Shares WPX ENERGY, INC. Common Stock FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Exhibit 1.1

                       Shares

WPX ENERGY, INC.

Common Stock

FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

November      , 2011

Barclays Capital Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
                         Incorporated,
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I attached hereto,
c/o Barclays Capital Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          WPX Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of The ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), proposes to sell                               shares (the “Firm Stock”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock”). In addition, the Company proposes to grant to the underwriters (the "Underwriters”) named in Schedule I attached to this agreement (this “Agreement”) an option to purchase up to                               additional shares of Common Stock on the terms set forth in Section 3 (the “Option Stock”). The Firm Stock and the Option Stock, if purchased, are hereinafter collectively called the “Stock.” This Agreement is to confirm the agreement concerning the purchase of the Stock from the Company by the Underwriters.

          Prior to the Initial Delivery Date (as defined below):

     (a) Parent will contribute and transfer to the Company the assets and liabilities associated with the Company’s business and will forgive or contribute to the Company’s capital all intercompany debt associated with the Company’s business; and

     (b) the Company will amend and restate its certificate of incorporation and restate its bylaws.

          These transactions are defined herein as the “Restructuring Transactions.”

     As used in this Agreement:

     (i) “Applicable Time” means     [a.m.][p.m.] (New York City time) on           ;

     (ii) “Effective Date” means the date and time as of which such registration statement was declared effective by the Commission;

     (iii) “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means each “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the offering of the Stock;

     (iv) “Preliminary Prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus relating to the Stock included in such registration statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act;

     (v) “Pricing Disclosure Package” means, as of the Applicable Time, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, together with the information included in Schedule III hereto and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus filed or used by the Company on or before the Applicable Time, other than a road show that is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus but is not required to be filed under Rule 433 under the Securities Act;

     (vi) “Prospectus” means the final prospectus relating to the Stock, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act; and

     (vii) “Registration Statement” means such registration statement, as amended as of the Effective Date, including any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, all exhibits to such registration statement and including the information deemed by virtue of Rule 430A under the Securities Act to be part of such registration statement as of the Effective Date. Any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include the abbreviated registration statement to register additional shares of Common Stock under Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”).

Any reference to the “most recent Preliminary Prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the latest Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement or filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act prior to or on the date hereof.

          1. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that:

     (a) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-173808) relating to the Stock has (i) been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) thereunder; (ii) been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act; and (iii) become effective under the Securities Act. Copies of such registration statement and any amendment thereto have been delivered by the Company to you as the representatives (the “Representatives”) of the Underwriters. The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceeding or examination for such purpose has been instituted or threatened by the Commission.

     (b) The Company was not at the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement and at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Stock, is not on the date hereof and will not be on the applicable Delivery Date (as defined in Section 5), an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act).

     (c) The Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material respects on the Effective Date and on the applicable Delivery Date, and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof will conform in all material respects when filed, to the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. The most recent Preliminary Prospectus conformed, and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects when filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and on the applicable Delivery Date to the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

     (d) The Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 9(f).

     (e) The Prospectus will not, as of its date or as of the applicable Delivery Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the

Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 9(f).

     (f) The Pricing Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 9(f).

     (g) The Pricing Disclosure Package, when taken together with each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in Schedule IV hereto, did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package (or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in Schedule IV hereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 9(f).

     (h) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder on the date of first use, and the Company has complied with all prospectus delivery and any filing requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the Securities Act and rules and regulations thereunder. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Stock that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representatives. The Company has retained in accordance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that were not required to be filed pursuant to the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. The Company has taken all actions necessary so that any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) in connection with the offering of the Stock will not be required to be filed pursuant to the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

     (i) The Company and each of its “significant subsidiaries,” as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (each, a “Significant Subsidiary”), has been duly organized, is validly existing and in good standing as a corporation or other business entity under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and is duly qualified to do business and in good standing as a foreign corporation or other business entity in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its businesses requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse

Effect”). Each of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries has all power and authority necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct its businesses as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The subsidiaries listed on Schedule V hereto are the only “significant subsidiaries” of the Company, as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.

     (j) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in each of the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, conform to the description thereof contained in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and are not subject to any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right. No options, warrants or other rights to purchase or exchange any securities for shares of the Company’s capital stock are outstanding. All of the issued shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each Significant Subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company (except as set forth in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for such liens, encumbrances, equities or claims as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (k) The shares of the Stock to be issued and sold by the Company to the Underwriters hereunder have been duly authorized and, upon payment and delivery in accordance with this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, will conform to the description thereof contained in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and will be free of statutory and contractual preemptive rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights.

     (l) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

     (m) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under (i) that certain Separation and Distribution Agreement by and between Parent and the Company (the “Separation and Distribution Agreement”), (ii) that certain Administrative Services Agreement by and between Parent and the Company (the “Administrative Services Agreement”), (iii) that certain Transition Services Agreement by and between Parent and the Company (the “Transition Services Agreement”), (iv) that certain Registration Rights Agreement by and between Parent and the Company (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), and (v) that certain Tax Sharing Agreement by and between Parent and the Company (the “Tax Sharing Agreement,” and collectively with the Separation and Distribution Agreement, the Administrative Services Agreement, the Transition Services Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, the “Separation Agreements”). Each of the Separation Agreements has been duly and validly authorized by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other parties thereto, upon execution and delivery by the Company will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such

enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditor’s rights generally, by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and, as to rights of indemnification and contribution, by federal or state securities law or principles of public policy.

     (n) The issue and sale of the Stock, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the Separation Agreements by the Company, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Restructuring Transactions), the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Stock as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, impose any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries under, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is subject; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents) of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries; or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, decree, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets, except with respect to clauses (i) and (iii), conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (o) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets is required for the issue and sale of the Stock, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the Separation Agreements by the Company, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Restructuring Transactions), and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Stock as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, (A) except in each case for (i) the registration of the Stock under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; (ii) the registration under the Securities Act of Common Stock held by Parent following this offering pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement; (iii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and sale of the Stock by the Underwriters; and (iv) such filings as may be required by the Exchange Act; and (B) except where, with respect to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (p) The historical financial statements (including the related notes and supporting schedules) included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus comply as to

form in all material respects with the requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the combined businesses purported to be shown thereby at the dates and for the periods indicated and have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (subject, in the case of unaudited interim statements, to normal and recurring adjustments and the absence of certain notes that are included in an annual filing).

     (q) The unaudited pro forma financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus include assumptions that provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to the transactions and events described therein, the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions, and the pro forma adjustments reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the historical financial statement amounts in the unaudited pro forma financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus. The unaudited pro forma financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X under the Act.

     (r) Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified the audited financial statements of the Company included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, whose report appears in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and who have delivered the initial letter referred to in Section 8(h) hereof, are independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

     (s) The Company maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The Company maintains internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and to maintain accountability for its assets, and (iii) access to the Company’s assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization. As of the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Company reviewed or audited by Ernst & Young LLP and the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company, there were no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls, except as disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.

     (t) (i) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), (ii) such

disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management of the Company, including its principal executive officers and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and (iii) except with respect to the material weaknesses in internal controls disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, such disclosure controls and procedures are effective at a reasonable assurance level to perform the functions for which they were established.

     (u) Except as disclosed in the most recent preliminary prospectus, since the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Company reviewed or audited by Ernst & Young LLP and the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company, (i) the Company has not been advised of or become aware of (A) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that could adversely affect the ability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to record, process, summarize and report financial data, or any material weaknesses in internal controls, and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal controls of the Company and each of its subsidiaries; and (ii) there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

     (v) The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith.

     (w) Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, or incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, other than liabilities and obligations that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, which would be reasonably likely to result in any Material Adverse Effect, or any development involving a material adverse change in or affecting the financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, otherwise than as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or since the date of the Pricing Disclosure Package, there has not been (i) any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or its Significant Subsidiaries (taken as a whole), (ii) any material adverse change in or affecting the financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects of the Company or its Significant Subsidiaries (taken as a whole), or (iii) any transaction entered into by any of the Company or its Significant Subsidiaries, other than in the ordinary course of business, that is material to the Company or its Significant Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) other than as disclosed, in the case of each of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

     (x) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, the Company, directly or indirectly through its subsidiaries, has good and marketable title to all real property and good title to all personal property described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being owned by it and valid, legal and defensible title to the interests in oil and gas properties underlying the estimates of the Company’s proved reserves described in the Pricing Disclosure Package, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except (i) as are described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, (ii) as do not materially interfere with the use made in the aggregate of such properties, as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, (iii) as are permitted under the Company’s Credit Agreement dated as of June 3, 2011, or (iv) as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and the working interests derived from oil, gas and mineral leases or mineral interests which constitute a portion of the real property held or leased by the Company and its subsidiaries reflect in all material respects the right of the Company and its subsidiaries to explore, develop or produce hydrocarbons from such real property, and the care taken by the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to acquiring or otherwise procuring such leases or mineral interests was generally consistent with standard industry practices in the areas in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate for acquiring or procuring leases and interests therein to explore, develop or produce hydrocarbons.

     (y) The Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries have such permits, licenses, patents, franchises, certificates of need and other approvals or authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (“Permits”) as are necessary under applicable law to own, hold or lease, as the case may be, and to operate their properties and conduct their businesses in the manner described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, except where the failure to possess such Permits would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such Permits except to the extent that any such revocation or modification would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (z) The Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries own, possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service ▇▇▇▇ registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and have no reason to believe that the conduct of their respective businesses will conflict with, and have not received any notice of any claim of conflict with, any such rights of others that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (aa) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a

material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or each of the Separation Agreements or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; and to the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others.

     (bb) The statements made in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Business—Environmental Matters and Regulation;” “Business—Other Regulation of the Oil and Gas Industry;” “Business—Legal Proceedings;” “Arrangements Between ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Our Company;” “Other Related Party Transactions;” “Description of Our Concurrent Financing Transactions;” “Description of Capital Stock;” and “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of statutes, rules or regulations, legal or governmental proceedings or contracts and other documents, constitute accurate summaries of the terms of such statutes, rules and regulations, legal and governmental proceedings and contracts and other documents in all material respects.

     (cc) The Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonable in accordance with customary practices for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties.

     (dd) No labor disturbance by or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its affiliates that are dedicated to the Company’s business exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (ee) Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries (i) is in violation of its charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents), (ii) is in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or other obligation contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject, or (iii) is in violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over it or its property or assets or has failed to obtain any license, permit, certificate, franchise or other governmental authorization or permit necessary to the ownership of its property or to the conduct of its business, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the extent any such conflict, breach, violation or default would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (ff) The Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with all laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, orders, judgments, decrees, permits or other legal requirements of any governmental authority, including without limitation any international, foreign, national, state, provincial, regional, or local authority, relating to pollution, the protection of human health or safety, the environment, or natural resources, or to use, handling, storage, manufacturing, transportation,

treatment, discharge, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”) applicable to such entity, which compliance includes, without limitation, obtaining, maintaining and complying with all permits and authorizations and approvals required by Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, and (ii) have not received notice or otherwise have knowledge of any actual or alleged violation of Environmental Laws, or of any actual or potential liability for or other obligation concerning the presence, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except, with respect to (i) and (ii), as may be disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to obtain or maintain required permits, authorizations or approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, authorizations or approvals would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (gg) The Company and all of its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns which are required to be filed by them and have paid all taxes due, other than those which, if not filed or paid, would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings. Except as would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and the Company has no knowledge of any tax deficiencies that have been, or would reasonably be expected to be asserted.

     (hh) Except to the extent that a breach of any of the following representations would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect: (i) any “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)) established or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with applicable law, including ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and, to the knowledge of the Company, each “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 4001 of ERISA) to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries contributes (a “Multiemployer Plan”) is in compliance with applicable law, including ERISA and the Code; (ii) with respect to any “employee benefit plan” which is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA and established or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate (as defined below), (A) no “reportable event” (as defined under Section 4043(c) of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (B) no failure to meet the minimum funding requirements of Sections 412 and 430 of the Code or Sections 302 and 303 of ERISA, whether or not waived, or to make by its due date a required installment under Section 430(j) of the Code or Section 303(j) of ERISA by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, and (C) no such “employee benefit plan,” if terminated, would have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined under Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA); (iii) none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability under (A) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan” or (B) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code; (iv) no “employee benefit plan”

established or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries provides health or welfare benefits for any retired or former employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries except to the extent required under Section 4980B of the Code or similar state laws and (v) each “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is intended to be qualified under Section 401 of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which would be reasonably likely to cause the loss of such qualification. “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company, any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Company within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code.

     (ii) The statistical and market-related data included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus is based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable in all material respects.

     (jj) The Company is not, and as of the applicable Delivery Date and, after giving effect to the offer and sale of the Stock and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

     (kk) Netherland ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Associates, Inc., who issued an audit report with respect to certain of the Company’s oil and natural gas reserves and who has delivered the letter referred to in Section 8(i) hereof, was, as of the date of such report, and is, as of the date hereof, an independent petroleum engineer with respect to the Company.

     (ll) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇, Ltd., who issued an audit report with respect to certain of the Company’s oil and natural gas reserves, was, as of the date of such report, and is, as of the date hereof, an independent petroleum engineer with respect to the Company.

     (mm) ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ Associates, Inc., who issued an audit report with respect to the oil and natural gas reserves of Apco Oil and Gas International Inc., a Cayman Islands corporation (“Apco”), was, as of the date of such report, and is, as of the date hereof, an independent petroleum engineer with respect to the Company and Apco.

     (nn) The factual information underlying the estimates of reserves of the Company, which was supplied to the Company’s independent petroleum engineers for the purposes of preparing the audit reports of the estimates of proved reserves included in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, including, without limitation, production, costs of operation and development, current prices for production, agreements relating to current and future operations and sales of production, was true and correct in all material respects on the dates such estimates were made and such information was supplied and was prepared in accordance with customary industry practices; other than normal production of the reserves, intervening market commodity price fluctuations, fluctuations in demand for such products, adverse weather conditions,

unavailability or increased costs of rigs, equipment, supplies or personnel, the timing of third party operations and other factors, in each case in the ordinary course of business, the Company is not aware of any facts or circumstances that would result in a material adverse change in the aggregate net reserves, or the present value of future net cash flows therefrom, as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; estimates of such reserves and present values as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X and Subpart 1200 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

     (oo) Except for the Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and Parent, and except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.

     (pp) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any of them or the Underwriters for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Stock.

     (qq) The Company has not sold or issued any securities that would reasonably be expected to be integrated with the offering of the Stock contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the Securities Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or the interpretations thereof by the Commission.

     (rr) The Company and its affiliates have not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company in connection with the offering of the shares of the Stock.

     (ss) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

     (tt) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of any other jurisdiction to which the Company is subject, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar

rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

     (uu) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

     (vv) None of the Directed Shares distributed in connection with the Directed Share Program (each as defined in Section 4) will be offered or sold outside of the United States.

     (ww) The Company has offered, or caused Barclays Capital Inc. to offer, Stock pursuant to the Directed Share Program only to employees or directors of the Company or its affiliates.

          Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Stock shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

          2. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of Parent. Parent represents, warrants and agrees that:

     (a) To the best of Parent’s knowledge, the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Sections 1(a), 1(b), 1(c), 1(d), 1(e), 1(f), 1(g), 1(h), 1(w), 1(x), 1(y), and 1(nn) of this Agreement are true and correct.

     (b) Parent has been duly organized, is validly existing and in good standing as a corporation or other business entity under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization.

     (c) Parent has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by Parent.

     (d) Parent has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Separation Agreements. Each of the Separation Agreements has been duly and validly authorized by Parent and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other parties thereto, upon execution and delivery by Parent will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of Parent, enforceable against Parent in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability

may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditor’s rights generally, by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and, as to rights of indemnification and contribution, by federal or state securities law or principles of public policy.

     (e) The issue and sale of the Stock, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the Separation Agreements by Parent, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Stock as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Restructuring Transactions will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, impose any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of Parent, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license, lease or other agreement or instrument to which Parent is a party or by which Parent is bound or to which any of the property or assets of Parent is subject; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents) of Parent; or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, decree, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over Parent or any of its properties or assets, except with respect to clauses (i) and (iii), conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the power or ability of Parent to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Separation Agreements.

     (f) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over Parent or any of its properties or assets is required for the issue and sale of the Stock, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the Separation Agreements by Parent, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Restructuring Transactions), and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Stock as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, (A) except in each case for (i) the registration of the Stock under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; (ii) the registration under the Securities Act of Common Stock held by Parent following this offering pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement; (iii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications as may be required by FINRA or under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and sale of the Stock by the Underwriters; and (iv) such filings as may be required by the Exchange Act; and (B) except where, with respect to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications would not reasonably be expected have a Material Adverse Effect.

          3. Purchase of the Stock by the Underwriters. On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants contained in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement, the Company agrees to sell            shares of Firm Stock to the several Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase the

number of shares of Firm Stock set forth opposite that Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto. The respective purchase obligations of the Underwriters with respect to the Firm Stock shall be rounded among the Underwriters to avoid fractional shares, as the Representatives may determine.

          In addition, the Company grants to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to                     additional shares of Option Stock. Such option is exercisable in the event that the Underwriters sell more shares of Common Stock than the number of shares of Firm Stock in the offering and as set forth in Section 5 hereof. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of shares of Option Stock (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of shares of Option Stock to be sold on such Delivery Date as the number of shares of Firm Stock set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of shares of Firm Stock. Any shares of Option Stock purchased by the Underwriters pursuant to the option described in this Section 3 will not increase the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding after the offering of the Firm Stock, but rather the number of shares of Class B Common Stock owned by Parent will be reduced share for share by the number of shares of Option Stock purchased by the Underwriters pursuant to such option.

          The purchase price payable by the Underwriters for the Firm Stock is $  per share and any Option Stock is $  per share, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Stock but not payable on the Option Stock.

          The Company is not obligated to deliver any of the Firm Stock or Option Stock to be delivered on the applicable Delivery Date, except upon payment for all such Stock to be purchased on such Delivery Date as provided herein.

          4. Offering of Stock by the Underwriters. Upon authorization by the Representatives of the release of the Firm Stock, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Stock for sale upon the terms and conditions to be set forth in the Prospectus.

          It is understood that approximately            shares of Firm Stock (the “Directed Shares”) will initially be reserved by the several Underwriters for offer and sale upon the terms and conditions to be set forth in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates who have heretofore delivered to Barclays Capital Inc. offers to purchase shares of Firm Stock in form reasonably satisfactory to Barclays Capital Inc. (such program, the “Directed Share Program”) and that any allocation of such Firm Stock among such persons will be made in accordance with timely directions received by Barclays Capital Inc. from the Company; provided that under no circumstances will Barclays Capital Inc. or any Underwriter be liable to the Company or to any such person for any action taken or omitted in good faith in connection with such Directed Share Program. It is further understood that any Directed Shares not affirmatively reconfirmed for purchase by any participant in the Directed Share Program by :00 A.M., New York City time, on the first business day following the date hereof or otherwise are not purchased by such persons will be offered by the Underwriters to the public upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

          The Company agrees to pay all reasonable fees and disbursements incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and any stamp duties or other taxes incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program.

          5. Delivery of and Payment for the Stock. Delivery of and payment for the Firm Stock shall be made at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the fourth full business day following the date of this Agreement or at such other date or place as shall be determined by agreement between the Representatives and the Company. This date and time are sometimes referred to as the “Initial Delivery Date.” Delivery of the Firm Stock shall be made to the Representatives for the account of each Underwriter against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives and of the respective aggregate purchase prices of the Firm Stock being sold by the Company to or upon the order of the Company of the purchase price by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Company. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter hereunder. The Company shall deliver the Firm Stock through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

          The option granted in Section 3 will expire 30 days after the date of this Agreement and may be exercised in whole or from time to time in part by written notice being given to the Company by the Representatives; provided that if such date falls on a day that is not a business day, the option granted in Section 3 will expire on the next succeeding business day. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of shares of Option Stock as to which the option is being exercised, the names in which the shares of Option Stock are to be registered, the denominations in which the shares of Option Stock are to be issued and the date and time, as determined by the Representatives, when the shares of Option Stock are to be delivered; provided, however, that this date and time shall not be earlier than the Initial Delivery Date nor later than the fifth business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised. Each date and time the shares of Option Stock are delivered is sometimes referred to as an “Option Stock Delivery Date”, and the Initial Delivery Date and any Option Stock Delivery Date are sometimes each referred to as a "Delivery Date.”

          Delivery of the Option Stock by the Company and payment for the Option Stock by the several Underwriters through the Representatives shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in the preceding paragraph or at such other date or place as shall be determined by agreement between the Representatives and the Company. On the Option Stock Delivery Date, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered the Option Stock to the Representatives for the account of each Underwriter against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives and of the respective aggregate purchase prices of the Option Stock being sold by the Company to or upon the order of the Company of the purchase price by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Company. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter hereunder. The Company shall deliver the Option Stock through the facilities of DTC unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

          6. Further Agreements of Parent, the Company and the Underwriters. (a) The Company agrees (and in the case of Section 6(a)(x), Parent and the Company agree):

     (i) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under

the Securities Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus prior to the last Delivery Date except as provided herein; to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of the Stock for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding or examination for any such purpose or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to use promptly its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal.

     (ii) To furnish promptly to each of the Representatives and to counsel for the Underwriters a signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission, and each amendment thereto filed with the Commission, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith.

     (iii) To deliver promptly to the Representatives such number of the following documents as the Representatives shall reasonably request: (A) conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission and each amendment thereto (in each case excluding exhibits other than this Agreement and the computation of per share earnings), (B) each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amended or supplemented Prospectus, and (C) each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any time after the date hereof in connection with the offering or sale of the Stock or any other securities relating thereto and if at such time any events shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act, to notify the Representatives and, upon their request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of

an amended or supplemented Prospectus that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.

     (iv) To file promptly with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that may, in the reasonable judgment of the Company or the Representatives, be required by the Securities Act or requested by the Commission.

     (v) Prior to filing with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, to furnish a copy thereof to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters and obtain the consent of the Representatives to the filing, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided that, the foregoing provision shall not apply if such filing is, in the written opinion of counsel to the Company, required by law.

     (vi) Not to make any offer relating to the Stock that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representatives.

     (vii) To comply with all applicable requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act with respect to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. If at any time after the date hereof any events shall have occurred as a result of which any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to notify the Representatives and, upon their request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that will correct such conflict, statement or omission or effect such compliance.

     (viii) As soon as practicable after the Effective Date (it being understood that the Company shall have until at least 410 days or, if the fourth quarter following the fiscal quarter that includes the Effective Date is the last fiscal quarter of the Company’s fiscal year, 455 days after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter), to make generally available via the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System, to the Company’s security holders and to the Representatives an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules

and regulations thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158).

     (ix) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify the Stock for offering and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of Canada and such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Stock; provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction, or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be subject.

     (x) For a period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 180th day after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), not to, directly or indirectly, (A) offer for sale, sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (other than the Stock and shares and equity-based compensation awards issued pursuant to stock incentive plans or other employee compensation plans existing on the date hereof or pursuant to currently outstanding options, warrants or rights or equity-based compensation awards assumed by the Company after the date hereof), or sell or grant options, rights or warrants with respect to any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (other than the grant of options and/or other equity-based compensation awards pursuant to stock incentive plans existing on the date hereof), (B) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such shares of Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (C) file or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Common Stock or any other securities of the Company (other than any registration statement on Form S-8), or (D) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, in each case (i) without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc., on behalf of the Underwriters, and to cause each officer and director of the Company set forth on Schedule II hereto to furnish to the Representatives, prior to the Initial Delivery Date, a letter or letters, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “Lock-Up Agreements”); notwithstanding the foregoing, if

     (x) during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs, or (y) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, then the restrictions imposed in this paragraph shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of the material news or the occurrence of the material event, unless Barclays Capital Inc., on behalf of the Underwriters, agree not to require such extension in writing.

     Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the restrictions in this Section 6(a)(x) shall not apply to (i) the issuance and sale of Stock pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) any reduction by any means in the number of shares of Common Stock owned by Parent, as disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, or (iii) the distribution to holders of Parent’s common stock the outstanding shares of Common Stock then owned by Parent, or any public disclosure by the Company or Parent related thereto, following the 120^th day after the date of the Prospectus.

     (xi) If Barclays Capital Inc., in its sole discretion, agrees to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a Lock-Up Agreement for an officer or director of the Company and provides the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by issuing a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, and containing such other information as Barclays Capital Inc. may require with respect to the circumstances of the release or waiver and/or the identity of the officer(s) and/or director(s) with respect to which the release or waiver applies, through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

     (xii) To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Stock being sold by the Company substantially in accordance with the description as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds.”

     (xiii) To file with the Commission such information on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K as may be required by Rule 463 under the Securities Act.

     (xiv) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this

Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing pay the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.

     (xv) In connection with the Directed Share Program, to ensure that the Directed Shares will be restricted from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation to the same extent as sales and dispositions of Common Stock by the Company are restricted pursuant to Section 6(a)(x). Barclays Capital Inc. will notify the Company as to which Directed Share Participants will need to be so restricted and, at the request of Barclays Capital Inc., the Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon such securities for such period of time as is consistent with Section 6(a)(x).

     (xvi) The Company and its affiliates will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that reasonably would be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company in connection with the offering of the Stock.

     (xvii) The Company will do and perform all things required or necessary to be done and performed under this Agreement by it prior to each Delivery Date, and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the Underwriters’ obligations hereunder to purchase the Stock.

     (b) Each Underwriter severally agrees that such Underwriter shall not (i) include any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) in any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) used or referred to by such Underwriter without the prior consent of the Company (any such issuer information with respect to whose use the Company has given its consent, “Permitted Issuer Information”); provided that (A) no such consent shall be required with respect to any such issuer information contained in any document filed by the Company with the Commission prior to the use of such free writing prospectus, and (B) “issuer information,” as used in this Section 6(b), shall not be deemed to include information prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter on the basis of or derived from issuer information, and (ii) take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission under Rule 433 under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter.

     (c) The Company and Parent agree that any shares of Option Stock purchased by the Underwriters pursuant to the option described in Section 3 of this Agreement will not increase the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding after the offering of the Firm Stock, but rather the number of shares of Class B Common Stock owned by Parent will be reduced share for share by the number of shares of Option Stock purchased by the Underwriters pursuant to such option and such shares of Class B Common Stock owned by Parent will be canceled.

          7. Expenses. The Company agrees, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay all expenses, costs, fees and taxes incident to and in connection with (a) the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Stock and any stamp duties or other taxes payable in that connection, and the preparation and printing of certificates for the Stock; (b) the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto; (c) the distribution of the Registration Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any

amendment or supplement thereto, all as provided in this Agreement; (d) the production and distribution of this Agreement, any supplemental agreement among Underwriters, and any other related documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Stock; (e) any required review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (the “FINRA”) of the terms of sale of the Stock (including reasonable related fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters in an amount that is not greater than $15,000); (f) the listing of the Stock on the New York Stock Exchange and/or any other exchange; (g) the qualification of the Stock under the securities laws of the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 6(a)(ix) and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including reasonable related fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters); (h) the preparation, printing and distribution of one or more versions of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus for distribution in Canada, often in the form of a Canadian “wrapper” (including reasonable related fees and expenses of Canadian counsel to the Underwriters); (i) the offer and sale of shares of the Stock by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters related thereto, the costs and expenses of preparation, printing and distribution of the Directed Share Program material and all stamp duties or other taxes incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program; (j) the investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Stock, including, without limitation, expenses associated with any electronic road show, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and the cost of any aircraft chartered (to the extent Parent does not provide its own aircraft) in connection with the road show; and (k) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement; provided that, except as provided in this Section 7 and in Section 12, the Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses, including the costs and expenses of their counsel, any transfer taxes on the Stock which they may sell and the expenses of advertising any offering of the Stock made by the Underwriters, and any transfer taxes payable in connection with its sale of Stock to the Underwriters and reimburse the Company for its pro rata share of the fees and expenses paid by the Company in connection with the offering of the Stock.

          8. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The respective obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and on each Delivery Date, of the representations and warranties of the Company and Parent contained herein, to the performance by the Company and Parent of their respective obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:

     (a) The Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission in accordance with Section 6(a)(i). The Company shall have complied with all filing requirements applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus used or referred to after the date hereof; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceeding or examination for such purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and any request of the Commission for inclusion of additional information in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise shall have been complied with. If the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement.

     (b) No Underwriter shall have discovered and disclosed to the Company on or prior to such Delivery Date that the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the reasonable opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, is material or omits to state a fact which, in the reasonable opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made.

     (c) All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of this Agreement, the Stock, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Underwriters, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

     (d) ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives its written opinion and negative assurance letter, as counsel to the Company, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

     (e) The Representatives shall have received from ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, internal counsel to the Company, his written opinion and negative assurance statement, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

     (f) The Representatives shall have received from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated such Delivery Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Stock, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

     (g) At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP a letter, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the date hereof (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, and (ii) stating, as of the date hereof (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, as of a date not more than three days prior to the date hereof), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings.

     (h) With respect to the letter of Ernst & Young LLP referred to in the preceding paragraph and delivered to the Representatives concurrently with the execution of this

Agreement (the “initial letter”), the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter (the “bring-down letter”) of such accountants, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, (ii) stating, as of the date of the bring-down letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Prospectus, as of a date not more than three days prior to the date of the bring-down letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by the initial letter, and (iii) confirming in all material respects the conclusions and findings set forth in the initial letter.

     (i) At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from Netherland, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Associates, Inc. an initial letter (the “initial NSAI letter”), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the date hereof and a subsequent letter dated as of the Delivery Date, which such letter shall cover the period from any initial NSAI letter to the Delivery Date, stating the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to information about the oil and gas reserves of the Company as is customarily included in reserves engineers’ “confirmation letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings.

     (j) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated such Delivery Date, of its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer as to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, including, without limitation, a statement that:

     (i) The representations, warranties and agreements of the Company in Section 1 are true and correct on and as of such Delivery Date, and the Company has complied with all its agreements contained herein and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Delivery Date;

     (ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued; and no proceedings or examination for that purpose have been instituted or, to the knowledge of such officers, threatened; and

     (iii) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there has been no material adverse change or any development that would reasonably be expected to result in a prospective material adverse change in the financial condition, earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) from that set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

     (k) Parent shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated such Delivery Date, of an executive officer of the Parent, stating: the representations, warranties and agreements of Parent in Section 2 are true and correct on and as of such Delivery Date, and Parent has complied with all its agreements contained herein and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Delivery Date.

     (l) Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall have sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, or incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, other than liabilities and obligations that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, which would be reasonably likely to result in any Material Adverse Effect, or any development involving a material adverse change in or affecting the financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) from that set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package or Prospectus, the effect of which is, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or delivery of the Stock being delivered on such Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

     (m) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act), and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s debt securities.

     (n) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) trading in securities generally on The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market, The NASDAQ Global Market, The NASDAQ Capital Market, or The American Stock Exchange or in the over-the-counter market, or trading in any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been suspended or materially limited or the settlement of such trading generally shall have been materially disrupted or minimum prices shall have been established on any such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange or by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction, (ii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or state authorities, (iii) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities, there shall have been an escalation in hostilities involving the United States or there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States, or (iv) there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic, political or financial conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof (or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such), in the case of clauses (i) through (iv), as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or delivery of the Stock being delivered on such Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

     (o) The New York Stock Exchange shall have approved the Stock for listing, subject only to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution.

     (p) The Lock-Up Agreements between the Representatives and the officers and directors of the Company set forth on Schedule II, delivered to the Representatives on or before the date of this Agreement, shall be in full force and effect on such Delivery Date.

     (q) On or prior to each Delivery Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Underwriters such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

          All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

          9. Indemnification and Contribution.

     (a) The Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, agents, directors, officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Stock), to which that Underwriter, affiliate, agent, director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (A) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (in the case of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which any such statements were made), (B) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which any such statements were made or (C) any Permitted Issuer Information used or referred to in any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) used or referred to by any Underwriter, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (except in the case of the Registration Statement, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and shall reimburse each Underwriter and each such affiliate, agent, director, officer, employee or controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Underwriter, affiliate, agent, director, officer, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in any such amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information, in reliance upon and in

conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information consists solely of the information specified in Section 9(f). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to any Underwriter or to any affiliate, agent, director, officer, employee or controlling person of that Underwriter.

     (b) Parent shall indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, agents, directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Stock), to which that Underwriter, affiliate, agent, director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (in the case of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which any such statements were made) or in any Permitted Issuer Information, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (except in the case of the Registration Statement, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and shall reimburse each Underwriter, its affiliates, agents, directors, officers and employees and each such controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Underwriter, its affiliates, agents, directors, officers and employees or controlling persons in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred, but only with reference to information relating to Parent furnished by or on behalf of Parent for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in any such amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information; provided, however, that Parent shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in any such amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information consists solely of the information specified in Section 9(f). The liability of Parent under the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph shall be limited to an amount equal to the total net proceeds (before deducting expenses) from the offering of the shares of the Stock purchased under this Agreement distributed to Parent, as set forth in the Prospectus. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability that Parent may otherwise have to any Underwriter or any affiliate, agent, director, officer, employee or controlling person of that Underwriter.

     (c) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, Parent, their respective directors and officers (including any person who, with his or her consent, is named in the Registration Statement as to become a director or officer of the Company) and employees, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or Parent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the Company, Parent or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of that Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is limited to the information set forth in Section 9(f). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability that any Underwriter may otherwise have to the Company, Parent or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person.

     (d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 9 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 9, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 9 except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced by such failure and, provided, further, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 9. If any such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under this Section 9 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel to represent jointly the indemnified party and those other indemnified parties and their respective directors, officers, employees and controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought under this Section 9 if (i) the indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall have so mutually agreed; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; (iii) the indemnified party and its directors, officers, employees and controlling persons shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to them that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party; or (iv) the

named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified parties or their respective directors, officers, employees or controlling persons, on the one hand, and the indemnifying party, on the other hand, and representation of both sets of parties by the same counsel would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, and in any such event the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by the indemnifying party. No indemnifying party shall (x) without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not include a statement as to, or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party, or (y) be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.

     (e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 9(a), 9(b), 9(c) or 9(g) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and Parent, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the offering of the Stock, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and Parent, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Stock shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Stock (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Stock. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, Parent or the Underwriters, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company, Parent and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 9(e) were to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof,

referred to above in this Section 9(e) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 9(e), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9(e), in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Stock exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 9(e) are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

     (f) The Underwriters severally confirm and each of the Company and Parent acknowledges and agrees that (i) the statements regarding delivery of shares by the Underwriters set forth on the cover page of, and (ii) the first sentence of the second full paragraph under the heading “Commissions and Expenses” and the paragraphs relating to stabilization by the Underwriters appearing under the caption “Underwriting” in, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are correct and constitute the only information concerning such Underwriters furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto.

     (g) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Barclays Capital Inc. (including its affiliates, agents, directors, officers and employees) and each person, if any, who controls Barclays Capital Inc. within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (“Barclays Entities”), from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability or any action in respect thereof to which any of the Barclays Entities may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action (i) arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the approval of the Company for distribution to Directed Share Participants in connection with the Directed Share Program or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, when considered in conjunction with the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any applicable Preliminary Prospectus, not misleading, (ii) arises out of, or is based upon, the failure of the Directed Share Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that were subject to an agreement to purchase between the Directed Share Participant and the Barclays Entities, or (iii) is otherwise related to the Directed Share Program; provided that the Company shall not be liable under this clause (iii) for any loss, claim, damage, liability or action that is determined in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Barclays Entities. The Company shall reimburse the Barclays Entities promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred.

          10. Defaulting Underwriters.

     (a) If, on any Delivery Date, any Underwriter defaults in its obligations to purchase the Stock that it has agreed to purchase under this Agreement, the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Stock by the non-defaulting Underwriters or other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Stock, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Stock on such terms. In the event that within the respective prescribed periods, the non-defaulting Underwriters notify the Company that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Stock, or the Company notifies the non-defaulting Underwriters that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Stock, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone such Delivery Date for up to seven full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any such other document or arrangement that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context requires otherwise, any party not listed in Schedule I hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Stock that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

     (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Stock of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the total number of shares of the Stock that remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the total number of shares of all the Stock, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the total number of shares of Stock that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the total number of shares of Stock that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Stock of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; provided that the non-defaulting Underwriters shall not be obligated to purchase more than 110% of the total number of shares of Stock that it agreed to purchase on such Delivery Date pursuant to the terms of Section 3.

     (c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Stock of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the total number of shares of Stock that remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the total number of shares of all the Stock, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Sections 7 and 12 and except that the provisions of Section 9 shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

     (d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

          11. Termination. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representatives by notice given to and received by the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Firm Stock if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 8(l), 8(m) and 8(n) shall have occurred or if the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Stock for any reason permitted under this Agreement.

          12. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If the Company shall fail to tender the Stock for delivery to the Underwriters by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company to perform any agreement on its part to be performed, or because any other condition of the Underwriters’ obligations hereunder required to be fulfilled by the Company is not fulfilled, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters) incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the proposed purchase of the Stock, and upon demand the Company shall pay the full amount thereof to the Representatives. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10 by reason of the default of one or more Underwriters, the Company shall not be obligated to reimburse any defaulting Underwriter on account of those expenses.

          13. Research Analyst Independence. The Company and Parent acknowledge that the Underwriters’ research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriters’ research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. The Company and Parent hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company or Parent may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company or Parent by such Underwriters’ investment banking divisions. The Company and Parent acknowledge that each of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the Company or Parent.

          14. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company and Parent acknowledge and agree that in connection with this offering, sale of the Stock or any other services the Underwriters may be deemed to be providing hereunder, notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or otherwise, between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by the Underwriters: (a) no fiduciary or agency relationship between the Company, Parent and any other person, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, exists; (b) the Underwriters are not acting as advisors, expert or otherwise, to either the Company or Parent, and such relationship between the Company and Parent, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, is entirely and solely commercial, based on arms-length negotiations; (c) any duties and obligations that the Underwriters may have to the Company or Parent shall be limited to those duties and obligations specifically stated herein; and (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may have interests that differ from those of the Company and Parent. Furthermore, the Company and Parent agree that they are solely responsible for making their

own judgments and decisions in connection with this offering. The Company and Parent hereby waive any claims that the Company or Parent may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach of fiduciary duty in connection with this offering.

          15. Notices, etc. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and:

     (a) if to the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to: (i) Barclays Capital Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: Syndicate Registration (Fax: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇), with a copy, in the case of any notice pursuant to Section 9(d), to the Director of Litigation, Office of the General Counsel, Barclays Capital Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇; (ii) Citigroup Global Markets Inc., General Counsel (fax no.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇) and confirmed to the General Counsel, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: General Counsel; (iii) ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk, Fax: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇; and (iv) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: Syndicate Department and confirmed to ECM Legal; and

     (b) if to the Company or Parent, shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: General Counsel (Fax: (▇▇▇)-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇), with a copy delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ (Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇) and confirmed at (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇).

Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof. The Company and Parent shall be entitled to act and rely upon any request, consent, notice or agreement given or made on behalf of the Underwriters by Barclays Capital Inc. on behalf of the Representatives.

          16. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company, Parent and their respective successors. This Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of only those persons, except that (a) the representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements of the Company and Parent contained in this Agreement shall also be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors, officers and employees of the Underwriters and each person or persons, if any, who control any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, and (b) the indemnity agreement of the Underwriters contained in Section 9(c) of this Agreement shall be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors of the Company, the officers of the Company who have signed the Registration Statement and any person controlling the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, other than the persons referred to in this Section 16, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein.

          17. Survival. The respective indemnities, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, Parent and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made

by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Stock and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any of them or any person controlling any of them.

          18. Definition of the Terms “Business Day,” “Affiliate” and “subsidiary.” For purposes of this Agreement, (a) “business day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close, and (b) “affiliate” and “subsidiary” have the respective meanings set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

          19. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT IS GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF THAT WOULD APPLY THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER STATE. PARENT, THE COMPANY AND THE UNDERWRITERS EACH WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY OR ON BEHALF OF ANY PARTY WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER WHATSOEVER RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OFFERING CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

          20. Waiver of Jury Trial. The parties hereby irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the terms of this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby, and the parties hereby irrevocably agree that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or federal court. The parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent that they may legally do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding and each party irrevocably consents to the service of any and all process in any action or proceeding by the mailing or delivery of copies of such process to it at the office of the party set forth under Section 15 herein. The parties agree that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. To the extent that any party has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or otherwise) with respect to its obligations hereunder, such party waives such immunity to the extent permitted by applicable law.

          21. Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

          22. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

          23. Headings. The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

     If the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Company, Parent and the Underwriters, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.

Accepted:

Barclays Capital Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
                        Incorporated,

For themselves and as Representatives
of the several Underwriters named
in Schedule I hereto

By: Barclays Capital Inc.

By: Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

By: ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC

By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
                               Incorporated

SCHEDULE I

		Number of Shares of
Underwriters		Firm Stock
Barclays Capital Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇         Incorporated
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Sachs & Co.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Securities, LLC
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
UBS Securities LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Incorporated
Total

SCHEDULE II

PERSONS DELIVERING LOCK-UP AGREEMENTS

Directors

▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Officers

▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Sailor

SCHEDULE III

ORALLY CONVEYED PRICING INFORMATION

1. [Public offering price]

2. [Number of shares offered]

SCHEDULE IV

ISSUER FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES — ROAD SHOW MATERIALS

Insert list of certain “road show” materials

SCHEDULE V

SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Production Holdings LLC

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Production RMT Company LLC

Dakota-3 E&P Company, LLC

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Production Company, LLC

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Production Keystone LLC

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Production Appalachia LLC

EXHIBIT A

LOCK-UP LETTER AGREEMENT

LOCK-UP LETTER AGREEMENT

Barclays Capital Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
                        Incorporated,
As Representatives of the several
   Underwriters named in Schedule I
   of the Underwriting Agreement,
c/o Barclays Capital Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          The undersigned understands that you and certain other firms (the “Underwriters”) propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) providing for the purchase by the Underwriters of shares (the “Stock”) of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of WPX Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and that the Underwriters propose to reoffer the Stock to the public (the “Offering”).

          In consideration of the execution of the Underwriting Agreement by the Underwriters, and for other good and valuable consideration, the undersigned hereby irrevocably agrees that, without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc., on behalf of the Underwriters, the undersigned will not, directly or indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any shares of Common Stock (including, without limitation, shares of Common Stock that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon exercise of any options or warrants) or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock owned by the undersigned on the date of execution of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement or on the date of the completion of the Offering, (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of shares of Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) make any demand for or exercise any right or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or any other securities of the Company, or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing for a period commencing on the

Exhibit A-1

date hereof and ending on the 180th day after the date of the Prospectus relating to the Offering (such 180-day period, the “Lock-Up Period”).

          If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) Barclays Capital Inc. agrees that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of shares of Common Stock, Barclays Capital Inc. will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by issuing a press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by Barclays Capital Inc. hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if both (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration, and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter that are applicable to the transferor, to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer. The undersigned further agrees that the foregoing provisions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed securities the undersigned may purchase in the offering.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs, or (2) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, then the restrictions imposed by this Lock-Up Letter Agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of the material news or the occurrence of the material event, unless the Representatives agree not to require such extension in writing. The undersigned hereby further agrees that, prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement during the period from the date of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement to and including the 34^th day following the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, it will give notice thereof to the Company and will not consummate such transaction or take any such action unless it has received written confirmation from the Company that the Lock-Up Period (as such may have been extended pursuant to this paragraph) has expired.

          If the undersigned is an officer or director of the issuer, the undersigned further agrees that the foregoing provisions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed Common Stock the undersigned may purchase in the offering.

          In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer agent are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

Exhibit A-2

          It is understood that, if the Company notifies the Underwriters that it does not intend to proceed with the Offering, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Stock, the undersigned will be released from its obligations under this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

          The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters will proceed with the Offering in reliance on this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

          Whether or not the Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation among the Company and the Underwriters.

[Signature page follows]

Exhibit A-3

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Lock-Up Letter Agreement and that, upon request, the undersigned will execute any additional documents necessary in connection with the enforcement hereof. Any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned.

Dated: _______________

Exhibit A-4

EXHIBIT B

[Form of Press Release]

WPX Energy, Inc.
[Insert date]

WPX Energy, Inc., (the “Company”) announced today that Barclays Capital Inc., a lead book-running manager (along with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated) in the Company’s recent public sale of            shares of common stock is [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to            shares of the Company’s common stock held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on [insert date], and the shares may be sold or otherwise disposed of on or after such date.

This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Exhibit B