-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LTjjgUpEd31/H/2Hc5HG+oYeJRdDrsZz83osYHHnKfW4RZHGfyXsbbybJkT8svBF
 glMmSUieVh5d4uJPHbIZTg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001129787-06-000018.txt : 20060302
<SEC-HEADER>0001129787-06-000018.hdr.sgml : 20060302
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060302162801
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001129787-06-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060302
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060302

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Spivy Gregory P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001310679

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10165
		FILM NUMBER:		06660196

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4153623700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		435 PACIFIC AVENUE, FOURTH FLOOR
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94133

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>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001310679</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Spivy Gregory P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE, FOURTH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gregory P. Spivy, Partner, VA Partners, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----