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~~October 121, 2010

MARINER ENERGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	1-32747	86-0460233
(State or other jurisdiction of	(Commission	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)


Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		1-32747 (Commission File Number)		86-0460233 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

One BriarLake Plaza, Suite 2000
2000 West Sam Houston Parkway South
Houston, Texas		77042
Houston, Texas (Address of principal executive offices)		77042 (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 954-5500

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):


o		Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

oþ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)


o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))


o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 58.0201. ~~Departure~~Other ~~of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers~~Events.

On ~~August~~October 121, 2010, Mariner Energy, Inc. (“Mariner”) ~~and~~issued ~~each~~a ofpress ~~its~~release ~~executive~~announcing ~~officers amended his~~the ordate ~~her~~and ~~employment~~record ~~agreement~~date ~~effective~~for ~~January 1,~~the ~~2009~~special tomeeting ~~(i) include certain provisions pertaining to Section 409A~~ of ~~the~~stockholders ~~Internal Revenue Code~~ of ~~1986~~Mariner, asat ~~amended,~~which ~~and~~stockholders ~~(ii) clarify Mariner’s~~of ~~obligations~~Mariner towill ~~make~~consider ~~severance~~and ~~payments~~vote ~~and~~on, ~~benefits~~among ~~described~~other inthings, the ~~employment~~proposed ~~agreement and the~~ Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated April 14, 2010, as amended, by and among Apache Corporation (“Apache”), ZMZ Acquisitions LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Apache (“Merger Sub”), and Mariner, ~~dated~~ aspursuant ofto ~~April 14,~~which ~~2010.~~it Ais ~~copy~~proposed that ofMariner ~~the~~would ~~employment~~merge ~~agreement,~~with asand sointo ~~amended,~~Merger ~~for~~Sub ~~each~~(the ~~of Mariner’s~~“Merger”). ~~principal~~The ~~executive~~special ~~officer~~meeting ~~and~~is ~~principal~~scheduled for ~~financial~~November 10, ~~officer~~2010, asat ~~well~~8:00 asa.m. ~~its~~Central ~~three~~Time. ~~other most~~The ~~highly~~record ~~compensated~~date ~~executive~~for ~~officers~~stockholders ~~serving~~entitled asto vote ofat ~~December 31,~~the ~~2009~~meeting is ~~filed~~October 12, ~~herewith~~2010.

A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

* * *

Notice to Investors

In connection with the Merger, Mariner and Apache will file a definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING MARINER, APACHE AND THE MERGER.

A definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to stockholders of Mariner seeking their approval of the Merger. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and other documents filed by Mariner and Apache with the SEC at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Mariner will be available free of charge on Mariner’s website at www.mariner-energy.com under the tab “Investor Information” or by contacting Mariner’s Investor Relations Department at 713-954-5558. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Apache will be available free of charge on Apache’s website at www.apachecorp.com under the tab “Investors” or by contacting Apache’s Investor Relations Department at 713-296-6000. You may also read and copy any reports, statements and other information filed with the SEC at the SEC public reference room at 100 F Street N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at (800) 732-0330 or visit the SEC’s website for further information on its public reference room.

Participants in Solicitation

Mariner, its directors, executive officers and certain members of management and employees may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed to be “participants” in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders of Mariner in connection with the Merger. Information concerning the interests of the persons who may be “participants” in the solicitation will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus (when available). Information concerning beneficial ownership of Mariner stock by its directors and certain executive officers is included in its proxy statement dated March 29, 2010 and subsequent statements of changes in beneficial ownership on file with the SEC.

Apache, its directors, executive officers and certain members of management and employees may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed to be “participants” in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders of Mariner in connection with the Merger. Information concerning the interests of the persons who may be “participants” in the solicitation will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus (when available). Information concerning beneficial ownership of Apache stock by

its directors and certain executive officers is included in its proxy statement dated March 31, 2010 and subsequent statements of changes in beneficial ownership on file with the SEC.


Item 9.01		Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits.

No.		Description
Number			Description
10.1+		Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Scott D. Josey, dated August 12, 2010.
	99.1		Press Release dated October 1, 2010.
10.2*+		Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Scott D. Josey, dated February 7, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Mariner’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-137441) filed on September 19, 2006).
10.3+		Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Dalton F. Polasek, dated August 12, 2010.
10.4*+		Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Dalton F. Polasek, dated February 7, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Mariner’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-137441) filed on September 19, 2006).
10.5+		Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Michiel C. van den Bold, dated August 12, 2010.
10.6*+		Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Michiel C. van den Bold, dated as of June 8, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Mariner’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-137441) filed on September 19, 2006).
10.7*+		Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Michiel C. van den Bold, dated February 7, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Mariner’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-137441) filed on September 19, 2006).
10.8+		Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Judd Hansen, dated August 12, 2010.
10.9*+		Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc., Mariner Energy Resources, Inc. and Judd Hansen, dated June 8, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Mariner’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-137441) filed on September 19, 2006).
10.10+		Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Jesus Melendrez, dated August 12, 2010.
10.11*+		Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Jesus Melendrez, dated as of June 8, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to Mariner’s Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2010).
10.12*+		Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Jesus Melendrez, dated as of February 7, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to Mariner’s Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2010).

* Incorporated by reference as indicated. + Management contract, plan or arrangement.

SIGNATURES

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 thereunto duly authorized.

	MARINER ENERGY, INC.
Date: August 12, 2010	By:	/s/ Teresa G. Bushman
Date: October 1, 2010	By:	/s/ Jesus G. Melendrez
		Teresa G. Bushman,
		Jesus G. Melendrez
		Senior Vice President and General Counsel
		Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, Acting Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

3INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit Index


Number		Description
	99.1	Press Release dated October 1, 2010.

No.		Description
10.1+		Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Scott D. Josey, dated August 12, 2010.
10.2*+		Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Scott D. Josey, dated February 7, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Mariner’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-137441) filed on September 19, 2006).
10.3+		Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Dalton F. Polasek, dated August 12, 2010.
10.4*+		Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Dalton F. Polasek, dated February 7, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Mariner’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-137441) filed on September 19, 2006).
10.5+		Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Michiel C. van den Bold, dated August 12, 2010.
10.6*+		Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Michiel C. van den Bold, dated as of June 8, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Mariner’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-137441) filed on September 19, 2006).
10.7*+		Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Michiel C. van den Bold, dated February 7, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Mariner’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-137441) filed on September 19, 2006).
10.8+		Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Judd Hansen, dated August 12, 2010.
10.9*+		Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc., Mariner Energy Resources, Inc. and Judd Hansen, dated June 8, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Mariner’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-137441) filed on September 19, 2006).
10.10+		Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Jesus Melendrez, dated August 12, 2010.
10.11*+		Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Jesus Melendrez, dated as of June 8, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to Mariner’s Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2010).
10.12*+		Employment Agreement by and between Mariner Energy, Inc. and Jesus Melendrez, dated as of February 7, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to Mariner’s Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2010).

* Incorporated by reference as indicated. + Management contract, plan or arrangement.

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