-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CodxnfxKMOsvtw0WSG75w4kFW/L2sdtXcyoSIjYGYR3TOfIwBRrs3Puu482wpMne
 X1Suzilt0NhXV2m4KDk66A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-006078.txt : 20030821
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-006078.hdr.sgml : 20030821
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030821122922
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-006078
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030819
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030821

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SAUVAGE WARD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001228359

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10389
		FILM NUMBER:		03859560

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WESTERN GAS RESOURCES INC
		STREET 2:		1099 18TH STREET STE 1200
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3034525603

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WESTERN GAS RESOURCES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000856716
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION [4922]
		IRS NUMBER:				841127613
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1099 18TH STREET, SUITE 1200
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80202-1955
		BUSINESS PHONE:		303 452 5603

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1099 18TH STREET, SUITE 1200
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80202-1955
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-08-19</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000856716</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WESTERN GAS RESOURCES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WGR</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001228359</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SAUVAGE WARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1099 18TH STREET, SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-08-19</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>14800</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>38.5405</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2882687</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>See footnote</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-08-20</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>71100</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>38.7795</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2811587</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>See footnote</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable></derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">1,942,976 shares held by Sauvage Gas Company, which is owned by a number of family members and trusts held by family members of Reporting Person and 939,711 shares held by Sauvage Gas Service Corporation, which is indirectly held by family members of Reporting Person.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">1,871,876 shares held by Sauvage Gas Company, which is owned by a number of family members and trusts held by family members of Reporting Person and 939,711 shares held by Sauvage Gas Service Corporation, which is indirectly held by family members of Reporting Person.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Peter A. Dea, as attorney in fact for Ward Sauvage</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-08-21</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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