-----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,
 VPOPGREHerYI9wRy87lrbPpoel08k9tImUJWIr+MYxm8DXeOWi5+SdOgVoexhr+p
 iwSlpP7ntm9zCAY/oa6Q7w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001425718-08-000009.txt : 20080722
<SEC-HEADER>0001425718-08-000009.hdr.sgml : 20080722
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080722103252
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001425718-08-000009
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:			Martin Lawrence D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001425718

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14731
		FILM NUMBER:		08962662

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(812) 894-3480

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		215 TIMBERLINE DR
		CITY:			GEORGETOWN
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61846

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>0001425718</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Martin Lawrence D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>215 TIMBERLINE DR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GEORGETOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>61846</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>CFO Sunrise Coal (Subsidiary)</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-07-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>HALLADOR COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.01</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Hallador Petroleum Company stock.</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 canceclled and the employee shall cease to have any right or entitlement to receive an shares under those cancelled units.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Victor P. Stabio, attorney-in-fact for Lawrence Martin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-07-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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