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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LiVEx+YnfSjjmfuCS4rUeka/LCc3cQZ26kr9xaz3fioNA+lXlrs1dAYOF1pJWvy2
 7qxm5Wj7pauLuStdLD77hQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000897069-03-001515.txt : 20031124
<SEC-HEADER>0000897069-03-001515.hdr.sgml : 20031124
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031124142440
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000897069-03-001515
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031124

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WHITING PETROLEUM CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001255474
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				200098515
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1700 BROADWAY
		STREET 2:		STE 2300
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80290-2300

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	WHITING PETROLEUM HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030721

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VOLKER JAMES J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001269245

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31899
		FILM NUMBER:		031020370

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1700 BROADWAY STE.2300
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80290-2300
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>vol17.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-11-20</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001255474</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WHITING PETROLEUM CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WLL</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001269245</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VOLKER JAMES J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1700 BROADWAY, SUITE 2300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>802902300</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>2003-11-20</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>100</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>16.40</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>100</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: John K. Wilson, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-11-24</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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