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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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 METl2E5PHPF4l9rlUYWmXg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-06-071044.txt : 20061103
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-06-071044.hdr.sgml : 20061103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061103115031
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-06-071044
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:			HARTE CHRISTOPHER M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180354

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-09268
		FILM NUMBER:		061185403

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		217 COMMERCIAL ST
		STREET 2:		STE 200
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			ME
		ZIP:			04101

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>0001180354</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARTE CHRISTOPHER M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>327 CONGRESS STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 350</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AUSTIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78701</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <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>30303</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30303</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value, $.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>752980</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Limited Partnership</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value, $.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>48326</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Limited Partnership</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reported securities are included within 400,000 Units of the issuer purchased by Spicewood Investment Partners 2004 L.P. (&quot;Spicewood 2004&quot;), a limited partnership in which the Reporting Person is a general partner, for $1.25 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase one-tenth (1/10th) of a share of common stock. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Spicewood 2004 that are in excess of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Refers to shares of Common Stock owned by Spicewood Family Partners (&quot;Spicewood&quot;); the Reporting Person is the general partner of Spicewood and the beneficiary of a trust that is the sole limited partner of Spicewood.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Christopher M. Harte</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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