1


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, DC  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):   September 1, 1998


                        TRANSAMERICAN ENERGY CORPORATION
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


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


                   33-85930                       76-0441642
             ------------------------            ----------------
             (Commission File Number)            (I.R.S. Employer
                                                 Identification No.)


                 1300 North Sam Houston Parkway East, Suite 200
                             Houston, Texas  77032                    
          ------------------------------------------------------------  
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)


                                 (281) 986-8822
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


   2
ITEM 1.          CHANGES IN CONTROL OF REGISTRANT.

                 Not applicable.

ITEM 2.          ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

                 Not applicable.

ITEM 3.          BANKRUPTCY OR RECEIVERSHIP.

                 Not applicable.

ITEM 4.          CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.

                 Not applicable.

ITEM 5.          OTHER EVENTS.

                 On September 1, 1998, TransAmerican Refining Corporation, a
                 wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, issued the press
                 release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, which is incorporated
                 herein by reference.

ITEM 6.          RESIGNATIONS OF REGISTRANT'S DIRECTORS.

                 Not applicable.

ITEM 7.          FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

                 The following exhibit is filed as a part of this report:

                 99.1  Press Release dated September 1, 1998 of TransAmerican
                       Refining Corporation.

ITEM 8.          CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR.

                 Not applicable.

ITEM 9.          SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES PURSUANT TO REGULATION S.

                 Not applicable.





                                       2
   3
                                   SIGNATURES

         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.


                            TRANSAMERICAN ENERGY CORPORATION
                            
                            
                            By     /s/  ED DONAHUE
                               ----------------------------------------------
                            Name:  Ed Donahue
                            Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


Dated: September 1, 1998
   4
                                    EXHIBITS

Exhibit
  No.                              Description                             
- -------                            -----------                             

  99.1      Press Release dated September 1, 1998 of TransAmerican Refining 
            Corporation.





                                       4