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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 FORM 11-K
  þ
    
    ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010
 OR
 o
    
    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 For the transition period from  to
 Commission file number: 001-34224
  BRIGHAM, INC. 401(k) PLAN
  BRIGHAM EXPLORATION COMPANY
6300 Bridgepoint Parkway
Building Two, Suite 500
Austin, Texas 78730




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BRIGHAM, INC. 401(k) PLAN
 2009 FORM 11-K
 PageREQUIRED INFORMATIONITEM 4. Unaudited Financial Statements And Schedule Prepared in Accordance With ERISAStatements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits as of
December 31, 2010 and 2009
    
    
    1Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits for the
Year Ended December 31, 2010
    
    
    2Notes to the Financial Statements
    
    
    3Supplemental schedule:Schedule H, Line 4(i)  Assets Held for Investment Purposes
At December 31, 2010
    
    
    6SIGNATURE
    
    
    7




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December 31,2010
    
    
    2009AssetsCash and equivalentsCash
    
    $
    
    
    
    $
    4,887Schwab Retirement Advantage Money Fund*
    
    
    1,850,315
    
    
    
    1,572,6021,850,315
    
    
    
    1,577,489Investments at fair value:Amana Income Fund
    
    
    170,541
    
    
    
    130,389Blackrock US Opportunities Inv A
    
    
    401,045
    
    
    
    279,637Dreyfus Appreciation
    
    
    500,130
    
    
    
    386,896Dreyfus S&P 500 Index Fund
    
    
    438,972
    
    
    
    342,131Fidelity Adv Small Cap CL T
    
    
    531,245
    
    
    
    431,366First Eagle SOGEN Overseas*
    
    
    959,892
    
    
    
    616,771Janus Overseas FD CL A
    
    
    304,931
    
    
    
    209,141Janus Twenty Fund*
    
    
    758,471
    
    
    
    655,077Jensen Portfolio Class J
    
    
    206,540
    
    
    
    150,976Pimco Total Return*
    
    
    1,950,991
    
    
    
    1,683,151Royce Special Equity
    
    
    423,701
    
    
    
    268,241Rydex SGI Mid Cap Value A
    
    
    319,878
    
    
    
    186,734Loans to participants
    
    
    161,876
    
    
    
    82,350Common stock of Brigham Exploration
Company*
    
    
    3,142,189
    
    
    
    1,553,819.
    
    
    10,270,402
    
    
    
    6,976,679Receivables:Participant contributions
    
    
    
    
    
    
    15,845Employer matching
    
    
    1,482,516
    
    
    
    12,300Accrued dividends
    
    
    7,199
    
    
    
    6,130Other
    
    
    
    
    
    
    8,449Total Receivables
    
    
    1,489,715
    
    
    
    42,725Total Assets
    
    
    13,610,432
    
    
    
    8,596,893Liabilities
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Net assets available for plan benefits
    
    $
    13,610,432
    
    
    $
    8,596,893
 *
    
    Investments greater than 5% of net assets available for plan benefits.   1




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BRIGHAM, INC. 401(K) PLAN
 
 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS
 Year EndedDecember 31,2010Additions to net assets attributed to:Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value
    
    $
    786,156Dividends
    
    
    1,677,324Interest
    
    
    6,997Total investment income
    
    
    2,470,477Contributions:Participants
    
    
    782,513Employer matching
    
    
    1,659,077Others
    
    
    152,080Total contributions
    
    
    2,593,670Total additions
    
    
    5,064,147Deductions from net assets attributed to:Benefits distributed to participants
    
    
    50,017Administrative and trustee fees
    
    
    590Other
    
    
    Total deductions
    
    
    50,607Increase/(decrease) in net assets available for plan benefits
    
    
    5,013,540Net assets available for plan benefits at beginning of year
    
    
    8,596,892Net assets available for plan benefits at end of year
    
    $
    13,610,432
   2




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BRIGHAM, INC. 401(k) PLAN
 
 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 1.
    
    Description of the Plan
  General
    Contributions
  Interfund Transfers
  Vesting
   3




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BRIGHAM, INC. 401(k) PLAN
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 Benefit Payments
  Participant Loans
  Administrative Expenses
  2.
    
    Accounting Policies
 Basis of Accounting
   Cash and Cash Equivalents
  Valuation of Investments
   4




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BRIGHAM, INC. 401(k) PLAN
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 The Use of Estimates in Preparing Financial Statements
  3.
    
    Plan Termination
  4.
    
    ERISA
   5




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BRIGHAM, INC. 401(k) PLAN
 
 SCHEDULE H, LINE 4(i)  ASSETS HELD
FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AT END OF YEAR
 Investments at December 31, 2010
 Identity of Issue, Borrower,
    
    Description ofLessor or Similar Party
    
    Investment
    
    Value*
    
    Brigham Exploration Company
    
    Common stock
    
    $
    3,142,189.00Cash
    
    Cash
    
    
    *
    
    Schwab Retirement Advantage Fund
    
    Cash equivalent
    
    
    1,850,315.00Amana Income Fund
    
    Stock mutual fund
    
    
    170,541.00Blackrock US Opportunities Inv A
    
    Stock mutual fund
    
    
    401,045.00Dreyfus Appreciation
    
    Stock mutual fund
    
    
    500,130.00Dreyfus S&P 500 Index Fund
    
    Stock mutual fund
    
    
    438,972.00Fidelity Adv Small Cap CL T
    
    Stock mutual fund
    
    
    531,245.00First Eagle SOGEN Overseas
    
    Stock mutual fund
    
    
    959,892.00Janus Overseas FD CL A
    
    Stock mutual fund
    
    
    304,931.00Janus Twenty Fund
    
    Stock mutual fund
    
    
    758,471.00Jensen Portfolio
    
    Stock mutual fund
    
    
    206,540.00Royce Special Equity
    
    Stock mutual fund
    
    
    423,701.00Rydex SGI Mid Cap Value A
    
    Stock mutual fund
    
    
    319,878.00Pimco Total Return
    
    Bond/fixed income mutual fund
    
    
    1,950,991.00Participant Loans
    
    Due March 31, 2011 through December 31, 2025 at 5.25% to 7.00%
    
    
    161,876.00
 *
    
    Indicates party in-interest  6




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SIGNATURES
  BRIGHAM, INC. 401(k) PLANDate:    June 29, 2011
    By:
    /s/  Malcom O. BrownMalcom O. BrownVice President & Controller  7