<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001133200-11-000001
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20110106
<FILING-DATE>20110107
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20110107
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>MASTERS CHARLES G
<CIK>0001133200
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-05388
<FILM-NUMBER>11516386
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3400 82ND WAY NORTH
<CITY>ST PETERSBURG
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33710
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DEER VALLEY CORP
<CIK>0000095047
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2451
<IRS-NUMBER>205256635
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4218  W. LINEBAUGH AVE.
<CITY>TAMPA
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33624
<PHONE>813-885-5998
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4218  W. LINEBAUGH AVE.
<CITY>TAMPA
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33624
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>CYTATION CORP
<DATE-CHANGED>20010626
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>COLLEGELINK COM INCORP
<DATE-CHANGED>19991122
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>CYTATION COM INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19990318
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-01-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000095047</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DEER VALLEY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DVLY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001133200</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MASTERS CHARLES G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3111 WEST DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TAMPA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33607</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>PRESIDENT &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>OPTION AGREEMENT</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-01-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16703049</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-03-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16703049</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16977827</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person entered into an Option Agreement, exercisable immediately, for (a) 22,463 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, convertible into 2,296,300 shares of Common Stock, (b) 1,000,000 shares of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock, convertible into 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock, and (c) 13,406,749 shares of Common Stock.  The aggregate exercise price under the Option Agreement is $12,000,000.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ CHARLES G. MASTERS</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
