<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ENERGEN CORPORATION FOR THE
QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000277595
<NAME> ENERGEN CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      276,873
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    172,082
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         166,826
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        10,752
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 626,533
<COMMON>                                           113
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       92,773
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             98,458
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 191,344
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           195,492
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              67,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,805
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 170,892
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  626,533
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       97,002
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             1,008
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      89,047
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      90,055
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          6,947
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,175
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   8,122
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,945
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,177
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    3,177
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         3,375
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,554
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          13,866
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.28