<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Swift Energy
Income  Partners  1988-B,  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>                                         135,751
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  77,363
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               213,114
<PP&E>                                         6,762,197
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (6,324,817)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 660,510
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          22,864
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     596,994
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   660,510
<SALES>                                        25,997
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               27,588
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  20,929<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (9,304)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (9,304)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (9,304)
<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>