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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PTWhHhRICP/h3nEbiI+1GxkUtFcy06nsBntyfrvOpmVib83XsKqHwYaLXG4XkLRE
 fJJcMO6LgdL7zDoGuhsswA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001287271-08-000004.txt : 20080722
<SEC-HEADER>0001287271-08-000004.hdr.sgml : 20080722
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080722122607
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001287271-08-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080721
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080722
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080722

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STABIO VICTOR P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001287271

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14731
		FILM NUMBER:		08962988

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1660 LINCOLN STREET
		STREET 2:		#2700
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80264
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3038395504

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HALLADOR PETROLEUM CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000788965
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				841014610
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CO
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1660 LINCOLN ST STE 2700
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80264
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3038395505

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1660 LINCOLN STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2700
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80264

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KIMBARK OIL & GAS CO /CO/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19900102

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KIMBARK INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19860624
</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>2008-07-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000788965</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HALLADOR PETROLEUM CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HPCO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001287271</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STABIO VICTOR P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO and President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-07-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.52</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>440273</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Custodial Account for Oliver Stabio</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-07-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>450000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-07-11</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $.01</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>450000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>450000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These 6,500 shares were to gifted to reporting person's grandson, Oliver Stabio, and are held in a custodial account for the benefit of Oliver Stabio.  The reporting person is custodian of the account and disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and the filing of this report is not an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of these securities for the purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The restricted stock units vest on July 7, 2011.  Vested shares will be delivered to the reporting person no later than December 31, 2011.  If employment terminates prior to vesting, the restricted stock units shall be immediately cancelled and the employee shall cease to have any right or entitlement to receive any shares under those cancelled units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Hallador Petroleum Company common stock, par value $.01.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Victor P. Stabio</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-07-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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