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

                                  UNITED STATES

                       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):
                                 March 18, 1997

                                   ----------

                                   TEXACO INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



        Delaware                        1-27                    74-1383447
(State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission File          (I.R.S. Employer
       incorporation)                   Number)           Identification Number)



      2000 Westchester Avenue,                                     10650
       White Plains, New York                                    (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (914) 253-4000

              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


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

1.       On  March  18, 1997,  the  Registrant  announced  that it and Shell Oil
         Company  signed  a  memorandum  of  understanding  to combine the major
         elements of their  midwestern  and western U. S. refining and marketing
         activities and their total U. S. transportation, trading and lubricants
         businesses.  The new company will continue  to  market  gasoline  under
         both the  Texaco  and Shell brands through the thousands of independent
         wholesalers and retailers who bring the products to the consumer.

         The two  companies  also  announced  that  they and Saudi Refining Inc.
         (SRI),  have made significant progress in discussions toward a separate
         memorandum of  understanding  to combine Star Enterprise (a 50/50 joint
         venture  between  SRI  and  Texaco  in  the eastern U. S.) with Shell's
         eastern U. S. refining and  marketing  business. An  agreement could be
         reached in the second quarter of 1997.

         Under the terms of the  memorandum of  understanding,  Texaco and Shell
         will form a limited liability  company  comprising their midwestern and
         western refining and marketing activities and nationwide transportation
         and  lubricants  businesses.  Shell  will  own 56 percent and Texaco 44
         percent of the new company, which is expected to be  formed  as soon as
         practical  following  regulatory  review  and the signing of definitive
         agreements.

         On March 18, 1997 the Registrant issued a Press Release entitled "Shell
         And Texaco Sign Memorandum Of  Understanding To Combine U.S.  Refining,
         Marketing,  Transportation, Trading And Lubricants Operations,"  a copy
         of which is  attached  hereto as Exhibit  99.1 and  made a part hereof.

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(c)      Exhibits

   99.1  Press  Release  issued  by  Texaco  Inc. dated March 18, 1997, entitled
         "Shell  And  Texaco  Sign   Memorandum  Of  Understanding  To   Combine
         U. S.  Refining,  Marketing,  Transportation,  Trading  And  Lubricants
         Operations."

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PR8knov14.doc








                                   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 hereunto duly authorized.








                                                                  TEXACO INC.
                                                            --------------------
                                                                 (Registrant)





                                                       By:     C. B. DAVIDSON
                                                            --------------------
                                                            (Vice President and
                                                                 Secretary)





Date:  March 19, 1997
       --------------



                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


          SHELL AND TEXACO SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO COMBINE
               U.S. REFINING, MARKETING, TRANSPORTATION, TRADING
                            AND LUBRICANTS OPERATIONS

 Agreement Expected Soon Among Texaco, Shell and Saudi Refining Inc. to Combine
                 U.S. Eastern Refining and Marketing Operations

FOR  RELEASE:  TUESDAY,  MARCH  18,  1997.
- ------------------------------------------
         WHITE PLAINS,  N.Y., March 18 - Shell Oil Company and Texaco Inc. today
announced  the signing of a  memorandum  of  understanding  to combine the major
elements of their midwestern and western U.S. refining and marketing  activities
and their total U.S. transportation,  trading and lubricants businesses. The new
company will continue to market  gasoline under both the Texaco and Shell brands
through the  thousands of  independent  wholesalers  and retailers who bring the
products to the consumer.
         The two companies  also announced  that they and Saudi  Refining  Inc.
(SRI) have made  significant  progress in  discussions  to combine their eastern
U.S.  refining  and  marketing  businesses.  They  are very  optimistic  that an
agreement will be reached in the second quarter of 1997.
         In making the  announcement  Shell Oil Co.  President and CEO Philip J.
Carroll  said,  "There  is a  powerful  case for  fundamental  change in the way
petroleum  refining and marketing  companies  operate in the United States.  For
several years, the industry has faced difficult  business  conditions  requiring
increased  efficiencies.  This initiative will create new  opportunities for our
customers, employees, vendors and the communities in which we work and live."
         Texaco Chairman and CEO Peter I. Bijur added,  "An alliance of Texaco's
and Shell's downstream  operations is a major step toward much needed change. By
uniting the complementary strengths of these organizations, we will create a new
entity with economic potential far greater than the sum of its parts. The result
will be a more  competitive  company with the ability to create  long-term jobs,
greater  value  for  both  brands,  reliable  sources  of  quality  products  at
competitive prices and the best possible returns for our shareholders."

                 Memorandum of Understanding to Form New Company

         Under the terms of the memorandum of understanding signed today, Texaco
and Shell will form a limited liability company  comprising their midwestern and
western  refining and marketing  activities  and nationwide  transportation  and
lubricants businesses. Shell will have 56 percent ownership and Texaco will hold
44  percent  of the new  company,  which is  expected  to be  formed  as soon as
practical following regulatory review and the signing of a definitive agreement.
                                    - more -


                                     - 2 -

         The exploration,  production and chemical businesses of these companies
are not included in the new company.
         The new  company expects to be able to achieve substantial efficiencies
largely by adopting best practices of both companies, and from shared management
systems,  business  processes  and  support  functions.  These  savings  are not
contingent  upon  closure of  refineries  or other major  operating  facilities.
However, future decisions regarding the new company will be made on the basis of
achieving the objectives of the business plan.
         Messrs.  Carroll and Bijur emphasized that the philosophy  underpinning
the venture is to improve  performance  and growth  opportunities  in the United
States.  As the new company structure is established there may be some reduction
in workforce during the transition, but the expectation is that net job creation
will ultimately result from long-term growth opportunities  generated by the new
venture.
         Both  Texaco  and Shell  have  agreed to the  strategic  importance  of
establishing  a new  company  that will be a leader  in  diversity,  which  will
embrace inclusion, openness and equal opportunity for all employees and business
partners. As part of establishing the new company,  comprehensive employment and
business  partnering  initiatives  will be  developed  that are aligned with its
business objectives.

     Progress on Establishing a U.S. Eastern Refining and Marketing Company

         SRI,  Texaco and Shell have made  significant  progress in  discussions
toward a separate  memorandum  of  understanding  to combine Star  Enterprise (a
50/50 joint  venture  between SRI and Texaco in the eastern  U.S.) with  Shell's
eastern  U.S.  refining  and  marketing   business.   They  anticipate  that  an
announcement will be made soon.
         Until completion of regulatory  review and definitive  agreements,  all
Texaco, Star Enterprise and Shell downstream operations will continue to operate
separately.
         Shell Oil Co. is  a  Houston-based  affiliate of the Royal  Dutch/Shell
Group of Companies. Texaco Inc. is based in White Plains, N.Y. SRI is a Houston-
based affiliate of Saudi Aramco.
                                     - xxx -

For more information contact:    Shell Oil Co. Media Relations    (713) 241-4544
                                 Kitty Borah, Stacy Hutchinson

                                 Texaco Media Center              (914) 253-4177

NOTE TO EDITORS:  The  attached fact sheet identifies operations included in the
                  new company.





 Additional Texaco information is available on the World Wide Web at:
                             http://www.texaco.com



TOTAL ASSETS OF NEW COMPANY FACT SHEET - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ TEXACO ASSETS SHELL ASSETS ASSETS OF NEW COMPANY - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Texaco Refineries (4) Shell Refineries (4) New Company Refineries (8) - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Anacortes, Wash. Anacortes, Wash. Capacity: 136,000 bpd Capacity: 136,000 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Martinez, Calif. Martinez, Calif. Capacity: 155,000 bpd Capacity: 155,000 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ El Dorado, Kan. El Dorado, Kan. Capacity: 100,000 bpd Capacity: 100,000 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Wood River, Ill. Wood River, Ill. Capacity: 271,000 bpd Capacity: 271,000 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Los Angeles, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif. Capacity: 92,000 bpd Capacity: 92,000 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Anacortes, Wash. Anacortes, Wash. Capacity: 108,000 bpd Capacity: 108,000 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Bakersfield, Calif. Bakersfield, Calif. Capacity: 58,000 bpd Capacity: 58,000 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Odessa, Tx. Odessa, Tx. Capacity: 28,000 bpd Capacity: 28,000 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Total Texaco Capacity: Total Shell Capacity: Total Combined Refinery 386,000 bpd 562,000 bpd Capacity: 948,000 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Texaco Percent of U.S. Capacity: Shell Percent of U.S. Capacity: 2.5% 3.6% - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Terminals Terminals Terminals - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ 19 crude oil and products terminals 57 crude oil and products 76 crude oil and products terminals (own or have partial interest) terminals (own or have partial (own or have partial interest) interest) - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Retail Marketing Retail Marketing Retail Marketing - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Approximately 6,735 Texaco-branded Approximately 4,477 Shell-branded Approximately 11,212 branded outlets outlets in 24 states. outlets in 19 states. in 28 states. - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Texaco percent of marketshare in joint Shell percent of marketshare in joint Total combined percent of marketshare in venture area: 6% venture area: 8% joint venture area: 14% - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Pipeline Pipeline Pipeline - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Ownership interest in approximately Ownership interest in approximately 30,000 miles of pipeline throughout the 15,600 miles of pipeline throughout United States the United States - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Lubricants Plants (5) Lubricants Plants (5) Lubricants Plants (10) - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ River Rouge, MI River Rouge, MI Capacity: 7,300 bpd Capacity: 7,300 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Deer Park, TX Deer Park, TX Capacity: 9,500 bpd (2 trains) Capacity: 9,500 bpd (2 trains) - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Charleston, SC Charleston, SC Capacity: 8,250 bpd Capacity: 8,250 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ TEXACO ASSETS SHELL ASSETS ASSETS OF NEW COMPANY - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Lubricants Plants cont. Lubricants Plants cont. Lubricants Plants cont. - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Martinez, CA Martinez, CA Capacity: 5,000 bpd Capacity: 5,000 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Galena Park, TX Galena Park, TX Capacity: 8,600 bpd Capacity: 8,600 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Wood River, IL Wood River, IL Capacity: 8,300 bpd (2 units) Capacity: 8,300 bpd (2 units) - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Los Angeles, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif. Capacity: 5,500 bpd Capacity: 5,500 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Carson, Calif. Carson, Calif. Capacity: 2,300 bpd Capacity: 2,300 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Norfolk, Va. Norfolk, Va. Capacity: 4,100 bpd Capacity: 4,100 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Metairie, La. Metairie, La. Capacity: 3,300 bpd Capacity: 3,300 bpd - ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------