Exhibit 4.1
August 27, 1998

Mr. Roland Frautschi
Chief Financial Officer
Goodrich Petroleum Corporation
333 Texas Street, Suite 1350
Shreveport, LA  71101-2300

Re:      Credit  Agreement  by and  between  Patrick  Petroleum  Corporation  of
         Michigan ("Borrower") and Compass Bank-Houston ("Lender"), dated August
         16,  1995 (as  subsequently  amended,  restated  or  supplemented,  the
         "Credit Agreement").

Dear Roland:

Effective  immediately,  Section 2.7(a) of the Credit Agreement shall be amended
to read as follows:

         "The Borrowing Base is  acknowledged  by the Borrower and the Lender to
         be $28,500,000 as of August 27, 1998.  This Borrowing Base shall remain
         in effect  until the next  Borrowing  Base  review,  which is currently
         scheduled for January 1, 1999."

Kindly  acknowledge  agreement and  acceptance of the above by signing below and
returning it to my attention  along with the $12,500  Facility Fee for the above
referenced increase in commitment.  In the interim, I would appreciate it if you
would fax a copy of the signed document to my attention at (713) 968-8292.

Note that all  capitalized  terms  used  herein but not  defined  shall have the
meanings attributed thereto in the Credit Agreement.

Sincerely,
COMPASS BANK - HOUSTON

By:      /s/  Allison Hammer             
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         Allison Hammer
         Vice President

Agreed to and Accepted as of this 27th day of August, 1998:

GOODRICH PETROLEUM COMPANY OF LOUISIANA

By:      /s/  Roland L. Frautschi        
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         Roland L. Frautschi
         Chief Financial Officer