Form 5		UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES 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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[ ]	Check box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See instructions 1(b).		Estimated average burden hours per response. . . 1.0
[ ]	Form 3 Holdings Reported
[ ]	Form 4 Transactions Reported

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person* Howard, Robert L.	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Ocean Energy Inc   (OEI)		6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer                   (Check all applicable) _X_ Director                            ___ 10% Owner ___ Officer (give title below)   ___ Other (specify below)
(Last)             (First)            (Middle) 5413 Sturbridge	3. I.R.S. Identification Number of Reporting Person, if an entity (voluntary)	4. Statement for Month/Year 05/14/2002
(Street) Houston, TX 77056		5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/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 at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year (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

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see instruction 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 2270 (9-02)

FORM 5 (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 at End of Year (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-01 NQ

22.58

05/14/2002

A

A

(1)

05/14/2012

Common

6,000

6,000

D

Explanation of Responses:

(1) Options vest 1/3 on each of the first anniversaries of grant.

**	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 K. Reeves **Signature of Reporting Person Attorney-in-fact for Robert L. Howard	01/23/2003  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 required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number. Page 2