Document:

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                                   EXHIBIT 4.1

                             RETAINER AGREEMENT WITH

                                 HORWITZ & BEAM

                               DATED JUNE 23, 1997

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                                 LAW OFFICES OF
                                 HORWITZ & BEAM
                                TWO VENTURE PLAZA
                                    SUITE 350
                            IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92618
                                 (714) 453-0300
                                 (310) 842-8574
                               FAX: (714) 453-9416
Gregory B. Beam, Esq.                                    Thomas B. Griffen, Esq.
Lawrence W. Horwitz, Esq.                                  Malea M. Farsai, Esq.
Lawrence R. Bujold, Esq.                                     Ralph R. Loyd, Esq.
Lawrence M. Cron, Esq.
Lynne Bolduc, Esq.                                         George L Rogers, Esq.
                                                                      Of Counsel

                                  June 23, 1997

Beta Oil & Gas, Inc.
901 Dove Street
Suite 230
Newport Beach, CA 92660

         Re:  LEGAL REPRESENTATION

Gentlemen:

     This is to confirm our understanding whereby you have engaged Horwitz &
Beam (the "Firm") to represent your company with respect to general counsel
representation in connection with the operations of Beta Oil & Gas, Inc. during
the period of time commencing upon the date of this Agreement and terminating
the earlier to occur of either: (i) two years or (ii) the Company's common stock
commencing trading in the public securities markets (hereinafter referred to as
the "Matter"). California law requires lawyers to have written fee contracts
with their clients. This letter, when signed by you, will constitute the written
fee contract required by California law. In connection therewith, our
understanding and agreement are as follows:

     1. We will undertake to advise you in connection with the Matter and any
other matters you ask us to undertake. We will undertake to prepare such
documents as may be required to affect the foregoing.

     2. There can be no assurances, and we make no guarantees, representations
or warranties as to the particular results from our services and the response
and timeliness of action by any governmental official or department.

     3. You understand that the accuracy and completeness of any document
prepared by us is dependent upon your alertness to assure that it contains all
material facts which might be important and that such documents must not contain
any misrepresentation of a material fact nor omit information necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading. To that end, you agree to review, and
confirm to us in writing that you have reviewed, all materials for their
accuracy and completeness prior to any use thereof. You also acknowledge that
this responsibility continues in the event that the materials become deficient
in this regard.

                                 HORWITZ & BEAM

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Beta Oil & Gas, Inc.
June 23, 1997
Page 2

     4. As compensation for the legal services provided in connection with the
Matter, the Company hereby grants this firm the right, simultaneous with the
execution of this Retainer Agreement, to acquire 50,000 shares of the Company's
common stock at a price of .05 per share pursuant to the terms of the Company's
customary Subscription Agreement.

     5. It is understood that in addition to the foregoing legal fees, the
Company shall reimburse the firm for all non-labor out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by the firm on behalf of the Company, including, but not limited to
copying charges, long distance telephone charges, outsourced messenger charges,
filing fees, court costs and facsimile charges, arising from this agreement. It
is understood that the Company's obligation to pay such expenses shall only be
at the actual costs incurred by the firm. You agree to pay any and all expenses
advanced by the firm.

     6. The firm reserves the right to immediately withdraw its representation
in the event that (i) we discover any misrepresentation of information provided
to us, or (ii) you and any of your affiliates engage in any conduct or
activities contrary to our advice which in our opinion would constitute a
violation of applicable law. In the event legal action is required to collect
any amounts due hereunder, you agree to pay legal fees and expenses required to
collect such amounts.

     7. We will consult with you on all major decisions and will attempt to keep
you fully informed of the status of the preparation of documents and responses
to filings, if any, as well as our recommended strategies. You should feel free
to call at any time if you have any questions or wish to discuss any aspect of
these matters.

     8. You are advised that the Firm maintains errors and omissions insurance
coverage applicable to the services to be rendered.

     9. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California
and venue for any action hereunder shall be in Orange County, California.

     If this letter correctly sets forth your understanding and agreement with
respect to the matters mentioned above, please execute and return one copy of
this letter.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       HORWITZ & BEAM

                                       /s/  Lawrence W. Horwitz
                                       ---------------------------------
                                       Lawrence W. Horwitz

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                                 HORWITZ & BEAM
Beta Oil & Gas, Inc.
June 23, 1997
Page 3

     The undersigned hereby confirms and agrees that this letter, executed and
effective this 23rd day of June, 1997, sets forth my understanding and
agreement.

BETA OIL & GAS, INC.

By: /s/  Steve Antry
-------------------------------
Steve Antry, President<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT 4.2

                             WARRANT AGREEMENT WITH

                                 HORWITZ & BEAM,

                             DATED SEPTEMBER 1, 1999

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                                WARRANT AGREEMENT

         THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as
of September 1, 1999, between BETA OIL & GAS, INC., a Nevada corporation (the
"Company") and HORWITZ & BEAM, INC., a California professional corporation
("Holder").

                                 R E C I T A L S

         WHEREAS, the Company proposes to issue to Holder 20,000 warrants (the
"Warrants"), each such Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one
share of Common Stock, $0.001 par value, of the Company (the "Shares" or the
"Common Stock"); and

         WHEREAS, the Warrants which are the subject of this Agreement are being
issued by the Company to Holder in consideration for services rendered by Holder
to the Company.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                A G R E E M E N T

         1. WARRANT CERTIFICATES. The warrant certificates to be delivered
pursuant to this Agreement (the "Warrant Certificates") shall be in the form set
forth in Exhibit A, attached hereto and made a part hereof, with such
appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are
required or permitted by this Warrant Agreement.

         2. RIGHT TO EXERCISE WARRANTS. Each Warrant may be exercised from the
date of this Agreement until 11:59 P.M. (Los Angeles time) on the date that is
five years after the date of this Agreement (the "Expiration Date"). Each
Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall expire.

         Each Warrant shall entitle its holder to purchase from the Company one
share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $6.00 per share, subject to
adjustment as set forth below ("Exercise Price").

         The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares of capital
stock upon the exercise of this Warrant or to deliver Warrant Certificates which
evidence fractional shares of capital stock. In the event that a fraction of an
Exercisable Share would, except for the provisions of this paragraph 2, be
issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant, the Company shall pay to the Holder
exercising the Warrant an amount in cash equal to such fraction multiplied by
the current market value of the Exercise Share. For purposes of this paragraph
2, the current market value shall be determined as follows:

                  (a) if the Exercise Shares are traded in the over-the-counter
market and not on any national securities exchange and not in the NASDAQ
Reporting System, the average of the mean between the last bid and asked prices
per share, as reported by the National Quotation Bureau, Inc., or an equivalent
generally accepted reporting service, for the last business day prior to the
date on which this Warrant is exercised, or, if not so reported, the average of
the closing bid and asked prices for an Exercise

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Share as furnished to the Company by any member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., selected by the Company for that purpose.

                  (b) if the Exercise Shares are listed or traded on a national
securities exchange or in the NASDAQ Reporting System, the closing price on the
principal national securities exchange on which they are so listed or traded or
in the NASDAQ Reporting System, as the case may be, on the last business day
prior to the date of the exercise of this Warrant. The closing price referred to
in this Clause (b) shall be the last reported sales price or, in case no such
reported sale takes place on such day, the average of the reported closing bid
and asked prices, in either case on the national securities exchange on which
the Exercise Shares are then listed on in the NASDAQ Reporting System; or

                  (c) if no such closing price or closing bid and asked prices
are available, as determined in any reasonable manner as may be prescribed by
the Board of Directors of the Company.

         3. MUTILATED OR MISSING WARRANT CERTIFICATES. In case any of the
Warrant Certificates shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed prior to its
expiration date, the Company shall issue and deliver, in exchange and
substitution for and upon cancellation of the mutilated Warrant Certificate, or
in lieu of and in substitution for the Warrant Certificate lost, stolen or
destroyed, a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor and representing an
equivalent right or interest.

         4. RESERVATION OF SHARES. The Company will at all times reserve and
keep available, free from preemptive rights, out of the aggregate of its
authorized but unissued Shares or its authorized and issued Shares held in its
treasury for the purpose of enabling it to satisfy its obligation to issue
Shares upon exercise of Warrants, the full number of Shares deliverable upon the
exercise of all outstanding Warrants.

         The Company covenants that all Shares which may be issued upon exercise
of Warrants will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable outstanding
Shares of the Company.

         5. RIGHTS OF HOLDER. The Holder shall not, by virtue of anything
contained in this Warrant Agreement or otherwise, prior to exercise of this
Warrant, be entitled to any right whatsoever, either in law or equity, of a
stockholder of the Company, including without limitation, the right to receive
dividends or to vote or to consent or to receive notice as a shareholder in
respect of the meetings of shareholders or the election of directors of the
Company of any other matter.

         6. INVESTMENT INTENT. Holder represents and warrants to the Company
that Holder is acquiring the Warrants for investment and with no present
intention of distributing or reselling any of the Warrants.

         7. CERTIFICATES TO BEAR LANGUAGE. The Warrants and the certificate or
certificates therefor shall bear the following legend by which each holder shall
be bound:

          "THE WARRANTS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES OF COMMON
          STOCK (OR OTHER SECURITIES) ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE THEREOF HAVE NOT
          BEEN

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          REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. THE SHARES MAY NOT BE
          SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR TRANSFERRED
          IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT AN
          EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT IS AVAILABLE."

          The Shares and the certificate or certificates evidencing any such
Shares shall bear the following legend:

          "THE SHARES (OR OTHER SECURITIES) REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE
          NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. THE SHARES MAY
          NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN
          OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT
          IS AVAILABLE."

         Certificates for Warrants without such legend shall be issued if such
warrants or shares are sold pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") or if the Company has received an
opinion from counsel reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Company, that
such legend is no longer required under the Act.

         8. REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The Company is obligated to register the shares
of Common Stock underlying the Warrants in any subsequent registration statement
filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, so that
holders of such Common Stock shall be entitled to sell the same simultaneously
with and upon the terms and conditions as the securities sold for the account of
the Company are being sold pursuant to any such registration statement In such
registration, the Company shall pay all its expenses and filing fees and shall
make a reasonable number of copies of the registration statement and any
prospectus available to holders. The Company will not pay any selling
commissions or similar expenses incurred by Seller or of any counsel or other
representative of a seller. The Company agrees that in the event it has not
registered the shares underlying the Warrants prior to July 1, 1999 that the
Company shall register the shares underlying the Warrants utilizing Form S-8.

         9. ADJUSTMENT OF NUMBER OF SHARES AND CLASS OF CAPITAL STOCK
PURCHASABLE. The Number of Shares and Class of Capital Stock purchasable under
this Warrant Agreement are subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth
in this Section.

               (a) ADJUSTMENT FOR CHANGE IN CAPITAL STOCK. If the Company:

                    (i) pays a dividend or makes a distribution on its Common
Stock, in each case, in shares of its Common Stock;

                    (ii) subdivides its outstanding shares of Common Stock into
a greater number of shares;

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                    (iii) combines its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares;

                    (iv) makes a distribution on its Common Stock in shares of
its capital stock other than Common Stock; or

                    (v) issues by reclassification of its shares of Common Stock
any shares of its capital stock;

then the number and classes of shares purchasable upon exercise of each Warrant
in effect immediately prior to such action shall be adjusted so that the holder
of any Warrant thereafter exercised may receive the number and classes of shares
of capital stock of the Company which such holder would have owned immediately
following such action if such holder had exercised the Warrant immediately prior
to such action.

                  For a dividend or distribution the adjustment shall become
effective immediately after the record date for the dividend or distribution.
For a subdivision, combination or reclassification, the adjustment shall become
effective immediately after the effective date of the subdivision, combination
or reclassification.

                  If after an adjustment the holder of a Warrant upon exercise
of it may receive shares of two or more classes of capital stock of the Company,
the Board of Directors of the Company shall in good faith determine the
allocation of the adjusted Exercise Price between or among the classes of
capital stock. After such allocation, that portion of the Exercise Price
applicable to each share of each such class of capital stock shall thereafter be
subject to adjustment on terms comparable to those applicable to Common Stock in
this Agreement. Notwithstanding the allocation of the Exercise Price between or
among shares of capital stock as provided by this Section 9, a Warrant may only
be exercised in full by payment of the entire Exercise Price currently in
effect.

                  (b) CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OF THE COMPANY. If the
Company is a party to a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets which
reclassifies or changes its outstanding Common Stock, the successor corporation
(or corporation controlling the successor corporation or the Company, as the
case may be) shall by operation of law assume the Company's obligations under
this Warrant Agreement. Upon consummation of such transaction the Warrants shall
automatically become exercisable for the kind and amount of securities, cash or
other assets which the holder of a Warrant would have owned immediately after
the consolidation, merger or transfer if the holder had exercised the Warrant
immediately before the effective date of such transaction. As a condition to the
consummation of such transaction, the Company shall arrange for the person or
entity obligated to issue securities or deliver cash or other assets upon
exercise of the Warrant to, concurrently with the consummation of such
transaction, assume the Company's obligations hereunder by executing an
instrument so providing and further providing for adjustments which shall be as
nearly equivalent as may be practical to the adjustments provided for in this
Section 9.

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         10. SUCCESSORS. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by
or for the benefit of the Company or Holder shall bind and inure to the benefit
of their respective successor and assigns hereunder.

         11. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all proposes be deemed to
be an original, and such counterparts shall together constitute by one and the
same instrument.

         12. NOTICES. All notices or other communications under this Warrant
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given if delivered by hand
or mailed by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested,
addressed as follows: if to the Company: Beta Oil & Gas, Inc., 901 Dove Street,
Suite 230, Newport Beach, California, 92660, Attention: Chief Executive Officer,
and to the Holder: at the address of the Holder appearing on the books of the
Company or the Company's transfer agent, if any.

         Either the Company or the Holder may from time to time change the
address to which notices to it are to be mailed hereunder by notice in
accordance with the provisions of this Paragraph 12.

         13. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. The Company may from time to time
supplement or amend this Warrant Agreement without the approval of any Holders
of Warrants in order to cure any ambiguity or to be correct or supplement any
provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provision, or to make any other provisions in regard to matters or questions
herein arising hereunder which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and
which shall not materially adversely affect the interest of the Holder.

         14. SEVERABILITY. If for any reason any provision, paragraph or term of
this Warrant Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, all other valid
provisions herein shall remain in full force and effect and all terms,
provisions and paragraphs of this Warrant shall be deemed to be severable.

         15. GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE. This Warrant shall be deemed to be a
contract made under the laws of the State of California and for all purposes
shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of said State. Any
proceeding arising under this Warrant Agreement shall be instituted in Orange
County, State of California.

         16. HEADINGS. Paragraphs and subparagraph headings, used herein are
included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the
construction of this Warrant Agreement nor constitute a part of this Warrant
Agreement for any other purpose.

                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed, as of the date and year first above written.

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"COMPANY"                                          "HOLDER"

BETA OIL & GAS, INC.                               HORWITZ & BEAM, INC.

/s/  Steve Antry                                   /s/  Lawrence W. Horwitz
-----------------------                            -------------------------
BY: Steve Antry                                    BY: Lawrence W. Horwitz
ITS: President                                     ITS: Vice President

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

NUMBER __                                                         WARRANT
                                                            WARRANT TO PURCHASE

                                                                   SHARES

                                                               see reverse for
                                                             certain definitions
                                BETA OIL & GAS, INC.
                          COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
            will be void if not exercised prior to 11:59 P.M. Pacific
                            Time on __________, 2003

THIS CERTIFIES THAT FOR VALUE RECEIVED,

THE REGISTERED HOLDER OR ASSIGNS ("HOLDER"),

is entitled to purchase from Beta Oil & Gas, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the
"Company") at any time after 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time on September 1, 1999 at the
purchase price per share of $6.00 (the "Warrant Price"), the number of shares of
Common Stock of the Company set forth above (the "Shares"). The number of shares
purchasable upon exercise of each warrant evidenced hereby and the Warrant Price
per Share shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth in the
Warrant Agreement referred to below. The Warrants expire on September 1, 2004.
Holders will not have any rights or privileges of shareholders of the Company
prior to exercise of the Warrants. Holders of the Warrants evidenced hereby and
the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise hereof have certain rights
with respect to registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the
Warrants and Common Stock issuable upon exercise hereof. These registration
rights are set forth in that certain Warrant Agreement of even date herewith
pursuant to which this Warrant Certificate has been issued. The Warrant
evidenced hereby may be exercised in whole or in part by presentation of this
Warrant certificate with the Purchase Form on the reverse side hereof fully
executed (with a signature guarantee as provided on the reverse side hereof) and
simultaneous payment of the Warrant Price (subject to adjustment) at the
principal office of the Company. Payment of such price shall be made at the
option of the holder in cash or by certified check or bank draft. The Warrants
evidenced hereby are part of a duly authorized issue of Common Stock Purchase
Warrants with rights to purchase an aggregate of up to 20,000 shares of Common
Stock of the Company. Upon any partial exercise of the Warrant evidenced hereby,
there shall be countersigned and issued to the Holder a new Warrant Certificate
in respect of the Shares as to which the Warrants evidenced hereby shall not
have been exercised. This Warrant Certificate may be exchanged at the office of
the Company by surrender of this Warrant Certificate properly endorsed with a
signature guarantee either separately or in combination with one or more other
Warrants for one or more new Warrants to purchase the same aggregate number of
Shares as evidenced by the Warrant or Warrants exchanged. No fractional Shares
will be issued upon the exercise of rights to purchase hereunder, but the
Company shall pay the cash value of any fraction upon the exercise of one or
more Warrants. The Holder hereof may be treated by the Company and all other
persons dealing with this Warrant Certificate as the absolute owner hereof for
all purposes and as the person entitled to exercise the rights represented
hereby, any notice to the contrary notwithstanding, and until such transfer is
on such books, the Company may treat the Holder as the owner for all purposes.

Dated: __________, 1999                                   BETA OIL & GAS, INC.

         Secretary                                       Chief Executive Officer

                              SEE LEGEND ON REVERSE

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF
CERTAIN STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED,

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HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO (I) AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE LAWS, (II) TO THE
EXTENT APPLICABLE, RULE 144 UNDER THE ACT (OR ANY SIMILAR RULE UNDER THE ACT
RELATING TO THE DISPOSITION OF SECURITIES), OR (III) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, IF
SUCH OPINION SHALL BE REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO COUNSEL TO THE ISSUER, THAT AN
EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE LAW IS AVAILABLE.

                              ELECTION TO PURCHASE

         The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to exercise the within
Warrant and to purchase _______________________ shares of Common Stock of Beta
Oil & Gas, Inc. and hereby makes payment of $_________ (at the rate of $________
per share) in payment of the Exercise Price pursuant hereto. Please issue the
shares as to which this Warrant is exercised in accordance with the instructions
given below.

         The undersigned represents and warrants that the exercise of the within
Warrant was solicited by the member firm of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") listed below. If not solicited by an NASD
member, please write "unsolicited" in the space below.

               __________________________________________________
                 (Insert Name of NASD Member or "Unsolicited")

Dated: ________________, 19______

                                    Signature: _________________________________

                     INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF SHARES

Name (print) ________________________________________

Address (print) _____________________________________

                                   ASSIGNMENT

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ____________________________________ does hereby
sell, assign and transfer unto _____________________________________________,
the right to purchase ________________shares of Common Stock of Beta Oil & Gas,
Inc., evidenced by the within Warrant, and does hereby irrevocably constitute
and appoint __________________________________________ attorney to transfer such
right on the books of Beta Oil & Gas, Inc., with full power of substitution on
the premises.

Dated: ________________, 19______

                                    Signature: ________________________________

NOTICE: The signature of Election to Purchase or Assignment must correspond with
the name as written upon the face of the within Warrant in every particular
without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. The signature(s)
must by guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (Banks, Stockbrokers,
Savings and Loan Associations and Credit Unions with membership in an approved
signature guarantee Medallion Program), pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.

                                      _________________________________________
                                                  Signature Guarantee

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