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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-14</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-05-18</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000891456</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PLAINS EXPLORATION &amp; PRODUCTION CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PXP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001216496</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GERRY ROBERT L III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4600 POST OAK PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 309</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77027</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common  Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17923</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The direct stock holdings listed in the reproting person's original filing have been decreased by 57 shares due to an error in the number of shares used in calculating the conversion of Nuevo Energy Company shares into Plains Exploration &amp; Production Company shares on May 14, 2004.  This reduction also affects the Form 4 filed May 20, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Deborah R. Anderson, attorney-in-fact for Robert L. Gerry, III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

