<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