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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:131.8pt">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:182.9pt" align="left">Washington, D.C. &nbsp;20549</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:210.85pt">FORM 8-K</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:190.35pt">CURRENT REPORT</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt" align=left>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the</P>
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Securities Exchange Act of 1934</P>
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Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): &nbsp;April 22, 2003</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;McMoRan Exploration Co.</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Delaware</P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:144pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:180pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;001-07791 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:288pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:324pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;72-1424200</P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:36pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;(State or other</P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:108pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:180pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Commission</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:324pt">(IRS Employer </P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:180pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;File Number) </P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:324pt">Identification</P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:36pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;incorporation or</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:288pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Number)</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:36pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;organization)</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:193.7pt">1615 Poydras Street</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:170.5pt">New Orleans, Louisiana &nbsp;70112</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:95.6pt">Registrant's telephone number, including area code: &nbsp;(504) 582-4000</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:14.4pt; text-indent:-14.4pt"><U>Item 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosures</U></P>
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<P style="margin:0pt">McMoRan Exploration Co. issued a press release on April 22, 2003 titled &#147;McMoRan Exploration Co. Announces Discovery at Louisiana State Lease 340 Exploratory Well &#147;Mound Point Offset&#148; Prospect&#148; (see Exhibit 99.1).</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt" align=center>SIGNATURE</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:36pt">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.</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt">McMoRan Exploration Co.</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt">By: &nbsp;/s/ C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;------------------------------------</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vice President &amp; Controller &#150;</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:216pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Financial Reporting </P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(authorized signatory and </P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:216pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Principal Accounting Officer)</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt">Date: &nbsp;April 23, 2003</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt" align=center>McMoRan Exploration Co. </P>
<P style="margin:0pt" align=center>Exhibit Index</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt">Exhibit</P>
<P style="margin:0pt"><U>Number</U></P>
<P style="margin:0pt">99.1 Press Release dated April 22, 2003&nbsp; titled &#147; McMoRan Exploration Co.
Announces Discovery at Louisiana State Lease 340 Exploratory Well &quot;Mound
Point Offset&quot; Prospect&nbsp;.&#148;</P>
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{"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": "03659331"}, "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": "HORN SILVER MINES CO", "date-changed": "19720620"}, {"former-conformed-name": "MCMORAN EXPLORATION CO", "date-changed": "19790223"}, {"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):  April 22, 2003
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 and Regulation FD Disclosures
McMoRan Exploration Co. issued a press release on April 22, 2003 titled "McMoRan Exploration Co. Announces Discovery at Louisiana State Lease 340 Exploratory Well "Mound Point Offset" Prospect" (see Exhibit 99.1).
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:  April 23, 2003
McMoRan Exploration Co.
Exhibit Index
Exhibit
Number
99.1 Press Release dated April 22, 2003  titled " McMoRan Exploration Co.
Announces Discovery at Louisiana State Lease 340 Exploratory Well "Mound
Point Offset" Prospect ."