SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                -----------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                                  MAY 16, 2003
                            ------------------------
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

                       AMERICAN REAL ESTATE PARTNERS, L.P.
           ----------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

DELAWARE                             1-9516                      13-3398766
----------------                    --------                  ---------------
(State of Organization)     (Commission File Number)           (IRS Employer
                                                          Identification Number)

                             100 SOUTH BEDFORD ROAD
                               MT. KISCO, NY 10549
                     ---------------------------------------
         (Address of Registrant's Principal Executive Office (Zip Code)

                                 (914) 242-7700
                               ------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                               ------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)













ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

     On May 16, 2003 (i) the Company issued a press release,  a copy of which is
filed as Exhibit  99.1,  and (ii) a  subsidiary  of the Company has entered into
Stock,  Debt  and LLC  Interest  Purchase  Agreement,  copy of which is filed as
Exhibit 99.2.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

         (c) Exhibits.

         EXHIBIT NO.    DESCRIPTION
99.1     Joint Press Release of American Real Estate Partners, L.P., dated as
         of May 16, 2003.
99.2     Stock, Debt and LLC Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 16,
         2003

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                    AMERICAN REAL ESTATE PARTNERS, L.P.
                                    (Registrant)

                                    By:     American Property Investors, Inc.
                                            General Partner

                                            By: /s/ John P. Saldarell
                                                 John P. Saldarelli
                                                 Chief Financial Officer,
                                                 Secretary and Treasurer

Dated:  May 16, 2002





                                                                   Exhibit 99.1

     [Letterhead of American Real Estate Partners, L.P.]


Contact:  John P. Saldarelli
          Secretary and Treasurer
          (914) 242-7700

                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                  AMERICAN REAL ESTATE PARTNERS, L.P. AGREES TO
            ACQUIRE CERTAIN SECURITIES OF NATIONAL ENERGY GROUP, INC.


 Mount Kisco, New York, May 16, 2003 - American Real Estate Partners,  L.P.,
(NYSE: ACP) ("AREP")  announced today that American Real Estate Holdings Limited
Partnership, a subsidiary of AREP, has agreed to acquire certain debt and equity
securities  of National  Energy  Group,  Inc. and the 100% interest in an entity
owning such debt and equity  securities,  from the entities  affiliated with and
indirectly  wholly-owned  by Carl C. Icahn for the  aggregate  consideration  of
$148,084,689.50,  subject to certain  adjustments at closing, by entering into a
definitive Stock,  Debt and LLC Interest  Purchase  Agreement dated as of today.
Following the closing of this transaction,  AREP will beneficially own in excess
of 50% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock of National Energy Group, Inc.
and the 100% of the  outstanding  10 3/4 %  Senior  Notes  due 2006 of  National
Energy  Group,  Inc. in the  aggregate  principal  amount of  $148,637,000.  The
closing of the transactions  contemplated by the agreement is subject to certain
conditions,  including,  among other things, the approval of the shareholders of
National  Energy  Group,  Inc.  of  certain  amendments  to the  certificate  of
incorporation of National Energy Group,  Inc. and subsequent action of the board
of directors of National Energy Group, Inc. pursuant to such amendment.

National Energy Group, Inc. owns an interest in entities primarily involved
in owning and  operating of oil and gas  properties  and manages the oil and gas
operations of such entities.

American  Real  Estate  Partners,  L.P.  is a  master  limited  partnership
primarily  engaged in acquiring  and  managing  real estate  investments  with a
primary  focus on office,  retail,  industrial,  hotel,  gaming and  residential
properties.

This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.



                                                                   Exhibit 99.2

                 STOCK, DEBT AND LLC INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT



                            dated as of May 16, 2003



                                 by and between



                      American Real Estate Holdings, L.P.,

                                  as Purchaser,

                                       and

                                  Arnos Corp.,

                         High River Limited Partnership

                                       and

                         High Coast Limited Partnership,

                                   as Sellers






                                Table of Contents


                                                                                                      
                                                                                                               Page

                                    Article I
                SALE OF SHARES, DEBT AND LLC INTEREST AND CLOSING
   1.1      Purchase and Sale.....................................................................................1
   1.2      Purchase Price........................................................................................1
   1.3      Closing...............................................................................................2
                                    Article II
                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS REGARDING SHARES, DEBT AND COMPANY
   2.1      Organization of the Sellers...........................................................................2
   2.2      Authority.............................................................................................2
   2.3      Title.................................................................................................2
   2.4      No Conflicts..........................................................................................2
   2.5      Due Incorporation of Company and Subsidiaries.........................................................3
   2.6      Consents and Approvals; Authority Relative to this Agreement..........................................3
   2.7      Capitalization........................................................................................3
   2.8      Capitalization at Closing.............................................................................4
   2.9      SEC Filings; Financial Statements.....................................................................5
   2.10     No Adverse Effects or Changes.........................................................................5
   2.11     Title to Properties...................................................................................6
   2.12     Litigation............................................................................................6
   2.13     Claims Against Officers and Directors.................................................................6
   2.14     Insurance.............................................................................................6
   2.15     Compliance with Law...................................................................................6
   2.16     Taxes.................................................................................................6
   2.17     Undisclosed Liabilities...............................................................................7
   2.18     Related Parties.......................................................................................7
   2.19     Intellectual Property.................................................................................7
   2.20     Environmental Matters.................................................................................7
   2.21     Oil and Gas Operations................................................................................8
   2.22     Proven Reserves.......................................................................................9
   2.23     Derivatives and Hedging Contracts.....................................................................9
   2.24     Employees, Labor Matters, etc.........................................................................9
   2.25     Employee Benefit Plans...............................................................................10
   2.26     Brokers..............................................................................................10
   2.27     Accuracy of Statements...............................................................................10
                                                    Article III
              ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ARNOS AND HIGH RIVER REGARDING HOLDING LLC
   3.1      Due Organization of Company..........................................................................11
   3.2      Authority............................................................................................11
   3.3      Title to Properties..................................................................................11
   3.4      Litigation...........................................................................................11
   3.5      Claims Against Members and Manager...................................................................11



                                        i



   3.6      No Other Business....................................................................................11

                                                      Article IV
                                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
   4.1      Organization of Purchaser............................................................................11
   4.2      Authority............................................................................................12
   4.3      No Conflicts.........................................................................................12


                                                      Article V
                                 ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF OPERATING AGREEMENT
   5.1      Assignment and Assumption............................................................................12


                                                      Article VI
                                   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF PURCHASER
   6.1      Warranties True as of Both Present Date and Closing Date.............................................12
   6.2      Compliance with Agreements and Covenants.............................................................13
   6.3      Consents and Approvals...............................................................................13
   6.4      No Material Adverse Change...........................................................................13
   6.5      Actions or Proceedings...............................................................................13
   6.6      Purchase of Additional Shares........................................................................13

                                                   Article VII
                                CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF EACH SELLER
   7.1      Warranties True as of Both Present Date and Closing Date.............................................13
   7.2      Compliance with Agreements and Covenants.............................................................13
   7.3      Consents and Approvals...............................................................................14
   7.4      Actions or Proceedings...............................................................................14

                                                   Article VIII
                                                    TERMINATION
   8.1      Termination..........................................................................................14
   8.2      Effect of Termination................................................................................14

                                                    Article IX
                                                  INDEMNIFICATION
   9.1      Indemnification by Sellers...........................................................................14
   9.2      Claims...............................................................................................15
   9.3      Notice of Third-Party Claims; Assumption of Defense..................................................15
   9.4      Settlement or Compromise.............................................................................16
   9.5      Failure of Indemnifying Person to Act................................................................16
   9.6      Tax Character........................................................................................16

                                                     Article X
                                                    DEFINITIONS
   10.1     Definitions..........................................................................................16

                                                    Article XI
                                                   MISCELLANEOUS
   11.1     Investigation........................................................................................22
   11.2     Entire Agreement.....................................................................................22
   11.3     Waiver...............................................................................................22
   11.4     Amendment............................................................................................22
   11.5     No Third Party Beneficiary...........................................................................22
   11.6     Assignment; Binding Effect...........................................................................22


                                       ii



   11.7     Headings.............................................................................................22
   11.8     Invalid Provisions...................................................................................22
   11.9     Expenses.............................................................................................22
   11.10    Further Action....................................................................................24
   11.11    Governing Law.....................................................................................24
   11.12    Counterparts......................................................................................24
   11.13    Independent Obligations...........................................................................24
   11.14    Exclusive Remedy..................................................................................24
   11.15    Acknowledgement...................................................................................24





                                      iii





     This STOCK,  DEBT AND LLC INTEREST  PURCHASE  AGREEMENT (this  "Agreement")
dated as of May 16, 2003 is made and entered  into by and among Arnos  Corp.,  a
Nevada corporation ("Arnos"), High River Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited
partnership ("High River"),  High Coast Limited Partnership,  a Delaware limited
partnership ("High Coast"),  (each a "Seller" and collectively,  the "Sellers"),
and  American  Real  Estate  Holdings,  L.P.,  a  Delaware  limited  partnership
("Purchaser").  Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
set forth in ARTICLE X.

     WHEREAS, Purchaser desires to purchase (i) 4,044,595 shares (such number of
shares,  the  "Shares") of Common Stock,  par value $.01 per share,  of National
Energy Group,  Inc. (the  "Company"),  from Arnos at a price of $0.50 per Share,
(ii)  $54,909,000  in principal  amount of 10 3/4 % Senior Notes due 2006 of the
Company (such notes in such principal amount of $54,909,000,  the "Debt"),  from
High Coast at a price  equal to 97.75% (the  "Discount  Rate") of the sum of the
principal amount of the Debt plus 100% of any interest unpaid but accrued on the
Debt through and  inclusive of the Closing  Date (as defined  below),  and (iii)
100%  of  the  limited  liability  company  interest  (the  "LLC  Interest")  of
Greenville  Holding LLC, a Delaware  limited  liability  company  (the  "Holding
LLC"),  from the Holding LLC's members High River and Arnos, at a price equal to
$92,388,844.50 (plus 100% of any interest unpaid but accrued on the Holding Debt
(as defined below)  through and inclusive of the Closing  Date),  which price is
calculated  by  applying  the same  price per Share to the  Holding  Shares  and
Discount  Rate to the Holding  Debt as were  applied to the Shares and the Debt,
respectively;  in each case on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement; and

     WHEREAS,  Holding LLC holds (i) 1,539,449 shares of Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share,  of the Company (the "Holding  Shares") and (ii)  $93,728,000 in
principal  amount of 10 3/4 % Senior Notes due 2006 of the Company (the "Holding
Debt").

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set
forth in this  Agreement,  and for other good and  valuable  consideration,  the
receipt and  sufficiency  of which are hereby  acknowledged,  the parties hereto
agree as follows:

                                   Article I
                SALE OF SHARES, DEBT AND LLC INTEREST AND CLOSING

     1.1  Purchase  and  Sale.  The  Sellers  agree  to sell to  Purchaser,  and
Purchaser  agrees to purchase from the Sellers,  the Shares,  the Debt (together
with any unpaid but accrued  interest  thereon through and including the Closing
Date) and the LLC  Interest  at the  Closing  on the terms  and  subject  to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement.

     1.2 Purchase Price. The aggregate  purchase price for the Shares,  the Debt
and the LLC Interest is  $148,084,689.50  (plus 100% of any interest  unpaid but
accrued on the Debt and the Holding  Debt  through and  inclusive of the Closing
Date,  the "Purchase  Price"),  payable in immediately  available  United States
funds at the Closing in the manner  provided in Section 1.3. The  allocation  of
the Purchase  Price (other than for any unpaid but accrued  interest on the Debt
and,  with  respect to the price for the LLC  Interest,  the Holding  Debt,  the
amount of which will be  calculated  on the Closing  Date) with  respect to each
Seller and between the Shares,  the Debt and the LLC Interest is as set forth on
Schedule A hereto. The parties to this Agreement agree

                                       1



not to take any position  with any  Governmental  or  Regulatory  Authority
inconsistent with this purchase price allocation.

     1.3 Closing. The Closing will take place at the offices of Icahn Associates
Corp.,  767 Fifth Avenue,  47th Floor,  New York, New York 10153,  or such other
location as may be agreed to by the  parties,  on the second  business day after
the  satisfaction  or waiver of conditions set forth in Articles VI and VII (the
"Closing  Date").  At the Closing:  (i) Purchaser will pay the Purchase Price by
electronic  transfer of immediately  available funds to such respective accounts
of each Seller as such Seller has  directed,  and (ii) the Sellers  will sell to
Purchaser  the  Shares,  the  Debt and the LLC  Interest  by (A)  delivering  to
Purchaser  the Shares and the Debt  against  such  payment via a DTC-book  entry
transfer from the accounts of the Sellers to the account of  Purchaser,  through
Icahn &Co.,  Inc.,  and (B)  effectuating  the sale of the LLC  Interest and the
assignment  of the  Operating  Agreement  contemplated  in  Article  V hereof to
Purchaser.

                                   Article II
  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS REGARDING SHARES, DEBT AND COMPANY

     Each Seller hereby jointly and severally  represents  and warrants  (except
with respect to  representations  and warranties set forth in Sections 2.1, 2.2,
2.3,  2.4,  2.6,  2.7(c),  2.26 and 2.27 which are being made  severally and not
jointly  by each such  Seller  solely  with  respect to itself and not any other
Seller) to Purchaser as follows:

     2.1  Organization  of  the  Sellers.   Each  Seller  is  a  duly  organized
corporation or limited partnership,  as the case may be, validly existing and in
good  standing  under the Laws of the State of  Delaware.  Each  Seller has full
corporate or organizational,  as the case may be, power and authority to execute
and deliver this  Agreement and to perform such Seller's  obligations  hereunder
and to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  including  without
limitation  to sell and transfer  (pursuant to this  Agreement)  its  respective
portions of the Shares, the Debt and the LLC Interest.

     2.2 Authority. The execution and delivery by each Seller of this Agreement,
and the performance by such party of its obligations  hereunder,  have been duly
and validly authorized by the managing  member/manager of Seller or its board of
directors,  as the case may be, no other  organizational  or corporate action on
the part of any Seller or its members/managers or the board of directors, as the
case may be, being necessary.  This Agreement has been duly and validly executed
and  delivered  by each  Seller  and  constitutes  a legal,  valid  and  binding
obligation of each Seller enforceable against such Seller in accordance with its
terms;

     2.3 Title. The delivery of its respective  portions of the Shares, the Debt
and the LLC  Interest  by the  respective  Sellers  to  Purchaser  in the manner
provided in Section 1.3 will  transfer to Purchaser  good and valid title to the
Shares,  the Debt and the LLC  Interest,  free and clear of all Liens other than
Liens created by Purchaser.

     2.4 No  Conflicts.  The  execution  and  delivery  by each  Seller  of this
Agreement do not, and the  performance by each Seller of its  obligations  under
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will
not:

     (a)  conflict  with or result in a violation or breach of any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of the organizational documents (other than the Section
6 of the

                                       2




Company's  certificate of incorporation) of any of the Sellers, the Company
or any of the Company's Subsidiaries;

     (b)  conflict  with or  result  in a  violation  or  breach  of any term or
provision of any Law or Order  applicable  to any Seller,  the Company or any of
the Company's  Subsidiaries  or any of their  respective  Assets and  Properties
(other  than  such  conflicts,  violations  or  breaches  which  will not in the
aggregate  adversely affect the validity or  enforceability of this Agreement or
have a material adverse effect on the Business or Condition of such Seller,  the
Company or any of the Company's Subsidiaries); or

     (c) (i)  conflict  with  or  result  in a  violation  or  breach  of,  (ii)
constitute  (with or without  notice or lapse of time or both) a default  under,
(iii) require any Seller,  the Company or any of the Company's  Subsidiaries  to
obtain, other than the Section 6 Approval and the Section 6 Waiver, any consent,
approval  or action of, make any filing with or give any notice to any Person as
a result or under the terms of,  (iv)  result in or give to any Person any right
of  termination,  cancellation,  acceleration or modification in or with respect
to, or (v) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any Seller, the
Company or any of the Company's  Subsidiaries or any of their respective  Assets
and Properties  under, any Contract or License to which any Seller,  the Company
or any of the  Company's  Subsidiaries  is a  party  or by  which  any of  their
respective Assets and Properties are bound.

     2.5 Due Incorporation of Company and Subsidiaries.  The Company and each of
its  Subsidiaries  is duly organized and validly  existing under the laws of the
state in which it is  incorporated  or  organized,  as the case may be, with all
requisite  power and authority to own,  lease and operate its  properties and to
carry  on its  business  as they  are now  being  owned,  leased,  operated  and
conducted.  The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is licensed or qualified to
do business  and is in good  standing  (where the concept of "good  standing" is
applicable) as a foreign  corporation in each  jurisdiction  where the nature of
the properties owned, leased or operated by it and the business transacted by it
require such  licensing or  qualification  (except with respect to the Company's
Subsidiaries,  where the failure to be so licensed  or  qualified  or be in good
standing   will  not  in  the  aggregate   adversely   affect  the  validity  or
enforceability  of this  Agreement  or have a  material  adverse  effect  on the
Business or Condition of any of the  Company's  Subsidiaries).  The ownership of
the Company's  Subsidiaries  is as set forth in the Company SEC Documents  filed
prior to the date  hereof,  to the  extent  such  ownership  is  required  to be
disclosed therein under any Law applicable to the Company.

     2.6 Consents and Approvals;  Authority  Relative to this  Agreement.  Other
than the Section 6 Approval and the Section 6 Waiver, no consent,  authorization
or  approval  of,  filing  or  registration   with,  or  cooperation  from,  any
Governmental  Authority  or any other  Person not a party to this  Agreement  is
necessary in connection  with the  execution,  delivery and  performance by each
Seller of its respective obligations under this Agreement or the consummation by
each Seller of its respective transactions contemplated hereby.

     2.7  Capitalization.  (a)  The  authorized  capital  stock  of the  Company
consists of  15,000,000  shares of common stock (the "Common  Stock"),  $.01 par
value per share,  11,190,650 of which are currently issued and outstanding.  All
of such shares (i) are validly  issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable  and (ii)
are, and when issued were, free of preemptive rights. Except as set forth in the
Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, there

                                       3





are no shares of capital  stock of the Company  held in the treasury of the
Company and no shares of capital stock of the Company are currently reserved for
issuance for any purpose or upon the occurrence of any event or condition.

     (b)      Except  as set forth in the Company SEC  Documents  filed prior to
the date  hereof,  there  are no  shares of  capital  stock or other  securities
(whether or not such securities have voting rights) of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries  issued or outstanding  or any  subscriptions,  options,  warrants,
calls, rights,  convertible securities or other agreements or commitments of any
character   obligating  any  Seller,   the  Company  or  any  of  the  Company's
Subsidiaries,  or obligating any Seller or any of their  Affiliates to cause the
Company or any of the  Company's  Subsidiaries,  to issue,  transfer or sell, or
cause the  issuance,  transfer or sale of, any shares of capital  stock or other
securities (whether or not such securities have voting rights) of the Company or
any of its  Subsidiaries  as applicable.  Except as set forth in the Company SEC
Documents filed prior to the date hereof,  there are no outstanding  contractual
obligations  of any  Seller,  the Company or any of the  Company's  Subsidiaries
which  relate  to  the  purchase,   sale,  issuance,   repurchase,   redemption,
acquisition,  transfer, disposition,  holding or voting of any shares of capital
stock or other  securities of the Company or any of the Company  Subsidiaries or
the management or operation of the Company or its  Subsidiaries.  Except for any
Seller's  rights  as a holder of Shares  and  except  for Plans or except as set
forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, no Person has
any right to participate in, or receive any payment based on any amount relating
to, the revenue,  income,  value or net worth of the Company or any component or
portion thereof, or any increase or decrease in any of the foregoing.

     (c) The assignments,  endorsements,  stock powers and other  instruments of
transfer delivered by each applicable Seller to Purchaser at the Closing will be
sufficient to transfer such Seller's entire interest,  legal and beneficial,  in
the Shares and the Debt.  Each such  Seller has,  and on the  Closing  Date will
have, full power and authority to convey good and marketable title to all of the
Shares and the Debt it holds,  and upon the DTC  transfer to  Purchaser  of such
Shares and Debt, Purchaser will receive good and marketable title to such Shares
and Debt, free and clear of all Liens.

     (d) The aggregate principal amount of issued and outstanding 10 3/4% Senior
Notes due 2006 as of the date hereof is $148,637,000. Except (i) as set forth in
the Company SEC  Documents  filed prior to the date hereof or (ii) as  otherwise
incurred in the ordinary course of business,  consistent with past practice, and
in amounts which individually or in the aggregate are not material,  neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any indebtedness for borrowed money.

     2.8  Capitalization  at  Closing.  (a) Except  for shares of capital  stock
issued  in  respect  of  subscriptions,   options,   warrants,   calls,  rights,
convertible  securities  or other  agreements  or  commitments  set forth in the
Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof,  the authorized and issued
and outstanding  capital stock of the Company will be the same at the Closing as
set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof; and

     (b) The aggregate principal amount of issued and outstanding 10 3/4% Senior
Notes Due 2006 will be the same at the Closing as the aggregate principal amount
of issued and  outstanding  10 3/4%  Senior  Notes Due 2006 set forth in Section
2.7(d) above.



                                       4





     2.9 SEC  Filings;  Financial  Statements.  (a) Since  August 4,  2000,  the
Company has timely filed all required reports,  schedules, forms, statements and
other  documents  (including  exhibits  and all other  information  incorporated
therein) with the SEC ("Company SEC  Documents").  As of their  respective dates
(and without  giving effect to any amendments or  modifications  filed after the
date of this  Agreement),  each of the  Company  SEC  Documents,  including  the
financial  statements,  exhibits  and  schedules  thereto,  filed  and  publicly
available  with the SEC  prior  to the date  hereof  complied  (and  each of the
Company SEC Documents filed after the date of this Agreement, will comply) as to
form with applicable  Securities Laws and did not (or in the case of statements,
circulars or reports filed after the date of this  Agreement,  will not) contain
any  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to  state a  material  fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  made therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

     (b) Each of the Company's consolidated statements of financial condition or
balance  sheets  included in or  incorporated  by reference into the Company SEC
Documents,  including the related notes and schedules,  fairly  presented in all
material respects (or, in the case of Company SEC Documents filed after the date
of this Agreement,  will fairly present in all material  respects) the financial
position  of the  Company as of the date of such  balance  sheet and each of the
Company's  statements of income, cash flows and changes in stockholders'  equity
included  in or  incorporated  by  reference  into the  Company  SEC  Documents,
including any related notes and schedules (collectively, the foregoing financial
statements  and related  notes and  schedules  are  referred to as the  "Company
Financial  Statements"),  fairly presented in all material  respects (or, in the
case of Company  SEC  Documents  filed  after the date of this  Agreement,  will
fairly present in all material  respects) the results of operations,  cash flows
and  changes in  stockholders'  equity of the  Company for the periods set forth
therein (subject, in the case of unaudited statements,  to normal year-end audit
adjustments  not  material  in  amount),  in each case in  accordance  with GAAP
consistently applied during the periods involved (except as may be noted therein
and except, in the case of unaudited statements, for the absence of notes). Each
of the  Company  Financial  Statements  complied  (or,  in the  case of  Company
Financial  Statements  included  or  incorporated  by  reference  in Company SEC
Documents filed after the date of this Agreement,  will, as of the Closing Date,
comply)  as  to  form  in  all  material  respects  with  applicable  accounting
requirements  and with  the  published  rules  and  regulations  of the SEC with
respect thereto.

     2.10 No Adverse  Effects or Changes.  Since the date of the Company  Recent
Balance Sheet,  (i) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has suffered
any  Company  Material  Adverse  Effect;  (ii) there has been no change,  event,
development,  damage or circumstance  affecting the Company or its  Subsidiaries
that,  individually or in the aggregate  could  reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect; (iii) there has not been any material change by
the Company in its accounting methods,  principles or practices, any revaluation
by the  Company  of any of its  assets,  including  writing  down  the  value of
inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivable other than in the ordinary
course of  business  consistent  with past  practice;  and (iv) the  Company has
conducted its business only in the ordinary  course of business  consistent with
past practice.



                                       5



     2.11 Title to Properties. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has, and
on the Closing Date will have, good and marketable  title to, and is, and on the
Closing Date will be, the lawful  owner of, all of the  tangible and  intangible
assets,  properties and rights used in connection with its respective businesses
and all of the tangible and intangible  assets,  properties and rights reflected
in the Company  Financial  Statements (other than assets leased under the leases
listed  on  Schedule  2.11 and  assets  disposed  of in the  ordinary  course of
business since the date of such Company Financial Statements).

     2.12 Litigation. (a) Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed
prior to the date hereof,  there are no material actions,  suits,  arbitrations,
regulatory   proceedings  or  other  litigation,   proceedings  or  governmental
investigations  pending or  threatened  against or affecting  the  Company,  its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents
in their  capacity as such,  or any of the  Company's  Assets and  Properties or
businesses of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and Seller is not aware of
any facts or circumstances  which may give rise to any of the foregoing.  Except
as  disclosed  in the Company  SEC  Documents  filed  prior to the date  hereof,
neither  the  Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is subject to any  material
order, judgment, decree, injunction, stipulation or consent order of or with any
court or other Governmental Authority.

     (b) There are no claims,  actions,  suits,  proceedings  or  investigations
pending or  threatened by or against the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  or
Sellers with respect to this Agreement,  or in connection with the  transactions
contemplated  hereby,  and no Seller has any reason to believe  there is a valid
basis for any such claim, action, suit, proceeding, or investigation.

     2.13  Claims  Against  Officers  and  Directors.  There are no  pending  or
threatened  claims  against  any  director,  officer,  employee  or agent of the
Company,  its  Subsidiaries  or any other  Person,  which could give rise to any
claim for  indemnification  against the Company or its Subsidiaries or cause the
Company or its Subsidiaries to incur any material  liability or otherwise suffer
or incur any material Loss.

     2.14  Insurance.  The  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  maintain  insurance
policies that provide adequate and suitable  insurance coverage for the business
of the Company and its Subsidiaries and are on such terms,  cover such risks and
are in such amounts as the insurance customarily carried by comparable companies
of established reputation similarly situated and carrying on the same or similar
business.

     2.15  Compliance with Law. Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents
filed  prior  to the  date  hereof,  the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  are in
compliance and, at all times,  have been in compliance in all material  respects
with all applicable  Laws relating to the Company or its  Subsidiaries  or their
respective  Assets and  Properties  or  businesses.  Except as  disclosed in the
Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, no investigation or review
by any governmental authority or self-regulatory authority is pending or, to the
knowledge of the Sellers,  threatened,  nor has any such authority  indicated in
writing to the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  an  intention to conduct the
same.

     2.16 Taxes. The Company and its  Subsidiaries  have duly filed all material
Tax Returns required to have been filed by them.  Neither the Company nor any of
its  Subsidiaries  has any  material  liability  for any  Taxes in excess of the
amounts paid (or reserved, in accordance

                                       6




with GAAP,  as  reflected in the Company SEC  Documents  filed prior to the
date hereof),  and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is delinquent
in the  payment  of any  material  Tax.  The  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated by Article I hereof will not cause an "ownership change" within the
meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     2.17 Undisclosed Liabilities.  Except (i) as and to the extent disclosed or
reserved against the Company Recent Balance Sheet, or (ii) as incurred since the
date of the Company  Recent  Balance  Sheet in the  ordinary  course of business
consistent  with  past  practice,   the  Company  does  not  have  any  material
liabilities or obligations  of any nature,  whether known or unknown,  absolute,
accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become due.

     2.18  Related  Parties.  Except as set forth in the Company  SEC  Documents
filed prior to the date hereof, and except for transactions  between the Company
and its Subsidiaries or between the Company's Subsidiaries,  (i) no Affiliate of
the Company is a party to any material  agreement with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries; (ii) no Affiliate of the Company owes any material amount of money
to, nor is such Affiliate  owed any material  amount of money by, the Company or
any of its  Subsidiaries,  other  than  pursuant  to the Plans or in  respect of
earned  but  unpaid  salary  or  wages  and  other  than  reimbursement  for  or
advancement  of routine  expenses  in the  ordinary  course of  business;  (iii)
neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has,  directly or  indirectly,
guaranteed or assumed any material  indebtedness for borrowed money or otherwise
for the benefit of an Affiliate  of the Company;  and (iv) since August 4, 2000,
neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has made any material  payment
to, or engaged in any material  transaction  with,  an Affiliate of the Company,
other than  pursuant to the  Company's  Plans and salary or wage plans and other
than reimbursement for or advancement of routine expenses in the ordinary course
of business.

     2.19  Intellectual  Property.  (a) The Company and its Subsidiaries own, or
possess adequate rights to use, all material patents,  trade names,  trademarks,
copyrights,  inventions,  processes,  designs, formulae, trade secrets, know-how
and other  intellectual  property  rights  necessary  for the  conduct  of their
business.  All material  intellectual  property has been duly  registered  with,
filed in or issued by the relevant filing offices,  domestic or foreign,  to the
extent  necessary or desirable to ensure full  protection  under any  applicable
Law,  and such  registrations,  filings  or  issuances  remain in full force and
effect.

     (b) The conduct of the  business of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  does
not infringe or otherwise  materially  conflict with any rights of any Person in
respect of  intellectual  property  rights.  None of the  intellectual  property
rights owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries is being infringed or otherwise,
in any material way,  used or available for use by any Person  without a license
or permission from the Company and its  Subsidiaries and neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has taken or omitted to take any action which would have
the effect of waiving any of its rights thereunder.

     2.20  Environmental  Matters.  Except  as  set  forth  in the  Company  SEC
Documents filed prior to the date hereof:

     (a) The Company and each of its  Subsidiaries  have  obtained  all material
Environmental  Permits that are required with respect to their respective Assets
and Properties and businesses, either owned or leased;

                                       7




     (b) The Company, each of its Subsidiaries,  and their respective Assets and
Properties and businesses,  are in compliance in all material  respects with all
terms and  conditions of all  applicable  Environmental  Laws and  Environmental
Permits;

     (c) There are no  Environmental  Claims pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.  Neither the
Company  nor  any  of  its   Subsidiaries  has  received  any  notice  from  any
Governmental  or Regulatory  Authority of any unresolved  violation or liability
arising under any Environmental  Law or Environmental  Permit in connection with
its Assets and Properties, businesses or operations;

     (d) Neither the Company nor its  Subsidiaries  owns,  leases or operates or
has owned,  leased or operated,  any property listed on the National  Priorities
List  pursuant to CERCLA or on the CERCLIS or on any other federal or state list
as sites requiring investigation or cleanup;

     (e)  Neither  the  Company  nor  any  of  its   Subsidiaries   is  directly
transporting,  has  directly  transported,  or is  directly  arranging  for  the
transportation of, any Hazardous Material to any location which is listed on the
National  Priorities List pursuant to CERCLA, on the CERCLIS,  or on any similar
federal  or state  list or  which  is the  subject  of  federal,  state or local
enforcement  actions or other  investigations  that may lead to material  claims
against the Company or its  Subsidiaries  for remedial  work,  damage to natural
resources or personal injury including claims under CERCLA;

     (f) There are no sites,  locations  or  operations  at which the Company is
currently  undertaking,  or has  completed,  any  remedial  or  response  action
relating to any such disposal or release, as required by Environmental Laws;

     (g) All underground storage tanks and solid waste disposal facilities owned
or operated by the Company or its Subsidiaries are used and operated in material
compliance with Environmental Laws; and

     (h) There are no  physical  or  environmental  conditions  existing  on any
property owned or leased by the Company or its Subsidiaries resulting from their
respective  operations or  activities,  past or present,  at any location,  that
would give rise to any material on-site or off-site  remedial  obligations under
any applicable  Environmental Laws, other than normal and ordinary remedial work
associated with plugging and abandoning of oil and gas facilities.

     2.21  Oil and Gas  Operations.  Except  as set  forth  in the  Company  SEC
Documents filed prior to the date hereof,  all wells included in the Oil and Gas
Interests  of the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  have  been  drilled  and (if
completed)  completed,  operated  and  produced  in  accordance  with  generally
accepted oil and gas field practices and in compliance in all material  respects
with applicable oil and gas leases, pooling and unit agreements,  and applicable
Laws.  Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents  filed prior to the date
hereof:

     (a) With respect to the oil, gas and other mineral leases, unit agreements,
pooling  agreements,  communitization  agreements and other  documents  creating
interests  comprising  the Oil  and  Gas  Interests:  (i)  the  Company  and its
Subsidiaries  have  fulfilled  all  requirements  in all  material  respects for
filings, certificates, disclosures of parties in interest, and



                                       8

other  similar  matters  contained  in such leases or other  documents  (or
otherwise  applicable thereto by Law) and is fully qualified to own and hold all
such leases or other interests,  and (ii) upon the establishment and maintenance
of production in commercial quantities, the leases and other interests are to be
in full force and effect over the economic life of the property  involved and do
not have terms fixed by a certain number of years;

     (b)  Proceeds  from the sale of crude oil,  natural gas and other  minerals
produced from the Oil and Gas  Interests  are being  received by the Company and
its  Subsidiaries  in a timely manner and are not being held in suspense for any
reason  (except  for  amounts,  which  are not  materially  significant,  either
individually or in the aggregate, and which are held in suspense in the ordinary
course of business); and

     (c) No person has any call upon, option to purchase,  preferential right to
purchase or similar rights with respect to any material Oil and Gas Interests or
to the production  therefrom.  Neither the Company nor its  Subsidiaries has any
obligation to provide a fixed and determinable  quantity of natural gas or crude
oil in the future under existing contracts or agreements.

     2.22 Proven Reserves.  (a) The estimates of proven reserves attributable to
the Oil and Gas  Interests  of the  Company and its  Subsidiaries  which are set
forth in the Company  SEC  Documents  filed prior to the date of this  Agreement
have been (or, in the case of Company SEC Documents filed after the date of this
Agreement,  will be, as of the Closing Date) prepared in accordance with (i) the
published  guidelines  of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  and  (ii)
generally accepted petroleum  engineering and evaluation principles as set forth
in the  Standards  Pertaining  to the  Estimating  and  Auditing  of Oil and Gas
Reserve Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers; and

     (b)......The  factual information  underlying the estimates of reserves set
forth in the Company  SEC  Documents  filed prior to the date of this  Agreement
(including,   without  limitation,   production,   volumes,   sales  prices  for
production,  contractual  pricing provisions under oil or gas sales or marketing
contracts,  costs of operations and  development,  and working  interest and net
revenue  information  relating to the Company's and its Subsidiaries'  ownership
interests in oil and gas properties) is, or in the case of Company SEC Documents
filed after the date of this  Agreement,  will be, as of the Closing Date,  true
and  correct  in all  material  respects  as of the  date  such  estimates  were
prepared.

     2.23 Derivatives and Hedging Contracts.  Except as set forth in the Company
SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries  is a party to (i) any  agreement  pursuant to which the Company or
its  Subsidiaries  has hedged its exposure to price  fluctuations in the natural
gas or crude  oil,  spot or  futures  markets,  including  but not  limited  to,
options,  swaps, floors,  collars,  forward sales or forward purchases involving
commodities or commodities prices, or indexes based on any of the foregoing, and
(ii)  any  derivative  or  similar  financial   instrument   (whether  used  for
speculative  activities in any currency,  commodities or financial market, or to
hedge against any financial risk).

     2.24 Employees,  Labor Matters, etc. Except as set forth in the Company SEC
Documents  filed  prior to the date  hereof,  neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement,  and
there are no labor unions or other



                                       9





organizations  representing,  purporting  to  represent  or  attempting  to
represent  any  employees  employed by the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries.
Since  August 4, 2000,  there has not occurred or been  threatened  any material
strike or other  similar  labor  activity  with respect to any  employees of the
Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries.  There  are no  labor  disputes  currently
subject to any grievance  procedure,  arbitration  or litigation and there is no
representation  petition  pending or threatened  with respect to any employee of
the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries.  The Company and its Subsidiaries  have
complied with all applicable Laws pertaining to the employment or termination of
employment of their respective  employees,  including,  without limitation,  all
such Laws relating to labor  relations,  equal  employment  opportunities,  fair
employment practices, prohibited discrimination or distinction and other similar
employment  activities,  except for any failure so to comply that,  individually
and in the aggregate, could not result in any Company Material Adverse Effect.

     2.25  Employee  Benefit  Plans.  Except  as set  forth in the  Company  SEC
Documents  filed  prior to the date  hereof,  neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has incurred any liability,  and no event, transaction or condition
has  occurred or exists that could  result in any  liability,  on account of any
Plans,  including but not limited to liability for (i) additional  contributions
required to be made to any Plans with  respect to periods  ending on or prior to
the date  hereof  which are not  reflected,  reserved  against or accrued in the
Company Recent Balance Sheet or accrued  thereafter in accordance with the terms
of the Plans; (ii) breaches by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of
their  employees,  officers,  directors,  stockholders,  or, to the knowledge of
Seller,  the trustees  under the trusts  created  under the Plans,  or any other
Persons under ERISA or any other applicable Law; or (iii) income taxes by reason
of  non-qualification  of the  Plans.  Each of the Plans has been  operated  and
administered in all respects in compliance  with its terms,  all applicable Laws
and all applicable collective bargaining agreements.

     2.26  Brokers.  Neither  any of the  Sellers  nor the  Company has used any
broker or finder in connection with the transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and
neither Purchaser nor any Affiliate of Purchaser has or shall have any liability
or otherwise  suffer or incur any Loss as a result of or in connection  with any
brokerage  or  finder's  fee or other  commission  of any  Person  retained  (or
purporting to be retained) by any of the Sellers or by the Company in connection
with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     2.27  Accuracy of  Statements.  Neither this  Agreement  nor any  schedule,
exhibit,  statement, list, document,  certificate or other information furnished
or to be  furnished  by or on behalf of the  Company  or any of the  Sellers  to
Purchaser or any  representative  or Affiliate of Purchaser in  connection  with
this Agreement or any of the transactions  contemplated  hereby contains or will
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements  contained herein or therein,  in
light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

                                   Article III
               ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ARNOS
                      ND HIGH RIVER REGARDING HOLDING LLC

     Each of  Arnos  and High  River  (each a  "Member"  and  collectively,  the
"Members"),  jointly and severally,  hereby represents and warrants to Purchaser
as follows:

                                       10




     3.1 Due Organization of Company. The Holding LLC is duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware,  with all
requisite  power and authority to own,  lease and operate its  properties and to
carry  on its  business  as they  are now  being  owned,  leased,  operated  and
conducted.  The Holding LLC is licensed or  qualified  to do business  and is in
good standing  (where the concept of "good standing" is applicable) as a foreign
corporation  in each  jurisdiction  where the  nature of the  properties  owned,
leased  or  operated  by it and  the  business  transacted  by it  require  such
licensing or qualification.

     3.2  Authority.  The  sale,  transfer  and  assignment  by the  Members  to
Purchaser  of the LLC  Interest  has been  duly and  validly  authorized  by all
necessary  limited  liability  company action.  Any instrument or instruments of
transfer  used to effect such sale,  transfer or  assignment  will be, as of the
Closing  Date  sufficient  to  transfer  Members'  entire  interest,  legal  and
beneficial, in the LLC Interest.

     3.3 Title to Properties.  The Holding LLC has, and on the Closing Date will
have, good and marketable title to, and is, and on the Closing Date will be, the
lawful  owner of, the Holding  Shares,  the Holding Debt and all of the tangible
and  intangible  assets,  properties  and  rights  used in  connection  with its
business.

     3.4  Litigation.  There are no  actions,  suits,  arbitrations,  regulatory
proceedings  or other  litigation,  proceedings or  governmental  investigations
pending  or  threatened  against  or  affecting  the  Holding  LLC or any of its
officers,  employees,  agents, members or managers in their capacity as such, or
any of the Holding LLC's  properties or  businesses,  and Seller is not aware of
any facts or  circumstances  which may give  rise to any of the  foregoing.  The
Holding  LLC  is  not  subject  to  any  order,  judgment,  decree,  injunction,
stipulation  or  consent  order  of or with  any  court  or  other  Governmental
Authority.  There are no claims, actions,  suits,  proceedings or investigations
pending or  threatened  by or against the Holding LLC or Seller with  respect to
this Agreement, or in connection with the transactions  contemplated hereby, and
neither  Member has reason to believe there is a valid basis for any such claim,
action, suit, proceeding, or investigation.

     3.5 Claims Against Members and Manager.  There are no pending or threatened
claims against any manager,  member,  officer,  employee or agent of the Holding
LLC or any other Person,  which could give rise to any claim for indemnification
against the Holding LLC.

     3.6 No Other Business. Since its formation, the Holding LLC has not engaged
in any business or  transaction  with any Person or owned or otherwise  held any
properties or assets, other than holding the Holding Shares and the Holding Debt
which were  contributed  to the Holding  LLC by Arnos and High  River,  the only
Members of the Holding LLC.



                                   Article IV
                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER

         Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to Seller as follows:

     4.1  Organization  of Purchaser.  Purchaser is a limited  partnership  duly
organized,  validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of
Delaware.  Purchaser has full organizational  power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to perform Purchaser's  obligations  hereunder and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby,



                                       11




including  without  limitation  to buy  (pursuant  to this  Agreement)  the
Shares, the Debt and the LLC Interest.

     4.2 Authority.  The execution and delivery by Purchaser of this  Agreement,
and the  performance by Purchaser of its obligations  hereunder,  have been duly
and  validly  authorized,  no  other  action  on the  part  of  Purchaser  being
necessary.  This  Agreement has been duly and validly  executed and delivered by
Purchaser  and  constitutes a legal,  valid and binding  obligation of Purchaser
enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with its terms.

     4.3 No Conflicts. The execution and delivery by Purchaser of this Agreement
do not, the performance by Purchaser of its obligations under this Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not:

     (a)  conflict  with or result in a violation or breach of any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of the organizational documents of Purchaser;

     (b)  conflict  with or  result  in a  violation  or  breach  of any term or
provision of any Law or Order  applicable  to Purchaser or any of its Assets and
Properties (other than such conflicts, violations or breaches (i) which will not
in the  aggregate  adversely  affect  the  validity  or  enforceability  of this
Agreement  or have a material  adverse  effect on the  Business or  Condition of
Purchaser or (ii) as would occur solely as a result of the identity or the legal
or regulatory status of Seller or any of its Affiliates); or

     (c) (i)  conflict  with  or  result  in a  violation  or  breach  of,  (ii)
constitute  (with or without  notice or lapse of time or both) a default  under,
(iii) require  Purchaser to obtain any consent,  approval or action of, make any
filing  with or give any notice to any Person as a result or under the terms of,
(iv)  result in or give to any  Person any right of  termination,  cancellation,
acceleration  or  modification  in or with  respect  to,  or (v)  result  in the
creation  or  imposition  of any Lien upon  Purchaser  or any of its  Assets and
Properties  under,  any Contract or License to which  Purchaser is a party or by
which any of its Assets and Properties are bound.



                                   Article V
                ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF OPERATING AGREEMENT

     5.1 Assignment and  Assumption.  Effective at the Closing,  (i) each of the
Members  transfers,  assigns,  conveys,  grants and sets over to Purchaser,  its
successors and assigns forever,  rights,  title and interest as of such date in,
to the Operating Agreement,  and (ii) Purchaser agrees to be bound by all of the
provisions of such agreement.

                                   Article VI
                CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF PURCHASER

     The  obligations of Purchaser under Article I of this Agreement are subject
to the satisfaction or waiver by Purchaser of the following conditions precedent
on or before the Closing Date:

     6.1  Warranties  True  as of  Both  Present  Date  and  Closing  Date.  The
representations  and warranties of each Seller  contained herein shall have been
accurate, true and correct in all

                                       12




material  respects on and as of the date of this Agreement,  and shall also
be accurate,  true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing
Date with the same force and effect as though  made by such  Seller on and as of
the Closing Date.

     6.2  Compliance  with  Agreements  and  Covenants.  Each Seller  shall have
performed and complied with all of its  respective  covenants,  obligations  and
agreements  contained in this  Agreement to be performed and complied with by it
on or prior to the Closing Date.

     6.3 Consents and  Approvals.  Each of the Sellers and Purchaser  shall have
received all consents and approvals (including,  without limitation, the Section
6  Approval  and the  Section 6 Waiver)  required  for the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby, and all required filings, if any, shall have
been made.

     6.4 No Material  Adverse Change.  No Company  Material Adverse Change shall
have occurred and no event shall have occurred which, in the reasonable judgment
of Purchaser, is reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     6.5 Actions or Proceedings.  No action or proceeding by any Governmental or
Regulatory  Authority or other Person shall have been  instituted  or threatened
which (a) might have a Company  Material  Adverse  Effect,  or (b) could enjoin,
restrain or prohibit,  or could result in substantial damages in respect of, any
provision of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.

     6.6 Purchase of Additional  Shares.  Purchaser shall have acquired a number
of shares of the Common Stock of National  Energy Group,  Inc.,  which  together
with the  shares of the  Common  Stock of  National  Energy  Group,  Inc.  to be
acquired by Purchaser  directly or indirectly  pursuant to this Agreement,  will
result in Purchaser  beneficially  owning in the aggregate  shares of the Common
Stock of  National  Energy  Group,  Inc.  in  excess  of 50% of the  issued  and
outstanding shares of the Common Stock of National Energy Group, Inc.



                                  Article VII
               CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF EACH SELLER

     The  obligations  of each  Seller  under  Article I of this  Agreement  are
subject to the satisfaction or waiver by such Seller of the following conditions
precedent on or before the Closing Date:

     7.1  Warranties  True  as of  Both  Present  Date  and  Closing  Date.  The
representations  and  warranties of Purchaser  contained  herein shall have been
accurate,  true and  correct in all  material  respects on and as of the date of
this  Agreement,  and shall also be  accurate,  true and correct in all material
respects on and as of the Closing  Date with the same force and effect as though
made by Purchaser on and as of the Closing Date.

     7.2  Compliance  with  Agreements  and  Covenants.   Purchaser  shall  have
performed and complied with all of its  respective  covenants,  obligations  and
agreements  contained in this  Agreement to be performed and complied with by it
on or prior to the Closing Date.



                                       13




     7.3 Consents and  Approvals.  Each of the Sellers and Purchaser  shall have
received all consents and approvals (including,  without limitation, the Section
6  Approval  and the  Section 6 Waiver)  required  for the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby, and all required filings, if any, shall have
been made.

     7.4 Actions or Proceedings.  No action or proceeding by any Governmental or
Regulatory  Authority or other Person shall have been  instituted  or threatened
which (a) might have a Company  Material  Adverse  Effect,  or (b) could enjoin,
restrain or prohibit,  or could result in substantial damages in respect of, any
provision of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.



                                  Article VIII
                                   TERMINATION

     8.1  Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated at any time on or prior
to the Closing Date:

     (a) With the mutual written consent of all of the Sellers and Purchaser;

     (b) By any of the Sellers or Purchaser, if the Closing shall not have taken
place on or before  December  31,  2003;  provided,  however,  that the right to
terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(b) shall not be available to any
party whose willful  failure to fulfill any obligation  under this Agreement has
been the cause of or  resulted  in the  failure  of the  Closing  to occur on or
before such date;

     (c) By  Purchaser,  if there  shall have been a breach of any  covenant  or
other agreement or any material breach of any  representation or warranty of any
Seller  hereunder,  and such  breach  shall not have been  remedied  within  ten
Business Days after receipt by such Seller of a notice in writing from Purchaser
specifying the breach and requesting such be remedied; or

     (d) By any  Seller,  if there  shall have been a breach of any  covenant or
other  agreement or any  material  breach of any  representation  or warranty of
Purchaser  hereunder,  and such breach shall not have been  remedied  within ten
Business  Days after  receipt by Purchaser of notice in writing from such Seller
specifying the breach and requesting such be remedied.

     8.2 Effect of  Termination.  If this  Agreement is  terminated  pursuant to
Section 8.1, all obligations of the parties  hereunder shall  terminate,  except
for the  obligations  set forth in Article XI hereof,  which  shall  survive the
termination of this Agreement, and except that no such termination shall relieve
any party from liability for any prior willful breach of this Agreement.



                                   Article IX
                                 INDEMNIFICATION

     9.1  Indemnification by Sellers.  Each Seller agrees to indemnify Purchaser
against,  and agrees to hold it harmless  from,  any and all Losses  incurred or
suffered  by it  relating  to or arising  out of or in  connection  with (a) any
breach of or any inaccuracy in any representation or

                                       14




warranty  made by such  Seller  in this  Agreement,  (b) any  breach  of or
failure by such Seller to perform any of its covenants or obligations set out or
contemplated  in this  Agreement,  or (c) the  formation or operation of, or any
other  activities   relating  to,  the  Holding  LLC.  The  representations  and
warranties  contained in this Agreement  shall survive the  consummation  of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

     9.2 Claims. As soon as is reasonably  practicable after becoming aware of a
claim  for  indemnification   under  this  Agreement,   the  indemnified  person
("Indemnified  Person")  shall promptly give notice to the  indemnifying  person
("Indemnifying Person") of such claim and the amount the Indemnified Person will
be entitled to receive hereunder from the Indemnifying Person; provided that the
failure of the Indemnified  Person to promptly give notice shall not relieve the
Indemnifying  Person of its  obligations  except to the extent (if any) that the
Indemnifying  Person shall have been  prejudiced  thereby.  If the  Indemnifying
Person does not object in writing to such  indemnification  claim within 30 days
of  receiving  notice  thereof,  the  Indemnified  Person  shall be  entitled to
recover,  on the  thirty-fifth  day  after  such  notice  was  given,  from  the
Indemnifying  Person the amount of such  claim,  and no later  objection  by the
Indemnifying  Person shall be permitted;  if the Indemnifying Person agrees that
it has an  indemnification  obligation  but objects  that it is obligated to pay
only a lesser amount,  the Indemnified  Person shall nevertheless be entitled to
recover,  on the  thirty-fifth  day  after  such  notice  was  given,  from  the
Indemnifying  Person the lesser  amount,  without  prejudice to the  Indemnified
Person's claim for the difference. In addition to the amounts recoverable by the
Indemnified  Person  from the  Indemnifying  Person  pursuant  to the  foregoing
provisions,  the  Indemnified  Person shall also be entitled to recover from the
Indemnifying  Person  interest  on such  amounts  at the  rate  of 7% per  annum
compounded quarterly from, and including, the thirty-fifth day after such notice
of an  indemnification  claim is given  to,  but not  including,  the date  such
recovery is actually made by the Indemnified Person.

     9.3 Notice of Third-Party  Claims;  Assumption of Defense.  The Indemnified
Person  shall  give  notice as  promptly  as is  reasonably  practicable  to the
Indemnifying  Person of the assertion of any claim,  or the  commencement of any
suit, action or proceeding, by any Person not a party hereto in respect of which
indemnity may be sought under this  Agreement;  provided that the failure of the
Indemnified  Person to promptly  give notice shall not relieve the  Indemnifying
Person of its  obligations  except to the extent (if any) that the  Indemnifying
Person shall have been prejudiced  thereby.  The Indemnifying Person may, at its
own  expense,  (a)  participate  in the  defense of any claim,  suit,  action or
proceeding and (b) upon notice to the  Indemnified  Person and the  Indemnifying
Person's  delivering  to the  Indemnified  Person a written  agreement  that the
Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification  for all Losses arising out of
such claim, suit, action or proceeding and that the Indemnifying Person shall be
liable for the entire  amount of any Loss,  at any time during the course of any
such claim,  suit, action or proceeding,  assume the defense thereof;  provided,
however, that (i) the Indemnifying  Person's counsel is reasonably  satisfactory
to the Indemnified  Person,  and (ii) the  Indemnifying  Person shall thereafter
consult with the  Indemnified  Person upon the Indemnified  Person's  reasonable
request  for such  consultation  from time to time with  respect to such  claim,
suit, action or proceeding. If the Indemnifying Person assumes such defense, the
Indemnified Person shall have the right (but not the duty) to participate in the
defense  thereof and to employ  counsel,  at its own expense,  separate from the
counsel employed by the Indemnifying Person. If, however, the Indemnified Person
reasonably  determines in its judgment that  representation  by the Indemnifying
Person's counsel of both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person

                                       15





would  present  such  counsel  with a  conflict  of  interest,  or that the
Indemnified Person and the Indemnifying  Person have differing  interests,  then
such Indemnified Person may employ separate counsel to represent or defend it in
any such claim, action, suit or proceeding and the Indemnifying Person shall pay
the  fees  and  disbursements  of  such  separate  counsel.  Whether  or not the
Indemnifying  Person chooses to defend or prosecute any such claim, suit, action
or  proceeding,  all of the parties  hereto  shall  cooperate  in the defense or
prosecution thereof.

     9.4 Settlement or Compromise.  Any settlement or compromise  made or caused
to be made by the Indemnified Person or the Indemnifying Person, as the case may
be, of any claim,  suit,  action or  proceeding  shall also be binding  upon the
Indemnifying  Person or the Indemnified  Person, as the case may be, in the same
manner as if a final judgment or decree had been entered by a court of competent
jurisdiction in the amount of such settlement or compromise;  provided, however,
that no  obligation,  restriction  or Loss shall be  imposed on the  Indemnified
Person as a result of such  settlement  without its prior written  consent.  The
Indemnified Person will give the Indemnifying Person at least 30 days' notice of
any proposed  settlement or compromise of any claim,  suit, action or proceeding
it is  defending,  during  which time the  Indemnifying  Person may reject  such
proposed settlement or compromise;  provided,  however, that from and after such
rejection,  the Indemnifying  Person shall be obligated to assume the defense of
and full and complete  liability and responsibility for such claim, suit, action
or proceeding  and any and all Losses in  connection  therewith in excess of the
amount of  unindemnifiable  Losses which the Indemnified  Person would have been
obligated to pay under the proposed settlement or compromise.

     9.5  Failure  of  Indemnifying  Person  to  Act.  In  the  event  that  the
Indemnifying  Person  does not elect to assume the  defense of any claim,  suit,
action or proceeding, then any failure of the Indemnified Person to defend or to
participate in the defense of any such claim,  suit,  action or proceeding or to
cause the same to be done,  shall not  relieve  the  Indemnifying  Person of its
obligations hereunder.

     9.6 Tax  Character.  The  Sellers  and  Purchaser  agree that any  payments
pursuant to this  Article IX will be treated  for  federal and state  income tax
purposes as adjustments  to the purchase  price of the Shares,  the Debt and the
LLC  Interest,  and that they  will  report  such  payments  on all Tax  Returns
consistently with such characterization.

                                   Article X
                                   DEFINITIONS

     10.1 Definitions.

     (a) Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement,  the following  defined terms
have the meanings indicated below:

     "Affiliate"  means,  with respect to any  specified  Person,  (1) any other
Person  which,  directly  or  indirectly,  owns or  controls,  is  under  common
ownership or control with, or is owned or controlled by, such specified  Person,
(2) any other Person which is a director,  officer or partner or is, directly or
indirectly,  the  beneficial  owner of 10 percent or more of any class of equity
securities of the specified  Person or a Person  described in clause (1) of this
paragraph,  (3)  another  Person of which the  specified  Person is a  director,
officer or partner or is, directly or



                                       16





indirectly,  the  beneficial  owner of 10  percent  or more of any class of
equity securities,  or (4) any relative or spouse of the specified Person or any
of the foregoing Persons.

     "Agreement" means this Stock, Debt and LLC Interest Purchase Agreement,  as
the same shall be amended from time to time.

     "Assets and  Properties"  of any Person means all assets and  properties of
every kind, nature,  character and description (whether real, personal or mixed,
whether tangible or intangible,  and wherever situated),  including the goodwill
related thereto, operated, owned or leased by such Person.

     "Business  Day" means any day of the year other  than (i) any  Saturday  or
Sunday or (ii) any other day on which  commercial banks located in New York City
are generally closed for business.

     "Business or Condition of a Person" means the business, financial condition
or results of operations of such
Person and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

     "CERCLA" means the Comprehensive  Environmental Response,  Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended, or any successor statutes and any regulations
promulgated thereunder.

     "CERCLIS" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response,  Compensation and
Liability Information System List.

     "Closing"  means the closing of the  transactions  contemplated  by Section
1.3.

     "Closing Date" means the closing date of the  transactions  contemplated by
Section 1.3.

     "Common Stock" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.7(a).

     "Company  Financial  Statements" has the meaning  ascribed to it in Section
2.8(b) of this Agreement.

     "Company Material Adverse Change" means a change (or circumstance involving
a prospective change) in the business, operations, assets, liabilities,  results
of operations,  cash flows,  condition  (financial or otherwise) or prospects of
the Company which is materially adverse.

     "Company   Material  Adverse  Effect"  means  an  effect  (or  circumstance
involving  a   prospective   effect)  on  the  business,   operations,   assets,
liabilities,   results  of  operations,  cash  flows,  condition  (financial  or
otherwise) or prospects of the Company which is materially adverse.

     "Company  Recent  Balance  Sheet" means the balance sheet of the Company at
March 31, 2003 included in the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the
three-month period then ended.

     "Company SEC Documents" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.8(a) of
this Agreement.

     "Contract"  means any contract,  lease,  commitment,  understanding,  sales
order,  purchase order,  agreement,  indenture,  mortgage,  note,  bond,  right,
warrant, instrument, plan, permit or license, whether written or oral,
which is intended or purports to be binding and enforceable.

     "Debt" has the meaning ascribed to it in the forepart of this Agreement.

     "Discount  Rate" has the  meaning  ascribed  to it in the  forepart of this
Agreement.

     "Dollars"  or numbers  preceded  by the symbol "$" means  amounts in United
States Dollars.



                                       17





     "Environmental  Claim"  means  any  third  party  (including   governmental
agencies and employees) action,  lawsuit,  claim or proceeding (including claims
or proceedings  under OSHA or similar laws relating to safety of employees) that
seeks to impose  material  liability for (a) pollution or  contamination  of the
ambient air, surface water,  ground water or land; (b) solid,  gaseous or liquid
waste generation, handling, treatment, storage, disposal or transportation;  (c)
exposure  to  hazardous  or  toxic  substances;  (d) the  safety  or  health  of
employees; or (e) the transportation,  processing, distribution in commerce, use
or storage of  hydrocarbons  or  chemical  substances.  An  Environmental  Claim
includes, but is not limited to, a common law action, as well as a proceeding to
issue, modify or terminate an Environmental Permit.

     "Environmental Law" means any applicable material law, rule,  regulation or
order of any federal, foreign, state or local executive, legislative,  judicial,
regulatory or administrative  agency,  board or authority with jurisdiction over
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective  properties or
assets that relate to (a) pollution or  protection  of the ambient air,  surface
water,  ground water or land;  (b) solid,  gaseous or liquid  waste  generation,
treatment,  storage,  disposal or  transportation;  (c) exposure to hazardous or
toxic  substances;  (d) the safety or health of employees;  or (e) regulation of
the  manufacture,  processing,  distribution  in  commerce,  use or  storage  of
hydrocarbons  or chemical  substances.  Environmental  Laws  include but are not
limited to OSHA,  CERCLA,  the Clean Air Act,  as  amended,  the  Federal  Water
Pollution  Control  Act,  as amended,  the Rivers and  Harbors  Act of 1899,  as
amended,  the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended,  the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act of 1986 ("SARA"),  as amended, the Resource Conservation and
Recovery  Act of 1976  ("RCRA"),  as  amended,  the  Hazardous  and Solid  Waste
Amendments  Act of 1984,  as  amended,  the Toxic  Substances  Control  Act,  as
amended,  the Oil  Pollution  Act of 1990  ("OPA"),  as amended,  the  Hazardous
Materials Transportation Act, as amended, and any other federal,  foreign, state
and local law  whose  purpose  is to  conserve  or  protect  human  health,  the
environment, wildlife or natural resources.

     "Environmental  Permit"  means any material  permit,  license,  approval or
other  authorization  under any Environmental Law applicable law, regulation and
other  requirement of the United States or any foreign  country or of any state,
municipality or other subdivision thereof relating to pollution or protection of
health or the  environment,  including laws,  regulations or other  requirements
relating  to  emissions,   discharges,   releases  or  threatened   releases  of
pollutants,  contaminants  or hazardous  substances or toxic materials or wastes
into ambient air, surface water,  ground water or land, or otherwise relating to
the manufacture,  processing,  distribution,  use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transportation  or handling of hydrocarbons or chemical  substances,  pollutants
contaminants or hazardous or toxic materials or wastes.

     "ERISA"  means the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act of 1974,  as
amended.

     "GAAP" means U.S. generally accepted  accounting  principles at the time in
effect.

     "Governmental  or  Regulatory   Authority"   means  any  court,   tribunal,
arbitrator,  authority, agency, commission, official or other instrumentality of
the United States or any state, county, city or other political subdivision.

     "Hazardous  Material"  means (a) any  "hazardous  substance," as defined by
CERCLA; (b) any "hazardous waste" or "solid waste," in either case as defined by
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended; (c) any solid hazardous,
dangerous or toxic chemical, material, waste or substance, within the meaning of
and regulated by any Environmental Law; (d) any

                                       18




radioactive   material,   including  any  naturally  occurring  radioactive
material,  and any source, special or byproduct material as defined in 42 U.S.C.
2011  et  seq.  and  any   amendments  or   authorizations   thereof;   (e)  any
asbestos-containing  materials in any form or condition; (f) any polychlorinated
biphenyls in any form or condition;  (g) petroleum,  petroleum hydrocarbons,  or
any  fraction  or  byproducts  thereof;  or (h) any air  pollutant  which  is so
designated  by the U.S.  Environmental  Protection  Agency as  authorized by the
Clean Air Act.

     "Holding  Debt" has the  meaning  ascribed  to it in the  forepart  of this
Agreement.

     "Holding  Shares"  has the meaning  ascribed to it in the  forepart of this
Agreement.

     "Indemnified  Person" has the meaning  ascribed to it in Section 9.2 of the
Agreement.

     "Indemnifying  Person" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 9.2 of the
Agreement.

     "Laws" means all laws, statutes, rules,  regulations,  ordinances and other
pronouncements  having  the  effect of law of the  United  States or any  state,
county, city or other political subdivision or of any Governmental or Regulatory
Authority.

     "License"   means  all  licenses,   permits,   certificates  of  authority,
authorizations,   approvals,  registrations,  franchises  and  similar  consents
granted or issued by any Governmental or Regulatory Authority.

     "Lien" means any mortgage,  lien (except for any lien for Taxes not yet due
and payable), charge,  restriction,  pledge, security interest, option, lease or
sublease,   claim,  right  of  any  third  party,   easement,   encroachment  or
encumbrance.

     "LLC  Interest"  has the  meaning  ascribed  to it in the  forepart of this
Agreement.

     "Loss" or "Losses" means any and all liabilities,  losses,  costs,  claims,
damages (including  consequential  damages),  penalties and expenses  (including
attorneys' fees and expenses and costs of investigation and litigation).

     "Member" means either Arnos or High River.

     "Oil and Gas  Interests"  mean (a) direct  and  indirect  interests  in and
rights with respect to oil, gas,  mineral and related  properties  and assets of
any  kind and  nature,  direct  or  indirect,  including  working,  royalty  and
overriding royalty interests, production payments, operating rights, net profits
interests,   other  non-working  interests  and  non-operating   interests;  (b)
interests  in and  rights  with  respect  to crude  oil,  natural  gas and other
minerals or revenues therefrom and contracts in connection  therewith and claims
and  rights  thereto  (including  oil  and  gas  leases,  operating  agreements,
unitization and pooling agreements and orders, division orders, transfer orders,
mineral  deeds,  royalty  deeds,  oil and gas  sales,  exchange  and  processing
contracts  and  agreements  and, in each case,  interests  thereunder),  surface
interests, fee interests,  reversionary interests, reservations and concessions;
(c) easements,  rights of way,  licenses,  permits,  leases, and other interests
associated  with,  appurtenant  to, or necessary for the operation of any of the
foregoing;  and  (d)  interests  in  equipment  and  machinery  (including  well
equipment  and  machinery)  oil and  gas  production,  gathering,  transmission,
compression,  treating, processing and storage facilities (including tanks, tank
batteries,  pipelines  and gathering  systems),  pumps,  water plants,  electric
plants,  gasoline  and gas  processing  plants,  refineries  and other  tangible
personal property and fixtures associated with, appurtenant to, or necessary for
the operation of any of the foregoing.



                                       19





     "Operating  Agreement" means that certain Operating Agreement of Greenville
Holding LLC dated as of April 14,  2003,  by and between the  Members,  attached
hereto as Exhibit A.

     "Order" means any writ,  judgment,  decree,  injunction or similar order of
any Governmental or Regulatory  Authority (in each such case whether preliminary
or final).

     "OSHA"  means the  Occupational  Safety and Health Act, as amended,  or any
successor statute and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

     "Person" means any natural person, corporation,  limited liability company,
general  partnership,  limited  partnership,   proprietorship,   other  business
organization, trust, union, association or Governmental or Regulatory Authority.

     "Plans"  means  employee  benefit  plans as such term is defined in section
3(3) of ERISA.

     "Purchase Price" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.2.

     "Purchaser"  has  the  meaning  ascribed  to it in  the  forepart  of  this
Agreement.

     "Section 6 Approval" means the approval of the  stockholders of the Company
of an amendment of Section 6 of the Company's certificate of incorporation so as
to enable the directors of the Company to waive the  applicability  of Section 6
of  the  Company's   certificate  of   incorporation  to  (A)  the  transactions
contemplated  under  this  Agreement  and (B) the  transaction  or a  series  of
transactions  involving Purchaser acquiring,  purchasing or otherwise becoming a
beneficial owner of (in a privately negotiated transaction, open market purchase
or otherwise) more than 50% of the then issued and outstanding Common Stock.

     "Section  6 Waiver"  means the  waiver  by the  Board of  Directors  of the
Company  of the  applicability  of  Section 6 of the  Company's  certificate  of
incorporation  (as  amended  pursuant  to the  Section  6  Approval)  to (A) the
transactions  contemplated  under this  Agreement and (B) the  transaction  or a
series of transactions  involving Purchaser  acquiring,  purchasing or otherwise
becoming a beneficial owner of (in privately negotiated transaction, open market
purchases or otherwise) more than 50% of the then issued and outstanding  Common
Stock.

     "Securities Laws" mean (i) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and the
rules and regulations  promulgated under it, (ii) the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations  promulgated under it, and (iii)
any applicable foreign, federal or state securities laws.

     "Seller" has the meaning ascribed to it in the forepart of this Agreement.

     "Shares" has the meaning ascribed to it in the forepart of this Agreement.

     "Subsidiary" means, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person of
which  at  least  50% of  the  outstanding  shares,  limited  liability  company
interests  or other  equity  interests  having  ordinary  voting  power  for the
election of directors or comparable managers of such Person are owned,  directly
or indirectly, by such specified Person.

     "Taxes"  means  all  taxes,   charges,   fees,  duties,   levies  or  other
assessments,  including  income,  gross  receipts,  net  proceeds,  ad  valorem,
turnover,  real and personal  property  (tangible and intangible),  sales,  use,
franchise,  excise, value added, stamp,  leasing,  lease, user, transfer,  fuel,
excess  profits,   occupational,   interest   equalization,   windfall  profits,
severance,  employee's income withholding,  other withholding,  unemployment and
Social Security taxes, which are imposed by any Governmental Authority, and such
term shall  include any  interest,  penalties or  additions to tax  attributable
thereto. The term "Tax" shall have a correlative meaning.

                                       20



     "Tax Return" means any return, report, declaration,  form, claim for refund
or information return or statement relating to Taxes,  including any schedule or
attachment to it, and including any amendment to it.

                                   Article XI
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     11.1 Investigation.  It shall be no defense to an action for breach of this
Agreement  that  Purchaser or its agents have (or have not) made  investigations
into the affairs of the Company or that the Company or any of the Sellers  could
not have known of the misrepresentation or breach of warranty.

     11.2 Entire Agreement.  This Agreement supersedes all prior discussions and
agreements  between the parties  with respect to the subject  matter  hereof and
contains the sole and entire  agreement  between the parties hereto with respect
to the subject matter hereof.

     11.3 Waiver.  Any term or condition of this  Agreement may be waived at any
time by the party that is entitled to the  benefit  thereof,  but no such waiver
shall be effective unless set forth in a written  instrument duly executed by or
on behalf of the party waiving such term or condition. No waiver by any party of
any term or condition of this Agreement, in any one or more instances,  shall be
deemed to be or construed as a waiver of the same or any other term or condition
of this  Agreement  on any future  occasion.  All  remedies,  either  under this
Agreement  or  by  Law  or  otherwise  afforded,  will  be  cumulative  and  not
alternative.

     11.4  Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended,  supplemented  or modified
only by a written instrument duly executed by or on behalf of each party hereto.

     11.5 No Third Party Beneficiary. The terms and provisions of this Agreement
are intended  solely for the benefit of each party  hereto and their  respective
successors or permitted  assigns,  and it is not the intention of the parties to
confer third-party beneficiary rights upon any other Person.

     11.6 Assignment;  Binding Effect. This Agreement and any right, interest or
obligation  hereunder  may not be  assigned  by either  Purchaser  or any Seller
without the prior  written  consent of all of the parties  hereto,  and any such
assignment  without  obtaining  such consent  shall be no force or effect.  This
Agreement is binding upon,  inures to the benefit of and is  enforceable  by the
parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

     11.7  Headings.  The headings used in this Agreement have been inserted for
convenience of reference only and do not define or limit the provisions hereof.

     11.8 Invalid  Provisions.  If any provision of this Agreement is held to be
illegal,  invalid or  unenforceable  under any present or future Law, and if the
rights or  obligations  of any party  hereto  under this  Agreement  will not be
materially  and adversely  affected  thereby,  (a) such  provision will be fully
severable, (b) this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such illegal,
invalid or  unenforceable  provision had never comprised a part hereof,  and (c)
the remaining  provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect
and will not be affected by the illegal,  invalid or unenforceable  provision or
by its severance here from.

     11.9 Expenses.  The Sellers,  on the one hand,  and the  Purchaser,  on the
other hand,  shall bear their  respective  expenses,  costs and fees  (including
attorneys', auditors' and financing



                                       21



commitment fees) in connection with the transactions  contemplated  hereby,
including  the  preparation,  execution  and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  and
compliance herewith,  whether or not the transactions  contemplated hereby shall
be consummated.

     11.10 Further  Action.  Sellers and Purchaser  agree to use all  reasonable
efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions, and do or cause to be done all
other  things,  necessary,  proper or  advisable in order to give full effect to
this Agreement.

     11.11  Governing Law. This Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in
accordance  with the Laws of the  State of New  York  applicable  to a  Contract
executed and performed in such State,  without giving effect to the conflicts of
laws principles thereof.

     11.12  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in any  number  of
counterparts,  each of  which  will be  deemed  an  original,  but all of  which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.

     11.13   Independent   Obligations.   Other   than  with   respect   to  the
representations  and warranties set forth in (i) Sections 2.5,  2.7(a),  2.7(b),
2.7(d),  2.7(e)  and 2.8  through  2.25  hereof,  which  were made  jointly  and
severally  by all of the Sellers or (ii)  Article  III  hereof,  which were made
jointly and severally by Arnos and High River,  notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary or any reference to "Sellers" in this Agreement or any
other language that might otherwise imply that any duty  obligation,  liability,
right, agreement, covenant, representation or warranty set forth herein (each an
"Obligation" and collectively,  the "Obligations") is a collective Obligation of
Arnos, High River and High Coast, it is the intention of the parties hereto that
each Seller  hereunder be deemed to have made or undertaken any Obligation  only
with respect to itself, individually,  severally, separately,  independently and
not  jointly  and no Seller  shall be liable or  otherwise  responsible  for any
breach,  performance or payment (including,  without  limitation,  any indemnity
payment or the payment of the Purchase Price) of any Obligation  attributable to
another Seller or its Assets and Properties.

     11.14 Exclusive  Remedy.  The sole and exclusive remedy of any party hereto
for any breach of any  representation  or warranty  hereunder by any other party
hereto  shall be (i) prior to the Closing,  the  termination  of this  Agreement
pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof, or (ii) after the Closing,  the  indemnification
available  pursuant to Article IX hereof.  The sole and exclusive  remedy of any
party hereto for any breach of any covenant or other  agreement  hereunder shall
be,  after the Closing,  the  indemnification  available  pursuant to Article IX
hereof.

     11.15 Acknowledgement.  Parties hereto acknowledge that the representations
and  warranties  made  by the  Sellers  with  respect  to the  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries  constitute  the  allocation to the Sellers of the economic risk of
the  statements  contained  therein  not being true and  correct,  and that such
statements are not made to affirm or promise a particular  state of affairs with
respect to the  Company or its  Subsidiaries,  which  state of affairs  could be
beyond the  knowledge of the Sellers.  However,  notwithstanding  the  foregoing
acknowledgement,  after  the  Closing,  the  Sellers  shall  be  responsible  to
Purchaser   pursuant   to  Article  IX  hereof  for  any  failure  of  any  such
representation or warranty to be true and correct.




                            [Signature Page Follows]

                                       22



     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
the duly  authorized  officer  of each party  hereto as of the date first  above
written.


                                Arnos Corp.


                                By:  /s/ Edward E. Mattner
                                       Name:    Edward E. Mattner
                                       Title:   Vice President


                               High Coast Limited Partnership
                               By:      Beckton Corp., its General Partner


                               By: /s/ Edward E. Mattner
                                        Name:    Edward E. Mattner
                                        Title:   Authorized Signatory


                               High River Limited Partnership
                               By:      Barberry Corp., its General Partner


                               By: /s/ Edward E. Mattner
                                        Name:    Edward E. Mattner
                                        Title:   Authorized Signatory


                               American Real Estate Holdings, L.P.
                               By:      American Property Investors, Inc.,
                                        its General Partner


                               By: /s/ Martin Hirsch
                                        Name:    Martin Hirsch
                                        Title:   Executive Vice President





     [Signature Page to the Stock, Debt and LLC Interest Purchase Agreement]
                                       23




                                                                                             

                                   Schedule A

                          Allocation of Purchase Price

                       Price for Shares         Price for Debt       Price for LLC Interest   Total Price per Seller
      Seller                  ($)                     ($)                      ($)                      ($)

High River                    N/A                     N/A            $ 55,642,475.00                $  55,642,475.00

Arnos                $ 2,022,297.50                   N/A            $ 36,746,369.50                $  38,768,667.00

High Coast                    N/A           $ 53,673,547.50                    N/A                  $  53,673,547.50

Total Price          $ 2,022,297.50         $ 53,673,547.50          $ 92,388,844.50                 $148,084,689.50






                                    Exhibit A


    Operating Agreement of Greenville Holding LLC dated as of April 14, 2003








                               OPERATING AGREEMENT
                                       OF
                             GREENVILLE HOLDING LLC











                           Dated as of April 14, 2003


                               OPERATING AGREEMENT
                                       OF
                             GREENVILLE HOLDING LLC

     OPERATING  AGREEMENT of GREENVILLE  HOLDING LLC dated as of April 14, 2003,
between  Arnos Corp.,  a Nevada  corporation  ("Arnos")  and High River  Limited
Partnership,  a Delaware limited  partnership  ("High River " and,  collectively
with Arnos, the "Members"). W I T N E S E T H:

     WHEREAS, the Members desire to form a limited liability company pursuant to
the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the "Act"); and

     WHEREAS,  the  Members  wish to state the terms and  conditions  that shall
govern the  operation  (the  "Operating  Agreement")  of the  limited  liability
company;

     NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises and the agreements herein
contained, the Members hereby state:

     I. FORMATION

     1.1 Formation;  Name. The Members hereby form a Delaware limited  liability
company  (the  "Company")  under  the  Act,  to  be  conducted  under  the  name
"GREENVILLE HOLDING LLC."

     1.2  Purposes.  The  purpose  for which the  Company  has been formed is to
engage in any lawful act or activity  permitted  under the Act which the Members
may from time to time determine.

     1.3  Term.  The term of the  Company  has  begun on April 9,  2003 with the
filing of the certificate of formation with the Office of the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware and shall end on April 9, 2030.

     II. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND LIABILITY

     2.1  Member  Capital  Contribution.  Each  of  Arnos  and  High  River  has
contributed  (i) the 612,294 and 927,155 shares of Common Stock,  par value $.01
per share, of National Energy Group,  Inc. (the "Company"),  respectively,  (ii)
$37,279,000 and $56,449,000 in principal amount of the 10 3/4 % Senior Notes due
2006 of the Company, respectively, in exchange for their respective interests in
the Company.  The Members shall not be required to make any  additional  capital
contributions to the Company but may make same from time to time.

     2.2 Member's  Liability.  The  liability  of the Members as such,  shall be
limited to the amount of the fair market  value as of the  contribution  date of
the initial capital  contributions  set forth in Section 2.1 above.  The Members
shall not be personally liable for any obligation of the Company. The provisions
of this  Operating  Agreement  are not  intended  to be for the  benefit  of any
creditor or other person to whom any debts, liabilities, or obligations are owed
by (or who otherwise has any claim  against) the Company or the Members;  and no
such  creditor or other person shall obtain any benefit from such  provisions or
shall, by reason of any such foregoing  provision,  make any claim in respect of
any debt, liability, or obligation against the Company or the Members.

     III. TITLE TO PROPERTY

     Title to any property  real or personal,  owned by or leased to the Company
shall be held in the name of the  Company,  or in the  name of any  nominee  the
Members may in its discretion designate.

     IV. MANAGEMENT OF COMPANY

     The business and affairs of the Company shall be conducted and managed by a
manager or managers (the  "Manager")  who shall be Edward E.  Mattner,  with the
title of President,  who shall serve at the pleasure of the Members. The Members
may at any time  appoint  one or more  additional  Managers  and may  dismiss  a
Manager or Managers at any time. In addition, any Manager may resign at any time
for any reason.

     V. PROFITS AND LOSSES

     All profits and losses of the Company shall be allocated and distributions,
if any, shall be made to the Members in proportion to their  respective  capital
contributions.  Section 704(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
shall  apply so as to take  into  account  any  variation  between  the basis of
property  contributed  to the Company  and its fair market  value at the time of
contribution. [Signature Page Follows]


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.

                                Arnos Corp.,


                                By: /s/ Edward E. Mattner
                                    Name:    Edward E. Mattner
                                    Title:   Vice President


                                High River Limited Partnership
                                By:      Barberry Corp., its General Partner


                                By: /s/ Edward E. Mattner
                                    Name:    Edward E. Mattner
                                    Title:   Authorized Signatory


    [Signature page to of GREENVILLE HOLDING LLC dated as of April 14, 2003]