<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE DENBURY
RESOURCES INC. DECEMBER 31, 1996 FORM 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY 
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000945764
<NAME>                        Denbury Resources, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
<CURRENCY>                                     US DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         13,453
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  15,549
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               29,002
<PP&E>                                         166,137
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (31,141)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 166,505
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          16,520
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       130,323
<OTHER-SE>                                     12,181
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   142,504
<SALES>                                        52,880
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               53,649
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  35,879
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               1,721
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             1,993
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                14,056
<INCOME-TAX>                                   5,312
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            8,744
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   8,744
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .67
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .62