<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BLUE DOLPHIN ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 753,264 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 1,755,147 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 26,080 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,640,163 <PP&E> 23,283,381 <DEPRECIATION> 4,686,619 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 24,242,594 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,203,929 <BONDS> 2,060,600 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 668,358 <OTHER-SE> 19,242,594 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 24,242,594 <SALES> 226,584 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,367,517 <CGS> 486,567 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,816,179 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 110,930 <INCOME-PRETAX> 488,726 <INCOME-TAX> 185,748 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 302,978 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 302,978 <EPS-PRIMARY> .004 <EPS-DILUTED> .004