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                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                                   FORM 10-Q

(X) QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934

     For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1997

                                       or

( ) TRANSITION REPORT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
     SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

     For the transition period from________to________

                         COMMISSION FILE NO. 333-22829

                      MEWBOURNE ENERGY PARTNERS 97-A, L.P.


         Delaware                          75-2692499    
-------------------------              ------------------
(State or jurisdiction of               (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)        Identification Number)

3901 South Broadway, Tyler, Texas                75701       
-------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)       (Zip Code)

Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code:(903) 561-2900

                                 Not Applicable
            (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if
                           changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all 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.    (X) Yes         ( ) No


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                     MEWBOURNE ENERGY PARTNERS 97-A, L. P.

                         Part I - Financial Information


ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



                                 BALANCE SHEET
                               September 30, 1997
                                  (Unaudited)



ASSETS

Cash                                                         $ 100 
                                                             -----

Total assets                                                 $ 100 
                                                             =====


PARTNERS' CAPITAL


Partners' capital                                            $ 100 
                                                             -----

Total Partners' capital                                      $ 100 
                                                             =====





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




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                    MEWBOURNE ENERGY PARTNERS 97-A, L. P.



                         STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL
              for the period February 17, 1997 (date of inception)
                           through September 30, 1997
                                  (Unaudited)



                                    Limited &   Managing
                                    General     General
                                    Partners    Partner      Total  
                                    --------    -------    ---------

Partners' capital at February 17,
1997 (date of Inception)            $  -        $  -        $  -
Contributions                       $ 100       $  -        $ 100 
                                    ------      ------      ------

Partners' capital at
  September 30, 1997                $ 100       $  -        $ 100 
                                    ======      ======      ======





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




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                     MEWBOURNE ENERGY PARTNERS 97-A, L. P.




                            STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
              for the period February 17, 1997 (date of inception)
                           through September 30, 1997
                                  (Unaudited)





Cash flows from financing activities:

  Capital contributions from partners                     $ 100 
                                                          -----

Cash, end of period                                       $ 100 
                                                          =====





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

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                      MEWBOURNE ENERGY PARTNERS 97-A, L.P.


                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  (Unaudited)


1.       The financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the
         opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of results.  All
         adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.

2.       Mewbourne Energy Partners 97-A, L.P. (the "Registrant") was formed
         February 17, 1997.  As of September 30, 1997, the only financial
         activity that had occurred was the receipt of the organizational
         contribution of $100.  The offering of limited and general partnership
         interests began on June 12, 1997.  As of October 30, 1997, interests
         aggregating  $2,250,000 had been sold to 97 subscribers of which
         $1,984,000 were sold to 89 subscribers as general partner interests
         and $221,000 were sold to 8 subscribers as limited partner interests.

3.       From the period commencing February 17, 1997 to September 30, 1997,
         the Registrant conducted no business activity.  Therefore, there are
         no items of income or expense for the reporting period and,
         accordingly a statement of income is not provided.





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ITEM 2.     MANAGEMENTS'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
            CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Mewbourne Energy Partners 97-A, L.P. was formed February 17, 1997.  Mewbourne
Development Corporation is the Managing Partner, and has the power and
authority to manage, control and administer all partnership affairs.  As of
September 30, 1997, the only financial activity which had occurred was the
receipt of the organizational  contribution of $100.  The offering of limited
and general partnership interests began on June 12, 1997.  As of October 30,
1997, interests aggregating $2,205,000 had been sold to 97 subscribers of which
$1,984,000 were sold to 89 subscribers as general partner interests and
$221,000 were sold to 8 subscribers as limited partner interests.



RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Registrant had not commenced operations prior to the period ended September
30, 1997, therefore, no trend analysis based on quarterly changes in results of
operations is available.


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Registrant was formed on February 17, 1997, and the organizational
contribution of $100 in cash was contributed to the Registrants's capital.
During the period after formation that ended September 30, 1997, there was no
increase in cash and there were no distributions to partners.




                          Part II - Other Information

ITEM 6.     EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

     (a)    Exhibits - 27 Financial Data Schedule

     (b)    Reports on Form 8-K - none



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                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                       MEWBOURNE ENERGY PARTNERS 97-A, L.P.

                           By: Mewbourne Development Corporation
                               Managing General Partner




Date: October 30, 1997     By:  /s/ J. Roe Buckley         
                               ------------------------------
                               J. Roe Buckley, Treasurer
                               and Chief Financial Officer





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                               Index to Exhibits

                 Exhibit No.                             Description
                 -----------                             -----------
                    27                             Financial Data Schedule