SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                ----------------

                                  SCHEDULE 13D
                                 (Rule 13d-101)

            INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
           TO RULE 13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO
                                  RULE 13d-2(a)

                         (Amendment No. __________ )(1)


                       American Resources Offshore, Inc.
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                                (Name of Issuer)

     Series 1993 8% Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $12.00 per share

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                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                  02926U 20 9

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                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                Nick D. Nicholas
                            Porter & Hedges, L.L.P.
                            700 Louisina, Suite 3500
                             Houston, TX 77002-2764
                                 (713) 226-0600

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                 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
               Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                               November 26, 2001

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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 that 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.

                         (Continued on following pages)
                               (Page 1 of 7 Pages)

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(1)  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 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).






                                       13D

CUSIP No. 02926U 20 9

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1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
     I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)


Blue Dolphin Energy Company
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2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                                 (a)  [_]
                                                                 (b)  [_]
Inapplicable
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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
               20,000
   SHARES      _________________________________________________________________
               8    SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY

  OWNED BY     20,000
               _________________________________________________________________
    EACH       9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

  REPORTING
               20,000
   PERSON      _________________________________________________________________
               10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
    WITH

20,000
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11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON


20,000
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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)


50.4%
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14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*


CO
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                     *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!

                               Page 2 of 7 Pages




ITEM 1.        SECURITY AND ISSUER.


Title of Security:                   Series 1993 8% Convertible Preferred Stock,
                                     par value $12.00 per share
                                     (the "Preferred Stock")

Name and Address of Issuer's         American Resources Offshore, Inc.
Principal Executive Offices:         801 Travis
                                     Suite 2100
                                     Houston, Texas 77002

ITEM 2.        IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND.


This  Schedule 13D is being filed on behalf of Blue Dolphin  Energy  Company,  a
Delaware corporation  ("BDCO").  The address of BDCO's principal business office
is 801 Travis,  Suite 2100,  Houston,  Texas 77002.  All executive  officers and
directors of BDCO are citizens of the United States except for Ivar Siem, who is
a citizen of Norway. The name, business address and present principal occupation
of each  executive  officer  and  director  is set forth in  Schedule  A to this
Schedule 13D.

BDCO,   through  its   subsidiaries  is  primarily   engaged  in  gathering  and
transportation  of  natural  gas  and  condensate  and  in the  acquisition  and
exploration  of  oil  and  gas  properties.   BDCO's  operations  are  conducted
principally offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Texas Gulf Coast.

During the last five  years,  neither  BDCO nor (to the  knowledge  of BDCO) any
executive  officer  or  director  of BDCO has been (a)  convicted  in a criminal
proceeding  (excluding  traffic  violations and similar  misdemeanors)  or (b) a
party to a civil  proceeding of a judicial or  administrative  body of competent
jurisdiction  which resulted in a judgment,  decree or final order (i) enjoining
future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal
or state securities laws or (ii) finding a violation with respect to such laws.



                                   Page 3 of 7





ITEM 3.        SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION.

     In September 2001, BDCO entered into individual stock purchase  agreements,
the terms of which are substantially identical, with two holders of ARO's Series
1993  Preferred  Stock,  par value $12.00 per share (the  "Preferred  Stock") to
purchase  10,000  shares of Preferred  Stock from each  holder.  Pursuant to the
terms of each  stock  purchase  agreement,  each  share of  Preferred  Stock was
exchanged for .0334 of a share of BDCO common  stock,  par value $0.01 per share
(the "BDCO Common  Stock").  Upon closing of the stock  purchase  agreements  on
November 16, 2001,  BDCO became the  beneficial  owner of an aggregate of 20,000
shares of Preferred Stock.

     Furthermore,  pursuant  to the  Agreement  and Plan of  Merger  dated as of
August 30, 2001, as amended (the "Merger  Agreement"),  among BDCO,  BDCO Merger
Sub,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation  and  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of BDCO (the
"Merger Subsidiary"),  and American Resources Offshore,  Inc. ("ARO"), BDCO will
acquire all  outstanding  shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock not already
beneficially owned by BDCO in exchange for approximately  327,000 shares of BDCO
Common Stock. See Item 4 below.

ITEM 4.        PURPOSE OF THE TRANSACTION.

     On August 30, 2001, BDCO, ARO and the Merger Subsidiary announced that they
entered into the Merger Agreement,  pursuant to which the Merger Subsidiary will
merge with and into ARO and all outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred
Stock,  other than those  beneficially owned by BDCO, will be converted into the
right to receive 0.0276 and 0.0301 shares of BDCO Common Stock, respectively.

     It is BDCO's  intention  to vote the shares of  Preferred  Stock and Common
Stock  beneficially  owned by it for  approval of the Merger  Agreement  and the
merger.  If the merger is consummated,  ARO will be a wholly owned subsidiary of
BDCO. The merger is subject to customary closing conditions.

ITEM 5.        INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

     BDCO owns 20,000 shares of Preferred Stock  beneficially and of record, and
has the sole power to vote or dispose of such  shares.  The shares of  Preferred
Stock owned by BDCO represent  approximately  50.4% of the outstanding shares of
Preferred Stock.



                                   Page 4 of 7





ITEM 6.        Contracts,  Arrangements,  Understandings  or Relationships  with
               Respect to Securities of ARO.

     As set forth in Items 3 and 4 hereof,  BDCO  entered  into  stock  purchase
agreements and acquired  20,000 shares of Preferred Stock and has announced that
it,  the  Merger  Subsidiary  and ARO have  entered  into the  Merger  Agreement
pursuant  to which the Merger  Subsidiary  would be merged with and into ARO and
upon  consummation  of the merger ARO will be a wholly owned  subsidiary of Blue
Dolphin.

ITEM 7.        Material to Be Filed as Exhibits.

     Exhibit No.                                     Description of Exhibit

         7.1        Form of Stock Purchase Agreement.

         7.2        Agreement  and Plan of  Merger  among  Blue  Dolphin  Energy
                    Company,  BDCO  Merger  Sub,  Inc.  and  American  Resources
                    Offshore, Inc., dated as of August 30, 2001 (incorporated by
                    reference from Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K
                    of Blue Dolphin Energy Company dated August 31, 2001).



                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]



                                    Page 5 of 7





                                    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:    November 26, 2001


                                                Blue Dolphin Energy Company



                                                By: /s/ G. Brian Lloyd
                                                    -----------------------
                                                    G. Brian Lloyd
                                                    Vice President and Treasurer






#411155
                                   Page 6 of 7




                                   SCHEDULE A

         Directors and Executive Officers of Blue Dolphin Energy Company

     The  name,  business  address,   title,  present  principal  occupation  or
employment  of each of the  directors  and  executive  officers of Blue  Dolphin
Energy Company ("Blue  Dolphin") are set forth below. If no business  address is
given the director's or officer's  business  address is 801 Travis,  Suite 2100,
Houston, Texas, 77002.

         Name and Business Address      Present Principal Occupation

Directors

         Robert L. Barbanell            Chairman   of   the   Board   of   Pride
                                        International,  Inc.  and  President  of
                                        Robert L. Barbanell Associates,  Inc., a
                                        financial consulting firm

         Michael S. Chadwick            Senior   Vice   President   &   Managing
                                        Director of Sanders, Morris & Harris

         Harris A. Kaffie               Partner in Kaffie Brothers

         Ivar Siem                      Chairman  of the  Board of Blue  Dolphin
                                        Energy Company

         Robert D. Wagner, Jr.          Business consultant

Officers

         John P. Atwood                 Vice President,  Business Development of
                                        Blue Dolphin

         Michael J. Jacobson            President and Chief Executive Officer of
                                        Blue Dolphin

         Roland B. Keller               Executive  Vice  President,  Exploration
                                        Operations of Blue Dolphin

         G. Brian Lloyd                 Vice President,  Treasurer and Secretary
                                        of Blue Dolphin


                                   Page 7 of 7