<ARTICLE>                          5
<CIK>                              0000860745  
<NAME>                             GEODYNE ENERGY INCOME LTD PARTNERSHIP III-A
                                    
                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                     JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                       DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                522,371
<SECURITIES>                                0
<RECEIVABLES>                         524,849
<ALLOWANCES>                                0
<INVENTORY>                                 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    1,047,220
<PP&E>                             15,907,665
<DEPRECIATION>                     13,237,716
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                      3,916,891
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                  78,040
<BONDS>                                     0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       0
<PREFERRED>                                 0
<COMMON>                                    0
<OTHER-SE>                          3,786,946
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>        3,916,891
<SALES>                             3,328,634
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                    3,504,849
<CGS>                                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                       3,372,864
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                            0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                       131,985
<INCOME-TAX>                                0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                   131,985
<DISCONTINUED>                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                             0
<CHANGES>                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                          131,985
<EPS-PRIMARY>                            0.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                               0