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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,
 JDEZeu8pR9rgQDzdKyni+XC6rnUA/CfPexnqOxFCfWs8dewV6U7Gdi5QRdltX63U
 7uS61Nb4H4pRxHbvcaCYow==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000906280-03-000346.txt : 20030811
<SEC-HEADER>0000906280-03-000346.hdr.sgml : 20030811
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030811163551
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000906280-03-000346
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030801
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030811

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DAWKINS ENOCH L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001259255

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-22603
		FILM NUMBER:		03834908

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1105 PETERS RD
		CITY:			HARVEY
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70058

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000886835
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OIL, GAS FIELD SERVICES, NBC [1389]
		IRS NUMBER:				752379388
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1105 PETERS ROAD
		CITY:			HARVEY
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70058
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5043624321

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1105 PETERS ROAD
		CITY:			HARVEY
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70058

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SMALLS OILFIELD SERVICES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-01</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000886835</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SPN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001259255</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DAWKINS ENOCH L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1105 PETERS ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HARVEY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>LA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>70058</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Outside Director Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>8.79</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>20000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-08-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></und
erlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>20000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Enoch L. Dawkins</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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