UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION



                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                   F O R M 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



                                 Date of Report
                                 April 23, 2003



                          Abraxas Petroleum Corporation
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                     Nevada
                 (State of other jurisdiction of incorporation)





0-19118                                                  74-2584033
(Commission File Number)               (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)




                        500 N. Loop 1604 East, Suite 100
                            San Antonio, Texas 78232
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                         Registrant's telephone number,
                              including area code:
                                  210-490-4788






Item 4. Change in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.

         On April 22, 2003, the Board of Directors of Abraxas Petroleum
Corporation (the "Company"), engaged the accounting firm of BDO Seidman LLP, as
the Company's certifying accountant for the year ending December 31, 2003. The
decision to approve the dismissal of Deloitte & Touche LLP and engagement of BDO
Seidman LLP was approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and
the Board of Directors of the Company. Deloitte & Touche LLP was notified of
their dismissal on April 22, 2003.

         The reports of Deloitte & Touche LLP on the Company's financial
statements for the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2001 and 2002 did not
contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or
modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

         In connection with the audits of the Company's financial statements for
each of the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2001 and 2002, there were no
disagreements with Deloitte & Touche LLP on any matters of accounting
principles, financial statement disclosure or audit scope and procedures which,
if not resolved to the satisfaction of Deloitte & Touche LLP, would have caused
the firm to make reference to the matter in their report.

         The Company has requested Deloitte & Touche LLP to furnish a letter
addressed to the Commission stating whether it agrees with the above statements.
A copy of the letter is attached as Exhibit 16 to this report.


Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c) Exhibits

                 16.1     Letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP to Securities and
                          Exchange Commission regarding agreement with the
                          statements made by registrant under Item 4 of this
                          Form 8-K.







                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the requirement 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.

                          ABRAXAS PETROLEUM CORPORATION



                     By: ___________________________________
                         Chris Williford
                         Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
                         Officer and Treasurer


Dated:    April 23, 2003


                                                                  Exhibit 16.1


April 23, 2003


Securities and Exchange Commission
Mail Stop 11-3
450 5th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549


Dear Sirs/Madams:

We have read Item 4 of Abraxas Petroleum Corporation's Form 8-K dated April 23,
2003, and we agree with the statements made therein.

Yours truly,


Deloitte & Touche LLP