<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains summary financial  information  extracted from Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 1997 for Hallwood Energy  Partners,  L.P. and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such From 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000768172
<NAME>                        Hallwood Energy Partners, L.P.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   Mar-31-1997
<CASH>                                         13,373
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  10,686
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               25,020
<PP&E>                                         614,930
<DEPRECIATION>                                 526,943
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 127,830
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          30,988
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     67,593
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   127,830
<SALES>                                        12,747
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               12,870
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  7,143
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               (420)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             851
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                5,296
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            5,296
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   5,296
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .48
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .48