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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-02-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001350939</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LOGAN JOEL STEPHEN II</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>205 CARRIAGE ST.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GUIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35563</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>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>638298</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>216528</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>838298</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>STOCK OPTION</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>312141</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>PREFERRED STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>412141</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Issuer redeemed from the Reporting Person 382,979 common shares at a price of $0.35 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Issuer redeemed from the Reporting Person (a) options exercisable for 50,000 shares of common stock and an exercise price of $1.14, and (b) options exercisable for 50,000 shares of common stock and an exercise price of $1.11.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Reporting Person converted 15,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into 200,000 shares of common stock.  Each share of Series A Convertible Stock converts into 13.34 shares of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes: (a) 200,000 common shares issuable upon exercise of the Company's Series A Common Stock Purchase Warrants, (b) 12,141 common shares issuable upon exercise of another of the Company's Series A Common Stock Purchase Warrants, and (d) 100,000 common shares issuable upon exercise of the Company's Series B Common Stock Purchase Warrants.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ JOEL STEPHEN LOGAN, II</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-04-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2010-02-26
0
0000095047
DEER VALLEY CORP
DVLY
0001350939
LOGAN JOEL STEPHEN II
205 CARRIAGE ST.
GUIN
AL
35563
1
0
0
0
COMMON STOCK
2010-02-26
4
D
0
638298
0.35
D
216528
D
COMMON STOCK
2008-06-04
4
M
0
200000
A
838298
D
STOCK OPTION
2010-02-26
4
D
0
100000
D
COMMON STOCK
100000
312141
D
PREFERRED STOCK
2008-06-04
4
M
0
15000
D
COMMON STOCK
200000
412141
D
The Issuer redeemed from the Reporting Person 382,979 common shares at a price of $0.35 per share.
The Issuer redeemed from the Reporting Person (a) options exercisable for 50,000 shares of common stock and an exercise price of $1.14, and (b) options exercisable for 50,000 shares of common stock and an exercise price of $1.11.
The Reporting Person converted 15,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into 200,000 shares of common stock.  Each share of Series A Convertible Stock converts into 13.34 shares of common stock.
Includes: (a) 200,000 common shares issuable upon exercise of the Company's Series A Common Stock Purchase Warrants, (b) 12,141 common shares issuable upon exercise of another of the Company's Series A Common Stock Purchase Warrants, and (d) 100,000 common shares issuable upon exercise of the Company's Series B Common Stock Purchase Warrants.
/s/ JOEL STEPHEN LOGAN, II
2010-04-02