<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 40, DATED JANUARY 10, 1996 PURSUANT TO
- ---------------------------------------------------- RULE 424(B)(3)
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED OCTOBER 3, 1994) REG. NO. 33-54561
800,000 DEPOSITARY SHARES,
4,000 SHARES OF $450 CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
AND
17,777,777 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
AMERICAN EXPLORATION COMPANY
The following beneficial owner of Depositary Shares has requested the
Company to file a Prospectus Supplement identifying it as a Selling
Securityholder. The information concerning such Selling Securityholder has
been provided by such Selling Securityholder.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NO. OF NO. OF DEPOSITARY % OF OUTSTANDING % OF OUTSTANDING
SELLING DEPOSITARY SHARES DEPOSITARY SHARES DEPOSITARY SHARES
SECURITYHOLDER SHARES OWNED THAT MAY BE SOLD BEFORE SALE AFTER SALE
- -------------- ------------ ---------------- ----------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Lavone Andrews
c/o Lida Neissani
PaineWebber, Inc.
1285 Avenue of the Americas
10th Floor
New York, NY 10019 3,500 500 0.44% 0.38%
----- --- ----- -----
Total 3,500 500 0.44% 0.38%
===== === ===== =====
</TABLE>
Additional Selling Securityholders or other information concerning the
Selling Securityholder listed above may be set forth in subsequent Prospectus
Supplements from time to time. As a result of such additional Prospectus
Supplements, the total amount of Depositary Shares offered for the account of
Selling Securityholders may increase further, up to a maximum of 800,000
Depositary Shares.
