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DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT

Development Agreement

DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
 | Document Parties: ENERGY CORP OF AMERICA | BLACK STONE MINERALS COMPANY, L.P. | EASTERN AMERICAN  ENERGY  CORPORATION You are currently viewing:
This Development Agreement involves

ENERGY CORP OF AMERICA | BLACK STONE MINERALS COMPANY, L.P. | EASTERN AMERICAN ENERGY CORPORATION

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Title: DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
Governing Law: West Virginia     Date: 5/19/2005

DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
, Parties: energy corp of america , black stone minerals company  l.p. , eastern american  energy  corporation
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                                   EXHIBIT "D"

 

ATTACHED TO AND MADE A PART OF THAT CERTAIN TERM ROYALTY AGREEMENT DATED MAY 17,

2005 BY AND BETWEEN ENERGY CORPORATION OF AMERICA ET AL., AS SELLERS, AND BLACK

          STONE MINERALS COMPANY, L.P., [AND/OR ITS DESIGNEES] AS BUYER

 

                              DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT

 

                                  INTRODUCTION

 

     THIS   DEVELOPMENT   AGREEMENT   (this   "Development   Agreement")   from ENERGY

CORPORATION   OF AMERICA, a West Virginia corporation, with offices at 4643 South

Ulster   Street,   Suite   100,   Denver,   Colorado   80237-2867   ("ECA") and EASTERN

AMERICAN   ENERGY   CORPORATION,   a West Virginia corporation, with offices at 501

56th   Street,   Charleston,   West Virginia 25304 ("Eastern") (ECA and Eastern are

sometimes   hereinafter   collectively   referred to as "Operator"), to Black Stone

Minerals   Company,   L.P.,   a Delaware limited or its permitted designees ("Black

Stone"),   is   delivered   to be effective as of 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time, April 1,

2005   (the   "Effective   Time").

 

     Operator   and Black Stone contemporaneously herewith have entered into each

of   the   following   conveyances   dated   effective as of January 1, 2005 (i) Term

Royalty   Conveyance   (West   Virginia)   ("West   Virginia   Conveyance"), (ii) Term

Royalty   Conveyance   (Pennsylvania)   ("Pennsylvania   Conveyance"),   (iii)   Term

Royalty   Conveyance (Kentucky) ("Kentucky Conveyance" and together with the West

Virginia   Conveyance   and   the   Pennsylvania   Conveyance   collectively the "Term

Royalty   Conveyance"), and the Term Royalty Agreement dated May 17, 2005 between

Operator and Black Stone (the "Term Royalty Agreement").   In connection with the

Term   Royalty   Conveyance,   Operator has agreed to undertake certain obligations

during   the   term   of   the   Term   Royalty Conveyance with respect to the Subject

Interests and the Development Wells to be drilled on AMI Areas designated in the

Term   Royalty   Conveyance.

 

 

                                    ARTICLE I

 

                                    DEFINITIONS

 

     All   capitalized   words,   terms,   and   the phrases used in this Development

Agreement and not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the

Term   Royalty   Agreement and Term Royalty Conveyance.   Certain other capitalized

words,   terms,   and   phrases   used   in   this   Development   Agreement are defined

elsewhere   in   this   Development   Agreement.

 

     "Adjusted   Completed   Well   Development   Well Value" means, with respect to

each   Completed   Development   Well,   the   value obtained by multiplying for each

Completed   Development   Well   drilled or caused to be drilled by Operator during

any   Annual   Period   one   (1)   times   the   Working Interest (stated as a decimal

fraction   or   1.00, where Operator holds a 100% Working Interest), that Operator

is   required   to   bear   in   such   Completed   Development   Well.   For

 

 

<PAGE>

example,   if   Operator   holds an eighty-five percent (85%) Working Interest in a

Completed   Development   Well,   the   computation   would   be:

 

                                  1 x .85 = .85

 

therefore,   such   Completed Development Well would have a .85 Adjusted Completed

Development   Well   Value.

 

     "Annual   Drilling   Target" means that number of Completed Development Wells

where   (a)   the   cumulative total of all the Adjusted Completed Development Well

Values for all Completed Development Wells drilled by or caused to be drilled by

Operator during the first Annual Period equals not less than sixty (60), (b) the

cumulative   total   of all the Adjusted Completed Development Well Values for all

Completed   Development   Wells drilled during the first two Annual Periods equals

not   less than One Hundred Twenty (120), and (c) the cumulative total of all the

Adjusted   Completed   Development Well Values for all Completed Development Wells

drilled   during   the   first   three Annual Periods equals not less than the Total

Drilling   Commitment.

 

     "AMI   Areas"   mean   the areas depicted on the map set forth on Exhibit B as

                                                                     ---------

the   Yawkey   Freeman   AMI   and   the   PK   AMI.

 

     "Annual Period" means the annual period commencing on April 1 each year and

ending   on   March   31   of   the   succeeding   year.

 

     "Assignor's Net Share of Gas" means the share of Subject Gas from each Well

that   is   attributable   to   Operator's   Net   Revenue   Interest   in   that   Well.

 

     "Completed   Development   Well"   means   the Wellbore of any Development Well

that   is   completed pursuant to Section 2.02 herein in the Big Lime formation or

deeper   formation(s).

 

     "Deed   of   Trust" means the Credit Line Deed of Trust from Eastern to Black

Stone   referenced   in   Section   2.18.

 

     "Development   Well"   means   any   Gas   well   drilled,   within the meaning of

Section   2.01(b)   of the Development Agreement, after the Effective Time of this

Agreement   on   the   Subject   Development   Lands.

 

     "Drilling Obligation Completion Date" means March 31, 2008.

 

     "Effective Time" means April 1, 2005.

 

     "Gas"   means   natural   gas   and   all   other   gaseous   hydrocarbons, and all

non-combustible   gas   that   are   contained   in   the   full   wellstream.

 

     "Producing   Well"   means   the   Wellbore   of each Gas well more particularly

described   in   Exhibit   A-1   to   the   Term   Royalty   Conveyance,   subject to the

exceptions,   exclusions   and   reservations   set forth on such Exhibit A-1 to the

Term   Royalty   Conveyance.

 

 

                                        2

<PAGE>

     "Reasonably   Prudent   Operator Standard" means the standard of conduct of a

reasonably   prudent oil and gas operator in the Appalachian Basin under the same

or   similar   circumstances,   acting   with   respect   to   its   own   property   and

disregarding   the   existence   of   the   Term Royalty Interest as a burden on such

property.

 

     "Subject   Development   Lands"   means the lands subject to or covered by the

oil   and   gas   leases   described   in   Exhibit   A-2,   subject   to the exceptions,

exclusions   and   reservations set forth on such Exhibit A-2, as such Exhibit may

be   modified   pursuant   to   the   Term   Royalty   Conveyance.

 

     "Subject   Gas"   means with respect to each Well, Gas in and under, and that

may   be   produced, saved, and sold from all producing horizons from the Wellbore

of   such   Well,   subject   to   the   following:

 

          (a)   "Subject Gas" excludes Gas that is:

 

                    (i)   lost in accordance with the Reasonably Prudent Operator

               Standard   in   the   production, gathering, or marketing of Gas, or

                that   is   liquefied and removed from the gas stream in the normal

               course   of   Operator's operation, consistent with prior practice,

               via   any method other than processing as contemplated in the Term

               Royalty   Conveyance;

 

                    (ii)   subject   to   the Reasonably Prudent Operator Standard,

               used   in   operations on the Subject Lands, including drilling and

               production   operations   on   the   Subject   Development   Lands); or

 

                    (iii)   retained   by a Third Person, or Operator (pursuant to

               Section   3.02(c))   of the Term Royalty Conveyance, for gathering,

               transportation,   processing, or marketing services related to the

                Subject   Gas   in   lieu of or in addition to cash payment for such

               services;   or

 

                    (iv)   in excess of the percentage attributable to Assignor's

               Net   Share   of   Gas   taken   by Operator to recover costs, or some

               multiple   of   costs,   paid   or   incurred   by   Operator   under any

               operating   agreement,   unit   agreement,   or   other   agreement   in

               connection   with nonconsent operations conducted (or participated

                in)   by   Operator.

 

     (b)      "Subject   Gas"   includes Gas, not otherwise excluded above, that is

sold   or   otherwise   disposed   of   for   valuable   consideration.

 

     "Subject   Interests"   means   Operator's   undivided interests in the Subject

Lands as lessee under Gas leases covering and affecting the Subject Lands, as an

owner   of   the   Subject Gas (or the right to extract such Gas), or otherwise, by

virtue   of   which   undivided   interests   Operator   has   the   right   to   conduct

exploration, drilling, development, and Gas production operations on the Subject

Lands,   or   to   cause such operations to be conducted, or to participate in such

operations   by   paying   and   bearing   all   or   any part of the costs, risks, and

liabilities   of   such   operations, to drill, test, complete, equip, operate, and

produce   Wells   to   exploit   the   Gas.   Any   oil   and   gas   lease   or

 

 

                                        3

<PAGE>

other   similar   instrument that covers Gas produced from the Subject Lands shall

be   considered a "Gas lease" hereunder, even if it also covers other substances.

"Subject   Interests" includes all extensions and renewals of Gas leases covering

and   affecting   the   Subject   Lands   acquired   within   six   (6) months after the

expiration or termination of any such lease, and all new Gas leases covering the

Subject   Lands   (or   any portion thereof) obtained by Operator, or any Affiliate

thereof   prior   to   the   termination   of   the   Development   Agreement.   "Subject

Interests"   do   not   include (a) Operator's rights to substances other than Gas;

(b)   Operator's   rights   under contracts for the purchase, sale, transportation,

storage,   processing,   or   other   handling or disposition of Gas; (c) Operator's

interests   in,   or rights with respect to, pipelines, gathering systems, storage

facilities,   processing facilities, or other equipment or facilities, other than

the Wells; or (d) subject to Section 1.04(c) of the Term Royalty Conveyance, any

after-acquired, additional, or enlarged interests in the Wells, Subject Lands or

Subject   Gas,   except   those   reflected   in   Exhibit   A-1   to   the   Term Royalty

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

Conveyance   or   Exhibit   A-2   or any Additional Lease as provided for in Section

----------       ------------

12.01   of the Term Royalty Conveyance, or extensions and renewals covered by the

preceding   sentence.   "Subject   Interests" may be owned by Operator by virtue of

grants   or reservations in deeds, Gas leases, or other instruments, or by virtue

of   operating   agreements, pooling or unitization agreements or orders, or other

kinds   of instruments, agreements, or documents, legal or equitable, recorded or

unrecorded.   The   Subject   Interests   are subject to the Permitted Encumbrances.

 

     "Subject   Lands"   means   collectively,   the Subject Producing Lands and the

Subject   Development   Lands.

 

     "Subject   Producing Lands" means the lands subject to or covered by the oil

and gas leases described in Exhibit A-1 to the Term Royalty Conveyance for lands

                            -----------

related   to   the   Producing   Wells,   subject   to   the exceptions, exclusions and

reservations   set   forth   on   such   Exhibit   A-1 to the Term Royalty Conveyance.

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

 

     "Term   Royalty Agreement" is defined in the Introduction to this Agreement.

 

     "Term Royalty Conveyance" is defined in the Introduction to this Agreement.

 

     "Term   Royalty   Gas"   means, for any month, that percentage of Gas to which

Black   Stone   is   entitled,   calculated   in   accordance   with   the   Term Royalty

Conveyance.

 

     "Term Royalty Interest" means the variable undivided interest in and to the

Subject   Interests,   to the extent that the Subject Interests pertain to Gas in,

under   and   that   may be produced from the Wellbores of the Wells, sufficient to

cause   Black   Stoneto   receive   a   volume   of   Term Royalty Gas and the revenues

attributable   thereto   calculated   and   paid in money in accordance with Section

3.01   of   the   Term   Royalty   Conveyance.

 

     "Term Royalty Proceeds" means, for any month, proceeds received by Assignor

for   the   account   of   Assignee, as Black Stone'smarketing and payment agent and

representative,   from   the   sale   of Term Royalty Gas under this Conveyance less

Chargeable   Costs calculated in accordance with Section 3.03 of the Term Royalty

Conveyance.

 

 

                                        4

<PAGE>

     "Total   Drilling   Commitment"   means   that   number of Completed Development

Wells where the cumulative total of all such Adjusted Completed Development Well

Value   for all Completed Development Wells drilled by or caused to be drilled by

Operator   equals   180.

 

     "Termination   Date"   is   defined   in   Section   1.02.

 

     "Transfer"   including its syntactical variants, means any assignment, sale,

transfer, conveyance, or disposition of any property; provided, Transfer as used

herein   does   not   include   the   granting   of   a security interest in Operator's

interest   in   any   property   including the Subject Interests or Subject Lands so

long   as   any   such   security   interest   shall   not affect and is made expressly

subject   to   the   Term   Royalty   Interest.

 

     "Wells"   means,   collectively, the Wellbores of the Producing Wells and the

Completed   Development   Wells.

 

                                   ARTICLE II

                  DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUBJECT DEVELOPMENT LANDS

 

     SECTION   2.01      DRILLING   PROGRAM.

 

     (a)      OBLIGATION   TO   DRILL.   In   each   of the first three Annual Periods

during   the   Development Agreement Term, Operator shall, subject to the terms of

this   Article   II,   drill,   or cause to be drilled, at Operator's sole cost, (i)

such   number   of   Completed   Development   Wells that is necessary to achieve the

Annual Drilling Target and (ii) such number of Completed Development Wells as to

achieve   the   Total   Drilling   Commitment   prior   to   the   Drilling   Obligation

Completion   Date; it being understood that so long as Operator is performing its

obligations   hereunder   in   good   faith   and with due diligence the drilling and

testing   operations may extend beyond the last day of an Annual Period for which

such Completed Development Well is being included to meet Operator's obligations

under   this   Section   2.01(a),   and provided further that Operator shall have an

additional ninety (90) day period at the end of each Annual Period   and that the

Drilling   Obligation Completion Date to perform its obligations pursuant to this

Section 2.01(a).   Operator further agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts

to   drill   s


 
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