<ARTICLE>                       5
<LEGEND>                        This schedule contains summary financial
                                information extracted from the Consolidated
                                Statements of Income, Cash Flows and Partners'
                                Capital for the three years ended December 31, 
                                1996 and the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
                                December 31, 1996 and 1995 and the Notes 
                                thereto, for Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
                                and subsidiaries and Mont Belvieu Associates and
                                is qualified in its entirety by reference to 
                                such financial statements.

<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               Dec-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                    Dec-31-1996
<CASH>                          14,299
<SECURITIES>                    0
<RECEIVABLES>                   12,360
<ALLOWANCES>                    0
<INVENTORY>                     2,709
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                29,368
<PP&E>                          272,178
<DEPRECIATION>                  36,184
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  303,603
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>           19,066
<BONDS>                         163,703
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>           0
<PREFERRED>                     0
<COMMON>                        118,344
<OTHER-SE>                      0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    303,603
<SALES>                         71,250
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                71,250
<CGS>                           7,874
<TOTAL-COSTS>                   54,177
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                (8,804)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>              12,634
<INCOME-PRETAX>                 13,243
<INCOME-TAX>                    1,343
<INCOME-CONTINUING>             11,900
<DISCONTINUED>                  0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                 0
<CHANGES>                       0
<NET-INCOME>                    11,900
<EPS-PRIMARY>                   1.79
<EPS-DILUTED>                   1.79