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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 ic30JEkq4IgqYI/TYCy3+g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-037639.txt : 20040728
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-037639.hdr.sgml : 20040728
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040728110824
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-037639
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	19901019
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040728

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAYELL MICHAEL J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001273991

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10671
		FILM NUMBER:		04934884

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MERIDIAN RESOURCE CORP
		STREET 2:		1401 ENCLAVE PARKWAY #300
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77077
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2815977000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MERIDIAN RESOURCE CORP
		STREET 2:		1401 ENCLAVE PARKWAY #300
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77077
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>h17072_2mjm.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>1990-10-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000869369</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MERIDIAN RESOURCE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TMR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001273991</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MAYELL MICHAEL J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1401 ENCLAVE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77077</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrant - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>732124</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1990-10-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>732124</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>732124</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This Form 4 is being filed to reflect automatic anti-dilution adjustments under an outstanding warrant, from the issuance of the warrant through July 12, 2004, to the number of shares of common stock issuable under the warrant.  The warrant was issued by the Issuer to the Reporting Person in 1990.  Under the terms of the warrant, the number of shares of the Issuer's common stock and the purchase price per share are subject to automatic adjustment for the issuance of the Issuer's common stock such that the warrant will permit the Reporting Person to purchase at the same aggregate exercise price a number of shares of the Issuer's common stock equal to the same percentage of outstanding shares of the Issuer's common stock that the Reporting Person could purchase before the issuance.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Currently, this warrant entitles the Reporting Person to purchase 1.0127% of the Issuer's outstanding shares for an aggregate purchase price of $94,303.  The number of shares issuable under the warrant as of April 20, 2004 (689,978) was reflected in the Issuer's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2003 under the caption &quot;Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management&quot; and has been similarly reported in prior years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael J. Mayell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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