UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                Washington, D.C.

                                    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) December 8, 2000


                         Magellan Petroleum Corporation
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                  Delaware                 1-5507            06-0842255
                  --------                -------            ----------
        State or other jurisdiction     (Commission           (IRS Employer
              of incorporation         File Number)        Identification No.)



             149 Durham Road, Oak Park - Unit 31, Madison, CT 06443
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (203) 245-7664



         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)



<PAGE>


                                    FORM 8-K

                         MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION


Item 5.          Other Events

                 On December 8, 2000, the Company  announced a stock  repurchase
plan to purchase up to $1 million  shares of the  Company's  common stock in the
open market.

Item 7    .      Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and
                 Exhibits

(c)      Exhibits  -

(99)     Additional Exhibits

                 (a)     Press release of the registrant dated December 8, 2000.



<PAGE>





                                   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.

                                               MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION
                                                      (Registrant)



                                                     By /s/ James R. Joyce
                                           -----------------------------------
                                                   Name:    James R. Joyce
                                                   Title: President


Date:  December 8, 2000
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "CURRENT REPORT 12/8/00", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2378}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORP /DE/", "cik": "0000061398", "assigned-sic": "1311", "irs-number": "060842255", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0630"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-05507", "film-number": "785543"}, "business-address": {"street1": "149 DURHAM RD", "street2": "OAKPARK UNIT 31", "city": "MADISON", "state": "CT", "zip": "06443", "phone": "2032457664"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "149 DURHAM RD", "street2": "OAKPARK UNIT 31", "city": "MADISON", "state": "CT", "zip": "06443"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORP PANAMA", "date-changed": "19671130"}}
UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                Washington, D.C.

                                    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) December 8, 2000

                         Magellan Petroleum Corporation
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                  Delaware                 1-5507            06-0842255
                  --------                -------            ----------
        State or other jurisdiction     (Commission           (IRS Employer
              of incorporation         File Number)        Identification No.)

             149 Durham Road, Oak Park - Unit 31, Madison, CT 06443
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (203) 245-7664

         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
FORM 8-K

                         MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION

Item 5.          Other Events

                 On December 8, 2000, the Company  announced a stock  repurchase
plan to purchase up to $1 million  shares of the  Company's  common stock in the
open market.

Item 7    .      Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and
                 Exhibits

(c)      Exhibits  -

(99)     Additional Exhibits

                 (a)     Press release of the registrant dated December 8, 2000.
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.

                                               MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION
                                                      (Registrant)

                                                     By /s/ James R. Joyce
                                           -----------------------------------
                                                   Name:    James R. Joyce
                                                   Title: President

Date:  December 8, 2000