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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PkXHdU0vuwuykWc1JCPpqX6mO05+fgkZHZ0m24jHbrljFZs52USO8G2ebQE8SRdm
 EMFh+pEjq/pRpjVffiBC0w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-020615.txt : 20030908
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-020615.hdr.sgml : 20030908
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030908172036
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-020615
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030827
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030908

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KARES JOE E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001262061

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10671
		FILM NUMBER:		03886591

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		808 TRAVIS
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MERIDIAN RESOURCE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000869369
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				760319553
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1401 ENCLAVE PARKWAY SUITE 300
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77077
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7135588080

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1401 ENCLAVE PARKWAY SUITE 300
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77077

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TEXAS MERIDIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TEXAS MERIDIAN RESOURCES ACQUISITION CORPORATION
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19600201
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>boh08834_2jek.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-27</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000869369</issuerCik><issuerName>MERIDIAN RESOURCE CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>TMR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001262061</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>KARES JOE E</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>808 TRAVIS</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 930</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>77002-5789</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securit
yTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-27</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>3.0625</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-27</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S<
/transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>4.85</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.0625</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-27</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-08-27</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><e
quitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>3.0625</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2001-08-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-08-28</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock of TMR</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><ownerSignature><signatureName>Joe E Kares</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature
></ownershipDocument>

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