<html>


<body>

<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center"><br>
Washington, D.C. &nbsp;20549</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center">&nbsp; FORM 8-K</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center"><br>
CURRENT REPORT</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center">&nbsp;Securities Exchange Act of 1934</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center">&nbsp;Date of Report (Date of earliest event
reported): &nbsp;October 21, 2003</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center"><br>
<br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center">McMoRan Exploration Co.</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-indent: -54; margin: 0pt" align="left"><br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;Delaware&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;
001-07791&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;
72-1424200</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(State of other&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; (Commission File&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(IRS Employer</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
jurisdiction of&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;
Number)&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;
Identification)</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
incorporation or</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
organization)</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center">1615 Poydras Street</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center">New Orleans, Louisiana &nbsp;70112</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-indent: 95.6pt; margin: 0pt">Registrant's telephone number,
including area code: &nbsp;(504) 582-4000</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-indent: -14.4pt; margin: 0pt; padding-left: 14.4pt"><u>Item 12.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition.</u></p>
<p style="margin: 0pt">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt">McMoRan Exploration Co. issued a press release dated
October 21, 2003 regarding its third-quarter and nine months 2003 results
(Exhibit 99.1) and presented slides (Exhibit 99.2) on its web site that
accompanied its earnings conference call. &nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt"><br>
<br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center">SIGNATURE</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center">------------------</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-indent: 36pt; margin: 0pt">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>
<p style="margin: 0pt"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-indent: 216pt; margin: 0pt">McMoRan Exploration Co.</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-indent: 216pt; margin: 0pt">By: &nbsp;/s/ C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.</p>
<p style="text-indent: 216pt; margin: 0pt">
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;------------------------------------</p>
<p style="text-indent: 216pt; margin: 0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.</p>
<p style="text-indent: 216pt; margin: 0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vice President &amp; Controller -</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt; padding-left: 216pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Financial Reporting </p>
<p style="text-indent: 216pt; margin: 0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(authorized signatory and </p>
<p style="margin: 0pt; padding-left: 216pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Principal Accounting Officer)</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt">Date: &nbsp;October 22, 2003</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center">McMoRan Exploration Co. </p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center">Exhibit Index</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt" align="center"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt">Exhibit</p>
<p style="margin: 0pt"><u>Number</u></p>
<p style="text-indent: -19.5pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: -12pt; padding-left: 19.5pt">
99.1&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p style="margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 19.5pt">
Press Release dated October 21, 2003 &nbsp;&quot;McMoRan Exploration Co. Reports
Third Quarter and Nine Month 2003 Results and Updates Gulf of Mexico Drilling
Activities.&quot;</p>
<p style="text-indent: -19.5pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: -12pt; padding-left: 19.5pt">
99.2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-left: 7pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 19.5pt">
Slides presented in conjunction with October 21, 2003 McMoRan Third-Quarter 2003
earnings conference call conducted via the internet.</p>
<p style="text-indent: 36pt; margin: 0pt"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p><br>
&nbsp;</p>

</body>

</html>
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "mmrpr3qtr8k.htm", "secsgml_size_bytes": 6944}]
{"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": "03951257"}, "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"}, {"former-conformed-name": "MCMORAN EXPLORATION CO", "date-changed": "19790223"}, {"former-conformed-name": "HORN SILVER MINES CO", "date-changed": "19720620"}]}
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):  October 21, 2003
McMoRan Exploration Co.
Delaware                                              
001-07791                             
72-1424200
(State of other                                      (Commission File                       
(IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                                             
Number)                              
Identification)
incorporation or
organization)
1615 Poydras Street
New Orleans, Louisiana  70112
Registrant's telephone number,
including area code:  (504) 582-4000
Item 12.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
McMoRan Exploration Co. issued a press release dated
October 21, 2003 regarding its third-quarter and nine months 2003 results
(Exhibit 99.1) and presented slides (Exhibit 99.2) on its web site that
accompanied its earnings conference call.
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:  October 22, 2003
McMoRan Exploration Co.
Exhibit Index
Exhibit
Number
99.1
Press Release dated October 21, 2003  "McMoRan Exploration Co. Reports
Third Quarter and Nine Month 2003 Results and Updates Gulf of Mexico Drilling
Activities."
99.2
Slides presented in conjunction with October 21, 2003 McMoRan Third-Quarter 2003
earnings conference call conducted via the internet.