<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 71,765 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 116,941 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 1,621,522 <DEPRECIATION> 99,746 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,851,294 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 538,591 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 988 <OTHER-SE> 1,228,243 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,851,294 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 145,695 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 76,697 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24,955 <INCOME-PRETAX> 77,477 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 77,477 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (1,102) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 77,477 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.86 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.86