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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>0001104659-06-065945.txt : 20061010
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-06-065945.hdr.sgml : 20061009
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061010174459
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-06-065945
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20061005
FILED AS OF DATE:		20061010
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20061010

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WILLIAMS CLAYTON W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000908287

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10924
		FILM NUMBER:		061138710

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SIX DESTA DRIVE SUITE 3000
		CITY:			MIDLAND
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79705

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6 DESTA DR
		STREET 2:		STE 3000
		CITY:			MIDLAND
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79705

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CLAYTON WILLIAMS ENERGY INC /DE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000880115
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				752396863
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SIX DESTA DR
		STREET 2:		STE 6500
		CITY:			MIDLAND
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79705
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9156826324

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SIX DESTA DRIVE
		STREET 2:		STE 6500
		CITY:			MIDLAND
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79705
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-10-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000880115</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CLAYTON WILLIAMS ENERGY INC /DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CWEI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000908287</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WILLIAMS CLAYTON W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6 DESTA DRIVE, SUITE 6500</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIDLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>79705</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chair of the Board, Pres &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.10 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-10-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>413</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.9199</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4409005</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.10 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-10-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>663</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.9199</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4409668</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.10 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1725019</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Amount presented includes the right to acquire 1,250,500 shares through the exercise of stock options.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Indirect ownership held as follows:  Clayton Williams Partnership, Ltd. (4,088,171 shares), CWPLCO, Inc. (194,784 shares), Modesta Williams, as separate property (11,044 shares), a trust of which Mrs. Williams is trustee (588 shares), son, Clay Wade Williams (10,440 shares), son, Jeff Williams (12,500 shares), daughter, Chicora Modesta Williams (11,671 shares), Trusts for Clayton Wade Williams, Jeff Williams and Chicora Modesta Williams, of which Mr. Williams is Trustee (49,179 shares), a trust in which Mr. Williams is beneficiary and Mrs. Williams is trustee (5,749 shares), by wife, Modesta Williams as custodian for grandchildren under UGTMA (7,421 shares).  This amount also includes 18121 shares held in the Company's 401(k) Plan and Trust, of which 500 shares were purchased since January 20, 2006.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Clayton W. Williams, by L. Paul Latham as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-10-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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