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UNITED STATES 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, 2004

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



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer ( as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Acts). Yes ___ NO /X/

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Sterling Gas Drilling Fund 1982

Index to Form 10Q

|Part 1:                                                                                        |     
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----
|                                                                                               |     
|Item 1.	Financial Statements                                                                   |     
|                                                                                               |     
|Balance Sheets - March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003.                                         | 3   
|Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003.                   | 4-5 
|Statements of Changes in Partners' Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003.  | 6   
|Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003.                   | 7   
|Note to the Financial Statements                                                               | 8   
|                                                                                               |     
|Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 9-11
|                                                                                               |     
|Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk                             | 11  
|                                                                                               |     
|Item 4.  Controls and Procedures                                                               | 12  
|                                                                                               |     
|Part II.  Other Information                                                                    | 13  
|                                                                                               |     
|Signature                                                                                      | 14  
|                                                                                               |     
|                                                                                               |     









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STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(A New York Limited Partnership)

Balance Sheets





|                                                    |   | March 31,
2004   |   | December 31,
2003
|--------------------------------------------------- | - | ---------------- | - | -----------------
|                                                    |   | (unaudited)      |   | (audited)        
|Assets                                              |   |                  |   |                  
|Current Assets:                                     |   |                  |   |                  
|Cash and cash equivalents                           | $ | 217,556          | $ | 191,817          
|Due from affiliates                                 |   | 52,137           |   | 4,882            
|                                                    |   | ---------------- |   | --------------   
|Total current assets                                |   | 269,693          |   | 196,699          
|                                                    |   | ---------------- |   | --------------   
|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                                        |   | (11,919,566)     |   | (11,912,211)     
|                                                    |   | ---------------- |   | --------------   
|Total Oil and Gas Properties                        |   | 517,329          |   | 524,684          
|                                                    |   | ---------------- |   | ---------------  
|Total assets                                        | $ | 787,022          | $ | 721,383          
|                                                    |   | =========        |   | =========        
|                                                    |   |                  |   |                  
|Partners' Equity                                    |   |                  |   |                  
|Limited partners                                    |   | 977,220          |   | 923,009          
|General partners                                    |   | (190,198)        |   | (201,626)        
|                                                    |   | ---------------- |   | --------------   
|Total partners' equity                              | $ | 787,022          | $ | 721,383          
|                                                    |   | =========        |   | ========         
|                                                    |   |                  |   |                  























See accompanying footnote to the financial statements.

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STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Operations

(unaudited)





|Three Months Ending
March 31, 2004
|----------------------------------



|                                              |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners |   | Total         
|--------------------------------------------- | - | ---------------- | - | ---------------- | - | --------------
|Revenue:                                      |   |                  |   |                  |   |               
|Operating revenue                             | $ | 124,672          | $ | 23,483           | $ | 148,155       
|Interest Income                               |   | 457              |   | 5                |   | 462           
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|Total Revenue                                 |   | 125,129          |   | 23,488           |   | 148,617       
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|                                              |   |                  |   |                  |   |               
|Costs and Expenses:                           |   |                  |   |                  |   |               
|Production expense                            |   | 39,414           |   | 7,424            |   | 46,838        
|General and administrative to a related party |   | 21,206           |   | 3,994            |   | 25,200        
|General and administrative                    |   | 3,017            |   | 568              |   | 3,585         
|Depreciation, depletion and amortization      |   | 7,281            |   | 74               |   | 7,355         
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|Total Costs and Expenses                      |   | 70,918           |   | 12,060           |   | 82,978        
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|Net Income                                    | $ | 54,211           | $ | 11,428           | $ | 65,639        
|                                              |   | ========         |   | ========         |   | ========      
|Net Income per equity unit                    | $ | 3.77             |   |                  |   |               
|                                              |   | ========         |   |                  |   |               































See accompanying footnote to the financial statements.

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STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Operations

(unaudited)





|Three Months Ending
March 31, 2003
|----------------------------------



|                                              |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners |   | Total         
|--------------------------------------------- | - | ---------------- | - | ---------------- | - | --------------
|Revenue:                                      |   |                  |   |                  |   |               
|Operating revenue                             | $ | 91,297           | $ | 17,196           | $ | 108,493       
|Interest Income                               |   | 452              |   | 5                |   | 457           
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|Total Revenue                                 |   | 91,749           |   | 17,201           |   | 108,950       
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|                                              |   |                  |   |                  |   |               
|Costs and Expenses:                           |   |                  |   |                  |   |               
|Production expense                            |   | 44,127           |   | 8,312            |   | 52,439        
|General and administrative to a related party |   | 21,206           |   | 3,994            |   | 25,200        
|General and administrative                    |   | 3,010            |   | 567              |   | 3,577         
|Depreciation, depletion and amortization      |   | 7,627            |   | 77               |   | 7,704         
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|Total Costs and Expenses                      |   | 75,970           |   | 12,950           |   | 88,920        
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|Net Income                                    | $ | 15,779           | $ | 4,251            | $ | 20,030        
|                                              |   | ========         |   | ========         |   | ========      
|Net Income per equity unit                    | $ | 1.10             |   |                  |   |               
|                                              |   | ========         |   |                  |   |               































See accompanying footnote to the financial statements.

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STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Changes in Partners' Equity

(unaudited)





|                             |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners |   | Total      
|---------------------------- | - | ---------------- | - | ---------------- | - | -----------
|                             |   |                  |   |                  |   |            
|Balance at December 31, 2002 | $ | 926,249          | $ | (205,915)        | $ | 720,334    
|Distributions to partners    |   | (35,925)         |   | (6,767)          |   | (42,692)   
|Net Income                   |   | 32,685           |   | 11,056           |   | 43,741     
|                             |   | ------------     |   | ------------     |   | -----------
|Balance at December 31, 2003 |   | 923,009          |   | (201,626)        |   | 721,383    
|Net Income                   |   | 54,211           |   | 11,428           |   | 65,639     
|                             |   | ------------     |   | ------------     |   | -----------
|Balance at March 31, 2004    | $ | 977,220          | $ | (190,198)        | $ | 787,022    
|                             |   | =======          |   | =======          |   | =======    























































See accompanying footnote to the financial statements.

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STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Cash Flows

(unaudited)







|                                                 |   | Three months
Ended
March 31, 2004 |   | Three months
Ended
March 31, 2003
|------------------------------------------------ | - | --------------------------------- | - | ---------------------------------
|                                                 |   |                                   |   |                                  
|Net cash provided by operating activities        | $ | 25,739                            | $ | 27,126                           
|                                                 |   | -----------------                 |   | -----------------                
|Net increase in cash and  cash equivalents       |   | 25,739                            |   | 27,126                           
|                                                 |   |                                   |   |                                  
|Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |   | 191,817                           |   | 145,872                          
|                                                 |   | -----------------                 |   | -----------------                
|Cash and cash equivalents at end of period       | $ | 217,556                           | $ | 172,998                          
|                                                 |   | ==========                        |   | ==========                       

























































See accompanying footnote to the financial statements.

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STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York limited partnership)



Note to Financial Statements



March 31, 2004







1.	The accompanying statements for the period ending March 31, 2004 are unaudited, but reflect all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial conditions and results of operations.

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PART I

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, 2004, the General Partners have distributed to the Limited Partners $1,438,437 or 10.01% 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. 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 estimated reserve quantities and future income quantities are related to hydrocarbon prices.  Therefore, volumes of reserves actually recovered and amounts of income actually received may differ significantly from the estimated quantities presented in this report.



In accordance with FASB Statement No. 69, December 31, 2003 market prices were determined using the daily oil price or daily gas sales price ("spot price") adjusted for oilfield or gas gathering hub and wellhead price differentials (e.g. grade, transportation, gravity, sulfur, and BS&W) as appropriate.  Also, in accordance with SEC and FASB specifications, changes in market prices subsequent to December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002 were not considered. The spot price for gas at December 31, 2003 was $5.97 per MMBTU.  The range of spot prices during the year 2003 was a low of $3.96 and a high of $12.20 and the average was $5.48.  The spot price for gas at December 31, 2002 was $4.58 per MMBTU.  The range of spot prices during the year 2002 was a low of $1.98 and a high of $5.05 and the average was $3.38.  The range during the first quarter of 2004 has been from $5.08 to $7.01 with an average of $5.65.  The recent futures market prices have been in the $5.96 range.



The present value of unescalated future net revenue (S.E.C. case) associated with such reserves, discounted at 10% as of December 31, 2002 was approximately $1,347,682 as compared to December 31, 2003 of about $2,161,436.  While it may reasonably be anticipated that the prices received by Sterling Gas Drilling Fund 1982 for the sale of its production may be higher or lower than the prices used in this evaluation, as described above, and the operating costs relating to such production may also increase or decrease from existing levels, such possible changes in prices and costs were, in accordance with rules adopted by the SEC, omitted from consideration in making this evaluation for the SEC case.  Actual volumes produced, prices received and costs incurred by the partnership may vary significantly from the SEC case.









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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.



During 2002, PrimeEnergy Management negotiated a Farmout Agreement with Ardent Resources Inc. covering leasehold interests in acres located in Calhoun County, West Virginia.  Pursuant to this agreement, Ardent has the right but not the obligation to select acreage and drill a deep well on the selected acreage, subject to an overriding royalty interest due to the leasehold owners.  If a test well is not spudded by February 13, 2005 this agreement terminates.  Acreage held by Sterling Gas Drilling Fund 1982  was included in the Farmout Agreement, PrimeEnergy Management may discuss the possibility of farming out additional deep rights held by the Partnership under the same terms with other parties, however, there is no guarantee that any agreement will be entered into.



3.	Results of Operations -

The Partnership entered into an annual contract to sell its gas produced at spot market price with any necessary price adjustment due to BTU content or transportation deduction owed.  This contract will allow the partnership to take advantage of current high spot prices. A portion of the Partnership's wells were shut-in during November and December 2003 due to a fire at a compressor plant on one of the Purchaser's transportation lines servicing the Partnership wells.  All wells were back on line as of December 31, 2003 due to the main transport lines being re-routed around the compressor plant.  The Partnership experienced an increase in gas production, from 20,103 MCF in the first quarter of 2003 compared to 23,699 MCF in the first quarter of 2004.  The average prices changed from $5.21 per MCF in the first quarter of 2003 compared to $6.19 per MCF in the first quarter of 2004. The combination of increased production and prices caused overall operating revenues to increase from $108,493 in the first quarter of 2003 compared to $148,155 in the first quarter of 2004.



The Partnership did not receive any other income during the first quarter of 2004.



























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General and administrative expenses have been segregated on the financial statements to reflect expenses paid to PrimeEnergy Management Corporation, a general partner.  These expenses are charged in accordance with guidelines set forth in the Registrant's Management Agreement and are attributable to the affairs and operations of the Partnership and shall not exceed an annual amount equal to 5% of the Limited Partners capital contributions.  Amounts related to both 2003 and 2004 are substantially less than the amounts allocable to the Registrant under the Partnership Agreement.  Management continues to work on reducing third party costs anduse in-house resources to provide efficient and timely services to the Partnership.



The Partnership records additional depreciation, depletion and amortization to the extent that net capitalized costs exceed the undiscounted future net cash flows attributable to the Partnership properties. The Partnership was not required to revise the property basis in either 2003 or through the first quarter of 2004. There were no additional capitalized well-related expenditures during the first quarter of 2004.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk



Oil and gas prices have historically been extremely volatile, and have been particularly so in recent years.  The Partnership did not enter into significant hedging transactions during the first quarter of 2004 and had no open hedging transactions at March 31, 2004 or December 31, 2003.  Declines in domestic oil and gas prices could have a material adverse effect on the Partnership's revenues, operating results, estimates of economically recoverable reserves and the net revenue therefrom.





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Item 4:   Controls and Procedures

PrimeEnergy Management Corporation ("PEMC"), the Managing General Partner of the Partnership, maintains a system of controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the reliability of the financial statements and other disclosures included in this report, as well as to safeguard assets from unauthorized use or disposition. Within 90 days prior to the filing of this report, PEMC's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of disclosure controls and procedures with the assistance and participation of other members of management. Based upon that evaluation, PEMC's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective for gathering, analyzing and disclosing the information the Partnership is required to disclose in the reports it files under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms. There have been no significant changes in PEMC's  internal controls or in other factors which could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date PEMC carried out its evaluation.





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PART II Other Information:

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

(a) Exhibit 31.1	Chief Executive Officer certification under Section 302

of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

(b) Exhibit 31.2	Chief Financial Officer certification under Section 302

of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

(c) Exhibit 32.1:	 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted

Pursuant To Section 906 Of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

(d) Exhibit 32.2:	 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted

Pursuant To Section 906 Of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

(e)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.

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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 13, 2004                   
|(Date)