<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
contained in its Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended June 30, 1999 and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1999
<CASH>                                         124,221
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  266,403
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               415,504
<PP&E>                                         24,254,708
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (22,150,128)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,520,767
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          81,850
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     2,261,532
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   2,520,767
<SALES>                                        167,450
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               175,158
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  176,409<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (99,280)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (99,280)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (99,280)
<EPS-BASIC>                                  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>