SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 11-K


                                  ANNUAL REPORT



        Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                      For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

                         Commission File Number 1-16619




              Kerr-McGee Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan

                            (full title of the Plan)






                             Kerr-McGee Corporation
                                Kerr-McGee Center
                          Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102





             (Name of the issuer of the securities held pursuant to
             the Plan and address of its principal executive office)







              KERR-McGEE CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES

                           DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND 2001



                         Report of Independent Auditors


                              Financial Statements


Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2002 and 2001

Statement  of Changes in Net Assets  Available  for  Benefits for the year ended
December 31, 2002

Notes to Financial Statements


                             Supplemental Schedules



Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

Schedule H, Line 4j - Schedule of Reportable Transactions


All other schedules  required by the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act of
1974 and the  regulations  promulgated  by the  Department  of Labor  have  been
omitted since they are inapplicable.












                         REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


Kerr-McGee Corporation Benefits Committee
Kerr-McGee Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan


     We have audited the  accompanying  statements  of net assets  available for
benefits of Kerr-McGee  Corporation  Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the Plan) as
of December  31,  2002 and 2001,  and the  related  statement  of changes in net
assets  available  for  benefits for the year ended  December  31,  2002.  These
financial  statements  are the  responsibility  of the  Plan's  management.  Our
responsibility  is to express an opinion on these financial  statements based on
our audits.

     We conducted our audits in accordance  with  auditing  standards  generally
accepted in the United States.  Those standards require that we plan and perform
the audit to obtain reasonable  assurance about whether the financial statements
are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An
audit also includes  assessing the accounting  principles  used and  significant
estimates  made by  management,  as well as  evaluating  the  overall  financial
statement  presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable  basis
for our opinion.

     In our opinion,  the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material  respects,  the net assets available for benefits of the Plan at
December  31,  2002 and 2001,  and the changes in its net assets  available  for
benefits for the year ended  December 31, 2002,  in conformity  with  accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States.

     Our  audits  were  performed  for the  purpose of forming an opinion on the
financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying  supplemental  schedules
of assets  (held at end of year) as of December  31,  2002,  and the  reportable
transactions  for the  year  then  ended,  are  presented  for the  purposes  of
additional analysis and are not a required part of the financial  statements but
are  supplementary  information  required by the Department of Labor's Rules and
Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure  under the Employee  Retirement  Income
Security Act of 1974. The supplemental  schedules are the  responsibility of the
Plan's  management.  The  supplemental  schedules  have  been  subjected  to the
auditing procedures applied in our audit of the financial statements and, in our
opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial
statements taken as a whole.





                                                               ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
May 27, 2003












              KERR-McGEE CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                 STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS


                                December 31, 2002
                             (Thousands of dollars)




               ASSETS                                    Unallocated        Allocated         Total
               ------                                    -----------        ---------        -------
                                                                                    
Common stock of Kerr-McGee Corporation                    $ 27,897           $63,076         $90,973
                                                          --------           -------         -------

         Total investments                                  27,897            63,076          90,973

Dividends receivable                                           285                 -             285
Interfund contributions receivable (payable)                (1,083)            1,083               -
Interfund dividends receivable (payable)                      (651)              651               -
                                                          --------           -------         -------

         Total assets                                       26,448            64,810          91,258
                                                          --------           -------         -------

             LIABILITIES

Notes payable                                               78,376                 -          78,376
Interest payable                                               624                 -             624
                                                          --------           -------         -------

         Total liabilities                                  79,000                 -          79,000
                                                          --------           -------         -------

Net assets (liabilities) available for benefits           $(52,552)          $64,810         $12,258
                                                          ========           =======         =======




















         The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.






              KERR-McGEE CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                 STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS


                                December 31, 2001
                             (Thousands of dollars)




               ASSETS                                    Unallocated        Allocated         Total
               ------                                    -----------        ---------       --------
                                                                                   
Common stock of Kerr-McGee Corporation                    $ 51,603           $72,677        $124,280
Short-term investments                                       1,036                 -           1,036
                                                          --------           -------        --------

         Total investments                                  52,639            72,677         125,316

Dividends receivable                                           430                 -             430
Interfund contributions receivable (payable)                  (688)              688               -
Interfund dividends receivable (payable)                      (598)              598               -
Interfund receivable (payable) for
     excess released shares                                 (3,052)            3,052               -
Other assets                                                     2                 -               2
                                                          --------           -------        --------

         Total assets                                       48,733            77,015         125,748
                                                          --------           -------        --------


             LIABILITIES

Notes payable                                              101,001                 -         101,001
Interest payable                                             1,121                 -           1,121
                                                          --------           -------        --------

         Total liabilities                                 102,122                 -         102,122
                                                          --------           -------        --------

Net assets (liabilities) available for benefits           $(53,389)          $77,015        $ 23,626
                                                          ========           =======        ========




















         The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.







              KERR-McGEE CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

            STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS


                      For the Year Ended December 31, 2002
                             (Thousands of dollars)



                                                         Unallocated        Allocated         Total
                                                         -----------        ---------        -------
                                                                                    
Company contributions                                     $ 26,310           $     -         $26,310
Dividend income                                              1,358             2,494           3,852
Interest income                                                  7                 -               7
                                                          --------           -------         -------

         Total additions                                    27,675             2,494          30,169
                                                          --------           -------         -------

Interest expense                                             7,755                 -           7,755
Distributions to participants                                    -             4,540           4,540
Transfers to (from) other fund                              10,077           (10,077)              -
Transfer to SIP                                                  -             6,154           6,154
Depreciation of common stock                                 9,006            14,082          23,088
                                                          --------           -------         -------

         Total deductions                                   26,838            14,699          41,537
                                                          --------           -------         -------

              Net increase (decrease)                          837           (12,205)        (11,368)

Net assets (liabilities) available for benefits -
     Beginning of year                                     (53,389)           77,015          23,626
                                                          --------           -------         -------

     End of year                                          $(52,552)          $64,810         $12,258
                                                          ========           =======         =======



















         The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.







              KERR-McGEE CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                           DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND 2001


(1)  PLAN DESCRIPTION

     The Kerr-McGee  Corporation  Employee  Stock  Ownership Plan (the Plan) was
     established in September  1989, and is designed to comply with the Internal
     Revenue Code (the Code)  Section  4975(e) and is subject to the  applicable
     provisions  of the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act of 1974,  as
     amended  (ERISA).  The Plan was amended and restated  effective  January 1,
     2001. The Plan, a leveraged  employee stock ownership plan, invests only in
     the common stock of Kerr-McGee  Corporation (the Company).  The Plan covers
     all employees of the Company and its subsidiaries who make salary deferrals
     to the Kerr-McGee Savings  Investment Plan (the SIP).  Effective January 1,
     1990,  participant   contributions  to  the  SIP  are  matched  by  Company
     contributions  to the Plan.  These  participant  contributions  are matched
     dollar-for-dollar   by  the  Company,   up  to  6%  of  the   participants'
     compensation as defined under the Plan. In addition, effective September 1,
     2001,  participant  contributions by bargaining employees to the Kerr-McGee
     Pigments  (Savannah)  Inc.,  Employees  Savings  Plan  (Savannah  plan) are
     matched at a rate of $.50 for every dollar  contributed by the  participant
     up to 6% of the participant's compensation.  Although the Plan, SIP and the
     Savannah plan are separate plans,  matching  contributions  to the Plan are
     contingent upon  participants'  contributions  to the SIP or Savannah plan.
     Participants are not permitted to make contributions under the terms of the
     Plan.

     Effective  January  1,  2000,  all  participants  in the SIP have an annual
     option to diversify up to 25% of their year-end Kerr-McGee stock balance in
     the Plan into investment  options available in the SIP. This option must be
     exercised by March 31 of each year. The amount  diversified  during 2002 is
     shown  as  Transfers  to SIP on the  Statement  of  Changes  in Net  Assets
     Available for Benefits.  Participants who are at least age 55 with 10 years
     of  participation in the Pan may withdraw their 25% instead of diversifying
     within the SIP. They have this option for the first six years after meeting
     the eligibility requirements.

     The Company may direct State Street Bank and Trust Company (the Trustee) to
     enter into acquisition loans for the purpose of acquiring Company stock for
     the benefit of  participants.  Pursuant to that authority,  the Trustee and
     the Company  entered into a Stock  Purchase  Agreement as of September  12,
     1989.  Under this  agreement,  the Plan purchased  2,680,965  shares of the
     Company's  common  stock at $46.625 per share on  November  29,  1989,  the
     market  value on that date.  To finance  the  purchase,  the Plan  incurred
     indebtedness  to a  group  of  institutional  investors  in  the  aggregate
     principal amount of $125,000,000 (see Note 4).

     Company  stock  acquired with the proceeds of the initial loan is held in a
     suspense account.  The Company's matching  contributions and dividends paid
     on the common stock held in the loan suspense account are used to repay the
     loan. Stock is released from the loan suspense account as the principal and
     interest are paid. The stock is then allocated to participants' accounts at
     market  value  as the  Company  matches  contributions  made  to the SIP by
     participants.

     Dividends paid on the common stock held in participants'  accounts are also
     used to repay the loan.  Stock with a market  value  equal to the amount of
     the dividend is allocated to the  participants'  accounts.  If the value of
     shares of Company  stock  released  from the loan  suspense  account is not
     sufficient  to make the  required  matching  and  dividend  allocations  to
     participants'  accounts,  the Company will contribute  additional shares of
     common  stock  or cash  which  may be used to  purchase  shares  or to make
     additional  payments on the loan. All stock released from the loan suspense
     account within the year must be allocated to participants' accounts by year
     end. If the number of shares  released is more than the  required  matching
     and dividend allocation, the excess will be allocated to participants.

     Employees who are or become  participants  on or after January 1, 2000, are
     100% vested in all  Company  matching  contributions.  A  participant  will
     receive a  distribution  of his vested  interest in his  account  only upon
     termination of employment,  retirement,  death or permanent disability.  No
     other withdrawals are permitted, except for diversification after age 55.

     Distributions to participants are paid in a single sum consisting of shares
     of stock or cash,  at the election of the  participant.  Distributions  are
     recorded at the  approximate  market value as of the date of  distribution.
     Terminating  participants  with  more  than  $5,000  in the Plan may  defer
     distribution until age 70 1/2.  Investments  relating to these participants
     remain in the Trust until the terminated participant requests distribution.
     Participants  who defer  distribution  continue  to share in  earnings  and
     losses of the Plan.

     The Plan is administered by the Kerr-McGee  Corporation  Benefits Committee
     (the  Committee),  which is  appointed  by the  Board of  Directors  of the
     Company.  Accounting  and  administration  for the Plan are provided by the
     Company at no cost to the Plan. In addition,  all expenses of the Trust are
     borne  by  the  Company.   During   2002,   the  Company  paid  $78,000  of
     administrative and trust expenses on behalf of the Plan.

     The Company  intends to continue  the Plan  indefinitely,  but reserves the
     right to alter,  amend,  modify,  revoke or terminate  the Plan at any time
     upon the  direction of the  Company's  Board of  Directors.  If the Plan is
     terminated for any reason, the Committee will direct that the participants'
     account balances be distributed as soon as practical. Any unallocated funds
     remaining in the Plan after all  participants  have received  their account
     balances may be disposed of as directed by the Company.  The Company has no
     continuing  liability  under the Plan  after the final  disposition  of the
     assets of the Plan.

(2)  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

     Basis of  Accounting - The  financial  statements  of the Plan are prepared
     under the  accrual  method of  accounting  in  accordance  with  accounting
     principles generally accepted in the United States.

     Use of Estimates - The  preparation  of financial  statements in conformity
     with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires
     management  to make  estimates  and  assumptions  that affect the  reported
     amounts of net assets  available for benefits and changes  therein.  Actual
     results could differ from those estimates.

     Investment   Risk  -  The  Plan  provides  for   investment  in  Kerr-McGee
     Corporation  common stock,  which is exposed to various  market  volatility
     risks.  Further,  due to the level of risk associated  with  investments in
     common stock,  it is possible that changes in the values of the  investment
     will occur in the near term and that such changes could  materially  effect
     the  amounts  reported  in the  statements  of  net  assets  available  for
     benefits.

     Investment  Valuations and Income  Recognition - The Plan's investments are
     stated at fair value,  and the Company stock is valued at its quoted market
     price.  Purchases  and sales of  securities  are  recorded on a  trade-date
     basis.  Interest  income is recorded on the accrual  basis.  Dividends  are
     recorded on the ex-dividend date.

     Payment  of  Benefits  -  Distributions   to  terminating  and  withdrawing
     participants are recorded when paid.

(3)  INVESTMENTS

     The Plan's  investment in the  Company's  common stock at December 31, 2002
     and 2001, was as follows:

     (Dollars in thousands)         Unallocated       Allocated          Total
                                    -----------       ---------        ---------
     2002
     ----
     Number of Shares                 629,723         1,425,281        2,055,004
     Cost                             $47,692           $71,679         $119,371
     Market                           $27,897           $63,076        $  90,973

     2001
     ----
     Number of Shares                 941,660         1,326,224        2,267,884
     Cost                             $71,255           $65,799         $137,054
     Market                           $51,603           $72,677         $124,280

 (4) NOTES PAYABLE

     On  November  29,  1989,  the Plan  borrowed  $125,000,000  from a group of
     institutional  investors for the purpose of acquiring the Company's  common
     stock.  This  borrowing  consisted  of  Series  A notes  in the  amount  of
     $74,000,000  and Series B notes in the amount of  $51,000,000.  The Company
     has  guaranteed  the Plan's  indebtedness.  In June 1996, the Plan issued a
     $24,500,000  note,  which bears  interest at a fixed rate of 6.85%,  to the
     Company  (the  Sponsor  note) and used the funds to prepay a portion of the
     9.47%  fixed-rate  Series A notes.  The  remaining  balance of the Series A
     notes was paid on July 1, 1996, as scheduled.  Scheduled principal payments
     on the Sponsor  note began in January  1997 and  continue  through  January
     2003.  Principal  payments on the 9.61% fixed-rate  Series B notes began in
     July 1998 and continue through January 2005.

     Following  the merger of  Kerr-McGee  Corporation  and Oryx Energy  Company
     (Oryx),  the Oryx Capital  Accumulation Plan (CAP plan) was merged into the
     Plan and the SIP during 1999. On August 1, 1989, the CAP plan borrowed $110
     million by privately placing ESOP notes with Oryx. The borrowing  consisted
     of Series  A,  Series B and  Series C sponsor  notes  with  interest  rates
     ranging from 8.35% to 8.70%.  Scheduled  principal payments on the Series A
     notes continue through July 2006.  Principal payments on the Series B notes
     begin in August 2005 and continue through July 2008.  Principal payments on
     the Series C notes begin in August  2008 and  continue  through  July 2011.
     During 2002, a prepayment of $6,900,000 was made on the Oryx notes.

     Notes payable consisted of the following at year end:

     (Thousands of dollars)                               2002             2001
                                                        -------         --------

         Sponsor note                                   $ 3,130         $  3,630
         Series B notes                                  10,750           20,750
         Oryx Series A sponsor notes                     19,248           26,587
         Oryx Series B sponsor notes                     17,470           19,318
         Oryx Series C sponsor notes                     27,778           30,716
                                                        -------         --------
                                                        $78,376         $101,001
                                                        =======         ========


     Maturities of notes payable due after December 31, 2002, are $14,153,000 in
     2003,   $9,332,000  in  2004,  $7,945,000  in  2005,  $7,026,000  in  2006,
     $7,556,000 in 2007 and $32,364,000 thereafter.

(5)  TAX STATUS

     The plan obtained its latest  determination  letter dated November 5, 1999,
     in which the Internal  Revenue  Service stated that the Plan is a qualified
     plan under  provisions of Section  401(a) and is exempt from Federal Income
     taxes under  provisions  of Section  501(a) of the Code.  The Plan has been
     amended and restated  since  receiving its latest  determination  letter to
     reflect  recent  legislation.  The  Company has  requested a  determination
     letter which will cover the  amendments and is of the opinion that the Plan
     continues to be operated in compliance with the applicable  requirements of
     the Code and continues to be tax exempt.


(6)  CONTRIBUTIONS

     The Company's 2002 cash contributions to the Plan totaled  $26,310,000.  In
     addition,  the Company  declared  $3,852,000  in dividends on the Company's
     stock held in the Plan. Of the total contributions,  $12,935,000 represents
     the Company's matching  contributions for employees' savings in the SIP and
     $194,000  represents the Company's  matching  contributions  for employees'
     savings in the Savannah plan.










              KERR-McGEE CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

         SCHEDULE H, LINE 4i - SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)

                   (Employer Identification Number 73-1612389)
                                (Plan Number 014)

                                DECEMBER 31, 2002
                             (Thousands of dollars)





                                                             (c)
                        (b)                   Description of investment including                             (e)
             Identity of issue, borrower,     maturity date, rate of interest,               (d)            Current
(a)*         lessor or similar party          collateral, par or maturity value             Cost             Value
----         ----------------------------     -----------------------------------         --------          -------
                                                                                                


*           Kerr-McGee Corporation            Common stock (2,055,004 shares)             $119,371          $90,973


















*Party-in-interest








              KERR-McGEE CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

            SCHEDULE H, LINE 4j- SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS

                   (Employer Identification Number 73-1612389)
                                (Plan Number 014)

                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002
                             (Thousands of dollars)



                                                                                                               (h)
                                                                                                              Current
                                                                                                               value
                                                                          (c)         (d)         (g)       of asset on       (i)
          (a)                              (b)                         Purchase     Selling     Cost of     transaction     Net gain
Identity of party involved          Description of asset                 price       price       asset          date         or loss
--------------------------          --------------------               --------     -------     -------     -----------     --------

Category (iii) - Series of Transactions in excess of 5% of the Plan Assets:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            

Kerr-McGee Corporation              Common Stock                        $34,503           -     $34,503         $34,503            -


Kerr-McGee Corporation              Common Stock                              -     $53,191     $52,186         $53,191       $1,005




There were no category (i), (ii) or (iv) reportable transactions during the year
ended December 31, 2002.

Columns (e) and (f) are not applicable.








                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Kerr-McGee  Corporation Benefits Committee has duly caused this annual report to
be signed by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

              KERR-McGEE CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN






                             By                     (Robert M. Wohleber)
                                          --------------------------------------
                                                     Robert M. Wohleber
                                          Chairman of the Kerr-McGee Corporation
                                                     Benefits Committee




Date:  June 27, 2003