<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<DIV style="margin-left: 0.25in; width: 7.2in;font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM 8-K</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 31, 2009</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>PARALLEL PETROLEUM CORPORATION </B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD nowrap align="center" valign="top"><B>Delaware
</B></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>0-13305
</B></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>75-1971716</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD align="center" valign="top">(State or other jurisdiction<BR>
of incorporation)
</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top">(Commission File Number)
</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B><BR>
1004 N. Big Spring, Suite 400, Midland, Texas
</B></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>&nbsp;<BR>79701</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD align="center" valign="top">(Address of principal executive offices)
</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top">(Zip Code)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: <B>(432) 684-3727</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Not Applicable</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><FONT style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)</FONT></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: </DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio --><!-- /Folio --> </DIV>
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: .25in; width: 7.20in">

<DIV align="left" style="margin-top: 10pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; background: transparent; color: #000000">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">Item&nbsp;5.02.&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><DIV style="text-align: justify">Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of
Principal Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers</DIV></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">On March&nbsp;31, 2009, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Parallel Petroleum
Corporation, or the &#147;Company&#148;, finalized its assessment of the Company&#146;s performance under its
Annual Incentive Plan, or &#147;AIP&#148;. Based upon the AIP, the following cash bonuses for 2008 calendar
year performance were awarded to each named executive officer as follows:
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head --><TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="36%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="39%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2">Cash</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2">Award</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Name</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Position</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Amount</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>


<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff; padding-top: 1px">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Larry C. Oldham</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">President and Chief Executive Officer</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">149,940</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1px"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1px">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Donald E. Tiffin</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">Chief Operating Officer</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">119,340</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1px"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff; padding-top: 1px">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Steven D. Foster</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">Chief Financial Officer</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">76,500</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1px"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1px">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Eric A. Bayley</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">Vice President of Corporate Engineering</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">58,140</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1px"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff; padding-top: 1px">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">John S. Rutherford</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">Vice President of Land and Administration</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">58,140</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body --></TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">As permitted by the AIP, the Compensation Committee reduced each executive&#146;s calculated award
amount by 10%, resulting in the cash award amounts shown above.
</DIV>

<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">For a more detailed description of the Company&#146;s AIP, see the description set forth in the
Company&#146;s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December
8, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference.
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->-2-<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: .25in; width: 7.20in">



<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">SIGNATURES
</DIV>


<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">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.
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">PARALLEL PETROLEUM CORPORATION<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ Larry C. Oldham
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Larry C. Oldham, President&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">and Chief Executive Officer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">Dated: April&nbsp;6, 2009
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->-3-<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>



</BODY>
</HTML>
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "c83548e8vk.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 14140}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "PARALLEL PETROLEUM CORP", "cik": "0000750561", "assigned-sic": "1311", "irs-number": "751971716", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-13305", "film-number": "09735261"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1004 N. BIG SPRING", "street2": "SUITE 400", "city": "MIDLAND", "state": "TX", "zip": "79701", "phone": "9156843727"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1004 N. BIG SPRING", "street2": "SUITE 400", "city": "MIDLAND", "state": "TX", "zip": "79701"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "PARALLEL PETROLEUM CORP PLLL", "date-changed": "20040408"}, {"former-conformed-name": "PARALLEL PETROLEUM CORP /DE/", "date-changed": "19920703"}]}
Form 8-K
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): March 31, 2009
PARALLEL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
0-13305
75-1971716
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
1004 N. Big Spring, Suite 400, Midland, Texas
79701
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(432) 684-3727
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02.
Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of
Principal Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
On March 31, 2009, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Parallel Petroleum
Corporation, or the "Company", finalized its assessment of the Company's performance under its
Annual Incentive Plan, or "AIP". Based upon the AIP, the following cash bonuses for 2008 calendar
year performance were awarded to each named executive officer as follows:
Cash
Award
Name
Position
Amount
Larry C. Oldham
President and Chief Executive Officer
$
149,940
Donald E. Tiffin
Chief Operating Officer
$
119,340
Steven D. Foster
Chief Financial Officer
$
76,500
Eric A. Bayley
Vice President of Corporate Engineering
$
58,140
John S. Rutherford
Vice President of Land and Administration
$
58,140
As permitted by the AIP, the Compensation Committee reduced each executive's calculated award
amount by 10%, resulting in the cash award amounts shown above.
For a more detailed description of the Company's AIP, see the description set forth in the
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December
8, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference.
-2-
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.
PARALLEL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Larry C. Oldham
Larry C. Oldham, President
and Chief Executive Officer
Dated: April 6, 2009
-3-