<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-06-22</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001349436</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SANDRIDGE ENERGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001074613</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>READ RANDOLPH C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>123 ROBERT S. KERR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>123 ROBERT S. KERR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OKLAHOMA CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OK</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>73102</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>true</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>false</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>by: Dustin Crawford, Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-06-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
