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                                  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 June 16, 1998




                         Commission File Number 0-26662


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


                                    Delaware

                 (State or other jurisdiction or incorporation)


                                  43 - 1593374
                        (IRS Employer Identification No.)


                1050 West Blue Ridge Boulevard, PANACO Building,
                           Kansas City, MO              64145-1216
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)




      Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (816) 942 - 6300







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Item 4.  Change in Registrant's Certifying Accountant

     (a) (i) On June 11, 1998,  Arthur Andersen LLP informed the Company that it
has declined to stand for reelection as  independent  auditors of the Company at
its 1998 annual meeting.

     (ii) The reports of Arthur Andersen LLP on the Company's consolidated
financial  statements  for each of the two fiscal years ended  December 31, 1996
and December 31,1997, contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and
were not  qualified  or modified as to  uncertainty,  audit scope or  accounting
principles.

     (iii) N/A

     (iv) During the two most recent  fiscal  years and through the date of this
report,  the Company has had no  disagreements  with Arthur  Andersen LLP on any
matter of accounting principles or practices,  financial statement disclosure or
auditing scope or procedure,  which disagreement (s), if not resolved would have
caused  them to make  reference  thereto  in their  report  on the  consolidated
financial statement of the Company for such years.

     (v) During the  Company's two most recent fiscal years and through the date
of this report,  the Company has had no reportable events as defined in Item 304
(1) (v) of Regulation S-K.

     (vi) The Company has requested  that Arthur  Andersen LLP furnish it with a
letter  addressed to the Securities and Exchange  Commission  stating whether it
agrees with the above  statements.  A copy of that letter dated June 15, 1998 is
filed as exhibit 16 to this form 8-K.

     (b) During the  Company's  two fiscal  years  ended  December  31, 1997 and
December  31, 1996,  and the through  date of this  filing,  the Company has not
consulted  with a new  independent  accountant  regarding  any  of  the  matters
specified in Item 304 (a) (2) of Regulation S-K.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (c) Exhibits

     16. Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission dated June 15, 1998.

                                                         SIGNATURE

         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.


                                                         PANACO, Inc.

                                                         /s/Todd R. Bart
                                                         ---------------
                                                         Todd R. Bart
                                                         Chief Financial Officer




                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit Number             Description

         16                Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP
                           to the Securities and Exchange
                           Commission dated June 15, 1998



Exhibit 16


Arthur Andersen LLP
911 Main Street
Suite 1500
Kansas City, MO 64105-2009



June 15, 1998

Office of the Chief Accountant
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC  20549

Dear Sir/Madam:

     We have read Item 4 included  in the Form 8-K of PANACO,  Inc.  to be filed
with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on June  16,  1998  and are in
agreement with the statements contained therein.

Very truly yours,

     /s/  Arthur Andersen LLP
     ------------------------
     Arthur Andersen LLP
                                   
cc: Mr. Todd Bart, CFO, Panaco, Inc.