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  <TITLE> The Houston Exploration Company (Form: 8-K) </TITLE>
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  		UNITED STATES<BR>
  	SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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  	WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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  	FORM 8-K
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  	CURRENT REPORT
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  	Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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  	Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
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  	&nbsp;
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  	June 26, 2006
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  	The Houston Exploration Company
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  <BR>__________________________________________<BR>
  	(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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  	&nbsp;
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  	Delaware
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  	001-11899
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  	22-2674487
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  _____________________<BR>
  	(State or other jurisdiction
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  _____________<BR>
  	(Commission
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  ______________<BR>
  	(I.R.S. Employer
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  	of incorporation)
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  	File Number)
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  	Identification No.)
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  	&nbsp;&nbsp;
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  	1100 Louisiana Street, Suite 2000, Houston, Texas
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  	&nbsp;
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  	77002-5215
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  _________________________________<BR>
  	(Address of principal executive offices)
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  	&nbsp;
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  ___________<BR>
  	(Zip Code)
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  	Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code:
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  	&nbsp;
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  	713-830-6800
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  	Not Applicable
  <BR>______________________________________________<BR>
  	Former name or former address, if changed since last report
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  	&nbsp;
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  <!-- CoverPageRegistrant END --><P><FONT SIZE="2">
  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>
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  <P><FONT SIZE="2">
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)<br>
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<br>
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<br>
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))<br>
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  <B>
  	Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
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  Today The Houston Exploration Company (the "Company") issued a press release announcing that its Board of Directors has authorized the exploration of a broad range of strategic alternatives to further enhance shareholder value and has determined that the unsolicited acquisition proposal made by JANA Partners LLC is not in the best interest of its shareholders.  The press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report and incorporated by reference herein.  The information in the press release shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section.  Further, the press release shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Company's filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as set forth with respect thereto in any such filing.<br><br><br>
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  	Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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  (c)	Exhibits<br><br>99.1	Press release dated June 26, 2006 announcing the Board of Directors' authorization of the exploration of alternatives to further enhance shareholder value and the Board's determination that JANA's unsolicited acquisition proposal is not in the best interest of shareholders.<br>
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  	SIGNATURES
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  	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.
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  	The Houston Exploration Company
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  	&nbsp;&nbsp;
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  <I>
  	June 26, 2006
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  	&nbsp;
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  	By:
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  <I>
  	/s/ James F. Westmoreland
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  	&nbsp;
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  <I>
  	Name: James F. Westmoreland
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  <I>
  	Title: Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
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  	Exhibit&nbsp;Index
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  	Exhibit No.
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  	Description
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  	99.1
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  	&nbsp;
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  Press release dated June 26, 2006 announcing the Board of Directors' authorization of the exploration of alternatives to further enhance shareholder value and the Board's determination that JANA's unsolicited acquisition proposal is not in the best interest of shareholders.
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "htm_13381.htm", "description": "LIVE FILING", "secsgml_size_bytes": 11127}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "HOUSTON EXPLORATION CO", "cik": "0001015293", "assigned-sic": "1382", "irs-number": "222674487", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-11899", "film-number": "06925388"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1100 LOUISIANA STREET", "street2": "SUITE 2000", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77002-5219", "phone": "713-830-6800"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1100 LOUISIANA STREET", "street2": "SUITE 2000", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77002-5219"}}
text: The Houston Exploration Company (Form: 8-K)
  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):
  June 26, 2006
  The Houston Exploration Company
  __________________________________________
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Delaware
  001-11899
  22-2674487
  _____________________
  (State or other jurisdiction
  _____________
  (Commission
  ______________
  (I.R.S. Employer
  of incorporation)
  File Number)
  Identification No.)
  1100 Louisiana Street, Suite 2000, Houston, Texas
  77002-5215
  _________________________________
  (Address of principal executive offices)
  ___________
  (Zip Code)
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
  713-830-6800
  Not Applicable
  ______________________________________________
  Former name or former address, if changed since last report
  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))
  Top of the Form
  Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
  Today The Houston Exploration Company (the "Company") issued a press release announcing that its Board of Directors has authorized the exploration of a broad range of strategic alternatives to further enhance shareholder value and has determined that the unsolicited acquisition proposal made by JANA Partners LLC is not in the best interest of its shareholders.  The press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report and incorporated by reference herein.  The information in the press release shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section.  Further, the press release shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Company's filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as set forth with respect thereto in any such filing.
  Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  (c)	Exhibits
  99.1	Press release dated June 26, 2006 announcing the Board of Directors' authorization of the exploration of alternatives to further enhance shareholder value and the Board's determination that JANA's unsolicited acquisition proposal is not in the best interest of shareholders.
  Top of the Form
  SIGNATURES
  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.
  The Houston Exploration Company
  June 26, 2006
  By:
  /s/ James F. Westmoreland
  Name: James F. Westmoreland
  Title: Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
  Top of the Form
  Exhibit Index
  Exhibit No.
  Description
  99.1
  Press release dated June 26, 2006 announcing the Board of Directors' authorization of the exploration of alternatives to further enhance shareholder value and the Board's determination that JANA's unsolicited acquisition proposal is not in the best interest of shareholders.