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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,
 PUyQBQPYHZgsTZ75szonpkeGyjNX2yaxNghEbawgt+iGFCl0onk+SZhIWxsk8vXm
 m4/JRmDR+1qBbOr80xNi+A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-004118.txt : 20040123
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-004118.hdr.sgml : 20040123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040123160841
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-004118
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040123
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040123

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BACHMANN RICHARD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001044292

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-22603
		FILM NUMBER:		04540831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ENERGY PARTNERS LLC
		STREET 2:		201 ST CHARLES AVE SUITE 4318
		CITY:			NEW ORLEANS
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			701704318
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5045691875

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ENERGY PARTNERS LLC
		STREET 2:		201 ST CHARLES AVE SUITE 4318
		CITY:			NEW ORLEANS
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			701704318
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd30136.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 BACHMANN - SUPERIOR
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-23</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000886835</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SPN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001044292</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BACHMANN RICHARD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>201 ST. CHARLES AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW ORLEANS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>LA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>70170</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-23</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1321.00</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>9.21</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9854</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTa
ble><ownerSignature><signatureName>William B. Masters on behalf of Richard A. Bachmann</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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