UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 12b-25 NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING Commission File Number 1-12322 (Check one:) [ ] Form 10-K [ ] Form 20-F [ ] Form 11-K X] Form 10-Q [ ] Form N-SAR For Period Ended: June 30, 1997 [ ] Transition Report on Form 10-K [ ] Transition Report on Form 20-F [ ] Transition Report on Form 11-K [ ] Transition Report on Form 10-Q [ ] Transition Report on Form N-SAR For the transition period ended: Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the Commission has verified any information contained herein. If the notification relates to a portion of the filing checked above, identify the Item(s) to which the notification relates: PART I--REGISTRANT INFORMATION Saba Petroleum Company Full name of Registrant Bordeaux Petroleum Company Former Name if applicable 3201 Airpark Drive Suite 201 Address of Principal Executive Office (Street and Number) Santa Maria, California 93455 City, State and Zip Code PART II-- RULES 12b-25(b) AND (c) If the subject report could not be filed without unreasonable effort or expense and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to Rules 12b-25(b), the following should be completed. (Check box if appropriate) [X](a) The reasons described in reasonable detail in Part III of this form could not be eliminated without unreasonable effort or expense; [X](b) The subject annual report, semi-annual report, transition report on form 10-K, Form 20-F, 11-K, Form N-SAR or portion thereof, will be filed on or before the fifteenth calendar day following the prescribed due date; or the subject quarterly report on Form 10-Q, or portion thereof will be filed on or before the fifth calendar day following the prescribed due date; and [ ](c) The accountant's statement or other exhibit required by Rule 12b-25 (c) has been attached if applicable. PART II--NARRATIVE State below in reasonable detail the reasons why the Form 10-K, 20-F, 11-K, 10-Q, N-SAR, or the transition report or portion thereof, could not be filed within the prescribed time period. (ATTACH EXTRA SHEETS IF NEEDED) See Exhibit 1 PART IV--OTHER INFORMATION (1)Name and telephone number of person to contact in regard to this notification Walton C. Vance 805 347-8700 (Name) (Area code) (Telephone number) (2)Have all other periodic reports required under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 during the preceding 12 months or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such report (s) been filed? If answer is no, identify report (s) . [X] Yes [ ] No (3)Is it anticipated that any significant change in results of operations from the corresponding period for the last fiscal year will be reflected by the earnings statements to be included in the subject report of portion thereof? [ ] Yes [ X ] No If so, attach an explanation of the anticipated change, both narratively and quantitatively, and, if appropriate, state the reasons why a reasonable estimate of the results cannot be made. Saba Petroleum Company (Name of Registrant as specified in Charter) has caused this notification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Date August 15, 1997 By Walton C. Vance (Walton C. Vance, Vice President) INSTRUCTION: The form may be signed by an executive officer of the registrant or by any other duly authorized representative. The name and title of the person signing the form shall be typed or printed beneath the signature. If the statement is signed on behalf of the registrant by an authorized representative (other than an executive officer), evidence of the representative's authority to sign on behalf of the registrant shall be filed with the form. ATTENTION Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal Criminal Violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001) Form 12b-25 June 30, 1997 Commission File No. 1-12322 PART III. REASONS FRO DELAY IN FILING FORM 10-q WITHIN PRESCRIBED TIME PERIOD The Company's Form 10-Q has not been filed with the Commission within the prescribed time period (by August 15, 1997) for the following reasons which were outside the Company's control and which could not have been avoided without unreasonable expense: A significant portion of the Company's operations are reported by foreign subsidiaries. Obtaining the necessary information from the properties' operators and reporting entities which the Company needs in order to complete its consolidated financial reporting has been delayed due to several factors, including distance, language translation, and personnel turnover at the operator's foreign offices.