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 6, 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
drilling update:

On October 24, 2000 we commenced drilling the #1 exploratory well
at  Main Pass Block 86/97.  The well is planned to reach a  total
measured depth of 10,500 feet during the fourth quarter of  2000.
We  currently  own  a 71.3 percent working interest  and  a  51.3
percent net revenue interest in the prospect, which is located in
69 feet of water, approximately 60 miles offshore Louisiana.

Drilling  continues on our Eugene Island Block  97,  State  Lease
#16033 and State Lease 340 exploratory wells.

As previously reported, we re-commenced drilling at the Vermilion
Blocks 144/145 #3 well on October 11, 2000.  The well was drilled
to a total measured depth of approximately 17,250 feet on October
30,  2000.   After  assessing  the  related  drilling  data,   we
concluded that the well did not contain commercial quantities  of
oil  and gas reserves and have commenced plugging and abandonment
operations.   As  a  result,  we will charge  approximately $6
million to exploration expense during the fourth quarter of 2000.

The rig involved in drilling the Vermilion Blocks 144/145 #3 well
will  move to our prospect at Eugene Island Block 193,  where  we
plan  to  commence drilling an exploratory well in the fourth
quarter  of  2000 to  an  expected total measured depth of
approximately 17,600 feet.   We  currently own  a  53.4  percent
working interest  and  a  41.7  percent  net  revenue
interest  in  this prospect.   This prospect covers 10,000 acres
and is  located  in approximately 100 feet of water, 135 miles
offshore Louisiana.

Cautionary Statement: This report contains forward-looking
statements in which we discuss actions 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 our planned exploration
drilling and production activities.  Important factors that
might cause future results to differ from these forward-
looking statements 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 6, 2000
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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 6, 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
drilling update:

On October 24, 2000 we commenced drilling the #1 exploratory well
at  Main Pass Block 86/97.  The well is planned to reach a  total
measured depth of 10,500 feet during the fourth quarter of  2000.
We  currently  own  a 71.3 percent working interest  and  a  51.3
percent net revenue interest in the prospect, which is located in
69 feet of water, approximately 60 miles offshore Louisiana.

Drilling  continues on our Eugene Island Block  97,  State  Lease
#16033 and State Lease 340 exploratory wells.

As previously reported, we re-commenced drilling at the Vermilion
Blocks 144/145 #3 well on October 11, 2000.  The well was drilled
to a total measured depth of approximately 17,250 feet on October
30,  2000.   After  assessing  the  related  drilling  data,   we
concluded that the well did not contain commercial quantities  of
oil  and gas reserves and have commenced plugging and abandonment
operations.   As  a  result,  we will charge  approximately $6
million to exploration expense during the fourth quarter of 2000.

The rig involved in drilling the Vermilion Blocks 144/145 #3 well
will  move to our prospect at Eugene Island Block 193,  where  we
plan  to  commence drilling an exploratory well in the fourth
quarter  of  2000 to  an  expected total measured depth of
approximately 17,600 feet.   We  currently own  a  53.4  percent
working interest  and  a  41.7  percent  net  revenue
interest  in  this prospect.   This prospect covers 10,000 acres
and is  located  in approximately 100 feet of water, 135 miles
offshore Louisiana.

Cautionary Statement: This report contains forward-looking
statements in which we discuss actions 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 our planned exploration
drilling and production activities.  Important factors that
might cause future results to differ from these forward-
looking statements 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 6, 2000