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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9

               SIXTH AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


         This Amendment (this "Amendment") is made as of March 2, 1996, by and
between Toreador Royalty Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
acting by and through J. W. Bullion, Secretary of the Company, who has been
authorized by the Board of Directors to execute this Amendment, and Peter R.
Vig (the "Executive") and amends that certain Executive Employment Agreement
made as of August 1, 1990 by and between the Company and the Executive, as
amended by that certain First Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement made
as of July 30, 1992, that certain Second Amendment to Executive Employment
Agreement made as of December 27, 1993, that certain Third Amendment to
Executive Employment Agreement made as of September 8, 1994, that certain
Fourth Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement made as of April 25, 1995,
and that certain Fifth Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement made as of
October 2, 1995 ("the Employment Agreement").  All capitalized terms used but
not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the
Employment Agreement.

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ the Executive
pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement and the Executive is willing
to continue to render his service to the Company on the terms and conditions
with respect to such employment set forth therein;

         WHEREAS, subparagraph 15(a) of the Employment Agreement provides that
for purposes of the Employment Agreement, the Executive shall have resigned
with cause if "a Change of Control of the Company has occurred and the
Executive resigns his employment with the Company within thirty (30) days after
the date on which such Change of Control occurred";

         WHEREAS, if the Executive resigns with cause he shall be paid a lump
sum cash payment on the date of termination of employment in an amount equal to
two years' annual base salary;

         WHEREAS, the filing of the Schedule 13D on April 7, 1995 by Dane,
Falb, Stone & Co., Inc. and others forming a group ("Dane, Falb") constituted a
Change in Control; and

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has previously extended to one year
the period of time in subparagraph 15(a) with respect to the Change of Control
resulting from the filing of Dane, Falb's Schedule 13D;

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors and the Executive believe it to be in
the best interest of the Company to extend the period of time in subparagraph
15(a) with respect to the Change of Control resulting from the filing of Dane,
Falb's Schedule 13D;





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         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual terms and
conditions hereof the Company and the Executive hereby agree:

         1.  With respect to the Change of Control resulting from the
         filing of Dane, Falb's Schedule 13D, the period of thirty (30) days
         referred to in Section 15(a) of the Employment Agreement (previously
         extended to one year) shall be extended until December 31, 1996.

         2.  The terms and provisions of the Employment Agreement shall
         continue in full force and effect, as amended hereby.  In the event of
         any conflict between the provisions of the Employment Agreement and
         the provisions of this Amendment, this Amendment shall control.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have executed this
Amendment as of the date and year first written above.

                                        COMPANY:

                                        TOREADOR ROYALTY CORPORATION


                                        By: /s/ J.W. Bullion
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            J.W. Bullion, Secretary


                                        EXECUTIVE:

                                        /s/ Peter R. Vig
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Peter R. Vig


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