-----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,
 AEiv2KgWPYS3s3dYEA0Nos+MpDydAlwnv/S1Mz+FW/7uI4B+vH5Qd4j7nXK5ITOr
 g7YP2VplrB927mm7u8eVRA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-007527.txt : 20030613
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-007527.hdr.sgml : 20030613
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030613110817
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-007527
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030612
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030613

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HELMERICH W H III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001209393

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04221
		FILM NUMBER:		03743083

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1579 E 21ST STREET
		CITY:			TULSA
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			74114
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9187425531

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HELMERICH & PAYNE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000046765
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DRILLING OIL & GAS WELLS [1381]
		IRS NUMBER:				730679879
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		UTICA AT 21ST ST
		CITY:			TULSA
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			74114
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9187425531

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		UTICA AT 21ST ST
		CITY:			TULSA
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			74114
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-12</periodOfReport><issuer><issuerCik>0000046765</issuerCik><issuerName>HELMERICH &amp; PAYNE INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>HP</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001209393</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>HELMERICH W H III</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-12</value>
</transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>31.7764</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1929560</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Includes 170,000 shares of common stock held indirectly through charitable foundations.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ W. H. Helmerich, III</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-13</signatureDate
></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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