<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Swift Energy
Income Partners 1987-A, Ltd's balance sheet and statement of operations
contained in its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996.     
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                         1,019
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  220,422
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               221,441
<PP&E>                                         13,922,923
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (10,945,995)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 3,198,369
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          239,762
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     2,826,162
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   3,198,369
<SALES>                                        757,615
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               773,417
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  418,665<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                241,097
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            241,097
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   241,097
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0
<FN>
<F1>Includes lease operating expenses, production taxes and depreciation deple-
tion and amoritization expense. Excludes general and administrative and interest
expense.
</FN>