<ARTICLE>                      5
<LEGEND>                       THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
                               INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MESA INC. AND
                               SUBSIDIARIES SEPTEMBER 30, 1994 FINANCIAL 
                               STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
                               REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<MULTIPLIER>                   1,000
       
                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  9-MOS       
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              DEC-31-1993 
<PERIOD-END>                   SEP-30-1994 
<CASH>                           114,736   
<SECURITIES>                      24,883   
<RECEIVABLES>                     35,006   
<ALLOWANCES>                      (4,097)  
<INVENTORY>                        2,908   
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                 174,500   
<PP&E>                         1,898,937   
<DEPRECIATION>                  (757,276)  
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 1,463,052   
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>             60,309   
<BONDS>                        1,185,823   
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  0   
<PREFERRED>                            0   
<COMMON>                             641   
<OTHER-SE>                       138,297   
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   1,463,052   
<SALES>                          160,170   
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                 160,170   
<CGS>                                  0   
<TOTAL-COSTS>                    147,192   
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                  81,989   
<LOSS-PROVISION>                       0   
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>               108,368   
<INCOME-PRETAX>                  (69,011)  
<INCOME-TAX>                           0   
<INCOME-CONTINUING>              (69,011)  
<DISCONTINUED>                         0   
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        0   
<CHANGES>                              0   
<NET-INCOME>                     (69,011)  
<EPS-PRIMARY>                      (1.21)  
<EPS-DILUTED>                      (1.21)