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FORM 10-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
(Mark One)

[x] Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002

OR

[ ] Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number 0-16493

Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in
its limited partnership agreement)

Delaware 75-2145576
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)

407 N. Big Spring, Suite 300, Midland, Texas 79701
(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (915) 686-9927

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

limited partnership interests

Indicate by check mark whether registrant (1) has filed reports required to
be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days: Yes x No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K (229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein,
and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in
definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in
Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [x]

The registrant's outstanding securities consist of Units of limited
partnership interests for which there exists no established public market
from which to base a calculation of aggregate market value.

The total number of pages contained in this report is 43. The exhibit
index is found on page 41.


Table of Contents

Item Page

Part I

1. Business 3

2. Properties 6

3. Legal Proceedings 7

4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 7

Part II

5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related
Stockholder Matters 8

6. Selected Financial Data 9

7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations 10

8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 18

9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants
on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 32

Part III

10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant 33

11. Executive Compensation 35

12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
and Management 35

13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 36

Part IV

14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and
Reports on Form 8-K 37

Signatures 38


Part I

Item 1. Business

General
Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P. (the "Partnership" or
"Registrant") was organized as a Delaware limited partnership on January
30, 1987. The offering of limited partnership interests began March 4,
1987, reached minimum capital requirements on April 28, 1987 and concluded
September 21, 1987. The Partnership has no subsidiaries.

The Partnership has expended its capital and acquired interests in
producing oil and gas properties. After such acquisitions, the Partnership
has produced and marketed the crude oil and natural gas produced from such
properties. In most cases, the Partnership purchased working interests in
oil and gas properties, with an occasional purchase of a royalty or
overriding royalty interest. The Partnership purchased either all or part
of the rights and obligations under various oil and gas leases.

The principal executive offices of the Partnership are located at 407 N.
Big Spring, Suite 300, Midland, Texas, 79701. The Managing General Partner
of the Partnership, Southwest Royalties, Inc. (the "Managing General
Partner") and its staff of 82 individuals, together with certain
independent consultants used on an "as needed" basis, perform various
services on behalf of the Partnership, including the selection of oil and
gas properties and the marketing of production from such properties. H. H.
Wommack, III, Chairman, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of
the Managing General Partner, is also a general partner. Effective
December 31, 2001, Mr. Wommack sold his general partner interest to the
Managing General Partner. The Partnership has no employees.

Principal Products, Marketing and Distribution
The Partnership has acquired and holds working interests in oil and gas
properties located in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Louisiana. All
activities of the Partnership are confined to the continental United
States. All oil and gas produced from these properties is sold to
unrelated third parties in the oil and gas business.

The revenues generated from the Partnership's oil and gas activities are
dependent upon the current market for oil and gas. The prices received by
the Partnership for its oil and gas production depend upon numerous factors
beyond the Partnership's control, including competition, economic,
political and regulatory developments and competitive energy sources, and
make it particularly difficult to estimate future prices of oil and natural
gas.

In 2002, fighting and threats of fighting in the Middle East and a strike
in a major oil exporting country dominated the direction of crude oil
prices. While OPEC agreed to keep production constant throughout the year,
conflicts between the United States and Iraq, as well as between Israel and
the Palestinians threatened supplies and caused oil prices to surge in
2002. In addition, a strike by oil workers in Venezuela, the fourth
largest supplier to the United States, took a significant amount of crude
oil off the market toward the end of the year. As a result, OPEC agreed in
January 2003 to increase output by 1.5 million barrels per day in an effort
to make up for the lost supply and stabilize prices.


In 2002, spot prices for natural gas fell by 27.5% from the unprecedented
heights reached in 2001, averaging just under $3.00/MMBtu for the year.
Most of the lowest prices were seen early on, with the first quarter
averaging of $2.24/MMBtu. But as the year progressed, prices climbed
higher, ending with a $3.99 average in December. As for 2003, industry
analysts are divided on their gas price predictions, with estimates ranging
anywhere from $4.00 to $6.00/MMBtu. Weather forecasts, storage inventory
levels, a tighter supply and demand balance, and the unstable situation
with Iraq are all factors that will have a significant impact on the
direction prices will take. Overall however, analysts are maintaining a
bullish perspective, expecting gas prices to remain at or above $4.00/MMBtu
in 2003.

Following is a table of the ratios of revenues received from oil and gas
production for the last three years:

Oil Gas
----- -----
2002 60% 40%
2001 59% 41%
2000 63% 37%

As the table indicates, the Partnership's revenue is almost evenly divided
between its oil and gas production, the Partnership revenues will be highly
dependent upon the future prices and demands for oil and gas.

Seasonality of Business
Although the demand for natural gas is highly seasonal, with higher demand
in the colder winter months and in very hot summer months, the Partnership
has been able to sell all of its natural gas, either through contracts in
place or on the spot market at the then prevailing spot market price. As a
result, the volumes sold by the Partnership have not fluctuated materially
with the change of season.

Customer Dependence
No material portion of the Partnership's business is dependent on a single
purchaser, or a very few purchasers, where the loss of one would have a
material adverse impact on the Partnership. Four purchasers accounted for
64% of the Partnership's total oil and gas production during 2002: Duke
Energy Field Services LP for 31%, Plains Marketing LP for 13%, Phillips for
10% and BP Amoco for 10%. Four purchasers accounted for 63% of the
Partnership's total oil and gas production during 2001: Duke Energy Field
Services for 25%, Sid Richardson Energy Services for 14%, Plains Marketing
LP for 12% and BP Amoco for 12%. Four purchasers accounted for 70% of the
Partnership's total oil and gas production during 2000: Phillips 66
Natural Gas Co. for 32%, Plains Marketing LP for 14%, Amoco Production for
13% and Sun Refining and Marketing Co. for 11%. All purchasers of the
Partnership's oil and gas production are unrelated third parties. In the
event any of these purchasers were to discontinue purchasing the
Partnership's production, the Managing General Partner believes that a
substitute purchaser or purchasers could be located without undue delay.
No other purchaser accounted for an amount equal to or greater than 10% of
the Partnership's sales of oil and gas production.

Competition
Because the Partnership has utilized all of its funds available for the
acquisition of interests in producing oil and gas properties, it is not
subject to competition from other oil and gas property purchasers. See
Item 2, Properties.

Factors that may adversely affect the Partnership include delays in
completing arrangements for the sale of production, availability of a
market for production, rising operating costs of producing oil and gas and
complying with applicable water and air pollution control statutes,
increasing costs and difficulties of transportation, and marketing of
competitive fuels. Moreover, domestic oil and gas must compete with
imported oil and gas and with coal, atomic energy, hydroelectric power and
other forms of energy.




Regulation

Oil and Gas Production - The production and sale of oil and gas is subject
to federal and state governmental regulation in several respects, such as
existing price controls on natural gas and possible price controls on crude
oil, regulation of oil and gas production by state and local governmental
agencies, pollution and environmental controls and various other direct and
indirect regulations. Many jurisdictions have periodically imposed
limitations on oil and gas production by restricting the rate of flow for
oil and gas wells below their actual capacity to produce and by imposing
acreage limitations for the drilling of wells. The federal government has
the power to permit increases in the amount of oil imported from other
countries and to impose pollution control measures.

Various aspects of the Partnership's oil and gas activities are regulated
by administrative agencies under statutory provisions of the states where
such activities are conducted and by certain agencies of the federal
government for operations on Federal leases. Moreover, certain prices at,
which the Partnership may sell its natural gas production, are controlled
by the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978, the Natural Gas Wellhead Decontrol
Act of 1989 and the regulations promulgated by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission.

Environmental - The Partnership's oil and gas activities are subject to
extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the
generation, storage, handling, emission, transportation and discharge of
materials into the environment. Governmental authorities have the power to
enforce compliance with their regulations, and violations carry substantial
penalties. This regulatory burden on the oil and gas industry increases
its cost of doing business and consequently affects its profitability. The
Managing General Partner is unable to predict what, if any, effect
compliance will have on the Partnership.

Industry Regulations and Guidelines - Certain industry regulations and
guidelines apply to the registration, qualification and operation of oil
and gas programs in the form of limited partnerships. The Partnership is
subject to these guidelines, which regulate and restrict transactions
between the Managing General Partner and the Partnership. The Partnership
complies with these guidelines and the Managing General Partner does not
anticipate that continued compliance will have a material adverse effect on
Partnership operations.

Partnership Employees
The Partnership has no employees; however, the Managing General Partner has
a staff of geologists, engineers, accountants, landmen and clerical staff
who engage in Partnership activities and operations and perform additional
services for the Partnership as needed. In addition to the Managing
General Partner's staff, the Partnership engages independent consultants
such as petroleum engineers and geologists as needed. As of December 31,
2002, there were 82 individuals directly employed by the Managing General
Partner in various capacities.


Item 2. Properties

In determining whether an interest in a particular producing property was
to be acquired, the Managing General Partner considered such criteria as
estimated oil and gas reserves, estimated cash flow from the sale of
production, present and future prices of oil and gas, the extent of
undeveloped and unproved reserves, the potential for secondary, tertiary
and other enhanced recovery projects and the availability of markets.

As of December 31, 2002, the Partnership possessed an interest in oil and
gas properties located in Cameron Parish of Louisiana; Eddy, Chaves and Lea
Counties of New Mexico; Pottawatomie County of Oklahoma; Dawson, Howard,
Leon, Pecos, Stephens, Upton, Ward and Winkler Counties of Texas. These
properties consist of various interests in approximately 80 wells and
units.

Due to the Partnership's objective of maintaining current operations
without engaging in the drilling of any developmental or exploratory wells,
or additional acquisitions of producing properties, there have not been any
significant changes in properties during 2002, 2001 and 2000.

There were no property sales during 2002. During 2001, three leases were
sold for approximately $60. There were no property sales during 2000.

Significant Properties
The following table reflects the significant properties in which the
Partnership has an interest:

Date
Purchased No. of Proved
Reserves*
Name and and Wel Oil (bbls) Gas (mcf)
Location Interest ls
- ------------- ---------- --- ---------- ----------
- ------------ ----- --- -- ----------
---
BHP-Hendricks 10/98 at 5 79,000 21,000
10%
Winkler to 17%
County, Texas
working
interest

Mobil 10/88 at 6 4,000 453,000
Acquisition 2%
Pecos and to 16%
Upton
Counties, working
Texas interest

West 11/88 at 3 41,000 -
Hackberry 45%
Field
Cameron working
Parish, interest
Louisiana


*Ryder Scott Company, L.P. prepared the reserve and present value data for
the Partnership's existing properties as of January 1, 2003. The reserve
estimates were made in accordance with guidelines established by the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 4-10(a) of Regulation S-
X. Such guidelines require oil and gas reserve reports be prepared under
existing economic and operating conditions with no provisions for price and
cost escalation except by contractual arrangements.

Oil price adjustments were made in the individual evaluations to reflect
oil quality, gathering and transportation costs. The results of the reserve
report as of January 1, 2003 are an average price of $28.69 per barrel.

Gas price adjustments were made in the individual evaluations to reflect
BTU content, gathering and transportation costs and gas processing and
shrinkage. The results of the reserve report as of January 1, 2003 are an
average price of $4.48 per Mcf.


As also discussed in Part II, Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, oil and gas prices were
subject to frequent changes in 2002.

The evaluation of oil and gas properties is not an exact science and
inevitably involves a significant degree of uncertainty, particularly with
respect to the quantity of oil or gas that any given property is capable of
producing. Estimates of oil and gas reserves are based on available
geological and engineering data, the extent and quality of which may vary
in each case and, in certain instances, may prove to be inaccurate.
Consequently, properties may be depleted more rapidly than the geological
and engineering data have indicated.

Unanticipated depletion, if it occurs, will result in lower reserves than
previously estimated; thus an ultimately lower return for the Partnership.
Basic changes in past reserve estimates occur annually. As new data is
gathered during the subsequent year, the engineer must revise his earlier
estimates. A year of new information, which is pertinent to the estimation
of future recoverable volumes, is available during the subsequent year
evaluation. In applying industry standards and procedures, the new data
may cause the previous estimates to be revised. This revision may increase
or decrease the earlier estimated volumes. Pertinent information gathered
during the year may include actual production and decline rates, production
from offset wells drilled to the same geologic formation, increased or
decreased water production, workovers, and changes in lifting costs, among
others. Accordingly, reserve estimates are often different from the
quantities of oil and gas that are ultimately recovered.

The Partnership has reserves, which are classified as proved developed
producing, proved developed non-producing and proved undeveloped. All of
the proved reserves are included in the engineering reports, which evaluate
the Partnership's present reserves.

Because the Partnership does not engage in drilling activities, the
development of proved undeveloped reserves is conducted pursuant to farmout
arrangements with the Managing General Partner or unrelated third parties.
Generally, the Partnership retains a carried interest such as an overriding
royalty interest under the terms of a farmout, or receives cash.

The Partnership or the owners of properties in which the Partnership owns
an interest can engage in workover projects or supplementary recovery
projects, for example, to extract behind the pipe reserves, which qualify
as proved developed non-producing reserves. See Part II, Item 7,
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

There are no material pending legal proceedings to which the Partnership is
a party.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

No matter was submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth
quarter of 2002 through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise.



Part II


Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder
Matters

Market Information
Limited partnership interests, or units, in the Partnership were initially
offered and sold for a price of $500. Limited partner units are not traded
on any exchange and there is no public or organized trading market for
them. The Managing General Partner has become aware of certain limited and
sporadic transfers of units between limited partners and third parties, but
has no verifiable information regarding the prices at which such units have
been transferred. Further, a transferee may not become a substitute
limited partner without the consent of the Managing General Partner.

After completion of the Partnership's first full fiscal year of operations
and each year thereafter, the Managing General Partner has offered and will
continue to offer to purchase each limited partner's interest in the
Partnership, at a price based on tangible assets of the Partnership, plus
the present value of the future net revenues of proved oil and gas
properties, minus liabilities with a risk factor discount of up to one-
third which may be implemented in the sole discretion of the Managing
General Partner. However, the Managing General Partner's obligation to
purchase limited partner units is limited to an expenditure of an amount
not in excess of 10% of the total limited partner units initially
subscribed for by limited partners. As of December 31, 2002, no limited
partner units were purchased by the Managing General Partner. Southwest,
as Managing General Partner, evaluated several liquidity alternatives for
the partnerships in 2001 and 2002. During 2002, Southwest specifically
pursued the possible roll-up and merger of twenty-one (21) partnerships
with the general partner. Because of the complexities and conflicts of
interest in such a transaction, the Managing General Partner did not make a
formal repurchase offer in 2002 but has responded to limited partners
desiring to sell their units in the partnerships on an "as requested"
basis. Southwest anticipates that it will maintain this policy in 2003
because the aforementioned transaction is ongoing. In 2001, 1,299 limited
partner units were tendered to and purchased by the Managing General
Partner at an average base price of $210.69 per unit. In 2000, 1,373
limited partner units were tendered to and purchased by the Managing
General Partner at an average base price of $80.48 per unit.

Number of Limited Partner Interest Holders
As of December 31, 2002, there were 566 holders of limited partner units in
the Partnership.

Distributions
Pursuant to Article IV, Section 4.01 of the Partnership's Certificate and
Agreement of Limited Partnership "Net Cash Flow" is distributed to the
partners on a quarterly basis. "Net Cash Flow", is defined as "the cash
generated by the Partnership's investments in producing oil and gas
properties, less (i) General and Administrative Costs, (ii) Operating
Costs, and (iii) any reserves necessary to meet current and anticipated
needs of the Partnership, as determined in the sole discretion of the
Managing General Partner."


During 2002, distributions were made totaling $261,469, with $235,322
distributed to the limited partners and $26,147 to the general partners.
For the year ended December 31, 2002, distributions of $15.69 per limited
partner unit were made, based upon 15,000 limited partner units
outstanding. During 2001, distributions were made totaling $425,582, with
$383,024 distributed to the limited partners and $42,558 to the general
partners. For the year ended December 31, 2001, distributions of $25.53
per limited partner unit were made, based upon 15,000 limited partner units
outstanding. During 2000, quarterly distributions were made totaling
$435,000, with $391,500 distributed to the limited partners and $43,500 to
the general partners. For the year ended December 31, 2000, distributions
of $26.10 per limited partner unit were made, based upon 15,000 limited
partner units outstanding.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following selected financial data for the years ended December 31,
2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 and 1998 should be read in conjunction with the
financial statements included in Item 8:

2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Revenues $ 751,555 748,950 935,534 609,707 542,492

Net income 260,580 255,471 469,763 187,448 (330,630
(loss) )

Partners'
share
of net income
(loss):

General 26,058 25,547 46,976 18,745 (33,063)
partners

Limited 234,522 229,924 422,787 168,703 (297,567
partners )

Limited
partners'
net income
(loss)
per unit 15.63
15.33 28.19 11.25 (19.84)

Limited
partners'
cash
distributions
per unit 15.69
25.53 26.10 11.10 12.31

Total assets $ 524,986 525,666 696,110 660,170 658,283



Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations

General
The Partnership was formed to acquire interests in producing oil and gas
properties, to produce and market crude oil and natural gas produced from
such properties and to distribute any net proceeds from operations to the
general and limited partners. Net revenues from producing oil and gas
properties are not reinvested in other revenue producing assets except to
the extent that producing facilities and wells are reworked or where
methods are employed to improve or enable more efficient recovery of oil
and gas reserves. The economic life of the Partnership thus depends on the
period over which the Partnership's oil and gas reserves are economically
recoverable.

Increases or decreases in Partnership revenues and, therefore,
distributions to partners will depend primarily on changes in the prices
received for production, changes in volumes of production sold, lease
operating expenses, enhanced recovery projects, offset drilling activities
pursuant to farmout arrangements and the depletion of wells. Since wells
deplete over time, production can generally be expected to decline from
year to year.

Well operating costs and general and administrative costs usually decrease
with production declines; however, these costs may not decrease
proportionately. Net income available for distribution to the limited
partners has fluctuated over the past few years and is expected to
fluctuate in later years based on these factors.

Based on current conditions, management anticipates performing no workovers
during 2003 to enhance production. Workovers may be performed in the year
2004 to increase production. The partnership may have an increase in
production volumes for the year 2004, otherwise, the partnership will most
likely experience the historical production decline, which has approximated
10% per year.

Critical Accounting Policies
Full cost ceiling calculations The Partnership follows the full cost method
of accounting for its oil and gas properties. The full cost method
subjects companies to quarterly calculations of a "ceiling", or limitation
on the amount of properties that can be capitalized on the balance sheet.
If the Partnership's capitalized costs are in excess of the calculated
ceiling, the excess must be written off as an expense.

The Partnership's discounted present value of its proved oil and natural
gas reserves is a major component of the ceiling calculation, and
represents the component that requires the most subjective judgments.
Estimates of reserves are forecasts based on engineering data, projected
future rates of production and the timing of future expenditures. The
process of estimating oil and natural gas reserves requires substantial
judgment, resulting in imprecise determinations, particularly for new
discoveries. Different reserve engineers may make different estimates of
reserve quantities based on the same data. The Partnership's reserve
estimates are prepared by outside consultants.

The passage of time provides more qualitative information regarding
estimates of reserves, and revisions are made to prior estimates to reflect
updated information. However, there can be no assurance that more
significant revisions will not be necessary in the future. If future
significant revisions are necessary that reduce previously estimated
reserve quantities, it could result in a full cost property writedown. In
addition to the impact of these estimates of proved reserves on calculation
of the ceiling, estimates of proved reserves are also a significant
component of the calculation of DD&A.

While the quantities of proved reserves require substantial judgment, the
associated prices of oil and natural gas reserves that are included in the
discounted present value of the reserves do not require judgment. The
ceiling calculation dictates that prices and costs in effect as of the last
day of the period are generally held constant indefinitely. Because the
ceiling calculation dictates that prices in effect as of the last day of
the applicable quarter are held constant indefinitely, the resulting value
is not indicative of the true fair value of the reserves. Oil and natural
gas prices have historically been cyclical and, on any particular day at
the end of a quarter, can be either substantially higher or lower than the
Partnership's long-term price forecast that is a barometer for true fair
value.

Prior to October 1, 2002, the Partnership calculated depletion of oil and
gas properties under the units of revenue method. The Partnership changed
methods of estimating depletion effective October 1, 2002 to the units of
production method. The units of production method is more predominantly
used throughout the oil and gas industry and will allow the Partnership to
more closely align itself with its peers. The effect of this change in
estimate was to increase 2002 depletion expense by $1,000 and decrease 2002
net income by $1,000.



Results of Operations

A. General Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2002 and 2001

The following table provides certain information regarding performance
factors for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001:

Percenta
ge
Year Ended Increase
December 31,
2002 2001 (Decreas
e)
------ ------ --------
-----
Average price per barrel $ 23.94 6%
of oil 22.67
Average price per mcf of $ 2.96 (26%)
gas 4.00
Oil production in 18,600 19,500 (5%)
barrels
Gas production in mcf 101,300 75,800 34%
Gross oil and gas $ 745,590 745,318 0%
revenue
Net oil and gas revenue $ 411,693 433,255 (5%)
Partnership $ 261,469 425,582 (39%)
distributions
Limited partner $ 235,322 383,024 (39%)
distributions
Per unit distribution to $ 15.69 (39%)
limited partners 25.53
Number of limited 15,000 15,000
partner units

Revenues

The Partnership's oil and gas revenues increased to $745,590 from $745,318
for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, an increase
of less than 1%. The principal factors affecting the comparison of the
years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 are as follows:

1. The average price for a barrel of oil received by the Partnership
increased during the year ended December 31, 2002 as compared to the
year ended December 31, 2001 by 6%, or $1.27 per barrel, resulting in
an increase of approximately $23,600 in revenues. Oil sales represented
60% of total oil and gas sales during the year ended December 31, 2002
as compared to 59% during the year ended December 31, 2001.

The average price for an mcf of gas received by the Partnership
decreased during the same period by 26%, or $1.04 per mcf, resulting in
a decrease of approximately $105,400 in revenues.

The net total decrease in revenues due to the change in prices received
from oil and gas production is approximately $81,800. The market price
for oil and gas has been extremely volatile over the past decade and
management expects a certain amount of volatility to continue in the
foreseeable future.


2. Oil production decreased approximately 900 barrels or 5% during the
year ended December 31, 2002 as compared to the year ended December 31,
2001, resulting in a decrease of approximately $20,400 in revenues.

Gas production increased approximately 25,500 mcf or 34% during the
same period, resulting in an increase of approximately $102,000 in
revenues.

The net total increase in revenues due to the change in production is
approximately $81,600. The increase in gas production is due to an
adjustment of gas balancing for a non-operated lease. In addition the
Partnership per its agreement does not engage in drilling activities,
the development of proved reserves is conducted pursuant to farmout
arrangements with the Managing General Partner or unrelated third
parties. This occurred on the above-mentioned lease whereas the
carried interest decreased causing an offset in production during the
year ended December 31, 2002.

Costs and Expenses

Total costs and expenses decreased to $490,975 from $493,479 for the years
ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, a decrease of 1%. The
decrease is the result of lower depletion expense, partially offset by an
increase in general and administrative expense and lease operating costs.

1. Lease operating costs and production taxes were 7% higher, or
approximately $21,800 more during the year ended December 31, 2002 as
compared to the year ended December 31, 2001.

2. General and administrative costs consist of independent accounting and
engineering fees, computer services, postage, and Managing General
Partner personnel costs. General and administrative costs increased
1%, or approximately $700 during the year ended December 31, 2002 as
compared to the year ended December 31, 2001.

3. Depletion expense decreased to $41,000 for the year ended December 31,
2002 from $66,000 for the same period in 2001. This represents a
decrease of 38%. Prior to October 1, 2002, the Partnership calculated
depletion of oil and gas properties under the units of revenue method.
The Partnership changed methods of estimating depletion effective
October 1, 2002 to the units of production method. The units of
production method is more predominantly used throughout the oil and gas
industry and will allow the Partnership to more closely align itself
with its peers. The effect of this change in estimate was to increase
2002 depletion expense by $1,000 and decrease 2002 net income by
$1,000.

The major factor in the decrease in depletion expense between the
comparative periods was the increase in the price of oil and gas used
to determine the Partnership's reserves for January 1, 2003 as compared
to 2002.




Results of Operations

B. General Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2001 and 2000

The following table provides certain information regarding performance
factors for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000:

Percenta
ge
Year Ended Increase
December 31,
2001 2000 (Decreas
e)
------ ------ --------
-----
Average price per barrel $ 22.67 (20%)
of oil 28.23
Average price per mcf of $ 4.00 (4%)
gas 4.17
Oil production in 19,500 20,900 (7%)
barrels
Gas production in mcf 75,800 81,700 (7%)
Gross oil and gas $ 745,318 930,919 (20%)
revenue
Net oil and gas revenue $ 433,255 612,009 (29%)
Partnership $ 425,582 435,000 (2%)
distributions
Limited partner $ 383,024 391,500 (2%)
distributions
Per unit distribution to $ 25.53 (2%)
limited partners 26.10
Number of limited 15,000 15,000
partner units

Revenues

The Partnership's oil and gas revenues decreased to $745,318 from $930,919
for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively, a decrease of
20%. The principal factors affecting the comparison of the years ended
December 31, 2001 and 2000 are as follows:

1. The average price for a barrel of oil received by the Partnership
decreased during the year ended December 31, 2001 as compared to the
year ended December 31, 2000 by 20%, or $5.56 per barrel, resulting in
a decrease of approximately $108,400 in revenues. Oil sales represented
59% of total oil and gas sales during the year ended December 31, 2001
as compared to 63% during the year ended December 31, 2000.

The average price for an mcf of gas received by the Partnership
decreased during the same period by 4%, or $.17 per mcf, resulting in a
decrease of approximately $12,900 in revenues.

The total decrease in revenues due to the change in prices received
from oil and gas production is approximately $121,300. The market
price for oil and gas has been extremely volatile over the past decade
and management expects a certain amount of volatility to continue in
the foreseeable future.


2. Oil production decreased approximately 1,400 barrels or 7% during the
year ended December 31, 2001 as compared to the year ended December 31,
2000, resulting in a decrease of approximately $39,500 in revenues.

Gas production decreased approximately 5,900 mcf or 7% during the same
period, resulting in a decrease of approximately $24,600 in revenues.

The total decrease in revenues due to the change in production is
approximately $64,100.

Costs and Expenses

Total costs and expenses increased to $493,479 from $465,771 for the years
ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively, an increase of 6%. The
increase is the result of higher depletion expense, partially offset by a
decrease in general and administrative expense and lease operating costs.

1. Lease operating costs and production taxes were 2% lower, or
approximately $6,800 less during the year ended December 31, 2001 as
compared to the year ended December 31, 2000.

2. General and administrative costs consist of independent accounting and
engineering fees, computer services, postage, and Managing General
Partner personnel costs. General and administrative costs decreased
2%, or approximately $2,400 during the year ended December 31, 2001 as
compared to the year ended December 31, 2000.

3. Depletion expense increased to $66,000 for the year ended December 31,
2001 from $29,000 for the same period in 2000. This represents an
increase of 128%. Depletion is calculated using the units of revenue
method of amortization based on a percentage of current period gross
revenues to total future gross oil and gas revenues, as estimated by
the Partnership's independent petroleum consultants.

The major factor in the increase in depletion expense between the
comparative periods was the decrease in the price of oil and gas used
to determine the Partnership's reserves for January 1, 2002 as compared
to 2001, and the decrease in oil and gas revenues received by the
Partnership during 2001 as compared to 2000. Revisions of previous
estimates can be attributed to the changes in production performance,
oil and gas price and production costs. The impact of the revision
would have increased depletion expense approximately $23,000 as of
December 31, 2000.




C. Revenue and Distribution Comparison

Partnership net income for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000
was $260,580, $255,471 and $469,763, respectively. Excluding the effects
of depreciation, depletion and amortization, net income for the years ended
December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 would have been $301,580, $321,471 and
$498,763, respectively. Correspondingly, Partnership distributions for the
years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 were $261,469, $425,582 and
$435,000, respectively. These differences are indicative of the changes in
oil and gas prices, production and properties during 2002, 2001 and 2000.

The sources for the 2002 distributions of $261,469 were oil and gas
operations of approximately $238,900 and the change in oil and gas
properties of approximately $3,200, with the balance from available cash on
hand at the beginning of the period. The sources for the 2001
distributions of $425,582 were oil and gas operations of approximately
$411,300 and the change in oil and gas properties of approximately
$(1,400), with the balance from available cash on hand at the beginning of
the period. The sources for the 2000 distributions of $435,000 were oil
and gas operations of approximately $450,500 and the change in oil and gas
properties of approximately $(7,400), resulting in excess cash for
contingencies or subsequent distributions.

Total distributions during the year ended December 31, 2002 were $261,469
of which $235,322 was distributed to the limited partners and $26,147 to
the general partners. The per unit distribution to limited partners during
the same period was $15.69. Total distributions during the year ended
December 31, 2001 were $425,582 of which $383,024 was distributed to the
limited partners and $42,558 to the general partners. The per unit
distribution to limited partners during the same period was $25.53. Total
distributions during the year ended December 31, 2000 were $435,000 of
which $391,500 was distributed to the limited partners and $43,500 to the
general partners. The per unit distribution to limited partners during the
same period was $26.10.

Since inception of the Partnership, cumulative monthly cash distributions
of $11,065,781 have been made to the partners. As of December 31, 2002,
$9,977,417 or $665.16 per limited partner unit has been distributed to the
limited partners, representing a 100% return of capital and a 33% return on
capital contributed.


Liquidity and Capital Resources

The primary source of cash is from operations, the receipt of income from
interests in oil and gas properties. The Partnership knows of no material
change, nor does it anticipate any such change.

Cash flows provided by operating activities were approximately $238,900 in
2002 compared to $411,300 in 2001 and approximately $450,500 in 2000. The
primary source of the 2002 cash flow from operating activities was
profitable operations.

Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities were approximately
$3,200 in 2002 compared to $(1,400) in 2001 and approximately $(7,400) in
2000. The principal source of the 2002 cash flows from investing
activities was the sale of oil and gas properties.

Cash flows used in financing activities were approximately $261,300 in 2002
compared to $425,900 in 2001 and approximately $433,800 in 2000. The only
use in financing activities is the distributions to partners.

As of December 31, 2002, the Partnership had approximately $134,600 in
working capital. The Managing General Partner knows of no unusual
contractual commitments. Although the partnership held many long-lived
properties at inception, because of the restrictions on property
development imposed by the partnership agreement, the Managing General
Partner anticipates that at some point in the near future, the partnership
will need to be liquidated. Maintenance of properties and administrative
expenses are increasing relative to production. As the properties continue
to deplete, maintenance of properties and administrative costs as a
percentage of production will continue to increase.

As the partnerships properties have matured, the net cash flows from
operations for the partnership have generally declined, except in periods
of substantially increased commodity pricing. Since the partnership cannot
develop their non-producing properties, the producing reserves continue to
deplete causing cash flow to steadily decline.

On October 17, 2002, Southwest Royalties, Inc. the Managing General Partner
filed an S-4 "Registration of Securities, Business Combinations" with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The S-4 relates to a proposed plan of
merger of twenty-one limited partnerships.

Liquidity - Managing General Partner

The Managing General Partner has a highly leveraged capital structure with
approximately $124.0 million of principal due between December 31, 2002 and
December 31, 2004. The Managing General Partner is constantly monitoring
its cash position and its ability to meet its financial obligations as they
become due, and in this effort, is continually exploring various strategies
for addressing its current and future liquidity needs. The Managing
General Partner regularly pursues and evaluates recapitalization strategies
and acquisition opportunities (including opportunities to engage in
mergers, consolidations or other business combinations) and at any given
time may be in various stages of evaluating such opportunities.

Based on current production, commodity prices and cash flow from
operations, the Managing General Partner has adequate cash flow to fund
debt service, developmental projects and day to day operations, but it is
not sufficient to build a cash balance which would allow the Managing
General Partner to meet its debt principal maturities scheduled for 2004.
Therefore the Managing General Partner must renegotiate the terms of its
various obligations or seek new lenders or equity investors in order to
meet its financial obligations, specifically those maturing in 2004. The
Managing General Partner may be required to dispose of certain assets in
order to meet its obligations.

There can be no assurance that the Managing General Partner's debt
restructuring efforts will be successful or that the debt holders will
agree to a course of action consistent with the Managing General Partner's
requirements in restructurings the obligations. Furthermore, there can be
no assurance that the sales of assets can be successfully accomplished on
terms acceptable to the Managing General Partner.


Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The FASB has issued Statement No. 143 "Accounting for Asset Retirement
Obligations" which establishes requirements for the accounting of removal-
type costs associated with asset retirements. The standard is effective
for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002, with earlier application
encouraged. The Managing General Partner is currently assessing the impact
on the partnerships financial statements.


Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Partnership is not a party to any derivative or embedded derivative
instruments.


Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Index to Financial Statements

Page

Independent Auditors Report 19

Balance Sheets 20

Statements of Operations 21

Statement of Changes in Partners' Equity 22

Statements of Cash Flows 23

Notes to Financial Statements 24











INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORTS

The Partners
Southwest Oil & Gas
Income Fund VII-A, L.P.
(A Delaware Limited Partnership)

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Southwest Oil & Gas
Income Fund VII-A, L.P. (the "Partnership") as of December 31, 2002 and
2001, and the related statements of operations, changes in partners' equity
and cash flows for each of the years in the three year period ended
December 31, 2002. These financial statements are the responsibility of
the Partnership's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion
on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we
plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures
in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as
well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We
believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Southwest Oil & Gas
Income Fund VII-A, L.P. as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the results of
its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three year
period ended December 31, 2002 in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America.








KPMG LLP



Midland, Texas
March 14, 2003



Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.
(a Delaware limited partnership)
Balance Sheets
December 31, 2002 and 2001


2002 2001
------ ------
Assets
- ----------
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 33,580 52,669
Receivable from Managing 102,607 39,957
General Partner
-------- --------
---- ----
Total current assets 136,187 92,626
-------- --------
---- ----
Oil and gas properties -
using the full-
cost method of accounting 4,501,49 4,504,73
0 1
Less accumulated
depreciation,
depletion and 4,112,69 4,071,69
amortization 1 1
-------- --------
---- ----
Net oil and gas 388,799 433,040
properties
-------- --------
---- ----
$ 524,986 525,666
======= =======
Liabilities and Partners'
Equity
- ----------------------------
- ------------

Current liability - $ 1,569 1,360
distribution payable
-------- --------
---- ----

Partners' equity:
General partners (582,113 (582,024
) )
Limited partners 1,105,53 1,106,33
0 0
-------- --------
---- ----
Total partners' equity 523,417 524,306
-------- --------
---- ----
$ 524,986 525,666
======= =======










The accompanying notes are an integral
part of these financial statements.


Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.
(a Delaware limited partnership)
Statements of Operations
Years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000


2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
Revenues
- -------------

Oil and gas revenue $ 745,590 745,318 930,919
Interest income from 681 3,632 4,615
operations
Miscellaneous 5,284 - -
-------- -------- --------
--- --- ---
751,555 748,950 935,534
-------- -------- --------
--- --- ---
Expenses
- ------------

Production 333,897 312,063 318,910
General and administrative 116,078 115,416 117,861
Depreciation, depletion and 41,000 66,000 29,000
amortization
-------- -------- --------
--- --- ---
490,975 493,479 465,771
-------- -------- --------
--- --- ---
Net income $ 260,580 255,471 469,763
====== ====== ======
Net income allocated to:

Managing General Partner $ 26,058 22,992 42,278
====== ====== ======
General Partner $ - 2,555 4,698
====== ====== ======
Limited partners $ 234,522 229,924 422,787
====== ====== ======
Per limited partner unit $ 15.63
15.33 28.19
====== ====== ======















The accompanying notes are an integral
part of these financial statements.


Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.
(a Delaware limited partnership)
Statement of Changes in Partners' Equity
Years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

General Limited
Partners Partners Total
-------- -------- --------
---- ----
Balance at $ (568,489 1,228,14 659,654
December 31, 1999 ) 3

Net income 46,976 422,787 469,763

Distribution (43,500) (391,500 (435,000
) )
-------- -------- --------
--- ----- ----
Balance at (565,013 1,259,43 694,417
December 31, 2000 ) 0

Net income 25,547 229,924 255,471

Distribution (42,558) (383,024 (425,582
) )
-------- -------- --------
--- ----- ----
Balance at (582,024 1,106,33 524,306
December 31, 2001 ) 0

Net income 26,058 234,522 260,580

Distribution (26,147) (235,322 (261,469
) )
-------- -------- --------
--- ----- ----
Balance at $ (582,113 1,105,53 523,417
December 31, 2002 ) 0
====== ======== =======

























The accompanying notes are an integral
part of these financial statements.


Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.
(a Delaware limited partnership)
Statements of Cash Flows
Years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000


2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
Cash flows from operating
activities:

Cash received from oil and $ 701,182 844,497 874,759
gas sales
Cash paid to Managing
General Partner
for production expenses,
administrative
fees and general and (468,218 (436,781 (428,907
administrative overhead ) ) )
Interest received 681 3,632 4,615
Miscellaneous settlement 5,284 - -
-------- -------- --------
---- ---- ----
Net cash provided by 238,929 411,348 450,467
operating activities
-------- -------- --------
---- ---- ----
Cash flows from investing
activities:

Additions to oil and gas - (6,220) (7,448)
properties
Sale of oil and gas 3,241 4,795 -
properties
-------- -------- --------
---- ---- ----
Net cash provided by (used
in)
investing activities 3,241 (1,425) (7,448)
-------- -------- --------
---- ---- ----
Cash flows used in financing
activities:

Distributions to partners (261,260 (425,915 (433,823
) ) )
-------- -------- --------
---- ---- ----
Net (decrease) increase in
cash and
cash equivalents (19,090) (15,992) 9,196

Beginning of year 52,669 68,661 59,465
-------- -------- --------
---- ---- ----
End of year $ 33,580 52,669 68,661
======= ======= =======
Reconciliation of net income
to net
cash provided by operating
activities:

Net income $ 260,580 255,471 469,763

Adjustments to reconcile net
income to
net cash provided by
operating activities:

Depreciation, depletion and 41,000 66,000 29,000
amortization
(Increase) decrease in (44,408) 99,179 (56,160)
receivables
(Decrease) increase in (18,243) (9,302) 7,864
payables
-------- -------- --------
---- ---- ----
Net cash provided by $ 238,929 411,348 450,467
operating activities
======= ======= =======

The accompanying notes are an integral
part of these financial statements.


Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.
(a Delaware limited partnership)

Notes to Financial Statements

1. Organization
Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P. was organized under the
laws of the state of Delaware on January 30, 1987, for the purpose of
acquiring producing oil and gas properties and to produce and market
crude oil and natural gas produced from such properties for a term of
50 years, unless terminated at an earlier date as provided for in the
Partnership Agreement. The Partnership sells its oil and gas
production to a variety of purchasers with the prices it receives
being dependent upon the oil and gas economy. Southwest Royalties,
Inc. serves as the Managing General Partner and H. H. Wommack, III, as
the individual general partner. Effective December 31, 2001, Mr.
Wommack sold his general partner interest to the Managing General
Partner. Revenues, costs and expenses are allocated as follows:

Limited General
Partners Partners
-------- --------
--- ---
Interest income on capital 100% -
contributions
Oil and gas sales 90% 10%
All other revenues 90% 10%
Organization and offering 100% -
costs (1)
Amortization of organization 100% -
costs
Property acquisition costs 100% -
Gain/loss on property 90% 10%
dispositions
Operating and administrative 90% 10%
costs (2)
Depreciation, depletion and
amortization
of oil and gas properties 90% 10%
All other costs 90% 10%

(1)All organization costs in excess of 3% of initial capital
contributions will be paid by the Managing General Partner and
will be treated as a capital contribution. The Partnership paid
the Managing General Partner an amount equal to 3% of initial
capital contributions for such organization costs.

(2)Administrative costs in any year, which exceed 2% of capital
contributions shall be paid by the Managing General Partner and
will be treated as a capital contribution.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Oil and Gas Properties
Oil and gas properties are accounted for at cost under the full-cost
method. Under this method, all productive and nonproductive costs
incurred in connection with the acquisition, exploration and
development of oil and gas reserves are capitalized. Gain or loss on
the sale of oil and gas properties is not recognized unless
significant oil and gas reserves are involved.

Prior to October 1, 2002, the Partnership calculated depletion of oil
and gas properties under the units of revenue method. The Partnership
changed methods of estimating depletion effective October 1, 2002 to
the units of production method. The units of production method is
more predominantly used throughout the oil and gas industry and will
allow the Partnership to more closely align itself with its peers.
The effect of this change in estimate was to increase 2002 depletion
expense by $1,000 and decrease 2002 net income by $1,000.

Should the net capitalized costs exceed the estimated present value of
oil and gas reserves, discounted at 10%, such excess costs would be
charged to current expense. In applying the units of revenue method
for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and for the nine months
ended September 30, 2002, we have not excluded royalty and net profit
interest payments from gross revenues as all of our royalty and net
profit interests have been purchased and capitalized to the depletion
basis of our proved oil and gas properties. As of December 31, 2002,
2001 and 2000, the net capitalized costs did not exceed the estimated
present value of oil and gas reserves.


Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.
(a Delaware limited partnership)

Notes to Financial Statements

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued

Estimates and Uncertainties
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the
date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues
and expenses during the reporting period. The Partnerships depletion
calculation and full-cost ceiling test for oil and gas properties uses
oil and gas reserves estimates, which are inherently imprecise. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.

Syndication Costs
Syndication costs are accounted for as a reduction of partnership
equity.

Environmental Costs
The Partnership is subject to extensive federal, state and local
environmental laws and regulations. These laws, which are constantly
changing, regulate the discharge of materials into the environment and
may require the Partnership to remove or mitigate the environmental
effects of the disposal or release of petroleum or chemical substances
at various sites. Environmental expenditures are expensed or
capitalized depending on their future economic benefit. Costs, which
improve a property as compared with the condition of the property when
originally constructed or acquired and costs, which prevent future
environmental contamination are capitalized. Expenditures that relate
to an existing condition caused by past operations and that have no
future economic benefits are expensed. Liabilities for expenditures
of a non-capital nature are recorded when environmental assessment
and/or remediation is probable, and the costs can be reasonably
estimated.

Revenue Recognition
We recognize oil and gas sales when delivery to the purchaser has
occurred and title has transferred. This occurs when production has
been delivered to a pipeline or transport vehicle.

Gas Balancing
The Partnership utilizes the sales method of accounting for gas-
balancing arrangements. Under this method the Partnership recognizes
sales revenue on all gas sold. As of December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000
the Partnership was under produced by 1,613, 3,056 and 332,
respectively.

Income Taxes
No provision for income taxes is reflected in these financial
statements, since the tax effects of the Partnership's income or loss
are passed through to the individual partners.

In accordance with the requirements of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes", the
Partnership's tax basis in its net oil and gas properties at December
31, 2002 and 2001 is $134,763 and $123,205, more than that shown on
the accompanying Balance Sheet in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles.

Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Partnership considers
all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with a maturity of three
months or less to be cash equivalents. The Partnership maintains its
cash at one financial institution.

Number of Limited Partner Units
As of December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, there were 15,000 limited
partner units outstanding held by 566, 566 and 615 partners.

Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.
(a Delaware limited partnership)

Notes to Financial Statements

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued

Concentrations of Credit Risk
The Partnership is subject to credit risk through trade receivables.
Although a substantial portion of its debtors' ability to pay is
dependent upon the oil and gas industry, credit risk is minimized due
to a large customer base. All partnership revenues are received by
the Managing General Partner and subsequently remitted to the
partnership and all expenses are paid by the Managing General Partner
and subsequently reimbursed by the partnership.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying amount of cash and accounts receivable approximates fair
value due to the short maturity of these instruments.

Net Income (loss) per limited partnership unit
The net income (loss) per limited partnership unit is calculated by
using the number of outstanding limited partnership units.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The FASB has issued Statement No. 143 "Accounting for Asset Retirement
Obligations" which establishes requirements for the accounting of
removal-type costs associated with asset retirements. The standard is
effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002, with earlier
application encouraged. The Managing General Partner is currently
assessing the impact on the partnerships financial statements.

3. Liquidity - Managing General Partner
The Managing General Partner has a highly leveraged capital structure
with approximately $124.0 million of principal due between December
31, 2002 and December 31, 2004. The Managing General Partner is
constantly monitoring its cash position and its ability to meet its
financial obligations as they become due, and in this effort, is
continually exploring various strategies for addressing its current
and future liquidity needs. The Managing General Partner regularly
pursues and evaluates recapitalization strategies and acquisition
opportunities (including opportunities to engage in mergers,
consolidations or other business combinations) and at any given time
may be in various stages of evaluating such opportunities.


Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.
(a Delaware limited partnership)

Notes to Financial Statements

3. Liquidity - Managing General Partner - continued
Based on current production, commodity prices and cash flow from
operations, the Managing General Partner has adequate cash flow to
fund debt service, developmental projects and day to day operations,
but it is not sufficient to build a cash balance which would allow the
Managing General Partner to meet its debt principal maturities
scheduled for 2004. Therefore the Managing General Partner must
renegotiate the terms of its various obligations or seek new lenders
or equity investors in order to meet its financial obligations,
specifically those maturing in 2004. The Managing General Partner
would also consider disposing of certain assets in order to meet its
obligations.

There can be no assurance that the Managing General Partner's debt
restructuring efforts will be successful or that the debt holders will
agree to a course of action consistent with the Managing General
Partner's requirements in restructurings the obligations.
Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the sales of assets can be
successfully accomplished on terms acceptable to the Managing General
Partner.

4. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
After completion of the Partnership's first full fiscal year of
operations and each year thereafter, the Managing General Partner has
offered and will continue to offer to purchase each limited partner's
interest in the Partnership, at a price based on tangible assets of
the Partnership, plus the present value of the future net revenues of
proved oil and gas properties, minus liabilities with a risk factor
discount of up to one-third which may be implemented in the sole
discretion of the Managing General Partner. However, the Managing
General Partner's obligation to purchase limited partner units is
limited to an expenditure of an amount not in excess of 10% of the
total limited partner units initially subscribed for by limited
partners.

Southwest, as Managing General Partner, evaluated several liquidity
alternatives for the partnerships in 2001 and 2002. During 2002,
Southwest specifically pursued the possible roll-up and merger of
twenty-one (21) partnerships with the general partner. Because of the
complexities and conflicts of interest in such a transaction, the
Managing General Partner did not make a formal repurchase offer in
2002 but has responded to limited partners desiring to sell their
units in the partnerships on an "as requested" basis. Southwest
anticipates that it will maintain this policy in 2003 because the
aforementioned transaction is ongoing.

The Partnership is subject to various federal, state and local
environmental laws and regulations, which establish standards and
requirements for protection of the environment. The Partnership
cannot predict the future impact of such standards and requirements,
which are subject to change and can have retroactive effectiveness.
The Partnership continues to monitor the status of these laws and
regulations.

As of December 31, 2002, the Partnership has not been fined, cited or
notified of any environmental violations and management is not aware
of any unasserted violations, which would have a material adverse
effect upon capital expenditures, earnings or the competitive position
in the oil and gas industry. However, the Managing General Partner
does recognize by the very nature of its business, material costs
could be incurred in the near term to bring the Partnership into total
compliance. The amount of such future expenditures is not reliably
determinable due to several factors, including the unknown magnitude
of possible contaminations, the unknown timing and extent of the
corrective actions which may be required, the determination of the
Partnership's liability in proportion to other responsible parties and
the extent to which such expenditures are recoverable from insurance
or indemnifications from prior owners of Partnership's properties.

Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.
(a Delaware limited partnership)

Notes to Financial Statements

5. Related Party Transactions
A significant portion of the oil and gas properties in which the
Partnership has an interest are operated by and purchased from the
Managing General Partner. As provided for in the operating agreement
for each respective oil and gas property in which the Partnership has
an interest, the operator is paid an amount for administrative
overhead attributable to operating such properties, with such amounts
to Southwest Royalties, Inc. as operator approximating $36,100,
$36,100 and $34,200 for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and
2000, respectively. The amounts for administrative overhead
attributable to operating the partnership properties has been deducted
from gross oil and gas revenues in the determination of net profit
interest. In addition, the Managing General Partner and certain
officers and employees may have an interest in some of the properties
that the Partnership also participates.

Certain subsidiaries or affiliates of the Managing General Partner
perform various oilfield services for properties in which the
Partnership owns an interest. Such services aggregated approximately
$25,100, $10,200 and $9,100 for the years ended December 31, 2002,
2001 and 2000, respectively. The amounts for oilfield services
performed for the partnership by affiliates of the Managing General
Partner have been deducted from gross oil and gas revenues in the
determination of net profit interest.

Southwest Royalties, Inc., the Managing General Partner, was paid
$108,000 during 2002, 2001 and 2000, as an administrative fee for
indirect general and administrative overhead expenses. The
administrative fees are included in general and administrative expense
on the statement of operations.

Receivables from Southwest Royalties, Inc., the Managing General
Partner, of approximately $102,600 and $40,000 are from oil and gas
production, net of lease operating costs and production taxes, as of
December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

6. Major Customers
No material portion of the Partnership's business is dependent on a
single purchaser, or a very few purchasers, where the loss of one
would have a material adverse impact on the Partnership. Four
purchasers accounted for 64% of the Partnership's total oil and gas
production during 2002: Duke Energy Field Services LP for 31%, Plains
marketing LP for 13%, Phillips for 10% and BP Amoco for 10%. Four
purchasers accounted for 63% of the Partnership's total oil and gas
production during 2001: Duke Energy Field Services for 25%, Sid
Richardson Energy Services for 14%, Plains Marketing LP for 12% and BP
Amoco for 12%. Four purchasers accounted for 70% of the Partnership's
total oil and gas production during 2000: Phillips 66 Natural Gas Co.
for 32%, Plains Marketing LP for 14%, Amoco Production for 13% and Sun
Refining and Marketing Co. for 11%. All purchasers of the
Partnership's oil and gas production are unrelated third parties. In
the event any of these purchasers were to discontinue purchasing the
Partnership's production, the Managing General Partner believes that a
substitute purchaser or purchasers could be located without undue
delay. No other purchaser accounted for an amount equal to or greater
than 10% of the Partnership's sales of oil and gas production.



Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.
(a Delaware limited partnership)

Notes to Financial Statements

7. Estimated Oil and Gas Reserves (unaudited)
The Partnership's interest in proved oil and gas reserves is as
follows:

Oil Gas
(bbls) (mcf)
-------- --------
---- ----
Proved developed and
undeveloped reserves -

January 1, 2000 178,000 943,000

Revisions of previous 51,000 202,000
estimates
Production (21,000) (82,000)
-------- --------
--- -----
December 31, 2000 208,000 1,063,00
0

Revisions of previous (35,000) (192,000
estimates )
Production (20,000) (76,000)
-------- --------
--- -----
December 31, 2001 153,000 795,000

Revisions of previous 46,000 (84,000)
estimates
Production (19,000) (101,000
)
-------- --------
--- -----
December 31, 2002 180,000 610,000
====== =======

Proved developed reserves -

December 31, 2000 205,000 1,051,00
0
====== =======
December 31, 2001 150,000 784,000
====== =======
December 31, 2002 178,000 599,000
====== =======


All of the Partnership's reserves are located within the continental
United States.



Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.
(a Delaware limited partnership)

Notes to Financial Statements

7. Estimated Oil & Gas Reserves (unaudited) - continued
*Ryder Scott Company, L.P. prepared the reserve and present value data
for the Partnership's existing properties as of January 1, 2003. The
reserve estimates were made in accordance with guidelines established
by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 4-10(a) of
Regulation S-X. Such guidelines require oil and gas reserve reports
be prepared under existing economic and operating conditions with no
provisions for price and cost escalation except by contractual
arrangements.

Oil price adjustments were made in the individual evaluations to
reflect oil quality, gathering and transportation costs. The results
of the reserve report as of January 1, 2003 are an average price of
$28.69 per barrel.

Gas price adjustments were made in the individual evaluations to
reflect BTU content, gathering and transportation costs and gas
processing and shrinkage. The results of the reserve report as of
January 1, 2003 are an average price of $4.48 per Mcf.

The evaluation of oil and gas properties is not an exact science and
inevitably involves a significant degree of uncertainty, particularly
with respect to the quantity of oil or gas that any given property is
capable of producing. Estimates of oil and gas reserves are based on
available geological and engineering data, the extent and quality of
which may vary in each case and, in certain instances, may prove to be
inaccurate. Consequently, properties may be depleted more rapidly
than the geological and engineering data have indicated.

Unanticipated depletion, if it occurs, will result in lower reserves
than previously estimated; thus an ultimately lower return for the
Partnership. Basic changes in past reserve estimates occur annually.
As new data is gathered during the subsequent year, the engineer must
revise his earlier estimates. A year of new information, which is
pertinent to the estimation of future recoverable volumes, is
available during the subsequent year evaluation. In applying industry
standards and procedures, the new data may cause the previous
estimates to be revised. This revision may increase or decrease the
earlier estimated volumes. Pertinent information gathered during the
year may include actual production and decline rates, production from
offset wells drilled to the same geologic formation, increased or
decreased water production, workovers, and changes in lifting costs,
among others. Accordingly, reserve estimates are often different from
the quantities of oil and gas that are ultimately recovered.

The Partnership has reserves, which are classified as proved developed
producing, proved developed non-producing and proved undeveloped. All
of the proved reserves are included in the engineering reports, which
evaluate the Partnership's present reserves.

Because the Partnership does not engage in drilling activities, the
development of proved undeveloped reserves is conducted pursuant to
farmout arrangements with the Managing General Partner or unrelated
third parties. Generally, the Partnership retains a carried interest
such as an overriding royalty interest under the terms of a farmout,
or receives cash.


Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.
(a Delaware limited partnership)

Notes to Financial Statements


7. Estimated Oil & Gas Reserves (unaudited) - continued
The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating
to proved oil and gas reserves at December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 is
presented below:

2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------

Future cash inflows $ 7,902,00 4,501,00 15,851,0
0 0 00
Production and 3,355,00 2,272,00 5,228,00
development costs 0 0 0
-------- -------- --------
----- ---- ------
Future net cash flows 4,547,00 2,229,00 10,623,0
0 0 00
10% annual discount for
estimated
timing of cash flows 2,236,00 905,000 5,160,00
0 0
-------- -------- --------
----- ---- ------
Standardized measure of
discounted future net $ 2,311,00 1,324,00 5,463,00
cash flows 0 0 0
======= ======= ========

The principal sources of change in the standardized measure of
discounted future net cash flows for the years ended December 31,
2002, 2001 and 2000 are as follows:

2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------

Sales of oil and gas
produced,
net of production $ (412,000 (433,000 (612,000
costs ) ) )
Changes in prices and 1,133,00 (4,395,0 2,936,00
production costs 0 00) 0
Changes of production
rates
(timing) and others (129,000 454,000 (231,000
) )
Revisions of previous
quantities estimates 263,000 (311,000 1,201,00
) 0
Accretion of discount 132,000 546,000 197,000
Discounted future net
cash flows -
Beginning of year 1,324,00 5,463,00 1,972,00
0 0 0
-------- -------- --------
----- ------ ------
End of year $ 2,311,00 1,324,00 5,463,00
0 0 0
======= ======== ========

Future net cash flows were computed using year-end prices and costs
that related to existing proved oil and gas reserves in which the
Partnership has mineral interests.

Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.
(a Delaware limited partnership)

Notes to Financial Statements

8. Selected Quarterly Financial Results - (unaudited)

Quarter
-------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
------------
First Second Third Fourth
------ ------- ------ ------
2002:
Total revenues $ 144,549 231,161 179,033 196,812
Total expenses 105,096 123,273 129,374 133,232
Net income 39,453 107,888 49,659 63,580
Net income per limited
partners unit 2.37
6.47 2.98 3.81

2001:
Total revenues $ 236,047 226,687 170,033 116,183
Total expenses 113,305 124,409 136,486 119,279
Net income (loss) 122,742 102,278 33,547 (3,096)
Net income (loss) per
limited
partners unit 7.36
6.14 2.01 (.18)



Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure

None

Part III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

Management of the Partnership is provided by Southwest Royalties, Inc., as
Managing General Partner. The names, ages, offices, positions and length
of service of the directors and executive officers of Southwest Royalties,
Inc. are set forth below. Each director and executive officer serves for a
term of one year.

Name Age Position
- ----------------------- --- -----------------------------
- ---------------------- -- -----------------------------
H. H. Wommack, III 47 Chairman of the Board,
President, Director
and Chief Executive Officer
James N. Chapman(1) 40 Director
William P. Nicoletti(2) 57 Director
Joseph J. Radecki, Jr. 44 Director
(2)
Richard D. Rinehart(1) 67 Director
John M. White(2) 46 Director
Herbert C. Williamson, 54 Director
III(1)
Bill E. Coggin 48 Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
J. Steven Person 44 Vice President, Marketing

(1) Member of the Compensation Committee

(2) Member of the Audit Committee

H. H. Wommack, III has served as Chairman of the Board, President, Chief
Executive Officer and a director since Southwest's founding in 1983. Since
1997 Mr. Wommack has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of SRH, Southwest's former parent and current holder of 10% of its
voting share capital. Since 1997 Mr. Wommack has served as chairman of the
board of directors of Midland Red Oak Realty, Inc. From 1997 until
December 2000, Mr. Wommack served as chairman of the board of directors of
Basic Energy Services, Inc. and since December 2000 has continued to serve
on Basic's board of directors. Prior to Southwest's formation, Mr. Wommack
was a self-employed independent oil and gas producer engaged in the
purchase and sale of royalty and working interests in oil and gas leases
and the drilling of wells. Mr. Wommack graduated from the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received his law degree from the
University of Texas.

James N. Chapman has served as a director since April 19, 2002. Mr.
Chapman has been involved in the investment banking industry for 18 years,
presently acting as a capital markets and strategic planning consultant
with private and public companies across a range of industries, including
metals, mining, manufacturing, aerospace, airline, service and healthcare.
Prior to establishing an independent consulting practice, Mr. Chapman
worked for The Renco Group, Inc., a multi-billion private corporation in
New York, for which Mr. Chapman developed and implemented financing and
merger and acquisitions strategies for Renco's diverse portfolio of
companies. Prior to Renco, Mr. Chapman was a founding principal of
Fieldstone Private Capital Group, a capital markets advisory firm that he
joined upon its inception in August 1990. Prior to joining Fieldstone,
Mr. Chapman worked for Bankers Trust Company for six years, most recently
in the BT Securities Capital Markets area. Mr. Chapman received an MBA
degree with distinction from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College and
was elected an Edward Tuck Scholar. He received his BA degree with
distinction magna cum laude, at Dartmouth College, was elected to Phi Beta
Kappa and was a Rufus Choate Scholar.

William P. Nicoletti has served as a director since April 19, 2002. Mr.
Nicoletti is Managing Director of Nicoletti & Company Inc., an investment
banking and financial advisory firm. He was formerly a senior officer and
head of the Energy Investment Banking Groups of E. F. Hutton & Company
Inc., Paine Webber, Incorporated and McDonald Investments Inc. Mr.
Nicoletti is Chairman of the board of directors of Russell-Stanley
Holdings, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of steel and plastic industrial
containers. He is a director of Mark WestEnergy Partners, L.P., a business
engaged in the gathering and processing of natural gas and the
fractionation and storage of natural gas liquids. Mr. Nicoletti is also a
Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Star Gas Partners, L.P.,
the nation's largest retail distributor of home heating oil and a major
retail distributor of propane gas. Mr. Nicoletti is a graduate of Seton
Hall University and received an MBA degree from Columbia University
Graduate School of Business.



Joseph J. Radecki, Jr. has served as a director since April 19, 2002. Mr.
Radecki is currently a Managing Director in the Leveraged Finance Group of
CIBC World Markets where he is principally responsible for the firm's
financial restructuring and distressed situation advisory practice. Prior
to joining CIBC World Markets, Mr. Radecki was an Executive Vice President
and Director of the Financial Restructuring Group of Jefferies & Company,
Inc. from 1990 to 1998. From 1983 until 1990, Mr. Radecki was First Vice
President in the International Capital Markets Group at Drexel Burnham
Lambert, Inc., where he specialized in financial restructurings and
recapitalizations. Over the past fourteen years, Mr. Radecki has been
integrally involved in over 120 transactions totaling nearly $50 billion in
recapitalized securities. Mr. Radeki currently serves as a Director of
Wherehouse Entertainment, Inc., a music and video specialty retailer, and
RBX Corporation, a manufacturer of rubber and plastic foam and other
polymer products. He has previously served as Chairman of the Board of
American Rice, Inc., an international rice miller and marketer, as a member
of the Board of Directors of Service America Corporation, a national food
service management firm, Bucyrus International, Inc., a mining equipment
manufacturer, and ECO-Net, a non-profit engineering related network firm.
Mr. Radecki graduated magna cum laude in 1980 from Georgetown University
with a B.A. in Government.

Richard D. Rinehart has served as a director since April 19, 2002. Mr.
Rinehart is a founding principal of PetroCap, Inc. and president of Kestrel
Resources, Inc. PetroCap, Inc. provides investment and merchant banking
services to a variety of clients active in the oil and gas industry.
Kestrel Resources, Inc. is a privately owned oil and gas operating company.
He served as Director of Coopers & Lybrand's Energy Systems and Services
Division prior to the founding of Kestrel Resources, Inc. in 1992. Prior to
joining Coopers & Lybrand, he was chief executive officer/founder of Dawn
Information Resources, Inc., formed in 1986 and acquired by Coopers &
Lybrand in early 1991. Mr. Rinehart served as CEO of Terrapet Energy
Corporation during the period 1982 through 1986. Prior to the formation of
Terrapet in 1982, he was employed as President of the Terrapet Division of
E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company. Before its acquisition by DuPont, he
served as CEO and President of Terrapet Corp., a privately owned E & P
company. Before the formation of Terrapet Corp. in 1972, he was manager of
supplementary recovery methods and senior evaluation engineer with H. J.
Gruy and Associates, Inc., Dallas, Texas.

John M. White has served as a director since April 19, 2002 Mr. White is
currently an oil and gas analyst with BMO Nesbitt Burns, responsible for
Fixed Income research on oil, gas and energy companies. Prior to joining
BMO Nesbitt Burns in 1998, Mr. White was responsible for Fixed Income
research on the oil and gas industry at John S. Herold, Inc., an
independent oil and gas research and consulting firm. Mr. White's
experience also includes managing a portfolio of oil and gas loans for The
Bank of Nova Scotia, which included independent exploration and production
companies, oil service companies, gas pipelines, gas processors and
refiners. Prior to entering banking, Mr. White was with BP Exploration,
where he worked primarily in exploration and production.

Herbert C. Williamson, III has served as a director since April 19, 2002.
At present, Mr. Williamson is self-employed as a consultant. From March
2001 to March 2002 Mr. Williamson served as an investment banker with
Petrie Parkman & Co. From April 1999 to March 2001 Mr. Williamson served
as chief financial officer and from August 1999 to March 2001 as a director
of Merlon Petroleum Company, a private oil and gas company involved in
exploration and production in Egypt. Mr. Williamson served as executive
vice president, chief financial officer and director of Seven Seas
Petroleum, Inc., a publicly traded oil and gas exploration company, from
March 1998 to April 1999. From 1995 through April 1998, he served as
director in the Investment Banking Department of Credit Suisse First
Boston. Mr. Williamson served as vice chairman and executive vice
president of Parker and Parsley Petroleum Company, a publicly traded oil
and gas exploration company (now Pioneer Natural Resources Company) from
1985 through 1995.

Bill E. Coggin has served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
since joining the Managing General Partner in 1985. Previously, Mr. Coggin
was Controller for Rod Ric Corporation, an oil and gas drilling company,
and for C.F. Lawrence & Associates, a large independent oil and gas
operator. Mr. Coggin received a B.S. in Education and a B.A. in Accounting
from Angelo State University.

J. Steven Person has served as Vice President, Marketing since joining the
Managing General Partner in 1989. Mr. Person began in the investment
industry with Dean Witter in 1983. Prior to joining Southwest, Mr. Person
was a senior wholesaler with Capital Realty, Inc. While at Capital Realty,
he was involved in the syndication of mortgage based securities through the
major brokerage houses. Mr. Person received a B.B.A. degree from Baylor
University and an M.B.A. from Houston Baptist University.


Key Employees

Jon P. Tate, age 45, has served as Vice President, Land and Assistant
Secretary of the Managing General Partner since 1989. From 1981 to 1989,
Mr. Tate was employed by C.F. Lawrence & Associates, Inc., an independent
oil and gas company, as land manager. Mr. Tate is a member of the Permian
Basin Landman's Association.

R. Douglas Keathley, age 47, has served as Vice President, Operations of
the Managing General Partner since 1992. Before joining us, Mr. Keathley
worked as a senior drilling engineer for ARCO Oil and Gas Company and in
similar capacities for Reading & Bates Petroleum Co. and Tenneco Oil Co.

In certain instances, the Managing General Partner will engage professional
petroleum consultants and other independent contractors, including
engineers and geologists in connection with property acquisitions,
geological and geophysical analysis, and reservoir engineering. The
Managing General Partner believes that, in addition to its own "in-house"
staff, the utilization of such consultants and independent contractors in
specific instances and on an "as-needed" basis allows for greater
flexibility and greater opportunity to perform its oil and gas activities
more economically and effectively.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

The Partnership does not have any directors or executive officers. The
executive officers of the Managing General Partner do not receive any cash
compensation, bonuses, deferred compensation or compensation pursuant to
any type of plan, from the Partnership. The Managing General Partner
received $108,000 during 2002, 2001 and 2000 as an annual administrative
fee.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

There are no limited partners who own of record, or are known by the
Managing General Partner to beneficially own, more than five percent of the
Partnership's limited partnership interests.

The Managing General Partner owns a ten percent interest in the Partnership
as a general partner. Through repurchase offers to the limited partners,
the Managing General Partner also owns 4,688 limited partner units, a 28.1%
limited partner interest. The Managing General Partner's total percentage
interest ownership in the Partnership is 38.1%.

No officer or director of the Managing General Partner owns units in the
Partnership. H. H. Wommack, III, as the individual general partner of the
Partnership, owned a one percent interest in the Partnership as a general
partner. The Managing General Partner as of December 31, 2001, repurchased
the one percent interest owned by Mr. Wommack for approximately $29,186.
The officers and directors of the Managing General Partner are considered
beneficial owners of the limited partner units acquired by the Managing
General Partner by virtue of their status as such. Beneficial ownership is
determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and includes voting or investment power with respect to the
limited partner units. To our knowledge, except under applicable community
property laws or as otherwise indicated, the persons named in the table
have sole voting and sole investment control with regard to all limited
partner units beneficially owned. We are presenting ownership information
as of March 1, 2003. A list of beneficial owners of limited partner units,
acquired by the Managing General Partner, is as follows:



Amount and
Nature of Percen
t
Name and Address of Beneficial of
Title of Class Beneficial Owner Ownership Class
- ------------------- --------------------- ---------- ------
- ------------------- --------------------- --------- ----
- -
Limited Partnership Southwest Royalties, Directly 28.1%
Interest Inc. Owns
Managing General 4,688
Partner Units
407 N. Big Spring
Street
Midland, TX 79701

Limited Partnership H. H. Wommack, III Indirectly 28.1%
Interest Owns
Chairman of the 4,688
Board, Units
President, and CEO
of Southwest
Royalties, Inc.,
the Managing General
Partner
407 N. Big Spring
Street
Midland, TX 79701


There are no arrangements known to the Managing General Partner, which may
at a subsequent date result in a change of control of the Partnership.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

In 2002, the Managing General Partner received $108,000 as an
administrative fee. This amount is part of the general and administrative
expenses incurred by the Partnership.

In some instances the Managing General Partner and certain officers and
employees may be working interest owners in an oil and gas property in
which the Partnership also has a working interest. Certain properties in
which the Partnership has an interest are operated by the Managing General
Partner, who was paid approximately $36,100 for administrative overhead
attributable to operating such properties during 2002.

Certain subsidiaries or affiliates of the Managing General Partner perform
various oilfield services for properties in which the Partnership owns an
interest. Such services aggregated approximately $25,100 for the year ended
December 31, 2002.

In the opinion of management, the terms of the above transactions are
similar to ones with unaffiliated third parties.


Part IV


Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)(1) Financial Statements:

Included in Part II of this report --

Independent Auditors Report
Balance Sheets
Statements of Operations
Statement of Changes in Partners' Equity
Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Financial Statements

(2) Schedules required by Article 12 of Regulation S-
X are either omitted because they are not applicable or
because the required information is shown in the
financial statements or the notes thereto.

(3) Exhibits:

4 (a) Certificate of Limited
Partnership of Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund
VII-A, L.P., dated January 28, 1987. (Incorpo
rated by reference from Partnership's Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1987.)

(b) Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund
VII-A, L.P. dated April 28, 1987. (Incorporated
by reference from Partnership's Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1987.)

(c) Certificate of Amendment of
Limited Partnership of Southwest Oil & Gas Income
Fund VII-A, L.P., dated July 21, 1987.
(Incorporated by reference from Partnership's
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1987.)

99.1 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
99.2 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

There were no reports filed on Form 8-K during the
quarter ended December 31, 2002.


Signatures


Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Partnership has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership


By: Southwest Royalties, Inc., Managing
General Partner


By: /s/ H. H. Wommack, III
------------------------------------------
- -----
H. H. Wommack, III, President


Date: March 28, 2003


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Partnership and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


By:/s/ H. H. Wommack, III By: /s/ James N.
Chapman
- --------------------------- ------------------------
- -------------------- -----------------------
H. H. Wommack, III, James N. Chapman,
Chairman of the Board, Director
President, Director and
Chief Executive Officer

Date: March 28, 2003 Date: March 28, 2003


By: /s/ William P. By: /s/ Joseph J.
Nicoletti Radecki, Jr.
- --------------------------- ------------------------
- -------------------- -----------------------
William P. Nicoletti, Joseph J. Radecki, Jr.,
Director Director

Date: March 28, 2003 Date: March 28, 2003


By: /s/ Richard D. By: /s/ John M. White
Rinehart
- --------------------------- ------------------------
- -------------------- -----------------------
Richard D. Rinehart, John M. White, Director
Director

Date: March 28, 2003 Date: March 28, 2003


By: /s/ Herbert C.
Williamson, III
- ---------------------------
- --------------------
Herbert C. Williamson, III,
Director

Date: March 28, 2003


CERTIFICATIONS

I, H.H. Wommack, III, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Southwest
Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of
the circumstances under which such statements were made, not
misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual
report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
financial information included in this annual report, fairly
present in all material respects the financial condition, results
of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for,
the periods presented in this annual report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officers and I are
responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls
and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-
14) for the registrant and we have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure
that material information relating to the registrant, including
its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others
within those entities, particularly during the period in which
this annual report is being prepared;

b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the
filing date of this annual report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

c) presented in this annual report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on
our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have
disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the
registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's
board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
functions):

a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of
internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's
ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data
and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material
weaknesses in internal controls; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management
or other employees who have a significant role in the
registrant's internal controls; and

6. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have
indicated in this annual report whether or not there were
significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that
could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the
date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective
actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material
weaknesses.

Date: March 28, 2003

/s/ H.H. Wommack, III
H. H. Wommack, III
Chairman, President, Director and Chief Executive Officer
of Southwest Royalties, Inc., the
Managing General Partner of
Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Bill E. Coggin, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Southwest
Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of
the circumstances under which such statements were made, not
misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual
report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
financial information included in this annual report, fairly
present in all material respects the financial condition, results
of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for,
the periods presented in this annual report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officers and I are
responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls
and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-
14) for the registrant and we have:
a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure
that material information relating to the registrant, including
its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others
within those entities, particularly during the period in which
this annual report is being prepared;

b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the
filing date of this annual report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

c) presented in this annual report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on
our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have
disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the
registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's
board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
functions):

a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of
internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's
ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data
and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material
weaknesses in internal controls; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management
or other employees who have a significant role in the
registrant's internal controls; and

6. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have
indicated in this annual report whether or not there were
significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that
could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the
date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective
actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material
weaknesses.

Date: March 28, 2003

/s/ Bill E. Coggin
Bill E. Coggin
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer of
Southwest Royalties, Inc., the
Managing General Partner of
Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.

Exhibit Index


Item No. Description Page No.

Exhibit 99.1 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 42
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Exhibit 99.2 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 43
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
19 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection with the Annual Report of Southwest Oil & Gas
Income Fund VII-A, Limited Partnership (the "Company") on Form 10-
K for the period ending December 31, 2002 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the
"Report"), I, H.H. Wommack, III, Chief Executive Officer of the
Managing General Partner of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18
U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
all material respects, the financial condition and results of
operation of the Company.


Date: March 28, 2003




/s/ H.H. Wommack, III
H. H. Wommack, III
Chairman, President, Director and Chief Executive Officer
of Southwest Royalties, Inc., the
Managing General Partner of
Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.


CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
19 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection with the Annual Report of Southwest Oil & Gas
Income Fund VII-A, Limited Partnership (the "Company") on Form 10-
K for the period ending December 31, 2002 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the
"Report"), I, Bill E. Coggin, Chief Financial Officer of the
Managing General Partner of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18
U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, that:

(3) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(4) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
all material respects, the financial condition and results of
operation of the Company.


Date: March 28, 2003




/s/ Bill E. Coggin
Bill E. Coggin
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer of
Southwest Royalties, Inc., the
Managing General Partner of
Southwest Oil & Gas Income Fund VII-A, L.P.