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) July 28, 1999


                              THE COASTAL CORPORATION
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             DELAWARE                  1-7176                74-1734212
   (State or other jurisdiction      (Commission           (IRS Employer
        of incorporation)            File Number)        Identification No.)

                                   Coastal Tower
                                Nine Greenway Plaza
                             Houston, Texas 77046-0995
                (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
         Registrant's telephone number, including area code (713) 877-1400

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


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

          (c)  Exhibits

                   The following exhibit is filed with reference to the
                   Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No.
                   333-81095) of The Coastal Corporation:

                   8     Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
                         regarding certain tax matters


                                   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 hereunto duly authorized.


                                     THE COASTAL CORPORATION


 Date:  July 28, 1999                By:  /s/ AUSTIN M. O'TOOLE
                                        -----------------------------
                                        Name:  Austin M. O'Toole
                                        Title: Senior Vice President
                                                 and Secretary



                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


      Exhibit No.                Description
      -----------                -----------

          8        Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
                   regarding certain tax matters
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2450}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "COASTAL CORP", "cik": "0000021267", "assigned-sic": "4922", "irs-number": "741734212", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-07176", "film-number": "99674083"}, "business-address": {"street1": "COASTAL TWR", "street2": "NINE GREENWAY PLZ", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77046", "phone": "7138771400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "NINE GREENWAY PLAZA", "street2": "NINE GREENWAY PLAZA", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77046-0995"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "COASTAL STATES GAS CORP", "date-changed": "19800113"}}
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) July 28, 1999

                              THE COASTAL CORPORATION
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             DELAWARE                  1-7176                74-1734212
   (State or other jurisdiction      (Commission           (IRS Employer
        of incorporation)            File Number)        Identification No.)

                                   Coastal Tower
                                Nine Greenway Plaza
                             Houston, Texas 77046-0995
                (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
         Registrant's telephone number, including area code (713) 877-1400

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

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

          (c)  Exhibits

                   The following exhibit is filed with reference to the
                   Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No.
                   333-81095) of The Coastal Corporation:

                   8     Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
                         regarding certain tax matters

                                   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 hereunto duly authorized.

                                     THE COASTAL CORPORATION

 Date:  July 28, 1999                By:  /s/ AUSTIN M. O'TOOLE
                                        -----------------------------
                                        Name:  Austin M. O'Toole
                                        Title: Senior Vice President
                                                 and Secretary

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

      Exhibit No.                Description
      -----------                -----------

          8        Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
                   regarding certain tax matters