<page> 1

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 September 30, 2003

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/

<page> 2

PART I



Sterling Gas Drilling Fund 1982

Index to Form 10Q



|Part 1:                                                                                                   |      
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -----
|Item 1.	Financial Statements                                                                              |      
|Balance Sheets  September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002.                                                 | 3    
|Statements of Operations for the  Nine and Three Months
Ended September 30, 2003 and 2002.                | 4-7  
|Statements of Changes in Partners' Equity for theNine and Three Months
Ended September 30, 2003 and 2002. | 8-9  
|Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003 and 2002.                           | 10   
|Note to the Financial Statements                                                                          | 11   
|                                                                                                          |      
|Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations            | 12-14
|                                                                                                          |      
|Item 4.  Controls and Procedures                                                                          | 15   
|                                                                                                          |      
|Part II.  Other Information                                                                               | 16   
|                                                                                                          |      
|Signature                                                                                                 | 17   
|                                                                                                          |      





<page 3>

STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(A New York Limited Partnership)

Balance Sheets





|                                                    |   | September 30,
2003 |   | December 31,
2002
|--------------------------------------------------- | - | ------------------ | - | -----------------
|                                                    |   | (unaudited)        |   | (audited)        
|Assets                                              |   |                    |   |                  
|Current Assets:                                     |   |                    |   |                  
|Cash and cash equivalents                           | $ | 158,595            | $ | 145,872          
|Due from affiliates                                 |   | 26,266             |   | 20,358           
|                                                    |   | -----------------  |   | --------------   
|Total current assets                                |   | 184,861            |   | 166,230          
|                                                    |   | -----------------  |   | --------------   
|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                                        |   | (11,905,901)       |   | (11,882,791)     
|                                                    |   | -----------------  |   | --------------   
|Total Oil and Gas Properties                        |   | 530,994            |   | 554,104          
|                                                    |   | -----------------  |   | --------------   
|Total assets                                        | $ | 715,855            | $ | 720,334          
|                                                    |   | ==========         |   | ========         
|                                                    |   |                    |   |                  
|                                                    |   |                    |   |                  
|Partners Equity                                     |   |                    |   |                  
|Limited partners                                    | $ | 919,233            | $ | 926,249          
|General partners                                    |   | (203,378)          |   | (205,915)        
|                                                    |   | -----------------  |   | --------------   
|Total Partners Equity                               | $ | 715,855            | $ | 720,334          
|                                                    |   | ==========         |   | ========         
|                                                    |   |                    |   |                  
|                                                    |   |                    |   |                  
|                                                    |   |                    |   |                  
|                                                    |   |                    |   |                  
|                                                    |   |                    |   |                  
|                                                    |   |                    |   |                  
|                                                    |   |                    |   |                  
|                                                    |   |                    |   |                  
|                                                    |   |                    |   |                  
|                                                    |   |                    |   |                  

See accompanying footnote to the financial statements

<page> 4



STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Operations

(unaudited)





| |  |  |  | Nine Months Ending
September 30, 2003 |  | 
| |  |  |  | ------------------------------------- |  | 



|                                              |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners |   | Total         
|--------------------------------------------- | - | ---------------- | - | ---------------- | - | --------------
|Revenue:                                      |   |                  |   |                  |   |               
|Operating revenue                             | $ | 274,226          | $ | 51,652           | $ | 325,878       
|Interest income                               |   | 1,225            |   | 12               |   | 1,237         
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|Total Revenue                                 |   | 275,451          |   | 51,664           |   | 327,115       
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|Costs and Expenses:                           |   |                  |   |                  |   |               
|Production expense                            |   | 147,689          |   | 27,818           |   | 175,507       
|General and administrative to a related party |   | 63,617           |   | 11,983           |   | 75,600        
|General and administrative                    |   | 12,357           |   | 2,328            |   | 14,685        
|Depreciation, depletion and amortization      |   | 22,879           |   | 231              |   | 23,110        
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|Total Costs and Expenses                      |   | 246,542          |   | 42,360           |   | 288,902       
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|Net Income                                    | $ | 28,909           | $ | 9,304            | $ | 38,213        
|                                              |   | ========         |   | ========         |   | ========      
|Net Income per equity unit                    | $ | 2.01             |   |                  |   |               
|                                              |   | ========         |   |                  |   |               
|                                              |   |                  |   |                  |   |               

























See accompanying footnote to the financial statements

<page> 5



STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Operations

(unaudited)





| |  |  |  | Nine Months Ending
September 30, 2002 |  | 
| |  |  |  | ------------------------------------- |  | 



|                                              |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners |   | Total        
|--------------------------------------------- | - | ---------------- | - | ---------------- | - | -------------
|Revenue:                                      |   |                  |   |                  |   |              
|Operating revenue                             | $ | 180,211          | $ | 33,944           | $ | 214,155      
|Other income                                  |   | 64,804           |   | 12,206           |   | 77,010       
|Interest income                               |   | 809              |   | 8                |   | 817          
|                                              |   | -------------    |   | -------------    |   | -------------
|Total Revenue                                 |   | 245,824          |   | 46,158           |   | 291,982      
|                                              |   | -------------    |   | -------------    |   | -------------
|                                              |   |                  |   |                  |   |              
|Costs and Expenses:                           |   |                  |   |                  |   |              
|Production expense                            |   | 96,316           |   | 18,142           |   | 114,458      
|General and administrative to a related party |   | 63,617           |   | 11,983           |   | 75,600       
|General and administrative                    |   | 11,531           |   | 2,172            |   | 13,703       
|Depreciation, depletion and amortization      |   | 23,887           |   | 241              |   | 24,128       
|                                              |   | -------------    |   | -------------    |   | -------------
|Total Costs and Expenses                      |   | 195,351          |   | 32,538           |   | 227,889      
|                                              |   | -------------    |   | -------------    |   | -------------
|Net Income                                    | $ | 50,473           | $ | 13,620           | $ | 64,093       
|                                              |   | ========         |   | ========         |   | ========     
|Net Income per equity unit                    | $ | 3.51             |   |                  |   |              
|                                              |   | ========         |   |                  |   |              























See accompanying footnote to the financial statements

<page> 6





STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Operations

(unaudited)





| |  |  |  | Three Months Ending
September 30, 2003 |  | 
| |  |  |  | -------------------------------------- |  | 



|                                              |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners |   | Total        
|--------------------------------------------- | - | ---------------- | - | ---------------- | - | -------------
|Revenue:                                      |   |                  |   |                  |   |              
|Operating revenue                             | $ | 94,285           | $ | 17,759           | $ | 112,044      
|Interest income                               |   | 343              |   | 3                |   | 346          
|                                              |   | -------------    |   | -------------    |   | -------------
|Total Revenue                                 |   | 94,628           |   | 17,762           |   | 112,390      
|                                              |   | -------------    |   | -------------    |   | -------------
|Costs and Expenses:                           |   |                  |   |                  |   |              
|Production expense                            |   | 45,192           |   | 8,512            |   | 53,704       
|General and administrative to a related party |   | 21,205           |   | 3,995            |   | 25,200       
|General and administrative                    |   | 3,428            |   | 646              |   | 4,074        
|Depreciation, depletion and amortization      |   | 7,626            |   | 77               |   | 7,703        
|                                              |   | -------------    |   | -------------    |   | -------------
|Total Costs and Expenses                      |   | 77,451           |   | 13,230           |   | 90,681       
|                                              |   | -------------    |   | -------------    |   | -------------
|Net Income                                    | $ | 17,177           | $ | 4,532            | $ | 21,709       
|                                              |   | =======          |   | =======          |   | =======      
|Net Income per equity unit                    | $ | 1.20             |   |                  |   |              
|                                              |   | =======          |   |                  |   |              

























See accompanying footnote to the financial statements

<page> 7





STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Operations

(unaudited)





| |  |  |  | Three Months Ending
September 30, 2002 |  | 
| |  |  |  | -------------------------------------- |  | 

7

|                                              |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners |   | Total       
|--------------------------------------------- | - | ---------------- | - | ---------------- | - | ------------
|Revenue:                                      |   |                  |   |                  |   |             
|Operating revenue                             | $ | 76,760           | $ | 14,459           | $ | 91,219      
|Other income                                  |   | 12,875           |   | 2,425            |   | 15,300      
|Interest income                               |   | 335              |   | 3                |   | 338         
|                                              |   | ------------     |   | ------------     |   | ------------
|Total Revenue                                 |   | 89,970           |   | 16,887           |   | 106,857     
|                                              |   | ------------     |   | ------------     |   | ------------
|                                              |   |                  |   |                  |   |             
|Costs and Expenses:                           |   |                  |   |                  |   |             
|Production expense                            |   | 48,462           |   | 9,129            |   | 57,591      
|General and administrative to a related party |   | 21,205           |   | 3,995            |   | 25,200      
|General and administrative                    |   | 2,318            |   | 437              |   | 2,755       
|Depreciation, depletion and amortization      |   | 7,963            |   | 80               |   | 8,043       
|                                              |   | ------------     |   | ------------     |   | ------------
|Total Costs and Expenses                      |   | 79,948           |   | 13,641           |   | 93,589      
|                                              |   | ------------     |   | ------------     |   | ------------
|Net Income                                    | $ | 10,022           | $ | 3,246            | $ | 13,268      
|                                              |   | =======          |   | =======          |   | =======     
|Net Income per equity unit                    | $ | 0.70             |   |                  |   |             
|                                              |   | =======          |   |                  |   |             





















See accompanying footnote to the financial statements

<page> 8

STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Changes in Partners Equity

(unaudited)



| |  |  |  | Nine Months Ending
September 30, 2003 |  | 
| |  |  |  | ------------------------------------- |  | 



|                               |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners                      |   | Total        
|------------------------------ | - | ---------------- | - | ------------------------------------- | - | -------------
|                               |   |                  |   |                                       |   |              
|Balance at beginning of period | $ | 926,249          | $ | (205,915)                             | $ | 720,334      
|Distribution to partners       |   | (35,925)         |   | (6,767)                               |   | (42,692)     
|Net Income                     |   | 28,909           |   | 9,304                                 |   | 38,213       
|                               |   | -------------    |   | -------------                         |   | -------------
|Balance at end of period       | $ | 919,233          | $ | (203,378)                             | $ | 715,855      
|                               |   | ========         |   | ========                              |   | ========     
|                              
|                               |   |                  |   | Nine Months Ending
September 30, 2002 |   |              
|                               |   |                  |   |                                       |   |              
|                               |   |                  |   |                                       |   |              
|                               |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners                      |   | Total        
|                               |   |                  |   |                                       |   |              
|Balance at beginning of period | $ | 859,261          | $ | (223,798)                             | $ | 635,463      
|Net Income                     |   | 50,473           |   | 13,620                                |   | 64,093       
|                               |   | -------------    |   | -------------                         |   | -------------
|Balance at end of period       | $ | 909,734          |   | (210,178)                             | $ | 699,556      
|                               |   | ========         |   | ========                              |   | ========     

















See accompanying footnote to the financial statements

<page> 9



STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Changes in Partners Equity

(unaudited)





| |  |  |  | Three Months Ending
September 30, 2003 |  | 
| |  |  |  | -------------------------------------- |  | 



|                               |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners                       |   | Total        
|------------------------------ | - | ---------------- | - | -------------------------------------- | - | -------------
|                               |   |                  |   |                                        |   |              
|Balance at beginning of period | $ | 902,056          | $ | (207,910)                              | $ | 694,146      
|Net Income                     |   | 17,177           |   | 4,532                                  |   | 21,709       
|                               |   | -------------    |   | -------------                          |   | -------------
|Balance at end of period       | $ | 919,233          | $ | (203,378)                              | $ | 715,855      
|                               |   | ========         |   | ========                               |   | ========     
|                              
|                              
|                              
|                               |   |                  |   | Three Months Ending
September 30, 2002 |   |              
|                               |   |                  |   |                                        |   |              
|                               |   |                  |   |                                        |   |              
|                               |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners                       |   | Total        
|                               |   |                  |   |                                        |   |              
|Balance at beginning of period | $ | 899,712          | $ | (213,424)                              | $ | 686,288      
|Net Income                     |   | 10,022           |   | 3,246                                  |   | 13,268       
|                               |   | -------------    |   | -------------                          |   | -------------
|Balance at end of period       | $ | 909,734          | $ | (210,178)                              | $ | 699,556      
|                               |   | ========         |   | ========                               |   | ========     























See accompanying footnote to the financial statements

<page> 10



STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Cash Flows

(unaudited)





|                                                 |   | Nine months
Ended
September 30, 2003 |   | Nine months
Ended
September 30, 2002
|------------------------------------------------ | - | ------------------------------------ | - | ------------------------------------
|                                                 |   |                                      |   |                                     
|Net cash provided by operating activities        | $ | 55,415                               | $ | 84,677                              
|                                                 |   | --------------                       |   | -------------                       
|                                                 |   |                                      |   |                                     
|Cash flows from financing activities:            |   |                                      |   |                                     
|Distribution to partners                         |   | (42,692)                             |   | -                                   
|                                                 |   | --------------                       |   | -------------                       
|Net cash used in financing activities            |   | (42,692)                             |   | -                                   
|                                                 |   | --------------                       |   | -------------                       
|                                                 |   |                                      |   |                                     
|Net increase in cash and  cash equivalents       |   | 12,723                               |   | 84,677                              
|                                                 |   |                                      |   |                                     
|Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |   | 145,872                              |   | 24,038                              
|                                                 |   | --------------                       |   | -------------                       
|Cash and cash equivalents at end of period       | $ | 158,595                              | $ | 108,715                             
|                                                 |   | ========                             |   | ========                            



































See accompanying footnote to the financial statements

<page> 11



STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York limited partnership)



Note to Financial Statements



September 30, 2003







1.	The accompanying statements for the period ending September 30, 2003 are unaudited, but reflect all adjustments necessary to present fairly the results of operations.

<page 12>

PART I

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

1.	Liquidity -

The oil and gas industry is intensely competitive in all its phases.  There is also competition among this industry and other industries in supplying energy and fuel requirements of industrial and individual consumers.  It is not possible for the Registrant to calculate its position in the industry as Registrant competes with many other companies having substantially greater financial and other resources.  In accordance with the terms of the Prospectus, 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 or for the conduct of the Partnership's business.  As of September 30, 2003, the General partners have distributed to the Limited partners $1,438,431 or 10.01%of the total Limited Partner capital contributions to the Limited partners.



In accordance with FASB Statement No. 69, December 31, 2002 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, 2002 and December 31, 2001 were not considered. The spot price for gas at December 31, 2001 was $2.63 per MMBTU.  The range of spot prices during the year 2001 was a low of $1.77 and a high of $10.29 and the average was $3.94.  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 nine months of 2003 has been from $4.34 to $12.20 with an average of $5.57.  The average recent futures market prices have been in the range of $4.38 to  $4.93.





The present value of unescalated future net revenue (S.E.C. case) associated with such reserves, discounted at 10% as of December 31, 2001 was approximately $788,035 as compared to December 31, 2002, of about $1,347,682.  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.



<page 13>



1. Capital Resources
2. Results of Operations



Overall operating revenue increased from $214,155 in 2002 to $325,878 in 2003.  The Partnership experienced an increase in gas and a minor reduction in oil production, from 57,384 MCF and 1,031 BBLS in 2002 to 60,770 MCF and 679 BBLS in 2003.  The average prices changed from $3.36 per MCF and $20.48 per barrel in 2002 to $5.06 per MCF and $27.04 BBLS in 2003.



Production expenses increased from $114,458 in 2002 to $175,507 in 2003.  The production expenses include variable costs associated with volume and price changes, repairs and labor costs associated with the wells and well sites.  The production costs for both years include normal maintence at the well and  the well-sites.





























<page 14>



The Partnership did not receive any other income during the first nine months of 2003 and other income received in 2002  is a result of a cash bonus paid to the Partnership under the farmout agreement, previously discussed.



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 2002 and 2003 are substantially less than the amounts allocable to the Registrant under the Partnership Agreement.  Management continues to work on reducing third party costs and use 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 2002. Depletion, depreciation and amortization expense was consistent with the current property basis and the rates applied.

<page 15>



Item 4:   Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of the Managing General Partner's management including the Managing General Partner's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Partnership has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(c)) within 90 days of the filing date of this quarterly report, and, based on their evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects, including those to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Managing General Partner's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow for timely disclosure. There have been no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation.

























<page 16>



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.

<page 17>



S I G N A T U R E



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                
|                               
|                               
|                               
|November 12, 2003              
|(Date)