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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-08-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000773910</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ANADARKO PETROLEUM CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>APC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001524717</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Mullins Eric D.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ANADARKO PETROLEUM CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1201 LAKE ROBBINS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>THE WOODLANDS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77380</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-08-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40757</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">This Form 4 reports securities disposed upon the effectiveness of the acquisition of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (&quot;APC&quot;) by Occidental Petroleum Corporation (&quot;OXY&quot;) on August 8, 2019, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 9, 2019, by and among Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Baseball Merger Sub 1, Inc., and Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;). At the effective time, each outstanding share of APC common stock was converted into the right to receive $59 in cash and 0.2934 of a share of OXY common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Courtney H. Landry by power of atty. for Eric D. Mullins</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-08-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
