8-K

                               UNITED STATES
                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C. 20549

                                 FORM 8-K

                              CURRENT REPORT
  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 4, 2000


                      SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
          (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


            Delaware                0-20310                75-2379388
 (State or other jurisdiction    (Commission             (IRS Employer
       of incorporation)         File Number)          Identification No.)


            1105 Peters Road, Harvey, Louisiana         70058
          (Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)



                              (504) 362-4321
           (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)




ITEM 5.   OTHER EVENTS.


     On  May  4,  2000,  Superior  Energy  Services,  Inc. issued the press
release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.

ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

     (b)  Exhibits.

          99   Press release issued by Superior Energy  Services,  Inc.  on
               May  4,  2000  announcing  results  for the first quarter of
               2000.



                                SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf  by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                              SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC.



                              By:  /S/ Robert S. Taylor
                                 ----------------------------------
                                          Robert S. Taylor
                                       Chief Financial Officer

Dated: May 4, 2000

EX-99

EXHIBIT 99
- ----------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



                          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                              Superior Energy Services, Inc.:
                                 Terence E. Hall, CEO;
                                 Robert Taylor, CFO;
                                 Greg Rosenstein, Investor Relations,
                                 504-362-4321


           SUPERIOR ENERGY ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2000 RESULTS

(Harvey, LA, Thursday, May 4, 2000) Superior Energy Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:
SESI) today announced earnings for the first quarter ended March 31,  2000.
For  the  quarter,  revenues  were $47.3 million resulting in net income of
$1.6 million or $0.03 diluted earnings per share.

"After a relatively slow start  to  the  year  due  to  weather  and  other
external  factors,  activity increased steadily in March," said Terry Hall,
President and CEO of  Superior.   "The  rental  tools  and  wireline groups
offset weakness in our marine services group during the first  quarter.   I
am  encouraged  that  the  increased  demand in March has carried over into
April and early May throughout all of our divisions.  I believe Superior is
well positioned to capitalize on increasing drilling and production-related
activities in the Gulf of Mexico."

As a result of the merger with Cardinal Holding Corp. in July 1999, and the
acquisition of Production Management Companies  in  November 1999, analysis
and  comparison of the first quarter 1999 results with  the  first  quarter
2000 results  will  be difficult given the fact that all historical numbers
presented herein for  periods  prior to July 15, 1999 represent the results
of Cardinal on a stand alone basis.

Superior  Energy  Services, Inc. provides  a  broad  range  of  specialized
oilfield services and  equipment primarily to major and independent oil and
gas companies engaged in the exploration, production and development of oil
and natural gas properties  offshore  in  the Gulf of Mexico and throughout
the Gulf Coast region.  These services and  equipment include the rental of
liftboats,   rental  of  specialized  oilfield  equipment,   electric   and
mechanical wireline  services,  well  plug and abandonment services, coiled
tubing  services and engineering services.   Additional  services  provided
include contract  operating  and  supplemental labor, offshore construction
and  maintenance services, offshore  and  dockside  environmental  cleaning
services,  the  manufacture  and  sale  of drilling instrumentation and the
manufacture and sale of oil spill containment equipment.

This press release contains certain forward-looking  statements  within the
meaning  of  the  Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995 which
involve  known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other  factors.   Among
the factors  that  could  cause  actual  results  to differ materially are:
volatility  of  the   oil   and  gas  industry,   including  the  level  of
exploration,  production  and  development activity; risks associated  with
the  Company's  rapid  growth;  changes  in  competitive  factors and other
material   factors   that  are   described  from   time  to  time  in   the
Company's filings with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission.  Actual
events, circumstances,  effects  and  results may  be  materially different



from the results, performance or achievements  expressed or implied  by the
forward-looking  statements.  Consequently, the  forward-looking statements
contained herein should not be regarded as representations by  Superior  or
any other person that the projected outcomes can or will be achieved.