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STATES</font></div>
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AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div>
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D.C.&#160;&#160;20549</font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">FORM
8-K</font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">CURRENT
REPORT</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported):&#160;&#160;February 5,
2010</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><img src="mmr_logo.jpg" alt=""></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">McMoRan
Exploration Co.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div>
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            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="4%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
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            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="4%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="18%">
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            </td>
          </tr><tr>
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      or other jurisdiction of incorporation)</font></div>
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      </font></td>
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      Employer Identification Number)</font></div>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: -5.4pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">1615
      Poydras Street</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: -5.4pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">New
      Orleans, Louisiana</font></div>
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      of principal executive offices)</font></div>
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telephone number, including area code:&#160;&#160;(504) 582-4000</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Check the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions:</font></div>
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)</font></div>
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)</font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">[ ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">[ ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a name="part_1_2_2"><!--EFPlaceholder-->
</a><a name="item_1_46_1"><!--EFPlaceholder-->
</a>Item 3.02&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Unregistered Sales of Equity
Securities</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">McMoRan
Exploration Co. (McMoRan) agreed in privately negotiated transactions to induce
conversion of approximately 43,000 shares (49% of the total outstanding) of its
8% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (the Preferred Stock) with a
liquidation preference of $42.6 million into approximately 6.2 million shares of
McMoRan common stock (at a conversion rate equal to 146.1454 shares of common
stock per share of the Preferred Stock).&#160;&#160;To induce the early
conversions of these shares of Preferred Stock, McMoRan will pay an aggregate
$7.9 million in cash to the holders of these shares.&#160;&#160;In addition,
these holders will receive the previously announced dividend on the Preferred
Stock payable on February 15, 2010.&#160;&#160;These induced conversions were
exempt from registration by virtue of the exemption provided under Section
3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Preferred
annual dividend savings following these transactions approximate $3.4
million.&#160;&#160;After giving effect to these transactions, McMoRan will have
outstanding approximately 44,000 shares of Preferred Stock and approximately 92
million shares of common stock.&#160;&#160;Assuming conversion of McMoRan&#8217;s
remaining Preferred Stock and the outstanding 6&#190;% Mandatory Convertible
Preferred Stock, McMoRan would have between approximately 109.3 million and
111.5 million common shares outstanding (depending on the applicable market
price of McMoRan&#8217;s common stock).&#160;</font></div>
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</font></div>
      </div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">SIGNATURE</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">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 hereunto
duly authorized.</font></div>
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    <div>
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            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">McMoRan
      Exploration Co.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">By:&#160;&#160;/s/
      Nancy D. Parmelee</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Nancy
      D. Parmelee</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Senior
      Vice President, Chief Financial Officer</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">and
      Secretary</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(authorized
      signatory and Principal</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Financial
      Officer)</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="top" width="40%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Date:&#160;&#160;February
      5, 2010</font></div>
            </td>
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      </font></td>
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mmr020510_8k.htm
UNITED
STATES
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 5,
2010
McMoRan
Exploration Co.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
001-07791
72-1424200
(State
      or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(Commission
      File Number)
(IRS
      Employer Identification Number)
1615
      Poydras Street
New
      Orleans, Louisiana
70112
(Address
      of principal executive offices)
(Zip
      Code)
Registrant's
telephone number, including area code:  (504) 582-4000
Check the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions:
[ ]
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
[ ]
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
[ ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 3.02
Unregistered Sales of Equity
Securities
McMoRan
Exploration Co. (McMoRan) agreed in privately negotiated transactions to induce
conversion of approximately 43,000 shares (49% of the total outstanding) of its
8% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (the Preferred Stock) with a
liquidation preference of $42.6 million into approximately 6.2 million shares of
McMoRan common stock (at a conversion rate equal to 146.1454 shares of common
stock per share of the Preferred Stock).  To induce the early
conversions of these shares of Preferred Stock, McMoRan will pay an aggregate
$7.9 million in cash to the holders of these shares.  In addition,
these holders will receive the previously announced dividend on the Preferred
Stock payable on February 15, 2010.  These induced conversions were
exempt from registration by virtue of the exemption provided under Section
3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933.
Preferred
annual dividend savings following these transactions approximate $3.4
million.  After giving effect to these transactions, McMoRan will have
outstanding approximately 44,000 shares of Preferred Stock and approximately 92
million shares of common stock.  Assuming conversion of McMoRan's
remaining Preferred Stock and the outstanding 6¾% Mandatory Convertible
Preferred Stock, McMoRan would have between approximately 109.3 million and
111.5 million common shares outstanding (depending on the applicable market
price of McMoRan's common stock).
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 hereunto
duly authorized.
McMoRan
      Exploration Co.
By:  /s/
      Nancy D. Parmelee
Nancy
      D. Parmelee
Senior
      Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and
      Secretary
(authorized
      signatory and Principal
Financial
      Officer)
Date:  February
      5, 2010