<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000880114 <NAME> BELDEN & BLAKE CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 8,606 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 33,523 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 9,397 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 56,724 <PP&E> 324,144 <DEPRECIATION> 86,808 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 303,763 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 34,614 <BONDS> 97,642 <COMMON> 1,123 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 2,400 <OTHER-SE> 155,395 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 303,763 <SALES> 149,535 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 153,235 <CGS> 81,964 <TOTAL-COSTS> 81,964 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 42,128 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,383 <INCOME-PRETAX> 21,760 <INCOME-TAX> 6,566 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 15,194 <DISCONTINUED> (439) <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 14,755 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.30 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.30