UNITED STATES
                       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 (Date of earliest event reported): August 6, 2003


                         THE HOUSTON EXPLORATION COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)





                                                                      
                DELAWARE                              001-11899                          22-2674487
      (State or other jurisdiction             (Commission File Number)     (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
           of incorporation)

       1100 LOUISIANA, SUITE 2000                                                        77002-5215
             HOUSTON, TEXAS                                                              (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)



       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (713) 830-6800

                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)







ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

(c)      Exhibits

         99.1     Press release issued by The Houston Exploration Company on
                  August 6, 2003.

ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

On August 6, 2003, we issued a press release with respect to our earnings for
the three month and six month periods ended June 30, 2003. The press release is
furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report and incorporated by reference
herein.

The information furnished pursuant to this Item 12, including Exhibit 99.1,
shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and will not be incorporated by
reference into any registration statement filed under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated
therein by reference.





                                    SIGNATURE

         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.


                                  THE HOUSTON EXPLORATION COMPANY


                                  By:    /s/ James F. Westmoreland
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       James F. Westmoreland
                                       Vice President, Chief Accounting
                                       Officer and Secretary


Dated:  August 6, 2003


                                        2




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER                                 DESCRIPTION
  -------                                -----------

               
   *99.1          Press release issued by The Houston Exploration Company on
                  August 6, 2003.





----------
*        Filed herewith.