<ARTICLE>                      5
<LEGEND>                       THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
                               INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MESA INC. AND 
                               SUBSIDIARIES MARCH 31, 1996, 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-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                   MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                             115,775
<SECURITIES>                        39,956
<RECEIVABLES>                       43,477
<ALLOWANCES>                         2,992
<INVENTORY>                          3,350
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                   202,859
<PP&E>                           1,949,270
<DEPRECIATION>                     887,232
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                   1,409,096
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>              150,101
<BONDS>                          1,121,768
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                    0
<PREFERRED>                              0
<COMMON>                               640
<OTHER-SE>                          67,421
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>     1,409,096
<SALES>                             80,643
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                    80,643
<CGS>                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                       55,320
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                    24,266
<LOSS-PROVISION>                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                  37,749 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      1,057
<INCOME-TAX>                             0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  1,057
<DISCONTINUED>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                          0
<CHANGES>                                0
<NET-INCOME>                         1,057
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          .02
<EPS-DILUTED>                          .02