8-K

UNITED STATES
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) March 5, 2004

Nuevo Energy Company

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware	76-0304436
(State or other jurisdiction of	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
1021 Main, Suite 2100, Houston, Texas	77002
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 652-0706

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
	ITEM 7. EXHIBITS
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX
Press Release - Announcing Appointment of CFO

ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

     On March 5, 2004, Nuevo Energy Company announced the appointment of Michael S. Wilkes as Chief Financial Officer in a press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

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ITEM 7. EXHIBITS

(a) Exhibits

99.1 Press release dated March 5, 2004, announcing the appointment of Michael S. Wilkes as Chief Financial Officer.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	NUEVO ENERGY COMPANY (Registrant)
Date: March 5, 2004	By:	/s/ James L. Payne
		James L. Payne
		Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

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EXHIBIT INDEX

99.1 Press release dated March 5, 2004, announcing the appointment of Michael S. Wilkes as Chief Financial Officer.

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EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

	NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT:
March 5, 2004	Barbara B. Forbes
	Director of Investor Relations
	713-374-4870

NUEVO ENERGY APPOINTS MICHAEL S. WILKES AS
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

HOUSTON – Nuevo Energy Company (NYSE: NEV) announces that Mr. Michael S. Wilkes has been appointed Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Wilkes had been appointed interim Chief Financial Officer effective December 4, 2003.

Nuevo Energy Company is a Houston, Texas-based company primarily engaged in the acquisition, exploitation, development, exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. Nuevo’s domestic producing properties are located onshore and offshore California and in West Texas. Nuevo is the largest independent producer of crude oil and natural gas in California. The Company’s international producing property is located offshore the Republic of Congo in West Africa. To learn more about Nuevo, please refer to the Company’s internet site at http://www.nuevoenergy.com.

This press release includes “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, including without limitation, estimated quantities and net present value of reserves, estimated production volumes, business strategies, plans and objectives of management of the Company for future operations and covenant compliance and capital expenditures are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions upon which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such assumptions will prove to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations (“Cautionary Statements”) and projections include volatility in oil and gas prices, operating risks, the risks associated with reserve replacement, competition from other companies and other factors set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings made with the SEC and incorporated herein. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements and projections attributable to the Company or to persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified by the Cautionary Statements.

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