====================================================================


                 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 (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED) APRIL 17, 1996

                  OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
        (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                               
                               
                               
                               
      DELAWARE                      1-9210           95-4035997
  (State or other jurisdiction    (Commission     (I.R.S. Employer
       of incorporation)           File No.)     Identification No.)
                                                 



        10889 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90024
        (Address of principal executive offices)     (ZIP code)

          Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                            (310) 208-8800

                              

====================================================================
                              



Item 5.   Other Events
- -------   ------------



           Occidental  Petroleum   Corporation   reported   on
April 17, 1996, for the first quarter of 1996, income of  $164 
million ($.44  per share),  before  an after-tax extraordinary 
loss of $30 million ($.09 per share).  This compares with  net 
income of $178 million ($.49 per share)  for the first quarter 
of  1995.  Net  income  for 1996  after the extraordinary loss 
was $134 million ($.35 per share).  The extraordinary loss was 
for the  previously announced early retirement  of high-coupon 
debt. Sales were $2.5 billion for the first  quarter of  1996, 
compared with $2.7 billion for the same period in 1995.


           Oil and gas  divisional earnings  were $161 million
for  the first quarter of 1996, compared with $60 million  for 
1995.  The increase in 1996 earnings  resulted primarily  from 
higher  worldwide  crude  oil prices, increased  international 
crude  oil production, higher domestic natural gas prices  and 
reduced costs.


           Natural  gas  transmission  divisional earnings for 
the first quarter of 1996 were $121 million, compared with $75
million  for 1995.  The improvement in 1996 earnings  resulted
primarily  from  higher sales and transportation  margins  and
volumes.


           Chemical divisional earnings for the first  quarter
of  1996  were  $118 million, compared with $307  million  for
1995.  The  decline in 1996 earnings resulted  primarily  from
decreased profit margins in petrochemicals and PVC resins  and
the absence of income applicable to assets divested in 1995.





                                 1




SUMMARY OF DIVISIONAL NET SALES AND EARNINGS
(Millions, except per-share amounts)

                                                         First Quarter
                                                      -------------------
Periods Ended March 31                                   1996        1995
===============================================       =======     =======

DIVISIONAL NET SALES
    Oil and gas                                       $   754    $    705
    Natural gas transmission                              702         538
    Chemical                                            1,068       1,472
    Other                                                  (2)         (1)
                                                      -------     -------

                                                      $ 2,522     $ 2,714
===============================================       =======     =======

DIVISIONAL EARNINGS
    Oil and gas                                       $   161     $    60
    Natural gas transmission                              121          75
    Chemical                                              118         307
                                                      -------     -------

                                                          400         442
UNALLOCATED CORPORATE ITEMS
    Interest expense, net                                (130)       (144)
    Income taxes (a)                                      (99)       (125)
    Other                                                  (7)          5
                                                      -------     -------

INCOME BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY GAIN(LOSS), NET               164         178

Extraordinary gain(loss), net                             (30)          -
                                                      -------     -------

NET INCOME                                                134         178

Preferred dividends                                       (23)        (23)
                                                      -------     -------

EARNINGS(LOSS) APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK             $   111     $   155
                                                      =======     =======


PRIMARY EARNINGS(LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
  Income before extraordinary gain(loss), net         $   .44     $   .49
  Extraordinary gain(loss), net                          (.09)          -
                                                      -------     -------
PRIMARY EARNINGS(LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE               $   .35     $   .49
                                                      =======     =======

FULLY DILUTED EARNINGS(LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
  Income before extraordinary gain(loss), net         $   .43     $   .47
  Extraordinary gain(loss), net                          (.09)          -
                                                      -------     -------
FULLY DILUTED EARNINGS(LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE         $   .34     $   .47
                                                      =======     =======


AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING                       319.4       317.3
===============================================       =======     =======

   (a) Includes an adjustment to corporate taxes, as quarterly consolidated
       taxes  are  computed in accordance with APB Opinion No. 28 and hence 
       are  based on  projections  of  total-year  income and taxes.  Also, 
       includes an offset  for credits in lieu of U.S. federal income taxes 
       allocated to the divisions. Divisional earnings in the first quarter 
       of  1996  have  benefited  from  credits  allocated  by  $4 million, 
       $12 million and $6 million at oil and gas,  natural gas transmission 
       and chemical, respectively. Divisional earnings in the first quarter
       of 1995 have  benefited  from  credits  allocated by $4 million, $12 
       million and $7 million at oil and gas,  natural gas transmission and 
       chemical, respectively.

                                      2



SUMMARY OF OPERATING STATISTICS
                                                           First Quarter
                                                       -----------------
Periods Ended March 31                                    1996      1995
===================================================    =======   =======


NET OIL, GAS AND LIQUIDS PRODUCTION PER DAY

United States
    Crude oil and condensate (thousands of barrels)        58        66

    Natural gas liquids (thousands of barrels)             11        11

    Natural gas (millions of cubic feet)                  615       644


Other Western Hemisphere
    Crude oil and condensate (thousands of barrels)       128       123


Eastern Hemisphere
    Crude oil and condensate (thousands of barrels)       103        84

    Natural gas (millions of cubic feet)                  135       108



NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION DELIVERIES

Sales (billions of cubic feet)                            193       174

Transportation (billions of cubic feet)                   519       415




CAPITAL EXPENDITURES (millions)                       $   219   $   160
                                                      =======   =======

DEPRECIATION, DEPLETION AND
    AMORTIZATION OF ASSETS (millions)                 $   224   $   238
===================================================   =======   =======

                                   3




                          SIGNATURE
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.


                                   OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION



DATE: April 18, 1996               S. P. Dominick, Jr.
                                   --------------------------------
                                   S. P. Dominick, Jr., Vice
                                   President and Controller
                                   (Chief Accounting and Duly
                                   Authorized Officer)




                                  4