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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: DECEMBER 15, 2003
                        (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED)



                          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 Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)



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


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ITEM 11. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF TRADING UNDER REGISTRANT'S EMPLOYEE
         BENEFIT PLANS

         Among other restrictions, the insider trading policy of Newfield
Exploration Company ("Newfield") generally prohibits all directors, officers and
employees of Newfield and its subsidiaries from trading in Newfield's securities
during the period beginning on the first day of each calendar quarter and ending
at the close of trading on the second trading day following the release of
Newfield's earnings announcement for that quarter. During this period
participants in Newfield's 401(k) plan are prohibited from changing the
percentage of future contributions to be invested in the Newfield common stock
investment option under the plan and from transferring or reallocating prior
contributions from or to the Newfield common stock investment option. As a
result, a "blackout period" (as defined in Regulation BTR promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) will commence on January 1, 2004 and will end
after the close of trading on the second trading day following the release of
Newfield's quarterly earnings announcement for the quarterly period ended
December 31, 2003. Newfield currently expects to release its quarterly earnings
announcement during the week of February 9, 2004.

         Inquiries about the blackout period may be directed to C. William
Austin by phone at (281) 847-6069 or in writing to Newfield Exploration Company,
363 N. Sam Houston Parkway E., Suite 2020, Houston, Texas 77060.





                                   SIGNATURES


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

                                             NEWFIELD EXPLORATION COMPANY



Date:  December 15, 2003                     By:  /s/ TERRY W. RATHERT
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                  Terry W. Rathert
                                                  Vice President
                                                  and Chief Financial Officer