Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  DURBIN JOHN EDWARD
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
10/01/2009		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
TRI VALLEY CORP [TIV]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
4550 CALIFORNIA AVE, SUITE 600		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Chief Financial Officer
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
12/16/2009
(Street)

BAKERSFIELD, CA 93309		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option - Right To Buy (1) 12/31/2009(2) 10/01/2014 Common stock 100,000 $ 2.42 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
DURBIN JOHN EDWARD
4550 CALIFORNIA AVE
SUITE 600
BAKERSFIELD, CA 93309		       Chief Financial Officer  

Signatures

JOHN E DURBIN 12/21/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Incentive stock option granted under the Issuer's 2005 Stock Option Plan.
(2) Vests 10,000 shares 12/31/09; 15,000 shares 3/30/10; 15,000 shares 9/30/10; 15,000 shares 3/30/11; 15,000 shares 9/30/11; 15,000 shares 3/30/12; and 15,000 shares 9/30/12, provided continuous employment with the issuer on the date of vesting.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

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