-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Sp+WY467EPbTElxfeSjuJyXHPTthBiDx8LenzhRrEMcb+TxUIOPQ0DqpnpLV8s0f
 jsFX50XxgDX386ygzTB7Ug==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-022706.txt : 20030910
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-022706.hdr.sgml : 20030910
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030910190752
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-022706
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030909
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030910

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THORINGTON STEPHEN A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001193666

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10454
		FILM NUMBER:		03890755

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6623 WESTCHESTER
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77005

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PLAINS RESOURCES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000350426
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-PETROLEUM & PETROLEUM PRODUCTS (NO BULK STATIONS) [5172]
		IRS NUMBER:				132898764
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 DALLAS
		STREET 2:		STE 700
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7136541414

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 SMITH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1500
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd18198.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-09</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000350426</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PLAINS RESOURCES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PLX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193666</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THORINGTON STEPHEN A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>700 MILAM STREET, SUITE 3100</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77002</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>EVP &amp; Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-09</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3967</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>13.60</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>61033</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><
/ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><ownerSignature><signatureName>Stephen A. Thorington</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-10</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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