SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                SCHEDULE 13E-3/A
                               (AMENDMENT NO. 2)*

                        Rule 13e-3 Transaction Statement
       (Pursuant to Section 13(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934)

                           HALLWOOD ENERGY CORPORATION
                              (Name of the Issuer)

                         THE HALLWOOD GROUP INCORPORATED
                      (Name of Person(s) Filing Statement)

                          $0.50 PAR VALUE COMMON STOCK
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    40636M208
                      (CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

                                 MELVIN J. MELLE
                         THE HALLWOOD GROUP INCORPORATED
                            3710 RAWLINS, SUITE 1500
                               DALLAS, TEXAS 75219
                                 (214) 528-5588
       (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive
               Notices and Communications on Behalf of the Bidder)

                                    COPY TO:
                              W. ALAN KAILER, ESQ.
                               JENKENS & GILCHRIST
                           A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                          1445 ROSS AVENUE, SUITE 3200
                            DALLAS, TEXAS 75202-2799
                                 (214) 855-4500
                              ---------------------

    This statement is filed in connection with (check the appropriate box):

     |_|          (a) The filing of  solicitation  materials  or an  information
                  statement  subject to Regulation 14A,  Regulation 14C, or Rule
                  13e-3(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

CORPDAL:58869.1 18747-00001
                                        1





     |_|      (b) The filing of a registration statement under the Securities 
                    Act of 1933.
     |X|      (c) A tender offer.
     |_|      (d) None of the above.

Check the following box if the soliciting materials or information statement 
referred to in checking box (a) are preliminary copies.  |_|

*    Constituting the final amendment to Schedule 13E-3.




CORPDAL:58869.1 18747-00001
                                        2





         The Hallwood Group  Incorporated  (the  "Purchaser")  hereby amends and
supplements  its  Rule  13E-3  Transaction   Statement  (the  "Schedule  13E-3")
originally  filed on October 15,  1996,  and as so amended on November 22, 1996,
with  respect to its tender  offer for all of the  outstanding  shares of Common
Stock, par value $0.50 per share (the "Shares"), of Hallwood Energy Corporation,
a Texas corporation (the "Company"),  not currently directly or indirectly owned
by the  Purchaser,  for  $19.50 per  Share,  net to the seller in cash,  without
interest thereon,  as set forth in this Amendment No. 2. This Amendment No. 2 to
the Schedule 13E-3 is intended to satisfy the reporting  requirements of Section
13(e) of the  Exchange  Act. The Tender  Offer  Statement on Schedule  14D-1 and
Schedule 13D/A (Amendment No. 12) (the "Schedule 14D-1") was originally filed by
the Purchaser with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission on October 15, 1996,
was amended on November 22, 1996,  and is being amended  concurrently  herewith.
The information contained in the Schedule 14D-1, including all exhibits thereto,
is expressly  and hereby  incorporated  herein by reference and the responses to
each item are  qualified  in their  entirety  by  reference  to the  information
contained in the Schedule 14D-1 and the exhibits  thereto.  All cross references
in this Schedule 13E-3,  other than cross  references to the Schedule 14D-1, are
to the Offer to Purchase.

         This Amendment No. 2 to the Schedule 13E-3 also constitutes the final 
amendment to the Schedule 13E-3 pursuant to Rule 13e-3(d)(3) promulgated under 
the Exchange Act.

ITEM 10.          INTERESTS IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

                  On November 23, 1996, the Purchaser accepted for payment a 
                    total of 87,564 Shares.

ITEM 16.          ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

                  The Offer terminated at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on
Friday, November 22, 1996.

ITEM 17.          MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.

         (d)(10)     Press Release issued by the Company and the Purchaser dated
                           November 25, 1996.






CORPDAL:58869.1 18747-00001
                                        3





                                    SIGNATURE

        After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief,  I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.


Dated:   December 6, 1996                            THE HALLWOOD GROUP
INCORPORATED



                                            By:      /s/  Melvin J. Melle
                                                     -------------------------
                                                     Name:    Melvin J. Melle
                                                     Title:   Vice President


CORPDAL:58869.1 18747-00001
                                        4





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number                     Description                                     Page
Number

(d)(10)    Press Release issued by the Company and the Purchaser dated 
               November 25, 1996.

CORPDAL:58869.1 18747-00001
                                        5