<ARTICLE>                      5
<LEGEND>                       THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
                               INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MESA INC. AND
                               SUBSIDIARIES DECEMBER 31, 1995, FINANCIAL 
                               STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY 
                               BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<MULTIPLIER>                   1,000
       
                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                 JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                   DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                           149,143
<SECURITIES>                      38,280
<RECEIVABLES>                     47,713
<ALLOWANCES>                       2,979
<INVENTORY>                        3,387
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                 236,747
<PP&E>                         1,941,766
<DEPRECIATION>                   859,077
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 1,464,696
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>            192,946
<BONDS>                        1,135,330
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  0 
<PREFERRED>                            0 
<COMMON>                             640
<OTHER-SE>                        66,364
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   1,464,696
<SALES>                          234,959
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                 234,959
<CGS>                                  0 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                    186,994
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                 105,533
<LOSS-PROVISION>                       0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>               148,630
<INCOME-PRETAX>                  (57,568)
<INCOME-TAX>                           0 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>              (57,568)
<DISCONTINUED>                         0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        0 
<CHANGES>                              0 
<NET-INCOME>                     (57,568) 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                       (.90)
<EPS-DILUTED>                       (.90)