<PAGE> 1
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
------------------------------
UNITED STATES OMB APPROVAL
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ------------------------------
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 OMB Number: 3235-0145
Estimated average burden
hours per response.......14.90
------------------------------
</TABLE>
SCHEDULE 13G
INFORMATION STATEMENT TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED
PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1(b)(c) AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b)
(AMENDMENT NO. )*
TETRA TECHNOLOGIES INC.
-----------------------
(Name of Issuer)
COMMON STOCK
------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
88162F105
--------------
(CUSIP Number)
-------------------------------------------------------
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:
|X| Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would
alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not
be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of
the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see
the Notes).
<PAGE> 2
CUSIP NO. 88162F105 SCHEDULE 13G PAGE 2 OF 5 PAGES
--------------------- ----- -----
(1) NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION OF ABOVE PERSON
OPPENHEIMER CAPITAL (IRS NO. 13-3413767)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ]
(b) [ X ]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SEC USE ONLY
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
DELAWARE
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF -0-
SHARES --------------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY 936,335
EACH --------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON WITH -0-
--------------------------------------------------------
(8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
936,335
--------------------------------------------------------
(9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
936,335
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 9 EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES* [ ]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
6.9
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IA
---------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!
2
<PAGE> 3
ITEM 1 (a) NAME OF ISSUER:
Tetra Technologies Inc.
(b) ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:
25025 I-North
Woodlands, Texas 77380
ITEM 2 (a) NAME OF PERSON FILING:
OPPENHEIMER CAPITAL
(b) ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE:
Oppenheimer Tower, World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281
(c) CITIZENSHIP:
Not Applicable.
(d) TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:
Common Stock
(e) CUSIP NUMBER:
88162F105
ITEM 3 IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1(b), OR
13d-2(b), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:
(a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the
Exchange Act;
(b) [ ] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange
Act;
(c) [ ] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of
the Act;
(d) [ ] Investment company registered under Section 8 of the
Investment Company Act;
(e) [X] Investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the
Investment Advisors Act of 1940;
(f) [ ] Employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance
with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g) [ ] Parent holding company or control person, in
accordance with 13d-1(b)(ii)(G);
(h) [ ] Savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act;
(i) [ ] Church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the
Investment Company Act;
(j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(H).
If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), check this
box. [ ]
3
<PAGE> 4
ITEM 4 OWNERSHIP.
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 936,335 **
(b) Percent of Class: 6.9
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote: 936,335 **
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of:
936,335 **
**This report is being filed on behalf of Oppenheimer Capital, a
Delaware general partnership and/or certain investment advisory clients
or discretionary accounts relating to their collective beneficial
ownership of shares of common stock of the Issuer. Oppenheimer Capital
is a registered investment adviser under Section 203 of the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940. As a result of its role as investment adviser
Oppenheimer may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the securities
of the Issuer. Oppenheimer Capital has the sole power to dispose of the
shares and to vote the shares under its written guidelines established
by its Management Board.
ITEM 5 OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS.
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of
the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial
owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the
following [ ].
ITEM 6 OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON.
Our clients have the right to receive or the power to direct the
receipt of dividends or the profits from the sale of such securities. No
one client owns more than five percent of the securities of the Issuer.
ITEM 7 IDENTIFICATION AND CLARIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH
ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING
COMPANY.
Not Applicable.
ITEM 8 IDENTIFICATION AND CLARIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.
Not Applicable.
ITEM 9 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP.
Not Applicable.
4
<PAGE> 5
ITEM 10 CERTIFICATION.
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary
course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not
have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of
the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with
or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
Date: February 9, 1999
/s/ THOMAS E. DUGGAN
-----------------------------------------
General Counsel and Secretary
-----------------------------------------
5