<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the
consolidated  balance sheet of Stone Energy Corporation as of March 31, 2000 and
the related  statement of  operations  for the three months ended March 31, 2000
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 Jan-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   Mar-31-2000
<CASH>                                         13,818
<SECURITIES>                                   31,035
<RECEIVABLES>                                  35,256
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               80,185
<PP&E>                                         13,160
<DEPRECIATION>                                 3,055
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 463,895
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          61,078
<BONDS>                                        100,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       184
<OTHER-SE>                                     278,720
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   463,895
<SALES>                                        47,226
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               48,140
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  25,210
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               1,723
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             2,422
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                18,785
<INCOME-TAX>                                   6,575
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            12,210
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   12,210
<EPS-BASIC>                                    0.67
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.65