<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ROWAN COMPANIES, INC. FOR THE NINE MONTHS
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 INCLUDED IN ITS FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD THEN
ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                         169,601
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  142,786
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    109,263
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               437,438
<PP&E>                                       2,132,450
<DEPRECIATION>                                 966,101
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,616,531
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           94,151
<BONDS>                                        351,095
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        11,794
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,014,916
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,616,531
<SALES>                                         67,314
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               461,740
<CGS>                                           47,347
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  394,409
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               7,775
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 67,772
<INCOME-TAX>                                    25,013
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             42,759
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    42,759
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.46
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.45