<PAGE>


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K



                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 of 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 7, 1997



                          FORTUNE PETROLEUM CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)



      Delaware                           1-12334                 95-4114732
(State or other jurisdiction           (Commission             (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                 File Number)         Identification No.)



               515 W. Greens Road, Suite 720, Houston, Texas 77067
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (281) 872-1170
       Registrant's telecopier number, including area code: (281) 872-1213



                                       N/A
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




<PAGE>


Item 5.   Other Events


         On  April  7,  1997,  Fortune  Petroleum  Corporation  was  advised  by
Consolidated  Natural  Gas  Production  Company  ("CNG"),  the  operator  of its
offshore  South  Timbalier  Block 76 well,  that CNG believes it has located the
source of the leak which caused the well to lose casing pressure and resulted in
the well having been shut in on March 24 for  repairs.  The leak was  apparently
caused by a failed  packer at about  15,000'.  CNG  expects  the  repairs  to be
completed and the well to be placed back on production within  approximately ten
days at a total cost somewhat lower than originally projected.

                                        2

<PAGE>



                                    SIGNATURE


         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  and  Exchange Act of
1934,  the  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



                                          FORTUNE PETROLEUM CORPORATION



                                          By:   /s/ Dean W. Drulias
                                          -------------------------
                                                Dean W. Drulias
                                                Executive Vice President and
                                                  General Counsel


Date:  April 7, 1997
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "S.T. BLOCK 76 WORKOVER", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2600}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FORTUNE PETROLEUM CORP", "cik": "0000038242", "assigned-sic": "1311", "irs-number": "954144732", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-12334", "film-number": "97576057"}, "business-address": {"street1": "515 WEST GREENS ROAD", "street2": "SUITE 720", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77067", "phone": "713-872-1170"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "515 WEST GREENS ROAD", "street2": "SUITE 720", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77067"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 of 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 7, 1997

                          FORTUNE PETROLEUM CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

      Delaware                           1-12334                 95-4114732
(State or other jurisdiction           (Commission             (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                 File Number)         Identification No.)

               515 W. Greens Road, Suite 720, Houston, Texas 77067
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (281) 872-1170
       Registrant's telecopier number, including area code: (281) 872-1213

                                       N/A
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5.   Other Events

         On  April  7,  1997,  Fortune  Petroleum  Corporation  was  advised  by
Consolidated  Natural  Gas  Production  Company  ("CNG"),  the  operator  of its
offshore  South  Timbalier  Block 76 well,  that CNG believes it has located the
source of the leak which caused the well to lose casing pressure and resulted in
the well having been shut in on March 24 for  repairs.  The leak was  apparently
caused by a failed  packer at about  15,000'.  CNG  expects  the  repairs  to be
completed and the well to be placed back on production within  approximately ten
days at a total cost somewhat lower than originally projected.

                                        2
SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  and  Exchange Act of
1934,  the  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                          FORTUNE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

                                          By:   /s/ Dean W. Drulias
                                          -------------------------
                                                Dean W. Drulias
                                                Executive Vice President and
                                                  General Counsel

Date:  April 7, 1997