<?xml version="1.0"?>
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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>0001700749</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LOHOEFENER SIRIKKA R</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>Vice President and Controller</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <value>2022-01-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>700.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>966.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
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                    <value>296.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>74.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>670.00</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
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                    <value>1190.00</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1190.00</value>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units 2022</value>
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                <value>2022-01-31</value>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2379.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <value>A</value>
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                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>2379.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2379.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are granted immediately, without restriction and issuable from the Whiting Petroleum Corporation 2020 Equity Incentive Plan. They are payable under the 2021 Short-Term Incentive Program as a portion of a one-time performance payment.</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 Lohoefener Sirikka R</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
