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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-05-067011.txt : 20051215
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-05-067011.hdr.sgml : 20051215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051215162300
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-05-067011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051213
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051215
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051215

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPINNAKER EXPLORATION CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001089697
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				760560101
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 SMITH STREET SUITE 800
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7137591770

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 SMITH STREET SUITE 800
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WARBURG PINCUS VENTURES LP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000942263
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16009
		FILM NUMBER:		051266885

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		E M WARBURG PINCUS & CO INC
		STREET 2:		466 LEXINGTON AVE 10TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017-3147
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2128780600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		E M WARBURG PINCUS & CO INC
		STREET 2:		466 LEXINGTON AVE 10TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017-3147
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd100071.xml
<DESCRIPTION>WARBURG FORM 4 12-13-05
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-12-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001089697</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SPINNAKER EXPLORATION CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SKE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000942263</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WARBURG PINCUS VENTURES LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>466 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>U</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6800585</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>65.50</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The stockholder is Warburg Pincus Ventures, L.P. (&quot;WPV&quot;). Warburg Pincus Partners, LLC (&quot;WPP&quot;), a New York limited liability company and a subsidiary of Warburg Pincus &amp; Co. (&quot;WP&quot;), is the sole general partner of WPV. WPV is managed by Warburg Pincus LLC (&quot;WP LLC&quot;). The address of WPV, WPP, WP and WP LLC (collectively, the &quot;Warburg Pincus Entities&quot;) is 466 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares were disposed of pursuant to the merger agreement between the issuer and Norsk Hydro ASA in exchange for merger consideration of $65.50 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Scott A. Arenare, on behalf of Warburg Pincus Ventures, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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