<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ROWAN COMPANIES, INC. FOR THE NINE MONTHS
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 INCLUDED IN ITS FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD THEN
ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCES TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                         117,426
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  134,593
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    110,257
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               373,105
<PP&E>                                       1,459,823
<DEPRECIATION>                                 832,987
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,033,252
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           92,588
<BONDS>                                        274,374
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        11,005
<OTHER-SE>                                     592,575
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,033,252
<SALES>                                        107,879
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               505,006
<CGS>                                           80,608
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  383,270
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              13,369
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                113,059
<INCOME-TAX>                                    10,561
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            102,498
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  3,478
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    99,020
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.11