EXHIBIT 2.1


                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                      dated

                                  July 27, 1999

                                      among

                      ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY,

                        ST. MARY ACQUISITION CORPORATION,

                                KING RANCH, INC.

                                       and

                             KING RANCH ENERGY, INC.











                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page

RECITALS ......................................................................1

ARTICLE I

                        THE MERGER.............................................2
          Section 1.1   The Merger.............................................2
          Section 1.2   Closing................................................2
          Section 1.3   Effective Time.........................................2
          Section 1.4   Effects of the Merger..................................2
          Section 1.5   Certificate of Incorporation...........................2
          Section 1.6   Bylaws.................................................3
          Section 1.7   Directors of Surviving Corporation.....................3
          Section 1.8   Officers of Surviving Corporation......................3

ARTICLE II

     EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CONSTITUENT  CORPORATIONS;
     EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES; CASH SETTLEMENT.................................3
          Section 2.1   Effect on Capital Stock................................3
                        (a)  Conversion of KRE Common Stock....................3
                        (b)  Capital Stock of Merger Sub.......................3
          Section 2.2   Exchange of Certificates...............................4
                        (a)  Exchange at Closing...............................4
                        (b)  No Further Ownership Rights in KRE Capital Stock..4
                        (c)  Further Assurances................................4

ARTICLE III

     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES............................................4
          Section 3.1   Representations and Warranties of KRI..................4
                        (a)  Organization and Standing of KRI..................4
                        (b)  Authority; No Conflicts...........................4
                        (c)  Ownership and Distribution of KRE Common Stock....5
                        (d)  Finders or Advisors...............................5
          Section 3.2   Representations and Warranties of KRI and KRE..........5
                        (a)  Organization and Standing of KRE..................6
                        (b)  Authority; No Conflicts...........................6
                        (c)  Capitalization   of    KRE   and  Indebtedness  for
                             Borrowed Moneys...................................7
                        (d)  KRE Financial Statements..........................7
                        (e)  Present Status....................................7





                                       i





                        (f)  Litigation........................................7
                        (g)  Compliance With the Law and Other Instruments.....8
                        (h)  Title to Properties and Assets....................8
                        (i)  Oil and Gas Leases and Wells......................8
                        (j)  Records...........................................9
                        (k)  Absence of Certain Changes or Events..............9
                        (l)  Taxes.............................................9
                        (m)  Environmental Matters.............................9
                        (n)  KRE Benefit Plans................................10
                        (o)  Year 2000 Matters................................14
                        (p)  Confidentiality Agreements.......................14
                        (q)  Vote Required....................................14
                        (r)  Fairness Opinion.  ..............................14
                        (s)  Full Disclosure..................................14
          Section 3.3   Representations and Warranties by St. Mary............14
                        (a)  Organization and Standing of St. Mary............15
                        (b)  Authority; No Conflicts..........................15
                        (c)  Capitalization   of   St.   Mary  and  Indebtedness
                             for Borrowed Moneys..............................16
                        (d)  St. Mary SEC Reports and Financial Statements....16
                        (e)  Present Status...................................17
                        (f)  Litigation.......................................17
                        (g)  Compliance With the Law and Other Instruments....17
                        (h)  Title to Properties and Assets...................18
                        (i)  Oil and Gas Leases and Wells.....................18
                        (j)  Records..........................................18
                        (k)  Absence of Certain Changes or Events.............18
                        (l)  Taxes............................................19
                        (m)  Environmental Matters............................19
                        (n)  St. Mary Benefit Plans...........................20
                        (o)  Year 2000 Matters................................22
                        (p)  Finders and Advisors.............................23
                        (q)  Vote Required....................................23
                        (r)  Fairness Opinion.................................23
                        (s)  Full Disclosure..................................23
          Section 3.4   Representations  and   Warranties   of   St.   Mary  and
                        Merger Sub............................................23
                        (a)  Organization and Standing of Merger Sub..........23
                        (b)  Authority........................................23
                        (c)  Non-Contravention................................24
                        (d)  No Business Activities by Merger Sub.............24

ARTICLE IV

     COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS................................24
          Section 4.1   Covenants of KRI and KRE..............................24





                                       ii




                        (a)  Ordinary Course..................................24
                        (b)  Dividends; Changes in Share Capital..............25
                        (c)  Issuance of Securities...........................25
                        (d)  Governing Documents..............................25
                        (e)  No Acquisitions..................................25
                        (f)  No Dispositions..................................26
                        (g)  Investments; Indebtedness........................26
                        (h)  Tax-Free Qualification...........................26
                        (i)  Compensation.....................................26
                        (j)  Accounting Methods; Income Tax Elections.........26
                        (k)  Preservation of Property.........................26
          Section 4.2   Covenants of St. Mary.................................27
                        (a)  Ordinary Course..................................27
                        (b)  Dividends; Changes in Share Capital..............27
                        (c)  Issuance of Securities...........................27
                        (d)  Governing Documents..............................28
                        (e)  Tax-Free Qualification...........................28
          Section 4.3        Advice of Changes; Governmental Filings..........28

ARTICLE V

     ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS....................................................29
          Section 5.1   Preparation  of   Proxies  and   Registration Statement;
                        Meeting of St. Mary Shareholders......................29
          Section 5.2   Confidentiality - Access to Information...............30
          Section 5.3   Commercially Reasonable Efforts.......................30
          Section 5.4   Public Announcements..................................31
          Section 5.5   Restrictions on Transfer of St. Mary Common Stock.....31
          Section 5.6   Representation on St. Mary Board of Directors.........32
          Section 5.7   Expenses..............................................33
          Section 5.8   King Ranch Trademark and Brand........................33
          Section 5.9   KRE Employee Severance Payments.......................33
          Section 5.10  368(a) Reorganization.................................33
          Section 5.11  355 Distribution......................................34
          Section 5.12  Continuity of Business................................34
          Section 5.13  Indemnification of Officers and Directors.............34
          Section 5.14  Retained Litigation...................................34
          Section 5.15  Stockholder's Representative..........................34
          Section 5.16  Voting Commitments....................................34
          Section 5.17  No Solicitation.......................................35
          Section 5.18  Seismic Data..........................................35





                                      iii




ARTICLE VI

     INDEMNIFICATION..........................................................36
          Section 6.1   Indemnification by KRI................................36
          Section 6.2   Indemnification by St. Mary...........................36
          Section 6.3   Notice and Defense of Third-Party Claims..............36
          Section 6.4   Limitation of Liability...............................37
          Section 6.5   Exclusivity...........................................39
          Section 6.6   Waiver of Consequential Damages.......................39

ARTICLE VII

     CONDITIONS TO CLOSING....................................................39
          Section 7.1   Conditions  to  Each  Party's   Obligation   to   Effect
                        the Merger............................................39
                        (a)  Shareholder Approvals............................39
                        (b)  No Injunctions, Restraints or Illegality.........39
                        (c)  Effectiveness of the Form S-4....................39
                        (d)  Nasdaq Listing...................................39
                        (e)  Consummation of the Distribution.................39
          Section 7.2   Additional  Conditions  to  Obligations   of   St.  Mary
                        and Merger Sub........................................40
                        (a)  Representations and Warranties...................40
                        (b)  Performance of Obligations of KRI and KRE........40
                        (c)  Settlement for KRI-KRE Intercompany Balances.....40
                        (d)  Certificate of Officers..........................40
                        (e)  Opinion of Financial Advisor.....................40
                        (f)  Opinion  of Counsel..............................40
                        (g)  Non-Exercise of Appraisal Rights.................40
                        (h)  Eugene Island Block 341..........................41
                        (i)  Affiliate Restrictions...........................41
          Section 7.3   Additional  Conditions  to  Obligations  of  KRE and the
                        Shareholders of KRE...................................41
                        (a)  Representations and Warranties...................41
                        (b)  Performance  of  Obligations of St. Mary and Merger
                             Sub..............................................41
                        (c)  Settlement of KRI-KRE Intercompany Balances......42
                        (d)  Certificate of Officers..........................42
                        (e)  Opinion of Financial Advisor.....................42
                        (f)  Opinion of Counsel...............................42
                        (g)  Tax Certificate..................................42
                        (h)  Tax Opinion......................................42




                                       iv




ARTICLE VIII

     TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT................................................42
          Section 8.1   Termination...........................................42
          Section 8.2   Effect of Termination.................................44
          Section 8.3   Amendment.............................................45
          Section 8.4   Extension; Waiver.....................................45

ARTICLE IX

     ARBITRATION..............................................................46
          Section 9.1   Mediation.............................................46
          Section 9.2   Arbitration...........................................46
          Section 9.3   Costs; Enforcement....................................47

ARTICLE X

     MISCELLANEOUS............................................................48
          Section 10.1  Nature of Representations and Warranties; Survival....48
          Section 10.2  Counterparts and Facsimile Signatures.................48
          Section 10.3  Assignment............................................48
          Section 10.4  Representative of KRH, KRM and KRE....................48
          Section 10.5  Entire Agreement......................................48
          Section 10.6  Governing Law.........................................48
          Section 10.7  Severability..........................................49
          Section 10.8  Notices...............................................49
          Section 10.9  Attorney Fees.........................................50
          Section 10.10 Certain Definitions...................................50





                                       v





SCHEDULES/EXHIBITS

3.1               KRI Disclosure Schedule
3.1(b)(iii)       Consents
3.2               KRE Disclosure Schedule
3.2(b)(ii)        No Conflicts
3.2(b)(iii)       Consents
3.2(e)            Present Status
3.2(f)            Litigation
3.2(h)            Title to Properties and Assets
3.2(k)            Absence of Certain Changes or Events
3.2(l)            Taxes
3.2(m)            Environmental Matters
3.2(n)            KRE Benefit Plans
3.2(n)(vii)       Severance or Other Compensation
3.2(o)            Year 2000 Matters
3.3               St. Mary Disclosure Schedule
3.3(a)            St. Mary Subsidiaries
3.3(c)            Additional Options
3.3(f)            Litigation
3.3(h)            Title to Properties and Assets
3.3(n)            St. Mary Benefit Plans
4.1(a)(ii)        KRE Capital Expenditures Over $500,000
4.2(a)(ii)        St. Mary Capital Expenditures Over $1,000,000
5.5(b)(ii)        Thomas E. Congdon Letter Regarding Congdon Group
5.9               KRE Employee Severance Payments
7.3(g)            Form of Tax Certificate






                                       vi




                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

         THIS  AGREEMENT  AND PLAN OF MERGER (the  "Agreement")  is entered into
this  27th day of July,  1999  among  St.  Mary Land &  Exploration  Company,  a
Delaware corporation ("St. Mary"), St. Mary Acquisition Corporation,  a Colorado
corporation  and newly formed  first-tier  wholly owned  subsidiary  of St. Mary
("Merger Sub"), King Ranch,  Inc., a Texas corporation  ("KRI"),  and King Ranch
Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned third-tier subsidiary of
KRI ("KRE").

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS,  the respective  Boards of Directors of St. Mary,  Merger Sub,
KRI and KRE have each determined that the merger of Merger Sub with and into KRE
(the  "Merger")  is  advisable  and is in their best  interests  and in the best
interests of their  respective  shareholders,  and such Boards of Directors have
approved such Merger,  upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
this Agreement;

         WHEREAS,  St. Mary desires to avoid the  concentration of the ownership
of the St. Mary Common Stock in a single shareholder,  and therefore,  to induce
St. Mary to enter into this Agreement and consummate the transactions  described
herein, immediately prior to the Merger all of the shares of common stock of KRE
shall be distributed  (A) by King Ranch Minerals,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation
("KRM"), the sole shareholder of KRE and a wholly owned subsidiary of King Ranch
Holdings,  Inc., a Delaware corporation ("KRH") and a wholly owned subsidiary of
KRI, to KRH, (B) by KRH to KRI, and (C) by KRI pro rata to the  shareholders  of
KRI  (the  "Spin-Off")  (all  of the  foregoing,  together  with  the  Spin-Off,
collectively referred to as the "Distributions");

         WHEREAS, as a result of the Distributions, the shareholders of KRI will
receive all of the common stock of KRE while maintaining their current ownership
of KRI;

         WHEREAS,  pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, upon consummation of
the Merger,  St. Mary will issue to the  shareholders  of KRE,  with  respect to
their  ownership of all of the shares of common  stock of KRE,  shares of common
stock,  par value $.01 per share,  of St. Mary ("St.  Mary Common Stock") as set
forth in Section 2.1 hereof;

         WHEREAS,  St.  Mary,  Merger  Sub,  KRI and KRE desire to make  certain
representations,  warranties,  covenants and  agreements in connection  with the
transactions contemplated hereby and also to set forth various conditions to the
transactions contemplated hereby; and

         WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes it is intended that the Merger
qualify as a tax-free reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended (the  "Code"),  and the  regulations
promulgated  thereunder,  and St. Mary,  Merger Sub, KRE and the shareholders of
KRI as the  subsequent  shareholders  of KRE intend,  by  approving  resolutions
authorizing this Agreement,  to adopt this Agreement as a plan of reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the regulations promulgated
thereunder.






                                       1




         NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the  representations,  warranties,
covenants and  agreements  set forth  herein,  and intending to be legally bound
hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I

                                   THE MERGER

         Section  1.1   The Merger.  Upon  the   terms   and   subject   to  the
                        -----------
conditions set forth in this  Agreement, and in  accordance  with the  corporate
laws of Delaware  and Colorado,  Merger  Sub shall be  merged  with and into KRE
at the   Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.3).  Following the Merger,  the
separate corporate  existence  of Merger Sub shall  cease and KRE shall continue
as the surviving  corporation  (the  "Surviving  Corporation")  under the   name
St. Mary  Energy  Company  and  shall  succeed  to and assume all the rights and
obligations of  Merger Sub in accordance with the corporate laws of Delaware and
Colorado.

         Section 1.2    Closing.  The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") will
                        --------
take place at 2:00 p.m.  Denver,  Colorado time on the first  business day after
the  satisfaction  or waiver  (subject to applicable  law) of the conditions set
forth in Article VII of this Agreement (the "Closing  Date"),  at the offices of
Ballard  Spahr  Andrews &  Ingersoll,  1225 17th  Street,  Suite  2300,  Denver,
Colorado,  unless  another  date or place is agreed to in writing by the parties
hereto.  The parties agree to use all reasonable  efforts to close the Merger as
soon as practicable, subject to Article VII hereof.

         Section 1.3    Effective Time.  Immediately following the Closing,  the
                        ----------------
parties  shall  execute and file a  certificate  of merger or other  appropriate
documents (in any such case, the "Certificate of Merger") in accordance with the
relevant  provisions  of the  corporate  laws of Delaware and Colorado and shall
make all other  filings  or  recordings  required  under the  corporate  laws of
Delaware and  Colorado.  The Merger  shall become  effective at such time as the
Certificate of Merger is duly filed with the Delaware Secretary of State and the
Colorado  Secretary of State,  or at such  subsequent  time as the parties shall
agree,  which  subsequent  time shall be specified in the  Certificate of Merger
(the time the Merger  becomes  effective  being  hereinafter  referred to as the
"Effective Time").

         Section 1.4    Effects of the Merger. At and after the Effective  Time,
                        ----------------------
the Merger  shall have the effects set forth in the  corporate  laws of Delaware
and  Colorado.   Without  limiting  the generality of the foregoing, and subject
thereto,  at  the  Effective  Time  all   the  property,   rights,   privileges,
powers and  franchises  of KRE  and Merger Sub shall be vested in the  Surviving
Corporation,  and, except for the  indemnification  obligations of KRI set forth
in Article VI  hereof  all  debts,  liabilities and duties of KRE and Merger Sub
shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.

         Section 1.5    Certificate of Incorporation.   At  the  Effective Time,
                        -----------------------------
the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation  shall  be amended
in accordance with the corporate laws of Delaware such that the  certificate  of
incorporation  of the Surviving  Corporation  shall consist of the provisions of
the  articles  of  incorporation  of Merger Sub,  except  that  Article I of the
certificate



                                       2








of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall  be amended  to  read in its
entirety as follows:  "The  name  of  the  corporation  shall be St. Mary Energy
Company."

         Section 1.6   Bylaws.  The  bylaws  of  Merger  Sub as in effect at the
                       -------
Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter
changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable law.

         Section 1.7   Directors of Surviving Corporation.   The   directors  of
                       -----------------------------------
Merger  Sub  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time  shall be the  directors
of the  surviving  Corporation,  until  the  earlier of  their   resignation  or
removal or  until  their  respective  successors are duly elected and qualified,
as the case may be.

         Section 1.8 Officers of Surviving  Corporation.  The officers of Merger
                     -----------------------------------
Sub  immediately  prior  to the  Effective  Time  shall be the  officers  of the
Surviving  Corporation,  until the  earlier of their  resignation  or removal or
until their  respective  successors are duly elected and qualified,  as the case
may be.


                                   ARTICLE II
          EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CONSTITUENT
             CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES; CASH SETTLEMENT

         Section 2.1   Effect on Capital Stock.    At   the  Effective  Time, by
                       ------------------------
virtue of the Merger:

                  (a) Conversion of KRE Common Stock. The total number of shares
                      -------------------------------
of KRE Common Stock  issued and outstanding  immediately  prior to the Effective
Time  shall  be  automatically converted into a  total  of 2,666,252  shares  of
St.  Mary   Common   Stock  (the   "St.  Mary  Share  Issuance").   Certificates
representing  the shares of St. Mary Common Stock  to  be  issued  hereby  shall
be  delivered  pro  rata  to  the shareholders of KRE at the Closing in exchange
for their  surrender of   all KRE Common Stock  certificates.  At the  Effective
Time,  all such shares of KRE Common  Stock  shall  cease to be  outstanding and
shall automatically  be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist,  and KRM,
KRH, KRI and the  shareholders  of KRI shall thereafter cease to have any rights
with respect to such shares of KRE Common Stock.

                  (b) Capital  Stock of Merger Sub.  Each share of common stock,
                      -----------------------------
par value $.01 per share, of Merger Sub  issued  and  outstanding    immediately
prior  to  the  Effective  Time  shall  be  automatically    converted  into and
become one fully  paid and  nonassessable  share of common stock, par value $.01
per share, of the Surviving Corporation.








                                       3






         Section 2.2   Exchange of Certificates.
                       -------------------------

                  (a)  Exchange  at  Closing.  At the  Closing,  St.  Mary shall
                       ----------------------
         deliver pro rata to the  shareholders of KRE  certificates  aggregating
         the  number of shares of St.  Mary  Common  Stock set forth in  Section
         2.1(a) and the  shareholders  of KRE shall  surrender  to St.  Mary all
         certificates  representing  all  issued and  outstanding  shares of KRE
         Common Stock.

                  (b) No Further  Ownership  Rights in KRE  Capital  Stock.  All
                      -----------------------------------------------------
         shares of St. Mary Common Stock issued upon the surrender of KRE Common
         Stock  certificates  in  accordance  with the terms of this  Article II
         shall be deemed to have been  issued and paid in full  satisfaction  of
         all rights  pertaining  to the shares of KRE Common  Stock  theretofore
         represented by such certificates.

                  (c)  Further  Assurances.  If at any time after the  Effective
                       --------------------
         Time, any further  assignments or assurances in law or any other things
         are  necessary  or desirable to vest or to perfect or confirm of record
         in the  Surviving  Corporation  the title to any  property or rights of
         either KRE or Merger Sub, or  otherwise  to carry out the  purposes and
         provisions  of  this  Agreement,  the  officers  and  directors  of the
         Surviving Corporation are hereby authorized and empowered,  in the name
         of and on behalf of KRE and Merger  Sub, to execute and deliver any and
         all things  necessary or proper to vest or perfect or confirm  title to
         such property or rights in the Surviving Corporation,  and otherwise to
         carry out the purposes and provisions of this Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE III

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         Section 3.1  Representations and Warranties of KRI. Except as set forth
                      --------------------------------------
in the KRI Disclosure  Schedule attached to this Agreement as Schedule 3.1 (each
section of which  qualifies  the  correspondingly  numbered  representation  and
warranty to the extent  specified  therein),  KRI represents and warrants to St.
Mary as follows:

                  (a)  Organization  and Standing of KRI.  KRI is a  corporation
                       ----------------------------------
         duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws
         of the  State of  Texas.  KRI has all  requisite  corporate  power  and
         authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out and perform the
         terms and provisions of this Agreement.

                  (b)  Authority; No Conflicts.
                       ------------------------

                           (i) The execution,  delivery and  performance of this
                  Agreement have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate
                  action  on the part of KRI and KRE.  This  Agreement  has been
                  executed and  delivered by KRI and KRE and  constitutes  valid
                  and  binding   obligations  of  KRI  and  KRE  enforceable  in
                  accordance with its terms



                                       4







                  (except as limited by  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  or other laws
                  affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights).

                           (ii) The execution and delivery of this  Agreement by
                  KRI and KRE  does  not,  and the  consummation  of the  Merger
                  pursuant  to  this   Agreement  and  the  other   transactions
                  contemplated  hereby will not,  conflict with or result in any
                  violation of, or constitute a default (with or without  notice
                  or  lapse  of  time,  or both)  under,  any  provision  of the
                  certificate of incorporation or bylaws of KRI or KRE.

                           (iii) No consent,  approval,  order or  authorization
                  of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any national,
                  state,  municipal or local  government,  any  instrumentality,
                  subdivision,  court,  administrative  agency or  commission or
                  other authority thereof, or any  quasi-governmental or private
                  body exercising any regulatory,  taxing or other  governmental
                  or quasi-governmental  authority (a "Governmental Entity"), is
                  required  by or is  necessary  with  respect  to KRI or KRE in
                  connection with their execution and delivery of this Agreement
                  or the  consummation of the Merger and the other  transactions
                  contemplated  thereby,  except for those  required under or in
                  relation to (A) the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the
                  "Securities  Act"),  (B) the  corporate  laws of Delaware  and
                  Colorado  with  respect  to the filing of the  Certificate  of
                  Merger with the  Delaware  Secretary  of State and Articles of
                  Merger with the Colorado Secretary of State, (C) the rules and
                  regulations  of  Nasdaq,  and (D)  such  consents,  approvals,
                  orders,   authorizations,   registrations,   declarations  and
                  filings the failure of which to make or obtain  would not have
                  a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on any party  hereto.  Consents,
                  approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations
                  and  filings  required  under  or in  relation  to  any of the
                  foregoing clauses (A) through (D) are hereinafter  referred to
                  as the "Required Consents."

                  (c) Ownership and  Distribution of KRE Common Stock.  KRM owns
                      ------------------------------------------------
         all of the issued and  outstanding  shares of KRE Common Stock free and
         clear  of any  lien,  encumbrance  or  adverse  claim.  The  Boards  of
         Directors of KRM, KRH and KRI have duly authorized the Distributions.

                  (d) Finders or Advisors.  Except for Nesbitt Burns  Securities
                      --------------------
         Inc. ("Nesbitt  Burns"), a copy of whose engagement  agreement with KRI
         has been provided to St. Mary, there is no investment  banker,  broker,
         finder  or  other  intermediary  which  has  been  retained  by  or  is
         authorized to act on behalf of KRI,  KRH, KRM, KRE or the  shareholders
         of KRI who might be entitled  to any fee or  commission  in  connection
         with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         Section 3.2  Representations  and Warranties of KRI and KRE.  Except as
                      -----------------------------------------------
set forth in the KRE Disclosure  Schedule attached to this Agreement as Schedule
3.2 (the  "KRE  Disclosure  Schedule")  (each  section  of which  qualifies  the
correspondingly  numbered  representation  and warranty to the extent  specified
therein), KRI and KRE represent and warrant to St. Mary as follows:


                                       5








                  (a)  Organization  and  Standing  of KRE.  KRE and each of its
                       ------------------------------------
         Subsidiaries is a corporation  duly organized and validly  existing and
         in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or
         organization,  has all requisite  power and authority to own, lease and
         operate  its  properties  and to carry  on its  business  as now  being
         conducted and is duly  qualified to do business and in good standing in
         each  jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the ownership
         or leasing of its properties makes such  qualification  necessary other
         than in such  jurisdictions  where the failure to so qualify would not,
         either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
         on KRE. KRE is duly qualified to enter into this Agreement and to carry
         out and perform the terms and provisions of this Agreement. Except with
         respect  to the  KRE  Subsidiaries  set  forth  on the  KRE  Disclosure
         Schedule,  KRE has no direct  or  indirect  interest,  either by way of
         stock  ownership  or  otherwise,   in  any  other  firm,   corporation,
         association or business. The copies of the certificate of incorporation
         and bylaws of KRE which were previously furnished to St. Mary are true,
         complete and correct  copies of such documents as in effect on the date
         of this Agreement.

                  (b)  Authority; No Conflicts.
                       ------------------------

                           (i) The execution,  delivery and  performance of this
                  Agreement have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate
                  action on the part of KRE subject to the Required KRE Vote (as
                  defined below). This Agreement has been executed and delivered
                  by KRE and  constitutes a valid and binding  obligation of KRE
                  enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as limited by
                  bankruptcy,   insolvency,   or  other   laws   affecting   the
                  enforcement of creditors' rights).

                           (ii) The execution and delivery of this  Agreement by
                  KRE does not,  and the  consummation  of the Merger by KRE and
                  the other transactions  contemplated hereby will not, conflict
                  with, or result in a violation  pursuant to: (A) any provision
                  of the certificate of  incorporation  or bylaws of KRE, or (B)
                  any loan or credit agreement, note, mortgage, bond, indenture,
                  lease,   benefit   plan  or   other   agreement,   obligation,
                  instrument, permit, concession,  franchise, license, judgment,
                  order,  decree,  statute,  law, ordinance,  rule or regulation
                  applicable  to KRE or any  Subsidiary  of KRE or any of  their
                  properties  or  assets,  except as would  not have a  Material
                  Adverse  Effect on to KRE,  subject to obtaining the consents,
                  approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations
                  and filings referred to in paragraph (iii) below.

                           (iii) No consent,  approval,  order or  authorization
                  of,  or   registration,   declaration   or  filing  with,  any
                  Governmental  Entity is required by or with  respect to KRE or
                  its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery
                  of this Agreement by KRE or the consummation of the Merger and
                  the other transactions  contemplated  thereby,  except for (A)
                  the Required Consents, (B) such consents,  approvals,  orders,
                  authorizations, registrations and declarations by Governmental
                  Entities   (including,   without   limitation,   the  Minerals
                  Management  Service,  the  Bureau of Land  Management  and all
                  other federal and state regulatory entities having




                                       6







                  jurisdiction)  in  connection  with  the  transfer,   sale  or
                  conveyance  of oil and gas leases or interests  therein if the
                  same are  customarily  obtained by a purchaser  subsequent  to
                  such sale or  conveyance,  and (C) such  consents,  approvals,
                  orders,   authorizations,   registrations,   declarations  and
                  filings the failure of which to make or obtain  would not have
                  a Material Adverse Effect on KRE or its Subsidiaries.

                           (iv)  Except  as  set  forth  in the  KRE  Disclosure
                  Schedule,  all material  contracts of KRE shall remain in full
                  force  and   effect   following,   and   notwithstanding   the
                  consummation of, the Merger.

                  (c)  Capitalization  of  KRE  and  Indebtedness  for  Borrowed
                       ---------------------------------------------------------
         Moneys.  KRE is duly and  lawfully  authorized  by its  certificate  of
         -------
         incorporation,  to issue 1,000 shares of KRE Common Stock,  of which as
         of the date hereof there are issued and outstanding  1,000 shares.  All
         outstanding shares of KRE Common Stock have been issued to and are held
         by KRM.  KRE has no treasury  stock and no other  authorized  series or
         class of stock.  All the  outstanding  shares of KRE Common  Stock have
         been  duly  authorized  and  validly  issued  and are  fully  paid  and
         nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. Neither KRE nor any of its
         Subsidiaries  is obligated  to issue any  additional  capital  stock or
         voting  securities  as a  result  of  any  options,  warrants,  rights,
         conversion rights, obligations upon default, subscription agreements or
         other  obligations of any kind. KRE is not presently  liable on account
         of any indebtedness for borrowed moneys, except as reflected in the KRE
         Financial  Statements  (as  hereinafter  defined) or the KRE Disclosure
         Schedule.

                  (d) KRE  Financial  Statements.  KRE has furnished to St. Mary
                      ---------------------------
         its audited  balance sheets as of December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, its
         audited  statements of income and retained  earnings and cash flows for
         each of the three years ended December 31, 1998, its unaudited  balance
         sheet as of May 31, 1999,  and its  unaudited  statements of income and
         cash flows for the five months  ended May 31, 1999  (collectively,  the
         "KRE  Financial  Statements").  All of  the  KRE  Financial  Statements
         present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of KRE
         as of the  respective  balance  sheet  dates  and  the  results  of its
         operations and cash flows for the respective periods therein specified.
         The KRE Financial  Statements  have been  prepared in  accordance  with
         generally  accepted   accounting   principles  ("GAAP")  applied  on  a
         consistent basis.

                  (e) Present Status.  Except as otherwise  disclosed in the KRE
                      ---------------
         Disclosure  Schedule,  from May 31, 1999 to the date of this Agreement,
         KRE and its Subsidiaries  have not incurred any liabilities that are of
         a nature  that would be  required  to be  disclosed  on a  consolidated
         balance sheet of KRE and its Subsidiaries or the notes thereto prepared
         in  accordance  with  GAAP,  other  than  liabilities  incurred  in the
         ordinary  course of  business  of KRE and which do not have a  Material
         Adverse Effect on KRE.

                  (f)  Litigation.  Except  as  disclosed  in the KRE  Financial
                       -----------
         Statements  or  Schedule  3.2(f)  hereto,  there are no legal  actions,
         suits,  arbitrations  or  other  legal  or  administrative  proceedings
         pending or, to the Knowledge of KRI or KRE,  threatened  against KRE or
         any



                                       7







         Subsidiary of KRE which would reasonably be expected to have a Material
         Adverse Effect on KRE and its  Subsidiaries.  In addition,  neither KRI
         nor KRE is aware of any facts which to the best of its Knowledge  would
         reasonably be expected to result in any action,  suit,  arbitration  or
         other  proceeding which would reasonably be expected to have a Material
         Adverse Effect on KRE and its Subsidiaries.  Neither KRE nor any of its
         Subsidiaries  is in  default  of any  judgment,  order or decree of any
         court or, in any material  respect of, any requirements of a government
         agency or  instrumentality,  except  as set forth in the KRE  Financial
         Statements or on the KRE Disclosure Schedule.

                  (g) Compliance With the Law and Other Instruments. To the best
                      ----------------------------------------------
         of KRE's and KRI's  Knowledge,  the business  operations of KRE and its
         Subsidiaries  have been and are being  conducted in  compliance  in all
         material  respects with all applicable laws,  rules, and regulations of
         all  authorities.  Neither  KRE  nor  any  of its  Subsidiaries  are in
         violation  of,  or in  default  under,  any  term or  provision  of its
         certificate of  incorporation  or its bylaws or in any material respect
         of any lien, mortgage, lease, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or
         decree,  except those  violations,  defaults and restrictions  which do
         not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have a Material Adverse Effect
         on KRE and its Subsidiaries, or which do not prohibit KRE from entering
         into this Agreement.

                  (h) Title to  Properties  and  Assets.  Except as set forth on
                     -----------------------------------
         Schedule 3.2(h) hereto,  each of KRE and its  Subsidiaries has good and
         defensible  title to the  leasehold or well  interests set forth in the
         Ryder Scott Company reports as of January 1, 1999,  dated April 9, 1999
         and as of  January  1,  1999  dated  May 21,  1999  (the  "Ryder  Scott
         Reports") and the Netherland  Sewell and Associates,  Inc. report as of
         January 1, 1999, dated April 9, 1999 (the "Netherland  Sewell Report"),
         and as to all of its material properties and assets,  including without
         limitation  those  reflected in the KRE Financial  Statements and those
         used  or  located  on  property   controlled  by  KRE  or  any  of  its
         Subsidiaries  in its  business  (except  assets  leased  or sold in the
         ordinary  course of business),  subject to no mortgage,  pledge,  lien,
         charge,  security  interest,  encumbrance or  restriction  except those
         which (a) are  disclosed  in the KRE  Financial  Statements  or the KRE
         Disclosure  Schedule;  or (b) do not have a Material  Adverse Effect on
         KRE and its Subsidiaries, taken together.

                  (i) Oil and Gas  Leases and Wells.  KRE has  furnished  to St.
                      ------------------------------
         Mary lists of all oil and gas  leases and wells in which  either KRE or
         its  Subsidiaries  own or claim any type of right or interest,  whether
         legal, equitable, or beneficial (the "KRE Leases and Wells Lists"), and
         the KRE  Leases  and  Wells  Lists are  accurate  and  complete  in all
         material respects.  All leases listed on the KRE Leases and Wells Lists
         are valid and in full force and  effect,  and all  rentals,  royalties,
         shut-in payments,  minimum royalties, and other payments due thereunder
         have been timely and properly made. Except as specifically set forth on
         the KRE Leases and Wells Lists, KRE and its Subsidiaries  enjoy and are
         in peaceful and  undisturbed  possession  under each lease and for each
         well so listed.  Neither KRE nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has received
         any notice of, and there does not exist, any default, event, occurrence
         or act which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would
         become a default  under any such lease,  and neither KRE nor any of its
         Subsidiaries has violated any of the terms or conditions




                                       8







         under any such lease in any material  respect.  To the Knowledge of KRI
         and KRE, such real property and the wells,  pipelines,  gathering lines
         and  facilities,  processing  facilities,  flow  lines,  tanks,  pumps,
         production  platforms,  equipment  and  any and  all  other  buildings,
         fixtures,  equipment and other property attached or appurtenant thereto
         or situated  thereon are in good  operating  condition  and repair,  in
         compliance in all material  respects with all  applicable  laws and are
         adequate and  suitable  for the  purposes for which they are  presently
         being used,  except for such matters which in the aggregate,  would not
         have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on KRE and its  Subsidiaries,  taken
         together.

                  (j)  Records.  To the best of KRI's and KRE's  Knowledge,  the
                       --------
         books of  account  and other  records of KRE and its  Subsidiaries  are
         complete and correct in all material  respects,  and there have been no
         material   transactions   involving   the   business  of  KRE  and  its
         Subsidiaries which properly should have been set forth in such records,
         other than those set forth therein.

                  (k) Absence of Certain Changes or Events.  Except as set forth
                      -------------------------------------
         in Schedule  3.2(k) hereto,  since May 31, 1999, (i) there has not been
         any material  adverse change in, or event or condition  which has had a
         Material  Adverse  Effect on, the condition  (financial or  otherwise),
         properties,  assets,  liabilities  or,  to the best of KRI's  and KRE's
         Knowledge,  the business of KRE and its  Subsidiaries,  taken together,
         (other  than any  change or  circumstance  relating  to the  economy or
         securities markets in general or to the oil and gas industry in general
         and not specifically  relating to KRE) and (ii) KRE has not declared or
         paid any dividend or made any other  distribution  in respect of any of
         its capital stock or repurchased or redeemed or otherwise  acquired any
         shares  of its  capital  stock  or  obligated  itself  to do any of the
         foregoing.

                  (l)  Taxes.  To the  Knowledge  of KRI and KRE,  except as set
                       ------
         forth in Schedule 3.2(l) hereto,  KRE and KRE's  Subsidiaries have duly
         filed all federal, state, county, local and foreign income,  franchise,
         excise,  real and  personal  property and other tax returns and reports
         (including,  but not limited  to,  those  relating to social  security,
         withholding,  unemployment  insurance  and  occupation  (sales) and use
         taxes)  required  to have  been  filed  up to the date  hereof.  To the
         Knowledge  of KRI and KRE,  all of the  foregoing  returns are true and
         correct in all material  respects and KRE and KRE's  Subsidiaries  have
         paid or provided for all taxes,  interest and  penalties  shown on such
         returns or reports as being due. To the  Knowledge  of KRI and KRE, KRE
         and  KRE's  Subsidiaries  have no  liability  for any  amount of taxes,
         interest or penalties of any nature whatsoever,  except for those taxes
         which may have arisen up to the Closing Date in the ordinary  course of
         business  and are  properly  accrued on the books of KRI, KRE and KRE's
         Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date.

                  (m) Environmental Matters. Neither KRI nor KRE is aware of any
                      ----------------------
         actions, proceedings or investigations pending or, to the best of KRI's
         and KRE's Knowledge,  threatened  before any federal,  state or foreign
         environmental  regulatory body or before any federal,  state or foreign
         court alleging material noncompliance by KRE or any of its Subsidiaries
         with CERCLA or any other laws or  regulations  regulating the discharge
         of





                                       9






         materials into the environment  ("Environmental  Laws"). To the best of
         KRI's and KRE's  Knowledge:  (i) there is no  reasonable  basis for the
         institution of any material action, proceeding or investigation against
         KRE or any of its Subsidiaries for violation of any Environmental  Law;
         (ii) neither KRE nor any of its  Subsidiaries is responsible  under any
         Environmental  Law for any release by any person at or in the  vicinity
         of real  property  of any  hazardous  substance  (as defined by CERCLA)
         caused by the spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting,  emptying,
         discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing of any
         such  hazardous  substance  into the  environment,  other than  routine
         incidental  releases  associated with normal operations the remediation
         of which is required under the Environmental Laws and the cost of which
         will  not  be  material  to  KRE;  (iii)  neither  KRE  nor  any of its
         Subsidiaries  is  responsible  for any  costs  of any  remedial  action
         required by virtue of any release of any hazardous substance, pollutant
         or  contaminant  into the  environment,  other than routine  incidental
         releases  associated with normal operations the remediation of which is
         required under the Environmental Laws and the cost of which will not be
         material to KRE; (iv) KRE and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all
         material  respects with all applicable  Environmental  Laws; and (v) no
         real property used,  owned,  managed or controlled by KRE or any of its
         Subsidiaries  contains  any  toxic or  hazardous  substance  including,
         without  limitation,  any  asbestos,  PCBs  or  petroleum  products  or
         byproducts in any form,  the  presence,  location or condition of which
         violates any Environmental Law in any material respect.

                  (n) KRE Benefit Plans.
                      ------------------

                           (i)  Attached  hereto  as  Schedule  3.2(n) is a list
                  identifying   each   Benefit   Plan  of  KRE  or  any  of  its
                  Subsidiaries  or in which they  participate.  For  purposes of
                  this Agreement, the term "Benefit Plan" means, with respect to
                  any Person (as defined in Section 7.5),  any employee  benefit
                  plan  (within  the  meaning  of Section  3(3) of the  Employee
                  Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")),
                  written or oral employment or consulting agreement,  severance
                  pay plan or agreement, employee relations policy (or practice,
                  agreement or  arrangement),  agreements with respect to leased
                  or temporary employees, vacation plan or arrangement, sick pay
                  plan, stock purchase plan,  stock option plan,  fringe benefit
                  plan,  incentive  plan,  bonus  plan,  cafeteria  or  flexible
                  spending account plan and any deferred compensation agreement,
                  (or plan,  program,  or  arrangement)  covering any present or
                  former  employee of such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person
                  and which is, or at any time was,  sponsored or  maintained by
                  (or to which  contributions  are,  were,  or at any time  were
                  required to have been,  made by such Person or a Subsidiary of
                  such Person).

                           (ii) With respect to each KRE Benefit Plan, there has
                  been  delivered  to St.  Mary,  (i)  copies  of each  such KRE
                  Benefit Plan  (including  all trust  agreements,  insurance or
                  annuity contracts,  descriptions, general notices to employees
                  or   beneficiaries   and  any  other  material   documents  or
                  instruments  relating  thereto);  (ii) the most recent audited
                  (if required or otherwise available) or unaudited financial


                                       10








                  statement  with respect to each such KRE Benefit  Plan;  (iii)
                  copies of the most recent  determination  letters with respect
                  to any such KRE  Benefit  Plan  which is an  employee  pension
                  benefit plan (as such term is defined under ERISA) intended to
                  qualify under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code") ;
                  and (iv) copies of the most recent actuarial reports,  if any,
                  of each such KRE Benefit Plan.

                           (iii) With respect to each KRE Benefit Plan:

                                    (A) each such KRE  Benefit  Plan which is an
                           employee  pension  benefit  plan  intended to qualify
                           under  the  Code  so  qualifies  and has  received  a
                           favorable    determination    letter    as   to   its
                           qualification  under  the  Code,  and  no  event  has
                           occurred that will or could reasonably be expected to
                           give rise to  disqualification  or loss of tax-exempt
                           status of any such plan or related trust;

                                    (B)  KRE  has   complied  in  all   material
                           respects  with all  provisions of ERISA and no act or
                           omission  by KRE in  connection  with any KRE Benefit
                           Plan has occurred  that will or could  reasonably  be
                           expected  to give rise to  liability  for a breach of
                           fiduciary  responsibilities  under  ERISA  or to  any
                           fines or penalties under ERISA;

                                    (C) all insurance and annuity  premiums,  if
                           any, required for all periods up to and including the
                           Closing have been or will be paid;

                                    (D) no KRE  Benefit  Plan  provides  for any
                           post-retirement   life,  medical,   dental  or  other
                           welfare  benefits  (whether or not  insured)  for any
                           current or former  employee  except as required under
                           the Code or ERISA or applicable state or local Law;

                                    (E) all contributions  required to have been
                           made  by law or  under  the  terms  of any  contract,
                           agreement  or KRE Benefit  Plan for all  complete and
                           partial  periods up to and including the Closing have
                           been made or will be made;

                                    (F) the  transactions  contemplated  by this
                           Agreement will not be the direct or indirect cause of
                           any amount paid or payable from such KRE Benefit Plan
                           being classified as an excess parachute payment under
                           the Code;

                                    (G) there are no matters  pending before the
                           United States Internal  Revenue  Service,  the United
                           States  Department  of Labor or the  Pension  Benefit
                           Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC");

                                    (H)  there  have been no claims or notice of
                           claims filed under any fiduciary  liability insurance
                           policy covering any KRE Benefit Plan;





                                       11







                                    (I) each and  every  such KRE  Benefit  Plan
                           which is a group health plan (as such term is defined
                           under the Code or  ERISA)  complies  in all  material
                           respects,  and in each and every case has complied in
                           all   material   respects,    with   the   applicable
                           requirements  of  the  Code,  ERISA,  the  applicable
                           requirements of the Health Insurance  Portability and
                           Accountability  Act of 1996,  and all other  federal,
                           state  or  local  Laws or  ordinances  requiring  the
                           provision  or   continuance   of  health  or  medical
                           benefits;

                                    (J) each and every KRE Benefit Plan which is
                           a cafeteria  plan or flexible  spending  account plan
                           complies in all  material  respects,  and in each and
                           every case has  complied  in all  material  respects,
                           with the applicable  requirements of the Code and all
                           other  applicable  federal,  state,  or local Laws or
                           ordinances; and

                                    (K) each and every KRE Benefit Plan which is
                           a dependent care assistance  program  complies in all
                           material  respects,  and in each and  every  case has
                           complied   in  all   material   respects,   with  the
                           applicable  requirements  of the Code  and all  other
                           applicable   federal,   state   or   local   Laws  or
                           ordinances.

                           (iv)  With  respect  to  any  employee  benefit  plan
                  (within  the meaning of ERISA),  stock  purchase  plan,  stock
                  option plan,  fringe benefit plan,  bonus plan or any deferred
                  compensation  agreement,  plan or program  (whether or not any
                  such plan, program, or agreement is currently in effect):

                                    (A) there are no actions,  suits,  or claims
                           (other  than  routine  claims  for  benefits  in  the
                           ordinary course) pending or, to the best Knowledge of
                           KRE  threatened,  and to the  best  Knowledge  of KRE
                           there are no facts  which could give rise to any such
                           actions,  suits, or claims (other than routine claims
                           for  benefits in the  ordinary  course),  which could
                           subject KRE to any material liability;

                                    (B)  KRE  has not  engaged  in a  prohibited
                           transaction,  as such  term is  defined  in the  Code
                           which would  subject KRE to any taxes,  penalties  or
                           other    liabilities    resulting   from   prohibited
                           transactions under the Code or under ERISA; and

                                    (C) KRE is not subject to (1) any liability,
                           lien  or  other   encumbrance   under  any  agreement
                           imposing  secondary  liability  on KRE as a seller of
                           the assets of a business under ERISA or the Code, (2)
                           contingent  liability  under  ERISA to the PBGC or to
                           any plan, participant,  or other person or (3) a lien
                           or other encumbrance under ERISA.

                           (v) (A) KRE is not subject to any legal, contractual,
                  equitable,  or other  obligation  to continue  any KRE Benefit
                  Plan of any nature, including, without




                                       12






                  limitation any KRE Benefit Plan or any other  pension,  profit
                  sharing,  welfare,  or  post-retirement  welfare  plan, or any
                  stock  option,  stock or cash  award,  non-qualified  deferred
                  compensation  or  executive   compensation   plan,  policy  or
                  practice  (or to continue  participation  in any such  benefit
                  plan, policy or practice) on or after the Closing;

                                    (B) KRE may, in any manner,  and without the
                           consent of any employee, beneficiary or other person,
                           terminate,  modify or amend any such KRE Benefit Plan
                           (or its participation in such KRE Benefit Plan or any
                           other plan, program or practice)  effective as of any
                           date on or after the Closing; and

                                    (C)  no  representations  or  communications
                           (directly  or  indirectly,   orally,  in  writing  or
                           otherwise) with respect to participation, eligibility
                           for benefits,  vesting,  benefit accrual  coverage or
                           other  material  terms of any KRE  Benefit  Plan have
                           been  made  prior  to the  Closing  to any  employee,
                           beneficiary  or other  person  other than those which
                           are in  accordance  with the terms and  provisions of
                           each such KRE Benefit  Plan as in effect  immediately
                           prior to the Closing.

                           (vi)   KRE   has  at  no  time   participated   in  a
                  multi-employer  pension plan defined  under  Section  3(37) of
                  ERISA.

                           (vii) With respect to each and every KRE Benefit Plan
                  subject  to ERISA:  (A) no such KRE  Benefit  Plan or  related
                  trust has been  terminated  or  partially  terminated;  (B) no
                  liability  to the PBGC has been or is  expected to be incurred
                  with  respect to such KRE Benefit  Plan;  (C) the PBGC has not
                  instituted and to the best Knowledge of KRE is not expected to
                  institute any  proceedings to terminate such KRE Benefit Plan;
                  (D) there has been no reportable  event (within the meaning of
                  ERISA);  (E) there exists no condition or set of circumstances
                  that presents a material risk of the  termination  of such KRE
                  Benefit  Plan  by  the  PBGC;  (F)  no   accumulated   funding
                  deficiency  (as defined under ERISA and the Code),  whether or
                  not waived,  exists with respect to such KRE Benefit Plan; and
                  (G) the current  value of all vested  accrued  benefits  under
                  each such KRE  Benefit  Plan did not as of the last day of the
                  most recently  ended fiscal year of each KRE Benefit Plan, and
                  will not as of the  Closing,  exceed the current  value of the
                  assets of each such KRE Benefit Plan  allocable to such vested
                  accrued  benefits  determined by KRE Benefit Plans' actuary on
                  an ongoing basis.

                           (viii)  Except as set forth on Schedule  3.2(n)(viii)
                  hereto, no director or officer or other employee of KRE or any
                  of its  Subsidiaries  will become  entitled to any retirement,
                  severance  or  similar  benefit  or  enhanced  or  accelerated
                  benefit  (including  any  acceleration  of vesting or lapse of
                  repurchase  rights or obligations with respect to any employee
                  stock option or other benefit under any stock option plan or



                                       13







                  compensation plan or arrangement of KRE) solely as a result of
                  the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (o) Year 2000 Matters.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.2(o)
                      ------------------
         hereto,  the  computer  software  operated  by  KRE  and  each  of  its
         Subsidiaries  is capable of  providing  or is being  adapted to provide
         uninterrupted  millennium  functionality to record,  store, process and
         present  calendar  dates  falling  on  or  after  January  1,  2000  in
         substantially  the same manner and with the same  functionality as such
         software  records,  stores,  processes and presents such calendar dates
         falling on or before  December 31, 1999.  The costs of the  adaptations
         referred to in the prior  sentence  will not be material to KRE and its
         Subsidiaries.  To the Knowledge of KRI and KRE,  neither KRE nor any of
         its  Subsidiaries has  relationships  with third parties the failure of
         whose systems to be Year 2000 compliant will be material to KRE.

                  (p) Confidentiality  Agreements.  All current employees of KRE
                      ----------------------------
         and its Subsidiaries  have executed the KRE Information  Resources User
         Acknowledgment  and  have  received  a  copy  of  the  KRE  Information
         Resources Use and Protection Policy.

                  (q) Vote Required.  The affirmative vote of the holders of the
                      --------------
         majority of the  outstanding  shares of KRE Common Stock at a duly held
         meeting of such holders (the "Required KRE Vote") to approve the Merger
         is the only vote of the  shareholders of KRE, KRH, KRM or KRI required,
         other than the votes of the Boards of  Directors of KRM, KRH and KRI to
         approve the Merger.

                  (r) Fairness  Opinion.  KRI has received  from Nesbitt  Burns,
                      ------------------
         KRI's financial  advisor with respect to the transactions  contemplated
         by this Agreement,  an opinion to the effect that the  consideration to
         be  received by the KRI  shareholders  in the Merger is fair to the KRI
         shareholders from a financial point of view.

                  (s) Full Disclosure. To the best of KRI's and KRE's Knowledge,
                      ----------------
         this Agreement and any Schedules,  certificates  and the KRE Leases and
         Wells Lists delivered by KRI and KRE in connection herewith or with the
         transactions contemplated hereby, taken as a whole, neither contain any
         untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state any material fact
         required  to be  stated  therein  or  necessary  in  order  to make the
         statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
         made, not misleading.  To the best of KRI's and KRE's Knowledge,  there
         are no facts or circumstances  relating to KRE or any Subsidiary of KRE
         that will  have,  or would be  reasonably  likely to have,  a  Material
         Adverse Effect on St. Mary  following the Closing Date,  other than any
         facts or circumstances (A) disclosed in this Agreement or any schedule,
         exhibit or other  document  delivered in  connection  herewith,  or (B)
         previously disclosed to St. Mary by KRI or KRE.

         Section 3.3  Representations and Warranties by St. Mary.  Except as set
                      -------------------------------------------
forth in the St. Mary Disclosure Schedule attached to this Agreement as Schedule
3.3 (the "St. Mary  Disclosure  Schedule")  (each section of which qualifies the
correspondingly numbered representation and warranty or covenant



                                       14






to the extent specified therein), St. Mary hereby represents and warrants to KRI
as follows:

                  (a)  Organization  and Standing of St. Mary. St. Mary and each
                       ---------------------------------------
         of  its  Subsidiaries  is a  corporation  duly  organized  and  validly
         existing and in good  standing  under the laws of its  jurisdiction  of
         incorporation or organization, has all requisite power and authority to
         own,  lease and operate its  properties and to carry on its business as
         now being  conducted,  and is duly  qualified  to do business and is in
         good standing in each  jurisdiction in which the nature of its business
         or the ownership or leasing of its properties  make such  qualification
         necessary other than in  jurisdictions  where the failure to so qualify
         would not,  either  individually  or in the aggregate,  have a Material
         Adverse  Effect  on St.  Mary.  Except  with  respect  to the St.  Mary
         Subsidiaries  set forth on the St. Mary Disclosure  Schedule,  St. Mary
         has no direct or indirect interest, either by way of stock ownership or
         otherwise,  in any other firm, corporation,  association,  or business.
         The copies of the certificate of  incorporation  and bylaws of St. Mary
         which were previously  furnished to KRI and KRE are true,  complete and
         correct  copies  of such  documents  as in  effect  on the date of this
         Agreement.

                  (b)  Authority; No Conflicts.
                       ------------------------

                           (i) The execution,  delivery and  performance of this
                  Agreement have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate
                  action on the part of St.  Mary,  subject to the  Required St.
                  Mary Vote (as defined below). This Agreement has been executed
                  and delivered by St. Mary and  constitutes a valid and binding
                  obligation  of St. Mary  enforceable  in  accordance  with its
                  terms (except as limited by bankruptcy,  insolvency,  or other
                  laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights).

                           (ii) The execution and delivery of this  Agreement by
                  St. Mary does, and the  consummation by St. Mary of the Merger
                  and the  other  transactions  contemplated  hereby  will  not,
                  conflict  with or result in a violation  pursuant  to: (A) any
                  provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of St.
                  Mary, (B) any loan or credit agreement,  note, mortgage, bond,
                  indenture, lease, benefit plan or other agreement, obligation,
                  instrument, permit, concession,  franchise, license, judgment,
                  order,  decree,  statute,  law, ordinance,  rule or regulation
                  applicable to St. Mary or any Subsidiary of St. Mary or any of
                  its properties or assets,  except as would not have a Material
                  Adverse Effect on St. Mary, subject to obtaining the consents,
                  approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations
                  and filings referred to in paragraph (iii) below.

                           (iii) No consent,  approval,  order or  authorization
                  of,  or   registration,   declaration   or  filing   with,   a
                  Governmental Entity is required by or with respect to St. Mary
                  or its  Subsidiaries  in  connection  with the  execution  and
                  delivery of this Agreement by St. Mary or the  consummation of
                  the Merger  and the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby,
                  except for the Required Consents and such consents, approvals,
                  orders,   authorizations,   registrations,   declarations  and
                  filings the failure of which to make or obtain would not  have




                                       15







         a Material Adverse Effect on St. Mary or its Subsidiaries.

                  (c)  Capitalization  of St. Mary and Indebtedness for Borrowed
                       ---------------------------------------------------------
         Moneys. St. Mary is duly and lawfully  authorized by its certificate of
         -------
         incorporation to issue  50,000,000  shares of St. Mary Common Stock, of
         which as of the date  hereof  there are  11,276,938  shares  issued and
         outstanding and 182,800 shares held by St. Mary as treasury stock.  St.
         Mary  has no  other  authorized  series  or  class  of  stock.  All the
         outstanding  shares of St. Mary Common Stock have been duly  authorized
         and  validly  issued and are fully paid and  nonassessable  and free of
         preemptive  rights.  All of the shares of St. Mary  Common  Stock to be
         issued  upon  consummation  of the  Merger  will  be,  at the  time  of
         issuance,  duly authorized and validly  issued,  and will be fully paid
         and nonassessable and free of preemptive  rights.  St. Mary has a Stock
         Option Plan and an Incentive Stock Option Plan (collectively,  the "St.
         Mary  Option  Plans")  which  provide  for  the  issuance  of  up to an
         aggregate of 1,650,000  shares of St. Mary Common Stock pursuant to the
         exercise of options  granted under the St. Mary Option Plans. As of the
         date  hereof,  options  representing  in the  aggregate  the  right  to
         purchase  684,322  shares of St.  Mary Common  Stock have been  granted
         under the St. Mary Option Plans and remain outstanding. St. Mary has an
         Employee  Stock  Purchase Plan for the purchase of up to 500,000 shares
         of St. Mary Common Stock,  under which 24,821 shares of St. Mary Common
         Stock have been purchased through the date hereof.  Except with respect
         to the  foregoing  and to this  Agreement,  and  except as set forth on
         Schedule  3.3(c),  neither  St.  Mary  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is
         obligated to issue any additional capital stock or voting securities as
         a  result  of  any  options,   warrants,   rights,  conversion  rights,
         obligations upon default, subscription agreement or other obligation of
         any  kind.  St.  Mary  is  not  presently  liable  on  account  of  any
         indebtedness for borrowed moneys, except as reflected in the St.
         Mary Financial Statements (as hereinafter defined).

                  (d)  St. Mary SEC Reports and Financial Statements.
                       ----------------------------------------------

                           (i)  St.  Mary  has  filed  all   required   reports,
                  schedules,  forms,  statements and other documents required to
                  be filed with the SEC  (collectively,  including  all exhibits
                  thereto,  the "St.  Mary SEC  Reports").  No Subsidiary of St.
                  Mary is  required to file any form,  report or other  document
                  with the SEC.  None of the St. Mary SEC  Reports,  as of their
                  respective  dates (and,  if amended or  superseded  by filings
                  prior to the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date,  then
                  on the date of such filing), contained any untrue statement of
                  a material  fact or omitted to state a material  fact required
                  to be  stated  therein  or  necessary  to make the  statements
                  therein,  in light of the circumstances  under which they were
                  made,  not  misleading.   Each  of  the  financial  statements
                  (including  the  related  notes)  included in the St. Mary SEC
                  Reports  presents  fairly,  in  all  material  respects,   the
                  consolidated  financial  position and consolidated  results of
                  operations and cash flows of St. Mary and its  Subsidiaries as
                  of the  respective  dates or for the  respective  periods  set
                  forth  therein,  all  in  accordance  with  GAAP  consistently
                  applied during the periods  involved except as otherwise noted
                  therein.  All of  such  St.  Mary  SEC  Reports,  as of  their
                  respective




                                       16






                  dates (and as of the date of any  amendment to the  respective
                  St.  Mary SEC  Report),  complied  as to form in all  material
                  respects with the  applicable  requirements  of the Securities
                  Act and the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
                  "Exchange  Act"),  and the rules and  regulations  promulgated
                  thereunder.

                           (ii)  St.  Mary  has  furnished  to KRM  and  KRI its
                  audited balance sheets as of December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998,
                  its audited  statements of operations  and  statements of cash
                  flows for each of the three years ended December 31, 1998, its
                  unaudited  balance sheet as of May 31, 1999, and its unaudited
                  income  statement  and  statement  of cash  flows for the five
                  months  ended May 31,  1999 and 1998  (collectively,  the "St.
                  Mary  Financial  Statements").  All of the St. Mary  Financial
                  Statements  present  fairly,  in all  material  respects,  the
                  financial  position of St. Mary as of the  respective  balance
                  sheet dates,  and the results of its operations and cash flows
                  for the respective  periods  therein  specified.  The St. Mary
                  Financial  Statements  were prepared in  accordance  with GAAP
                  (except in the case of unaudited interim financial statements,
                  as permitted by the rules and  regulations of the SEC) applied
                  on a consistent basis.

                  (e) Present Status.  Except as otherwise  disclosed in the St.
                      ---------------
         Mary  Disclosure  Schedule,  from  May  31,  1999  to the  date of this
         Agreement,  St.  Mary  and  its  Subsidiaries  have  not  incurred  any
         liabilities that are of a nature that would be required to be disclosed
         on a consolidated balance sheet of St. Mary and its Subsidiaries or the
         notes thereto  prepared in accordance with GAAP, other than liabilities
         incurred  in the  ordinary  course of business of St. Mary and which do
         not have a Material Adverse Effect on St. Mary.

                  (f) Litigation.  Except as disclosed in the St. Mary Financial
                      -----------
         Statements, the St. Mary Disclosure Schedule or Schedule 3.3(f) hereto,
         there are no legal  actions,  suits,  arbitrations,  or other  legal or
         administrative  proceedings  pending or, to the  Knowledge of St. Mary,
         threatened  against St. Mary or any  Subsidiary of St. Mary which would
         reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on St. Mary
         and its Subsidiaries.  In addition,  St. Mary is not aware of any facts
         which to the best of its  Knowledge  would  reasonably  be  expected to
         result in any action, suit, arbitration or other proceeding which would
         reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on St. Mary
         and its  Subsidiaries.  Neither St. Mary nor any of its Subsidiaries is
         in  default  of any  judgment,  order or decree of any court or, in any
         material  respect  of,  any  requirements  of a  government  agency  or
         instrumentality.

                  (g) Compliance With the Law and Other Instruments. To the best
                      ----------------------------------------------
         of St. Mary's Knowledge,  the business operations of St. Mary have been
         and are being conducted in compliance in all material respects with all
         applicable laws, rules, and regulations of all authorities. St. Mary is
         not in violation of, or in default under,  any term or provision of its
         certificate of  incorporation  or its bylaws or in any material respect
         of any lien, mortgage, lease, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or
         decree,  except those  violations,  defaults and restrictions  which do
         not, individually and in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect




                                       17







         on St. Mary and its Subsidiaries,or which do not prohibit St. Mary from
         entering into this Agreement.

                  (h) Title to  Properties  and  Assets.  Except as set forth on
                      ----------------------------------
         Schedule  3.3(h) hereto,  St. Mary and its  Subsidiaries  have good and
         defensible  title  to  all  of  its  material  properties  and  assets,
         including without  limitation those reflected in the St. Mary Financial
         Statements and those used or located on property controlled by St. Mary
         or any of its  Subsidiaries  in its business  (except  assets leased or
         sold in the  ordinary  course of  business),  subject  to no  mortgage,
         pledge,  lien, charge,  security  interest,  encumbrance or restriction
         except  those  which  (a)  are  disclosed  in the  St.  Mary  Financial
         Statements;  or (b) do not have a Material  Adverse  Effect on St. Mary
         and its Subsidiaries, taken together.

                  (i) Oil and Gas Leases and Wells.  St. Mary has  furnished  to
                      -----------------------------
         KRI lists of all oil and gas leases and wells in which St. Mary owns or
         claims  any type of right or  interest  whether  legal,  equitable,  or
         beneficial  (the "St.  Mary  Leases and Wells  Lists") and the St. Mary
         Leases  and Wells  Lists are  accurate  and  complete  in all  material
         respects.  All leases listed on the St. Mary Leases and Wells Lists are
         valid and in full force and effect, and all rentals, royalties, shut-in
         payments,  minimum  royalties,  and other payments due thereunder  have
         been timely and properly made.  Except as specifically set forth on the
         St. Mary Leases and Wells Lists, St. Mary enjoys and is in peaceful and
         undisturbed  possession  under  each lease and for each well so listed.
         St. Mary has not received any notice of, and there does not exist,  any
         default,  event,  occurrence or act which, with the giving of notice or
         lapse of time or both, would become a default under any such lease, and
         St. Mary has not violated any of the terms or conditions under any such
         lease in any material respect.  To the Knowledge of St. Mary, such real
         property  and the wells,  pipelines,  gathering  lines and  facilities,
         processing facilities,  flow lines, tanks, pumps, production platforms,
         equipment  and any and all other  buildings,  fixtures,  equipment  and
         other property  attached or appurtenant or situated thereon are in good
         operating  condition and repair, in compliance in all material respects
         with all applicable laws and are adequate and suitable for the purposes
         for which they are presently being used,  except for such matters which
         in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on St. Mary.

                  (j) Records.  To the best of St. Mary's  Knowledge,  the books
                      --------
         and other  records of St. Mary and its  Subsidiaries  are  complete and
         correct  in all  material  respects,  and there  have been no  material
         transactions  involving  the business of St. Mary and its  Subsidiaries
         which properly  should have been set forth in such records,  other than
         those set forth therein.

                  (k) Absence of Certain Changes or Events.  Since May 31, 1999,
                      -------------------------------------
         (i)  there has not been any  material  adverse  change  in, or event or
         condition  which has had a Material  Adverse  Effect on, the  condition
         (financial or otherwise),  properties,  assets,  liabilities or, to the
         best  of St.  Mary's  Knowledge,  the  business  of St.  Mary  and  its
         Subsidiaries,  taken  together  (other than any change or  circumstance
         relating to the economy or securities  markets in general or to the oil
         and gas industry in general and not specifically relating to St. Mary),
         and (ii) except for its $0.05 per share St. Mary Common Stock  dividend
         per quarter, St. Mary has not



                                       18







         declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution in respect
         of any of its  capital  stock,  and except for the  purchase of 182,800
         shares of St. Mary Common Stock under its open market share  repurchase
         program, St. Mary has not repurchased or redeemed or otherwise acquired
         any shares of its capital  stock or  obligated  itself to do any of the
         foregoing.

                  (l) Taxes.  To the  Knowledge  of St.  Mary,  St. Mary and its
                      ------
         Subsidiaries  have duly filed all  federal,  state,  county,  local and
         foreign income, franchise, excise, real and personal property and other
         tax returns and reports (including,  but not limited to, those relating
         to social security, withholding, unemployment insurance, and occupation
         (sales) and use taxes)  required to have been filed by St. Mary and its
         Subsidiaries  up to the date hereof.  To the Knowledge of St. Mary, all
         of the foregoing  returns are true and correct in all material respects
         and St. Mary and its Subsidiaries  have paid or provided for all taxes,
         interest and  penalties  shown on such returns or reports as being due.
         To the  Knowledge of St. Mary,  St. Mary and its  Subsidiaries  have no
         liability for any amount of taxes,  interest or penalties of any nature
         whatsoever,  except  for those  taxes  which may have  arisen up to the
         Closing  Date in the  ordinary  course  of  business  and are  properly
         accrued on the books of St. Mary and its Subsidiaries as of the Closing
         Date.

                  (m)  Environmental  Matters.  St.  Mary  is not  aware  of any
                       -----------------------
         actions,  proceedings or investigations  pending or, to the best of St.
         Mary's  Knowledge,  threatened  before  any  federal,  state or foreign
         environmental  regulatory body or before any federal,  state or foreign
         court  alleging  material  noncompliance  by  St.  Mary  or  any of its
         Subsidiaries  with any  Environmental  Laws.  To the best of St. Mary's
         Knowledge:  (i) there is no reasonable basis for the institution of any
         material action, proceeding or investigation against St. Mary or any of
         its Subsidiaries for violation of any  Environmental  Law; (ii) neither
         St.  Mary  nor  any  of  its  Subsidiaries  is  responsible  under  any
         Environmental  Law for any release by any person at or in the  vicinity
         of real  property  of any  hazardous  substance  (as defined by CERCLA)
         caused by the spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting,  emptying,
         discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing of any
         such  hazardous  substance  into the  environment,  other than  routine
         incidental  releases  associated with normal operations the remediation
         of which is required under the Environmental Laws and the cost of which
         will not be material to St. Mary; (iii) neither St. Mary nor any of its
         Subsidiaries  is  responsible  for any  costs  of any  remedial  action
         required by virtue of any release of any hazardous substance, pollutant
         or  contaminant  into the  environment,  other than routine  incidental
         releases  associated with normal operations the remediation of which is
         required under the Environmental Laws and the cost of which will not be
         material  to St.  Mary;  (iv)  St.  Mary  and its  Subsidiaries  are in
         compliance in all material  respects with all applicable  Environmental
         Laws;  and (v) no real property used,  owned,  managed or controlled by
         St. Mary or any of its  Subsidiaries  contains  any toxic or  hazardous
         substance  including,   without  limitation,   any  asbestos,  PCBs  or
         petroleum products or byproducts in any form, the presence, location or
         condition  of which  violates  any  Environmental  Law in any  material
         respect.



                                       19








                  (n) St. Mary Benefit Plans.
                    -------------------------

                           (i)  Attached  hereto  as  Schedule  3.3(n) is a list
                  identifying  each  Benefit  Plan  of  St.  Mary  or any of its
                  Subsidiaries.

                           (ii) With  respect  to each St.  Mary  Benefit  Plan,
                  there has been  delivered  to KRM and KRI,  (i) copies of each
                  such St. Mary Benefit Plan  (including  all trust  agreements,
                  insurance or annuity contracts,  descriptions, general notices
                  to employees or beneficiaries and any other material documents
                  or instruments relating thereto); (ii) the most recent audited
                  (if required or otherwise  available)  or unaudited  financial
                  statement  with  respect to each such St. Mary  Benefit  Plan;
                  (iii)  copies of the most recent  determination  letters  with
                  respect to any such St. Mary Benefit Plan which is an employee
                  pension  benefit  plan (as such term is defined  under  ERISA)
                  intended  to qualify  under the Code;  and (iv)  copies of the
                  most recent actuarial  reports,  if any, of each such St. Mary
                  Benefit Plan.

                           (iii) With respect to each St. Mary Benefit Plan:

                                    (A) each such St. Mary Benefit Plan which is
                           an employee  pension benefit plan intended to qualify
                           under  the  Code  so  qualifies  and has  received  a
                           favorable    determination    letter    as   to   its
                           qualification  under  the  Code,  and  no  event  has
                           occurred that will or could reasonably be expected to
                           give rise to  disqualification  or loss of tax-exempt
                           status of any such plan or related trust;

                                    (B) St. Mary has  complied  in all  material
                           respects  with all  provisions of ERISA and no act or
                           omission by St. Mary in connection  with any St. Mary
                           Benefit  Plan  has   occurred   that  will  or  could
                           reasonably  be expected to give rise to liability for
                           a breach of fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA or
                           to any fines or penalties under ERISA;

                                    (C) all insurance and annuity  premiums,  if
                           any, required for all periods up to and including the
                           Closing have been or will be paid;

                                    (D) no St. Mary  Benefit  Plan  provides for
                           any  post-retirement  life,  dental or other  welfare
                           benefits  (whether or not insured) for any current or
                           former  employee except as required under the Code or
                           ERISA or applicable state or local Law;

                                    (E) all contributions  required to have been
                           made  by law or  under  the  terms  of any  contract,
                           agreement  or St. Mary  Benefit Plan for all complete
                           and partial  periods up to and  including the Closing
                           have been made or will be made;




                                       20







                                    (F) the  transactions  contemplated  by this
                           Agreement will not be the direct or indirect cause of
                           any amount paid or payable from such St. Mary Benefit
                           Plan being classified as an excess parachute  payment
                           under the Code;

                                    (G) there are no matters  pending before the
                           United States Internal  Revenue  Service,  the United
                           States Department of Labor or the PBGC;

                                    (H)  there have been no claims or  notice of
                           claims filed under any  fiduciary liability insurance
                           policy covering any St. Mary Benefit Plan;

                                    (I) each and  every  such St.  Mary  Benefit
                           Plan  which is a group  health  plan (as such term is
                           defined  under the Code or  ERISA),  complies  in all
                           material  respects,  and in each and  every  case has
                           complied   in  all   material   respects,   with  the
                           applicable  requirements  of  the  Code,  ERISA,  the
                           applicable   requirements  of  the  Health  Insurance
                           Portability and  Accountability  Act of 1996, and all
                           other  federal,  state  or local  Laws or  ordinances
                           requiring the provision or  continuance  of health or
                           medical benefits;

                                    (J) each and every  St.  Mary  Benefit  Plan
                           which  is  a  cafeteria  plan  or  flexible  spending
                           account plan complies in all material  respects,  and
                           in each and every case has  complied in all  material
                           respects,  with the  applicable  requirements  of the
                           Code and all  other  applicable  federal,  state,  or
                           local Laws or ordinances; and

                                    (K) each and every  St.  Mary  Benefit  Plan
                           which is a dependent care assistance program complies
                           in all material respects,  and in each and every case
                           has  complied  in all  material  respects,  with  the
                           applicable  requirements  of the Code  and all  other
                           applicable   federal,   state   or   local   Laws  or
                           ordinances.

                           (iv)  With  respect  to  any  employee  benefit  plan
                  (within  the meaning of ERISA),  stock  purchase  plan,  stock
                  option plan,  fringe benefit plan,  bonus plan or any deferred
                  compensation  agreement,  plan or program  (whether or not any
                  such plan, program, or agreement is currently in effect):

                                    (A) there are no actions,  suits,  or claims
                           (other  than  routine  claims  for  benefits  in  the
                           ordinary course) pending or, to the best Knowledge of
                           St. Mary threatened, and to the best Knowledge of St.
                           Mary there are no facts  which could give rise to any
                           such  actions,  suits,  or claims (other than routine
                           claims for  benefits in the ordinary  course),  which
                           could subject St. Mary to any material liability;

                                    (B) St. Mary has not engaged in a prohibited
                           transaction,  as such  term is  defined  in the  Code
                           which would subject St. Mary to any taxes,



                                       21







                           penalties   or  other  liabilities   resulting   from
                           prohibited  transactions  under  the  Code  or  under
                           ERISA;  and

                                    (C)  St.  Mary  is not  subject  to (1)  any
                           liability,   lien  or  other  encumbrance  under  any
                           agreement imposing secondary liability on St. Mary as
                           a seller of the assets of a business  under  ERISA or
                           the Code, (2) contingent liability under ERISA to the
                           PBGC or to any plan, participant,  or other person or
                           (3) a lien or other encumbrance under ERISA.

                           (v)  St.  Mary  has  at  no  time  participated  in a
                  multi-employer  pension plan defined  under  Section  3(37) of
                  ERISA.

                           (vi) With  respect to each and every St. Mary Benefit
                  Plan  subject to ERISA:  (A) no such St. Mary  Benefit Plan or
                  related trust has been terminated or partially terminated; (B)
                  no  liability  to the  PBGC  has  been  or is  expected  to be
                  incurred with respect to such St. Mary Benefit  Plan;  (C) the
                  PBGC has not  instituted and to the best Knowledge of St. Mary
                  is not expected to institute any proceedings to terminate such
                  St. Mary Benefit Plan; (D) there has been no reportable  event
                  (within the meaning of ERISA);  (E) there  exists no condition
                  or set of  circumstances  that presents a material risk of the
                  termination  of such St. Mary Benefit Plan by the PBGC; (F) no
                  accumulated funding deficiency (as defined under ERISA and the
                  Code), whether or not waived,  exists with respect to such St.
                  Mary  Benefit  Plan;  and (G) the current  value of all vested
                  accrued benefits under each such St. Mary Benefit Plan did not
                  as of the last day of the most  recently  ended fiscal year of
                  each St. Mary  Benefit  Plan,  and will not as of the Closing,
                  exceed the  current  value of the assets of each such St. Mary
                  Benefit  Plan  allocable  to  such  vested  accrued   benefits
                  determined  by St. Mary Benefit  Plans'  actuary on an ongoing
                  basis.

                           (vii) No director or officer or other employee of St.
                  Mary or any of its  Subsidiaries  will become  entitled to any
                  retirement,  severance  or  similar  benefit  or  enhanced  or
                  accelerated  benefit (including any acceleration of vesting or
                  lapse of repurchase  rights or obligations with respect to any
                  employee  stock option or other benefit under any stock option
                  plan or  compensation  plan or arrangement of St. Mary) solely
                  as  a  result  of  the   transactions   contemplated  by  this
                  Agreement.

                  (o) Year 2000 Matters.  The computer  software operated by St.
                      ------------------
         Mary  is  capable  of  providing   or  is  being   adapted  to  provide
         uninterrupted  millennium  functionality to record,  store, process and
         present  calendar  dates  falling  on  or  after  January  1,  2000  in
         substantially  the same manner and with the same  functionality as such
         software  records,  stores,  processes and presents such calendar dates
         falling on or before  December 31, 1999.  The costs of the  adaptations
         referred to in the prior  sentence will not be material to St. Mary and
         its  Subsidiaries.  To the Knowledge of St. Mary,  neither St. Mary nor
         any of its  Subsidiaries  has  relationships  with  third  parties  the
         failure of whose systems to be Year 2000  compliant will be material to
         St. Mary.



                                       22







                  (p) Finders and Advisors.  Except for Deutsche Bank Securities
                      ---------------------
         Inc.  a copy of  whose  engagement  agreement  with  St.  Mary has been
         provided to KRM and KRI, there is no investment banker,  broker, finder
         or other  intermediary  which has been  retained by or is authorized to
         act on  behalf  of St.  Mary or any of its  Subsidiaries  who  might be
         entitled to any fee or commission in connection  with the  transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (q) Vote  Required.  The  affirmative  vote of the  holders of
                      ---------------
         shares of St. Mary Common  Stock  representing  a majority of the total
         shares represented at a duly held meeting of the holders of outstanding
         shares of St.  Mary  Common  Stock (the  "Required  St.  Mary Vote") to
         approve  the St.  Mary  Share  Issuance  pursuant  to the terms of this
         Agreement  is the only vote of the  holders of St. Mary  capital  stock
         necessary for the Merger.

                  (r) Fairness Opinion. St. Mary has received from Deutsche Bank
                      -----------------
         Securities  Inc.,  St.  Mary's  financial  advisor  with respect to the
         transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  an opinion to the effect
         that the  consideration to be paid by St. Mary in the Merger is fair to
         St. Mary from a financial point of view.

                  (s) Full Disclosure. To the best of St. Mary's Knowledge, this
                      ----------------
         Agreement,  and any Schedules,  certificates and other St. Mary Leases
         and Wells Lists  delivered by St. Mary in connection  herewith or with
         the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  taken  as a  whole,  neither
         contain any untrue  statement of a material fact nor omit to state any
         material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to
         make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
         they were made, not misleading.  To the best of St. Mary's  Knowledge,
         there  are no  facts  or  circumstances  relating  to St.  Mary or any
         Subsidiary of St. Mary that will have,  or would be reasonably  likely
         to have, a Material  Adverse  Effect on St. Mary following the Closing
         Date,  other than any facts or  circumstances  (A)  disclosed  in this
         Agreement  or any  schedule,  exhibit or other  document  delivered in
         connection herewith,  or (B) previously disclosed to KRI or KRE by St.
         Mary.

         Section 3.4  Representations and Warranties of St. Mary and Merger Sub.
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
  St. Mary and Merger Sub represent and warrant to KRI and KRE as follows:

                  (a)  Organization  and Standing of Merger Sub. Merger Sub is a
                       -----------------------------------------
         corporation  duly  incorporated,  validly existing and in good standing
         under the laws of the State of  Colorado.  Merger  Sub is a  first-tier
         wholly owned subsidiary of St. Mary.

                  (b) Authority.  Merger Sub has all requisite  corporate  power
                      ----------
         and  authority  to enter  into this  Agreement  and to  consummate  the
         transactions   contemplated   hereby.   The  execution,   delivery  and
         performance  by Merger Sub of this  Agreement and the  consummation  by
         Merger  Sub of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  have  been duly
         authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Merger Sub.
         This  Agreement  has been duly executed and delivered by Merger Sub and
         constitutes  a valid and binding  agreement of Merger Sub,  enforceable
         against it in accordance with its terms,  except as such enforceability
         may be limited by bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium
         and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors generally.




                                       23







                  (c) Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance
                      ------------------
         by Merger Sub of this Agreement and the  consummation  by Merger Sub of
         transactions  contemplated  hereby  do not and will not  contravene  or
         conflict with the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Merger Sub.

                  (d) No Business  Activities by Merger Sub.  Merger Sub has not
                      --------------------------------------
         conducted any activities other than in connection with the organization
         of Merger Sub, the  negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
         Merger Sub has no subsidiaries.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                    COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

         Section 4.1  Covenants of KRI and KRE.  During the period from the date
                      -------------------------
of this  Agreement and  continuing  until the Effective  Time, KRI and KRE agree
that (except as  expressly  contemplated  or  permitted by this  Agreement or as
otherwise  indicated  on  the  KRE  Disclosure  Schedule  or  as  required  by a
Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction or to the extent that St.
Mary shall otherwise consent in writing):

                  (a) Ordinary Course.
                      ----------------

                           (i) KRE and its  Subsidiaries  shall  carry  on their
                  respective  businesses  in the  usual,  regular  and  ordinary
                  course in all material  respects,  in  substantially  the same
                  manner as heretofore  conducted,  and shall use all reasonable
                  efforts to preserve  intact their  present  lines of business,
                  maintain  their  rights  and  franchises  and  preserve  their
                  relationships  with  customers,  suppliers  and  other  having
                  business  dealings  with  them to the end that  their  ongoing
                  businesses  shall not be impaired in any  material  respect at
                  the Effective Time; provided,  however,  that no action by KRE
                  or its  Subsidiaries  with  respect  to  matters  specifically
                  addressed by any other  provision of this Section 4.1 shall be
                  deemed a breach of this Section  4.1(a)(i)  unless such action
                  would  constitute  a  breach  of one or  more  of  such  other
                  provisions.

                           (ii) KRI or KRE shall  promptly  give St. Mary notice
                  of what it reasonably  believes to be any material  occurrence
                  in the business of KRE or any of its  Subsidiaries.  KRE shall
                  not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur or
                  commit to any capital or other expenditure,  whether or not in
                  the ordinary course of business,  in excess (as to KRE and its
                  Subsidiaries) of $500,000 without the prior written consent of
                  St. Mary,  except for capital or other  expenditures set forth
                  on Schedule 4.1(a)(ii) attached to this Agreement.

                           (iii)   Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of  Section
                  4.1(a)(i),  the parties  agree and  acknowledge  that from the
                  date hereof through the Closing Date,  KRE will  substantially
                  reduce (and possibly  eliminate)  its  drilling,  exploration,
                  development



                                       24







                  and  related  activities,  provided  that such  reduction  (or
                  elimination)  does not  constitute,  or result  in, a material
                  breach by KRE of a written  commitment,  contract or agreement
                  in effect as of the date hereof or  otherwise  does not result
                  in a penalty  which  would have a Material  Adverse  Effect on
                  KRE. The parties further agree and  acknowledge  that any such
                  reduction (or elimination)  will not constitute a violation of
                  the  obligations of KRI and KRE  hereunder.  In the event that
                  KRE  elects not to pursue a  material  drilling,  exploration,
                  development or related opportunity presented to KRE by a third
                  party from the date hereof through the Closing Date, KRE shall
                  give St. Mary written notice thereof,  and St. Mary shall have
                  the right to pursue such  opportunity  for its own benefit and
                  at its own cost  and  expense.  KRE will use its  commercially
                  reasonable  efforts to assist St. Mary in exercising the right
                  to pursue any such opportunity.

                  (b) Dividends;  Changes in Share  Capital.  KRE  shall not (i)
                      --------------------------------------
          declare or pay any dividends on or make other distributions in respect
          of any of its capital stock, (ii) split,  combine or reclassify any of
          its capital stock or issue or authorize or propose the issuance of any
          other  securities  in respect of, in lieu of or in  substitution  for,
          shares of its  capital  stock,  except for any such  transaction  by a
          wholly owned Subsidiary of KRE which remains a wholly owned Subsidiary
          after consummation of such transactions,  or (iii) repurchase,  redeem
          or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or any securities
          convertible  into or exercisable  for any shares of its capital stock;
          provided,  however, that KRE may increase its authorized capital stock
          and  take  such  other   action  as   necessary  to  insure  that  the
          distribution  of KRE stock to  shareholders of KRI is on a one for one
          basis; and provided,  further,  that this provision shall not prohibit
          intercompany   transactions   in  the  ordinary   course  of  business
          consistent with past practice.

                  (c)  Issuance  of  Securities.  KRE shall  not,  and shall not
                       -------------------------
         permit any of its Subsidiaries to, issue, deliver or sell, or authorize
         or propose the issuance, delivery or sale of, any shares of its capital
         stock of any class, any voting securities or any securities convertible
         into or exercisable for, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire,
         any such shares or voting securities,  or enter into any agreement with
         respect to any of the foregoing, other than issuances by a wholly owned
         Subsidiary of KRE of capital stock to such Subsidiary's parent.

                  (d)  Governing  Documents.  Except to the extent  required  to
                       ---------------------
         comply with  obligations  hereunder  or  required  by law,  KRE and its
         Subsidiaries  shall not amend in any material  respect or propose to so
         amend their respective  certificates of incorporation,  bylaws or other
         governing documents.

                  (e)  No Acquisitions.  KRE shall not, and shall not permit any
                       -----------------
         of its  Subsidiaries  to,  acquire  or agree to  acquire  by merging or
         consolidating  with, or by purchasing a substantial  equity interest in
         or a substantial  portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any
         business or any corporation, partnership, association or other business
         organization  or  division  thereof  or  otherwise  acquire or agree to
         acquire any assets  (other than the  acquisition  of assets used in the
         operations of the business of KRE and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary




                                       25







         course  subject to Section  4.1(a)(ii));  provided,  however,  that the
         foregoing   shall  not  prohibit  (y)   internal   reorganizations   or
         consolidations  involving  existing  Subsidiaries  of  KRE,  or (z) the
         creation of new  Subsidiaries  of KRE  organized to conduct or continue
         activities otherwise permitted by this Agreement.

                  (f)  No Dispositions.  Other than (i) internal reorganizations
                       ----------------
         or consolidations  involving  existing  Subsidiaries of KRE, or (ii) in
         the ordinary  course of  business,  KRE shall not, and shall not permit
         any Subsidiary of KRE to, sell,  lease,  encumber or otherwise  dispose
         of, or agree to sell,  lease,  encumber or otherwise dispose of, any of
         its assets  (including  capital stock of Subsidiaries of KRE) which are
         material individually or in the aggregate to KRE.

                  (g)  Investments;  Indebtedness.  Subject to the provisions of
                       ---------------------------
         Section  7.2(c) and 7.3(c),  KRE shall not, and shall not permit any of
         its  Subsidiaries   to,  (i)  make  any  loans,   advances  or  capital
         contributions  to,  or  investments  in,  any other  Person,  (ii) pay,
         discharge or satisfy any claims,  liabilities or obligations (absolute,
         accrued, asserted or unasserted,  contingent or otherwise),  other than
         payments,  discharges or satisfactions  incurred or committed to in the
         ordinary course of business  consistent  with past practice,  or (iii),
         subject to Section 4.1(a)(ii), create, incur, assume or suffer to exist
         any indebtedness,  issuances of debt securities,  guarantees,  loans or
         advances not in existence as of the date of this  Agreement  other than
         the incurring of accounts payable and accrued  expenses,  extensions of
         credit, advances of funds and intercompany transactions in the ordinary
         course of business consistent with past practices.

                  (h)  Tax-Free Qualification.  KRI and KRE shall not, and shall
                       -----------------------
         not permit any of KRI's or KRE's  Subsidiaries to, take any action that
         would  reasonably  be  expected  to prevent  or impede the Merger  from
         qualifying as a reorganization under Section 368 of the Code.

                  (i)  Compensation.  Except  as  contemplated  in  Section  5.9
                       -------------
         hereof, KRE shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
         increase the amount of compensation  of any executive  officer or other
         senior employee,  make any increase in, or commitment to increase,  any
         employee benefits, adopt or make any commitment to adopt any additional
         employee  benefit plan or make any  contribution,  other than regularly
         scheduled contributions, to any KRE Benefit Plan.

                  (j)  Accounting  Methods;  Income  Tax  Elections.  Except  as
                       ---------------------------------------------
         required by a Governmental  Entity, KRE shall not change its methods of
         accounting  in effect at  December  31,  1998,  except as  required  by
         changes in GAAP as  concurred  in by KRE's  independent  auditors.  KRE
         shall not (i)  change  its fiscal  year or (ii) make any  material  tax
         election.

                  (k)  Preservation of Property.  KRE shall take such reasonable
                       -------------------------
         actions and institute such  reasonable  procedures as St. Mary may from
         time to time specify for assuring that the




                                       26







         property  of  KRE,  including  but not  limited  to its  equipment  and
         records,  is preserved for the benefit of St. Mary upon the  completion
         of the Merger,  and all reasonable  costs  associated with such actions
         and procedures shall be borne by KRI.

         Section 4.2  Covenants of St. Mary.  During the period from the date of
                      ----------------------
this  Agreement and continuing  until the Effective  Time, St. Mary agrees as to
itself and its Subsidiaries that (except as expressly  contemplated or permitted
by this Agreement or as otherwise  indicated on the St. Mary Disclosure Schedule
or as required by a  Governmental  Entity of  competent  jurisdiction  or to the
extent that KRM, KRI and KRE shall otherwise consent in writing):

                  (a) Ordinary Course.
                      ----------------

                           (i) St.  Mary  and its  Subsidiaries  shall  carry on
                  their respective  business in the usual,  regular and ordinary
                  course in all material  respects,  in  substantially  the same
                  manner as heretofore  conducted,  and shall use all reasonable
                  efforts to preserve  intact their  present  lines of business,
                  maintain  their  rights  and  franchises  and  preserve  their
                  relationships  with  customers,  suppliers  and others  having
                  business  dealings  with  them to the end that  their  ongoing
                  businesses  shall not be impaired in any  material  respect at
                  the Effective Time; provided,  however,  that no action by St.
                  Mary or its Subsidiaries with respect to matters  specifically
                  addressed by any other provisions of this Section 4.2 shall be
                  deemed a breach of this Section  4.2(a)(i)  unless such action
                  would  constitute  a  breach  of one or  more  of  such  other
                  provisions.

                           (ii) St. Mary shall  promptly give KRE notice of what
                  it  reasonably  believes to be any material  occurrence in the
                  business  of St.  Mary or any of its  Subsidiaries.  St.  Mary
                  shall not,  and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,
                  incur or commit to any capital or other  expenditure,  whether
                  or not in the  ordinary  course  of  business,  in  excess  of
                  $1,000,000  without the prior  written  consent of KRE,  which
                  consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed,  except
                  for  capital  or other  expenditures  set  forth  on  Schedule
                  4.2(a)(ii) attached to this Agreement.

                  (b) Dividends;  Changes in Share  Capital.  St. Mary shall not
                      --------------------------------------
         (i)  declare or pay any  dividends  on or make other  distributions  in
         respect of any of its  capital  stock,  except  for a  dividend  not to
         exceed  $0.05 per share of St.  Mary  Common  Stock per  quarter,  (ii)
         split,  combine  or  reclassify  any of its  capital  stock or issue or
         authorize  or propose the issuance of any other  securities  in respect
         of, in lieu of or in  substitution  for,  shares of its capital  stock,
         except for any such  transaction  by a wholly owned  Subsidiary  of St.
         Mary which remains a wholly owned Subsidiary after consummation of such
         transaction,  or (iii)  except  under its current  open market St. Mary
         Common Stock share  repurchase  program (which shall not be expanded or
         altered),  repurchase,  redeem or  otherwise  acquire any shares of its
         capital stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable for any
         shares or its capital stock.

                  (c) Issuance of Securities.  St. Mary shall not, and shall not
                      -----------------------
         permit any of its Subsidiaries to, issue, deliver or sell, or authorize
         or propose the issuance, delivery or sale




                                       27







         of,  any  shares of its  capital  stock of any class or any  securities
         convertible into or exercisable for, or any rights, warrants or options
         to acquire,  any such shares,  or enter into any agreement with respect
         to any of the foregoing, other than (i) the issuance of St. Mary Common
         Stock upon the  exercise  of stock  options  pursuant  to the St.  Mary
         Option Plans or pursuant to the St. Mary Employee  Stock Purchase Plan,
         (ii)  issuances  by a wholly  owned  Subsidiary  of St. Mary of capital
         stock to such Subsidiary's parent or another wholly owned Subsidiary of
         St. Mary, (iii) issuances of equity-related awards pursuant to St. Mary
         Benefit Plans  consistent  with past  practices,  and (iv) issuances in
         respect of any acquisitions, mergers, share exchanges,  consolidations,
         business  combinations  or  similar  transactions  by St.  Mary  or its
         Subsidiaries  which issuances shall not exceed in the aggregate 550,000
         shares.

                  (d)  Governing  Documents.  Except to the extent  required  to
                       ---------------------
         comply with their respective obligations hereunder,  required by law or
         required  by the rules and  regulations  of  Nasdaq,  St.  Mary and its
         Subsidiaries shall not amend in any material respect,  or propose to so
         amend their respective  certificates of incorporation,  bylaws or other
         governing documents.

                  (e)  Tax-Free Qualification. St. Mary shall not, and shall not
                       -----------------------
         permit  any  of  its  Subsidiaries  to,  take  any  action  that  would
         reasonably  be  expected  to (i)  prevent  or impede  the  Merger  from
         qualifying as a  reorganization  under Section 368 of the Code, or (ii)
         prevent the Spin-Off from qualifying as a distribution in which Section
         355(e) applies or prevent such  distribution  from not being taxable to
         the shareholders of KRI.

         Section  4.3  Advice of Changes; Governmental Filings. Each party shall
                       ----------------------------------------
(a)confer on a regular and frequent basis with the other and (b)promptly  report
to  the  other  parties  on  material   operational  matters  or  any  event  or
circumstance  which  (alone or  together  with  other such  matters)  may have a
Material  Adverse Effect on such party.  KRE and St. Mary shall file all reports
required  to be filed by each of them  with the SEC and all  other  Governmental
Entities  between the date of this  Agreement and the  Effective  Time and shall
deliver to the other party  copies of all such reports  promptly  after the same
are filed.  Each of KRE and St.  Mary shall have the right to review in advance,
and will consult with the other with respect to, all the information relating to
the other party and each of their respective  Subsidiaries  which appears in any
filings, announcements or publications made with, or written materials submitted
to,  any  third  party  or  any  Governmental  Entity  in  connection  with  the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement. In exercising the foregoing right,
each of the parties hereto agrees to act reasonably and as promptly as necessary
with  respect  to  such  materials.  Each  party  agrees  that,  to  the  extent
practicable and as timely as practicable,  it will consult with, and provide all
appropriate  and  necessary  assistance  to, the other party with respect to the
obtaining of all permits,  consents,  approvals and  authorizations of all third
parties and  Governmental  Entities  necessary or advisable  to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement and each party will keep the other
party  apprised  of  the  status  of  matters  relating  to  completion  of  the
transactions contemplated hereby.





                                       28







                                    ARTICLE V

                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

         Section 5.1  Preparation of Proxies and Registration Statement; Meeting
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
of St. Mary Shareholders.
- -------------------------

                  (a) As promptly as practicable following the execution of this
         Agreement, St. Mary shall, in cooperation with KRI and KRE, prepare and
         file with the SEC materials which shall constitute the proxy statements
         and the registration statement on Form S-4 with respect to the approval
         of the  Merger  by the  shareholders  of KRI  and the  St.  Mary  Share
         Issuance by the  shareholders  of St. Mary (such proxy  statements  and
         registration  statement being  hereinafter  together referred to as the
         "Form S-4").  St. Mary shall cause the Form S-4 to comply as to form in
         all material respects with the applicable  provisions of the Securities
         Act and the  rules and  regulations  thereunder.  St.  Mary  shall,  as
         promptly as practicable  after receipt  thereof,  provide copies to KRI
         and KRE of any written  comments  received from the SEC with respect to
         the Form S-4 and advise KRI and KRE of any oral  comments  with respect
         to the Form S-4 received from the SEC. St. Mary agrees that none of the
         information  supplied or to be supplied  by St. Mary for  inclusion  or
         incorporation  by  reference  in the  Form S-4 and  each  amendment  or
         supplement  thereto,  at the time of mailing thereof and at the time of
         the St. Mary Shareholders  Meeting and the KRE Shareholders Meeting (as
         defined below),  will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
         omit to  state  a  material  fact  required  to be  stated  therein  or
         necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
         under which they were made, not misleading. KRI and KRE agree that none
         of the  information  supplied  or to be  supplied  by  KRI  or KRE  for
         inclusion in the Form S-4 and each amendment or supplement  thereto, at
         the time of mailing  thereof  and at the times of the St.  Mary and KRE
         Shareholders  Meetings,  will contain an untrue statement of a material
         fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
         under  which  they were  made,  not  misleading.  For  purposes  of the
         foregoing,  it is understood and agreed that information  concerning or
         related  to St.  Mary and the St.  Mary  shareholders  meeting  will be
         deemed to have been supplied by St. Mary and information  concerning or
         related  to KRI and KRE,  and the KRE  Shareholders  Meeting,  shall be
         deemed to have been  supplied by KRI. St. Mary will provide KRI and KRE
         with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on any amendment or
         supplement  to the Form S-4 prior to filing such with the SEC, and will
         provide KRI and KRE with a copy of all such  filings made with the SEC.
         No amendment or supplement  for inclusion in the Form S-4 shall be made
         without  the  approval  of KRI and KRE,  which  approvals  shall not be
         unreasonably withheld or delayed.

                  (b) St. Mary shall,  as promptly as practicable  following the
         date on which the Form S-4 is declared effective by the SEC, duly call,
         give notice of, convene and hold a special meeting of its  shareholders
         (the "St. Mary Shareholders  Meeting") for the purpose of obtaining the
         Required  St.  Mary Vote,  shall take all lawful  action to solicit the
         approval of the St. Mary Share  Issuance by the  Required St. Mary Vote
         and the Board of Directors of St.


                                       29








          Mary shall, subject to its fiduciary duties, recommend approval of the
          St. Mary Share Issuance by the shareholders of St. Mary.

                  (c) KRE shall,  as promptly as practicable  following the date
         on which the Form S-4 is declared effective by the SEC, duly call, give
         notice of, convene and hold a special meeting of those persons who will
         be its shareholders  ("KRE  Shareholders")  following the Distributions
         (the "KRE  Shareholders  Meeting")  for the  purpose of  obtaining  the
         Required KRE Vote, shall take all lawful action to solicit the approval
         of the Merger by the  Required  KRE Vote and the Boards of Directors of
         KRI and  KRE  shall,  subject  to  their  fiduciary  duties,  recommend
         approval of the Merger by the shareholders of KRE.

         Section 5.2  Confidentiality  - Access to Information.  Notwithstanding
                     ------------------------------------------
anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary,  all of the parties hereto
agree  and  acknowledge  that they are  bound by those  certain  confidentiality
agreements  between KRI and St. Mary dated February 25, 1999, and April 21, 1999
(the  "Confidentiality  Agreements"),  which remain in full force and effect and
shall also govern the information  disclosed  pursuant to this  Agreement.  Upon
reasonable notice,  and subject to the  Confidentiality  Agreements,  each party
shall (and shall cause its subsidiaries  to) afford to the officers,  employees,
accountants,  counsel, financial advisors and other representatives of the other
party reasonable access during normal business hours, during the period prior to
the Effective Time, to all its  properties,  books,  contracts,  commitments and
records  and,  during  such  period,  such  party  shall  (and  shall  cause its
subsidiaries  to) furnish promptly to the other party (a) a copy of each report,
schedule and other document filed, published, announced or received by it during
such period pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities laws, as
applicable  (other than documents  which such party is not permitted to disclose
under applicable law), and (b) consistent with its legal obligations,  all other
information  concerning  its  business,  properties  and personnel as such other
party may reasonably request.  The parties shall hold any such information which
is non-public in confidence in accordance with the  Confidentiality  Agreements.
Any  investigation by St. Mary, KRI or KRE shall not affect the  representations
and warranties of KRI and KRE or of St. Mary, as the case may be.

         Section 5.3       Commercially Reasonable Efforts.
                           --------------------------------

                  (a) Subject to  the  terms  and  conditions of this Agreement,
          each party will use its  commercially  reasonable  efforts to take, or
          cause to be taken,  all  actions  and to do, or cause to be done,  all
          things  necessary,  proper  or  advisable  under  applicable  laws and
          regulations  to  consummate  the  Merger  and the  other  transactions
          contemplated  by this Agreement as soon as practicable  after the date
          hereof.

                  (b) In  furtherance  and not in limitation of the covenants of
         the parties  contained  in Section  5.3(a),  if any  administrative  or
         judicial  action or  proceeding,  including any proceeding by a private
         party,  is instituted (or threatened to be instituted)  challenging any
         transaction  contemplated by this Agreement,  each of the parties shall
         cooperate  in all  respects  with  each  other  and use its  respective
         commercially  reasonable  efforts to contest and resist any such action
         or proceeding and to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any



                                       30








         decree,  judgment,   injunction  or  other  order,  whether  temporary,
         preliminary  or  permanent,  that  is in  effect  and  that  prohibits,
         prevents or restricts consummation of the transactions  contemplated by
         this Agreement.

         Section 5.4 Public  Announcements.  St. Mary shall consult with KRI and
                     ----------------------
KRE before issuing any press release or otherwise  making any public  statements
with respect to the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  and shall not
issue any such press  release or make any such  public  statement,  including  a
public  statement  required by applicable law or by obligations  pursuant to St.
Mary's listing  agreement with Nasdaq,  prior to such consultation and approval,
which approval shall not be  unreasonably  withheld or delayed.  Neither KRI nor
KRE nor any  Subsidiary of KRI shall issue any press  release or otherwise  make
any public  statements  with respect to the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement  without the prior  approval of St. Mary,  which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed.

         Section 5.5 Restrictions on Transfer of St. Mary Common Stock.
                     --------------------------------------------------

                  (a) The KRE  Shareholders  shall not make any  disposition  by
         sale,  pledge or any other transfer of all or any portion of the shares
         of St. Mary Common Stock  acquired by them  pursuant to this  Agreement
         for a period of two  years  from the  Closing  Date.  The  certificates
         representing  the shares of St. Mary  Common  Stock to be issued to the
         KRE  Shareholders  pursuant  to this  Agreement  shall  be  stamped  or
         otherwise  imprinted  with  a  legend  substantially   similar  to  the
         following:

                  THE SECURITIES  REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO
                  THE TERMS AND  CONDITIONS  OF AN AGREEMENT  AND PLAN OF MERGER
                  WHICH  PLACES  CERTAIN  RESTRICTIONS  ON THE  TRANSFER  OF THE
                  SHARES  REPRESENTED  HEREBY. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT AND PLAN
                  OF MERGER IS AVAILABLE AT THE  COMPANY'S  PRINCIPAL  EXECUTIVE
                  OFFICES.

                  (b)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,   the   above-referenced
         transfer restrictions shall not apply to the following  transactions or
         under the following circumstances:

                           (i) The KRE  Shareholders  may transfer the shares of
                  St. Mary Common Stock acquired  under this Agreement  pursuant
                  to the laws of  descent  and  distribution  and for  customary
                  estate planning purposes, and such shares shall continue to be
                  bound by the  restrictions  set forth in this  Section 5.5 for
                  the remainder of the  restricted  period,  as evidenced by the
                  above-referenced legend;

                           (ii) Subject to the  provisions of Rule 145 under the
                  Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities  Act"), if
                  any of Thomas E.  Congdon,  his spouse or a descendant of his,
                  or any trust or other entity controlled directly or indirectly
                  by any of them,  or the MMC 1961 Trust,  the TEC 1966 Trust or
                  Greenhouse Associates




                                       31







                  (together the "Congdon  Group"),  shall after the Closing Date
                  sell any of their  shares of St. Mary Common Stock (other than
                  to another member of the Congdon  Group),  St. Mary shall give
                  prompt notice thereof to the former  shareholders  of KRE, and
                  each former  shareholder  of KRE may sell a percentage of his,
                  her or its aggregate  shares of St. Mary Common Stock equal to
                  the  percentage of shares owned by the Congdon Group which are
                  so sold.  The number of shares of St. Mary Common  Stock owned
                  by the  Congdon  Group  on  the  date  of  this  Agreement  is
                  1,288,870.  Attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  5.5 is a letter  of
                  Thomas  E.  Congdon  setting  forth  that the  members  of the
                  Congdon  Group have no current  intention to sell any of their
                  shares  of  St.  Mary  Common  Stock.   Without  limiting  the
                  generality  of the  foregoing,  in the event of a tender offer
                  made to the  shareholders  of St.  Mary  which is  subject  to
                  Regulation  14D of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934  (a
                  "Tender  Offer"),  and which is not  approved  by the Board of
                  Directors of St. Mary, and in the event that the Congdon Group
                  sells shares of St. Mary Common Stock  pursuant to such Tender
                  Offer,  each former  shareholder  of KRE may sell  pursuant to
                  such Tender  Offer a percentage  of his, her or its  aggregate
                  shares of St. Mary Common  Stock  equal to the  percentage  of
                  shares owned by the Congdon Group which are so sold.

                           (iii) In the event of an  Acquisition of St. Mary (as
                  hereinafter defined),  the restrictions on the sale, pledge or
                  other transfer of shares of St. Mary Common Stock described in
                  Section 5.5(a) above shall terminate and any shares of capital
                  stock  of the  acquirer  (or  an  affiliate  of  the  aquirer)
                  received by the former  shareholders of KRE in the Acquisition
                  of St.  Mary shall not be subject  to such  restrictions.  For
                  purposes of this Agreement, the term "Acquisition of St. Mary"
                  means the occurrence of any of the following  events:  (i) St.
                  Mary shall not be the  surviving  entity in any merger  (other
                  than a merger with a subsidiary of St. Mary),  share exchange,
                  consolidation or other  reorganization  (or survives only as a
                  subsidiary  of an entity other than an Affiliate of St. Mary);
                  or  (ii)  St.  Mary  sells,   leases  or   exchanges   all  or
                  substantially  all of its assets to any other person or entity
                  (other than a wholly owned  subsidiary  of St.  Mary).  In the
                  event of a Tender  Offer  which is  approved  by the  Board of
                  Directors of St. Mary pursuant to a plan intended to result in
                  a subsequent  Acquisition of St. Mary, the former shareholders
                  of KRE may  participate  in such Tender Offer to the extent of
                  up to all of his,  her or its  aggregate  shares  of St.  Mary
                  Common Stock.

         Section 5.6      Representation on St. Mary Board of Directors.  At the
                          ----------------------------------------------
Effective Time, St. Mary  shall  cause  the  Board  of  Directors of St. Mary to
consist of not more than eleven directors,  nine  of whom shall be the Directors
of St. Mary immediately prior to the Effective Time and two  of  whom  shall  be
Jack  Hunt  and  William Gardiner (the "KRE Board Designees").  Thereafter until
two years after the Closing Date, or until such time as the former  shareholders
of  KRE  own no shares  of  St.  Mary  Common  Stock,  St.  Mary  shall  utilize
commercially  reasonable  efforts  at  the  time  of  each annual meeting of the
shareholders of St. Mary to cause the KRE Board Designees to be elected  to  the
St.  Mary  Board  of  Directors.   In  the  event  one  or both of the KRE Board
Designees are unwilling or unable to serve on the Board of Directors of St. Mary
for any  reason  during the foregoing  period,  the first alternate to replace a



                                       32








KRE  Board  Designee  shall  be John  Alexander  and the  second  alternate  KRE
Board  Designee  shall be James Clement.

         Section 5.7 Expenses.  St. Mary shall be responsible for all of its own
                     ---------
expenses,  including but not limited to legal, accounting and other professional
fees and the fees of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. incurred with respect to this
Agreement  and the  transactions  provided  for  herein.  Without  limiting  the
generality of the foregoing,  St. Mary shall also be  responsible  for all costs
and  registration  fees  associated  with the preparation and filing of the Form
S-4. KRI shall be responsible for all the expenses of KRI and KRE, including but
not limited to legal,  accounting  and other  professional  fees and the fees of
Nesbitt  Burns,  incurred  by  them  with  respect  to  this  Agreement  and the
transactions  provided  for herein  including  the  preparation  of the Form S-4
except  that St.  Mary shall pay up to $12,000 of the fees of  Deloitte & Touche
LLP incurred on behalf of KRI and KRE in connection with the Form S-4.

         Section 5.8  King Ranch  Trademark  and Brand.  As soon as  practicable
                      ---------------------------------
following the Effective Date, St. Mary and its  Subsidiaries,  shall not utilize
the names "King Ranch," "King Ranch Energy," "King Ranch Oil & Gas," "Running W"
or  any  confusingly   similar  derivation  thereof  in  connection  with  their
businesses  and  they  shall  within  such  period  utilize  their  commercially
reasonable efforts to remove such names, or logos which include such names, from
any stationery, purchase orders, equipment or machinery owned by them. Effective
January 1, 1999, KRE will not be liable for any fees  associated with the use of
the "King Ranch" trademark or brand.

         Section 5.9 KRE Employee Severance Payments. KRI shall reimburse KRE or
                     --------------------------------
St. Mary for  severance  payments to (i) KRE employees to whom St. Mary does not
offer continued employment and who remain employed by KRE until the Closing Date
or until  such  earlier  date as  agreed  upon by KRE and St.  Mary and (ii) KRE
employees whose employment is continued by St. Mary after the Closing Date for a
transition period not in excess of six months.  Notwithstanding  anything to the
contrary  contained in the foregoing,  (A) the severance  payment  reimbursement
liability of KRI for KRE employees described above shall be based, in St. Mary's
discretion,  upon not more than two weeks for each full year of prior employment
by KRE  except  for those  employees  who are  entitled  to  severance  payments
computed in  accordance  with  existing  agreements  with them,  as described on
Schedule 5.9 hereto,  provided that the  severance  payment to any such employee
shall not be less than thirty days salary,  (B) the  aggregate  liability of KRI
under this Section 5.9 shall not exceed  $850,000,  and any excess shall be paid
by St.  Mary  and  (C) the  payment  of  severance  may be  conditioned  upon an
employee's  agreement to a customary  confidentiality  covenant  with respect to
KRE's confidential information.

         Section 5.10 368(a)  Reorganization.  St. Mary, Merger Sub, KRI and KRE
                      -----------------------
shall each use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the business combination
to be  effected  by the  Merger to be  treated  as a  reorganization  within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. From and after the date of this Agreement
and after the Effective Time, each party shall use its  commercially  reasonable
efforts to cause the Merger to qualify, and shall not knowingly take any actions
or cause any actions to be taken which could prevent the Merger from qualifying,
as a reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code.




                                       33







         Section 5.11 355 Distribution.  St. Mary, Merger Sub, KRI and KRE shall
                      -----------------
each use commercially  reasonable  efforts to cause the Spin-Off to qualify as a
distribution  in which  Section  355(e) of the Code  applies and to prevent such
distribution  from being taxable to the  shareholders of KRI. From and after the
date of this  Agreement and after the Effective  Time,  each party shall use its
commercially  reasonable efforts to cause the Spin-Off to qualify, and shall not
knowingly take any actions or cause any actions to be taken which are reasonably
likely to prevent  the  Spin-Off  from  qualifying  as a  distribution  to which
Section 355(e) of the Code applies.

         Section 5.12 Continuity  of Business.  Following  the Merger,  St. Mary
                      ------------------------
intends to cause  Merger Sub to continue to a  significant  extent the  historic
business of KRE or to use a significant  portion of the historic business assets
of KRE in a business  in  substantially  the same  manner as such  business  was
conducted prior to Closing.

         Section 5.13 Indemnification    of    Officers   and   Directors.   The
                      ----------------------------------------------------
indemnification  obligations set forth in KRE's Certificate of Incorporation and
KRE's Bylaws  shall  survive the Merger,  and shall not be amended,  repealed or
otherwise  modified  for a period of two years after the  Effective  Time in any
manner that would adversely affect the rights  thereunder of the individuals who
on or prior to the Effective Time were directors,  officers, employees or agents
of KRE.

         Section 5.14 Retained  Litigation.  KRI  shall   retain  all  liability
                      ---------------------
associated  with, and  responsibility  for the defense of and the costs thereof,
the Pi Energy Corporation litigation described in Note 6 of the Notes to the KRE
Financial  Statements  as of December  31,  1998,  and any other  litigation  or
threatened  litigation  set  forth on  Schedule  3.2(f)  hereto  (the  "Retained
Litigation").  Notwithstanding the foregoing, St. Mary shall be obligated to use
its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with KRI in connection with the
defense of the Retained Litigation, including, without limitation, providing KRI
access to St. Mary's documents and/or employees,  which obligation shall survive
the Closing.

         Section 5.15 Stockholder's  Representative.  KRI shall act as the agent
                      ------------------------------
and  attorney-in-fact  with full  power and  authority  in  connection  with the
administration  of this Agreement on behalf of the KRE  shareholders,  including
the prosecution of  indemnification  claims against St. Mary.  This  appointment
shall be coupled  with an interest and shall be  irrevocable  and binding in all
respects  upon St.  Mary  and the KRE  shareholders  and  their  successors  and
assigns, and heirs and devisees.

         Section 5.16 Voting Commitments. KRI shall obtain from Stephen Kleberg,
                      -------------------
John  Alexander  and James  Clement,  members of the KRI Board of Directors  and
substantial  shareholders of KRI, commitments to (i) vote the shares of stock of
KRE which they will receive in the Distributions in favor of the Merger and (ii)
subject to their fiduciary obligations as Directors, recommend to the members of
their immediate  families who are  shareholders of KRI that they vote the shares
of KRE  stock  which  they will  receive  in the  Distributions  in favor of the
Merger.








                                       34







         Section 5.17 No Solicitation.
                      ----------------

                  (a)  KRI and KRE  shall  immediately  cease  and  cause  to be
         terminated all existing discussions and negotiations,  if any, with any
         parties conducted heretofore with respect to any Acquisition  Proposal.
         As used in this Section 5.17,  "Acquisition  Proposal" means any tender
         offer or  exchange  offer by a  non-affiliated  third  party  for fifty
         percent or more of the  outstanding  shares of KRE common  stock or any
         proposal  or  offer  by a  non-affiliated  third  party  for a  merger,
         consolidation, amalgamation or other business combination involving KRE
         or  any  equity  securities  (or  securities  convertible  into  equity
         securities) of KRE, or any proposal or offer by a non-affiliated  third
         party to  acquire in any  manner a fifty  percent or greater  equity or
         beneficial interest in, or a material amount of the assets or value of,
         KRE,  other than  pursuant  to the  transactions  contemplated  by this
         Agreement.

                  (b)  Unless  and  until   this   Agreement   shall  have  been
         terminated,  KRI  and KRE  shall  not  permit  any of  their  officers,
         directors,  employees,  agents,  financial  advisors,  counsel or other
         representatives  (collectively,  the "Representatives") to, directly or
         indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate or take any action with the intent of
         facilitating  the making of, any offer or proposal that  constitutes or
         that is reasonably  likely to lead to any  Acquisition  Proposal,  (ii)
         participate   in  any   discussions  or   negotiations   regarding  any
         Acquisition  Proposal  or (iii)  furnish to any Person  (other than St.
         Mary  or  any  Affiliate  or   Representative  of  KRI)  any  nonpublic
         information or nonpublic data outside the ordinary course of conducting
         KRE's business; provided, however, that to the extent required by their
         fiduciary duties under applicable law and after  consultation  with and
         based upon the advice of outside legal counsel, KRI's or KRE's Board of
         Directors  and  officers  may in  response  to a Person  who  initiates
         communication with KRI or KRE, without there having occurred any action
         prohibited by clause (i) of this  sentence,  take such actions as would
         otherwise be prohibited by clauses (ii) and (iii). KRI shall notify St.
         Mary of any such inquiries, offers or proposals (including the identity
         of the Person  making any  inquiry,  offer or  proposal) as promptly as
         possible and in any event within 24 hours after receipt  thereof or the
         occurrence of such events, as appropriate,  and shall give St. Mary ten
         days'  advance  notice of any agreement to be entered into with, or any
         information  or data to be furnished to, any Person in connection  with
         any such inquiry, offer or proposal.

         Section 5.18 Seismic  Data.  The parties agree that neither KRI nor KRE
                      --------------
is making any  representation or warranty  regarding the continued access of St.
Mary or the Surviving  Corporation  following the  consummation of the Merger to
any of  the  seismic  data  under  the  seismic  licenses  to  which  KRE or any
Subsidiary of KRE is a party. Furthermore, the parties agree that (A) certain of
such  seismic  data  and  licenses  are  not  transferrable  to St.  Mary or the
Surviving  Corporation upon  consummation of the Merger,  and (B) certain of the
seismic data and licenses will transfer to St. Mary or the Surviving Corporation
only upon the payment of a transfer  fee or other  penalty.  Neither KRI nor KRE
shall have any liability to St. Mary or Surviving  Corporation in the event that
any such seismic data or licenses  are not  transferrable,  or in the event that
the  consummation  of the Merger triggers the payment of a transfer fee or other
penalty.




                                       35







                                   ARTICLE VI

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

         Section 6.1 Indemnification  by KRI.  KRI agrees to  and shall  defend,
                     ------------------------
indemnify and hold harmless St. Mary,  the  Surviving  Corporation,  and each of
their subsidiaries,  stockholders,  affiliates,  officers, directors, employees,
counsel, agents, successors, assigns and legal representatives (St. Mary and all
such other Persons are  collectively  referred to as the "St.  Mary  Indemnified
Persons") from and against, and shall reimburse the St. Mary Indemnified Persons
for,  each  and  every  Loss  paid,  imposed  on or  incurred  by the  St.  Mary
Indemnified  Persons,  directly or  indirectly,  relating to,  resulting from or
arising out of (i) any  inaccuracy in any  representation  or warranty of KRI or
KRE under this Agreement, or the KRI or KRE Disclosure or other Schedules hereto
or any  agreement  or  certificate  delivered  or to be  delivered by KRI or KRE
pursuant  hereto,  (ii) any claim by a third party against St. Mary  Indemnified
Persons  arising out of an act or omission  of KRI or KRE  occurring  before the
Closing Date, or (iii) the Retained Litigation. The indemnification  obligations
set forth herein shall be that of KRI,  and the  shareholders  of KRI shall have
absolutely no liability or obligation hereunder.

         Section 6.2 Indemnification  by St. Mary. St. Mary  agrees to and shall
                     -----------------------------
defend,   indemnify  and  hold  harmless  KRI  and  each  of  KRI's   respective
subsidiaries, stockholders, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, counsel,
agents,  successors,  assigns and legal  representatives (KRI and all such other
Persons are collectively  referred to as the "KRI Indemnified Persons") from and
against,  and shall  reimburse the KRI  Indemnified  Persons for, each and every
Loss paid,  imposed on or incurred by the KRI Indemnified  Persons,  directly or
indirectly,  relating to, resulting from or arising out of (i) any inaccuracy in
any  representation  or warranty of St. Mary or Merger Sub under this Agreement,
or the St. Mary  Disclosure  Schedule  hereto or any  agreement  or  certificate
delivered or to be delivered by St. Mary pursuant hereto, or (ii) any claim by a
third party against KRI Indemnified Persons arising out of an act or omission of
St. Mary or KRE occurring after the Closing Date.

         Section 6.3 Notice and Defense of Third-Party Claims. If any Proceeding
                     -----------------------------------------
shall be brought or asserted under this Article against an indemnified  party or
any successor thereto (the  "Indemnified  Person") in respect of which indemnity
may be sought under this Article from an  indemnifying  Person or any  successor
thereto (the  "Indemnifying  Person"),  the Indemnified Person shall give prompt
written notice of such  Proceeding to the  Indemnifying  Person who shall assume
the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory
to the Indemnified  Person and the payment of all expenses;  provided,  that any
delay or  failure  to so  notify  the  Indemnifying  Person  shall  relieve  the
Indemnifying Person of its obligations  hereunder only to the extent, if at all,
that it is prejudiced by reason of such delay or failure.  In no event shall any
Indemnified  Person be  required to make any  expenditure  or bring any cause of
action to enforce the Indemnifying  Person's obligations and liability under and
pursuant to the indemnifications set forth in this Article. In addition,  actual
or threatened action by a Governmental Entity or other entity is not a condition
or prerequisite to the Indemnifying Person's obligations under this Article. The
Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any of the
foregoing Proceedings and to participate




                                       36







in the defense  thereof,  but the fees and expenses of such counsel  shall be at
the expense of the  Indemnified  Person unless the  Indemnified  Person shall in
good faith determine that there exist actual or potential  conflicts of interest
which make representation by the same counsel inappropriate, as evidenced by the
written opinion of outside counsel to the  Indemnified  Person.  The Indemnified
Person's  right to  participate  in the defense or  response  to any  Proceeding
should not be deemed to limit or  otherwise  modify its  obligations  under this
Article. In the event that the Indemnifying Person,  within 15 days after notice
of any such  Proceeding,  fails to assume the defense  thereof,  the Indemnified
Person shall have the right to undertake  the defense,  compromise or settlement
of such Proceeding for the account of the  Indemnifying  Person,  subject to the
right of the  Indemnifying  Person to assume the defense of such Proceeding with
counsel  reasonably  satisfactory to the Indemnified Person at any time prior to
the  settlement,  compromise or final  determination  thereof.  Anything in this
Article to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  the  Indemnifying  Person shall not,
without the Indemnified Person's prior written consent,  which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld,  settle or compromise any Proceeding or consent to the
entry of any judgment with respect to any Proceeding;  provided,  however,  that
the  Indemnifying  Person may,  without the  Indemnified  Person's prior written
consent,  settle or  compromise  any such  Proceeding or consent to entry of any
judgment with respect to any such Proceeding that requires solely the payment of
money damages by the  Indemnifying  Person and that includes as an unconditional
term  thereof the release by the claimant or the  plaintiff  of the  Indemnified
Person from all liability in respect of such Proceeding.

         Section 6.4  Limitation of Liability.
                      ------------------------

                  (a) Survival.  An Indemnifying  Person shall have no liability
         under this Article unless notice of a claim for indemnity, or notice of
         facts as to which an  indemnifiable  Loss is expected  to be  incurred,
         shall have been given  within one year after the Closing  Date,  except
         that (i) an Indemnified  Person may give notice of and may make a claim
         for  indemnification  for any indemnifiable Loss which results from any
         claim by any third party at any time within two years after the Closing
         Date,  (ii) an  Indemnified  Person  may give  notice of and may make a
         claim relating to the payment of federal or state taxes (including with
         respect to matters set forth on Schedule 3.2(l)), or compliance with or
         obligations  under  ERISA at any time  prior to ninety  days  after the
         expiration  of the  appropriate  statute of  limitation,  if any,  with
         respect  thereto,  and (iii) St.  Mary's  Indemnified  Persons may give
         notice of and may make a claim  relating to the Retained  Litigation at
         any time.

                  (b) Limitation  on KRI  Liability.  In  addition  to the other
         limitations  set forth in Section 6.4 (a) and (d), the liability of KRI
         to St.  Mary's  Indemnified  Persons  shall be subject to the following
         limitations:

                           (i) No St. Mary Indemnified  Person shall be entitled
                  to  indemnification  from KRI  pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof,
                  except for single  Losses in excess of $100,000 (for which the
                  full Loss  shall be  indemnified  and not solely the amount of
                  the  Loss  in  excess  of  $100,000),  unless  and  until  the
                  aggregate of all Losses  (excluding single Losses in excess of
                  $100,000    which   have   been    indemnified)    for   which
                  indemnification   would  (but  for  the   limitation  of  this
                  sentence) be required to



                                       37








                  be paid by KRI  hereunder  exceeds  $600,000  (the  "KRI  Loss
                  Threshold") after which the St. Mary Indemnified Persons shall
                  be   entitled   to  recover  for  all  Losses  and  for  which
                  indemnification  is required to be paid  hereunder  (including
                  such $600,000).

                           (ii) In no event shall the aggregate liability of KRI
                  hereunder exceed  $25,000,000 ("KRI Loss Ceiling").  KRI shall
                  have no  further  obligations  under  this  Article VI of this
                  Agreement  at the  earlier of the time when KRI has paid or is
                  required to pay to St.  Mary's  Indemnified  Persons an amount
                  equal to the KRI Loss Ceiling.

                           (iii) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6.4(b)
                  to the contrary,  amounts paid by KRI in  connection  with the
                  Retained  Litigation,  including attorneys' fees, court costs,
                  settlements or judgements shall not be used in calculating the
                  KRI  Loss  Threshold,  shall  not be  limited  by the KRI Loss
                  Ceiling  and  shall  be  due  from  KRI  irrespective  of  the
                  provisions of paragraphs (i) and (ii) above.

                  (c) Limitation on St. Mary Liability. In addition to the other
         limitations  set forth in Section  6.4(a) and (d), the liability of St.
         Mary to KRI's  Indemnified  Persons  shall be subject to the  following
         limitations:

                           (i) No KRI  Indemnified  Person  shall be entitled to
                  indemnification  from St. Mary pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof,
                  except for single  Losses in excess of $100,000 (for which the
                  full Loss  shall be  indemnified  and not solely the amount of
                  the  Loss  in  excess  of  $100,000),  unless  and  until  the
                  aggregate of all Losses  (excluding single Losses in excess of
                  $100,000    which   have   been    indemnified)    for   which
                  indemnification   would  (but  for  the   limitation  of  this
                  sentence) be required to be paid by St. Mary hereunder exceeds
                  $600,000 (the "St. Mary Loss  Threshold")  after which the KRI
                  Indemnified  Persons  shall be  entitled  to  recover  for all
                  Losses and for which  indemnification  is  required to be paid
                  hereunder (including such $600,000).

                           (ii) In no event shall the aggregate liability of St.
                  Mary hereunder exceed  $25,000,000  ("St. Mary Loss Ceiling").
                  St. Mary shall have no further  obligations under this Article
                  VI of this  Agreement at the earlier of the time when St. Mary
                  has paid or is required  to pay to KRI an amount  equal to the
                  St. Mary's Loss Ceiling.

                  (d) Tax Benefits;  Insurance  Recoveries.  In calculating  the
         amount of any Loss for which any  Indemnifying  Person is liable  under
         this Article,  there shall be taken into consideration (i) the value of
         any  federal or state  income tax  benefits  and (ii) the amount of any
         insurance   recoveries,   net  of  any  amounts  which  are  in  effect
         self-insured,  whether  through  deductibles,   co-payments,  retention
         amounts,  retroactive premium adjustments or other similar adjustments,
         the Indemnified  Person in fact receives as a direct consequence of the
         circumstances to which the Loss related or from which the Loss resulted
         or arose.




                                       38







         Section 6.5  Exclusivity.  After the Effective  Time, the provisions of
                      ------------
this  Article  shall be the  exclusive  basis for the  assertion of claims by or
imposition  of liability on the parties  hereto  arising under or as a result of
this  Agreement;  provided,  however,  nothing  herein shall  preclude any party
hereto from asserting a claim for equitable non-monetary remedies.

         Section 6.6 Waiver of  Consequential  Damages.  With respect to any and
                     ----------------------------------
all Losses for which  indemnification  may be  available  hereunder,  each party
hereby expressly waives any consequential and punitive damages with respect to a
claim against the other party hereto; provided,  however, that this waiver shall
not apply to the extent such  consequential or punitive damages are awarded in a
Proceeding brought or asserted by a third party against an Indemnified Person.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                              CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

         Section 7.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger.
                     -----------------------------------------------------------
Except as may be waived in writing by the Parties, all of the obligations of the
Parties under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment,  prior to or at the
Closing, of each of the following conditions:

                  (a)  Shareholder  Approvals.  St. Mary shall have obtained the
                       -----------------------
         Required St. Mary Vote in connection  with the approval of the St. Mary
         Share  Issuance  by the  shareholders  of St.  Mary and KRI shall  have
         obtained the Required KRE Vote in  connection  with the approval of the
         Merger by the shareholders of KRE.

                  (b)  No Injunctions,  Restraints or Illegality.  No laws shall
                       ------------------------------------------
         have been adopted or promulgated,  and no temporary  restraining order,
         preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by a court or
         other governmental entity of competent jurisdiction shall be in effect,
         having the effect of making the Merger illegal or otherwise prohibiting
         consummation of the Merger,  provided  however,  that the provisions of
         this Section  7.1(b) shall not be available to any party whose  failure
         to fulfill its obligations  pursuant to Section 5.3 shall have been the
         cause of, or shall have resulted in, such order or injunction.

                  (c)  Effectiveness  of the Form S-4.  The Form S-4 shall  have
                       -------------------------------
         been declared  effective by the SEC and shall have become  effective in
         all states where required.

                  (d) Nasdaq Listing.  The shares of St. Mary Common Stock to be
                      ---------------
         issued  pursuant  to this  Agreement  shall  have  been  approved  upon
         official notice of issuance for quotation on Nasdaq.

                  (e) Consummation of the Distribution.  The shares of KRE shall
                      ---------------------------------
         have been  distributed to the KRI  shareholders  in accordance with the
         Distributions.




                                       39







    Section 7.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of St. Mary and Merger Sub.
                ----------------------------------------------------------------
The  obligations  of St. Mary and Merger Sub to effect the Merger are subject to
the  satisfaction  of, or waiver by St. Mary, on or prior to the Closing Date of
the following conditions:

                  (a)  Representations  and Warranties.  The representations and
                       --------------------------------
         warranties  of KRI and KRE set forth in  Sections  3.1 and 3.2 shall be
         true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date and as
         if made on the Closing Date subject to any changes contemplated by this
         Agreement.

                  (b)  Performance  of  Obligations  of KRI and KRE. KRI and KRE
                       ---------------------------------------------
         shall have  performed  or complied in all  material  respects  with all
         agreements  and  covenants  required to be  performed  by it under this
         Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date.

                  (c)  Settlement for KRI-KRE Intercompany  Balances.  KRI shall
                       ----------------------------------------------
         have paid to KRE an amount equal to the amount, if any, of intercompany
         transactions  subsequent  to May 31,  1999 and up to the  Closing  Date
         between KRE (together with any KRE  Subsidiary)  and KRI (together with
         any other  Subsidiary  of KRI),  net of any  intercompany  transactions
         between  KRI  (together  with  any  other  Subsidiary  of KRI)  and KRE
         (together with any KRE Subsidiary) subsequent to that date. No interest
         shall have accrued from and after December 31, 1998 on any  outstanding
         obligations  between KRE or any KRE Subsidiary and KRI or any other KRI
         Subsidiary.  KRI shall  provide  evidence  of the  cancellation  of any
         obligation of KRE to repay KRI, or any other Subsidiary of KRI, for (i)
         the  funds  advanced  by KRI to KRE for the  acquisition  by KRE of the
         Flour Bluff properties,  and (ii) any indebtedness of KRE to KRI or any
         other Subsidiary of KRI existing on May 31, 1999.

                  (d)  Certificate of Officers.  KRI shall have delivered to St.
                       ------------------------
         Mary  certificates  dated as of the  Closing  Date,  executed  in their
         respective  corporate  names by, and verified by, the oath of its chief
         executive  officer  and  chief  financial  officer  certifying  to  the
         fulfillment of the conditions  specified in subsections  (a) and (b) of
         this Section 7.2.

                  (e)  Opinion of Financial  Advisor. The opinion referred to in
                       ------------------------------
         Section   3.3(r)  shall  not  have  been  withdrawn  by  Deutsche  Bank
         Securities Inc.

                  (f)  Opinion  of  Counsel.  St.  Mary  shall  have  received a
                       ---------------------
         customary  opinion of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP, counsel to KRE and KRI,
         in  a  form  approved  by  St.  Mary,   which  approval  shall  not  be
         unreasonably withheld or delayed.

                  (g)  Non-Exercise of Appraisal  Rights. In connection with the
                       ----------------------------------
         Required  KRE Vote,  the  holders  of no more than five  percent of the
         outstanding  shares of common  stock of KRE shall  have  exercised  the
         rights of  dissenting  shareholders  under  Section 262 of the Delaware
         General Corporation Law ("Dissenting Shares");  provided, however, that
         if more than five percent,  but less than ten percent, of the shares of
         KRE common shares are Dissenting  Shares ("Excess  Shares"),  KRI shall
         have the right, but not the obligation, to assume the liability for any
         Excess Payment (as hereinafter  defined). In the event that KRI assumes
         the liability for




                                       40







         any Excess Payment, this condition shall be deemed satisfied.  The term
         "Excess Payment"  is the amount by which St. Mary's per share liability
         for Excess Shares (as adjusted by the exchange ratio into shares of St.
         Mary Common Stock) exceeds$19.76 per share of St. Mary Common Stock.

                  (h) Eugene Island Block 341. With respect to the Eugene Island
                      ------------------------
         Block 341 oil and gas  property,  KRE  shall  have  obtained  in a form
         substantially  similar  to that  previously  provided  to St.  Mary the
         assignment  of  interest  contemplated  by that  certain  Participation
         Agreement dated February 17, 1998 between NCX Company, Inc. ("NCX") and
         KRE,  which  assignment  shall  be  subject  to a  contract  operations
         agreement   between  NCX  and   Chevron   U.S.A.   Production   Company
         ("Chevron"),  a throughput  agreement  between NCX and Chevron,  and an
         operating  agreement  between  NCX and KRE. If such  assignment  is not
         obtained,   KRI  shall  indemnify  St.  Mary  in  accordance  with  the
         provisions  of Article VI hereof to the extent  that St. Mary is unable
         to recover  currently  non-producing  reserves  solely due to a lack of
         rights or interests  in such  reserves,  and this  condition to closing
         shall be deemed  satisfied  thereby.  The liability for such  indemnity
         obligation  shall be the values used by St. Mary in the net asset value
         determination  for KRE in connection  with the Merger on a case-by-case
         basis  as to each  currently  non-producing  interval  covered  by such
         assignment. Such indemnification obligation of KRI shall remain in full
         force and effect for a period of five years after the  Closing  Date or
         until any earlier  obtaining  of such  assignment.  If there exists any
         conflict  between this provision and any other  provision  contained in
         this Agreement, the provisions set forth in this Section shall control.
         Notwithstanding the foregoing,  no indemnification  shall apply if such
         reserves  are not  recoverable  for any reason  other than as specified
         herein.

                  (i)  Affiliate  Restrictions.  KRI  shall  have  notified,  in
                       ------------------------
         writing, persons who are affiliates of KRI or KRE within the meaning of
         the Securities Act (i) of the application to them of Rule 145 under the
         Securities  Act with  respect to St. Mary Common  Stock to be issued to
         them pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) that the  certificates  of St.
         Mary  Common  Stock  issued to such  persons  will  bear an  additional
         restrictive legend with respect to the foregoing.

         Section  7.3  Additional  Conditions  to  Obligations  of KRE  and  the
                       ---------------------------------------------------------
Shareholders  of KRE.  The  obligations  of the  shareholders  of KRE and KRE to
- ---------------------
effect  the Merger are  subject to the  satisfaction  of, or waiver by KRI on or
prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

                  (a)  Representations  and Warranties.  The representations and
                       --------------------------------
         warranties  of St.  Mary and Merger  Sub set forth in  Section  3.3 and
         Section 3.4 shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing
         Date  and as if  made  on the  Closing  Date,  subject  to any  changes
         contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (b) Performance of Obligations of St. Mary and Merger Sub. St.
                      ------------------------------------------------------
         Mary and Merger Sub shall have  performed  or complied in all  material
         respects with all agreements and




                                       41







         covenants  required to be performed by them under this  Agreement at or
         prior to the Closing Date.

                  (c)  Settlement of KRI-KRE  Intercompany  Balances.  KRE shall
                       ----------------------------------------------
         have paid KRI an amount  equal to the amount,  if any, of  intercompany
         transactions  subsequent  to May 31,  1999 and up to the  Closing  Date
         between  KRI  (together  with  any  other  Subsidiary  of KRI)  and KRE
         (together   with  any  KRE   Subsidiary),   net  of  any   intercompany
         transactions  between KRE (together  with any KRE  Subsidiary)  and KRI
         (together  with any other  Subsidiary of KRI)  subsequent to that date,
         exclusive of funds advanced by KRI to KRE for the acquisition by KRE of
         the Flour Bluff properties.

                  (d) Certificate of Officers.  St. Mary shall have delivered to
                      ------------------------
         KRI a  certificate  dated  as of  the  Closing  Date,  executed  in its
         corporate  name by, and  verified  by, the oath of its chief  executive
         officer and vice president of finance  certifying to the fulfillment of
         the  conditions  specified in  subsections  (a) and (b) of this Section
         7.3.

                  (e) Opinion of Financial  Advisor.  The opinion referred to in
                      ------------------------------
         Section 3.2(r) shall not have been withdrawn by Nesbitt Burns.

                  (f) Opinion of Counsel.  KRI shall  have  received a customary
                      -------------------
         opinion of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP, counsel to St. Mary,
         in a form approved by KRI,  which  approval  shall not be  unreasonably
         withheld or delayed.

                  (g) Tax Certificate.  Counsel to KRI shall have received a tax
                      ----------------
         certificate  from  St.  Mary in the form  attached  hereto  as  Exhibit
         7.3(g).

                  (h) Tax Opinion. KRI shall have received the opinions of Locke
                      ------------
         Liddell & Sapp LLP and Ernst & Young LLP that (i) the Merger  qualifies
         as a  reorganization  under  Section  368(a) of the Code,  and (ii) the
         Spin-Off  qualifies as a tax-free  distribution to the  shareholders of
         KRI under Section 355 of the Code.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                            TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

         Section 8.1  Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated at any time
                      ------------
prior to the  Effective  Time by  action  taken or  authorized  by the  Board of
Directors of the terminating party or parties,  whether before or after approval
of the St. Mary Share Issuance by the  shareholders  of St. Mary and approval of
the Merger by the shareholders of KRE, as follows:

                  (a) by  mutual  written  consent  of St. Mary, KRI and KRE, by
         action of their respective Boards of Directors;




                                       42








                  (b) by KRE or by St. Mary if the Effective Time shall not have
         occurred  on or before  November  30,  1999 (the  "Termination  Date");
         provided,  however,  that the right to terminate this  Agreement  under
         this Section  8.1(b) shall not be available to any party whose  failure
         to fulfill  any  obligation  under this  Agreement  (including  without
         limitation  Section 5.3) has to any material  extent been the cause of,
         or resulted in, the failure of the Effective Time to occur on or before
         the Termination Date;

                  (c) by KRE or by St. Mary if any Governmental Entity (i) shall
         have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action (which
         the parties shall have used their  commercially  reasonable  efforts to
         resist, resolve or lift, as applicable, in accordance with Section 5.3)
         permanently   restraining,   enjoining  or  otherwise  prohibiting  the
         transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  and such order,  decree,
         ruling or other  action shall have become  final and  nonappealable  or
         (ii) shall have  failed to issue an order,  decree or ruling or to take
         any other  action  (which  order,  decree,  ruling or other  action the
         parties  shall  have used  their  commercially  reasonable  efforts  to
         obtain,  in accordance  with Section 5.3), in each case of (i) and (ii)
         which is necessary to fulfill the  conditions  set forth in subsections
         7.1(b) and 7.1(c) as applicable,  and such denial of a request to issue
         such order, decree,  ruling or take such other action shall have become
         final and nonappealable;  provided however, that the right to terminate
         this Agreement  under this Section 8.1(c) shall not be available to any
         party  whose  failure to comply with  Section  5.3 has to any  material
         extent been the cause of such action or inaction;

                  (d)  by  KRE  or by  St.  Mary  if  (i)  the  approval  by the
         shareholders  of St. Mary  required for the St. Mary Share  Issuance to
         consummate  the Merger  shall not have been  obtained  by reason of the
         failure to obtain the Required  St. Mary Vote,  upon the taking of such
         vote at a duly held meeting of the  shareholders  of St. Mary or at any
         reconvened  meeting after any adjournment or postponement  thereof,  or
         (ii) the  approval by the  shareholders  of KRE required for the Merger
         shall not have been  obtained  by reason of the  failure  to obtain the
         Required KRE Vote,  upon the taking of such vote at a duly held meeting
         of the  shareholders  of KRE or at any  reconvened  meeting  after  any
         adjournment or postponement thereof;

                  (e) by St.  Mary if there  has  been a  material  breach  of a
         representation,  warranty,  covenant  or  agreement  contained  in this
         Agreement on the part of KRI or KRE, and as a result of such breach the
         conditions  precedent  set forth in Section 7.1 or Section  7.2, as the
         case may be, would not then be satisfied;  provided,  however,  that if
         such  breach  is  curable  by  KRI  or  KRE  through  the  exercise  of
         commercially  reasonable  efforts within the earlier of (i) thirty days
         from the  receipt of written  notice of breach by KRI from St.  Mary or
         (ii)  November 30, 1999,  then for so long as KRI continues to exercise
         such commercially  reasonable efforts,  St. Mary may not terminate this
         Agreement  under this Section  8.1(e) unless the breach is not cured in
         full within such time period; and

                  (f)  by  KRI  if  there  has  been  a  material  breach  of  a
         representation,  warranty,  covenant  or  agreement  contained  in this
         Agreement on the part of St. Mary, and as a result of such



                                       43








         breach the  conditions  precedent  set forth in Section  7.1 or Section
         7.3,  as the  case  may be,  would  not  then be  satisfied;  provided,
         however,  that if such  breach  is  curable  by St.  Mary  through  the
         exercise of commercially  reasonable  efforts within the earlier of (i)
         thirty days from  receipt of written  notice of breach by St. Mary from
         KRI or (ii) November 30, 1999,  then for so long as St. Mary  continues
         to exercise such commercially reasonable efforts, KRI may not terminate
         this Agreement under this Section 8.1(f) unless the breach is not cured
         in full within such time period.

         Section 8.2  Effect of Termination.
                      ----------------------

                  (a) In the event of termination of this Agreement by KRE or by
         St. Mary as provided in Section 8.1,  this  Agreement  shall  forthwith
         become void and there shall be no liability or  obligation  on the part
         of St.  Mary  or  KRI or  their  respective  subsidiaries,  affiliates,
         employees,  officers,  directors or counsel, except with respect to the
         first sentence of Section 5.2, Section 5.7 and this Section 8.2.

                  (b) If St. Mary shall  terminate  this  Agreement  pursuant to
         Section 8.1(e) hereof,  St. Mary may elect (i) to require KRI to pay to
         it the sum of $1,000,000  (the  "Termination  Fee"), or (ii) in lieu of
         the Termination  Fee, to exercise its legal right to assert a claim for
         all  available  legal  monetary  and  equitable  non-monetary  remedies
         against  KRI and KRE with  respect to such  breach.  If St.  Mary shall
         terminate this Agreement  pursuant to Section 8.1(e) hereof,  and on or
         before  December  31, 1999 there is a proposal  reflected  by a written
         document (an  "Alternative  Acquisition  Proposal")  for an Alternative
         Transaction (as hereinafter defined),  KRI shall be obligated to pay to
         St. Mary an additional sum of $2,000,000 (the "Alternative  Transaction
         Fee") upon the closing of such Alternative Transaction. An "Alternative
         Transaction"  shall mean a merger, a tender offer or exchange offer for
         substantially all or the outstanding capital stock of KRE, or a sale of
         substantially  all of the  assets of KRE to one or more  non-affiliated
         purchasers but shall not mean a liquidation or dissolution of KRE which
         is not a part of one of the foregoing  transactions.  KRI  acknowledges
         that St.  Mary  will  have  incurred  significant  costs  and will have
         invested  significant  amounts of time and resources  investigating and
         negotiating the acquisition of KRE, and agrees that the Termination Fee
         and  the  Alternative   Transaction  Fee  constitute,   if  applicable,
         reasonable  liquidated  damages in light of the  anticipated  or actual
         harm to St. Mary that would be caused by a termination  subject to this
         Section  8.2(b).  KRI and KRE  further  acknowledge  that St.  Mary may
         suffer  irreparable  harm as a result of entering into this  Agreement,
         and in the event St. Mary shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement
         pursuant to Section 8.1(e) hereof, but elects not to so terminate,  St.
         Mary  shall  have  the  right  to  seek  specific  enforcement  of this
         Agreement.

                  (c) If KRI shall terminate this Agreement  pursuant to Section
         8.1(e)  hereof,  KRI may elect (i) to require St. Mary to pay to it the
         Termination  Fee, or (ii) in lieu of the  Termination  Fee, to exercise
         its legal right to assert a claim for all available  legal monetary and
         equitable  non-monetary  remedies against St. Mary with respect to such
         breach.  St. Mary acknowledges that KRI will have incurred  significant
         costs and will have invested significant


                                       44









         amounts  of  time  and  resources  investigating  and  negotiating  the
         acquisition of KRE, and agrees that the Termination Fee, if applicable,
         constitutes  reasonable  liquidated damages in light of the anticipated
         or actual harm to KRI that would be caused by a termination  subject to
         this Section 8.2(b). St. Mary further  acknowledges that KRE may suffer
         irreparable   harm  through  the  loss  of  personnel  and/or  business
         opportunities  as a result of entering into this Agreement,  and in the
         event KRE shall be entitled to  terminate  this  Agreement  pursuant to
         Section  8.1(f)  hereof,  but elects not to so  terminate,  KRI and KRE
         shall have the right to seek specific enforcement of this Agreement.

                  (d)  Notwithstanding  the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b)
         above,  if this Agreement is terminated  because of a failure to obtain
         the Required St. Mary Vote or the Required KRE Vote, a Termination  Fee
         shall not be payable.  However, if this Agreement is terminated because
         of a failure to obtain the Required KRE Vote, and on or before December
         31, 1999 there is an Alternative  Acquisition  Proposal, an Alternative
         Transaction  Fee shall be payable as set forth in  paragraph  (b) above
         upon the closing of such Alternative Transaction, and in that event the
         Alternative   Transaction   Fee  payable   upon  the  closing  of  such
         Alternative Transaction shall be $3,000,000.

                  (e) Any  payment  required  to be made  pursuant  to  Sections
         8.2(b)  and (c)  shall  be made by wire  transfer  not  later  than ten
         business days after first due.

         Section 8.3  Amendment.  This  Agreement  may be amended by the parties
                      ----------
hereto,  by action taken or authorized by their respective  Boards of Directors,
at any time  before or after  approval  of the St.  Mary Share  Issuance  by the
shareholders  of St. Mary and the approval of the Merger by the  shareholders of
KRI, but, after any such approval, no amendment shall be made which by law or in
accordance  with  the  rules  of  Nasdaq  requires   further  approval  by  such
shareholders  without such further  approval.  This Agreement may not be amended
except by an  instrument  in  writing  signed  on behalf of each of the  parties
hereto.

         Section 8.4 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time,
                     ------------------
the parties hereto,  by action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of
Directors,  may,  to the  extent  legally  allowed,  (i) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto,
(ii) waive any  inaccuracies  in the  representations  and warranties  contained
herein or in any document  delivered  pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance
with any of the agreements or conditions  contained herein. Any agreement on the
part of a party  hereto to any such  extension  or waiver shall be valid only if
set forth in a written  instrument  signed on behalf of all parties hereto.  The
failure of any party to this  Agreement  to assert any of its rights  under this
Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of those rights.




                                       45







                                   ARTICLE IX

                                   ARBITRATION

         Section  9.1  Mediation.  The parties  hereto  agree that if any claim,
                       ----------
action,  dispute  or  controversy  of any kind  arises out of or relates to this
Agreement or concerns any aspect of  performance by any party under the terms of
this Agreement,  prior to seeking any other remedies,  including  arbitration or
litigation,  the  aggrieved  party shall give written  notice to the other party
describing  the  disputed  issue.  Within ten days  after the  receipt of such a
notice,  the parties shall mutually  appoint a single  mediator to assist in the
resolution of the dispute.  If the parties cannot agree upon a mediator,  either
KRI or St.  Mary  shall  have the  right to  apply to the  American  Arbitration
Association ("AAA") for a single mediator to be appointed to mediate the dispute
in accordance with the rules  applicable to AAA sponsored  proceedings and, upon
the  appointment  of such a mediator by AAA, such mediator shall be deemed to be
accepted by the parties  hereto.  Within twenty days after the  appointment of a
mediator,  either by the parties  hereto or, if  necessary,  by AAA, the parties
shall  meet one or more  times with such  mediator  in an effort to resolve  the
matters in dispute.  If after such meeting or meetings any aspect of the dispute
remains  unresolved for a period of an additional ten days, the parties shall be
obligated to submit the dispute to arbitration in accordance with the provisions
of Section 9.2  immediately  below.  Any meeting or meetings  with the  mediator
appointed  pursuant to this Article IX shall be  conducted in Denver,  Colorado.
The costs and  expenses of the  mediator  shall be borne  equally by KRI and St.
Mary.

         Section 9.2  Arbitration.
                      ------------

                  (a) Any  claim,  action,  dispute  or  controversy  of my kind
         arising out of or relating to this  Agreement or concerning  any aspect
         of  performance  by any party under the terms of this Agreement that is
         not  resolved by the  mediation  process set forth in Section 9.1 above
         ("Dispute")  shall be resolved  by  mandatory  and binding  arbitration
         administered by the AAA pursuant to the Federal  Arbitration Act (Title
         9 of the United States Code) in accordance  with this Agreement and the
         then-applicable  Commercial  Arbitration  Rules of the AAA. The parties
         acknowledge and agree that the transactions  evidenced and contemplated
         hereby involve  "commerce" as  contemplated in Section 2 of the Federal
         Arbitration  Act. To the extent that any  inconsistency  exists between
         this  Agreement and the  foregoing  statutes or rules,  this  Agreement
         shall  control.  Judgment  upon the award  rendered  by the  arbitrator
         acting  pursuant to this  Agreement may be entered in, and enforced by,
         any  court  having  jurisdiction  absent  manifest  disregard  by  such
         arbitrator of applicable law;  provided,  however,  that the arbitrator
         shall not amend,  supplement  or reform in any manner any of the rights
         or obligations of any party hereunder or the  enforceability  of any of
         the terms of this  Agreement.  Any arbitration  proceedings  under this
         Agreement  shall be  conducted  in  Denver,  Colorado,  before a single
         arbitrator  being a member of the State  Bar of  Colorado  for over ten
         years and  having  recognized  expertise  in the field or fields of the
         matter(s) in dispute.

                  (b) After first exhausting the mediation  process set forth in
         Section 9.1 upon the request by written notice  delivered in accordance
         with the terms hereof, whether made before




                                       46







         or after  the  institution  of any legal  proceeding,  but prior to the
         expiration  of the  statutory  time  period  within  which a party must
         respond  upon  receipt of valid  service of process in order to avoid a
         default  judgment,  any  Dispute  shall be resolved  by  mandatory  and
         binding  arbitration  in accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement.
         Within ten days after a party's  receipt  of such  notice,  each of the
         parties  shall select one  qualified  arbitrator.  The two  arbitrators
         selected by the parties shall then mutually  select a third  arbitrator
         (the "Third  Arbitrator"),  and the Third  Arbitrator shall resolve the
         Dispute in accordance with this Agreement and the applicable AAA rules.
         If  a  replacement   arbitrator  is  necessary  for  any  reason,  such
         replacement  arbitrator  shall be appointed by the Third Arbitrator or,
         alternatively,  if the Third Arbitrator is to be replaced,  mutually by
         the two arbitrators selected by the parties.

                  (c)  All  statutes  of  limitation  that  would  otherwise  be
         applicable   shall   apply   to   my   arbitration   proceeding.    Any
         attorney-client  privilege and other protection  against  disclosure of
         privileged or confidential  information including,  without limitation,
         any protection  afforded the  work-product of any attorney,  that could
         otherwise  be claimed by any party  shall be  available  to, and may be
         claimed by, any such party in any mediation or arbitration  proceeding.
         No party waives my  attorney-client  privilege or any other  protection
         against disclosure of privileged or confidential  information by reason
         of  anything  contained  in, or done  pursuant  to,  the  mediation  or
         arbitration provisions of this Agreement.

                  (d) The  arbitration  shall be conducted and concluded as soon
         as reasonably practicable, based on a schedule established by the Third
         Arbitrator.  Any arbitration award shall be based on and accompanied by
         findings of fact and  conclusions of law, shall be conclusive as to the
         facts so found and shall be confirmable by my court having jurisdiction
         over the Dispute,  provided that such award,  findings and  conclusions
         are not in manifest  disregard of applicable law. The Third  Arbitrator
         shall have no authority to award punitive  damages or any other damages
         not measured by the prevailing party's actual damages,  and may not, in
         my event,  make any  ruling,  finding or award that does not conform to
         the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

                  (e)  In  order  for an  arbitration  award  to be  conclusive,
         binding and  enforceable  under this Agreement,  the  arbitration  must
         follow  the  procedures  set forth in the  portions  of this  Agreement
         relating to such arbitration and any award or  determination  shall not
         be in manifest  disregard of applicable  law. The obligation to mediate
         or  arbitrate  my Dispute  shall be  binding  upon the  successors  and
         assigns of each of the parties hereto.

                  (f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
         Article  IX,  the  obligation  of the  parties  hereto to  mediate  and
         arbitrate  shall not apply to any dispute in which  injunctive or other
         equitable relief is sought.

         Section 9.3 Costs; Enforcement. Each party shall bear its own expenses,
                     -------------------

including, without limitation,  expenses of counsel incident to any mediation or
arbitration.  The  expenses  of the Third  Arbitrator  and the AAA shall be born
equally  by KRI and St.  Mary.  The Third  Arbitrator  shall  have the power and




                                       47



authority  to award  expenses to the  prevailing  party if the Third  Arbitrator
elects to do so. A party  may  bring  summary  proceedings  (including,  without
limitation,  a plea in abatement or motion to stay further proceedings) in court
to compel  mediation  or  arbitration  of any  Dispute in  accordance  with this
Agreement.


                                    ARTICLE X

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         Section 10.1 Nature of Representations  and Warranties;  Survival.  The
                      -----------------------------------------------------
representations and warranties of the parties under this Agreement shall survive
for a period of one year from the Closing Date; provided,  however, that (i) the
representations  and warranties shall survive for a period of two years from the
Closing Date to the extent that any inaccuracy in any representation or warranty
results in or involves a claim by any third  party and (ii) the  representations
and warranties  made with respect to taxes and benefit plans shall survive until
ninety days after the expiration of the  appropriate  statue of  limitation,  if
any, with respect thereto.  Further, the Confidentiality  Agreements (defined in
Section 5.2) and the  obligations  with respect to the Retained  Litigation  (as
defined in Section 5.13), shall survive the Closing and remain in full force and
effect without a time limitation.

         Section 10.2 Counterparts  and  Facsimile  Signatures.  In   order   to
                      -----------------------------------------
facilitate  the  execution  of this  Agreement,  the same may be executed in any
number of  counterparts  and signature  pages may be delivered by telefax,  with
original executed signature pages to be furnished promptly thereafter.

         Section 10.3 Assignment.  Neither this  Agreement nor any right created
                      -----------
hereby shall be  assignable  by KRI,  KRE or St. Mary without the prior  written
consent of the other parties. Nothing in this Agreement,  express or implied, is
intended  to confer upon any  person,  other than the  parties  hereby and their
respective successors,  assigns, heirs, executors,  administrators,  or personal
representatives, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.

         Section 10.4 Representative  of KRH, KRM and KRE. Any executive officer
                      ------------------------------------
of KRI is hereby  authorized to execute any document or take any other action on
behalf of KRH, KRM or KRE.

         Section 10.5 Entire  Agreement.  This Agreement,  the schedules hereto,
                      ------------------
and the other documents delivered pursuant hereby constitute the full and entire
understanding  and  agreement  between  the  parties  with regard to the subject
hereof  and no party  shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any
representations,  warranties, covenants or agreements except as specifically set
forth herein.  All prior  agreements and  understandings  are superseded by this
Agreement and the schedules hereto.

         Section 10.6 Governing Law.  This  Agreement  shall  be governed by the
                      --------------
laws of the State of  New York, except that the Delaware General Corporation Law
shall govern as to matters of



                                       48





corporate law  pertaining to St. Mary and KRE, the corporate laws of Texas shall
govern as to the matters of corporate  law  pertaining  to KRI and the corporate
laws of Colorado  shall  govern as to matters of  corporate  law  pertaining  to
Merger Sub. Subject to the alternative  dispute resolution  provisions set forth
in Article IX, any action  brought to enforce this Agreement or any term thereof
shall be brought in a court of competent  jurisdiction  in Denver,  Colorado and
each party hereto  affirmatively  agrees to submit to the  jurisdiction  in that
city and state.

         Section 10.7  Severability.  In case any  provision  of this  Agreement
                       -------------
shall  be  invalid,  illegal  or  unenforceable,   the  validity,  legality  and
enforceability  of the remaining  provisions shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby.

         Section 10.8  Notices.  Any notice,  communication,  request,  reply or
                       --------
advice,   hereinafter  severally  and  collectively  called  "notice,"  in  this
Agreement provided or permitted to be given, made or accepted by either party to
the other must be in writing and may be given by personal  delivery or U.S. mail
or confirmed  telefax.  If given by mail, such notice must be sent by registered
or  certified  mail,  postage  prepaid,  mailed to the  party at the  respective
address set forth below, and shall be effective only if and when received by the
party to be  notified.  For  purposes of notice,  the  addresses  of the parties
shall, until changed as hereinafter provided, be as follows:


                  (a)  If to St. Mary and/or Merger Sub:

                                    St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
                                    Attn: Mr. Mark A. Hellerstein
                                    President and Chief Executive Officer
                                    1776 Lincoln Street, Suite 1100
                                    Denver, CO 80203-1080
                                    Telefax: (303) 861-0934

                       With a copy to:

                                    Milam Randolph Pharo, Esq.
                                    Vice President Land & Legal
                                    St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
                                    1776 Lincoln Street, Suite 1100
                                    Denver, CO 80203-1080
                                    Telefax: (303) 863-1040





                                       49







                  (b) If to KRH, KRM, KRI and/or KRE:

                                    King Ranch Inc.
                                    Attn: Mr. Jack Hunt, President
                                    1415 Louisiana, Suite 2300
                                    Houston, TX 77002
                                    Telefax: (713) 752-0101

                      With a copy to:

                                    Greg Hill, Esq.
                                    Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP
                                    3400 Chase Tower
                                    600 Travis
                                    Houston, Texas 77002
                                    Telefax: (713) 223-3717

or at such other  address or telefax  number as any party may have  advised  the
others in writing.

         Section 10.9  Attorney Fees. Except  as  otherwise  provided herein, in
                       --------------
the event any party  hereto  institutes  a  proceeding  against  any other party
hereto for a claim  arising  out of or to enforce  this  Agreement,  the parties
agree that the judge or arbitrator in any such  proceeding  shall be entitled to
determine the extent to which any party shall pay the reasonable attorneys' fees
incurred  by  the  other  party  in  connection  with  such  proceeding,   which
determination  shall take into  consideration the outcome of such Proceeding and
such  other  factors  as  the  judge  may  determine  to  be  equitable  in  the
circumstances.

         Section 10.10 Certain Definitions.
                       --------------------

                  (a) "Affiliate"  means, with respect to any Person,  any other
         Person that directly, or indirectly through one or-more intermediaries,
         controls or is  controlled  by or is under common  control  with,  such
         Person;  as used in this  definition,  "control"  means the possession,
         directly or  indirectly,  of the power to direct or cause the direction
         of the management and policies of a Person,  whether through  ownership
         of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

                  (b)  "Knowledge"  means (i) with  respect to KRI and KRE,  the
         actual conscious knowledge of Jack Hunt, William Gardiner, Tom Fiorito,
         William  Silk,  Brian Romere,  Sonny  Bryant,  Dwight Bowles and Dennis
         Haydel and (ii) with  respect  to St.  Mary or Merger  Sub,  the actual
         conscious  knowledge of Thomas E.  Congdon,  Mark  Hellerstein,  Ronald
         Boone,  Douglas York,  Milam  Randolph  Pharo,  Richard Norris and Gary
         Wilkering.

                  (c)  "Loss"  means any loss,  damage,  injury,  diminution  in
         value, liability, claim, demand, proceeding, judgment, punitive damage,
         fine, penalty, tax, cost or expense



                                       50




         (including   reasonable   costs   of   investigation   and  the   fees,
         disbursements   and  expenses  of  attorneys,   accountants  and  other
         professionals  incurred  in  proceedings,  investigations  or  disputes
         involving third parties, including governmental agencies).

                  (d) "Material  Adverse  Effect" means,  with respect to KRE or
         St. Mary, or any of their respective Subsidiaries,  any adverse change,
         circumstance or effect that,  individually or in the aggregate with all
         other  adverse  changes,  circumstances  and effects,  or is reasonably
         likely to be materially  adverse to the business,  properties,  assets,
         financial  conditions or results or such  operations of such entity and
         its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than any change, circumstance
         or effect relating to the economy or securities markets in general, the
         price or oil or natural gas, or the industries in which KRE or St. Mary
         operates and are not specifically relating to KRE or St. Mary.

                  (e)  "Person"  means  an  individual,   corporation,   limited
         liability  company,  partnership,  association,  trust,  unincorporated
         organization, other entity or group (as defined in the Exchange Act).

                  (f)  "Proceeding"  means  any  action,   arbitration,   audit,
         hearing,  investigation,  litigation, or suit (whether civil, criminal,
         administrative,   investigative,   or  informal)  commenced,   brought,
         conducted,  or  heard  by  or  before,  or  otherwise  involving,   any
         Governmental Entity or arbitrator.

                  (g) "Subsidiary" when used with respect to any party means any
         corporation   or   other   organization,    whether   incorporated   or
         unincorporated, (i) of which such party or any other Subsidiary of such
         party  is  a  general  partner  (excluding  partnerships,  the  general
         partnership  interests of which held by such party or any Subsidiary of
         such  party do not have a  majority  of the  voting  interests  in such
         partnership)  or (ii) at least a majority  of the  securities  or other
         interests of which having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect
         a  majority  of the Board of  Directors  or others  performing  similar
         functions  with respect to such  corporation or other  organization  is
         directly or indirectly  owned or controlled by such party or by any one
         or more or its  Subsidiaries,  or by such  party and one or more of its
         Subsidiaries.





                                       51





         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  this  Agreement  is hereby duly  executed by each
party hereto as of the date first written above.

ST. MARY:

ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY,
a Delaware corporation

By: /S/ MARK A HELLERSTEIN
    ------------------------------------
    Mark A. Hellerstein, President and
          Chief Executive Officer


MERGER SUB:

ST. MARY ACQUISITION CORPORATION,
a Colorado corporation

By: /S/ MARK A. HELLERSTEIN
    --------------------------------
    Mark A. Hellerstein, President


KRI:

KING RANCH INC.,
a Texas corporation

By: /S/ JACK HUNT
    -----------------------
    Jack Hunt, President



KRE:

KING RANCH ENERGY, INC.,
a Delaware corporation

By: /S/ WILLIAM GARDINER
    -------------------------------------
    William Gardiner, Vice President




                                       52