FORM 10-K
                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                         WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
(Mark One)

[x]    Annual  report  pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)  of  the  Securities
       Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002

                                    OR

[ ]    Transition  report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
       Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from                      to

Commission File Number   0-17707

               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                (Exact name of registrant as specified in
                    its limited partnership agreement)

Delaware                                                       75-2220097
(State or other jurisdiction                             (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                       Identification No.)

407 N. Big Spring, Suite 300, Midland, Texas                   79701
(Address of principal executive office)                      (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (915) 686-9927

       Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                   None

       Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                      limited partnership interests

Indicate by check mark whether registrant (1) has filed reports required to
be  filed  by  Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act  of  1934
during  the  preceding  12  months (or for such  shorter  period  that  the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject  to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days:     Yes   X    No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to  Item
405  of  Regulation S-K (229.405 of this chapter) is not contained  herein,
and  will  not  be  contained,  to the best of registrant's  knowledge,  in
definitive  proxy or information statements incorporated  by  reference  in
Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.     [x]

The  registrant's  outstanding  securities  consist  of  Units  of  limited
partnership  interests for which there exists no established public  market
from which to base a calculation of aggregate market value.

The  total  number of pages contained in this report is  42.   The  exhibit
index is found on page 40.

<PAGE>
                            Table of Contents

Item                                                                   Page

                                  Part I

 1.  Business                                                            3

 2.  Properties                                                          6

 3.  Legal Proceedings                                                   7

 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders                 7

                                 Part II

 5.  Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related
     Stockholder Matters                                                 8

 6.  Selected Financial Data                                             9

 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
     Financial Condition and Results of Operations                      10

 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data                        17

 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants
     on Accounting and Financial Disclosure                             31

                                 Part III

10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant                 32

11.  Executive Compensation                                             34

12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
     Management                                                         34

13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions                     35

                                 Part IV

14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports
     on Form 8-K                                                        36

     Signatures                                                         37

<PAGE>
                                  Part I

Item 1.   Business

General
Southwest  Oil  &  Gas  Income  Fund VIII-A,  L.P.  (the  "Partnership"  or
"Registrant") was organized as a Delaware limited partnership  on  November
30,  1987.   The offering of limited partnership interests began March  31,
1988,  minimum capital requirements were met July 6, 1988 and the  offering
concluded March 31, 1989.  The Partnership has no subsidiaries.

The  Partnership  has  expended  its  capital  and  acquired  interests  in
producing oil and gas properties.  After such acquisitions, the Partnership
has  produced and marketed the crude oil and natural gas produced from such
properties.  In most cases, the Partnership purchased working interests  in
oil  and  gas  properties,  with an occasional purchase  of  a  royalty  or
overriding royalty interest.  The Partnership purchased either all or  part
of the rights and obligations under various oil and gas leases.

The  principal executive offices of the Partnership are located at  407  N.
Big Spring, Suite 300, Midland, Texas, 79701.  The Managing General Partner
of  the  Partnership,  Southwest Royalties,  Inc.  (the  "Managing  General
Partner")   and  its  staff  of  82  individuals,  together  with   certain
independent  consultants  used  on an "as needed"  basis,  perform  various
services on behalf of the Partnership, including the selection of  oil  and
gas properties and the marketing of production from such properties.  H. H.
Wommack, III, Chairman, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer  of
the  Managing  General  Partner,  is also  a  general  partner.   Effective
December  31,  2001, Mr. Wommack sold his general partner interest  to  the
Managing General Partner.  The Partnership has no employees.

Principal Products, Marketing and Distribution
The  Partnership has acquired and holds working interests in  oil  and  gas
properties  located  in  New  Mexico and  Texas.   All  activities  of  the
Partnership are confined to the continental United States.  All oil and gas
produced  from these properties is sold to unrelated third parties  in  the
oil and gas business.

The  revenues  generated from the Partnership's oil and gas activities  are
dependent upon the current market for oil and gas.  The prices received  by
the Partnership for its oil and gas production depend upon numerous factors
beyond   the   Partnership's  control,  including  competition,   economic,
political  and regulatory developments and competitive energy sources,  and
make it particularly difficult to estimate future prices of oil and natural
gas.

<PAGE>
In  2002, fighting and threats of fighting in the Middle East and a  strike
in  a  major  oil exporting country dominated the direction  of  crude  oil
prices.  While OPEC agreed to keep production constant throughout the year,
conflicts between the United States and Iraq, as well as between Israel and
the  Palestinians  threatened supplies and caused oil prices  to  surge  in
2002.   In  addition,  a  strike by oil workers in  Venezuela,  the  fourth
largest  supplier to the United States, took a significant amount of  crude
oil off the market toward the end of the year.  As a result, OPEC agreed in
January 2003 to increase output by 1.5 million barrels per day in an effort
to make up for the lost supply and stabilize prices.

In  2002,  spot  prices  gas  for  natural  gas  fell  by  27.5%  from  the
unprecedented heights reached in 2001, averaging just under $3.00/MMBtu for
the  year.   Most of the lowest prices were seen early on, with  the  first
quarter  averaging  of  $2.24/MMBtu.  But as the  year  progressed,  prices
climbed  higher,  ending with a $3.99 average in December.   As  for  2003,
industry  analysts  are  divided  on  their  gas  price  predictions,  with
estimates  ranging anywhere from $4.00 to $6.00/MMBtu.  Weather  forecasts,
storage  inventory  levels, a tighter supply and demand  balance,  and  the
unstable  situation with Iraq are all factors that will have a  significant
impact  on  the direction prices will take.  Overall however, analysts  are
maintaining  a bullish perspective, expecting gas prices to  remain  at  or
above $4.00/MMBtu in 2003.

Following  is a table of the ratios of revenues received from oil  and  gas
production for the last three years:

            Oil       Gas
           -----     -----
  2002      86%       14%
  2001      80%       20%
  2000      83%       17%

As  the table indicates, the majority of the Partnership's revenue is  from
its   oil  production;  therefore,  Partnership  revenues  will  be  highly
dependent upon the future prices and demands for oil.

Seasonality of Business
Although the demand for natural gas is highly seasonal, with higher  demand
in  the colder winter months and in very hot summer months, the Partnership
has  been able to sell all of its natural gas, either through contracts  in
place or on the spot market at the then prevailing spot market price.  As a
result,  the volumes sold by the Partnership have not fluctuated materially
with the change of season.

Customer Dependence
No  material portion of the Partnership's business is dependent on a single
purchaser,  or a very few purchasers, where the loss of one  would  have  a
material  adverse impact on the Partnership.  Two purchasers accounted  for
82%  of the Partnership's total oil and gas production during 2002:  Plains
Marketing LP for 64% and Exxon Company for 18%.  Three purchasers accounted
for  78%  of  the Partnership's total oil and gas production  during  2001:
Plains  Marketing  LP for 58%, Mobil Corporation for 10%  and  Duke  Energy
Field  Services  for  10%.   Two  purchasers  accounted  for  81%  of   the
Partnership's  total oil and gas production during 2000:  Plains  Marketing
LP  for  60%  and  Mobil  Corporation  for  21%.   All  purchasers  of  the
Partnership's oil and gas production are unrelated third parties.   In  the
event   any  of  these  purchasers  were  to  discontinue  purchasing   the
Partnership's  production, the Managing General  Partner  believes  that  a
substitute  purchaser or purchasers could be located without  undue  delay.
No  other purchaser accounted for an amount equal to or greater than 10% of
the Partnership's sales of oil and gas production.

<PAGE>
Competition
Because  the  Partnership has utilized all of its funds available  for  the
acquisition  of interests in producing oil and gas properties,  it  is  not
subject  to  competition from other oil and gas property  purchasers.   See
Item 2, Properties.

Factors  that  may  adversely  affect the  Partnership  include  delays  in
completing  arrangements  for  the sale of production,  availability  of  a
market for production, rising operating costs of producing oil and gas  and
complying  with  applicable  water  and  air  pollution  control  statutes,
increasing  costs  and  difficulties of transportation,  and  marketing  of
competitive  fuels.   Moreover, domestic oil  and  gas  must  compete  with
imported oil and gas and with coal, atomic energy, hydroelectric power  and
other forms of energy.

Regulation

Oil  and Gas Production - The production and sale of oil and gas is subject
to  federal and state governmental regulation in several respects, such  as
existing price controls on natural gas and possible price controls on crude
oil,  regulation of oil and gas production by state and local  governmental
agencies, pollution and environmental controls and various other direct and
indirect   regulation.    Many  jurisdictions  have  periodically   imposed
limitations on oil and gas production by restricting the rate of  flow  for
oil  and  gas wells below their actual capacity to produce and by  imposing
acreage limitations for the drilling of wells.  The federal government  has
the  power  to  permit increases in the amount of oil imported  from  other
countries and to impose pollution control measures.

Various  aspects of the Partnership's oil and gas activities are  regulated
by  administrative agencies under statutory provisions of the states  where
such  activities  are  conducted and by certain  agencies  of  the  federal
government for operations on Federal leases.  Moreover, certain prices  at,
which  the  Partnership may sell its natural gas production, are controlled
by  the  Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978, the Natural Gas Wellhead Decontrol
Act  of  1989  and  the  regulations  promulgated  by  the  Federal  Energy
Regulatory Commission.

Environmental  - The Partnership's oil and gas activities  are  subject  to
extensive  federal,  state  and local laws and  regulations  governing  the
generation,  storage, handling, emission, transportation and  discharge  of
materials into the environment.  Governmental authorities have the power to
enforce compliance with their regulations, and violations carry substantial
penalties.   This  regulatory burden on the oil and gas industry  increases
its cost of doing business and consequently affects its profitability.  The
Managing  General  Partner  is  unable to  predict  what,  if  any,  effect
compliance will have on the Partnership.

Industry  Regulations  and  Guidelines - Certain industry  regulations  and
guidelines  apply to the registration, qualification and operation  of  oil
and  gas programs in the form of limited partnerships.  The Partnership  is
subject  to  these  guidelines, which regulate  and  restrict  transactions
between the Managing General Partner and the Partnership.

The  Partnership  complies with these guidelines and the  Managing  General
Partner  does not anticipate that continued compliance will have a material
adverse effect on Partnership operations.

Partnership Employees
The Partnership has no employees; however, the Managing General Partner has
a  staff of geologists, engineers, accountants, landmen and clerical  staff
who  engage in Partnership activities and operations and perform additional
services  for  the  Partnership as needed.  In  addition  to  the  Managing
General  Partner's  staff, the Partnership engages independent  consultants
such  as petroleum engineers and geologists as needed.  As of December  31,
2002,  there were 82 individuals directly employed by the Managing  General
Partner in various capacities.

<PAGE>
Item 2.   Properties

In  determining whether an interest in a particular producing property  was
to  be  acquired, the Managing General Partner considered such criteria  as
estimated  oil  and  gas reserves, estimated cash flow  from  the  sale  of
production,  present  and  future prices of oil  and  gas,  the  extent  of
undeveloped  and  unproved reserves, the potential for secondary,  tertiary
and other enhanced recovery projects and the availability of markets.

As  of December 31, 2002, the Partnership possessed an interest in oil  and
gas  properties  located  in Eddy County of New  Mexico;  Glasscock,  Leon,
Martin,  Pecos, Reagan, Reeves, Stonewall, Terry, Ward, Winkler and  Yoakum
Counties  of  Texas.   These properties consist  of  various  interests  in
approximately 101 wells and units.

Due  to  the  Partnership's  objective of  maintaining  current  operations
without engaging in the drilling of any developmental or exploratory wells,
or additional acquisitions of producing properties, there have not been any
significant changes in properties during 2002, 2001 and 2000.

There were no leases sold during 2002. During 2001, three leases were  sold
for approximately $200.  There were no leases sold during 2000.

Significant Properties
The  following  table  reflects the significant  properties  in  which  the
Partnership has an interest:

                        Date
                      Purchased    No. of   Proved Reserves*
Name and Location   and Interest   Wells     Oil       Gas
                                            (bbls)    (mcf)
------------------  ------------   ------  --------  --------
--------                                    -----     -----
Mobil Acquisition   4/89 at 5% to    19     69,000   141,000
Ward and Reeves      50% working
                      interest
Counties, Texas

North American       3/89 at 50%     3     238,000      -
Royalties              working
                      interest
Yoakum     County,
Texas

Ramsey-Sell          3/89 at 11%     5      86,000    23,000
                       to 52%
Acquisition            working
                      interest
Winkler    County,
Texas

*Ryder Scott Company, L.P. prepared the reserve and present value data  for
the  Partnership's existing properties as of January 1, 2003.  The  reserve
estimates  were  made  in  accordance with guidelines  established  by  the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 4-10(a) of Regulation S-
X.   Such guidelines require oil and gas reserve reports be prepared  under
existing economic and operating conditions with no provisions for price and
cost escalation except by contractual arrangements.

Oil  price  adjustments were made in the individual evaluations to  reflect
oil quality, gathering and transportation costs. The results of the reserve
report as of January 1, 2003 are an average price of $29.24 per barrel.

Gas  price  adjustments were made in the individual evaluations to  reflect
BTU  content,  gathering and transportation costs and  gas  processing  and
shrinkage.  The results of the reserve report as of January 1, 2003 are  an
average price of $4.67 per Mcf.

<PAGE>
As  also discussed in Part II, Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis
of  Financial Condition and Results of Operations, oil and gas prices  were
subject to frequent changes in 2002.

The  evaluation  of  oil and gas properties is not  an  exact  science  and
inevitably involves a significant degree of uncertainty, particularly  with
respect to the quantity of oil or gas that any given property is capable of
producing.   Estimates  of  oil and gas reserves  are  based  on  available
geological and engineering data, the extent and quality of which  may  vary
in  each  case  and,  in  certain instances, may prove  to  be  inaccurate.
Consequently,  properties may be depleted more rapidly than the  geological
and engineering data have indicated.

Unanticipated  depletion, if it occurs, will result in lower reserves  than
previously  estimated; thus an ultimately lower return for the Partnership.
Basic  changes in past reserve estimates occur annually.  As  new  data  is
gathered  during the subsequent year, the engineer must revise his  earlier
estimates.  A year of new information, which is pertinent to the estimation
of  future  recoverable volumes, is available during  the  subsequent  year
evaluation.   In applying industry standards and procedures, the  new  data
may cause the previous estimates to be revised.  This revision may increase
or  decrease the earlier estimated volumes.  Pertinent information gathered
during the year may include actual production and decline rates, production
from  offset  wells  drilled to the same geologic formation,  increased  or
decreased water production, workovers, and changes in lifting costs,  among
others.   Accordingly,  reserve  estimates are  often  different  from  the
quantities of oil and gas that are ultimately recovered.

The  Partnership  has  reserves, which are classified as  proved  developed
producing, proved developed non-producing and proved undeveloped.   All  of
the proved reserves are included in the engineering reports, which evaluate
the Partnership's present reserves.

Because  the  Partnership  does  not engage  in  drilling  activities,  the
development of proved undeveloped reserves is conducted pursuant  to  farm-
out  arrangements  with  the Managing General Partner  or  unrelated  third
parties.  Generally, the Partnership retains a carried interest such as  an
overriding  royalty  interest under the terms of a  farm-out,  or  receives
cash.

The  Partnership or the owners of properties in which the Partnership  owns
an  interest  can  engage  in workover projects or  supplementary  recovery
projects,  for example, to extract behind the pipe reserves, which  qualify
as   proved  developed  non-producing  reserves.   See  Part  II,  Item  7,
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results  of
Operations.

Item 3.   Legal Proceedings

There are no material pending legal proceedings to which the Partnership is
a party.

Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

No  matter  was submitted to a vote of security holders during  the  fourth
quarter of 2002 through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise.

<PAGE>
                                 Part II


Item 5.   Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder
          Matters

Market Information
Limited  partnership interests, or units, in the Partnership were initially
offered and sold for a price of $500.  Limited partner units are not traded
on  any  exchange  and there is no public or organized trading  market  for
them.  The Managing General Partner has become aware of certain limited and
sporadic transfers of units between limited partners and third parties, but
has no verifiable information regarding the prices at which such units have
been transferred. Further, a transferee may not become a substitute limited
partner without the consent of the Managing General Partner.

After  completion of the Partnership's first full fiscal year of operations
and each year thereafter, the Managing General Partner has offered and will
continue  to  offer  to  purchase each limited partner's  interest  in  the
Partnership,  at a price based on tangible assets of the Partnership,  plus
the  present  value  of  the future net revenues  of  proved  oil  and  gas
properties,  minus liabilities with a risk factor discount of  up  to  one-
third  which  may  be implemented in the sole discretion  of  the  Managing
General  Partner.   However, the Managing General Partner's  obligation  to
purchase  limited partner units is limited to an expenditure of  an  amount
not  in  excess  of  10%  of  the  total limited  partner  units  initially
subscribed  for  by limited partners. As of December 31, 2002,  no  limited
partner  units were purchased by the Managing General Partner.   Southwest,
as  Managing General Partner, evaluated several liquidity alternatives  for
the  partnerships  in  2001 and 2002.  During 2002, Southwest  specifically
pursued  the  possible roll-up and merger of twenty-one  (21)  partnerships
with  the  general partner.  Because of the complexities and  conflicts  of
interest in such a transaction, the Managing General Partner did not make a
formal  repurchase  offer  in 2002 but has responded  to  limited  partners
desiring  to  sell  their units in the partnerships on  an  "as  requested"
basis.   Southwest anticipates that it will maintain this  policy  in  2003
because  the  aforementioned transaction is ongoing.  In 2001, 957  limited
partner  units  were  tendered to and purchased  by  the  Managing  General
Partner  at  an  average base price of $256.07 per unit.  In  2000,  900.25
limited  partner  units  were tendered to and  purchased  by  the  Managing
General Partner at an average base price of $128.82 per unit.

Number of Limited Partner Interest Holders
As of December 31, 2002, there were 518 holders of limited partner units in
the Partnership.

Distributions
Pursuant  to Article IV, Section 4.01 of the Partnership's Certificate  and
Agreement  of  Limited Partnership "Net Cash Flow" is  distributed  to  the
partners  on  a quarterly basis.  "Net Cash Flow" is defined as  "the  cash
generated  by  the  Partnership's investments  in  producing  oil  and  gas
properties,  less  (i)  General and Administrative  Costs,  (ii)  Operating
Costs,  and  (iii) any reserves necessary to meet current  and  anticipated
needs  of  the  Partnership, as determined in the sole  discretion  of  the
Managing General Partner."

<PAGE>
During  2002,  distributions  were made totaling  $167,000,  with  $150,300
distributed  to  the limited partners and $16,700 to the general  partners.
For  the  year ended December 31, 2002, distributions of $11.05 per limited
partner   unit   were  made,  based  upon  13,596  limited  partner   units
outstanding.   During  2001,  quarterly distributions  were  made  totaling
$620,063, with $558,057 distributed to the limited partners and $62,006  to
the  general partners.  For the year ended December 31, 2001, distributions
of  $41.05  per  limited partner unit were made, based upon 13,596  limited
partner units outstanding.  During 2000, quarterly distributions were  made
totaling  $615,440, with $553,896 distributed to the limited  partners  and
$61,544  to  the general partners.  For the year ended December  31,  2000,
distributions  of  $40.74 per limited partner unit were  made,  based  upon
13,596 limited partner units outstanding.

Item 6.   Selected Financial Data

The  following  selected financial data for the years  ended  December  31,
2002,  2001,  2000,  1999 and 1998 should be read in conjunction  with  the
financial statements included in Item 8:

                            2002      2001      2000      1999      1998
                            -----     -----     -----     -----     -----
Revenues               $  1,111,55  1,294,60  1,547,54  954,511   889,180
                          2         9         7

Net income (loss)         280,039   421,668   713,495   246,697   (715,201
                                                                  )

Partners' share of
 net income (loss):

General partners          30,704    46,667    73,550    26,969    (1,184)

Limited partners          249,335   375,001   639,946   219,728   (714,017
                                                                  )

Limited partners'
 net income (loss)
  per unit                  18.34
                                    27.58     47.07     16.16     (52.52)

Limited partners'
 cash distributions
  per unit                  11.05
                                    41.05     40.74     10.80     11.22

Total assets           $  527,285   414,368   612,621   514,637   426,680

<PAGE>
Item 7.   Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition  and
          Results of Operations

General
The  Partnership was formed to acquire interests in producing oil  and  gas
properties,  to produce and market crude oil and natural gas produced  from
such  properties and to distribute any net proceeds from operations to  the
general  and  limited partners.  Net revenues from producing  oil  and  gas
properties are not reinvested in other revenue producing assets  except  to
the  extent  that  producing facilities and wells  are  reworked  or  where
methods  are employed to improve or enable more efficient recovery  of  oil
and gas reserves.  The economic life of the Partnership thus depends on the
period  over  which the Partnership's oil and gas reserves are economically
recoverable.

Increases   or   decreases   in  Partnership   revenues   and,   therefore,
distributions  to partners will depend primarily on changes in  the  prices
received  for  production,  changes in volumes of  production  sold,  lease
operating  expenses, enhanced recovery projects, offset drilling activities
pursuant  to  farm-out arrangements and on the depletion of  wells.   Since
wells  deplete over time, production can generally be expected  to  decline
from year to year.

Well  operating costs and general and administrative costs usually decrease
with   production   declines;  however,  these  costs  may   not   decrease
proportionately.   Net  income available for distribution  to  the  limited
partners  is therefore expected to fluctuate in later years based on  these
factors.

Based  on current conditions, management anticipates performing development
drilling  projects and workovers during the years 2003 and 2004 to  enhance
production.  The partnership may have an increase in production volumes for
the  years  2003  and  2004, otherwise, the partnership  will  most  likely
experience  the  historical production decline, which has approximated   8%
per year.

Critical Accounting Policies
Full cost ceiling calculations The Partnership follows the full cost method
of  accounting  for  its  oil and gas properties.   The  full  cost  method
subjects  companies to quarterly calculations of a "ceiling", or limitation
on  the  amount of properties that can be capitalized on the balance sheet.
If  the  Partnership's capitalized costs are in excess  of  the  calculated
ceiling, the excess must be written off as an expense.

The  Partnership's discounted present value of its proved oil  and  natural
gas  reserves  is  a  major  component  of  the  ceiling  calculation,  and
represents  the  component  that requires the  most  subjective  judgments.
Estimates  of  reserves are forecasts based on engineering data,  projected
future  rates  of  production and the timing of future  expenditures.   The
process  of  estimating oil and natural gas reserves  requires  substantial
judgment,  resulting  in  imprecise determinations,  particularly  for  new
discoveries.   Different reserve engineers may make different estimates  of
reserve  quantities  based  on the same data.   The  Partnership's  reserve
estimates are prepared by outside consultants.

The  passage  of  time  provides  more  qualitative  information  regarding
estimates of reserves, and revisions are made to prior estimates to reflect
updated  information.   However,  there  can  be  no  assurance  that  more
significant  revisions  will not be necessary in  the  future.   If  future
significant  revisions  are  necessary  that  reduce  previously  estimated
reserve quantities, it could result in a full cost property writedown.   In
addition to the impact of these estimates of proved reserves on calculation
of  the  ceiling,  estimates  of proved reserves  are  also  a  significant
component of the calculation of DD&A.

While  the quantities of proved reserves require substantial judgment,  the
associated prices of oil and natural gas reserves that are included in  the
discounted  present  value of the reserves do not  require  judgment.   The
ceiling calculation dictates that prices and costs in effect as of the last
day  of  the  period are generally held constant indefinitely. Because  the
ceiling  calculation dictates that prices in effect as of the last  day  of
the  applicable quarter are held constant indefinitely, the resulting value
is  not indicative of the true fair value of the reserves.  Oil and natural
gas  prices have historically been cyclical and, on any particular  day  at
the  end of a quarter, can be either substantially higher or lower than the
Partnership's  long-term price forecast that is a barometer for  true  fair
value.

Prior  to October 1, 2002, the Partnership calculated depletion of oil  and
gas  properties under the units of revenue method.  The Partnership changed
methods  of estimating depletion effective October 1, 2002 to the units  of
production  method.   The units of production method is more  predominantly
used throughout the oil and gas industry and will allow the Partnership  to
more  closely align itself with its peers.  This change in estimate had  no
impact on depletion expense for the fourth quarter.

<PAGE>
Results of Operations

A.  General Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2002 and 2001

The  following  table  provides certain information  regarding  performance
factors for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001:

                                Year Ended      Percenta
                                                   ge
                               December 31,     Increase
                              2002      2001    (Decreas
                                                   e)
                            -------   -------   --------
                                                -------

Average price per        $    24.54                2%
barrel of oil                         24.02
Average price per mcf    $     3.23              (25%)
of gas                                4.28
Oil production in           39,100    43,100      (9%)
barrels
Gas production in mcf       46,700    59,600     (22%)
Gross oil and gas        $  1,110,30  1,290,53   (14%)
revenue                     1         3
Net oil and gas revenue  $  410,642   568,229    (28%)
Partnership              $  167,000   620,063    (73%)
distributions
Limited partner          $  150,300   558,057    (73%)
distributions
Per unit distribution    $    11.05              (73%)
to limited partners                   41.05
Number of limited           13,596    13,596
partner units

Revenues

The  Partnership's  oil  and  gas revenues  decreased  to  $1,110,301  from
$1,290,533 for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively,  a
decrease  of  14%.  The principal factors affecting the comparison  of  the
years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 are as follows:

1.  The  average  price  for a barrel of oil received  by  the  Partnership
    increased  during the year ended December 31, 2002 as compared  to  the
    year ended December 31, 2001 by 2%, or $.52 per barrel, resulting in an
    increase  of  approximately $20,300 in revenues. Oil sales  represented
    86%  of total oil and gas sales during the year ended December 31, 2002
    as compared to 80% during the year ended December 31, 2001.

    The  average  price  for  an  mcf of gas received  by  the  Partnership
    decreased during the same period by 25%, or $1.05 per mcf, resulting in
    a decrease of approximately $49,000 in revenues.

    The net total decrease in revenues due to the change in prices received
    from oil and gas production is approximately $28,700.  The market price
    for  oil  and gas has been extremely volatile over the past decade  and
    management  expects a certain amount of volatility to continue  in  the
    foreseeable future.

<PAGE>
2.  Oil  production decreased approximately 4,000 barrels or 9% during  the
    year ended December 31, 2002 as compared to the year ended December 31,
    2001, resulting in a decrease of approximately $96,100 in revenues.

    Gas  production  decreased approximately 12,900 mcf or 22%  during  the
    same  period,  resulting  in  a decrease of  approximately  $55,200  in
    revenues.

    The  total  decrease  in revenues due to the change  in  production  is
    approximately  $151,300.  The decrease in gas production  is  primarily
    due to a lease that had a well shut in during the third quarter of 2001
    and  another  lease  that had a well with a casing  leak  resulting  in
    downtime which is currently under assessment for repairing or plugging.

Costs and Expenses

Total  costs and expenses decreased to $831,513 from $872,941 for the years
ended  December  31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, a decrease  of  5%.   The
decrease  is  the result of lower depletion expense, lease operating  costs
and general and administrative expense.

1.    Lease  operating  costs  and  production  taxes  were  3%  lower,  or
   approximately $22,600 less during the year ended December  31,  2002  as
   compared to the year ended December 31, 2001.

2.  General and administrative costs consist of independent accounting  and
    engineering  fees,  computer services, postage,  and  Managing  General
    Partner personnel costs.  General and administrative costs decreased 1%
    or  approximately  $800  during the year ended  December  31,  2002  as
    compared to the year ended December 31, 2001.

3.  Depletion expense decreased to $27,000 for the year ended December  31,
    2002  from  $45,000  for the same period in 2001.   This  represents  a
    decrease  of 40%.  Prior to October 1, 2002, the Partnership calculated
    depletion of oil and gas properties under the units of revenue  method.
    The  Partnership  changed  methods of  estimating  depletion  effective
    October  1,  2002  to  the units of production method.   The  units  of
    production method is more predominantly used throughout the oil and gas
    industry  and  will allow the Partnership to more closely align  itself
    with  its  peers.  This change in estimate had no impact  on  depletion
    expense for the fourth quarter.

    The  major  factor  in  the decrease in depletion expense  between  the
    comparative periods was the decrease in the price of oil and  gas  used
    to determine the Partnership's reserves for January 1, 2003 as compared
    to  2002,  and  the decrease in oil and gas revenues  received  by  the
    Partnership during 2002 as compared to 2001.


<PAGE>
Results of Operations

B.  General Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2001 and 2000

The  following  table  provides certain information  regarding  performance
factors for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000:

                               Year Ended      Percenta
                                                  ge
                              December 31,     Increase
                             2001      2000    (Decreas
                                                  e)
                            -----     -----    --------
                                                ------

Average price per       $   24.02              (16%)
barrel of oil                        28.70
Average price per mcf   $    4.28              (2%)
of gas                               4.36
Oil production in          43,100    44,600    (3%)
barrels
Gas production in mcf      59,600    58,900    1%
Gross oil and gas       $  1,290,53  1,537,03  (16%)
revenue                    3         8
Net oil and gas         $  568,229   831,291   (32%)
revenue
Partnership             $  620,063   615,440   1%
distributions
Limited partner         $  558,057   553,896   1%
distributions
Per unit distribution   $   41.05              1%
to limited partners                  40.74
Number of limited          13,596    13,596
partner units

Revenues

The  Partnership's  oil  and  gas revenues  decreased  to  $1,290,533  from
$1,537,038 for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively,  a
decrease  of  16%.  The principal factors affecting the comparison  of  the
years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 are as follows:

1.  The  average  price  for a barrel of oil received  by  the  Partnership
    decreased  during the year ended December 31, 2001 as compared  to  the
    year ended December 31, 2000 by 16%, or $4.68 per barrel, resulting  in
    a decrease of approximately $201,700 in revenues. Oil sales represented
    80%  of total oil and gas sales during the year ended December 31, 2001
    as compared to 83% during the year ended December 31, 2000.

    The  average  price  for  an  mcf of gas received  by  the  Partnership
    decreased during the same period by 2%, or $.08 per mcf, resulting in a
    decrease of approximately $4,800 in revenues.

    The  total  decrease in revenues due to the change in  prices  received
    from  oil  and  gas production is approximately $206,500.   The  market
    price  for oil and gas has been extremely volatile over the past decade
    and  management expects a certain amount of volatility to  continue  in
    the foreseeable future.

<PAGE>
2.  Oil  production decreased approximately 1,500 barrels or 3% during  the
    year ended December 31, 2001 as compared to the year ended December 31,
    2000, resulting in a decrease of approximately $43,100 in revenues.

    Gas  production increased approximately 700 mcf or 1% during  the  same
    period, resulting in an increase of approximately $3,100 in revenues.

    The  net total decrease in revenues due to the change in production  is
    approximately $40,000.

Costs and Expenses

Total  costs and expenses increased to $872,941 from $834,052 for the years
ended  December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively, an increase  of  5%.   The
increase  is  the  result of higher depletion expense and  lease  operating
costs,  partially  offset  by  a  decrease in  general  and  administrative
expense.

1.  Lease  operating  costs  and  production  taxes  were  2%  higher,   or
    approximately $16,600 more during the year ended December 31,  2001  as
    compared to the year ended December 31, 2000.

2.  General and administrative costs consist of independent accounting  and
    engineering  fees,  computer services, postage,  and  Managing  General
    Partner personnel costs.  General and administrative costs decreased 1%
    or  approximately  $700  during the year ended  December  31,  2001  as
    compared to the year ended December 31, 2000.

3.  Depletion expense increased to $45,000 for the year ended December  31,
    2001  from  $22,000  for the same period in 2000.  This  represents  an
    increase  of 105%.  Depletion is calculated using the units of  revenue
    method  of  amortization based on a percentage of current period  gross
    revenues  to  total future gross oil and gas revenues, as estimated  by
    the Partnership's independent petroleum consultants.

    The  major  factor  in  the increase in depletion expense  between  the
    comparative periods was the decrease in the price of oil and  gas  used
    to determine the Partnership's reserves for January 1, 2002 as compared
    to  2001,  and  the decrease in oil and gas revenues  received  by  the
    Partnership  during  2001 as compared to 2000.  Revisions  of  previous
    estimates  can be attributed to the changes in production  performance,
    oil  and  gas  price and production costs.  The impact of the  revision
    would  have  increased depletion expense approximately  $15,000  as  of
    December 31, 2000.


<PAGE>
C.  Revenue and Distribution Comparison

Partnership net income for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000
was   $280,039,   $421,668  and  $713,495.   Excluding   the   effects   of
depreciation,  depletion and amortization, net income for the  years  ended
December  31,  2002, 2001 and 2000 would have been $307,039,  $466,668  and
$735,495, respectively.  Correspondingly, Partnership distributions for the
years  ended  December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 were $167,000, $620,063  and
$615,440, respectively.  These differences are indicative of the changes in
oil and gas prices, production and properties during 2002, 2001 and 2000.

The  sources  for  the  2002 distributions of $167,000  were  oil  and  gas
operations  of  approximately  $233,500 and  the  change  in  oil  and  gas
properties  of  approximately  $(47,100),  resulting  in  excess  cash  for
contingencies  or  subsequent distributions.   The  sources  for  the  2001
distributions  of  $620,063  were oil and gas operations  of  approximately
$582,800  and  the  change  in  oil  and gas  properties  of  approximately
$(37,400), with the balance from available cash on hand at the beginning of
the  period.  The sources for the 2000 distributions of $615,440  were  oil
and  gas operations of approximately $692,500 and the change in oil and gas
properties  of  approximately  $(8,400),  resulting  in  excess  cash   for
contingencies or subsequent distributions.

Total  distributions during the year ended December 31, 2002 were  $167,000
of  which  $150,300 was distributed to the limited partners and $16,700  to
the  general partners. The per unit distribution to limited partners during
the  same  period was $11.05.  Total distributions during  the  year  ended
December  31, 2001 were $620,063 of which $558,057 was distributed  to  the
limited  partners  and  $62,006  to the general  partners.   The  per  unit
distribution to limited partners during the same period was $41.05.   Total
distributions  during  the year ended December 31, 2000  were  $615,440  of
which  $553,896 was distributed to the limited partners and $61,544 to  the
general partners.  The per unit distribution to limited partners during the
same period was $40.74.

Since  inception of the Partnership, cumulative monthly cash  distributions
of  8,585,924  have  been made to the partners.  As of December  31,  2002,
$7,772,203 or $571.65 per limited partner unit has been distributed to  the
limited partners, representing a 100% return of capital and a 14% return on
capital contributed.

<PAGE>

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The  primary source of cash is from operations, the receipt of income  from
interests in oil and gas properties.  The Partnership knows of no  material
change, nor does it anticipate any such change.

Cash flows provided by operating activities were approximately $233,500  in
2002 compared to $582,800 in 2001 and approximately $692,500 in 2000.   The
primary  source  of  the  2002  cash flow  from  operating  activities  was
profitable operations.

Cash  flows used in investing activities were approximately $47,100 in 2002
compared  to  $37,400  in  2001  and approximately  $8,400  in  2000.   The
principal  use  of  the 2002 cash flow from investing  activities  was  the
addition of oil and gas properties.

Cash flows used in financing activities were approximately $167,100 in 2002
compared to $619,900 in 2001 and approximately $615,500 in 2000.  The  only
use in financing activities was the distributions to partners.

As  of  December  31, 2002, the Partnership had approximately  $189,800  in
working  capital.   The  Managing  General  Partner  knows  of  no  unusual
contractual  commitments.  Although the partnership  held  many  long-lived
properties   at  inception,  because  of  the  restrictions   on   property
development  imposed  by the partnership agreement,  the  Managing  General
Partner  anticipates that at some point in the near future, the partnership
will  need  to be liquidated.  Maintenance of properties and administrative
expenses are increasing relative to production.  As the properties continue
to  deplete,  maintenance  of  properties and  administrative  costs  as  a
percentage of production will continue to increase.

As  the  partnerships  properties have matured, the  net  cash  flows  from
operations  for the partnership have generally declined, except in  periods
of substantially increased commodity pricing.  Since the partnership cannot
develop their non-producing properties, the producing reserves continue  to
deplete causing cash flow to steadily decline.

On October 17, 2002, Southwest Royalties, Inc. the Managing General Partner
filed  an S-4 "Registration of Securities, Business Combinations" with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission.  The S-4 relates to a proposed plan  of
merger of twenty-one limited partnerships.

Liquidity - Managing General Partner

The  Managing General Partner has a highly leveraged capital structure with
approximately $124.0 million of principal due between December 31, 2002 and
December  31, 2004.  The Managing General Partner is constantly  monitoring
its cash position and its ability to meet its financial obligations as they
become due, and in this effort, is continually exploring various strategies
for  addressing  its  current  and future liquidity  needs.   The  Managing
General Partner regularly pursues and evaluates recapitalization strategies
and  acquisition  opportunities  (including  opportunities  to  engage   in
mergers,  consolidations or other business combinations) and at  any  given
time may be in various stages of evaluating such opportunities.

Based   on  current  production,  commodity  prices  and  cash  flow   from
operations,  the Managing General Partner has adequate cash  flow  to  fund
debt  service, developmental projects and day to day operations, but it  is
not  sufficient  to  build a cash balance which would  allow  the  Managing
General  Partner to meet its debt principal maturities scheduled for  2004.
Therefore  the Managing General Partner must renegotiate the terms  of  its
various  obligations or seek new lenders or equity investors  in  order  to
meet  its financial obligations, specifically those maturing in 2004.   The
Managing  General Partner may be required to dispose of certain  assets  in
order to meet its obligations.

There  can  be  no  assurance  that  the Managing  General  Partner's  debt
restructuring  efforts  will be successful or that the  debt  holders  will
agree  to a course of action consistent with the Managing General Partner's
requirements in restructurings the obligations.  Furthermore, there can  be
no  assurance that the sales of assets can be successfully accomplished  on
terms acceptable to the Managing General Partner.

<PAGE>
Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The  FASB  has  issued Statement No. 143 "Accounting for  Asset  Retirement
Obligations" which establishes requirements for the accounting of  removal-
type  costs  associated with asset retirements.  The standard is  effective
for  fiscal  years beginning after June 15, 2002, with earlier  application
encouraged.  The Managing General Partner is currently assessing the impact
on the partnerships financial statements.


Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The  Partnership  is  not a party to any derivative or embedded  derivative
instruments.


<PAGE>
Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

                      Index to Financial Statements

                                                                       Page

Independent Auditors Report                                             19

Balance Sheets                                                          20

Statements of Operations                                                21

Statement of Changes in Partners' Equity                                22

Statements of Cash Flows                                                23

Notes to Financial Statements                                           24

<PAGE>









                        INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT

The Partners
Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund
 VIII-A, L.P.
(a Delaware Limited Partnership)

We  have  audited the accompanying balance sheets of Southwest  Oil  &  Gas
Income  Fund VIII-A, L.P. (the "Partnership") as of December 31,  2002  and
2001, and the related statements of operations, changes in partners' equity
and  cash  flows  for  each  of the years in the three  year  period  ended
December  31,  2002.  These financial statements are the responsibility  of
the  Partnership's management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion
on these financial statements based on our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits in accordance with auditing standards  generally
accepted in the United States of America.  Those standards require that  we
plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit  includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures
in  the  financial  statements.   An  audit  also  includes  assessing  the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as
well  as  evaluating  the  overall financial  statement  presentation.   We
believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In  our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in  all  material respects, the financial position of Southwest Oil  &  Gas
Income  Fund VIII-A, L.P. as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the  results
of  its  operations and its cash flows for each of the years in  the  three
year   period  ended  December  31,  2002  in  conformity  with  accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America.








                                                  KPMG LLP



Midland, Texas
March 14, 2003

<PAGE>



               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                     (a Delaware limited partnership)
                              Balance Sheets
                        December 31, 2002 and 2001


                                   2002      2001
                                   ----      ----
Assets
---------

Current assets:
 Cash and cash equivalents    $  56,709    37,385
  Receivable  from  Managing     133,263   59,724
General Partner
                                 --------  --------
                                 ----      ----
   Total current assets          189,972   97,109
                                 --------  --------
                                 ----      ----

Oil  and  gas  properties  -
using the full-
 cost method of accounting       5,438,77  5,391,72
                                 9         5
       Less      accumulated
depreciation,
         depletion       and     5,101,46  5,074,46
amortization                     6         6
                                 --------  --------
                                 ----      ----
      Net   oil   and    gas     337,313   317,259
properties
                                 --------  --------
                                 ----      ----
                              $  527,285   414,368
                                 =======   =======

Liabilities  and   Partners'
Equity
----------------------------
------------

Current     liability      -  $  199       321
distribution payable
                                 --------  --------
                                 ----      ----
Partners' equity -
 General partners                19,410    5,406
 Limited partners                507,676   408,641
                                 --------  --------
                                 ----      ----
   Total partners' equity        527,086   414,047
                                 --------  --------
                                 ----      ----
                              $  527,285   414,368
                                 =======   =======












                  The accompanying notes are an integral
                   part of these financial statements.

<PAGE>
               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                     (a Delaware limited partnership)
                         Statements of Operations
               Years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000


                               2002      2001      2000
                              ------    ------    ------
Revenues
-------------
 Oil and gas revenue      $  1,110,30  1,290,53  1,537,03
                             1         3         8
 Interest                    646       4,076     6,554
 Miscellaneous               605       -         3,955
                             --------  --------  --------
                             ----      ----      -----
                             1,111,55  1,294,60  1,547,54
                             2         9         7
                             --------  --------  --------
                             ----      ----      ----
Expenses
-------------
 Production                  699,659   722,304   705,747
        General       and    104,854   105,637   106,305
administrative
  Depreciation, depletion    27,000    45,000    22,000
and amortization
                             --------  --------  --------
                             ----      ----      ----
                             831,513   872,941   834,052
                             --------  --------  --------
                             ----      ----      ----
Net income                $  280,039   421,668   713,495
                             =======   =======   =======
 Net income allocated to:

 Managing General Partner $  30,704    42,000    66,195
                             =======   =======   =======
 General Partner          $  -         4,667     7,354
                             =======   =======   =======
 Limited partners         $  249,335   375,001   639,946
                             =======   =======   =======
    Per  limited  partner $   18.34
unit                                   27.58     47.07
                             =======   =======   =======















                  The accompanying notes are an integral
                   part of these financial statements.

<PAGE>
               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                     (a Delaware limited partnership)
                 Statement of Changes in Partners' Equity
               Years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000


                       General   Limited
                       Partners  Partners   Total
                       --------  --------  --------
                        -----      ----       -
Balance         at  $  8,740     505,647   514,387
December 31, 1999

Net income             73,549    639,946   713,495

Distributions          (61,544)  (553,896  (615,440
                                 )         )
                       --------  --------  --------
                       --        ---       ---
Balance         at     20,745    591,697   612,442
December 31, 2000

Net income             46,667    375,001   421,668

Distributions          (62,006)  (558,057  (620,063
                                 )         )
                       --------  --------  --------
                       --        ---       ---
Balance         at     5,406     408,641   414,047
December 31, 2001

Net income             30,704    249,335   280,039

Distributions          (16,700)  (150,300  (167,000
                                 )         )
                       --------  --------  --------
                       --        ---       ---
Balance         at  $  19,410    507,676   527,086
December 31, 2002
                       ======    ======    ======
























                  The accompanying notes are an integral
                   part of these financial statements.

<PAGE>
               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                     (a Delaware limited partnership)
                         Statements of Cash Flows
               Years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

                                   2002      2001      2000
                                   ----      ----      ----
Cash  flows  from  operating
activities:

  Cash received from oil and  $  1,039,34  1,427,57  1,475,77
gas sales                        3         6         2
   Cash   paid  to  Managing
General Partner
   for  production  expense,
administrative
    fees  and  general   and     (807,094  (848,843  (789,799
administrative overhead          )         )         )
 Interest received               646       4,076     6,554
 Miscellaneous settlement        605       -         -
                                 --------  --------  --------
                                 --        --        --
    Net  cash  provided   by
operating
   activities                    233,500   582,809   692,527
                                 --------  --------  --------
                                 --        --        --
Cash  flows  from  investing
activities:

  Additions to oil  and  gas     (47,054)  (37,600)  (8,370)
properties
   Sale   of  oil  and   gas     -         160       -
properties
                                 --------  --------  --------
                                 --        --        --
  Net cash used in investing
   activities                    (47,054)  (37,440)  (8,370)
                                 --------  --------  --------
                                 --        --        --
Cash flows used in financing
activities:

 Distributions to partners       (167,122  (619,921  (615,511
                                 )         )         )
                                 --------  --------  --------
                                 --        --        --
Net  increase (decrease)  in
cash and cash
 equivalents                     19,324    (74,552)  68,646

 Beginning of year               37,385    111,937   43,291
                                 --------  --------  --------
                                 --        --        --
 End of year                  $  56,709    37,385    111,937
                                 ======    ======    ======
Reconciliation of net income
to net
  cash provided by operating
activities:

Net income                    $  280,039   421,668   713,495

Adjustments to reconcile net
income to
net    cash   provided    by
operating activities:

 Depreciation, depletion and     27,000    45,000    22,000
amortization
   (Increase)  decrease   in     (70,958)  137,043   (65,221)
receivables
   (Decrease)  increase   in     (2,581)   (20,902)  22,253
payables
                                 --------  --------  --------
                                 --        --        --
Net    cash   provided    by  $  233,500   582,809   692,527
operating activities
                                 ======    ======    ======

                  The accompanying notes are an integral
                   part of these financial statements.

<PAGE>
               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                     (a Delaware limited partnership)

                      Notes to Financial Statements

1.   Organization
     Southwest  Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P. was organized under  the
     laws of the state of Delaware on November 30, 1987, for the purpose of
     acquiring  producing oil and gas properties and to produce and  market
     crude oil and natural gas produced from such properties for a term  of
     50  years, unless terminated at an earlier date as provided for in the
     Partnership  Agreement.   The  Partnership  sells  its  oil  and   gas
     production  to  a  variety of purchasers with the prices  it  receives
     being  dependent  upon the oil and gas economy.  Southwest  Royalties,
     Inc. serves as the Managing General Partner and H. H. Wommack, III, as
     the  individual  general partner.  Effective December  31,  2001,  Mr.
     Wommack  sold  his  general partner interest to the  Managing  General
     Partner.  Revenues, costs and expenses are allocated as follows:

                                   Limited   General
                                   Partners  Partners
                                   --------  --------
                                      --        --
Interest   income   on    capital    100%       -
contributions
Oil and gas sales                    90%       10%
All other revenues                   90%       10%
Organization  and offering  costs    100%       -
(1)
Amortization    of   organization    100%       -
costs
Syndication costs                    100%       -
Property acquisition costs           100%       -
Gain/loss on property disposition    90%       10%
Operating    and   administrative    90%       10%
costs (2)
Depreciation,    depletion    and
amortization
 of oil and gas properties           100%       -
All other costs                      90%       10%

          (1)All  organization  costs in excess of 3%  of  initial  capital
          contributions  will be paid by the Managing General  Partner  and
          will  be treated as a capital contribution.  The Partnership paid
          the  Managing  General Partner an amount equal to 3%  of  initial
          capital contributions for such organization costs.

          (2)Administrative costs in any year, which exceed 2%  of  capital
          contributions shall be paid by the Managing General  Partner  and
          will be treated as a capital contribution.

2.   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

     Oil and Gas Properties
     Oil  and  gas properties are accounted for at cost under the full-cost
     method.   Under  this  method, all productive and nonproductive  costs
     incurred   in   connection  with  the  acquisition,  exploration   and
     development of oil and gas reserves are capitalized.  Gain or loss  on
     the   sale  of  oil  and  gas  properties  is  not  recognized  unless
     significant oil and gas reserves are involved.

     Prior to October 1, 2002, the Partnership calculated depletion of  oil
     and gas properties under the units of revenue method.  The Partnership
     changed  methods of estimating depletion effective October 1, 2002  to
     the  units  of production method.  The units of production  method  is
     more  predominantly used throughout the oil and gas industry and  will
     allow  the  Partnership to more closely align itself with  its  peers.
     This  change  in estimate had no impact on depletion expense  for  the
     fourth quarter.

<PAGE>
               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                     (a Delaware limited partnership)

                      Notes to Financial Statements

2.   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued

     Oil and Gas Properties- continued
     Should the net capitalized costs exceed the estimated present value of
     oil  and  gas reserves, discounted at 10%, such excess costs would  be
     charged  to current expense.  In applying the units of revenue  method
     for  the  years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and for the nine  months
     ended  September 30, 2002, we have not excluded royalty and net profit
     interest  payments from gross revenues as all of our royalty  and  net
     profit  interests have been purchased and capitalized to the depletion
     basis  of our proved oil and gas properties.  As of December 31, 2002,
     2001  and  2000 the net capitalized costs did not exceed the estimated
     present value of oil and gas reserves.

     Estimates and Uncertainties
     The  preparation of financial statements in conformity with  generally
     accepted  accounting principles requires management to make  estimates
     and  assumptions  that  affect  the reported  amounts  of  assets  and
     liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the
     date  of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues
     and  expenses during the reporting period. The Partnerships  depletion
     calculation and full-cost ceiling test for oil and gas properties uses
     oil and gas reserves estimates, which are inherently imprecise. Actual
     results could differ from those estimates.

     Syndication Costs
     Syndication  costs  are  accounted for as a reduction  of  partnership
     equity.

     Environmental Costs
     The  Partnership  is  subject to extensive federal,  state  and  local
     environmental laws and regulations.  These laws, which are  constantly
     changing, regulate the discharge of materials into the environment and
     may  require  the Partnership to remove or mitigate the  environmental
     effects of the disposal or release of petroleum or chemical substances
     at   various  sites.   Environmental  expenditures  are  expensed   or
     capitalized depending on their future economic benefit.  Costs,  which
     improve a property as compared with the condition of the property when
     originally  constructed or acquired and costs,  which  prevent  future
     environmental contamination are capitalized.  Expenditures that relate
     to  an  existing condition caused by past operations and that have  no
     future  economic benefits are expensed.  Liabilities for  expenditures
     of  a  non-capital  nature are recorded when environmental  assessment
     and/or  remediation  is  probable, and the  costs  can  be  reasonably
     estimated.

     Revenue Recognition
     We  recognize  oil  and gas sales when delivery to the  purchaser  has
     occurred  and title has transferred.  This occurs when production  has
     been delivered to a pipeline or transport vehicle.

     Gas Balancing
     The  Partnership  utilizes the sales method  of  accounting  for  gas-
     balancing  arrangements.  Under this method the Partnership recognizes
     sales  revenue  on all gas sold.  As of December 31,  2002,  2001  and
     2000, there were no significant amounts of imbalance in terms of units
     or value.

     Income Taxes
     No  provision  for  income  taxes  is  reflected  in  these  financial
     statements, since the tax effects of the Partnership's income or  loss
     are passed through to the individual partners.

     In   accordance  with  the  requirements  of  Statement  of  Financial
     Accounting  Standards  No.  109, "Accounting  for  Income  Taxes,  the
     Partnership's tax basis in its net oil and gas properties at  December
     31,  2002  and 2001 is $367,892 and $466,871, respectively, more  than
     that  shown  on  the  accompanying Balance Sheets in  accordance  with
     generally accepted accounting principles.

     Cash and Cash Equivalents
     For purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Partnership considers
     all  highly liquid debt instruments purchased with a maturity of three
     months or less to be cash equivalents.  The Partnership maintains  its
     cash at one financial institution.
<PAGE>
               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                     (a Delaware limited partnership)

                      Notes to Financial Statements

2.   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued
     Number of Limited Partner Units
     As  of  December  31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, there were  13,596  limited
     partner units outstanding held by 518, 518 and 551 partners.

     Concentrations of Credit Risk
     The  Partnership is subject to credit risk through trade  receivables.
     Although  a  substantial portion of its debtors'  ability  to  pay  is
     dependent upon the oil and gas industry, credit risk is minimized  due
     to  a  large customer base.  All partnership revenues are received  by
     the   Managing  General  Partner  and  subsequently  remitted  to  the
     partnership and all expenses are paid by the Managing General  Partner
     and subsequently reimbursed by the partnership.

     Fair Value of Financial Instruments
     The  carrying amount of cash and accounts receivable approximates fair
     value due to the short maturity of these instruments.

     Net Income (loss) per limited partnership unit
     The  net  income (loss) per limited partnership unit is calculated  by
     using the number of outstanding limited partnership units.

     Recent Accounting Pronouncements
     The FASB has issued Statement No. 143 "Accounting for Asset Retirement
     Obligations"  which  establishes requirements for  the  accounting  of
     removal-type costs associated with asset retirements.  The standard is
     effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002, with earlier
     application  encouraged.  The Managing General  Partner  is  currently
     assessing the impact on the partnerships financial statements.


3.   Liquidity - Managing General Partner
     The  Managing General Partner has a highly leveraged capital structure
     with  approximately $124.0 million of principal due  between  December
     31,  2002  and  December 31, 2004.  The Managing  General  Partner  is
     constantly  monitoring its cash position and its ability to  meet  its
     financial  obligations  as they become due, and  in  this  effort,  is
     continually  exploring various strategies for addressing  its  current
     and  future  liquidity needs.  The Managing General Partner  regularly
     pursues  and  evaluates  recapitalization strategies  and  acquisition
     opportunities   (including  opportunities  to   engage   in   mergers,
     consolidations or other business combinations) and at any  given  time
     may be in various stages of evaluating such opportunities.
<PAGE>
               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                     (a Delaware limited partnership)

                      Notes to Financial Statements

3.   Liquidity - Managing General Partner - continued
     Based  on  current  production, commodity prices and  cash  flow  from
     operations,  the Managing General Partner has adequate  cash  flow  to
     fund  debt  service, developmental projects and day to day operations,
     but it is not sufficient to build a cash balance which would allow the
     Managing  General  Partner  to  meet  its  debt  principal  maturities
     scheduled  for  2004.   Therefore the Managing  General  Partner  must
     renegotiate  the terms of its various obligations or seek new  lenders
     or  equity  investors  in  order to meet  its  financial  obligations,
     specifically  those  maturing in 2004.  The Managing  General  Partner
     would  also consider disposing of certain assets in order to meet  its
     obligations.

     There  can  be  no assurance that the Managing General Partner's  debt
     restructuring efforts will be successful or that the debt holders will
     agree  to  a  course  of action consistent with the  Managing  General
     Partner's    requirements   in   restructurings    the    obligations.
     Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the sales of assets can be
     successfully accomplished on terms acceptable to the Managing  General
     Partner.

4.   Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
     After  completion  of  the Partnership's first  full  fiscal  year  of
     operations and each year thereafter, the Managing General Partner  has
     offered  and will continue to offer to purchase each limited partner's
     interest  in the Partnership, at a price based on tangible  assets  of
     the Partnership, plus the present value of the future net revenues  of
     proved  oil  and gas properties, minus liabilities with a risk  factor
     discount  of  up  to one-third which may be implemented  in  the  sole
     discretion  of  the Managing General Partner.  However,  the  Managing
     General  Partner's  obligation to purchase limited  partner  units  is
     limited  to  an expenditure of an amount not in excess of 10%  of  the
     total  limited  partner  units initially  subscribed  for  by  limited
     partners.

     Southwest,  as  Managing General Partner, evaluated several  liquidity
     alternatives  for  the partnerships in 2001 and  2002.   During  2002,
     Southwest  specifically pursued the possible  roll-up  and  merger  of
     twenty-one (21) partnerships with the general partner.  Because of the
     complexities  and  conflicts of interest in such  a  transaction,  the
     Managing  General  Partner did not make a formal repurchase  offer  in
     2002  but  has  responded to limited partners desiring to  sell  their
     units  in  the  partnerships  on an "as requested"  basis.   Southwest
     anticipates  that  it will maintain this policy in  2003  because  the
     aforementioned transaction is ongoing.

     The  Partnership  is  subject  to various  federal,  state  and  local
     environmental  laws  and  regulations, which establish  standards  and
     requirements  for  protection  of the  environment.   The  Partnership
     cannot  predict the future impact of such standards and  requirements,
     which  are  subject to change and can have retroactive  effectiveness.
     The  Partnership  continues to monitor the status of  these  laws  and
     regulations.

     As  of December 31, 2002, the Partnership has not been fined, cited or
     notified  of any environmental violations and management is not  aware
     of  any  unasserted  violations, which would have a  material  adverse
     effect upon capital expenditures, earnings or the competitive position
     in  the  oil and gas industry.  However, the Managing General  Partner
     does  recognize  by  the very nature of its business,  material  costs
     could be incurred in the near term to bring the Partnership into total
     compliance.   The amount of such future expenditures is  not  reliably
     determinable  due to several factors, including the unknown  magnitude
     of  possible  contaminations, the unknown timing  and  extent  of  the
     corrective  actions  which may be required, the determination  of  the
     Partnership's liability in proportion to other responsible parties and
     the  extent to which such expenditures are recoverable from  insurance
     or indemnifications from prior owners of Partnership's properties.

5.   Related Party Transactions
     A  significant  portion  of the oil and gas properties  in  which  the
     Partnership  has  an interest are operated by and purchased  from  the
     Managing  General Partner.  As provided for in the operating agreement
     for  each respective oil and gas property in which the Partnership has
     an  interest,  the  operator  is  paid an  amount  for  administrative
     overhead attributable to operating such properties, with such  amounts
     to  Southwest  Royalties,  Inc.  as operator  approximating  $135,100,
     $139,100 and $135,100 for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001  and
     2000   respectively.    The   amounts  for   administrative   overhead
     attributable  to  operating  the  partnership  properties  have   been
     deducted from gross oil and gas revenues in the determination  of  net
     profit  interest.     In  addition, the Managing General  Partner  and
     certain  officers and employees may have an interest in  some  of  the
     properties that the Partnership also participates.
<PAGE>
               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                     (a Delaware limited partnership)

                      Notes to Financial Statements

5.   Related Party Transactions - continued
     Certain  subsidiaries  or affiliates of the Managing  General  Partner
     perform  various  oil  field  services for  properties  in  which  the
     Partnership  owns an interest.  Such services aggregated approximately
     $35,200, $2,700 and $9,200 for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001
     and  2000,  respectively.  The amounts for oilfield services performed
     for the partnership by affiliates of the Managing General Partner have
     been deducted from gross oil and gas revenues in the determination  of
     net profit interest.

     Southwest  Royalties,  Inc., the Managing General  Partner,  was  paid
     $98,400  during  2002,  2001  and 2000 as an  administrative  fee  for
     indirect   general   and   administrative   overhead   expenses.   The
     administrative fees are included in general and administrative expense
     on the statement of operations.

     Receivables  from  Southwest  Royalties, Inc.,  the  Managing  General
     Partner,  of approximately $133,300 and $59,700 are from oil  and  gas
     production, net of lease operating costs and production taxes,  as  of
     December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

6.   Major Customers
     No  material portion of the Partnership's business is dependent  on  a
     single  purchaser, or a very few purchasers, where  the  loss  of  one
     would  have  a  material  adverse  impact  on  the  Partnership.   Two
     purchasers  accounted for 82% of the Partnership's total oil  and  gas
     production during 2002:  Plains marketing LP for 64% and Exxon Company
     for  18%.   Three  purchasers accounted for 78% of  the  Partnership's
     total  oil  and gas production during 2001:  Plains Marketing  LP  for
     58%, Mobil Corporation for 10% and Duke Energy Field Services for 10%.
     Two  purchasers accounted for 81% of the Partnership's total  oil  and
     gas  production during 2000:  Plains Marketing LP for  60%  and  Mobil
     Corporation for 21%.  All purchasers of the Partnership's oil and  gas
     production  are unrelated third parties.  In the event  any  of  these
     purchasers   were   to   discontinue  purchasing   the   Partnership's
     production,  the Managing General Partner believes that  a  substitute
     purchaser  or  purchasers could be located without  undue  delay.   No
     other  purchaser accounted for an amount equal to or greater than  10%
     of the Partnership's sales of oil and gas production.

7.   Estimated Oil and Gas Reserves (unaudited)
     The  Partnership's  interest in proved oil  and  gas  reserves  is  as
     follows:

                                Oil       Gas
                               (bbls)    (mcf)
                              --------  --------
                                 --        -
Proved     developed     and
undeveloped reserves -

January 1, 2000               475,000   1,122,00
                                        0

   Revisions   of   previous  105,000   (151,000
estimates                               )
 Production                   (45,000)  (59,000)
                              --------  --------
                              ---       -----
December 31, 2000             535,000   912,000

   Revisions   of   previous  (151,000  (484,000
estimates                     )         )
 Production                   (43,000)  (60,000)
                              --------  --------
                              ---       -----
December 31, 2001             341,000   368,000

   Revisions   of   previous  185,000   4,000
estimates
 Production                   (39,000)  (47,000)
                              --------  --------
                              ---       -----
December 31, 2002             487,000   325,000
                              ======    =======

<PAGE>
               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                     (a Delaware limited partnership)

                      Notes to Financial Statements

  7.   Estimated Oil & Gas Reserves (unaudited) - continued

                                Oil       Gas
                               (bbls)    (mcf)
                              --------  --------
                                ----      ----
Proved developed reserves -

December 31, 2000             527,000   909,000
                              =======   =======
December 31, 2001             316,000   365,000
                              =======   =======
December 31, 2002             461,000   322,000
                              =======   =======


     All  of  the Partnership's reserves are located within the continental
     United States.

     *Ryder Scott Company, L.P. prepared the reserve and present value data
     for  the Partnership's existing properties as of January 1, 2003.  The
     reserve  estimates were made in accordance with guidelines established
     by  the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 4-10(a) of
     Regulation  S-X.  Such guidelines require oil and gas reserve  reports
     be  prepared under existing economic and operating conditions with  no
     provisions  for  price  and  cost  escalation  except  by  contractual
     arrangements.

     Oil  price  adjustments  were made in the  individual  evaluations  to
     reflect  oil quality, gathering and transportation costs. The  results
     of  the  reserve report as of January 1, 2003 are an average price  of
     $29.24 per barrel.

     Gas  price  adjustments  were made in the  individual  evaluations  to
     reflect  BTU  content,  gathering and  transportation  costs  and  gas
     processing  and shrinkage.  The results of the reserve  report  as  of
     January 1, 2003 are an average price of $4.67 per Mcf.

     The  evaluation of oil and gas properties is not an exact science  and
     inevitably  involves a significant degree of uncertainty, particularly
     with respect to the quantity of oil or gas that any given property  is
     capable of producing.  Estimates of oil and gas reserves are based  on
     available  geological and engineering data, the extent and quality  of
     which may vary in each case and, in certain instances, may prove to be
     inaccurate.   Consequently, properties may be  depleted  more  rapidly
     than the geological and engineering data have indicated.

     Unanticipated  depletion, if it occurs, will result in lower  reserves
     than  previously estimated; thus an ultimately lower  return  for  the
     Partnership.  Basic changes in past reserve estimates occur  annually.
     As  new data is gathered during the subsequent year, the engineer must
     revise  his  earlier estimates.  A year of new information,  which  is
     pertinent  to  the  estimation  of  future  recoverable  volumes,   is
     available during the subsequent year evaluation.  In applying industry
     standards  and  procedures,  the  new  data  may  cause  the  previous
     estimates  to be revised.  This revision may increase or decrease  the
     earlier estimated volumes.  Pertinent information gathered during  the
     year  may include actual production and decline rates, production from
     offset  wells  drilled  to the same geologic formation,  increased  or
     decreased  water production, workovers, and changes in lifting  costs,
     among others.  Accordingly, reserve estimates are often different from
     the quantities of oil and gas that are ultimately recovered.

     The Partnership has reserves, which are classified as proved developed
     producing, proved developed non-producing and proved undeveloped.  All
     of  the proved reserves are included in the engineering reports, which
     evaluate the Partnership's present reserves.

<PAGE>
               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                     (a Delaware limited partnership)

                      Notes to Financial Statements


7.   Estimated Oil & Gas Reserves (unaudited) - continued
     Because  the  Partnership does not engage in drilling activities,  the
     development  of proved undeveloped reserves is conducted  pursuant  to
     farm-out  arrangements with the Managing General Partner or  unrelated
     third  parties.  Generally, the Partnership retains a carried interest
     such  as an overriding royalty interest under the terms of a farm-out,
     or receives cash.

     The  standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating
     to  proved oil and gas reserves at December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 is
     presented below:

                                   2002      2001      2000
                                  -----     -----     -----

Future cash inflows           $  15,762,0  7,053,00  22,825,0
                                 00        0         00
Production  and  development     8,864,00  4,474,00  11,970,0
costs                            0         0         00
                                 --------  --------  --------
                                 ------    -----     ------
Future net cash flows            6,898,00  2,579,00  10,855,0
                                 0         0         00
10%   annual  discount   for
estimated
 timing of cash flows            3,055,00  982,000   4,966,00
                                 0                   0
                                 --------  --------  --------
                                 ------    -----     ------
Standardized   measure    of
discounted
     future net cash flows    $  3,843,00  1,597,00  5,889,00
                                 0         0         0
                                 ========  ========  ========

     The  principal  sources  of  change in  the  standardized  measure  of
     discounted  future  net cash flows for the years  ended  December  31,
     2002, 2001 and 2000 are as follows:

                                   2002      2001      2000
                                  -----     -----     -----
Sales   of   oil   and   gas
produced,
     net of production costs  $  (411,000  (568,000  (831,000
                                 )         )         )
Changes   in   prices    and     1,349,00  (3,781,0  3,014,00
production costs                 0         00)       0
Changes of production rates
     (timing) and others         (171,000  388,000   (227,000
                                 )                   )
Revisions    of     previous     1,319,00  (920,000  685,000
quantities estimates             0         )
Accretion of discount            160,000   589,000   295,000
Discounted future  net  cash
flows -
Beginning of year                1,597,00  5,889,00  2,953,00
                                 0         0         0
                                 --------  --------  --------
                                 ----      ------    -----
End of year                   $  3,843,00  1,597,00  5,889,00
                                 0         0         0
                                 =======   ========  =======

     Future  net cash flows were computed using year-end prices  and  costs
     that  related  to existing proved oil and gas reserves  in  which  the
     Partnership has mineral interests.
<PAGE>
               Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                     (a Delaware limited partnership)

                      Notes to Financial Statements

8.  Selected Quarterly Financial Results - (unaudited)

                                                Quarter
                                 --------------------------------------
                                                --------
                                  First     Second    Third     Fourth
                                  ------   --------  --------  --------
                                              --                  -
2002:
 Total revenues               $  231,547   255,854   313,228   310,923
 Total expenses                  186,638   201,882   221,601   221,392
 Net income                      44,909    53,972    91,627    89,531
 Net income per limited
  partners unit                     2.93
                                           3.52      6.01      5.88

2001:
 Total revenues               $  395,505   350,625   312,739   235,740
 Total expenses                  171,024   219,778   230,078   252,061
 Net income (loss)               224,481   130,847   82,661    (16,321)
   Net   income  per  (loss)
limited
  partners unit                    14.80
                                           8.59      5.35      1.16)


Item 9.   Changes  in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting  and
          Financial Disclosure

None

<PAGE>
                                 Part III

Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

Management of the Partnership is provided by Southwest Royalties, Inc.,  as
Managing  General Partner.  The names, ages, offices, positions and  length
of  service of the directors and executive officers of Southwest Royalties,
Inc. are set forth below.  Each director and executive officer serves for a
term of one year.

         Name               Age               Position
-----------------------     ---     -----------------------------
----------------------      --      -----------------------------
H. H. Wommack, III          47      Chairman   of   the    Board,
                                    President, Director
                                    and Chief Executive Officer
James N. Chapman(1)         40      Director
William P. Nicoletti(2)     57      Director
Joseph J. Radecki,  Jr.     44      Director
(2)
Richard D. Rinehart(1)      67      Director
John M. White(2)            46      Director
Herbert  C. Williamson,     54      Director
III(1)
Bill E. Coggin              48      Executive Vice President  and
                                    Chief Financial Officer
J. Steven Person            44      Vice President, Marketing

(1)  Member of the Compensation Committee

(2)  Member of the Audit Committee

H.  H.  Wommack, III has served as Chairman of the Board, President,  Chief
Executive Officer and a director since Southwest's founding in 1983.  Since
1997  Mr.  Wommack  has  served as President, Chief Executive  Officer  and
Chairman of SRH, Southwest's former parent and current holder of 10% of its
voting share capital.  Since 1997 Mr. Wommack has served as chairman of the
board  of  directors  of  Midland Red Oak Realty,  Inc.   From  1997  until
December 2000, Mr. Wommack served as chairman of the board of directors  of
Basic  Energy Services, Inc. and since December 2000 has continued to serve
on Basic's board of directors.  Prior to Southwest's formation, Mr. Wommack
was  a  self-employed  independent oil and  gas  producer  engaged  in  the
purchase  and sale of royalty and working interests in oil and  gas  leases
and  the  drilling of wells.  Mr. Wommack graduated from the University  of
North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill and received  his  law  degree  from  the
University of Texas.

James  N.  Chapman  has served as a director since  April  19,  2002.   Mr.
Chapman has been involved in the investment banking industry for 18  years,
presently  acting  as  a capital markets and strategic planning  consultant
with  private and public companies across a range of industries,  including
metals,  mining, manufacturing, aerospace, airline, service and healthcare.
Prior  to  establishing  an independent consulting  practice,  Mr.  Chapman
worked  for  The Renco Group, Inc., a multi-billion private corporation  in
New  York,  for  which Mr. Chapman developed and implemented financing  and
merger  and  acquisitions  strategies  for  Renco's  diverse  portfolio  of
companies.   Prior  to  Renco,  Mr. Chapman was  a  founding  principal  of
Fieldstone Private Capital Group, a capital markets advisory firm  that  he
joined  upon  its inception in August 1990.   Prior to joining  Fieldstone,
Mr.  Chapman worked for Bankers Trust Company for six years, most  recently
in  the  BT Securities Capital Markets area.  Mr. Chapman received  an  MBA
degree with distinction from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College  and
was  elected  an  Edward Tuck Scholar.   He received  his  BA  degree  with
distinction magna cum laude, at Dartmouth College, was elected to Phi  Beta
Kappa and was a Rufus Choate Scholar.

William  P. Nicoletti has served as a director since April 19,  2002.   Mr.
Nicoletti  is Managing Director of Nicoletti & Company Inc., an  investment
banking and financial advisory firm.  He was formerly a senior officer  and
head  of  the  Energy Investment Banking Groups of E. F. Hutton  &  Company
Inc.,  Paine  Webber,  Incorporated  and  McDonald  Investments  Inc.   Mr.
Nicoletti  is  Chairman  of  the  board  of  directors  of  Russell-Stanley
Holdings, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of steel and plastic industrial
containers.  He is a director of Mark WestEnergy Partners, L.P., a business
engaged   in  the  gathering  and  processing  of  natural  gas   and   the
fractionation and storage of natural gas liquids.  Mr. Nicoletti is also  a
Director  and  Chairman of the Audit Committee of Star Gas Partners,  L.P.,
the  nation's largest retail distributor of home heating oil  and  a  major
retail  distributor of propane gas.  Mr. Nicoletti is a graduate  of  Seton
Hall  University  and  received  an  MBA degree  from  Columbia  University
Graduate School of Business.

<PAGE>

Joseph J. Radecki, Jr. has served as a director since April 19, 2002.   Mr.
Radecki is currently a Managing Director in the Leveraged Finance Group  of
CIBC  World  Markets  where he is principally responsible  for  the  firm's
financial restructuring and distressed situation advisory practice.   Prior
to  joining CIBC World Markets, Mr. Radecki was an Executive Vice President
and  Director of the Financial Restructuring Group of Jefferies &  Company,
Inc.  from 1990 to 1998.  From 1983 until 1990, Mr. Radecki was First  Vice
President  in  the  International Capital Markets Group at  Drexel  Burnham
Lambert,  Inc.,  where  he  specialized  in  financial  restructurings  and
recapitalizations.   Over the past fourteen years,  Mr.  Radecki  has  been
integrally involved in over 120 transactions totaling nearly $50 billion in
recapitalized  securities.  Mr. Radeki currently serves as  a  Director  of
Wherehouse  Entertainment, Inc., a music and video specialty retailer,  and
RBX  Corporation,  a  manufacturer of rubber and  plastic  foam  and  other
polymer  products.  He has previously served as Chairman of  the  Board  of
American Rice, Inc., an international rice miller and marketer, as a member
of  the Board of Directors of Service America Corporation, a national  food
service  management firm, Bucyrus International, Inc., a  mining  equipment
manufacturer,  and ECO-Net, a non-profit engineering related network  firm.
Mr.  Radecki  graduated magna cum laude in 1980 from Georgetown  University
with a B.A. in Government.

Richard  D.  Rinehart has served as a director since April 19,  2002.   Mr.
Rinehart is a founding principal of PetroCap, Inc. and president of Kestrel
Resources,  Inc.   PetroCap, Inc. provides investment and merchant  banking
services  to  a  variety  of clients active in the oil  and  gas  industry.
Kestrel Resources, Inc. is a privately owned oil and gas operating company.
He  served  as Director of Coopers & Lybrand's Energy Systems and  Services
Division prior to the founding of Kestrel Resources, Inc. in 1992. Prior to
joining  Coopers & Lybrand, he was chief executive officer/founder of  Dawn
Information  Resources,  Inc., formed in 1986 and  acquired  by  Coopers  &
Lybrand  in  early  1991.  Mr. Rinehart served as CEO  of  Terrapet  Energy
Corporation during the period 1982 through 1986. Prior to the formation  of
Terrapet in 1982, he was employed as President of the Terrapet Division  of
E.I.  DuPont de Nemours and Company. Before its acquisition by  DuPont,  he
served  as  CEO and President of Terrapet Corp., a privately owned  E  &  P
company. Before the formation of Terrapet Corp. in 1972, he was manager  of
supplementary recovery methods and senior evaluation engineer  with  H.  J.
Gruy and Associates, Inc., Dallas, Texas.

John  M. White has served as a director since April 19, 2002. Mr. White  is
currently  an  oil and gas analyst with BMO Nesbitt Burns, responsible  for
Fixed  Income research on oil, gas and energy companies.  Prior to  joining
BMO  Nesbitt  Burns  in 1998, Mr. White was responsible  for  Fixed  Income
research  on  the  oil  and  gas  industry at  John  S.  Herold,  Inc.,  an
independent  oil  and  gas  research  and  consulting  firm.   Mr.  White's
experience also includes managing a portfolio of oil and gas loans for  The
Bank  of Nova Scotia, which included independent exploration and production
companies,  oil  service  companies,  gas  pipelines,  gas  processors  and
refiners.   Prior  to entering banking, Mr. White was with BP  Exploration,
where he worked primarily in exploration and production.

Herbert  C. Williamson, III has served as a director since April 19,  2002.
At  present, Mr. Williamson is self-employed as a consultant.   From  March
2001  to  March  2002  Mr. Williamson served as an investment  banker  with
Petrie  Parkman & Co.  From April 1999 to March 2001 Mr. Williamson  served
as chief financial officer and from August 1999 to March 2001 as a director
of  Merlon  Petroleum  Company, a private oil and gas company  involved  in
exploration  and production in Egypt.  Mr. Williamson served  as  executive
vice  president,  chief  financial  officer  and  director  of  Seven  Seas
Petroleum,  Inc., a publicly traded oil and gas exploration  company,  from
March  1998  to  April 1999.  From 1995 through April 1998,  he  served  as
director  in  the  Investment Banking Department  of  Credit  Suisse  First
Boston.   Mr.  Williamson  served  as  vice  chairman  and  executive  vice
president  of Parker and Parsley Petroleum Company, a publicly  traded  oil
and  gas  exploration company (now Pioneer Natural Resources Company)  from
1985 through 1995.

Bill  E.  Coggin  has served as Vice President and Chief Financial  Officer
since joining the Managing General Partner in 1985.  Previously, Mr. Coggin
was  Controller  for Rod Ric Corporation, an oil and gas drilling  company,
and  for  C.F.  Lawrence  &  Associates, a large independent  oil  and  gas
operator.  Mr. Coggin received a B.S. in Education and a B.A. in Accounting
from Angelo State University.

J.  Steven Person has served as Vice President, Marketing since joining the
Managing  General  Partner in 1989.  Mr. Person  began  in  the  investment
industry  with Dean Witter in 1983.  Prior to joining the Managing  General
Partner, Mr. Person was a senior wholesaler with Capital Realty, Inc. While
at  Capital  Realty, he was involved in the syndication of  mortgage  based
securities  through  the major brokerage houses.   Mr.  Person  received  a
B.B.A.  degree  from Baylor University and an M.B.A. from  Houston  Baptist
University.

<PAGE>
Key Employees

Jon  P.  Tate,  age  45, has served as Vice President, Land  and  Assistant
Secretary  of the Managing General Partner since 1989. From 1981  to  1989,
Mr.  Tate  was employed by C.F. Lawrence & Associates, Inc., an independent
oil  and  gas company, as land manager. Mr. Tate is a member of the Permian
Basin Landman's Association.

R.  Douglas  Keathley, age 47, has served as Vice President, Operations  of
the  Managing  General Partner since 1992. Before joining us, Mr.  Keathley
worked  as a senior drilling engineer for ARCO Oil and Gas Company  and  in
similar capacities for Reading & Bates Petroleum Co. and Tenneco Oil Co.

In certain instances, the Managing General Partner will engage professional
petroleum   consultants   and  other  independent  contractors,   including
engineers   and   geologists  in  connection  with  property  acquisitions,
geological  and  geophysical  analysis,  and  reservoir  engineering.   The
Managing  General Partner believes that, in addition to its own  "in-house"
staff,  the utilization of such consultants and independent contractors  in
specific  instances  and  on  an  "as-needed"  basis  allows  for   greater
flexibility  and greater opportunity to perform its oil and gas  activities
more economically and effectively.

Item 11.  Executive Compensation

The  Partnership  does not have any directors or executive  officers.   The
executive officers of the Managing General Partner do not receive any  cash
compensation,  bonuses, deferred compensation or compensation  pursuant  to
any  type  of  plan,  from the Partnership.  The Managing  General  Partner
received  $98,400  during 2002, 2001 and 2000 as an  annual  administrative
fee.

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

There  are  no  limited partners who own of record, or  are  known  by  the
Managing General Partner to beneficially own, more than five percent of the
Partnership's limited partnership interests.

The Managing General Partner owns a ten percent interest in the Partnership
as  a  general partner.  Through repurchase offers to the limited partners,
the  Managing  General Partner also owns 3,294.5 limited partner  units,  a
21.8%  limited  partner  interest.   The  Managing  General  Partner  total
percentage interest ownership in the Partnership is 31.8%.

No  officer or director of the Managing General Partner owns units  in  the
Partnership.  H. H. Wommack, III, as the individual general partner of  the
Partnership, owned a one percent interest in the Partnership as  a  general
partner.  The Managing General partner as of December 31, 2001, repurchased
the  one  percent interest owned by Mr. Wommack for approximately  $37,923.
The  officers and directors of the Managing General Partner are  considered
beneficial  owners of the limited partner units acquired  by  the  Managing
General Partner by virtue of their status as such. Beneficial ownership  is
determined  in  accordance with the rules of the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  and  includes voting or investment power with  respect  to  the
limited partner units.  To our knowledge, except under applicable community
property  laws or as otherwise indicated, the persons named  in  the  table
have  sole  voting and sole investment control with regard to  all  limited
partner  units beneficially owned.  We are presenting ownership information
as  of March 1, 2003. A list of beneficial owners of limited partner units,
acquired by the Managing General Partner, is as follows:

<PAGE>

                                                 Amount and
                                                 Nature of      Percen
                                                                  t
                        Name and Address of      Beneficial       of
  Title of Class         Beneficial Owner        Ownership      Class
-------------------    ---------------------     ----------     ------
  --------------          --------------         ---------      ------
Limited Partnership    Southwest  Royalties,     Directly       21.8%
Interest               Inc.                      Owns
                       Managing      General     3,294.5
                       Partner                   Units
                       407   N.  Big  Spring
                       Street
                       Midland, TX 79701

Limited Partnership    H. H. Wommack, III        Indirectly     21.8%
Interest                                         Owns
                       Chairman    of    the     3,294.5
                       Board,                    Units
                       President, and CEO
                       of          Southwest
                       Royalties, Inc.,
                       the  Managing General
                       Partner
                       407   N.  Big  Spring
                       Street
                       Midland, TX 79701


There  are no arrangements known to the Managing General Partner which  may
at a subsequent date result in a change of control of the Partnership.

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

In 2002, the Managing General Partner received $98,400 as an administrative
fee.   This  amount  is  part  of the general and  administrative  expenses
incurred by the Partnership.

In  some  instances the Managing General Partner and certain  officers  and
employees  may  be working interest owners in an oil and  gas  property  in
which  the Partnership also has a working interest.  Certain properties  in
which  the Partnership has an interest are operated by the Managing General
Partner,  who  was paid approximately $135,100 for administrative  overhead
attributable to operating such properties during 2002.

Certain  subsidiaries or affiliates of the Managing General Partner perform
various  oilfield services for properties in which the Partnership owns  an
interest.   Such  services aggregated approximately $35,200  for  the  year
ended December 31, 2002.

In  the  opinion  of  management, the terms of the  above  transaction  are
similar to ones with unaffiliated third parties.

<PAGE>
                                 Part IV


Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

          (a)(1)  Financial Statements:

                  Included in Part II of this report --

                  Independent Auditors Report
                  Balance Sheets
                  Statements of Operations
                  Statement of Changes in Partners' Equity
                  Statements of Cash Flows
                  Notes to Financial Statements

                     (2)  Schedules required by Article 12 of Regulation S-
                  X  are either omitted because they are not applicable  or
                  because  the  required  information  is  shown   in   the
                  financial statements or the notes thereto.

                    (3)  Exhibits:

                                      4      (a)   Certificate  of  Limited
                          Partnership  of Southwest Oil & Gas  Income  Fund
                          VIII-A,   L.P.,   dated   November   30,    1987.
                          (Incorporated by reference from Partnership's S-1
                          Registration   Statement  File  Number   33-18847
                          effective March 31, 1988.)

                                            (b)    Agreement   of   Limited
                          Partnership  of Southwest Oil & Gas  Income  Fund
                          VIII-A,  L.P.  dated July 6, 1988.  (Incorporated
                          by reference from Partnership's Form 10-K for the
                          fiscal year ended December 31, 1988.)

                  99.1 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
99.2 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

          (b)     Reports on Form 8-K

                  There  were  no  reports filed on  Form  8-K  during  the
              quarter ended December 31, 2002.

<PAGE>
                                Signatures


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

                          Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P., a
                          Delaware limited partnership

                                        By:    Southwest  Royalties,  Inc.,
                                 Managing
                                   General Partner


                                        By:    Southwest  Royalties,  Inc.,
                                 Managing
                                   General Partner


                                      By:  /s/ H. H. Wommack, III
                                 ------------------------------------------
-----
                                           H. H. Wommack, III, President


                          Date:  March 28, 2003


Pursuant  to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,  this
report  has  been signed below by the following persons on  behalf  of  the
Partnership and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

By:/s/ H. H. Wommack, III                    By:    /s/   James    N.
                                             Chapman
---------------------------                  ------------------------
--------------------                         -----------------------
H.    H.   Wommack,    III,                  James     N.    Chapman,
Chairman of the Board,                       Director
President,   Director   and
Chief Executive Officer

Date:     March 28, 2003                     Date:     March 28, 2003


By:     /s/   William    P.                  By:    /s/   Joseph   J.
Nicoletti                                    Radecki, Jr.
---------------------------                  ------------------------
--------------------                         -----------------------
William    P.    Nicoletti,                  Joseph J. Radecki,  Jr.,
Director                                     Director

Date:     March 28, 2003                     Date:     March 28, 2003


By:     /s/   Richard    D.                  By:  /s/ John M. White
Rinehart
---------------------------                  ------------------------
--------------------                         -----------------------
Richard     D.    Rinehart,                  John M. White, Director
Director

Date:     March 28, 2003                     Date:     March 28, 2003


By:     /s/   Herbert    C.
Williamson, III
---------------------------
--------------------
Herbert C. Williamson, III,
Director

Date:     March 28, 2003

<PAGE>
                         CERTIFICATIONS

          I, H.H. Wommack, III, certify that:

          1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Southwest
Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.;

          2.   Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of
the circumstances under which such statements were made, not
misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual
report;

          3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
financial information included in this annual report, fairly
present in all material respects the financial condition, results
of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for,
the periods presented in this annual report;

          4.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I are
responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls
and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-
14) for the registrant and we have:

               a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure
               that material information relating to the registrant, including
               its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others
               within those entities, particularly during the period in which
               this annual report is being prepared;

               b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
               controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the
               filing date of this annual report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

               c)   presented in this annual report our conclusions about the
               effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on
               our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

          5.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I have
disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the
registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's
board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
functions):

               a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of
               internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's
               ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data
               and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material
               weaknesses in internal controls; and

               b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management
               or other employees who have a significant role in the
               registrant's internal controls; and

          6.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I have
indicated in this annual report whether or not there were
significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that
could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the
date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective
actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material
weaknesses.

Date:  March 28, 2003

/s/ H.H. Wommack, III
H. H. Wommack, III
Chairman, President, Director and Chief Executive Officer
  of Southwest Royalties, Inc., the
  Managing General Partner of
  Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
<PAGE>
                         CERTIFICATIONS

          I, Bill E. Coggin, certify that:

          1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Southwest
Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.;

          2.   Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain
any  untrue  statement of a material fact  or  omit  to  state  a
material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light  of
the  circumstances  under which such statements  were  made,  not
misleading  with  respect to the period covered  by  this  annual
report;

          3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
financial  information  included in this  annual  report,  fairly
present in all material respects the financial condition, results
of  operations and cash flows of the registrant as of,  and  for,
the periods presented in this annual report;

          4.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I are
responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure  controls
and  procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-
14) for the registrant and we have:
               a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure
               that material information relating to the registrant, including
               its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others
               within those entities, particularly during the period in which
               this annual report is being prepared;

               b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
               controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the
               filing date of this annual report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

               c)   presented in this annual report our conclusions about the
               effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on
               our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

          5.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I have
disclosed,   based  on  our  most  recent  evaluation,   to   the
registrant's  auditors  and the audit committee  of  registrant's
board   of   directors  (or  persons  performing  the  equivalent
functions):

               a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of
               internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's
               ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data
               and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material
               weaknesses in internal controls; and

               b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management
               or other employees who have a significant role in the
               registrant's internal controls; and

          6.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I have
indicated  in  this  annual  report whether  or  not  there  were
significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that
could  significantly affect internal controls subsequent  to  the
date  of  our  most recent evaluation, including  any  corrective
actions  with  regard  to significant deficiencies  and  material
weaknesses.

Date:  March 28, 2002

/s/ Bill E. Coggin
Bill E. Coggin
Executive Vice President
  and Chief Financial Officer of
  Southwest Royalties, Inc., the
  Managing General Partner of
  Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
<PAGE>
                              Exhibit Index


Item No.     Description                                           Page No.

             Exhibit 99.1 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C.       41
             Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906
             of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

             Exhibit 99.2 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C.       42
             Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906
             of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

<PAGE>
                    CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                     19 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                     AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
          SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


      In connection with the Annual Report of Southwest Oil & Gas
Income  Fund VIII-A, Limited Partnership (the "Company") on  Form
10-K  for  the period ending December 31, 2002 as filed with  the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission on  the  date  hereof  (the
"Report"), I, H.H. Wommack, III, Chief Executive Officer  of  the
Managing General Partner of the Company, certify, pursuant to  18
U.S.C.   1350,  as adopted pursuant to  906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, that:

     (1)  The Report fully complies with the requirements of section
       13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (2)  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
       all material respects, the financial condition and results of
       operation of the Company.


Date:  March 28, 2003




/s/ H.H. Wommack, III
H. H. Wommack, III
Chairman, President, Director and Chief Executive Officer
  of Southwest Royalties, Inc., the
  Managing General Partner of
  Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.

<PAGE>
                    CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                     19 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                     AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
          SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


      In connection with the Annual Report of Southwest Oil & Gas
Income  Fund VIII-A, Limited Partnership (the "Company") on  Form
10-K  for  the period ending December 31, 2002 as filed with  the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission on  the  date  hereof  (the
"Report"),  I,  Bill E. Coggin, Chief Financial  Officer  of  the
Managing General Partner of the Company, certify, pursuant to  18
U.S.C.   1350,  as adopted pursuant to  906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, that:

     (3)  The Report fully complies with the requirements of section
       13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (4)  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
       all material respects, the financial condition and results of
       operation of the Company.


Date:  March 28, 2003




/s/ Bill E. Coggin
Bill E. Coggin
Executive Vice President
  and Chief Financial Officer of
  Southwest Royalties, Inc., the
  Managing General Partner of
  Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.

<PAGE>