<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 1996, AND THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT AUGUST 31, 1996, FOR ONEOK INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER>1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1996 <CASH> 598 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 119,338 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 91,556 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 233,146 <PP&E> 1,336,652 <DEPRECIATION> 541,618 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,219,891 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 202,630 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 9,000 <COMMON> 207,084 <OTHER-SE> 207,611 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,219,891 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,224,345 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,103,310 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 35,162 <INCOME-PRETAX> 85,873 <INCOME-TAX> 33,037 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 52,836 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 52,836 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.93 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.93