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

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-07-03</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001439500</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RCH Energy Opportunity Fund III, 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>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001439499</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RCH Energy Opportunity Fund III 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>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>687000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">RCH Energy Opportunity Fund III, L.P. (&quot;RCH Fund III&quot;) directly beneficially owns all of the securities identified herein. RCH Energy Opportunity Fund III GP, L.P. (&quot;RCH Fund III GP&quot;) may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own such securities because RCH Fund III GP is the general partner of RCH Fund III. At the time of the transaction, RCH Fund III and RCH Fund III 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 II, L.P. and RCH Energy Opportunity Fund II 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 III GP, L.P.
By:  RR Advisors, LLC,
        its general partner
By: /s/ Robert J. Raymond
       Sole Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-04-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>RCH ENERGY OPPORTUNITY FUND III, L.P.
By:  RCH Energy Opportunity Fund III GP, L.P.,
        its general partner
By:  RR Advisors, LLC,
        its general partner
By: /s/ Robert J. Raymond
       Sole Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-04-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
