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<P style="font-size: 14pt" align="center"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
<FONT style="font-size: 12pt">Washington, D.C. 20549
</FONT></B>

<P style="font-size: 18pt" align="center"><B>FORM 8-K</B>

<P style="font-size: 12pt" align="center"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest
event reported): February 3, 2009</B>

<P style="font-size: 24pt" align="center"><B>Brigham Exploration
Company<BR>
</B><FONT style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter) </FONT>
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  <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="33%">&nbsp;</TD>
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 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>001-34224</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>75-2692967</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Commission File Number)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
 </TR>

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cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">

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  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>6300 Bridgepoint
Parkway<BR>
Building Two, Suite 500<BR>
Austin, Texas<BR>
</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>78730</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Zip Code)</TD>
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">Registrant&#8217;s telephone number,
including area code: <B>(512) 427-3300</B>
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cellpadding="0" width="30%" border="0">

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  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR>
  <TD nowrap>(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)</TD>
 </TR>

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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">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:

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Soliciting material pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT
face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<BR>
<BR>
<FONT
face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))<BR>



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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;2.02 Results of Operation
and Financial Condition and Item&nbsp;7.01 Regulation&nbsp;FD Disclosure</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">We are furnishing our
press release dated February&nbsp;3, 2009, which provides an operational
update.&nbsp; The text of the press release is furnished as attached hereto as
Exhibit&nbsp;99.1.

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01 Financial Statements
and Exhibits.</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%"
align="left">(d)&nbsp;Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 Press release dated February&nbsp;3,
2009.

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">3

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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>SIGNATURE</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">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 style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 46%" align="left"><B>BRIGHAM
EXPLORATION COMPANY</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">Date: February&nbsp;5, 2009

<P style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 46%" align="left"><B>By: </B><U>/s/
EUGENE B. SHEPHERD,
JR.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<U>Eugene
B. Shepherd,
Jr.&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;</U><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Executive
Vice President &amp;<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Chief Financial Officer<BR>


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">&nbsp;

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">4

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">&nbsp;

<P style="display: none; font-size: 10pt" align="center">4
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>INDEX TO EXHIBITS</B>

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  <TR style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt" vAlign=bottom>
    <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" noWrap align=left
      colSpan=3>Item&nbsp;Number</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" noWrap
      align=left>Exhibit</TD></TR><!-- End Table Head --><!-- Begin Table Body -->
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    <TD vAlign=top noWrap align=right>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD vAlign=top align=right>99.1</TD>
    <TD vAlign=top noWrap>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD vAlign=top>
      <DIV style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; TEXT-INDENT: 0px">Press release dated February 3, 2009.</DIV></TD>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "BRIGHAM EXPLORATION CO", "cik": "0001034755", "assigned-sic": "1311", "irs-number": "752692967", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-34224", "film-number": "09573544"}, "business-address": {"street1": "6300 BRIDGE POINT PARKWAY", "street2": "BLDG 2 SUITE 500", "city": "AUSTIN", "state": "TX", "zip": "78730", "phone": "5124273300"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "6300 BRIDGE POINT PARKWAY", "street2": "BLDG 2 SUITE 500", "city": "AUSTIN", "state": "TX", "zip": "78730"}}
Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
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 3, 2009
Brigham Exploration
Company
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)
Delaware
001-34224
75-2692967
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
6300 Bridgepoint
Parkway
Building Two, Suite 500
Austin, Texas
78730
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number,
including area code:
(512) 427-3300
(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:
o
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 2.02 Results of Operation
and Financial Condition and Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure
We are furnishing our
press release dated February 3, 2009, which provides an operational
update.  The text of the press release is furnished as attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements
and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibit 99.1 Press release dated February 3,
2009.
3
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.
BRIGHAM
EXPLORATION COMPANY
Date: February 5, 2009
By:
/s/
EUGENE B. SHEPHERD,
JR.
Eugene
B. Shepherd,
Jr.
Executive
Vice President &
Chief Financial Officer
4
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Item Number
Exhibit
99.1
Press release dated February 3, 2009.