<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE DENBURY
RESOURCES  INC.  MARCH 31, 1997 FORM 10-Q AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.     
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CIK>                                        0000945764
<NAME>                                       Denbury Resources Inc.
<CURRENCY>                                   U.S. DOLLARS
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                     1
<CASH>                                         17,066
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  11,617
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                         0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               28,683
<PP&E>                                        181,279
<DEPRECIATION>                                (37,476)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                175,256
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          16,395
<BONDS>                                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                      130,796
<OTHER-SE>                                     17,396
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  148,192
<SALES>                                        21,141
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               21,653
<CGS>                                               0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  13,296
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 79
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 8,278
<INCOME-TAX>                                    3,063
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             5,215
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                    5,215
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     .26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     .24