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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 4, 2010</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Exchange Act File No. 001-31539</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">UNITED STATES</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Washington, D.C.&#160;&#160;20549</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">SM Energy Company</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Delaware</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">41-0518430</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(State or other jurisdiction of</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(I.R.S. Employer</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">incorporation or organization)</font></div>
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<td valign="top" width="22%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></td>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Identification No.)</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">1775 Sherman Street, Suite 1200</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Denver, Colorado 80203</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Equity Incentive Compensation Plan</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">(f/k/a St. Mary Land &amp; Exploration Company Equity Incentive Compensation Plan)</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(Full title of the plan)</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Anthony J. Best</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">SM Energy Company</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">1775 Sherman Street, Suite 1200</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Denver, Colorado 80203</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(Name and address of agent for service)</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">(303) 861-8140</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.&#160;&#160;See the definitions of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;accelerated filer&#8221; and &#8220;smaller reporting company&#8221; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Large accelerated filer <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">&#254;</font></font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Accelerated filer <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">o</font></font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Non-accelerated filer <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">o</font> (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Smaller reporting company <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">o</font></font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Title of securities</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">to be registered</font></font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Amount to be <font style="DISPLAY: inline">registered</font></font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Proposed maximum offering price</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">per share</font></font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Proposed maximum aggregate offering</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">price</font></font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: -4.5pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Amount of <font style="DISPLAY: inline">registration fee</font></font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Common stock,</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">$.01 par value <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: text-top">(1)</font></font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">1,645,050 shares<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: text-top">(2)</font></font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">$42.65<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: text-top">(3)</font></font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">$70,161,382.50</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">$5,002.51<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: text-top">(4)</font></font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">_______________</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: text-top">(1)</font></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Includes associated stock purchase rights under the registrant&#8217;s shareholder rights plan adopted on July 15, 1999, as amended, that are deemed to be delivered with each share of common stock issued by the registrant and currently are not separately transferable apart from the common stock.</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: text-top">(2)</font></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement shall be deemed to cover any additional shares which become issuable as a result of a stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction.</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: text-top">(3)</font></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, the price shown is based upon the price of $42.65 per share, which is the average of the high and low selling prices for the registrant&#8217;s common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on November 1, 2010.</font></div>
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<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: text-top">(4)</font></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Calculated under Section 6(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 as 0.00007130 of $70,161,383.</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">This registration statement relates to the previously filed registration statements discussed below and is being filed under General Instruction E. of Form S-8 in order to register additional shares of the same class as other securities for which registration statements filed on this form relating to the same employee benefit plan are effective.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">On May 17, 2006, the registrant filed a registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-134221) to register 2,600,225 shares of common stock issuable under the St. Mary Land &amp; Exploration Company 2006 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan, which as part of amendments thereto in March 2009 was renamed the St. Mary Land &amp; Exploration Company Equity Incentive Compensation Plan and as part of amendments thereto in July 2010 to reflect the change in the name of the registrant from St. Mary Land &amp; Exploration Company to SM Energy Company was renamed the Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;).&#160;&#160;On June 19, 2008, the registrant filed a registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-151779) to register an additional 2,001,194 shares of common stock issuable under the Plan.&#160;&#160;On March&#160;26,&#160;2010, the registrant filed a registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-165740) to register an additional 2,519,367 shares of common stock issuable under the Plan.&#160;&#160;The contents of those registration statements are incorporated by reference into this registration statement.&#160;&#160;The registrant is now filing this separate registration statement to register an additional 1,645,050 shares of common stock which may be issued under the Plan.&#160;&#160;Of the additional 1,645,050 shares of common stock being registered under this registration statement, (i) 1,600,000 shares are attributable to an amendment to the Plan approved by the stockholders of the registrant on May 26, 2010; and (ii) 45,050 shares are attributable to certain forfeited awards under a predecessor plan, which pursuant to the terms of the Plan are added to the number of shares issuable under the Plan.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration statement:</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The Registrant.</font>&#160;&#160;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 Denver, State of Colorado, on November 4, 2010.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 180pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;SM ENERGY COMPANY</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes, constitutes and appoints Anthony J. Best and A. Wade Pursell his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, and each with full power to act alone, for the undersigned and in his or her own name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and other amendments thereto) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing as the undersigned could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by&#160;virtue hereof.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">/s/ ANTHONY J. BEST</font></font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">President and Chief Executive</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">November 4, 2010</font></div>
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[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "forms8.htm", "description": "FORM S-8 110410", "secsgml_size_bytes": 54700}]
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forms8.htm
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 4, 2010
Securities Act Registration No. 333-_______
Exchange Act File No. 001-31539
==============================================================================================================================================================================================================================
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
SM Energy Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
41-0518430
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)
1775 Sherman Street, Suite 1200
Denver, Colorado 80203
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Equity Incentive Compensation Plan
(f/k/a St. Mary Land & Exploration Company Equity Incentive Compensation Plan)
(Full title of the plan)
Anthony J. Best
President and Chief Executive Officer
SM Energy Company
1775 Sherman Street, Suite 1200
Denver, Colorado 80203
(Name and address of agent for service)
(303) 861-8140
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
þ
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of securities
to be registered
Amount to be
registered
Proposed maximum offering price
per share
Proposed maximum aggregate offering
price
Amount of
registration fee
Common stock,
$.01 par value
(1)
1,645,050 shares
(2)
$42.65
(3)
$70,161,382.50
$5,002.51
(4)
_______________
(1)
Includes associated stock purchase rights under the registrant's shareholder rights plan adopted on July 15, 1999, as amended, that are deemed to be delivered with each share of common stock issued by the registrant and currently are not separately transferable apart from the common stock.
(2)
Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement shall be deemed to cover any additional shares which become issuable as a result of a stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction.
(3)
Solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, the price shown is based upon the price of $42.65 per share, which is the average of the high and low selling prices for the registrant's common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on November 1, 2010.
(4)
Calculated under Section 6(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 as 0.00007130 of $70,161,383.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement relates to the previously filed registration statements discussed below and is being filed under General Instruction E. of Form S-8 in order to register additional shares of the same class as other securities for which registration statements filed on this form relating to the same employee benefit plan are effective.
On May 17, 2006, the registrant filed a registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-134221) to register 2,600,225 shares of common stock issuable under the St. Mary Land & Exploration Company 2006 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan, which as part of amendments thereto in March 2009 was renamed the St. Mary Land & Exploration Company Equity Incentive Compensation Plan and as part of amendments thereto in July 2010 to reflect the change in the name of the registrant from St. Mary Land & Exploration Company to SM Energy Company was renamed the Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the "Plan").  On June 19, 2008, the registrant filed a registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-151779) to register an additional 2,001,194 shares of common stock issuable under the Plan.  On March 26, 2010, the registrant filed a registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-165740) to register an additional 2,519,367 shares of common stock issuable under the Plan.  The contents of those registration statements are incorporated by reference into this registration statement.  The registrant is now filing this separate registration statement to register an additional 1,645,050 shares of common stock which may be issued under the Plan.  Of the additional 1,645,050 shares of common stock being registered under this registration statement, (i) 1,600,000 shares are attributable to an amendment to the Plan approved by the stockholders of the registrant on May 26, 2010; and (ii) 45,050 shares are attributable to certain forfeited awards under a predecessor plan, which pursuant to the terms of the Plan are added to the number of shares issuable under the Plan.
Item 8.                        Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration statement:
Exhibit
No.
Description
5.1*
Opinion of Ballard Spahr LLP
23.1*
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.2*
Consent of Ballard Spahr LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.3*
Consent of Ryder Scott Company, L.P.
23.4*
Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.
24.1*
Power of Attorney (included in signature page hereof)
99.1
Equity Incentive Compensation Plan, As Amended as of July 30, 2010 (filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, and incorporated herein by reference)
____________________________
* Filed herewith.
SIGNATURES
The Registrant.
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 Denver, State of Colorado, on November 4, 2010.
SM ENERGY COMPANY
By:
/s/ ANTHONY J. BEST
Anthony J. Best
President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes, constitutes and appoints Anthony J. Best and A. Wade Pursell his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, and each with full power to act alone, for the undersigned and in his or her own name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and other amendments thereto) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing as the undersigned could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
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.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ ANTHONY J. BEST
Anthony J. Best
President and Chief Executive
Officer, and a Director
November 4, 2010
/s/ A. WADE PURSELL
A. Wade Pursell
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
November 4, 2010
/s/ MARK T. SOLOMON
Mark T. Solomon
Controller
November 4, 2010
/s/ WILLIAM D. SULLIVAN
William D. Sullivan
Chairman of the Board of Directors
November 4, 2010
/s/ BARBARA M. BAUMANN
Barbara M. Baumann
Director
November 4, 2010
/s/ LARRY W. BICKLE
Larry W. Bickle
Director
November 4, 2010
/s/ WILLIAM J. GARDINER
William J. Gardiner
Director
November 4, 2010
/s/ JULIO M. QUINTANA
Julio M. Quintana
Director
November 4, 2010
/s/ JOHN M. SEIDL
John M. Seidl
Director
November 4, 2010