<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES' CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 1,193,362 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 779,711 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 17,858 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,224,640 <PP&E> 24,762,648 <DEPRECIATION> 4,343,659 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 23,713,461 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,710,578 <BONDS> 0 <COMMON> 353,247 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 1,456,048 <OTHER-SE> 16,331,163 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 23,713,461 <SALES> 127,634 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,067,357 <CGS> 218,647 <TOTAL-COSTS> 897,933 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,205 <INCOME-PRETAX> 189,405 <INCOME-TAX> 73,803 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 115,602 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 115,602 <EPS-PRIMARY> .001 <EPS-DILUTED> .002