SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K



                                 CURRENT REPORT


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

               Date of Report: (Date of earliest event reported):
                       March 13, 2002 (February 28, 2002)


                           Blue Dolphin Energy Company
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




   Delaware                           0-15905                    73-1268729
  (State of                   (Commission File Number)         (IRS Employer
Incorporation)                                               Identification No.)




                             801 Travis, Suite 2100
                              Houston, Texas 77002
              (Address of Registrant's principal executive offices)

                                 (713) 227-7660
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)




                                (Not Applicable)
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




ITEM 5.  OTHER

         On February 28, 2002,  Blue Dolphin  Energy  Company  ("Blue  Dolphin")
issued a press release announcing that it acquired an additional 1/3 interest in
the Blue Dolphin Pipeline System (the "Additional Interest"), which it operates,
from  MCNIC  Pipeline  &  Processing  Company  ("MCNIC").  As a  result  of this
transaction  Blue  Dolphin  owns an 83%  interest in the Blue  Dolphin  Pipeline
System.  The Blue  Dolphin  Pipeline  System  is a  natural  gas and  condensate
gathering  pipeline with related shore facilities  servicing the Galveston Area,
offshore  Texas,  with  transportation  capacity  of 160 Mmcf/d and 7,000 Bpd of
condensate.  Present  throughput  is  approximately  20  Mmcf/d  and  100 Bpd of
condensate.  The line extends from Galveston Block 288 to its onshore facilities
in Freeport, Texas.

Pursuant to the terms of the purchase and sales  agreement,  Blue Dolphin issued
MCNIC a $750,000 promissory note that matures on December 31, 2006. Blue Dolphin
will make monthly payments equal to 90% of the net revenues  attributable to the
Additional Interest.  The note bears interest at the rate of 6% per annum and is
secured by the Additional  Interest.  Additionally,  if the  promissory  note is
retired  before its  maturity  date,  Blue  Dolphin  has  agreed to make  annual
payments to MCNIC of up to $750,000 plus the amount of interest which would have
accrued on $750,000 if interest had accrued  thereon from January 1, 2002 at the
rate  of 6%,  out of 50% of the  net  revenues  attributable  to the  Additional
Interest.  These  contingent  payments would begin when the  promissory  note is
retired and end on December 31, 2006.



ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

         (a)      Exhibits

         99.2     Press Release issued February 28, 2002







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                                    SIGNATURE

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

Date:    March 13, 2002


                                                     BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY


                                                      /s/ G. Brian Lloyd
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     G. Brian Lloyd
                                                     Vice President, Treasurer



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                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS



EXHIBIT           DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
-------           ----------------------

99.2              Press Release issued February 28, 2002















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