-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WqRt7RikfeVfvQAiI4X7YPuRNTelDxLM24A976QsWzenfyeYD0Wip3xLED5Oodaa
 VKExI0lXBFMIwf6HXDChOg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000022551-05-000002.txt : 20050106
<SEC-HEADER>0000022551-05-000002.hdr.sgml : 20050106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050106155458
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000022551-05-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050104
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050106
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			C CHASE HOFFMAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001190330

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31852
		FILM NUMBER:		05515782

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 579
		CITY:			TULARE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93275

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRI VALLEY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000022551
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				840617433
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5555 BUSINESS PARK SOUTH
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			BAKERSFIELD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93309
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6618640500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5555 BUSINESS PARK SOUTH
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			BAKERSFIELD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93309

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRI VALLEY OIL & GAS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19870328

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COMMODITY RESOURCES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19820721
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000022551</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRI VALLEY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TIV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001190330</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>C CHASE HOFFMAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 579</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TULARE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93275</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>271500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2005-01-04</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.4</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>296300</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>C. Chase Hoffman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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