<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THIRD QUARTER 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          15,871
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    7,255
<ALLOWANCES>                                       121
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                25,436
<PP&E>                                          80,133
<DEPRECIATION>                                  16,167
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  89,849
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           11,151
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           145
<OTHER-SE>                                      76,495
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    89,849
<SALES>                                         16,479
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                17,563
<CGS>                                            7,728
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    7,728
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  16
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  6,709
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,032
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              4,677
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,677
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.30