<ARTICLE>    5
<LEGEND>                       THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
                               INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MESA INC. AND
                               SUBSIDIARIES DECEMBER 31, 1994 FINANCIAL 
                               STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY 
                               BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
<MULTIPLIER>                   1,000
       
                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-START>                 JAN-01-1994
<PERIOD-END>                   DEC-31-1994
<CASH>                           143,422
<SECURITIES>                      19,112
<RECEIVABLES>                     41,006
<ALLOWANCES>                       3,168
<INVENTORY>                        1,987
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                 204,844
<PP&E>                         1,911,678
<DEPRECIATION>                   781,230
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 1,483,959
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>             89,189
<BONDS>                        1,192,756
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  0
<PREFERRED>                            0
<COMMON>                             640
<OTHER-SE>                       123,932
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   1,483,959
<SALES>                          228,737
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                 228,737
<CGS>                                  0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                    200,054
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                 112,036
<LOSS-PROVISION>                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>               144,757
<INCOME-PRETAX>                  (83,353)
<INCOME-TAX>                           0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>              (83,353)
<DISCONTINUED>                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        0
<CHANGES>                              0
<NET-INCOME>                     (83,353)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                      (1.42)
<EPS-DILUTED>                      (1.42)