Mariner Energy Inc - Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership (3)

FORM 3	UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES	OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0104 Expires: February 28, 2011 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5
	Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person ^*

MOORE KENNETH E JR

2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (MM/DD/YYYY) 8/6/2008

3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol

MARINER ENERGY INC [ME]

(Last) (First) (Middle)

ONE BRIARLAKE PLAZA, SUITE 2000, 2000 WEST SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY SOUTH

4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)

_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
___ X ___ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
VP-Onshore Land /

(Street)

HOUSTON, TX 77042

(City) (State) (Zip)

5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

_ X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock	37812 ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾	D

*Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned ( e.g.* , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)**
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YYYY)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 4)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security		6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	3/2/2006	3/11/2015	Common Stock	8000	$14	D

Explanation of Responses:
( 1)	Of these shares, 7,810 are shares remaining from a May 9, 2006 grant under the issuer's Stock Incentive Plan, as amended or restated from time to time (the "SIP"), of 9,000 shares of restricted stock that vest one-fourth on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date.
( 2)	Of these shares, 6,383 are shares remaining from an April 18, 2007 grant under the SIP of 7,000 shares of restricted stock that vest one-third on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date.
( 3)	Of these shares, 6,498 are shares of restricted stock granted on March 24, 2008 under the SIP that vest one-fourth on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date.
( 4)	Of these shares, 17,121 are shares of restricted stock granted on June 16, 2008 under the SIP as part of 2008 Long-Term Performance-Based Restricted Stock Program. The stock generally vests as follows: (i) 40% of the shares vest pro rata over five years on each of the first five anniversaries of the date on which the rolling 15-day average closing price per share of Mariner common stock is $38 or more but less than $46, and (ii) the remaining 60% of the shares vest pro rata over seven years on each of the first seven anniversaries of the date on which the rolling 15-day average closing price per share of Mariner common stock is $46 or more.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
MOORE KENNETH E JR ONE BRIARLAKE PLAZA, SUITE 2000 2000 WEST SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY SOUTH HOUSTON, TX 77042			VP-Onshore Land

Signatures
Kenneth E. Moore, Jr. by Teresa G. Bushman pursuant to Power of Attorney dated August 7, 2008 and filed herewith as Exhibit 24.		8/12/2008
^** Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note:	File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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