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):November 20, 2000



                     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.
McMoRan Exploration Co. announces the following exploration and
operations update:

The Eugene Island Block 97 #1 exploratory well
(Thunderbolt-shallow prospect) has encountered 75 feet of net
hydrocarbon pay in 3 pay sands logged between measured depths of
14,000 and 14,290 feet.  The well was drilled to a total depth
of 17,030 feet and will be saved for future production.
Additional wells will be needed to evaluate the full potential
of this discovery.

  We hold a 38.0 percent working interest and a 27.4 percent net
revenue  interest in the Eugene Island Block 97 #1 well.   Ocean
Energy,  Inc.,  the  operator,  holds  a  35.0  percent  working
interest; Samedan Oil Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary  of
Noble  Affiliates, Inc., holds a 25.0 percent working  interest;
and  an  individual  investor holds the  remaining  2.0  percent
working  interest in the shallow prospect.   The  Eugene  Island
Block 97 discovery is located in 27 feet of water, approximately
25  miles offshore Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico.   We control
19,375 acres in the area.

We  have also identified a separate prospect at a greater  depth
in  the  immediate area of Eugene Island Block 97  (Hornung-deep
prospect).   The  deep prospect is expected  to  be  drilled  to
approximately 21,000 feet during the first quarter of 2001.

Our Main Pass Block 86 #1 well (Shiner prospect) has 80 feet  of
gross  pay indicated by its log-while-drilling tool which  would
indicate  a  minimum  of 40 to 50 feet of  net  hydrocarbon  pay
between  depths  of  9,910  and  9,990  feet.   We  have   noted
additional  zones  that  have resistivity  that  could  possibly
indicate  that  additional sands are hydrocarbon  bearing.   The
well  was  drilled to a total depth of 10,500 and will be  saved
for  future  production.  Additional wells  will  be  needed  to
evaluate the full potential of this discovery.  We have  a  71.3
percent working interest and a 51.3 percent net revenue interest
in  the  well.  Ocean Energy, Inc., the operator, holds  a  25.0
percent  working interest and the remaining 3.7 percent  working
interest  is held by an individual investor.  The Main  Pass  86
discovery is located in 69 feet of water, approximately 60 miles
offshore Louisiana.

Details  of  our other exploration, development and  operational
activities follow:

West  Delta  Block  12  #1  (Intruder/Prowler  prospect).   This
exploration  well has been drilled to approximately 17,500  feet
and  logged  several sands between 16,950 and 17,400  feet  that
have  resistivity which could possibly indicate  the  sands  are
hydrocarbon  bearing.  Casing has been set through  17,500  feet
and   the  well  will  be  drilled  deeper  to  test  additional
objectives to a total depth of approximately 20,700  feet.   The
17,000-foot sands that are behind pipe will be further evaluated
after  the deeper potentials between 17,400 feet and total depth
have been tested.  We have a 47.5 percent working interest and a
32.1 percent net revenue interest in the well.  Samedan holds  a
25.0   percent  working  interest.   Ocean  Energy,  Inc.,   the
operator,  holds  a  25.0  percent  working  interest  and   the
remaining  2.5 percent working interest is held by an individual
investor.   The  West Delta 12 exploration well  is  located  in
state   waters  offshore  Louisiana  with  a  water   depth   of
approximately 17 feet.

Louisiana  State Lease 340 # 1 (Mound Point prospect).   We  are
currently  drilling below 10,000 feet on this  exploration  well
with a proposed total depth of 18,500 feet.  The well is located
offshore Vermilion and Iberia Parishes in less than 10  feet  of
water  on tracts that encompass a total of approximately  35,450
acres.   We  have  a 30.4 percent working interest  and  a  23.9
percent  net revenue interest in the prospect.  Samedan holds  a
25.0  percent  working interest; Texaco, a 43.0 percent  working
interest; and an individual investor, the remaining 1.6  percent
working interest.

Eugene  Island Block 193 #3 (Tern-deep prospect).  Drilling  has
begun  on  this exploration well, with a planned total depth  of
17,600  feet.   We have a 56.25 percent working interest  and  a
45.2 percent net revenue interest and Texaco has a 43.75 percent
net  working interest.  We control 10,000 acres in the  area  in
approximately 100 feet of water.

Vermilion Blocks 195/196/207 (Lombardi) and Ship Shoal Block 296
(Raptor).  We plan to install platform and production facilities
on  both  of these discoveries and expect both fields to  be  on
production by mid-2001.  Although they have not been tested,  we
believe  that these two discoveries could flow in excess  of  30
million cubic feet of gas per day, in total net to our interest.
We  hold  a  34.2  percent  net revenue  interest  in  Vermilion
195/196/207  and  a 43.5 percent net revenue  interest  in  Ship
Shoal  296.   Samedan holds a 25.0 percent working  interest  in
Vermilion 195/196/207.

We   continue  to  identify  prospects  to  be  drilled  on  our
exploration  lease  acreage position,  including  660,000  acres
acquired  from Shell and Texaco earlier this year.  To  date  we
have  drilled  8  prospects on this acreage,  of  which  4  have
indicated  discoveries.  The 4 discoveries are all on the  shelf
of the Gulf of Mexico, 3 in less than 120 feet of water, and can
be  brought  on to production readily because of the  relatively
shallow   water   depths  and  the  immediate  availability   of
production platform facilities.

The  ownership interests for all the exploration and development
activities   above  reflect  our  minimum  estimated   interests
assuming certain agreements and participation elections by other
parties, except that Halliburton's option to participate  for  6
percent of our interest is not reflected.

Brazos  A-19 insurance claim.  We are in negotiations  with  our
insurers for the business interruption loss that we believe  was
triggered  by  the loss of the Brazos A-19  JC  #1  well.     As
previously reported, the Brazos A-19 well was damaged during the
early   production  phase  in  November  1999,  after  producing
approximately 84 million cubic feet of natural gas per  day  for
approximately  one  month.  Attempts to  repair  the  well  were
unsuccessful,  and  subsequently  the  well  was   plugged   and
abandoned.  The insurers have offered approximately $14  million
in settlement of the claim and we have counter offered to settle
for  $30 million.   The proceeds of the claim will be recognized
as a gain when received.

Sulphur  business sale.  As previously announced, we are engaged
in  a  process to sell our sulphur transportation and  logistics
assets  and are being assisted by Chase Securities Inc.  in  the
marketing  of these assets.  A number of parties have  expressed
interest and are completing due diligence.  We expect interested
parties to submit definitive proposals in mid-December 2000  and
that  the  sale will be completed soon thereafter.    We  remain
confident that the sale will generate proceeds in excess of  the
book value of the assets or a minimum of $75 million.

Main  Pass 299 alternative use.   Since the cessation of sulphur
production  at  our  Main  Pass Block 299  mine,  we  have  been
evaluating  alternative uses for the Main Pass  299  facilities.
We  have  signed a letter of intent pursuant to which  the  Main
Pass  facilities would be utilized to provide logistical support
and  services  for  deepwater offshore oilfield  operations  and
commercial  production  of  brine.  The  cash  flows  from  this
potential alternative use of the Main Pass sulphur facility  are
expected  to  offset  a  significant portion  of  the  long-term
liabilities for the eventual abandonment of the facilities.   In
addition,  commercial operation of the facility is  expected  to
defer the time when abandonment would otherwise be required.  We
will  retain the rights to the sulphur and oil reserves at  Main
Pass  299.   These business arrangements are subject to  certain
regulatory approvals and the execution of definitive agreements.

Sulphur project claim.  We have received notice from the  U.  S.
State Department that our $8.9 million claim for payments due us
for  the  construction,  installation  and  sale  of  a  sulphur
distillation  plant to the government of Iraq in 1991  has  been
certified by the United Nations Compensation Commission on Iraqi
claims.    The U. S. State Department has received approximately
$5  million  attributable to our claim and we expect to  receive
those  funds within the next 90 days.  We expect to receive  the
balance of the claim in 2001 and will recognize the receipts  as
gains when funds are received.

Although  there  can be no assurance as to  the  timing  or  the
completion  of  the  transactions  mentioned  above,  if   these
transactions  can  be completed in the current  quarter  or  the
first quarter of 2001 as anticipated, then we may add in  excess
of $100  million cash to our financial position.  As of November
17, 2000, our net debt position was $30 million ($45 million  of
net debt in our sulphur business and $15 million cash in our oil
and  gas  business).   The $100 million cash, together with  $50
million  available under our oil and gas bank  credit  facility;
our  $64.5  million sulphur business credit facility  (of  which
approximately $45 million is currently drawn); and our  oil  and
gas  production income, would provide us with a strong financial
position  to continue our aggressive exploration and development
activities.

Cautionary  Statement: This report contains forward-looking
statements in which we discuss factors and events  that  we
believe may affect our performance in the future.  Forward-
looking statements are all statements other than historical
facts,  such as statements regarding discoveries at  Eugene
Island 97 and Main Pass 86; future oil and gas drilling and
production activities; future oil and gas income; the  sale
of  the  sulphur transportation assets; and the pursuit  of
insurance  and other claims.  Important factors that  might
cause  future  results  to differ  from  these  projections
include  drilling risks, the market value of oil  and  gas,
uncertainties  in interpreting engineering  data,  industry
risks  and other factors described in our most recent  Form
10-K and subsequent Forms 10-Q filed with the SEC.




                            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 Jr.
                                   ----------------------------
                                       C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.
                                  Vice President & Controller -
                                        Financial Reporting
                                  (authorized signatory and
                                   Principal Accounting Officer)

Date:  November 21, 2000
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "secsgml_size_bytes": 12055}]
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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):November 20, 2000

                     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.
McMoRan Exploration Co. announces the following exploration and
operations update:

The Eugene Island Block 97 #1 exploratory well
(Thunderbolt-shallow prospect) has encountered 75 feet of net
hydrocarbon pay in 3 pay sands logged between measured depths of
14,000 and 14,290 feet.  The well was drilled to a total depth
of 17,030 feet and will be saved for future production.
Additional wells will be needed to evaluate the full potential
of this discovery.

  We hold a 38.0 percent working interest and a 27.4 percent net
revenue  interest in the Eugene Island Block 97 #1 well.   Ocean
Energy,  Inc.,  the  operator,  holds  a  35.0  percent  working
interest; Samedan Oil Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary  of
Noble  Affiliates, Inc., holds a 25.0 percent working  interest;
and  an  individual  investor holds the  remaining  2.0  percent
working  interest in the shallow prospect.   The  Eugene  Island
Block 97 discovery is located in 27 feet of water, approximately
25  miles offshore Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico.   We control
19,375 acres in the area.

We  have also identified a separate prospect at a greater  depth
in  the  immediate area of Eugene Island Block 97  (Hornung-deep
prospect).   The  deep prospect is expected  to  be  drilled  to
approximately 21,000 feet during the first quarter of 2001.

Our Main Pass Block 86 #1 well (Shiner prospect) has 80 feet  of
gross  pay indicated by its log-while-drilling tool which  would
indicate  a  minimum  of 40 to 50 feet of  net  hydrocarbon  pay
between  depths  of  9,910  and  9,990  feet.   We  have   noted
additional  zones  that  have resistivity  that  could  possibly
indicate  that  additional sands are hydrocarbon  bearing.   The
well  was  drilled to a total depth of 10,500 and will be  saved
for  future  production.  Additional wells  will  be  needed  to
evaluate the full potential of this discovery.  We have  a  71.3
percent working interest and a 51.3 percent net revenue interest
in  the  well.  Ocean Energy, Inc., the operator, holds  a  25.0
percent  working interest and the remaining 3.7 percent  working
interest  is held by an individual investor.  The Main  Pass  86
discovery is located in 69 feet of water, approximately 60 miles
offshore Louisiana.

Details  of  our other exploration, development and  operational
activities follow:

West  Delta  Block  12  #1  (Intruder/Prowler  prospect).   This
exploration  well has been drilled to approximately 17,500  feet
and  logged  several sands between 16,950 and 17,400  feet  that
have  resistivity which could possibly indicate  the  sands  are
hydrocarbon  bearing.  Casing has been set through  17,500  feet
and   the  well  will  be  drilled  deeper  to  test  additional
objectives to a total depth of approximately 20,700  feet.   The
17,000-foot sands that are behind pipe will be further evaluated
after  the deeper potentials between 17,400 feet and total depth
have been tested.  We have a 47.5 percent working interest and a
32.1 percent net revenue interest in the well.  Samedan holds  a
25.0   percent  working  interest.   Ocean  Energy,  Inc.,   the
operator,  holds  a  25.0  percent  working  interest  and   the
remaining  2.5 percent working interest is held by an individual
investor.   The  West Delta 12 exploration well  is  located  in
state   waters  offshore  Louisiana  with  a  water   depth   of
approximately 17 feet.

Louisiana  State Lease 340 # 1 (Mound Point prospect).   We  are
currently  drilling below 10,000 feet on this  exploration  well
with a proposed total depth of 18,500 feet.  The well is located
offshore Vermilion and Iberia Parishes in less than 10  feet  of
water  on tracts that encompass a total of approximately  35,450
acres.   We  have  a 30.4 percent working interest  and  a  23.9
percent  net revenue interest in the prospect.  Samedan holds  a
25.0  percent  working interest; Texaco, a 43.0 percent  working
interest; and an individual investor, the remaining 1.6  percent
working interest.

Eugene  Island Block 193 #3 (Tern-deep prospect).  Drilling  has
begun  on  this exploration well, with a planned total depth  of
17,600  feet.   We have a 56.25 percent working interest  and  a
45.2 percent net revenue interest and Texaco has a 43.75 percent
net  working interest.  We control 10,000 acres in the  area  in
approximately 100 feet of water.

Vermilion Blocks 195/196/207 (Lombardi) and Ship Shoal Block 296
(Raptor).  We plan to install platform and production facilities
on  both  of these discoveries and expect both fields to  be  on
production by mid-2001.  Although they have not been tested,  we
believe  that these two discoveries could flow in excess  of  30
million cubic feet of gas per day, in total net to our interest.
We  hold  a  34.2  percent  net revenue  interest  in  Vermilion
195/196/207  and  a 43.5 percent net revenue  interest  in  Ship
Shoal  296.   Samedan holds a 25.0 percent working  interest  in
Vermilion 195/196/207.

We   continue  to  identify  prospects  to  be  drilled  on  our
exploration  lease  acreage position,  including  660,000  acres
acquired  from Shell and Texaco earlier this year.  To  date  we
have  drilled  8  prospects on this acreage,  of  which  4  have
indicated  discoveries.  The 4 discoveries are all on the  shelf
of the Gulf of Mexico, 3 in less than 120 feet of water, and can
be  brought  on to production readily because of the  relatively
shallow   water   depths  and  the  immediate  availability   of
production platform facilities.

The  ownership interests for all the exploration and development
activities   above  reflect  our  minimum  estimated   interests
assuming certain agreements and participation elections by other
parties, except that Halliburton's option to participate  for  6
percent of our interest is not reflected.

Brazos  A-19 insurance claim.  We are in negotiations  with  our
insurers for the business interruption loss that we believe  was
triggered  by  the loss of the Brazos A-19  JC  #1  well.     As
previously reported, the Brazos A-19 well was damaged during the
early   production  phase  in  November  1999,  after  producing
approximately 84 million cubic feet of natural gas per  day  for
approximately  one  month.  Attempts to  repair  the  well  were
unsuccessful,  and  subsequently  the  well  was   plugged   and
abandoned.  The insurers have offered approximately $14  million
in settlement of the claim and we have counter offered to settle
for  $30 million.   The proceeds of the claim will be recognized
as a gain when received.

Sulphur  business sale.  As previously announced, we are engaged
in  a  process to sell our sulphur transportation and  logistics
assets  and are being assisted by Chase Securities Inc.  in  the
marketing  of these assets.  A number of parties have  expressed
interest and are completing due diligence.  We expect interested
parties to submit definitive proposals in mid-December 2000  and
that  the  sale will be completed soon thereafter.    We  remain
confident that the sale will generate proceeds in excess of  the
book value of the assets or a minimum of $75 million.

Main  Pass 299 alternative use.   Since the cessation of sulphur
production  at  our  Main  Pass Block 299  mine,  we  have  been
evaluating  alternative uses for the Main Pass  299  facilities.
We  have  signed a letter of intent pursuant to which  the  Main
Pass  facilities would be utilized to provide logistical support
and  services  for  deepwater offshore oilfield  operations  and
commercial  production  of  brine.  The  cash  flows  from  this
potential alternative use of the Main Pass sulphur facility  are
expected  to  offset  a  significant portion  of  the  long-term
liabilities for the eventual abandonment of the facilities.   In
addition,  commercial operation of the facility is  expected  to
defer the time when abandonment would otherwise be required.  We
will  retain the rights to the sulphur and oil reserves at  Main
Pass  299.   These business arrangements are subject to  certain
regulatory approvals and the execution of definitive agreements.

Sulphur project claim.  We have received notice from the  U.  S.
State Department that our $8.9 million claim for payments due us
for  the  construction,  installation  and  sale  of  a  sulphur
distillation  plant to the government of Iraq in 1991  has  been
certified by the United Nations Compensation Commission on Iraqi
claims.    The U. S. State Department has received approximately
$5  million  attributable to our claim and we expect to  receive
those  funds within the next 90 days.  We expect to receive  the
balance of the claim in 2001 and will recognize the receipts  as
gains when funds are received.

Although  there  can be no assurance as to  the  timing  or  the
completion  of  the  transactions  mentioned  above,  if   these
transactions  can  be completed in the current  quarter  or  the
first quarter of 2001 as anticipated, then we may add in  excess
of $100  million cash to our financial position.  As of November
17, 2000, our net debt position was $30 million ($45 million  of
net debt in our sulphur business and $15 million cash in our oil
and  gas  business).   The $100 million cash, together with  $50
million  available under our oil and gas bank  credit  facility;
our  $64.5  million sulphur business credit facility  (of  which
approximately $45 million is currently drawn); and our  oil  and
gas  production income, would provide us with a strong financial
position  to continue our aggressive exploration and development
activities.

Cautionary  Statement: This report contains forward-looking
statements in which we discuss factors and events  that  we
believe may affect our performance in the future.  Forward-
looking statements are all statements other than historical
facts,  such as statements regarding discoveries at  Eugene
Island 97 and Main Pass 86; future oil and gas drilling and
production activities; future oil and gas income; the  sale
of  the  sulphur transportation assets; and the pursuit  of
insurance  and other claims.  Important factors that  might
cause  future  results  to differ  from  these  projections
include  drilling risks, the market value of oil  and  gas,
uncertainties  in interpreting engineering  data,  industry
risks  and other factors described in our most recent  Form
10-K and subsequent Forms 10-Q filed with the SEC.

                            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 Jr.
                                   ----------------------------
                                       C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.
                                  Vice President & Controller -
                                        Financial Reporting
                                  (authorized signatory and
                                   Principal Accounting Officer)

Date:  November 21, 2000