UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K


                                 Current Report



                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                      the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  December 15, 1995



                          TESORO PETROLEUM CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    Delaware
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

                    1-3473                        95-0862768
          (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


               8700 Tesoro Drive                     78217
               San Antonio, Texas                  (Zip code)
    (Address of principal executive offices)


               Registrant's telephone number, including area code
                                 (210) 828-8484


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                          TESORO PETROLEUM CORPORATION
                                    FORM 8-K


Item 5.   Other Events.

          On December 15,  1995,  the  Board  of  Directors  of Tesoro Petroleum
     Corporation ("Tesoro") extended the expiration date of  Tesoro's  Preferred
     Stock  Purchase  Rights  issued  pursuant  to  the  Rights  Agreement dated
     December 16, 1985, between Tesoro  and  InterFirst Bank of Fort Worth, N.A.
     (now, by substitution, Chemical Bank).  The expiration date was extended to
     the close of business on July 24, 1996.

Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

          (c)  Exhibits

               4.   Copy of the resolution of the Board of  Directors  extending
                    the  Expiration  Date relating to the Tesoro Preferred Stock
                    Purchase Rights.

               20.  Press  Release  of  the  Company  dated  December  18, 1995,
                    announcing  extension  of  Expiration   Date   relating   to
                    Preferred Stock Purchase Rights.


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant  to  the  requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly  caused  this  report  to  be  signed  on  its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                   TESORO PETROLEUM CORPORATION



Date:  December 18, 1995           By:  /s/ James C. Reed, Jr.
                                   James C. Reed, Jr.
                                   Executive Vice President, General Counsel
                                   and Secretary

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                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


         Exhibit                  Description                   Page

            4    Copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors         4
                 extending the Expiration Date relating to the
                 Tesoro Preferred Stock Purchase Rights.



           20    Press Release of the Company dated December 18,          5
                 1995, announcing extension of Expiration Date
                 relating to Preferred Stock Purchase Rights.


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