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): July 18, 2003 (July 16, 2003)


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




        Delaware                      0-15905                   73-1268729
(State of Incorporation)      (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer
                                                             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 EVENTS

         Blue Dolphin Energy Company  ("Company")  previously  announced that it
received a notice from the NASDAQ on July 15,  2002,  stating  that  because the
Company's  common stock traded below the minimum bid requirement of $1.00 for 30
consecutive trading days the common stock would be delisted if its bid price did
not close above $1.00 for 10 consecutive  trading days by January 13, 2003. This
initial deadline was extended until July 14, 2003. On July 16, 2003, the Company
received a notice from NASDAQ  that the  initial  deadline to regain  compliance
with NASDAQ's listing  requirements  would be extended to October 8, 2003. As of
July 16, 2003, the bid price for the Company's common stock had not closed above
$1.00 for 10 consecutive trading days. If the Company's common stock is delisted
from NASDAQ it would then trade on the OTC Bulletin Board or "pink sheets". This
could  materially  decrease  the  liquidity  of the  Company's  common stock and
further limit the Company's ability to raise capital.


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

         (a)      Exhibits- None







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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:    July 17, 2003


                                                  BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY


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



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