<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                                                      6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM ML 
OKLAHOMA  VENTURE  PARTNERS,  LIMITED  PARTNERSHIP'S QUARTERLY  REPORT ON FORM 
10-Q FOR THE PERIOD  ENDED  SEPTEMBER  30, 1996 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS 
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                                                                          <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                                        JAN-1-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                         SEP-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                                  6,122,839
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                                11,907,109
<RECEIVABLES>                                                            102,666
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                     269,371
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        12,279,146
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                       0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                        0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                                146,460
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                      146,460
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                                0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                       0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                     10,248
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                     10,248
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                      0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                         0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                        0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                       0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                               5,783,155
<NET-ASSETS>                                                          12,132,686
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                              0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         33,376
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                                 0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                           273,480
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                (240,104)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                 370,161
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                              2,809,103
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                  2,939,160
<EQUALIZATION>                                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                      0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                          0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                        0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                                    0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                            0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                 2,961,844
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                        0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                      0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                        0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                     0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                             0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                                0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                  10,663,106
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                        888
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                             (23)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                      307
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                      0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                        1,172
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                                0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                         0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                           0
        


</TABLE>