Third Modification to Employment Agreement

     AGREEMENT, Made as of January 1, 1999, between PETROLEUM DEVELOP-
MENT CORPORATION, a Nevada Corporation with its principal offices at 103 E. Main
Street, Bridgeport, West Virginia 26330, party of the first part, sometimes 
herein called the "Employer" and STEVEN R. WILLIAMS, 137 Ashford Drive, 
Bridgeport, West Virginia 26330, party of the second part, herein sometimes 
called the "Employee."

     1.    Recitals. (a) WHEREAS, the Employer employs the Employee under the
term of a written employment agreement dated July 1, 1988, and amended and 
modified by subsequent written agreements dated March 1, 1991, and October 
21, 1994; and (b) WHEREAS, by corporate resolution adopted by the Board of 
Directors on January 5, 1999, authorized further modifications to said 
employment agreements by extending the terms of the agreement to December 
31, 2003 and otherwise amending and modifying the terms thereof by adding to
said agreements provisions for an executive deferred retirement plan; and 
(c) WHEREAS, in recognition of past services and competitive industry
compensation practices, and as an incentive to induce the Employee to extend
his period of employment with the Employer, the within deferred retirement 
is hereby established.

     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the parties 
intending to be bound, agree as follows:

     2.    Amendment. Employment Agreements and amendments thereto be and are
further modified and amended by the following provisions providing for an 
executive deferred retirement plan to the benefit of the employee.

     3.    Term Extended. The term of the current Employment Agreements and the
amendment be and are hereby extended for three (3) additional years to 
December 31, 2003.
     
     4.    Terms and Conditions. Terms and conditions of this executive 
deferred retirement program are as follows:

           a.    The program includes the named Employee.

           b.    Except in the event of the death or disability of the
                 Employee or of a change of control of the company, the 
                 benefits of the program will vest upon the completion of
                 five years of employment commencing January 1, 1999. In the
                 event of death or disability or of a change of control 
                 vesting will be immediate for the Employee who has not yet
                 completed the additional five years of service.

           c.    When the vesting requirements have been met the Employee 
                 will be entitled to receive an annual payment equal to 
                 $40,000 per year upon retirement from the company beginning
                 July 1, 2004, and continuing for a total of ten payments. If
                 the Employee continues to be employed by the company the 
                 start of the payments will be delayed until the first of 
                 July following his retirement from the company. The Employee
                 may also elect to have his payments deferred for a period of
                 up to 5 years following his retirement. In the event of 
                 employment beyond the five year vesting period or the
                 deferral of payment following retirement the amount of

                 the annual benefit will be increased by 10.75 percent 
                 compounded annually for each additional year of employment 
                 and/or each year which the beginning of payment is deferred.
                 (See schedule in paragraph five (5) below)

           d.    The Employee and/or his spouse shall be entitled to 
                 participate in the group health plan of the company or its 
                 successors or for as long as either shall live by paying the
                 same premium for such coverage as is charged to other 
                 employees of the company or its successor.

                 In the event of the death or disability of the Employee,
                 payments due under this retirement program shall be made as
                 designated by the Employee for any remaining unpaid 
                 benefits. In the event the Employee is still employed at 
                 the time of his death, his designees will receive the full
                 amount specified in the retirement program paid over a 10
                 year period commencing with July 1 following his
                 death in addition to any other benefits specified in the 
                 contract.

           f.    In the event the company or a majority of its assets are
                 acquired by another entity the benefits due under this 
                 agreement will be accelerated and due immediately. In the 
                 case of an employee who has already retired he shall be 
                 paid a single payment equal to the sum of the remaining 
                 payments he is entitled to receive. In the case of an 
                 employee who has not yet retired he shall be entitled to
                 receive an accelerated retirement benefit as set forth above
                 for ten years less the period used to calculate the change 
                 of control payment under Section 11.01 of the employment 
                 agreement as set forth in "Modifications to Employment 
                 Agreement (No. 2)."

           g.    The provisions of this amendment shall survive the 
                 expiration of the employment agreement and its amendments.

     5.    Year  Amount

            5    $40,000
            6    $44,303
            7    $49,068
            8    $54,347
            9    $60,193
           10    $66,668

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the day and year first hereinabove written.

                                  EMPLOYER:

                                  PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION,
                                  a Nevada corporation

                                  By:                                  

                                  Its                           

ATTEST:

                                   
Secretary

                                  EMPLOYEE:

                                                         
                                  STEVEN R. WILLIAMS


STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,
COUNTY OF HARRISON, TO-WIT:

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this          day of 
January, 1999, by                         ,                of PETROLEUM
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation, for and on behalf of the
Corporation.

My Commission Expires:                             



                                                               
                                  NOTARY PUBLIC


STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,
COUNTY OF HARRISON, TO-WIT:

          The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this        
day of January, 1999, by STEVEN R. WILLIAMS.

My Commission Expires:                              




                                                          
                               NOTARY PUBLIC




This instrument prepared by:

Roger J. Morgan, Esquire
YOUNG, MORGAN & CANN, Attorneys at Law
Suite One, Schroath Building, Clarksburg, West Virginia 26301