<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     (Replace this text with the legend)
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000837894
<NAME>                        Enex Oil & Gas Income Program III - Series 8, L.P.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              dec-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 jan-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   mar-31-1997
<CASH>                                         20521
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  39752
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               62630
<PP&E>                                         2523596
<DEPRECIATION>                                 2338397
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 247829
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          81925
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     165904
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   247829
<SALES>                                        77255
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               77255
<CGS>                                          39276
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  48282
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               6565
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                0
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            0
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   22408
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0