WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE. <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form 10-K for December 31, 1997, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <CIK> MOBILE ENERGY SERVICES HOLDINGS, INC <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 343,817 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 66,294 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 13,504 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 423,614 <COMMON> 1 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 14,120 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 0 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 14,888 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 297,854 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> (7,885) <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 111,639 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 423,614 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 86,481 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 3,811 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 48,424 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 52,235 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 34,246 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 978 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 35,224 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 29,192 <NET-INCOME> 6,032 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 6,032 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 32,487 <EPS-PRIMARY> 6,032 <EPS-DILUTED> 6,032