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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-11-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000921669</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ICAHN CARL C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ICAHN ASSOCIATES HOLDING LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>767 FIFTH AVE., SUITE 4700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10153</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001313666</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ICAHN PARTNERS LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>445 HAMILTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1210</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WHITE PLAINS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10601</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001322827</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ICAHN PARTNERS MASTER FUND LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>445 HAMILTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1210</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WHITE PLAINS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10601</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000928464</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HIGH RIVER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>445 HAMILTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1210</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WHITE PLAINS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10601</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (&quot;Shares&quot;)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>869184</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.11</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4430774</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Please see footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>183694</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.31</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4614468</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Please see footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20333</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.07</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4634801</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Please see footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>184031</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.40</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4818832</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Please see footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On November 20, 2017, High River Limited Partnership (&quot;High River&quot;) purchased 173,837 Shares, Icahn Partners LP (&quot;Icahn Partners&quot;) purchased 412,529 Shares and Icahn Partners Master Fund LP (&quot;Icahn Master&quot;) purchased 282,818 Shares, in each case at a price of $16.11 per Share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On November 21, 2017, High River purchased 36,739 Shares, Icahn Partners purchased 87,183 Shares and Icahn Master purchased 59,772 Shares, in each case at a price of $16.31 per Share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On November 22, 2017, High River purchased 4,067 Shares, Icahn Partners purchased 9,650 Shares and Icahn Master purchased 6,616 Shares, in each case at a price of $17.07 per Share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">On November 22, 2017, High River purchased 36,806 Shares, Icahn Partners purchased 87,345 Shares and Icahn Master purchased 59,880 Shares, in each case at a price of $17.40 per Share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">High River directly beneficially owns 963,767 Shares, Icahn Partners directly beneficially owns 2,287,095 Shares, and Icahn Master directly beneficially owns 1,567,970 Shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Barberry Corp. (&quot;Barberry&quot;), is the sole member of Hopper Investments LLC (&quot;Hopper&quot;), which is the general partner of High River. Beckton Corp. (&quot;Beckton&quot;) is the sole stockholder of Icahn Enterprises G.P. Inc. (&quot;Icahn Enterprises GP&quot;), which is the general partner of Icahn Enterprises Holdings L.P. (&quot;Icahn Enterprises Holdings&quot;). Icahn Enterprises Holdings is the sole member of IPH GP LLC (&quot;IPH&quot;), which is the general partner of Icahn Capital LP (&quot;Icahn Capital&quot;). Icahn Capital is the general partner of each of Icahn Onshore LP (&quot;Icahn Onshore&quot;) and Icahn Offshore LP (&quot;Icahn Offshore&quot;). Icahn Onshore is the general partner of Icahn Partners. Icahn Offshore is the general partner of Icahn Master.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Each of Barberry and Beckton is 100 percent owned by Carl C. Icahn. As such, Mr. Icahn is in a position indirectly to determine the investment and voting decisions made by each of High River, Icahn Partners and Icahn Master. Each of Hopper, Barberry and Mr. Icahn may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own (as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act) the Shares which High River owns. Each of Hopper, Barberry and Mr. Icahn disclaims beneficial ownership of such Shares except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Each of Icahn Onshore, Icahn Capital, IPH, Icahn Enterprises Holdings, Icahn Enterprises GP, Beckton and Mr. Icahn may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own (as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act) the Shares which Icahn Partners owns. Each of Icahn Onshore, Icahn Capital, IPH, Icahn Enterprises Holdings, Icahn Enterprises GP, Beckton and Mr. Icahn</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carl C. Icahn</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>High River Limited Partnership</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Icahn Partners LP</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Icahn Partners Master Fund LP</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
