Exhibit 10.1 Amendment to Stock Option Plan FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE HYPERDYNAMICS CORPORATION STOCK OPTION PLAN Pursuant to Section 16 and Section 3 of that certain Stock Option Plan of Hyperdynamics dated effective May 7, 1997, the Board of Directors hereby amends the Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") this December 3, 2001, as follows: 1. The new name of the Plan is "Stock and Stock Option Plan." 2. By adding the word "shares of common stock; or " in Section 1 immediately after the first appearance of the word "granted". 3. By deleting the term "1,620,000" where ever it may appear and substitute in its place the term 5,120,000. The purpose of this amendment is to provide for an additional 3,500,000 shares of common stock that may be optioned or granted pursuant to the Stock Option Plan. 4. By adding the word ", attorneys" in Section 1 immediately after the first and second appearance of the word "consultants." 5. By adding the word "shares of common stock, or " in Section 3 paragraph two before all appearances of the word "Options." 6. By adding the word "issuance of shares of common stock, or " in Section 3 paragraph three before all appearances of the word "Options." 7. By renaming Section 4. "Shares and Shares Subject to Option." 8. By adding the word "issued or" in Section 4 before all appearances of the word "optioned." 9. By adding the word "and the other persons set forth in Section 1" after the first appearance of the word "Director" in Section 5(a). 10. By adding the word "shares of common stock, or " in Section 5(a) before all appearances of the words "[an] Option[s]." 11. By adding the word "shares of common stock, or " in Section 15 before all appearances of the words "Options."