<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM TESORO
PETROLEUM CORPORATION'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIOD
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000
       
                                         
<PERIOD-TYPE>                               9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          103,572
<SECURITIES>                                          0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    93,690
<ALLOWANCES>                                      1,990
<INVENTORY>                                      64,797
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                268,666
<PP&E>                                          538,609
<DEPRECIATION>                                  248,238
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  587,106
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           191,009
<BONDS>                                          80,020
<COMMON>                                          4,398
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                           0
<OTHER-SE>                                      256,823
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    587,106
<SALES>                                         735,167
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                739,545
<CGS>                                           636,223
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   636,223
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 30,386
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                      0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               12,142
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  51,302
<INCOME-TAX>                                     17,159
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              34,143
<DISCONTINUED>                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 (2,290)
<CHANGES>                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                     31,853
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      1.21<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      1.21<F1>
<FN>
<F1>EARNINGS PER SHARE IS AFTER AN EXTRAORDINARY LOSS OF $2.3 MILLION ($.09 LOSS
PER SHARE) ON EXTINGUISHMENT OF DEBT.
<FN>