SEC FORM 3

SEC Form 3

FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

CLARKE JOHN U

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

1201 LOUISIANA STREET, SUITE 306

(Street)

HOUSTON

77002

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
12/03/2003

3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
HOUSTON EXPLORATION CO [ THX ]

4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director	10% Owner
	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)

5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
common stock ($0.01 par value)⁽¹⁾	2,000	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
stock option (right to buy)	12/03/2003⁽²⁾	12/03/2013	common stock	2,000	$34.79	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Common shares are restricted from sale or transfer until fully vested. Restricted shares were granted upon election to the Houston Exploration's Board of Directors on December 3, 2003 and pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated 2002 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Grant price was $34.79 and equal to the closing price of Houston Exploration common stock on the NYSE on December 3, 2003. Shares fully vest and restrictions are terminated at the earlier of retirement from the Houston Exploration's Board of Directors or at the end of five years from the grant date or on December 03, 2008.

2. Options were granted upon election to the Houston Exploration's Board of Directors on December 3, 2003 and pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated 2002 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Options are fully vested upon grant and expire ten years from grant date. Grant price is equal to closing price of Houston Exploration common stock on the NYSE on grant date.

Remarks:

	/s/ John U. Clarke	12/04/2003
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.