Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

                    SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

         This Separation Agreement and General Release (the "Agreement") is
between INPUT/OUTPUT, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Company"), and Kenneth W.
Pope, a resident of Magnolia, Texas ("Employee"), and is being presented to
Employee on this 24th day of January, 2003.

         WHEREAS, Company and Employee desire to resolve any and all potential
disputes, claims or causes of action arising out of Employee's employment with
and separation from Company and its subsidiaries;

         Therefore, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
contained herein, and effective the beginning of the eighth (8th) day after
Employee's execution of this Agreement (the "Effective Date"), and so long as
Employee does not revoke same during the prior seven (7) day period (the
"Revocation Period"), the parties voluntarily agree as follows:

         1. Employee's separation from Company and its subsidiaries effective
January 24, 2003 will be considered an elimination of position.

         2. Company will within 30 days of the Effective Date, pay to employee a
severance payment of $15,000.00 to be paid in 6-equal installments every two
weeks, with the first such payment due February 15, 2003. In addition, Company
will pay the reasonable expenses (per the attached relocation policy) you incur
to relocate you and your family to the Boulder, Colorado area if you chose to
move by May 1, 2004 and such expenses are incurred prior to August 1, 2004.
Employee acknowledges and agrees that the payments are in full and complete
satisfaction of any and all liabilities or obligations the Company has or may
have to Employee and that the payments represent something of value beyond
anything to which he is entitled. The payments in this paragraph 2 shall be
subject to any and all applicable withholding and other employment taxes.

         3. If Employee elects to continue any insurance benefits through COBRA,
the Company will pay any premiums in excess of Employee's portion of such
coverage while Employee was employed by the Company for up to one year.

         4. Company will vest 3,333 shares of currently unvested restricted
stock issued to Employee. The remaining 26,667 shares of restricted stock issued
to Employee shall be cancelled. Employee will have six months from the date of
this Agreement to exercise any options that have vested as of the date of this
Agreement. All of Employee's options that are not vested as of the date of this
Agreement shall be cancelled.

         5. Company also will engage an out-placement firm in order to provide
Employee out-placement assistance for a maximum of six (6) consecutive months,
and can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties on a month-to-month
basis, for up to 12 months. The provider of such out-placement assistance will
be selected and directed solely by Company. Outplacement services must be
utilized within a one year period ending January 25, 2003.

         6. In exchange for the consideration described in paragraphs 2 through
5 above, and as a material inducement to Company to enter into this Agreement,
except for the provisions of paragraph 10 below, Employee forever and
unconditionally releases and discharges Company and any of its parent,
subsidiary or affiliate companies or divisions and each of their owners,
shareholders, directors, officers,

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employees, assigns, representatives or agents ("Releasees") from any and all
claims, complaints or causes of action of any kind, including but not limited to
those relating to or arising out of Employee's employment with Company and its
subsidiaries and membership on or separation from the Boards of Directors of any
subsidiaries of Company, and such release encompasses, but is not limited to,
claims under local, state or federal law, alleged contract or tort claims or
claims or causes of action arising under any federal, state or local statutes,
including, but not limited to, Title VII, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Section
1981, the Civil Rights Act of 1871, the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act and
the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

         7. Employee further agrees that he will not file any complaint,
petition, or lawsuit or charge against Company or any of the Releasees with any
local, state or federal court, except to enforce this Agreement. If Employee or
anyone acting on his behalf files any such complaint, or if any such court
assumes jurisdiction of any complaint against Employee or any of the Releasees
regarding or involving Employee, he will request such court to withdraw from the
matter and dismiss said action and if initiated or pursued by his or with his
approval, will reimburse Company and/or the Releasees for all costs and
attorneys' fees incurred as a result of such lawsuit.

         8. Employee further agrees that Employee will not for two years
following the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, for himself or on
behalf of or in conjunction with any other person: (i) engage, as an officer,
director, shareholder, owner, partner, joint venturer or in a managerial
capacity, whether as an employee, independent contractor, consultant or advisor
or as a sales representative, in any business that competes with the products
and services offered by Company on the date of this Agreement; (ii) call upon
any person which is, at that time, or which has been, within one (1) year prior
to that time,. a customer of Company (including the direct or indirect
subsidiaries thereof) for the purpose of soliciting or selling products or
services in direct competition with the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company; or (iii) call upon any prospective acquisition candidate, on Employee's
own behalf or behalf of any competitor, which candidate was, to Employee's
actual knowledge after due inquiry, either called upon by the Company (including
the direct or indirect subsidiaries thereof) or for which the Company made an
acquisition analysis, for the purpose of acquiring such entity. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, this paragraph 8 shall not be deemed to prohibit Employee from
acquiring as an investment not more than two percent (2%) of the capital stock
of a competing business, whose stock is traded on a national securities exchange
or over-the-counter.

                  8.1. Employee acknowledges and agrees that failure to comply
         with this paragraph 8 shall constitute a material breach of this
         Agreement which shall entitle the Company to withhold all benefits and
         other consideration specified herein.

                  8.2. The covenants in this paragraph 8 are severable and
         separate, and the unenforceability of any specific covenant shall not
         affect the provisions of any other covenant. Moreover, in the event any
         court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that the scope, time or
         territorial restrictions set forth are unreasonable, then it is the
         intention of the parties that such restrictions be enforced to the
         fullest extent which the court deems reasonable, and the Agreement
         shall be reformed in accordance therewith.

                  8.3. All of the covenants in this paragraph 8 shall be
         construed as an agreement independent of any other provision in this
         Agreement, and the existence of any claim or cause of action of
         Employee against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or
         otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the
         Company of such covenants.

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                  8.4. It is agreed by the parties that the foregoing covenants
         in this paragraph 8 impose a reasonable restraint on Employee in light
         of the activities and business of the Company (including the Company's
         direct and indirect subsidiaries) and the past and current duties of
         Employee. It is further agreed by the parties hereto that, in the event
         that Employee shall enter into a business or pursue other activities
         not in violation of this Section 8, Employee shall not be chargeable
         with a violation of this Section 8 if the person conducting such
         business or activities shall thereafter enter into a business or course
         of activities that is competitive with the Company, provided that
         Employee does not actively participate in any way in the business or
         course of activities that competes with the Company. It is further
         agreed by the parties hereto that, in the event Employee shall enter
         into a business or pursue other activities not in competition with the
         Company (including the Company's direct and indirect subsidiaries), and
         such new business or activities are not in violation of this Section 8
         or of Employee's obligations under this Section 8, Employee shall not
         be chargeable with a violation of this Section 8 if the Company
         (including the Company's direct and indirect subsidiaries) shall
         thereafter enter the same, similar or a competitive business or course
         of activities.

         9. Company forever and unconditionally releases and discharges
Employee, his heirs and assigns from any and all claims, complaints or causes of
action they might have relating to or arising out of Employee's employment with
Company, save and except any claims which might result from any gross misconduct
by Employee. Gross misconduct as used herein shall mean conduct such as, but not
limited to, misappropriation of property or dishonesty relating to Company's
business.

         10. The Company shall indemnify Employee in any instance in which
Employee is or was a party or is or was threatened to be made a party to any
action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, by reason of the fact that he (i) was an officer, employee or
agent of the Company or any of its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries,
or (ii) while an officer, employee or agent of the Company or any of its direct
or wholly-owned subsidiaries served at the request of the Company or any of its
direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, as an officer, employee, agent or
trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise, against expenses (including counsel fees),
judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, to the full
extent permitted by applicable laws, provided that the Company shall not be
obligated to indemnify Employee against any such action, suit or proceeding
which is brought by Employee against the Company or any of its direct or
indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries or the directors of the Company or any of its
direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, other than an action brought by
Employee to enforce his rights to indemnification hereunder, unless a majority
of the board of directors of the Company shall have previously approved the
bringing of such action, suit or proceeding.

         11. This Agreement shall not in any way be construed as an admission by
Company or the Releasees of any acts of illegal discrimination or violation of
any statute, law or right whatsoever against Employee or any other person, but
instead is entered into to ensure that the separation of employment is amicable.

         12. Employee agrees to return all company property which he received
during his tenure of employment and which is within his possession, custody and
control no later than the close of business on January 31, 2003. The term
"company property" as referred to in this paragraph 10 shall include but is not
limited to, all keys, credit cards, security cards, any and all files, and all
mechanical or office equipment. Employee acknowledges and agrees that failure to
return the company property as identified in this paragraph 12 shall constitute
a material breach of this Agreement which shall entitle the Company to withhold
all benefits and other consideration specified herein until Employee complies
with this paragraph 12.

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         13. All parties agree that they will keep the terms, amount and fact of
this Agreement completely confidential, and that they will not make any public
disparaging statements about the other, including any directors or employees of
the Releasees.

         14. Employee acknowledges that the Company's employees are valuable to
the Company's business and that information regarding the Company's employees,
including without limitation information as to their background, training and
compensation, is Confidential Information. Employee agrees that for a period not
to exceed twenty-four (24) months from the Effective Date of this Agreement, he
will not knowingly directly or indirectly solicit or otherwise induce or
encourage any person in the employment of the Company or any consultant to the
Company to terminate such employment or consulting arrangement or to accept
employment or enter into any consulting agreement with anyone other than the
Company.

         15. Further, Employee reaffirms the promises that he made to the
Company in the Employee Patent and Confidential Information Agreement that he
signed on December 31, 1997. Employee particularly acknowledges the binding
effect of the nondisclosure and confidentiality provisions of such agreement,
with regard to all confidential information which he received between December
31, 1997 and the Effective Date of this Agreement, and that such provisions
continue to apply at all times after the Effective Date of this Agreement.

         16. Employee acknowledges, understands and agrees that Company will
suffer immediate and irreparable harm if he fails to comply with any of his
obligations under paragraphs 13, 14 and 15 of this Agreement, and that monetary
damages will be inadequate to compensate Company for such breach. Accordingly,
Employee agrees that Company shall, in addition to any other remedies available
to them at law or in equity, be entitled to temporary, preliminary, and
permanent injunctive relief to enforce the terms of paragraphs 13, 14 and 15
without the necessity of proving inadequacy of legal remedies or irreparable
harm.

         17. As a further material inducement to enter into this Agreement, any
party who breaches this Agreement must reimburse the non-breaching party for any
and all loss, cost, damage or expense, including without limitation, attorneys'
fees, arising out of any breach of this Agreement. In addition, any breach of
this Agreement will entitle the non-breaching party to seek injunctive relief
and to recover any actual damages incurred as a result of said breach.

         18. Employee represents and acknowledges that in executing this
Agreement he does not rely and has not relied upon any prior representation made
by Company or its agents, representatives or attorneys with regard to the
subject matter of this Agreement.

         19. This Agreement shall be binding upon Employee and upon his heirs,
administrators, representatives, executors, successors and assigns.

         20. This Agreement shall in all respects be interpreted, enforced and
governed under the laws of the State of Texas and shall in all cases be
construed as a whole (according to its fair meaning, and not strictly for or
against any of the parties). Venue for any cause of action necessitated by
either party's material breach of the obligations hereunder shall be in Harris
County, Texas.

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         21. Should any provision of this Agreement be declared or be determined
illegal and invalid, the validity of the remaining parts will not be affected.

         22. This Agreement, contains the entire agreement and supersedes any
and all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and the employment of
Employee by the Company, and, except as otherwise expressly set forth herein,
any such prior agreements or understandings are hereby terminated. This
Agreement may not be changed orally, but only by an amendment in writing signed
by both parties.

         23. The parties agree that Employee may revoke this Agreement within
seven (7) days from execution of this Agreement. Failure of Employee to revoke
this Agreement during said seven (7) day Revocation Period shall mean it becomes
binding on all parties at 12:01 a.m. of the eighth day after Employee executes
same. Should Employee opt to revoke this Agreement during the said seven (7) day
Revocation Period, none of the obligations of Company set forth in this
Agreement shall become binding and shall be null and void. Employee shall give
his notice of revocation to Company, in writing before 12:01 a.m. on the eighth
day after Employee executes this Agreement. Written notice of revocation shall
be delivered to Company at:

                  Input/Output, Inc.
                  12300 Parc Crest Drive
                  Stafford, TX 77477
                  Attn:  Vice President - Human Resources

         24. By Employee's signature below, he represents and confirms that he:
(a) has read this Agreement carefully and completely, (b) has been given a
period of at least forty-five (45) days to consider and review this Agreement,
(c) has been informed of his right to consult with legal counsel and has had
ample opportunity to do so, (d) understands all provisions contained in this
Agreement, and (e) enters into the Agreement freely and voluntarily.

         25. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with
the same effect as if all the parties had signed the same document. All
counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same
instrument.

         PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT INCLUDES THE RELEASE OF
ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS.

                                     * * * *

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         EXECUTED on this 24 day of January, 2003 to be effective, if not
revoked, on February 01, 2004.

                                            COMPANY:

                                            INPUT/OUTPUT, INC.

                                            By:  /s/ Brad Eastman

                                            Name: Brad Eastman

                                            Title: President & Chief
                                            Administrative Officer

                                            EMPLOYEE:

                                            /s/ Kenneth W. Pope
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Kenneth W. Pope

                                       6<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.27

                              CONSULTING AGREEMENT

         This Consulting Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into effective
this 31st day of January, 2003 ("Effective Date"), by and between INPUT/OUTPUT,
INC., a Delaware corporation ("Company") and Kenneth W. Pope ("Consultant").

                                    RECITALS

         Consultant has previously served as an executive of the Company; and

         The parties, having terminated the employment relationship between
Consultant and Company pursuant to the terms of that certain Separation
Agreement and General Release which became effective on January 24, 2003 (the
"Separation Agreement"), now wish to engage Consultant to serve as a consultant
to Company commencing as of the Effective Date hereof upon an subject to the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

                                    AGREEMENT

         1. Definitions. The following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to
them below, the following definitions to be equally applicable to both the
singular and plural form of the terms:

                  1.1. "Affiliate" shall mean when used with reference to a
         specified Person (defined below): (i) any Person that directly or
         indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls or is controlled
         by or is under common control with the specified Person; and (ii) any
         Person that is an officer of, partner in, or serves in a similar
         capacity to, the specified Person or of which the specified Person
         serves in a similar capacity; and (iii) any Person owning or
         controlling ten percent (10%) or more of the outstanding voting
         securities of such other entity; and (iv) any member of the immediate
         family of the specified Person or any legal representative or trustee
         for the benefit of such member.

                  1.2. "Person" shall mean an individual, partnership,
         corporation, trust or other entity.

                  1.3. "Term" shall mean the term of this Agreement, commencing
         on February 15, 2003 and continuing for the lesser of two (2) years;
         or, unless earlier terminated pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

         2. Engagement. Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the
contrary, this Agreement is subject to the execution, delivery and effectiveness
of the Separation Agreement and its terms and conditions. Company, during the
Term, shall appoint and engage the Consultant as consultant and advisor as of
the Effective Date hereof with respect to the matters specified in, subject to
the terms and conditions of, and for the compensation provided in, this
Agreement. The Consultant accepts this appointment and engagement effective as
of such date as a consultant and advisor to Company, subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.

         3. Duties of Consultant. Consultant will assist the Company in
marketing its VectorSeis(R) product line, securing sales in China and otherwise
supporting the sales and marketing department of Company.

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The Consultant agrees that he will serve the Company to the best of his ability,
projecting a positive and professional image on behalf of Company and its
Affiliates.

         4. Non-Disclosure. Consultant acknowledges, understands and agrees that
he will be furnished confidential information concerning the business of Company
and its subsidiaries, including information relating to its customers and to the
design, construction and operation of Company's products and services
("Confidential Information"). Consultant further acknowledges that all
Confidential Information, whether developed by Consultant, Company, their
Affiliates or other Persons while carrying out the terms and provisions of this
Agreement (or previously developed by Company, its Affiliates or other Persons,
either during the term of this Agreement or prior thereto), shall be the
exclusive and confidential property of Company or its Affiliates, as the case
may be, and shall be regarded, treated and protected as such. Consultant shall
not use, in any way, or disclose any of the Confidential Information, directly
or indirectly, or permit any other person, firm or entity to avail himself or
itself of the benefit or use of the Confidential Information, or any aspect
thereof, either during the term of this Agreement or otherwise, or at any time
thereafter, except as may be necessary to perform his obligations with respect
to his consulting services hereunder.

                  4.1. All files, records, documents, information, data and
         similar items and documentation relating to the business of Company and
         its subsidiaries and that of Company's and its subsidiaries' customers,
         whether prepared by Consultant or otherwise coming into his possession,
         shall remain the exclusive property of Company and its subsidiaries, as
         the case may be, and Consultant agrees to return all such files,
         records, documents, information, data and similar items and
         documentation to Company immediately upon the termination of this
         Agreement for any reason.

                  4.2. The parties hereto stipulate that as between them, the
         Confidential Information is important, material and confidential, and
         gravely affects the effective and successful conduct of the business of
         Company and its subsidiaries and their goodwill, and that Company would
         suffer irreparable injury if this information were divulged to any
         Person in competition with Company or any of its subsidiaries.
         Consultant agrees to disclose, fully and promptly, and only to Company,
         all ideas, methods, plans, improvements or patentable inventions of any
         kind, which are (i) made or discovered, in whole or in part, by
         Consultant during the performance of Consultant's job duties, (ii) the
         result of any aid, support or assistance by Company or its
         subsidiaries, or (iii) created during his work time with Company or its
         subsidiaries.

                  4.3. The obligations of Consultant set forth in this Section 4
         are continuous and shall survive the termination, for any reason
         whatsoever, of this Agreement.

                  4.4. When used or referred to in this Agreement, Confidential
         Information shall not include information which is in the public domain
         or information generally known in the oil and gas exploration and
         production services industry or the seismic detection, data
         acquisition, or information processing or interpretation equipment
         industries.

         5. Covenant Not to Compete. Consultant hereby agrees that Consultant
will not for two years following the date of this Agreement, directly or
indirectly, for himself or on behalf of or in conjunction with any other person:
(i) engage, as an officer, director, shareholder, owner, partner, joint venturer
or in a managerial capacity, whether as an employee, independent contractor,
consultant or advisor or as a sales representative, in any business that
competes with the products and services offered by Company on the date of this
Agreement; (ii) call upon any person which is, at that time, or which has been,
within one (1)

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year prior to that time, a customer of Company (including the direct or indirect
subsidiaries thereof) for the purpose of soliciting or selling products or
services in direct competition with the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company; or (iii) call upon any prospective acquisition candidate, on
Consultant's own behalf or behalf of any competitor, which candidate was, to
Consultant's actual knowledge after due inquiry, either called upon by the
Company (including the direct or indirect subsidiaries thereof) or for which the
Company made an acquisition analysis, for the purpose of acquiring such entity.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 5 shall not be deemed to prohibit
Consultant from acquiring as an investment not more than two percent (2%) of the
capital stock of a competing business, whose stock is traded on a national
securities exchange or over-the-counter.

                  5.1. Consultant acknowledges and agrees that failure to comply
         with this Section 5 shall constitute a material breach of this
         Agreement which shall entitle the Company to withhold all benefits and
         other consideration specified herein.

                  5.2. The covenants in this Section 5 are severable and
         separate, and the unenforceability of any specific covenant shall not
         affect the provisions of any other covenant. Moreover, in the event any
         court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that the scope, time or
         territorial restrictions set forth are unreasonable, then it is the
         intention of the parties that such restrictions be enforced to the
         fullest extent which the court deems reasonable, and the Agreement
         shall be reformed in accordance therewith.

                  5.3. All of the covenants in this Section 5 shall be construed
         as an agreement independent of any other provision in this Agreement,
         and the existence of any claim or cause of action of Consultant against
         the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall
         not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of such
         covenants.

                  5.4. It is agreed by the parties that the foregoing covenants
         in this Section 5 impose a reasonable restraint on Consultant in light
         of the activities and business of the Company (including the Company's
         direct and indirect subsidiaries) and the past and current duties of
         Consultant. It is further agreed by the parties hereto that, in the
         event that Consultant shall enter into a business or pursue other
         activities not in violation of this Section 5, Consultant shall not be
         chargeable with a violation of this Section 5 if the Person conducting
         such business or activities shall thereafter enter into a business or
         course of activities that is competitive with the Company, provided
         that Consultant does not actively participate in any way in the
         business or course of activities that competes with the Company. It is
         further agreed by the parties hereto that, in the event Consultant
         shall enter into a business or pursue other activities not in
         competition with the Company (including the Company's direct and
         indirect subsidiaries), and such new business or activities are not in
         violation of this Section 5 or of Consultant's obligations under this
         Section 5, Employee shall not be chargeable with a violation of this
         Section 5 if the Company (including the Company's direct and indirect
         subsidiaries) shall thereafter enter the same, similar or a competitive
         business or course of activities.

         6. Innovations. As used in this Agreement, the term "Innovations" means
all processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, improvements,
inventions (whether or not protectable under patent laws), works of authorship,
information fixed in any tangible medium of expression (whether or not
protectable under copyright laws), moral rights, mask works, trademarks, trade
names, trade dress, trade secrets, know-how, ideas (whether or not protectable
under trade secret laws), and all other subject matter protectable under patent,
copyright, moral right, mask work, trademark, trade secret or other laws, and
includes without limitation all new or useful art, combinations, discoveries,
formulae, manufacturing

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techniques, technical developments, discoveries, artwork, software and designs.
"Innovations" includes "Inventions", which is defined to mean any inventions
protected under patent laws.

                  6.1. Consultant has identified on Exhibit A attached hereto
         all Innovations, applicable to the business of Company or relating in
         anyway to Company's business or demonstrably anticipated research and
         development of business, which Consultant conceived, reduced to
         practice, created, derived, developed or made by Consultant prior to
         the Effective Date (collectively, the "Prior Innovations") and
         Consultant represents that such list is complete. Consultant
         acknowledges and agrees that Consultant has no rights in any such
         Innovations other than those Prior Innovations specified in Exhibit A.
         If there is not list on Exhibit A Consultant represents that Consultant
         has neither conceived, reduced to practice, created, derived, developed
         nor made any such Prior Innovations at the time of signing of this
         Agreement.

                  6.2. Consultant hereby agrees promptly to disclose and
         describe to Company, and Consultant hereby does and will assign to
         Company or Company's designee Consultant's entire right, title, and
         interest in and to (a) each of the Innovations (including Inventions),
         and any associated intellectual property rights, which Consultant may
         solely or jointly conceive, reduce to practice, create, derive, develop
         or make while providing services to the Company, which either (i)
         relate, at the time of conception, reduction to practice, creation,
         derivation, development, or making of such Innovation, to Company's
         business or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development,
         or (ii) were developed on any amount of Company's time or with the use
         of any of Company's equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret
         information, or (iii) resulted from any work Consultant performed for
         the Company, and (b) each of the Innovations which is not an Invention
         and any associated intellectual property rights, which Consultant may
         solely or jointly conceive, develop, reduce to practice, create,
         derive, develop, or make while providing services to the Company, which
         are applicable to the business of the Company (collectively, the
         Innovations identified in clauses (a) and (b) are hereinafter the
         "Company Innovations"). To the extent any of the rights, title and
         interest in and to Company Innovations cannot be assigned by Consultant
         to the Company, Consultant hereby grants to the Company an exclusive,
         royalty-free, transferable, irrevocable, worldwide license (with rights
         to sublicense through multiple tiers of sublicensees) to practice such
         non-assignable rights, title and interest. To the extent any of the
         rights, title and interest in and to Company Innovations can neither be
         assigned or licensed by Consultant to the Company, Consultant hereby
         irrevocable waives and agrees never to assert such non-assignable and
         non-licensable rights, title and interest against the Company or any of
         the Company's successor in interest to such non-assignable and
         non-licensable rights. Consultant hereby grants to the Company or the
         Company's designees a royalty free, irrevocable, worldwide license
         (with rights to sublicense through multiple tiers of sublicensees) to
         practice all applicable patent, copyright, moral right, mask work,
         trade secret and other intellectual property rights relating to any
         Prior Innovations which Consultant incorporates, or permits to be
         incorporated, in any Company Innovations. Notwithstanding the
         foregoing, Consultant agrees that Consultant will not incorporate, or
         permit to be incorporated, any Prior Innovations in any Company
         Innovations without the Company's prior written consent.

                  6.3. Consultant agrees to perform, during and after providing
         services to the Company, all acts deemed necessary or desirable by the
         Company to permit and assist the Company, at Company's expense, in
         obtaining and enforcing the full benefits, enjoyment, rights and title
         throughout the world in the Proprietary Information and Innovations
         assigned or licensed to, or whose rights are irrevocably waived and
         shall not be asserted against, the Company under this Agreement. Such
         acts may include, but are not limited to, execution of documents and
         assistance or cooperation (i) in filing, prosecution, registration, and
         memorialization of assignment of any patents, copyrights, mask work,
         moral rights,

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         trade secrets, or other proprietary rights, (ii) in the enforcement of
         any applicable patents, copyrights, mask work, moral rights, trade
         secrets, or other proprietary rights, and (iii) in other legal
         proceedings related to the Proprietary Information or Innovations.

         7. Covenant Not to Solicit. Consultant acknowledges that the Company's
employees are valuable to the Company's business and that information regarding
the Company's employees, including without limitation information as to their
background, training and compensation, is Confidential Information. Consultant
agrees that for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the Effective Date of
this Agreement (whether or not this Agreement is terminated sooner than the 24
month period), he will not directly or indirectly solicit or otherwise induce or
encourage any person in the employment of the Company or any consultant to the
Company to terminate such employment or consulting arrangement or to accept
employment or enter into any consulting agreement with anyone other than the
Company.

         8. Early Termination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, at any time during the Term, Consultant's engagement hereunder shall
terminate upon his death or Disability, or by Company upon Consultant's material
breach or material violation of any of his agreements contained herein or in the
Separation Agreement. As used herein, "Disability" shall mean a physical or
mental impairment that renders Consultant unable to perform the essential
functions of his position with or without reasonable accommodation.

         9. Injunctive Relief. Because of the unique nature of the Confidential
Information, Consultant acknowledges, understands and agrees that Company will
suffer immediate and irreparable harm if Consultant fails to comply with any of
his obligations under Sections 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this Agreement, and that
monetary damages will be inadequate to compensate Company for such breach.
Accordingly, Consultant agrees that Company shall, in addition to any other
remedies available to them at law or in equity, be entitled to temporary,
preliminary, and permanent injunctive relief to enforce the terms of Sections 4,
5, 6 and 7 without the necessity of proving inadequacy of legal remedies or
irreparable harm.

         10. Compensation. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, in
consideration of the consulting services to be rendered by Consultant to Company
hereunder, and in consideration of the covenants of Consultant set forth in
Sections 4, 5, 6 and 7 herein, Company agrees to pay Consultant: (i) $50,000 on
each of October 15, 2003 and January 15, 2004, provided that Consultant assists
in at least three VectorSeis presentations at the 2003 SEG tradeshow and
Consultant assists the Company in closing a minimum of $10 million in sales to
customers in China, and (ii) $4,167 on the 1st and 15th of each month beginning
on February 15, 2003 and continuing for 24 months, provided that this amount
will be reduced after March 1, 2004 by up to $6,249.75 per month by the amount
of any other compensation Consultant receives from parties unaffiliated with
Company for services as an employee or independent contractor. In addition, all
payments pursuant to this Section 10 are contingent being available to Company
for up to at least 50 hours per month for the first twelve months of this
Agreement and up to 25 hours per month for the remaining Term.

         11. Independent Contractor. While serving as Consultant, the Consultant
shall at all times be an independent contractor rather than a co-venturer,
agent, employee or representative of Company or its Affiliates. It is understood
and agreed that Contractor shall pay all taxes, licenses, and fees levied or
assessed on Contractor in connection with or incident to the performance of this
Agreement by any governmental agency, including, without limitation,
unemployment compensation insurance, old age benefits, social security, or any
other taxes upon wages of Contractor, its agents, employees, and
representatives. Contractor agrees to require the same agreements of its
subcontractors and to be liable for any breach of any such agreements by any of
its subcontractors. Contractor agrees to reimburse Company

                                       5
<PAGE>

on demand for all such taxes or governmental charges, state or federal, which
the Company may be required or deem it necessary to pay on account of employees
of the Contractor or its subcontractors. Contractor agrees to furnish the
Company with the information required to enable it to make the necessary reports
and pay such taxes or charges. If statutorily required, the Company is
authorized to deduct all sums required to be paid for such taxes and
governmental charges from any amounts that may be or become due to Contractor.

         12. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the internal
laws (without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws) of the State of
Texas and the internal laws (without giving effect to principles of conflict of
laws) of the United States of America.

         13. Notice. Any notice provided or permitted to be given under this
Agreement must be in writing, but may be served by deposit in the mail,
addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid, and registered or
certified, with a return receipt requested. Notice given by registered mail
shall be deemed delivered and effective on the date of delivery shown on the
return receipt. Notice may be served in any other manner, including telex,
telecopy, telegram, etc., but shall be deemed delivered and effective as of the
time of actual delivery. For purposes of notice the addresses of the parties
shall be as follows:

                                    If to Company:

                                    Input/Output, Inc.
                                    12300 Parc Crest Drive
                                    Stafford, TX 77477
                                    Attn: General Counsel

                                    If to Consultant:

                                    Kenneth W. Pope

                                    -------------------

                                    --------------------

Each party may change its address for notice by giving written notice of such
address to the other party.

         14. Entire Agreement. Except as specifically contemplated under Section
2 hereof, this Agreement, which incorporates all prior understandings relating
to its subject matter, contains the entire agreement of the parties with respect
to its subject matter and shall not be modified except by written instrument
executed by each party.

         15. Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict performance of
any provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of, or estoppel
against asserting, the right to require performance in the future. A waiver or
estoppel in any one instance shall not constitute a waiver or estoppel with
respect to a later breach.

         16. Severability. If any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement
are held by any court of competent jurisdiction to contravene, or to be invalid
under, the laws of any political body having jurisdiction over this subject
matter, that contravention or invalidity shall not invalidate the entire
Agreement. Instead, this Agreement shall be construed as it if did not contain
the particular provision or provisions held to be invalid, the rights and
obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced accordingly, and this
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

                                       6
<PAGE>

         17. Construction. The headings in this Agreement are inserted for
convenience and identification only and are not intended to describe, interpret,
define, or limit the scope, extent, or intent of this Agreement or any other
provisions hereof. Whenever the context requires, the gender of all words used
in this Agreement shall include the masculine, feminine, and neuter, and the
number of all words shall include the singular and the plural. In the event of a
conflict among this Agreement and any Exhibit, this Agreement shall control.

         18. Counterpart Execution. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts with the same effect as if all the parties had signed the same
document. All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one
and the same instrument.

         19. Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided, this
Agreement shall apply to, and shall be binding upon, the parties hereto, their
respective successors and assigns, and all persons claiming by, through or under
any of these persons. This Agreement is personal to Consultant and cannot be
assigned or delegated by Consultant.

         20. Cumulative Rights. The rights and remedies provided by this
Agreement are cumulative, and the use of any right or remedy by any party shall
not preclude or waive its right to use any or all other remedies. These rights
and remedies are given in addition to any other rights a party may have by law,
statute, in equity or otherwise.

         21. No Third Party Beneficiary. Any agreement to pay an amount or any
assumption of liability herein contained, express or implied, shall be only for
the benefit of the undersigned parties and their permitted successors and
assigns, and such agreements and assumption shall not inure to the benefit of
the obligees of any other party whomsoever, it being the intention of the
undersigned that, except as otherwise expressly contemplated herein, no one
shall be deemed to be a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.

         22. Drafting Party. This Agreement expresses the mutual intent of the
parties to this Agreement. Accordingly, regardless of the party preparing any
document, the rule of construction against the drafting party shall have no
application to this Agreement.

         23. Reliance. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties
made in this Agreement shall be conclusively considered to have been relied upon
by the parties in entering into this Agreement.

         24. Dispute Resolution. Subject to Company 's right to seek legal or
equitable relief in court as provided in Section 9 of this Agreement, any
dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in relation to or connection to
this Agreement, including without limitation any dispute as to the construction,
validity, interpretation, enforceability or breach of this Agreement, shall be
exclusively and finally settled by arbitration, and either party may submit such
dispute, controversy or claim, including a claim for indemnification under this
Section 24, to arbitration.

                  24.1 Arbitrators. The arbitration shall be heard and
         determined by one arbitrator, who shall be impartial and who shall be
         selected by mutual agreement of the parties; provided, however, that if
         the dispute involves more than $ 25,000, then the arbitration shall be
         heard and determined by three (3) arbitrators. If three (3) arbitrators
         are necessary as provided above, then (i) each side shall appoint an
         arbitrator of its choice within thirty (30) days of the submission of a
         notice of arbitration and (ii) the party-appointed arbitrators shall in
         turn appoint a presiding arbitrator of the tribunal within thirty (30)
         days following the appointment of the last party-appointed arbitrator.
         If (x) the parties cannot agree on

                                       7
<PAGE>

         the sole arbitrator, (y) one party refuses to appoint its
         party-appointed arbitrator within said thirty (30) day period or (z)
         the party-appointed arbitrators cannot reach agreement on a presiding
         arbitrator of the tribunal, then the appointing authority for the
         implementation of such procedure shall be the Senior United States
         District Judge for the Southern District of Texas, who shall appoint an
         independent arbitrator who does not have any financial interest in the
         dispute, controversy or claim. If the Senior United States District
         Judge for the Southern District of Texas refuses or fails to act as the
         appointing authority within ninety (90) days after being requested to
         do so, then the appointing authority shall be the Chief Executive
         Officer of the American Arbitration Association, who shall appoint an
         independent arbitrator who does not have any financial interest in the
         dispute, controversy or claim. All decisions and awards by the
         arbitration tribunal shall be made by majority vote.

                  24.2 Proceedings. Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing
         by the parties to the arbitration proceedings:

                  i.       The arbitration proceedings shall be held in Houston,
                           Texas, or Stafford, Texas, at a site chosen by mutual
                           agreement of the parties, or if the parties cannot
                           reach agreement on a location within thirty (30) days
                           of the appointment of the last arbitrator, then at a
                           site chosen by the arbitrators;

                  ii.      The arbitrators shall be and remain at all times
                           wholly independent and impartial;

                  iii.     The arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in
                           accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of
                           the American Arbitration Association, as amended from
                           time to time;

                  iv.      Any procedural issues not determined under the
                           arbitral rules selected pursuant to item (iii) above
                           shall be determined by the law of the place of
                           arbitration, other than those laws which would refer
                           the matter to another jurisdiction;

                  v.       The costs of the arbitration proceedings (including
                           attorneys' fees and costs) shall be borne in the
                           manner determined by the arbitrators;

                  vi.      The decision of the arbitrators shall be reduced to
                           writing; final and binding without the right of
                           appeal; the sole and exclusive remedy regarding any
                           claims, counterclaims, issues or accounting presented
                           to the arbitrators; made and promptly paid in United
                           States dollars free of any deduction or offset; and
                           any costs or fees incident to enforcing the award
                           shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law, be
                           charged against the party resisting such enforcement;

                  vii.     The award shall include interest from the date of any
                           breach or violation of this Agreement, as determined
                           by the arbitral award, and from the date of the award
                           until paid in full, at 6% per annum; and

                  viii.    Judgment upon the award may be entered in any court
                           having jurisdiction over the person or the assets of
                           the party owing the judgment or application may be
                           made to such court for a judicial acceptance of the
                           award and an order of enforcement, as the case may
                           be.

                                       8
<PAGE>

         25. Acknowledgment Of Parties. Each party acknowledges that he or she
or it has voluntarily and knowingly entered into an agreement to arbitration
under this Section by executing this Agreement.

         EXECUTED effective as of the date written above.

                                       COMPANY:

                                       INPUT/OUTPUT, INC.

                                       By: /s/ Brad Eastman
                                           -------------------------------------

                                       Name: Brad Eastman

                                       Title: Vice President & Chief
                                              Administrative Officer

                                       CONSULTANT:

                                         /s/ Kenneth W. Pope
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Kenneth W. Pope

                                       9

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