<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1998 APR-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> AUG-01-1997 AUG-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997 OCT-31-1996 <CASH> 2,376,080 72,948 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 2,651,767 2,119,406 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 5,307,956 2,246,530 <PP&E> 47,897,521 36,962,822 <DEPRECIATION> (17,251,691) (10,254,970) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 37,903,335 30,857,487 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 10,793,035 11,866,608 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 2,871,114 <COMMON> 20,077,486 11,681,150 <OTHER-SE> (15,469,856) (13,978,300) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 37,903,335 30,857,487 <SALES> 3,248,700 2,377,701 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,248,700 2,467,928 <CGS> 1,491,276 1,215,659 <TOTAL-COSTS> 4,038,472 4,038,472 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (94,326) (32,934) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 609,127 732,151 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1,304,573) (2,058,619) <INCOME-TAX> 0 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,304,573) (2,058,619) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (1,304,573) (2,224,869) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.04) (0.12) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.04) (0.12)