-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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>0001379773-10-000004.txt : 20101116
<SEC-HEADER>0001379773-10-000004.hdr.sgml : 20101116
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101116170645
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001379773-10-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101114
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101116
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101116

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			McCullough Richard W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001379773

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-07246
		FILM NUMBER:		101197237

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		103 EAST MAIN STREET
		CITY:			BRIDGEPORT
		STATE:			WV
		ZIP:			26330

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000077877
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				952636730
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1775 SHERMAN STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3000
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80203
		BUSINESS PHONE:		304-842-3597

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT CO
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 26
		CITY:			BRIDGEPORT
		STATE:			WV
		ZIP:			26330

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	YELLOW WING URANIUM CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19730606
</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>2010-11-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000077877</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PETD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001379773</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>McCullough Richard W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1775 SHERMAN STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO and Chairman</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>404</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.96</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>85751</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2581</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k) Shares</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents withholding of shares for tax liability with the vesting of time based restricted stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard W. McCullough</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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