UNITED STATES
                       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) October 14, 2004

                                   NEXEN INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                                     CANADA
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

              1-6702                                     98-6000202
       (Commission File Number)                (IRS Employer Identification No.)

        801 - 7TH AVENUE S.W.
       CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA                            T2P 3P7
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                 (Zip Code)

                                 (403) 699-4000
                    (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including
                                   Area Code)

                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (SEE General Instruction A.2. below):

     [_] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)

     [_] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14a-12)

     [_] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

     [_] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





ITEM 2.02.        DISCLOSURE OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

         On October 14, 2004, Nexen Inc. issued a press release announcing its
third quarter results for fiscal 2004. The press release is attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference into this item. The information in
this Current Report is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for the
purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise
subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in this Current
Report shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or
other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be
expressly set forth by specific reference in any such filing.







                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report on Form 8-K to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: October 14, 2004

                                            NEXEN INC.

                                            By:      /s/ Sylvia L. Groves
                                                     -------------------------
                                            Name:    Sylvia L. Groves
                                            Title:   Assistant Secretary






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


         EXHIBIT           DESCRIPTION
         -------           -----------

         99.1              Press release of Nexen Inc. dated October 14, 2004