<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF STONE ENERGY CORPORATION (THE "COMPANY") AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND THE RELATED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 5,008 <SECURITIES> 26,340 <RECEIVABLES> 13,913 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 45,668 <PP&E> 10,724 <DEPRECIATION> 2,524 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 325,142 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 40,905 <BONDS> 100,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 150 <OTHER-SE> 152,162 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 325,142 <SALES> 44,608 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 45,857 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 27,653 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,151 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,551 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,502 <INCOME-TAX> 4,814 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,688 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,688 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.49 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.49