<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
EXPLORATION  COMPANY UNAUDITED FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS FOR THE TRANSITION QUARTER
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999 AND IS QUALIFED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000313395
<NAME>                        THE EXPLORATION COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1
<CURRENCY>                                     US DOLLAR

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 SEP-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         3381793
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  1966162
<ALLOWANCES>                                   27026
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               5443404
<PP&E>                                         18040264
<DEPRECIATION>                                 5204354
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 18647878
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          5235744
<BONDS>                                        203206
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       159385
<OTHER-SE>                                     13049543
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   18647878
<SALES>                                        2634015
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               2836861
<CGS>                                          840006
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  1760564
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               (15326)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             92221
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                999402
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            999402
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   999402
<EPS-BASIC>                                  .06
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .06