SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C.  20549


                                 FORM 8-K

                              CURRENT REPORT

                  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                      Securities Exchange Act of 1934

   Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  February 12, 1999



                          McMoRan Exploration Co.


            Delaware            001-07791           72-1424200
       (State or other         (Commission        (IRS Employer
       jurisdiction of         File Number)       Identification
       incorporation or                           Number)
       organization)

                            1615 Poydras Street
                       New Orleans, Louisiana  70112

    Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (504) 582-4000 



          Item 5.   Other Events.
               ------------------
          The following news release was made by McMoRan Exploration Co. on
          February 12, 1999:

          NEW ORLEANS, LA., February 12, 1999 -- McMoRan Exploration Co.
          (NYSE:MMR) today announced that production began on January 18,
          1999, at the Vermilion Block 160 #4 sidetrack well and the
          Vermilion Block 159 #3 well. Current combined daily gross
          production from these fields is approximately 53 million cubic
          feet of gas (MMCF) and 1,760 barrels of condensate.  Of the total
          rate, the Vermilion Block 160 #4 sidetrack well is producing
          approximately 35 MMCF and 1,295 barrels of condensate, and the
          Vermilion Block 159 #3 well is producing approximately 18 MMCF
          and 465 barrels of condensate.

               MMR, as operator, has a 58.4 percent net revenue interest in
          the Vermilion Block 160 #4 sidetrack well, subject to a 12.7
          percent net profits interest.  MMR recently purchased an
          additional 10.0 percent net revenue interest in the Vermilion
          Block 159 #3 area and currently has a 43.8 percent net revenue
          interest in the field.  MMR plans to offer a portion of its
          recently acquired net revenue interest to its exploration program
          partners.  Vermilion Blocks 159/160 are located in approximately
          100 feet of water, 42 miles offshore Louisiana.

               Additionally, MMR announced that current daily gross
          production from its Vermilion Block 160 field unit is averaging
          approximately 39 MMCF and 980 barrels of condensate.  MMR
          recently purchased an additional 19.4 percent net revenue
          interest in this unit and currently has a 44.9 percent net
          revenue interest, subject to an approximate 2.6 percent net
          profits interest, in the field.  MMR plans to offer a portion of
          its recently acquired net revenue interest to certain of its
          joint interest partners.

               Current combined daily gross production from all of the
          above mentioned fields total approximately 92 MMCF and 2,740
          barrels of condensate.

               MMR is an independent public company engaged in the
          exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas
          offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and onshore in the Gulf Coast
          area; and the mining, purchasing, transporting, terminaling, and
          marketing of sulphur. MMR continues to generate prospects and
          evaluate farm-in opportunities utilizing its geological and
          geophysical experience and expertise through the use of 3-D
          seismic data and other state-of-the-art technology. 




                                      SIGNATURE
                                 ------------------

               Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
          of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
          on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                        McMoRan Exploration Co.

                                        By:   /s/ C. Donald Whitmire
                                             ----------------------------
                                                 C. Donald Whitmire
                                            Vice President & Controller -
                                               Financial Reporting
                                            (authorized signatory)

          Date:  February 18, 1999
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "secsgml_size_bytes": 4553}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "MCMORAN EXPLORATION CO /DE/", "cik": "0000064279", "assigned-sic": "1311", "irs-number": "721424200", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-07791", "film-number": "99545210"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1615 POYDRAS ST", "city": "NEW ORLEANS", "state": "LA", "zip": "70112", "phone": "5045824000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1615 POYDRAS ST", "city": "NEW ORLEANS", "state": "LA", "zip": "70112"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "MCMORAN OIL & GAS CO", "date-changed": "19970707"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C.  20549

                                 FORM 8-K

                              CURRENT REPORT

                  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                      Securities Exchange Act of 1934

   Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  February 12, 1999

                          McMoRan Exploration Co.

            Delaware            001-07791           72-1424200
       (State or other         (Commission        (IRS Employer
       jurisdiction of         File Number)       Identification
       incorporation or                           Number)
       organization)

                            1615 Poydras Street
                       New Orleans, Louisiana  70112

    Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (504) 582-4000 

          Item 5.   Other Events.
               ------------------
          The following news release was made by McMoRan Exploration Co. on
          February 12, 1999:

          NEW ORLEANS, LA., February 12, 1999 -- McMoRan Exploration Co.
          (NYSE:MMR) today announced that production began on January 18,
          1999, at the Vermilion Block 160 #4 sidetrack well and the
          Vermilion Block 159 #3 well. Current combined daily gross
          production from these fields is approximately 53 million cubic
          feet of gas (MMCF) and 1,760 barrels of condensate.  Of the total
          rate, the Vermilion Block 160 #4 sidetrack well is producing
          approximately 35 MMCF and 1,295 barrels of condensate, and the
          Vermilion Block 159 #3 well is producing approximately 18 MMCF
          and 465 barrels of condensate.

               MMR, as operator, has a 58.4 percent net revenue interest in
          the Vermilion Block 160 #4 sidetrack well, subject to a 12.7
          percent net profits interest.  MMR recently purchased an
          additional 10.0 percent net revenue interest in the Vermilion
          Block 159 #3 area and currently has a 43.8 percent net revenue
          interest in the field.  MMR plans to offer a portion of its
          recently acquired net revenue interest to its exploration program
          partners.  Vermilion Blocks 159/160 are located in approximately
          100 feet of water, 42 miles offshore Louisiana.

               Additionally, MMR announced that current daily gross
          production from its Vermilion Block 160 field unit is averaging
          approximately 39 MMCF and 980 barrels of condensate.  MMR
          recently purchased an additional 19.4 percent net revenue
          interest in this unit and currently has a 44.9 percent net
          revenue interest, subject to an approximate 2.6 percent net
          profits interest, in the field.  MMR plans to offer a portion of
          its recently acquired net revenue interest to certain of its
          joint interest partners.

               Current combined daily gross production from all of the
          above mentioned fields total approximately 92 MMCF and 2,740
          barrels of condensate.

               MMR is an independent public company engaged in the
          exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas
          offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and onshore in the Gulf Coast
          area; and the mining, purchasing, transporting, terminaling, and
          marketing of sulphur. MMR continues to generate prospects and
          evaluate farm-in opportunities utilizing its geological and
          geophysical experience and expertise through the use of 3-D
          seismic data and other state-of-the-art technology. 

                                      SIGNATURE
                                 ------------------

               Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
          of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
          on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                        McMoRan Exploration Co.

                                        By:   /s/ C. Donald Whitmire
                                             ----------------------------
                                                 C. Donald Whitmire
                                            Vice President & Controller -
                                               Financial Reporting
                                            (authorized signatory)

          Date:  February 18, 1999