8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934

December 7, 2004
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)

STONE ENERGY CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware	1-12074	72-1235413
(State of Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

625 E. Kaliste Saloom Road Lafayette, Louisiana	70508
(Address of Principal Executive Officer)	(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (337) 237-0410

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Section 7  —  Regulation FD
Item 7.01   Regulation FD Disclosure

        On December 7, 2004, we issued a press release announcing our estimated 2005 capital spending and an acreage acquisition in the Rocky Mountains. The press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

        In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the foregoing information, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information and Exhibit be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Section 9  —  Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01   Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)	Exhibits.
Exhibit Number		Description
99.1		Press Release dated December 7, 2004, "Stone Energy Corporation Announces 2005 Capital Spending and Rockies Acreage Acquisition"

SIGNATURE

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Stone Energy Corporation has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

STONE ENERGY CORPORATION

Date: December 8, 2004	By:                           /s/ James H. Prince
	James H. Prince Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press Release dated December 7, 2004, "Stone Energy Corporation Announces 2005 Capital Spending and Rockies Acreage Acquisition"

EX-99

Exhibit 99.1

STONE ENERGY CORPORATION
Announces 2005 Capital Spending and Rockies Acreage Acquisition

NYSE — SGY
LAFAYETTE, LA. December 7, 2004

        Stone Energy Corporation (NYSE: SGY) announced that the board of directors have approved a 2005 capital spending budget of $315 million, before acquisitions and capitalized overhead costs, which includes the drilling of 62 gross wells (39 net wells). We expect approximately 15% of this spending to be allocated to exploratory drilling in the deep water of the Gulf of Mexico. Approximately 50% of this spending budget is allocated to exploratory and development operations in the conventional Gulf of Mexico shelf (including onshore), 20% to the deep shelf of the Gulf of Mexico and 15% to the Rocky Mountains.

        Additionally, we acquired the leasehold rights to approximately 27,000 net acres in Utah for approximately $5 million. We intend to test the coalbed methane potential of this acreage at depths of 2,000 to 4,000 feet with a three to five well exploratory program during 2005 followed by a development program if exploration is successful. This project is located approximately 40 miles southeast of our Monument Butte field and represents our first move into a coalbed methane play.

        Stone Energy is an independent oil and gas company headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana, and is engaged in the acquisition and subsequent exploitation, development and operation of oil and gas properties located in the conventional GOM shelf, GOM deep shelf, GOM deep water and Rocky Mountains. For additional information, contact James H. Prince, Chief Financial Officer, at 337-237-0410-phone, 337-237-0426-fax or via e-mail at princejh@StoneEnergy.com.

        Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking, and are based upon Stone Energy’s current belief as to the outcome and timing of future events. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities that Stone Energy plans, expects, believes, projects, estimates or anticipates will, should or may occur in the future, including future production of oil and gas, future capital expenditures and drilling of wells and future financial or operating results, are forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements herein include the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices for oil and gas, operating risks and other risk factors as described in Stone Energy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, Stone Energy’s actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.