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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 gu+bx7sIbYsyvvNK0uOuZg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-06-071035.txt : 20061103
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-06-071035.hdr.sgml : 20061103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061103114245
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-06-071035
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20061101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20061103
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20061103

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHNSON DAVID A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001267404

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-09268
		FILM NUMBER:		061185353

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GEOKINETICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000314606
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				941690082
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8401 WESTHEIMER
		STREET 2:		SUITE 150
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77063
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7138507600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8401 WESTHEIMER
		STREET 2:		SUITE 150
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77063
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-11-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000314606</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GEOKINETICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GOKN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001267404</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOHNSON DAVID A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 RIVERWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77056</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-11-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>250000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-12-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-12-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>250000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>250000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option grant was approved by the Board of Directors on December 1, 2005, subject to shareholder approval of the stock option plan under which the option was granted.  Geokinetics stockholders approved the plan on November 1, 2006.   The options vest in three equal annual installments.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David A. Johnson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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