1
                       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 (Date of earliest event reported)         April 16, 1997
                                                -------------------------------




                          SOUTHERN MINERAL CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



                                     Nevada
                 ----------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


           0-8043                                       36-2068676
- ---------------------------------             ----------------------------------
    (Commission File Number)                  (IRS Employer Identification No.)



            500 Dallas Street, Suite 2800, Houston, Texas 77002-4708
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code (713) 658-9444
                                                          -----------------

        --------------------------------------------------------------
        (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)


   2



ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

This Form 8-K is being filed to update to December 31, 1996 the pro forma
financial information contained in the Registrant's Form 8-K dated August 30,
1996, as amended. The August 30, 1996 Form 8-K reported the Registrant's
acquisition for $3,000,000 cash of the limited partnership interest in SMC
Development L. P. which then was dissolved. Upon dissolution, the Registrant
acquired an undivided 93% interest in the properties. Registrant's interest in
certain of the properties will decrease to 81.5% after it has recovered its
costs of acquiring the limited partnership interest. This summary is qualified
in its entirety by the August 30, 1996 Purchase and Sale Agreement Assignment
of Partnership Interest between Registrant and Torch Energy Fund Limited
Partnership I, and Agreement Regarding Dissolution of Partnerships between
Registrant and Diasu Oil & Gas Co., Inc. filed as exhibits to the August 30,
1996 Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 7.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PROFORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

    (a)    Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.

    SMC Development, L. P. was formed on January 5, 1996, to acquire minority
non-operated working interests in nineteen oil and gas properties and to drill
four development wells. Three of the four development wells were successfully
completed and are expected to commence production in September of 1996.
Financial statements of the acquired operations are not included, since
historical results of operations are not material.

    (b)    Pro Forma Financial Information.

    On August 30, 1996, the Company acquired the limited partnership interest
in SMC Development, L. P. for $3,000,000. The Company previously owned a 7%
general partnership interest in the partnership. The partnership's assets
consisted of proved producing and proved undeveloped oil and gas properties,
with most of the value related to the proved undeveloped properties that were
drilled in 1996.

    The pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations for the twelve
months ended December 31, 1996 presents the acquisition of the SMC Development,
L. P. properties as if it had occurred at January 1, 1996.

    (c)    Exhibits.

    2.1    Purchase and Sale Agreement and Assignment of Partnership Interest,
           dated August 30, 1996, by and between Torch Energy Finance Fund
           Limited Partnership I and Southern Mineral Corporation (incorporated
           by reference to Registrant's Form 8-K dated August 30, 1996).

    2.2    Agreement Regarding Dissolution of Partnerships, dated August 30,
           1996, between Southern Mineral Corporation and Diasu Oil & Gas Co.,
           Inc (incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 8-K dated August
           30, 1996).





                                       2


   3



INDEX TO PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



                                                                    Page Number
                                                                    
    Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of
         Operations for the Twelve Months Ended
         December 31, 1996 (Unaudited)                                    4

    Notes to Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated
        Statement of Operations for the Twelve Months
         Ended December 31, 1996 (Unaudited)                              5






                                       3


   4

                          SOUTHERN MINERAL CORPORATION
                        PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
                           STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                 For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 1996

             (OOO's Omitted, except for Share and Per Share Amount)





                                            JAN-AUG
                              SOUTHERN        SMC      PRO FORMA    ADJUSTMENT       TOTAL
                              MINERAL     DEVELOPMENT, ADJUSTMENTS     NOTE        PRO FORMA
                             CORPORATION     L.P.        AMOUNT      REFERENCE   CONSOLIDATED
                             ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ------------
                                                                  
REVENUES
  Oil & Gas                  $   11,780   $      220   $        0                $     12,000
                             ----------   ----------   ----------                ------------

EXPENSES
  Production                      2,742           87                                    2,829

  Exploration                       865            0                                      865

  Depletion & depreciation        2,875           61                    (3)             2,936
                                                                            
  General & administrative        1,682            6                                    1,688
                                                                            
  Interest                        1,242            0          165       (2)             1,407
                                                                            
  Other                               0            0                                        0
                             ----------   ----------   ----------                ------------
                                                                               
                                  9,406          154          165                       9,725
                             ----------   ----------   ----------                ------------
                                                                               
Other income (expense)              739           29            0                         768
                             ----------   ----------   ----------                ------------
                                                                               
Net income (loss) before                                                       
  income taxes                    3,113           95         (165)                      3,043
                                                                            
Income tax (benefit)                679            0          (26)      (4)               653
                             ----------   ----------   ----------                ------------

Net income (loss)            $    2,434   $       95   $     (139)               $      2,390
                             ==========   ==========   ==========                ============

Net income per share         $     0.34                                          $       0.33
                             ==========                                          ============
                                                                            
Weighted average shares                                                     
  outstanding                     7,215                                                 7,215
                             ==========                                          ============







                                       4
   5


                          SOUTHERN MINERAL CORPORATION
                    NOTES TO PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  (Unaudited)

Note 1:    On August 30, 1996 Southern Mineral Corporation (Southern
           Mineral) acquired the limited partnership interest in SMC
           Development, L. P. for $3,000,000. Southern Mineral previously owned
           a 7% general partnership interest in the partnership. The
           partnership's assets consisted of proved producing and proved
           undeveloped oil and gas properties, with most of the value related
           to proved undeveloped properties and wells drilled in 1996, but not
           yet producing.

           The pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations for the
           twelve months ended December 31, 1996 presents the acquisition of
           the SMC Development, L. P. limited partnership interest as if it had
           occurred at January 1, 1996.

           This statement should be read in conjunction with the separate
           financial statements and notes thereto of Southern Mineral's
           previously filed statements. The condensed consolidated pro forma
           statement of operations is not necessarily indicative of the results
           of operations of the Company as it may be in the future or as if it
           might have been had the acquisition been effective at January 1,
           1996.

           The SMC Development, L. P. amounts for the twelve months ended
           December 31, 1996 are from the partnership records.


Note 2:    Reflects additional interest expense as a result of debt
           financing of the acquisition. The interest rate charged under the
           Company's debt financing was, at the Company's option, the bank's
           prime rate, floating or LIBOR rate plus two and one half percent.

Note 3:    The 1996 depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A) for the
           SMC Development L. P. (Partnership) acquisition is based on the
           carrying value of the producing properties by the partnership.
           Partnership carrying value of proved producing properties is the
           same as Southern Mineral's carrying value after the acquisition, as
           the Partnership's book value of producing properties approximated
           their fair value. Accordingly, their is no pro forma adjustment to
           the historical 1996 DD&A amount.

Note 4:    Reflects reduction in income tax expense caused by reduction in
           pro forma earnings, computed using Statement of Financial Accounting
           Standards No. 109. Also includes taxes on SMC Development L.P.
           income included in the pro forma statement for which no historical
           taxes has been recorded due to its partnership status.




                                       5


   6


                                   SIGNATURES


    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this amended report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                          SOUTHERN MINERAL CORPORATION


April 16, 1997                                 By:  /s/ James H Price
                                                  ---------------------------
                                                    James H. Price
                                                    Vice President - Finance
                                                    (Chief Accounting Officer)










                                       6