<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
VASTAR RESOURCES, INC: FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE AS OF THE THREE MONTHS ENDING
MARCH 31, 1999. THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                          11,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  182,600
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                      9,400
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               226,900
<PP&E>                                       6,300,900
<DEPRECIATION>                               4,064,300
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,532,700
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          225,500
<BONDS>                                      1,276,100
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         1,000
<OTHER-SE>                                     626,200
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,532,700
<SALES>                                        221,200
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               239,400
<CGS>                                          172,600<F1>
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  211,600
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              20,500
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (5,400)
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (24,400)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             19,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    19,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.19
<FN>
<F1>Rule 5-03-04 specifically does not address SG&A costs as a requirement in 
the FDS.
</FN>