WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NATIONAL FUEL
GAS COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                      06-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                  SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                     OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                       MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                            2,012,069
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                  0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                 351,380
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                 6,912
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                         236,178
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                       2,606,539
<COMMON>                                                                38,298
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                              408,703
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                    446,565
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                         892,391
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                                  0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                   543,410
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                     283,235
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                          95,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                          153,572
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                  0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                         638,931
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                        2,606,539
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                              833,669
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                    13,210
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                             784,407
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                             797,617
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                 36,052
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                      26,762
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                          62,814
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                43,713
<NET-INCOME>                                                             7,156
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                  0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                            7,156
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                33,186
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                    0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                 122,657
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                              .19
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              .18