WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  


27.1                                      Financial Data Schedule




<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from (A) the
Company's  condensed  consolidated  balance  sheet at September  30,  1998,  and
condensed  statement of operations for the nine months ended September 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 September
30, 1998.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                           0000312340
<NAME>                                          Saba Petroleum Company
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
<CURRENCY>                                     0
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 Jan-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   Sep-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         1,187
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  5,464
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (78)
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               9,323
<PP&E>                                         88,892
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (45,471)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 53,921
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          39,075
<BONDS>                                        5,347
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    7,169
<COMMON>                                       16,982
<OTHER-SE>                                     (16,952)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   53,921
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               18,683
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  38,466
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               1,125
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             2,519
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (23,349)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   149
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (23,498)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (23,498)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (2.17)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (2.17)