Exhibit 10.61

485798.001(B&F)




















         THIS WARRANT AND THE SHARES  ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT
         HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED  UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED.
         NEITHER  THIS  WARRANT NOR ANY OF SUCH SHARES MAY BE SOLD,  OFFERED FOR
         SALE, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF
         REGISTRATION  UNDER SUCH ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT REGISTRATION
         IS NOT  REQUIRED  UNDER SUCH ACT OR UNLESS  SOLD  PURSUANT  TO RULE 144
         UNDER SUCH ACT. ANY SUCH SALE,  ASSIGNMENT OR TRANSFER MUST ALSO COMPLY
         WITH APPLICABLE  STATE  SECURITIES  LAWS. IN ADDITION,  THIS WARRANT IS
         SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS AS SET FORTH IN THE FINDER  AGREEENT DATED AS OF
         DECEMBER 31, 1997.

Right to
Purchase
44,944
Shares of
Common Stock, par value $.001 per share


                                       STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (FINDER WARRANT)

         THIS CERTIFIES THAT, for value received,  ABERFOYLE CAPITAL LIMITED, is
entitled to purchase from SABA PETROLEUM  COMPANY,  a Delaware  corporation (the
"Company"),  at any time or from time to time  during  the period  specified  in
Paragraph 2 hereof,  Forty-four Thousand, Nine Hundred Forty-four (44,944) fully
paid and nonassessable shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.001 per
share  (the  "Common  Stock"),  at an  exercise  price of $10.68  per share (the
AExercise  Price@).  The term  "Warrant  Shares," as used herein,  refers to the
shares of  Common  Stock  purchasable  hereunder.  The  Warrant  Shares  and the
Exercise Price are subject to adjustment as provided in Paragraph 4 hereof.  The
term Warrants means this Warrant and the other  warrants  issued or to be issued
pursuant to that certain Securities  Purchase Agreement dated December 31, 1997,
by and among the Company and the Buyers  listed on the  execution  page  thereof
(the "Securities Purchase Agreement").

         This  Warrant  is  subject  to the  following  terms,  provisions,  and
conditions:














                                                   -283-



         1. Manner of Exercise;  Issuance of  Certificates;  Payment for Shares.
Subject to the  provisions  hereof,  this Warrant may be exercised by the holder
hereof,  in whole or in part, by the surrender of this Warrant,  together with a
completed  exercise  agreement  in  the  form  attached  hereto  (the  "Exercise
Agreement"),  to the Company during normal business hours on any business day at
the Company's principal executive offices (or such other office or agency of the
Company  as it may  designate  by notice  to the  holder  hereof),  and upon (i)
payment to the Company in cash,  by certified or official  bank check or by wire
transfer  for the account of the Company of the  Exercise  Price for the Warrant
Shares specified in the Exercise  Agreement or (ii) if the resale of the Warrant
Shares  by  the  holder  is  not  then  registered   pursuant  to  an  effective
registration  statement  under  the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended  (the
ASecurities Act@), delivery to the Company of a written notice of an election to
effect a ACashless Exercise@ (as defined in Section 11(c) below) for the Warrant
Shares  specified in the  Exercise  Agreement.  The Warrant  Shares so purchased
shall be deemed to be issued to the holder hereof or such holder's designee,  as
the record  owner of such  shares,  as of the close of  business  on the date on
which this Warrant shall have been surrendered, the completed Exercise Agreement
shall have been  delivered,  and payment shall have been made for such shares as
set forth above. Certificates for the Warrant Shares so purchased,  representing
the aggregate  number of shares  specified in the Exercise  Agreement,  shall be
delivered to the holder hereof within a reasonable time, not exceeding three (3)
business days, after this Warrant shall have been so exercised. The certificates
so delivered  shall be in such  denominations  as may be requested by the holder
hereof and shall be  registered in the name of such holder or such other name as
shall be  designated by such holder.  If this Warrant shall have been  exercised
only in part, then,  unless this Warrant has expired,  the Company shall, at its
expense,  at the time of delivery of such certificates,  deliver to the holder a
new Warrant representing the number of shares with respect to which this Warrant
shall not then have been exercised.

                  Notwithstanding  anything in this Warrant to the contrary,  in
no event  shall the Holder of this  Warrant be  entitled to exercise a number of
Warrants (or portions  thereof) in excess of the number of Warrants (or portions
thereof)  upon  exercise  of which the sum of (i) the number of shares of Common
Stock  beneficially owned by the Holder and its affiliates (other than shares of
Common Stock which may be deemed beneficially owned through the ownership of the
unexercised  Warrants  and  unconverted  shares of Series A Preferred  Stock (as
defined in the Securities  Purchase  Agreement) and (ii) the number of shares of
Common Stock  issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (or portions  thereof) with
respect to which the determination  described herein is being made, would result
in  beneficial  ownership by the Holder and its  affiliates of more than 4.9% of
the  outstanding  shares  of  Common  Stock.  For  purposes  of the  immediately
preceding sentence,  (a) beneficial  ownership shall be determined in accordance
with  Section  13(d) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended,  and
Regulation 13D-G thereunder,  except as otherwise  provided in clause (i) hereof
and (b) the holder of this Warrant may waive the  limitations  set forth therein
by written  notice to the Company upon not less than  sixty-one  (61) days prior
notice (with such waiver taking  effect only upon the  expiration of such 61-day
notice period).

         2. Period of Exercise.  This Warrant is exercisable at any time or from
time to time on or after the date on which this Warrant is issued and  delivered
pursuant to the terms of the Finder  Agreement  and before  5:00 p.m.,  New York
City time on the third (3rd)  anniversary of the date of issuance (the "Exercise
Period").

         3. Certain Agreements of the Company.  The Company hereby covenants and
agrees as follows:

          (a) Shares to be Fully Paid. All Warrant Shares will, upon issuance in
     accordance with the terms of this Warrant,  be validly issued,  fully paid,
     and nonassessable and free from all taxes,  liens,  -----------------------
     and charges with respect to the issue thereof.

          (b)  Reservation of Shares.  During the Exercise  Period,  the Company
     shall at all  times  have  authorized,  and  reserved  for the  purpose  of
     issuance   upon   exercise   of   this   Warrant,   a   sufficient   number
     --------------------- of shares of Common Stock to provide for the exercise
     of this Warrant.

                  (c) Listing.  The Company shall promptly secure the listing of
the shares of Common  Stock  issuable  upon  exercise of the  Warrant  upon each
national  securities  exchange or automated quotation system, if any, upon which
shares of Common Stock are then listed  (subject to official  notice of issuance
upon exercise of this Warrant) and shall  maintain,  so long as any other shares
of Common  Stock shall be so listed,  such listing of all shares of Common Stock
from time to time issuable  upon the exercise of this  Warrant;  and the Company
shall  so list on each  national  securities  exchange  or  automated  quotation
system, as the case may be, and shall maintain such listing of, any other shares
of capital  stock of the Company  issuable  upon the exercise of this Warrant if
and so long as any  shares of the same  class  shall be listed on such  national
securities exchange or automated quotation system.

                  (d)  Certain  Actions  Prohibited.  The  Company  will not, by
amendment  of its  charter or through  any  reorganization,  transfer of assets,
consolidation,  merger,  dissolution,  issue or sale of securities, or any other
voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of
the terms to be observed or performed by it hereunder,  but will at all times in
good faith assist in the carrying out of all the  provisions of this Warrant and
in the taking of all such action as may reasonably be requested by the holder of
this  Warrant in order to protect the  exercise  privilege of the holder of this
Warrant  against  dilution or other  impairment,  consistent  with the tenor and
purpose of this Warrant.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,  the
Company  (i) will not  increase  the par value of any  shares  of  Common  Stock
receivable  upon the exercise of this Warrant  above the Exercise  Price then in
effect,  and (ii) will take all such actions as may be necessary or  appropriate
in  order  that the  Company  may  validly  and  legally  issue  fully  paid and
nonassessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant.

          (e)  Successors  and  Assigns.  This  Warrant will be binding upon any
     entity succeeding to the Company by merger,  consolidation,  or acquisition
     of all or substantially all the Company's assets. ----------------------

          4.   Antidilution Provisions. During the Exercise Period, the Exercise
               Price and the  number  of  Warrant  Shares  shall be  subject  to
               adjustment from time to time as provided in this Paragraph 4.
               -----------------------
         In the event that any  adjustment  of the  Exercise  Price as  required
herein results in a fraction of a cent,  such Exercise Price shall be rounded up
to the nearest cent.

                  (a)  Adjustment  of  Exercise  Price and Number of Shares upon
Issuance of Common Stock.  Except as otherwise  provided in Paragraphs  4(c) and
4(e) hereof,  if and whenever on or after the date of issuance of this  Warrant,
the Company  issues or sells,  or in accordance  with  Paragraph  4(b) hereof is
deemed to have issued or sold,  any shares of Common Stock for no  consideration
or for a  consideration  per share (before  deduction of reasonable  expenses or
commissions  or  underwriting  discounts or allowances in connection  therewith)
less than the Market Price (as  hereinafter  defined) on the date of issuance (a
"Dilutive Issuance"),  then immediately upon the Dilutive Issuance, the Exercise
Price will be reduced to a price determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in
effect  immediately  prior  to the  Dilutive  Issuance  by a  fraction,  (i) the
numerator  of which is an amount equal to the sum of (x) the number of shares of
Common Stock actually  outstanding  immediately prior to the Dilutive  Issuance,
plus (y) the quotient of the aggregate consideration, calculated as set forth in
Paragraph  4(b)  hereof,  received by the Company  upon such  Dilutive  Issuance
divided  by the  Market  Price  in  effect  immediately  prior  to the  Dilutive
Issuance,  and (ii) the  denominator  of which is the total  number of shares of
Common  Stock  Deemed  Outstanding  (as  defined  below)  immediately  after the
Dilutive Issuance.

          (b)  Effect on  Exercise  Price of Certain  Events.  For  purposes  of
     determining the adjusted  Exercise Price under  Paragraph 4(a) hereof,  the
     following will be applicable: ------------------------------------------
          (i)  Issuance  of Rights or  Options.  If the  Company  in any  manner
               issues or grants any warrants,  rights or options, whether or not
               immediately exercisable, to subscribe for or to
               -----------------------------
purchase Common Stock or other  securities  convertible into or exchangeable for
Common Stock  ("Convertible  Securities") (such warrants,  rights and options to
purchase Common Stock or Convertible  Securities are hereinafter  referred to as
"Options")  and the price per share for which Common Stock is issuable  upon the
exercise of such  Options is less than the Market  Price on the date of issuance
or grant of such  Options,  then the  maximum  total  number of shares of Common
Stock issuable upon the exercise of all such Options will, as of the date of the
issuance or grant of such Options,  be deemed to be outstanding and to have been
issued and sold by the  Company  for such price per share.  For  purposes of the
preceding sentence, the "price per share for which Common Stock is issuable upon
the exercise of such Options" is determined by dividing (i) the total amount, if
any,  received or receivable by the Company as consideration for the issuance or
granting of all such Options,  plus the minimum  aggregate  amount of additional
consideration,  if any,  payable to the  Company  upon the  exercise of all such
Options,  plus, in the case of Convertible Securities issuable upon the exercise
of such  Options,  the  minimum  aggregate  amount of  additional  consideration
payable upon the  conversion  or exchange  thereof at the time such  Convertible
Securities first become  convertible or exchangeable,  by (ii) the maximum total
number of shares of Common Stock  issuable upon the exercise of all such Options
(assuming full conversion of Convertible Securities, if applicable).  No further
adjustment to the Exercise  Price will be made upon the actual  issuance of such
Common  Stock  upon the  exercise  of such  Options  or upon the  conversion  or
exchange of Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of such Options.

          (ii) Issuance of Convertible Securities.  If the Company in any manner
     issues or sells any  Convertible  Securities,  whether  or not  immediately
     convertible       (other       than       where      the      same      are
     ----------------------------------  issuable  upon the exercise of Options)
     and the  price  per share for  which  Common  Stock is  issuable  upon such
     conversion  or  exchange  is less  than  the  Market  Price  on the date of
     issuance,  then the maximum total number of shares of Common Stock issuable
     upon the conversion or exchange of all such Convertible Securities will, as
     of the date of the issuance of such Convertible Securities, be deemed to be
     outstanding  and to have been issued and sold by the Company for such price
     per share. For the purposes of the preceding sentence, the "price per share
     for which Common  Stock is issuable  upon such  conversion  or exchange" is
     determined by dividing (i) the total amount, if any, received or receivable
     by the  Company  as  consideration  for the  issuance  or sale of all  such
     Convertible  Securities,  plus the minimum  aggregate  amount of additional
     consideration,  if any,  payable  to the  Company  upon the  conversion  or
     exchange  thereof  at the time such  Convertible  Securities  first  become
     convertible or exchangeable,  by (ii) the maximum total number of shares of
     Common  Stock  issuable  upon  the  conversion  or  exchange  of  all  such
     Convertible Securities. No further adjustment to the Exercise Price will be
     made upon the actual  issuance  of such  Common  Stock upon  conversion  or
     exchange of such Convertible Securities.

          (iii) Change in Option Price or Conversion  Rate. If there is a change
     at any time in (i) the amount of  additional  consideration  payable to the
     Company       upon      the       exercise       of      any       Options;
     -----------------------------------------  (ii) the  amount  of  additional
     consideration,  if any,  payable  to the  Company  upon the  conversion  or
     exchange  of any  Convertible  Securities;  or (iii)  the rate at which any
     Convertible  Securities are  convertible  into or  exchangeable  for Common
     Stock  (other  than under or by reason of  provisions  designed  to protect
     against dilution),  the Exercise Price in effect at the time of such change
     will be readjusted to the Exercise Price which would have been in effect at
     such time had such  Options or  Convertible  Securities  still  outstanding
     provided for such changed  additional  consideration or changed  conversion
     rate, as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or sold.

          (iv)  Treatment  of  Expired  Options  and   Unexercised   Convertible
     Securities.  If, in any case,  the total  number of shares of Common  Stock
     issuable      upon      exercise      of     any     Option     or     upon
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     conversion  or  exchange  of any  Convertible  Securities  is not, in fact,
     issued and the rights to  exercise  such  Option or to convert or  exchange
     such Convertible Securities shall have expired or terminated,  the Exercise
     Price then in effect will be readjusted  to the Exercise  Price which would
     have been in effect at the time of such  expiration or termination had such
     Option or Convertible  Securities,  to the extent  outstanding  immediately
     prior to such  expiration  or  termination  (other  than in  respect of the
     actual  number of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise or conversion
     thereof), never been issued.

          (v)  Calculation  of  Consideration  Received.  If any  Common  Stock,
     Options or Convertible Securities are issued, granted or sold for cash, the
     consideration received therefor for ---------------------------------------
     purposes  of  this  Warrant  will be the  amount  received  by the  Company
     therefor,   before  deduction  of  reasonable   commissions,   underwriting
     discounts or  allowances or other  reasonable  expenses paid or incurred by
     the Company in connection  with such  issuance,  grant or sale. In case any
     Common Stock,  Options or  Convertible  Securities are issued or sold for a
     consideration  part or all of which shall be other than cash, the amount of
     the consideration  other than cash received by the Company will be the fair
     value of such  consideration,  except where such consideration  consists of
     securities,  in which  case the  amount of  consideration  received  by the
     Company will be the Market Price thereof as of the date of receipt. In case
     any  Common  Stock,  Options  or  Convertible   Securities  are  issued  in
     connection  with any  acquisition,  merger  or  consolidation  in which the
     Company is the surviving corporation,  the amount of consideration therefor
     will be deemed to be the fair  value of such  portion of the net assets and
     business of the non-surviving corporation as is attributable to such Common
     Stock,  Options  or  Convertible  Securities,  as the case may be. The fair
     value of any consideration other than cash or securities will be determined
     in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company.
          (vi)  Exceptions to Adjustment of Exercise Price. No adjustment to the
     Exercise Price will be made (i) upon the exercise of any warrants,  options
     or              convertible               securities               granted,
     -------------------------------------------  issued and  outstanding on the
     date  of  issuance  of  this  Warrant  or  issued  pursuant  to the  Finder
     Agreement;  (ii) upon the grant or exercise  of any stock or options  which
     may  hereafter be granted or exercised  under any employee  benefit plan of
     the Company now existing or to be implemented in the future, so long as the
     issuance  of such  stock  or  options  is  approved  by a  majority  of the
     independent  members of the Board of Directors of the Company or a majority
     of the members of a committee of independent directors established for such
     purpose; or (iii) upon the exercise of the Warrants.
                  (c) Subdivision or Combination of Common Stock. If the Company
at any time subdivides (by any stock split,  stock  dividend,  recapitalization,
reorganization,  reclassification  or  otherwise)  the  shares of  Common  Stock
acquirable  hereunder into a greater number of shares,  then,  after the date of
record for effecting such subdivision,  the Exercise Price in effect immediately
prior to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced. If the Company at any
time  combines  (by  reverse  stock  split,  recapitalization,   reorganization,
reclassification  or otherwise) the shares of Common Stock acquirable  hereunder
into a smaller  number of shares,  then,  after the date of record for effecting
such  combination,  the  Exercise  Price  in  effect  immediately  prior to such
combination will be proportionately increased.

                  (d)  Adjustment in Number of Shares.  Upon each  adjustment of
the Exercise Price pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph 4, the number of
shares of Common Stock  issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted
by multiplying a number equal to the Exercise Price in effect  immediately prior
to such  adjustment  by the  number  of shares of  Common  Stock  issuable  upon
exercise of this Warrant  immediately  prior to such adjustment and dividing the
product so obtained by the adjusted Exercise Price.

                  (e)   Consolidation,   Merger   or   Sale.   In  case  of  any
consolidation  of the  Company  with,  or merger of the  Company  into any other
corporation, or in case of any sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of
the assets of the  Company  other  than in  connection  with a plan of  complete
liquidation of the Company, then as a condition of such consolidation, merger or
sale or conveyance,  adequate  provision will be made whereby the holder of this
Warrant will have the right to acquire and receive upon exercise of this Warrant
in lieu of the shares of Common Stock  immediately  theretofore  acquirable upon
the exercise of this Warrant, such shares of stock,  securities or assets as may
be issued or payable  with respect to or in exchange for the number of shares of
Common Stock immediately  theretofore acquirable and receivable upon exercise of
this  Warrant had such  consolidation,  merger or sale or  conveyance  not taken
place. In any such case, the Company will make  appropriate  provision to insure
that the provisions of this Paragraph 4 hereof will  thereafter be applicable as
nearly as may be in  relation  to any shares of stock or  securities  thereafter
deliverable  upon the exercise of this Warrant.  The Company will not effect any
consolidation,  merger or sale or  conveyance  unless prior to the  consummation
thereof,  the  successor  corporation  (if other  than the  Company)  assumes by
written instrument the obligations under this Paragraph 4 and the obligations to
deliver to the holder of this Warrant such shares of stock, securities or assets
as, in accordance with the foregoing  provisions,  the holder may be entitled to
acquire.

                  (f) Distribution of Assets.  In case the Company shall declare
or make any  distribution  of its assets  (including  cash) to holders of Common
Stock  as a  partial  liquidating  dividend,  by way of  return  of  capital  or
otherwise,  then, after the date of record for determining stockholders entitled
to such distribution,  but prior to the date of distribution, the holder of this
Warrant  shall be entitled upon exercise of this Warrant for the purchase of any
or all of the shares of Common Stock  subject  hereto,  to receive the amount of
such assets which would have been payable to the holder had such holder been the
holder of such shares of Common  Stock on the record date for the  determination
of stockholders entitled to such distribution.

                  (g) Notice of  Adjustment.  Upon the  occurrence  of any event
which  requires any  adjustment of the Exercise  Price,  then,  and in each such
case, the Company shall give notice thereof to the holder of this Warrant, which
notice shall state the Exercise  Price  resulting  from such  adjustment and the
increase or decrease in the number of Warrant  Shares  purchasable at such price
upon exercise,  setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and
the facts  upon which  such  calculation  is based.  Such  calculation  shall be
certified by the chief financial officer of the Company.

                  (h) Minimum Adjustment of Exercise Price. No adjustment of the
Exercise  Price shall be made in an amount of less than 1% of the Exercise Price
in effect at the time such adjustment is otherwise  required to be made, but any
such lesser  adjustment  shall be carried  forward and shall be made at the time
and  together  with the next  subsequent  adjustment  which,  together  with any
adjustments  so  carried  forward,  shall  amount  to not  less  than 1% of such
Exercise Price.

                  (i) No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock
are to be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant,  but the Company shall pay a
cash  adjustment  in respect of any  fractional  share which would  otherwise be
issuable in an amount equal to the same  fraction of the Market Price of a share
of Common Stock on the date of such exercise.

                  (j) Other Notices. In case at any time:

          (i)  the Company  shall  declare any  dividend  upon the Common  Stock
               payable  in  shares  of  stock of any  class  or make  any  other
               distribution  (including  dividends or  distributions  payable in
               cash out of  retained  earnings)  to the  holders  of the  Common
               Stock;

          (ii) the Company shall offer for  subscription pro rata to the holders
               of the Common Stock any  additional  shares of stock of any class
               or other rights;

          (iii)there  shall be any capital  reorganization  of the  Company,  or
               reclassification  of the Common Stock, or consolidation or merger
               of the Company with or into, or sale of all or substantially  all
               its assets to, another corporation or entity; or

          (iv) there  shall  be  a   voluntary   or   involuntary   dissolution,
               liquidation or winding-up of the Company;
then,  in each such case,  the Company  shall give to the holder of this Warrant
(a) notice of the date on which the books of the Company shall close or a record
shall be taken for  determining  the holders of Common Stock entitled to receive
any such dividend,  distribution,  or subscription rights or for determining the
holders of Common Stock entitled to vote in respect of any such  reorganization,
reclassification,  consolidation,  merger,  sale,  dissolution,  liquidation  or
winding-up  and (b) in the  case of any such  reorganization,  reclassification,
consolidation,  merger, sale, dissolution,  liquidation or winding-up, notice of
the date (or,  if not then  known,  a  reasonable  approximation  thereof by the
Company) when the same shall take place. Such notice shall also specify the date
on which the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividend,
distribution, or subscription rights or to exchange their Common Stock for stock
or  other  securities  or  property   deliverable   upon  such   reorganization,
reclassification,  consolidation,  merger, sale,  dissolution,  liquidation,  or
winding-up,  as the case  may be.  Such  notice  shall be given at least 30 days
prior to the record date or the date on which the Company's  books are closed in
respect thereto. Failure to give any such notice or any defect therein shall not
affect the validity of the proceedings  referred to in clauses (i), (ii),  (iii)
and (iv) above.

                  (k)  Certain   Events.   If  any  event  occurs  of  the  type
contemplated by the adjustment  provisions of this Paragraph 4 but not expressly
provided for by such  provisions,  the Company will give notice of such event as
provided in Paragraph  4(g) hereof,  and the Company's  Board of Directors  will
make an appropriate adjustment in the Exercise Price and the number of shares of
Common Stock  acquirable upon exercise of this Warrant so that the rights of the
Holder shall be neither enhanced nor diminished by such event.

                  (l)      Certain Definitions.

          (i)  "Common Stock Deemed Outstanding" shall mean the number of shares
               of Common Stock actually  outstanding  (not  including  shares of
               Common   Stock   held   in  the   treasury   of   the   Company),
               --------------------------------  plus (x)  pursuant to Paragraph
               4(b)(i)  hereof,  the  maximum  total  number of shares of Common
               Stock  issuable  upon the exercise of Options,  as of the date of
               such issuance or grant of such Options,  if any, and (y) pursuant
               to Paragraph  4(b)(ii) hereof, the maximum total number of shares
               of  Common  Stock   issuable  upon   conversion  or  exchange  of
               Convertible  Securities,  as of the  date  of  issuance  of  such
               Convertible Securities, if any.

          (ii) AMarket Price,@ as of any date, (i) means the average of the last
               reported  sale  prices  for the  shares  of  Common  Stock on the
               American   Stock   Exchange   (the   "AMEX")  for  the  five  (5)
               -------------  trading days  immediately  preceding  such date as
               reported by Bloomberg, L.P. ("Bloomberg"), or (ii) if the AMEX is
               not the principal  trading market for the shares of Common Stock,
               the average of the last  reported  sale  prices on the  principal
               trading  market for the Common  Stock  during the same  period as
               reported  by  Bloomberg,  or  (iii) if  market  value  cannot  be
               calculated  as of such date on any of the  foregoing  bases,  the
               Market  Price  shall  be the  fair  market  value  as  reasonably
               determined  in good  faith by (a) the Board of  Directors  of the
               Corporation  or, at the option of a  majority-in-interest  of the
               holders  of  the  outstanding  Warrants  by  (b)  an  independent
               investment  bank  of  nationally   recognized   standing  in  the
               valuation   of   businesses   similar  to  the  business  of  the
               corporation.  The manner of  determining  the Market Price of the
               Common Stock set forth in the  foregoing  definition  shall apply
               with  respect  to any  other  security  in  respect  of  which  a
               determination as to market value must be made hereunder.

          (iii)"Common  Stock," for purposes of this  Paragraph 4,  includes the
               Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, and any additional class
               of  stock   of  the   Company   having   no   preference   as  to
               -----------dividends  or distributions  on liquidation,  provided
               that  the  shares  purchasable  pursuant  to this  Warrant  shall
               include only shares of Common  Stock,  par value $.001 per share,
               in  respect  of which  this  Warrant  is  exercisable,  or shares
               resulting  from any  subdivision  or  combination  of such Common
               Stock,  or in the case of any  reorganization,  reclassification,
               consolidation,  merger,  or sale of the character  referred to in
               Paragraph 4(e) hereof,  the stock or other securities or property
               provided for in such Paragraph.
         5. Issue Tax. The issuance of certificates  for Warrant Shares upon the
exercise  of this  Warrant  shall be made  without  charge to the holder of this
Warrant or such shares for any issuance  tax or other costs in respect  thereof,
provided  that the  Company  shall not be  required  to pay any tax which may be
payable in respect of any transfer  involved in the issuance and delivery of any
certificate in a name other than the holder of this Warrant.

         6. No Rights or Liabilities  as a  Shareholder.  This Warrant shall not
entitle the holder  hereof to any voting rights or other rights as a shareholder
of the  Company.  No provision of this  Warrant,  in the absence of  affirmative
action by the holder hereof to purchase Warrant Shares,  and no mere enumeration
herein of the rights or privileges of the holder hereof,  shall give rise to any
liability  of such  holder for the  Exercise  Price or as a  shareholder  of the
Company,  whether  such  liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of
the Company.

         7.       Transfer, Exchange, and Replacement of Warrant.

                  (a)  Restriction  on  Transfer.  This  Warrant  and the rights
granted  to the  holder  hereof  are  transferable,  in whole  or in part,  upon
surrender of this Warrant,  together with a properly executed  assignment in the
form  attached  hereto,  at the office or agency of the  Company  referred to in
Paragraph 7(e) below,  provided,  however, that any transfer or assignment shall
be subject  to the  conditions  set forth in  Paragraph  7(f)  hereof and to the
applicable  provisions  of the  Finder  Agreement.  Until  due  presentment  for
registration of transfer on the books of the Company,  the Company may treat the
registered  holder hereof as the owner and holder  hereof for all purposes,  and
the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the registration  rights described in
Paragraph 8 are not assignable.

                  (b) Warrant  Exchangeable  for Different  Denominations.  This
Warrant is  exchangeable,  upon the surrender hereof by the holder hereof at the
office or agency of the Company  referred to in  Paragraph  7(e) below,  for new
Warrants of like tenor  representing  in the aggregate the right to purchase the
number of shares of Common Stock which may be purchased hereunder,  each of such
new Warrants to represent  the right to purchase  such number of shares as shall
be designated by the holder hereof at the time of such surrender.

                  (c)   Replacement   of  Warrant.   Upon  receipt  of  evidence
reasonably  satisfactory  to the  Company of the loss,  theft,  destruction,  or
mutilation  of this  Warrant  and,  in the  case of any  such  loss,  theft,  or
destruction,  upon delivery of an indemnity agreement reasonably satisfactory in
form and amount to the Company  (including  the posting of a bond, if reasonably
requested  by the  Company),  or,  in the  case  of any  such  mutilation,  upon
surrender and cancellation of this Warrant,  the Company,  at its expense,  will
execute and deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Warrant of like tenor.

                  (d) Cancellation;  Payment of Expenses.  Upon the surrender of
this Warrant in  connection  with any  transfer,  exchange,  or  replacement  as
provided in this  Paragraph  7, this Warrant  shall be promptly  canceled by the
Company.  The Company shall pay all taxes (other than securities transfer taxes)
and all other  expenses  (other  than legal  expenses,  if any,  incurred by the
Holder or transferees or any expenses incurred in connection with the posting of
a bond pursuant to Paragraph 7(c) above) and charges  payable in connection with
the preparation,  execution, and delivery of Warrants pursuant to this Paragraph
7.

                  (e)  Register.  The Company shall  maintain,  at its principal
executive  offices  (or such  other  office or agency of the  Company  as it may
designate by notice to the holder hereof), a register for this Warrant, in which
the Company  shall  record the name and address of the person in whose name this
Warrant has been issued,  as well as the name and address of each transferee and
each prior owner of this Warrant.

                  (f) Exercise or Transfer Without Registration. If, at the time
of the surrender of this Warrant in connection with any exercise,  transfer,  or
exchange of this  Warrant,  this Warrant (or, in the case of any  exercise,  the
Warrant Shares issuable hereunder), shall not be registered under the Securities
Act of 1933,  as  amended  (the  "Securities  Act") and under  applicable  state
securities or blue sky laws, the Company may require, as a condition of allowing
such exercise,  transfer, or exchange, (i) that the holder or transferee of this
Warrant,  as the case may be,  furnish  to the  Company  a  written  opinion  of
counsel,  which opinion and counsel are acceptable to the Company, to the effect
that such exercise, transfer, or exchange may be made without registration under
said Act and under  applicable  state securities or blue sky laws, (ii) that the
holder or transferee  execute and deliver to the Company an investment letter in
form and substance acceptable to the Company and (iii) that the transferee be an
Aaccredited investor@ as defined in Rule 501(a) promulgated under the Securities
Act; provided that no such opinion, letter or status as an Aaccredited investor@
shall be required in connection  with a transfer  pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Securities  Act.  The first  holder of this  Warrant,  by taking and holding the
same,  represents to the Company that such holder is acquiring  this Warrant for
investment and not with a view to the distribution thereof.

          8.   Registration  Rights.  The  initial  holder  of this  Warrant  is
               entitled to the benefit of such registration rights in respect of
               the Warrant Shares as are set forth in the Finder Agreement.
               -------------------
         9. Notices. All notices, requests, and other communications required or
permitted to be given or delivered hereunder to the holder of this Warrant shall
be in writing, and shall be personally delivered,  or shall be sent by certified
or registered mail or by recognized overnight mail courier,  postage prepaid and
addressed,  to such holder at the address  shown for such holder on the books of
the  Company,  or at such  other  address as shall  have been  furnished  to the
Company  by  notice  from  such  holder.  All  notices,   requests,   and  other
communications  required or permitted to be given or delivered  hereunder to the
Company shall be in writing, and shall be personally delivered, or shall be sent
by certified or registered mail or by recognized overnight mail courier, postage
prepaid and addressed, to the office of the Company at 3201 Airpark Drive, Suite
201, Santa Maria,  California 93455,  Attention:  Chief Executive Officer, or at
such other address as shall have been furnished to the holder of this Warrant by
notice from the Company. Any such notice, request, or other communication may be
sent by facsimile, but shall in such case be subsequently confirmed by a writing
personally  delivered or sent by certified or  registered  mail or by recognized
overnight  mail  courier as provided  above.  All notices,  requests,  and other
communications  shall be  deemed to have  been  given  either at the time of the
receipt  thereof by the person entitled to receive such notice at the address of
such person for  purposes of this  Paragraph 9, or, if mailed by  registered  or
certified mail or with a recognized overnight mail courier upon deposit with the
United States Post Office or such overnight mail courier,  if postage is prepaid
and the mailing is properly addressed, as the case may be.

          10.  Governing  Law.  THIS WARRANT  SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
               AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF
               DELAWARE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE BODY OF LAW CONTROLLING  CONFLICTS
               OF ------------- LAW.

         11.      Miscellaneous.

          (a)  Amendments.  This  Warrant and any  provision  hereof may only be
               amended by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the
               holder hereof. ----------

          (b)  Descriptive  Headings.  The  descriptive  headings of the several
               paragraphs of this Warrant are inserted for purposes of reference
               only,  and  shall not  affect  the  meaning  or  construction  of
               --------------------- any of the provisions hereof.
                  (c)  Cashless  Exercise.   Notwithstanding   anything  to  the
contrary  contained in this Warrant,  if the resale of the Warrant Shares by the
holder is not then registered  pursuant to an effective  registration  statement
under the  Securities  Act,  this Warrant may be exercised by  presentation  and
surrender of this Warrant to the Company at its principal executive offices with
a written  notice of the  holder=s  intention  to  effect a  cashless  exercise,
including  a  calculation  of the number of shares of Common  Stock to be issued
upon such exercise in accordance with the terms hereof (a ACashless  Exercise@).
In the event of a Cashless  Exercise,  in lieu of paying the  Exercise  Price in
cash,  the holder  shall  surrender  this  Warrant  for that number of shares of
Common Stock  determined by multiplying the number of Warrant Shares to which it
would  otherwise be entitled by a fraction,  the numerator of which shall be the
difference  between the then current  Market Price per share of the Common Stock
and the Exercise  Price,  and the denominator of which shall be the then current
Market Price per share of Common Stock.






                                    [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]







         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be signed by
its duly authorized officer.

SABA PETROLEUM COMPANY


By: ________________________________
Ilyas Chaudhary
Chief Executive Officer



Dated as of December 31, 1997









                                             FORM OF EXERCISE AGREEMENT


Dated: ________, ____.


To:_____________________________


         The  undersigned,  pursuant to the  provisions  set forth in the within
Warrant,  hereby agrees to purchase  ________  shares of Common Stock covered by
such Warrant, and makes payment herewith in full therefor at the price per share
provided by such Warrant in cash or by  certified or official  bank check in the
amount of,  or, if the resale of such  Common  Stock by the  undersigned  is not
currently registered pursuant to an effective  registration  statement under the
Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  by surrender of  securities  issued by the
Company  (including a portion of the Warrant) having a market value (in the case
of a portion of this Warrant, determined in accordance with Section 11(c) of the
Warrant) equal to $_________.  Please issue a certificate  or  certificates  for
such shares of Common  Stock in the name of and pay any cash for any  fractional
share to:


Name: ___________________________________

Signature: ________________________________
Address: ________________________________
- - --------------------------------


          Note: The above signature should  correspond  exactly with the name on
     the face of the within  Warrant.  and,  if said  number of shares of Common
     Stock shall not be all the shares  purchasable under the within Warrant,  a
     new Warrant is to be issued in the name of said  undersigned  covering  the
     balance of the shares  purchasable  thereunder less any fraction of a share
     paid in cash.






                                                 FORM OF ASSIGNMENT


          FOR  VALUE  RECEIVED,  the  undersigned  hereby  sells,  assigns,  and
     transfers all the rights of the undersigned under the within Warrant,  with
     respect to the number of shares of Common Stock  covered  thereby set forth
     hereinbelow, to:

                                                                         

Name of Assignee                    Address                                     No of Shares





     ,  and  hereby   irrevocably   constitutes   and  appoints   ______________
     ________________________  as agent and  attorney-in-fact  to transfer  said
     Warrant on the books of the  within-named  corporation,  with full power of
     substitution in the premises.

Dated: _____________________, ____,

In the presence of

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

Name: ___________________________________


Signature: _________________________
Title of Signing Officer or Agent (if any):
- - -----------------------------------
Address: ___________________________
- - ---------------------------


     Note: The above signature  should  correspond  exactly with the name on the
     face of the within Warrant.