<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from (A) the
Company's  condensed  consolidated  balance sheet at June 30, 1997 and condensed
consolidated statement of income for the six months ended June 30,
1997. And is Qualified in its entirety by reference to such (B) financial
statements presented in quarterly report form 10-QSB for the quarterly period 
ended June 30, 1997.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                          0000312340
<NAME>                                         Saba Petroleum Company
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     0
       
                                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 Jan-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   Jun-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         743
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  5,863
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (71)
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               10,141
<PP&E>                                         62,688
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (18,435)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 56,456
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          13,068
<BONDS>                                        20,109
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       15,022
<OTHER-SE>                                     6,745
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   56,456
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               17,835
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  13,765
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             831
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                3,513
<INCOME-TAX>                                   1,470
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            2,043
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   1,949
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .17