<ARTICLE>                      5
<LEGEND>                       THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
                               INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MESA INC. AND
                               SUBSIDIARIES JUNE 30, 1995, FINANCIAL 
                               STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY 
                               BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<MULTIPLIER>                   1,000
       
                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  6-MOS       
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                   JUN-30-1995
<CASH>                           182,942 
<SECURITIES>                       5,418 
<RECEIVABLES>                     40,845 
<ALLOWANCES>                       3,429 
<INVENTORY>                        3,762 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                 231,648 
<PP&E>                         1,920,778 
<DEPRECIATION>                   817,524 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 1,479,992 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>            148,746 
<BONDS>                        1,156,089 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  0 
<PREFERRED>                            0 
<COMMON>                             640 
<OTHER-SE>                       102,085 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   1,479,992 
<SALES>                          121,421 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                 121,421 
<CGS>                                  0 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                     88,367 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                 (54,901)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                       0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                73,112 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                  (21,847)
<INCOME-TAX>                           0 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>              (21,847)
<DISCONTINUED>                         0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        0 
<CHANGES>                              0 
<NET-INCOME>                     (21,847)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                       (.34)
<EPS-DILUTED>                       (.34)