EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT 10.9

EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT

This Exploration and Development Agreement (“Agreement”), dated and effective the 21^st day of November, 2005 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and between Ohio Triangle, L.P., a Texas limited partnership (“Ohio Triangle”) and GEM-CBM Company f/k/a Harken Gulf Exploration Company, a Delaware corporation (“GEM”). Ohio Triangle and GEM are sometimes referred to individually as a “Party”, and collectively as “Parties.” Ute Oil Company, d/b/a. A.C.T. Operating Company, a Texas corporation (“Ute Oil”) is a party to this Agreement because it is to be designated as Operator under the applicable operating agreement and, therefore, will be bound by this Agreement.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Ohio Triangle and GEM have identified a particular area of land located in the State of Ohio, described as the “Triangle Prospect Area”, which is believed to be prospective for hydrocarbon exploration and more particularly coalbed methane; and

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to jointly explore and develop the Triangle Prospect Area in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by all parties, Ohio Triangle and GEM hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.

AGREEMENT TO PARTICIPATE

1.1 Ohio Triangle and GEM each agrees to participate in the Triangle Prospect Area as set forth in this Agreement, according to the terms and provisions set forth in this Agreement, and all Exhibits hereto.

ARTICLE II.

TRIANGLE PROSPECT AREA

2.1 The Triangle Prospect Area. The Triangle Prospect Area consists of the lands, located in Carroll, Jefferson, and Harrison Counties, Ohio, and included within the red outline on the map as Exhibit A hereto. The only depth restriction applied to the Triangle Prospect Area shall be those, if any, contained in the applicable Leases (as hereinafter defined), those leases acquired in Phase II (as hereinafter defined), and in leases acquired pursuant to Section 5.4.

2.2 Leases. Ohio Triangle is the current beneficial owner of certain Oil, Gas, Coalseam Gas, and Coal Bed Methane Leases covering approximately                  gross acres of land within the Triangle Prospect Area, which are depicted in yellow on Exhibit A and which are

1

more particularly described on Exhibit B hereto. The Oil, Gas, Coalseam Gas, and Coal Bed Methane Leases which are identified in Exhibit B are, sometimes, collectively referred to as the “Leases.”

ARTICLE III.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRIANGLE PROSPECT AREA

3.1 Exploration Phases. Ohio Triangle and GEM shall initially explore and develop the Triangle Prospect Area in three (3) phases, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. “Phase I” shall mean and refer to all the obligations and rights of all Parties in Section 3.2, along with the activities described therein. “Phase II” shall mean and refer to all the obligations and rights of all Parties in Section 3.3, along with the activities described therein. “Phase III” shall mean and refer to all the obligations and rights of all Parties in Section 3.4, along with the activities described therein. Phase I, Phase II, Phase III and the Subsequent Operations (as defined hereinafter) shall constitute the “Project.” GEM agrees to pay to Ohio Triangle for the purchase of GEM’s proportionate share (as set forth in Section 4.1 below) of the Leases the total sum of Five Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($500,000.00) which shall be paid in three (3) installments in accordance with the terms set forth in Sections 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4.

3.2 Phase I. Contemporaneous with the execution of this Agreement, GEM shall pay to Ohio Triangle the sum of One Hundred Thousand And No/100 Dollars ($100,000.00) as the first payment of the initial Lease costs (“First Lease Payment”). Said First Lease Payment shall be via wire transfer of immediately available funds to the banking coordinates identified, in writing by Ohio Triangle. Subject to Section 9.16 of this Agreement, failure by GEM to timely make said payment shall cause this Agreement to terminate and become null and void as between the Parties.

(a) Within ninety (90) days following execution of this Agreement, GEM shall direct the Operator to commence the drilling of                          core holes to be located in the Triangle Prospect Area. The                          core holes (each a “Phase I Core Hole,” and together with any other core holes drilled during Phase I, the “Phase I Core Holes”) shall be continuous wireline retrievable whole core holes which shall be drilled from the shallowest to the deepest structural position on the Triangle Prospect Area. Each Phase I Core Hole will be drilled to a depth sufficient to penetrate the #5 coal (as determined by GEM),                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       , and at the written request of GEM, may be drilled deeper. The Phase I Core Holes will be drilled on the Leases or on such other lands as may be acquired by the Operator, at GEM’s cost, which is agreed to between the Parties. Commencement of the operations for the Phase I Core Holes is expressly subject to the Operator’s receipt of permission from all applicable federal, state and local governmental authorities, rig and ancillary equipment availability. GEM may choose to direct the Operator to drill more                                  Phase I Core Holes at a location and at a depth to be determined by GEM, the drilling of additional Phase I Core Holes shall also be considered to be a part of Phase I for all purposes under this Agreement. All Phase I Core Holes shall be plugged and abandoned in compliance with all state and federal rules, regulations and/or procedures and in accordance with standard industry customs and

2

practices. The plugging and abandonment of all Phase I Core Holes shall also be considered to be part of Phase I for all purposes under this Agreement.

(b) In conjunction with the Phase I Core Hole operations, the Operator will use its best efforts to collect a sufficient quantity of coal samples in gas desorption canisters. Thereafter, the Operator shall have all Phase I Core Hole samples analyzed by a laboratory approved by the Parties. The analysis will include, without limitation, gas content, gas and coal qualitative analyses, and desorption isotherm determination. The Operator shall obtain reports of such laboratory analysis and shall deliver such reports to the Parties no later than ten (10) days after receipt of the reports. Within thirty (30) days of the completion of the Phase I Core Holes and the delivery of the laboratory analysis of all samples taken in the Triangle Prospect Area, the Operator and Ohio Triangle shall prepare and deliver to GEM a report detailing the Operator’s recommendations (which shall account for environmental issues) for Phase II of the Triangle Prospect (hereinafter referred to as the “Phase I Report”). The Phase I Report shall account for all aspects of the Phase II Pilot Projects (as defined hereinafter), which shall include, with out limiting the generality of the foregoing, location of each pilot project, schedule for drilling of all wells and construction of facilities, location of each well to be drilled (including surface and bottomhole locations, if applicable), all zones to be tested, drill depth of each well, prognosis of drilling operations for each well, method of drilling each well, completion procedures to be utilized for each well, any stimulation procedures to be utilized, equipping of each well, electrical services, production facilities, flowlines, gathering systems and facilities, compression, dehydration and other treating facilities, pipeline taps, transmission lines and facilities. GEM shall have thirty (30) days after receiving the Phase I Report from the Operator and Ohio Triangle to elect to proceed with Phase II (the “Phase II Election Window”) and must make such election pursuant to the terms of Section 3.2(d). Within the Phase II Election Window, GEM shall review the Phase I Report and make any modifications to the recommendations (the “Phase I Report Modifications”) set forth in the Phase I Report. Notwithstanding the foregoing, GEM’s modifications, if any, shall be solely limited to the technical aspects of the Phase I Report, and shall in no manner modify or change the schedule for the drilling or construction of facilities set forth in the Phase I Report. If GEM does not deliver any Phase I Report Modifications within the Phase II Election Window, it shall be deemed to have no Phase I Report Modifications, and the Phase I Report shall stand as it was submitted to GEM. However, if, within the Phase II Election Window, GEM delivers to Ohio Triangle, written Phase I Modifications, then the version submitted by the Operator and Ohio Triangle along with the Phase I Report Modifications shall constitute the Phase I Report. Unless mutually agreed to by the Ohio Triangle and GEM, no Phase I Report Modifications shall have the effect of extending the time of the Phase II Election Window.

(c) Following the execution of this Agreement and within ten (10) days of the receipt by GEM of the written request by Ohio Triangle, GEM shall deliver to the Operator, a fully executed Authority For Expenditure (“AFE I”) attached hereto as Exhibit C. GEM shall pay to the Operator the total AFE I amount within thirty (30) days from its delivery of the fully executed AFE I. Subject to Section 9.16 of this Agreement, failure by GEM to timely make said payment shall cause this Agreement to terminate and become null and void as between the Parties. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.7 below, GEM is responsible for all of the actual

3

costs incurred even if they exceed the amounts shown in the AFE I, and all such costs actually paid or credited shall be considered in the calculation of the Carried Interest Amount (as defined below). All costs in excess of the AFE I shall be billed to GEM in accordance with the provisions of the Triangle Prospect Joint Operating Agreement and shall be paid by GEM within fifteen (15) days of receipt of an invoice for any such costs. At the end of operations for Phase I, any overpayment will be returned, unless GEM elects otherwise, and any underpayment will be paid promptly.

(d) GEM shall have the option, but not the obligation, to elect to proceed with Phase II of the Triangle Prospect. GEM must provide Ohio Triangle with written notice of its election to proceed with Phase II within the Phase II Election Window. If GEM fails to respond within the Phase II Election Window, Ohio Triangle shall send GEM a termination notice. If GEM fails to elect to proceed with Phase II following three (3) business days after receipt of such termination notice, then GEM shall be deemed to have elected not to proceed with Phase II, and this Agreement shall terminate and be null and void as of the date that the Phase II Election Window expired.

3.3 Phase II. If GEM elects to participate in Phase II, it shall pay to Ohio Triangle, within ten (10) days of receipt by Triangle of GEM’s written election to participate, the sum of Two Hundred Thousand And No/100 Dollars ($200,000.00) as the second payment of the initial Lease costs (“Second Lease Payment”). Said payment shall be via wire transfer of immediately available funds to the banking coordinates identified in writing by Ohio Triangle. Subject to Section 9.16, GEM’s failure to pay timely shall cause this Agreement to terminate and become null and void as between the Parties.

(a) Within ten (10) days after GEM’s written election to participate in Phase II, the Operator shall submit to GEM a                      AFE in the amount of Five Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($500,000.00) which will be payable by GEM to the Operator as follows: (i) the first payment in the amount of $200,000.00 shall be paid within thirty (30) days from its receipt by GEM of the                      AFE; (ii) the second payment in the amount of $150,000.00 shall be paid to the Operator within twenty (20) days from GEM’s receipt of written notice that the Operator has spent seventy five percent (75%) of the first payment; (iii) the third and final payment in the amount of $150,000.00 shall be paid within thirty (30) days from GEM’s receipt of written notice that the Operator has spent seventy five percent (75%) of the second payment. Subject to Section 9.16 of this Agreement, failure by GEM to timely make each such payment shall

4

cause this Agreement to terminate and become null and void as between the Parties. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.7 below, GEM is responsible for all of the                                           costs incurred in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.3(a), even if they exceed the amounts shown in                                           AFE, and all such costs actually paid or credited shall be considered in the calculation of the Carried Interest Amount. At the end of operations for Phase II, any overpayment will be returned, unless GEM elects otherwise, and any underpayment will be paid promptly.                                                               Phase II shall be considered by the Parties as completed upon the acquisition of Additional Acreage covering                                           acres                                          , or two hundred forty (240) days after Ohio Triangle’s receipt of the Second Lease Payment, whichever is the first to occur.

(b) Within sixty (60) days of the completion of the lease acquisition portion of Phase II, the Operator shall commence operations for Phase II which will consist of                      pilot projects. The first pilot project (the “First Pilot Project”) shall be at a location in the general vicinity of a Phase I Core Hole and will consist of five (5) wells in a “five-spot” pattern spaced on 40 acres, more or less, per well. The second pilot project (the “Second Pilot Project”; together with the First Pilot Project, referred to as the “Phase II Pilot Projects”) shall be located in the general vicinity of where a Phase I Core Hole (but a different Phase I Core Hole than chosen for the First Pilot Project) and will consist of five (5) wells in a “five-spot” pattern spaced on 40 acres, more or less, per well. The purpose of Phase II will be to determine the commercial viability of actual producing wells in the Triangle Prospect Area. The Parties agree to market and sell, to the extent commercially viable, all liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons produced and save from Phase II wells. The Operator, within ninety (90) days after completion of the Phase II Pilot Projects, or other such time as may be mutually agreed between GEM and Ohio Triangle not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days after completion of the Phase II Pilot Projects, shall prepare and deliver to Ohio Triangle and GEM a report detailing the Operator’s recommendations (which shall account for, among other things, environmental issues, if any) for Phase III of the Triangle Prospect (hereinafter referred to as the “Phase II Report”). The Phase II Report shall account for all aspects of the development drilling of the Triangle Prospect Area, which shall include a development plan scheduling the drilling and development of the Triangle Prospect Area, which shall include without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a schedule for drilling of all wells, a schedule for the construction of gathering, production, and treatment facilities, location of all wells to be drilled (including surface and bottomhole locations, if applicable), all zones to be tested, drill depth of each well, prognosis of drilling operations for each well, method of drilling each well, completion procedures to be utilized for each well, any stimulation procedures to be utilized, equipping of each well, electrical services, production facilities, flowlines, gathering systems and facilities, compression, dehydration and other treating facilities, pipeline taps, transmission lines and facilities and any other operations necessary to the development of the Triangle Prospect Area. GEM shall have thirty (30) days after receiving the Phase II Report from the Operator and Ohio Triangle to elect to proceed with Phase III (the “Phase III Election Window”) and must make the election pursuant to the terms of Section 3.3(b). Within the Phase III Election Window, GEM shall review the Phase II Report and make any modifications to the recommendations (the “Phase II Report Modifications”) set forth in the Phase II Report. Notwithstanding the foregoing, GEM’s modifications, if any, shall be

5

solely limited to technical aspects of the Phase II Report, and shall in no way modify or change the schedule for the drilling of wells or construction of production, gathering, or treating facilities as set forth in the Phase II Report. If GEM does not deliver the Phase II Report Modifications within the Phase III Election Window, then GEM shall be deemed to have no modifications to the Phase II Report, and the Phase II Report shall stand as it was submitted to GEM. However, if, within the Phase III Election Window, GEM delivers to Ohio Triangle written Phase II Report Modifications, then the version submitted by the Operator along with GEM’s Phase II Report Modifications shall constitute the Phase II Report. . Unless mutually agreed to by the Ohio Triangle and GEM, no Phase II Report Modifications shall have the effect of extending the time of the Phase III Election Window.

(i) Within ten (10) days after the written request of Ohio Triangle, following GEM’s written election to participate in Phase II, GEM shall execute and deliver to the Operator the Authority For Expenditure II (“AFE II”) for 100% of the estimated costs for the First Pilot Project which is attached hereto as Exhibit D. AFE II may be modified by the Operator to account for any increase or reduction in third party services prices that may have incurred prior to the execution of the AFE II. In the event AFE II is modified Ohio Triangle shall submit the modified AFE II along with the request. GEM shall pay to the Operator the 100% of AFE amounts for tangible and intangible costs within thirty (30) days from its delivery of the fully executed AFE. That portion of the AFE attributable to field facilities cost shall be paid within five (5) business days of GEM’s receipt of a written request from the Operator. Subject to Section 9.16 of this Agreement, failure by GEM to timely execute and deliver AFE II or make said payment shall cause this Agreement to terminate and become null and void as between the Parties.

(ii) After the fifth well in the First Pilot Project has been spudded, the Operator shall submit an additional AFE (“AFE III”) for 100% of the estimated costs for the Second Pilot Project. GEM shall deliver a fully executed AFE III to the Operator within ten (10) days after the receipt of AFE III from the Operator. GEM shall pay to the Operator the 100% of the AFE amounts for tangible and intangible costs within thirty (30) days from its delivery of the fully executed AFE III. Should GEM elect not to proceed with the Second Pilot Project or, if GEM fails to return the executed AFE III to the Operator within the specified time, then Ohio Triangle shall send GEM a written termination notice. If GEM fails to deliver the executed AFE III within three (3) business days after receipt of a termination notice, then GEM shall be deemed to have elected not to proceed with the Second Pilot Project and with Phase III and this Agreement shall terminate and be null and void except, with respect to the wells drilled in the First Pilot Project. GEM shall earn an assignment of a forty (40) acre production unit, as to all depths, surrounding each well drilled and completed in the First Pilot Project. Said forty (40) acre production unit shall be the closest quarter (1/4) quarter (1/4) section of land surrounding each such well.

(iii) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.7 below, GEM is responsible for all

6

of the costs incurred even if they exceed the amounts shown in AFE II or AFE III, and all such costs actually paid or credited shall be considered in the calculation of the Carried Interest Amount. At the end of operations for Phase II, any overpayment will be returned, unless GEM elects otherwise, and any underpayment will be paid promptly.

(c) GEM shall have the option, but not the obligation, to elect to proceed with Phase III of the Triangle Prospect. GEM must provide Ohio Triangle with written notice of its election to proceed with Phase III within the Phase III Election Window. If GEM fails to respond within the Phase III Election Window, then Ohio Triangle shall send GEM a written termination notice. If GEM fails to elect to proceed within three (3) days after receipt of a termination notice, then GEM shall be deemed to have elected not to proceed with Phase III and this Agreement shall terminate and be null and void as of the date that the Phase III Election Window expired except, with respect to the wells drilled in Phase II, as to a forty (40) acre production unit, as to all depths, for each well drilled and completed in the Triangle Prospect Area in Phase II. Said forty (40) acre production unit shall be the closest quarter (1/4) quarter (1/4) section of land surrounding each such well.

3.4 Phase III. If GEM elects to participate in Phase III, it shall pay to Ohio Triangle, within ten (10) days of receipt by Ohio Triangle of GEM’s written election to participate, the sum of Two Hundred Thousand And No/100 Dollars ($200,000.00) as the third and final payment of the initial Lease costs (“Third Lease Payment”). Said payment shall be via wire transfer of immediately available funds to the banking coordinates identified, in writing by Ohio Triangle. Subject to Section 9.16, GEM’s failure to pay timely shall cause this Agreement to terminate and become null and void as between the Parties.

(a) Notwithstanding the operator replacement provisions in the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement, GEM shall have the option at any time, after GEM makes the Third Lease Payment and after consultation with Ohio Triangle, to become the contract operator or to appoint a designee as contract operator. For the purposes of this Agreement the term “Contract Operator” shall mean GEM, if it elects to become the contract operator or its designee contract operator and shall not be interchanged with the term “Operator” as hereinafter defined. If GEM elects to become the Contract Operator, then Ohio Triangle and the Operator shall be obligated to take all reasonably necessary actions to make GEM or a designee the contract operator for the Triangle Prospect Area for the purposes of this Agreement; such contract operating agreement shall be consistent with industry standards, have a term of one year (and may be renewable, unless terminated earlier by Ohio Triangle pursuant to Section 3.4(c) hereinbelow), provide that all Overhead charges under the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement shall be paid to the Contract Operator, but shall provide for distribution of production revenues by the Contract Operator only if the first purchaser of production who is not a Party, refuses to distribute directly to the Parties. If GEM elects to become the Contract Operator or elects a designee to be the Contract Operator, neither GEM nor its designee shall in any manner change or modify the scheduling or implementation of the Phase II Report or change or modify any AFE previously submitted to GEM pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

7

(b) Within ninety (90) days of Ohio Triangle’s receipt of the Third Lease Payment, the Operator shall commence operations for Phase III, in accordance with the Phase II Report. The Phase III operations will begin the development drilling of the Triangle Prospect Area. Phase III will end at the point in time when GEM has met the Carried Interest Amount as defined in Section 3.5 below.

(c) In addition to the payment of the Third Lease Payment, GEM shall pay all of the costs for all operations to be conducted in Phase III until GEM has paid the Carried Interest Amount. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.7, GEM shall pay 100% of the actual costs incurred for Phase III until GEM has paid the Carried Interest Amount. Within ten (10) days after Ohio Triangle’s receipt of the Third Lease Payment, the Operator shall submit to GEM an AFE for 100% of the estimated costs for all operations to be conducted pursuant to the Phase II Report for the first calendar quarter. GEM shall pay to the Operator the total AFE amount within thirty (30) days from its receipt of the AFE and shall contemporaneously deliver a fully executed AFE. Thereafter the Operator shall submit to GEM at least thirty (30) days prior to the next calendar quarter an AFE for 100% of the estimated costs for all operations to be conducted pursuant to the Phase II Report for the next calendar quarter. GEM shall pay to the Operator the total AFE amount within thirty (30) days from its receipt of the AFE and shall deliver an executed AFE with its payment. The Operator shall continue to submit AFE’s on a quarterly basis until such time as the Carried Interest Amount has been reached. Once the Carried Interest Amount is met, then Phase III shall end. Subject to Section 9.16 of this Agreement, failure by GEM to timely pay the full amount of each AFE submitted by the Operator for the Phase III costs shall cause the Agreement to terminate and become null and void as between the Parties. GEM shall only be entitled to an assignment of a forty (40) acre production unit, as to all depths, surrounding each well drilled. Said forty (40) acre production unit shall be the closest quarter (1/4) quarter (1/4) section of land surrounding each such well.

3.5 Ohio Triangle’s Carried Interest. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, GEM hereby agrees to pay for or carry Ohio Triangle’s interest in all operations conducted in Phases I, II, and III in the Triangle Prospect Area until such time as GEM has expended a total amount of Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand And No/100 Dollars ($7,500,000.00) in the Triangle Prospect Area (the “Carried Interest Amount”), without regard to any production proceeds or other income received by GEM with respect to the Triangle Prospect. For the purpose of calculating the total amount expended by GEM, the sum shall include the First, Second, and Third Lease Payments, all costs expended in Phase I, II and III, all lease acquisition costs in Phase II, any costs under the indemnity provisions of Section 8.2 and Section 8.3, all actual costs (including salaries and benefits per COPAS guidelines) incurred and paid by GEM for its technical employees but only to the extent they are used directly on the Project, any reimbursement paid to surface owners for damages caused by the Project’s activities, any expenses for expenditures related to any bond or letter of credit required by any governmental authority or any rule, law, statute, or administrative regulations, and all other costs paid by GEM to Ohio Triangle or to the Operator or to any other person or entity providing services to the Triangle Prospect Area, other than persons or entities related to GEM, except as specified above. GEM shall provide to Ohio Triangle on a quarterly basis a statement identifying the total amounts expended in the Triangle Prospect

8

Area; such amounts shall be subject to audit by Ohio Triangle pursuant to the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement. At such time as GEM has expended $7,500,000.00 in the Triangle Prospect Area, the Parties shall thereafter share all costs in proportion to their interests as set forth in Section 4.1 below; with respect to costs or services incurred or contracted for prior to the final payment of the Carried Interest Amount, Ohio Triangle shall pay its share of such costs or services that become due after such final payment, regardless of whether it signed an AFE or consented to the operation. In addition, as interests are assigned to GEM under Section 4.2, Ohio Triangle shall be responsible for direct operating expenses on the well(s) related to the assignment in accordance with its ownership interest under Section 4.1, regardless of whether the full amount of the Carried Interest Amount has been paid. For this purpose, operating expenses do not include costs of deepening, side tracking, re-completing a well, overhead costs, or any capital expenditures; such costs of deepening, side tracking, re-completing a well, overhead costs, or any capital expenditures are to be paid by GEM as part of the Carried Interest Amount.

3.6 Subsequent Operations. After the completion of Phase III, all subsequent wells and facilities within the Triangle Prospect Area, and the reworking, deepening, side tracking, re-equipping or re-completion of prior wells drilled within the Triangle Prospect Area (the “Subsequent Operations”) shall be subject to the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement.

3.7 Limit on Expenditures under AFEs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any single operation covered by a multiple operation AFE provided hereunder, or under the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement, experiences an excess of actual costs over the AFE’d amounts for a single operation which is in excess of 20% of the AFE’d amounts (exclusive of any costs for plugging and abandonment and/or reclamation for any such single well or operation) or if the single operation is projected to be in excess of 20% of the AFE’d amount (exclusive of any costs for plugging and abandonment and/or reclamation for any such single well or operation), either Party may elect to require the Operator to cease that operation (and plug and abandon any well).

ARTICLE IV.

PARTIES AND INTEREST IN PROSPECT AREA

4.1 Parties and Interests. The interest of each Party hereto in and to the Triangle Prospect Area (“Triangle Prospect Area Interest”) shall be as follows:

Notwithstanding the interests of the Parties set forth above, Ohio Triangle owns 100% of the Leases subject to GEM’s right to earn interest in the Leases as a result of GEM’s full participation in Phase II and Phase III and full compliance with the terms of this Agreement.

9

4.2 Interests Earned by GEM. Subject to Section 9.16, if GEM timely pays all sums as required in Section 3.2 and Section 3.3, GEM shall earn an assignment of its proportionate interest as set forth in Section 4.1 as to forty (40) acre production unit, as to all depths, surrounding each well drilled and completed in the Triangle Prospect Area in Phase II and all Additional Acreage acquired. Said forty (40) acre production unit shall be the closest quarter (1/4) quarter (1/4) section of land surrounding each such well. Should GEM either elect or be deemed to have elected to not proceed with Phase III or fails to expend the total Carried Interest Amount, GEM shall hereby grant Ohio Triangle a continuing option, which option shall expire one hundred eighty (180) days after GEM either elects or is deemed to have elected not to proceed with Phase III, to acquire all of GEM’s interest in the Leases for the payment of Two Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($200,000.00) and/or acquire GEM’s interest in any Additional Acreage, by paying to GEM, GEM’s proportionate share, as set forth in Section 4.1, of the actual costs incurred for the Additional Acreage (i.e., Ohio Triangle would pay to GEM sixty five percent (65%) of the actual costs incurred for the Additional Acreage). At the completion of Phase III pursuant to Section 3.5 and if GEM has paid all sums required in Section 3.4 GEM shall earn an assignment of its proportionate interest as set forth in Section 4.1 as to all Leases and Additional Acreage within the Triangle Prospect Area.

4.3 Assignment of Earned Interests. The assignment and conveyance of the interests earned by GEM hereunder shall include the following representations and warranties:

10

NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, the Parties hereby stipulate and agree that the net revenue interests that may be assigned hereunder, as a result of a farm-in from an unrelated third party whereby an interest in the Triangle Prospect Area may be earned or acquired, shall be the same net revenue interest acquired pursuant to the terms of said farm-in. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, said assignment shall only be delivered to GEM upon the timely payment of all monies set forth herein, subject to Section 9.16. Each Party agrees to assume and hold each of the other Parties harmless from said Party’s respective share of the conditions, terms and obligations of the Leases and Agreements.

4.4 Overriding Royalty. Subject to the following limitations, Ohio Triangle shall be entitled to receive an overriding royalty interest (“Overriding Royalty Interest”) in all leases and interests acquired as Additional Acreage or as a result of the Triangle Prospect Area of Mutual Interest (this provision is not applicable to the Leases and Agreements) equal to the difference between the royalty burden imposed on the original lease and eighty two and one-half percent (82.5%).

11

4.5 Additional Leases Acquired. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement under which GEM forfeits or surrenders its interest, if the Carried Interest Amount has not been reached at the time of such forfeit, and additional leases or other interests have been acquired under this Agreement after the date of this Agreement and have been paid for by GEM, GEM shall not be required to surrender such additional leases until it has been reimbursed for the actual, out of pocket, acquisition costs incurred and paid by GEM for such additional leases.

ARTICLE V.

OPERATIONS

5.1 The Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement. All operations in the Triangle Prospect Area shall be governed by the terms of the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties stipulate and agree that none of the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement’s non-consent provisions shall in any manner be applicable until after the completion of Phase III; however, the default provisions of the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement shall be applicable to the extent that any such provision is not in conflict with the terms of this Agreement. The Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement is subject to the terms of this Agreement and shall be in the form attached as Exhibit F (the “Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement”). In the event of a conflict between the terms of the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall control. The Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement shall be deemed to have been executed by Ohio Triangle and GEM upon the execution of this Agreement.

5.2 Operator. Ute Oil shall be designated as the operator of record in the Triangle Prospect Area, pursuant to the terms of the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement and subject to the terms of this Agreement. Ute Oil shall remain the operator of record of the Triangle Prospect Area through the completion of Phase III, subject only to (i) its removal or resignation under the terms of the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement or (ii) a vote of 75% of the working interest owners by interest without regard to the provisions of the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement. For the purposes of this Agreement the term “Operator” shall mean the operator of record.

5.3. Triangle Prospect Area of Mutual Interest.

(a) By the execution of this Agreement, the Parties establish an Area of

12

Mutual Interest covering the Triangle Prospect Area. If, during the term of this Agreement, any Party acquires a legal or beneficial interest, or the right to acquire same, in a coal bed methane lease, oil and gas lease, mineral interest, royalty or overriding royalty (excluding the Overriding Royalty Interest), production payments, net profits interest or any other interest in oil or gas (an “AMI Interest”) within the Triangle Prospect Area of Mutual Interest, then such Party (the “Acquiring Party”) shall promptly notify the other Party hereto (the “Non-Acquiring Party”) advising that such interest has been acquired. The notification shall set forth the direct costs incurred by the Acquiring Party in connection therewith (the “Acquisition Costs”), along with any documents relating to the acquisition of the AMI Interest, all title information, and an invoice of the Acquisition Costs to the Non-Acquiring Party. The Non-Acquiring Party shall have a fourteen (14) day period after proper notice has been received in which to elect to acquire its proportionate Triangle Prospect Area Interest in such interest by paying the Acquiring Party its proportionate share of the Acquisition Costs as determined by Section 5.3(b) and Section 5.4(c). An election to acquire an interest in such an AMI Interest by a Non-Acquiring Party must be made by giving written notice to the Acquiring Party of the intent to so acquire, accompanied with the appropriate payment of its share of the Acquisition Costs (the “Non-Acquiring Party’s AMI Payment”); this notice and payment must be made on or before the expiration of the fourteenth (14^th) day after receipt of the notice that the interest had been acquired. Failure to timely make such notice of election and payment within said time period will be deemed an election to not acquire an interest. If any Party elects to not acquire an interest, the Acquiring Party shall notify the Non-Acquiring Party who did elect to acquire an interest and said Party shall have fourteen (14) days from the date of its notice in which to elect to acquire and pay a proportionate share of the interest which was not taken, in the proportion that the interest of each of said Party’s Triangle Prospect Area Interest bears to the total Triangle Prospect Area Interest of all of the Parties remaining with an interest in said AMI Interest. Within five (5) business days after the receipt of payment, the Acquiring Party shall execute and deliver to the Parties who have acquired an interest therein a recordable assignment of said interest. All AMI Leases in which any of the Parties acquire an interest therein pursuant to this provision shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement. An AMI Lease must be free and clear of liens and burdens other than such liens and/or burdens which were reserved or created by unrelated parties prior to the acquisition by the Acquiring Party and must be fully disclosed to the Non-Acquiring Party when notice is given of the acquisition of an AMI Lease. If an Acquiring Party fails to give timely notice of liens or burdens associated with an AMI Lease to the Non-Acquiring Party, then the Non-Acquiring Party may elect to re-assign its interests in the AMI Lease to the Acquiring Party, and the Acquiring Party must return all monies paid by Non-Acquiring Party, along with reasonable expenses, including, without limitation, attorney fees, of the Non-Acquiring Party.

(b) Ohio Triangle shall receive its Overriding Royalty Interest in any leases constituting an AMI Interest pursuant to Section 4.4.

(c) Upon the completion of the lease acquisition portion of Phase II (as defined in Section 3.3(a) herein above) either Party may propose the creation of a lease acquisition budget designed to acquire interests within the Triangle Prospect Area of Mutual Interest. Upon the mutual written agreement of GEM and Ohio Triangle, the proposing party shall submit an AFE to the non-proposing party outlining the area wherein the interests will

13

be acquired and the estimated costs for the acquisition, which will include, without limitation, all bonus, brokerage, legal, recording fees and miscellaneous expenses. Upon the payment of the non-proposing party’s share of the estimated AFE costs, the proposing party shall begin its activities in the acquisition of interests within the Triangle Prospect Area of Mutual Interest. All interests acquired pursuant to this section shall be owned by the parties pursuant to Section 4.1.

(d) Although the Triangle Prospect Area is subject to the Triangle Prospect Area of Mutual Interest, the ownership and payment provisions of this Section 5.3 (a) shall not apply to the Additional Acreage acquired in accordance with Section 3.3(a).

5.4 Interests Not Subject to This Agreement. Any AMI Lease in which only one Party participates shall be free and clear of this Agreement, including its exhibits. In other words, if an interest is offered under Section 5.3, and no other Party elects to participate, the offered interest is no longer subject to this Agreement.

5.5 Parties Subject to Triangle Area of Mutual Interest. Parties who have signed this Agreement, other than GEM, and Ohio Triangle have done so solely for the purpose of agreeing that he, she, or it is bound by the terms of Section 5.3, and Article 6 of this Agreement and is thereby required to tender any AMI Lease it acquires to GEM and Ohio Triangle and is not entitled to retain or receive any interest therein.

5.6 Modifications to Operating Agreement. Notwithstanding the adoption of the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement in Section 5.1 above, and as otherwise modified by this Agreement, Ohio Triangle and Ute Oil Company agree that if Ute Oil Company ever sells, transfers, or conveys 50% interest or more of the shares of stock currently held in Ute Oil Company, Ute Oil Company shall be deemed, at the option of GEM, to have resigned immediately as Operator under the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement, without any further action necessary to be taken by any Non-Operator. Ute Oil Company undertakes and agrees to inform GEM, in writing, of the change in ownership of Ute Oil Company of 50% or greater.

ARTICLE VI.

RECORDS AND DATA

6.1 Data. The Operator under the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement shall, during the term of this Agreement maintain accurate land, land accounting, and geological and mapping records relating to the Triangle Prospect Area. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, each Party, proportionate to its Triangle Prospect Area Interest will jointly own and be entitled to receive, copy and possess all such land, legal and geological information, maps (including interpretational maps) and data developed by the Operator or any of the Parties in connection with the Triangle Prospect Area (“Data”). The Operator shall provide access, during normal business hours to the Data to any Party.

14

6.2 Confidential Information. The Data is confidential information and any Data disclosed or delivered by the Operator to any of the Parties shall be prominently marked as being confidential. The Parties and Operator shall protect the Data against disclosure using the same degree of care, but no less than a reasonable degree of care, as each uses to protect its own confidential information. The Parties and Operator shall each ensure that its officers and employees who may have access to the Data are legally obligated to preserve the confidentiality of such information. This Agreement imposes no confidentiality obligation upon the Parties with respect to any Data disclosed under this Agreement which: (a) was in the Party’s possession prior to receipt from the Operator; or (b) is rightfully received by the Party from a third party without a duty of confidentiality; or (c) is disclosed by the Operator to a third party without a duty of confidentiality on the third party; or (d) is independently developed by the Party. This Agreement imposes no confidentiality obligation upon the Parties or the Operator with respect to any Data disclosed under this Agreement which: (a) is or becomes a matter of public knowledge through no fault of the Party or the Operator; or (b) is required to be disclosed by operation of law or court order; or (c) is disclosed by the Party or the Operator with the other Parties’ and Operator’s prior written approval. Each Party agrees to give the other Party and the Operator, and the Operator agrees to give the Parties, an adequate opportunity to interpose an objection or take action to assure confidential handling of the Data before making any use or disclosure in reliance upon one of the foregoing exceptions.

6.3 Utilization of Data. Each Party and the Operator shall have the right to use the Data in connection with the joint exploration and development of the Triangle Prospect Area. Except as provided in Section 6.4 below, neither the Operator nor an of the Parties shall have the right to sell, trade, share, disclose, distribute, or exchange the Data during the term of this Agreement without the prior written consent of all the other Parties. The Data may be sold or exchanged upon the unanimous consent of the Parties.

6.4 Disclosure of Data. Notwithstanding the confidentiality obligations of he Parties and the Operator under Section 6.2, each Party may disclose the Data only to: (i) third parties in connection with bona fide negotiations with such third parties for farmout or farm-in agreements with the disclosing Party covering all or parts of the Triangle Prospect Area; (ii) third parties with a bona fide interest in entering into agreements to purchase all or a portion of a Party’s Triangle Prospect Area Interest, or otherwise participating in the exploration and/or development of all or parts of the Triangle Prospect Area with the disclosing Party; or (iii) any consultant retained by a Party to evaluate the Data; provided, however, that all third parties to which the Data is to be disclosed during the term of this Agreement must execute prior to review of the Data, a Confidentiality/Non-Circumvention Agreement in a form acceptable to all Parties, and provided that the Data is prominently marked as being confidential.

ARTICLE VII

TERM

15

7.1 Term. The obligations of the Parties pursuant to this Agreement shall be for a term of five (5) years from the Effective Date, and as long thereafter as any Lease and Agreement acquired by the Parties pursuant to this Agreement remains in force and effect, unless sooner terminated under the provisions hereof or by the agreement of the Parties.

ARTICLE VIII.

RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES

8.1 No Partnership. The liabilities of the Parties hereunder shall be several, but not joint or collective. The Parties hereto expressly do not intend to create, and no provision hereof shall be construed as creating a partnership, joint venture, mining partnership, corporation, association, agency relationship or other relationship whereby any Party shall ever be held liable for the acts either by omission or commission, of the other, the liability of all the respective Parties being several and not joint or collective. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement or in connection with the sale of production and the disposition of proceeds thereof, the Parties hereto expressly do not intend to create, and no provision hereof shall be construed as creating an agency relationship. Each Party shall be individually responsible for its own obligations as set out in this Agreement and in the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement, and all exhibits attached thereto. However, if for federal income tax purposes, this Agreement and the operations hereunder are regarded as a partnership, each party thereby affected elects not to be excluded in the application of all of the provisions of Subchapter “K” Chapter 1, Subtitle “A” of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (hereinafter referred to as the “Code”), as permitted and authorized by Section 761 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. Should there be any requirement that each Party hereby affected give further evidence of this election, each such Party shall execute such documents and furnish such other evidence as may be required by the Federal Internal Revenue Service or as may be necessary to evidence this election. No Party shall give any notice or take any other action inconsistent with the election made hereby. In making the foregoing election, each Party states that the income derived by such Party from operations hereunder can be adequately determined without computation of partnership taxable income.

8.2 Third Party Claim and Liability. ANY THIRD PARTY DAMAGE CLAIM OR SUIT OF ANY KIND ARISING DIRECTLY FROM ANY OPERATIONS CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL COSTS AND EXPENSES OF HANDLING, SETTLING, OR OTHERWISE DISCHARGING SUCH CLAIM OR SUIT SHALL BE AT THE JOINT EXPENSE OF THE PARTIES PARTICIPATING IN THE AGREEMENT OR BY THE OPERATION GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, EACH PARTY’S RESPONSIBILITY BEING IN THE PROPORTION OF THEIR TRIANGLE PROSPECT AREA INTEREST IN THE AGREEMENT OR OPERATION GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM OR SUIT, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT SUCH THIRD PARTY DAMAGE CLAIM OR SUIT IS FOUND TO ARISE IN WHOLE OR IN PART FROM THE SOLE OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE OF ANY PARTY HERETO; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THIS SECTION 8.2 SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY DAMAGE CLAIM OR SUIT ARISING AS A RESULT OF A PARTY’S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT. THE PARTIES REPRESENT THAT, TO THE BEST OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE, NO SUCH THIRD PARTY ADVERSE CLAIM OR SUIT PRESENTLY EXISTS. IN THE EVENT AN SUCH CLAIM OR SUIT IS MADE AGAINST ANY

16

PARTY HERETO, SUCH PARTY SHALL IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE OTHER PARTIES, AND THE CLAIM OR SUIT SHALL BE JOINTLY HANDLED BY ALL OF THE PARTIES HERETO PARTICIPATING IN THE OPERATION GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM OR SUIT.

8.3 Waiver of Consumer Protective Act-Deceptive Trade Practices. DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES. AS PARTIAL CONSIDERATION FOR THE PARTIES AGREEING TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, THE PARTIES EACH CAN AND DO EXPRESSLY WAIVE THE PROVISIONS OF THE TEXAS DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES—CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, ARTICLE 17.41, ET SEQ., TEXAS BUSINESS AND COMMERCE CODE, AND ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAW OF ANY OTHER STATE, A LAW THAT GIVE CONSUMERS SPECIAL RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS, AND ALL THE CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, OR ANY OTHER STATE, APPLICABLE TO THIS TRANSACTION THAT MAY BE WAIVED BY THE PARTIES. IT IS NOT THE INTENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO WAIVE AND THE PARTIES SHALL NOT WAIVE ANY APPLICABLE LAW OR SUB-PART THEREOF WHICH IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM BEING WAIVED. THE PARTIES HERETO REPRESENT THAT THEY HAVE HAD AN ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE PRECEDING WAIVER PROVISION, INCLUDING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT THE SAME TO LEGAL COUNSEL FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT AND AFTER CONSULTATION WITH AN ATTORNEY OF THEIR OWN SELECTION, VOLUNTARILY CONSENT TO THIS WAIVER, AND UNDERSTAND THE RIGHTS BEING WAIVED HEREIN.

8.4 Bankruptcy. If, following the granting of relief under the Bankruptcy Code to any Party hereto as debtor thereunder, this Agreement and the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement shall be held to be an executory contract under the Bankruptcy Code, then any remaining Party(ies) shall be entitled to determination by debtor or any trustee for debtor within thirty (30) days from the date an order for relief is ordered under the Bankruptcy Code as to the rejection or assumption of this Agreement. In the event of an assumption, such Party(ies) seeking determination shall be entitled to have all of debtor’s existing defaults under this Agreement cured within five days of such assumption, and to be provided adequate assurances as to the future performance of the debtor’s obligation hereunder and the protection of the interest of all Parties. The debtor shall satisfy its obligations to provide adequate assurances by either advancing payments or depositing the debtor’s proportionate share of expenses in escrow.

ARTICLE IX.

MISCELLANEOUS

9.1 Assignments. The terms of this Agreement will be binding on the Parties hereto, their successors and assigns. Any assignment or encumbrance of a Party’s interest in and to any Leases and Agreements covering the Triangle Prospect Area or the Triangle Prospect Area of Mutual Interest shall be made expressly subject to this Agreement and the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement, and any assignee shall be deemed to have expressly assumed its proportionate share of the liabilities under this Agreement form and after the effective date of such assignment; the assigning Party shall remain fully liable for its

17

obligations prior to such effective date. This provision also applies to successor-in-interest who acquires a Party’s interest under this Agreement through foreclosure.

9.2 Notices. All notices made by one Party to one or more other Parties shall be in writing and delivered in person, by email, or by United States mail, courier service, telecopy, postage or charges prepaid and addressed to such Parties at the addresses listed below. Notice given under any provision hereof shall be deemed delivered only when received by the Party to whom such notice is directed, and the time for such Party to deliver any notice in response thereto shall run from the date the originating notice is received. All originating email or telecopy notices shall be confirmed by mailing such notice by United States mail, but the date of receipt shall be the date such email or telecopy was delivered to the computer or telecopy machine of the recipient. The responsive notice shall be deemed delivered when deposited in the United States mail or at the office of the courier or upon transmittal by telecopy or email, to the Party as follows:

A Party may change its address by giving notice to the other Parties, in the manner provided in this section, at least ten (10) days prior to the effective date of such change of address.

9.3 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING ALL ITS EXHIBITS) SHALL, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW WHICH WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF A DIFFERENT JURISDICTION, BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN TEXAS, EXCEPT THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LAW OF A

18

STATE IN WHICH A PORTION OF THE TRIANGLE PROSPECT AREA IS LOCATED OR WHICH IS OTHERWISE APPLICABLE TO A PORTION OF THE TRIANGLE PROSPECT AREA NECESSARILY GOVERNS WITH RESPECT TO PROCEDURAL AND SUBSTANTIVE MATTERS RELATING TO THE CREATION, TRANSFER AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE LEASES AND OTHER INTEREST IN MINERALS, IN WHICH CASE THE LAW OF SUCH STATE SHALL APPLY TO THE PORTION OF THE TRIANGLE PROSPECT AREA LOCATED WITHIN SUCH STATE.

9.4 Entirety of Agreement. This Agreement, including its Exhibits, all of which are incorporated herein by reference, supersedes any and all other agreements, either verbal or in writing, between the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and contains all of the covenants and agreements between the Parties with respect to said subject matter. Each Party to this Agreement acknowledges that no inducements, promises or agreements, verbally or otherwise, have been relied upon or made by any Party, or anyone acting on behalf of any Party, which are not embodied herein and that any other agreement, statement, or promise not contained in this Agreement shall not be valid or binding.

9.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in a number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same Agreement. It shall not be necessary that the Parties hereto execute a single counterpart hereof, and this Agreement shall be effective when each Party has executed a counterpart hereof (whether or not any other Party has executed the same counterpart).

9.6 Amendment. Unless otherwise expressly provided for herein, this Agreement may only be amended by an instrument in writing signed by all Parties.

9.7 Construction. The Parties acknowledge that they and their respective counsel have negotiated and drafted this Agreement jointly and agree that the rule of construction that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting Party shall not be employed in the interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

9.8 Cost of Litigation. If any Party hereto should hereafter institute litigation against any other Party hereto alleging that such other Party has breached this Agreement or any contracts or other instrument delivered pursuant hereto, the non-prevailing Party or Parties (whether plaintiff or defendant) in such action shall reimburse the prevailing Party for the prevailing Party’s reasonable attorney’s fees, witness fees court costs, and all other reasonable costs in connection with such litigation.

9.9 No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement (express or implied) is intended or shall be construed to confer upon any person or entity not a Party any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

9.10 Subject Headings. The subject headings of the articles, sections and subsections of this Agreement are included solely for purposes of convenience and reference only, and shall not be deemed to explain, modify, limit, amplify or aid in the meaning, construction or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

19

9.11 Securities Law. The Parties have entered into this Agreement for their own accounts and shall acquire any Leases hereunder for their own accounts and not with the intent to make a distribution thereof within the meaning of Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations pertaining to it or distribution thereof in violation of any applicable securities laws. The Parties acknowledge that each Party and their respective officers, managers, members, and/or directors are sophisticated and experienced investors who have engaged actively in the oil and gas business, or other business with limited liquidity and/or high risk and is are Accredited Investors as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Parties, at their sole risk and expense, have either conducted their own independent evaluation of the interests identified herein, or having been provided the opportunity have elected to not exercise that opportunity.

9.12 Further Assurances. Each Party hereto shall from time to time do and perform such further acts and execute and deliver such further instruments, assignments and documents as may be required or reasonably requested by the Parties to carry out and effect the intentions and purposes of this Agreement.

9.13 Rights Cumulative. The rights, remedies, and powers granted to the Parties under this Agreement shall be cumulative and shall not be exclusive rights, remedies and powers, but shall be in addition to all other rights, remedies and powers available at law or in equity, by virtue of any statute or otherwise, and may be exercised from time to time concurrently or independently and as often and in such order as deemed expedient.

9.14 No Waiver. The failure of any Party hereto to insist upon strict performance of any provision hereof shall not constitute a waiver of or estoppel against asserting, the right to require such performance in the future, nor shall a waiver or estoppel in any once instance constitute a waiver or estoppel with respect to a later breach of a similar nature or otherwise.

9.15 Unenforceable Provisions. If any part of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall be liberally construed to effectuate the intent of this Agreement.

9.16 Cure Period. In the event of a payment default by a Party under the terms of this Agreement, such defaulting party shall have ten (10) days after receiving written notice of such default, in accordance with Section 9.2 of this Agreement, to cure the default. After the Carried Interest Amount is reached, this Section 9.16 shall no longer apply, nor shall any forfeiture provisions of this Agreement (other than those related to the AMI) and all payment provisions and times shall be governed by the Triangle Prospect Operating Agreement.

9.17 Public Announcements. The Parties to this Agreement hereby stipulate and agree that no Party (including any of its parents, affiliates, or subsidiaries) shall issue a public statement or press release with respect to the transaction contemplated herein(including the price and other contract terms), the Triangle Prospect Area, or the operations contemplated herein, without the prior written consent of the other Party, except as required by law, disclosure requirements of any recognized securities exchange, applicable securities laws, or by any applicable rules, regulations, or orders of any

20

governmental authority or agency having jurisdiction and then only after prior consultation with and approval as to content by the other Party. The Parties agree that such approval will not be unreasonably withheld and will be given in a timely manner.

9.18 Time. The Parties stipulate and agree that TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE IN THIS AGREEMENT.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed, accepted and agreed to by the Parties effective as of the Effective Date first set forth above.

Ute Oil Company d/b/a A.C.T. Operating Company executes this Agreement solely for the purpose of stating that, for good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby confessed, Ute Oil Company d/b/a A.C.T. Operating Company is bound by the terms of Sections 5.3 and 5.5 and Article 6 of this Agreement.

UTE OIL COMPANY, doing business as A.C.T. Operating Company

21