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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 cy6C6wj8495eLEMn4IjALw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000808028-05-000003.txt : 20050201
<SEC-HEADER>0000808028-05-000003.hdr.sgml : 20050201
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050201152634
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000808028-05-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050114
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050201
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050201

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOUTHWEST OIL & GAS INCOME FUND VII A L P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000808028
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				752145576
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		407 N BIG SPRING STE 300
		CITY:			MIDLAND
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9156869927

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		407 N BIG SPRING STE 300
		CITY:			MIDLAND
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79701

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SOUTHWEST ROYALTIES INC INCOME FUND VII L P
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19870204

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CLAYTON WILLIAMS ENERGY INC /DE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000880115
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16493
		FILM NUMBER:		05565642

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SIX DESTA DR
		STREET 2:		STE 6500
		CITY:			MIDLAND
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79705
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9156826324

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SIX DESTA DRIVE
		STREET 2:		STE 6500
		CITY:			MIDLAND
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79705
</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>2005-01-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000808028</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHWEST OIL &amp; GAS INCOME FUND VII A L P</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>N/A</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000880115</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CLAYTON WILLIAMS ENERGY INC /DE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SIX DESTA DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 6500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIDLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>79705</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Limited Partnership Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>210.8</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5464.67</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>*</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Southwest Royalties, Inc. the Managing General Parnter of the Issuer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Clayton Williams Energy, Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ L. Paul Latham, signed on behalf of Clayton Williams Energy, Inc. by L. Paul Latham, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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