<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-02-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000101778</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MARATHON OIL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MRO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001173583</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CAZALOT CLARENCE P JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MARATHON OIL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5555 SAN FELIPE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77056</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>54.36</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>223200.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-02-27</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-02-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>223200.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>223200.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Vests in three cumulative annual installments of 74,400, 74,400 and 74,400 shares on February 27, 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectiv
ely.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>R. J. Kolencik, Attorney-in-Fact for Clarence P. Cazalot, Jr</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2008-02-27
0
0000101778
MARATHON OIL CORP
MRO
0001173583
CAZALOT CLARENCE P JR
C/O MARATHON OIL CORPORATION
5555 SAN FELIPE ROAD
HOUSTON
TX
77056
1
1
0
0
President and CEO
EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION (Right to Buy)
54.36
2008-02-27
4
A
0
223200.00
0
A
2009-02-27
2018-02-27
COMMON STOCK
223200.00
223200.00
D
Vests in three cumulative annual installments of 74,400, 74,400 and 74,400 shares on February 27, 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectiv
ely.
R. J. Kolencik, Attorney-in-Fact for Clarence P. Cazalot, Jr
2008-02-28