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) July 10, 2003


                         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.)


                     P.O. Box 1146, Madison, CT 06443-1146
               ---------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


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


                                 Not Applicable
         --------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)



<PAGE>


                                    FORM 8-K

                         MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION


Item 5.          Other Events

         Magellan Petroleum Corporation (NASDAQ: MPET) said that it has agreed
to acquire 1.2 million shares of its majority-held subsidiary, Magellan
Petroleum Australia Limited (MPAL), in exchange for 1.3 million shares of the
Company's common stock. The MPAL shares will be acquired from Sagasco Amadeus
Pty Limited, a subsidiary of Sydney-based Origin Energy Limited, and will
increase the Company's holdings in MPAL from 52.4% to 55%. The completion of the
agreement is subject to the receipt of certain governmental approvals in
Australia.

         Statements in this report that are not historical in nature are
intended to be - and are hereby identified as "forward-looking statements" for
purposes of the "Safe Harbor Statement" under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. The Company cautions readers that forward looking statements
are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those indicated in the forward looking statements.
Among these risks and uncertainties are uncertainties as to the costs, length
and outcome of the Kotaneelee litigation, and any settlements related thereto,
pricing and production levels from the properties in which the Company has
interests, and the extent of the recoverable reserves at those properties. The
Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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

(c)      Exhibits

(99)     Additional Exhibits

         (a) Press release of the registrant dated July 11, 2003.



<PAGE>


                                    FORM 8-K

                         MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION



                                   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:  July 11, 2003
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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) July 10, 2003

                         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.)

                     P.O. Box 1146, Madison, CT 06443-1146
               ---------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

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

                                 Not Applicable
         --------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
FORM 8-K

                         MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION

Item 5.          Other Events

         Magellan Petroleum Corporation (NASDAQ: MPET) said that it has agreed
to acquire 1.2 million shares of its majority-held subsidiary, Magellan
Petroleum Australia Limited (MPAL), in exchange for 1.3 million shares of the
Company's common stock. The MPAL shares will be acquired from Sagasco Amadeus
Pty Limited, a subsidiary of Sydney-based Origin Energy Limited, and will
increase the Company's holdings in MPAL from 52.4% to 55%. The completion of the
agreement is subject to the receipt of certain governmental approvals in
Australia.

         Statements in this report that are not historical in nature are
intended to be - and are hereby identified as "forward-looking statements" for
purposes of the "Safe Harbor Statement" under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. The Company cautions readers that forward looking statements
are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those indicated in the forward looking statements.
Among these risks and uncertainties are uncertainties as to the costs, length
and outcome of the Kotaneelee litigation, and any settlements related thereto,
pricing and production levels from the properties in which the Company has
interests, and the extent of the recoverable reserves at those properties. The
Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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

(c)      Exhibits

(99)     Additional Exhibits

         (a) Press release of the registrant dated July 11, 2003.
FORM 8-K

                         MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION

                                   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:  July 11, 2003