Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

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
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Massaro Lawrence S
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
05/07/2012
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
NEWFIELD EXPLORATION CO /DE/ [NFX]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
4 WATERWAY SQUARE PLACE, STE 100
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
VP - Corporate Development
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

THE WOODLANDS, TX 77380
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
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 366 (1)
D
 
common stock 638
I
By 401(k)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
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)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Unit (2) 04/01/2014 04/01/2016 common stock 12,500 $ 0 D  
Restricted Stock Unit (3) 09/01/2012 09/01/2014 common stock 7,500 $ 0 D  
Restricted Stock Unit (4) 04/15/2015 02/10/2022 common stock 7,800 $ 0 D  
Restricted Stock Unit (5) 08/15/2012 08/15/2015 common stock 12,400 $ 0 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Massaro Lawrence S
4 WATERWAY SQUARE PLACE, STE 100
THE WOODLANDS, TX 77380
      VP - Corporate Development  

Signatures

/s/ Melissa L. Mong as attorney-in-fact for Lawrence S. Massaro 05/17/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* 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).
(1) These shares were acquired by the reporting person on December 31, 2011 pursuant to the Newfield Exploration Company Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(2) Restricted Stock Units were granted on May 4, 2011under the Companys 2009 Omnibus Stock Plan and vest in 33% increments on April 1, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
(3) Restricted Stock Units were granted on August 24, 2011 under the Companys 2011 Omnibus Stock Plan and vest in 33% increments on September 1, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
(4) Restricted Stock Units were granted on February 10, 2012 under the Companys 2011 Omnibus Stock Plan and have the potential to vest beginning on April 15, 2015 based on certain performance criteria.
(5) Restricted Stock Units were granted on February 10, 2012 under the Companys 2011 Omnibus Stock Plan and vest in 25% increments on August 15, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

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