<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
EXPLORATION  COMPANY  UNAUDITED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  FOR  THE  QUARTER  ENDED
FEBRUARY 28, 1999 AND IS QUALIFED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000313395
<NAME>                        THE EXPLORATION COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1
<CURRENCY>                                     US DALLAR
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 DEC-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   FEB-28-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         962754
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  2123011
<ALLOWANCES>                                   27026
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               3112381
<PP&E>                                         16486864
<DEPRECIATION>                                 2952852
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 17089957
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          3840772
<BONDS>                                        2220436
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       156135
<OTHER-SE>                                     10872614
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   17089957
<SALES>                                        1523149
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1611196
<CGS>                                          363929
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  1107273
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               (15701)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             157686
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                361938
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            361938
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   361938
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .02
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .02