UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D/A
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. 3)
The Meridian Resource Corporation
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, $.01 par value
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(Title of Class of Securities)
58977Q109
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(CUSIP Number)
Stephen J. Paul, Assistant Secretary
Shell Oil Company
910 Louisiana Street
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 241-4112
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(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized
to Receive Notices and Communications)
July 21, 2004
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(Date of Event which Requires Filing of This Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box
[ ].
NOTE: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties
to whom copies are to be sent.
*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
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on 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).
SCHEDULE 13D/A
CUSIP NO. 58977Q109
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Shell Oil Company EIN#13-1299890
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
N/A
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS
OO
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF -0-
-------------------------------------
SHARES
8 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
-7,082,030-
OWNED BY -------------------------------------
EACH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING -0-
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PERSON 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH -7,082,030-
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
-7,082,030-
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12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
[ ]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
-9.8%-
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
CO
SCHEDULE 13D/A
CUSIP NO. 58977Q109
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
SWEPI LP EIN# 76-0073231
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
N/A
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS
AF
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF -0-
--------------------------------------
SHARES
8 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
-7,082,030-
OWNED BY --------------------------------------
EACH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING -0-
--------------------------------------
PERSON 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH -7,082,030-
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
-7,082,030-
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12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES [ ]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
-9.8%-
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
PN
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ITEM 2. Identity and Background.
SWEPI LP, Delaware limited partnership ("SWEPI"), is the successor by
merger of Shell Louisiana Onshore Properties Inc. ("SLOPI"). The general partner
of SWEPI is Shell Energy Holding GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
("Holding"). Both SWEPI and Holding are wholly owned subsidiaries of Shell Oil
Company ("Shell Oil"). SLOPI was, and SWEPI now is, the owner of 7,082,030
shares of the common stock (the "Shares") of The Meridian Resource Corporation
(the "Company"). SLOPI and Shell Oil have previously filed a Schedule 13D and
amendments thereto with respect to the Shares.
SWEPI is engaged in the business of exploring for, developing, and
producing oil and natural gas in the United States. Its principal business
office is 200 N. Dairy Ashford, Houston, Texas, 77079.
Directors and executive officers of SWEPI and the current directors and
executive officers of Shell Oil are listed on Attachment 1 hereto. Neither Shell
Oil, nor SWEPI, nor any of their directors or executive officers, have been,
during the past five years, convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding
traffic violations or similar misdemeanors), or have been a party to a civil
proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as
a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final
order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities
subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with
respect to such laws.
ITEM 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with
Respect to Securities of the Issuer
This amendment is being filed by SWEPI and Shell Oil to report that SWEPI
has entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with the Company dated July 21, 2004
(the "Stock Purchase Agreement"). The Stock Purchase Agreement provides that
SWEPI will sell to the Company and the Company will purchase from SWEPI, out of
proceeds of a public offering of shares of the Company that the Company expects
to complete on or about July 28, 2004, up to 6,000,000 of the Shares to the
Company. This sale and purchase is conditioned upon, among other things,
successful completion of the Company's public offering. The amount of shares
that SWEPI sells to the Company and the price per share will depend upon the
amount of common stock the Company sells in such offering, and the price at
which the Company sells such shares.
In addition, the Stock Purchase Agreement provides that, for a period of
30 days from the date the Company executes its agreement with underwriters, the
Company will purchase and SWEPI will sell up to 1,082,030 additional Shares if
and to the extent that underwriters in the public offering described above
exercise an over-allotment option set forth in the Underwriting Agreement
between the Company and the underwriters.
ITEM 7. Materials to be filed as Exhibits.
1 - Stock Purchase Agreement dated July 21, 2004 between SWEPI LP and The
Meridian Resource Corporation.
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of the knowledge and belief of
the undersigned, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is
true, complete and correct.
July 22, 2004.
SHELL OIL COMPANY
By: S.J. PAUL
Name: S.J. Paul
Title: Assistant Secretary
SWEPI LP
By: S.J. PAUL
Name: S.J. Paul
Title: Secretary
ATTACHMENT 1
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
SHELL OIL COMPANY
NAME AND BUSINESS ADDRESS CITIZENSHIP POSITION
L.L. Elsenhans U.S.A. Director
910 Louisiana Street President
Houston, Texas 77002
R. J. Decyk U.S.A. Director
910 Louisiana Street Sr. Vice President
Houston, Texas 77002 Corporate Affairs
and Human Resources
G.M. Cowan UK Director
910 Louisiana Street CFO, Vice
Houston, Texas 77002 President,
Finance
C. A. Lamboley U.S.A. Director, Sr. Vice
910 Louisiana Street President, Legal
Houston, Texas 77002 General Counsel
Corp. Secretary
T. T. Coles U.S.A. Vice President,
910 Louisiana Street Tax
Houston, Texas 77002
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
SWEPI LP
NAME AND BUSINESS ADDRESS CITIZENSHIP POSITION
W.D. Purvis U.S.A. Director
200 N. Dairy Ashford President
Houston, Texas 77079
J.C. Rambousek U.S.A. Director
200 N. Dairy Ashford
Houston, Texas 77079
W. T. Mooney U.S.A. Director
200 N. Dairy Ashford Vice-President,
Houston, Texas 77079 Tax
EXHIBIT 1
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT