-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GhsfJt3DFCa3Js8L7c46759UBb9r0GmQvHFcQuwiHOsWFp0T0Y5XqfOLXouQy9yT
 8QZ0bO38k6oLpfgAI36TEw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001292850-10-000045.txt : 20100211
<SEC-HEADER>0001292850-10-000045.hdr.sgml : 20100211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100211175526
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001292850-10-000045
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100210
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100211
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100211

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RASPINO LOUIS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236474

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13289
		FILM NUMBER:		10593187

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1330 POST OAK BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 2700
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77056

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PRIDE INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000833081
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DRILLING OIL & GAS WELLS [1381]
		IRS NUMBER:				760069030
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5847 SAN FELIPE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3300
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77057
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7137891400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5847 SAN FELIPE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3300
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77057

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PRIDE PETROLEUM SERVICES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-02-10</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000833081</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PRIDE INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PDE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236474</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RASPINO LOUIS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5847 SAN FELIPE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77057</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7586</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.38</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>388938</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This sale was effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $29.17 to $29.74. The price reported above reflects the weighted average sales price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transaction was effected.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Elizabeth Wright, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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