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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-09-031471.txt : 20090618
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-09-031471.hdr.sgml : 20090618
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090618175956
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-09-031471
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090617
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090618
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090618

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MOFFETT JAMES R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001168167

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07791
		FILM NUMBER:		09899572

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd246259.xml
<DESCRIPTION>JRM FORM 4 (MMR) - JUNE 2009
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-06-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000064279</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MCMORAN EXPLORATION CO /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MMR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001168167</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOFFETT JAMES R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1615 POYDRAS STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW ORLEANS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>LA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>70112</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Co-Chairman of the Board</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-06-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>870000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4434116</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>860</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Following the reported transactions, the Reporting Person holds options to acquire a total of 3,675,000 shares of MMR Common Stock, 3,175,000 of which are vested and 500,000 of which are unvested.  The Reporting Person also holds 70,000 shares of 6 3/4% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock convertible into 470,428 shares of MMR Common Stock.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Cynthia M. Molyneux, on behalf of James R. Moffett pursuant to a power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-06-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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