-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HLr5xfNmTmPJVm13aJwaEr76SkXyEdeP5t+81ufpcuk/yJD1b2EAu08ZPUCjreyb
 ig5lIPzDywSdHofnbiddPA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-03-001522.txt : 20030514
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-03-001522.hdr.sgml : 20030514
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030514122336
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-03-001522
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030512
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030514

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HACKETT JAMES T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185909

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08094
		FILM NUMBER:		03697718

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 FANNIN STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEVON OEI OPERATING INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000320321
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				741764876
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 FANNIN STE 1600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002-6714
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7132656000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 FANNIN, SUITE 1600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002-6714

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OCEAN ENERGY INC /TX/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990414

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SEAGULL ENERGY CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SEAGULL PIPELINE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19830815
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4/A
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4/A</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-05-12</periodOfReport>
<dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-01-02</dateOfOriginalSubmission>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000320321</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DEVON OEI OPERATING INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>OEI</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
<rptOwnerCik>0001185909</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HACKETT JAMES T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Ch. of the Board, Pres. &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-01-02</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>0</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0</value>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>618991</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeSecurity>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-01-02</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>0</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0</value>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>595493</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeSecurity>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-01-03</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>0</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0</value>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>589130</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeSecurity>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stiock Option (Right to Buy) OEI 2001 LTIP NQ</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>20.30</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-01-02</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>201500</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>20.30</value>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2004-01-02</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"/>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2013-01-02</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>201500</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>201500</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Includes 1,302 shares acquired during 2002 as a participant in the OEI Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">In addition to those shares owned directly by Reporting Person, are 718 shares owned indirectly held in the Ocean Retirement Savings Plan and 94,387 shares owned indirectly held in the OEI Supplemental Benefit Plan, all as of December 31, 2002.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Options vest one-third upon each anniversary of option grant.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Robert K. Reeves, Attorney-in-fact for James T. Hackett</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-05-12</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----