<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000863835
<NAME> GEODYNE ENERGY INCOME LIMITED PARTNERSHIP III-B
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                         373,435
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  316,074
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               689,509
<PP&E>                                      12,720,825
<DEPRECIATION>                               9,265,937
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,313,486
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           33,144
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                   4,232,982
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,313,486
<SALES>                                        519,882
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               522,552
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  350,225
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                172,327
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            172,327
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   172,327
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0