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                       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): MAY 1, 2003



                          NEWFIELD EXPLORATION COMPANY
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)




                                                                                         
          DELAWARE                                     1-12534                                     72-1133047
(State or Other Jurisdiction                  (Commission File Number)                          (I.R.S. Employer
     of Incorporation)                                                                         Identification No.)




                    363 N. SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY E., SUITE 2020
                              HOUSTON, TEXAS 77060
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)



                                 (281) 847-6000
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)




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ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

         (c)   Exhibits

               99.1     Press release issued by Newfield Exploration Company on
                        May 1, 2003.


ITEM 9.  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

         On May 1, 2003, Newfield issued a press release announcing a shelf
discovery at West Cameron 73. A copy of the press release is furnished herewith
as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

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                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                   NEWFIELD EXPLORATION COMPANY



Date:  May 1, 2003                 By: /s/ TERRY W. RATHERT
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Terry W. Rathert
                                      Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                                      (Authorized Officer and Principal
                                      Financial Officer)

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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.           Description
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   99.1               Press release issued by Newfield Exploration Company on
                      May 1, 2003.