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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950103-09-003333.txt : 20091221
<SEC-HEADER>0000950103-09-003333.hdr.sgml : 20091221
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091221144316
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950103-09-003333
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091221
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091221
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091221

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hackedorn Lynne L.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001477018

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34579
		FILM NUMBER:		091252190

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TWO POST OAK CENTRAL
		STREET 2:		1980 POST OAK BOULEVARD, SUITE 1200
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77056

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Cobalt International Energy, Inc.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001471261
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				270821169
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO POST OAK CENTRAL
		STREET 2:		1980 POST OAK BOULEVARD, SUITE 1200
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77056
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(713) 579-9101

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO POST OAK CENTRAL
		STREET 2:		1980 POST OAK BOULEVARD, SUITE 1200
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77056
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>dp15966_4-hackedornex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-12-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001471261</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Cobalt International Energy, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CIE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001477018</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hackedorn Lynne L.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TWO POST OAK CENTRAL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1980 POST OAK BOULEVARD, SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77056</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President, Land</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>167248</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>167248</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>179825</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>347073</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person received these shares of Common Stock as consideration for limited partnership interests in Cobalt
 International Energy, L.P. (the &quot;Partnership&quot;) in connection with the reorganization of the Partnership, which involved the
 merger of the Partnership into a subsidiary of the Issuer, and the Issuer's initial public offering described in the
 prospectus dated December 15, 2009 (the &quot;IPO&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">111,499 shares represent restricted shares granted under the Issuer's Long Term Incentive Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;) that will vest on
 April 1, 2010.  28,911 shares represent restricted shares granted under the Plan that will vest on December 21, 2014,
 subject to the terms of the award agreement under the Plan. 39,415 shares represent restricted shares granted under the Plan
 that will vest on December 21, 2014 but only if the average of the volume weighted average price of a share of the Issuer's
 Common Stock during the 90 day period ending on the day before December 21, 2014 equals or exceeds $13.50, subject to the
 terms of the award agreement under the Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeffrey A. Starzec, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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