McMoRan EXPLORATION CO.

ADJUSTED STOCK AWARD PLAN

SECTION 1

Purpose.  The purpose of the McMoRan Exploration Co. Adjusted Stock Award Plan
(the “Plan”) is to provide for the issuance and administration of certain awards
relating to common stock of the Company for the benefit certain persons in
connection with the conversion of all outstanding shares of common stock of
McMoRan Oil & Gas Co. (“MOXY”) and Freeport-McMoRan Sulphur Inc. (“FSC”),
affiliates of the Company, into shares of common stock of the Company upon the
mergers of MOXY and FSC into subsidiaries of the Company.

SECTION 2

Definitions.  As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings
set forth below:

“Award” shall mean any Option or Limited Right granted under this Plan.

“Award Agreement” shall mean any written agreement, contract, notice or other
instrument or document evidencing any Award, which may, but need not, be
executed or acknowledged by a Participant.

“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.

“Committee” shall mean, until otherwise determined by the Board, the Corporate
Personnel Committee of the Board.

“Company” shall mean McMoRan Exploration Co.

“Designated Beneficiary” shall mean the beneficiary designated by the
Participant, in a manner determined by the Committee, to receive the benefits
due the Participant under the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death.  In
the absence of an effective designation by the Participant, Designated
Beneficiary shall mean the Participant’s estate.

“Effective Time” shall mean the effective time of the Mergers.

“Eligible Individual” shall mean any person who immediately prior to the
Effective Time holds a MOXY Award or an FSC Award.

“FSC Award” shall mean an option to purchase FSC common stock granted by FSC
that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time.

“Limited Right” shall mean any right granted under Section 7 of the Plan.

“Mergers” shall mean the mergers of MOXY and FSC into subsidiaries of the
Company.

“MOXY Award” shall mean any of the MOXY Options and MOXY SIUs.

“MOXY Option” shall mean an option to purchase MOXY common stock granted by MOXY
that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time.

“MOXY SIU” shall mean a stock incentive unit granted under the MOXY Adjusted
Stock Award Plan that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the
Effective Time.

“Offer” shall mean any tender offer, exchange offer or series of purchases or
other acquisitions, or any combination of those transactions, as a result of
which any person, or any two or more persons acting as a group, and all
affiliates of such person or persons, shall own beneficially more than 40% of
the Shares outstanding (exclusive of Shares held in the Company’s treasury or by
the Company’s Subsidiaries).

“Offer Price” shall mean the highest price per Share paid in any Offer that is
in effect at any time during the period beginning on the ninetieth day prior to
the date on which a Limited Right is exercised and ending on and including the
date of exercise of such Limited Right.   Any securities or property that
comprise all or a portion of the consideration paid for Shares in the Offer
shall be valued in determining the Offer Price at the higher of (i) the
valuation placed on such securities or property by the person or persons making
such Offer, or (ii) the valuation, if any, placed on such securities or property
by the Committee or the Board.

“Option” shall mean a nonqualified stock option granted under Section 6 of the
Plan.

“Participant” shall mean any Eligible Individual granted an Award under the
Plan.

“Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization, government or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

“SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the staff
thereof, or any successor thereto.

“Section 162(m)” shall mean Section 162(m) of the Code and all regulations
promulgated thereunder as in effect from time to time.

 

“Shares” shall mean the shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Company, including any attached preferred stock purchase rights, and such other
securities of the Company or a Subsidiary as the Committee may from time to time
designate.

“Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation, limited liability company or other
entity in which the Company possesses directly or indirectly equity interests
representing at least 50% of the total ordinary voting power or at least 50% of
the total value of all classes of equity interests of such corporation, limited
liability company or other entity.

SECTION 3

Administration.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  Subject to
the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express
powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee
shall have full power and authority to interpret and administer the Plan and any
instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; establish,
amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it
shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and make any
other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary
or desirable for the administration of the Plan.  The Committee shall have no
discretion relating to the timing, pricing and size of Awards granted under the
Plan, which shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6
 and 7.  Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations,
determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the
Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be
made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Persons,
including the Company, any Subsidiary, any Participant, any holder or
beneficiary of any Award, any stockholder of the Company and any Eligible
Individual.

SECTION 4

Eligibility.  Each Eligible Individual shall be granted an Award in accordance
with the provisions of the Plan.

SECTION 5

(a)

Shares Available for Awards.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5(b):

(i)

Calculation of Number of Shares Available.   The number of Shares with respect
to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be such number of Shares as
results from the application of the award formulas set forth in Sections 6 and
7.  If, after the effective date of the Plan, an Award granted under the Plan
expires or is exercised, forfeited, canceled or terminated without the delivery
of Shares, then the Shares covered by such Award or to which such Award relates,
or the number of Shares otherwise counted against the aggregate number of Shares
with respect to which Awards may be granted, to the extent of any such
expiration, exercise, forfeiture, cancellation or termination, shall not
thereafter be available for grants or Awards under the Plan.

(ii)

Sources of Shares Deliverable Under Awards.  Any Shares delivered pursuant to an
Award may consist of authorized and unissued Shares or of treasury Shares,
including Shares held by the Company or a Subsidiary and acquired in the open
market or otherwise obtained by the Company or a Subsidiary.

(iii)

Individual Limit.  Any provision of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no
individual may receive in any year Awards under the Plan, whether payable in
cash or Shares, that relate to more than 350,000 Shares.

(b)

Adjustments.  In the event that the Committee determines that any dividend or
other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, Subsidiary securities,
other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse
stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off,
combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the
Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other
securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event
affects the Shares such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be
appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential
benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Committee may,
in its sole discretion and in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any
or all of (i) the number and type of Shares (or other securities or property)
with respect to which Awards may be granted, (ii) the number and type of Shares
(or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and (iii) the
grant or exercise price with respect to any Award or, if deemed appropriate,
make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award;
provided, that the number of Shares subject to any Award denominated in Shares
shall always be a whole number.

SECTION 6

(a)

Stock Options.  

(i)

At the Effective Time, each holder of a MOXY Award shall receive an Option to
purchase such number of Shares (disregarding any fractional Share) as such
holder would be eligible to receive in the Mergers with respect to the number of
shares of MOXY common stock subject to such MOXY Award if such holder were the
owner of record of such MOXY shares immediately prior to the Effective Time.
 Except as set forth below in this Section 6(a)(i) and in Section 6(b), each
such Option shall have the same remaining term and other terms and conditions
(whether such terms and conditions are contained in the related MOXY Award
agreement or notice or in the plan under which such MOXY Award was made) and
shall be exercisable to the same extent as the MOXY Award from which it was
derived, with such changes and modifications as are necessary to substitute the
Company for MOXY as the issuer of the Option.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
each such Option shall become immediately exercisable in full when there shall
be a change in the composition of the Board at any time within two years after
the Effective Time such that the persons who were directors of MOXY immediately
prior to the Effective Time cease to constitute a majority of the Board.

(ii)

At the Effective Time, each holder of an FSC Award shall receive an Option to
purchase such number of Shares (disregarding any fractional Share) as such
holder would be eligible to receive in the Mergers with respect to the number of
shares of FSC common stock subject to such FSC Award if such holder were the
owner of record of such FSC shares immediately prior to the Effective Time.
 Except as set forth below in this Section 6(a)(ii) and in Section 6(b), each
such Option shall have the same remaining term and other terms and conditions
(whether such terms and conditions are contained in the related FSC Award
agreement or notice or in the plan under which such FSC Award was made) and
shall be exercisable to the same extent as the FSC Award from which it was
derived, with such changes and modifications as are necessary to substitute the
Company for FSC as the issuer of the Option.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
each such Option shall become immediately exercisable in full when there shall
be a change in the composition of the Board at any time within two years after
the Effective Time such that the persons who were directors of FSC immediately
prior to the Effective Time cease to constitute a majority of the Board.

(b)

Exercise Price.  The per Share exercise price of each Option granted pursuant to
Section 6(a)(i) shall be the per share exercise price or grant price of the MOXY
Award from which such Option was derived divided by 0.2.  The per Share exercise
price of each Option granted pursuant to Section 6(a)(ii) shall be the per share
exercise price of the FSC Award from which such Option was derived divided by
0.625.

(c)

Payment.  No Shares shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option
until payment in full of the option price therefor is received by the Company.
 Such payment may be made in cash, or its equivalent, or, if and to the extent
permitted by the Committee, by applying cash amounts payable by the Company upon
the exercise of such Option or other Awards by the holder thereof or by
exchanging whole Shares owned by such holder (which are not the subject of any
pledge or other security interest), or by a combination of the foregoing,
provided that the combined value of all cash, cash equivalents, cash amounts so
payable by the Company upon exercises of Awards and the fair market value of any
such whole Shares so tendered to the Company, valued (in accordance with
procedures established by the Committee) as of the effective date of such
exercise, is at least equal to such option price.

SECTION 7

(a)

Limited Rights.

(i)

Each holder of a MOXY Award shall receive, at the same time as and in tandem
with each Option granted to such holder under Section 6(a)(i), Limited Rights
equal in number to the number of Shares subject to such Option with which such
Limited Rights are in tandem.  Such Limited Rights shall have a grant price
equal to the exercise price of the Options under Section 6 with which they are
in tandem, and shall in all other respects contain the same terms and conditions
as the agreement or notice pertaining to the MOXY Award from which they derived.

(ii)

Each holder of an FSC Award shall receive, at the same time as and in tandem
with each Option granted to such holder under Section 6(a)(ii), Limited Rights
equal in number to the number of Shares subject to such Option with which such
Limited Rights are in tandem.  Such Limited Rights shall have a grant price
equal to the exercise price of the Options under Section 6 with which they are
in tandem, and shall in all other respects contain the same terms and conditions
as the agreement or notice pertaining to the FSC Award from which they derived.

(b)

A Limited Right shall entitle the holder thereof to receive an amount equal to
the excess, if any, of the Offer Price on the date of exercise of the Limited
Right over the grant price.  Any Limited Right may be settled in cash, Shares or
a combination of cash and Shares, as determined by the Committee or the Board at
the time of exercise, and shall only be exercisable during a period beginning
not earlier than one day and ending not more than ninety days after the
expiration date of an Offer.

SECTION 8

(a)

Amendments to the Plan.  The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or
any portion thereof at any time, provided that no amendment shall be made
without stockholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any
tax or regulatory requirement, including for these purposes any approval
necessary to qualify Awards as “performance based” compensation under Section
162(m) or any successor provision if such qualification is deemed necessary or
desirable by the Committee.   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, (i) the Committee may amend the Plan in such manner as may be necessary
for the Plan to conform with local rules and regulations in any jurisdiction
outside the United States and (ii) any amendment, suspension or termination made
in accordance with this Section 8(a) that would adversely affect a holder’s
rights under an Award made under the Plan may not be made without such holder’s
consent.

(b)

Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring
Events.  The Committee is hereby authorized to make adjustments in the terms and
conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or
nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in
Section 5(b) hereof) affecting the Company, or the financial statements of the
Company or any Subsidiary, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or
accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments
are appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential
benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.

(c)

Cancellation.  Any provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Committee may cause any Award granted hereunder to be
canceled in consideration of a cash payment or alternative Award made to the
holder of such canceled Award equal in value to such canceled Award.  The
determinations of value under this subsection shall be made by the Committee in
its sole discretion.

SECTION 9

(a)

Award Agreements.  Each Award hereunder shall be evidenced by a writing
delivered to the Participant that shall specify the terms and conditions thereof
and any rules applicable thereto and that shall, in accordance with the
provisions of the Plan, replicate as closely as possible the terms, conditions
and other contractual attributes of the MOXY Award or FSC Award from which the
Award is derived, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time.

(b)

Withholding. (i) A Participant shall be required to pay to the Company, and the
Company shall have the right to deduct from all amounts paid to a Participant
(whether under the Plan or otherwise), any taxes required by law to be paid or
withheld in respect of Awards hereunder to such Participant. The Committee may
provide for additional cash payments to holders of Awards to defray or offset
any tax arising from the grant, vesting, exercise or payment of any Award.

 

(ii) At any time that a Participant is required to pay to the Company an amount
required to be withheld under the applicable tax laws in connection with the
issuance of Shares under the Plan, the Participant may, if permitted by the
Committee, satisfy this obligation in whole or in part by electing (the
“Election”) to have the Company withhold from the issuance Shares having a value
equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld.  The value of the Shares
withheld shall be based on the fair market value of the Shares on the date as of
which the amount of tax to be withheld shall be determined in accordance with
applicable tax laws (the “Tax Date”).

 

(iii) If permitted by the Committee, a Participant may also satisfy up to his or
her total tax liability related to an Award by delivering Shares owned by the
Participant, which Shares may be subject to holding period requirements
determined by the Committee.  The value of the Shares delivered shall be based
on the fair market value of the Shares on the Tax Date.

 

(iv) Each Election to have Shares withheld must be made prior to the Tax Date.
If a Participant wishes to deliver Shares in payment of taxes, the Participant
must so notify the Company prior to the Tax Date.

(c)

Transferability.  No Awards granted hereunder may be transferred, pledged,
assigned or otherwise encumbered by a Participant except: (i) by will; (ii) by
the laws of descent and distribution; (iii) pursuant to a domestic relations
order, as defined in the Code, if permitted by the Committee and so provided in
the Award Agreement or an amendment thereto; or (iv) if permitted by the
Committee and so provided in the Award Agreement or an amendment thereto, (a) to
Immediate Family Members, (b) to a partnership in which Immediate Family
Members, or entities in which Immediate Family Members are the owners, members
or beneficiaries, as appropriate, are the partners, (c) to a limited liability
company in which Immediate Family Members, or entities in which Immediate Family
Members are the owners, members or beneficiaries, as appropriate, are the
members, or (d) to a trust for the benefit of Immediate Family Members;
provided, however, that no more than a de minimus beneficial interest in a
partnership, limited liability company or trust described in (b), (c) or (d)
above may be owned by a person who is not an Immediate Family Member or by an
entity that is not beneficially owned solely by Immediate Family Members.
 “Immediate Family Members” shall be defined as the spouse and natural or
adopted children or grandchildren of the Participant and their spouses.  Any
attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of
Awards, or levy of attachment or similar process upon Awards not specifically
permitted herein, shall be null and void and without effect.  The designation of
a Designated Beneficiary shall not be a violation of this Section 9(c).

(d)

Share Certificates.  All certificates for Shares or other securities delivered
under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to
such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem
advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of
the SEC, any stock exchange upon which such Shares or other securities are then
listed, and any applicable federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a
legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate
reference to such restrictions.

(e)

No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements.   Nothing contained in the Plan
shall prevent the Company from adopting or continuing in effect other
compensation arrangements, which may, but need not, provide for the grant of
options and other types of Awards provided for hereunder (subject to stockholder
approval of any such arrangement if approval is required), and such arrangements
may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

(f)

No Right to Employment.  The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving
a Participant the right to be engaged or employed by or retained in the employ
of the Company or any Subsidiary.  The Company or any Subsidiary may at any time
dismiss a Participant from engagement or employment, free from any liability or
any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in
any Award Agreement or any agreement relating to the engagement or employment of
the Participant by the Company or any Subsidiary.

(g)

Governing Law.  The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan, any rules
and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be determined
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

(h)

Severability.  If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is
deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any
Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed
applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended
to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended
without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent
of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such
jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award
shall remain in full force and effect.

(i)

No Trust or Fund Created.  Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be
construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary
relationship between the Company and a Participant or any other Person.  To the
extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company
pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any
unsecured general creditor of the Company.

(j)

No Fractional Shares.  No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered
pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine, in
accordance with the terms of the Plan, as applicable, whether cash, other
securities or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any
fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall
be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.

(k)

Headings.  Headings are given to the subsections of the Plan solely as a
convenience to facilitate reference.  Such headings shall not be deemed in any
way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or
any provision thereof.

SECTION 10

Effective Date of the Plan.  The Plan shall be effective as of the date of its
approval by the stockholder of the Company.

SECTION 11

Term of the Plan.  Subject to Section 5(b), no Award shall be granted under the
Plan except the Awards provided for in Sections 6 and 7.  Awards granted
hereunder shall continue until their respective expiration dates, and the
authority of the Committee to administer, interpret, amend, alter, adjust,
suspend, discontinue, or terminate, in accordance with the provisions of the
Plan, any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under any such Award
shall extend until the latest such date.