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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001135152</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FMC TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FTI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001052320</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NETHERLAND JOSEPH H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1803 GEARS ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO and President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2005-05-03</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>858.97</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.12</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>37404.30</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">N/A</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Acquisition of Phantom Stock Units (in an exempt transaction) under the FMC Technologies, Inc. Non-Qualified Savings and Investment Plan (NQ Plan) resulting from matching contribution by issuer.  Phantom Stock Units are payable in cash following termination or retirement of the reporting person's employment with FMC Technologies, Inc., or death.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Phantom Stock Units are payable in cash following termination or retirement of the reporting person's employment with FMC Technologies, Inc., or death.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">A participant's interest in the NQ Plan is represented in units (referred to as Phantom Stock Units) which consist of phantom shares of FMC Technologies, Inc. Common Stock and uninvested cash balances held by the NQ Plan for administrative convenience.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Denotes Unit Price</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: By: James L. Marvin, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
