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, 2001

                          Commission File Number 1-3939




              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)




                         REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


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


     We have  audited the  accompanying  statement of net assets  available  for
benefits of Kerr-McGee  Corporation  Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the Plan) as
of  December  31,  2001,  and the  related  statement  of  changes in net assets
available for benefits for the year then ended.  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 audit.

     We conducted our audit 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 audit provides a reasonable  basis
for our opinion.

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

     Our audit was  performed  for the  purpose  of  forming  an  opinion on the
financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedule of
assets  (held at end of year) as of  December  31,  2001,  and the  supplemental
schedule of reportable  transactions  for the year ended  December 31, 2001, 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.  These 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)
                                                        ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
June 21, 2002





                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


To the Kerr-McGee Corporation Benefits Committee:


     We have  audited the  accompanying  statement of net assets  available  for
benefits of the KERR-McGEE  CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN (the Plan)
as of December 31, 2000. This financial  statement is the  responsibility of the
Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial
statement based on our audit.

     We conducted our audit 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 audit provides a reasonable  basis
for our opinion.

     In our opinion,  the financial statement referred to above presents fairly,
in all material  respects,  the net assets available for benefits as of December
31, 2000, in conformity with  accounting  principles  generally  accepted in the
United States.


                                                    (ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP)
                                                     ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP



Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
  June 7, 2001






              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 NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS


                                December 31, 2000
                             (Thousands of dollars)




               ASSETS                                    Unallocated        Allocated          Total
               ------                                    -----------        ---------        --------

                                                                                    
Common stock of Kerr-McGee Corporation                    $ 78,393           $83,386         $161,779
Short-term investments                                       1,117                 -            1,117
                                                          --------           -------         --------

         Total investments                                  79,510            83,386          162,896

Dividends receivable                                           531                 -              531
Interfund contributions receivable (payable)                  (624)              624                -
Interfund dividends receivable (payable)                      (559)              559                -
Other assets                                                    12                 -               12
                                                          --------           -------         --------

         Total assets                                       78,870            84,569          163,439
                                                          --------           -------         --------


             LIABILITIES
             -----------

Notes payable                                              117,751                 -          117,751
Interest payable                                             1,698                 -            1,698
                                                          --------           -------         --------

         Total liabilities                                 119,449                 -          119,449
                                                          --------           -------         --------

Net assets (liabilities) available for benefits           $(40,579)          $84,569         $ 43,990
                                                          ========           =======         ========




         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, 2001
                             (Thousands of dollars)



                                                         Unallocated        Allocated          Total
                                                         -----------        ---------        --------

                                                                                    
Company contributions                                    $  22,237          $      -         $ 22,237
Dividend income                                              1,893             2,290            4,183
Interest income                                                 12                 -               12
                                                         ---------          --------         --------

         Total additions                                    24,142             2,290           26,432
                                                         ---------          --------         --------

Interest expense                                             9,309                 -            9,309
Distributions to participants                                    -             5,621            5,621
Transfers to (from) other fund                              15,285           (15,285)               -
Transfer to SIP                                                  -             3,894            3,894
Transfer to Savannah plan                                        -                 5                5
Depreciation of common stock                                12,358            15,609           27,967
                                                         ---------          --------         --------

         Total deductions                                   36,952             9,844           46,796
                                                         ---------          --------         --------

              Net decrease                                 (12,810)           (7,554)         (20,364)



Net assets (liabilities) available for benefits -
     Beginning of year                                     (40,579)           84,569           43,990
                                                         ---------          --------         --------


     End of year                                         $ (53,389)         $ 77,015         $ 23,626
                                                         =========          ========         ========





         The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.




              KERR-McGEE CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                           DECEMBER 31, 2001 AND 2000


(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'  salaries 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  salary.  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 2001 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.

         Prior to the  September  1, 2001,  establishment  of  company  matching
         contributions  for the Savannah plan being made into the Plan, the Plan
         assets of employees that change  classification  from non-bargaining to
         bargaining  were  transferred  into  the  Savannah  plan  and  shown as
         Transfer to  Savannah  plan on the  Statement  of Changes in Net Assets
         Available for Benefits.

         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 2001,  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  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,
         2001 and 2000, was as follows:

         (Dollars in thousands)      Unallocated     Allocated       Total
                                     -----------     ---------    -----------

         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

         2000
         ----
         Number of Shares            1,171,135       1,245,727      2,416,862
         Cost                          $88,626         $58,621       $147,247
         Market                        $78,393         $83,386       $161,779

 (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.

         Notes payable consisted of the following at year end:

         (Thousands of dollars)                       2001            2000
                                                   --------         --------

         Sponsor note                              $  3,630         $  3,640
         Series B notes                              20,750           32,750
         Oryx Series A sponsor notes                 26,587           31,327
         Oryx Series B sponsor notes                 19,318           19,318
         Oryx Series C sponsor notes                 30,716           30,716
                                                   --------         --------

                                                   $101,001         $117,751
                                                   ========         ========


         Maturities  of  notes  payable  due  after   December  31,  2001,   are
         $15,763,000  in  2002,   $14,722,000  in  2003,   $9,962,000  in  2004,
         $8,638,000 in 2005, $7,775,000 in 2006 and $44,141,000 thereafter.

(5)      TAX STATUS

         The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Company by
         a letter dated  November 5, 1999,  that the Plan is  qualified  and the
         trust established  under the Plan is tax-exempt,  under the appropriate
         sections  of the Code.  The Plan has been  amended and  restated  since
         receiving the determination letter. However, the Plan administrator and
         the Plan's tax counsel believe that the plan is currently  designed and
         being operated in compliance  with the applicable  requirements  of the
         Code and continues to be tax-exempt.

(6)      CONTRIBUTIONS

         The Company's 2001 cash contributions to the Plan totaled  $22,237,000.
         In  addition,  the Company  declared  $4,183,000  in  dividends  on the
         Company's  stock  held  in  the  Plan.  Of  the  total   contributions,
         $12,162,000   represents  the  Company's  matching   contributions  for
         employees'  savings in the SIP and  $70,000  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, 2001
                             (Thousands of dollars)





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


                                                                                                         
  *   Kerr-McGee Corporation                   Common stock (2,267,884 shares)                       $137,054     $124,280

  *   State Street Bank and Trust Company      Short-term investment fund                               1,036        1,036



     *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, 2001
                             (Thousands of dollars)



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

                                                                                                        
Kerr-McGee Corporation       Common Stock            $30,270          -       -          -        $30,270       $30,270            -


Kerr-McGee Corporation       Common Stock                  -    $40,722       -          -        $40,463       $40,722         $259







                                   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               (John M. Rauh)
                                  --------------------------------------
                                               John M. Rauh
                                  Chairman of the Kerr-McGee Corporation
                                            Benefits Committee




Date:  June 26, 2002