<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000797468-07-000052
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20070507
<FILING-DATE>20070508
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20070508
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORP /DE/
<CIK>0000797468
<ASSIGNED-SIC>1311
<IRS-NUMBER>954035997
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10889 WILSHIRE BLVD
<CITY>LOS ANGELES
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90024
<PHONE>3102088800
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10889 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD
<CITY>LOS ANGELES
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90024
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DJEREJIAN EDWARD P
<CIK>0001173584
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-09210
<FILM-NUMBER>07829740
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2027 SUNSET BOULEVARD
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77005
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>2007-05-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000797468</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OXY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001173584</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DJEREJIAN EDWARD P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>RICE UNIVERSITY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 1892 - MS40</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77251</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-05-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>49262</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Award of restricted stock under Occidental Petroleum Corporation's 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On August 15, 2006, the common stock of Occidental Petroleum Corporation split 2-for-1, resulting in Mr. Djerejian's ownership of 21,747 shares of additional common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 769 shares acquired between July 2006 and April 2007 under the Occidental Petroleum Corporation Dividend Reinvestment Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ CHRISTEL H. PAULI, Attorney-in-Fact for Edward P. Djerejian</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-05-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
