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)

September 27, 2005 (September 26, 2005)

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-31539	41-0518430
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission	(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)

1776 Lincoln Street, Suite 700, Denver, Colorado 80203

(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (303) 861-8140

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.):

[_] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[_] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[_] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[_] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01Other Events.

On September 26, 2005, St. Mary Land & Exploration issued a press release announcing that approximately 187 MMCFE of production, net to St. Mary, was shut-in through Monday, September 26, as a result of Hurricane Rita. Approximately 31 MMCFE of production, net to St. Mary, remains shut-in, and St. Mary expects the vast majority of the remaining shut-in production to be restored within the next few weeks. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits. The following exhibit is furnished as part of this report:

Exhibit 99.1 Press release of St. Mary Land & Exploration Company dated September 26, 2005

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.

		ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY
Date: September 27, 2005	By:	/S/ DAVID W. HONEYFIELD
		David W. Honeyfield
		Vice President – Chief Financial Officer,
		Treasurer and Secretary

EX-99

Exhibit 99.1

For Information

Mark A. Hellerstein

Robert T. Hanley

303-861-8140

ST. MARY ANNOUNCES PRODUCTION IMPACT OF HURRICANE RITA

DENVER – September 26, 2005 – St. Mary Land & Exploration Company (NYSE: SM) today announced that as a result of Hurricane Rita, all of its Gulf Coast and Gulf of Mexico properties were shut-in. Cumulative shut-in production through September 26, 2005 is approximately 187 MMCFE, net to St. Mary, and production of approximately 31 MMCFE per day, net to St. Mary, remains shut-in.  The Company is currently assessing the damage to its properties, but based on initial inspections, expects that the vast majority of the shut-in production will be restored within the next few weeks. A portion of its shut-in production is awaiting the startup of the pipelines and facilities that service the Company’s properties. 

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities laws. The words “will” and “expects” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause actual results to differ materially from results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks include such factors as the uncertain nature of preliminary damage assessments for Hurricane Rita, the volatility and level of oil and natural gas prices, production rates and reserve replacement, the imprecise nature of oil and gas reserve estimates, uncertainties in cash flow, the availability of attractive exploration and development and property acquisition opportunities and any necessary financing, competition, litigation, environmental matters, and other such matters discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of St. Mary’s 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Although St. Mary may from time to time voluntarily update its prior forward-looking statements, it disclaims any commitment to do so except as required by securities laws.

PR 05-14

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