content: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                        Washington, DC  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)       November 30, 1999
  
             __________________________________________
  
  
                              XCL LTD.
       (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
  
  
                              Delaware
           (State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
  
  
       1-10669                                   51-0305643
  (Commission File Number)                  (I.R.S. Employer
                                           Identification Number)
  
  
                     Petroleum Tower,  Suite 400
                   3639 Ambassador Caffery Parkway
                     Lafayette, Louisiana 70503
              (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  
  
                            318-989-0449
        (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
  
  
  
  
  Item 5.     Other Events.
  
       On December 1, 1999, XCL Ltd. (the "Company") issued a press
  release announcing that on November 30, 1999, the U.S. Bankruptcy
  Court for the Western District of Louisiana, in Opelousas, denied
  a Motion filed by its wholly owned subsidiary, XCL-China Ltd., to
  dismiss  the  Petition for Involuntary Bankruptcy that  had  been
  filed  against  XCL-China  by  Apache  China  LDC.   The  Court's
  decision  was limited to a determination that Apache had standing
  to  file that petition.  The Court did not rule on the merits  of
  Apache's  petition, which will be decided at a  later  date.   In
  addition,  the Court ruled that Apache's filing of  the  Petition
  for  Involuntary Bankruptcy stayed the arbitration XCL-China  had
  filed  against  Apache  China. The  Court  noted  that  it  would
  consider  a  motion  to lift that stay at the  appropriate  time,
  which,  if granted, could allow that arbitration to move forward.
  If  the  Court  does  not lift the stay, then XCL-China's  claims
  against  Apache China will be tried and decided by the Bankruptcy
  Court.
  
       The  disputes  center on operations in the  companies'  Zhao
  Dong  Block in the People's Republic of China.  Apache China  has
  asserted  a  $10 million claim against XCL-China for  cash  calls
  relating  to operations on the Block, and XCL-China has commenced
  an  arbitration proceeding challenging approximately $17  million
  in charges by Apache.
  
       XCL-China is reviewing the impact of the Court's ruling with
  its counsel.  XCL-China will continue to vigorously press its
  claims against Apache.
  
  
                             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.
  
  
                                          XCL LTD.
  
       December 1, 1999                         /s/ Lisha C. Falk
  _________________________             By:_______________________________
               Date                     Name:     Lisha C. Falk
                                        Title:   Corporate Secretary
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3214}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "XCL LTD", "cik": "0000720676", "assigned-sic": "1311", "irs-number": "510305643", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-10669", "film-number": "99767301"}, "business-address": {"street1": "PETROLEUM TOWER, SUITE 400", "street2": "3639 AMBASSADOR CAFFERY PARKWAY", "city": "LAFAYETTE", "state": "LA", "zip": "70503", "phone": "3189890449"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "PETROLEUM TOWER, SUITE 400", "street2": "3639 AMBASSADOR CAFFERY PARKWAY", "city": "LAFAYETTE", "state": "LA", "zip": "70503"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "EXPLORATION CO OF LOUISIANA INC", "date-changed": "19920703"}, {"former-conformed-name": "EXPLORATION COMPANY OF LOUISIANA INC", "date-changed": "19920128"}]}
text: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                        Washington, DC  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)       November 30, 1999
  
             __________________________________________
  
                              XCL LTD.
       (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
  
                              Delaware
           (State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
  
       1-10669                                   51-0305643
  (Commission File Number)                  (I.R.S. Employer
                                           Identification Number)
  
                     Petroleum Tower,  Suite 400
                   3639 Ambassador Caffery Parkway
                     Lafayette, Louisiana 70503
              (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  
                            318-989-0449
        (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
  
  Item 5.     Other Events.
  
       On December 1, 1999, XCL Ltd. (the "Company") issued a press
  release announcing that on November 30, 1999, the U.S. Bankruptcy
  Court for the Western District of Louisiana, in Opelousas, denied
  a Motion filed by its wholly owned subsidiary, XCL-China Ltd., to
  dismiss  the  Petition for Involuntary Bankruptcy that  had  been
  filed  against  XCL-China  by  Apache  China  LDC.   The  Court's
  decision  was limited to a determination that Apache had standing
  to  file that petition.  The Court did not rule on the merits  of
  Apache's  petition, which will be decided at a  later  date.   In
  addition,  the Court ruled that Apache's filing of  the  Petition
  for  Involuntary Bankruptcy stayed the arbitration XCL-China  had
  filed  against  Apache  China. The  Court  noted  that  it  would
  consider  a  motion  to lift that stay at the  appropriate  time,
  which,  if granted, could allow that arbitration to move forward.
  If  the  Court  does  not lift the stay, then XCL-China's  claims
  against  Apache China will be tried and decided by the Bankruptcy
  Court.
  
       The  disputes  center on operations in the  companies'  Zhao
  Dong  Block in the People's Republic of China.  Apache China  has
  asserted  a  $10 million claim against XCL-China for  cash  calls
  relating  to operations on the Block, and XCL-China has commenced
  an  arbitration proceeding challenging approximately $17  million
  in charges by Apache.
  
       XCL-China is reviewing the impact of the Court's ruling with
  its counsel.  XCL-China will continue to vigorously press its
  claims against Apache.
  
                             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.
  
                                          XCL LTD.
  
       December 1, 1999                         /s/ Lisha C. Falk
  _________________________             By:_______________________________
               Date                     Name:     Lisha C. Falk
                                        Title:   Corporate Secretary