Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

On January 17, 2013, McMoRan Exploration Co. (McMoRan) completed the sale of the Laphroaig field to Energy XXI Onshore, LLC (EXXI) for cash consideration, after closing adjustments, of $80.0 million and the assumption of related abandonment obligations (the Laphroaig Sale). The Laphroaig field represented approximately 10 percent of McMoRan's total average daily production for the fourth quarter of 2012 and four percent of McMoRan's total estimated reserves at June 30, 2012. Independent reserve engineers' estimates of proved reserves for the Laphroaig field at June 30, 2012 totaled approximately 103,000 barrels of oil and 8.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas (9.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalents) with comparable year-end 2012 reserves not expected to be materially different. The Laphroaig Sale was effective January 1, 2013.

Previously, on November 13, 2012, McMoRan completed the sale of a package of Gulf of Mexico traditional shelf oil and gas properties in the Eugene Island area to Arena Energy, LP (Arena), and on October 2, 2012, McMoRan completed the sale of three Gulf of Mexico shelf oil and gas properties in the West Delta and Mississippi Canyon areas to Renaissance Offshore, LLC (Renaissance) (collectively, the Previous Transactions). The combined net cash proceeds from the Previous Transactions (after closing adjustments) totaled $55.9 million and reclamation obligations assumed by the purchasers totaled $45.6 million. Independent reserve engineers' estimates of proved reserves for the Previous Transactions at June 30, 2012 totaled approximately 1,487 barrels of oil and 13.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas (22.6 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalents).

The combined cash proceeds from the Laphroaig Sale and the Previous Transactions after closing adjustments totaled $135.9 million. McMoRan recorded net gains totaling approximately $39.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 in connection with the Previous Transactions and expects to record a gain totaling approximately $74 million in the first quarter of 2013 in connection with the Laphroaig Sale.

Pursuant to Items 2.01 and 9.01, the required pro forma financial information for the property sales to EXXI, Arena and Renaissance is set forth below under Item 9.01.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of McMoRan as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and for the year ended December 31, 2011 that give effect to the dispositions of assets to EXXI, Arena and Renaissance described therein are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and are incorporated by reference in this Item 9.01.

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