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

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-07</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-09-11</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <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>578</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.81</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4270752</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by affiliates</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">In the reporting person's Form 4 dated September 11, 2003, the reporting person inadvertently overstated these shares by 9 shares.  Such shares were also inadvertently overstated by 9 shares in subsequent Form 4s filed by the reporting person on October 3, 2003, November 6, 2003, and January 5, 2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares granted to EnCap Energy Capital Fund III, L.P. as compensation for Robert L. Zorich serving on the Issuer's board of directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents 2,143,114 shares held by EnCap Energy Capital Fund III, L.P., 1,604,946 shares held by EnCap Energy Capital Fund III-B, L.P., and 522,692 shares held by BOCP Energy Partners, 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>2004-03-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

