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    <periodOfReport>2022-01-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>false</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001255474</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WHITING PETROLEUM CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WLL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001575480</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Rimer Charles J.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1700 LINCOLN STREET, SUITE 4700</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>false</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP Operations &amp; COO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12275.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
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                    <value>34686.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>74.25</value>
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                    <value>29222.00</value>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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                </transactionShares>
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            <securityTitle>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>8157.00</value>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>8157.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units VWAP</value>
            </securityTitle>
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                <value>2022-01-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12275.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12275.00</value>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>0.00</value>
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    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents conversion of restricted stock units under the Whiting Petroleum Corporation 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, each of which represents the right to receive one share of Whiting Petroleum Corporation common stock.  Of the 49,100 RSUs granted in September 2020, 50% vested on March 19, 2021 as the volume weighted average price for Whiting Petroleum Corporation common stock (&quot;VWAP&quot;) exceeded $32.57 per share for 20 consecutive trading days.  An additional 12,275 RSUs, representing 25% of the total, vested on July 1, 2021 as the VWAP exceeded $48.86 per share for 20 consecutive trading days. The remaining 12,275 RSUs vested January 31, 2022 as the VWAP exceeded $65.14 per share for 20 consecutive trading days.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each absolute TSR performance share unit represents a contingent right to receive 0-200% of that number in shares of Company common stock. The amount reported represents the &quot;target&quot; number. The absolute TSR performance share units will vest upon continued employment and achievement of specified metrics as described in the related grant agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each relative TSR performance share unit represents a contingent right to receive 0-200% of that number in shares of Company common stock. The amount reported represents the &quot;target&quot; number. The relative TSR performance share units will vest upon continued employment and achievement of specified metrics as described in the related grant agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Each restricted stock unit represents a right to receive one share of the Company's common stock. The restricted stock units will vest in approximately three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date subject to continued employment.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s /M. Scott Regan, Attorney-in-Fact for Rimer Charles J.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
