-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 A8RWzhv/rnRg4mOUcy3eldAowricgxKhSkH5JHeOf3yHUYbcqAu0FPtikOGv5OuM
 x+S9xDxCukHxbxUqvutOng==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000897069-03-001630.txt : 20031212
<SEC-HEADER>0000897069-03-001630.hdr.sgml : 20031212
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031212114525
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000897069-03-001630
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031212
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031212

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:			ARTUS D SHERWIN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001269247

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31899
		FILM NUMBER:		031051024

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1700 BROADWAY STE.2300
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80290-2300
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>art32.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-12-12</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001255474</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WHITING PETROLEUM CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WLL</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001269247</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ARTUS D SHERWIN</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>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-12-12</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>43100</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>15.50</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>43100</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-12-12</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>17706</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>15.50</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>25394</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Phantom Shares</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>15.50</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-12-12</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>43100</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2003-12-12</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2003-12-12</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>43100</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>43100</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Phantom Shares</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>15.50</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-12-12</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>43100</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2003-12-12</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2003-12-12</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>43100</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>0</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">The reporting person received shares of the issuer's common stock on December 12, 2003 upon conversion of the reporting person's Phantom    Shares.  The conversion price of the Phantom Shares did not become fixed until December 12, 2003.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: John K. Wilson, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-12-12</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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