On May 5, 2009, Parallel Petroleum Corporation, or "Parallel", issued a press release announcing (1) its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to the results for the same period in 2008, and (2) updated field operations. The press release issued on May 5, 2009 is furnished as Exhibit No. 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Parallel's reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and other publicly available information should be consulted for other important information about Parallel.

Pursuant to General Instruction B-2 of Form 8-K, the information under this Item 2.02 in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit No. 99.1 hereto, shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to liability of that section. The information under this Item 2.02 in this Current Report shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing of Parallel, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing or document.

(d) Exhibits.

Pursuant to General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the following exhibits are furnished with this Form 8-K.

        Exhibit No.                         Description

            99.1                      Press Release issued May
                                      5, 2009