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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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  	April 7, 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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  	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>
  </P>
  <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 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
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  On April 7, 2006, The Houston Exploration Company ("Houston Exploration"), as seller, entered into a definitive purchase and sale agreement with certain partnerships affiliated with Merit Energy Company, as buyer, to sell substantially all of the Louisiana portion of its Gulf of Mexico assets for a purchase price of approximately $590 million in cash, subject to customary closing conditions and purchase price adjustments.  At December 31, 2005, proved reserves associated with these assets were estimated at 186.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent ("Bcfe") and production associated with these assets accounted for approximately 22% of our 2005 production.  The transaction has an effective date of January 1, 2006, and is expected to close on May 31, 2006.  <br><br>The foregoing description is qualified by reference to our press release announcing an agreement to sell Louisiana offshore assets, which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.<br>
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  	Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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  (c)	Exhibits<br><br>99.1	Press release issued by The Houston Exploration Company on April 7, 2006, announcing an agreement to sell Louisiana offshore assets.<br><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>
  	April 7, 2006
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  	&nbsp;
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  <I>
  	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 issued by The Houston Exploration Company on April 7, 2006, announcing an agreement to sell Louisiana offshore assets.
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "htm_11567.htm", "description": "LIVE FILING", "secsgml_size_bytes": 10945}]
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": "06749196"}, "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):
  April 7, 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 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
  On April 7, 2006, The Houston Exploration Company ("Houston Exploration"), as seller, entered into a definitive purchase and sale agreement with certain partnerships affiliated with Merit Energy Company, as buyer, to sell substantially all of the Louisiana portion of its Gulf of Mexico assets for a purchase price of approximately $590 million in cash, subject to customary closing conditions and purchase price adjustments.  At December 31, 2005, proved reserves associated with these assets were estimated at 186.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent ("Bcfe") and production associated with these assets accounted for approximately 22% of our 2005 production.  The transaction has an effective date of January 1, 2006, and is expected to close on May 31, 2006.
  The foregoing description is qualified by reference to our press release announcing an agreement to sell Louisiana offshore assets, which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.
  Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  (c)	Exhibits
  99.1	Press release issued by The Houston Exploration Company on April 7, 2006, announcing an agreement to sell Louisiana offshore assets.
  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
  April 7, 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 issued by The Houston Exploration Company on April 7, 2006, announcing an agreement to sell Louisiana offshore assets.