-----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,
 IF+IaGfBG6oLpPare3D/IuaFmIc5jTZ/CXbPm2YPUStFVS4vV0L4HCG0Q9Uji8qu
 xGjJR/8rKLUiGPh1FfXGWQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-044083.txt : 20040913
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-044083.hdr.sgml : 20040913
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040913091401
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-044083
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040903
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040913
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040913

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MONTAGUE JAMES R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001161244

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10671
		FILM NUMBER:		041026696

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		610 687 8900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 MATSONFORD ROAD
		STREET 2:		3 RADNOR CORP. CENTER, SUITE 230
		CITY:			RADNOR
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19087

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>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>h18375_2jrm.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-03</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001161244</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MONTAGUE JAMES R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5617 BAYOU GLEN</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77056</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>759</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-09-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-09-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">25% exercisable at above date; additional 25% exercisable each of the following 3 years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James R Montague</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----