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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 C8qt3mLDiW0J1RAokssnbuYAjfollgsd5NbF9/CDBhqutZ0D9aU+TQEwSzKB4g3Q
 QVfG0XFfvt0/ZWm3O2ssOA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-048967.txt : 20041020
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-048967.hdr.sgml : 20041020
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041020134320
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-048967
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041019
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041020
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041020

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EDWARDS JOSEPH R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001202019

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-22603
		FILM NUMBER:		041087135

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 TRAVIS
		STREET 2:		SUITE 6000
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		713-227-7890

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>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000886835</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SPN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001202019</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EDWARDS JOSEPH R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FIRST RESERVE CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE LAFAYETTE PLACE, THIRD FL.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>This report is being filed to note the termination of the reporting person's insider status.  Mr. Edwards resigned from the Board of Directors of the Issuer effective October 19, 2004. As of the date of his resignation, Mr. Edwards, as previously reported, was the record holder of 30,000 shares of the Issuer's common stock underlying stock options and 3,261 shares of the Issuer's common stock underlying restricted stock units.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas R. Denison, as attorney-in-fact for Joseph R. Edwards. See Previously filed Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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