-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PN0Piw/3Ac7G8ljVyK24026EqZlfveuw70KhTkea/k2Imo/gXbns3WFOoZEt3ZQk
 YZ5GHwk36HIVWwgN3Ico6A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001029023-10-000004.txt : 20100817
<SEC-HEADER>0001029023-10-000004.hdr.sgml : 20100817
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100817091949
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001029023-10-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100816
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100817
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100817

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALBE ALVIN R JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205888

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34490
		FILM NUMBER:		101021848

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SYNTROLEUM CORP
		STREET 2:		1350 S BOULDER STE 1100
		CITY:			TULSA
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			74119

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SYNTROLEUM CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001029023
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				731565725
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5416 S. YALE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			TULSA
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			74135
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9185927900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5416 S. YALE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			TULSA
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			74135

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SLH CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19961213
</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>2010-08-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001029023</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SYNTROLEUM CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SYNM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205888</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ALBE ALVIN R JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SYNTROLEUM CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5416 S YALE, STE 400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TULSA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OK</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>74135</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>2010-08-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.6049</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>410944</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Karen L Gallagher for Alvin R. Albe, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----