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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


This agreement is made and entered into as of the 8th day of November, 1999, by
and between TransTexas Gas Corporation, hereinafter called "Company" and Ron
Nowak, hereinafter called "Employee".

1. The term of this Agreement is for six (6) months commencing on November 8,
1999, and ending on May 7, 2000. Thereafter this contract shall be subject to
renegotiations and renewal. This agreement may be terminated prior to the end of
the term pursuant to paragraph 6, 7 or 8 hereof.

2. The Company agrees to employ Employee for the term of this Agreement, and
Employee shall have and fulfill such duties, responsibilities and obligations as
are usual and customary for the President and Chief Operating Officer, subject
to the direction and control of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive
Officer.

3. Employee agrees Employee will faithfully and diligently serve the Company to
the best of his ability.

4. During his service hereunder, Employee's salary shall be $25,000.00 per month
payable in installments in accordance with the Company's regular payroll
practices.

5. At such costs and eligibility restrictions applicable to all employees,
Employee shall participate in all plans and benefits generally applicable or
available to employees of the Company, including but not limited to health,
hospital and surgical benefits, disability, life insurance plans, and AD&D
insurance.

         b. During his service hereunder, Employee shall receive two (2) weeks
         of vacation.

6. This agreement shall be terminable by the Company for "cause" without advance
notice. In the event of such termination properly for cause, the salary set
forth above shall cease on the effective date of termination, however, benefits
earned to date shall be paid in full. "Cause" shall mean:

         a. Neglect or mismanagement by Employee of his duties, responsibilities
         and obligations which either significantly damages or could have
         significantly damaged the property or interest of the Company; or

         b. Material breach of this Agreement by Employee; or

         c. Inability of Employee to perform his duties, responsibilities and
         obligations by reason of illness, accident or other incapacity for a
         continuous period of six months.

7. This Agreement shall be terminable by Employee for cause. In the event that
Employee terminates this Agreement properly for cause within thirty days after
he knows or should have known of the existence of such cause, the Company shall
be obligated to pay Employee his salary through the effective date of contract
period.
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"Cause" shall mean:

         a. Wrongful behavior or willful neglect by the Company, not caused by
         Employee; or

         b. Material breach of its obligations under this Agreement by the
         Company; or

         c. Sale, reorganization (other than the reorganization of the Company
         pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization of the Company in Case No.
         99-21550-C in the United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of
         Texas, Corpus Christi Division) or merger of the Company resulting in a
         change in the actual control of the Company.

8.  The Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement without cause
by giving Employee written notice of such termination.

9.  In the event that the Company terminates Employee other than for cause
before the end of the term of this Agreement, or Employee terminates this
Agreement for cause before the end of the term of this Agreement, the Company
shall pay to Employee his salary for the remaining term of this Agreement.

10. The entire understanding and agreement between the parties has been
incorporated into this Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of,
and shall be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns and upon
Employee and his heirs, successors, and assigns. This agreement may not
otherwise be assigned without the prior written approval of the other party.

11. Any disputes concerning or arising out of interpretation or application of
this Agreement shall be determined by final and binding arbitration under and in
accordance with the rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association
provided that the dispute is submitted to arbitration by written demand therefor
delivered to and received by the other party within sixty days after occurrence
of the event giving rise to the dispute.

12. If there is a conflict between the Company personnel policies and this
Agreement, this Agreement shall prevail.

TransTexas Gas Corporation                    Ronald P. Nowak

By: /s/ John R. Stanley                       By: /s/ Ronald P. Nowak
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        John R. Stanley

Date:                                         Date: November 1, 1999
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