<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the
consolidated  balance sheet of Stone Energy Corporation as of September 30, 1999
and the related  statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30,
1999 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 Jan-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   Sep-30-1999
<CASH>                                         22,511
<SECURITIES>                                   19,322
<RECEIVABLES>                                  30,111
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                         0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               72,374
<PP&E>                                         12,340
<DEPRECIATION>                                  2,436
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                423,215
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          44,906
<BONDS>                                       100,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                          183
<OTHER-SE>                                    252,647
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  423,215
<SALES>                                       106,858
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              108,219
<CGS>                                               0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  69,520
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                4,335
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             10,677
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                23,687
<INCOME-TAX>                                    8,308
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            15,379
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                   15,379
<EPS-BASIC>                                    0.97
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.95