<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,  1997 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                         1,071
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  114,300
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               120,859
<PP&E>                                         13,874,587
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (11,122,880)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,872,566
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          130,023
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     2,610,620
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   2,872,566
<SALES>                                        410,315
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               416,566
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  300,739<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                27,494
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            27,494
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   27,494
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0
<FN>
<F1>Includes  lease  operating  expenses,  production  taxes  and  depreciation,
depletion and  amortization  expense.  Excludes general and  administrative  and
interest expense.
</FN>