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                                  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) SEPTEMBER 19, 2002






                              NUEVO ENERGY COMPANY
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)




                                                                    
                   DELAWARE                                                         76-0304436
       (State or other jurisdiction of                                 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
       incorporation or organization)




1021 MAIN, SUITE 2100, HOUSTON, TEXAS                                                   77002
(Address of principal executive offices)                                              (Zip Code)




       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (713) 652-0706



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ITEM 4. ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

         On September 18, 2002, Nuevo Energy Company (the "Company") acquired
Athanor Resources, Inc., a privately held company, pursuant to the Agreement and
Plan of Merger attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1. The Company announced the
transaction in a press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.




ITEM 7. EXHIBITS

   (a) EXHIBITS

         2.1      Agreement and Plan of Merger dated September 18, 2002 by and
                  among Athanor Resources, Inc., Athanor B.V., Nuevo Energy
                  Company, Nuevo Texas Inc., Yorktown Energy Partners III, L.P.,
                  Yorktown Energy IV, L.P., Yorktown Partners LLC, SAFIC S.A.,
                  Charles de Mestral, J. Ross Craft, Montana Oil and Gas, Ltd.,
                  David A. Badley, James S. Scott, Glenn Reed, Doug Allison and
                  Mohamed Yaich

         10.1     Registration Rights Agreement dated September 18, 2002 by and
                  among Nuevo Energy Company, Yorktown Energy Partners III,
                  L.P., Yorktown Energy IV, L.P., Yorktown Partners LLC, SAFIC
                  S.A., Charles de Mestral, J. Ross Craft, Montana Oil and Gas,
                  Ltd., David A. Badley, James S. Scott, Glenn Reed, Doug
                  Allison and Mohamed Yaich


         99.1     Press release dated September 18, 2002, announcing the
                  acquisition of Athanor Resources, Inc.



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                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

                                                  NUEVO ENERGY COMPANY
                                                       (Registrant)

Date:     September 19, 2002              By:  /s/ James L. Payne
      ---------------------------             --------------------------------
                                              James L. Payne
                                              Chairman, President and
                                              Chief Executive Officer


Date:     September 19, 2002              By:  /s/ Janet F. Clark
      ---------------------------             --------------------------------
                                              Janet F. Clark
                                              Senior Vice President and
                                              Chief Financial Officer



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX




        EXHIBIT
        NUMBER                          DESCRIPTION
        -------                         -----------

               
         2.1      Agreement and Plan of Merger dated September 18, 2002 by and
                  among Athanor Resources, Inc., Athanor B.V., Nuevo Energy
                  Company, Nuevo Texas Inc., Yorktown Energy Partners III, L.P.,
                  Yorktown Energy IV, L.P., Yorktown Partners LLC, SAFIC S.A.,
                  Charles de Mestral, J. Ross Craft, Montana Oil and Gas, Ltd.,
                  David A. Badley, James S. Scott, Glenn Reed, Doug Allison and
                  Mohamed Yaich

         10.1     Registration Rights Agreement dated September 18, 2002 by and
                  among Nuevo Energy Company, Yorktown Energy Partners III,
                  L.P., Yorktown Energy IV, L.P., Yorktown Partners LLC, SAFIC
                  S.A., Charles de Mestral, J. Ross Craft, Montana Oil and Gas,
                  Ltd., David A. Badley, James S. Scott, Glenn Reed, Doug
                  Allison and Mohamed Yaich


         99.1     Press release dated September 18, 2002, announcing the
                  acquisition of Athanor Resources, Inc.






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