<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated balance sheet of Stone Energy Corporation as of September 30, 1998
and the related statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 
1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial 
statements. 

</LEGEND>                                              
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         11,047
<SECURITIES>                                   25,429
<RECEIVABLES>                                  17,277
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               54,188
<PP&E>                                         11,013
<DEPRECIATION>                                 2,856
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 437,206
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          48,353
<BONDS>                                        100,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       151
<OTHER-SE>                                     162,646
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   437,206
<SALES>                                        82,955
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               84,681
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  62,335
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               3,988
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             9,243
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                9,115
<INCOME-TAX>                                   3,240
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            5,875
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   5,875
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.39
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.38