<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS FOR THE 1998 FISCAL YEAR'S FIRST QUARTER ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 1997, AND THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT AUGUST 31, 1997, FOR ONEOK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> NOV-30-1997 <CASH> 12,895 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 322,826 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 143,801 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 532,681 <PP&E> 2,075,037 <DEPRECIATION> 597,296 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,294,242 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 443,080 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 199 <COMMON> 884,129 <OTHER-SE> 236,914 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,294,242 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 314,160 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 209,273 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,685 <INCOME-PRETAX> 19,958 <INCOME-TAX> 7,438 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 12,520 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 12,520 <EPS-PRIMARY> .44 <EPS-DILUTED> 0