<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000899243-19-026870.txt : 20191107
<SEC-HEADER>0000899243-19-026870.hdr.sgml : 20191107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20191107162749
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000899243-19-026870
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20191106
FILED AS OF DATE:		20191107
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20191107

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Duff Scott K.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001614165

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12317
		FILM NUMBER:		191200770

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7909 PARKWOOD CIRCLE DRIVE
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77036-6565

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
</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>2019-11-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001614165</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Duff Scott K.</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>VP Cntrlr Chf Acctg Offcr</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-11-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.5113</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>42721</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5815</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by 401(K) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is the average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $23.5000 to $23.5350, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to National Oilwell Varco, Inc., any security holder of National Oilwell Varco, Inc., or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in footnote (1) to this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents the number of shares equivalent of NOV common stock held by Mr. Duff's under the National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 401(k) Plan. The information in this report is based on Mr. Duff's account balance as of November 6, 2019.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Scott K. Duff</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-11-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
