<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, 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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         112,775
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  114,474
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    128,815
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               379,012
<PP&E>                                       1,699,568
<DEPRECIATION>                                 875,042
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,209,469
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           96,937
<BONDS>                                        250,335
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        11,091
<OTHER-SE>                                     724,058
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,209,469
<SALES>                                        114,727
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               571,624
<CGS>                                           83,269
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  393,383
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,071
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                185,691
<INCOME-TAX>                                    66,048
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            119,643
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   119,643
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.39
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.36