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 26, 2002
                                                --------------------------------

                             VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


     Delaware                       1-10578                      73-1182669
 ---------------               ----------------             -------------------
 (State or other               (Commission File                (IRS Employer
 jurisdiction of                    Number)                 Identification No.)
 incorporation)


110 West Seventh Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma                 74119
----------------------------------------  --------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code      (918) 592-0101
                                                   -----------------------------


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



Item 5.   Other Events.
          ------------

          On April 26, 2002, the Registrant issued a press release
          announcing the sale of $350,000,000 of senior notes. The press
          release states that the notes will not be registered under the
          Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and that such
          notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent
          registration or pursuant to an applicable exemption from the
          registration requirements of the Act. The press release was
          issued in accordance with Rule 135c promulgated under the Act.

          A copy of the press release dated April 26, 2002, is attached as
          an exhibit hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.
          ---------------------------------

          (c)  Exhibits.

               99  Press release dated April 26, 2002, issued by the Registrant.



                                   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.

                                      VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC.



Date:   April 26, 2002                By: /s/ Michael F. Meimerstorf
                                         ----------------------------------
                                          Michael F. Meimerstorf
                                          Vice President and Controller




                                      -2-



                                  Exhibit Index

Exhibit
Number                             Description
------     -----------------------------------------------------------

99         Press release dated April 26, 2002, issued by the Registrant.