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<p ALIGN="RIGHT">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March
23, 2001. Registration No. 333-_________</p>
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<hr size="1">
</font><b><font FACE="Times New">
<p ALIGN="center">UNITED STATES<br>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2"><br>
Washington, D.C. 20549</p>
<p ALIGN="center">__________</p>
</font><font SIZE="5">
<p ALIGN="center">FORM S-8</font><font FACE="Times New"><br>
REGISTRATION STATEMENT<br>
under<br>
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</p>
</font></b><font FACE="Times New">
<p ALIGN="center">__________</p>
</font><b><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="4">
<p ALIGN="center">McMoRan Exploration Co.</font></b><i><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2"><br>
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
</font></i></p>
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    <td WIDTH="194" VALIGN="TOP">
      <p align="center"><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2">
<b>Delaware<br>
</b><i>
(State or other jurisdiction<br>
of incorporation or organization)</i>
</font></p>
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="252" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</td>
    <td WIDTH="158" VALIGN="TOP">
      <p align="center"><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2"><b>72-1424200<br>
      </b><i>(I.R.S. Employer<br>
      Identification No.)</i> </font></p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="194" VALIGN="TOP">
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="252" VALIGN="TOP">
      <p align="center"><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2"><b>1615 Poydras Street<br>
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112</b><i><br>
(Address, including zip code, of registrant's<br>
principal executive offices)
</i>
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    <td WIDTH="158" VALIGN="TOP">
    </td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>
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</font><b><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="4">
<p ALIGN="center">McMoRan Exploration Co. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan<br>
McMoRan Exploration
Co. 2001 Stock Bonus Plan</font></b><i><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2"><br>
(Full titles of the plans</font><font FACE="Times New">)</p>
</font></i><font FACE="Times New">
<p ALIGN="center">__________</p>
</font><b><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="center">John G. Amato<br>
General Counsel<br>
McMoRan Exploration Co.<br>
1615 Poydras Street<br>
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112<br>
(504) 582-4000</font></b><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2"><i><br>
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,<br>
including area code, of agent for service)</p>
</i></font><font FACE="Times New">
<p ALIGN="center">Copy to:</p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="center">Margaret F. Murphy<br>
Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre, L.L.P.<br>
201 St. Charles Avenue<br>
New Orleans, Louisiana 70170-5100</p>
<p ALIGN="center">&nbsp;</p>
<p ALIGN="center">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</p>
</b></font>
<table BORDER="1" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="8" WIDTH="634">
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    <td WIDTH="150" HEIGHT="26"><font FACE="Times New">
      <p ALIGN="center"><font size="2"><br>
      Title of<br>
      securities to be registered</font></font></p>
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="95" HEIGHT="26"><font FACE="Times New">
      <p ALIGN="center"><font size="2"><br>
      Amount to be<br>
      registered<sup>(1)</sup></font></font></p>
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="110" HEIGHT="26"><font FACE="Times New">
      <p ALIGN="center"><font size="2">Proposed maximum<br>
      offering price<br>
      per unit</font></font></p>
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="107" HEIGHT="26"><font FACE="Times New">
      <p ALIGN="center"><font size="2">Proposed maximum<br>
      aggregate<br>
      offering price</font></font></p>
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="80" HEIGHT="26"><font FACE="Times New">
      <p ALIGN="center"><font size="2">Amount of<br>
      registration<br>
      fee</font></font></p>
    </td>
  </tr>
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    <td WIDTH="150" HEIGHT="26"><font FACE="Times New">
      <p><font size="2">Common Stock (par value $.01 per share) ...............</font></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="95" HEIGHT="26"><font FACE="Times New">
      <p ALIGN="RIGHT"><font size="2"><br>
      750,000 Shares</font></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="110" HEIGHT="26"><font FACE="Times New">
      <p ALIGN="RIGHT"><font size="2"><br>
      $12.875<sup>(2)</sup></font></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="107" HEIGHT="26"><font FACE="Times New">
      <p ALIGN="RIGHT"><font size="2"><br>
      $9,656,250<sup>(2)</sup></font></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="80" HEIGHT="26"><font FACE="Times New">
      <p ALIGN="RIGHT"><font size="2"><br>
      $2,414.07<sup>(2)</sup></font></font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="150" HEIGHT="26"><font FACE="Times New">
      <p><font size="2">Preferred Stock Purchase Rights ............................</font></p>
      </font></td>
    <td WIDTH="95" HEIGHT="26"><font FACE="Times New">
      <p ALIGN="RIGHT"><font size="2"><br>
      750,000 Rights</font></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="110" HEIGHT="26"><font FACE="Times New">
      <p ALIGN="RIGHT"><font size="2"><br>
      $---.--- <sup>(3)</sup></font></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="107" HEIGHT="26"><font FACE="Times New">
      <p ALIGN="RIGHT"><font size="2"><br>
      $ --<sup> (3)</sup></font></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="80" HEIGHT="26"><font FACE="Times New">
      <p ALIGN="RIGHT"><font size="2"><br>
      $ ---.--<sup> (3)</sup></font></font></td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>
&nbsp;
<table cELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="7" WIDTH="674">
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="23" VALIGN="TOP"><sup><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="1">(1)</font></sup></td>
    <td WIDTH="611" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="1"> Upon a stock
split, stock dividend or similar transaction in the future and during the
effectiveness of this Registration Statement involving Common Stock of the
Company, the number of shares and rights registered shall be automatically
increased to cover the additional shares and rights in accordance with Rule
416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933.<sup></sup>
</font>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="23" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="1"><sup>(2)</sup>
</font>
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="611" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="1"> Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the
registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, based
on the average of the high and low price per share of the Common Stock of the
Company on the New York Stock Exchange on March 20, 2001.
</font>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="23" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="1"><sup>(3)</sup>
</font>
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="611" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="1"> Preferred Stock Purchase Rights are attached to and
trade with the Common Stock of the Company. The value attributable to such
Rights, if any, is reflected in the market price of such Common Stock. Because
no separate consideration is paid for such Rights, the registration fee for such
securities is included in the fee for such Common Stock.
</font>
    </td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>
<hr size="1">
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<p ALIGN="justify"><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="1"> &nbsp;</p>
<hr size="4">
</font>
<b><font FACE="Times New">
<p ALIGN="center">PART II</p>
</font></b><font FACE="Times New">
<b>
<p ALIGN="center">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</p>
</b>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;<b>Item 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</p>
</b>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The following documents, which have been filed by McMoRan
Exploration Co. (the &quot;Company&quot;) with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the &quot;SEC&quot;), are incorporated herein by reference:</p>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The latest Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company filed
pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
&quot;Exchange Act&quot;);</p>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
All other reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by
the Annual Report referred to in (1) above; and</p>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The description of the Common Stock of the Company
included in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A of the Company filed November
13, 1998, and effective November 16, 1998, by incorporation by reference from
pages 119-124 of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of the Company
(Registration No. 333-61171), including any amendment thereto or report filed
for the purpose of updating such description.</p>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All documents filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date
of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that
deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall, except to the extent
otherwise provided by Regulation S-K or any other rule promulgated by the SEC,
be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to
be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.</p>
<p ALIGN="justify"><b>Item 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Description of Securities.</p>
</b>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Not applicable.</p>
<p ALIGN="justify"><b>Item 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</p>
</b>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Not applicable.</p>
<p ALIGN="justify"><b>Item 6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</b> <b>Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</p>
</b>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the
&quot;DGCL&quot;) provides that a corporation may indemnify its directors,
officers, employees, and agents and may purchase and maintain liability
insurance on behalf of directors, officers, employees, and agents. In accordance</p>
<p ALIGN="center">II-1</p>
<hr size="4">
<p ALIGN="justify">
with the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation (the &quot;Charter&quot;) of the
Company contains provisions eliminating the personal liability of the directors
to the Company and its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of their
fiduciary duties as directors to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.
By virtue of these provisions, under current Delaware law, a director of the
Company will not be personally liable for monetary damages for a breach of his
or her fiduciary duty except for liability for (a) a breach of his or her duty
of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (b) acts or omissions not in good
faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c)
dividends or stock repurchases or redemptions that are unlawful under Delaware
law, and (d) any transaction from which he or she receives an improper personal
benefit. In addition, the By-Laws (the &quot;By-Laws&quot;) of the Company
provide that, if Delaware law is amended to authorize broader indemnification
rights, the directors shall receive the broader indemnification rights
authorized by Delaware law. These provisions pertain only to breaches of duty by
directors as directors and not in any other corporate capacity, such as
officers, and limit liability only for beaches of fiduciary duties under
Delaware corporate law and not for violations of other laws such as the federal
securities laws. The By-Laws require the Company to indemnify its officers and
directors against expenses and costs, judgments, settlements and fines incurred
in the defense of any claim, including any claim brought by or in the right of
the Company, to which they were made parties by reason of being or having been
officers or directors.</p>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Company has purchased from Twin City Fire Insurance
Company and Executive Risk Indemnity Inc. a directors and officers liability
policy with a four-year aggregate limit of $25,000,000 to insure certain
liabilities of its directors and officers.&nbsp;</p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="justify">Item 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exemption from Registration Claimed.</p>
</b>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Not applicable.</p>
<p ALIGN="justify"><b>Item 8.</b>&nbsp;<b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</b> <b>Exhibits.</b></p>
<table CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="7" WIDTH="625">
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    <td WIDTH="41" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</td>
    <td WIDTH="34" VALIGN="TOP">5</td>
    <td WIDTH="492" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New">
 Opinion of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent,
        Carrere & Denegre, L.L.P.
</font></td>
  </tr>
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    <td WIDTH="41" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</td>
    <td WIDTH="34" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New">23.1
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="492" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New"> Consent of Arthur Andersen
      LLP.
</font></td>
  </tr>
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    <td WIDTH="41" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</td>
    <td WIDTH="34" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New">23.2
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="492" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New"> Consent of Jones, Walker,
      Waechter, Poitevent,
        Carrere & Denegre, L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5).
</font></td>
  </tr>
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    <td WIDTH="41" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</td>
    <td WIDTH="34" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New">24
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="492" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New"> Powers of Attorney pursuant to which this
        Registration Statement has been signed on behalf of certain officers and
        directors of the Company.
</font></td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;<b>Item 9.</b>&nbsp;<b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</b> <b>Undertakings.</p>
</b>
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    <td WIDTH="41" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
    <td WIDTH="34" VALIGN="TOP">(a)</td>
    <td WIDTH="492" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New">
 The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
</font></td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>
<p ALIGN="justify">&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;
(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include
any material information with respect&nbsp;</p>
<p ALIGN="center">II-2</p>
<hr size="4">
<p ALIGN="justify"> to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement.</p>
<p ALIGN="justify">&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;
(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.</p>
<p ALIGN="justify">&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;
(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.</p>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each
filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing
of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</p>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under
the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim
for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceedings) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.</p>
<p ALIGN="center">II-3</p>
<hr size="4">
</font><b><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="center">SIGNATURES</p>
</font></b><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="justify"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Registrant.</b> Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds
to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New Orleans, State of
Louisiana, on March 23, 2001.</p>
<table CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="7" WIDTH="646">
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    <td WIDTH="319" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</td>
    <td WIDTH="287" VALIGN="TOP" colspan="2"><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2">
MCMORAN EXPLORATION CO.
</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="319" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</td>
    <td WIDTH="20" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="justify">By:&nbsp;</p>
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="267" VALIGN="TOP">
      <p align="center"><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2">
 <u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 /s/ Richard C. Adkerson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>
</u>Richard C. Adkerson<br>
Co-Chairman of the Board,<br>
President and<br>
Chief Executive Officer
</font></td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.</p>
</font>
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    <td WIDTH="209" VALIGN="TOP" align="center">
      <p align="center">
<u><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
Signature
</font></u>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="203" VALIGN="TOP" align="center">
      <p align="center"><u><font FACE="Times New" size="2">Title
</font></u>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="175" VALIGN="TOP" align="center">
      <p align="center"><u><font FACE="Times New" size="2">Date
</font>
</u>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="209" VALIGN="TOP" align="center">
            <center><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
*
      <hr size="1" width="95%">
</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      James R. Moffett
</font></center>
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="203" VALIGN="TOP" align="center">
      <p align="center"><font FACE="Times New" size="2">Co-Chairman of the Board
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="175" VALIGN="TOP" align="center">
      <p align="center"><font face="Times New" size="2">March 23,</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      2001
</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="209" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font size="2"><font FACE="Times New">
&nbsp;/s/ Richard C. Adkerson</font></font><font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2">
            <center>
      <hr size="1" width="95%">
</center>
</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
Richard C. Adkerson
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="203" VALIGN="TOP" align="center">
      <p align="center"><font FACE="Times New" size="2">Co-Chairman of the
      Board,<br>
 President and Chief Executive Officer<br>
      (Principal Executive Officer)
</font></p>
</td>
    <td WIDTH="175" VALIGN="TOP" align="center">
      <p align="center"><font face="Times New" size="2">March 23,</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      2001
</font></p>
</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="209" VALIGN="TOP" align="center">
            <center><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
*
      <hr size="1" width="95%">
</font>
    <font FACE="Times New" size="2">
    Morrison C. Bethea
</font>
            </center>
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="203" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font FACE="Times New" size="2">Director&nbsp;
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="175" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font face="Times New" size="2">March 23,</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      2001
</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="209" VALIGN="TOP" align="center">
            <center><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
*
      <hr size="1" width="95%">
</font></center>
    <font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      Robert A. Day
</font>
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="203" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font FACE="Times New" size="2">Director&nbsp;
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="175" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font face="Times New" size="2">March 23,</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      2001
</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="209" VALIGN="TOP" align="center">
            <center><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
*
      <hr size="1" width="95%">
</font></center>
    <font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      Gerald J. Ford
</font>
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="203" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font FACE="Times New" size="2">Director&nbsp;
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="175" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font face="Times New" size="2">March 23,</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      2001
</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="209" VALIGN="TOP" align="center">
            <center><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
*
      <hr size="1" width="95%">
</font></center>
    <font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      H. Devon Graham, Jr.
</font>
    </td>
    <td WIDTH="203" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font FACE="Times New" size="2">Director&nbsp;
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="175" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font face="Times New" size="2">March 23,</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      2001
</font></td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>
<p ALIGN="center"><font face="Times New">S-1</font></p>
<hr size="4">
<font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
</font>
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  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="209" VALIGN="TOP" align="center" colspan="2">
            <center><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
*
      <hr size="1" width="95%">
</font></center>
<font FACE="Times New" size="2">
Gabrielle K. McDonald
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="203" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font FACE="Times New" size="2">Director&nbsp;
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="175" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font face="Times New" size="2">March 23,</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      2001
</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="209" VALIGN="TOP" align="center" colspan="2">
            <center><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
*
</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      <hr size="1" width="95%">
</font></center>
            <font face="Times New" size="2">B.M. Rankin, Jr.</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="203" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font FACE="Times New" size="2">Director&nbsp;
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="175" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font face="Times New" size="2">March 23,</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      2001
</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="209" VALIGN="TOP" align="center" colspan="2">
            <center><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
*
</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      <hr size="1" width="95%">
</font></center>
            <font face="Times New" size="2">J. Taylor Wharton</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="203" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font FACE="Times New" size="2">Director&nbsp;
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="175" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font face="Times New" size="2">March 23,</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      2001
</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="209" VALIGN="TOP" align="center" colspan="2">
            <center><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
*
</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      <hr size="1" width="95%">
</font></center>
            <font face="Times New" size="2">Nancy D. Parmelee</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="203" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font FACE="Times New" size="2">Senior
      Vice President, Chief<br>
      Financial Officer and Secretary<br>
      (Principal Financial Officer)&nbsp;
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="175" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font face="Times New" size="2">March 23,</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      2001
</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="209" VALIGN="TOP" align="center" colspan="2">
            <center><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
*
</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      <hr size="1" width="95%">
</font></center>
            <font face="Times New" size="2">C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="203" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font FACE="Times New" size="2">Vice
      President and Controller -<br>
      Financial Reporting<br>
      (Principal Accounting Officer)&nbsp;
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="175" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font face="Times New" size="2">March 23,</font><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      2001
</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="32" VALIGN="TOP" align="center">
<font FACE="Times New" size="2">
*By:
</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="177" VALIGN="TOP" align="center">
            <font FACE="Times New" size="2">/s/ Richard C. Adkerson
</font>
            <center><font FACE="Times New" size="2">
      <hr size="1" width="95%">
</font></center>
            <font face="Times New" size="2">Richard C. Adkerson<br>
            Attorney-in-Fact</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="203" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="175" VALIGN="TOP" align="center"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>
<font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="center">&nbsp;</font><font face="Times New">S-2</font></p>
<font FACE="Times New" SIZE="2">
<hr size="4">
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;</p>
</font><font FACE="Times New">
<b>
<p ALIGN="center">EXHIBIT INDEX</p>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<table CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="7" WIDTH="645">
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="76" VALIGN="TOP"><b><font FACE="Times New">
Exhibit<u><br>
Number</u> </font></b></td>
    <td WIDTH="529" VALIGN="TOP">
      <p align="center"><b><font FACE="Times New"><u><br>
      Description of Exhibits
</u></font></b></p>
    </td>
  </tr>
</b>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="76" VALIGN="TOP">5</td>
    <td WIDTH="529" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New"> Opinion of Jones, Walker,
      Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere &
Denegre, L.L.P.
</font>

    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="76" VALIGN="TOP">23.1</td>
    <td WIDTH="529" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New"> Consent of Arthur Andersen
      LLP.
</font>

    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="76" VALIGN="TOP">23.2</td>
    <td WIDTH="529" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="Times New">Consent&nbsp; of Jones, Walker,
      Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere &
Denegre, L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5).
</font>

    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="76" VALIGN="TOP">24</td>
    <td WIDTH="529" VALIGN="TOP">Powers of Attorney pursuant to which this
      Registration Statement has been signed on behalf of certain officers and
      directors of the Company.</td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>
<p ALIGN="center">E-1&nbsp;</p>
</font>

</body>

</HTML>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "s8.htm", "description": "S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 28561}]
{"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": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-57484", "film-number": "1577529"}, "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"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March
23, 2001. Registration No. 333-_________
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
__________
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
__________
McMoRan Exploration Co.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
72-1424200
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
1615 Poydras Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
(Address, including zip code, of registrant's
principal executive offices)
McMoRan Exploration Co. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan
McMoRan Exploration
Co. 2001 Stock Bonus Plan
(Full titles of the plans
)
__________
John G. Amato
General Counsel
McMoRan Exploration Co.
1615 Poydras Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
(504) 582-4000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
Margaret F. Murphy
Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre, L.L.P.
201 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70170-5100
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of
securities to be registered
Amount to be
registered
(1)
Proposed maximum
offering price
per unit
Proposed maximum
aggregate
offering price
Amount of
registration
fee
Common Stock (par value $.01 per share) ...............
750,000 Shares
$12.875
(2)
$9,656,250
(2)
$2,414.07
(2)
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights ............................
750,000 Rights
$---.---
(3)
$ --
(3)
$ ---.--
(3)
(1)
Upon a stock
split, stock dividend or similar transaction in the future and during the
effectiveness of this Registration Statement involving Common Stock of the
Company, the number of shares and rights registered shall be automatically
increased to cover the additional shares and rights in accordance with Rule
416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933.
(2)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the
registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, based
on the average of the high and low price per share of the Common Stock of the
Company on the New York Stock Exchange on March 20, 2001.
(3)
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights are attached to and
trade with the Common Stock of the Company. The value attributable to such
Rights, if any, is reflected in the market price of such Common Stock. Because
no separate consideration is paid for such Rights, the registration fee for such
securities is included in the fee for such Common Stock.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3.    Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents, which have been filed by McMoRan
Exploration Co. (the "Company") with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"), are incorporated herein by reference:
(1)   
The latest Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company filed
pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange Act");
(2)   
All other reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by
the Annual Report referred to in (1) above; and
(3)   
The description of the Common Stock of the Company
included in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A of the Company filed November
13, 1998, and effective November 16, 1998, by incorporation by reference from
pages 119-124 of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of the Company
(Registration No. 333-61171), including any amendment thereto or report filed
for the purpose of updating such description.
All documents filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date
of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that
deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall, except to the extent
otherwise provided by Regulation S-K or any other rule promulgated by the SEC,
be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to
be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Item 4.    Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5.    Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the
"DGCL") provides that a corporation may indemnify its directors,
officers, employees, and agents and may purchase and maintain liability
insurance on behalf of directors, officers, employees, and agents. In accordance
II-1
with the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation (the "Charter") of the
Company contains provisions eliminating the personal liability of the directors
to the Company and its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of their
fiduciary duties as directors to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.
By virtue of these provisions, under current Delaware law, a director of the
Company will not be personally liable for monetary damages for a breach of his
or her fiduciary duty except for liability for (a) a breach of his or her duty
of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (b) acts or omissions not in good
faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c)
dividends or stock repurchases or redemptions that are unlawful under Delaware
law, and (d) any transaction from which he or she receives an improper personal
benefit. In addition, the By-Laws (the "By-Laws") of the Company
provide that, if Delaware law is amended to authorize broader indemnification
rights, the directors shall receive the broader indemnification rights
authorized by Delaware law. These provisions pertain only to breaches of duty by
directors as directors and not in any other corporate capacity, such as
officers, and limit liability only for beaches of fiduciary duties under
Delaware corporate law and not for violations of other laws such as the federal
securities laws. The By-Laws require the Company to indemnify its officers and
directors against expenses and costs, judgments, settlements and fines incurred
in the defense of any claim, including any claim brought by or in the right of
the Company, to which they were made parties by reason of being or having been
officers or directors.
The Company has purchased from Twin City Fire Insurance
Company and Executive Risk Indemnity Inc. a directors and officers liability
policy with a four-year aggregate limit of $25,000,000 to insure certain
liabilities of its directors and officers.
Item 7.     Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8.
Exhibits.
5
Opinion of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent,
        Carrere & Denegre, L.L.P.
23.1
Consent of Arthur Andersen
      LLP.
23.2
Consent of Jones, Walker,
      Waechter, Poitevent,
        Carrere & Denegre, L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5).
24
Powers of Attorney pursuant to which this
        Registration Statement has been signed on behalf of certain officers and
        directors of the Company.
Item 9.
Undertakings.
(a)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)    To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include
any material information with respect
II-2
to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement.
(2)    That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)    To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
(b)    The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each
filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing
of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under
the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim
for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceedings) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-3
SIGNATURES
The Registrant.
Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds
to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New Orleans, State of
Louisiana, on March 23, 2001.
MCMORAN EXPLORATION CO.
By:
/s/ Richard C. Adkerson
Richard C. Adkerson
Co-Chairman of the Board,
President and
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
*
James R. Moffett
Co-Chairman of the Board
March 23,
2001
/s/ Richard C. Adkerson
Richard C. Adkerson
Co-Chairman of the
      Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
March 23,
2001
*
Morrison C. Bethea
Director
March 23,
2001
*
Robert A. Day
Director
March 23,
2001
*
Gerald J. Ford
Director
March 23,
2001
*
H. Devon Graham, Jr.
Director
March 23,
2001
S-1
*
Gabrielle K. McDonald
Director
March 23,
2001
*
B.M. Rankin, Jr.
Director
March 23,
2001
*
J. Taylor Wharton
Director
March 23,
2001
*
Nancy D. Parmelee
Senior
      Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary
(Principal Financial Officer)
March 23,
2001
*
C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.
Vice
      President and Controller -
Financial Reporting
(Principal Accounting Officer)
March 23,
2001
*By:
/s/ Richard C. Adkerson
Richard C. Adkerson
Attorney-in-Fact
S-2
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Description of Exhibits
5
Opinion of Jones, Walker,
      Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere &
Denegre, L.L.P.
23.1
Consent of Arthur Andersen
      LLP.
23.2
Consent  of Jones, Walker,
      Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere &
Denegre, L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5).
24
Powers of Attorney pursuant to which this
      Registration Statement has been signed on behalf of certain officers and
      directors of the Company.
E-1