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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PMacivnm/HlIVfdUe418G2QE2mvlCemb4xYQF6R8se/0PD+O4/UxVhtM4PDCKsEl
 d0NnuM3qBv9uskXk5ZQF+Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-09-022211.txt : 20091110
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-09-022211.hdr.sgml : 20091110
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091110135426
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-09-022211
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091110
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091110
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091110

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LANG JOHN DOUGLAS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001307387

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31899
		FILM NUMBER:		091171357

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1700 BROADWAY, SUITE 2300
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80290-2300

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WHITING PETROLEUM CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001255474
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				200098515
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1700 BROADWAY, SUITE 2300
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80290
		BUSINESS PHONE:		303-837-1661

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1700 BROADWAY
		STREET 2:		STE 2300
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80290-2300

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	WHITING PETROLEUM HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030721
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-11-10</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001255474</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WHITING PETROLEUM CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WLL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001307387</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LANG JOHN DOUGLAS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1700 BROADWAY, SUITE 2300</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80290</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3659</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>62.59</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2022</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>J. Douglas Lang</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-11-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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