<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION 
EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ENERGEN
CORPORATION FOR THE 
NINE-MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
 ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000277595
<NAME> ENERGEN CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                              OCT-1-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      286,894
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    290,637
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         115,282
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        11,101
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 704,321
<COMMON>                                           131
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      145,506
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            124,162
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 269,799
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           279,622
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              34,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,855
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 119,045
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  704,321
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      370,823
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             7,555
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     313,026
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     320,581
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         57,797
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                            (13,527)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  52,920
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        16,205
<NET-INCOME>                                    36,715
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   36,715
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        11,217
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       10,654
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          59,371
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.98
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.98