<PAGE>   1
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 16, 2000

                                                    REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             ----------------------
                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 FORCENERGY INC
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

           DELAWARE                                         65-0429338
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                          (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                          IDENTIFICATION NO.)


          2730 S.W. 3RD AVENUE
                SUITE 800
             MIAMI, FLORIDA                                 33129-2356
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                    (ZIP CODE)


                                 FORCENERGY INC
                        1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                                 E. JOSEPH GRADY
                            VICE PRESIDENT, TREASURER
                           AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                         2730 S.W. 3RD AVENUE, SUITE 800
                            MIAMI, FLORIDA 33129-2356
                     (NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                 (305) 856-8500
                     (TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                              OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
                              ---------------------

                                    COPY TO:

                                  DAVID C. BUCK
                             ANDREWS & KURTH L.L.P.
                          600 TRAVIS STREET, SUITE 4200
                              HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
                                 (713) 220-4301
                              (FAX) (713) 220-4285

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                          CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===================================================================================================================
<S>                                              <C>             <C>               <C>              <C>
                                                                                    PROPOSED
                                                                    PROPOSED        MAXIMUM
                                                    AMOUNT          MAXIMUM        AGGREGATE        AMOUNT OF
                                                    TO BE        OFFERING PRICE    OFFERING        REGISTRATION
 TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED            REGISTERED(1)    PER SHARE(2)       PRICE             FEE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Common Stock, par value $.01 per share             480,000         $10.00         $4,800,000         $1,267
===================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1) In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
    amended (the "Act"), this registration statement also covers an
    indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the
    employee benefit plan described herein.

(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
    pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Act, based upon the book value of the
    outstanding shares of Common Stock computed as of February 15, 2000 based on
    assets and liabilities as of November 30, 1999, the latest practicable date
    prior to the date of filing this registration statement.

================================================================================


<PAGE>   2


                                     PART I

                INFORMATION REQUIRED IN SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

     The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8
will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). These documents and
the documents incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of
this Registration Statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets
the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act (the "Prospectus").


                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     Forcenergy Inc, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), incorporates herein
by reference the following documents as of their respective dates as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"):

         (a)      The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                  December 31, 1998 filed with the Commission on June 16, 1999,
                  as amended by the Form 10-K/A filed with the Commission on
                  July 21, 1999;

         (b)      The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the
                  Commission on February 3, 1999;

         (c)      The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
                  Commission on March 23, 1999;

         (d)      The Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                  ended March 31, 1999 filed with the Commission on June 16,
                  1999;

         (e)      The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
                  Commission on April 15, 1999;

         (f)      The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
                  Commission on June 14, 1999;

         (g)      The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                  ended June 30, 1999 filed with the Commission on August 16,
                  1999;

         (h)      The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                  ended  September 30,  1999 filed with the Commission on
                  November 15, 1999;

         (i)      The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
                  Commission on January 25, 2000; and

         (j)      The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
                  Commission on February 16, 2000.

     All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")
subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the
termination of the offering made hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document
which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

     The class of securities to be registered hereby is the Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company. The Company's
authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock and
10,000,000 shares of preferred stock.


                                      II-2
<PAGE>   3


     Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share in the election
of directors and on all other matters submitted to a vote of common stockholders
and do not have cumulative voting rights. Holders of Common Stock are entitled
to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared by the Board of
Directors out of funds legally available therefore, subject to any preferential
dividend rights of holders of outstanding Preferred Stock. Upon the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of Common Stock are
entitled to receive ratably the net assets of the Company available after
payment of all debts and other liabilities, subject to the prior rights of any
outstanding shares of Preferred Stock. Holders of Common Stock have no
preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

     None

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Indemnification of Directors and Officers. Article XI of the Company's
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Charter") provides that
the Company shall indemnify its present and former directors, officers and
persons presently or formerly serving at the request of the Company as directors
or officers of other corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, trusts or other
enterprises, against liabilities, damages, settlements, and expenses (including
attorneys' fees) to the fullest extent permitted by law, as now in effect and as
may be amended in the future, and as more particularly set forth in the
Company's Bylaws.

     In general, Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the
"DGCL") makes provision for the indemnification of officers and directors of
corporations in terms sufficiently broad to indemnify the officer and directors
of the Company under certain circumstances from liabilities (including
reimbursement of expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"). Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to
provide in its Charter that a director of the corporation shall not be
personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages
for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any
breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders,
(ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) in respect of certain unlawful
dividend payments or stock redemptions or repurchases, or (iv) for any
transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

     Article XI of the Charter further provides that the Company shall have the
power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, and enter into
indemnification agreements with, any person who is or was a director or officer
of the Company, or who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a
director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, against any liability asserted against and incurred by him
arising out of his status as such. Any indemnification agreement may contain
provisions intended to protect such person in the event of any actual or
threatened change of control of the Company, including provisions requiring the
Company to deposit into an irrevocable trust funds sufficient to cover actual or
potential obligations of the Company to indemnify or advance expenses (including
attorneys' fees) to such person.

     Indemnification of Authorized Representatives in Third Party Proceedings.
Article VII, Section 7.01 of the Company's Bylaws provides that the Company
shall indemnify any person who was or is an "Authorized Representative" of the
Company (defined as a director or officer of the Company, or a person serving at
the request of the Company as a director or officer of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) and who was or is a
"party" (which includes the giving of testimony or similar involvement) or is
threatened to be made a party to any "third party proceeding" (meaning any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative, or investigative, other than an action by or in the
right of the Company) by reason that such person was or is an Authorized
Representative of the Company, against expenses and liabilities (including
attorneys' fees) incurred by such person in connection with the third party
proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person
reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company and, with respect
to any criminal third party proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe such
conduct was unlawful.

     Indemnification of Authorized Representatives in Corporate Proceedings.
Article VII, Section 7.02 of the Company's Bylaws provides that the Company
shall indemnify any Authorized Representative who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any "corporate proceeding" (meaning any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
Company to procure a judgment in its favor) by reason of the fact that such
person was or is an Authorized Representative of the Company, against expenses
incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such
corporate proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner
reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company, except that no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim


                                      II-3
<PAGE>   4

as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable unless and only to
the extent that the court in which such proceeding was pending shall determine
that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances
of the case, such Authorized Representative is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity.

     Scope of Indemnification Rights and Insurance. The indemnification of
Authorized Representatives and advancement of expenses shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights such indemnitee may be entitled to under any
statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors. It shall be
the obligation of the Company to indemnify and advance expenses to Authorized
Representatives to the full extent permitted by law. The Company shall procure
and maintain at its sole expense insurance for the benefit of Authorized
Representatives, providing coverage against any and all claims, liabilities,
damages or expenses (including attorneys' fees) asserted against or incurred by
an authorized representative. The rights of Authorized Representatives under
such policy shall be in addition to their rights under the Bylaws or otherwise
available by contract or applicable law, and the maintenance of such insurance
coverage shall not satisfy or affect the Company's obligations to indemnify
Authorized Representatives.

     Indemnification for Past Authorized Representatives. The indemnification
and advancement of expenses shall continue to apply to a person who has ceased
to be a director or Authorized Representative and shall inure to the benefit of
heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

     The information required by Item 7 is not applicable to this Registration
Statement.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

Exhibit
Number    Description
------    -----------

4.1*      Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated
          February 15, 2000. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form
          8-K filed on February 16, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.2*      Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company dated February 15, 2000.
          (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
          February 16, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.3*      Specimen Common Stock certificate. (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the
          Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 16, 2000 and incorporated
          herein by reference).

4.4*      Forcenergy Inc 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Filed as Exhibit
          10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 16, 2000 and
          incorporated herein by reference).

5.1       Opinion of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P., as to the legality of the
          securities being registered.

23.1      Consent of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P. (included in the opinion filed as
          Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).

23.2      Consent of PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP.

23.3      Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.

23.4      Consent of Collarini Engineering Inc.

24.1      Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page contained in Part
          II of this Registration Statement).

*Incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.           UNDERTAKINGS

(a)       The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:


                                      II-4
<PAGE>   5

          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                    (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
          of the Securities Act;

                    (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
          arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the
          most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or
          in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information
          set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the
          foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered
          (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that
          which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of
          the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of
          prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in
          the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than
          a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth
          in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective
          registration statement;

                    (iii) To include any material information with respect to
          the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
          statement or any material change to such information in the
          registration statement:

Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6 of this Registration
Statement, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of
the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                      II-5
<PAGE>   6


                                   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 Miami, State of Florida, on the 15th day of February,
2000.

                                       FORCENERGY INC

                                       By: /s/ E. JOSEPH GRADY
                                          --------------------------------------
                                               E. Joseph Grady
                                               Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned officers
and directors of Forcenergy Inc hereby constitutes and appoints Stig Wennerstrom
and E. Joseph Grady, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone), his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution, for him and on his behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign, execute and file this Registration Statement under
the Securities Act of 1933, and any or all amendments (including, without
limitation, post-effective amendments), with all exhibits and any and all
documents required to be filed with respect thereto, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission or any regulatory authority, granting unto such
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same, as fully to all intents and purposes as he himself
might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           Signature                                      Title                               Date
           ---------                                      -----                               ----
<S>                                         <C>                                       <C>
     /s/ STIG WENNERSTROM                     Chairman, President and Chief             February 15, 2000
----------------------------------                 Executive Officer
         Stig Wennerstrom                     (Principal Executive Officer)

                                                   Vice President and                   February 15, 2000
     /s/ E. JOSEPH GRADY                        Chief Financial Officer
----------------------------------              (Principal Financial and
         E. Joseph Grady                          Accounting Officer)

                                                        Director                        February 15, 2000
----------------------------------
       Michael F. Bennet
                                                                                        February 15, 2000
    /s/ BRUCE L. BURNHAM                                Director
----------------------------------
        Bruce L. Burnham

     /s/ B. JAMES FORD                                  Director                        February 15, 2000
----------------------------------
         B. James Ford

      /s/ ERIC FORSS                                    Director                        February 15, 2000
----------------------------------
          Eric Forss

                                                        Director                        February 15, 2000
----------------------------------
       Clifford P. Hickey
</TABLE>


                                      II-6
<PAGE>   7
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           Signature                                      Title                               Date
           ---------                                      -----                               ----
<S>                                                   <C>                               <C>
       /s/ ROBERT ISSAL                                 Director                        February 15, 2000
----------------------------------
           Robert Issal

   /s/ STEPHEN A. KAPLAN                                Director                        February 15, 2000
----------------------------------
       Stephen A. Kaplan

                                                        Director                        February 15, 2000
----------------------------------
       Gregory P. Pipkin

</TABLE>
                                      II-7
<PAGE>   8


                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number    Description
------    -----------
<S>       <C>
4.1*      Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated
          February 15, 2000. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form
          8-K filed on February 16, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.2*      Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company dated February 15,
          2000. (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K
          filed on February 16, 2000 and incorporated herein by
          reference).

4.3*      Specimen Common Stock certificate. (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to
          the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 16, 2000 and
          incorporated herein by reference).

4.4*      Forcenergy Inc 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Filed as
          Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
          February 16, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference).

5.1       Opinion of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P., as to the legality of the
          securities being registered.

23.1      Consent of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P. (included in the opinion
          filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).

23.2      Consent of PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP.

23.3      Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.

23.4      Consent of Collarini Engineering Inc.

24.1      Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page contained
          in Part II of this Registration Statement).
</TABLE>

*Incorporated herein by reference.
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FORCENERGY INC", "cik": "0000946140", "assigned-sic": "1311", "irs-number": "650429338", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-30524", "film-number": "547328"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2730 SW 3RD AVE STE 800", "city": "MIAMI", "state": "FL", "zip": "33129", "phone": "3058568500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2730 SW 3RD AVE", "street2": "STE 800", "city": "MIAMI", "state": "FL", "zip": "33129"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "FORCENERGY GAS EXPLORATION INC", "date-changed": "19950605"}}
1
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 16, 2000

                                                    REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             ----------------------
                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 FORCENERGY INC
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

           DELAWARE                                         65-0429338
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                          (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                          IDENTIFICATION NO.)

          2730 S.W. 3RD AVENUE
                SUITE 800
             MIAMI, FLORIDA                                 33129-2356
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                    (ZIP CODE)

                                 FORCENERGY INC
                        1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                                 E. JOSEPH GRADY
                            VICE PRESIDENT, TREASURER
                           AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                         2730 S.W. 3RD AVENUE, SUITE 800
                            MIAMI, FLORIDA 33129-2356
                     (NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                 (305) 856-8500
                     (TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                              OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
                              ---------------------

                                    COPY TO:

                                  DAVID C. BUCK
                             ANDREWS & KURTH L.L.P.
                          600 TRAVIS STREET, SUITE 4200
                              HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
                                 (713) 220-4301
                              (FAX) (713) 220-4285
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===================================================================================================================
PROPOSED
                                                                    PROPOSED        MAXIMUM
                                                    AMOUNT          MAXIMUM        AGGREGATE        AMOUNT OF
                                                    TO BE        OFFERING PRICE    OFFERING        REGISTRATION
 TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED            REGISTERED(1)    PER SHARE(2)       PRICE             FEE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Common Stock, par value $.01 per share             480,000         $10.00         $4,800,000         $1,267
===================================================================================================================
(1) In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
    amended (the "Act"), this registration statement also covers an
    indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the
    employee benefit plan described herein.

(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
    pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Act, based upon the book value of the
    outstanding shares of Common Stock computed as of February 15, 2000 based on
    assets and liabilities as of November 30, 1999, the latest practicable date
    prior to the date of filing this registration statement.

================================================================================
2

                                     PART I

                INFORMATION REQUIRED IN SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

     The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8
will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). These documents and
the documents incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of
this Registration Statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets
the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act (the "Prospectus").

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     Forcenergy Inc, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), incorporates herein
by reference the following documents as of their respective dates as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"):

         (a)      The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                  December 31, 1998 filed with the Commission on June 16, 1999,
                  as amended by the Form 10-K/A filed with the Commission on
                  July 21, 1999;

         (b)      The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the
                  Commission on February 3, 1999;

         (c)      The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
                  Commission on March 23, 1999;

         (d)      The Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                  ended March 31, 1999 filed with the Commission on June 16,
                  1999;

         (e)      The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
                  Commission on April 15, 1999;

         (f)      The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
                  Commission on June 14, 1999;

         (g)      The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                  ended June 30, 1999 filed with the Commission on August 16,
                  1999;

         (h)      The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                  ended  September 30,  1999 filed with the Commission on
                  November 15, 1999;

         (i)      The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
                  Commission on January 25, 2000; and

         (j)      The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
                  Commission on February 16, 2000.

     All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")
subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the
termination of the offering made hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document
which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

     The class of securities to be registered hereby is the Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company. The Company's
authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock and
10,000,000 shares of preferred stock.

                                      II-2
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     Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share in the election
of directors and on all other matters submitted to a vote of common stockholders
and do not have cumulative voting rights. Holders of Common Stock are entitled
to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared by the Board of
Directors out of funds legally available therefore, subject to any preferential
dividend rights of holders of outstanding Preferred Stock. Upon the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of Common Stock are
entitled to receive ratably the net assets of the Company available after
payment of all debts and other liabilities, subject to the prior rights of any
outstanding shares of Preferred Stock. Holders of Common Stock have no
preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

     None

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Indemnification of Directors and Officers. Article XI of the Company's
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Charter") provides that
the Company shall indemnify its present and former directors, officers and
persons presently or formerly serving at the request of the Company as directors
or officers of other corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, trusts or other
enterprises, against liabilities, damages, settlements, and expenses (including
attorneys' fees) to the fullest extent permitted by law, as now in effect and as
may be amended in the future, and as more particularly set forth in the
Company's Bylaws.

     In general, Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the
"DGCL") makes provision for the indemnification of officers and directors of
corporations in terms sufficiently broad to indemnify the officer and directors
of the Company under certain circumstances from liabilities (including
reimbursement of expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"). Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to
provide in its Charter that a director of the corporation shall not be
personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages
for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any
breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders,
(ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) in respect of certain unlawful
dividend payments or stock redemptions or repurchases, or (iv) for any
transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

     Article XI of the Charter further provides that the Company shall have the
power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, and enter into
indemnification agreements with, any person who is or was a director or officer
of the Company, or who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a
director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, against any liability asserted against and incurred by him
arising out of his status as such. Any indemnification agreement may contain
provisions intended to protect such person in the event of any actual or
threatened change of control of the Company, including provisions requiring the
Company to deposit into an irrevocable trust funds sufficient to cover actual or
potential obligations of the Company to indemnify or advance expenses (including
attorneys' fees) to such person.

     Indemnification of Authorized Representatives in Third Party Proceedings.
Article VII, Section 7.01 of the Company's Bylaws provides that the Company
shall indemnify any person who was or is an "Authorized Representative" of the
Company (defined as a director or officer of the Company, or a person serving at
the request of the Company as a director or officer of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) and who was or is a
"party" (which includes the giving of testimony or similar involvement) or is
threatened to be made a party to any "third party proceeding" (meaning any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative, or investigative, other than an action by or in the
right of the Company) by reason that such person was or is an Authorized
Representative of the Company, against expenses and liabilities (including
attorneys' fees) incurred by such person in connection with the third party
proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person
reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company and, with respect
to any criminal third party proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe such
conduct was unlawful.

     Indemnification of Authorized Representatives in Corporate Proceedings.
Article VII, Section 7.02 of the Company's Bylaws provides that the Company
shall indemnify any Authorized Representative who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any "corporate proceeding" (meaning any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
Company to procure a judgment in its favor) by reason of the fact that such
person was or is an Authorized Representative of the Company, against expenses
incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such
corporate proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner
reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company, except that no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim

                                      II-3
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as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable unless and only to
the extent that the court in which such proceeding was pending shall determine
that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances
of the case, such Authorized Representative is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity.

     Scope of Indemnification Rights and Insurance. The indemnification of
Authorized Representatives and advancement of expenses shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights such indemnitee may be entitled to under any
statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors. It shall be
the obligation of the Company to indemnify and advance expenses to Authorized
Representatives to the full extent permitted by law. The Company shall procure
and maintain at its sole expense insurance for the benefit of Authorized
Representatives, providing coverage against any and all claims, liabilities,
damages or expenses (including attorneys' fees) asserted against or incurred by
an authorized representative. The rights of Authorized Representatives under
such policy shall be in addition to their rights under the Bylaws or otherwise
available by contract or applicable law, and the maintenance of such insurance
coverage shall not satisfy or affect the Company's obligations to indemnify
Authorized Representatives.

     Indemnification for Past Authorized Representatives. The indemnification
and advancement of expenses shall continue to apply to a person who has ceased
to be a director or Authorized Representative and shall inure to the benefit of
heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

     The information required by Item 7 is not applicable to this Registration
Statement.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

Exhibit
Number    Description
------    -----------

4.1*      Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated
          February 15, 2000. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form
          8-K filed on February 16, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.2*      Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company dated February 15, 2000.
          (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
          February 16, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.3*      Specimen Common Stock certificate. (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the
          Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 16, 2000 and incorporated
          herein by reference).

4.4*      Forcenergy Inc 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Filed as Exhibit
          10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 16, 2000 and
          incorporated herein by reference).

5.1       Opinion of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P., as to the legality of the
          securities being registered.

23.1      Consent of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P. (included in the opinion filed as
          Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).

23.2      Consent of PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP.

23.3      Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.

23.4      Consent of Collarini Engineering Inc.

24.1      Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page contained in Part
          II of this Registration Statement).

*Incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.           UNDERTAKINGS

(a)       The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                                      II-4
5

          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                    (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
          of the Securities Act;

                    (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
          arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the
          most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or
          in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information
          set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the
          foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered
          (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that
          which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of
          the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of
          prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in
          the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than
          a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth
          in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective
          registration statement;

                    (iii) To include any material information with respect to
          the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
          statement or any material change to such information in the
          registration statement:

Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6 of this Registration
Statement, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of
the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-5
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                                   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 Miami, State of Florida, on the 15th day of February,
2000.

                                       FORCENERGY INC

                                       By: /s/ E. JOSEPH GRADY
                                          --------------------------------------
                                               E. Joseph Grady
                                               Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned officers
and directors of Forcenergy Inc hereby constitutes and appoints Stig Wennerstrom
and E. Joseph Grady, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone), his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution, for him and on his behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign, execute and file this Registration Statement under
the Securities Act of 1933, and any or all amendments (including, without
limitation, post-effective amendments), with all exhibits and any and all
documents required to be filed with respect thereto, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission or any regulatory authority, granting unto such
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same, as fully to all intents and purposes as he himself
might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done.
Signature                                      Title                               Date
           ---------                                      -----                               ----
/s/ STIG WENNERSTROM                     Chairman, President and Chief             February 15, 2000
----------------------------------                 Executive Officer
         Stig Wennerstrom                     (Principal Executive Officer)

                                                   Vice President and                   February 15, 2000
     /s/ E. JOSEPH GRADY                        Chief Financial Officer
----------------------------------              (Principal Financial and
         E. Joseph Grady                          Accounting Officer)

                                                        Director                        February 15, 2000
----------------------------------
       Michael F. Bennet
                                                                                        February 15, 2000
    /s/ BRUCE L. BURNHAM                                Director
----------------------------------
        Bruce L. Burnham

     /s/ B. JAMES FORD                                  Director                        February 15, 2000
----------------------------------
         B. James Ford

      /s/ ERIC FORSS                                    Director                        February 15, 2000
----------------------------------
          Eric Forss

                                                        Director                        February 15, 2000
----------------------------------
       Clifford P. Hickey
II-6
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Signature                                      Title                               Date
           ---------                                      -----                               ----
/s/ ROBERT ISSAL                                 Director                        February 15, 2000
----------------------------------
           Robert Issal

   /s/ STEPHEN A. KAPLAN                                Director                        February 15, 2000
----------------------------------
       Stephen A. Kaplan

                                                        Director                        February 15, 2000
----------------------------------
       Gregory P. Pipkin
II-7
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                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number    Description
------    -----------
4.1*      Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated
          February 15, 2000. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form
          8-K filed on February 16, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.2*      Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company dated February 15,
          2000. (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K
          filed on February 16, 2000 and incorporated herein by
          reference).

4.3*      Specimen Common Stock certificate. (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to
          the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 16, 2000 and
          incorporated herein by reference).

4.4*      Forcenergy Inc 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Filed as
          Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
          February 16, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference).

5.1       Opinion of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P., as to the legality of the
          securities being registered.

23.1      Consent of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P. (included in the opinion
          filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).

23.2      Consent of PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP.

23.3      Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.

23.4      Consent of Collarini Engineering Inc.

24.1      Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page contained
          in Part II of this Registration Statement).
*Incorporated herein by reference.