<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000880114 <NAME> BELDEN & BLAKE CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 4,542 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 21,956 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 2,036 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 32,330 <PP&E> 441,321 <DEPRECIATION> 198,986 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 287,993 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 40,216 <BONDS> 270,763 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,029 <OTHER-SE> (45,507) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 287,993 <SALES> 52,837 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 54,690 <CGS> 25,333 <TOTAL-COSTS> 25,333 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 6,141 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 15,016 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,200 <INCOME-TAX> 2,154 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,046 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,046 <EPS-BASIC> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0