<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-15-028292.txt : 20150320
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-15-028292.hdr.sgml : 20150320
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20150320174251
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-15-028292
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20150319
FILED AS OF DATE:		20150320
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20150320

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001021860
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OIL & GAS FILED MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [3533]
		IRS NUMBER:				760475815
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7909 PARKWOOD CIRCLE DR
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77036
		BUSINESS PHONE:		713-375-3700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7909 PARKWOOD CIRCLE DR
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77036

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NATIONAL OILWELL INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960829

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THIGPEN JEREMY D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001240666

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12317
		FILM NUMBER:		15717219
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-03-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001021860</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NOV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001240666</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THIGPEN JEREMY D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7909 PARKWOOD CIRCLE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. Vice President and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-03-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4595</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>47.89</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25334</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6610</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by 401(K) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the number of shares withheld from the vesting of performance-based restricted stock shares to satisfy tax withholding liability.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">In connection with the spin-off of NOW Inc. on May 30, 2014, all outstanding NOV stock options, restricted stock awards and performance based equity awards held by continuing NOV employees, officers and directors, were adjusted to preserve the intrinsic value of such awards. The adjusted number of shares subject to such awards are reflected in this filing.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents the number of shares equivalent of NOV common stock held by Mr. Thigpen under the National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan. The information in this report is based on Mr. Thigpen's account balance as of March 19, 2015.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Brigitte M. Hunt For: Jeremy D. Thigpen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-03-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
