8-K

 
                                 UNITED STATES
                      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



      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  October 2, 1996


                             AVIVA PETROLEUM INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


             TEXAS                       0-22258                75-1432205
(State or other jurisdiction of  (Commission File Number)    (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                            Identification Number)

                             

     8235 DOUGLAS AVENUE,                                         75225
    SUITE 400, DALLAS, TEXAS                                    (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)


                                (214) 691-3464
             (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                NOT APPLICABLE
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS


   The press release dated October 2, 1996 that is filed herewith as Exhibit
20.1 is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 7. EXHIBITS


c)   Exhibits

     20.1 Press release dated October 2, 1996 reporting the Company's progress
          on U.S. operations.


                                       1

 
                                  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 thereunto duly authorized.

                                         AVIVA PETROLEUM INC.
                


Date:  October 2, 1996                   /s/ James L. Busby
                                         -------------------------
                                         James L. Busby
                                         Treasurer
                                         (principal accounting officer)


                                       2

 
EXHIBITS

Number                   Description of Exhibit
- ------                   ----------------------
       
**20.1   Press release dated October 2, 1996 reporting the Company's
         progress on U.S. operations.


 
____________ 
**  Filed Herewith


                                       3

EX-20.1

 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 20.1

                                 PRESS RELEASE
                                                  [LOGO OF AVIVA APPEARS HERE]
For immediate release

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

                   AVIVA REPORTS PROGRESS ON U.S. OPERATIONS
                   -----------------------------------------

DALLAS, TEXAS, OCTOBER 2, 1996 . . . .Aviva Petroleum Inc. (AMEX: "AVV"), the
Dallas based oil and gas exploration company reported today on its operations in
the U.S.

In the Gulf of Mexico, the Company's JA-7 well has recently been completed.
Initial pressures and flow rates are being monitored and will be announced
following a short build up period.  The completion rig has been moved from the
JA-7 well to the JA-1 well to tap previously untested gas and oil zones which
appear to be enhanced by electric log information obtained in the JA-7 well.
Successful culmination of this program is expected to substantially increase
current production from, and reserves underlying, the Main Pass 41 field, in
which Aviva has a 35% working interest and is the field operator.

At Breton Sound, in Louisiana State waters, the Company has completed
interpretation of 3-D seismic data over its Breton Sound 31 field.  The data
indicates 2 deep and several shallow gas prospects underlying the field, which
Aviva also operates with an approximately 60% working interest.  Aviva's acreage
is immediately adjacent to acreage held by a major company on which a deep
discovery was announced in 1995.  Initial daily rates quoted from that discovery
well were 10.6 million cubic feet of gas and 779 barrels of oil.

Aviva Petroleum is engaged in the exploration for and the development and
production of oil and gas in Colombia and onshore and offshore in the United
States.  Aviva's common stock is also quoted on the London Stock Exchange
(symbol "AVP").

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information:
- -----------------------------------------------------------
The above statements are based on current expectations.  These statements are
forward looking and actual results may differ materially.  Factors which could
materially affect the Company's plans in the future are general economic
conditions; the timing of environmental and other necessary administrative
permits; the impact of the activities of OPEC and other competitors; the impact
of possible geopolitical occurrences world-wide; the results of financing
efforts; changes in laws and regulations; capacity, deliverability and supply
constraints or difficulties, unforeseen engineering and mechanical or
technological difficulties in drilling or working-over wells, and other risks
described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Because of the foregoing matters, the Company's actual results for 1996 and
beyond could differ materially from those expressed in the above-described
forward-looking statements.

Further Information:

Ron Suttill
Aviva Petroleum Inc.
Dallas, Texas
214 691 3464