<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE U.S. ENERGY CORP. FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000101594 <NAME> U.S. ENERGY CORP. <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAY-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JUN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1997 <CASH> 1,416,900 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 1,590,100 <ALLOWANCES> 30,900 <INVENTORY> 96,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 4,400,900 <PP&E> 14,843,000 <DEPRECIATION> 8,802,100 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 30,387,100 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,393,900 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 66,500 <OTHER-SE> 12,657,100 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 30,387,100 <SALES> 3,258,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 5,790,200 <CGS> 4,655,300 <TOTAL-COSTS> 4,655,300 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 4,718,600 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 140,800 <INCOME-PRETAX> (3,724,500) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (3,724,500) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (3,724,500) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.55) <EPS-DILUTED> (.55)