content: <PAGE>   1
  
  
  
  
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                         ----------------------------------
  
                                      FORM S-8
                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                       Under
                             THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                         ----------------------------------
  
                                  K N Energy, Inc.
  
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  <TABLE>
      <S>                                            <C>
                   KANSAS                                     48-0290000
           (State or other jurisdiction of                    (I.R.S. Employer
           incorporation or organization)                     Identification No.)
  
           370 Van Gordon Street                                      Martha B. Wyrsch
              P.O. Box 281304                        Vice President, Deputy General Counsel & Secretary
      Lakewood, Colorado 80228-8304                    370 Van Gordon Street, P.O. Box 281304
               (303) 989-1740                                 Lakewood, Colorado 80228-8304
                                                                      (303) 989-1740
                                                     (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                                                              including area code, of agent for service)
  </TABLE>
  
  
                                 K N ENERGY, INC.
                 1992 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
                               (Full Title of Plan)
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
  =========================================================================================================================
                                                              Proposed           Proposed
                                                              maximum            maximum
              Title of each class of          Amount to       offering price     aggregate             Amount of
           securities to be registered       be registered    per unit (1)       offering price (1)    registration fee
  - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  <S>                                        <C>              <C>                <C>                   <C>
  Common Stock, par value                    200,000          $32.75             $6,550,000            $1,310
    $5.00 per share                                                                                        
  - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  </TABLE>
  
  (1)      Pursuant to Rule 457(f), the registration fee was computed on the
  basis of the average of the high and low prices of a share of Common Stock of K
  N reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on July 8, 1996.
  
                         ----------------------------------
  
  This registration statement is being filed, in accordance with General
  Instruction E to Form S-8, to register additional shares of Common Stock
  available for issuance under the 1992 Stock Option Plan for Nonemployee
  Directors.  The contents of the registrant's Form S-8 Registrant Statement
  (No. 33-46999) relating to the same employee benefit plan are incorporated by
  reference in this registration statement.
  <PAGE>   2
  INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
  
           The following documents are filed as part of this registration
  statement, in accordance with General Instruction E to Form S-8:
  
  Exhibit
  Number                    Description
  - ------                    -----------
  
  5.1                       Opinion of Martha B. Wyrsch, Vice President, Deputy
                            General Counsel and Secretary of K N Energy, Inc.
  
  23.1                      Consent of Martha B. Wyrsch (included in Exhibit 5.1)
  
  23.2                      Consent of Arthur Andersen & Co.
  
  
  
  
  
                                        2
  
  <PAGE>   3
                                     SIGNATURES
  
           Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
  registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
  all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
  Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
  duly authorized, in the City of Lakewood, State of Colorado on the 9th day of
  July, 1996.
  
                               K N ENERGY, INC.
  
  
                               By:       /s/ Clyde E. McKenzie
                                  ------------------------------------------------
                                        Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  
           Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
  Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
  capacities indicated on July 9, 1996.
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
           Signature                                                  Title
           ---------                                                  -----
  <S>      <C>                                                <C>
  (i)      Principal executive officer:
  
  
           /s/ Larry D. Hall                                  Chairman of the Board, President and
  - ---------------------------------------------------                 Chief Executive Officer                            
           (Larry D. Hall)                                            
  
  (ii)     Principal financial officer:
  
  
           /s/ Clyde E. McKenzie                             Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  - ---------------------------------------------------                     
           (Clyde E. McKenzie)
  
  (iii)    Directors:
  
  
           /s/ Edward H. Austin, Jr.                 
  - ---------------------------------------------------
           (Edward H. Austin, Jr.)
  
  
           /s/ Charles W. Battey             
  - -------------------------------------------
           (Charles W. Battey)
  
  
           /s/ Stewart A. Bliss              
  - -------------------------------------------
           (Stewart A. Bliss)
  
  
           /s/ David W. Burkholder           
  - -------------------------------------------
           (David W. Burkholder)
  
  
           /s/ David M. Carmichael           
  - -------------------------------------------
           (David M. Carmichael)
  
  
           /s/ Robert H. Chitwood            
  - -------------------------------------------
           (Robert H. Chitwood)
  </TABLE>
  
  
  
  
                                        3
  <PAGE>   4
  
  <TABLE>
  <S>      <C>                                                                                <C>
           /s/ Howard Coghlan                
  - -------------------------------------------
           (Howard Coghlan)
  
  
           /s/ Robert B. Daugherty           
  - -------------------------------------------
           (Robert B. Daughterty)
  
  
           /s/ Jordan L. Haines              
  - -------------------------------------------
           (Jordan L. Haines)
  
  
           /s/ William J. Hybl               
  - -------------------------------------------
           (William J. Hybl)
  
  
           /s/ Ed Randall, III               
  - -------------------------------------------
           (Ed Randall, III)
  
  
           /s/ James C. Taylor               
  - -------------------------------------------
           (James C. Taylor)
  
  
           /s/ H.A. True, III                        
  - -------------------------------------------
           (H.A. True, III)
  </TABLE>
  
  
  
  
                                        4
  <PAGE>   5
                                 INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
  Exhibit                                                                   Page 
  - -------                                                                   ---- 
  <S>              <C>                                                      <C>  
  5.1              Opinion of Martha B. Wyrsch regarding the legality       6    
                   of the securities.                                            
                                                                                 
  23.1             Consent of Martha B. Wyrsch (included in                 6    
                   Exhibit 5.1 hereof)                                           
                                                                                 
  23.2             Consent of Arthur Andersen & Co.                         7    
  </TABLE>
  
  
  
  
                                        5
metadata_documents: [{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 8608}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "K N ENERGY INC", "cik": "0000054502", "assigned-sic": "4923", "irs-number": "480290000", "state-of-incorporation": "KS", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-08059", "film-number": "96594199"}, "business-address": {"street1": "370 VAN GORDON ST", "street2": "PO BOX 281304", "city": "LAKEWOOD", "state": "CO", "zip": "80228-8304", "phone": "3039891740"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "KN ENERGY INC", "date-changed": "19920430"}, {"former-conformed-name": "KANSAS NEBRASKA NATURAL GAS CO INC", "date-changed": "19830403"}]}
text: 1
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                         ----------------------------------
  
                                      FORM S-8
                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                       Under
                             THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                         ----------------------------------
  
                                  K N Energy, Inc.
  
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  KANSAS                                     48-0290000
           (State or other jurisdiction of                    (I.R.S. Employer
           incorporation or organization)                     Identification No.)
  
           370 Van Gordon Street                                      Martha B. Wyrsch
              P.O. Box 281304                        Vice President, Deputy General Counsel & Secretary
      Lakewood, Colorado 80228-8304                    370 Van Gordon Street, P.O. Box 281304
               (303) 989-1740                                 Lakewood, Colorado 80228-8304
                                                                      (303) 989-1740
                                                     (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                                                              including area code, of agent for service)
  K N ENERGY, INC.
                 1992 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
                               (Full Title of Plan)
  =========================================================================================================================
                                                              Proposed           Proposed
                                                              maximum            maximum
              Title of each class of          Amount to       offering price     aggregate             Amount of
           securities to be registered       be registered    per unit (1)       offering price (1)    registration fee
  - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock, par value                    200,000          $32.75             $6,550,000            $1,310
    $5.00 per share                                                                                        
  - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (1)      Pursuant to Rule 457(f), the registration fee was computed on the
  basis of the average of the high and low prices of a share of Common Stock of K
  N reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on July 8, 1996.
  
                         ----------------------------------
  
  This registration statement is being filed, in accordance with General
  Instruction E to Form S-8, to register additional shares of Common Stock
  available for issuance under the 1992 Stock Option Plan for Nonemployee
  Directors.  The contents of the registrant's Form S-8 Registrant Statement
  (No. 33-46999) relating to the same employee benefit plan are incorporated by
  reference in this registration statement.
  2
  INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
  
           The following documents are filed as part of this registration
  statement, in accordance with General Instruction E to Form S-8:
  
  Exhibit
  Number                    Description
  - ------                    -----------
  
  5.1                       Opinion of Martha B. Wyrsch, Vice President, Deputy
                            General Counsel and Secretary of K N Energy, Inc.
  
  23.1                      Consent of Martha B. Wyrsch (included in Exhibit 5.1)
  
  23.2                      Consent of Arthur Andersen & Co.
  
                                        2
  3
                                     SIGNATURES
  
           Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
  registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
  all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
  Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
  duly authorized, in the City of Lakewood, State of Colorado on the 9th day of
  July, 1996.
  
                               K N ENERGY, INC.
  
                               By:       /s/ Clyde E. McKenzie
                                  ------------------------------------------------
                                        Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  
           Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
  Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
  capacities indicated on July 9, 1996.
  Signature                                                  Title
           ---------                                                  -----
  (i)      Principal executive officer:
  
           /s/ Larry D. Hall                                  Chairman of the Board, President and
  - ---------------------------------------------------                 Chief Executive Officer                            
           (Larry D. Hall)                                            
  
  (ii)     Principal financial officer:
  
           /s/ Clyde E. McKenzie                             Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  - ---------------------------------------------------                     
           (Clyde E. McKenzie)
  
  (iii)    Directors:
  
           /s/ Edward H. Austin, Jr.                 
  - ---------------------------------------------------
           (Edward H. Austin, Jr.)
  
           /s/ Charles W. Battey             
  - -------------------------------------------
           (Charles W. Battey)
  
           /s/ Stewart A. Bliss              
  - -------------------------------------------
           (Stewart A. Bliss)
  
           /s/ David W. Burkholder           
  - -------------------------------------------
           (David W. Burkholder)
  
           /s/ David M. Carmichael           
  - -------------------------------------------
           (David M. Carmichael)
  
           /s/ Robert H. Chitwood            
  - -------------------------------------------
           (Robert H. Chitwood)
  3
  4
  /s/ Howard Coghlan                
  - -------------------------------------------
           (Howard Coghlan)
  
           /s/ Robert B. Daugherty           
  - -------------------------------------------
           (Robert B. Daughterty)
  
           /s/ Jordan L. Haines              
  - -------------------------------------------
           (Jordan L. Haines)
  
           /s/ William J. Hybl               
  - -------------------------------------------
           (William J. Hybl)
  
           /s/ Ed Randall, III               
  - -------------------------------------------
           (Ed Randall, III)
  
           /s/ James C. Taylor               
  - -------------------------------------------
           (James C. Taylor)
  
           /s/ H.A. True, III                        
  - -------------------------------------------
           (H.A. True, III)
  4
  5
                                 INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  Exhibit                                                                   Page 
  - -------                                                                   ----
  5.1              Opinion of Martha B. Wyrsch regarding the legality       6    
                   of the securities.                                            
                                                                                 
  23.1             Consent of Martha B. Wyrsch (included in                 6    
                   Exhibit 5.1 hereof)                                           
                                                                                 
  23.2             Consent of Arthur Andersen & Co.                         7
  5