EX-10.4.9 73 file065.htm LEASE AGREEMENT, DATED 2/17/77


                                                                 Exhibit 10.4.9

                                 LEASE AGREEMENT

     THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 17th day of February, 1977,
by and between the undersigned hereinafter called "Lessor" (whether one or more)
and CHEVRON U.S.A. INC., a corporation, hereinafter called "Lessee."

                              W I T N E S S E T H

     1. Lessor, for and in consideration of the sum of $10 in hand paid, and of
the royalties herein provided and of the covenants and agreements hereinafter
contained, hereby grants, demises, leases and lets unto Lessee, the land
hereinafter described with the sole and exclusive right to Lessee to drill for,
produce, extract, take and remove therefrom water, brine, steam, steam power,
minerals (other than oil), salts, chemicals, gases (other than gas associated
with oil), and other products produced or extracted by Lessee from any thereof.
Each of the foregoing is hereinafter sometimes termed "a lease product" and all
thereof are sometimes termed "the lease products." For the same consideration
Lessee is hereby granted the right to store, utilize, process, convert, and
otherwise use such lease products upon said land and to sell the same or any
part thereof off said land during the term hereof, with the right of entry
thereon at all times for said purposes, and to construct, use, maintain, erect,
repair and replace thereon, and to remove therefrom all roads, pipelines,
ditches and lanes, telephone and telegraph lines, utility installations, power
lines, poles, tanks, evaporation or settling basins, extraction or processing
plants, machinery, equipment, buildings, electric power plants, and equipment
for generation and transmission of steam power, and electric power, and for the
handling, treatment or storage of lease products, and all structures and
facilities relating thereto, which Lessee way desire to erect, construct or
install in carrying on Lessee's business and operations on or from said land and
other lands in the vicinity of said land; and Lessee shall have the further
right to erect, maintain, operate and remove a plant or plants, structures and
facilities, with all necessary appurtenances for the conversion of steam to
electric power, and for the extraction of lease products from steam, brine or
water produced from said land, and other lands in the vicinity of said land,
including all rights necessary or convenient thereto, together with rights of
way for passage over, upon and across and ingress and egress to and from said
land for any or all of the above mentioned purposes. Lessee shall also have the
right to dispose of waste brine and other waste products in a well or wells
drilled or converted for that purpose on the leased land or on other land in the
vicinity, and the right to insect water, brine, steam and gases in a well or
wells on said land or such other land for the purpose of maintaining or
restoring pressure in the productive zones beneath said land or other land in
the vicinity thereof. The said land included in this lease is situated in the
County of Imperial, State of California, and is described as follows, to wit:



     The NW-1/4 of the E-1/2 of Tract No. 45, Township 16 South, Range 14 East,
     S.B.M.

     That portion of the E-1/2 of the E-1/2 West of the Railroad, Tract No. 45,
     Township 16 South, Range 14 East, S.B.M.

     The SW-1/4 of the E-1/2 of Tract No. 45, Township 16 South, Range 14 East,
     S.B.M.

containing 122 acres of land more or less.

This lease shall cover all the interest in said land now owned or hereafter
acquired by Lessor, even though greater than the undivided interest (if any)
described above. For the purpose of calculating any payments based on acreage,
Lessee, at Lessee's option, may act as if said land and its constituent parcels
contain the acreage above stated, whether they actually contain more or less.

     2. Subject to the other provisions herein contained, this lease shall
remain in force for a period of five (5) years from the date hereof, called the
"primary term," and thereafter so long as lease products, or any one or more of
them, is produced from, or Lessee is engaged in drilling, extraction, processing
or reworking operations on said land hereunder or on land pooled or unitized
with said land, as provided in Section 19 hereof, (said land, together with such
pooled or unitized land, being hereinafter sometimes called "the unit area").

     3. Lessee shall pay to Lessor, on or before the last day of each calendar
month, the royalties accrued and payable for the preceding calendar month, and
in making such payments Lessee shall furnish to Lessor statements setting forth
the basis for computation of such royalty.

As royalty and rental, Lessee shall pay to Lessor 10% of the value at the well
of all lease products produced, saved and sold. As used herein, the term "value
at the well" shall mean the actual price received by Lessee for the sale of
lease products at the well. If such products are not sold by Lessee at the well
but are sold at a plant or plants on or in the vicinity of said land, then the
value at the well shall be determined by deducting from the actual price
received by Lessee for the sale of such lease products all costs and expenses
incurred by Lessee in transporting, manufacturing, processing and otherwise
handling such lease products prior to the actual sale thereof. If lease products
are not sold by Lessee at the well or at such a plant but are otherwise used by
Lessee in its chemical operations or disposed of for value, then the value of
such lease products at the well shall be determined by deducting from the price
thereof at the nearest point where the same or similar products are sold in
substantial quantities, the cost of transporting,


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manufacturing, processing and otherwise handling such lease products prior to
sale thereof. Lessee shall meter, gauge or otherwise determine the volume and
quality of all lease products commingled and such metering or gauging shall
furnish the basis for computing Lessor's royalties hereunder. Lessee may use,
free of royalty, steam, steam power, electric power, and water developed from
said land by Lessee, for all operations hereunder, and Lessee shall not be
required to account to Lessor for, or pay royalty on any lease product or
products reasonably lost or consumed in operations hereunder.

     4. Lessee agrees to commence drilling, extraction or processing operations
on said land or on the unit area within the period of five (5) years from the
date hereof and to prosecute such operations with reasonable diligence until
lease products or any thereof shall have been found, extracted and processed in
quantities deemed paying quantities by Lessee, or until further operations
would, in the judgment of Lessee, be unprofitable or impracticable, or Lessee
may at any time within said primary term terminate this lease and surrender said
land; provided that, commencing with the 17th day of February __, 1978, if
Lessee has not theretofore commenced any such operations on said land or on the
unit area or terminated this lease, Lessee shall pay or tender to Lessor
annually, in advance, as rental, the sum of THREE THOUSAND AND FIFTY DOLLARS
($3,050.00) (each of such annual periods being hereinafter referred to as
"rental period") until operations are commenced on said land or lands which have
been pooled or unitized therewith, pursuant to paragraph 19 hereof, or this
lease terminated as herein provided; it being understood that in the event of
the surrender or termination of this lease as to any portion or portions of the
land covered thereby, said rental shall be reduced proportionately as provided
in paragraph 16 hereof. The consideration expressed in paragraph 1 hereof covers
all rental to the date last above mentioned. If Lessee shall elect not to
commence operations on said land or on the unit area during the primary term, as
above provided, this lease shall terminate.

     It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto:

     a.   That if within 10 years from the date hereof Lessee has not completed
          one or more wells or a processing plant on the unit area or on said
          land, capable of producing or processing lease products or any thereof
          in quantities and quality deemed paying quantities by Lessee, then
          Lessor may, at his option, terminate this lease; and

     b.   That if within 15 years from the date hereof Lessee has not made or
          arranged for a sale or sales of lease products or any thereof,
          produced from or allocated to said land, then Lessor may, at has
          option, terminate this lease.


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     5. If at any time or times after the primary term or within three (3)
months before expiration of the primary term, all operations and all production
hereunder on said land or on the unit area shall cease for any cause other than
those for which specific provision is made herein, this lease shall not
terminate if Lessee shall commence or resume drilling, processing, extraction or
reworking operations or production within three (3) months after such cessation.

     6. Lessee shall be obligated to produce only such quantity or quantities of
lease products as it may be able to market at the well or wells, plant or
plants. It is recognized that the market demand for lease products may vary from
time-to-time and during such periods as there as no market at the wells or plant
for any lease product or products, Lessee's obligation to produce, process and
extract such lease product or products shall be suspended.

     Subject to the foregoing and except as herein otherwise provided, it is
agreed that the Lessee shall drill such wells and operate each completed well
with reasonable diligence and in accordance with good operating practice so long
as such wells shall produce lease products in paying quantities while this lease
is in force as to the portion of said land on which such well, or wells are
situated, but in conformity with any reasonable conservation program affecting
the drilling of walls or the production of lease products from said land, which
the Lessee may either voluntarily or by order of any authorized governmental
agency adopt, subscribe to or be subject to.

     7. The possession by Lessee of said land shall be sole and exclusive
excepting only that Lessor reserves the right to occupy and use or to lease the
surface of said land for agricultural, horticultural or other surface uses,
except those granted to Lessee hereunder, which uses shall be carried on by
Lessor subject to, and with no interference with, the rights or operations of
Lessee hereunder. No well shall be drilled closer than 100 feet to any residence
or barn now on said land without written consent of Lessor. Lessee shall pay for
damages caused by Lessee's operations to houses, barns, growing crops, fences
and irrigation systems. Lessee shall have the right to drill such wells on said
land as Lessee may deem desirable toy the purposes hereof and Lessee shall
utilize or use only so much of said land as is necessary or reasonably
convenient for Lessee's operations hereunder and shall interfere as little as
reasonably necessary with the use and occupancy of said land by Lessor. No
default of Lessee hereunder with respect to any well, or portion of this lease,
shall impair Lessee's rights with respect to any other well or portion of this
lease.

     8. The rights of Lessor and Lessee hereunder may be assigned in whole or in
part. No present or future division of Lessor's ownership as to different
portions or parcels of said land shall operate to enlarge the obligations or
diminish the rights of Lessee, and Lessee's operations may be conducted without
regard to any such division. If all or any


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part of this lease is assigned, no leasehold owner shall be liable for any act
or omission of any other leasehold owner, and failure by one to pay rental shall
not affect the rights of others--rental being apportionable in proportion to
acreage.

     9. The obligations of Lessee hereunder shall be suspended (but without
impairment of Lessor's rights under (a) and (b) of paragraph 4 hereof) while
Lessee is prevented or hindered from complying therewith in part or in whole, by
strikes, lockouts, labor disturbances, acts of God, unavoidable accidents, laws,
rules, regulations or orders of any Federal, state, municipal or other
governmental agency, acts of war or conditions arising out of or attributable to
war, shortage of necessary material, equipment or labor, or restrictions in, or
limitations upon the use thereof, inability to secure or absence of a market for
the sale of lease products which can be produced or recovered in commercial
quantities from said land, delays on transportation, and also matters beyond the
control of Lessee, whether similar to the matters herein specifically enumerated
or not. This lease shall remain in full force and effect during any suspension
of Lessee's obligations under any provisions of this paragraph, and for a
reasonable time thereafter, provided that after the removal of the cause or
causes preventing or hindering the performance of such obligation, Lessee,
subject to the other provisions of this Lease, diligently commences or resumes
the performance of such obligation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
herein provided, if any of Lessee's obligations hereunder conflict with or
violate the provisions of any reasonable conservation program or plan of orderly
development, whether now or hereafter adopted, to which Lessee may voluntarily
subscribe, or of any conservation program or plan which is now or may hereafter
be prescribed by any order of any governmental, agency, Lessee shall not be
obligated to perform such obligation.

     10. If Lessee shall fail to pay any installment of royalty or rental when
due and if such default shall continue for a period of 15 days after receipt by
Lessee of written notice thereof from Lessor to Lessee, then at the option of
Lessor, this lease shall terminate as to the portion or portions thereof as to
which Lessee is in default; provided, however, that if there be a bona fide
dispute as to the amount due and all undisputed amounts are paid, said 15-day
period shall be extended until 5 days after such dispute is settled by final
court decree, arbitration or agreement.

If lessee shall be in default in the performance of any obligations under this
Lease, other than the payment of rentals or royalties, and if, for a period of
90 days after written notice is given to Lessee by Lessor of such default,
Lessee shall fail to commence and thereafter diligently and in good faith
prosecute action to remedy such default, Lessor may terminate this Lease.

     11. Lessee shall pay all taxes that may be levied against the improvements,
plant, machinery and personal property owned by Lessee and located upon any part
of said land.

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     12. Lessee shall also pay Lessee's share of any and all taxes assessed
during the term of this lease upon any products of Lessee's operations
hereunder, together with Lessee's share of all severance, production and license
taxes or other taxes or assessments levied or assessed on account of the
production of lease products or any thereof on or from said land, or on or from
such portion of said land as Lessee may be holding under this lease on the date
of such tax lien.

     13. Lessor agrees to pay Lessor's share of any and all taxes assessed upon
any products of Lessee's operations hereunder, together with Lessor's share of
all severance, production and license taxes or other taxes or assessments levied
or assessed on account of the production of lease products from said land, and
to pay all other taxes assessed against said land, whether time same are
assessed to Lessor or Lessee or otherwise, and Lessee is hereby authorized to
pay all such taxes and assessments on behalf of Lessor and to deduct the amount
so paid from any royalties or moneys due Lessor hereunder. "Lessee's share" and
"Lessor's share," as used above refers to Lessee's and Lessor's respective
proportionate parts of the gross proceeds from the sale of any and all lease
products produced, saved and sold from said land by Lessee or allocated to said
land under the terms of any unit or pooling plan during the preceding calendar
year.

     14. All royalties, rentals and other payments payable in money hereunder
shall be paid to Lessor by Lessee mailing or delivering a check therefor to
Lessor at 911 Lacy Street, Santa Ana, California 92701, or Lessee may, at its
option, pay any or all royalties, rentals and other payments payable in money
hereunder by mailing or delivering a check therefor to _______________________
___________________________ at __________________________________________ its
successors and assigns, herein designated by Lessor as depositary, hereby
granting to said depositary full power and authority on behalf of Lessor and on
behalf of the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of
Lessor, and each of them, to collect and receipt for all sums of money due and
payable from Lessee to Lessor hereunder, and to settle all accounts and
accounting of rentals, royalties and other payments payable in money hereunder.
No change in the ownership of the land or minerals covered by this lease and no
assignment of rentals or royalties shall be binding upon Lessee or the
depositary until both Lessee and the depositary have been furnished with written
evidence thereof satisfactory to them. Said depositary above named shall
continue to act as such until the owners and holders of at least two-thirds of
Lessor's estate hereunder shall in writing designate a different depositary and
notify Lessee in writing at Land Dept., P.O. Box 7643, San Francisco, CA 94120,
of the name and address of such new depositary. The payment of any and all
rentals, royalties and other payments hereunder by Lessee to the depositary
designated herein or to any other depositary hereafter designated by Lessor, as
aforesaid, shall be a full acquitance and discharge of Lessee of and from any
and all liability to Lessor, and to the heirs, executors, administrators,
successors and assigns of Lessor, and each of them, for any part of such
rentals, royalties


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or other payments, and Lessee will not be responsible at any time for the
disposition or disbursement by any such depositary of all or any part of any
moneys received by it hereunder.

     15. It is agreed that if Lessor owns a less interest in the sole and
exclusive rights herein granted Lessee than the entire and undivided fee simple
estate therein, then any royalties, rentals and other payments herein provided
for shall be paid Lessor only in the proportion which Lessor's interest bears to
the whole and undivided fee. In the event Lessee's estate hereunder shall fail,
for a cause other than Lessee's default hereunder, in regard to any portion of
said land or any interest therein, such failure shall not affect or invalidate
Lessee's estate hereunder in regard to the remaining portions of said lands or
the remaining interests therein and this lease shall nevertheless continue in
full force and effect with respect to said remaining portions of said land or
remaining interests therein, and Lessee shall not be accountable to Lessor for
any payment theretofore made with respect to said portion of said land or such
interest in regard to which Lessee's estate hereunder has failed. If and
whenever it shall be necessary so to do in order to protect Lessee's interest
under this lease, Lessee may at its option pay and discharge at any time any
mortgage or other lieu now or hereafter attaching to said land or any part
thereof and in such event Lessee shall be subrogated to all of the rights of the
owner or holder of such mortgage or other lien and Lessee may in addition
thereto, at its option, apply to the discharge of any such mortgage or other
lien, or to the reimbursement to Lessee for any amount so paid by it, any
rentals, royalties or other sums accruing or payable hereunder, to the owner of
the lands to which such mortgage or other lien attaches.

     16. Lessee may at any time or times surrender this lease as to all or any
portion of said land and be relieved of all obligations thereafter accruing as
to the acreage surrendered, and thereafter the rental shall be reduced in the
same proportion that the acreage covered hereby is reduced. In the event this
lease shall be surrendered under the provisions of this paragraph, or assigned
as hereinabove provided as to any portion or portions of said land, Lessee shall
have such rights of way or easements hereunder, over, upon and across the land
as to which this lease is so surrendered or assigned as shall be necessary or
convenient for Lessee's operations on the land retained by it and other lands in
the vicinity thereof. Upon any surrender or assignment of this lease as to all
or any portion of said land, Lessee shall be relieved of all further obligations
hereunder with respect to the lands so surrendered or assigned. Any such
surrender shall become effective upon delivery to Lessor, or to the depositary
bank herein designated, or the deposit in the United States mail, postage
prepaid, of a duly executed duplicate of an instrument of surrender properly
addressed to Lessor or to such depositary bank. Within a reasonable time
thereafter, Lessee shall record the original of such instrument of surrender.


                                       7


     17. Lessee shall have the right at any time and from time-to-time during
the continuance hereof and within a reasonable time after the surrender or any
termination of this lease, to remove from said land all equipment, machinery,
installations, and any other property or improvements belonging to or furnished
by Lessee or Lessee's permitees.

     18. All labor to be performed and material to be furnished in the
operations of Lessee hereunder shall be at the cost and expense of Lessee, and
Lessor shall not be chargeable with nor liable for any part thereof. Lessee
shall protect said land from liens arising from Lessee's operations thereon.

     19.(a) Lessee is given the sole right and option by written declaration of
pooling at any time or from time-to-time, within twenty (20) years from the date
hereof, to combine, pool or unitize in whole or in part as to any stratum or
strata all or any part of said lands with other lands not subject to this lease
so as to create one or more reasonably compact operating units for any operating
or producing purpose. Such written declaration of pooling shall describe the
pooled lands and shall become effective when recorded in the Office of the
County Recorder in the county where the land is situated. Lessee shall give
written notice of such pooling to those Lessors whose lands are so pooled.
Lessors agree that with respect to all lease products obtained from any lands
included within any such operating unit, whether or not from lands covered by
this lease, there shall be allocated to and deemed to have been produced from
the lands covered by this lease and included in such operating unit, only that
proportion of the entire production from such operating unit that the amount of
acreage within the lands herein leased and included in such operating unit bears
to the total acreage of all of the land in such operating unit, and royalty
payable under this lease with respect to leased land included in such operating
unit shall be computed only on that portion of such production so allocated to
such leased lands. The entire acreage so pooled or unitized shall be treated as
if it were covered by one lease and the drilling of a well or performance of any
other obligations in any part of such operating unit, whether or not on land
subject to this lease, shall fulfill Lessee's drilling and other obligations
under this lease to the same extent as if such well were drilled and other
obligations performed on land subject to this lease. No offset obligation shall
accrue under this lease as a result of any well drilled within any such
operating unit. Lessee may, at its sole option, at any time when there is no
production in such operating unit of lease products in quantities deemed paying
by Lessee terminate such operating unit by a written declaration thereof, in the
same manner in which it was created.

     (b) Lessee is hereby granted the right at any time or times within the
period hereinafter provided to unitize this lease and the lands covered hereby,
in whole or in part or as to any stratum or strata, with other lands and leases
and to increase or decrease the size of any such unit. Any change in the amount
of Lessor's royalties resulting from unitization of this lease or from any
increase or decrease in the size of any such unit shall not be retroactive. In
the event of any such unitization, this lease, unless sooner


                                       8


terminated by Lessee, shall continue in effect for so long as any of the lands
hereby leased remain subject to such unit. The drilling and producing operations
conducted on any of the unitized lands shall constitute full compliance with the
drilling and producing obligations of Lessee hereunder and Lessor shall be
entitled to the royalties in this lease provided, on the fractional part only,
if any, of the unit production allocated to this lease in accordance with the
provisions of said unit. The method of allocation of production from lands
subject to said unit shall be set forth therein and may be based upon the
surface acreage or the estimated volumetric content of recoverable lease
products, or any weighing of either or both thereof, of lands within such unit
or within the estimated productive limits of such unit, or such allocation may
be made upon any other basis approved by State or Federal authorities having
jurisdiction thereof. The provisions of this paragraph authorizing the
establishment and enlargement or contraction of such unit and change of the
ratio of participation thereunder shall not extend beyond the period of twenty
(20) years from the date of this lease; provided, however, that if such unit is
established before the expiration of said twenty-year period, such unit may
continue in effect beyond said twenty-year period. Any such unit may be
established, enlarged, or diminished, and, in the absence of production
therefrom, may be dissolved by Lessee's filing for record an instrument so
declaring. A copy of such instrument shall be delivered to Lessor or to the
depositary.

     20. Whenever used herein, the expression "drilling operations" shall mean,
for all purposes hereof, any work or actual operations undertaken or commenced
for the purpose of drilling of a well, including without limiting the generality
hereof, the preparation of the ground therefor, the building of roads and other
facilities therefor, the construction of a derrick and other necessary
structures for the drilling of a well followed by the actual operation of
drilling in the ground. Any such work or operations preliminary to the drilling
in the ground may be undertaken in any order Lessee shall see fit. All such work
and operations shall be prosecuted with reasonable diligence.

     21. It is understood and agreed by and between the parties hereto that at
any time during the primary term of this agreement if Lessee shall acquire by
the lease purchase, or assignment an interest in any lease executed after the
date of this agreement and covering private lands located within five (5) miles
of the land covered hereby, which lease shall contain a greater Lessor's royalty
or a greater annual per acre rental than is provided by this agreement, the
Lessee shall immediately increase the corresponding terms of this agreement so
as to afford the Lessor herein equal terms. In the event of such increase, the
Lessee shall promptly tender to Lessor for his execution an instrument in
writing which shall contain such increased terms.

     22. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
possession by Lessee of said land shall be sole and exclusive; provided,
however, except for the surface use hereinafter specifically provided for,
Lessee shall have no right to use the


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surface of any of said land. Lessee, after prior consultation and approval of
Lessor (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), shall have the right
to conduct geological and geophysical operations on said land. Additionally,
Lessor shall make available to Lessee on the surface of said land three (3)
drill sites, each to be limited to a maximum of two (2) acres in size. Lessor
shall also make available to Lessee one (1) site for the construction of a plant
for the conversion of geothermal resources into commercial products, such site
to be limited to a maximum of five (5) acres. Lessor shall also make available
to Lessee ingress and egress rights to all such sites together with rights of
way for pipelines, power lines, and telephone lines. All such sites, ingress and
egress rights, and rights of way shall be selected by Lessee subject to approval
thereof by Lessor in writing. Lessor agrees not to unreasonably withhold
approval of any such selections made by Lessee. Lessee shall pay for damages
caused by Lessee's operations to houses, barns, growing crops and irrigation and
drainage systems. In addition, Lessee shall pay to Lessor the sum of TWO HUNDRED
FIFTY DOLLARS ($250.00) per acre per year for each acre occupied by Lessee with
respect to the aforementioned drill sites set aside for drilling purposes;
provided, however, that at the end of each two-year period of such occupancy of
such sites, the site rental payable hereunder shall be increased to be
comparable to rental paid for agricultural purposes on like lands in the same
vicinity if such rental is found to be in excess of the site rental then being
paid hereunder.

     With respect to the aforementioned site set aside for plant use, if such
site is selected by Lessee and approved by Lessor, Lessee shall purchase said
site, paying to the Lessor the fair market value thereof. Said fair market value
shall be based upon the highest and best use of said site, notwithstanding the
fact that the same may then be devoted to agricultural purposes. If the parties
cannot agree upon the fair market value of such land within thirty (30) days
after Lessee's receipt of written approval from Lessor, such value shall be
determined by three qualified appraisers, one to be selected by each of the
parties and the third by any judge of the Imperial County Superior Court. The
rules of the American Arbitration Association shall apply and be binding upon
the parties as to any such valuation. In the event of such sale, Lessor shall
retain all geothermal and mineral rights under said site.

     23. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event
any or all of the lands covered by this Lease are included in a unit as provided
for in Paragraph 19(b) hereof, such unit shall not exceed 5120 acres in areal
extent, plus or minus 10%.

     24. Should the Lessor cause any of said land to be used for other than
agricultural purposes, Lessor shall have the right, at its own risk and expense,
to cause any existing easements and rights of way referred to in Paragraph 22
hereof to be relocated in a manner that will not unreasonably interfere with
Lessee's operations hereunder.


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     25. This agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the
same force and effect as if all parties signed the same document.

     26. This lease shall be binding upon all who execute it, whether or not
they are named in the granting clause hereof and whether or not all parties
named in the granting clause execute this lease. All the provisions of this
lease shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns of Lessor and Lessee.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this agreement.

LESSEE:                                LESSOR

CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.


By /s/ Indecipherable                  /s/ Joseph L. Holtz
   ---------------------------------   -----------------------------------------
     Its Attorney in Fact              JOSEPH L. HOLTZ,
                                       a single man

STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF ORANGE

     On this 13th day of March, A.D. 1977, personally appeared before me, a
Notary Public, in and for said County, Joseph L. Holtz, known to me to be the
person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, who acknowledged
to me that he executed the foregoing instrument, who acknowledged to me that he
executed the same freely and voluntarily and for the uses and purposes therein
mentioned.

/s/ Janet Stroud
------------------------------------   -----------------------------------------
           (Signature)                                 (Title)


STATE OF CALIFORNIA
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

     On April 25, 1977, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public, in and for
said City and County and State, residing therein, duly commissioned and sworn,
personally appeared Clair Ghylin known to me to be an Attorney in Fact of
CHEVRON U.S.A. INC. the Corporation described in and that executed the within
instrument, and also known to me to be the person who executed it on behalf of
the said Corporation therein named, and he acknowledged to me that such
Corporation executed the same.


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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official
Seal, the day and year in this certificate above written.



                                    /s/ Edna M. Chang-Lo
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Notary Public in and for said City and
                                    County of San Francisco, State of California



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                          AMENDMENT OF LEASE AGREEMENT

     THIS AGREEMENT, made this 21 day of May, 1973, between the party or parties
whose names are subscribed hereto under the designation of "Lessor", hereinafter
called "Lessor" (whether one or more), and STANDARD OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, a
corporation, hereinafter called "Lessee",

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     THAT, REFERENCE IS HEREBY HAD to that certain Lease Agreement dated
March 28, 1964 (such lease being of record in the Office of the County Recorder
of Imperial County, California, in Book ____, at Page ____, et seq., of Official
Records), whereby Lessor did grant, let and lease unto Lessee for the purposes
therein described certain lands situate in said County and State particularly
described in such lease; such lease being hereinafter referred to as "said
lease";

     AND, WHEREAS, Lessor and Lessee have agreed to amend said lease in the
particulars hereinafter set forth:

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the sum of ONE DOLLAR ($1.00) and other
valuable consideration paid to Lessor by Lessee, receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, Lessor and Lessee agree as follows:

     1. That part of the first sentence of Section 2 of said lease which now
reads as follows:

          ".... this lease shall remain in force for a period of twenty (20)
     years from the date hereof, called the 'primary term' ...."

shall be and hereby is amended to read as follows:

          "...., this lease shall remain in force for a period of thirty (30)
     years from the date hereof, called the 'primary term',..."

     2. That part of the first sentence of Section 4 of said lease which now
reads as follows:

          "4. Lessee agrees to commence drilling, extraction or processing
     operations on said land or on the unit area within the period of twenty
     (20) years from the date hereof...."

shall be and hereby is amended to read as follows:


                                       13


          "4. Lessee agrees to commence drilling, extraction or processing
     operations on said land or on the unit area within the period of thirty
     (30) years from the date hereof...."

     3. Effective with the rental period that begins in 1974, that part of the
first sentence of Section 4 of said lease which now reads as follows:

          "..., the sum of Forty and. No/100 DOLLARS ($40.00)...."

shall be and hereby is amended to read as follows:

          "...., the sum of Four Hundred and No/100 DOLLARS ($400.00)...."

     4. That part of Section 4a. of said lease which now reads as follows:

          "a. That if within 10 years...."

shall be and hereby is amended to read as follows:

          "a. That if within 20 years...."

     5. That part of Section 4b. of said lease which now reads as follows:

          "b. That if within 15 years...."

shall be and hereby is amended to read as follows:

          "b. That if within 25 years...."

     6. To implement the foregoing, Lessor does hereby grant, demise, lease and
let unto Lessee all those certain lands particularly described in said lease for
the term and purposes and subject to all of the other provisions of said lease
as hereby amended. Lessor agrees that said lease as hereby amended is in good
standing and in full force and effect. Lessor acknowledges receipt of rental in
full under said lease to March 28, 1975.

     7. This agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective
heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns of the parties hereto.


                                       14


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this agreement has been executed as of the day and year
first herein written.

LESSEE                                 LESSOR

STANDARD OIL COMPANY                   [/s/ Birdie R. Williamson]
OF CALIFORNIA


By /s/ Indecipherable                  /s/ Lloyd K. Williamson
   ----------------------------------  -----------------------------------------
   Contract Agent                      LLOYD K. WILLIAMSON

By /s/ Barbara F. Perez                /s/ Robert C. Williamson
   ----------------------------------  -----------------------------------------
   Assistant Secretary                 ROBERT C. WILLIAMSON

May 21, 1973                           /s/ Neva A. Smith
/s/                                    -----------------------------------------
                                       NEVA A. SMITH,
                                       a/k/a Neva Williamson Smith
                                       [/s/ Ralph L. Smith]
STATE OF CALIFORNIA

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

     On May 29, 1973, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for
said State, personally appeared Birdie R. Williamson, Lloyd K. Williamson, Neva
M. Smith & Ralph L. Smith known to me to be the persons whose names are
subscribed to the within Instrument, and acknowledged to me that they executed
the same.

     WITNESS my hand and official seal.


                                       /s/ Henry A. Rohlfling
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Notary Public in and for said State


                                       15


[County Recorder  /s/]

                    AMENDMENT OF LEASE AGREEMENT (SHORT FORM)

     THIS AGREEMENT, made this 21 day of May, 1973, between the party or
parties whose names are subscribed hereto under the designation of "Lessor",
hereinafter called "Lessor" (whether one or more), and STANDARD OIL COMPANY OF
CALIFORNIA, a corporation, hereinafter called "Lessee",

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     THAT, REFERENCE IS HEREBY HAD to that certain Lease Agreement dated
March 28, 1964 (such lease being of record in the Office of the County Recorder
of Imperial County, California, in Book 1193, at Page 203 et seq. of Official
Records), whereby Lessor did grant, let and lease unto Lessee for the purposes
therein described certain lands situate in said County said State particularly
described in such lease; such lease being hereinafter referred to as "said
lease";

     AND, WHEREAS, Lessor and Lessee have agreed to amend said lease in the
particulars hereinafter set forth:

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the sum of ONE DOLLAR ($1.00) and other
valuable consideration paid to Lessor by Lessee, receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, Lessor and Lessee agree as follows:

     1. That part of the first sentence of Section 2 of said lease which now
reads as follows:

          ".... this lease shall remain in force for a period of twenty (20)
     years from the date hereof, called the 'primary term', ...."

shall be and hereby is amended to read as follows;

          ".... this lease shall remain in force for a period of thirty (30)
     years from the date hereof, called the 'primary term' ...."

     2. That part of the first sentence of Section 4 of said lease which now
reads as follows:

          "4. Lessee agrees to commence drilling, extraction or processing
     operations on said land or on the unit area within the period of twenty
     (20) years from the date hereof...."

shall be and hereby is amended to read as follows:


                                       16


          "4. Lessee agrees to commence drilling, extraction or processing
     operations on said land or on the unit area within the period of thirty
     (30) years from the date hereof...."

     3. That part of Section 4a. of said lease which now reads as fol1ows:

          "a. That if within 10 years...."

     4. That part of Section 4b. of said lease which now reads as follows:

          "b. That if within 15 years...."

shall be and hereby is amended to read as follows:

          "b. That if within 25 years...."

     5. Said lease is further amended as set forth in that certain Amendment of
Lease Agreement bearing even date herewith by and between the parties hereto and
covering the lands described in Section 1 of said lease, and by this reference
incorporated into this Amendment of Lease Agreement.

     6. To implement the foregoing, Lessor does hereby grant, demise, lease and
let unto Lessee all those certain lands particularly described in said lease for
the term and purposes and subject to all of the other provisions of said lease
as hereby amended. Lessor agrees that said lease as hereby amended is in good
standing and in full force and effect. Lessor acknowledges receipt of rental in
full under said lease to March 28, 1975.

     7. This agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective
heirs, executers, administrators, successors, and assigns of the parties hereto.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this agreement has been executed as of the day and year
first herein written.

LESSEE                                               LESSOR

STANDARD OIL COMPANY                   /s/ Birdie R. Williamson
OF CALIFORNIA


By /s/ Indecipherable                  /s/ Lloyd K. Williamson
   ----------------------------------  -----------------------------------------
   Contract Agent                      LLOYD K. WILLIAMSON

By /s/ Barbara F. Perez                /s/ Robert C. Williamson
   ----------------------------------  -----------------------------------------
   Assistant Secretary                 ROBERT C. WILLIAMSON


                                       17

                                       /s/ Neva M. Smith
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       NEVA M. SMITH,
                                       aka Neva Williamson Smith
                                       [/s/ Ralph L. Smith]
STATE OF CALIFORNIA,   )
                       )  ss.
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES  )

     On May 29, 1973, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for
said State, personally appeared Birdie R. Williamson, Lloyd K. Williamson, Neva
M. Smith and Ralph L. Smith, known to me to be the persons whose names are
subscribed to the within instrument, and acknowledged to me that they executed
the same.

     WITNESS my hand and official seal.

                                       /s/ Henry A. Rohlfing
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Notary Public in and for said State.


                                       18


[County Recorder]

                    AMENDMENT OF LEASE AGREEMENT (SHORT FORM)

     THIS AGREEMENT, made this 16th day of February, 1982, between the party
whose name is subscribed hereto under the designation of "Lessor", hereinafter
called "Lessor", and CHEVRON GEOTHERMAL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, a corporation,
hereinafter called "Lessee,"

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     THAT REFERENCE IS HEREBY HAD to that certain Lease Agreement, dated
February 17, 1977 (the short form of which is on record in the Office of the
County Recorder of Imperial County, California, in Book 1401, Page 923, et seq.,
of Official Records), whereby Lessor did grant, let and lease unto Lessee's
predecessor in interest for the purposes therein described in such lease; such
lease being hereinafter referred to as "said lease;"

     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the sum of ONE DOLLAR ($1.00) and other
valuable consideration paid to Lessor by Lessee, receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, Lessor and Lessee agree as follows:

     1. That part of the first sentence of Section 2 of said lease which now
reads as follows:

          "...., this lease shall remain in force for a period of five (5) years
     from the date hereof, called the 'primary term'...."

shall be and hereby is amended to read as follows:

          "...., this lease shall remain in force for a period of six (6) years
     from the date hereof, called the 'primary term'...."

     2. This Amendment of Lease agreement (Short Form) is made upon the terms,
covenants and conditions set forth in that certain Amendment of Lease Agreement
bearing even date herewith by and between the said parties hereto which
Amendment of Lease Agreement is by this reference incorporated herein and made a
part hereof in all respects as though the same were fully set forth herein.

     3. To implement the foregoing, Lessor does hereby grant, demise, lease and
let unto Lessee all those certain lands particularly described in said lease for
the term and purposes and subject to all of the other provisions of said lease
as hereby amended. Lessor agrees that said lease as hereby amended is in good
standing and in full force and effect. Lessor acknowledges receipt of rental in
full under said lease to February 16, 1983.


                                       19


     4. This agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective
heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns of the parties hereto.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this agreement has been executed as of the day and year
first herein written.

CHEVRON GEOTHERMAL COMPANY             LESSOR
    OF CALIFORNIA


By: /s/ J. Turner                       By: /s/ Joseph L. Holtz
   ---------------------------------       ------------------------------------
   SECRETARY                               JOSEPH L. HOLTZ,
                                           a single man


                                       20


                          AMENDMENT OF LEASE AGREEMENT

     THIS AGREEMENT, made this 16th day of February, 1982, between the party
whose name is subscribed hereto under the designation of "Lessor", hereinafter
called "Lessor" and CHEVRON GEOTHERMAL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, a corporation,
hereinafter called "Lessee,"

                                   WITNESSETH:

     THAT REFERENCE IS HEREBY HAD to that certain Lease Agreement, dated
February 17, 1977 (the short form of which is on record in the Office of the
County Recorder of Imperial County, California, in Book 1401, Page 923, et seq.,
of Official Records), whereby Lessor did grant, let and lease unto Lessee's
predecessor in interest for the purposes therein described in such lease; such
lease being hereinafter referred to as "said lease;"

     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the sum of ONE DOLLAR ($1.00) and other
valuable consideration paid to Lessor by Lessee, receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, Lessor and Lessee agree as follows:

     1. That part of the first sentence of Section 2 of said lease which now
reads as follows:

          "...., this lease shall remain in force for a period of five (5) years
     from the date hereof, called the 'primary term'...."

shall be and hereby is amended to read as follows:

          "...., this lease shall remain in force for a period of six (6) years
     from the date hereof, called the 'primary term'...."

     2. That part of the first sentence of Section 4 of said lease which now
reads as follows:

          "4. Lessee agrees to commence drilling, extraction or processing
     operations on said land or on the unit area within the period of five (5)
     years from the date hereof...."

shall be hereby amended to read as follows:

          "4. Lessee agrees to commence drilling, extraction or processing
     operations on said land or on the unit area within the period of six (6)
     years from the date hereof...."


                                       21


     3. There is added to said lease the following Section 27:

     "27. Subject to Lessor's rights under Section 4b. hereof and
notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained herein, if lessee
completes a well or wells or a processing plant on said land or on the unit area
capable of producing or processing lease products in quantities and quality
deemed paying quantities by Lessee, Lessee may continue to pay or tender to
Lessor, annually in advance of each lease anniversary date, rental until Lessee
has made a sale of lease products produced from or allocated to said land. So
long as such annual rental payments are paid or tendered, this lease shall
remain in force and effect even though extended thereby beyond the primary term,
and all payments so paid or tendered after the expiration of said primary term
shall be deemed advance royalties, and so long as same are paid, each well or
wells shall be deemed to be actually producing lease products in paying
quantities under the terms hereof." The above mentioned advance royalties shall
not be recoverable by lessee out of any future production of said lease
products.

     Lessee agrees to exercise due diligence in the drilling and development of
wells and the production of lease products in paying quantities, provided
however that unit operations conducted under the terms of the Heber Geothermal
Unit Agreement (recorded an Book 1437, page 1262 et seq. Official Records of
Imperial County, California) without cessation of 180 consecutive days for
reasons other than those stated in Article XIV therein shall be considered as
due diligence under this Section 27.

     4. Lessee confirms that Section 21 of said lease shall remain in full force
and effect throughout the primary term as extended hereby.

     5. To implement the foregoing, Lessor does hereby grant, demise, lease and
let unto Lessee all those certain lands particularly described in said lease for
the term and purposes and subject to all of the other provisions of said lease
as hereby amended. Lessor agrees that said lease as hereby amended is in good
standing and in full force and effect. Lessor acknowledges receipt of rental in
full under said lease to February 16, 1983.

     6. This agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective
heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns of the parties hereto.


                                       22


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this agreement has been executed as of the day and year
first herein written.

CHEVRON GEOTHERMAL COMPANY             LESSOR
     OF CALIFORNIA


By: /s/ J. Turner                       By: /s/ Joseph L. Holtz
   ---------------------------------       -------------------------------------
                                           JOSEPH L. HOLTZ,
                                           a single man

STATE OF CALIFORNIA    )
                       )  ss.
COUNTY OF ORANGE       )

     On May 10, 1982, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for
said State, personally appeared Joseph L. Holtz, _____________________,
_____________________, known to me to be the person_ whose name_ is subscribed
to the within instrument and acknowledged that he executed the same.

     WITNESS my hand and official seal.


/s/ Janet Stroud
-------------------------------------
(Signature)


                                       23