<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ROWAN COMPANIES, INC. FOR THE SIX MONTHS
ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                         140,177
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  138,805
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    119,409
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               431,966
<PP&E>                                       1,637,824
<DEPRECIATION>                                 864,706
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,211,392
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           93,932
<BONDS>                                        254,218
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        11,078
<OTHER-SE>                                     725,993
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,211,392
<SALES>                                         79,248
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               388,154
<CGS>                                           56,802
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  257,402
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 154
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                134,074
<INCOME-TAX>                                    46,926
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             87,148
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    87,148
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.98