SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                          Date of Report    July 19, 2002
                (Date of earliest event reported)    July 18, 2002


                            SEVEN SEAS PETROLEUM INC.
             (Exact Name of registrant as Specified in its Charter)

         Cayman Islands                 0-22483                  73-1468669
(State or Other Jurisdiction of  (Commission File Number)    (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)                            Identification Number)



                5555 SAN FELIPE, SUITE 1700, HOUSTON, TEXAS  77056
                 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)  (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (713) 622-8218
<PAGE>

ITEM 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.


The Audit  Committee  of the Board of  Directors  of Seven Seas  Petroleum  Inc.
("Seven Seas")  annually  considers and recommends to the Board the selection of
Seven Seas' independent public accountants.  As recommended by Seven Seas' Audit
Committee,  Seven Seas' Board of Directors  decided to no longer  engage  Arthur
Andersen  LLP  ("Andersen")  as  Seven  Seas'  independent  public  accountants.
Deloitte  & Touche LLP has been  selected  to serve as Seven  Seas'  independent
public accountants going forward.

Andersen's reports on Seven Seas' consolidated financial statements for the past
two years did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and, with
the exception of the going concern  modification for the year ended December 31,
2000, the reports were not modified or qualified as to uncertainty,  audit scope
or accounting principles.

During  Seven  Seas' two most recent  fiscal  years and through the date of this
Form 8-K, there were no disagreements  with Andersen on any matter of accounting
principles or practices,  financial statement  disclosure,  or auditing scope or
procedure which, if not resolved to Andersen's  satisfaction,  would have caused
them to make reference to the subject matter in connection  with their report on
Seven Seas' consolidated  financial statements for such years; and there were no
reportable events, as listed in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

The Company provided Andersen with a copy of the foregoing  disclosures.  Arthur
Andersen has informed the Company that it is no longer  permitted to provide the
letters required by form 8-K.

During  Seven  Seas' two most recent  fiscal  years and through the date of this
Form 8-K,  Seven Seas did not consult  Deloitte & Touche LLP with respect to the
application  of  accounting  principles  to  a  specified  transaction,   either
completed  or proposed,  or the type of audit  opinion that might be rendered on
Seven  Seas'  consolidated  financial  statements,   or  any  other  matters  or
reportable events listed in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)  Exhibits

       10       July 18, 2002         press release

<PAGE>

                                   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 hereunto duly authorized.

                                        SEVEN SEAS PETROLEUM INC.


                                        By:   LARRY A. RAY
                                        Name: Larry A. Ray
                                        Title: President

                                        By:    RONALD A. LEFAIVE
                                        Name:  Ronald A. Lefaive
July 19, 2002                           Title:  Chief Financial Officer
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
  No.       Description                          Method of Filing
-------     -----------                          ----------------

  10        Press Release dated July 18, 2002    Filed herewith electronically