<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Company's financial statements and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 122,647 <SECURITIES> 443,187 <RECEIVABLES> 235,881 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 35,257 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 865,887 <PP&E> 1,953,906 <DEPRECIATION> 463,357 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,505,470 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 142,478 <BONDS> 400,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,393 <OTHER-SE> 1,690,911 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,505,470 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 925,372 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 357,939<F1> <OTHER-EXPENSES> 116,689<F2> <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,239 <INCOME-PRETAX> 464,298 <INCOME-TAX> 163,209 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 301,089 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 301,089 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.17 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.07 <FN> <F1>Includes contract drilling expenses only. <F2>Includes other operating expenses. </FN>