Page 13 of 14
                                 FORM 10-Q
                                     
                                     
                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                         WASHINGTON, D. C.  20549

(Mark One)

(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 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 and 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 of                        (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                         Identification No.)

                       407 N. Big Spring, Suite 300
                  _________Midland, Texas 79701_________
                 (Address of principal executive offices)
                                     
                      ________(915) 686-9927________
                      (Registrant's telephone number,
                           including area code)

Indicate  by  check  mark  whether 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:

                            Yes __X__ No _____
                                     
         The total number of pages contained in this report is 14.

<PAGE>

                      PART I. - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

The  unaudited  condensed financial statements included  herein  have  been
prepared  by  the Registrant (herein also referred to as the "Partnership")
in  accordance  with generally accepted accounting principles  for  interim
financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01
of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information
and  footnotes  required  by generally accepted accounting  principles  for
complete   financial  statements.   In  the  opinion  of  management,   all
adjustments necessary for a fair presentation have been included and are of
a  normal  recurring nature.  The financial statements should  be  read  in
conjunction with the audited financial statements and the note thereto  for
the  year ended December 31, 1996 which are found in the Registrant's  Form
10-K  Report  for  1996 filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission.
The December 31, 1996 balance sheet included herein has been taken from the
Registrant's  1996 Form 10-K Report.  Operating results for the  three  and
nine  month periods ended September 30, 1997 are not necessarily indicative
of the results that may be expected for the full year.

<PAGE>

              Southwest Oil and Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                                     
                              Balance Sheets

                                              September 30,   December 31,
                                                   1997           1996
                                              -------------   ------------
                                               (unaudited)
Assets

Current assets
 Cash and cash equivalents                     $   22,460         55,844
 Receivable from Managing General Partner         124,925        227,459
----------                                     ---------
     Total current assets                         147,385        283,303
                                               ----------      ---------
Oil and gas properties - using the
 full cost method of accounting                 5,437,136      5,448,326
  Less accumulated depreciation,
   depletion and amortization                   4,125,109      4,049,109
                                               ----------      ---------
     Net oil and gas properties                 1,312,027      1,399,217
                                               ----------      ---------
                                               $1,459,412      1,682,520
                                               ==========      =========

Liabilities and Partners' Equity

Current liability - Distribution payable       $      356           271
                                               ----------      ---------

Partners' equity
 General partners                                   9,745         24,464
 Limited partners                               1,449,311      1,657,785
                                               ----------      ---------
     Total partners' equity                     1,459,056      1,682,249
                                               ----------      ---------
                                               $1,459,412      1,682,520
                                               ==========      =========
<PAGE>

              Southwest Oil and Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                                     
                         Statements of Operations
                                (unaudited)


                                Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
                                  September 30,         September 30,
                                  1997      1996        1997      1996

Revenues

Oil and gas                  $   333,227   423,438   1,101,912 1,259,744
Interest                             290       462       1,499     1,476
                               --------- ---------   --------- ---------
                                 333,517   423,900   1,103,411 1,261,220
                               --------- ---------   --------- ---------
Expenses

Production                       225,018   274,419     628,839   771,347
General and administrative        24,396    24,917      83,765    84,538
Depreciation, depletion and
 amortization                     23,000    43,000      76,000   127,000
                               --------- ---------   --------- ---------
                                 272,414   342,336     788,604   982,885
                               --------- ---------   --------- ---------
Net income                   $    61,103    81,564     314,807   278,335
                               ========= =========   ========= =========


Net income allocated to:

 Managing General Partner    $     7,569    11,211      35,173    36,480
                               ========= =========   ========= =========
 General Partner             $       842     1,246       3,908     4,053
                               ========= =========   ========= =========
 Limited Partners            $    52,692    69,107     275,726   237,802
                               ========= =========   ========= =========
  Per limited partner unit   $      3.88      5.08       20.28     17.49
                               ========= =========   ========= =========

<PAGE>

              Southwest Oil and Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                                     
                         Statements of Cash Flows
                                (unaudited)


                                                      Nine Months Ended
                                                        September 30,
                                                       1997       1996
Cash flows from operating activities

 Cash received from oil and gas sales              $1,206,995  1,204,735
 Cash paid to suppliers                             (715,153)  (826,350)
 Interest received                                      1,499      1,476
                                                    ---------  ---------

  Net cash provided by operating activities           493,341    379,861
                                                    ---------  ---------
Cash flows from investing activities

 Cash received from sale of oil and gas
property interest                                      21,855     62,390
 Additions to oil and gas properties                 (10,665)   (10,600)
                                                    ---------  ---------

Net cash provided by investing activities              11,190     51,790
                                                    ---------  ---------

Cash flows used in financing activities

 Distributions to partners                          (537,915)  (438,379)
                                                    ---------  ---------
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents            (33,384)    (6,728)

 Beginning of period                                   55,844     38,356
                                                    ---------  ---------
 End of period                                     $   22,460     31,628
=========                                          =========

                                                             (continued)
<PAGE>

              Southwest Oil and Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P.
                                     
                    Statements of Cash Flows, continued
                                (unaudited)


                                                      Nine Months Ended
                                                        September 30,
                                                       1997       1996
Reconciliation of net income to net cash
 provided by operating activities

Net income                                         $  314,807    278,335

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

 Depreciation, depletion and amortization              76,000    127,000
 (Increase) decrease in receivables                   105,083   (55,009)
 Increase (decrease) in payables                      (2,549)     29,535
                                                    ---------  ---------
Net cash provided by operating activities          $  493,341    379,861
                                                    =========  =========


<PAGE>

Item 2.   Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition  and
        Results of Operations

General

Southwest  Oil & Gas Income Fund VIII-A, L.P. was organized as  a  Delaware
limited  partnership  on November 30, 1987. The offering  of  such  limited
partnership interests began on March 31, 1988, minimum capital requirements
were  met  on July 6, 1988, and the offering concluded on March  31,  1989,
with total limited partner contributions of $6,798,000.

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 the net proceeds from operations to  the
limited  and  general partners.  Net revenues from producing  oil  and  gas
properties are not reinvested in other revenue producing assets  except  to
the extent that production facilities and wells are improved or reworked or
where methods are employed to improve or enable more efficient recovery  of
oil and gas reserves.

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,  increases
and  decreases  in  lease operating expenses, enhanced  recovery  projects,
offset  drilling  activities pursuant to farm-out  arrangements,  sales  of
properties,  and  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 partners  is
therefore expected to fluctuate in later years based on these factors.

Based  on  current conditions, management anticipates performing  workovers
during  the  next  two  years to enhance production.  The  Partnership  may
undergo  an  increase later in 1997 and possibly in 1998.  Thereafter,  the
Partnership could possibly experience a normal decline of 10%  to  12%  per
year.


<PAGE>

Results of Operations

A.  General Comparison of the Quarters Ended September 30, 1997 and 1996

The  following  table  provides certain information  regarding  performance
factors for the quarters ended September 30, 1997 and 1996:

                                                 Three Months
                                                    Ended        Percentage
                                                September 30,     Increase
                                                1997      1996   (Decrease)

Average price per barrel of oil            $   17.88     21.77    (18%)
Average price per mcf of gas               $    2.46      2.30       7%
Oil production in barrels                     15,600    17,100     (9%)
Gas production in mcf                         22,100    21,900       1%
Gross oil and gas revenue                  $ 333,227   423,438    (21%)
Net oil and gas revenue                    $ 108,209   149,019    (27%)
Partnership distributions                  $ 108,000   118,000     (8%)
Limited partner distributions              $  97,200   106,200     (8%)
Per unit distribution to limited partners  $    7.15      7.81     (8%)
Number of limited partner units               13,596    13,596


Revenues

The  Partnership's oil and gas revenues decreased to $333,227 from $423,438
for  the  quarters  ended  September 30, 1997  and  1996,  respectively,  a
decrease  of  21%.  The principal factors affecting the comparison  of  the
quarters ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 are as follows:

1.  The  average  price  for a barrel of oil received  by  the  Partnership
    decreased  during the quarter ended September 30, 1997 as  compared  to
    the  quarter  ended  September 30, 1996 by 18%, or  $3.89  per  barrel,
    resulting  in  a  decrease of approximately $66,500 in  revenues.   Oil
    sales  represented  84% of total oil and gas sales during  the  quarter
    ended  September 30, 1997 as compared to 88% during the  quarter  ended
    September 30, 1996.

    The  average  price  for  an  mcf of gas received  by  the  Partnership
    increased  during the same period by 7%, or $.16 per mcf, resulting  in
    an increase of approximately $3,500 in revenues.

    The net total decrease in revenues due to the change in prices received
    from oil and gas production is approximately $63,000.  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 9% during the
     quarter  ended  September 30, 1997 as compared to  the  quarter  ended
     September  30, 1996, resulting in a decrease of approximately  $26,800
     in revenues.

    Gas  production increased approximately 200 mcf or 1% during  the  same
    period, resulting in an increase of approximately $500 in revenues.

    The  net total decrease in revenues due to the change in production  is
    approximately  $26,300.   The  decrease in  primarily  attributable  to
    downtime due to mechanical problems.

Costs and Expenses

Total  costs  and  expenses decreased to $272,414  from  $342,336  for  the
quarters  ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively,  a  decrease  of
20%.   The  decrease is the result of lower lease operating costs,  general
and administrative expense and depletion expense.

1.    Lease  operating  costs  and production  taxes  were  18%  lower,  or
   approximately $49,400 less during the quarter ended September 30, 1997 as
   compared  to  the  quarter ended September 30, 1996.   The  decrease  is
   primarily  attributable to higher workover costs  incurred  in  1996  as
   compared to 1997.

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
    2% or approximately $500 during the quarter ended September 30, 1997 as
    compared to the quarter ended September 30, 1996.

3.  Depletion  expense decreased to $23,000 for the quarter ended September
    30,  1997 from $43,000 for the same period in 1996.  This represents  a
    decrease  of 47%.  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.  Two contributing
    factors  to  the  decline in depletion expense between the  comparative
    periods  were  the increase in the price of oil used to  determine  the
    Partnership's reserves for January 1, 1997 as compared to 1996 and  the
    decline in gross oil and gas revenues.

<PAGE>

B.   General Comparison of the Nine Month Periods Ended September 30,  1997
and 1996

The  following  table  provides certain information  regarding  performance
factors for the nine month periods ended September 30, 1997 and 1996:

                                                 Nine Months
                                                    Ended        Percentage
                                                September 30,     Increase
                                                1997      1996   (Decrease)

Average price per barrel of oil            $   19.32     20.17     (4%)
Average price per mcf of gas               $    2.51      2.49       1%
Oil production in barrels                     48,200    53,600    (10%)
Gas production in mcf                         68,000    71,800     (5%)
Gross oil and gas revenue                  $1,101,9121,259,744    (13%)
Net oil and gas revenue                    $ 473,073   488,397     (3%)
Partnership distributions                  $ 538,000   438,712      23%
Limited partner distributions              $ 484,200   395,912      22%
Per unit distribution to limited partners  $   35.61     29.12      22%
Number of limited partner units               13,596    13,596

Revenues

The  Partnership's  oil  and  gas revenues  decreased  to  $1,101,912  from
$1,259,744  for  the  nine  months  ended  September  30,  1997  and  1996,
respectively,  a  decrease  of 13%.  The principal  factors  affecting  the
comparison  of  the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and  1996  are  as
follows:

1.  The  average  price  for a barrel of oil received  by  the  Partnership
    decreased  during the nine months ended September 30, 1997 as  compared
    to  the nine months ended September 30, 1996 by 4%, or $.85 per barrel,
    resulting  in  a  decrease of approximately $45,600 in  revenues.   Oil
    sales represented 85% of total oil and gas sales during the nine months
    ended  September  30, 1997 as compared to 86% during  the  nine  months
    ended September 30, 1996.

    The  average  price  for  an  mcf of gas received  by  the  Partnership
    increased  during the same period by 1%, or $.02 per mcf, resulting  in
    an increase of approximately $1,400 in revenues.

    The net total decrease in revenues due to the change in prices received
    from oil and gas production is approximately $44,200.  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 5,400 barrels or 10% during the
     nine  months  ended September 30, 1997 as compared to the nine  months
     ended  September  30, 1996, resulting in a decrease  of  approximately
     $104,300 in revenues.

    Gas  production decreased approximately 3,800 mcf or 5% during the same
    period, resulting in a decrease of approximately $9,500 in revenues.

    The  total  decrease  in revenues due to the change  in  production  is
    approximately  $113,800.   The decrease is  primarily  attributable  to
    downtime due to mechanical problems.

Costs and Expenses

Total  costs and expenses decreased to $788,604 from $982,885 for the  nine
months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively, a decrease of  20%.
The  decrease  is  the result of lower lease operating costs,  general  and
administrative expense and depletion expense.

1.   Lease  operating  costs  and  production  taxes  were  18%  lower,  or
     approximately $142,500 less during the nine months ended September 30,
     1997  as  compared to the nine months ended September 30,  1996.   The
     decrease  is primarily attributable to higher workover costs  incurred
     in 1996 as compared to 1997.

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 nine months ended September 30,  1997
    as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 1996.

3.  Depletion  expense  decreased to $76,000  for  the  nine  months  ended
    September  30,  1997 from $127,000 for the same period in  1996.   This
    represents a decrease of 40%.  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.   Two
    contributing  factors to the decline in depletion expense  between  the
    comparative  periods  were the increase in the price  of  oil  used  to
    determine the Partnership's reserves for January 1, 1997 as compared to
    1996 and the decline in gross oil and gas revenues.

<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 $493,300  in
the  nine  months  ended  September 30, 1997 as compared  to  approximately
$379,900  in the nine months ended September 30, 1996.  The primary  source
of the 1997 cash flow from operating activities was profitable operations.

Cash  flows provided by investing activities were approximately $11,200  in
the  nine  months  ended  September 30, 1997 as compared  to  approximately
$51,800 in the nine months ended September 30, 1996.  The principle  source
of  the 1997 cash flow from investing activities was the change in oil  and
gas properties.

Cash flows used in financing activities were approximately $537,900 in  the
nine  months ended September 30, 1997 as compared to approximately $438,400
in  the  nine  months ended September 30, 1996.  The only use in  financing
activities was the distributions to partners.

Total  distributions during the nine months ended September 30,  1997  were
$538,000  of  which  $484,200 was distributed to the limited  partners  and
$53,800  to  the  general partners.  The per unit distribution  to  limited
partners during the nine months ended September 30, 1997 was $35.61.  Total
distributions during the nine months ended September 30, 1996 were $438,712
of  which  $395,912 was distributed to the limited partners and $42,800  to
the general partners.  The per unit distribution to limited partners during
the nine months ended September 30, 1996 was $29.12.

The  sources  for  the  1997 distributions of $538,000  were  oil  and  gas
operations  of  approximately  $493,300 and  the  change  in  oil  and  gas
properties  of approximately $11,200, with the balance from available  cash
on  hand  at  the  beginning  of the period.   The  sources  for  the  1996
distributions  of  $438,712  were oil and gas operations  of  approximately
$379,900 and the change in oil and gas properties of approximately $51,800,
with  the  balance  from available cash on hand at  the  beginning  of  the
period.

Since  inception of the Partnership, cumulative monthly cash  distributions
of  $6,748,651 have been made to the partners.  As of September  30,  1997,
$6,113,430 or $449.65 per limited partner unit has been distributed to  the
limited partners, representing a 90% return of the capital contributed.

As  of  September 30, 1997, the Partnership had approximately  $147,000  in
working  capital.   The  Managing  General  Partner  knows  of  no  unusual
contractual commitments and believes the revenues generated from operations
are adequate to meet the needs of the Partnership.

<PAGE>


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
                                     

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

         None

Item 2.  Changes in Securities

         None

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities

         None

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

         None

Item 5.  Other Information

         None

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

         (a)Exhibits:

             27 Financial Data Schedule

             (b)  No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter for
             which this report is filed.
            
            
<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 thereunto duly authorized.

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


By:                                Southwest Royalties, Inc.
Managing General Partner


                                   By:  /s/ Bill E. Coggin
                                        ------------------------------
                                        Bill E. Coggin, Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer

Date:     November 15, 1997

<PAGE>