<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000880114 <NAME> BELDEN & BLAKE CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 5,714 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 30,726 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 9,500 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 52,200 <PP&E> 332,432 <DEPRECIATION> 93,827 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 300,920 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 34,597 <BONDS> 89,578 <COMMON> 1,127 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 161,160 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 300,920 <SALES> 41,546 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 42,314 <CGS> 22,438 <TOTAL-COSTS> 22,438 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 10,885 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,702 <INCOME-PRETAX> 7,289 <INCOME-TAX> 2,442 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 4,847 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,847 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.43 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.43