<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 March 31, 1999 and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                         1,913
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  72,097
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               87,700
<PP&E>                                         13,752,974
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (11,943,787)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,897,261
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          48,058
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     1,738,561
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,897,261
<SALES>                                        45,193
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               47,286
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  51,058<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (36,350)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (36,350)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (36,350)
<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>