<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-20</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000230463</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>POGO PRODUCING CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PPP</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197489</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BRUNNER STEPHEN R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5 GREENWAY PLAZA, SUITE 2700</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77046</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Exec VP - Operations</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Pogo Producing Company Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7298</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>401(k)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Pogo Producing Company Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16834</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Between July 1, 2003 and September 30, 2003, the reporting person acquired 63 shares of Pogo common stock under Pogo Producing Company Tax-Advantaged Savings Plan (401(k)) at prices ranging from $39.515 to $45.26 per share.  This information is based on a plan statement received by the reporting person on October 20, 2003.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Stephen R. Brunner</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

