FORM 8-K



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                 CURRENT REPORT

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






                    The Exploration Company of Delaware, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                    500 North Loop 1604 East, Suite 250
                            San Antonio, Texas 78232
                    (Address of principal executive offices)


                                 (210) 496-5300
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



        Delaware                    0-9120                     84-0793089
(State or other jurisdiction    Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer
   of incorporation)                                       Identification No.)






Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Required to be Reported): Dec. 16, 1999







Item 8.  Change in Fiscal Year


     On December 16, 1999, the Board of Directors of The Exploration  Company of
Delaware,  Inc. ("TXCO") elected to change the Company's annual reporting period
from a fiscal year ending August 31 to a calendar  year ending  December 31. The
transition  period for this  change  will be reported on Form 10-Q for the three
month period ended December 31, 1999.





                                   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 thereunto duly authorized.

                             THE EXPLORATION COMPANY
                                  (Registrant)


                             /s/ Roberto R. Thomae
                             Roberto R. Thomae
                             Chief Financial Officer
                             Secretary/Treasurer
                             (Principal Accounting Officer)



Date:  December 29, 1999