<ARTICLE>                      5
<LEGEND>                       THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
                               INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MESA INC. AND
                               SUBSIDIARIES MARCH 31, 1995, FINANCIAL 
                               STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY 
                               BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<MULTIPLIER>                   1,000
       
                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  3-MOS       
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                   MAR-31-1995
<CASH>                           164,496
<SECURITIES>                       7,896
<RECEIVABLES>                     34,271
<ALLOWANCES>                       3,428
<INVENTORY>                        3,122
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                 209,152
<PP&E>                         1,916,787
<DEPRECIATION>                   802,215
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 1,472,501
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>             91,175
<BONDS>                        1,189,837
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  0
<PREFERRED>                            0
<COMMON>                             640
<OTHER-SE>                       116,038
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   1,472,501
<SALES>                           62,247
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                  62,247
<CGS>                                  0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                     46,273
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                  23,868
<LOSS-PROVISION>                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                36,663
<INCOME-PRETAX>                   (7,894)
<INCOME-TAX>                           0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>               (7,894)
<DISCONTINUED>                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        0
<CHANGES>                              0
<NET-INCOME>                      (7,894)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                       (.12)
<EPS-DILUTED>                       (.12)