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                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.1(b)

                                 FIRST AMENDMENT
                                       TO
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         This First Amendment to Employment Agreement (this "Amendment"), dated
as of June 28, 2000, is entered into by and between Duke Energy Field Services
Assets, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("DEFS Assets") and Michael J.
Panatier ("Executive").

         WHEREAS, Executive and DEFS Assets entered into that certain Employment
Agreement dated April 1, 2000 (the "Employment Agreement") (capitalized terms
used but not defined herein shall have the meaning given thereto in the
Employment Agreement); and

         WHEREAS, Executive and DEFS Assets desire to amend the Employment
Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual benefits to be
derived from this Amendment, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

         1.       Amendment to Employment Agreement.  The Employment Agreement
is hereby amended as follows:

                  (a)      Section 6 of the Employment Agreement is amended and
         restated to read as follows:

                           6.      Long Term Incentive. As of May 26, 2000,
                  Executive shall be granted a right to receive a cash award of
                  $844,800.00 (the "First Cash Award"). On May 26, 2001,
                  Executive shall be granted a right to receive a

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                  cash award of 220% of his base salary on that date (the
                  "Second Cash Award" and together with the First Cash Award
                  referred to as the "Cash Awards"). The Cash Awards, plus
                  accrued but unpaid interest, shall be payable on April 1, 2002
                  (the "Vesting Date"). The Cash Awards shall earn interest from
                  the respective grant dates at rate of six percent (6%) per
                  annum. If DEFS Corporation shall commence a public offering of
                  its common stock during the term of employment specified in
                  Section 3 of this Agreement, the Cash Awards, plus accrued but
                  unpaid interest, shall automatically be exchanged for stock
                  options and restricted stock of DEFS Corporation with 68% of
                  the outstanding Cash Awards, plus accrued but unpaid interest,
                  being exchanged for stock options of DEFS Corporation and 32%
                  of the outstanding Cash Awards, plus accrued but unpaid
                  interest, being exchanged for restricted stock of DEFS
                  Corporation. The stock option and restricted stock grant
                  agreements shall provide for the same Vesting Date. If
                  Executive violates any restrictive covenants as provided in
                  Sections 9 or 10 of this Agreement, during the term of
                  employment specified in Section 3 of this Agreement or within
                  a six-month period following termination of employment for any
                  reason, Executive will repay any income realized or realizable
                  from the long-term incentive awards granted under this Section
                  6. The Cash Awards shall be subject to the forfeiture
                  provisions of Section 12 of this Agreement.

                  (b)      Section 7 of the Employment Agreement is amended and
         restated to read as follows:

                           7.      Retention Award. As of May 26, 2000,
                  Executive shall be granted a right to receive a retention cash
                  award of $960,000.00 (the "Retention Award"). The Retention
                  Award shall be payable in two installments, with one half of
                  the Retention Award, and interest earned thereon, payable on
                  April 1, 2001 and the remaining Retention Award, and interest
                  earned thereon, payable on April 1, 2002 (the "Retention
                  Vesting

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                  Dates"). The Retention Award shall earn interest from May 26,
                  2000 at a rate of six percent (6%) per annum. If DEFS
                  Corporation shall commence a public offering of its common
                  stock during the term of employment specified in Section 3 of
                  this Agreement, the Retention Award, plus accrued but unpaid
                  interest thereon, shall automatically be exchanged for
                  restricted stock of DEFS Corporation. The restricted stock
                  grant agreements shall provide for the same Retention Vesting
                  Dates. If Executive violates any restrictive covenants as
                  provided in Sections 9 or 10 of this Agreement, during the
                  term of employment specified in Section 3 of this Agreement or
                  within a six-month period following termination of employment
                  for any reason, Executive will repay any income realized or
                  realizable from the Retention Award granted under this Section
                  7. The Retention Award shall be subject to the forfeiture
                  provisions of Section 12 of this Agreement.

                  (c)      Section 13 of the Employment Agreement is amended by
         inserting ", Cash Awards or Retention Award" after the words
         "restricted stock awards" in the first sentence thereof.

         2.       Ratification.  Except as amended hereby, the Employment
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect as previously executed by the
parties, and the parties hereby ratify the Employment Agreement as amended
hereby.

         3.       Waiver of Breach.  The waiver by any party to a breach of any
provision in this Amendment cannot operate or be construed as a waiver of any
subsequent breach by a party.

         4.       Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
particular provision of this Amendment shall not affect the other provisions
hereof, and this Amendment shall be construed in all respects as if the invalid
or unenforceable provision were omitted.

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         5.       Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, this
Amendment and the Agreement contain the entire understanding of the parties as
to the employment of Executive, superseding all prior understandings and
agreements, and no modifications or amendments of the terms and conditions set
forth or referred to herein shall be effective unless in writing and signed by
the parties or their respective duly authorized agents.

         6.       Governing Law.  This Amendment shall be interpreted, construed
and governed according to the laws of the State of Colorado, without reference
to conflicts of law principles thereof.

         7.       Dispute Resolution. In the event any dispute arises concerning
the provisions of this Amendment, the parties agree that such dispute shall be
resolved in accordance with the Employment Dispute Resolution procedures of the
American Arbitration Association and that any arbitration pursuant to such
procedures shall be held in Denver, Colorado.

         8.       Consent to Jurisdiction.  Employee hereby consents to the
nonexclusive jurisdiction of any state court within Denver, Colorado or any
federal court located within the same city for any proceeding instituted
hereunder or arising out of or in connection with this Amendment.

         9.       Successors and Assigns.  This Amendment shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted successors,
assigns, legal representatives and heirs, but neither this Amendment nor any
rights hereunder shall be assignable by Executive.

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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as
of the day and year first above written.

                                          DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES ASSETS, LLC

                                          By: /s/ JIM W. MOGG
                                             -----------------------------------
                                               Jim W. Mogg
                                               Chairman of the Board, President
                                               and Chief Executive Officer

                                          EXECUTIVE

                                          By: /s/ MICHAEL J. PANATIER
                                             -----------------------------------
                                               Michael J. Panatier

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                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.9(b)

                               FIRST AMENDMENT TO
                                  CONTRACT FOR
                                SERVICES BETWEEN
             W.W. SLAUGHTER & DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES ASSETS, LLC

         This First Amendment to Contract for Services Between W.W. Slaughter &
Duke Energy Field Services Assets, LLC (this "Amendment"), dated as of June 29,
2000, is entered into by and between Duke Energy Field Services Assets, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company ("DEFS Assets") and William W. Slaughter
("Contractor").

         WHEREAS, Contractor and DEFS Assets entered into that Contract for
Services Dated as of April 1, 2000 (the "Consulting Agreement") (capitalized
terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning given thereto in the
Consulting Agreement); and

         WHEREAS, Contractor and DEFS Assets desire to amend the Consulting
Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual benefits to be
derived from this Amendment, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

         1.       Amendment to Consulting Agreement.  The Consulting Agreement
is hereby amended as follows:

                  (a)      Section 5(c) of the Consulting Agreement is amended
         and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

                           (c) As of June 29, 2000, Contractor shall be
                  granted the financial equivalent of Duke Energy Corporation
                  ("Duke Energy") stock options ("Duke Tracking Option") and
                  restricted stock ("Duke Tracking Restricted Stock") to
                  compensate Contractor in an aggregate amount of $360,000 (the
                  "Awards"). The Awards shall be divided as follows: $247,500 of
                  the Awards shall be attributable to the Duke Tracking Option,
                  which shall vest in two equal increments on each of May 26,
                  2001 and May 26, 2002 and which shall be exercisable for
                  thirty-six months after termination of this Contract; and
                  $112,500 of the Awards shall be attributable to the Duke
                  Tracking Restricted Stock, which shall vest in two equal
                  increments on each of May 26, 2001 and May 26, 2002, and which
                  shall accrue quarterly dividends, until vested, in the same
                  amount per share as dividends actually paid on Duke Energy
                  common stock. The Awards shall only track the performance of
                  Duke Energy common stock and shall not entitle Contractor to
                  any of the voting rights of a shareholder of Duke Energy. If
                  Parent Company shall commence an initial public offering of
                  its common stock while the Awards are outstanding, the Awards
                  shall be automatically exchanged for a stock option and
                  restricted stock of the new public company (in the same
                  proportion and with the same vesting as originally granted)
                  that provides Contractor with the economic equivalent in the
                  new public company's common equity.

         2.       Ratification.  Except as amended hereby, the Consulting
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect as previously executed by the
parties, and the parties hereby ratify the Consulting Agreement as amended
hereby.

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         3.       Waiver of Breach.  The waiver by any party to a breach of any
provision in this Amendment cannot operate or be construed as a waiver of any
subsequent breach by a party.

         4.       Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
particular provision of this Amendment shall not affect the other provisions
hereof, and this Amendment shall be construed in all respects as if the invalid
or unenforceable provision were omitted.

         5.       Entire Agreement.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this
Amendment and the Agreement contain the entire understanding of the parties as
to the agreement with Contractor, superseding all prior understandings and
agreements, and no modifications or amendments of the terms and conditions set
forth or referred to herein shall be effective unless in writing and signed by
the parties or their respective duly authorized agents.

         6.       Governing Law.  This Amendment shall be interpreted, construed
and governed according to the laws of the State of Colorado, without reference
to conflicts of law principles thereof.

         7.       Dispute Resolution.  In the event any dispute arises
concerning the provisions of this Amendment, the parties agree that such dispute
shall be resolved in accordance with the Consulting Dispute Resolution
procedures of the American Arbitration Association and that any arbitration
pursuant to such procedures shall be held in Denver, Colorado.

         8.       Consent to Jurisdiction.  Employee hereby consents to the
nonexclusive jurisdiction of any state court within Denver, Colorado or any
federal court located within the same city for any proceeding instituted
hereunder or arising out of or in connection with this Amendment.

         9.       Successors and Assigns.  This Amendment shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted successors,
assigns, legal representatives and heirs, but neither this Amendment nor any
rights hereunder shall be assignable by Contractor.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as
of the day and year first above written.

                                       DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES ASSETS, LLC

                                       By:  /s/ JIM W. MOGG
                                          --------------------------------------
                                            Jim W. Mogg
                                            Chairman of the Board, President
                                            and Chief Executive Officer

                                       CONTRACTOR

                                       BY:  /s/ WILLIAM W. SLAUGHTER
                                          --------------------------------------
                                            William W. Slaughter

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