SOUTHWEST OIL & GAS INCOME FUND VII A L P
10-Q, 1999-11-09
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
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                               Page 18 of 18
                                 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, 1999

                                    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 0-16493

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

Delaware                                          75-2145576
(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 18.

<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, 1998 which are found in the Registrant's  Form
10-K  Report  for  1998 filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission.
The December 31, 1998 balance sheet included herein has been taken from the
Registrant's  1998 Form 10-K Report.  Operating results for the  three  and
nine  month periods ended September 30, 1999 are not necessarily indicative
of the results that may be expected for the full year.

<PAGE>

                Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.

                              Balance Sheets

                                              September 30,   December 31,
                                                   1999           1998
                                              -------------   ------------
                                               (unaudited)
Assets

Current assets
 Cash and cash equivalents                     $   43,839         92,168
 Receivable from Managing General Partner          64,705              -
                                                ---------      ---------
     Total current assets                         108,544         92,168
                                                ---------      ---------
Oil and gas properties - using the
 full cost method of accounting                 4,495,785      4,491,806
  Less accumulated depreciation,
   depletion and amortization                   3,966,691      3,925,691
                                                ---------      ---------
     Net oil and gas properties                   529,094        566,115
                                                ---------      ---------
                                               $  637,638        658,283
                                                =========      =========

Liabilities and Partners' Equity

Current liabilities -
 Distribution payable                          $      451            584
 Payable to Managing General Partner                    -            493
                                                ---------      ---------
     Total current liabilities                        451          1,077
                                                ---------      ---------

Partners' equity
 General partners                               (570,736)      (568,734)
 Limited partners                               1,207,923      1,225,940
                                                ---------      ---------
     Total partners' equity                       637,187        657,206
                                                ---------      ---------
                                               $  637,638        658,283
                                                =========      =========
<PAGE>

                Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.

                         Statements of Operations
                                (unaudited)


                                Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
                                  September 30,         September 30,
                                  1999      1998        1999      1998
                                  ----      ----        ----      ----
Revenues

Oil and gas                  $   178,835   119,980     414,874   441,053
Interest                             607       187       1,860       982
                                 -------   -------     -------   -------
                                 179,442   120,167     416,734   442,035
                                 -------   -------     -------   -------

Expenses

Production                        74,135    82,973     188,323   272,229
General and administrative        27,167    32,018      87,430   101,080
Depreciation, depletion and
 amortization                      8,000    18,000      41,000   101,000
                                 -------   -------     -------   -------
                                 109,302   132,991     316,753   474,309
                                 -------   -------     -------   -------
Net income (loss)            $    70,140  (12,824)      99,981  (32,274)
                                 =======   =======     =======   =======


Net income (loss) allocated to:

 Managing General Partner    $     6,313   (1,154)       8,998   (2,904)
                                 =======   =======     =======   =======
 General Partner             $       701     (128)       1,000     (323)
                                 =======   =======     =======   =======
 Limited Partners            $    63,126  (11,542)      89,983  (29,047)
                                 =======   =======     =======   =======
  Per limited partner unit   $      4.21     (.77)        6.00    (1.94)
                                 =======   =======     =======   =======

<PAGE>

                Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.

                         Statements of Cash Flows
                                (unaudited)


                                                      Nine Months Ended
                                                        September 30,
                                                       1999       1998
                                                       ----       ----

Cash flows from operating activities

 Cash received from oil and gas sales              $  355,593    497,495
 Cash paid to suppliers                             (281,670)  (376,168)
 Interest received                                      1,860        982
                                                      -------    -------
   Net cash provided by operating activities           75,783    122,309
                                                      -------    -------
Cash flows provided by investing activities

 Additions to oil and gas properties                  (3,979)    (1,832)
 Cash received from sale of oil and gas property            -        913
                                                      -------    -------
  Net cash used in investing activities               (3,979)      (919)
                                                      -------    -------
Cash flows used in financing activities

 Distributions to partners                          (120,133)  (128,844)
                                                      -------    -------
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents            (48,329)    (7,454)

 Beginning of period                                   92,168     29,210
                                                      -------    -------
 End of period                                     $   43,839     21,756
                                                      =======    =======

                                                             (continued)

<PAGE>

                Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.

                    Statements of Cash Flows, continued
                                (unaudited)


                                                      Nine Months Ended
                                                        September 30,
                                                       1999       1998
                                                       ----       ----
Reconciliation of net income (loss) to net
 cash provided by operating activities

Net income (loss)                                  $   99,981   (32,274)

 Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to
  net cash provided by operating activities

  Depreciation, depletion and amortization             41,000    101,000
  (Increase) decrease in receivables                 (59,281)     56,442
  Decrease in payables                                (5,917)    (2,859)
                                                      -------    -------
Net cash provided by operating activities          $   75,783    122,309
                                                      =======    =======

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

                      Notes to Financial Statements


1.   Organization
     Southwest  Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P. was organized  under  the
     laws of the state of Delaware on January 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.  Revenues, costs  and  expenses  are
     allocated as follows:

                                                     Limited      General
                                                     Partners     Partners
                                                     --------     --------
     Interest income on capital contributions          100%          -
     Oil and gas sales                                  90%         10%
     All other revenues                                 90%         10%
     Organization and offering costs (1)               100%          -
     Amortization of organization costs                100%          -
     Property acquisition costs                        100%          -
     Gain/loss on property dispositions                 90%         10%
     Operating and administrative costs (2)             90%         10%
     Depreciation, depletion and amortization
      of oil and gas properties                         90%         10%
     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
     The  interim financial information as of September 30, 1999,  and  for
     the  three  and  nine months ended September 30, 1999,  is  unaudited.
     Certain  information  and footnote disclosures  normally  included  in
     financial  statements prepared in accordance with  generally  accepted
     accounting principles have been condensed or omitted in this Form 10-Q
     pursuant  to the rules and regulations of the Securities and  Exchange
     Commission.   However,  in  the opinion of management,  these  interim
     financial  statements include all the necessary adjustments to  fairly
     present  the  results of the interim periods and all such  adjustments
     are  of a normal recurring nature.  The interim consolidated financial
     statements  should  be read in conjunction with the audited  financial
     statements for the year ended December 31, 1998.

<PAGE>

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

General
Southwest  Oil  & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P. was organized as  a  Delaware
limited   partnership  on  January  30,  1987.   The  offering  of  limited
partnership  interests began on March 4, 1987; minimum capital requirements
were  met  on  April 28, 1987 and the offering concluded on  September  21,
1987, with total limited partner contributions of $7,500,000.

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  farmout  arrangements,  sale  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 the  possibility  of
performing  workovers  during the last quarter of  1999.   The  Partnership
could possibly experience a normal decline of 8% to 10% per year.

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.

The  Partnership's policy for depreciation, depletion and  amortization  of
oil  and  gas  properties is computed under the units  of  revenue  method.
Under the units of revenue method, depreciation, depletion and amortization
is  computed  on  the  basis of current gross revenues from  production  in
relation  to future gross revenues, based on current prices, from estimated
production of proved oil and gas reserves.

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.  As of September 30, 1999, the net capitalized costs  did
not  exceed the estimated present value of oil and gas reserves.  A  return
to  the oil price environment experienced during the first two quarters  of
1999  would have an adverse affect on the Company's revenues and  operating
cash flow.  Also, further declines in oil prices could result in additional
decreases in the carrying value of the Company's oil and gas properties.

<PAGE>

Results of Operations

A.  General Comparison of the Quarters Ended September 30, 1999 and 1998

The  following  table  provides certain information  regarding  performance
factors for the quarters ended September 30, 1999 and 1998:

                                                 Three Months
                                                    Ended        Percentage
                                                September 30,     Increase
                                                1999      1998   (Decrease)
                                                ----      ----   ---------
Average price per barrel of oil            $   20.00    11.41       75%
Average price per mcf of gas               $    2.59     1.96       32%
Oil production in barrels                      5,900    6,100      (3%)
Gas production in mcf                         23,500   25,706      (9%)
Gross oil and gas revenue                  $ 178,835  119,980       49%
Net oil and gas revenue                    $ 104,700   37,007      183%
Partnership distributions                  $  45,000   11,345      297%
Limited partner distributions              $  40,500   10,245      295%
Per unit distribution to limited partners  $    2.70      .68      295%
Number of limited partner units               15,000   15,000

Revenues

The  Partnership's oil and gas revenues increased to $178,835 from $119,980
for  the  quarters  ended  September 30, 1999 and  1998,  respectively,  an
increase  of  49%.  The principal factors affecting the comparison  of  the
quarters ended September 30, 1999 and 1998 are as follows:

1.  The  average  price  for a barrel of oil received  by  the  Partnership
    increased  during the quarter ended September 30, 1999 as  compared  to
    the  quarter  ended  September 30, 1998 by 75%, or  $8.59  per  barrel,
    resulting  in  an increase of approximately $52,400 in  revenues.   Oil
    sales  represented 66% of total oil and gas sales during  the  quarters
    ended  September 30, 1999 as compared to 58% during the  quarter  ended
    September 30, 1998.

    The  average  price  for  an  mcf of gas received  by  the  Partnership
    increased during the same period by 32%, or $.63 per mcf, resulting  in
    an increase of approximately $16,200 in revenues.

    The  total  increase in revenues due to the change in  prices  received
    from oil and gas production is approximately $68,600.  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 200 barrels or 3%  during  the
   quarter  ended  September  30, 1999 as compared  to  the  quarter  ended
   September  30, 1998, resulting in a decrease of approximately $4,000  in
   revenues.

    Gas  production decreased approximately 2,206 mcf or 9% during the same
    period, resulting in a decrease of approximately $5,700 in revenues.

    The  total  decrease  in revenues due to the change  in  production  is
    approximately $9,700.

Costs and Expenses

Total  costs  and  expenses decreased to $109,302  from  $132,991  for  the
quarters  ended September 30, 1999 and 1998, respectively,  a  decrease  of
18%.   The decrease is the result of lower lease operating costs, depletion
expense and general and administrative expense.

1.    Lease  operating  costs  and  production  taxes  were  11%  lower  or
   approximately $8,800 less during the quarter ended September 30, 1999 as
   compared to the quarter ended September 30, 1998.

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
    15% or approximately $4,900 during the quarter ended September 30, 1999
    as  compared  to the quarter ended September 30, 1998. The  decline  in
    lease  operating  costs is primarily in relation to  the  drop  in  oil
    prices  experienced throughout 1998 and into the first  six  months  of
    1999,  which  made  it  uneconomical to  perform  workovers  and  major
    repairs.   Although prices have increased during the third  quarter  of
    1999,  only routine repairs and maintenance for the most part are being
    performed.

3.  Depletion  expense decreased to $8,000 for the quarter ended  September
    30,  1999 from $18,000 for the same period in 1998.  This represents  a
    decrease  of 56%.  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.   Contributing
    factors  to  the  decline in depletion expense between the  comparative
    periods were the increase in the price of oil and gas used to determine
    the Partnership's reserves for October 1, 1999 as compared to 1998.


<PAGE>

B.  General Comparison of the Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 1999
and 1998

The  following  table  provides certain information  regarding  performance
factors for the nine month periods ended September 30, 1999 and 1998:

                                                 Nine Months
                                                    Ended        Percentage
                                                September 30,     Increase
                                                1999      1998   (Decrease)
                                                ----      ----   ---------
Average price per barrel of oil            $   15.20    12.63       20%
Average price per mcf of gas               $    2.10     2.05        2%
Oil production in barrels                     17,700   22,100     (20%)
Gas production in mcf                         69,400   79,006     (12%)
Gross oil and gas revenue                  $ 414,874  441,053      (6%)
Net oil and gas revenue                    $ 226,551  168,824       34%
Partnership distribution                   $ 120,000  125,345      (4%)
Limited partner distributions              $ 108,000  112,845      (4%)
Per unit distribution to limited partners  $    7.20     7.52      (4%)
Number of limited partner units               15,000   15,000

Revenues

The  Partnership's oil and gas revenues decreased to $414,874 from $441,053
for  the  nine  months ended September 30, 1999 and 1998,  respectively,  a
decrease of 6%.  The principal factors affecting the comparison of the nine
months ended September 30, 1999 and 1998 are as follows:

1.  The  average  price  for a barrel of oil received  by  the  Partnership
    increased  during the nine months ended September 30, 1999 as  compared
    to  the  nine  months ended September 30, 1998 by  20%,  or  $2.57  per
    barrel,  resulting in an increase of approximately $56,800 in revenues.
    Oil  sales represented 65% of total oil and gas sales during  the  nine
    months  ended  September 30, 1999 as compared to 63%  during  the  nine
    months ended September 30, 1998.

    The  average  price  for  an  mcf of gas received  by  the  Partnership
    increased  during the same period by 2%, or $.05 per mcf, resulting  in
    an increase of approximately $4,000 in revenues.

    The  total  increase in revenues due to the change in  prices  received
    from oil and gas production is approximately $60,800.  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 4,400 barrels or 20% during the
    nine  months  ended September 30, 1999 as compared to the  nine  months
    ended  September  30,  1998, resulting in a decrease  of  approximately
    $66,900 in revenues.

    Gas  production  decreased approximately 9,606 mcf or  12%  during  the
    same  period,  resulting  in  a decrease of  approximately  $20,200  in
    revenues.

    The  total  decrease  in revenues due to the change  in  production  is
    approximately $87,100.  The decrease of production is primarily due  to
    property sales during 1998.

Costs and Expenses

Total  costs and expenses decreased to $316,753 from $474,309 for the  nine
months ended September 30, 1999 and 1998, respectively, a decrease of  33%.
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  31%  lower,   or
    approximately  $83,900 less during the nine months ended September  30,
    1999  as  compared  to the nine months ended September  30,  1998.  The
    decline  in lease operating costs is primarily in relation to the  drop
    in oil prices experienced throughout 1998 and into the first six months
    of  1999,  which  made it uneconomical to perform workovers  and  major
    repairs.   Although prices have increased during the third  quarter  of
    1999,  only routine repairs and maintenance for the most part are being
    performed.

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
    14% or approximately $13,700 during the nine months ended September 30,
    1999 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 1998.

3.  Depletion  expense  decreased to $41,000  for  the  nine  months  ended
    September  30,  1999 from $101,000 for the same period in  1998.   This
    represents a decrease of 59%.  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.
    Contributing  factors to the decline in depletion expense  between  the
    comparative periods were the increase in the price of oil and gas  used
    to determine the Partnership's reserves for October 1, 1999 as compared
    to 1998.


<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 $75,800  in
the  nine  months  ended  September 30, 1999 as compared  to  approximately
$122,300  in the nine months ended September 30, 1998.  The primary  source
of the 1999 cash flow from operating activities was profitable operations.

Cash  flows used in investing activities were approximately $4,000  in  the
nine  months ended September 30, 1999 as compared to approximately $900  in
the  nine  months ended September 30, 1998.  The principle use of the  1999
cash  flow  from  investing  activities was  the  change  in  oil  and  gas
properties.

Cash flows used in financing activities were approximately $120,100 in  the
nine  months ended September 30, 1999 as compared to approximately $128,800
in  the  nine  months ended September 30, 1998.  The only use in  financing
activities was the distributions to partners.

Total  distributions during the nine months ended September 30,  1999  were
$120,000  of  which  $108,000 was distributed to the limited  partners  and
$12,000  to  the  general partners.  The per unit distribution  to  limited
partners during the nine months ended September 30, 1999 was $7.20.   Total
distributions during the nine months ended September 30, 1998 were $125,345
of  which  $112,845 was distributed to the limited partners and $12,500  to
the general partners.  The per unit distribution to limited partners during
the nine months ended September 30, 1998 was $7.52.

The  source  for  the  1999  distributions of  $120,000  was  oil  and  gas
operations  of approximately $75,800, partially offset by a change  in  oil
and gas properties of approximately $4,000, with the balance from available
cash  on  hand  at the beginning of the period.  The source  for  the  1998
distributions  of  $125,345  was oil and gas  operations  of  approximately
$122,300,  partially  offset  by a change in  oil  and  gas  properties  of
approximately  $900, with the balance from available cash on  hand  at  the
beginning of the period.

Since  inception of the Partnership, cumulative monthly cash  distributions
of  $9,878,730 have been made to the partners.  As of September  30,  1999,
$8,909,071 or $593.94 per limited partner unit has been distributed to  the
limited partners, representing a 119% return of the capital contributed.

As  of  September 30, 1999, the Partnership had approximately  $108,100  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>
Liquidity - Managing General Partner
The  Managing General Partner has a highly leveraged capital structure with
over  $21.0 million of interest payments due within the next twelve  months
on  its  debt obligations.  Due to the severely depressed commodity  prices
experienced for the past eighteen months, the Managing General  Partner  is
experiencing  difficulty in generating sufficient cash  flow  to  meet  its
obligations  and sustain its operations.  The Managing General  Partner  is
currently  in  the  process  of renegotiating  the  terms  of  its  various
obligations  with its creditors and/or attempting to seek  new  lenders  or
equity  investors.   Additionally,  the  Managing  General  Partner   would
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 lenders will agree  to
a   course   of  action  consistent  with  the  Managing  General  Partners
requirements  in restructuring the obligations.  Even if such agreement  is
reached,  it  may  require approval of additional  lenders,  which  is  not
assured.   Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the sales of  assets
can  be  successfully  accomplished on terms  acceptable  to  the  Managing
General   Partner.   Under  current  circumstances,  the  Managing  General
Partner's  ability to continue as a going concern depends upon its  ability
to  (1)  successfully  restructure  its obligations  or  obtain  additional
financing  as  may  be  required, (2) maintain  compliance  with  all  debt
covenants, (3) generate sufficient cash flow to meet its obligations  on  a
timely  basis, and (4) achieve satisfactory levels of future earnings.   If
the  Managing  General Partner is unsuccessful in its efforts,  it  may  be
unable to meet its obligations making it necessary to undertake such  other
actions as may be appropriate to preserve asset values.

Information Systems for the Year 2000
The  Managing  General Partner provides all data processing  needs  of  the
Partnership.  The Managing General Partner has identified and assessed  its
exposure  to the potential Year 2000 software and imbedded chip  processing
and  date  sensitivity issue.  Through the Managing General  Partners  data
processing  subsidiary,  Midland Southwest  Software,  Inc.,  the  Managing
General   Partner  proactively  initiated  an  internal  plan  to  identify
applicable hardware and software, assess impact and effect, estimate costs,
construct and implement corrective actions, and prepare contingency plans.

Identification & Assessment
The  Managing General Partner currently believes it identified the internal
and  external  software  and  hardware that  had  the  potential  for  date
sensitivity   problems.   Four  critical  systems  and/or  functions   were
identified  and addressed:  (1) the proprietary software of the Partnership
(OGAS)  that  is  used  for  oil & gas property  management  and  financial
accounting  functions, (2) the DEC VAX/VMS hardware and  operating  system,
(3)  various  third-party  application software  including  lease  economic
analysis,   fixed   asset   management,   geological   applications,    and
payroll/human resource programs, and (4) External Agents.

The   proprietary   software  of  the  Partnership   has   met   compliance
requirements.  Since this is an internally generated software package,  the
Managing  General  Partner  incurred approximately  $25,000  in  man-hours.
Modifications were made by internal staff and did not represent  additional
costs  to  the  Partnership.  The Managing General  Partner  has  not  made
contingency  plans at this time since the conversion is ahead  of  schedule
and   being  handled  by  Managing  General  Partner  controlled   internal
programmers.  Given the complexity of the systems that were modified, it is
anticipated  that  some  problems  may arise,  but  having  met  the  early
completion  date,  the Managing General Partner feels  that  adequate  time
remains available to overcome unforeseen delays.




<PAGE>
DEC has released a fully compliant version of its operating system that  is
used  by  the  Partnership on the DEC VAX system.  It  was  installed,  the
Managing  General Partner believes that this solved any potential  problems
on the system.

The  Managing  General Partner has identified various third-party  software
that may have date sensitivity problems and is continuing to work with  the
vendors  to  secure solutions as well as prepare contingency plans.   After
review  and evaluation of the vendor plans and status, the Managing General
Partner believes that the problems will be resolved prior to the year  2000
or   the  alternate  contingency  plan  will  sufficiently  and  adequately
remediate  the problem so that there is no material disruption to  business
functions.

The  External  Agents  of  the  Partnership include  suppliers,  customers,
owners,  vendors, banks, product purchasers including pipelines, and  other
oil  and  gas property operators.  The Managing General Partner is  in  the
process of identifying and communicating with each critical External  Agent
about  its  plan  and progress thereof in addressing the Year  2000  issue.
This process is on schedule and the Managing General Partner, at this time,
believes  that  there  should  be no material  interference  or  disruption
associated with any of the critical External Agent's functions necessary to
the   Partnership's  business.   The  Managing  General  Partner  estimates
completion of this audit by year end 1999 and believes that alternate plans
can  be  devised to circumvent any material problems arising from  critical
External Agent noncompliance.

Cost
To  date,  the Managing General Partner has incurred only minimal  internal
man-hour costs for identification, planning, and maintenance.  The Managing
General  Partner believes that the necessary additional costs will also  be
minimal  and most will fall under normal and general maintenance procedures
and updates.  An accurate cost cannot be determined at this time, but it is
expected  that  the total cost to remediate all systems  to  be  less  than
$50,000.

Risks/Contingency
The  failure to correct critical systems of the Partnership, or the failure
of  a  material business partner or External Agent to resolve critical Year
2000  issues  could  have a serious adverse impact on the  ability  of  the
Partnership  to  continue operations and meet obligations.   Based  on  the
Managing  General  Partner's  evaluation and  assessment  to  date,  it  is
believed  that any interruption in operation will be minor and  short-lived
and  pose no material monetary loss, safety, or environmental risk  to  the
Partnership.   However,  due  to  the  external  nature  of  the  potential
problems,  it  is  impossible to accurately identify  the  risks,  quantify
potential  impacts  or  establish a final contingency  plan.  The  Managing
General Partner believes that its assessment and contingency planning  will
be complete no later than year-end 1999.

<PAGE>
Worst Case Scenario
The  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  requires  public  companies  to
forecast the most reasonably likely worst case Year 2000 scenario, assuming
that  the  Managing  General Partner's Year 2000  plan  is  not  effective.
Analysis  of the most reasonably likely worst case Year 2000 scenarios  the
Partnership  may face leads to contemplation of the following possibilities
which,  though  considered  highly  unlikely,  must  be  included  in   any
consideration  of worst cases: widespread failure of electrical,  gas,  and
similar   supplies   by  utilities  serving  the  Partnership;   widespread
disruption  of  the  services of communications  common  carriers;  similar
disruption to means and modes of transportation for the Partnership and its
employees, contractors, suppliers, and customers; significant disruption to
the  Partnership's  ability to gain access to,  and  continue  working  in,
office  buildings  and other facilities; and the failure, of  third-parties
systems,  the  effects  of which would have a cumulative  material  adverse
impact  on  the  Partnership's  critical systems.   The  Partnership  could
experience  an inability by customers, traders, and others  to  pay,  on  a
timely  basis or at all, obligations owed to the Partnership.  Under  these
circumstances, the adverse effect on the Partnership, and the diminution of
Partnership revenues, could be material, although not quantifiable at  this
time.

<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 & Gas Income Fund VII-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, 1999

<PAGE>




<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Balance Sheet at September 30, 1999 (Unaudited) and the Statement of
Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1999 (Unaudited) and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial  statements.
</LEGEND>

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                          43,839
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   64,705
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               108,544
<PP&E>                                       4,495,785
<DEPRECIATION>                               3,966,691
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 637,638
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              451
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                     637,187
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   637,638
<SALES>                                        414,874
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               416,734
<CGS>                                          188,323
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  188,323
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               128,430
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 99,981
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             99,981
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    99,981
<EPS-BASIC>                                       6.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     6.00


</TABLE>


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