<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
EXPLORATION  COMPANY AUDITED FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 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>                  12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 SEP-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   AUG-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         968516
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  2253349
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               3478199
<PP&E>                                         20484397
<DEPRECIATION>                                 6856345
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 17553815
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          5003793
<BONDS>                                        529742
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       159385
<OTHER-SE>                                     11860895
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   17553815
<SALES>                                        7497375
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               7497375
<CGS>                                          4556988
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  5999326
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             640396
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                931545
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            931545
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   931545
<EPS-BASIC>                                  .06
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .06