<ARTICLE>                    5
<LEGEND>
     The financial data schedule contains summary financial information
     extracted from the form 10-Q of Howell Corporation for the nine months
     ended September 30, 1999, and is qualified in its entirety by reference
     to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>             1000

                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>              9-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>          Dec-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>               Sep-30-1999
<CASH>                            502
<SECURITIES>                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                    9558
<ALLOWANCES>                      161
<INVENTORY>                        40
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                12713
<PP&E>                         401661
<DEPRECIATION>                 311473
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 122250
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>           13370
<BONDS>                         81000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>               0
<PREFERRED>                       690
<COMMON>                         5472
<OTHER-SE>                      21145
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   122250
<SALES>                         33428
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                33428
<CGS>                           21760
<TOTAL-COSTS>                   21760
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>               5640
<INCOME-PRETAX>                  2523
<INCOME-TAX>                      903
<INCOME-CONTINUING>              1620
<DISCONTINUED>                   1283
<EXTRAORDINARY>                     0
<CHANGES>                           0
<NET-INCOME>                     2903
<EPS-BASIC>                    0.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                    0.20