<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF ATLAS-ENERGY FOR THE NINETIES PUBLIC #8 L FINANCIAL DATA
STATEMENT FOR 1ST QUARTER 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-2000             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000             SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                          14,512                  14,512
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  792,015                 792,015
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               806,527                 806,527
<PP&E>                                      12,573,810              12,573,810
<DEPRECIATION>                               (822,247)               (822,247)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              12,558,090              12,558,090
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           23,428                  23,428
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                  12,534,661              12,534,661
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                12,558,090              12,558,090
<SALES>                                        952,571               1,812,555
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               951,840               1,831,819
<CGS>                                           81,328                 171,996
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   81,328                 171,996
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               487,950               1,021,770
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                382,562                 638,053
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            382,562                 638,053
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   382,562                 638,053
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0


</TABLE>