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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 R2OkAyWgoqoECGZ6ran0Zd2DStXkuwbUxxOe3LxeJcdO8bJEAioPIvu67JhSeMcH
 vQQ5i4vbsbJDhOE8vYGYGQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000906280-03-000229.txt : 20030602
<SEC-HEADER>0000906280-03-000229.hdr.sgml : 20030602
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030602154006
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000906280-03-000229
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030601
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030602

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCMORAN EXPLORATION CO /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000064279
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				721424200
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1615 POYDRAS ST
		CITY:			NEW ORLEANS
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70112
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5045824000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1615 POYDRAS ST
		CITY:			NEW ORLEANS
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70112

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MCMORAN OIL & GAS CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970707

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MCMORAN EXPLORATION CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19790223

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HORN SILVER MINES CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19720620

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FORD GERALD J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001021572
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07791
		FILM NUMBER:		03728108

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		350 S GRAND AVENUE
		STREET 2:		52ND FLOOR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2132104931

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		350 S GRAND AVENUE
		STREET 2:		52ND FLOOR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-01</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000064279</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MCMORAN EXPLORATION CO /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MMR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001021572</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FORD GERALD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Options (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.71</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3500</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-06-01</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTi
tle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Options with limited stock appreciation rights</footnote><footnote id="F2">25% exercisable on the date indicated and 25% exercisable on the next three anniversaries thereof</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Margaret F. Murphy, on behalf of Gerald J. Ford by power of atty.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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