<ARTICLE>UT <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form 10-Q for June 30, 1997, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <CIK>0000945979 <NAME> MOBILE ENERGY SERVICES HOLDINGS, INC <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 349,500 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 44,388 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 13,847 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 407,735 <COMMON> 1 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 31,373 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 2,661 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 34,035 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 300,988 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> (7,670) <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 72,712 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 407,735 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 43,029 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 1,648 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 24,285 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 25,933 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 17,096 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 339 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 17,435 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 14,774 <NET-INCOME> 2,661 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 2,661 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 28,990 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2,661 <EPS-DILUTED> 2,661