McMoRan Oil & Gas Co. Personal Solicitation Materials SLIDE 1 McMoRan Exploration Co. SLIDE 2 McMoRan Exploration Co. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT This presentation contains a number of forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include the following: variations in the market prices of oil, natural gas and sulphur; drilling results; unanticipated fluctuations in flow rates of producing wells; oil, natural gas and sulphur reserve expectations; the ability to satisfy future cash obligations and environmental costs; general development risks and hazards; and the ability to realize synergies. Such factors and others are more fully described in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 11, 1998. SLIDE 3 McMoRan Exploration Co. PRO FORMA OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE MOXY FSC Shareholders Shareholders 58.5% 41.5% McMoRan Exploration Co. (MOX*) Oil & Gas Division Sulphur Division Exploration Production Development Recovered Purchases/Sales Production Terminaling & Transport *Application to be made for listing on NYSE SLIDE 4 McMoRan Exploration Co. TRANSACTION PROCESS DATE MOXY FSC June 3-4, 1998 (Independent Robert A. Day J.Terrell Brown Committees) Gerald J. Ford Thomas D. Clark June 10-25, 1998 (Legal Haynes & Boone Jones, Day, Counsel) Reavis & Pogue (Investment Bear Stearns Lehman Brothers Bankers) July 14-31, 1998 Merger Negotiations July 31 - - Aug 1, 1998 Board Approvals August 3, 1998 Public Announcement SLIDE 5 McMoRan Exploration Co. TRANSACTION TIMELINE 8/3/98.........Press Release 8/11/98........Filing of Proxy/Prospectus Materials with SEC 4-6 weeks......Proxy/Prospectus Becomes Effective: Print and Mail Documents to Shareholders 4-6 weeks......Proxy Solicitation Period Merger 4Q SLIDE 6 McMoRan Exploration Co. DEAL TERMS Exchange Ratios - MOXY: 0.20 Share FSC: 0.625 Share MOX Outstanding Shares - 14.7 Million Approval Conditions - Majority of MOXY and FSC Shareholders Board Representation - All Existing Members of MOXY and FSC Boards Tax Treatment - Tax Free Termination Fee - Expenses Only SLIDE 8 McMoRan Exploration Co. STRATEGIC BENEFITS OF COMBINATION TO FSC Enhances Growth Opportunities Through Oil and Gas Investments Diversification Outside Sulphur Hedge for Natural Gas Costs Cost Savings Increases Market Capitalization SLIDE 7 McMoRan Exploration Co. STRATEGIC BENEFITS OF COMBINATION TO MOXY Improves Ability to Take Advantage of Increasing Opportunities Now Available in Oil & Gas Activities Greater Financial Resources and Flexibility Cash Flow Stream Cost Savings Increases Market Capitalization SLIDE 9 McMoRan Exploration Co. OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH Increasing Availability Of Farm-In Blocks Lower Third Party Service Costs Financial Strength; Cost Synergies Extensive Geophysical, Technical and Operational Expertise and Data Base Acquisition Possibilities Maximize Growth and Value of Sulphur Services Business SLIDE 10 McMoRan Exploration Co. E&P Stock Index/Capital Market Trends Graph showing following data: - - E&P High Yield Offerings ($Billions) 1994 - $0.9 1995 - $2.4 1996 - $2.5 1997 - $4.8 1998YTD - $2.2 - - E&P Equity Offerings ($Billions) 1994 - $1.0 1995 - $2.4 1996 - $2.7 1997 - $1.8 1998YTD - $0.3 - - E&P High Yield Offerings and E&P Equity Offerings Combined ($Billions) 1994 - $1.9 1995 - $4.8 1996 - $5.2 1997 - $6.6 1998YTD - $2.5 - - BSC E&P Index* - Relative Value Index shown as a percentage *Bear Stearn's E&P Index includes Anadarko, Apache, Barrett, Brigham, Cabot, Chesapeake, Coho, Comstock, Cross Timbers, EEX, Lomark, National Energy, Ocean, Oryx, Pogo, Santa Fe, Stone, Triton and Union Pacific resources. SLIDE 11 McMoRan Exploration Co. Oil Price/OCS Lease Sales Graph depicting Blocks Leased and NYMEX Light Crude Oil Prices from 1994 through 1998 as summarized below: Number of Blocks Leased 1994 - 560 1995 - 835 1996 - 1508 1997 - 1778 1998* - 1450 *May Lease Sale Only. Oil Price Per Barrel 1994 - range during the year from $14.21 to $20.71 1995 - range during the year from $16.79 to $20.41 1996 - range during the year from $17.71 to $25.79 1997 - range during the year from $18.20 to $26.09 1998 - range during the first half of year from $11.84 to $17.43 Source: Minerals Management Service SLIDE 12 McMoRan Exploration Co. 3-D SURVEYS IN GULF OF MEXICO (As of December 1990) [GRID MAP OF SURVEYS] SLIDE 13 McMoRan Exploration Co. 3-D SURVEYS IN GULF OF MEXICO (As of June 1998) [GRID MAP OF SURVEYS] SLIDE 14 McMoRan Exploration Co. AS 3-D Becomes Old Hat, Gulf Drillers Begin To Fret "The failure to happen on hydrocarbons after flushing millions of dollars into the Gulf floor isn't exceptional ... 3-D tests and the cutting-edge computer software that read them have hardly made dry holes a thing of the past." The Wall Street Journal, July 29, 1998 Anne Reifenberg & Michael Totty SLIDE 15 McMoRan Exploration Co. POTENTIAL LEASE EXPIRATION BY 2001 [Grid Map Depicting Areas Of Expiration on 12-31-1998, 12-31-1999, 12-31-2000, 12-31-2001] SLIDE 16 McMoRan Exploration Co. GULF OF MEXICO LEASE EXPIRATIONS(1) (0 to 600 Feet Water Depth) Year Blocks Acres 1998(2) 89 482,356 1999 402 1,933,935 2000 424 2,044,837 2001 621 3,012,801 (1) Leases within primary term on which commercial production has not been established (2) 8/98 to 12/98 Source: Lexco - July 98 SLIDE 17 McMoRan Exploration Co. LACK OF E&P SUCCESS Sifting through the ashes SLIDE 18 McMoRan Exploration Co. GLOBAL E&D EXPENDITURES Despite a record year for E&D spending in 1997, the upward trend in upstream spending is not expected to continue. "Oil prices have plummeted, natural gas prices have weakened, and 1998 could see the first decline in capital spending since 1992." Oil & Gas Journal, July 1998 Mr. Victor A. Burk Arthur Andersen's Managing Director of Energy Industry Services SLIDE 19 McMoRan Exploration Co. AVERAGE OFFSHORE RIG RATES(1) Graph Depicting Per Day Cost from June 1993 to August 1998 as follows: $(000) 250 feet water depth June 1993 - 21.8 October 1993 - 24.8 February 1994 - 20.3 June 1994 - 19.5 October 1994 - 20.5 February 1995 - 18.5 June 1995 - 19.5 October 1995 - 21.3 February 1996 - 22.5 June 1996 - 25.5 October 1996 - 27.8 February 1997 - 33.0 June 1997 - 40.5 October 1997 - 42.5 February 1998 - 44.0 June 1998 - 44.3 300 feet water depth June 1993 - 26.0 October 1993 - 29.0 February 1994 - 22.5 June 1994 - 21.8 October 1994 - 22.8 February 1995 - 19.5 June 1995 - 23.0 October 1995 - 24.3 February 1996 - 26.5 June 1996 - 28.5 October 1996 - 36.0 February 1997 - 42.8 June 1997 - 52.0 October 1997 - 57.5 February 1998 - 60.3 June 1998 - 54.8 300+ feet water depth February 1996 - 31.5 June 1996 - 33.5 October 1996 - 42.0 February 1997 - 46.0 June 1997 - 56.5 October 1997 - 67.5 February 1998 - 69.0 June 1998 - 59.8 (1) Computation includes long term contract rates through June 1998; estimated rates for July and August 1998 represent only then spot market rates since industry data not yet available. Source: Howard, Weil, Labouisse, Friedrichs SLIDE 20 McMoRan Exploration Co. INCREASED FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY(1) $49 Million Cash $51 Million 1997 EBITDAX(2) No Debt Existing $100 Million Credit Line Better Access to Capital Markets (1) Pro Forma as of June 30, 1998 (2) Pro Forma for year ended December 31, 1997 EBITDAX: Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and exploration expenses. SLIDE 21 McMoRan Exploration Co. FSC's STRENGTHS Source of Cash Flows: $22 Million EBITDA in 1997 Significant Portion of Sales Committed Under Long-term Contract Minimal Maintenance Capital Expenditures Potential Main Pass Cost Savings Provide Upside Potential SLIDE 22 McMoRan Exploration Co. OPERATING & COST SYNERGIES Operational Savings Integration of Technical Expertise Improved Purchasing Power G&A Savings SLIDE 23 McMoRan Exploration Co. PROVEN MANAGEMENT TEAM James R. Moffett - Chairman of Board of Directors Richard C. Adkerson - Vice Chairman, President & CEO Robert M. Wohleber - Executive VP & CFO President & COO - Sulphur Division C. Howard Murrish - Executive VP President & COO - Oil Division SLIDE 24 McMoRan Exploration Co. PROVEN EXPLORATION TEAM Experienced Group of Explorationists Together More Than 25 Years Exceptional Expertise in Gulf Coast Region Highly Regarded Group of Geologists and Geophysicists CLK Has Worked with MOXY Since 1977, Continues To Generate Exploration Opportunities Exclusively For the MOXY Team - Seven Geologists (Average 26 Years of Experience) - Six Geophysicists (Average 29 Years of Experience) SLIDE 25 McMoRan Exploration Co. MOXY's 2D Seismic Coverage [GRID MAP] 			 SLIDE 26 McMoRan Exploration Co. MOXY's 3D Seismic Coverage [GRID MAP] SLIDE 27 McMoRan Exploration Co. GULF OF MEXICO BLOCKS REVIEWED BY MOXY TEAM [GRID MAP] SLIDE 28 McMoRan Exploration Co. MOXY'S EXTENSIVE DATA BASE 200,000 Miles of Offshore 2-D Data 350 Blocks of Offshore 3-D Data 20,000 Miles of Onshore 2-D Data 97 Square Miles of Onshore 3-D Data 260,000 Well Logs SLIDE 29 McMoRan Exploration Co. EXAMPLE OF FARM-IN DISCOVERY (1) - 1980s VERMILION BLOCK 225/226 AREA PRE-DRILL Composite Production Outline Pre-drill No.4 Well [Picture] (1) By predecessor company SLIDE 30 McMoRan Exploration Co. EXAMPLE OF FARM-IN DISCOVERY (1)- 1980s VERMILION BLOCK 225/226 FIELD AREA POST-DRILL Composite Production Outline Post-drill No.4 Well [Picture] (1) By predecessor company SLIDE 31 McMoRan Exploration Co. EXAMPLE OF FARM-IN DISCOVERY (1)-- 1990s VERMILION BLOCK 159/160 AREA PRE-DRILL Composite Production Outline Pre-drill No.2(AJ1) Well [Picture] (1)By predecessor company SLIDE 32 McMoRan Exploration Co. EXAMPLE OF FARM-IN DISCOVERY (1)-- 1990s VERMILION BLOCK 159/160 FIELD AREA POST-DRILL Composite Production Outline Post-drill No.2(AJ1) Well [Picture] (1)By predecessor company SLIDE 33 McMoRan Exploration Co. Exploration Team Major Field Discoveries Cumulative Production(1)(BCFE) Year of Discovery ------------------- ----------------- Vermilion 25					 293				1977 High Island A-446/A-447/A-448			 180				1978 Matagorda Island 700/713			 108				1978 South Marsh Island 173/174/175/176		 125				1979 Vermilion 225/226/237				 392				1981 Eugene Island 308/315				 136				1983 West Delta 88/89					 155				1989 Main Pass 299					 267(2)			1991 East Cameron 331/332				 85				1992 Vermilion 143/144/159/160			 96(3)		 1992/97 West Cameron 616					 71(4)			1997 Vermilion 144/145/159				 *				1998 Brazos A-19						 *				1998 1. Through 12/31/97, per Lexco report of February 1998. 2. Cumulative production as of 12/31/97 (214 BCFE) plus remaining proved reserves as of 12/31/97. 3. Cumulative production as of 12/31/97 (20 BCFE) plus remaining proved and probable reserves as of 12/31/97. 4. Proved and probable reserves as of 12/31/97. * Ultimate reserves undetermined; development in progress. Billion cubic feet equivalent (BCFE) is the ratio of 1 barrel of oil being equivalent to 6 thousand cubic feet of natural gas based on an approximate energy content equivalency. 				 SLIDE 34 McMoRan Exploration Co. Acquisition Possibilities With Sluggish Prices and Stocks, Oils May Have to Merge "The market is saying, 'Size is everything ... Unless oil moves back above $16 a barrel and gas above $2 a thousand cubic feet, the financial pain may well drive a lot of companies into the arms of someone else.'" Business Week - August 6, 1998 SLIDE 35 McMoRan Exploration Co. OPERATIONS OVERVIEW Predecessor Active In Exploration and Production Since 1969 Track Record of Success MOXY and Predecessors Participated In 56 Offshore Discoveries Since 1977 Large Data Base of Seismic and Log Information Advanced Technology Combined With Experience Reduces Risk Long-Term $210MM Exploration Joint Venture In Place SLIDE 36 McMoRan Exploration Co. MOX PROVED RESERVES* Oil & Gas Reserves - 74.5 BCFE Pie Chart with the following information: Oil/Condensate - 5.7 Million Barrels Gas - 40.2 BCF Sulphur Reserves Pie Chart with the following information: 53.6 Million Long Tons *As of December 31, 1997 Billion cubic feet equivalent (BCFE) is the ratio of 1 barrel of oil being equivalent to 6 thousand cubic feet of natural gas based on an approximate energy content equivalency. SLIDE 37 McMoRan Exploration Co. 1998 OIL & GAS DISCOVERIES Brazos A-19 Vermilion 159 West Cameron 616 West Cameron 617 SLIDE 38 McMoRan Exploration Co. OIL & GAS PRODUCTION GRAPH DEPICTING PRODUCTION in 1996, 1997 and ESTIMATED 1998 for MOXY and FSC as follows: 1996 MOXY - 0.7 BCF Equivalents FSC - 11.4 BCF Equivalents 1997 MOXY - 4.3 BCF Equivalents FSC - 9.8 BCF Equivalents 1998e MOXY - 10.5* BCF Equivalents FSC - 10.2* BCF Equivalents *Estimated 1998 Production Billion cubic feet equivalent (BCFE) is the ratio of 1 barrel of oil being equivalent to 6 thousand cubic feet of natural gas based on an approximate energy content equivalency. SLIDE 39 McMoRan Exploration Co. MOXY CAPITAL EXPENDITURES GRAPH Depicting Capital Expenditures in Acquisition, Development and Exploration as follows: (in Millions) 1996 Acquisition - $- Development - $7 Exploration - $14 Total - $21 1997 Acquisition - $24 Development - $10 Exploration - $25 Total - $59 1998e Acquisition - $- Development - $30 Exploration - $20 Total - $50* *Note: 1998 estimate based on existing development plans. SLIDE 40 McMoRan Exploration Co. MOXY Exploration Program Estimates (Figures in Million $'s) 1997* 1998 Remaining Total ----- ---- --------- ----- Leasehold & Seismic $ 20 $ 4 $ 23 $ 47 Overhead 3 7 16 26 Exploratory Wells 32 39 66 137 ---- ---- --------- ----- 100% Exploration Capital $ 55 $ 50 $ 105 $ 210 ==== ==== ========= ===== MOXY Net Exploration Capital $ 21 $ 19 $ 40 $ 80 ==== ==== ========= ===== *NOTE: 1997 figures based on partial year. Program year is December to December. SLIDE 41 McMoRan Exploration Co. MOXY LEASE ACREAGE* Gross Acres Net Acres ----------- --------- Offshore (Federal Waters) 134,768 45,301 Onshore Louisiana & Texas 5,488 1,434 ------- ------ 140,256 46,735 *As of 12/31/97 SLIDE 42 McMoRan Exploration Co. MOXY LEASE INVENTORY MAP SHOWING THE FOLLOWING WELLS AND THEIR LOCATIONS UNDER EXPLORATION AND/OR PRODUCTION: West Cameron 156/157-Exploration East Cameron 119/120-Exploration Vermilion 143/144/159/160-Production Eugene Island 18/19-Exploration North Bay Junop-Production Main Pass 56-Exploration Vermilion 145-Exploration Brazos A19/A26-Exploration West Cameron 492-Exploration West Cameron 616/617/623/624/625-Exploration East Cameron 362/Vermilion 389/409/410-Production Vermilion 391/392/408-Exploration Grand Isle 53/54/58/59/65-Exploration SLIDE 43 McMoRan Exploration Co. VERMILION 159/160 FIELD AREA [PICTURE] MOXY NWI = 42% in the Unit 73% (V160 #4 Stk.) 48% (V159 #3) Water Depth = 90 feet Gross Acreage = 15,312 Acres SLIDE 44 McMoRan Exploration Co. BRAZOS A-19 FIELD [PICTURE] MOXY NWI = 17% Water Depth = 134 Feet Gross Acreage = 11,520 Acres (Operator: Shell Offshore) SLIDE 45 McMoRan Exploration Co. OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH Increasing Availability Of Farm-In Blocks Lower Third Party Service Costs Financial Strength; Cost Synergies Extensive Geophysical, Technical and Operational Expertise and Data Base Acquisition Possibilities Maximize Growth and Value of Sulphur Services Business