<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-K for December 31, 1996, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000945979
<NAME> MOBILE ENERGY SERVICES HOLDINGS, INC.
       
                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>              YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                  DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                     354,889
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                   0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                        62,488
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                      14,188
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                431,565
<COMMON>                                                      1
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                     30,623
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                          (17)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                30,607
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                   0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                          303,811
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                            0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                     0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                (7,350)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                     0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                   0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                97,147
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                 431,565
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                     84,058
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                          3,227
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                    46,077
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                    49,304
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                       34,754
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                            1,193
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                35,947
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      30,094
<NET-INCOME>                                                  5,853
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                   0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                 5,853
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                      0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                     0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                        30,710
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                 5,853
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                 5,853