<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000277924</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CREDO PETROLEUM CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRED</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001396858</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RCH Energy Opportunity Fund II L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3953 MAPLE AVENUE, SUITE 180</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75219</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001439498</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RCH Energy Opportunity Fund II GP, LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3953 MAPLE AVENUE, SUITE 180</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75219</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1150000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents a transfer of shares owned by RCH Energy Opportunity Fund II, L.P. (&quot;RCH Fund II&quot;) to its affiliate RCH Energy SSI Fund, L.P. (&quot;RCH SSI Fund&quot;) in connection with a restructuring of RCH Fund II.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">RCH Fund II directly beneficially owns all of the securities identified herein. RCH Energy Opportunity Fund II GP, L.P. (&quot;RCH Fund II GP&quot;) may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own such securities because RCH Fund II GP is the general partner of RCH Fund II.  At the time of the transaction reported herein,  RCH Fund II and RCH Fund II GP may have been deemed to constitute a Section 13(d) group with respect to the issuer with Robert J. Raymond, RR Advisors, LLC, RCH Energy Opportunity Fund III, L.P. and RCH Energy Opportunity Fund III GP, L.P.  Each member of such group disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interest therein, and nothing in this report shall be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>RCH ENERGY OPPORTUNITY FUND II, L.P.

By: RCH Energy Opportunity Fund II GP, L.P.,
its general partner

By: RR Advisors, LLC,
its general partner

By: /s/ W. Mark Meyer, President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>RCH ENERGY OPPORTUNITY FUND II GP, L.P.

By: RR Advisors, LLC,
its general partner

By: /s/ W. Mark Meyer, President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
