<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
The schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements of Unit Corporation and Subsidiaries
under the cover of Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2000 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. The
Cosolidated Condensed Financial Statements of Unit Corporation and Subsidiaries
have been restated for the nine months ended September 30, 1999 to reflect the
merger with Questa Oil and Gas Co. which was accounted for as a pooling of
interests.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000798949
<NAME> UNIT CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 SEP-30-2000
<CASH> 3,461 772
<SECURITIES> 0 0
<RECEIVABLES> 13,016<F1> 36,284<F1>
<ALLOWANCES> 0 0
<INVENTORY> 0<F2> 0<F2>
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 22,459 42,437
<PP&E> 487,675 536,001
<DEPRECIATION> 234,692 262,553
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 281,766 325,957
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 20,320 31,584
<BONDS> 0 0
0 0
0 0
<COMMON> 7,114 7,150
<OTHER-SE> 168,884 191,871
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 281,766 325,957
<SALES> 0 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 65,041 135,602
<CGS> 0 0
<TOTAL-COSTS> 57,915 96,785
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 4,122 4,558
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,941 3,913
<INCOME-PRETAX> (937) 30,346
<INCOME-TAX> (256) 11,456
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (681) 18,890
<DISCONTINUED> 0 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0
<NET-INCOME> (681) 18,890
<EPS-BASIC> (.02) .53
<EPS-DILUTED> (.02) .52
<FN>
<F1>Accounts Receivable is presented net in the Consolidated Condensed Balance
Sheet.
<F2>Inventory is presented as a portion of Other Current Assets in the
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet.
</FN>
</TABLE>