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Joint Operating Agreement

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EXHIBIT 'C' - ACCOUNTING PROCEDURE

(1984 Onshore COPAS Provisions)

To Joint Operating Agreement dated , between as Operator, and as Non-Operators.

ACCOUNTING PROCEDURE

JOINT OPERATIONS

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. Definitions.

“Joint Operating” shall mean the real and personal property subject to the Operating Agreement to which this Accounting Procedure is attached.

“Joint Operations” shall mean all operations necessary or proper for the development, operation, protection, and maintenance of the Joint Property.

“Joint Account” shall mean the account showing the charges paid and credits received in the conduct of the Joint Operations and which are to be shared by the Parties.

“Operator” shall mean the party designated in the Operating Agreement to conduct the Joint Operations.

“Non-Operators” shall mean the Parties to this Operating Agreement other than the Operator.

“Parties” shall mean the Operator and Non-Operators.

“First Level Supervisors” shall mean those employees whose primary function in Joint Operations is the direct supervision of other employees and/or contract labor directly employed on the Joint Property in a field operating capacity.

“Technical Employees” shall mean those employees having special and specific engineering, geological, or other professional skills, and whose primary function in Joint Operations is the handling of specific operation conditions and problems for the benefit of the Joint Property.

“Personal Expenses” shall mean travel and other reasonable reimbursable expenses of Operator’s employees.

“Material” shall mean personal property, equipment or supplies acquired or held for use on the Joint Property.

“Controllable Material” shall mean Material which at the time is so classified in the Material Classification Manual as most recently recommended by the Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies.

2. Statement and Billings.

Operator shall bill Non-Operators on or before the last day of each month for their proportionate share of the Joint Account for the preceding month. The bills will be accompanied by statements which identify the authority for expenditure, lease, or facility, and all charges and credits summarized by appropriate classifications of investment and expense, except that items of Controllable Material and unusual charges and credits shall be separately identified and fully described in detail.

3. Advances and Payments of Non-Operators.

A. Unless otherwise provided for in the Operating Agreement, Operator may require Non-Operators to advance their share of estimated cash outlay for the succeeding month’s operation within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the billing or by the first day of the month for which the advance is required, whichever is later. Operator shall adjust each monthly billing to reflect advances received from Non-Operators.

B. Each Non-Operator shall pay its proportion of all bills within thirty (30) days after receipt. If payment is not made within that time, the unpaid balance shall bear interest, monthly, at the prime rate in effect at on the first day of the month in which the delinquency occurs, plus 1%, or the maximum contract rate permitted by the applicable usury laws in the state in which the Joint Property is located, whichever is the lesser, plus attorney’s fees, court costs, and other costs in connection with the collection of unpaid amounts.

4. Adjustments.

Payment of any bills shall not prejudice the right of any Non-Operator to protest or question the correctness of the bill; provided, however, all bills and statements rendered to Non-Operators by the Operator during any calendar year shall conclusively be presumed to be true and correct after twenty-four (24) months following the end of any calendar year, unless within the twenty-four (24) month period a Non-Operator takes written exception to the bill(s) and makes claim on the Operator for an adjustment. No adjustment favorable to Operator shall be made unless it is made within the same prescribed time period. The provisions of this paragraph shall not prevent adjustments resulting from a physical inventory of Controllable Material as provided for in Section V.

5. Audits.

A. A Non-Operator, on notice in writing to the Operator and all other Non-Operators, shall have the right to audit the Operator’s accounts and records relating to the Joint Account for any calendar year within the twenty-four (24) month period following the end of a calendar year; provided, however, the making of an audit shall not extend the time for the taking of written exception to and the adjustments of accounts as provided for in Paragraph 4 of this Section I. Where there are two or more Non-Operators, the Non-Operators shall make every reasonable effort to conduct a joint audit in a manner which will result in a minimum of inconvenience to the Operator. Operator shall bear no portion of the Non-Operators’ audit cost incurred under this paragraph unless agreed to by the Operator. The audits shall not be conducted more than once each year without prior approval of the Operator, except on the resignation or removal of the Operator, and shall be made at the expense of those Non-Operators approving the audit.

B. The Operator shall reply in writing to an audit report within one hundred eighty (180) days after receipt of the audit.

6. Approval By Non-Operators.

Where an approval or other agreement of the Parties or Non-Operators is expressly required under other sections of this Accounting Procedure, and if the Operating Agreement to which this Accounting Procedure is attached contains no contrary provisions, Operator shall notify all Non-Operators of the Operator’s proposal, and the agreement or approval of a majority in interest of the Non-Operators shall be controlling on all Non-Operators.

II. DIRECT CHARGES

Operator shall charge the Joint Account with the following items:

1. Ecological and Environmental.

Costs incurred for the benefit of the Joint Property as a result of governmental or regulatory requirements to satisfy environmental considerations applicable to the Joint Operations. These costs may include surveys of an ecological or archaeological nature and pollution control procedures as required by applicable laws and regulations.

2. Rentals and Royalties.

Lease rentals and royalties paid by the Operator for the Joint Operations.

3. Labor.

A. (1) Salaries and wages of Operator’s field employees directly employed on the Joint Property in the conduct of Joint Operations.

(2) Salaries of First Level Supervisors in the field.

(3) Salaries and wages of Technical Employees directly employed on the Joint Property if the charges are excluded from the overhead rates.

(4) Salaries and wages of Technical Employees, either temporarily or permanently, assigned to and directly employed in the operation of the Joint Property if the charges are excluded from the overhead rates.

B. Operator’s cost of holiday, vacation, sickness, and disability benefits and other customary allowances paid to employees whose salaries and wages are chargeable to a Joint Account under Paragraph 3.A. of this Section II. The costs under this Paragraph 3.B. may be charged on a “when and as paid basis” or by “percentage assessment” on the amount of salaries and wages chargeable to the Joint Account under Paragraph 3.A. of this Section II. If percentage assessment is used, the rate shall be based on the Operator’s cost experience.

C. Expenditures or contributions made pursuant to assessments imposed by governmental authority which are applicable to Operator’s costs chargeable to the Joint Account under Paragraphs 3.A. and 3.B. of this Section II.

D. Personal Expenses of those employees whose salaries and wages are chargeable to the Joint Account under Paragraph 3.A. of this Section II.

4. Employee Benefits.

Operator’s current costs of established plans for employee’s group life insurance, hospitalization, pension, retirement, stock purchase, thrift, bonus, and other benefit plans of a like nature, applicable to Operator’s labor cost chargeable to the Joint Account under Paragraphs 3.A. and 3.B. of this Section II. shall be Operator’s actual cost not to exceed the percent most recently recommended by the Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies.

5. Material.

Material purchased or furnished by Operator for use on the Joint Property as provided under Section IV. Only those Materials shall be purchased for or transferred to the Joint Property as may be required for immediate use and is reasonably practical and consistent with efficient and economical operators. The accumulation of surplus stocks shall be avoided.

6. Transportation.

Transportation of employees and Material necessary for the Joint Operations, but subject to the following limitations:

A. If Material is moved to the Joint Property from the Operator’s warehouse or other properties, no charge shall be made to the Joint Account for a distance greater than the distance from the nearest reliable supply store where like material is normally available or railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property unless agreed to by the Parties.

B. If surplus Material is moved to Operator’s warehouse or other storage point, no charge shall be made to the Joint Account for a distance greater than the distance to the nearest reliable supply store where the material is normally available, or railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property unless agreed to by the Parties. No charge shall be made to the Joint Account for moving Material to other properties belonging to Operator, unless agreed to by the Parties.

C. In the application of subparagraphs A. and B. above, the option to equalize or charge actual trucking cost is available when the actual charge is $ or less, excluding accessorial charges. The $ will be adjusted to the amount most recently recommended by the Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies.

7. Services.

The cost of contract services, equipment, and utilities provided by outside sources, except services excluded by Paragraph 10. of Section II. and Paragraphs i, ii, and iii, of Section III. The cost of professional consultant services and contract services of technical personnel directly engaged on the Joint Property if those changes are excluded from the overhead rates. The cost of professional consultant services or contract services of technical personnel not directly engaged on the Joint Property shall not be charged to the Joint Account unless previously agreed to by the Parties.

8. Equipment and Facilities Furnished By Operator.

A. Operator shall charge the Joint Account for use of Operator owned equipment and facilities at rates commensurate with costs of ownership and operation. Those rates shall include costs of maintenance, repairs, other operating expense, insurance, taxes, depreciation, and interest on gross investment less accumulated depreciation not to exceed percent (%) per annum. The rates shall not exceed average commercial rates currently prevailing in the immediate area of the Joint Property.

B. In lieu of charges in Paragraph 8.A. above, Operator may elect to use average commercial rates prevailing in the immediate area of the Joint Property less %. For automotive equipment, Operator may elect to use rates published by the Petroleum Motor Transport Association.

9. Damages and Losses to Joint Property.

All costs or expenses necessary for the repair or replacement of Joint Property made necessary because of damages or losses incurred by fire, flood, storm, theft, accident, or other cause, except those resulting from Operator’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Operator shall furnish Non-Operator written notice of damages or losses incurred as soon as practicable after a report of them has been received by Operator.

10. Legal Expense.

Expense of handling, investigating, and settling litigation or claims, discharging of liens, payment of judgments, and amounts paid for settlement of claims incurred in or resulting from operations under the Operating Agreement or necessary to protect or recover the Joint Property, except that no charge for services of Operator’s legal staff, or fees, or expense of outside attorneys shall be made unless previously agreed to by the Parties. All other legal expense is considered to be covered by the overhead provisions of Section III. unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties, except as provided in Section I., Paragraph 3.

11. Taxes.

All taxes of every kind and nature assessed or levied on or in connection with the Joint Property, the operation of it, or the production from it, and which taxes have been paid by the Operator for the benefit of the Parties. If the ad valorem taxes are based in whole or in part on separate valuations of each party’s working interest, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Accounting Procedures, charges to the Joint Account shall be made and paid by the Parties in accordance with the tax value generated by each Party’s working interest.

12. Insurance.

Net premiums paid for insurance required to be carried for the Joint Operations for the protection of the Parties. In the event Joint Operations are conducted in a state in which Operator may act as self-insurer for Worker’s Compensation and/or Employers Liability under the respective state’s laws, Operator may, at its election, include the risk under its self-insurance program and in that event, Operator shall include a charge at Operator’s cost not to exceed manual rates.

13. Abandonment and Reclamation.

Costs incurred for abandonment of the Joint Property, including costs required by governmental or other regulatory authority.

14. Communications.

Cost of acquiring, leasing, installing, operating, repairing, and maintaining communication systems, including radio and microwave facilities directly serving the Joint Property. In the event communication facilities/systems serving the Joint Property are Operator owned, charges to the Joint Account shall be made as provided in Paragraph 8. of this Section II.

15. Other Expenditures.

Any other expenditure not covered or dealt with in the foregoing provisions of this Section II., or in Section III., and which is of direct benefit to the Joint Property, and is incurred by the Operator in the necessary and proper conduct of the Joint Operations.

III. OVERHEAD

1. Overhead – Drilling and Producing Operations.

i. As compensation for administrative, supervision, office services, and warehousing costs, Operator shall charge drilling and producing operations on either:

( ) Fixed Rate Basis, Paragraph 1.A.; or,

( ) Percentage Basis, Paragraph 1.B.

Unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties, this charge shall be in lieu of costs and expenses of all offices and salaries, or wages plus applicable burdens and expenses of all personnel, except those directly chargeable under Paragraph 3.A., Section II. The cost and expense of services from outside sources in connection with matters of taxation, traffic, accounting, or matters before or involving governmental agencies shall be considered as included in the overhead rates provided for in the above selected Paragraph of this Section III., unless the cost and expense are agreed to be the Parties as a direct charge to the Joint Account.

ii. The salaries, wages, and Personal Expenses of Technical Employees and/or the cost of professional consultant services and contract services of technical personnel directly employed on the Joint Property:

( ) shall be covered by the overhead rates; or,

( ) shall not be covered by the overhead rates.

iii. The salaries, wages, and Personal Expenses of Technical Employees and/or costs of professional consultant services and contract services of technical personnel, either temporarily or permanently assigned to and directly employed in the operation of the Joint Property:

( ) shall be covered by the overhead rates; or,

( ) shall not be covered by the overhead rates.

A. Overhead – Fixed Rate Basis.

(1) Operator shall charge the Joint Account at the following rates per well, per month:

Drilling Well Rate $ .
(Prorated for less than a full month)

Producing Well Rate $ .

(2) Application of Overhead – Fixed Rate Basis shall be as follows:

(a) Drilling Well Rate.

(1) Charges for drilling wells shall begin on the date the well is spudded and terminate on the date the drilling rig, completion rig, or other units used in completion of the well is released, whichever is later, except that no charge shall be made during suspension of drilling or completion operations for fifteen (15) or more consecutive calendar days.

(2) Charges for wells undergoing any type of workover or recompletion for a period of five (5) consecutive work days or more shall be made at the drilling well rate. These charges shall be applied for the period from date workover operations, with rig or other units used in workover, commence through date of rig or other unit release, except that no charge shall be made during suspension of operations for fifteen (15) or more consecutive calendar days.

(b) Producing Well Rates.

(1) An active well either produced or injected into for any portion of the month shall be considered as a one-well charge for the entire month.

(2) Each active completion in a multi-completed well in which production is not commingled down hole shall be considered as a one-well charge providing each completion is considered a separate well by the governing regulatory authority.

(3) An inactive gas well shut in because of overproduction or failure of purchaser to take the production shall be considered as a one-well charge providing the gas well is directly connected to a permanent sales outlet.

(4) A one-well charge shall be made for the month in which plugging and abandonment operations are completed on any well. This one-well charge shall be made whether or not the well has produced except when drilling well rate applies.

(5) All other inactive wells (including but not limited to inactive wells covered by unit allowable, lease allowable, transferred allowable, etc.) shall not qualify for an overhead charge.

(3) The well rates shall be adjusted as of the first day of April each year following the effective date of the Operating Agreement to which this Accounting Procedure is attached. The adjustment shall be computed by multiplying the rate currently in use by the percentage increase or decrease in the average weekly earnings of Crude Petroleum and Gas Production Workers for the last calendar year compared to the calendar year preceding as shown by the index of average weekly earnings of Crude Petroleum and Gas Production Workers as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, or the equivalent Canadian index as published by Statistics Canada, as applicable. The adjusted rates shall be the rates currently in use, plus or minus the computed adjustment.

B. Overhead – Percentage Basis.

(1) Operator shall charge the Joint Account at the following rates:

(a) Development. Percent (%) of the cost of development of the Joint Property exclusive of costs provided under Paragraph 10. of Section II. and all salvage credits.

(b) Operating. Percent (%) of the cost of operating the Joint Property exclusive of costs provided under Paragraphs 2. and 10. of Section II., all salvage credits, the value of injected substances purchased for secondary recovery and all taxes and assessments which are levied, assessed, and paid on the mineral interest in and to the Joint Property.

(2) Application of Overhead – Percentage Basis shall be as follows:

For the purpose of determining charges on a Percentage Basis under Paragraph 1.B. of this Section III., development shall include all costs in connection with drilling, redrilling, deepening, or any remedial operations on any or all wells involving the use of drilling rig and crew capable of drilling to the producing interval on the Joint Property; also, preliminary expenditures necessary in preparation for drilling and expenditures incurred in abandoning when the well is not completed as a producer, and original cost of construction or installation of fixed assets, the expansion of fixed assets and any other project clearly discernible as a fixed asset, except Major Construction as defined in Paragraph 2. of this Section III. All other costs shall be considered as operating.

2. Overhead – Major Construction.

To compensate Operator for overhead costs incurred in the construction and installation of fixed assets, the expansion of fixed assets, and any other project clearly discernible as a fixed asset required for the development and operation of the Joint Property, Operator shall either negotiate a rate prior to the beginning of construction, or shall charge the Joint Account for overhead based on the following rates for any Major Construction project in excess of $:

A. % of first $100,000 or total cost if less, plus

B. % of costs in excess of $100,000 but less than $1,000,000, plus

C. % of costs in excess of $1,000,000.

Total cost shall mean the gross cost of any one project. For the purpose of this paragraph, the component parts of a single project shall not be treated separately and the cost of drilling and workover wells and artificial lift equipment shall be excluded.

3. Catastrophe Overhead.

To compensate Operator for overhead costs incurred in the event of expenditures resulting from a single occurrence due to oil spill, blowout, explosion, fire, storm, hurricane, or other catastrophes as agreed to by the Parties, which are necessary to restore the Joint Property to the equivalent condition that existed prior to the event causing the expenditures, Operator shall either negotiate a rate prior to charging the Joint Account or shall charge the Joint Account for overhead based on the following rates:

A. % of total costs through $100,000; plus

B. % of total costs in excess of $100,000 but less than $1,000,000; plus

C. % of total costs in excess of $1,000,000.

Expenditures subject to the overheads above will not be reduced by insurance recoveries, and no other overhead provisions of this Section III. shall apply.

4. Amendment of Rates.

The overhead rates provided for in this Section III. may be amended from time to time only by mutual agreement between the Parties if, in practice, the rates are found to be insufficient or excessive.

IV. PRICING OF JOINT ACCOUNT MATERIAL PURCHASES, TRANSFERS, AND DISPOSITIONS

Operator is responsible for Joint Account Material and shall make proper and timely charges and credits for all Material movements affecting the Joint Property. Operator shall provide all Material for use on the Joint Property; however, at Operator’s option, the Material may be supplied by the Non-Operator. Operator shall make timely disposition of idle and/or surplus Material, the disposal being made either through sale to Operator or Non-Operator, division in kind, or sale to outsiders. Operator may purchase, but shall be under no obligation to purchase the interest of Non-Operators in surplus condition A. and B. Material. The disposal of surplus Controllable Material not purchased by the Operator shall be agreed to by the Parties.

1. Purchases.

Material purchased shall be charged at the price paid by Operator after deduction of all discounts received. In case of Material found to be defective or returned to vendor for any other reasons, credit shall be passed to the Joint Account when adjustment has been received by the Operator.

2. Transfers and Dispositions.

Material furnished to the Joint Property and Material transferred from the Joint Property or disposed of by the Operator, unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties, shall be priced on the following basis exclusive of cash discounts.

A. New Material (Condition A).

(1) Tubular Goods Other than Line Pipe.

(a) Tubular goods, sized 2-3/8 inches OD and larger, except line pipe, shall be priced at Eastern mill published carload base prices effective as of the date of movement plus transportation cost using the 80,000 pound carload weight basis to the railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property for which published rail rates for tubular goods exist. If the 80,000 pound rail rate is not offered, the 70,000 pound or 90,000 pound rail rate may be used. Freight charges for tubing will be calculated from Lorain, Ohio, and casing from Youngstown, Ohio.

(b) For grades which are special to one mill only, prices shall be computed at the mill base of that mill plus transportation cost form that mill to the railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property as provided above in Paragraph 2.A.(1)(a). For transportation cost from points other than Eastern mills, the 30,000 pound Oil Field Haulers Association interstate truck rate shall be used.

(c) Macaroni tubing (size less than 2-3/8 inch OD) shall be priced at the lowest published out-of-stock prices f.o.b. the supplier plus transportation costs, using the Oil Field Haulers Association interstate truck rate per weight of tubing transferred, to the railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property.

(2) Line Pipe.

(a) Line pipe movements (except size 24 inch OD and larger will walls 3/4 inch and over) 30,000 pounds or more shall be priced under provisions of tubular goods pricing in Paragraph A.(1)(a) as provided above. Freight charges shall be calculated from Lorain, Ohio.

(b) Line pipe movements (except size 24 inch OD and larger with walls 3/4 inch and over) less than 30,000 pounds shall be priced at Eastern mill published carload base prices effective as of date of shipment, plus 20 percent, plus transportation costs based on freight rates as set forth under provisions of tubular goods pricing in Paragraph A.(1)(a) as provided above. Freight charges shall be calculated from Lorain, Ohio.

(c) Line pipe 24 inch OD and over, and 3/4 inch wall and larger shall be priced f.o.b. the point of manufacture at current new published prices plus transportation cost to the railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property.

(d) Line pipe, including fabricated line pipe, drive pipe, and conduit not listed on published price lists shall be priced at quoted prices plus freight to the railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property or at prices agreed to by the Parties.

(3) Other Material shall be priced at the current new price, in effect at date of movement, as listed by a reliable supply store nearest the Joint Property, or point of manufacture, plus transportation costs, if applicable, to the railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property.

(4) Unused new Material, except tubular goods, moved from the Joint Property shall be priced at the current new price, in effect on date of movement, as listed by a reliable supply store nearest the Joint Property, or point of manufacture, plus transportation costs, if applicable, to the railway receiving point nearest the Joint Property. Unused new tubulars will be priced as provided above in Paragraph 2.A.(1) and (2).

B. Good Used Material (Condition B).

Material in sound and serviceable condition and suitable for reuse without reconditioning:

(1) Material moved to the Joint Property.

At seventy-five percent (75%) of current new price, as determined by Paragraph A.

(2) Material used on and moved from the Joint Property.

(a) At seventy-five percent (75%) of current new price, as determined by Paragraph A, if Material was originally charged to the Joint Account as new Material; or,

(b) At sixty-five percent (65%) of current new price, as determined by Paragraph A, if Material was originally charged to the Joint Account as used Material.

(3) Material not used on and moved from the Joint Property.

At seventy-five percent (75%) of current new price as determined by Paragraph A.

The cost of reconditioning, if any, shall be absorbed by the transferring property.

C. Other Used Material.

(1) Condition C.

Material which is not in sound and serviceable condition and not suitable for its original function until after reconditioning shall be priced at fifty percent (50%) of current new price as determined by Paragraph A. The cost of reconditioning shall be charged to the receiving property, provided Condition C value plus cost of reconditioning does not exceed Condition B value.

(2) Condition D.

Material, excluding junk, no longer suitable for its original purpose, but usable for some other purpose shall be priced on a basis commensurate with its use. Operator may dispose of Condition D Material under procedures normally used by Operator without prior approval of Non-Operators.

(a) Casing, tubing, or drill pipe used as line pipe shall be priced as Grade A and B seamless line pipe of comparable size and weight. Used casing, tubing or drill pipe utilized as line pipe shall be priced at used line pipe prices.

(b) Casing, tubing or drill pipe used as higher pressure service lines than standard line pipe, e.g. power oil lines, shall be priced under normal pricing procedures for casing, tubing, or drill pipe. Upset tubular goods shall be priced on a non upset basis.

(3) Condition E.

Junk shall be priced at prevailing prices. Operator may dispose of Condition E Material under procedures normally utilized by Operator without prior approval of Non-Operators.

D. Obsolete Material.

Material which is serviceable and usable for its original function but condition and/or value of the Material is not equivalent to that which would justify a price as provided above may be specially priced as agreed to by the Parties. The price should result in the Joint Account being charged with the value of the service rendered by the Material.

E. Pricing Conditions.

(1) Loading or unloading costs may be charged to the Joint Account at the rate of twenty-five cents (25¢) per hundred weight on all tubular goods movements, in lieu of actual loading or unloading costs sustained at the stocking point. The above rate shall be adjusted as of the first day of April each year following January 1, , by the same percentage increase or decrease used to adjust overhead rates in Section III., Paragraph 1.A.(3). Each year, the rate calculated shall be rounded to the nearest cent and shall be the rate in effect until the first day of April next year. The rate shall be published each year by the Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies.

(2) Material involving erection costs shall be charged at applicable percentage of the current knocked-down price of new Material.

3. Premium Prices.

Whenever Material is not readily obtainable at published or listed prices because of national emergencies, strikes, or other unusual causes over which the Operator has no control, the Operator may charge the Joint Account for the required Material at the Operator’s actual cost incurred in providing the Material, in making it suitable for use, and in moving it to the Joint Property; provided notice in writing is furnished to Non-Operators of the proposed charge prior to billing Non-Operators for the Material. Each Non-Operator shall have the right, by so electing and notifying Operator within ten (10) days after receiving notice from Operator, to furnish in kind all or part of his share of the Material suitable for use and acceptable to Operator.

4. Warranty of Material Furnished By Operator.

Operator does not warrant the Material furnished. In case of defective Material, credit shall not be passed to the Joint Account until adjustment has been received by Operator from the manufacturers or their agents.

V. INVENTORIES

The Operator shall maintain detailed records of Controllable Material.

1. Periodic Inventories, Notice, and Representation.

At reasonable intervals, inventories shall be taken by Operator of the Joint Account Controllable Material. Written notice of intention to take inventory shall be given by Operator at least thirty (30) days before any inventory is to begin so that Non-Operators may be represented when any inventory is taken. Failure of Non-Operators to be represented at any inventory shall bind Non-Operators to accept the inventory taken by Operator.

2. Reconciliation and Adjustment of Inventories.

Adjustments to the Joint Account resulting from the reconciliation of a physical inventory shall be made within six months following the taking of the inventory. Inventory adjustments shall be made by Operator to the Joint Account for overages and shortages, but, Operator shall be held accountable only for shortages due to lack of reasonable diligence.

3. Special Inventories.

Special inventories may be taken whenever there is any sale, change of interest, or change of Operator in the Joint Property. It shall be the duty of the party selling to notify all other Parties as quickly as possible after the transfer of interest takes place. In such cases, both the seller and the purchaser shall be governed by such inventory. In cases involving a change of Operator, all Parties shall be governed by the inventory.

4. Expense of Conducting Inventories.

A. The expense of conducting periodic inventories shall not be charged to the Joint Account unless agreed to by the Parties.

B. The expense of conducting special inventories shall be charged to the Parties requesting such inventories, except inventories required due to change of Operator shall be charged to the Joint Accounting.

Operator Signature:

Date:

Non-Operator Signature:

Date:

Enter text✕

What a Joint Operating Agreement Is and when it applies

A Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) is a contract that governs shared ownership and the operational management of jointly held assets, commonly used in oil and gas, mining, and multi-party infrastructure projects. It appoints an operator to manage day-to-day activities, allocates ownership interests and capital obligations, establishes budgeting and cost-recovery procedures, and sets rules for liability, insurance, transfers, dispute resolution, and termination. JOAs are commercial agreements governed by state contract law and may be executed electronically consistent with ESIGN (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA provisions where adopted.

Why a clearly drafted Joint Operating Agreement matters

A JOA reduces operational and financial uncertainty by defining duties, voting thresholds, and cost allocation. It protects non-operators with notice and audit rights, limits operator exposure through indemnities and insurance provisions, and creates a predictable dispute-resolution path to avoid costly litigation or production delays.

Why a clearly drafted Joint Operating Agreement matters

Who commonly uses a Joint Operating Agreement

Typical users include operator companies, non-operator interest holders, and institutional investors involved in shared asset operations and cost sharing.

  • Operator companies that manage field operations and hold delegated authority to act on behalf of the parties.
  • Non-operator owners who contribute capital or participate financially and require protections for costs, audits, and notices.
  • Joint venture investors, private equity partners, and owner-operators sharing ownership percentages, governance, and cash distributions.

Identifying the right users up front ensures the JOA’s language aligns with each party’s authority, financial exposure, and compliance obligations.

Essential sections to include in a professional Joint Operating Agreement

A thorough JOA addresses parties and interests, operator responsibilities, budgeting and cost recovery, governance and voting, risk allocation, and dispute resolution to provide operational clarity and legal enforceability.

Parties & Interests

Identify each party, legal entity names, and precise ownership percentages; attach exhibits listing working interest allocations and transfer restrictions.

Operator Duties

Describe the operator’s scope of authority, standard of care, budgeting and reporting obligations, procurement limits, and audit access for non-operators.

Budget & Accounting

Set procedures for preparing and approving budgets, handling overruns, invoicing cycles, cost recovery mechanics, and allocated share calculations.

Governance & Voting

Specify voting thresholds, reserved matters, consent rights for major actions, and tie-breaking processes for deadlocked decisions.

Liability & Indemnity

Allocate operational liability, require insurance minimums, and define indemnification scope, limits, and third-party claim handling.

Disputes & Termination

Provide negotiated dispute-resolution steps (negotiation, mediation, arbitration or litigation), termination triggers, and procedures for settlement and asset division.

Sequential steps to prepare, sign, and finalize a Joint Operating Agreement

Follow these four practical steps to draft, review, execute, and archive a binding Joint Operating Agreement efficiently.

  • 01
    Draft core terms: Assemble parties, interests, operator duties, and budget exhibits.
  • 02
    Internal review: Have counsel and finance verify allocations and tax treatment.
  • 03
    Execution and signatures: Obtain authorized signatures and date all signature blocks.
  • 04
    Distribute and archive: Send executed copies to parties and retain originals securely.

Practical flow for completing the JOA online

A standard online workflow handles upload, field placement, signer authentication, execution, and audit trail capture in discrete steps.

  • Upload document: Add the JOA PDF or DOCX to the signing platform.
  • Place fillable fields: Add name, date, signature, and initial fields for each signer.
  • Invite signers: Send secure signing links or email invites to authorized representatives.
  • Capture audit trail: Record timestamps, IP, and authentication events for compliance.

Recommended online workflow settings for JOAs

Configure the signing tool to match legal and operational needs: strong authentication, reusable templates, and enabled audit trails reduce execution risk.

Field Configuration
Signer authentication Email link plus SMS code or KBA for high-value JOAs
Templates Save standard JOA and exhibits as reusable templates
Conditional fields Enable cost-cap triggers and invoice schedules where required
Audit trail Retain full event log and signed PDF for compliance

Digital signing and file requirements for Joint Operating Agreements

Use a platform that supports PDF and DOCX formats, audit trails, and integrations with common storage and ERP systems.

  • File formats: PDF and DOCX supported
  • Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, MS 365
  • Authentication: Email, SMS code, KBA options

Ensure the platform preserves a tamper-evident signed file and an exportable audit trail; choose solutions that offer role-based access and long-term storage options for legal and tax records.

Comparison: eSignature vendor pricing and core features for JOAs

Pricing and feature needs vary by volume and required compliance. signNow is listed first for easy vendor comparison across common plan criteria.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day trial, no card Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes (Business Premium) Yes (plan-dependent) Yes (plan-dependent) Yes (plan-dependent) No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes (BAA available) Yes (BAA available) Yes (BAA available) No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies Varies Varies

Key legal and financial risks from incorrect JOAs

Incorrect party name: May void obligations
Missing signature: Creates enforceability risk
Wrong interest percentage: Alters revenue/cost shares
No dispute clause: Increases litigation exposure
Improper notarization: May hinder record acceptance
Tax reporting errors: Can trigger IRS penalties

Common preparation mistakes to avoid

  • Leaving exhibit references vague or unsigned, which causes accounting and enforcement disputes during audits or transfers.
  • Failing to designate an authorized signatory or attach corporate resolutions, producing questions about capacity and authority.
  • Using inconsistent definitions for costs or revenue types, making reconciliations and cost recovery disputes common.
  • Overlooking state-specific formalities or witness requirements that affect enforceability in certain jurisdictions.

Practical tips for accurate and efficient JOAs

Following consistent drafting, approval, and execution practices reduces risk and speeds implementation for multi-party operations.

Use standardized templates with editable exhibits
Maintain a base JOA template that includes clearly labeled exhibits for budgets, interest schedules, and insurance certificates so review focuses on negotiated clauses, not formatting.
Require signatory authority documentation
Attach a corporate resolution or power of attorney for each entity signatory to confirm the individual signing has delegated authority, preventing later capacity disputes.
Enable robust audit and invoicing procedures
Specify invoice cycles, supporting documentation, and auditor access rights to reduce payment disputes and simplify month-end reconciliations.
Document amendments clearly
Require written, dated amendments signed by authorized representatives and attach them to the original JOA to preserve an accurate contract history.

Illustrative use cases for a Joint Operating Agreement

Two brief examples show how JOAs structure responsibilities and payments in different industries.

Oil & Gas Joint Venture

A multi-well pad operated by Company A required a JOA to assign operator duties and cost recovery

  • The operator manages drilling and maintenance while non-operators approve major budgets
  • The JOA includes monthly invoicing, audit rights for non-operators, and an arbitration clause for disputes to limit production delays and clarify tax reporting.

Real Estate Redevelopment Joint Venture

Three investors contributed capital to redevelop an industrial site and used a JOA-like operating agreement to allocate responsibilities

  • One partner acts as project manager, another handles financing
  • The agreement defines draw schedules, scope change approvals, insurance requirements, and exit mechanics to protect capital and ensure orderly distributions.

Frequently asked questions about Joint Operating Agreements

Answers to common legal and practical questions about drafting, signing, and maintaining a JOA in the United States.


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