<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NATIONAL FUEL
GAS COMPANY'S  CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                             12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                       OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                         SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                              1,819,366
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                    0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   208,667
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                  12,025
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                           227,273
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                         2,267,331
<COMMON>                                                  38,166
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                405,028
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                      472,595
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                           913,704
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                                    0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                     581,640
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                        32,400
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                            60,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                  0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                    0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                               0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                           679,587
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                          2,267,331
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                              1,265,812
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                      68,674
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                             1,028,835
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                             1,097,509
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                  168,303
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                         3,196
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                           171,499
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  56,811
<NET-INCOME>                                             114,688
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                            114,688
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                  64,967
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                 41,576
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                   294,662
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                               3.01
<EPS-DILUTED>                                               3.01