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            <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">As filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2008 Registration
No. 333-_________</font></div>
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          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Washington,
D.C. 20549</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">FORM
S-8</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">ABRAXAS
PETROLEUM CORPORATION</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Exact
name of issuer as specified in its charter)</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
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                  <td valign="top" width="25%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">NEVADA</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td valign="top" width="25%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
                  <td valign="top" width="25%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">74-2584033</font></div>
                  </td>
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                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(State
      or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td valign="top" width="25%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
                  <td valign="top" width="25%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(I.R.S.
      Employer Identification Number)</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">500
North Loop 1604 East, Suite 100, San Antonio, Texas 78232</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Address
of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">ABRAXAS
PETROLEUM CORPORATION 2005 EMPLOYEE</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">LONG-TERM
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">ABRAXAS
PETROLEUM CORPORATION 401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Full
title of the plans)</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Robert
L. G. Watson</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Chairman
of the Board, President</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">and
Chief Executive Officer</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">ABRAXAS
PETROLEUM CORPORATION</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">500 North
Loop 1604 East, Suite 100</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">San
Antonio, Texas 78232</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(210)
490-4788</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Name,
address and telephone number,</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">including
area code, of agent for service)</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See
definition of &#8220;large accelerated filer&#8221;, &#8220;accelerated filer&#8221; and &#8220;smaller
reporting company&#8221; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.&#160;&#160;(Check
One)</font></div>
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                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Large accelerated
      filer&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">o</font></font><a name="check1" /></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Accelerated
      filer&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">x</font></font><a name="check2" /></font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Non-accelerated filer<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">o</font>&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Smaller reporting company<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">o</font></font></font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;(Do
not mark if a smaller reporting company)</font></div>
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          <div>
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          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
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                  <td colspan="5" valign="top" width="80%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">CALCULATION
      OF REGISTRATION FEE</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <td valign="top" width="16%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Title
      of Securities <font style="DISPLAY: inline">To Be
      Registered</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td valign="top" width="16%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Amount
      to be <font style="DISPLAY: inline">registered</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td valign="bottom" width="16%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Proposed
      maximum offering price</font></div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">per share</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td valign="bottom" width="16%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Proposed
      maximum aggregate offering</font></div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">price</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td valign="bottom" width="17%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Amount
      of <font style="DISPLAY: inline">registration
fee</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <td valign="top" width="16%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Common
      Stock, par value $.01 per share</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td valign="top" width="16%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">1,200,000
      shares (1)</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td valign="top" width="16%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$
      3.17 (2)</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td valign="top" width="16%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$3,804,000
      (2)</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td valign="top" width="17%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$149.49</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
          <div>
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                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(1)</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
      to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
      Registration Statement registers an indeterminate number of plan interests
      to be offered pursuant to the employee benefit plans described
      herein.&#160;&#160;In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the
      Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement shall also
      cover any additional shares of the Company&#8217;s common stock that become
      issuable under the employee benefit plans by reason of any stock dividend,
      stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected
      without the Company&#8217;s receipt of consideration that results in an increase
      in the number of the Company&#8217;s outstanding shares of common
      stock.</font></div>
                  </td>
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            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
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                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(2)</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">In
      accordance with Rule 457(h), computed upon the basis of the prices
      reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on September 22, 2008. This price is
      used solely for the purpose of calculating the registration
      fee.</font></div>
                  </td>
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          </div><br>
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</font></div>
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              <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">2</font></div>
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                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
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          <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Explanatory
Note:</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">This
Registration Statement on Form S-8 is being filed with respect to the Abraxas
Petroleum Corporation 2005 Employee Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan, as amended
(the &#8220;2005 Plan&#8221;), and the Abraxas Petroleum Corporation 401(k) Profit Sharing
Plan (the &#8220;401(k) Plan&#8221;) for the purpose of registering an additional 900,000
shares of common stock issuable under the 2005 Plan and 300,000 shares of common
stock issuable under the 401(k) Plan.&#160;&#160;The additional shares for the
2005 Plan were authorized for issuance under the 2005 Plan as a result of an
amendment to the 2005 Plan that was approved by our stockholders at the annual
meeting of stockholders held on May 21, 2008.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We
previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;)
a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-3135032 and 333-135032-1) on
June 15, 2006 that registered 2,400,000 shares of common stock of which
1,200,000 shares were issuable under the 2005 Plan, 900,000 shares were issuable
under the Abraxas Petroleum Corporation 2005 Non-Employee Directors Long-Term
Equity Incentive Plan and 300,000 shares were issuable under the 401(k)
Plan.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Item
3.&#160;&#160;Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
documents listed in (a) through (c) below are incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, and all documents subsequently filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the &#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;), prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all of the shares of Common Stock
have been sold or which deregisters any Common Stock then remaining unsold,
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(a)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;The
Registrant&#8217;s latest annual report filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act that contains audited financial statements for the Registrant&#8217;s
latest fiscal year for which such statements have been filed:</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
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                  <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Annual
      Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
  2007;</font></div>
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                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
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                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Annual
      Report on Form 10-K/A Number 1 for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed
      with the Commission on August 11, 2008;
and</font></div>
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          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Annual
      Report on Form 10-K/A Number 2 for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed
      with the Commission on August 21,
2008.</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(b)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;All
other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since
the end of the fiscal year covered by the document referred to in (a)
above:</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">our
      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended March 31, 2008 filed
      with the Commission on May 12,
2008;</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">our
      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A Number 1 for the Quarter ended March 31,
      2008 filed with the Commission on August 11,
  2008;</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">our
      Notification on Form 12b-25 filed with the Commission on August 11,
      2008;</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">our
      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended June 30, 2008 filed
      with the Commission on August 12,
2008;</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">our
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February 6,
      2008;</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">our
      Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the Commission on April 16,
      2008;</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">our
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 14,
      2008;</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">our
      Current Report on Form 8-K/A Number 2 filed with the Commission on
      August&#160;11,&#160;2008; and</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">our
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 18,
      2008.</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div><br>
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              <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
            </div>
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              <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">3</font></div>
              <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
              </div>
            </div>
            <div id="HDR">
              <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
            </div>
          </div><br>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(c)</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
      Abraxas Petroleum Corporation 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan&#8217;s Annual Report
      on Form 11-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the
      Commission on June 30, 2008.</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(d)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;See
&#8220;Description of Registrant&#8217;s Securities to be Registered&#8221; in Registration
Statement No. 34-1-16071 on Form 8-A-12B filed on July 24, 2008 and incorporated
herein by reference.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">Notwithstanding the foregoing, information that we elect
to furnish, but not file, or have furnished, but not filed, with the
</font>Commission<font style="DISPLAY: inline"> in accordance </font>with<font style="DISPLAY: inline"> Commission rules and regulations is not incorporated
into this Registration Statement and does not constitute a part
hereof.</font></font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">All
documents filed by us pursuant to Sections&#160;13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (excluding any information that we elect to furnish, but not file,
or furnish, but do not file, with the Commission in accordance with Commission
rules and regulations) subsequent to the date of this filing and prior to the
termination of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated in this
prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such document.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for all purposes to the extent that a
statement contained in this prospectus, or in any other subsequently filed
document which is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference,
modifies or supersedes such statement.&#160;&#160;Any statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this prospectus.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Item
4.&#160;&#160;Description of Securities.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Not
applicable.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Item
5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">None.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Item
6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Our
articles of incorporation contain a provision that eliminates the personal
monetary liability of directors and officers to us and our stockholders for a
breach of fiduciary duties to the extent currently allowed under the Nevada
GCL.&#160;&#160;To the extent certain claims against directors or officers are
limited to equitable remedies, this provision of our articles of incorporation
may reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation and may discourage
stockholders or management from initiating litigation against directors or
officers for breach of their duty of care.&#160;&#160;Additionally, equitable
remedies may not be effective in many situations.&#160;&#160;If a stockholder&#8217;s
only remedy is to enjoin the completion of the Board of Director&#8217;s action, this
remedy would be ineffective if the stockholder did not become aware of a
transaction or event until after it had been completed.&#160;&#160;In such a
situation, it is possible that we and our stockholders would have no effective
remedy against the directors or officers.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Liability
for monetary damages has not been eliminated for acts or omissions which involve
intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law or payment of an
improper dividend in violation of section 78.300 of the Nevada
Statute.&#160;&#160;The limitation of liability also does not eliminate or limit
director liability arising in connection with causes of action brought under the
Federal securities laws.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
Nevada GCL permits a corporation to indemnify certain persons, including
officers and directors, who are (or are threatened to be made) parties against
all expenses (including attorneys&#8217; fees) actually and reasonably incurred by, or
imposed upon, him in connection with the defense by reason of his being or
having been a director or officer if he acted in good faith and in a manner
which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, except where he has been
adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction (and after exhaustion of all
appeals) to be liable for gross negligence or willful misconduct in the
performance of duty.&#160;&#160;Our bylaws provide indemnification to the same
extent allowed pursuant to the foregoing provisions of the Nevada
GCL.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Nevada
corporations also are authorized to obtain insurance to protect officers and
directors from certain liabilities, including liabilities against which the
corporation cannot indemnify its directors and officers.&#160;&#160;We</font>
<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">currently
have a directors&#8217; and officers&#8217; liability insurance policy in effect providing
$10.0 million in coverage and an additional $1.0 million in coverage for certain
employment related claims.</font></div><br>
          <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
            <div id="FTR">
              <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
            </div>
            <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
              <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4</font></div>
              <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
              </div>
            </div>
            <div id="HDR">
              <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
            </div>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We have
entered into indemnity agreements with each of our directors and
officers.&#160;&#160;These agreements provide for indemnification to the extent
permitted by the Nevada GCL.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Item
7.&#160;&#160;Exemption from Registration Claimed.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Not
applicable.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Item
8. Exhibits.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 37.4pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">3.1</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Articles
      of Incorporation of Abraxas.&#160;&#160;(Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Abraxas&#8217;
      Registration Statement on Form S-4, No. 33-36565 (the &#8220;S-4 Registration
      Statement&#8221;)).</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 37.4pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">3.2</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Articles
      of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Abraxas dated October 22,
      1990.&#160;&#160;(Filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the S-4 Registration
      Statement).</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 37.4pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">3.3</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Articles
      of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Abraxas dated December
      18, 1990.&#160;&#160;(Filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the S-4 Registration
      Statement).</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 37.4pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">3.4</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Articles
      of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Abraxas dated June 8,
      1995.&#160;&#160;(Filed as Exhibit 3.4 to Abraxas&#8217; Registration Statement
      on Form S-3, No. 333-00398 (the &#8220;S-3 Registration
      Statement&#8221;)).</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 37.4pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">3.5</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Articles
      of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Abraxas dated as of
      August 12, 2000.&#160;&#160;(Filed as Exhibit 3.5 to Abraxas&#8217; Annual
      Report on Form 10-K filed April 2,
2001).</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 37.4pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">3.6</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Amended
      and Restated Bylaws of Abraxas.&#160;&#160;(Filed as Exhibit 3.6 to
      Abraxas&#8217; Annual Report on Form 10-K filed April 5,
  2002).</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 37.4pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.1</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Specimen
      Common Stock Certificate of Abraxas.&#160;&#160;(Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to
      the S-4 Registration Statement).</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 37.4pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.2</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Specimen
      Preferred Stock Certificate of Abraxas.&#160;&#160;(Filed as Exhibit 4.2
      to Abraxas&#8217; Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 31,
      1995).</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 37.4pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">5.1*</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Opinion
      of Jackson Walker L.L.P.</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 37.4pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">23.1*</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Consent
      of BDO Seidman, LLP.</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 37.4pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">23.2*</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Consent
      of Jackson Walker L.L.P. (Filed with Exhibit
  5.1).</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 37.4pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">23.3*</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Consent
      of DeGolyer and MacNaughton</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 37.4pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">23.4*</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Consent
      of Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP.</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 37.45pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">23.5*</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Consent
      of Ryder Scott Company, L.P.</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 18.7pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">______________________</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">*</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Filed
      herewith</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
Registrant undertakes that it will submit or has submitted the plan and any
amendments thereto to the Internal Revenue Service (&#8220;IRS&#8221;) in a timely manner
and has made or will make all changes required by the IRS in order to qualify
the plan.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Item
9.&#160;&#160;Undertakings.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
Registrant undertakes the following:</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
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                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">1.</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">To
      file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
      post-effective amendment to this Registration
  Statement:</font></div>
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                </tr>
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          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div><br>
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            <div id="FTR">
              <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
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            <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
              <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">5</font></div>
              <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
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</font></div>
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          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(i)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;To
include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the &#8220;Securities Act&#8221;).</font></div>
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                <tr valign="top">
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                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
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                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(ii)</font></div>
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                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">To
      reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective
      date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective
      amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
      fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration
      Statement.&#160;&#160;Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
      decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
      securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
      deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
      may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
      pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
      price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering
      price set forth in the &#8220;Calculation of Registration Fee&#8221; table in the
      effective Registration Statement;</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
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          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
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                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 65.45pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
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                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(iii)</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">To
      include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution
      not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material
      change to such information in the Registration
  Statement.</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
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          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Provided,
however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply
if the registration statement is on Form S-8 and the information required to be
included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the &#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;) that are incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">2.</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">That,
      for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
      each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
      registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
      offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
      <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-STYLE: italic">bona fide</font>
      offering thereof.</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">3.</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">To
      remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
      securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
      offering.</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
      undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
      any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant&#8217;s
      annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange
      Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan&#8217;s
      annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is
      incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to
      be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
      therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
      to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">5.</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Insofar
      as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
      permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant
      pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has
      been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
      such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
      Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim
      for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
      the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
      controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
      action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
      controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
      Registrant will, unless in the opinion of counsel the matter has been
      settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
      jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against
      public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
      the final adjudication of such
issue.</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div><br>
          <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
            <div id="FTR">
              <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
            </div>
            <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
              <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">6</font></div>
              <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
              </div>
            </div>
            <div id="HDR">
              <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
            </div>
          </div><br>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 216pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">SIGNATURES</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that
it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in San Antonio,
Texas September 23, 2008.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 207pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">ABRAXAS
PETROLEUM CORPORATION</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 207pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">By:&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">&#160;&#160;/s/ Robert L. G.
Watson</font></font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 225pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Robert
L.G. Watson,</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 225pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Chairman
of the Board, President and</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 225pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Principal
Executive Officer</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date
indicated. Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and
appoints Robert L.G. Watson and Chris E. Williford his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution
for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to
file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorney-in-fact
and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite and necessary in connection with such matters and hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact and agent or his
substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
                <tr>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">Signature</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="33%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">Name and Title</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="18%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">Date</font></font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">/s/ Robert L. G.
      Watson</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Robert
      L. G. Watson</font></div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="33%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 22.65pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Chairman
      of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive
      Officer) and Director</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="18%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">September
      23, 2008</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">/s/ Chris E.
      Williford</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Chris
      E. Williford</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="33%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 22.65pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Executive
      Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer (Principal
      Financial and Accounting Officer)</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="18%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">September
      23, 2008</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">/s/ Craig S. Bartlett,
      Jr.</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Craig
      S. Bartlett, Jr.</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td valign="top" width="33%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 22.65pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Director</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="18%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">September
      23, 2008</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <td valign="top" width="30%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">/s/ Franklin A.
      Burke</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Franklin
      A. Burke</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="33%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 22.65pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Director</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="18%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">September
      23, 2008</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <td valign="top" width="30%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">/s/ Harold D.
      Carter</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Harold
      D. Carter</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="33%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 22.65pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Director</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="18%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">September
      23, 2008</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">/s/ Ralph F.
      Cox</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
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                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="33%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 22.65pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Director</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="18%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">September
      23, 2008</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <td valign="top" width="30%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">/s/ Dennis E.
      Logue</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Dennis
      E. Logue</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="33%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 22.65pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Director</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="18%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">September
      23, 2008</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">/s/ Paul A. Powell,
      Jr.</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
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      A. Powell, Jr.</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="33%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 22.65pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Director</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td align="left" valign="top" width="18%">
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
                    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">September
      23, 2008</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div><br>
          <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
            <div id="FTR">
              <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
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            <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
              <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">7</font></div>
              <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
              </div>
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            <div id="HDR">
              <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
</font></div>
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INDEX</font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Exhibit
No.</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Description</font></font></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 9.35pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">5.1</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Opinion
      of Jackson Walker L.L.P. as to the legality of the Common Stock being
      registered (Filed herewith)</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 9.35pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">23.1</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Consent
      of BDO Seidman, LLP (Filed
herewith)</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 9.35pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">23.2</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Consent
      of Jackson Walker L.L.P. (Found in Exhibit
5.1)</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 9.35pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">23.3</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Consent
      of DeGolyer and MacNaughton</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
                  <td style="WIDTH: 9.35pt">
                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">23.4</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Consent
      of Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
          </div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
          <div>
            <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
                <tr valign="top">
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                    <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
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                    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">23.5</font></div>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Consent
      of Ryder Scott Company, L.P.</font></div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
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                <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
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[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "forms8sept2008.htm", "description": "FORM S-8 9/23/2008", "secsgml_size_bytes": 116676}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ABRAXAS PETROLEUM CORP", "cik": "0000867665", "assigned-sic": "1311", "irs-number": "742584033", "state-of-incorporation": "NV", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-153635", "film-number": "081084971"}, "business-address": {"street1": "500 N LOOP 1604 E STE 100", "city": "SAN ANTONIO", "state": "TX", "zip": "78232", "phone": "2104904788"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "500 N LOOP 1604 EAST STE 100", "city": "SAN ANTONIO", "state": "TX", "zip": "78232"}}
forms8sept2008.htm
As filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2008 Registration
No. 333-_________
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
S-8
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ABRAXAS
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
(Exact
name of issuer as specified in its charter)
NEVADA
74-2584033
(State
      or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S.
      Employer Identification Number)
500
North Loop 1604 East, Suite 100, San Antonio, Texas 78232
(Address
of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
ABRAXAS
PETROLEUM CORPORATION 2005 EMPLOYEE
LONG-TERM
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
ABRAXAS
PETROLEUM CORPORATION 401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN
(Full
title of the plans)
Robert
L. G. Watson
Chairman
of the Board, President
and
Chief Executive Officer
ABRAXAS
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
500 North
Loop 1604 East, Suite 100
San
Antonio, Texas 78232
(210)
490-4788
(Name,
address and telephone number,
including
area code, of agent for service)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See
definition of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer" and "smaller
reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check
One)
Large accelerated
      filer
o
Accelerated
      filer
x
Non-accelerated filer
o
Smaller reporting company
o
(Do
not mark if a smaller reporting company)
CALCULATION
      OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title
      of Securities
To Be
      Registered
Amount
      to be
registered
Proposed
      maximum offering price
per share
Proposed
      maximum aggregate offering
price
Amount
      of
registration
fee
Common
      Stock, par value $.01 per share
1,200,000
      shares (1)
$
      3.17 (2)
$3,804,000
      (2)
$149.49
(1)
Pursuant
      to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
      Registration Statement registers an indeterminate number of plan interests
      to be offered pursuant to the employee benefit plans described
      herein.  In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the
      Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement shall also
      cover any additional shares of the Company's common stock that become
      issuable under the employee benefit plans by reason of any stock dividend,
      stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected
      without the Company's receipt of consideration that results in an increase
      in the number of the Company's outstanding shares of common
      stock.
(2)
In
      accordance with Rule 457(h), computed upon the basis of the prices
      reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on September 22, 2008. This price is
      used solely for the purpose of calculating the registration
      fee.
2
Explanatory
Note:
This
Registration Statement on Form S-8 is being filed with respect to the Abraxas
Petroleum Corporation 2005 Employee Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan, as amended
(the "2005 Plan"), and the Abraxas Petroleum Corporation 401(k) Profit Sharing
Plan (the "401(k) Plan") for the purpose of registering an additional 900,000
shares of common stock issuable under the 2005 Plan and 300,000 shares of common
stock issuable under the 401(k) Plan.  The additional shares for the
2005 Plan were authorized for issuance under the 2005 Plan as a result of an
amendment to the 2005 Plan that was approved by our stockholders at the annual
meeting of stockholders held on May 21, 2008.
We
previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-3135032 and 333-135032-1) on
June 15, 2006 that registered 2,400,000 shares of common stock of which
1,200,000 shares were issuable under the 2005 Plan, 900,000 shares were issuable
under the Abraxas Petroleum Corporation 2005 Non-Employee Directors Long-Term
Equity Incentive Plan and 300,000 shares were issuable under the 401(k)
Plan.
Item
3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The
documents listed in (a) through (c) below are incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, and all documents subsequently filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all of the shares of Common Stock
have been sold or which deregisters any Common Stock then remaining unsold,
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
(a)           The
Registrant's latest annual report filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act that contains audited financial statements for the Registrant's
latest fiscal year for which such statements have been filed:
·
Annual
      Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
  2007;
·
Annual
      Report on Form 10-K/A Number 1 for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed
      with the Commission on August 11, 2008;
and
·
Annual
      Report on Form 10-K/A Number 2 for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed
      with the Commission on August 21,
2008.
(b)           All
other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since
the end of the fiscal year covered by the document referred to in (a)
above:
·
our
      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended March 31, 2008 filed
      with the Commission on May 12,
2008;
·
our
      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A Number 1 for the Quarter ended March 31,
      2008 filed with the Commission on August 11,
  2008;
·
our
      Notification on Form 12b-25 filed with the Commission on August 11,
      2008;
·
our
      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended June 30, 2008 filed
      with the Commission on August 12,
2008;
·
our
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February 6,
      2008;
·
our
      Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the Commission on April 16,
      2008;
·
our
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 14,
      2008;
·
our
      Current Report on Form 8-K/A Number 2 filed with the Commission on
      August 11, 2008; and
·
our
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 18,
      2008.
3
(c)
The
      Abraxas Petroleum Corporation 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan's Annual Report
      on Form 11-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the
      Commission on June 30, 2008.
(d)           See
"Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered" in Registration
Statement No. 34-1-16071 on Form 8-A-12B filed on July 24, 2008 and incorporated
herein by reference.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, information that we elect
to furnish, but not file, or have furnished, but not filed, with the
Commission
in accordance
with
Commission rules and regulations is not incorporated
into this Registration Statement and does not constitute a part
hereof.
All
documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (excluding any information that we elect to furnish, but not file,
or furnish, but do not file, with the Commission in accordance with Commission
rules and regulations) subsequent to the date of this filing and prior to the
termination of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated in this
prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such document.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for all purposes to the extent that a
statement contained in this prospectus, or in any other subsequently filed
document which is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference,
modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this prospectus.
Item
4.  Description of Securities.
Not
applicable.
Item
5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
None.
Item
6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Our
articles of incorporation contain a provision that eliminates the personal
monetary liability of directors and officers to us and our stockholders for a
breach of fiduciary duties to the extent currently allowed under the Nevada
GCL.  To the extent certain claims against directors or officers are
limited to equitable remedies, this provision of our articles of incorporation
may reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation and may discourage
stockholders or management from initiating litigation against directors or
officers for breach of their duty of care.  Additionally, equitable
remedies may not be effective in many situations.  If a stockholder's
only remedy is to enjoin the completion of the Board of Director's action, this
remedy would be ineffective if the stockholder did not become aware of a
transaction or event until after it had been completed.  In such a
situation, it is possible that we and our stockholders would have no effective
remedy against the directors or officers.
Liability
for monetary damages has not been eliminated for acts or omissions which involve
intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law or payment of an
improper dividend in violation of section 78.300 of the Nevada
Statute.  The limitation of liability also does not eliminate or limit
director liability arising in connection with causes of action brought under the
Federal securities laws.
The
Nevada GCL permits a corporation to indemnify certain persons, including
officers and directors, who are (or are threatened to be made) parties against
all expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by, or
imposed upon, him in connection with the defense by reason of his being or
having been a director or officer if he acted in good faith and in a manner
which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, except where he has been
adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction (and after exhaustion of all
appeals) to be liable for gross negligence or willful misconduct in the
performance of duty.  Our bylaws provide indemnification to the same
extent allowed pursuant to the foregoing provisions of the Nevada
GCL.
Nevada
corporations also are authorized to obtain insurance to protect officers and
directors from certain liabilities, including liabilities against which the
corporation cannot indemnify its directors and officers.  We
currently
have a directors' and officers' liability insurance policy in effect providing
$10.0 million in coverage and an additional $1.0 million in coverage for certain
employment related claims.
4
We have
entered into indemnity agreements with each of our directors and
officers.  These agreements provide for indemnification to the extent
permitted by the Nevada GCL.
Item
7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not
applicable.
Item
8. Exhibits.
3.1
Articles
      of Incorporation of Abraxas.  (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Abraxas'
      Registration Statement on Form S-4, No. 33-36565 (the "S-4 Registration
      Statement")).
3.2
Articles
      of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Abraxas dated October 22,
      1990.  (Filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the S-4 Registration
      Statement).
3.3
Articles
      of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Abraxas dated December
      18, 1990.  (Filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the S-4 Registration
      Statement).
3.4
Articles
      of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Abraxas dated June 8,
      1995.  (Filed as Exhibit 3.4 to Abraxas' Registration Statement
      on Form S-3, No. 333-00398 (the "S-3 Registration
      Statement")).
3.5
Articles
      of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Abraxas dated as of
      August 12, 2000.  (Filed as Exhibit 3.5 to Abraxas' Annual
      Report on Form 10-K filed April 2,
2001).
3.6
Amended
      and Restated Bylaws of Abraxas.  (Filed as Exhibit 3.6 to
      Abraxas' Annual Report on Form 10-K filed April 5,
  2002).
4.1
Specimen
      Common Stock Certificate of Abraxas.  (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to
      the S-4 Registration Statement).
4.2
Specimen
      Preferred Stock Certificate of Abraxas.  (Filed as Exhibit 4.2
      to Abraxas' Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 31,
      1995).
5.1*
Opinion
      of Jackson Walker L.L.P.
23.1*
Consent
      of BDO Seidman, LLP.
23.2*
Consent
      of Jackson Walker L.L.P. (Filed with Exhibit
  5.1).
23.3*
Consent
      of DeGolyer and MacNaughton
23.4*
Consent
      of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.5*
Consent
      of Ryder Scott Company, L.P.
______________________
*
Filed
      herewith
The
Registrant undertakes that it will submit or has submitted the plan and any
amendments thereto to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") in a timely manner
and has made or will make all changes required by the IRS in order to qualify
the plan.
Item
9.  Undertakings.
The
Registrant undertakes the following:
1.
To
      file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
      post-effective amendment to this Registration
  Statement:
5
(i)           To
include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
(ii)
To
      reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective
      date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective
      amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
      fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration
      Statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
      decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
      securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
      deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
      may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
      pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
      price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering
      price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
      effective Registration Statement;
(iii)
To
      include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution
      not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material
      change to such information in the Registration
  Statement.
Provided,
however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply
if the registration statement is on Form S-8 and the information required to be
included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act") that are incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement.
2.
That,
      for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
      each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
      registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
      offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
3.
To
      remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
      securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
      offering.
4.
The
      undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
      any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant's
      annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange
      Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
      annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is
      incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to
      be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
      therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
      to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
5.
Insofar
      as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
      permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant
      pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has
      been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
      such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
      Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim
      for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
      the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
      controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
      action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
      controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
      Registrant will, unless in the opinion of counsel the matter has been
      settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
      jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against
      public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
      the final adjudication of such
issue.
6
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that
it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in San Antonio,
Texas September 23, 2008.
ABRAXAS
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Robert L. G.
Watson
Robert
L.G. Watson,
Chairman
of the Board, President and
Principal
Executive Officer
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date
indicated. Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and
appoints Robert L.G. Watson and Chris E. Williford his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution
for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to
file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorney-in-fact
and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite and necessary in connection with such matters and hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact and agent or his
substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Signature
Name and Title
Date
/s/ Robert L. G.
      Watson
Robert
      L. G. Watson
Chairman
      of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive
      Officer) and Director
September
      23, 2008
/s/ Chris E.
      Williford
Chris
      E. Williford
Executive
      Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer (Principal
      Financial and Accounting Officer)
September
      23, 2008
/s/ Craig S. Bartlett,
      Jr.
Craig
      S. Bartlett, Jr.
Director
September
      23, 2008
/s/ Franklin A.
      Burke
Franklin
      A. Burke
Director
September
      23, 2008
/s/ Harold D.
      Carter
Harold
      D. Carter
Director
September
      23, 2008
/s/ Ralph F.
      Cox
Ralph
      F. Cox
Director
September
      23, 2008
/s/ Dennis E.
      Logue
Dennis
      E. Logue
Director
September
      23, 2008
/s/ Paul A. Powell,
      Jr.
Paul
      A. Powell, Jr.
Director
September
      23, 2008
7
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
No.
Description
5.1
Opinion
      of Jackson Walker L.L.P. as to the legality of the Common Stock being
      registered (Filed herewith)
23.1
Consent
      of BDO Seidman, LLP (Filed
herewith)
23.2
Consent
      of Jackson Walker L.L.P. (Found in Exhibit
5.1)
23.3
Consent
      of DeGolyer and MacNaughton
23.4
Consent
      of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.5
Consent
      of Ryder Scott Company, L.P.
8