As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 4, 1996
                                              Registration No. 33-77102


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
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                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2
                                   TO FORM S-8
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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                             CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                                         23-2169839
  (State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer
   incorporation or organization)                     Identification No.)

   8235 Douglas Avenue, Suite 1221
          Dallas, Texas                                   75225
 (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)

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                 CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC. 1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN
              CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC. 1993 DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN
                        (Full title of the plans)

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     Michael R. Gilbert                                     Copy to:
          President                                    Mark D. Wigder, Esq.
    Cairn Energy USA, Inc.                             Jenkens & Gilchrist,
  8235 Douglas Avenue, Suite 1221                  A Professional Corporation
     Dallas, Texas  75225                       1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 3200
        (214) 369-0316                              Dallas, Texas  75202
    (Name, address and telephone number
    including area code of agent for service)
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                                     Part II
                 Information Required in Registration Statement


Item 8.  Exhibits.

(a) Exhibits.

Exhibit Description of Exhibit

     4.3+  Amendment  No. 3 to Cairn Energy USA, Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan, as
amended.

     4.4+ Form of Incentive  Stock Option  Agreement under the Cairn Energy USA,
Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan, as amended.
     4.5+ Form of  Nonstatutory  Stock Option  Agreement  under the Cairn Energy
USA, Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan, as amended.


- ------------------------
+        Stock option plan, management contract or compensatory arrangement








                                                              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
the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this  Post-Affective
Amendment  No. 2 to  Registration  Statement  No.  33-77102  to be signed on its
behalf by the  undersigned,  thereunto duly  authorized,  in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on June 3, 1996:


                             CAIRN ENERGY USA, INC.


                                      By:     /s/ Michael R. Gilbert
                                              Michael R. Gilbert,
                                              President and 
                                              Chief Executive Officer




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
Amendment No. 2 to  Registration  Statement No.  33-77102 has been signed by the
following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.



                                                                                           

Signature                                      Office                                         Date
/s/ Michael R. Gilbert                         President and Chief Executive                  June 3, 1996
Michael R. Gilbert                             Officer and Director (Principal
                                               Executive Officer)
/s/ J. Munro M. Sutherland                     Senior Vice President, Chief                   June 3, 1996
- -------------------------------------
J. Munro M. Sutherland                         Financial Officer, Treasurer and
                                               Director (Principal Financial and
                                               Accounting Officer)
/s/ Robert P. Murphy                           Vice President-Exploration                     June 3, 1996
- -------------------------------------
Robert P. Murphy                               and Director
/s/ R. Daniel Robins                           Director                                       June 3, 1996
- -------------------------------------
R. Daniel Robins
/s/ John C. Halsted                            Director                                       June 3, 1996
- -------------------------------------
John C. Halsted
/s/ Jack O. Nutter II                          Director                                       June 3, 1996
- -------------------------------------
Jack O. Nutter, II


CORPDAL:48046.1  15467-00006





Signature                                                     Office                                   Date
/s/ James M. Alexander                         Director                                       June 3, 1996
- -------------------------------------
James M. Alexander
/s/ Thomas R. Hix                              Director                                       June 3, 1996
- -------------------------------------
Thomas R. Hix







                                                             EXHIBIT INDEX


                                                                           
   Exhibit                                                                  
   Number                                    Document Description            

     4.3+  Amendment  No. 3 to Cairn Energy USA, Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan, as
amended
     4.4+Form of Incentive  Stock Option  Agreement  under the Cairn Energy USA,
Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan, as amended.
     4.5+Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement under the Cairn Energy USA,
Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan, as amended.
- ---------------
+     Stock option plan, management contract or compensatory arrangement.



CORPDAL:48046.1  15467-00006