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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OUvy/TjsOFB3hTyvxu7wvIfg6iaytskIHqImzVngs8O8BGAnEk7zonTG59++Fpz1
 zpUlrKA9ceIp1jYqoV1qsA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000007332-07-000105.txt : 20071018
<SEC-HEADER>0000007332-07-000105.hdr.sgml : 20071018
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20071018153936
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000007332-07-000105
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20071016
FILED AS OF DATE:		20071018
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20071018

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WILSON STANLEY T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001103815

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08246
		FILM NUMBER:		071178817

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2816184700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2350 N. SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY EAST
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77032

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000007332
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				710205415
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2350 N. SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY EAST
		STREET 2:		SUITE 125
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77032
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2816184700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2350 N. SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY EAST
		STREET 2:		SUITE 125
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77032

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ARKANSAS WESTERN GAS CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19790917
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-10-16</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000007332</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SWN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001103815</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WILSON STANLEY T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2350  N. SAM HOUSTON PKWY EAST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 125</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77032</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Controller and CAO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-10-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>47</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21455</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on August 30, 2007, when not in possession of material nonpublic information.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Melissa D. McCarty,  Attorney-in-Fact for Stanley T. Wilson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-10-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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