As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 2000

                     Registration Statement No. 333-_______
      --------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                   -----------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                   -----------

                      FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
                      -------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


              DELAWARE                                 95-4114732
   (State or other jurisdiction of        (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   incorporation or organization)

                                                   TYRONE J. FAIRBANKS
                                          FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
   515 WEST GREENS ROAD, SUITE 720           515 WEST GREENS ROAD, SUITE 720
         HOUSTON, TEXAS 77067                      HOUSTON, TEXAS 77067
  (Address, including zip code, and         (Name, address, including zip code,
telephone number, including area code,     and telephone number, including area
of registrant's principal executive               code, of agent for service)
              offices)


          FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                      FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
                DIRECTORS AND CONSULTANTS STOCK COMPENSATION PLAN
                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLANS)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Title of Securities       Amount           Proposed Maximum       Proposed Maximum          Amount of
       to be                to be            Offering Price       Aggregate Offering       Registration
    Registered          Registered(1)         Per Share (2)             Price                   Fee
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                     <C>                     <C>                   <C>                      <C>
 Common Stock           750,000 shares          $1.16 (3)             $870,000                 $242
$.01 par value
 Common Stock            60,000 shares          $2.4375               $146,250                  $41
$.01 par value
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1)  In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this
     registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to
     be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plans described herein.

(2)  Estimated  solely for the  purpose of  calculating  the amount of
     the registration fee.

(3)  Pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the General Rules and Regulations under the
     Securities Act of 1933 as amended, the proposed offering price per share
     for the 1998 Stock Option Plan shares is based upon the average price at
     which options may be exercised.


<PAGE>


                      FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
                             1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                            GENERAL PLAN DESCRIPTION
                                   April 2000


PLAN INFORMATION

      The plan gives key employees, officers and directors of the Company the
opportunity to take part in the growth of the Company through the purchase of
common stock pursuant to stock options. The purpose of the plan is to provide an
incentive to such individuals to increase the Company's profitability. Options
may be granted under the plan until December 31, 2002, subject to the right of
Fortune's board of directors to suspend or terminate the plan at any time. The
Company hereby incorporates the plan by reference to its S-8 filed on August 14,
1998.

      The terms and conditions of the plan are summarized in that S-8. Such
description is not intended as a substitute for the plan and the option
agreements entered into by the Company with option holders. For a complete
description of the plan and the rights of option holders thereunder, reference
is made to the plan, copies of which may be obtained from the Secretary of the
Company. For additional information about the plan, contact:

                               Corporate Secretary
                      Fortune Natural Resources Corporation
                         515 West Greens Road, Suite 720
                              Houston, Texas 77067
                                 (281) 872-1170

FEDERAL INCOME TAX MATTERS

      Incentive Stock Options. Option holders are not taxed upon receipt of ISOs
or at the time of exercise of the options. The option holder's tax basis in
stock purchased upon exercise of the option is the exercise price. If the stock
is held for a required holding period (the later of two years after grant of the
option or one year from exercise), upon sale of the stock, the option holder is
taxed on the difference between the basis in the stock (the option exercise
price) and the sales price of the stock. The taxable amount is treated as
capital gain and is taxed under the rules set forth in section 1(h) of the
Internal Revenue Code. Option holders should consult with their own tax advisors
regarding the application of these rules.

      If the stock is sold before satisfying the holding period requirement, the
option holder is deemed to have received compensation equal to the difference
between the option exercise price and the fair market value of the stock on the
date of exercise. This latter amount is added to the basis of the stock for
computing any capital gain on the sale of the stock.

      Non-Qualified Options. Option holders of non-qualified options also are
not taxed at the time of receipt of the options (since the options have no
discernable value) but, unlike ISOs, are taxed upon exercise of the option on
the difference between the "fair market value" of the stock at the time of
exercise and the exercise price. This amount is treated as compensation and is
taxable as ordinary income. Further, at the time of sale of the stock, if the
sales price exceeds the "fair market value" at the time of exercise of the
option, the difference is treated as capital gain income (short-term or
long-term depending on how long the stock has been held after exercise of the
option).


                                       1
<PAGE>


INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY

      The Company incorporates by reference in this description the following
document, copies of which may be obtained without charge, upon written or oral
request, from the Secretary of the Company at the address shown on the cover
page hereof: the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB/A for the year ended
December 31, 1999.

      In addition, all documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 after the date
of this description and prior to the termination of the offering of shares
pursuant to outstanding options under the plan shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Description. Copies of all such documents are
also available without charge, upon written or oral request, from the Secretary
of the Company.




                                       2
<PAGE>




                      FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
                  DIRECTORS' AND CONSULTANTS' COMPENSATION PLAN

                            GENERAL PLAN DESCRIPTION
                                   April 2000


PLAN INFORMATION

      This plan, adopted by the Company in March, 1999, provides for the payment
of stock or other securities (including stock-purchase warrants) of the Company,
in lieu of cash, to members of the board of directors and consultants to the
Company when performing services typically provided by employees. All directors
and selected consultants whose duties are agreed, in advance, to fall under the
provisions of the plan are covered. Directors are compensated in common stock on
a quarterly basis, with the value of the stock determined by the last trading
price on the final business day of each calendar quarter. The value of
securities issued to non-directors is based upon to the market price on the day
of the grant. The plan will remain in effect until terminated by the board of
directors, which has the right to modify or terminate the plan at any time.
Shares issued under the terms of the plan may be resold pursuant to a valid
registration statement. The plan is not subject to the terms of ERISA.

      The terms and conditions of the plan are as summarized in this
description. This description is not intended as a substitute for the plan. For
a complete description of this plan and the rights of the participants
thereunder, reference is made to the plan, copies of which may be obtained from
the Company. For additional information, contact:

                               Corporate Secretary
                      Fortune Natural Resources Corporation
                         515 West Greens Road, Suite 720
                              Houston, Texas 77067
                                 (281) 872-1170

TAX EFFECTS OF PLAN PARTICIPATION

      Grants of stock made to directors and consultants pursuant to the plan are
taxable when earned. The value of the grant, in turn, is an expense item to the
Company for which a tax deduction is available. In the event that consultants
are compensated with warrants to purchase common stock rather than the stock
itself, no tax is due from the recipient on the basis that the warrant has no
discernable value. Upon exercise, however, holders are taxed on the difference
between the fair market value of the stock and the exercise price. Thereafter,
at the time of sale of the stock, if the sales price exceeds the fair market
value at the time of exercise, the difference is treated as a capital gain.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY

      The Company incorporates by reference in this description the following
document, copies of which may be obtained without charge, upon written or oral
request, from the Secretary of the Company shown on the cover page hereof: the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB/A for the year ended December 31, 1999.



                                       1
<PAGE>




                            7 5 0 , 0 0 0 S H A R E S

                      FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
                                  COMMON STOCK
                                ($.01 PAR VALUE)
                         ------------------------------

      The shares of the Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "Common Stock")
covered by this prospectus may be offered from time to time by certain
shareholders (the "Selling Shareholders") of Fortune Natural Resources
Corporation ("Fortune" or the "Company"). The Company will not receive any
proceeds from the sale of shares by the Selling Shareholders.

      The Selling Shareholders are officers, directors and key employees of
Fortune who acquired their shares through the exercise of stock options granted
to them under the Company's 1998 stock option plan.

      The expenses incurred in registering the Shares, including legal and
accounting fees, will be paid by the Company. To the knowledge of the Company,
the Selling Shareholders have made no arrangement with any brokerage firm for
the sale of the Shares. The Selling Shareholders may be deemed to be
"underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"). Any commissions received by a broker or dealer in connection with
resales of the Shares may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts
under the Act. The Common Stock is listed on the over-the-counter bulletin
board. The bid and asked prices of the common stock on March 31, 2000, were
$0.56 and $0.63, respectively.

      The shares of Common Stock have not been registered for sale under the
securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction as of the date of this
Prospectus. Brokers or dealers effecting transactions in the Common Stock should
confirm the registration of the Common Stock under the securities laws of states
in which such transactions occur or the existence of an exemption from such
registration, or should cause such registration to occur in connection with any
offer or sale of the Common Stock.
                         ------------------------------

    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
     AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON ACCURACY OR
    THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                                CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                         ------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Price to Public    Underwriting Discount    Proceeds to Company (1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Per Share....   $  N/A                 N/A                     $  N/A
Total........   $  N/A                 N/A                     $  N/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) None. All proceeds will be received by the Plan. The account of participants
    in the Plan from which shares are sold will bear all commissions payable to
    brokers or dealers in connection with the sale of shares. The Company will
    bear all costs of the offering estimated at $5,000.

                         ------------------------------


                  The date of this Prospectus is April 7, 2000

<PAGE>



                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

      The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and, in accordance
therewith, files reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"). Reports, proxy and information statements filed
by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the informational requirements of
the Exchange Act may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission, at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza Building, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549, and the Regional offices of the Commission:
75 Park Place, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10007, and Kluczynski Federal
Building, 230 South Dearborn Street, Room 3190, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Copies
of such material may be obtained at prescribed rates from the Public Reference
Section of the Commission at Room 1025, Judiciary Plaza Building, 450 Fifth St.,
N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549.

      The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the"Securities Act"), with respect to the Common Stock being registered hereby.
This Prospectus, filed as part of the Registration Statement, does not contain
all the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits and
schedules thereto, certain portions of which have been omitted in accordance
with the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information with
respect to the Company and the Common Stock, reference is made to the
Registration Statement and to the exhibits and schedules thereto, which may be
inspected at the Commission's offices without charge or copies of which may be
obtained from the Commission upon payment of the prescribed fees. Statements
made in the Prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or document
referred to are not necessarily complete, and in each instance, reference is
made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement, and each such statement is qualified in its entirety by
such reference.


              INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

      There is hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made a
part hereof the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB/A for the year ended
December 31, 1999.

      There is also hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made
a part hereof the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
September 13, 1993, which describes the Common Stock.

      All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the
termination of the offering of the Common Stock shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents.

      Any statement contained in a document incorporated or to be incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified
or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein modifies, supersedes or replaces such statement. Any statements
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Prospectus.




                                       2
<PAGE>



      No person is authorized to give any information or make any
representations other than those contained in the Prospectus and, if given or
made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been
authorized by the Company. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell
or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered
shares to which it relates or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to
buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is
unlawful. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder
shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no
change in the affairs of the Company since the date hereof or that the
information contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.


                                   THE COMPANY


      Fortune is an independent oil and gas company whose primary focus is
exploration for and development of domestic oil and gas. Fortune is active
principally in areas onshore and offshore Louisiana and Texas, including the
relatively shallow transition zone. It uses modern geophysical technology and
advanced interpretation techniques in these areas in an attempt to make new
discoveries in areas of proven historical production.

      Fortune participates generally as a non-operator of relatively small
interests in a variety of exploration and development projects. We use
state-of-the-art technologies, including three dimensional seismic and
computer-aided exploration technology, wherever possible because we believe that
these techniques have undergone important technological advances in recent years
and that their use can provide us with a more accurate and complete prospect
evaluation. This is intended to increase the likelihood of finding commercial
quantities of oil and gas at lower average reserve finding costs.

      The Company also seeks to take advantage of attractive acquisition targets
which will enable it to acquire reserves at an attractive price.

      The Company's principal executive office is located at 515 West Greens
Road, Suite 720, Houston, Texas 77067. Its telephone number is (281) 872-1170.


                                 USE OF PROCEEDS


      The shares which are the subject of this Prospectus may be offered and
sold from time to time by the Selling Shareholders, and the Company will not
receive any of the proceeds of such sales. The Company agreed to bear all
expenses of registering such shares, including legal, accounting and printing
costs estimated at $5,000.


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION


      Selling shareholders may offer and sell shares pursuant to this Prospectus
from time to time on the over-the-counter bulletin board or through individually
negotiated transactions or in other ways. The Company is not aware of any
agreements which may have been entered into by any Selling Shareholder with
brokers, dealers or third parties for the offer or sale of any shares. Except as
noted below, the Company will not be a party to any such agreements nor will it
participate in the negotiation or consummation of any such agreements or the
offer and sale of any of the shares covered by this Prospectus.

                                       3
<PAGE>

      Sales of shares by affiliates of the Company (including members of
management or more than 5% shareholders of the Company) are subject to
restrictions on trading in the Company's stock under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, as well as certain reporting requirements under such Act.
Affiliates who hold shares covered by this Prospectus include Tyrone J.
Fairbanks, Dean W. Drulias, Barry Feiner, Daniel R. Shaughnessy, and J. Michael
Urban, all of whom are directors and/or officers of the Company.

      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been
informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is
therefore unenforceable.

      The table below sets forth data as of March 31, 2000 on the number of
shares held by each of the Selling Shareholders who are affiliates of the
Company after giving consideration to the 750,000 shares being registered herein
and the 60,000 shares registered on this same date:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                          SECURITIES
                                                      SECURITIES       SECURITIES        BENEFICIALLY          PERCENTAGE
                                                     BENEFICIALLY          IN             OWNED AFTER           OF CLASS
NAME                   POSITION                          OWNED          OFFERING           OFFERING               OWNED
----                   --------                      ------------       --------           --------            -----------
<S>                    <C>                              <C>              <C>                <C>                   <C>
Tyrone J. Fairbanks    President,
                        Chief Executive Officer,
                        and Director                    464,045          150,000            614,045               3.6%

J. Michael Urban       Vice President,
                        and Chief Financial Officer     461,748          150,000            611,748               3.6%

Dean W. Drulias        Executive Vice President,
                        General Counsel,
                        Corporate Secretary,
                        and Director                    451,688          150,000            601,688               3.6%

Barry Feiner           Director                         326,173           37,500            363,673(1)            2.2%

Daniel R. Shaughnessy  Director                          89,214           37,500            166,714               1.0%

</TABLE>

      (1) This figure includes 5,000 shares of common stock, 14,375 shares
issuable upon exercise of 10,000 stock purchase warrants exercisable at $3.75
per warrant, 66,667 shares issuable upon exercise of a like number of stock
purchase warrants exercisable at $1.00 per warrant, and the shares into which
the notes are convertible. These shares, warrants, and notes are owned by Mr.
Feiner's wife, Janet Portelly. Mr. Feiner disclaims beneficial ownership of all
such securities owned by Ms. Portelly.





      The financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 1999 and 1998
and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1999, have
been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in
reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants,
incorporated herein by reference, and upon the authority of said firm as experts
in accounting and auditing.




                                       4
<PAGE>

======================================   =======================================





         TABLE OF CONTENTS

                               Page                   750,000 SHARES
                               ----

Cover Page                      1

Additional Information          2

Incorporation of Information
  By Reference                  2                     COMMON STOCK
                                                    ($.01 PAR VALUE)
The Company                     3

Use of Proceeds                 3

Plan of Distribution            3

Experts                         4                    FORTUNE NATURAL
                                                  RESOURCES CORPORATION


                                                    ----------------
                                                       PROSPECTUS
                                                    ----------------




                                                      April 7, 2000




======================================   =======================================

<PAGE>

                             6 0 , 0 0 0 S H A R E S

                      FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
                                  COMMON STOCK
                                ($.01 PAR VALUE)
                         ------------------------------

      The shares of the Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "Common Stock")
covered by this prospectus may be offered from time to time by certain
shareholders (the "Selling Shareholders") of Fortune Natural Resources
Corporation ("Fortune" or the "Company"). The Company will not receive any
proceeds from the sale of shares by the Selling Shareholders.

      The Selling Shareholders are directors and key consultants to Fortune who
acquired their shares directly as compensation or through the exercise of stock
purchase warrants granted to them under the Company's directors' and
consultants' compensation plan.

      The expenses incurred in registering the Shares, including legal and
accounting fees, will be paid by the Company. To the knowledge of the Company,
the Selling Shareholders have made no arrangement with any brokerage firm for
the sale of the Shares. The Selling Shareholders may be deemed to be
"underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"). Any commissions received by a broker or dealer in connection with
resales of the Shares may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts
under the Act. The Common Stock is listed on the over-the-counter bulletin
board. The bid and asked prices of the common stock on March 31, 2000, were
$0.56 and $0.63, respectively.

      The shares of Common Stock have not been registered for sale under the
securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction as of the date of this
Prospectus. Brokers or dealers effecting transactions in the Common Stock should
confirm the registration of the Common Stock under the securities laws of states
in which such transactions occur or the existence of an exemption from such
registration, or should cause such registration to occur in connection with any
offer or sale of the Common Stock.
                   ------------------------------

    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
     AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON ACCURACY OR
    THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                                CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                         ------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Price to Public    Underwriting Discount    Proceeds to Company (1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Per Share....   $  N/A                 N/A                     $  N/A
Total........   $  N/A                 N/A                     $  N/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) None. All proceeds will be received by the Plan. The account of participants
    in the Plan from which shares are sold will bear all commissions payable to
    brokers or dealers in connection with the sale of shares. The Company will
    bear all costs of the offering estimated at $5,000.

                         ------------------------------

                  The date of this Prospectus is April 7, 2000

<PAGE>



                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

      The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and, in accordance
therewith, files reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"). Reports, proxy and information statements filed
by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the informational requirements of
the Exchange Act may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission, at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza Building, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549, and the Regional offices of the Commission:
75 Park Place, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10007, and Kluczynski Federal
Building, 230 South Dearborn Street, Room 3190, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Copies
of such material may be obtained at prescribed rates from the Public Reference
Section of the Commission at Room 1025, Judiciary Plaza Building, 450 Fifth St.,
N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549.

      The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), with respect to the Common Stock being registered
hereby. This Prospectus, filed as part of the Registration Statement, does not
contain all the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the
exhibits and schedules thereto, certain portions of which have been omitted in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further
information with respect to the Company and the Common Stock, reference is made
to the Registration Statement and to the exhibits and schedules thereto, which
may be inspected at the Commission's offices without charge or copies of which
may be obtained from the Commission upon payment of the prescribed fees.
Statements made in the Prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement
or document referred to are not necessarily complete, and in each instance,
reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement, and each such statement is qualified in
its entirety by such reference.


              INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

      There is hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made a
part hereof the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB/A for the year ended
December 31, 1999.

      There is also hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made
a part hereof the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
September 13, 1993, which describes the Common Stock.

      All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the
termination of the offering of the Common Stock shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents.

      Any statement contained in a document incorporated or to be incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified
or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein modifies, supersedes or replaces such statement. Any statements
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Prospectus.




                                       2
<PAGE>


      No person is authorized to give any information or make any
representations other than those contained in the Prospectus and, if given or
made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been
authorized by the Company. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell
or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered
shares to which it relates or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to
buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is
unlawful. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder
shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no
change in the affairs of the Company since the date hereof or that the
information contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.


                                   THE COMPANY


      Fortune is an independent oil and gas company whose primary focus is
exploration for and development of domestic oil and gas. Fortune is active
principally in areas onshore and offshore Louisiana and Texas, including the
relatively shallow transition zone. It uses modern geophysical technology and
advanced interpretation techniques in these areas in an attempt to make new
discoveries in areas of proven historical production.

      Fortune participates generally as a non-operator of relatively small
interests in a variety of exploration and development projects. We use
state-of-the-art technologies, including three dimensional seismic and
computer-aided exploration technology, wherever possible because we believe that
these techniques have undergone important technological advances in recent years
and that their use can provide us with a more accurate and complete prospect
evaluation. This is intended to increase the likelihood of finding commercial
quantities of oil and gas at lower average reserve finding costs.

      The Company also seeks to take advantage of attractive acquisition targets
which will enable it to acquire reserves at an attractive price.

      The Company's principal executive office is located at 515 West Greens
Road, Suite 720, Houston, Texas 77067. Its telephone number is (281) 872-1170.


                                 USE OF PROCEEDS


      The shares which are the subject of this Prospectus may be offered and
sold from time to time by the Selling Shareholders, and the Company will not
receive any of the proceeds of such sales. The Company agreed to bear all
expenses of registering such shares, including legal, accounting and printing
costs estimated at $5,000.


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION


      Selling shareholders may offer and sell shares pursuant to this Prospectus
from time to time on the over-the-counter bulletin board or through individually
negotiated transactions or in other ways. The Company is not aware of any
agreements which may have been entered into by any Selling Shareholder with
brokers, dealers or third parties for the offer or sale of any shares. Except as
noted below, the Company will not be a party to any such agreements nor will it
participate in the negotiation or consummation of any such agreements or the
offer and sale of any of the shares covered by this Prospectus.

                                       3
<PAGE>

      Sales of shares by affiliates of the Company (including members of
management or more than 5% shareholders of the Company) are subject to
restrictions on trading in the Company's stock under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, as well as certain reporting requirements under such Act.
The sole affiliate who holds shares covered by this Prospectus is Dean W.
Drulias, an officer and director of the Company.

      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been
informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is
therefore unenforceable.

      The table below sets forth data as of March 31, 2000 on the number of
shares held by each of the Selling Shareholders who are affiliates of the
Company after giving consideration to the 60,000 shares registered herein and
subsequent to the issuance of the additional 750,000 shares being registered on
this same date:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                             SECURITIES
                                         SECURITIES       SECURITIES        BENEFICIALLY          PERCENTAGE
                                        BENEFICIALLY          IN             OWNED AFTER           OF CLASS
NAME                   POSITION             OWNED          OFFERING           OFFERING               OWNED
----                   --------         ------------       --------           --------            -----------
<S>                    <C>                 <C>              <C>                <C>                   <C>
Dean W. Drulias        Director            581,688          20,000             601,688               3.6%
</TABLE>



                                     EXPERTS


      The financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 1999 and 1998
and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1999, have
been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in
reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants,
incorporated herein by reference, and upon the authority of said firm as experts
in accounting and auditing.


                                       5
<PAGE>
======================================   =======================================





         TABLE OF CONTENTS

                               Page                   60,000 SHARES
                               ----

Cover Page                      1

Additional Information          2

Incorporation of Information
  By Reference                  2                     COMMON STOCK
                                                    ($.01 PAR VALUE)
The Company                     3

Use of Proceeds                 3

Plan of Distribution            3

Experts                         4                    FORTUNE NATURAL
                                                  RESOURCES CORPORATION


                                                    ----------------
                                                       PROSPECTUS
                                                    ----------------




                                                     April 7, 2000



======================================   =======================================

<PAGE>


                                     PART II


                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS


ITEM 3.    INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

      There is hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made a
part hereof the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB/A for the year ended
December 31, 1999.

      All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and
prior to the termination of the offering of the Common Stock shall be deemed to
be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

      There is also hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made
a part hereof the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
September 13, 1993, which describes the Common Stock.

      Any statement contained in a document incorporated or to be incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified
or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a
statement contained herein modifies, supersedes or replaces such statement. Any
statements modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as modified or
superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

ITEM 4.    DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

      Not applicable.

ITEM 5.    INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

      None.

ITEM 6.    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

      Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits the
indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents of Delaware
corporations. The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company provide
that the corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as it may be amended from
time to time, indemnify and hold harmless each person who was or is a party or
is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person
whom he or she is a legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the
Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit
plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action or inaction in an
official capacity or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer,
employee or agent, against all costs, charges, expenses, liabilities and losses
(including attorney's fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties and
amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by
such person in connection therewith, and such indemnification shall continue as
to person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall
inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators.

ITEM 7.    EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

      Not applicable.


                                       S-1
<PAGE>



ITEM 8.    EXHIBITS.

      23.1 Consent of KPMG LLP (filed herewith).

      24.1 Power of Attorney  (included in the signature page of this
           Registration Statement).

ITEM 9.    UNDERTAKINGS.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

      (a) (1) To file during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
              a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

              (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
                   of the Securities Act of 1933;

              (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
                   estimatedmaximum 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 a 20% change in the maximum aggregate
                   offering priceset 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 (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated
by reference in the registration statement.

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, 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 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)(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                                       S-2

<PAGE>



      (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) 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.

      (h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 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 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 of controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit of
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 its counsel the matter has been settled by a controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                      S-3

<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

      The Registrant. 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 the City of Houston, State of Texas, on April 7, 2000

                                    FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION


                                    By: /s/ Tyrone J. Fairbanks
                                        -----------------------
                                        Tyrone J. Fairbanks
                                        President, Chief Executive Officer
                                        and Director


                                    By: /s/ J. Michael Urban
                                        --------------------
                                        J. Michael Urban
                                        Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
                                        and Chief Accounting Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

      Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Tyrone
J. Fairbanks and Dean W. Drulias, and each of them, as his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him and his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or
all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits hereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission granting
unto said attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the foregoing, as fully to all intents and purposes as
he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agent, or any of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following person in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


     Signature                   Title                          Date
   -------------               ----------                      ------


/s/ Tyrone J. Fairbanks     President, Chief Executive      April 7, 2000
------------------------    Officer, and Director
Tyrone J. Fairbanks         and Director



/s/ Dean W. Drulias         Executive Vice President,       April 7, 2000
---------------------       General Counsel, Corporate
Dean W. Drulias             Secretary and Director



/s/ Barry Feiner            Director                        April 7, 2000
---------------------
Barry Feiner


/s/ D. R. Shaughnessy       Director                        April 7, 2000
------------------------
D. R. Shaughnessy
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "secsgml_size_bytes": 51388}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORP", "cik": "0000038242", "assigned-sic": "1311", "irs-number": "954114732", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-34374", "film-number": "596462"}, "business-address": {"street1": "515 WEST GREENS ROAD", "street2": "SUITE 720", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77067", "phone": "7138721170"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "515 WEST GREENS ROAD", "street2": "SUITE 720", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77067"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "FORTUNE PETROLEUM CORP", "date-changed": "19920703"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 2000

                     Registration Statement No. 333-_______
      --------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                   -----------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                   -----------

                      FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
                      -------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

              DELAWARE                                 95-4114732
   (State or other jurisdiction of        (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   incorporation or organization)

                                                   TYRONE J. FAIRBANKS
                                          FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
   515 WEST GREENS ROAD, SUITE 720           515 WEST GREENS ROAD, SUITE 720
         HOUSTON, TEXAS 77067                      HOUSTON, TEXAS 77067
  (Address, including zip code, and         (Name, address, including zip code,
telephone number, including area code,     and telephone number, including area
of registrant's principal executive               code, of agent for service)
              offices)

          FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                      FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
                DIRECTORS AND CONSULTANTS STOCK COMPENSATION PLAN
                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLANS)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Title of Securities       Amount           Proposed Maximum       Proposed Maximum          Amount of
       to be                to be            Offering Price       Aggregate Offering       Registration
    Registered          Registered(1)         Per Share (2)             Price                   Fee
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock           750,000 shares          $1.16 (3)             $870,000                 $242
$.01 par value
 Common Stock            60,000 shares          $2.4375               $146,250                  $41
$.01 par value
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)  In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this
     registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to
     be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plans described herein.

(2)  Estimated  solely for the  purpose of  calculating  the amount of
     the registration fee.

(3)  Pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the General Rules and Regulations under the
     Securities Act of 1933 as amended, the proposed offering price per share
     for the 1998 Stock Option Plan shares is based upon the average price at
     which options may be exercised.
FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
                             1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                            GENERAL PLAN DESCRIPTION
                                   April 2000

PLAN INFORMATION

      The plan gives key employees, officers and directors of the Company the
opportunity to take part in the growth of the Company through the purchase of
common stock pursuant to stock options. The purpose of the plan is to provide an
incentive to such individuals to increase the Company's profitability. Options
may be granted under the plan until December 31, 2002, subject to the right of
Fortune's board of directors to suspend or terminate the plan at any time. The
Company hereby incorporates the plan by reference to its S-8 filed on August 14,
1998.

      The terms and conditions of the plan are summarized in that S-8. Such
description is not intended as a substitute for the plan and the option
agreements entered into by the Company with option holders. For a complete
description of the plan and the rights of option holders thereunder, reference
is made to the plan, copies of which may be obtained from the Secretary of the
Company. For additional information about the plan, contact:

                               Corporate Secretary
                      Fortune Natural Resources Corporation
                         515 West Greens Road, Suite 720
                              Houston, Texas 77067
                                 (281) 872-1170

FEDERAL INCOME TAX MATTERS

      Incentive Stock Options. Option holders are not taxed upon receipt of ISOs
or at the time of exercise of the options. The option holder's tax basis in
stock purchased upon exercise of the option is the exercise price. If the stock
is held for a required holding period (the later of two years after grant of the
option or one year from exercise), upon sale of the stock, the option holder is
taxed on the difference between the basis in the stock (the option exercise
price) and the sales price of the stock. The taxable amount is treated as
capital gain and is taxed under the rules set forth in section 1(h) of the
Internal Revenue Code. Option holders should consult with their own tax advisors
regarding the application of these rules.

      If the stock is sold before satisfying the holding period requirement, the
option holder is deemed to have received compensation equal to the difference
between the option exercise price and the fair market value of the stock on the
date of exercise. This latter amount is added to the basis of the stock for
computing any capital gain on the sale of the stock.

      Non-Qualified Options. Option holders of non-qualified options also are
not taxed at the time of receipt of the options (since the options have no
discernable value) but, unlike ISOs, are taxed upon exercise of the option on
the difference between the "fair market value" of the stock at the time of
exercise and the exercise price. This amount is treated as compensation and is
taxable as ordinary income. Further, at the time of sale of the stock, if the
sales price exceeds the "fair market value" at the time of exercise of the
option, the difference is treated as capital gain income (short-term or
long-term depending on how long the stock has been held after exercise of the
option).

                                       1
INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY

      The Company incorporates by reference in this description the following
document, copies of which may be obtained without charge, upon written or oral
request, from the Secretary of the Company at the address shown on the cover
page hereof: the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB/A for the year ended
December 31, 1999.

      In addition, all documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 after the date
of this description and prior to the termination of the offering of shares
pursuant to outstanding options under the plan shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Description. Copies of all such documents are
also available without charge, upon written or oral request, from the Secretary
of the Company.

                                       2
FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
                  DIRECTORS' AND CONSULTANTS' COMPENSATION PLAN

                            GENERAL PLAN DESCRIPTION
                                   April 2000

PLAN INFORMATION

      This plan, adopted by the Company in March, 1999, provides for the payment
of stock or other securities (including stock-purchase warrants) of the Company,
in lieu of cash, to members of the board of directors and consultants to the
Company when performing services typically provided by employees. All directors
and selected consultants whose duties are agreed, in advance, to fall under the
provisions of the plan are covered. Directors are compensated in common stock on
a quarterly basis, with the value of the stock determined by the last trading
price on the final business day of each calendar quarter. The value of
securities issued to non-directors is based upon to the market price on the day
of the grant. The plan will remain in effect until terminated by the board of
directors, which has the right to modify or terminate the plan at any time.
Shares issued under the terms of the plan may be resold pursuant to a valid
registration statement. The plan is not subject to the terms of ERISA.

      The terms and conditions of the plan are as summarized in this
description. This description is not intended as a substitute for the plan. For
a complete description of this plan and the rights of the participants
thereunder, reference is made to the plan, copies of which may be obtained from
the Company. For additional information, contact:

                               Corporate Secretary
                      Fortune Natural Resources Corporation
                         515 West Greens Road, Suite 720
                              Houston, Texas 77067
                                 (281) 872-1170

TAX EFFECTS OF PLAN PARTICIPATION

      Grants of stock made to directors and consultants pursuant to the plan are
taxable when earned. The value of the grant, in turn, is an expense item to the
Company for which a tax deduction is available. In the event that consultants
are compensated with warrants to purchase common stock rather than the stock
itself, no tax is due from the recipient on the basis that the warrant has no
discernable value. Upon exercise, however, holders are taxed on the difference
between the fair market value of the stock and the exercise price. Thereafter,
at the time of sale of the stock, if the sales price exceeds the fair market
value at the time of exercise, the difference is treated as a capital gain.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY

      The Company incorporates by reference in this description the following
document, copies of which may be obtained without charge, upon written or oral
request, from the Secretary of the Company shown on the cover page hereof: the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB/A for the year ended December 31, 1999.

                                       1
7 5 0 , 0 0 0 S H A R E S

                      FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
                                  COMMON STOCK
                                ($.01 PAR VALUE)
                         ------------------------------

      The shares of the Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "Common Stock")
covered by this prospectus may be offered from time to time by certain
shareholders (the "Selling Shareholders") of Fortune Natural Resources
Corporation ("Fortune" or the "Company"). The Company will not receive any
proceeds from the sale of shares by the Selling Shareholders.

      The Selling Shareholders are officers, directors and key employees of
Fortune who acquired their shares through the exercise of stock options granted
to them under the Company's 1998 stock option plan.

      The expenses incurred in registering the Shares, including legal and
accounting fees, will be paid by the Company. To the knowledge of the Company,
the Selling Shareholders have made no arrangement with any brokerage firm for
the sale of the Shares. The Selling Shareholders may be deemed to be
"underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"). Any commissions received by a broker or dealer in connection with
resales of the Shares may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts
under the Act. The Common Stock is listed on the over-the-counter bulletin
board. The bid and asked prices of the common stock on March 31, 2000, were
$0.56 and $0.63, respectively.

      The shares of Common Stock have not been registered for sale under the
securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction as of the date of this
Prospectus. Brokers or dealers effecting transactions in the Common Stock should
confirm the registration of the Common Stock under the securities laws of states
in which such transactions occur or the existence of an exemption from such
registration, or should cause such registration to occur in connection with any
offer or sale of the Common Stock.
                         ------------------------------

    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
     AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON ACCURACY OR
    THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                                CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                         ------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Price to Public    Underwriting Discount    Proceeds to Company (1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Per Share....   $  N/A                 N/A                     $  N/A
Total........   $  N/A                 N/A                     $  N/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) None. All proceeds will be received by the Plan. The account of participants
    in the Plan from which shares are sold will bear all commissions payable to
    brokers or dealers in connection with the sale of shares. The Company will
    bear all costs of the offering estimated at $5,000.

                         ------------------------------

                  The date of this Prospectus is April 7, 2000
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

      The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and, in accordance
therewith, files reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"). Reports, proxy and information statements filed
by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the informational requirements of
the Exchange Act may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission, at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza Building, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549, and the Regional offices of the Commission:
75 Park Place, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10007, and Kluczynski Federal
Building, 230 South Dearborn Street, Room 3190, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Copies
of such material may be obtained at prescribed rates from the Public Reference
Section of the Commission at Room 1025, Judiciary Plaza Building, 450 Fifth St.,
N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549.

      The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the"Securities Act"), with respect to the Common Stock being registered hereby.
This Prospectus, filed as part of the Registration Statement, does not contain
all the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits and
schedules thereto, certain portions of which have been omitted in accordance
with the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information with
respect to the Company and the Common Stock, reference is made to the
Registration Statement and to the exhibits and schedules thereto, which may be
inspected at the Commission's offices without charge or copies of which may be
obtained from the Commission upon payment of the prescribed fees. Statements
made in the Prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or document
referred to are not necessarily complete, and in each instance, reference is
made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement, and each such statement is qualified in its entirety by
such reference.

              INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

      There is hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made a
part hereof the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB/A for the year ended
December 31, 1999.

      There is also hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made
a part hereof the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
September 13, 1993, which describes the Common Stock.

      All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the
termination of the offering of the Common Stock shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents.

      Any statement contained in a document incorporated or to be incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified
or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein modifies, supersedes or replaces such statement. Any statements
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Prospectus.

                                       2
No person is authorized to give any information or make any
representations other than those contained in the Prospectus and, if given or
made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been
authorized by the Company. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell
or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered
shares to which it relates or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to
buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is
unlawful. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder
shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no
change in the affairs of the Company since the date hereof or that the
information contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.

                                   THE COMPANY

      Fortune is an independent oil and gas company whose primary focus is
exploration for and development of domestic oil and gas. Fortune is active
principally in areas onshore and offshore Louisiana and Texas, including the
relatively shallow transition zone. It uses modern geophysical technology and
advanced interpretation techniques in these areas in an attempt to make new
discoveries in areas of proven historical production.

      Fortune participates generally as a non-operator of relatively small
interests in a variety of exploration and development projects. We use
state-of-the-art technologies, including three dimensional seismic and
computer-aided exploration technology, wherever possible because we believe that
these techniques have undergone important technological advances in recent years
and that their use can provide us with a more accurate and complete prospect
evaluation. This is intended to increase the likelihood of finding commercial
quantities of oil and gas at lower average reserve finding costs.

      The Company also seeks to take advantage of attractive acquisition targets
which will enable it to acquire reserves at an attractive price.

      The Company's principal executive office is located at 515 West Greens
Road, Suite 720, Houston, Texas 77067. Its telephone number is (281) 872-1170.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

      The shares which are the subject of this Prospectus may be offered and
sold from time to time by the Selling Shareholders, and the Company will not
receive any of the proceeds of such sales. The Company agreed to bear all
expenses of registering such shares, including legal, accounting and printing
costs estimated at $5,000.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

      Selling shareholders may offer and sell shares pursuant to this Prospectus
from time to time on the over-the-counter bulletin board or through individually
negotiated transactions or in other ways. The Company is not aware of any
agreements which may have been entered into by any Selling Shareholder with
brokers, dealers or third parties for the offer or sale of any shares. Except as
noted below, the Company will not be a party to any such agreements nor will it
participate in the negotiation or consummation of any such agreements or the
offer and sale of any of the shares covered by this Prospectus.

                                       3
Sales of shares by affiliates of the Company (including members of
management or more than 5% shareholders of the Company) are subject to
restrictions on trading in the Company's stock under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, as well as certain reporting requirements under such Act.
Affiliates who hold shares covered by this Prospectus include Tyrone J.
Fairbanks, Dean W. Drulias, Barry Feiner, Daniel R. Shaughnessy, and J. Michael
Urban, all of whom are directors and/or officers of the Company.

      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been
informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is
therefore unenforceable.

      The table below sets forth data as of March 31, 2000 on the number of
shares held by each of the Selling Shareholders who are affiliates of the
Company after giving consideration to the 750,000 shares being registered herein
and the 60,000 shares registered on this same date:
SECURITIES
                                                      SECURITIES       SECURITIES        BENEFICIALLY          PERCENTAGE
                                                     BENEFICIALLY          IN             OWNED AFTER           OF CLASS
NAME                   POSITION                          OWNED          OFFERING           OFFERING               OWNED
----                   --------                      ------------       --------           --------            -----------
Tyrone J. Fairbanks    President,
                        Chief Executive Officer,
                        and Director                    464,045          150,000            614,045               3.6%

J. Michael Urban       Vice President,
                        and Chief Financial Officer     461,748          150,000            611,748               3.6%

Dean W. Drulias        Executive Vice President,
                        General Counsel,
                        Corporate Secretary,
                        and Director                    451,688          150,000            601,688               3.6%

Barry Feiner           Director                         326,173           37,500            363,673(1)            2.2%

Daniel R. Shaughnessy  Director                          89,214           37,500            166,714               1.0%
(1) This figure includes 5,000 shares of common stock, 14,375 shares
issuable upon exercise of 10,000 stock purchase warrants exercisable at $3.75
per warrant, 66,667 shares issuable upon exercise of a like number of stock
purchase warrants exercisable at $1.00 per warrant, and the shares into which
the notes are convertible. These shares, warrants, and notes are owned by Mr.
Feiner's wife, Janet Portelly. Mr. Feiner disclaims beneficial ownership of all
such securities owned by Ms. Portelly.

      The financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 1999 and 1998
and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1999, have
been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in
reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants,
incorporated herein by reference, and upon the authority of said firm as experts
in accounting and auditing.

                                       4
======================================   =======================================

         TABLE OF CONTENTS

                               Page                   750,000 SHARES
                               ----

Cover Page                      1

Additional Information          2

Incorporation of Information
  By Reference                  2                     COMMON STOCK
                                                    ($.01 PAR VALUE)
The Company                     3

Use of Proceeds                 3

Plan of Distribution            3

Experts                         4                    FORTUNE NATURAL
                                                  RESOURCES CORPORATION

                                                    ----------------
                                                       PROSPECTUS
                                                    ----------------

                                                      April 7, 2000

======================================   =======================================
6 0 , 0 0 0 S H A R E S

                      FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
                                  COMMON STOCK
                                ($.01 PAR VALUE)
                         ------------------------------

      The shares of the Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "Common Stock")
covered by this prospectus may be offered from time to time by certain
shareholders (the "Selling Shareholders") of Fortune Natural Resources
Corporation ("Fortune" or the "Company"). The Company will not receive any
proceeds from the sale of shares by the Selling Shareholders.

      The Selling Shareholders are directors and key consultants to Fortune who
acquired their shares directly as compensation or through the exercise of stock
purchase warrants granted to them under the Company's directors' and
consultants' compensation plan.

      The expenses incurred in registering the Shares, including legal and
accounting fees, will be paid by the Company. To the knowledge of the Company,
the Selling Shareholders have made no arrangement with any brokerage firm for
the sale of the Shares. The Selling Shareholders may be deemed to be
"underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"). Any commissions received by a broker or dealer in connection with
resales of the Shares may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts
under the Act. The Common Stock is listed on the over-the-counter bulletin
board. The bid and asked prices of the common stock on March 31, 2000, were
$0.56 and $0.63, respectively.

      The shares of Common Stock have not been registered for sale under the
securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction as of the date of this
Prospectus. Brokers or dealers effecting transactions in the Common Stock should
confirm the registration of the Common Stock under the securities laws of states
in which such transactions occur or the existence of an exemption from such
registration, or should cause such registration to occur in connection with any
offer or sale of the Common Stock.
                   ------------------------------

    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
     AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON ACCURACY OR
    THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                                CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                         ------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Price to Public    Underwriting Discount    Proceeds to Company (1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Per Share....   $  N/A                 N/A                     $  N/A
Total........   $  N/A                 N/A                     $  N/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) None. All proceeds will be received by the Plan. The account of participants
    in the Plan from which shares are sold will bear all commissions payable to
    brokers or dealers in connection with the sale of shares. The Company will
    bear all costs of the offering estimated at $5,000.

                         ------------------------------

                  The date of this Prospectus is April 7, 2000
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

      The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and, in accordance
therewith, files reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"). Reports, proxy and information statements filed
by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the informational requirements of
the Exchange Act may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission, at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza Building, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549, and the Regional offices of the Commission:
75 Park Place, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10007, and Kluczynski Federal
Building, 230 South Dearborn Street, Room 3190, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Copies
of such material may be obtained at prescribed rates from the Public Reference
Section of the Commission at Room 1025, Judiciary Plaza Building, 450 Fifth St.,
N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549.

      The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), with respect to the Common Stock being registered
hereby. This Prospectus, filed as part of the Registration Statement, does not
contain all the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the
exhibits and schedules thereto, certain portions of which have been omitted in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further
information with respect to the Company and the Common Stock, reference is made
to the Registration Statement and to the exhibits and schedules thereto, which
may be inspected at the Commission's offices without charge or copies of which
may be obtained from the Commission upon payment of the prescribed fees.
Statements made in the Prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement
or document referred to are not necessarily complete, and in each instance,
reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement, and each such statement is qualified in
its entirety by such reference.

              INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

      There is hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made a
part hereof the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB/A for the year ended
December 31, 1999.

      There is also hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made
a part hereof the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
September 13, 1993, which describes the Common Stock.

      All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the
termination of the offering of the Common Stock shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents.

      Any statement contained in a document incorporated or to be incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified
or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein modifies, supersedes or replaces such statement. Any statements
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Prospectus.

                                       2
No person is authorized to give any information or make any
representations other than those contained in the Prospectus and, if given or
made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been
authorized by the Company. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell
or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered
shares to which it relates or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to
buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is
unlawful. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder
shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no
change in the affairs of the Company since the date hereof or that the
information contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.

                                   THE COMPANY

      Fortune is an independent oil and gas company whose primary focus is
exploration for and development of domestic oil and gas. Fortune is active
principally in areas onshore and offshore Louisiana and Texas, including the
relatively shallow transition zone. It uses modern geophysical technology and
advanced interpretation techniques in these areas in an attempt to make new
discoveries in areas of proven historical production.

      Fortune participates generally as a non-operator of relatively small
interests in a variety of exploration and development projects. We use
state-of-the-art technologies, including three dimensional seismic and
computer-aided exploration technology, wherever possible because we believe that
these techniques have undergone important technological advances in recent years
and that their use can provide us with a more accurate and complete prospect
evaluation. This is intended to increase the likelihood of finding commercial
quantities of oil and gas at lower average reserve finding costs.

      The Company also seeks to take advantage of attractive acquisition targets
which will enable it to acquire reserves at an attractive price.

      The Company's principal executive office is located at 515 West Greens
Road, Suite 720, Houston, Texas 77067. Its telephone number is (281) 872-1170.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

      The shares which are the subject of this Prospectus may be offered and
sold from time to time by the Selling Shareholders, and the Company will not
receive any of the proceeds of such sales. The Company agreed to bear all
expenses of registering such shares, including legal, accounting and printing
costs estimated at $5,000.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

      Selling shareholders may offer and sell shares pursuant to this Prospectus
from time to time on the over-the-counter bulletin board or through individually
negotiated transactions or in other ways. The Company is not aware of any
agreements which may have been entered into by any Selling Shareholder with
brokers, dealers or third parties for the offer or sale of any shares. Except as
noted below, the Company will not be a party to any such agreements nor will it
participate in the negotiation or consummation of any such agreements or the
offer and sale of any of the shares covered by this Prospectus.

                                       3
Sales of shares by affiliates of the Company (including members of
management or more than 5% shareholders of the Company) are subject to
restrictions on trading in the Company's stock under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, as well as certain reporting requirements under such Act.
The sole affiliate who holds shares covered by this Prospectus is Dean W.
Drulias, an officer and director of the Company.

      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been
informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is
therefore unenforceable.

      The table below sets forth data as of March 31, 2000 on the number of
shares held by each of the Selling Shareholders who are affiliates of the
Company after giving consideration to the 60,000 shares registered herein and
subsequent to the issuance of the additional 750,000 shares being registered on
this same date:
SECURITIES
                                         SECURITIES       SECURITIES        BENEFICIALLY          PERCENTAGE
                                        BENEFICIALLY          IN             OWNED AFTER           OF CLASS
NAME                   POSITION             OWNED          OFFERING           OFFERING               OWNED
----                   --------         ------------       --------           --------            -----------
Dean W. Drulias        Director            581,688          20,000             601,688               3.6%
EXPERTS

      The financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 1999 and 1998
and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1999, have
been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in
reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants,
incorporated herein by reference, and upon the authority of said firm as experts
in accounting and auditing.

                                       5
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         TABLE OF CONTENTS

                               Page                   60,000 SHARES
                               ----

Cover Page                      1

Additional Information          2

Incorporation of Information
  By Reference                  2                     COMMON STOCK
                                                    ($.01 PAR VALUE)
The Company                     3

Use of Proceeds                 3

Plan of Distribution            3

Experts                         4                    FORTUNE NATURAL
                                                  RESOURCES CORPORATION

                                                    ----------------
                                                       PROSPECTUS
                                                    ----------------

                                                     April 7, 2000

======================================   =======================================
PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 3.    INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

      There is hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made a
part hereof the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB/A for the year ended
December 31, 1999.

      All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and
prior to the termination of the offering of the Common Stock shall be deemed to
be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

      There is also hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made
a part hereof the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
September 13, 1993, which describes the Common Stock.

      Any statement contained in a document incorporated or to be incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified
or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a
statement contained herein modifies, supersedes or replaces such statement. Any
statements modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as modified or
superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

ITEM 4.    DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

      Not applicable.

ITEM 5.    INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

      None.

ITEM 6.    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

      Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits the
indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents of Delaware
corporations. The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company provide
that the corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as it may be amended from
time to time, indemnify and hold harmless each person who was or is a party or
is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person
whom he or she is a legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the
Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit
plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action or inaction in an
official capacity or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer,
employee or agent, against all costs, charges, expenses, liabilities and losses
(including attorney's fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties and
amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by
such person in connection therewith, and such indemnification shall continue as
to person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall
inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators.

ITEM 7.    EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

      Not applicable.

                                       S-1
ITEM 8.    EXHIBITS.

      23.1 Consent of KPMG LLP (filed herewith).

      24.1 Power of Attorney  (included in the signature page of this
           Registration Statement).

ITEM 9.    UNDERTAKINGS.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

      (a) (1) To file during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
              a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

              (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
                   of the Securities Act of 1933;

              (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
                   estimatedmaximum 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 a 20% change in the maximum aggregate
                   offering priceset 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 (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated
by reference in the registration statement.

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, 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 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)(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                                       S-2
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) 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.

      (h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 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 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 of controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit of
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 its counsel the matter has been settled by a controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      S-3
SIGNATURES

      The Registrant. 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 the City of Houston, State of Texas, on April 7, 2000

                                    FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION

                                    By: /s/ Tyrone J. Fairbanks
                                        -----------------------
                                        Tyrone J. Fairbanks
                                        President, Chief Executive Officer
                                        and Director

                                    By: /s/ J. Michael Urban
                                        --------------------
                                        J. Michael Urban
                                        Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
                                        and Chief Accounting Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

      Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Tyrone
J. Fairbanks and Dean W. Drulias, and each of them, as his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him and his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or
all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits hereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission granting
unto said attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the foregoing, as fully to all intents and purposes as
he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agent, or any of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following person in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

     Signature                   Title                          Date
   -------------               ----------                      ------

/s/ Tyrone J. Fairbanks     President, Chief Executive      April 7, 2000
------------------------    Officer, and Director
Tyrone J. Fairbanks         and Director

/s/ Dean W. Drulias         Executive Vice President,       April 7, 2000
---------------------       General Counsel, Corporate
Dean W. Drulias             Secretary and Director

/s/ Barry Feiner            Director                        April 7, 2000
---------------------
Barry Feiner

/s/ D. R. Shaughnessy       Director                        April 7, 2000
------------------------
D. R. Shaughnessy