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 8, 2001



                     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 Disclosure.

McMoRan Exploration Co. announces the following update on the status
of its pending sulphur supply lawsuit hearing:

    Freeport Sulphur's sulphur supply agreement
with IMC-Agrico requires good faith renegotiation of the
pricing provisions if a party can establish that fundamental
changes in IMC-Agrico's operations or the sulphur and
sulphur transportation markets invalidate certain
assumptions and result in the performance by that party
becoming "commercially impracticable" or "grossly
inequitable."  In the fourth quarter of 1998, IMC-Agrico
attempted to invoke this contract provision in an effort to
renegotiate the pricing terms of the agreement.  After
careful review of the agreement, IMC-Agrico's operations and
the referenced markets, Freeport Sulphur determined that
there is no basis for renegotiation of the pricing
provisions of the agreement.  After discussions failed to
resolve this dispute, Freeport Sulphur filed suit against
IMC-Agrico seeking a judicial declaration that no basis
exists under the agreement for a renegotiation of its
pricing terms.  IMC-Agrico has alleged that Freeport
Sulphur's announced suspension of sulphur production at Main
Pass and Freeport Sulphur's proposed sale of its sulphur
transportation assets constitute a statement of intent to
breach Freeport Sulphur's obligations under the agreement.
Freeport Sulphur intends to pursue vigorously its rights
under the agreement.

     IMC Agrico asserted that Freeport Sulphur cannot assign
the sulphur supply contract without IMC-Agrico's consent on
the basis that a sale of Freeport Sulphur's transportation
and marketing assets would not constitute a sale of
substantially all of Freeport Sulphur's assets, a condition
IMC-Agrico asserts is necessary for an assignment without
its consent, since the Main Pass facilities would not be
included in the sale.  In December 2000, IMC-Agrico filed a
motion for summary judgment on this issue.  Freeport Sulphur
believes that a sale of the transportation and marketing
assets would constitute substantially all of Freeport
Sulphur's assets because the reclamation obligations
associated with Main Pass result in these facilities having
a negative value and the discontinuation of sulphur
production at Main Pass did not breach the sulphur supply
agreement. In February 2001, Freeport Sulphur filed a motion
for partial summary judgment on these issues.   Freeport
Sulphur and its legal advisors believe all of IMC-Agrico's
claims are without merit.  These motions are scheduled to be
heard by the court at proceedings currently scheduled for
March 2001.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

 This report contains the following exhibits:

  .  McMoRan Exploration Co.'s audited balance sheets as of
     December 31, 2000 and 1999 and related audited statements of
     operations, cash flow and changes in stockholders' equity for
     each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2000,
     together with accompanying notes and the report thereon of its
     independent public accountants (Exhibit 99.1).

  .  Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Exhibit 12.1).

  .  Consents of Arthur Andersen LLP (Exhibit 23.1) and Ryder
     Scott LP (Exhibit 23.2).




                           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:  February 8, 2001


                     McMoRan Exploration Co.
                          Exhibit Index

Exhibit
Number

12.1 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

23.2 Consent of Ryder Scott, L.P.

99.1 Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2000 and 1999
     Statements of Operations for each of the three years in the
     period ended December 31, 2000
     Statements of Cash Flow for each of the three years in the
     period ended December 31, 2000
     Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for each of
       the three years in the period ended December 31, 2000
     Notes to Financial Statements
     Report of Independent Public Accountants
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "mmr8k2100.txt", "description": "FORM 8-K MAIN BODY 2/8/2001", "secsgml_size_bytes": 5582}]
{"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": "1529101"}, "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 8, 2001

                     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 Disclosure.

McMoRan Exploration Co. announces the following update on the status
of its pending sulphur supply lawsuit hearing:

    Freeport Sulphur's sulphur supply agreement
with IMC-Agrico requires good faith renegotiation of the
pricing provisions if a party can establish that fundamental
changes in IMC-Agrico's operations or the sulphur and
sulphur transportation markets invalidate certain
assumptions and result in the performance by that party
becoming "commercially impracticable" or "grossly
inequitable."  In the fourth quarter of 1998, IMC-Agrico
attempted to invoke this contract provision in an effort to
renegotiate the pricing terms of the agreement.  After
careful review of the agreement, IMC-Agrico's operations and
the referenced markets, Freeport Sulphur determined that
there is no basis for renegotiation of the pricing
provisions of the agreement.  After discussions failed to
resolve this dispute, Freeport Sulphur filed suit against
IMC-Agrico seeking a judicial declaration that no basis
exists under the agreement for a renegotiation of its
pricing terms.  IMC-Agrico has alleged that Freeport
Sulphur's announced suspension of sulphur production at Main
Pass and Freeport Sulphur's proposed sale of its sulphur
transportation assets constitute a statement of intent to
breach Freeport Sulphur's obligations under the agreement.
Freeport Sulphur intends to pursue vigorously its rights
under the agreement.

     IMC Agrico asserted that Freeport Sulphur cannot assign
the sulphur supply contract without IMC-Agrico's consent on
the basis that a sale of Freeport Sulphur's transportation
and marketing assets would not constitute a sale of
substantially all of Freeport Sulphur's assets, a condition
IMC-Agrico asserts is necessary for an assignment without
its consent, since the Main Pass facilities would not be
included in the sale.  In December 2000, IMC-Agrico filed a
motion for summary judgment on this issue.  Freeport Sulphur
believes that a sale of the transportation and marketing
assets would constitute substantially all of Freeport
Sulphur's assets because the reclamation obligations
associated with Main Pass result in these facilities having
a negative value and the discontinuation of sulphur
production at Main Pass did not breach the sulphur supply
agreement. In February 2001, Freeport Sulphur filed a motion
for partial summary judgment on these issues.   Freeport
Sulphur and its legal advisors believe all of IMC-Agrico's
claims are without merit.  These motions are scheduled to be
heard by the court at proceedings currently scheduled for
March 2001.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

 This report contains the following exhibits:

  .  McMoRan Exploration Co.'s audited balance sheets as of
     December 31, 2000 and 1999 and related audited statements of
     operations, cash flow and changes in stockholders' equity for
     each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2000,
     together with accompanying notes and the report thereon of its
     independent public accountants (Exhibit 99.1).

  .  Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Exhibit 12.1).

  .  Consents of Arthur Andersen LLP (Exhibit 23.1) and Ryder
     Scott LP (Exhibit 23.2).

                           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:  February 8, 2001

                     McMoRan Exploration Co.
                          Exhibit Index

Exhibit
Number

12.1 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

23.2 Consent of Ryder Scott, L.P.

99.1 Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2000 and 1999
     Statements of Operations for each of the three years in the
     period ended December 31, 2000
     Statements of Cash Flow for each of the three years in the
     period ended December 31, 2000
     Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for each of
       the three years in the period ended December 31, 2000
     Notes to Financial Statements
     Report of Independent Public Accountants