<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Swift Energy
Income  Partners  1987-B,  Ltd.'s balance sheet and statement of operations con-
tained in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                         1,762
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  796,119
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               809,728
<PP&E>                                         24,511,749
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (20,931,018)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 4,390,459
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          190,865
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     3,980,608
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   4,390,459
<SALES>                                        1,366,336
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1,488,783
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  1,150,485<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                111,373
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            111,373
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   111,373
<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>