<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> (Replace this text with the legend) </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000353153 <NAME> Cairn Energy USA, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> 1 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.00 <CASH> 3,915 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 4,962 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 9,503 <PP&E> 224,483 <DEPRECIATION> 83,106 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 151,890 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 18,459 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 176 <OTHER-SE> 93,255 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 151,890 <SALES> 6,293 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 6,361 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 5,107 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 933 <INCOME-PRETAX> 0 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 321 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 321 <EPS-PRIMARY> .02 <EPS-DILUTED> .02