrower (i) shall not exceed $20,000,000 at any time and (ii) shall be
     included as outstanding Borrowing Base Debt for purposes of calculating
     usage on the Borrowing Base;

          (n) non-recourse Indebtedness of any Subject Subsidiary, provided that
     such Indebtedness shall not be a direct obligation or Contingent Liability
     of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower except as permitted
     by clause (m) above;

          (o) Indebtedness relating to the Borrower's outstanding (i)
     Subordinated Debt and (ii) the Senior Notes and any Indebtedness
     ("Refinancing Indebtedness") issued in exchange for, or the proceeds of
     which are used to repay, refund, refinance or discharge or otherwise retire
     any Indebtedness set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of this subsection
     ("Refinanced Indebtedness"), provided that such Refinancing Indebtedness
     (A) shall not exceed the principal amount (other than through the
     capitalization of premiums, fees, expenses and interest on the Refinanced
     Indebtedness) of the Refinanced Indebtedness as of the date of this
     Agreement, (B) is issued under terms and conditions either (1)
     substantially identical to the Refinanced Indebtedness which such
     Refinancing Indebtedness is replacing or (2) acceptable to the Agent, and
     (C) shall be issued with a maturity date no earlier than the later of a
     date which is at least six months after the Stated Maturity Date or the
     current maturity date of the Refinanced Indebtedness which such Refinancing
     Indebtedness is replacing;

                                      -47-

<PAGE>

          (p) Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and guaranties
     by the Borrower relating thereto, in respect of Hedging Obligations;

          (q) unsecured Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower;
     provided, that such new unsecured Indebtedness shall immediately reduce the
     Borrowing Base by 100% of the stated principal amount of any such
     Indebtedness, and provided further that such Indebtedness (i) is issued
     under terms and conditions either (A) substantially identical to the Senior
     Notes or the Subordinated Debt or (B) acceptable to the Agent, and (ii)
     shall be issued with a maturity date no earlier than six months after the
     Stated Maturity Date;

          (r) unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower's Subsidiaries in an
     outstanding amount not to exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate; and

          (s) Indebtedness arising in connection with guaranties by Restricted
     Subsidiaries of the obligations under the Senior Notes which are required
     by the terms of the Senior Notes.

     SECTION 7.2.3. Liens. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries (other than any Subject Subsidiary) to, create, incur, assume or
suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, revenues or assets, whether
now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

          (a) Liens created under the Loan Documents;

          (b) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or
     levies not at the time delinquent or thereafter payable without penalty or
     being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for
     which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside
     on its books;

          (c) Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and
     landlords incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not overdue
     or being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and
     for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have been set
     aside on its books;

          (d) encumbrances created by production sales contracts, joint
     operating agreements and other contracts entered into in the normal course
     of Borrower's business for exploration, development and/or operation of the
     Borrower's properties;

          (e) easements, servitudes and other rights of user which do not
     materially interfere with the use of such assets;

          (f) other minor burdens and defects of or in title which do not secure
     the payment of money, other than as described in clause (a) of this
     Section;

          (g) those and only those lease burdens previously disclosed to the
     Lenders in writing and existing operating agreements, farmout agreements
     and other agreements and contractual obligations related to the Borrower's
     properties;

                                      -48-

<PAGE>

          (h) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection
     with workmen's compensation, unemployment insurance or other forms of
     governmental insurance or benefits, or to secure performance of tenders,
     statutory obligations, leases and contracts (other than for borrowed money)
     entered into in the ordinary course of business or to secure obligations on
     surety or appeal bonds;

          (i) judgment Liens in existence less than 15 days after the entry
     thereof or with respect to which execution has been stayed or the payment
     of which is covered in full (subject to a customary deductible) by
     insurance maintained with responsible insurance companies;

          (j) Liens affecting the property of the Subject Subsidiaries only
     securing Indebtedness permitted by clause (n) of Section 7.2.2;

          (k) the Lien granted to Exxon Company, U.S.A. prior to the Effective
     Date covering property described in Exhibit H;

          (l) Liens on cash collateral delivered pursuant to Section 2.8.7; and

          (m) Liens granted pursuant to Section 4.9.

     SECTION 7.2.4. Financial Condition. The Borrower will not permit: (a) its
Tangible Net Worth to be less than the sum of $425,000,000 plus 75% of the
proceeds from third parties of the sale by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries of
securities (other than securities constituting Indebtedness) net of reasonable
incidental, brokerage, underwriting and legal costs actually paid to third
parties in connection therewith, less any impairment writedowns and accumulated
net charges to net income or Comprehensive Income required by FAS 133, GAAP or
by the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (b) its Current Ratio as of the
end of any Fiscal Quarter to be less than 1:1; provided that for purposes of the
Current Ratio, (x) any unused portion of the Revolving Period Commitment Amount
will be deemed a current asset and (y) liabilities required by FAS 133 shall be
excluded from current liabilities.

     SECTION 7.2.5. Take or Pay Contracts. The Borrower will not, and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into or be a party to any arrangement
for the purchase of materials, supplies, other property or services if such
arrangement by its express terms requires that payment be made by the Borrower
or such Subsidiary regardless of whether such materials, supplies, other
property or services are delivered or furnished to it.

     SECTION 7.2.6. Consolidation, Merger, etc. The Borrower will not, and will
not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, liquidate or dissolve, consolidate with,
or merge into or with, any other corporation, or purchase or otherwise acquire
all or substantially all of the assets of any Person (or of any division
thereof) except (a) any such Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve voluntarily
into, and may merge with and into, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the
Borrower, and the assets or stock of any Subsidiary of the Borrower may be
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the
Borrower; provided, that no Subsidiary of the Borrower which is not a Subject
Subsidiary may dissolve or liquidate voluntarily into, and neither the Borrower
nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower which is not a Subject Subsidiary may merge
with or into, any Subject Subsidiary unless the Borrower or such

                                      -49-

<PAGE>

Subsidiary which is not a Subject Subsidiary is the surviving entity, and the
assets or stock of any Subsidiary of the Borrower which is not a Subject
Subsidiary may not be purchased or otherwise acquired by any Subject Subsidiary;
and (b) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur
after giving effect thereto, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may
purchase all or substantially all of the assets of any Person, or acquire such
Person by merger.

     SECTION 7.2.7. Asset Dispositions, etc. The Borrower will not, and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, transfer, lease, contribute or
otherwise convey, exchange or lease, or grant options, warrants or other rights
with respect to, any of its Borrowing Base Properties to any Person (including
any Subject Subsidiary), unless it has either given Lenders 15 Business Days
prior written notice thereof or the aggregate proceeds from third parties from
the sale of Borrowing Base Properties net of reasonable incidental, brokerage,
underwriting and legal costs actually paid to third parties in connection
therewith ("Net Proceeds") for all such sales, transfers, conveyances, exchanges
or leases made in any six month period ending June 30 or December 31 is less
than 10% of the Borrowing Base then in effect. In the event that the aggregate
Net Proceeds for all such sales, transfers, conveyances, exchanges or leases
made in any six month period ending June 30 or December 31 is equal to or
greater than 10% of the Borrowing Base then in effect, then (i) the Applicable
Lenders shall have the option to reduce the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section
2.7.4, and (ii) the Borrower will, within ten (10) days after entering into a
contract, whether written or oral, for the sale, transfer, lease, contribution
or conveyance of any Borrowing Base Property that will cause the 10% threshold
to be met or exceeded, and in no event less than 30 days prior to the scheduled
date for the consummation of such transaction, deliver to the Agent a schedule
of all of the Borrowing Base Properties so sold or to be sold since the date of
the last determination of the Borrowing Base, cross-referencing same to the
Engineering Report last delivered hereunder, and the details of such
transactions including the Net Proceeds received (or to be received ) by the
Borrower in connection with each transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement, the Borrower will not, and will not permit any of
its Subsidiaries (other than a Subject Subsidiary) to, sell, transfer, lease,
contribute or otherwise convey, exchange or lease, or grant options, warrants or
other rights with respect to, all or any substantial part of its assets
(including accounts receivable and capital stock of Subsidiaries) to any Subject
Subsidiary.

     SECTION 7.2.8. Guaranties, Loans or Advances. Other than Borrower's
Indebtedness hereunder and other than pursuant to Borrower's current and future
employees' stock option plans, the Borrower will not become or be a guarantor or
surety of, or otherwise become or be responsible in any manner (whether by
agreement to purchase or repurchase any obligation, stock, assets, goods or
services, or to supply or advance any funds, assets, goods or services, or
otherwise, whether directly or indirectly) with respect to, any undertaking of
any other person or entity, nor make or permit to exist any loans or advances to
any other Persons which in the aggregate exceed the amount of $500,000 at any
time outstanding, except for (a) the endorsement, in the ordinary course of
collection, of instruments payable to Borrower, or its order; (b) advances made
and liabilities existing under joint operating agreements and compulsory pooling
orders; (c) the liability to account to third persons for their share of
production proceeds received by Borrower; (d) loans and advances to employees
for the sole purpose of permitting such employees to purchase shares of
Borrower's capital stock; (e) loans and advances to employees of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries for travel and other business expenses; (f) loans and
advances by the Borrower to any of its Subsidiaries or by any Subsidiary

                                      -50-

<PAGE>

of the Borrower to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower; (g)
guaranties by the Borrower of obligations of its Subsidiaries permitted pursuant
to Section 7.2.2(p); and (h) guaranties by the Borrower of obligations of its
Subsidiaries otherwise permitted pursuant to this Agreement, provided that the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness and other obligations of
Subsidiaries so guaranteed shall not at any time exceed $20,000,000 in the
aggregate.

     SECTION 7.2.9.  Other Agreements. The Borrower will not enter into any
agreement containing any provision which would be violated or breached by the
performance of its obligations hereunder or under any instrument or document
delivered or to be delivered by it hereunder or in connection herewith.

     SECTION 7.2.10. Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower will not, and
will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into, or cause, suffer or
permit to exist any arrangement or contract with any of its other Affiliates
unless such arrangement or contract is determined by the Board of Directors of
the Borrower to be (a) fair and equitable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary and
(b) an arrangement or contract of the kind which would be entered into by a
prudent Person in the position of the Borrower or such Subsidiary with a Person
which is not one of its Affiliates.

     SECTION 7.2.11. Negative Pledges, Restrictive Agreements, etc. The Borrower
will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any
agreement (excluding this Agreement, any other Loan Document, and any agreement
governing any Indebtedness permitted by clauses (b), (o) or (q) of Section
7.2.2) prohibiting (a) the creation or assumption of any Lien upon its
properties, revenues or assets (other than the properties, revenues or assets of
the Subject Subsidiaries) whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or the
ability of the Borrower to amend or otherwise modify this Agreement or any other
Loan Document; or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary (other than a Subject
Subsidiary) to make any payments, directly or indirectly, to the Borrower by way
of dividends, advances, repayments of loans or advances, reimbursements of
management and other intercompany charges, expenses and accruals or other
returns on investments, or any other agreement or arrangement which restricts
the ability of any such Subsidiary (other than a Subject Subsidiary) to make any
payment, directly or indirectly, to the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
any agreement governing any Indebtedness permitted by clauses (b), (o) or (q) of
Section 7.2.2 shall not prohibit the creation or assumption of any Lien upon the
properties, revenues or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than a
Subject Subsidiary), whether now owned or hereafter acquired securing any
Borrowing Base Debt, and no agreement governing any Indebtedness permitted by
clauses (b), (o) or (q) of Section 7.2.2 shall prohibit the ability of any
Subsidiary (other than a Subject Subsidiary) to make any payments, directly or
indirectly, to the Borrower or the ability of the Borrower to amend or otherwise
modify this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

     SECTION 7.2.12. Investment in Subsidiaries. If any Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and is continuing or during any period in which the
aggregate principal amount of Borrowing Base Debt shall exceed the Borrowing
Base then in effect, the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries which are not Subject Subsidiaries to, incur any Contingent
Liabilities for any Indebtedness or other obligations of any Subject Subsidiary,
make any loan or advance to, or assume, redeem, purchase, defease, pay or
forgive any

                                      -51-

<PAGE>

Indebtedness or other obligation of, or make any equity investment in, or incur
any Indebtedness on behalf of, any Subsidiary and the Borrower shall not, and
shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries which are not Subject Subsidiaries to,
apply any of its funds, property or assets to the purchase, redemption, sinking
fund for or other retirement of any shares of any class of capital stock of a
Subsidiary or warrants, options or other rights with respect to any shares of
any class of such capital stock or any Indebtedness or obligations of any
Subsidiary.

     SECTION 7.2.13. Acquisition of Capital Stock. The Borrower will not, and
will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, purchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire for value any shares of the capital stock in the Borrower or any
warrants, rights or options to acquire such shares now or hereafter outstanding
(other than in connection with employee benefit plans of Borrower or redemption
or exchange of preferred share purchase rights under a stockholder rights plan
of Borrower) if, immediately after giving effect to such purchase, redemption or
acquisition, the outstanding Borrowing Base Debt of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries (other than Subject Subsidiaries) exceeds the Borrowing Base in
effect at the time.

     SECTION 7.2.14. Limitation on Hedging Obligations. The Borrower will not,
and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into Hedging Agreements in
respect of Hydrocarbons that with respect to any calendar year cover in the
aggregate more than 80% of the projected production attributable to the
Borrower's and its Subsidiaries' then proved developed Oil and Gas Properties
located in the United States and Canada.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     SECTION 8.1.    Listing of Events of Default. Each of the following events
or occurrences described in this Section 8.1 shall constitute an "Event of
Default".

     SECTION 8.1.1.  Non-Payment of Obligations. The Borrower shall default in
the payment or prepayment when due of any principal of or interest on any Loan
or any Reimbursement Obligations, or the Borrower shall default in the payment
when due of any commitment fee or any letter of credit fees or of any other
Obligation.

     SECTION 8.1.2.  Breach of Warranty. Any representation or warranty of the
Borrower made or deemed to be made hereunder or in any other Loan Document or
any other writing or certificate furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to
the Agent or any Lender for the purposes of or in connection with this Agreement
or any such other Loan Document (including any certificates delivered pursuant
to Article V) is or shall be incorrect when made in any material respect.

     SECTION 8.1.3.  Non-Performance of Certain Covenants and Obligations. The
Borrower shall default in the due performance and observance of any of its
obligations under Sections 7.2.4 or 7.2.8.

     SECTION 8.1.4.  Non-Performance of Other Covenants and Obligations. The
Borrower shall default in the due performance and observance of any other
agreement contained herein or in any other Loan Document, and such default shall
continue unremedied for a period

                                      -52-

<PAGE>

of 15 days after the Borrower shall become aware of such default, whether by
notice thereof given to the Borrower by the Agent or any Lender or otherwise.

     SECTION 8.1.5. Default on Other Indebtedness. A default shall occur in the
payment when due (subject to any applicable grace period), whether by
acceleration or otherwise, of any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than
Indebtedness described in Section 8.1.1) or Contingent Liability of the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries, or a default shall occur in the performance or
observance of any obligation or condition with respect to such Indebtedness if
the effect of such default is to accelerate the maturity of any such
Indebtedness or such default shall continue unremedied for any applicable period
of time sufficient to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness, or any
trustee or agent for such holders, to cause such Indebtedness to become due and
payable prior to its expressed maturity.

     SECTION 8.1.6. Other Material Obligations. Default in the payment for a
period in excess of sixty (60) days of when due, or in the performance or
observance of any material obligation of, or condition agreed to by, the
Borrower or any Subsidiary with respect to any material purchase or lease of
goods or services (except those which would not have a material adverse effect
on the financial conditions, operations, assets, business, properties or
prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and except
only to the extent that the existence of any such default is being contested by
the Borrower or such Subsidiary in good faith by appropriate proceedings).

     SECTION 8.1.7. Judgments. Any judgment or order for the payment of money in
excess of $20,000,000 (or its equivalent) shall be rendered against the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries and either (a) enforcement proceedings shall have
been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order; or (b) there shall
be any period of 10 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such
judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in
effect.

     SECTION 8.1.8. Pension Plans. Any of the following events shall occur with
respect to any Pension Plan: (a) the institution of any steps by the Borrower,
any member of its Controlled Group or any other Person to terminate a Pension
Plan if, as a result of such termination, the Borrower or any such member could
be required to make a contribution to such Pension Plan, or could reasonably
expect to incur a liability or obligation to such Pension Plan, in excess of
$1,000,000; or (b) a contribution failure occurs with respect to any Pension
Plan sufficient to give rise to a Lien under section 302(f) of ERISA.

     SECTION 8.1.9. Bankruptcy, Insolvency, etc. The Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries shall (a) become insolvent or generally fail to pay, or admit in
writing its inability or unwillingness to pay, debts as they become due; (b)
apply for, consent to, or acquiesce in, the appointment of a trustee, receiver,
sequestrator or other custodian for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or
any property of any thereof, or make a general assignment for the benefit of
creditors; (c) in the absence of such application, consent or acquiescence,
permit or suffer to exist the appointment of a trustee, receiver, sequestrator
or other custodian for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or for a
substantial part of the property of any thereof, and such trustee, receiver,
sequestrator or other custodian shall not be discharged within 60 days, provided
that the Borrower, for itself and each of its Subsidiaries, hereby expressly
authorizes the Agent and each

                                      -53-

<PAGE>

Lender to appear in any court conducting any relevant proceeding during such
60-day period to preserve, protect and defend their rights under the Loan
Documents; (d) permit or suffer to exist the commencement of any bankruptcy,
reorganization, debt arrangement or other case or proceeding under any
bankruptcy or insolvency law, or any dissolution, winding up or liquidation
proceeding, in respect of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and, if any
such case or proceeding is not commenced by the Borrower or such Subsidiary,
such case or proceeding shall be consented to or acquiesced in by the Borrower
or such Subsidiary or shall result in the entry of an order for relief or shall
remain for 60 days undismissed, provided that the Borrower, for itself and each
of its Subsidiaries, hereby expressly authorizes the Agent and each Lender to
appear in any court conducting any such case or proceeding during such 60-day
period to preserve, protect and defend their rights under the Loan Documents; or
(e) take any corporate action authorizing, or in furtherance of, any of the
foregoing.

     SECTION 8.1.10. Change of Control. A Change of Control shall occur.

     SECTION 8.2. Action if Bankruptcy. If any Event of Default described in
clauses (a) through (d) of Section 8.1.9 shall occur with respect to the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, the Commitments (if not theretofore
terminated) shall automatically terminate and the outstanding principal amount
of all outstanding Loans and all other Obligations shall automatically be and
become immediately due and payable, without notice (including notice of intent
to accelerate and notice of acceleration) or demand and notice and demand, are
hereby waived.

     SECTION 8.3. Action if Other Event of Default. If any Event of Default
(other than any Event of Default described in clauses (a) through (d) of Section
8.1.9 (with respect to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) shall occur for
any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary, and be continuing, the Agent, upon
the direction of the Required Lenders, shall by notice to the Borrower declare
all or any portion of the outstanding principal amount of the Loans and other
Obligations to be due and payable and/or the Commitments (if not theretofore
terminated) to be terminated, whereupon the full unpaid amount of such Loans and
other Obligations which shall be so declared due and payable shall be and become
immediately due and payable, without further notice (including notice of intent
to accelerate and notice of acceleration), demand or presentment, and/or, as the
case may be, the Commitments shall terminate, all of which notice, demand and
presentment are hereby waived.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                    THE AGENT

     SECTION 9.1. Actions. Each Lender hereby appoints Bank of Montreal as its
Agent under and for purposes of this Agreement, the Notes, the Letters of Credit
and each other Loan Document. Each Lender authorizes the Agent and each Issuer
to act on behalf of such Lender under this Agreement, the Notes, the Letters of
Credit and each other Loan Document and, in the absence of other written
instructions from the Required Lenders received from time to time by the Agent
(with respect to which the Agent agrees that it will comply, except as otherwise
provided in this Section or as otherwise advised by counsel), to exercise such
powers hereunder and thereunder as are specifically delegated to or required of
the Agent or such Issuer

                                      -54-

<PAGE>

by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as may be reasonably
incidental thereto. Each Lender hereby indemnifies (which indemnity shall
survive any termination of this Agreement) the Agent, pro rata according to such
Lender's Percentage, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations,
losses, damages, claims, costs or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever
which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against, the Agent
or such Issuer in any way relating to or arising out of its services as Agent
under this Agreement, the Notes, the Letters of Credit and any other Loan
Document, including reasonable attorneys' fees, and as to which the Agent or
such Issuer is not reimbursed by the Borrower; provided, however, that no Lender
shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations,
losses, damages, claims, costs or expenses which are determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction in a final proceeding to have resulted solely from the
Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Agent or any Issuer shall
not be required to take any action hereunder, under the Notes under the Letters
of Credit or under any other Loan Document, or to prosecute or defend any suit
in respect of this Agreement, the Notes, the Letters of Credit or any other Loan
Document, unless it is indemnified hereunder to its satisfaction. If any
indemnity in favor of the Agent or any Issuer shall be or become, in the Agent's
determination, inadequate, the Agent or such Issuer may call for additional
indemnification from the Lenders and cease to do the acts indemnified against
hereunder until such additional indemnity is given.

     SECTION 9.2. Funding Reliance, etc. Unless the Agent shall have been
notified by telephone, confirmed in writing, by any Lender by (i) 5:00 p.m.,
United States Central time, on the day prior to a Borrowing in the case of LIBO
Rate Loans and (ii) 12:00 Noon United States Central time on the day of any
Borrowing in the case of Base Rate Loans that such Lender will not make
available the amount which would constitute its Percentage of such Borrowing on
the date specified therefor, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
amount available to the Agent and, in reliance upon such assumption, make
available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such
Lender shall not have made such amount available to the Agent, such Lender and
the Borrower severally agree to repay the Agent forthwith on demand such
corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date
the Agent made such amount available to the Borrower to the date such amount is
repaid to the Agent, at the interest rate applicable at the time to Loans
comprising such Borrowing.

     SECTION 9.3. Exculpation. Neither the Agent, any Issuer nor any of their
respective directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable to any
Lender for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, or in connection herewith or therewith,
except for its or their own willful misconduct or gross negligence, nor
responsible for any recitals or warranties herein or therein, nor for the
effectiveness, enforceability, validity or due execution of this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, nor to make any inquiry respecting the performance by
the Borrower of its obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document. Any
such inquiry which may be made by the Agent or any Issuer shall not obligate it
to make any further inquiry or to take any action. The Agent and each Issuer
shall be entitled to rely upon advice of counsel concerning legal matters and
upon any notice, consent, certificate, statement or writing which the Agent
believes to be genuine and to have been presented by a proper Person.

                                      -55-

<PAGE>

     SECTION 9.4. Successor. The Agent may resign as such at any time upon at
least 30 days' prior notice to the Borrower and all Lenders. If the Agent at any
time shall resign, the Required Lenders may appoint another Lender as a
successor Agent which shall thereupon become the Agent hereunder. If no
successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall
have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Agent's giving
notice of resignation, then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders,
appoint a successor Agent, which shall be one of the Lenders or a commercial
banking institution organized under the laws of the United States (or any State
thereof) or a U.S. branch or agency of a commercial banking institution, and
having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000. Upon the vote of
100% of the Lenders (excluding the Agent) to remove the Agent, such Lenders may
remove the Agent at any time with or without cause and appoint a successor Agent
which shall be one of the Lenders or a commercial banking institution organized
under the laws of the United States (or any State thereof) or a U.S. branch or
agency of a commercial banking institution, and having a combined capital and
surplus of at least $500,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as
Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall be entitled to
receive from the retiring or removed Agent such documents of transfer and
assignment as such successor Agent may reasonably request, and shall thereupon
succeed to and become vested with all rights, powers, privileges and duties of
the retiring or removed Agent, and the retiring or removed Agent shall be
discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement. After any
retiring or removed Agent's resignation or removal hereunder as the Agent, the
provisions of (a) this Article IX shall inure to its benefit as to any actions
taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Agent under this Agreement;
and (b) Section 10.3 and Section 10.4 shall continue to inure to its benefit.

     SECTION 9.5. Loans by Bank of Montreal. Bank of Montreal shall have the
same rights and powers with respect to (x) the Loans made by it or any of its
Affiliates, and (y) the Notes held by it or any of its Affiliates as any other
Lender and may exercise the same as if it were not the Agent. Bank of Montreal
and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage
in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the
Borrower as if Bank of Montreal were not the Agent hereunder. Each Issuer shall
have the same rights and powers hereunder as the other Lenders and may exercise
the same rights and powers as though it were not an Issuer.

     SECTION 9.6. Credit Decisions. Each Lender acknowledges that it has,
independently of the Agent and each other Lender, and based on such Lender's
review of the financial information of the Borrower, this Agreement, the other
Loan Documents (the terms and provisions of which being satisfactory to such
Lender) and such other documents, information and investigations as such Lender
has deemed appropriate, made its own credit decision to extend its Commitments.
Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently of the Agent and each
other Lender, and based on such other documents, information and investigations
as it shall deem appropriate at any time, continue to make its own credit
decisions as to exercising or not exercising from time to time any rights and
privileges available to it under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

     SECTION 9.7. Copies, etc. The Agent shall give prompt notice to each Lender
of each notice or request required or permitted to be given to the Agent by the
Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (unless concurrently delivered
to the Lenders by the Borrower). The

                                      -56-

<PAGE>

Agent will distribute to each Lender each document or instrument received for
its account and copies of all other communications received by the Agent from
the Borrower for distribution to the Lenders by the Agent in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement.

     SECTION 9.8.  Syndication Agent and Co-Documentation Agents. Neither the
Syndication Agent nor the Co-Documentation Agents shall have any right, power,
obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement or the other
Loan Documents other than those applicable to Lenders as Lenders.

                                   ARTICLE X

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     SECTION 10.1. Waivers, Amendments, etc. The provisions of this Agreement
and of each other Loan Document may from time to time be amended, modified or
waived, if such amendment, modification or waiver is in writing and consented to
by the Borrower and the Required Lenders; provided, however, that no such
amendment, modification or waiver which would: (a) modify any requirement
hereunder that any particular action be taken by all the Lenders or by the
Required Lenders or by the Applicable Lenders shall be effective unless
consented to by each Lender; (b) modify this Section 10.1, change the definition
of "Required Lenders" or "Applicable Lenders", eliminate the Borrowing Base,
increase any Commitment Amount or the Percentage of any Lender (except as
contemplated by Section 2.1.6), reduce any fees described in Article III, or
extend any Commitment Termination Date shall be made without the consent of each
Lender and each holder of a Note; (c) extend the due date for, or reduce the
amount of, any scheduled repayment or prepayment of principal of or interest on
any Loan (or reduce the principal amount of or rate of interest on any Loan)
shall be made without the consent of the Lenders; or (d) affect adversely the
interests, rights or obligations of the Agent as the Agent shall be made without
consent of the Agent.

         No failure or delay on the part of the Agent, any Lender, any Issuer or
the holder of any Note in exercising any power or right under this Agreement or
any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single
or partial exercise of any such power or right preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power or right. No notice to or
demand on the Borrower in any case shall entitle it to any notice or demand in
similar or other circumstances. No waiver or approval by the Agent, any Lender,
any Issuer or the holder of any Note under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document shall, except as may be otherwise stated in such waiver or approval, be
applicable to subsequent transactions. No waiver or approval hereunder shall
require any similar or dissimilar waiver or approval thereafter to be granted
hereunder.

     SECTION 10.2. Notices. All notices and other communications provided to any
party hereto under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be in writing
or by facsimile and addressed, delivered or transmitted to such party at its
address or facsimile number set forth below its signature hereto or set forth in
the Lender Assignment Agreement or at such other address or facsimile number as
may be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties. Any notice, if
mailed and properly addressed with postage prepaid or if properly

                                      -57-

<PAGE>

addressed and sent by pre-paid courier service, shall be deemed given when
received; any notice, if transmitted by facsimile, shall be deemed given when
transmitted.

     SECTION 10.3. Payment of Costs and Expenses. The Borrower agrees to pay on
demand all reasonable expenses of the Agent (including the reasonable fees and
out-of-pocket expenses of counsel to the Agent and of local counsel, if any, who
may be retained by counsel to the Agent) in connection with (a) the negotiation,
preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and of each other Loan
Document, including schedules and exhibits, and any amendments, waivers,
consents, supplements or other modifications to this Agreement or any other Loan
Document as may from time to time hereafter be required, whether or not the
transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, and (b) the preparation and
review of the form of any document or instrument relevant to this Agreement or
any other Loan Document.

         The Borrower further agrees to pay, and to save the Agent and the
Lenders and Issuers harmless from all liability for, any stamp or other taxes
which may be payable in connection with the execution or delivery of this
Agreement, the borrowings hereunder, or the issuance of the Notes or any other
Loan Documents. The Borrower also agrees to reimburse the Agent and each Lender
and Issuer upon demand for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including
attorneys' fees and legal expenses) incurred by the Agent or such Lender in
connection with (x) the negotiation of any restructuring or "work-out", whether
or not consummated, of any Obligations, and (y) the enforcement of any
Obligations.

     SECTION 10.4. Indemnification. In consideration of the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by each Lender and the extension of the Commitments
and the issuance of Letters of Credit, the Borrower hereby indemnifies,
exonerates and holds the Agent, each Issuer and each Lender and each of their
respective officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties") free and harmless from and against any and all actions,
causes of action, suits, losses, costs, liabilities and damages, and expenses
incurred in connection therewith (irrespective of whether any such Indemnified
Party is a party to the action for which indemnification hereunder is sought),
including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements (collectively, the
"Indemnified Liabilities"), incurred by the Indemnified Parties or any of them
as a result of, or arising out of, or relating to (a) any transaction financed
or to be financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds
of any Loan or Letter of Credit; (b) the entering into and performance of this
Agreement and any other Loan Document by any of the Indemnified Parties (except,
with respect to any action brought by or on behalf of the Borrower, to the
extent such Indemnified Party shall be found liable to the Borrower pursuant to
a finding by a court of competent jurisdiction, not subject to appeal); (c) any
investigation, litigation or proceeding related to any environmental cleanup,
audit, compliance or other matter relating to the protection of the environment
or the Release by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any Hazardous
Material; or (d) the presence on or under, or the escape, seepage, leakage,
spillage, discharge, emission, discharging or releases from, any real property
owned or operated by the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof of any Hazardous
Material (including any losses, liabilities, damages, injuries, costs, expenses
or claims asserted or arising under any Environmental Law), regardless of
whether caused by, or within the control of, the Borrower or such Subsidiary,
except for any such Indemnified Liabilities arising for the account of a
particular Indemnified Party by reason of the relevant Indemnified Party's gross
negligence or willful misconduct. If and to the extent that the foregoing
undertaking may be unenforceable for

                                      -58-

<PAGE>

any reason, the Borrower hereby agrees to make the maximum contribution to the
payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is
permissible under applicable law.

     SECTION 10.5.  Survival. The obligations of the Borrower under Sections
4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 10.3, 10.4, and the obligations of the Lenders under Section
9.1, shall in each case survive any termination of this Agreement, the payment
in full of all Obligations and the termination of all Commitments. The
representations and warranties made by the Borrower in this Agreement and in
each other Loan Document shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and each such other Loan Document.

     SECTION 10.6.  Severability. Any provision of this Agreement or any other
Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as
to such provision and such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such
prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions of
this Agreement or such Loan Document or affecting the validity or enforceability
of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

     SECTION 10.7.  Headings. The various headings of this Agreement and of each
other Loan Document are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or such other Loan Document or any
provisions hereof or thereof.

     SECTION 10.8.  Execution in Counterparts, Effectiveness, etc. This
Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in several counterparts, each of
which shall be executed by the Borrower and the Agent and be deemed to be an
original and all of which shall constitute together but one and the same
agreement. This Agreement shall become effective when counterparts hereof
executed on behalf of the Borrower and each Lender (or notice thereof
satisfactory to the Agent) shall have been received by the Agent and notice
thereof shall have been given by the Agent to the Borrower and each Lender.

     SECTION 10.9.  Governing Law; Entire Agreement. THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES
AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL EACH BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER
AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. This Agreement, the
Notes and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire understanding among the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any prior
agreements, written or oral, with respect thereto.

     THIS WRITTEN LOAN AGREEMENT REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE
PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR
SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.

     THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

     SECTION 10.10. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns; provided, however, that: (a) the Borrower may not assign
or transfer its rights or obligations

                                      -59-

<PAGE>

hereunder without the prior written consent of the Agent and all Lenders; and
(b) the rights of sale, assignment and transfer of the Lenders are subject to
Section 10.11.

     SECTION 10.11.   Sale and Transfer of Loans and Notes; Participations in
Loans and Notes. Each Lender may assign, or sell participations in, its Loans
and Commitments to one or more other Persons in accordance with this Section
10.11.

     SECTION 10.11.1. Assignments. Any Lender,

          (a)   with the written consent of the Borrower (which consent shall
     not to be unreasonably delayed or withheld) and the Agent (which consent
     shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld) and each Issuer, may at any
     time assign and delegate to one or more commercial banks or other financial
     institutions, and

          (b)   with notice to the Borrower and the Agent and each Issuer, but
     without the consent of the Borrower or the Agent or any Issuer, may assign
     and delegate to any of its Affiliates or to any other Lender

(each Person described in either of the foregoing clauses as being the Person to
whom such assignment and delegation is to be made, being hereinafter referred to
as an "Assignee Lender"), all or any fraction of such Lender's total Loans,
Commitments and participations in Letters of Credit (which assignment and
delegation shall be, except with the prior written consent of the Agent, of a
constant, and not a varying, percentage of all the assigning Lender's Loans and
Commitments and participations in Letters of Credit) in a minimum aggregate
amount of $20,000,000 or such Lender's Percentage of the Commitment Amount, if
less; provided, however, that any such Assignee Lender will comply, if
applicable, with the provisions contained in the last sentence of Section 4.6;
and further, provided, however, that, the Borrower and the Agent shall be
entitled to continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection
with the interests so assigned and delegated to an Assignee Lender until:

          (i)   written notice of such assignment and delegation, together with
     payment instructions, addresses and related information with respect to
     such Assignee Lender, shall have been given to the Borrower and the Agent
     and each Issuer by such Lender and such Assignee Lender,

          (ii)  such Assignee Lender shall have executed and delivered to the
     Borrower, the Agent and each Issuer a Lender Assignment Agreement, accepted
     by the Borrower, the Agent and each Issuer, and

          (iii) the processing fees described below shall have been paid.

From and after the date that the Borrower and the Agent and each Issuer accepts
such Lender Assignment Agreement, (x) the Assignee Lender thereunder shall be
deemed automatically to have become a party hereto and to the extent that rights
and obligations hereunder have been assigned and delegated to such Assignee
Lender in connection with such Lender Assignment Agreement, shall have the
rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents,
and (y) the assignor Lender, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder
have been assigned and delegated by it in connection with such Lender Assignment
Agreement, shall

                                      -60-

<PAGE>

be released from its obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.
Within five Business Days after its receipt of notice that the Agent has
received an executed Lender Assignment Agreement, the Borrower shall execute and
deliver to the Agent (for delivery to the relevant Assignee Lender) new Notes
evidencing such Assignee Lender's assigned Loans and Commitments and, if the
assignor Lender has retained Loans and Commitments hereunder, replacement Notes
in the principal amount of the Loans and Commitments retained by the assignor
Lender hereunder (such Notes to be in exchange for, but not in payment of, those
Notes then held by such assignor Lender). Each such Note shall be dated the date
of the predecessor Notes. The assignor Lender shall mark the predecessor Notes
"exchanged" and deliver them to the Borrower. Accrued interest on that part of
the predecessor Notes evidenced by the new Notes, and accrued fees, shall be
paid as provided in the Lender Assignment Agreement. Accrued interest on that
part of the predecessor Notes evidenced by the replacement Notes shall be paid
to the assignor Lender. Accrued interest and accrued fees shall be paid at the
same time or times provided in the predecessor Notes and in this Agreement. Such
assignor Lender or such Assignee Lender must also pay a processing fee to the
Agent upon delivery of any Lender Assignment Agreement in the amount of $2,500.
Any attempted assignment and delegation not made in accordance with this Section
10.11.1 shall be null and void.

       SECTION 10.11.2. Participations. Any Lender, with the prior written
consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not to be unreasonably delayed or
withheld), may at any time sell to one or more trusts, financial institutions or
commercial banks (each of such trust, financial institution or commercial bank
being herein called a "Participant") participating interests in any of the
Loans, Commitments, or other interests of such Lender hereunder; provided,
however, that (a) no participation contemplated in this Section 10.11 shall
relieve such Lender from its Commitments or its other obligations hereunder or
under any other Loan Document, (b) such Lender shall remain solely responsible
for the performance of its Commitments and such other obligations, (c) the
Borrower and each other Obligor and the Agent shall continue to deal solely and
directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and
obligations under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, (d) no
Participant, unless such Participant is an Affiliate of such Lender, or is
itself a Lender, shall be entitled to require such Lender to take or refrain
from taking any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document, except that
such Lender may agree with any Participant that such Lender will not, without
such Participant's consent, take any actions of the type described in clause (b)
or (c) of Section 10.1, and (e) the Borrower shall not be required to pay any
amount under Section 4.6 that is greater than the amount which it would have
been required to pay had no participating interest been sold.

       SECTION 10.11.3. Pledges to Federal Reserve Banks. Any Lender may at any
time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights
under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender to a Federal Reserve
Bank or, in the case of a Lender organized in a jurisdiction outside of the
United States, a comparable Person; provided that no such pledge or assignment
of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations
hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party
hereto.

       SECTION 10.12.   Other Transactions. Nothing contained herein shall
preclude the Agent or any other Lender from engaging in any transaction, in
addition to those contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document,
with the Borrower or any of its Affiliates in which the Borrower or such
Affiliate is not restricted hereby from engaging with any other

                                      -61-

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Person. The parties hereto agree that if at any time the Borrower or its
Subsidiaries shall grant to the Lenders Liens securing the obligations of the
Borrower to the Lenders and Issuers hereunder, such Liens shall also secure
obligations to any Lender in respect of any letter of credit reimbursement
obligations permitted by Section 7.2.2(i) hereof owing to one or more Lenders.

       SECTION 10.13. Existing Letters of Credit. Any letters of credit
outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement on the Effective Date and listed
under the heading "Existing Letters of Credit" in Item 7.2.2(a) ("Existing
Letters of Credit") of the Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed continued as
Revolving Loan Letters of Credit under this Agreement. The Lenders hereunder
shall be deemed to have purchased participations in the Existing Letters of
Credit such that after giving effect thereto each Lender's participation in the
Existing Letters of Credit shall equal the Lender's Percentage as set forth on
Exhibit F.

       SECTION 10.14. Collateral Matters; Hedging Agreements. The benefit of the
security documents and of the provisions of this Agreement relating to the
collateral secured hereunder shall also extend to and be available on a pro rata
basis to each Lender or its Affiliates in respect of any Hedging Obligation of
Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries owed to such Lender or its
Affiliates and in respect of any obligation of Borrower or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries owed to such Lender or its Affiliate under any Other Letter of
Credit or the Coupon Purchase Transaction, but in each case only while such
Person is a Lender.

       SECTION 10.15. Forum Selection and Consent to Jurisdiction. ANY
LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF
DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF THE AGENT, THE
LENDERS, ANY ISSUER, OR THE BORROWER MAY BE BROUGHT AND MAINTAINED IN THE COURTS
OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN
DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS. THE BORROWER HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO
THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND OF THE UNITED STATES
DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY SUCH
LITIGATION AS SET FORTH ABOVE AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY ANY JUDGMENT
RENDERED THEREBY IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH LITIGATION. THE BORROWER FURTHER
IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS BY REGISTERED MAIL, POSTAGE
PREPAID, OR BY PERSONAL SERVICE WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. THE
BORROWER HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY HAVE OR HEREAFTER MAY HAVE TO THE
LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT REFERRED TO
ABOVE AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH LITIGATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT
FORUM. TO THE EXTENT THAT THE BORROWER HAS OR HEREAFTER MAY ACQUIRE ANY IMMUNITY
FROM JURISDICTION OF ANY COURT OF FROM ANY LEGAL PROCESS (WHETHER THROUGH
SERVICE OR NOTICE, ATTACHMENT PRIOR TO JUDGMENT, ATTACHMENT IN AID OF EXECUTION
OR OTHERWISE) WITH RESPECT TO

                                      -62-

<PAGE>

ITSELF OR ITS PROPERTY, THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES SUCH IMMUNITY IN
RESPECT OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.

       SECTION 10.16. Waiver of Jury Trial. THE AGENT, THE LENDERS, EACH ISSUER
AND THE BORROWER HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE ANY
RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED
HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS
(WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF THE AGENT, THE LENDERS OR THE
BORROWER. THE BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT IT HAS RECEIVED FULL AND
SUFFICIENT CONSIDERATION FOR THIS PROVISION (AND EACH OTHER PROVISION OF EACH
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT TO WHICH IT IS A PARTY) AND THAT THIS PROVISION IS A
MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE AGENT, EACH ISSUER AND THE LENDERS ENTERING INTO
THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH SUCH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT.

                      [SIGNATURES BEGIN ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

                                      -63-

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the day
and year first above written.

                                      VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC.

                                      By:         /s/ William C. Barnes
                                         --------------------------------------
                                      Name:       William C. Barnes
                                      Title:      Executive Vice President and
                                                  Chief Financial Officer

                                      Address:    110 West Seventh Street
                                                  Tulsa, Oklahoma  74119

                                      Facsimile No.: (918) 878-5781

                                      Attention:  William C. Barnes
                                                  Executive Vice President
                                                  and Chief Financial Officer

                                      S-1

<PAGE>

                                     BANK OF MONTREAL, acting through its U.S.
                                     branches and agencies, including initially
                                     its Chicago, Illinois branch, as Agent

                                     By:        /s/ Joseph A. Bliss
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                     Name:      Joseph A. Bliss
                                     Title:     Vice President

                                     Address:   115 South LaSalle Street,
                                                11th Floor West
                                                Chicago, Illinois  60603

                                     Facsimile No.: (312) 750-3456

                                     Attention: Terri Perez-Ford, Specialist

                                     with copy to:

                                     Bank of Montreal
                                     Houston Agency
                                     700 Louisiana Street
                                     4400 Bank of America Center
                                     Houston, Texas 77002

                                     Facsimile No.: (713) 223-4007

                                     Attention: Joseph Bliss

                                       S-2

<PAGE>

                                    LENDERS:

                                    BANK OF MONTREAL, as Lender

                                    By:        /s/ Joseph A. Bliss
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                    Name:      Joseph A. Bliss
                                    Title:     Vice President

                                    Domestic

                                    Office:    115 South LaSalle Street
                                               11th Floor West
                                               Chicago, Illinois  60603

                                    Facsimile No.: (312) 750-3456

                                    Attention: Terri Perez-Ford, Specialist

                                    LIBOR

                                    Office:    115 South LaSalle Street
                                               Chicago, Illinois 60603

                                    Facsimile No.: (312) 750-3456

                                    Attention: Terri-Perez-Ford

                                    with copy to:

                                    Bank of Montreal
                                    Houston Agency
                                    700 Louisiana Street
                                    4400 Bank of America Center
                                    Houston, Texas  77002

                                    Facsimile No.: (713) 223-4007

                                    Attention: Joseph Bliss

                                      S-3

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                                      NOTE

$_____________                                                ____________, 2002

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), promises to pay to the order of
_______________________ (the "Lender") the principal sum of ____________________
DOLLARS ($____________) or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of
all Loans made by the Lender pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as
of May 2, 2002 (together with all amendments and other modifications, if any,
from time to time thereafter made thereto, the "Credit Agreement"), among the
Borrower, BANK OF MONTREAL, as Agent, the various financial institutions
(including the Lenders) as are, or may from time to time become, parties
thereto, the Syndication Agent and the Co-Documentation Agents, payable in
installments as set forth in the Credit Agreement, with a final installment (in
the amount necessary to pay in full this Note) due and payable on the Revolving
Period Commitment Termination Date set forth therein.

         The Borrower also promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal
amount hereof from time to time outstanding from the date hereof until maturity
(whether by acceleration or otherwise) and, after maturity, until paid, at the
rates per annum and on the dates specified in the Credit Agreement.

         Payments of both principal and interest are to be made in lawful money
of the United States of America in same day or immediately available funds to
the account designated by the Agent pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

         This Note is one of the Notes referred to in, and evidences
Indebtedness incurred under, the Credit Agreement, to which reference is made
for a statement of the terms and conditions on which the Borrower is permitted
and required to make prepayments and repayments of principal of the Indebtedness
evidenced by this Note and on which such Indebtedness may be declared to be
immediately due and payable. Unless otherwise defined, terms used herein have
the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement.

         All parties hereto, whether as makers, endorsers, or otherwise,
severally waive presentment for payment, demand, protest and notice of dishonor.

         THIS NOTE HAS BEEN DELIVERED IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AND SHALL BE DEEMED
TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS.

                                              VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC.

                                              By________________________________
                                              Name:
                                              Title:

                                  Exhibit A-1

<PAGE>

                          LOANS AND PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              Amount of                         Amount of          Unpaid
              Loan Made                      Principal Repaid     Principal
              ---------                      ----------------      Balance
                                                                   -------

                            Interest
              Base  LIBO    Period(if        Base       LIBO     Base   LIBO                   Notation
   Date       Rate  Rate    applicable)      Rate       Rate     Rate   Rate       Total       Made By
   ----       ----  ----    -----------      ----       ----     ----   ----       -----       -------
<S>          <C>    <C>    <C>               <C>         <C>     <C>    <C>         <C>        <C>
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
</TABLE>

                                  Exhibit A-2

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                                BORROWING REQUEST

Bank of Montreal
115 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603

Attention:       [Name]
                 [Title]

                             VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC.

Gentlemen and Ladies:

         This Borrowing Request is delivered to you pursuant to Section 2.3 of
the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2002 (together with all amendments, if
any, from time to time thereafter made thereto, the "Credit Agreement"), among
Vintage Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), certain
financial institutions, Bank of Montreal, as administrative agent (the "Agent"),
the Syndication Agent and the Co-Documentation Agents. Unless otherwise defined
herein or the context otherwise requires, terms used herein have the meanings
provided in the Credit Agreement.

         The Borrower hereby requests that a Revolving Loan be made in the
aggregate principal amount of $__________ on __________, 200_ as a [LIBO Rate
Loan having an Interest Period of _______ months] [Base Rate Loan].

         The Borrower hereby acknowledges that, pursuant to Section 5.2.2 of the
Credit Agreement, each of the delivery of this Borrowing Request and the
acceptance by the Borrower of the proceeds of the Loans requested hereby
constitutes a representation and warranty by the Borrower that, on the date of
such Loans, and before and after giving effect thereto and to the application of
the proceeds therefrom, all statements set forth in Section 5.2.1 are true and
correct in all material respects.

         The Borrower certifies that the Borrowing Base Debt of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries, other than Loans made pursuant to the Credit Agreement, is
$_____________ as of the date hereof.

         The Borrower agrees that if prior to the time of the Borrowing
requested hereby any matter certified to herein by it will not be true and
correct at such time as if then made, it will immediately so notify the Agent.
Except to the extent, if any, that prior to the time of the Borrowing requested
hereby the Agent shall receive written notice to the contrary from the Borrower,
each matter certified to herein shall be deemed once again to be certified as
true and correct at the date of such Borrowing as if then made.

                                  Exhibit B-1

<PAGE>

         Please wire transfer the proceeds of the Borrowing requested hereby to
the accounts of the following persons at the financial institutions indicated
respectively:

Amount to be                  Person to be Paid             Name, Address, etc.
                          --------------------------
Transferred            Name            Account No.          of Transferee Lender
-----------            ----            -----------          --------------------

$_______________       __________      _____________        ____________________
                                                            ____________________
                                                            Attention:__________

$_______________       __________      _____________        ____________________
                                                            ____________________
                                                            Attention:__________

Balance of            The Borrower     _____________        ____________________
such proceeds                                               ____________________
                                                            Attention:__________

         The Borrower has caused this Borrowing Request to be executed and
delivered, and the certification and warranties contained herein to be made, by
its duly Authorized Officer this ___ day of ___________, 200_.

                                              VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC.

                                              By________________________________
                                              Name:
                                              Title:

                                  Exhibit B-2

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT C

                         CONTINUATION/CONVERSION NOTICE

Bank of Montreal
115 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603

Attention:        [Name]
                  [Title]

                             VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC.

Gentlemen and Ladies:

         This Continuation/Conversion Notice is delivered to you pursuant to
Section 2.4 of the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2002 (together with all
amendments, if any, from time to time thereafter made thereto, the "Credit
Agreement"), among Vintage Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Borrower"), certain financial institutions, Bank of Montreal, as administrative
agent (the "Agent"), the Syndication Agent and the Co-Documentation Agents.
Unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires, terms used
herein have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement.

         The Borrower hereby requests that on ____________, 200_,

                (1) $___________ of the presently outstanding principal amount
         of the Revolving Loans originally made on __________, 200_ [and
         $__________ of the presently outstanding principal amount of the
         [Revolving Loans] originally made on __________, 200__],

                (2) and all presently being maintained as */[Base Rate Loans]
         [LIBO Rate Loans], --

                (3) be [converted into] [continued as],

                (4) **/[LIBO Rate Loans having an Interest Period of ______
         months] [Base Rate Loans].

The Borrower hereby:

                (a) certifies and warrants that no Default has occurred and is
         continuing; and

_________________

*/  Selected appropriate interest rate option.
--
**/ Insert appropriate interest rate option.
---

<PAGE>

                (b) agrees that if prior to the time of such continuation or
         conversion any matter certified to herein by it will not be true and
         correct at such time as if then made, it will immediately so notify the
         Agent.

Except to the extent, if any, that prior to the time of the continuation or
conversion requested hereby the Agent shall receive written notice to the
contrary from the Borrower, each matter certified to herein shall be deemed to
be certified at the date of such continuation or conversion as if then made.

         The Borrower has caused this Continuation/Conversion Notice to be
executed and delivered, and the certification and warranties contained herein to
be made, by its Authorized Officer this ___ day of _________, 200_.

                                           VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC.

                                           By___________________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

                                  Exhibit C-2

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT D

                           LENDER ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

To:  Vintage Petroleum, Inc.

To:  Bank of Montreal,
     as the Agent

                             VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC.

Gentlemen and Ladies:

         We refer to clause (d) of Section 10.11.1 of the Credit Agreement,
dated as of May 2, 2002 (together with all amendments and other modifications,
if any, from time to time thereafter made thereto, the "Credit Agreement"),
among Vintage Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the
various financial institutions (the "Lenders") as are, or shall from time to
time become, parties thereto, Bank of Montreal, as administrative agent (the
"Agent") for the Lenders, the Syndication Agent and the Co-Documentation Agents.
Unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires, terms used
herein have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement.

         This Agreement is delivered to you pursuant to clause (d) of Section
10.11.1 of the Credit Agreement and also constitutes notice to each of you,
pursuant to clause (c) of Section 10.11.1 of the Credit Agreement, of the
assignment and delegation to _______________ (the "Assignee") of ___% of the
Loans and Commitments of _____________ (the "Assignor") outstanding under the
Credit Agreement on the date hereof. After giving effect to the foregoing
assignment and delegation, the Assignor's and the Assignee's Percentages for the
purposes of the Credit Agreement are set forth opposite such Person's name on
the signature pages hereof.

         [Add paragraph dealing with accrued interest and fees with respect to
Loans and participations in Letters of Credit being assigned.]

         The Assignee hereby acknowledges and confirms that it has received a
copy of the Credit Agreement and the exhibits related thereto, together with
copies of the documents which were required to be delivered under the Credit
Agreement as a condition to the making of the Loans thereunder. The Assignee
further confirms and agrees that in becoming a Lender and in making its
Commitments and Loans and in participating in Letters of Credit under the Credit
Agreement, such actions have and will be made without recourse to, or
representation or warranty by the Agent.

         Except as otherwise provided in the Credit Agreement, effective as of
the date of acceptance hereof by the Agent.

                                  Exhibit D-1

<PAGE>

             (a)  the Assignee

                  (i)   shall be deemed automatically to have become a party to
             the Credit Agreement, have all the rights and obligations of a
             "Lender" under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents as
             if it were an original signatory thereto to the extent specified in
             the second paragraph hereof; and

                  (ii)  agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions set forth
             in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents as if it were
             an original signatory thereto; and

             (b)  the Assignor shall be released from its obligations under the
         Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to the extent specified
         in the second paragraph hereof.

         The Assignor and the Assignee hereby agree that the [Assignor]
[Assignee] will pay to the Agent the processing fee referred to in Section
10.11.1 of the Credit Agreement upon the delivery hereof.

         The Assignee hereby advises each of you of the following administrative
details with respect to the assigned Loans and Commitments and requests the
Agent to acknowledge receipt of this document:

             (A)  Address for Notices:

                  Institution Name:

                  Attention:

                  Domestic Office:

                  Telephone:

                  Facsimile:

                  LIBOR Office:

                  Telephone:

                  Facsimile:

             (B)  Payment Instructions:

         The Assignee agrees to furnish the tax form required by the last
sentence of Section 4.6 (if so required) of the Credit Agreement no later than
the date of acceptance hereof by the Agent.

                                  Exhibit D-2

<PAGE>

         This Agreement may be executed by the Assignor and Assignee in separate
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be
an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
agreement.

Adjusted Percentage                           [ASSIGNOR]

Revolving Loan                                By:____________________
  Commitment                                  Name:
     and                                      Title:
Revolving Loans:               __%

Letter of Credit
  participations:              __%
Percentage                                    [ASSIGNEE]

Revolving Loan                                By:____________________
  Commitment                                  Name:
     and                                      Title:
Revolving Loans:               __%

Letter of Credit
  participations:              __%
Accepted and Acknowledged
this __ day of _______, 200_

BANK OF MONTREAL,
  as Agent

By:_______________
Name:
Title:

VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC.,
  as Borrower

By:_______________
Name:
Title:

[add signature blocks for each Issuer]

                                  Exhibit D-3

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT G

                            FORM OF ISSUANCE REQUEST

                                Issuance Request

Bank of Montreal
115 S. LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60603

Attention:

         Re:   Vintage Petroleum, Inc.

Gentlemen and Ladies:

         This Issuance Request is delivered to you pursuant to Section 2.8.1 of
the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2002 (together with all amendments and
other modifications, if any, from time to time thereafter made thereto, the
"Credit Agreement"), among Vintage Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Borrower"), the various financial institutions as are, or may from time to time
become, parties thereto (collectively, the "Lenders"), Bank of Montreal, acting
through certain of its U.S. branches or agencies ("BMO") as administrative agent
(in such capacity, together with any successor(s) thereto in such capacity, the
"Agent") for the Lenders, the Syndication Agent and the Co-Documentation Agents.
Terms used herein have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement unless
otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires.

         The Borrower hereby requests that __________________________ as the
Issuer issue a Letter of Credit on [Date] in the aggregate initial face amount
of ________________ [and in the form attached hereto].***

         The beneficiary of the requested Letter of Credit will be
_________________________, and such Letter of Credit will be in support of the
[Provide Description] and will have a stated expiry date of [Date]. [The
following documents will be required upon presentation: [Provide Description]

         Attached hereto is an executed copy of an [Application for Letter of
Credit].

         The Borrower hereby acknowledges that, pursuant to Section 5.2.2 of the
Credit Agreement, each of the delivery of this Issuance Request and the issuance
of the Letter of Credit requested hereby constitutes a representation and
warranty by the Borrower that, on the date of such Borrowing, and before and
after giving effect thereto, all statements set forth in Section 5.2.1 are true
and correct in all material respects.

***/ Include where the Borrower is providing the form of Letter of Credit
     requested to be issued.

                                  Exhibit G-1

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Issuance Request to be
executed and delivered by its duly Authorized Officer this ___ day of ___, 200_.

                                              VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC.

                                              By________________________________
                                              Name:
                                              Title:

                                  Exhibit G-2

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT I

Bank of Montreal
Houston Agency
700 Louisiana Street
4400 Bank of America Center
Houston, Texas 77002
Telecopier: (713) 223-4007

Date:________________________

                          Notice of Commitment Increase

         Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2002,
among Vintage Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the "Borrower"), certain
financial institutions and the Bank of Montreal (the "Agent") (as amended,
modified and supplemented to the date hereof, the "Agreement"). Capitalized
terms used herein but not otherwise defined have the meanings assigned to them
in the Agreement. The undersigned hereby gives notice pursuant to Section 2.1.6
of the Agreement of its intent to increase the Commitment Amount by the amount
of $ , effective (the "Commitment Increase Effective Date"). The existing
Lenders agreeing to increase their Commitments and the assignees agreeing to
become New Lenders to effect such requested increase are identified below.

         From and after the Commitment Increase Effective Date, the respective
Commitments of the existing Lenders agreeing to increase their Commitments and
the New Lenders will be as set forth below:

Existing Lenders:              Share of Maximum           Percentage
                                  Commitment
                                    Amount

______________                 $______________            ______________

______________                 $______________            ______________

______________                 $______________            ______________

______________                 $______________            ______________

______________                 $______________            ______________

______________                 $______________

                                  Exhibit I-1

<PAGE>

New Lenders:                   Share of Maximum           Percentage
                                  Commitment
                                    Amount

______________                 $______________            ______________

______________                 $______________            ______________

______________                 $______________            ______________

______________                 $______________            ______________

______________                 $______________            ______________

______________                 $______________

         The undersigned Authorized Officer represents and warrants that (a) the
increase requested hereby complies with the requirements of Section 2.1.6 of the
Agreement and (b) except [as set forth on Annex A hereto, and]**** to the extent
the undersigned gives notice to the Agent to the contrary prior to 5:00 p.m.,
(U.S. central time) on the Business Day before the Commitment Increase Effective
Date, no Default or Event of Default exists as of the date hereof and no Default
will exist on the Commitment Increase Effective Date.

                                              __________________________________

                                              By:_______________________________
                                              Name:
                                              Title:
--------------

****     If the representation and warranty in clause (b) would be incorrect,
         include the material in the brackets and set forth the reasons such
         representation and warranty would be incorrect on an attachment labeled
         Annex A.

                                  Exhibit I-2<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.2

                       FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

         This First Amendment to Credit Agreement (this "Amendment") dated as of
May 24, 2002, is by and among VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Borrower"), each Lender (as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to
below), BANK OF MONTREAL, acting through certain of its U.S. branches or
agencies, individually and as administrative agent (in such capacity, together
with its successors in such capacity, the "Agent"), Deutsche Bank Trust Company
Americas, as syndication agent, and Fleet National Bank, Societe Generale and
The Bank of New York, as co-documentation agents.

                                R E C I T A L S:

         WHEREAS, the Borrower, each Lender then a party, the Agent and the
Issuer have heretofore entered into that certain Credit Agreement dated as of
May 2, 2002 (the "Credit Agreement") pursuant to which the Lenders have agreed
to make revolving loans available to, and to participate in letters of credit
for the benefit of, the Borrower upon the terms and provisions stated therein;
and

         WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Credit Agreement be
amended to allow Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas ("Deutsche Bank"), Fleet
National Bank ("Fleet"), Societe Generale ("SocGen"), The Bank of New York
("BNY"), Credit Lyonnais New York Branch ("Credit Lyonnais"), Citicorp USA, Inc.
("Citicorp"), Bank of Oklahoma, N.A. ("BOK"), Fortis Capital Corp. ("Fortis"),
Union Bank of California, N.A. ("UBOC"), and Local Oklahoma Bank, N.A. ("Local
Bank"), to become "Lenders" party to the Credit Agreement, as set forth herein;
and

         WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Credit Agreement be
amended to allow Deutsche Bank to become Syndication Agent under the Credit
Agreement and to allow Fleet, SocGen and BNY to become Co-Documentation Agents
under the Credit Agreement, as set forth herein; and

         WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of this Amendment, the
Lenders (including Deutsche Bank, Fleet, SocGen, BNY, Credit Lyonnais, Citicorp,
BOK, Fortis, UBOC and Local Bank), the Agent, the Syndication Agent, the
Co-Documentation Agents and the Issuer are willing to enter into this Amendment;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises herein contained and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         Section 1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used in this Amendment, to
the extent not otherwise defined herein, shall have the same meaning as in the
Credit Agreement.

         Section 2. Amendments to Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement is
hereby amended as follows:

<PAGE>

         (a) The definitions of "Borrowing Base Debt" and "Revolving Loan Letter
     of Credit" in Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement are hereby amended and
     restated in their entirety to provide as follows:

         "Borrowing Base Debt" means, at any date of determination with respect
         to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, all Indebtedness for borrowed
         money (including the Loans under this Agreement), all obligations
         evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, and
         all obligations, contingent or otherwise, relative to the face amount
         of all Letters of Credit and Other Letters of Credit, whether or not
         drawn, at such date, but shall not include (i) Indebtedness pursuant to
         the Senior Notes, (ii) Subordinated Debt, (iii) Indebtedness permitted
         by clauses (o) and (q) of Section 7.2.2, (iv) Non-Recourse
         Indebtedness, (v) Indebtedness of any Subject Subsidiary or (vi) any
         Contingent Liability of the Borrower (other than for borrowed money
         permitted by clause (m) of Section 7.2.2).

         "Revolving Loan Letter of Credit" means a Standby Letter of Credit or a
         Documentary Letter of Credit in such form as may be mutually agreed
         upon by Borrower and the applicable Issuer and issued pursuant to
         Section 2.1.3, provided that each Revolving Loan Letter of Credit shall
         be denominated in Dollars.

         (b) Sections 2.7.1 and 2.7.2 of the Credit Agreement are hereby amended
     and restated in their entirety to provide as follows:

         SECTION 2.7.1 Annual Scheduled Determinations of the Borrowing Base.
         Promptly after December 31 of each calendar year commencing December
         31, 2002, and in any event prior to April 1 of the following calendar
         year, the Borrower shall furnish to the Agent and each Lender a report
         in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, prepared or audited by
         the Independent Engineers, which report shall be dated as of December
         31st of such calendar year and shall set forth the proven and producing
         oil and gas reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties and a
         projection of the rate of production and net operating income with
         respect thereto, as of such date, and a projection of the rate of
         production and net operating income with respect thereto, as of such
         date. Upon receipt of such report relating to the Oil and Gas
         Properties, the Agent shall make a determination within 25 days of the
         receipt of such report of the amount of Borrowing Base Debt which the
         Borrower may maintain (herein as determined and redetermined from time
         to time and in effect on any date called the "Borrowing Base") on
         account of such reserves as of such December 31st, subject to the
         approval of the Applicable Lenders as provided in this Section, and
         upon such determination the Agent

                                       2

<PAGE>

         shall promptly notify the Lenders in writing of the determination of
         the Borrowing Base. The determination of the Borrowing Base made by the
         Agent shall be so made by the Agent in the exercise of its sole
         discretion in accordance with the Agent's customary practices and
         standards for oil and gas loans. The Applicable Lenders may approve the
         Agent's determination of the Borrowing Base by written notice to the
         Agent within 15 days of the Agent's notification of its determination
         of the new Borrowing Base. Any Lender that fails to respond to such
         recommendation made by the Agent pursuant to this Section within such
         15 days, shall be deemed to have approved such recommendation. If the
         Applicable Lenders fail to approve a determination of the Borrowing
         Base made by the Agent pursuant to this Section within such 15 days,
         then the Lenders shall submit to the Agent in writing within 5 days of
         the end of such 15 day period their respective recommendation for such
         redetermined Borrowing Base in accordance with their respective
         customary practices and standards for oil and gas loans, whereupon the
         Agent shall designate the Borrowing Base at the largest amount
         recommended by the Applicable Lenders; provided, however, that it is
         expressly understood that the Lenders and Agent have no obligation to
         agree upon or designate the Borrowing Base at any particular amount.

         SECTION 2.7.2 Semi-Annual Scheduled Determination of the Borrowing
         Base. In addition, within ninety (90) days after each June 30
         (commencing June 30, 2002) the Borrower will make available for review
         by the Agent monthly production data for each property included within
         the Oil and Gas Properties for the six (6) month period preceding such
         date together with the Borrower's projection of the rate of production
         and net operating income for such properties (in the aggregate). Also
         to be made available are the reserves, projected rate of income and net
         operating income on (i) any Oil and Gas Properties which were developed
         by the Borrower subsequent to the preceding December 31 and which are
         to be included in the Borrowing Base. Upon the receipt of a report
         relating to the Oil and Gas Properties, the Agent shall make a
         determination within 25 days of the receipt of such report of the
         Borrowing Base as of the preceding June 30. The determinations of the
         Borrowing Base shall be made in the same manner and be subject to the
         same approvals as prescribed with respect to the annual redetermination
         as set forth in Section 2.7.1, and likewise the Agent shall communicate
         the results of each such determination to the Lenders. The Applicable
         Lenders may approve the determination of the Borrowing Base by written
         notice to the Agent within 15 days of the Agent's notification of its
         determination of the new Borrowing Base. Any Lender that fails

                                       3

<PAGE>

         to respond to such recommendation made by the Agent pursuant to this
         Section within such 15 days, shall be deemed to have approved such
         recommendation. If the Applicable Lenders fail to approve a
         determination of the Borrowing Base made by the Agent pursuant to this
         Section within such 15 days, then the Lenders shall submit to the Agent
         in writing within 5 days of the end of such 15 day period their
         respective recommendation for such redetermined Borrowing Base in
         accordance with their respective customary practices and standards for
         oil and gas loans, whereupon the Agent shall designate the Borrowing
         Base at the largest amount recommended by the Applicable Lenders;
         provided, however, that it is expressly understood that the Lenders and
         Agent have no obligation to agree upon or designate the Borrowing Base
         at any particular amount.

         (c) Section 3.3.3 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
     inserting the following new sentence at the end of the existing Section
     3.3.3:

         Such fees in respect of Letters of Credit shall be payable by the
         Borrower in arrears on each Quarterly Payment Date, commencing on June
         1, 2002, and ending on the Revolving Period Commitment Termination
         Date.

         (d) Section 8.1.2 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and
     restated in its entirety to provide as follows:

         SECTION 8.1.2 Breach of Warranty. Any representation or warranty of the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower made or deemed to be made
         hereunder or in any other Loan Document to which the Borrower or such
         Subsidiary is a party or any other writing or certificate furnished by
         or on behalf of the Borrower or such Subsidiary to the Agent or any
         Lender for the purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any
         such other Loan Document (including any certificates delivered pursuant
         to Article V) is or shall be incorrect when made in any material
         respect.

         (e) Section 8.1.4 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and
     restated in its entirety to provide as follows:

         SECTION 8.1.4 Non-Performance of Other Covenants and Obligations. The
         Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall default in the due
         performance and observance of any agreement contained herein or in any
         other Loan Document to which the Borrower or such Subsidiary is a party
         (other than as specified in Section 8.1.1 or Section 8.1.3), and such
         default shall continue unremedied for a period of 15 days after the
         Borrower shall become aware of such default, whether by notice thereof

                                       4

<PAGE>

         given to the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, by the Agent
         or any Lender or otherwise.

         (f) Section 8.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting
     the following Section 8.1.11 immediately following the existing Section
     8.1.10:

         SECTION 8.1.11 Impairment of Security, etc. (a) Any Loan Document, or
         any Lien granted thereunder and required by Section 7.1.9 or Section
         7.1.12 hereof, shall (except in accordance with its terms), terminate,
         cease to be effective or cease to be the legally valid, binding and
         enforceable obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the
         Borrower party thereto; (b) the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the
         Borrower or any other party shall, directly or indirectly, contest in
         any manner such effectiveness, validity, binding nature or
         enforceability; or (c) any such Lien securing any Obligation of the
         Borrower or any Guaranty shall cease to be a perfected first priority
         Lien, subject only to those exceptions expressly permitted by such Loan
         Document, and the circumstance described in the foregoing clauses (a),
         (b) or (c) (other than a contest of the effectiveness, validity,
         binding nature or enforceability of a Loan Document or a Lien granted
         thereunder by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower) shall
         remain unremedied for a period of 30 days after the Borrower shall
         become aware thereof (whether by notice thereof given to the Borrower
         or such Subsidiary, as applicable, by the Agent or any Lender or
         otherwise), such 30 day period to run concurrently with, and not in
         addition to, any other applicable curative period specified in this
         Agreement including Section 7.1.12(iv) hereof.

         (g) The first paragraph of Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement is
     hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as follows:

         SECTION 10.1 Waivers, Amendments, etc. The provisions of this Agreement
         and of each other Loan Document may from time to time be amended,
         modified or waived, if such amendment, modification or waiver is in
         writing and consented to by the Borrower and the Required Lenders;
         provided, however, that no such amendment, modification or waiver which
         would: (a) modify any requirement hereunder that any particular action
         be taken by all the Lenders or by the Required Lenders or by the
         Applicable Lenders shall be effective unless consented to by each
         Lender; (b) modify this Section 10.1, change the definition of
         "Required Lenders" or "Applicable Lenders", eliminate the Borrowing
         Base, increase any Commitment Amount or the Percentage of any Lender
         (except as contemplated by Section 2.1.6), reduce any fees described in
         Article III, release any collateral security delivered pursuant to
         Section 7.1.9 or Section 7.1.12 hereof (except that the

                                       5

<PAGE>

         Agent may release collateral security to the extent such collateral
         security is disposed of pursuant to, and as permitted by, Section 7.2.7
         of this Agreement (provided that nothing contained in this clause
         affects the obligation of the Borrower to comply with Section 2.7.6 or
         Section 3.1.2)), release, reduce or limit any Guaranty (except that the
         Agent may release any Guaranty delivered by a Subsidiary of the
         Borrower if such Subsidiary ceases to be a Material Domestic
         Subsidiary) or extend any Commitment Termination Date shall be made
         without the consent of each Lender and each holder of a Note; (c)
         extend the due date for, or reduce the amount of, any scheduled
         repayment or prepayment of principal of or interest on any Loan (or
         reduce the principal amount of or rate of interest on any Loan) shall
         be made without the consent of the Lenders; or (d) affect adversely the
         interests, rights or obligations of the Agent as the Agent shall be
         made without consent of the Agent.

         (h) Section 10.4 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by restating
     clause (b) thereof in its entirety to provide "(b) the entering into and
     performance of this Agreement and any other Loan Document by any of the
     Indemnified Parties;" and by deleting the period at the end of the first
     sentence of such Section and inserting in its place the clause "as
     determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable
     judgment."

         (i) The form of the Note attached to the Credit Agreement as Exhibit A
     is hereby amended by amending and restating the fourth paragraph thereof to
     provide as follows:

         This Note is one of the Notes referred to in, and evidences
         Indebtedness incurred under, the Credit Agreement, to which reference
         is made for a statement of the terms and conditions on which the
         Borrower is permitted and required to make prepayments and repayments
         of principal of the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note and on which
         such Indebtedness may be declared to be immediately due and payable.
         This Note is also entitled to the benefits of any Guaranty delivered
         pursuant to the Credit Agreement and is secured by certain collateral
         more particularly described in the Credit Agreement and in certain
         security documents delivered pursuant to the Credit Agreement. Unless
         otherwise defined, terms used herein have the meanings provided in the
         Credit Agreement.

         (j) The Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the existing
     Exhibit F to the Credit Agreement and inserting in its place as the new
     Exhibit F to the Credit Agreement the text contained in Attachment 1
     attached to this Amendment.

                                       6

<PAGE>

     Section 3.  Deutsche Bank, Fleet, SocGen, BNY, Credit Lyonnais, Citicorp,
BOK, Fortis, UBOC and Local Bank as Lenders.

         (a) Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment and by its execution and
     delivery hereof, each of Deutsche Bank, Fleet, SocGen, BNY, Credit
     Lyonnais, Citicorp, BOK, Fortis, UBOC and Local Bank shall be deemed
     automatically to have become a party to the Credit Agreement, shall have
     all the rights and obligations of a "Lender" under the Credit Agreement and
     the other Loan Documents as if each were an original signatory thereto, and
     shall agree, and does hereby agree, to be bound by the terms and conditions
     set forth in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the
     Lenders are a party, in each case, as if each were an original signatory
     thereto.

         (b) Each of Deutsche Bank, Fleet, SocGen, BNY, Credit Lyonnais,
     Citicorp, BOK, Fortis, UBOC and Local Bank (i) confirms that it has
     received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the
     financial statements referred to in Section 5.1.8 thereof and such other
     documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own
     credit analysis and decision to enter into this Amendment and the Credit
     Agreement; (ii) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance
     upon any Agent, the Issuer or any other Lender and based on such documents
     and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make
     its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit
     Agreement; (iii) represents and warrants that its name set forth herein is
     its legal name; (iv) appoints and authorizes each Agent to take such action
     as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the
     Loan Documents as are delegated to such Agent by the terms thereof,
     together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental
     thereto; (vi) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms
     all of the obligations that by the terms of the Credit Agreement are
     required to be performed by it as a Lender; and (vii) attaches any U.S.
     Internal Revenue Service forms required under Section 4.6 of the Credit
     Agreement.

         (c) Each of Deutsche Bank, Fleet, SocGen, BNY, Credit Lyonnais,
     Citicorp, BOK, Fortis, UBOC and Local Bank hereby advises each other party
     hereto that its respective address for notices, its respective Domestic
     Lending Office and its respective LIBOR Office shall be as set forth below
     its name on its respective signature page hereto.

     Section 4.  Deutsche Bank as Syndication Agent; Fleet, SocGen and BNY as
Co-Documentation Agents.

         (a) Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment and by its execution and
     delivery hereof, Deutsche Bank shall become the Syndication Agent under the
     Credit Agreement as if it were an original signatory thereto, and shall be
     bound by the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement and the
     other Loan Documents to which the Syndication Agent is a party, in each
     case, as if it were an original signatory thereto.

         (b) Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment and by its execution and
     delivery hereof, each of Fleet, SocGen and BNY shall become a
     Co-Documentation Agent under the Credit Agreement as if each were an
     original signatory thereto, and shall be bound by the terms and conditions
     set forth in the Credit Agreement and the other

                                       7

<PAGE>

     Loan Documents to which the Co-Documentation Agents are a party, in each
     case, as if each were an original signatory thereto.

     Section 5.  Conditions Precedent. The effectiveness of this Amendment is
subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

         (a) Executed Amendment. The Agent shall have received a counterpart of
     this Amendment duly executed by the Borrower, the Agent, the Syndication
     Agent, the Co-Documentation Agents and all of the Lenders.

         (b) Replacement Notes. The Borrower shall deliver to the Agent on
     behalf of each Lender listed on Attachment 1 hereto a promissory note dated
     the Effective Date and payable to each such Lender in a maximum principal
     amount equal to such Lender's Percentage (as shown on Attachment 1 hereto)
     of Three Hundred Million Dollars, which Note shall be a renewal and
     replacement of, and shall be given in substitution and exchange for, but
     not in payment of, those Notes held by each Existing Lender (as defined
     below) prior to the effectiveness of this Amendment.

         (c) Other Conditions. The Borrower shall have confirmed and
     acknowledged to the Agent, the Syndication Agent, the Co-Documentation
     Agents, the Issuer and the Lenders, and by its execution and delivery of
     this Amendment the Borrower does hereby confirm and acknowledge to the
     Agent and the Lenders, that (i) the execution, delivery and performance of
     this Amendment has been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action
     on the part of the Borrower; (ii) the Credit Agreement and each other Loan
     Document to which it is a party constitute valid and legally binding
     agreements enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with their
     respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by
     bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or
     other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors'
     rights generally and by general principles of equity; (iii) the
     representations and warranties by the Borrower contained in the Credit
     Agreement and in the other Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of
     the date hereof in all material respects as though made as of the date
     hereof; and (iv) no Default or Event of Default exists under the Credit
     Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.

     Section 6.  Ratification of Credit Agreement. Except as expressly amended
or modified by this Amendment, the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement
and the other Loan Documents are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects
and shall continue in full force and effect.

     Section 7.  Expenses. The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all expenses set
forth in Section 10.3 of the Credit Agreement.

     Section 8.  Renewal and Continuation of Existing Loans.  Upon the
effectiveness of this Amendment:

         (a) All of the Obligations outstanding under the Credit Agreement as of
     the date of such effectiveness shall hereby be restructured, rearranged,
     renewed, extended

                                       8

<PAGE>

         and continued under the Credit Agreement (as amended hereby) and all
         Loans and Letters of Credit outstanding under the Credit Agreement as
         of the date of such effectiveness shall hereby become Loans and Letters
         of Credit outstanding under the Credit Agreement (as amended hereby).

              (b) In connection herewith, Lenders party to the Credit Agreement
         prior to the effectiveness of this Amendment (the "Existing Lenders")
         hereby sell, assign, transfer and convey, and each of Deutsche Bank,
         Fleet, SocGen, BNY, Credit Lyonnais, Citicorp, BOK, Fortis, UBOC and
         Local Bank hereby purchases and accepts, so much of the aggregate
         Commitments under, Loans outstanding under, and participations in
         Letters of Credit issued pursuant to, the Credit Agreement such that
         the Percentage of each Lender (including the Existing Lenders and each
         of Deutsche Bank, Fleet, SocGen, BNY, Credit Lyonnais, Citicorp, BOK,
         Fortis, UBOC and Local Bank) shall be as set forth on Schedule F to the
         Credit Agreement (as amended hereby). The foregoing assignments,
         transfers and conveyances are without recourse to the Existing Lenders
         and without any warranties whatsoever by any Agent, the Issuer or any
         Existing Lender as to title, enforceability, collectibility,
         documentation or freedom from liens or encumbrances, in whole or in
         part, other than the warranty of each Existing Lender that it has not
         previously sold, transferred, conveyed or encumbered such interests.

         Section 9. Miscellaneous. (a) On and after the effectiveness of this
Amendment, each reference in each Loan Document to "this Agreement", "this
Note", "this Mortgage", "this Guaranty", "hereunder", "hereof" or words of like
import, referring to such Loan Document, and each reference in each other Loan
Document to "the Credit Agreement", "the Notes", "the Mortgages", "the
Guaranty", "thereunder", "thereof" or words of like import referring to the
Credit Agreement, the Notes, or the Mortgage, the Guaranty or any of them, shall
mean and be a reference to such Loan Document, the Credit Agreement, the Notes,
the Mortgage, the Guaranty, or any of them, as amended or otherwise modified by
this Amendment; (b) the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment
shall not operate as a waiver of any default of the Borrower or any right, power
or remedy of the Agent or the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, nor
constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Documents; (c) this
Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties
hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed
to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same agreement; and (d) delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page
to this Amendment by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of a manually
executed counterpart of this Amendment.

         Section 10. Severability. Any provision of this Amendment which is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such provision and
such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Amendment
or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other
jurisdiction.

         Section 11. Governing Law; Entire Agreement. THIS AMENDMENT, THE NOTES
AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL EACH BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER
AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. This Amendment, the
Credit Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan

                                       9

<PAGE>

Documents constitute the entire understanding among the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any prior agreements, written
or oral, with respect thereto.

              THIS WRITTEN AMENDMENT REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE
PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR
SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.

              THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

         Section 12. Successors and Assigns. This Amendment shall be binding
upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns; provided, however, that: (a) the Borrower may not assign
or transfer its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of the Agent and all Lenders; and (b) the rights of sale, assignment and
transfer of the Lenders are subject to Section 10.11 of the Credit Agreement.

         Section 13. Headings. The various headings of this Amendment and of
each other Loan Document are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect
the meaning or interpretation of this Amendment or such other Loan Document or
any provisions hereof or thereof.

                            [Signature pages follow]

                                       10

<PAGE>

              IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment
to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the
day and year first above written.

                                    BORROWER:

                                    VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC.

                                    By:       /s/ William C. Barnes
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name:  William C. Barnes
                                       Title: Executive Vice President and
                                              Chief Financial Officer

<PAGE>

                                    AGENT:

                                    BANK OF MONTREAL, acting through its U.S.
                                    branches and agencies, including initially
                                    its Chicago, Illinois branch, as Agent

                                    By /s/ James V. Ducote
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:  James V. Ducote
                                      Title: Director

                                    SYNDICATION AGENT:

                                    DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as
                                    Syndication Agent

                                    By /s/  Calli S. Hayes
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Calli S. Hayes
                                      Title: Managing Director

                                    CO-DOCUMENTATION AGENTS:

                                    FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Co-Documentation
                                    Agent

                                    By /s/ Allison I. Rossi
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Allison I. Rossi
                                      Title: Vice President

                                    SOCIETE GENERALE, as Co-Documentation Agent

                                    By /s/ Spencer Smith
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Spencer Smith
                                      Title: Vice President

                                       12

<PAGE>

                                    THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Co-Documentation
                                    Agent

                                    By /s/ Raymond J. Palmer
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Raymond J. Palmer
                                      Title: Vice President

                                       13

<PAGE>

                                    LENDERS:

                                    BANK OF MONTREAL, as Lender

                                    By /s/ James V. Ducote
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:  James V. Ducote
                                      Title: Director

                                       14

<PAGE>

                                    DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as
                                    Lender

                                    By:  /s/ Calli S. Hayes
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Calli S. Hayes
                                         Title: Managing Director

                                    Address:         31 West 52/nd/ Street,
                                                     7/th/ Floor
                                                     New York, New York 10019
                                    Facsimile No.:   (646) 324-2218
                                    Attention:       Marcus M. Tarkington

                                    Domestic Office: 31 West 52/nd/ Street,
                                                     7/th/ Floor
                                                     New York, New York 10019
                                    Facsimile No.:   (646) 324-2218
                                    Attention:       Marcus M. Tarkington

                                    LIBOR Office:    31 West 52/nd/ Street,
                                                     7/th/ Floor
                                                     New York, New York 10019
                                    Facsimile No.:   (646) 324-2218
                                    Attention:       Marcus M. Tarkington

                                       15

<PAGE>

                                    FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Lender

                                    By:  /s/ Allison I. Rossi
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Allison I. Rossi
                                         Title: Vice President

                                    Address:         Global Energy MA DE 10008A
                                                     100 Federal Street
                                                     Boston, MA 02110
                                    Facsimile No.:   (617) 434-3652
                                    Attention:       Allison I. Rossi

                                    Domestic Office: Global Energy MA DE 10008A
                                                     100 Federal Street
                                                     Boston, MA 02110
                                    Facsimile No.:   (617) 434-3652
                                    Attention:       Allison I. Rossi

                                    LIBOR Office:    Global Energy MA DE 10008A
                                                     100 Federal Street
                                                     Boston, MA  02110
                                    Facsimile No.:   (617) 434-3652
                                    Attention:       Allison I. Rossi

                                       16

<PAGE>

                                    SOCIETE GENERALE, as Lender

                                    By:  /s/ Spencer Smith
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Spencer Smith
                                         Title: Vice President

                                    Address:         1111 Bagby, Suite 2020
                                                     Houston, TX  77002
                                    Facsimile No.:   (713) 650-0824
                                    Attention:       Spencer Smith

                                    Domestic Office: 1111 Bagby, Suite 2020
                                                     Houston, TX  77002
                                    Facsimile No.:   (713) 650-0824
                                    Attention:       Spencer Smith

                                    LIBOR Office:    1111 Bagby, Suite 2020
                                                     Houston, TX  77002
                                    Facsimile No.:   (713) 650-0824
                                    Attention:       Spencer Smith

                                       17

<PAGE>

                                    THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Lender

                                    By:  /s/ Raymond J. Palmer
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Raymond J. Palmer
                                         Title: Vice President

                                    Address:         The Bank of New York
                                                     One Wall Street, 19/th/
                                                     Floor
                                                     New York, NY  10286
                                    Facsimile No.    (212) 635-7552
                                    Attention:       Raymond J. Palmer

                                    Domestic Office: The Bank of New York
                                                     One Wall Street, 19/th/
                                                     Floor
                                                     New York, NY  10286
                                    Facsimile No.    (212) 635-7552
                                    Attention:       Raymond J. Palmer

                                    LIBOR Office:    The Bank of New York
                                                     One Wall Street, 19/th/
                                                     Floor
                                                     New York, NY  10286
                                    Facsimile No.    (212) 635-7552
                                    Attention:       Raymond J. Palmer

                                       18

<PAGE>

                                    CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH, as Lender

                                    By:  /s/ Phillippe Soustra
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Phillippe Soustra
                                         Title: Executive Vice President

                                    Address:         1301 Avenue of the Americas
                                                     New York, New York  10019
                                    Facsimile No.:   (917) 849-5440
                                    Attention:       Mr. Gener David

                                    Domestic Office: 1301 Avenue of the Americas
                                                     New York, New York  10019
                                    Facsimile No.:   (917) 849-5440
                                    Attention:       Mr. Gener David

                                    LIBOR Office:    1301 Avenue of the Americas
                                                     New York, New York  10019
                                    Facsimile No.:   (917) 849-5440
                                    Attention:       Mr. Gener David

                                       19

<PAGE>

                                    CITICORP USA, INC., as Lender

                                    By:              /s/ Douglas A. Whiddon
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     Name:  Douglas A. Whiddon
                                                     Title: Attorney-in-Fact

                                    Address:         1200 Smith Street, Suite
                                                     2000
                                                     Houston, TX  77003
                                    Telephone No.    (713) 654-2908
                                    Facsimile No.:   (713) 654-2849
                                    Attention:       Douglas A. Whiddon

                                    Domestic Office: Citibank, N.A.
                                                     399 Park Avenue
                                                     New York, NY 10022
                                    Telephone No.    (212)______________
                                    Facsimile No.:   (212)______________
                                    Attention:       ___________________

                                    LIBOR Office:    Citibank, N.A.
                                                     399 Park Avenue
                                                     New York, NY  10022
                                    Telephone No.    (212)______________
                                    Facsimile No.:   (212)______________
                                    Attention:       ___________________

                                    Administrative Office:
                                                     Citibank, N.A.
                                                     One Penn's Way
                                                     New Castle, DE 19720
                                    Telephone No.    (302) 894-6060
                                    Facsimile No.:   (302) 894-6120
                                    Attention:       Shirl Gager

                                       20

<PAGE>

                                    BANK OF OKLAHOMA, N.A., as Lender

                                    By:  /s/ Pam P. Schloeder
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Pam P. Schloeder
                                         Title: Senior Vice President

                                    Address:         Bank of Oklahoma, N.A.
                                                     P. O. Box 2300
                                                     Tulsa, OK  74192
                                    Telephone No.:   (918) 588-6012
                                    Facsimile No.:   (918) 588-6880
                                    Attention:       Pam Schloeder

                                    Domestic Office: Bank of Oklahoma, N.A.
                                                     P. O. Box 2300
                                                     Tulsa, OK  74192
                                    Telephone No.:   (918) 588-6012
                                    Facsimile No.:   (918) 588-6880
                                    Attention:       Pam Schloeder

                                    LIBOR Office:    Bank of Oklahoma, N.A.
                                                     P. O. Box 2300
                                                     Tulsa, OK  74192
                                    Telephone No.:   (918) 588-6012
                                    Facsimile No.:   (918) 588-6880
                                    Attention:       Pam Schloeder

                                       21

<PAGE>

                                    FORTIS CAPITAL CORP., as Lender

                                    By:  /s/ David L. Montgomery
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  David L. Montgomery
                                         Title: Vice President

                                    By:  /s/ Darrell W. Holley
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Darrell W. Holley
                                         Title: Managing Director

                                    Address:         100 Crescent, Ste. 1777
                                                     Dallas, TX 75201
                                    Telephone No.:   (214) 953-9311
                                    Facsimile No.:   (214) 754-5982
                                    Attention:       David L. Montgomery

                                    Domestic Office: 100 Crescent, Ste. 1777
                                                     Dallas, TX 75201
                                    Telephone No.:   (214) 953-9311
                                    Facsimile No.:   (214) 754-5982
                                    Attention:       David L. Montgomery

                                    LIBOR Office:    100 Crescent, Ste. 1777
                                                     Dallas, TX 75201
                                    Telephone No.:   (214) 953-9311
                                    Facsimile No.:   (214) 754-5982
                                    Attention:       David L. Montgomery

                                       22

<PAGE>

                                    UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., as Lender

                                    By:  /s/ Gary Shekerjian
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Gary Shekerjian
                                         Title: Vice President

                                    Address:         Union Bank of California,
                                                     N.A.
                                                     500 North Akard, Suite 4200
                                                     Dallas, TX 75201
                                    Telephone No.:   (214) 922-4200
                                    Facsimile No.:   (214) 922-4209
                                    Attention:       Gary Shekerjian

                                    Domestic Office: Union Bank of California,
                                                     N.A.
                                                     500 North Akard, Suite 4200
                                                     Dallas, TX 75201
                                    Telephone No.:   (214) 922-4200
                                    Facsimile No.:   (214) 922-4209
                                    Attention:       Gary Shekerjian

                                    LIBOR Office:    Union Bank of California,
                                                     N.A.
                                                     500 North Akard, Suite 4200
                                                     Dallas, TX 75201
                                    Telephone No.:   (214) 922-4200
                                    Facsimile No.:   (214) 922-4209
                                    Attention:       Gary Shekerjian

                                       23

<PAGE>

                                    LOCAL OKLAHOMA BANK, N.A., as Lender

                                    By:  /s/ Robert O. Laird
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Robert O. Laird
                                         Title: Vice President

                                    Address:         2250 E. 73/rd/ Street,
                                                     Suite 200
                                                     Tulsa, OK 74136
                                    Telephone No.:   (918) 497-2426
                                    Facsimile No.:   (918) 497-2497
                                    Attention:       Robert O. Laird

                                    Domestic Office: 2250 E. 73/rd/ Street,
                                                     Suite 200
                                                     Tulsa, OK 74136
                                    Telephone No.:   (918) 497-2426
                                    Facsimile No.:   (918) 497-2497
                                    Attention:       Robert O. Laird

                                    LIBOR Office:    2250 E. 73/rd/ Street,
                                                     Suite 200
                                                     Tulsa, OK 74136
                                    Telephone No.:   (918) 497-2426
                                    Facsimile No.:   (918) 497-2497
                                    Attention:       Robert O. Laird

                                       24

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