<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONVEST ENERGY CORPORATION 1996 FORM 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 4,011 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 9,163 <ALLOWANCES> (657) <INVENTORY> 97 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 14,784 <PP&E> 117,785 <DEPRECIATION> (63,061) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 72,212 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 17,342 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 104 <OTHER-SE> 43,034 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 72,212 <SALES> 47,139 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 49,745 <CGS> 14,780 <TOTAL-COSTS> 40,453 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,065 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,227 <INCOME-TAX> 157 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 8,070 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,070 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.77 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.77