<ARTICLE>                      5
<LEGEND>                       THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
                               INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MESA INC. AND
                               SUBSIDIARIES DECEMBER 31, 1996, FINANCIAL 
                               STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY 
                               BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<MULTIPLIER>                   1,000
       
                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                   DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                            16,681
<SECURITIES>                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                     67,008
<ALLOWANCES>                       3,598
<INVENTORY>                        2,159
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                  84,277
<PP&E>                         2,012,424
<DEPRECIATION>                   966,040
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 1,213,879
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>             69,500
<BONDS>                          802,772
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>              1,216 
<PREFERRED>                            0 
<COMMON>                             643
<OTHER-SE>                       263,635
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   1,213,879
<SALES>                          311,411
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                 311,411
<CGS>                                  0 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                    214,723
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                  88,349
<LOSS-PROVISION>                       0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>               121,135
<INCOME-PRETAX>                    8,339 
<INCOME-TAX>                           0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                8,339 
<DISCONTINUED>                         0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                  (59,386)
<CHANGES>                              0 
<NET-INCOME>                     (51,047) 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                       (.94)
<EPS-DILUTED>                       (.94)