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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SMlIoZK4X3pltNUAEqaLR37WwgjbpRnH49HVvRpsu3VymJeetGyEiKYPvmO0jUla
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000750813-07-000027.txt : 20070216
<SEC-HEADER>0000750813-07-000027.hdr.sgml : 20070216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070216173116
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000750813-07-000027
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070214
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070216
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070216

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Restrepo William J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001334321

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10165
		FILM NUMBER:		07632665

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		713-881-8900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10811 S. WESTVIEW CIRCLE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		BUILDING C, SUITE 100
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77043

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SEITEL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000750813
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OIL AND GAS FIELD EXPLORATION SERVICES [1382]
		IRS NUMBER:				760025431
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10811 S. WESTVIEW CIRCLE
		STREET 2:		BUILDING C, SUITE 100
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77043
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7138818900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10811 S. WESTVIEW CIRCLE
		STREET 2:		BUILDING C, SUITE 100
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77043

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SEISMIC ENTERPRISES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19870814
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-02-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000750813</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SEITEL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SELA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001334321</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Restrepo William J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10811 S. WESTVIEW CIRCLE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>BUILDING C, SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77043</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec VP, CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-02-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>548555</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares of common stock include 483,243 shares of unvested restricted common stock which were vested in the merger.  All shares were converted in the merger into (i) the right to receive a cash payment of $1,802,399.50, representing 487,135 shares of stock multiplied by $3.70, the consideration for shares of Seitel's common stock in the merger, and (ii) 580 shares of the common stock of Seitel Holdings, Inc., in exchange for 61,420 of the shares of common stock not converted into cash.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ William J. Restrepo by /s/ Marcia H. Kendrick</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-02-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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