<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, AND STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR 3 MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q SEPTEMBER 30, 1996. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000895126 <NAME> CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 2,444 <SECURITIES> 2,912 <RECEIVABLES> 45,991 <ALLOWANCES> 340 <INVENTORY> 10,461 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 63,250 <PP&E> 633,443 <DEPRECIATION> 113,107 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 595,551 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 109,657 <BONDS> 277,323 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 3,013 <OTHER-SE> 183,644 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 595,551 <SALES> 48,937 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 49,785 <CGS> 34,048 <TOTAL-COSTS> 36,865 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,817 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,920 <INCOME-TAX> 4,716 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,204 <EPS-PRIMARY> .26 <EPS-DILUTED> .26