<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000880114 <NAME> BELDEN & BLAKE CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 10,409 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 35,252 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 9,806 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 59,966 <PP&E> 292,415 <DEPRECIATION> 66,317 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 297,002 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 35,223 <BONDS> 106,493 <COMMON> 1,117 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 2,400 <OTHER-SE> 142,610 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 297,002 <SALES> 38,359 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 38,992 <CGS> 21,296 <TOTAL-COSTS> 21,296 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 10,316 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,011 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,369 <INCOME-TAX> 1,944 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,425 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,425 <EPS-PRIMARY> .30 <EPS-DILUTED> .30