FORM 4
 
___  Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
(Print or Type Responses)
 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1.  Name and Address of Reporting Person*

2.  Issuer Name and Tickler or Trading Symbol
Seitel, Inc.                   SEI

6.  Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
 
_x_Director
___10% Owner
_x_Officer (give title below)
___Other (specify below)
 
Chief Executive Officer
 

(Last)     (First)     (Middle)
Frame, Paul A.

3.  I.R.S. Identification Number of Reporting Person, if an entity (voluntary)
 

4.  Statement for Month/Year

December 2000

(Street)
50 Briar Hollow Lane, 7^th Floor West
Houston, Texas 77027

5.   If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Year)
 

7.   Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
 
_x_Form filed by One Reporting Person
 
___Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
 

(City)     (State)     (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.   Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
 

2.  Transaction Date


(Month/Day/
Year)
 

3.  Transaction Code
(Instr. 8) 

4.   Securities Acquired (A)
or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
 

5.   Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Month

(Instr. 3 and 4)
 

6.  Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
 

7.  Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
 

Code

V

Amount

(A) or (D)

Price

Common Stock, par value $.01

12/20/00

S

300

D

$17.5000

Common Stock, par value $.01

12/21/00

S

37,780

D

$17.1250

Common Stock, par value $.01

12/21/00

S

11,700

D

$17.0000

Common Stock, par value $.01

12/21/00

S

500

D

$17.0625

Common Stock, par value $.01

12/21/00

S

2,000

D

$17.1875

294,652

D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1.   Title of Derivative Security
(Instr.3)
 

2.  Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security
 

3.  Transaction
Date
(Month/Day/
Year)
 

4.  Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
 

5.   Number of Derivative Securities
Acquired (A)
or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 

6.   Date Exerciseable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
 

7.   Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
 

8.  Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5) 

9.  Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Month
(Instr. 4) 

10.  Ownership Form of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Month
(Instr. 4)
 

11.  Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
 

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Options - Right to Buy

$11.3750

07/26/00

A

V

140,000

(1)

7/26/10

Common Stock

140,000

140,000

D

Explanation of Responses:

(1)

Options are exercisable as follows: 33% on first anniversary; 66% on second anniversary; and 100% on third anniversary.

/s/ Paul A. Frame
by Marcia H. Kendrick
**Signature of Reporting Person

01/10/01
Date

Reminder:

Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

*

If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

**

Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations
See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note:

File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.