-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 sbqOOLIbXwrUpDcKf+Uvfg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001207006-06-000024.txt : 20060119
<SEC-HEADER>0001207006-06-000024.hdr.sgml : 20060119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060119125304
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001207006-06-000024
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060117
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060119
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060119

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COOPER CAMERON CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000941548
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OIL & GAS FILED MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [3533]
		IRS NUMBER:				760451843
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1333 WEST LOOP SOUTH
		STREET 2:		STE 1700
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77027
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7135133322

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1333 WEST LOOP SOUTH
		STREET 2:		STE 1700
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77027

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORSWORTHY LAMAR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000948050

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13884
		FILM NUMBER:		06537438

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COOPER CAMERON
		STREET 2:		1333 WEST LOOP S. #1700
		CITY:			BOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77027
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7135133322

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COOPER CAMERON
		STREET 2:		1333 WEST LOOP S. #1700
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77027
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000941548</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COOPER CAMERON CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CAM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000948050</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NORSWORTHY LAMAR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 CRESCENT COURT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance Shares</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-07-21</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of 4,000 deferred stock units (DSUs), effective as of July 21, 2005, under the Company's 2005 Equity Incentive Plan.  Each DSU represents a right to receive one share of Cooper Cameron common stock.  The grant vests in four equal quarterly increments as of October 21, 2005, January 21, 2006, April 21, 2006 and July 21, 2006. DSUs are converted into common stock three years after the effective date, unless further deferred by the recipient, or upon termination, whichever date occurs sooner. Reporting date of January 17, 2006 is the date the terms of the grants were irrevocably fixed and communicated to grantee.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Grace B. Holmes  For: Lamar Norsworthy</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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