-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Bpu5vIrlLdyy9k2U408zIxJM8k2ntjWWwu41m1s6qI86ViBweh27QakS0Lc7+Zxl
 YYKNGNz6opRPlpoqNaZAMw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-022368.txt : 20051205
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-022368.hdr.sgml : 20051205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051205180732
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-022368
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050722
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051205
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051205

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Ostberg Richard
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001346079

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14841
		FILM NUMBER:		051245326

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		303-290-8700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		155 INVERNESS DRIVE WEST
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80112-5000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARKWEST HYDROCARBON INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001019756
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				841352233
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		155 INVERNESS DRIVE WEST
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			ENGLEWOOD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80112-5004
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3032908700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		155 INVERNESS DRIVE WEST
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			ENGLEWOOD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80112-5004
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-07-22</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001019756</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MARKWEST HYDROCARBON INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MWP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001346079</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ostberg Richard</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>155 INVERNESS DRIVE WEST, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ENGLEWOOD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80112</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP of Compliance</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>No securities owned</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard Ostberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----