<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