As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 1996
                                                    Registration No. 333-


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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

                                    Form S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                            TETRA Technologies, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                                                74-2148293
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

                                25025 I-45 North
                           The Woodlands, Texas 77380
          (Address, including zip code, of Principal Executive Offices)



                            TETRA Technologies, Inc.

                             1990 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                            (Full title of the plan)


                              Bass C. Wallace, Jr.
                                 General Counsel
                                25025 I-45 North
                           The Woodlands, Texas 77380
                                 (713) 367-1983
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

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

                                    copy to:

                                John F. Wombwell
                             Andrews & Kurth L.L.P.
                            4200 Texas Commerce Tower
                                   600 Travis
                              Houston, Texas 77002
                                 (713) 220-4200

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


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                         Proposed
                                                                      Proposed           Maximum
                                                    Amount            Maximum           Aggregate          Amount of
                                                     to be         Offering Price        Offering         Registration
     Title of Securities to be Registered         registered       Per Share (1)        Price  (1)            Fee
<S>                                                <C>                 <C>             <C>                 <C>    

Common Stock, Par Value $.01 Per Share             1,000,000           $18.81          $18,810,000         $6,486.21
=============================================== ===============  ==================  ================  ==================
</TABLE>

(1)  Estimated  solely  for the  purpose of  calculating  the  registration  fee
     pursuant to Rule 457(h),  based upon the average of the high and low prices
     of a share of the  Company's  Common Stock for August 7, 1996 on the Nasdaq
     National Market as reported in The Wall Street Journal on August 8, 1996.
                                             

<PAGE>
                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

         This  Registration  Statement  on Form S-8 is  being  filed  solely  to
register additional securities. In accordance with General Instruction E of Form
S-8, the Company hereby  incorporates by reference the contents of the Company's
registration  statements  on Form S-8,  filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission  on July 5, 1990 (No.  33- 35750) and March 23, 1994 (No.  33-76806),
relating to the TETRA Technologies, Inc. 1990 Stock Option Plan.


Item 8.  Exhibits.

   Exhibit
   Number       Description

          5.1   Opinion of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P.

         23.1   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

         23.2   Consent of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1).

         24.1   Power of Attorney (included in Part II of the Registration
                Statement).

         99.1   TETRA Technologies, Inc. 1990 Stock Option Plan, as amended 
                and restated.


                                      II-2

<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 The Woodlands,  State of Texas, on
  the 9th day of August, 1996.

                                     TETRA Technologies, Inc.
                                     (Registrant)



                                     By: /s/--------------------------
                                         Allen T. McInnes
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer

                                Power of Attorney

        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each of the  undersigned  officers
  and directors of TETRA  Technologies,  Inc. (the "Company") hereby constitutes
  and appoints Allen T. McInnes and Geoffery M. Hertel,  or either of them (with
  full power to each of them to act alone), his true and lawful attorney-in-fact
  and agent,  with full power of substitution,  for him and on his behalf and in
  his name,  place and stead,  in any and all capacities,  to sign,  execute and
  file this Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
  and  any or all  amendments  (including,  without  limitation,  post-effective
  amendments),  with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed
  with respect  thereto,  with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  or any
  regulatory  authority,  granting unto such  attorneys-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  premises in
  order to  effectuate  the same,  as fully to all  intents  and  purposes as he
  himself  might or could  do,  if  personally  present,  hereby  ratifying  and
  confirming  all that said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  or any of them,  or
  their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done.

        Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
  registration  statement  has  been  signed  by the  following  persons  in the
  capacities and on the dates indicated.

         Signature                       Title                          Date

  /s/                      President, Chief Executive Officer     August 9, 1996
  -------------------        and Director(Principal Executive
  Allen T. McInnes           Officer)
          

  /s/                      Chairman of the Board of Directors     August 9, 1996
  -------------------
  J. Taft Symonds

  /s/                       Executive Vice President--Finance     August 9, 1996
  --------------------      and Administration (Principal 
  Geoffrey M. Hertel        Financial Officer)and Director
                            

  /s/                       Corporate Controller (Principal       August 9, 1996
  --------------------      Accounting Officer) 
  Bruce A. Cobb             

  /s/                       Director                              August 9, 1996
  --------------------
  Paul D. Coombs

  /s/                       Director                              August 9, 1996
  --------------------
  Tom H. Delimitros

  /s/                       Director                              August 9, 1996
  --------------------
  Stephen T. Harcrow

  --------------------      Director                                      , 1996
  Michael L. Jeane

  /s/                       Director                              August 9, 1996
  --------------------
  Thomas H. Wentzler



                                      II-3

<PAGE>




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

  Exhibit                                                          Location of
  Number                                                             Exhibit
  -------                                                            -------

  5.1      Opinion of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P.                           5

  23.1     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.                               6

  24.1     Consent of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P                            -
           (included in Exhibit 5.1).

  25.1     Power of Attorney (included in Part II                      -
           of the Registration Statement).

  99.1     TETRA Technologies, Inc. 1990 Stock Option Plan,            7
           as amended and restated.




                                      II-4
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "TETRA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 9211}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TETRA TECHNOLOGIES INC", "cik": "0000844965", "assigned-sic": "2810", "irs-number": "742148293", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-09889", "film-number": "96607353"}, "business-address": {"street1": "25025 I-45N", "city": "WOODLANDS", "state": "TX", "zip": "77380", "phone": "7133671983"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 1996
                                                    Registration No. 333-

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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

                                    Form S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            TETRA Technologies, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                                                74-2148293
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

                                25025 I-45 North
                           The Woodlands, Texas 77380
          (Address, including zip code, of Principal Executive Offices)

                            TETRA Technologies, Inc.

                             1990 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                            (Full title of the plan)

                              Bass C. Wallace, Jr.
                                 General Counsel
                                25025 I-45 North
                           The Woodlands, Texas 77380
                                 (713) 367-1983
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

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

                                    copy to:

                                John F. Wombwell
                             Andrews & Kurth L.L.P.
                            4200 Texas Commerce Tower
                                   600 Travis
                              Houston, Texas 77002
                                 (713) 220-4200

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

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed
                                                                      Proposed           Maximum
                                                    Amount            Maximum           Aggregate          Amount of
                                                     to be         Offering Price        Offering         Registration
     Title of Securities to be Registered         registered       Per Share (1)        Price  (1)            Fee
Common Stock, Par Value $.01 Per Share             1,000,000           $18.81          $18,810,000         $6,486.21
=============================================== ===============  ==================  ================  ==================
(1)  Estimated  solely  for the  purpose of  calculating  the  registration  fee
     pursuant to Rule 457(h),  based upon the average of the high and low prices
     of a share of the  Company's  Common Stock for August 7, 1996 on the Nasdaq
     National Market as reported in The Wall Street Journal on August 8, 1996.
PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

         This  Registration  Statement  on Form S-8 is  being  filed  solely  to
register additional securities. In accordance with General Instruction E of Form
S-8, the Company hereby  incorporates by reference the contents of the Company's
registration  statements  on Form S-8,  filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission  on July 5, 1990 (No.  33- 35750) and March 23, 1994 (No.  33-76806),
relating to the TETRA Technologies, Inc. 1990 Stock Option Plan.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

   Exhibit
   Number       Description

          5.1   Opinion of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P.

         23.1   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

         23.2   Consent of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1).

         24.1   Power of Attorney (included in Part II of the Registration
                Statement).

         99.1   TETRA Technologies, Inc. 1990 Stock Option Plan, as amended 
                and restated.

                                      II-2
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 The Woodlands,  State of Texas, on
  the 9th day of August, 1996.

                                     TETRA Technologies, Inc.
                                     (Registrant)

                                     By: /s/--------------------------
                                         Allen T. McInnes
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer

                                Power of Attorney

        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each of the  undersigned  officers
  and directors of TETRA  Technologies,  Inc. (the "Company") hereby constitutes
  and appoints Allen T. McInnes and Geoffery M. Hertel,  or either of them (with
  full power to each of them to act alone), his true and lawful attorney-in-fact
  and agent,  with full power of substitution,  for him and on his behalf and in
  his name,  place and stead,  in any and all capacities,  to sign,  execute and
  file this Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
  and  any or all  amendments  (including,  without  limitation,  post-effective
  amendments),  with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed
  with respect  thereto,  with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  or any
  regulatory  authority,  granting unto such  attorneys-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  premises in
  order to  effectuate  the same,  as fully to all  intents  and  purposes as he
  himself  might or could  do,  if  personally  present,  hereby  ratifying  and
  confirming  all that said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  or any of them,  or
  their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done.

        Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
  registration  statement  has  been  signed  by the  following  persons  in the
  capacities and on the dates indicated.

         Signature                       Title                          Date

  /s/                      President, Chief Executive Officer     August 9, 1996
  -------------------        and Director(Principal Executive
  Allen T. McInnes           Officer)
          

  /s/                      Chairman of the Board of Directors     August 9, 1996
  -------------------
  J. Taft Symonds

  /s/                       Executive Vice President--Finance     August 9, 1996
  --------------------      and Administration (Principal 
  Geoffrey M. Hertel        Financial Officer)and Director
                            

  /s/                       Corporate Controller (Principal       August 9, 1996
  --------------------      Accounting Officer) 
  Bruce A. Cobb             

  /s/                       Director                              August 9, 1996
  --------------------
  Paul D. Coombs

  /s/                       Director                              August 9, 1996
  --------------------
  Tom H. Delimitros

  /s/                       Director                              August 9, 1996
  --------------------
  Stephen T. Harcrow

  --------------------      Director                                      , 1996
  Michael L. Jeane

  /s/                       Director                              August 9, 1996
  --------------------
  Thomas H. Wentzler

                                      II-3
EXHIBIT INDEX

  Exhibit                                                          Location of
  Number                                                             Exhibit
  -------                                                            -------

  5.1      Opinion of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P.                           5

  23.1     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.                               6

  24.1     Consent of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P                            -
           (included in Exhibit 5.1).

  25.1     Power of Attorney (included in Part II                      -
           of the Registration Statement).

  99.1     TETRA Technologies, Inc. 1990 Stock Option Plan,            7
           as amended and restated.

                                      II-4