<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000863837 <NAME> GEODYNE ENERGY INCOME LIMITED PARTNERSHIP III-C <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 447,105 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 491,973 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 939,078 <PP&E> 22,674,607 <DEPRECIATION> 16,274,190 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 7,407,341 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 72,424 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 7,195,108 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 7,407,341 <SALES> 815,774 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 818,509 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 603,578 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 214,931 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 214,931 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 214,931 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.78 <EPS-DILUTED> 0