This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon WPX and its successors and assigns. WPX will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of WPX to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that WPX would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Any successor to the business or assets of WPX which assumes or agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, contract, or otherwise shall be jointly and severally liable with WPX under this Agreement as if such successor were WPX.