Form 4		UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940	OMB APPROVAL
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person* Talbert, Winston M.	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Ocean Energy Inc   (OEI)		6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)       ___ Director                            ___ 10% Owner _X_ Officer (give title below)   ___ Other (specify below) Vice President-Finance & Treasurer
(Last)             (First)            (Middle) 1001 Fannin, Suite 1600	3. I.R.S. Identification Number of Reporting Person, if an entity (voluntary)	4. Statement for Month/Day/Year 01/02/2003
(Street) Houston, TX 77002		5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Day/Year)	7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)             (State)             (Zip)	Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transactions (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common	01/02/2003		A		5,500	A		15,726	D
Common								636	I	(1)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. * If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instructions 4(b)(v).
	Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.	(Over) SEC 1474 (9-02)

FORM 4 (continued)
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr.3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/ Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/ Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr.3,4 and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Stock Option (Right to Buy) OEI 2001 LTIP ISO

01/02/2003

A

V

15,789

(2)

01/02/2013

Common

15,789

D

Stock Option (Right to Buy) OEI 2001 LTIP NQ

01/02/2013

A

V

2,511

(2)

01/02/2013

Common

2,511

D

Explanation of Responses:

(1) Represents share interest held in Ocean Retirement Savings Plan as of December 31, 2002.

(2) Options vest one-third on each anniversary of option grant date.

**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).	/s/ Robert R. Reeves **Signature of Reporting Person Attorney-in-fact for Winston M. Talbert	01/06/2003  Date
Note:	File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not
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