-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VYiFxZztkVE/DrsfceJPTDIL0ihKT9fEwm19jdx1ZdLcrjdt3aDpUu17wEVwnJ8n
 A2BM9cJaupjxXnhnpEPi+Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-05-067013.txt : 20051215
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-05-067013.hdr.sgml : 20051215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051215162349
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-05-067013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051213
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051215
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051215

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPINNAKER EXPLORATION CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001089697
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				760560101
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 SMITH STREET SUITE 800
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7137591770

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 SMITH STREET SUITE 800
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEWMAN HOWARD H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001013026

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16009
		FILM NUMBER:		051266896

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NEWFIELD EXPLORATION COMPANY
		STREET 2:		363 N SAM HOUSTON PKWY E SUITE 2020
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77060
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7138476000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		WARBURG PINCUS
		STREET 2:		466 LEXINGTON AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd99855.xml
<DESCRIPTION>NEWMAN FORM 4 12-13-05
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-12-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001089697</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SPINNAKER EXPLORATION CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SKE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001013026</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NEWMAN HOWARD H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1200 SMITH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 800</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77002</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>U</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6800585</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>65.50</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Warburg Pincus Ventures, L.P.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>40.73</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.77</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-05-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>40.73</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.77</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-05-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>600</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The stockholder is Warburg Pincus Ventures, L.P. (&quot;WPV&quot;). Warburg Pincus Partners, LLC (&quot;WPP&quot;), a New York limited liability company and a subsidiary of Warburg Pincus &amp; Co. (&quot;WP&quot;), is the sole general partner of WPV. WPV is managed by Warburg Pincus LLC (&quot;WP LLC&quot;). The address of WPV, WPP, WP and WP LLC (collectively, the &quot;Warburg Pincus Entities&quot;) is 466 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017. Mr. Newman is Senior Advisor and Vice Chairman of WP LLC. Mr. Newman may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest (within the meaning of Rule 16a-1 under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended) in an indeterminate portion of the shares beneficially owned by WPV.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares were disposed of pursuant to the merger agreement between the issuer and Norsk Hydro ASA in exchange for merger consideration of $65.50 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Options became 100% vested on May 10, 2005 and were canceled in the merger in exchange for cash payment of $247,750.00, representing the difference between the exercise price of the option and merger consideration of $65.50.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Options were 100% vested on May 10, 2001 and were canceled in the merger in exchange for cash payment of $14,865.00, representing the difference between the exercise price of the option and merger consideration of $65.50.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Howard H. Newman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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