SEC FORM 4

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

MOFFETT JAMES R

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

1615 POYDRAS STREET

(Street)

NEW ORLEANS

70112

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
MCMORAN EXPLORATION CO /DE/ [ MMR ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)
	Co-Chairman of the Board

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
11/02/2007

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock	11/02/2007		P		500,000	A	$12.4	2,063,617	I	By Limited Liability Company
Common Stock								860⁽¹⁾	I	By Spouse

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
6 3/4% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock	⁽²⁾	11/02/2007		P		70,000		⁽³⁾	11/15/2010	Common Stock	470,428	$100	70,000	I	By Limited Liability Company

Explanation of Responses:

1. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.

2. Prior to November 15, 2010, the mandatory conversion date, each share of 6 3/4% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible into 6.7204 shares of Issuer Common Stock, subject to applicable anti-dilution adjustments. On November 15, 2010, each share of 6 3/4% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will automatically convert into (i) 6.7204 shares of Issuer Common Stock if the per share price of Issuer Common Stock is greater than $14.88, (ii) 8.0645 shares of Issuer Common Stock if the per share price of Issuer Common Stock is less than $12.40, or (iii) the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock obtained by dividing $100.00 by the per share price of Issuer Common Stock if such price is greater than or equal to $12.40 and less than or equal to $14.88.

3. Convertible immediately upon issuance at the Reporting Person's election.

Remarks:

Following the reported transactions, the Reporting Person holds options to acquire a total of 2,866,250 shares of MMR Common Stock, 2,385,000 of which are vested and 481,250 of which are unvested.

	Cynthia M. Molyneux, on behalf of James R. Moffett pursuant to a power of attorney	11/06/2007
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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