-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Jlb66zFq3W7T9hq8ekvKkeN6zxwaEe3FzgtSpFnDpiI5SxbHmYUZvJHcpQzwsgu6
 hHRFOZ5fj3eC7C11yeaEAA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001168054-07-000008.txt : 20070103
<SEC-HEADER>0001168054-07-000008.hdr.sgml : 20070101
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070103133155
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001168054-07-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070103
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070103

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CIMAREX ENERGY CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001168054
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				450466694
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1700 LINCOLN STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1800
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80203-4518
		BUSINESS PHONE:		303-295-3995

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1700 LINCOLN STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1800
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80203-4518

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HELMERICH & PAYNE EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020222

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Abbott Gary R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001319866

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31446
		FILM NUMBER:		07502955

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		303-295-3995

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1700 LINCOLN STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1800
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80203-4518
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-01-02</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001168054</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CIMAREX ENERGY CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>XEC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001319866</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Abbott Gary R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1700 LINCOLN STREET, SUITE 1800</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80203-4518</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>69250</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1097</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 21,250 stock units that may only be settled in shares of common stock on a one-for-one basis.  12,000 units vest on 12/9/2007 and become payable in common stock on 12/9/2010, 5,000 units vest on 1/2/2010 and become payable in shares of common stock on 1/2/2013, and 4,250 units vest and become payable on 6/7/2008.  Also includes 24,000 shares of restricted stock that vest on 1/3/2009 and are subject to certain performance criteria and 24,000 shares of restricted stock that vest on 1/2/2010 and are subject to certain performance criteria.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents restricted shares that are subject to three-year cliff vesting and the satisfaction of certain performance criteria.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Paul Korus, as attorney in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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