<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF STONE ENERGY CORPORATION (THE "COMPANY")
AS OF JUNE 30, 1998 AND THE RELATED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF 
OPERATIONS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS 
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                          11,239
<SECURITIES>                                    33,390
<RECEIVABLES>                                   19,267
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                64,544
<PP&E>                                          10,937
<DEPRECIATION>                                   2,669
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 428,838
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           56,125
<BONDS>                                        100,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           151
<OTHER-SE>                                     161,901
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   428,838
<SALES>                                         56,181
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                57,269
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   40,826
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 2,757
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               5,725
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  7,961
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,831
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              5,130
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,130
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.34