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 *
  Imperato Douglas P
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
12/09/2008
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ASPEN EXPLORATION CORP [ASPN]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
2050 S. ONEIDA STREET, SUITE 208
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

DENVER, CO 80224
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)
Common Stock 3,000
D
 

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 (1) 09/30/2008 02/27/2013 Common stock 21,197 $ 2.14 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Imperato Douglas P
2050 S. ONEIDA STREET
SUITE 208
DENVER, CO 80224
  X      

Signatures

/s/ Douglas P. Imperato 12/17/2008
**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) On February 27, 2008 Mr. Imperato was granted an option to purchase 25,000 of common stock pursuant to the Aspen Exploration Corporation 2008 Equity Plan. On September 30, 2008, 4,530 of the options were deemed earned as a result of the Company meeting specific performance goals for the year ended June 30, 2008, 3,803 were deemed unearned, and 16,667 remain unvested, subject to meeting performance goals as of September 30, 2009 and 2010. This transaction was exempt from Section 16(b) as a result of Rule 16b-3(d).

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