SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934




       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 5, 2005





                            IMPERIAL PETROLEUM, INC.

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




         NEVADA                   0-9923                          95-338601
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (State or other          (Commission File No.)             (I.R.S. Employer
   jurisdiction of                                          Identification No.)
   incorporation)




329 MAIN STREET, SUITE 801, EVANSVILLE, IN                          47708
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip Code)




Registrant's telephone number, including area code:    (812) - 867-1433







Certain  statements  set forth in this Form 8-K and other  reports  filed by the
Registrant from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange  Commission relate
to   management's   future  plans  and  objectives   and  such   statements  are
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933,  as  amended,  and Section 21E of the  Securities  Act of 1934,  as
amended.  Although any forward looking statements  contained in this Form 8-K or
otherwise  expressed on behalf of the Company are, to the  knowledge  and in the
judgment of the officers and directors of the Company, expected to prove to come
true and to come to pass,  management  is not able to predict  the  future  with
absolute  certainty.  Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks
and uncertainties which may cause the Company's actual performance and financial
results in future periods to differ materially from any projection,  estimate or






forecasted result.  These risks and uncertainties  include,  among other things,
volatility of commodity  prices,  changes in interest  rates and capital  market
conditions, competition, risks inherent in the Company's operations, the inexact
nature  of  interpretation   of  seismic  and  other  geological,   geophysical,
petro-physical  and  geo-chemical  data,  the  imprecise  nature  of  estimating
reserves, events that deprive the Company of the services of its Chairman of the
Board, Chief Executive Officer and largest shareholder, and such other risks and
uncertainties  as described from time to time in the Company's  periodic reports
and  filings  with  the   Securities   and  Exchange   Commission.   Accordingly
stockholders  and  potential  investors  are  cautioned  that certain  events or
circumstances  could  cause  actual  results  to differ  materially  from  those
projected,  estimated  or  predicted.  The  Company  does not  intend  to update
forward-looking  statements.  You  should  refer  to and  carefully  review  the
information  in  future  documents  we file  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission.

ITEM 1.01. Execution of a Material Definitive Agreement:

The Registrant  entered into a Forbearance  Agreement and Amendment Number Three
To Consolidated and Restated Credit Agreement  ("Agreement")  dated November 30,
2005 with its senior lender in connection  with its Revolving  Credit  Facility.
Under the terms of the  Agreement,  the  Company is  obligated  to (1.) engage a
financial  advisor for the purpose of  restructuring  its senior financing on or
before December 9, 2005 and (2.) complete a restructuring  and the retirement of
its senior debt with its present  lender on our before  February 28,  2006.  The
Company agreed to pay its senior lender a fee of $500,000 in connection with the
Agreement.  The proceeds from any asset sales  completed  during the term of the
Agreement are to be used to retire debt.

Attached as Exhibit 99 is a copy of the Agreement.

ITEM 9.01   Financial Statements and Exhibits:

     99.  Forbearance  Agreement and Amendment  Number Three To Consolidated and
Restated Credit Agreement.


                                    SIGNATURE


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


          Imperial Petroleum, Inc.


      By: ___________________


      Jeffrey T. Wilson, President




      Dated:  December 5, 2005




Exhibit 99.

                                                             EXECUTION COPY



               FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT AND AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE TO
               CONSOLIDATED AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

     This  Forbearance  Agreement  and  Amendment  Number Three to  Consolidated
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (this  "Agreement") is made as of the 29th
of November, `2005, by and among IMPERIAL PETROLEUM,  INC., a Nevada corporation
(the "Borrower"), the Subsidiaries of Borrower identified on the signature pages
hereof,  the lenders  identified on the signature pages hereof (the  "Lenders"),
D.B. ZWIRN SPECIAL  OPPORTUNITIES  FUND, L.P., a Delaware  limited  partnership,
formerly known as Highbridge/Zwim  Special  Opportunities Fund, L.P. ("DBZ"), as
collateral agent for the Lenders (in such capacity,  together with any successor
collateral agent, the "Collateral  Agent"), and DBZ, as administrative agent for
the Lenders (in such capacity, together with any successor administrative agent,
the  "Administrative  Agent" and together  with the  Collateral  Agent,  each an
"Agent" and collectively, the "Agents").

                                   WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, Borrower,  Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, and the Lenders
are parties to that certain  Consolidated Amended and Restated Credit Agreement,
dated as of January 15, 2004 (as amended,  restated,  supplemented  or otherwise
modified  from time to time,  the  "Credit  Agreement"),  pursuant  to which the
Lenders  have made  certain  loans and  financial  accommodations  available  to
Borrower; capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement;

     WHEREAS,  the  following  unwaived  Events of Default have occurred and are
continuing  under the Credit Agreement or Borrower has informed the Lender Group
that such Events of Default will occur (the "Existing Events of Default"):

     a.   Borrower  failed,  on or before July 31, 2005, to complete each of its
          public  filings  which were required to be filed on or before the date
          of the Second Amendment, as was required by Section 4(a) of the Second
          Amendment;

     b.   Borrower failed,  on or before August 31, 2005, to have (i) received a
          cash equity infusion in an amount not less than  $5,000,000,  and (ii)
          consummated a corporate  restructuring  transaction pursuant to which,
          among other  things,  Borrower or its  successor  acquires  additional
          Proved  Reserves  which  result  in  a  significant  increase  in  the
          Borrowing Base, which restructuring transaction is satisfactory to the
          Agents and the Lenders in their sole and absolute discretion,  in each
          case of clauses  (i) and (ii),  as  required  by  Section  4(b) of the
          Second Amendment;






     c.   Borrower has failed to comply with the  reporting  covenants set forth
          in Section  7.01(a)(iv) of the Credit  Agreement for the fiscal period
          ending on July 31,  2005;  and

     d.   Borrower has failed to comply with each of the financial covenants set
          forth in Section 7.03 of the Credit  Agreement  for the fiscal  period
          ending on July 31, 2005 and has  indicated to the Lender Group that it
          will fail to comply with each of the financial  covenants set forth in
          Section 7.03 of the Credit  Agreement  for the fiscal period ending on
          October 31, 2005;

     WHEREAS,  Borrower has requested  that the Agents and Lenders  forbear from
exercising  remedies with respect to the Existing Events of Default as set forth
herein;

     WHEREAS,  on and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein,  the
Agents and Lenders have agreed to forbear from exercising  remedies with respect
to the Existing Events of Default and amend the Credit Agreement.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the terms
and conditions contained herein and other good and valuable  consideration,  the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby  acknowledged,  the parties agree as
follows:

     1. Acknowledgment of Defaults and Forbearance. The Loan Parties acknowledge
and  agree  that (a) the  Existing  Events  of  Default  have  occurred  and are
continuing and (b) upon the  Forbearance  Termination  Date (defined  below) the
forbearance  provided  under this Section 1 shall  terminate  and the Agents and
Lenders  shall have the right to exercise any and all rights and remedies  under
Section 9.01 of the Credit  Agreement or otherwise  under the Loan  Documents or
under  applicable law or at equity due to such Existing Events of Default or any
other  Event of Default  that has  occurred  and is  continuing.  The Agents and
Lenders  hereby  agree as of the date  hereof to  forbear  with  respect  to the
Existing  Events of Default until the earliest of (i) the occurrence of a breach
or default under this  Agreement,  (ii) the  occurrence of a Default or Event of
Default that does not constitute an Existing Event of Default, or (iii) February
28, 2006 (the  "Forbearance  Termination  Date") from  exercising  any rights or
remedies under Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.

     The Loan Parties acknowledge and agree that, if any breach or default under
this Agreement  occurs, or if a Default or Event of Default occurs that does not
constitute an Existing Event of Default, in each case after the date hereof, the
Forbearance  Termination Date shall be deemed to have occurred immediately prior
thereto,  this Agreement  shall  terminate,  and the Agents and Lenders shall be
entitled to (x) terminate all Commitments under the Credit Agreement and declare
all of the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable, whereupon the aggregate
principal of all Loans,  all accrued and unpaid interest  thereon,  all fees and
all  other  amounts  payable  under the  Credit  Agreement  and the  other  Loan
Documents shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand,




protest or further notice of any kind and (y) exercise  immediately their rights
and remedies  under the Loan  Documents and under  applicable  law or at equity.
Each Loan Party hereby further  acknowledges  and agrees that from and after the
Forbearance  Termination  Date,  the  Agents  and  Lenders  shall  be  under  no
obligation  of any kind  whatsoever to forbear from  exercising  any remedies on
account  of the  Existing  Events  of  Defaults  or any other  Event of  Default
(whether similar or dissimilar to the Existing Events of Default).

     The foregoing notwithstanding,  if and to the extent the Agents and Lenders
continue to make  Advances,  notwithstanding  the  occurrence  of any Default or
Event of Default, whether specified herein or otherwise, (a) such Advances shall
be made, issued, caused to be issued, or executed, as applicable, in the Agents'
and  Lenders'  sole and  absolute  discretion,  and (b) no such action  shall be
construed  as (i) a waiver or  forbearance  of any of the Agents'  and  Lenders'
rights,  remedies,  and powers against  Borrower or the  Collateral  (including,
without  limitation,  the  right to  terminate  without  notice,  the  making of
Advances) or (ii) a waiver of any such Default or Event of Default.

     2. Amendments to Credit Agreement. Effective on the date hereof, the Credit
Agreement is amended as follows:

          (a)  The  definition  of "Permitted  Dispositions"  in Section 1.01 is
               hereby  amended by deleting it in its entirety  and  replacing it
               with the following:

     "Permitted Dispositions" means (a) sales or other dispositions of Inventory
to buyers in the ordinary course of business,  provided, that, (i) no Default or
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result  therefrom,  (b)
the use or  transfer  of  money  or Cash  Equivalents  by the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries  in the  ordinary  course  of  business  in a  manner  that  is not
prohibited by the terms of this Agreement or the other Loan  Documents,  (c) the
licensing by the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,  on a  non-exclusive  basis, of
patents,  trademarks,  copyrights, and other intellectual property rights in the
ordinary  course of  business,  and (d) the  granting of leases or  subleases to
other Persons not materially  interfering with the conduct of business of any of
the Loan  Parties."

          (b)  Section  2.05(c)(v)  is  hereby  amended  by  deleting  it in its
               entirety and replacing it with the following:

     "(v)  Concurrent with the receipt of any proceeds of any Disposition by any
Loan Party or its Subsidiaries other than a Permitted Disposition,  the Borrower
shall  prepay the  outstanding  principal  amount of the  Revolving  Loans in an
amount  equal  to 100% of the Net  Cash  Proceeds  received  by such  Person  in
connection  with such  Disposition.  Nothing in this clause (v) shall permit any
Loan Party or any of its  Subsidiaries,  to make a  Disposition  of any property
other than a Permitted Disposition."






3.  Representations  and  Warranties.  Each Loan  Party  hereby  represents  and
warrants in favor of each Agent and each  Lender as follows:

          a.   Such Loan  Party has the  corporate  power and  authority  (a) to
               enter  into this  Agreement  and (b) to do all acts and things as
               are required or contemplated  hereunder to be done,  observed and
               performed by it;

          b.   This  Agreement has been duly  authorized,  validly  executed and
               delivered  by an  authorized  officer  of such  Loan  Party,  and
               constitutes the legal,  valid and binding obligation of such Loan
               Party, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms; and

          c.   The execution and delivery of this  Agreement and  performance by
               such Loan Party under the Credit Agreement,  as amended from time
               to time,  do not and will not  require the consent or approval of
               any  regulatory  authority  or  governmental  authority or agency
               having  jurisdiction  over such Loan Party  which has not already
               been  obtained,  nor  contravene  or  conflict  with the  charter
               documents  of such Loan Party,  or the  provision of any statute,
               judgment,   order,   indenture,    instrument,    agreement,   or
               undertaking, to which such Loan Party is party or by which any of
               its properties are or may become bound.

     4. Acknowledgement.

          a.   Acknowledgement   of   Obligations.   Each  Loan   Party   hereby
               acknowledges,  confirms  and  agrees  that  as of  the  close  of
               business on November  16,  2005,  each Loan Party was jointly and
               severally indebted to the Agents and Lenders for loans,  advances
               and other  financial  accommodations  under the Loan Documents in
               the following amounts:


     Revolving Loans                                   16,055,667.28
     Term Loan (Bank of Oklahoma)                         698,882.82
     Revolver Accrued Interest: November 1-16             105,253.82
     Accrued Interest (Bank of Oklahoma): November 1-16     1,229.89
                                                      --------------
     Total Obligations:                               $16,861.033.81


               All such  Obligations  owing by each  Loan  Party,  in each  case
               together  with  interest  accrued and accruing  thereon,  and all
               fees, costs,  expenses and other charges now or hereafter payable
               by each  such  Loan  Party to each  Agent  and each  Lender,  are
               unconditionally  owing by each Loan  Party to each Agent and each
               Lender,  without  offset,  defense or  counterclaim  of any kind,
               nature or description whatsoever.

          b.   Acknowledgement  of Security  Interests.  Each Loan Party  hereby
               acknowledges,  confirms  and agrees that  Collateral  Agent,  for
               itself  and the  benefit  of Agents  and  Lenders,  has and shall
               continue to have valid,  enforceable and perfected first-priority
               liens upon and security  interests in the  Collateral  granted to




               Collateral  Agent,  for itself  and the  benefit of the Agent and
               Lenders,  pursuant to the Loan Documents or otherwise  granted to
               or held by  Collateral  Agent,  for itself and the benefit of the
               Agents and Lenders.

          c.   Acknowledgment of No Lender  Obligations.  Each Loan Party hereby
               acknowledges,  confirms  and agrees  that as a result of Existing
               Events of Default,  the Agents and Lenders  have no  commitments,
               obligations  or  agreements  to make loans or  advances  or other
               financial accommodations to any Loan Party.

          d.   Binding Effect of Documents. Each Loan Party hereby acknowledges,
               confirms and agrees that: (a) each of the Loan Documents to which
               it is a party has been duly  executed and delivered to the Agents
               and Lenders thereto by such Loan Party, and each is in full force
               and  effect  as of the  Forbearance  Effective  Date (as  defined
               below),  (b) the  agreements  and  obligations of each Loan Party
               contained in such documents and in this Agreement  constitute the
               legal,  valid and  binding  obligations  of such  Loan  Party and
               guaranteed  indebtedness of the Loan Parties other than Borrower,
               enforceable  against  such Loan  Party in  accordance  with their
               respective  terms,  and the Loan Parties have no valid defense to
               the   enforcement  of  the   Obligations   and  such   guaranteed
               indebtedness, and (c) each Agent and each Lender are and shall be
               entitled to the rights, remedies and benefits provided for in the
               Loan Documents and under  applicable law or at equity.

     5. Advice of Counsel. Each Loan Party has had advice of independent counsel
of its own choosing in  negotiations  for and the preparation of this Agreement,
has read this Agreement in full and final form, and has had this Agreement fully
explained to it to its satisfaction.

     6.  Limitations;  No  Other  Amendment.  Except  for  the  forbearance  and
amendments  expressly set forth above,  the text of the Credit Agreement and all
other  existing  Loan  Documents  shall remain  unchanged  and in full force and
effect and each Agent and each Lender  expressly  reserves  the right to require
strict  compliance  with the terms of the  Credit  Agreement  and the other Loan
Documents.  The  forbearance and amendments  contained  herein is limited to the
precise  terms  hereof,  and no Agent nor any Lender is obligated to consider or
consent to any additional request by any Loan Party for any other forbearance or
amendment with respect to the Credit Agreement.

     7. Payment of Costs and Fees.  The Loan Parties shall pay to each Agent and
each Lender all due diligence,  costs, fees,  expenses and charges of every kind
in connection with the preparation,  negotiation, execution and delivery of this
Agreement  and any  documents  and  instruments  relating  hereto.  In  addition
thereto,  the Loan  Parties  agree to  reimburse  each Agent and each  Lender on
demand  for its  costs  arising  out of this  Agreement  and  all  documents  or
instruments  relating  hereto  (which costs may include the fees and expenses of
any attorneys retained by any Agent or any Lender).






     8. Conditions to  Effectiveness  of this Agreement.  This Agreement  (other
than the  amendment  set forth in Section 2 above which shall be effective as of
the date hereof) shall become  effective as of the date when, and only when, the
following  conditions have been satisfied as determined in each Agent's and each
Lender's  sole and absolute  discretion  (the date of such  effectiveness  being
herein called the "Forbearance Effective Date"):

          a.   Agents shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to
               it, duly executed  counterparts  of this Agreement from each Loan
               Party and each Lender on or before November 29, 2005; and

          b.   Borrower shall have paid all fees, costs and expenses incurred in
               connection  with  this  Agreement  and any other  Loan  Documents
               (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses).

     9. Covenants.  As a material  inducement to the execution by the Agents and
the undersigned Lenders of this Agreement,  Borrower hereby agrees that it shall
cause the  repayment  in full of the  Obligations  pursuant  to a  Restructuring
Transaction as set forth in this Section 9. Accordingly,  Borrower hereby agrees
that it shall comply with each of the  following  covenants and that the failure
to comply with any of such  covenants  shall  constitute  an immediate  Event of
Default under the Credit  Agreement and further result in the termination of the
forbearance provided under Section 1 above:

          a.   No later than  December 9, 2005,  the Agents shall have  received
               evidence, in form and substance  satisfactory to them, either (i)
               that  Borrower  has  executed  a letter of intent or  letters  of
               intent, in each case,  satisfactory to the Agents and the Lenders
               in their sole and absolute  discretion,  from Persons  party to a
               Restructuring  Transaction,  which  transaction shall provide for
               (A) a fully executed purchase  agreement or such other definitive
               documentation,  as  appropriate,  no later than December 15, 2005
               and (B) consummation of such  Restructuring  Transaction no later
               than  December  30,  2005,  or (ii) that  Borrower has retained a
               Restructuring Adviser.

          b.   To the extent that Borrower has, pursuant to clause (a)(i) above,
               proceeded with a Restructuring  Transaction without the retention
               of a Restructuring  Adviser, (i) no later than December 15, 2005,
               the Agents shall have  received  evidence,  in form and substance
               satisfactory to them,  that the purchase  agreement or such other
               definitive  documentation,  as  appropriate,  each  in  form  and
               substance  satisfactory to the Agents, has been fully executed by
               all necessary parties thereto and (ii) no later than December 30,
               2005,  (A) the  Restructuring  Transaction  shall have been fully
               consummated and (B) Administrative  Agent shall have received net
               proceeds  thereof in an amount  sufficient to repay (and Borrower
               shall  cause  such  net  proceeds  to be  used to so  repay)  the
               Obligations  in full in cash in accordance  with the terms of the
               Credit Agreement; -






          c.   To the extent  that  Borrower  has,  pursuant  to clause  (a)(ii)
               above,  retained a Restructuring Adviser reasonably acceptable to
               Agents,  (i) no later than  December 30,  2005,  the Agents shall
               have received  evidence,  in form and substance  satisfactory  to
               them, that Borrower has executed a letter of intent or letters of
               intent,  each in form and substance  satisfactory  to the Agents,
               from  Persons  party  to  a  Restructuring   Transaction,   which
               transaction  shall  provide  for  (A) a fully  executed  purchase
               agreement or such other definitive documentation, as appropriate,
               no  later  than  February  7,  2006 and (B)  consummation  of the
               Restructuring  Transaction no later than February 28, 2006,  (ii)
               no later than  February 7, 2006,  the Agents shall have  received
               evidence,  in form and substance  satisfactory  to them, that the
               purchase  agreement or such other  definitive  documentation,  as
               appropriate,  each  in form  and  substance  satisfactory  to the
               Agents,  has been fully executed by all necessary parties thereto
               and (iii) no later than February 28, 2006, (A) the  Restructuring
               Transaction   shall   have  been   fully   consummated   and  (B)
               Administrative  Agent shall have received net proceeds thereof in
               an amount  sufficient to repay (and Borrower shall cause such net
               proceeds to be used to so repay) the  Obligations in full in cash
               in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement;

          d.   Borrower shall pay to Agents in cash, a fee in an amount equal to
               $500,000  ("Forbearance  Fee")  which shall be due and payable in
               full  upon  the  consummation  of the  Restructuring  Transaction
               (subject  to  prepayment  as  provided  herein).  Notwithstanding
               anything to the contrary  contained in Section  2.05(c)(v) of the
               Credit  Agreement,  upon any Disposition by any Loan Party or its
               Subsidiaries other than a Permitted  Disposition (as such term is
               amended  hereby),  Borrower  shall  remit  all Net Cash  Proceeds
               received in connection with any such  Disposition to Agents to be
               applied as a prepayment of the  Forbearance Fee until such fee is
               paid in full (after which,  Net Cash  Proceeds  received from any
               such  Disposition  shall  be  applied  pursuant  to the  terms of
               Section  2.05(c)(v) of the Credit Agreement,  as amended hereby).
               Borrower hereby  acknowledges and agrees that the Forbearance Fee
               is fully earned as of the date hereof and  non-refundable  on the
               date such fee is due and payable as  provided  above and that the
               Forbearance Fee constitutes Obligations and is in addition to any
               other fees payable by Borrower under the Credit  Agreement or any
               other Loan Document.

     In no event shall the  forgoing be  construed  as a consent by any Agent or
any  Lender  to  any  particular  corporate  restructuring  transaction.  To the
contrary,  each Agent and each Lender expressly  reserves the right to condition
or  withhold  its  consent  to any such  transaction  in its  sole and  absolute
discretion.

     For the purposes of this section, (i) the term "Restructuring  Transaction"
shall mean one or more transactions (which may include, without limitation,  the
infusion of additional  equity into  Borrower,  refinancing  of the  outstanding
Loans,  or  sale,   including  by  way  of  merger,  of  the  Borrower  and  its
subsidiaries), in each case, satisfactory to the Agents and the Lenders in their
sole and absolute  discretion,  by or with respect to Borrower,  with or without
the  retention  and  advice  of a  Restructuring  Adviser,  which  result in the
repayment  in  full in cash of all of  Borrower's  outstanding  Obligations  and




termination of all  commitments  under the Credit  Agreement,  and (ii) the term
"Restructuring  Adviser"  shall  mean any  investment  bank or  other  qualified
professional  identified by Borrower to Agents on Exhibit A hereto (or any other
qualified  professional  of similar  stature  and  qualification  as that of the
representative firms identified on Exhibit A hereto and as reasonably acceptable
to Agents) retained by Borrower to advise on the Restructuring Transaction.

     10. Effect on the Loan Documents. Upon the effectiveness of the forbearance
set forth herein, on and after the Forbearance  Effective Date each reference in
the Credit Agreement to "this Agreement," "hereunder," "hereof' or words of like
import referring to the Credit  Agreement,  and each reference in the other Loan
Documents to "the Credit  Agreement,"  "thereunder,"  "thereof' or words of like
import referring to the Credit  Agreement,  shall mean and be a reference to the
Credit Agreement as amended from time to time.

     11.  Governing  Law. This  Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in
accordance  with the laws of the State of New  York,  without  reference  to the
conflicts or choice of law principles thereof

     12. Loan Document. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a Loan Document for
all purposes.

     13. RELEASE BY LOAN PARTIES. EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES
THAT:  (I)  NEITHER  IT NOR ANY OF ITS  SUBSIDIARIES  HAS ANY  CLAIM OR CAUSE OF
ACTION  AGAINST  THE  AGENTS  OR  LENDERS  (OR ANY OF THE  DIRECTORS,  OFFICERS,
EMPLOYEES,  AGENTS,  AFFILIATES OR ATTORNEYS OF THE FOREGOING),  (II) EACH AGENT
AND EACH LENDER HAS  HERETOFORE  PROPERLY  PERFORMED  AND  SATISFIED IN A TIMELY
MANNER  ALL  OF  ITS  OBLIGATIONS  TO  EACH  LOAN  PARTY  AND  THEIR  RESPECTIVE
SUBSIDIARIES  AND AFFILIATES AND (III) HE OR IT HAS RECEIVED THE ADVICE OF LEGAL
COUNSEL WITH REGARD TO THE RELEASES AND WAIVERS CONTAINED HEREIN. EACH AGENT AND
EACH LENDER  WISHES (AND EACH LOAN PARTY  AGREES) TO ELIMINATE  ANY  POSSIBILITY
THAT ANY PAST CONDITIONS,  ACTS, OMISSIONS, EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD IMPAIR
OR OTHERWISE  ADVERSELY AFFECT ANY OF THEIR RIGHTS,  INTERESTS,  SECURITY AND/OR
REMEDIES. FOR AND IN CONSIDERATION OF THE AGREEMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT
AND OTHER GOOD AND  VALUABLE  CONSIDERATION,  EACH LOAN PARTY (THE  "RELEASORS")
VOLUNTARILY,  KNOWINGLY,  UNCONDITIONALLY AND IRREVOCABLY  RELEASES,  WAIVES AND
FOREVER  DISCHARGES EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER,  TOGETHER WITH THEIR  RESPECTIVE
PREDECESSORS,  SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, SUBSIDIARIES,  AFFILIATES, AGENTS, EMPLOYEES
AND ATTORNEYS  (COLLECTIVELY,  THE "RELEASED  PARTIES"),  FROM:  (X) ANY AND ALL




LIABILITIES,  OBLIGATIONS,  DUTIES,  PROMISES OR INDEBTEDNESS OF ANY KIND OF THE
RELEASED  PARTIES TO THE  RELEASORS  OR ANY OF THEM,  WHETHER  KNOWN OR UNKNOWN,
ANTICIPATED OR UNANTICIPATED,  SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED,  FIXED, CONTINGENT,  OR
CONDITIONAL,  AT LAW OR IN EQUITY,  ORIGINATING IN WHOLE OR IN PART ON OR BEFORE
THE DATE THIS  AGREEMENT  IS  EXECUTED  AND (Y) ALL CLAIMS,  OFFSETS,  CAUSES OF
ACTION,  SUITS OR DEFENSES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER (IF ANY),  WHICH THE RELEASORS
OR ANY OF THEM MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE AGAINST THE RELEASED PARTIES OR ANY OF THEM,
WHETHER  KNOWN  OR  UNKNOWN,   ANTICIPATED   OR   UNANTICIPATED,   SUSPECTED  OR
UNSUSPECTED, FIXED, CONTINGENT, OR CONDITIONAL, AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, ORIGINATING
IN WHOLE OR IN PART ON OR BEFORE THE DATE THIS AGREEMENT IS EXECUTED,  IN EITHER
CASE (X) OR (Y)  IRRESPECTIVE  OF WHETHER ANY SUCH CLAIMS ARISE OUT OF CONTRACT,
TORT,  VIOLATION  OF LAW OR  REGULATIONS,  OR  OTHERWISE,  OR  ARISING  FROM ANY
"LOANS",  INCLUDING,  WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY CONTRACTING FOR, CHARGING, TAKING,
RESERVING, COLLECTING OR RECEIVING INTEREST IN EXCESS OF THE HIGHEST LAWFUL RATE
APPLICABLE,  THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS AND REMEDIES UNDER THE CREDIT  AGREEMENT
OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN  DOCUMENTS,  AND  NEGOTIATION FOR AND EXECUTION OF THIS
AGREEMENT,  OR ON ACCOUNT OF ANY  CONDITION,  ACT,  OMISSION,  EVENT,  CONTRACT,
LIABILITY,   OBLIGATION,   INDEBTEDNESS,   CLAIM,  CAUSE  OF  ACTION,   DEFENSE,
CIRCUMSTANCE OR MATTER OF ANY KIND WHICH EXISTED,  AROSE OR OCCURRED AT ANY TIME
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO THE DATE THIS AGREEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE.

     14.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed by one or more of the
parties  hereto on any number of separate  counterparts,  each of which shall be
deemed  an  original  and all of  which,  taken  together,  shall be  deemed  to
constitute one and the same instrument.  Delivery of an executed  counterpart of
this Agreement by facsimile  transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a
manually executed counterpart hereof

                            [signature pages follow]







                                                             EXECUTION COPY



     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused their  respective duly
authorized  officers or representatives to execute and deliver this Agreement as
of the day and year first written above.


                              IMPERIAL PETROLEUM, INC., a
                              Nevada corporation


                              By:_______________________________________
                              Name:_____________________________________
                              Title:____________________________________


                              RIDGEPOINTE MINING COMPANY, a
                              Delaware corporation


                              By:_______________________________________
                              Name:_____________________________________
                              Title:____________________________________


                              GLOBAL/IMPERIAL JOINT VENTURE INC., a
                              Nevada corporation


                              By:_______________________________________
                              Name:_____________________________________
                              Title:____________________________________



                              PHOENIX METALS, INC., a Texas
                              corporation


                              By:_______________________________________
                              Name:_____________________________________
                              Title:____________________________________






                    D.B. ZWIRN SPECIAL  OPPORTUNITIES  FUND, L.P., as Collateral
                    Agent,  Administrative Agent and a Lender, formerly known as
                    Highbridge/Zwirn Special Opportunities Fund, L.P

                        By:  D.B. ZWIRN PARTNERS, LLC, its general partner

                        BY:  ZWIRN HOLDING, L.L C., its managing member

                        By:_______________________
                        Name:
                                Perry A. Gruss
                                Authorized Signatory
                        Title:






                                    EXHIBIT A




Albrecht & Associates, Inc.

Oil & Gas Clearinghouse

Macquarie Bank