<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000880114 <NAME> BELDEN & BLAKE CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 6,432 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 17,179 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 1,831 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 34,117 <PP&E> 436,733 <DEPRECIATION> 193,550 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 291,407 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 42,818 <BONDS> 268,941 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,026 <OTHER-SE> (44,865) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 291,407 <SALES> 27,052 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 27,885 <CGS> 12,117 <TOTAL-COSTS> 12,117 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (3,382) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,286 <INCOME-PRETAX> 10,864 <INCOME-TAX> 3,120 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,744 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,744 <EPS-BASIC> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0