3:

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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, 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

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PART I

|Item 1.	Financial Statements                                                                                  
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|                                                                                                              
|The following Financial Statements are filed herewith:                                                        
|                                                                                                              
|Balance Sheets  September 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999.                                                     
|                                                                                                              
|Statements of Operations for the Nine and the Three Months Ended September 30, 2000 and 1999.                 
|                                                                                                              
|Statements of Changes in Partners' Equity for the Nine and the Three Months Ended September 30, 2000 and 1999.
|                                                                                                              
|Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 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 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, 2000, the General partners have distributed to the Limited partners $1,402,512 or 9.76%of the total Limited Partner capital contributions to the Limited partners.



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 $936,700, 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.





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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.



3.	Results of Operations -

The Partnership experienced very stable gas production and a mild increase in oil production, from 63,478 MCF and 874 BBLS in 1999 to 63,191 MCF and 1,067 BBLS in 2000.. The average prices changed from $2.38
per MCF and $12.54 per barrel in 1999to $3.26  per MCF and $26.70 BBLS in 2000. The combination of good production and prices resulted in overall operating revenues to increase from $161,978 in 1999  to $234,977 in 2000. Production expenses increased to
$109,907 in 2000 from $87,715 in 1999.  The production expenses include variable costs associated with volume changes, repairs and labor costs associated with the wells and well sites. Production expenses, during 1999, were limited to normal maintenance
and upkeep of the wells and well sites. During 2000 some additional maintenance was performed at various sites in order to help increase and maintain production levels. Also the variable costs which are based upon production volumes increased due to
higher activity.



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 1999 and 2000 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 undercounted future net cash flows attributable to the Partnership properties. The Partnership was not
required to revise the property basis in either 1999 or 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.

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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                
|                               
|                               
|                               
|November 9, 2000               
|(Date)                         



















<page> 5

STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(A New York Limited Partnership)

Balance Sheets

|                                                    |   | September 30,
2000   |   | December 31,
1999     
|--------------------------------------------------- | - | -------------------- | - | ----------------------
|                                                    |   | (unaudited)          |   | (audited)             
|Assets                                              |   |                      |   |                       
|Current Assets:                                     |   |                      |   |                       
|Cash and cash equivalents                           | $ | 6                    | $ | 4                     
|Due from others                                     |   | 25,981               |   | 0                     
|                                                    |   | -------------------  |   | ----------------------
|Total current assets                                |   | 25,987               |   | 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                                        |   | (11,812,844)         |   | (11,785,739)          
|                                                    |   | -------------------  |   | ----------------------
|Total Oil and Gas Properties                        |   | 624,051              |   | 651,156               
|                                                    |   | -------------------  |   | ----------------------
|Total assets                                        | $ | 650,038              | $ | 651,160               
|                                                    |   | ===========          |   | =============         
|                                                    |   |                      |   |                       
|Liabilities and Partners'  Equity                   |   |                      |   |                       
|Current liabilities:                                |   |                      |   |                       
|Due to affiliates                                   | $ | 226,702              | $ | 245,150               
|                                                    |   | -------------------- |   | ----------------------
|Total current liabilities                           |   | 226,702              |   | 245,150               
|                                                    |   | -------------------- |   | ----------------------
|                                                    |   |                      |   |                       
|Partners' Equity                                    |   |                      |   |                       
|Limited partners                                    |   | 686,560              |   | 676,005               
|General partners                                    |   | (263,224)            |   | (269,995)             
|                                                    |   | -------------------- |   | ----------------------
|Total partners' equity                              |   | 423,336              |   | 406,010               
|                                                    |   | -------------------- |   | ----------------------
|                                                    |   |                      |   |                       
|Total liabilities and partners' equity              | $ | 650,038              | $ | 651,160               
|                                                    |   | ============         |   | =============         
|                                                    |   |                      |   |                       





See accompanying footnote to the financial statements

<page> 6



STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Operations

(unaudited)





|Nine Months Ending
September 30, 2000
|-------------------------------------

|                                              |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners |   | Total          
|--------------------------------------------- | - | ---------------- | - | ---------------- | - | ---------------
|Revenue:                                      |   |                  |   |                  |   |                
|Operating revenue                             | $ | 197,733          | $ | 37,244           | $ | 234,977        
|                                              |   | ---------------  |   | ---------------  |   | ---------------
|Total Revenue                                 |   | 197,733          |   | 37,244           |   | 234,977        
|                                              |   | ---------------  |   | ---------------  |   | ---------------
|                                              |   |                  |   |                  |   |                
|Costs and Expenses:                           |   |                  |   |                  |   |                
|Production expense                            |   | 92,487           |   | 17,420           |   | 109,907        
|General and administrative to a related party |   | 53,643           |   | 10,104           |   | 63,747         
|General and administrative                    |   | 14,215           |   | 2,678            |   | 16,893         
|Depreciation, depletion and amortization      |   | 26,833           |   | 271              |   | 27,104         
|                                              |   | ---------------  |   | ---------------  |   | ---------------
|Total Costs and Expenses                      |   | 187,718          |   | 30,473           |   | 217,651        
|                                              |   | ---------------  |   | ---------------  |   | ---------------
|Net Income (Loss)                             | $ | 10,555           | $ | 6,771            | $ | 17,326         
|                                              |   | =========        |   | =========        |   | =========      
|Net Income (Loss) per Equity unit             | $ | 0.73             |   |                  |   |                
|                                              |   | =========        |   |                  |   |                



See accompanying footnote to the financial statements

<page> 7



STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Operations

(unaudited)





|Nine Months Ending
September 30, 1999
|-------------------------------------

|                                              |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners |   | Total          
|--------------------------------------------- | - | ---------------- | - | ---------------- | - | ---------------
|Revenue:                                      |   |                  |   |                  |   |                
|Operating revenue                             | $ | 136,304          | $ | 25,674           | $ | 161,978        
|Other revenue                                 |   | 3,594            |   | 677              |   | 4,271          
|                                              |   | ---------------  |   | ---------------  |   | ---------------
|Total Revenue                                 |   | 139,898          |   | 26,351           |   | 166,249        
|                                              |   | ---------------  |   | ---------------  |   | ---------------
|                                              |   |                  |   |                  |   |                
|Costs and Expenses:                           |   |                  |   |                  |   |                
|Production expense                            |   | 73,812           |   | 13,903           |   | 87,715         
|General and administrative to a related party |   | 53,646           |   | 10,105           |   | 63,751         
|General and administrative                    |   | 12,763           |   | 2,404            |   | 15,167         
|Depreciation, depletion and amortization      |   | 25,801           |   | 261              |   | 26,062         
|                                              |   | ---------------  |   | ---------------  |   | ---------------
|Total Costs and Expenses                      |   | 166,022          |   | 26,673           |   | 192,695        
|                                              |   | ---------------  |   | ---------------  |   | ---------------
|Net Income(Loss)                              | $ | (26,124)         |   | (322)            |   | (26,446)       
|                                              |   | =========        | $ | =========        | $ | =========      
|Net Income(Loss) per equity unit              | $ | (1.82)           |   |                  |   |                
|                                              |   | =========        |   |                  |   |                



See accompanying footnote to the financial statements











<page> 8





STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Operations

(unaudited)





|Three Months Ending
September 30, 2000
|--------------------------------------

|                                              |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners |   | Total         
|--------------------------------------------- | - | ---------------- | - | ---------------- | - | --------------
|Revenue:                                      |   |                  |   |                  |   |               
|Operating revenue                             | $ | 57,678           | $ | 10,864           | $ | 68,542        
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|Total Revenue                                 |   | 57,678           |   | 10,864           |   | 68,542        
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|                                              |   |                  |   |                  |   |               
|Costs and Expenses:                           |   |                  |   |                  |   |               
|Production expense                            |   | 31,844           |   | 5,997            |   | 37,841        
|General and administrative to a related party |   | 17,881           |   | 3,368            |   | 21,249        
|General and administrative                    |   | 1,990            |   | 375              |   | 2,365         
|Depreciation, depletion and amortization      |   | 8,943            |   | 90               |   | 9,033         
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|Total Costs and Expenses                      |   | 60,658           |   | 9,830            |   | 70,488        
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|Net Income (Loss)                             | $ | (2,980)          | $ | 1,034            | $ | (1,946)       
|                                              |   | ========         |   | ========         |   | ========      
|Net Income (Loss) per equity unit             | $ | (0.21)           |   |                  |   |               
|                                              |   | ========         |   |                  |   |               



See accompanying footnote to the financial statements

<page> 9





STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Operations

(unaudited)





|Three Months Ending
September 30, 1999
|--------------------------------------

|                                              |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners |   | Total         
|--------------------------------------------- | - | ---------------- | - | ---------------- | - | --------------
|Revenue:                                      |   |                  |   |                  |   |               
|Operating revenue                             | $ | 61,910           | $ | 11,661           | $ | 73,571        
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|Total Revenue                                 |   | 61,910           |   | 11,661           |   | 73,571        
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|                                              |   |                  |   |                  |   |               
|Costs and Expenses:                           |   |                  |   |                  |   |               
|Production expense                            |   | 28,583           |   | 5,384            |   | 33,967        
|General and administrative to a related party |   | 17,881           |   | 3,368            |   | 21,249        
|General and administrative                    |   | 3,836            |   | 722              |   | 4,558         
|Depreciation, depletion and amortization      |   | 8,601            |   | 87               |   | 8,688         
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|Total Costs and Expenses                      |   | 58,901           |   | 9,561            |   | 68,462        
|                                              |   | --------------   |   | --------------   |   | --------------
|Net Income (Loss)                             | $ | 3,009            | $ | 2,100            | $ | 5,109         
|                                              |   | ========         |   | ========         |   | ========      
|Net Income (Loss) per equity unit             | $ | .20              |   |                  |   |               
|                                              |   | ========         |   |                  |   |               



See accompanying footnote to the financial statements



<page> 10



STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Changes in Partners' Equity

(unaudited)





|Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2000
|------------------------------------



|                                     |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners |   | Total        
|------------------------------------ | - | ---------------- | - | ---------------- | - | -------------
|                                     |   |                  |   |                  |   |              
|Balance at beginning of period       | $ | 676,005          | $ | (269,995)        | $ | 406,010      
|Net Income(Loss)                     |   | 10,555           |   | 6,771            |   | 17,326       
|                                     |   | -------------    |   | -------------    |   | -------------
|Balance at end of period             | $ | 686,560          |   | (263,224)        | $ | 423,336      
|                                     |   | ========         |   | ========         |   | ========     
|Nine Months Ended
September 30, 1999



|                               |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners |   | Total        
|------------------------------ | - | ---------------- | - | ---------------- | - | -------------
|                               |   |                  |   |                  |   |              
|Balance at beginning of period | $ | 699,647          | $ | (272,291)        | $ | 427,356      
|Net Income(Loss)               |   | (26,124)         |   | (322)            |   | (26,446)     
|                               |   | -------------    |   | -------------    |   | -------------
|Balance at end of period       | $ | 673,523          | $ | (272,613)        | $ | 400,910      
|                               |   | ========         |   | ========         |   | ========     



See accompanying footnote to the financial statements



<page> 11



STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Changes in Partners' Equity

(unaudited)





|Three Months Ended
September 30, 2000
|-------------------------------------



|                                      |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners |   | Total        
|------------------------------------- | - | ---------------- | - | ---------------- | - | -------------
|                                      |   |                  |   |                  |   |              
|Balance at beginning of period        | $ | 689,540          | $ | (264,258)        | $ | 425,282      
|Net Income(Loss)                      |   | (2,980)          |   | 1,034            |   | (1,946)      
|                                      |   | -------------    |   | -------------    |   | -------------
|Balance at end of period              | $ | 686,560          | $ | (263,224)        | $ | 423,336      
|                                      |   | ========         |   | ========         |   | ========     
|Three Months Ended
September 30, 1999
|                                     
|                                      |   | Limited
Partners |   | General
Partners |   | Total        
|                                      |   |                  |   |                  |   |              
|Balance at beginning of period        | $ | 670,514          | $ | (274,713)        | $ | 395,801      
|Net Income(Loss)                      |   | 3,009            |   | 2,100            |   | 5,109        
|                                      |   | -------------    |   | -------------    |   | -------------
|Balance at end of period              | $ | 673,523          | $ | (272,613)        | $ | 400,910      
|                                      |   | ========         |   | ========         |   | ========     





See accompanying footnote to the financial statements





<page> 12



STERLING DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York Limited Partnership)

Statement of Cash Flows

(unaudited)



|                                                     |   | Nine months
Ended
September 30, 2000 |   | Nine months
Ended
September 30, 1999
|---------------------------------------------------- | - | ------------------------------------ | - | ------------------------------------
|                                                     |   |                                      |   |                                     
|Net cash provided by operating activities            | $ | 2                                    | $ | 2                                   
|                                                     |   | -----------------                    |   | -----------------                   
|                                                     |   |                                      |   |                                     
|Net increase(decrease) in cash and  cash equivalents |   | 2                                    |   | 2                                   
|                                                     |   |                                      |   |                                     
|Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     |   | 4                                    |   | 20                                  
|                                                     |   | -----------------                    |   | -----------------                   
|Cash and cash equivalents at end of period           | $ | 6                                    | $ | 22                                  
|                                                     |   | ==========                           |   | ==========                          



See accompanying footnote to the financial statements



<page> 13

STERLING GAS DRILLING FUND 1982

(a New York limited partnership)



Note to Financial Statements



September 30, 2000







1.	The accompanying statements for the period ending September 30, 2000 are unaudited, but reflect all adjustments necessary to present fairly the results of operations.