<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FORM 10K
FOR SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000277595
<NAME> ENERGEN CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      276,533
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    168,383
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         115,295
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        10,760
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 570,971
<COMMON>                                           112
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       89,635
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             98,658
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 188,405
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           195,545
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              59,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,805
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 126,216
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  570,971
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      399,442
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             5,048
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     360,645
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     365,693
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         33,749
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,712
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  35,461
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        13,920
<NET-INCOME>                                    21,541
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   21,541
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        12,903
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        9,890
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          52,457
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.95
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.95