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):  November 12, 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 November 12, 1996 that is filed herewith as Exhibit
20.1 is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 7. EXHIBITS


c)   Exhibits

     20.1 Press release dated November 12, 1996 announcing production increases
          in the Gulf of Mexico.

                                       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:  November 12, 1996            /s/ James L. Busby
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    James L. Busby
                                    Treasurer and Secretary
                                    (principal financial and accounting officer)

                                       2

 
EXHIBITS

Number                            Description of Exhibit
- ------                            ----------------------

**20.1   Press release dated November 12, 1996 announcing production increases
         in the Gulf of Mexico.


 
- ---------- 
**  Filed Herewith

                                       3

EX-20.1

 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 20.1

                                 PRESS RELEASE


For immediate release

================================================================================

                 AVIVA INCREASES PRODUCTION IN GULF OF MEXICO
                 --------------------------------------------

DALLAS, TEXAS, NOVEMBER 12, 1996 . . . .Aviva Petroleum Inc. (AMEX: "AVV"), the
Dallas based oil and gas exploration company reported today on its operations in
the Gulf of Mexico.

Aviva announced the recompletion of a well in its Main Pass 41 field, tripling
oil production from the field.  The well is currently recovering completion
fluids while testing 400 barrels of oil and 500,000 cubic feet of gas per day
combined from two zones at 6200' and 6880'.  Both zones are choked back while
early testing proceeds.  These rates are expected to increase as the well cleans
up.

A new well in the field, the JA-7, was completed in early October from the #4
sand at 6,850' producing 1,100,000 cubic feet of gas per day.  Bottom hole
pressure surveys taken recently indicate possible damage near the wellbore
which, when corrected, could double current production from this well, and
double pre JA-7 field-wide gas sales.

Aviva has a 35 percent working interest in Main Pass 41 and is the field
operator.

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").

Further Information:

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