Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  THIGPEN JEREMY D
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
12/06/2012
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO INC [NOV]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
7909 PARKWOOD CIRCLE DRIVE
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Senior Vice President & CFO
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

HOUSTON, TX 77036
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 28,100
D
 
Common Stock 6,538
I
by 401(k) Plan

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)   (1) 02/17/2020 Common Stock 11,295 $ 44.07 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)   (2) 02/23/2021 Common Stock 16,200 $ 79.8 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)   (3) 02/22/2022 Common Stock 29,000 $ 84.58 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
THIGPEN JEREMY D
7909 PARKWOOD CIRCLE DRIVE
HOUSTON, TX 77036
      Senior Vice President & CFO  

Signatures

Raymond W. Chang for Jeremy D. Thigpen 12/11/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The option is exercisable in three equal annual installments. The first installment became exercisable on February 16, 2011 and the second installment became exercisable on February 16, 2012. The last installment becomes exercisable on February 16, 2013.
(2) The option is exercisable in three equal annual installments. The first installment became exercisable on February 22, 2012, and the next two installments become exercisable on February 22, 2013 and February 22, 2014.
(3) The option is excercisable in three equal annual installments. The first installment becomes exercisable on February 21, 2013, and the next two installments become exercisable on February 21, 2014 and February 21, 2015.

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