<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-07</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000891456</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PLAINS EXPLORATION &amp; PRODUCTION CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PXP</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001083297</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ENCAP INVESTMENTS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1100 LOUISIANA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3150</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77002</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</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-07-07</value>
</transactionDate>
<deemedExecutionDate>
</deemedExecutionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>587</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare>
<value>10.81</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>4263993</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value>by affiliates</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-09-09</value>
</transactionDate>
<deemedExecutionDate>
</deemedExecutionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>238</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare>
<value>12.60</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>4263993</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value>by affiliates</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Represents shares granted to EnCap Energy Capital Fund III, L.P. as compensation for Robert L. Zorich serving on the Issuer&#039;s board of directors.

</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Represents 2,139,790 shares held by EnCap Energy Capital Fund III, L.P., 593,849 shares held by EnCap Energy Capital Fund III-B, L.P., 1,011,098 shares held by EnCap Energy Acquisition III-B, Inc., and 519,256 shares held by BOCP Energy Parnters, L.P.
            </footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>by: EnCap Investments L.P., Manager of EnCap Investments L.L.C., by EnCap Investments GP, L.L.C., General Partner of EnCap Investments L.P., by /s/ Robert L. Zorich, Senior Managing Director</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-09-11</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

