<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> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <CASH> 2,305,047 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 947,934 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 34,640 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 3,416,346 <PP&E> 23,485,801 <DEPRECIATION> 4,420,362 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 24,939,416 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,194,396 <BONDS> 10,000 <COMMON> 520,003 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 1,456,048 <OTHER-SE> 17,886,147 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 24,939,416 <SALES> 272,015 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,125,633 <CGS> 452,780 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,791,855 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,587 <INCOME-PRETAX> 379,008 <INCOME-TAX> 147,673 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 231,335 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 231,335 <EPS-PRIMARY> .002 <EPS-DILUTED> .004