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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-029228.txt : 20040930
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-029228.hdr.sgml : 20040930
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040930173428
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-029228
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040928
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040930
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040930

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EVERGREEN RESOURCES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000353943
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				840834147
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CO
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1401 17TH ST SUITE 1200
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3032988100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1401 17TH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1200
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITH ARTHUR L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001034323

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13171
		FILM NUMBER:		041056148

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1401 17TH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1200
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3032988100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1401 17TH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1200
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000353943</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EVERGREEN RESOURCES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EVG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001034323</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH ARTHUR L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1401 17TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>39.4805</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.74</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-01-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the merger (the &quot;Merger&quot;) of Evergreen Resources, Inc. (&quot;Evergreen&quot;) with a wholly owned subsidiary of Pioneer Natural Resources Company (&quot;Pioneer&quot;),  effected on September 28, 2004, in exchange for all of their outstanding shares of Evergreen common stock, each officer and director of Evergreen received, as base merger consideration, either (a) Pioneer common stock, (b) cash or (c) a combination of cash and Pioneer common stock, plus, in each of cases (a)-(c), an additional $0.4805 cash per share of Evergreen common stock in connection with the sale of the Kansas properties.  This transaction is exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to, without limitation, Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes $0.4805 paid as consideration for the Kansas properties.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These options were assumed by Pioneer in the Merger and converted into options to acquire (a) a number of shares of Pioneer common stock equal to the product of  (x) the number of shares of Evergreen common stock subject to the former Evergreen options and (y) 1.1635, and (b) an amount of cash equal to the product of  (x) the number of shares of Evergreen common stock subject to the former Evergreen options and (y) $0.4805.  The exercise price per share (plus related cash) for the new Pioneer options is equal to the quotient of  the exercise price per share of Evergreen common stock under the former Evergreen options divided by 1.1635.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This option provided for vesting in five equal annual installments beginning January 2, 2003.  All unvested portions of this option vested upon the effectiveness of the Merger.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Arthur L. Smith</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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