<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from (a) the
Company's condensed  consolidated  balance sheet at June 30, 1998, and condensed
consolidated  statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 1998,and
is  qualified in its  entirety by  reference  to such (b)  financial  statements
presented in quarterly  report form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30,
1998. 
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000312340
<NAME>                        Saba Petroleum company
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollar
       
                             
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<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-1998
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<PERIOD-END>                                   Jun-30-1998
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