<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the consolidated balance sheet of Stone Energy Corporation as of March 31, 1998 and the related statement of operations for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements included in Stone Energy Corporation's quarterly report on Form 10-Q. Note that earnings per share data has been reflected in accordance with SFAS 128. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 9,538 <SECURITIES> 32,857 <RECEIVABLES> 22,223 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 64,674 <PP&E> 10,940 <DEPRECIATION> 2,500 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 401,488 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 51,861 <BONDS> 100,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 151 <OTHER-SE> 160,013 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 401,488 <SALES> 28,357 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 28,795 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 19,801 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,347 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,529 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,118 <INCOME-TAX> 1,820 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,298 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,298 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.22 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.22