As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May ___, 1995
                             Registration No. 33-______  

                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                                       FORM S-3

               REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                           

                                CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.
                (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                                     1311                  23-
     2169839
     (State or other jurisdiction            (Primary Standard Industrial
     (I.R.S. Employer Identification
      of incorporation or organization)       Classification Code Number)   
     Number)

                                  Michael R. Gilbert
                        President and Chief Executive Officer
                                Cairn Energy USA, Inc.
                           8235 Douglas Avenue, Suite 1221
                                Dallas, Texas   75225
                                    (214) 369-0316
              (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
       including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices and of
     agent for service)


     Copy to:

          Mark D. Wigder, Esq.               James B. Smith, Jr., Esq.
          Jenkens & Gilchrist,               Cox & Smith Incorporated
          a Professional Corporation         112 E. Pecan Street, Suite 1800
          1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 3200       San Antonio, Texas 74205
          Dallas, Texas   75202              (210) 554-5251
          (214) 855-4326 
                       

          Approximate Date of Commencement of Proposed  Sale to the Public:   As
     soon   as  practicable  after  the  effective  date  of  this  registration
     statement.

          If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered
     pursuant  to  dividend or  interest  reinvestment plans,  please  check the
     following box.

          If  any of  the securities  being registered  on this  form are  to be
     offered on  a delayed or  continuous basis pursuant  to Rule 415  under the
     Securities  Act of 1933, other  than securities offered  in connection with
     dividend or interest reimbursement plans, check the following box.  

                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

                       Title of each class of
                        securities registered           Amount to be
                                                         registered         Proposed maximum
                                                                             offering price
                                                                            per security (1)      Proposed
                                                                                                   maximum
                                                                                                  aggregate
                                                                                               offering price
                                                                                                     (1)           Amount of
                                                                                                                 registration
                                                                                                                      fee

                                                                                                     
                   Shares of Common Stock  . . .      2,623,260 Shares     $9.81               $25,734,180.60    $8,873.86   

         

     (1)  Estimated  solely for the purpose of  calculating the registration fee
     pursuant to  Rule 457(c) and  based upon  the average of  the high  and low
     prices reported on the NASDAQ Stock Market on May 8, 1995.



          The Registrant  hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date
     or  dates  as may  be  necessary  to delay  its  effective  date until  the
     Registrant shall file  a further amendment  which specifically states  that
     this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance
     with Section 8(a) of the  Securities Act of 1933 or until  the Registration
     Statement shall  become effective on  such date  as the Commission,  acting
     pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.

     Information  contained herein  is subject  to completion  or amendment.  
     A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed
     with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  These  securities may not be
     sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time  the registration
     statement becomes effective.  This prospectus  shall not constitute an
     offer  to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be
     any sale of these securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation
     or  sale would be unlawful  prior to registration or qualification  under
     the securities laws of any such State.

                      SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 10, 1995PROSPECTUS
                                   2,623,260 Shares

                                CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.

                                     Common Stock


          This  Prospectus relates  to  an aggregate  of  2,623,260 shares  (the
     "Shares") of common  stock, par value $.01 per share  (the "Common Stock"),
     of Cairn Energy USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), that may
     be offered  from time to time  by Cairn Energy PLC,  a Scottish corporation
     (the  "Selling Stockholder").    The Selling  Stockholder  has advised  the
     Company that up to 1,700,000  of these shares are to be offered and sold on
     an   agency  basis  by   Southcoast  Capital   Corporation  ("Southcoast").
     Southcoast and  the Selling Stockholder have  agreed that the shares  to be
     sold by Southcoast shall  be sold at a price  of at least $9 1/2  per share
     and that Southcoast will receive a commission of $.375 per share.  The sale
     of the  remaining 923,260  Shares in  this  offering is  contingent on  the
     Selling Stockholder  receiving the  approval  of its  shareholders to  such
     sale,  if such  approval is  required.   The Selling  Stockholder does  not
     intend to  sell the remaining 923,260 Shares in this offering for less than
     $9  1/2 per  share,  before payment  of  commissions  and discounts.    See
     "Selling Stockholder."  The Company will receive no part of the proceeds of
     such  sales.    See  "Plan of  Distribution."    All  expenses (other  than
     commissions  and discounts  of  underwriters, brokers,  dealers or  agents)
     incurred  in connection with this offering are expected to be approximately
     $39,000.  All of such expenses will be paid by the Company. 

          The Selling Stockholder  has advised  the Company that  it intends  to
     sell all or a portion of the Shares offered by this Prospectus from time to
     time (i) on the NASDAQ National Market at prices prevailing at  the time of
     such sales, (ii)  otherwise than on  the NASDAQ  National Market at  market
     prices prevailing at the time of sale, at  fixed prices that may be changed
     or at negotiated prices, or (iii) by a combination of the foregoing methods
     of sale.   The Selling  Stockholder and any  broker, dealer or  other agent
     executing sell orders on behalf of the Selling Stockholder may be deemed to
     be "underwriters"  within the  meaning of  the Securities  Act of  1933, as
     amended  (the "Securities Act"), in which event commissions received by any
     such broker,  dealer or agent may be  deemed to be underwriting commissions
     under the Securities Act.  See "Plan of Distribution."

          The Company's Common  Stock is  traded on the  NASDAQ National  Market
     under the symbol "CEUS."  On May 8, 1995, the closing price for  the Common
     Stock as reported by NASDAQ was $9 3/4 per share.
                                   _______________

     THESE  SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN  APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED  BY THE SECURITIES
     AND  EXCHANGE COMMISSION  OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION NOR  HAS THE
     COMMISSION OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE  ACCURACY OR
     ADEQUACY  OF THIS  PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION  TO  THE CONTRARY  IS  A
     CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                 The date of this Prospectus is _____________, 1995.

                                     THE COMPANY

          The registrant,  Cairn Energy USA,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the
     "Company"),   was  incorporated  on  May  5,  1981  in  Delaware  as  "Omni
     Exploration, Inc."   On September 29, 1992, Cairn Energy  USA, Inc., an oil
     and  gas exploration and development company and wholly-owned subsidiary of
     Cairn  Energy  PLC, a  Scottish  corporation  (the "Selling  Stockholder"),
     merged with and  into the registrant with the registrant being the survivor
     (the "Merger").  Pursuant to the Merger, the registrant changed its name to
     "Cairn Energy USA, Inc."  As used in this Prospectus, "Omni" refers to Omni
     Exploration,   Inc.  prior  to  the  Merger,  "Cairn  USA"  refers  to  the
     corporation prior to the Merger that merged into Omni Exploration, Inc. and
     the "Company" refers to the  surviving corporation in the Merger.   Because
     Omni was the reporting  company under the federal  securities laws and  the
     surviving  corporation  in  the  Merger  (but  was  not  the  survivor  for
     accounting  purposes), all references to the Company prior to September 29,
     1992 are  to Omni, except for  financial data and oil  and gas information.
     As a result of the  accounting treatment of the Merger, all  financial data
     and oil and  gas information of the Company prior to September 29, 1992 are
     the historical financial data and oil and gas information of Cairn USA.

          The Company's principal executive offices are  located at 8235 Douglas
     Avenue, Suite 1221, Dallas, Texas   75225 and its telephone number is (214)
     369-0316.

                                 SELLING STOCKHOLDER

          As  of  the date  of this  Prospectus,  the Selling  Stockholder owned
     2,623,260 shares, or approximately 15.5% of the 16,973,150 shares of Common
     Stock  issued  and outstanding.   Assuming  all  Shares offered  hereby are
     actually sold,  the Selling Stockholder will  no longer hold any  shares of
     Common Stock.  

          Of  the  16,973,150 shares  of  Common Stock  issued  and outstanding,
     1,000,000 shares  (the "Escrow Shares")  were issued to  Phemus Corporation
     ("Phemus") in  connection  with the  October 1994  acquisition (the  "Smith
     Acquisition") of substantially all the oil and gas assets of Smith Offshore
     Exploration Company II  ("Smith") and are being held in  escrow.  Phemus, a
     Massachusetts corporation that is a subsidiary of the President and Fellows
     of Harvard College (a Massachusetts non-profit educational corporation) and
     the successor in  interest to Smith, is entitled to  notice of all meetings
     of the  Company's stockholders and to vote all Escrow Shares on all matters
     submitted to the  Company's stockholders for  a vote.   The Escrow  Shares,
     however, are deemed not to be outstanding for financial reporting purposes.
     The  Escrow Shares will  be released to  Phemus or returned  to the Company
     based on the valuation of the Smith Assets that  will occur as of a date on
     or  before  June 30,  1995, to  be  selected by  Phemus, but  which  may be
     extended  under  certain  circumstances  until  December  31,  1995.    See
     "Acquisition  of Smith Offshore  Exploration Company II"  at page  4 of the
     Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994.

          Prior to the  Merger, Cairn USA was  a wholly-owned subsidiary  of the
     Selling Stockholder.   From  time to  time prior to  the Merger,  Cairn USA
     obtained  funds through borrowings  from third  parties and  borrowings and
     capital contributions from the Selling Stockholder.  Effective December 31,
     1991, the Selling Stockholder converted the unpaid principal balance of its
     loans  to  Cairn  USA,  an   aggregate  of  approximately  $12,400,000,  to

     additional  paid-in  capital.   The  accrued  and  unpaid  interest on  the
     converted principal of these  promissory notes was not, however,  converted
     to additional  paid-in capital, and as  of June 30, 1993,  the Company owed
     the Selling Stockholder  approximately $2,600,000  for this  interest.   In
     connection with the Merger,  PLC received 7,992,260 shares of  Common Stock
     and 200,000 shares  of Series A Preferred Stock  constituting approximately
     95.4%  of the  issued and outstanding  capital stock  of the  Company.  The
     Company paid the  accrued and unpaid interest on the converted principal of
     the promissory  notes to the Selling  Stockholder from the proceeds  of the
     Company's  July 1993  public offering  of Common  Stock, which  yielded net
     proceeds to the  Company of  approximately $17,100,000.   The Company  also
     used an additional  $3,600,000 of such proceeds to  redeem from the Selling
     Stockholder all of the Company's then outstanding Series A Preferred Stock.

          In  connection with the Smith Acquisition, the Company and the Selling
     Stockholder  entered  into  a   registration  rights  agreement  (the  "PLC
     Registration Rights  Agreement") pursuant to which  the Selling Stockholder
     has the right to up  to five demand registrations under the  Securities Act
     of the Common  Stock it holds.  Each demand registration must relate to the
     offering  and sale  of at  least  1,000,000 shares  of Common  Stock.   The
     Company is not  obligated to  effect any Securities  Act registration  with
     respect to which the registration request is made within six  months of the
     termination of a prior demand registration of the Selling Stockholder or  a
     piggyback  registration in  which there was  no reduction in  the number of
     securities  requested by  the Selling  Stockholder to  be included  in such
     registration.  In  addition, the Company will not be  obligated to register
     the sale of shares by the Selling Stockholder under the Securities Act that
     may  be sold through an  exemption from registration  available pursuant to
     Rule  144(k) promulgated under the Securities Act.  The Selling Stockholder
     also  has  piggyback  registration  rights to  include  shares  in  certain
     Securities Act registration statements filed by the Company.

          The  Company shall pay  all expenses relating  to demand registrations
     and piggyback registrations  (including the reasonable fees and expenses of
     counsel to the Selling Stockholder),  except for underwriting discounts and
     commissions  attributable to  the sale  of shares  of Common  Stock  by the
     Selling Stockholder.

          The  Selling Stockholder may assign its registration rights to any one
     or more transferees; provided,  however, that no transferee of  the Selling
     Stockholder may assign or transfer rights under the PLC Registration Rights
     Agreement   without  the  prior  written  consent  of  the  Company.    See
     "Registration Rights Relating to Common Stock" at  page 18 of the Company's
     Proxy  Statement   relating  to  its   1995  annual  meeting   (the  "Proxy
     Statement").

          In  connection with the Smith Acquisition, the Company and the Selling
     Stockholder  entered  into  a participation  agreement  (the "Participation
     Agreement").    Pursuant  to   the  Participation  Agreement,  the  Selling
     Stockholder or an affiliate of the Selling Stockholder has the  right under
     certain  circumstances  to  acquire an  interest  in  certain  oil and  gas
     prospects to  be acquired by the  Company in the future  in the continental
     United  States or in  the Gulf of  Mexico.   If the Selling  Stockholder is
     entitled  under the Participation  Agreement to acquire  such interest, the
     Selling Stockholder will be required to purchase such interest  at the same
     price as  the Company has  determined that it  will offer such  interest to
     industry participants.   The Participation Agreement  became effective upon

     the  consummation  of the  Smith  Acquisition.   As  of  the  date of  this
     Prospectus, the Company has  entered into no transactions with  the Selling
     Stockholder under the Participation Agreement.

     Recent Sales of Shares by the Selling Stockholder

          On July 8, 1994, the Selling Stockholder sold 824,000 shares of Common
     Stock it held  at a  price of $7.50  per share  pursuant to a  registration
     statement on  Form  S-3 under  the  Securities Act,  (Registration  No. 33-
     80526).    Mr. J. Munro  M.  Sutherland,  a  then-Director  of  the Selling
     Stockholder  and a  Director  and Senior  Vice  President of  the  Company,
     purchased 12,000 shares  of Common  Stock from the  Selling Stockholder  in
     that offering.

          On October 10,  1994, in  connection with the  Smith Acquisition,  the
     Selling  Stockholder sold 2,000,000  shares of Common Stock  to Phemus at a
     price of $7.50 per share in cash.

          On October 18,  1994 the Selling Stockholder sold  1,926,000 shares of
     Common  Stock at  a price  of $7.00  per share  pursuant to  a registration
     statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act (Registration No. 33-84206).


          In March 1995, the  Selling Stockholder sold 162,000 shares  and 7,000
     shares of Common Stock at prices of  $8 and $8  per share, respectively, in
     sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

                                 PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

          This Prospectus relates to  2,623,260 Shares of Common Stock  that may
     be offered and sold from time to time by the Selling Stockholder.

          As of May 8, 1995, the Selling Stockholder was the beneficial owner of
     2,623,260 shares of  Common Stock.  Assuming all  shares offered hereby are
     actually  sold, the  Selling Stockholder will  no longer own  any shares of
     Common Stock.

          The Selling Stockholder  has advised  the Company that  it intends  to
     sell  all or  a portion  of  the shares  of Common  Stock  offered by  this
     Prospectus from  time to time (i)  on the NASDAQ National  Market at prices
     reasonably related to the prices of the Common stock prevailing at the time
     of  such sales,  (ii)  otherwise than  on the  NASDAQ  national market,  in
     negotiated  transactions (which may include  the pledge or hypothecation of
     some or all  of the shares), at fixed prices that may be changed, at market
     prices  prevailing at  the time  of  sale or  at prices  reasonably related
     thereto or at negotiated prices, or (iii) by a combination of the foregoing
     methods  of sale.  The Selling Stockholder  may effect such transactions by
     selling the shares  of Common Stock to or through  broker-dealers, and such
     broker-dealers  may   receive  compensation  in  the   form  of  discounts,
     concessions  or  commissions  from   the  Selling  Stockholder  and/or  the
     purchasers  of the shares of Common Stock for which such broker-dealers may
     act as agent or to  whom they may sell as principal, or both.   The Selling
     Stockholder has  advised the Company that  up to 1,700,000 of  these Shares
     are to be offered and sold on an agency basis by Southcoast. Southcoast and
     the  Selling  Stockholder  have  agreed  that  the  Shares  to be  sold  by
     Southcoast shall be  sold at a price of at least  $9 1/2 per Share and that
     Southcoast shall receive from the Selling Stockholder a commission of $.375

     per Share.  

          The  sale  of  the  remaining  923,260  Shares  in  this  offering  is
     contingent  on  the  Selling  Stockholder  receiving the  approval  of  its
     shareholders to  such  sale, if  such approval  is required.   The  Selling
     Stockholder does not  intend to sell  the remaining 923,260 Shares  in this
     offering for less than $9 1/2 per Share, before payment  of commissions and
     discounts.  The Company  is not aware as of  the date of the  Prospectus of
     any other agreements between the Selling Stockholder  and any broker-dealer
     with respect  to the sale of  the remaining 923,260 Shares  offered by this
     Prospectus.  

          The  Selling  Stockholder  and  any  broker,  dealer  or  other  agent
     executing  sell orders  on  behalf of  the  Selling Stockholder,  including
     Southcoast, may  be deemed to be  "underwriters" within the meaning  of the
     Securities Act, in  which event  commissions received by  any such  broker,
     dealer or agent and profit on any  resale of the shares of Common Stock may
     be  deemed to be underwriting  commissions under the  Securities Act.  Such
     commissions  received by  a broker,  dealer or  agent may  be in  excess of
     customary compensation.  

          In effecting  the sale of  the Shares offered by  this Prospectus, the
     Selling Stockholder  must  comply  with  Rule 10b-6  under  the  Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934, as  amended (the "Exchange Act"), which  will require
     that the Selling  Stockholder, as well  as any person  who acts in  concert
     with the Selling  Stockholder and the broker, if any,  who sells the shares
     on  behalf of the  Selling Stockholder, suspend all  purchases of shares of
     the Common Stock at least two business days prior  to and during any offers
     and  sales  by  the Selling  Stockholder  of  the  Shares offered  by  this
     Prospectus.    Because the  Selling  Stockholder  may be  deemed  to be  an
     affiliate of the  Company under the Exchange Act, Rule  10b-6 also requires
     the Company  and all  persons who  are in a  control relationship  with the
     Company to  suspend all purchases  of shares  of the Company  at least  two
     business  days prior  to and  during any  offers and  sales by  the Selling
     Stockholder  of the  Shares offered by  this Prospectus.   The Company will
     require  the Selling Stockholder, and its underwriter, broker or dealer, if
     applicable,  to provide a letter that acknowledges its compliance with Rule
     10b-6 before authorizing the transfer of the Selling Stockholder's shares.

                                       EXPERTS

          The consolidated financial  statements of the Company included  in the
     Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for  the year ended December 31, 1994
     have been audited by Ernst &  Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth
     in  their  report  thereon,  included therein  and  incorporated  herein by
     reference.  Such consolidated  financial statements are incorporated herein
     by reference in reliance upon such  report given upon the authority of such
     firm as experts in accounting and auditing.  

          The audited financial  statements of  Smith that are  included in  the
     Company's  Prospectus dated  October 11,  1994 and  in the  Company's Proxy
     Statement relating to a special meeting of stockholders held on October 10,
     1994  have  been  audited  by  Arthur  Andersen,  LLP,  independent  public
     accountants, as set  forth in  their report thereon,  included therein  and
     incorporated herein by  reference in  reliance upon the  authority of  said
     firm as experts in giving said reports.  

          The  estimated reserve review of Ryder Scott included in the Company's
     Annual  Report on  Form  10-K for  the  year ended  December  31, 1994  and
     incorporated  by reference in this  Prospectus has been  included herein in
     reliance  upon  the authority  of  that  firm  as  an expert  in  petroleum
     engineering.

                                AVAILABLE INFORMATION

          The  Company  is  subject  to the  informational  requirements  of the
     Exchange Act and  in accordance therewith  files reports, proxy  statements
     and other  information with  the Securities  and  Exchange Commission  (the
     "Commission").  Such reports, proxy statements and other information can be
     inspected and copied at  the public reference facilities maintained  by the
     Commission  at Room 1024, 450  Fifth Street, N.W.,  Washington, D.C. 20549,
     and  at the  following Regional  Offices of  the Commission:   The  Chicago
     Regional Office, Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite
     1400, Chicago, Illinois   60661-2511, and  the New York Regional  Office, 7
     World Trade  Center, 12th Floor,  New York, New  York 10007, at  prescribed
     rates.  Such reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the
     Company can also be inspected at the offices of the National Association of
     Securities Dealers, Inc., 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.  20006.

                                ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

          The  Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on
     Form S-3 under the Securities Act  with respect to the Common Stock offered
     hereby  (the "Registration Statement").   This Prospectus  does not contain
     all  the  information  set forth  in  the  Registration  Statement and  the
     exhibits  and schedules  thereto.    Such  additional  information  can  be
     obtained  from  the  Commission's  principal  office  in  Washington,  D.C.
     Statements in this Prospectus concerning provisions of documents filed with
     the Registration  Statement as exhibits  are necessarily summaries  of such
     documents, and each statement is qualified in its entirety  by reference to
     the copy of the applicable document filed with the Commission.  
                         DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

          The following documents or  portions thereof filed by the  Company are
     hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus:  

          (i)  the  Company's  Annual Report  on Form  10-K  for the  year ended
               December 31, 1994 and Amendment Number 1 thereto on Form 10-K/A; 

          (ii) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
               March 31, 1995; 

          (iii)     the Company's Proxy Statement for its 1995 Annual Meeting; 

          (iv) the Financial Statements of Smith Offshore Exploration Company II
               and the Pro Forma Combined Financial  Statements contained in the
               Company's Proxy Statement for its Special Meeting of Stockholders
               held October 10, 1994; 

          (v)  the Financial Statements of Smith Offshore Exploration Company II
               contained  in  the  Prospectus  dated  October  11,  1994,  filed
               pursuant   to  Rule   424(b)  and   included  in   the  Company's
               Registration  Statement on Form  S-3 (Registration No. 33-84206);
               and

                                        
          (vi) the description of the Common Stock set forth in the Registration
               Statement on Form 8-A,  filed with the Commission on  January 29,
               1982,  including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
               updating such description.

          In addition, all  documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant
     to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of
     this Prospectus  and prior  to the  termination of  the offering  of Common
     Stock made hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this
     Prospectus  and  to  be a  part  hereof from  the  date of  filing  of such
     documents.  Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or
     deemed  to be  incorporated  by  reference herein  shall  be deemed  to  be
     modified or superseded for  the purposes of this  Prospectus to the  extent
     that a statement  contained herein  or in any  subsequently filed  document
     which is  or is deemed to  be incorporated by reference  herein modifies or
     supersedes  such statement.  Any  such statement so  modified or superseded
     shall not be deemed, except  as so modified or superseded, to  constitute a
     part of this Prospectus.

          The Company  will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy
     of  this Prospectus  is  delivered, upon  oral or  written request  of such
     person, a  copy of any and  all of the documents  incorporated by reference
     herein  (other than exhibits and  schedules to such  documents, unless such
     exhibits or schedules  are specifically incorporated by reference into such
     documents).   Such  requests  should be  directed to  A.  Allen Paul,  Vice
     President-Finance, Cairn Energy USA, Inc., 8235 Douglas Avenue, Suite 1221,
     Dallas, Texas 75225 or by telephone at (214) 369-0316.

                                                                   

          No dealer, salesperson or any other person has been authorized to give
     any  information  or to  make any  representation  in connection  with this
     Offering  other than those  contained in this Prospectus,  and, if given or
     made, such information or representation must not be relied upon  as having
     been authorized  by the Company.   This Prospectus  does not constitute  an
     offer  to sell  or  solicitation of  any  offer to  buy  by anyone  in  any
     jurisdiction in which such offers or  solicitation is not authorized, or in
     which  the person making such offer or  solicitation is not qualified to do
     so  or to  any  person  to  whom it  is  unlawful  to  make such  offer  or
     solicitation.    Neither  the delivery  of  this  Prospectus  nor any  sale
     hereunder shall, under any circumstances create  any implication that there
     has been no change in the  affairs of the Company since the date  hereof or
     that the information contained herein is  correct as of any time subsequent
     to its date.

                                                                   

                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page

     THE COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
     SELLING STOCKHOLDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
     PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     EXPERTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     AVAILABLE INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     ADDITIONAL INFORMATION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6

                                       PART II

                        INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

     Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

          The  following  table   indicates  the  expenses  to  be  incurred  in
     connection with the  issuance and distribution of  the securities described
     in  this  registration statement,  other  than  underwriting discounts  and
     commissions.  The Company will pay all such expenses.

           SEC registration fee                                  $     8,873.86 

           Blue sky fees and expenses                                  3,000.00*

           Accounting fees and expenses                                5,000.00*

           Legal fees and expenses                                    15,000.00*

           Printing and engraving fees and expenses                    5,000.00*

           Miscellaneous                                              2,000.00* 

                TOTAL                                              $ 38,873.86* 

     *Estimated.  

     Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

          The Company has authority under  the Delaware General Corporation Law,
     subject to certain  limitations, to  indemnify its  directors and  officers
     against expenses (including attorneys'  fees), judgments, fines and certain
     settlements actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any
     suit or proceeding to which they are a party  so long as they acted in good
     faith and in a manner  reasonably believed to be  in or not opposed to  the
     best interests  of the Company, and,  with respect to a  criminal action or
     proceeding,  so long  as  they had  no reasonable  cause  to believe  their
     conduct was unlawful.  

          Reference is also made to the  Company's Certificate of Incorporation,
     which limits or eliminates  a director's liability for monetary  damages to
     the Company  or its stockholders  for acts  or omissions in  the director's
     capacity   as  a  director,  except   that  the  Company's  Certificate  of
     Incorporation  does not eliminate or limit  the liability of a director for
     (i)  a breach  of the  director's duty  of loyalty  to  the Company  or its
     stockholders, (ii) an act or omission not in good faith  that constitutes a
     breach  of duty of the director  to the Company or an  act or omission that
     involves intentional misconduct or a knowing  violation of the law, (iii) a
     transaction  from which a director received an improper benefit, whether or
     not  the benefit  resulted from  an action  taken within  the scope  of the
     director's office, or (iv) an act or  omission for which the liability of a
     director  is expressly provided for by an  applicable statute.  In the case
     of  an  action by  or  in  the right  of  the  Company, indemnification  is
     precluded if such person has been adjudged to be liable, unless and only to
     the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court
     in which the  action was  brought shall determine  that indemnification  is
     proper.   The  Company will  advance amounts  to  an indemnified  person on

     receipt of an  undertaking to  repay the advance  following any  subsequent
     determination   that   the   indemnified   person  is   not   entitled   to
     indemnification.  Indemnification will be  provided unless it is determined
     to be improper (i) by a  majority of disinterested directors constituting a
     quorum  or if no such quorum is obtainable,  a majority vote of a committee
     of  two or  more directors,  (ii) by  a majority  vote of  a quorum  of the
     outstanding  shares of stock of all classes entitled to vote for directors,
     voting  as  a single  class, which  quorum  shall consist  of disinterested
     stockholders, (iii) by independent  legal counsel in a written  opinion, or
     (iv) by a court of competent jurisdiction.  The Company  also has the power
     to obtain  insurance indemnifying  officers and  directors  of the  Company
     against any  liability which it may deem proper, whether or not the Company
     would have the power to indemnify such officer or director  pursuant to the
     General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.  The Company has obtained
     such insurance.  

     Item 16.  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

               (a)  Exhibits:

               4    Specimen  Stock  Certificate  evidencing  the  Common  Stock
                    (incorporated by reference from  the Company's Annual Report
                    on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992).

               5    Opinion of Jenkens & Gilchrist, a Professional Corporation.

               23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP, Independent Auditors.

               23.2 Consent   of  Arthur   Andersen   LLP,  Independent   Public
                    Accountants

               23.3 Consent of Jenkens  & Gilchrist, A  Professional Corporation
                    (included in opinion Exhibit 5).

               23.4 Consent of Ryder Scott Company.

               24   Power  of Attorney  (included on the  signature page  of the
                    Registration Statement).  
     Item 17.  Undertakings

          A.   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

               (1)   To  file, during any  period in  which offers  or sales are
     being made, a post-effective 
     amendment to this registration statement:

                    (i)  To include any prospectus required  by Section 10(a)(3)
                         of the Securities Act of 1933;

                    (ii) To  reflect  in  the  prospectus any  facts  or  events
                         arising after  the effective date  of the  registration
                         statement  (or the most recent post-effective amendment
                         thereof)  which,  individually  or  in  the  aggregate,
                         represent a fundamental  change in the information  set
                         forth in the registration statement; and

                    (iii)     To  include any material  information with respect

                              to  the  plan   of  distribution  not   previously
                              disclosed  in the  registration  statement or  any
                              material   change  to  such   information  in  the
                              registration statement; 

     provided, however, that paragraphs A(1)(i) and A(1)(ii) do not apply if the
     information  required to be included in a post-effective amendment by these
     paragraphs  is  contained  in  periodic reports  filed  by  the  registrant
     pursuant to section 13 or  section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange  Act of
     1934.

               (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities  Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
     to  be  a new  registration statement  relating  to the  securities offered
     therein, and the offering of  such securities at that time shall  be deemed
     to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

               (3)  To  remove from  registration by means  of a  post-effective
     amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.

          B.   The undersigned  registrant hereby undertakes that,  for purposes
     of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each  filing
     of  the registrant's  annual report  pursuant to  section 13(a)  or section
     15(d)  of  the Securities  Exchange Act  of  1934 that  is  incorporated by
     reference  in the  registration  statement  shall be  deemed  to  be a  new
     registration statement relating to the securities offered  therein, and the
     offering of such securities at that time shall be  deemed to be the initial
     bona fide offering thereof.

          C.   The undersigned registrant hereby  undertakes to deliver or cause
     to be delivered with the prospectus,  to each person to whom the prospectus
     is sent  or given, the  latest annual  report to  security-holders that  is
     incorporated by reference in  the prospectus and furnished pursuant  to and
     meeting the requirements of Rule  14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under  the Securities
     Exchange  Act of 1934; and, where interim financial information required to
     be  presented by  Article  3 of  Regulation S-X  is  not set  forth in  the
     prospectus, to deliver, or cause to be delivered to each person to whom the
     prospectus   is  sent  or  given,  the  latest  quarterly  report  that  is
     specifically incorporated by  reference in the  prospectus to provide  such
     interim financial information.  

          D.   Insofar  as indemnification  for  liabilities  arising under  the
     Securities  Act of  1933  may  be  permitted  to  directors,  officers  and
     controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions,
     or otherwise,  the registrant has been  advised that in the  opinion of the
     Securities and  Exchange Commission such indemnification  is against public
     policy  as expressed  in  the Securities  Act of  1933  and is,  therefore,
     unenforceable.  In the event that a claim  for indemnification against such
     liabilities  (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
     or  paid by  a director,  officer or controlling  person in  the successful
     defense of any  action, suit or proceeding)  is asserted by  such director,
     officer  or controlling  person  in connection  with  the securities  being
     registered, the registrant will,  unless in the opinion of its  counsel the
     matter has  been settled by  controlling precedent,  submit to  a court  of
     appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
     against  public policy as expressed in the Act  and will be governed by the

     final adjudication of such issue.

          E.   The registrant hereby undertakes that:

               (1)    For  purposes  of  determining  any  liability  under  the
     Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus
     filed as part of this registration statement or in reliance  upon Rule 430A
     and contained in  a form of prospectus filed by  the registrant pursuant to
     Rule 424(b)(1)  or (4) or 497(h) under the  Securities Act of 1933 shall be
     deemed to  be part of  this registration  statement as of  the time it  was
     declared effective.

               (2)    For the  purpose of  determining  any liability  under the
     Securities  Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form
     of prospectus shall  be deemed to be a new  registration statement relating
     to the securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities  at
     that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                                      SIGNATURES


          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-3 and has  duly caused
     this  registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
     thereunto duly  authorized, in the City  of Dallas, and State  of Texas, on
     the 9th day of May, 1995.

                                   CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.
                                   (Registrant)



                                   By:    MICHAEL R. GILBERT               
                                        Michael R. Gilbert, President
                                        and Chief Executive Officer

                                  POWER OF ATTORNEY

          Know  All  Men By  These Presents,  that  each person  whose signature
     appears below  constitutes and  appoints Michael R.  Gilbert and  J. M.  M.
     Sutherland,  and each  of them,  each with  full power  to act  without the
     other, his or  her true  and lawful attorney-in-fact  and agent, with  full
     power and substitution,  for him and in his  name, place and stead,  in any
     and  all capacities, to  sign any  or all  amendments to  this Registration
     Statement,  and to file the same, with  all exhibits thereto, and all other
     documents  in  connection  therewith,  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
     Commission, granting  unto said attorney-in-fact  and agent 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, as fully to all intents and
     purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
     all that said attorney-in-fact  and agent, or his substitute,  may lawfully
     do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

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

     Signature                     Title                             Date       



      MICHAEL R. GILBERT           President and Chief Executive     May 9, 1995
     Michael R. Gilbert            Officer and Director (Principal 
                              Executive Officer)



     J. MUNRO M. SUTHERLAND   Senior        Vice         President,        Chief
     Financial                                                       May 9, 1995
     J.Munro M. Sutherland         Officer, Treasurer and Director
                              (Principal Financial Officer)




       A. ALLEN PAUL                    Vice President-Finance (Principal       
                                                                     May 9, 1995
     A. Allen Paul                      Accounting Officer)



      JACK O. NUTTER                    Director                     May 9, 1995
     Jack O. Nutter, II



      R. DANIEL ROBINS                  Director                     May 9, 1995
     R. Daniel Robins



      WILLIAM B. B. GAMMELL        Director                          May 9, 1995
     William B. B. Gammell



      MICHAEL E. MCMAHON           Director                          May 5, 1995
     Michael E. McMahon



       JOHN C. HALSTED                  Director                     May 9, 1995
     John C. Halsted

                                    EXHIBIT INDEX


      Exhibit
      Number:      Exhibit:                                  Page
                                                          Number:

      4            Specimen Stock Certificate evidencing
                   the Common Stock (incorporated by
                   reference from the Company's Annual
                   Report on Form 10-K for the year
                   ended December 31, 1992).
      5            Opinion of Jenkens & Gilchrist, a
                   Professional Corporation.

      23.1         Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP,
                   Independent Auditors.

      23.2         Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP,
                   Independent Public Accountants.
      23.3         Consent of Jenkens & Gilchrist, a
                   Professional Corporation (included in
                   opinion Exhibit 5).

      23.4         Consent of Ryder Scott Company.
      24           Power of Attorney (included on the
                   signature page of the Registration
                   Statement).