EXHIBIT 2.2
                            STOCKHOLDER AGREEMENT
                   (The Travelers Life and Annuity Company)
            This Stockholder  Agreement (this  "Agreement")  dated as of May 28,
1998 is between Pogo Producing Company, a Delaware  corporation ("Pogo") and The
Travelers   Life  and  Annuity   Company,   a   Connecticut   corporation   (the
"Stockholder").
            WHEREAS,  Pogo,  Alphac,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation and a wholly
owned subsidiary of Pogo ("Sub"),  and Arch Petroleum Inc. ("Arch"),  a Delaware
corporation,  are entering  into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of the
date  hereof  (as  amended  from  time to time  pursuant  thereto,  the  "Merger
Agreement");
            WHEREAS,  the  Stockholder  is  the  beneficial  owner  of  $300,000
principal  amount of the Arch's 9.75%  Convertible  Subordinated  Notes due 2004
(the  "Series A Notes"),  and  $2,700,000  of Arch's  Adjustable  Rate  Series B
Subordinated  Notes due 2004 (the  "Series B Notes" and,  collectively  with the
Series A Notes,  the "Notes")  (any shares of Arch capital stock into which such
Notes are convertible  (after such  conversion) and such other shares of capital
stock of Arch acquired by the  Stockholder  after the date hereof and during the
term  of  this  Agreement,   being  collectively   referred  to  herein  as  the
"Stockholder Shares"); and
            WHEREAS, as a condition to the willingness of Pogo to enter into the
Merger  Agreement,  and as an inducement to it to do so, the Stockholder  hereby
makes the agreements as set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of Pogo;
            NOW,   THEREFORE,   in   consideration   of  the  premises  and  the
representations,   warranties,   covenants  and  agreements  contained  in  this
Agreement,  the parties  hereby  agree as follows  (terms  defined in the Merger
Agreement and used but not defined  herein having the meanings  assigned to such
terms in the Merger Agreement):
                                  ARTICLE I
                         COVENANTS OF THE STOCKHOLDER
            Section 1.01.  Agreement to Vote. At any meeting of the stockholders
of Arch held prior to the  earlier of (i) the  Effective  Time of the Merger and
(ii) the  termination  of the Merger  Agreement  (such earlier time being herein
referred to as the "Voting  Termination  Date"),  however  called,  and at every
adjournment or postponement  thereof prior to the Voting Termination Date, or in
connection with any written  consent of the  stockholders of Arch given prior to
the Voting Termination Date, the Stockholder shall vote or cause to be voted the
Stockholder Shares (if, and to the extent that, any are owned by the Stockholder
at the applicable
                                      1
record  date) in favor  of the  approval  of the  Merger  and each of the  other
transactions  contemplated by the Merger  Agreement and in favor of the approval
and adoption of the Merger  Agreement,  and any actions  required in furtherance
hereof  and  thereof.  The  Stockholder  shall not enter into any  agreement  or
understanding with any person prior to the Voting Termination Date,  directly or
indirectly,  to vote, grant any proxy or give  instructions  with respect to the
voting of the  Stockholder  Shares (if any are owned by the  Stockholder  at the
applicable record date) in any manner inconsistent with the preceding sentence.
            Section 1.02. Proxies and Voting Agreements.  The Stockholder hereby
revokes any and all previous  proxies  granted with respect to matters set forth
in Section 1.01.  Prior to the Voting  Termination  Date, the Stockholder  shall
not, directly or indirectly, except as contemplated hereby, grant any proxies or
powers of attorney  with respect to matters set forth in Section  1.01,  deposit
any of the  Stockholder  Shares (if any are owned by the  Stockholder)  or enter
into a voting agreement with respect to any of the Stockholder Shares.
            Section 1.03. No Solicitation.
            (a) From and after the date  hereof  until  the  termination  of the
Merger Agreement, the Stockholder will not, and will not authorize or permit any
of its officers,  directors,  employees,  partners,  agents, affiliates or other
representatives  (collectively,  "Stockholder  Representatives") to, directly or
indirectly, solicit or encourage (including by way of providing information) any
prospective acquiror or the invitation or submission of any inquiries, proposals
or offers or any other efforts or attempts that constitute, or may reasonably be
expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal.
            (b)  The  Stockholder  shall  immediately  cease  and  cause  to  be
terminated  any  existing  solicitation,  initiation,  encouragement,  activity,
discussion  or  negotiation  with  any  parties  conducted   heretofore  by  the
Stockholder or any Stockholder  Representatives  with respect to any Acquisition
Proposal existing on the date hereof.
            (c)  Prior  to  the  termination  of  the  Merger   Agreement,   the
Stockholder  will promptly notify Pogo of any requests for  information  made to
the  Stockholder  or  any  Stockholder  Representative  or  the  receipt  of any
Acquisition Proposal made to the Stockholder or any Stockholder  Representative,
including the identity of the person or group  engaging in such  discussions  or
negotiations,  requesting such information or making such Acquisition  Proposal,
and the material terms and conditions of any Acquisition Proposal.
            (d)  Prior  to  the  termination  of  the  Merger   Agreement,   the
Stockholder  shall not enter into any  agreement  with any person that  provides
for, or in any way facilitates, an Acquisition Proposal.
            (e) Notwithstanding  anything contained herein to the contrary,  the
provisions of this Section 1.03 do not prohibit any  Stockholder  Representative
who is also an Arch  Representative from taking actions permitted by Section 4.2
of the Merger Agreement.
                                      2
            Section 1.04.  Transfer of  Stockholder  Shares by the  Stockholder.
Prior to the record date for the Arch stockholder  meeting to vote on the Merger
Agreement, the Stockholder will not sell, transfer,  assign, convey or otherwise
dispose of any of the Stockholder Shares;  except transfers to affiliates of the
Stockholder if such persons agree in writing to be bound by the terms hereof and
provided  further,  that such transfer does not, in the opinion of a tax advisor
reasonably acceptable to Pogo, violate the terms of Section 1.05(b) hereof.
            Section 1.05. Other Actions.
            (a)  Prior  to  the  termination  of  the  Merger   Agreement,   the
Stockholder  shall not take any action  that would in any way  restrict,  limit,
impede or interfere  with the  performance of its  obligations  hereunder or the
transactions contemplated hereby or by the Merger Agreement.
            (b) The  Stockholder  agrees  that  from and  after the date of this
Stockholder  Agreement,  but prior to the  termination  of this  Agreement,  the
Stockholder  will not sell or in any other way reduce such party's risk relative
to any  Stockholder  Shares,  Notes,  shares of Pogo Common Stock, or securities
convertible into Pogo Common Stock controlled, owned or held by such Stockholder
prior to the  Merger,  nor will it sell,  or in any  other way  reduce  its risk
relative  to any  shares of Pogo  Common  Stock  received  in  exchange  for the
Stockholder  Shares in the Merger  (within the meaning of Section  201.01 of the
SEC's Financial Reporting Release No. 1) or any securities convertible into Pogo
Common Stock, until the earlier of (i) such time as financial results (including
combined sales and net income)  covering at least 30 days of Pogo's  post-merger
operations have been published, except as permitted by Staff Accounting Bulletin
No. 76 (or any successor  thereto)  issued by the SEC and (ii) 60 days after the
first full calendar  month of Pogo's  post-merger  operations  (the  "Restricted
Period")
            (c) The  Stockholder  agrees that, at the  Effective  Time, it shall
convert the Notes owned by it into such number of shares of Pogo Common Stock as
is equal to (i) the unpaid  principal amount of such Notes divided by (ii) $2.75
per share of Arch Common Stock, multiplied by (ii) the Common Exchange Ratio. In
addition,  the  Stockholder  agrees  to  accept  cash in lieu of any  fractional
interest  that it would  otherwise  be entitled  to  pursuant  to the  foregoing
conversion,  calculated in the manner set forth in the Merger Agreement.  To the
extent  that the  agreement  set  forth in the  immediately  preceding  sentence
requires an amendment to the Notes,  the Notes shall be deemed amended as of the
Effective Time to reflect such changes.  The conversion price for the Notes will
also be subject,  if applicable,  as described in Section 11.3 of the Securities
Purchase  Agreement,  dated as of October 15, 1994, by and between the holder of
such  Note and Arch (the  "Securities  Purchase  Agreement")  as a result of any
events  that occur  because of actions  taken by Arch or Pogo from and after the
date of this Agreement.
            (d) The  Stockholder  agrees that, at the  Effective  Time, it shall
convert all of the Stockholder Shares controlled,  owned, or held by it, if any,
in  accordance  with,  and  for  the  consideration  described  in,  the  Merger
Agreement.
                                      3
                                  ARTICLE II
             REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
                              OF THE STOCKHOLDER
            The Stockholder represents, warrants and covenants to Pogo that:
            Section 2.01. Ownership. Except as disclosed on Schedule 2.01, as of
the date hereof,  the  Stockholder  is the beneficial  owner of the  Stockholder
Shares,  the Stockholder  has the sole right to vote the Stockholder  Shares and
there are no  restrictions  on  rights of  disposition  or other  lien,  pledge,
security interest,  charge or other encumbrance or restriction pertaining to the
Stockholder  Shares.  None of the  Stockholder  Shares is  subject to any voting
trust or other agreement,  arrangement or restriction with respect to the voting
of  the  Stockholder   Shares,   and  no  proxy,  power  of  attorney  or  other
authorization has been granted with respect to any of the Stockholder Shares.
            Section 2.02. Authority and Non-Contravention.  The Stockholder is a
corporation  duly  incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the State
of Connecticut.  The Stockholder has all requisite corporate power and authority
to enter into this Agreement and perform its obligations hereunder. Such actions
by the  Stockholder  (a) require no action by or in respect of, or filing  with,
any Governmental Entity with respect to the Stockholder, other than any required
filings  under  Section 13 of the  Exchange Act or under the HSR Act, and (b) do
not and will not  contravene  or  constitute  a default  under any  provision of
applicable  law or regulation or any  agreement,  judgment,  injunction,  order,
decree  or  other  instrument  binding  on  the  Stockholder  or  result  in the
imposition of any lien, pledge,  security interest,  charge or other encumbrance
or restriction on any of the Stockholder  Shares (other than as provided in this
Agreement with respect to Stockholder Shares).
            Section 2.03. Binding Effect.  This Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by the Stockholder  and is the valid and binding  agreement of the
Stockholder,  enforceable  against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms,
except as enforcement  may be limited by bankruptcy,  insolvency,  moratorium or
other  similar laws  relating to  creditors'  rights  generally and by equitable
principles  to which the remedies of specific  performance  and  injunctive  and
similar forms of relief are subject.
            Section 2.04. Total Shares.  As of the date hereof,  the Stockholder
does not own,  beneficially or of record,  any shares of Arch capital stock and,
except for its right to acquire Arch Common Stock upon  conversion of the Notes,
the  Stockholder  does not have any option to purchase or right to subscribe for
or  otherwise  acquire any  securities  of Arch and has no other  interest in or
voting rights with respect to any other securities of Arch.
            Section 2.05. Finder's Fees. No investment banker,  broker or finder
is entitled  to a  commission  or fee from Arch,  Pogo or Sub in respect of this
Agreement  based upon any  arrangement  or agreement made by or on behalf of the
Stockholder.
                                      4
            Section 2.06.  Reasonable  Efforts.  Prior to the Voting Termination
Date,  the  Stockholder  shall use  reasonable  efforts to take,  or cause to be
taken, all actions,  and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate
with Pogo in doing, all things necessary,  proper or advisable to consummate and
make effective the Merger and the other transactions  contemplated by the Merger
Agreement and this Agreement.
                                 ARTICLE III
              REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF POGO
            Pogo represents, warrants and covenants to the Stockholder that:
            Section 3.01. Corporate Power and Authority.  Pogo has all requisite
corporate  power and  authority to enter into this  Agreement and to perform its
obligations hereunder.  The execution,  delivery and performance by Pogo of this
Agreement and the consummation by Pogo of the transactions  contemplated  hereby
have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Pogo.
            Section 3.02. Binding Effect.  This Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by Pogo and is a valid and binding agreement of Pogo,  enforceable
against Pogo in accordance with its terms,  except as enforcement may be limited
by  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  moratorium  or  other  similar  laws  relating  to
creditors' rights generally and by equitable principles to which the remedies of
specific performance and injunctive and similar forms of relief are subject.
            Section  3.03.  Cooperation.  Subject to Section  5.16 of the Merger
Agreement and the rules and  requirements  of applicable  securities  laws, Pogo
shall use reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions,  and to
do, or cause to be done,  and to assist and cooperate  with the  Stockholder  in
doing,  all things  necessary,  proper or advisable to allow the  Stockholder to
publicly  sell shares of Pogo  Common  Stock  received  in the Merger  after the
Restricted Period without any unreasonable delay or restrictions.
                                  ARTICLE IV
                                MISCELLANEOUS
            Section 4.01. Expenses. Each party hereto shall pay its own expenses
incident to preparing for  entering into and carrying out this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
            Section 4.02. Further Assurances.  From time to time, at the request
of the other party, each party shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed
and  delivered  such  additional  documents  and  instruments  and take all such
further action as may be necessary or desirable to consummate  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
                                      5
            Section 4.03. Specific Performance.  (a) The Stockholder agrees that
Pogo would be  irreparably  damaged if for any reason the  Stockholder  fails to
perform any of the Stockholder's obligations under this Agreement, and that Pogo
would  not have an  adequate  remedy  at law for money  damages  in such  event.
Accordingly,  Pogo shall be entitled to seek specific performance and injunctive
and other  equitable  relief to enforce the performance of this agreement by the
Stockholder.  This provision is without  prejudice to any other rights that Pogo
may have  against the  Stockholder  for any  failure to perform its  obligations
under this Agreement;  (b) Pogo agrees that the Stockholder would be irreparably
damaged if for any reason Pogo fails to perform any of Pogo's  obligations under
this Agreement,  and that the  Stockholder  would not have an adequate remedy at
law for money  damages in such  event.  Accordingly,  the  Stockholder  shall be
entitled to seek specific  performance and injunctive and other equitable relief
to enforce the  performance of this agreement by Pogo. This provision is without
prejudice to any other rights that the Stockholder may have against Pogo for any
failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
            Section  4.04.  Notices.  Any notice or  communication  required  or
permitted  hereunder  shall  be in  writing  and  either  delivered  personally,
telegraphed  or  telecopied  or sent by certified or  registered  mail,  postage
prepaid,  and shall be deemed to be given,  dated and received when so delivered
personally,  telegraphed or telecopied  or, if mailed,  five business days after
the date of mailing to the  following  address or  telecopy  number,  or to such
other address or addresses as such person may  subsequently  designate by notice
given hereunder:
      (a)   if to Pogo or Sub, to:
            Pogo Producing Company
            ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
            ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
            Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
            Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
      with a copy to:
            ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
            ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇, L.L.P.
            ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
            ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇  ▇▇▇▇▇
            Facsimile:  ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
      (b)   if to Stockholder, to:
            The Travelers Life and Annuity Company
            ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
            ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
            Attention: Securities Department - Private Placements
            Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
                                      6
      with a copy to:
            The Travelers Life and Annuity Company
            ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
            ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
            Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
            Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
            Section  4.05.  Interpretation.  When a  reference  is  made in this
Agreement to Sections,  such  reference  shall be to a Section of this Agreement
unless  otherwise  indicated.  The headings  contained in this Agreement are for
reference  purposes  only  and  shall  not  affect  in any  way the  meaning  or
interpretation  of this Agreement.  Whenever the word  "include,"  "includes" or
"including" are used in this  Agreement,  they shall be deemed to be followed by
the words "without  limitation." Unless the context otherwise requires,  "or" is
disjunctive but not necessarily exclusive, and words in the singular include the
plural  and in the plural  include  the  singular.  The term  "person"  is to be
interpreted broadly to include any individual, corporation,  partnership, trust,
limited  liability  company,  government  or other entity and any group (as used
with respect to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act).
            Section 4.06. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or
more  counterparts,  all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement
and shall become  effective  when a  counterpart  has been signed by each of the
parties and delivered to the other party,  it being  understood that all parties
need not sign the same counterpart.
            Section 4.07. Entire Agreement;  No Third Party Beneficiaries.  This
Agreement  (a)  constitutes  the  entire  agreement  and  supersedes  all  prior
agreements  and  understandings,  both written and oral,  among the parties with
respect to the subject  matter hereof and (b) is not intended to confer upon any
person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
            Section  4.08. Governing Law.  This Agreement shall  be governed and
construed in  accordance with the laws of the  State of Delaware, without giving
effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.
            Section  4.09.  Assignment.  Neither this  Agreement  nor any of the
rights,  interests  or  obligations  hereunder  shall be  assigned by any of the
parties  hereto  (whether  by  operation  of law  or  otherwise)  except  to the
affiliates  of the  Stockholder  as permitted  herein  without the prior written
consent of the other party.  Subject to the preceding  sentence,  this Agreement
will be binding upon,  inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties
and their respective  successors and assigns. All costs and expenses incurred in
connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such cost or
expense.
            Section 4.10.  Amendments; Termination.  This  Agreement may  not be
modified,  amended,  altered or supplemented,  except  upon  the  execution  and
delivery of a written  agreement executed by the parties hereto.  This Agreement
shall terminate upon the termination  of the Merger Agreement in accordance with
the terms thereof.  This Agreement may be
                                      7
terminated by  Stockholder  if (i) the Effective Time fails to occur by November
30, 1998 (provided that the right to terminate this Agreement  under this clause
(i) shall not be  available  to  Stockholder  if the failure by  Stockholder  to
fulfill any covenant or agreement  under this Agreement has been the cause of or
resulted in the failure of the Merger to occur on or before such date; provided,
further,  that  if the  failure  of the  Effective  Time  to  have  occurred  is
attributable to any court of competent jurisdiction,  or some other governmental
body or regulatory  authority having issued an order,  decree or ruling or taken
any other action temporarily restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the
Merger,  then the  Stockholder's  right to terminate this  Agreement  under this
clause (i) shall not be exercisable  until the earlier of (x) one day after such
order,  decree or ruling has been  dissolved or (y) February 28, 1999);  or (ii)
sections  2.1(b),  2.1(c),  2.1(d),  2.3(a),  5.6,  5.18 or 6.1(b) of the Merger
Agreement are amended or waived without the consent of Stockholder.
            Section  4.11.  Certain  Events.  The  Stockholder  agrees that this
Agreement and the obligations  hereunder shall attach to the Stockholder  Shares
beneficially  owned by such  Stockholder and shall be binding upon any person to
which  legal or  beneficial  ownership  of such shares  shall  pass,  whether by
operation of law or otherwise.
            Section 4.12.  Severability.  Whenever  possible,  each provision or
portion of any provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as
to be effective  and valid but if any  provision or portion of any  provision of
this Agreement is held to be invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable in any respect,
such  invalidity,  illegality  or  unenforceability  will not  affect  any other
provision  or portion of any  provision,  and this  Agreement  will be reformed,
construed and enforced as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or
portion of any  provision  had never been  contained  herein.  The parties shall
endeavor  in  good  faith  negotiations  to  replace  any  invalid,  illegal  or
unenforceable  provision  with a valid  provision  the  effects of which come as
close as possible to those of such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision.
            Section 4.13.  Attorneys' Fees. If any action at law or in equity is
necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this  Agreement,  the  prevailing
party shall be entitled  to  reasonable  attorneys'  fees,  costs and  necessary
disbursements,  in  addition  to any  other  relief to which  such  party may be
entitled.
        [The Remainder of This Page Has Been Intentionally Left Blank]
                                      8
            IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Pogo and the  Stockholder  have  caused  this
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
                                    THE TRAVELERS LIFE AND
                                         ANNUITY COMPANY
                                    By    /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
                                          ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
                                          Second Vice President
                                    POGO PRODUCING COMPANY
                                    By    /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
                                          ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
                                          Vice President-Law
                                            and Corporate Secretary
                                      9
                                 Schedule 2.01
1.    None.
                                      10