-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P0KDm9a4YwdslPAOxBCHkFBGYN1WAcEA4dqQHEuT43/mTumw3TVSs4Zu9Wzmy9jJ
 NRnrroPv+vvDjlf6ixZUSw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001331129-08-000001.txt : 20080521
<SEC-HEADER>0001331129-08-000001.hdr.sgml : 20080521
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080521115229
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001331129-08-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080519
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080521
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080521

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PYRAMID OIL CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000081318
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				940787340
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2008 21ST ST
		CITY:			BAKERSFIELD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93301
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6613251000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 832
		CITY:			BAKERSFIELD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93302

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Ladd Thomas W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001331129

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32989
		FILM NUMBER:		08851043

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		661-327-1122

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 EASTON DRIVE, SUITE 152
		CITY:			BAKERSFIELD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93309
</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>2008-05-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000081318</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PYRAMID OIL CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PDO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001331129</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ladd Thomas W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1400 EASTON DRIVE, SUITE 152</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BAKERSFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93309</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Pyramid Oil Company Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>75</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.2</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas W. Ladd</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----