-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KLTR/V8d497yYUdPRRDXZUNJuUeNQkdb0gOw5dVJckslj23hCIDPIZu+0c+orM2o
 5XQnYO8XyfwPMOo6Pa7L2w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000929966-03-000031.txt : 20031031
<SEC-HEADER>0000929966-03-000031.hdr.sgml : 20031031
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031031182920
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000929966-03-000031
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031029
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031031

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TGC INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000799165
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PLASTICS, FOIL & COATED PAPER BAGS [2673]
		IRS NUMBER:				742095844
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1304 SUMMIT AVE STE 2
		CITY:			PLANO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75074
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9728811099

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1304 SUMMIT AVE
		STREET 2:		STE 2
		CITY:			PLANO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75074

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FLYNN EDWARD L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001031599

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14908
		FILM NUMBER:		03971159

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		75 11 MYRTLE AVE
		CITY:			GLENDALE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11385
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7183865800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		211 SOMERVILLE ROAD RTE 202N
		CITY:			BEDMINISTER
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07921
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-29</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000799165</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TGC INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TGCI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001031599</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FLYNN EDWARD L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>75-11 MYRTLE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GLENDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11385</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>2003-10-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.4</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>912702</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20316</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Statutory Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-12-11</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2005-12-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrants</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.3</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-07-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-07-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A Warrants</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.2</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-09-10</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-09-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>300000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>300000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A2 Warrants</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.2</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-06-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>150000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-06-12</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-06-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>150000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>150000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock grant of restricted common stock awarded to directors in lieu of cash compensation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Stock options are exercisable as follows:  one-third exercisable after 12/11/2001; two-thirds exercisable after 12/11/2002; and all exercisable after 12/11/2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Series A2 Warrants issued to reporting person by TGCI pursuant to a debt financing transaction between reporting person and TGCI.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>EDWARD L. FLYNN</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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