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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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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001468752-09-000004.txt : 20090722
<SEC-HEADER>0001468752-09-000004.hdr.sgml : 20090722
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090722191440
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001468752-09-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090720
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090722
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090722

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			wilson j thomas
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001468752

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05507
		FILM NUMBER:		09957854

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		720 EMERSON STREET
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80218

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000061398
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				060842255
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 COLUMBUS BLVD
		STREET 2:		10 FLOOR
		CITY:			HARTFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06106
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8602932006

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 COLUMBUS BLVD
		STREET 2:		10 FLOOR
		CITY:			HARTFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06106

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORP PANAMA
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19671130
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-07-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000061398</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MPET</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001468752</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>wilson j thomas</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>720 EMERSON STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80218</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>2009-07-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On July 20, 2009, 15,000 shares of Issuer's common stock were awarded to the reporting person under Section 9 of Issuer's 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, pursuant to the terms of Issuer's Board compensation policy for non-employee directors adopted on May 27, 2009 which permits Issuer to make payment of up to 50% of the annual retainer fees payable to non-employee directors in the form of shares of Issuer's common stock, subject to an annual cap per director of 15,000 shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares were awarded to the reporting person in lieu of cash payment of a portion of the annual directors' retainer fee.  The fair market value of a share of Issuer's common stock on the grant date, July 20, 2009, was $0.98, calculated in accordance with the terms of Issuer's 1998 Stock Incentive Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>J Thomas Wilson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-07-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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