<PAGE>  1

                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C. 20549

                                 FORM 10-Q

/X/    Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2000

                                    or
Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934

For the Transition Period Ended______________________


                      Commission File Number 2-784441


                      STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


                                  New York
      (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

                                13-3147901
                   (IRS employer identification number)


              One Landmark Square, Stamford Connecticut 06901
           (Address and Zip Code of principal executive offices)


                               (203) 358-5700
           (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                              NOT APPLICABLE
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last
                                  report)


Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes    X  No
<PAGE>  2
                                  PART I

Item 1.       Financial Statements

The following Financial Statements are filed herewith:

Balance Sheets - March 31, 2000 and December 31, 1999.

Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2000 and 1999.

Statements of Changes in Partners' Equity for the Year Ended
December 31,1999 and for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2000.

Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31,2000 and 1999.

Note to Financial Statements

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations


1.   Liquidity:  The oil and gas industry is competitive in all its phases.
There  is  also  competition between this industry and other industries  in
supplying  energy  and  fuel  requirements of  industrial  and  residential
consumers.  It is not possible for the Registrant to calculate its position
in the industry as the Registrant competes with many other companies having
substantially  greater financial and other resources.  In  accordance  with
the  terms of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership,  the
General Partners of the Registrant will make cash distributions of as  much
of the Partnership cash credited to the capital accounts of the partners as
the  General Partners have determined is not necessary or desirable for the
payment of any contingent debts, liabilities or expenses for the conduct of
the  Partnership business.  As of March 31, 2000, the General Partners have
distributed  to  the  Limited Partners $1,402,512 or  9.76%  of  the  total
Limited Partner capital contributions.

The net proved oil and gas reserves of the Partnership are considered to be
a  primary  indicator  of  financial strength and  future  liquidity.   The
present  value  of unescalated future net revenue (S.E.C. case)  associated
with  such  reserves,  discounted  at 10%  as  of  December  31,  1999  was
approximately  $936,729,  as  compared  to  December  31,  1998,  of  about
$768,500.   Overall  reservoir  engineering  is  a  subjective  process  of
estimating underground accumulations of gas and oil that can not be measure
in  an exact manner. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function  of
the  quality  of  available  data  and of the  engineering  and  geological
interpretation and judgment. Accordingly, reserve estimates  are  generally
different  from the quantities of gas and oil that are ultimately recovered
and  such  differences  may  have a material impact  on  the  Partnership's
financial results and future liquidity.

2. Capital Resources -

The  Registrant was formed for the sole intention of drilling oil  and  gas
wells.  The Registrant entered into a drilling contract with an independent
contractor in December 1982 for $11,400,000.  Pursuant to the terms of this
contract,  fifty-one wells have been drilled resulting in  fifty  producing
wells  and one dry-hole.  The Registrant has had a reserve report  prepared
which  details reserve value information, and such information is available
to  the  Limited  Partners  pursuant  to  the  buy-out  provisions  of  the
Prospectus as previously filed.


<PAGE> 3

3.   Results of Operations -

Overall  operating revenues increased from $43,091 in 1999  to  $81,212  in
2000  The partnership receives most of its income from gas producing wells.
The  gas  production  and average price per mcf increased,  the  production
went  from 19,347 MCF in 1999 to 21,722 MCF in 2000.  The average price per
mcf   changed  from  $2.68 in 1999 to $3.22 in 2000.   Production  expenses
increased slighty , from $30,877  in 1999 to $32,075 in 2000.  These  costs
include  those associated with repairs needed for access to the  wells  and
well sites and the related labor costs. The production expenses incurred in
both  1999   and  2000  were typical and customary to  the  upkeep  of  the
Partnership's wells.

Overall  general and administrative expenses remained stable in  both  1999
and  2000.  All related party expenses charged are in accordance  with  the
guidelines set forth in the Registrant's Management Agreement.  PrimeEnergy
Management  Corporation is reimbursed expenses attributable to the  affairs
and  operations of the Partnership.  These costs shall not exceed an annual
amount  equal  to  5%  of  limited partner capital  contributions.  Amounts
related  to  both  1999 and 2000 are substantially less  than  the  amounts
allocable  to the Registrant under the Partnership Agreement.   PrimeEnergy
Management  Corporation  continues  to  perform  these  functions  as  cost
effectively as possible either through efficient use of in-house  resources
or using third parties when applicable.

The partnership records additional depreciation, depletion and amortization
to  the extent that net capitalized costs exceed the underdiscounted future
net  cash flows attributable to the Partnership properties. The partnership
was  not  required to reduce the properties basis in either 1999  or  first
quarter  2000.   Depletion,  depreciation  and  amortization  expense   was
consistent with the current property basis and the rates applied.

 PART II

Items 1 through 5 have been omitted in that each item is either
inapplicable or the answer is negative.

Item 6: Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
The Partnership was not required to file any reports on Form 8-K and
no such form was filed during the period covered by this report.

Exhibit 27 - Financial Data Schedule is attached to the electronic
filing of this report.

<PAGE>  4

                            S I G N A T U R E S





Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities and

Exchange Act of 1934, Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed

on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.







                                            STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982
                                                               (Registrant)


                                             BY: /S/ Charles E. Drimal, Jr.
                                                     Charles E. Drimal, Jr.
                                                            General Partner





May 11, 2000
(Date)











<PAGE>  5
                      STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982
                     (a New York Limited Partnership)
                              Balance Sheets
                                (unaudited)
                                            March 31,       December 31,
                                              2000              1999
Assets
Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents             $            10  $              4
  Due from Others                                36,575                 0
                                           ------------       -----------
                                                      -
      Total current assets                       36,585                 4
                                           ------------       -----------
                                                      -
Oil and Gas properties -
Successful efforts method:
  Leasehold costs                               466,804           466,804
  Well and related facilities                11,970,091        11,970,091
   Less accumulated depreciation,
depletion and amortization                 (11,794,774)       (11,785,739)
                                           ------------     -------------
                                                      -
                                                642,121           651,156
                                           ------------     -------------
                                                      -
       Total assets                     $       678,706  $        651,160
                                               ========          ========

Liabilities and Partners' Equity
  Current liabilities:
   Due to affiliates                    $       259,717  $        245,150
                                            -----------       -----------
        Total current liabilities               259,717           245,150
                                            -----------       -----------

  Partners' Equity
   Limited partners                             685,585           676,005
   General partners                            (266,596)         (269,995)
                                            -----------       -----------
         Total partners' equity                 418,989           406,010
                                            -----------       -----------

         Total liabilities and          $       678,706  $        651,160
Partners' equity
                                               ========          ========


See accompanying note to the financial statements.
<PAGE>  6
                      STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982
                     (a New York Limited Partnership)
                          Statement of Operations
                                (unaudited)

                                   Three Months Ended
                                     March 31, 2000

                                     Limited       General
                                    Partners      Partners       Total
Revenue:
Operating revenue                $      68,340       12,872 $     81,212
                                      --------     --------      -------
  Total Revenue                         68,340       12,872       81,212
                                      --------     --------      -------

Costs and Expenses:
Production expense                      26,991        5,084       32,075
General and administrative
 to a related party                     17,881        3,368       21,249
General and administrative               4,943          931        5,874
Depreciation, depletion
 and amortization                        8,945           90        9,035
                                      --------     --------      -------
  Total Costs and Expenses              58,760        9,473       68,233
                                      --------     --------      -------
  Net Income/(Loss)              $       9,580        3,399 $     12,979
                                        ======        =====       ======
  Net Income/(Loss) per equity   $        0.67
unit
                                        ======

See accompanying note to the financial statements.



<PAGE>  7
                      STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982
                     (a New York Limited Partnership)
                          Statement of Operations
                                (unaudited)

                                   Three Months Ended
                                     March 31, 1999

                                    Limited      General
                                   Partners     Partners       Total
Revenue:
Operating revenue              $       36,261       6,829  $     43,090
                                     --------    --------       -------
  Total Revenue                        36,261       6,829        43,090
                                     --------    --------       -------

Costs and Expenses:
Production expense                     25,983       4,893        30,876
General and administrative
 to a related party                    17,884       3,369        21,253
General and administrative              3,809         718         4,527
Depreciation, depletion
 and amortization                       8,600          87         8,687
                                     --------    --------       -------
  Total Costs and Expenses             56,276       9,067        65,343
                                     --------    --------       -------
  Net Income/(Loss)            $      (20,015)    (2,238)  $    (22,253)
                                     ========    ========       =======
Net Income/(Loss) per equity   $       (1.55)
unit
                                       ======

See accompanying note to the financial statements.

<page >  8

                     STERLING  GAS DRILLING FUND 1982
                     (a New York Limited Partnership)
                 Statement of Changes in Partners' Equity
                                (unaudited)




                                 Limited      General
                                 Partners     Partners        Total

Balance at December 31, 1998  $    699,647  $    (272,291)  $  427,356
  Net Income/(Loss)               (23,642)          2,296      (21,346)
                                 ---------     ----------     --------
                                         -                           -
Balance at December 31, 1999  $    676,005       (269,995)     406,010
  Net Income/(Loss)                  9,580          3,399       12,979
                                 ---------      ---------     --------
                                         -                           -
Balance at March 31, 2000     $    685,585       (266,596)     418,989
                                    ======         ======       ======





See accompanying note to the financial statements.

<PAGE>  9
                      STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982
                     (a New York Limited Partnership)
                          Statement of Cash Flows
                                (unaudited)

                                            Three months      Three months
                                            ended March       ended March
                                              31,2000           31,1999

Net cash provided by/(used in)
operating activities                    $                6 $              8
                                              ------------       ----------

Net increase(decrease) in cash and cash                  6                8
equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning                   4               20
of period
                                              ------------     ------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of     $               10 $             12
period
                                                   =======          =======








See accompanying note to the financial statements.
<PAGE> 10
                 STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982
                (a New York limited partnership)

                  Note to Financial Statements

                         March 31, 2000


1. The accompanying statements for the period ending March 31,
2000 are unaudited, but reflect all adjustments necessary to
present fairly the results of operations