SEC Form 4

FORM 4
[  ] Check this box if no longer
subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form
5 obligations may continue.
See Instruction 1(b). UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^* Irish III, James (Last)                      (First)                      (Middle) 1700 Pacific Avenue Suite 3300 (Street) Dallas,    TX   75201 (City)                      (State)                      (Zip)
2. Issuer Name
and Ticker or Trading Symbol
3TEC Energy Corporation
TTEN 3. I.R.S. Identification
    Number of Reporting
    Person, if an entity
    (voluntary) 4. Statement for
    Month/Day/Year
01/02/2003
5. If Amendment,
    Date of Original
    (Month/Day/Year)
6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
X Director      10% Owner    Officer (give title below)        Other (specify below)
Description           7. Individual or Joint/Group
    Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X   Form filed by One Reporting Person      Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security     (Instr. 3)	2.Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction     Code     (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D)     (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)			5. Amount of     Securities     Beneficially     Owned Following     Reported Transaction(s)     (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Owner-     ship     Form:     Direct (D)     or     Indirect (I)     (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of      Indirect      Beneficial      Ownership     (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	A/D	Price

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security     (Instr. 3)

2. Conver-     sion or     Exercise     Price of     Deri-     vative     Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/ Day/ Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/ Day/ Year)

4. Transaction Code     (Instr.8)

5. Number of Derivative     Securities Acquired (A)     or Disposed Of (D)     (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)

6. Date Exercisable(DE) and     Expiration Date(ED)     (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of     Underlying Securities     (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price     of     Derivative     Security     (Instr.5)

9. Number of     Derivative     Securities     Beneficially     Owned     Following     Reported     Transaction(s)     (Instr.4)

10. Owner- ship Form of Deriv- ative Securities: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr.4)

11. Nature of       Indirect       Beneficial       Ownership       (Instr.4)

Code

V

A

D

DE

ED

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Stock Option (right to buy)

$15.13

01/02/2003

A

10,000

01/02/2003

01/01/2013

Common

10,000

$

10,000

D

Explanation of Responses:

By:
/s/ James Irish III                                                                                                1/6/2003
** Signature of Reporting Person                                                                                    Date      

SEC 1474 (9-02)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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