1 EXHIBIT 4.1 NUMBER [VIGNETTE] ____________ SSP ______ SHARES THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE APACHE INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA OR CORPORATION OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE NEW YORK, NEW YORK COMMON STOCK COMMON STOCK This Certifies that _________________________ CUSIP 037411 10 5 SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS PAR VALUE $1.25 EACH CERTIFICATE OF STOCK is the owner of _________________________ FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF THE COMMON STOCK OF Apache Corporation, transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed. This certificate is not valid until countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar. Witness the signatures of its duly authorized officers. Countersigned and Registered: NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, N.A. TRANSFER AGENT /s/ Raymond Plank AND REGISTRAR - ----------------- CHAIRMAN /s/ C. L. Peper --------------- By _________________ SECRETARY DATED: _________________________ AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE 2 APACHE CORPORATION The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM --- as tenants in common UNIF TRF MIN ACT --- ______ Custodian ______________ TEN ENT --- as tenants by the entireties (Cust) (Minor) JT TEN --- as joint tenants with right of under Uniform Transfers to Minors survivorship and not as tenants Act _________________ in common (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain rights (the "Rights") as set forth in a Rights Agreement between Apache Corporation and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., as Rights Agent, dated as of January 31, 1996 as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive offices of Apache Corporation. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. Apache Corporation will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights owned by or transferred to any Person who is or becomes an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and certain transferees thereof will be come null and void and will no longer be transferable. For value received, ________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Shares of the capital stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _____________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within-named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated, _________________________ NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE(S) TO ______________________________________________ THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME(S) AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT AL- TERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER. ______________________________________________ THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION, (Banks, Stockbrokers, Savings and Loan Associations and Credit Unions) WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.