<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM TRANSAMERICAN
ENERGY CORPORATION'S UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT JULY 31,
1998 AND THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE
SIX MONTHS ENDED JULY 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1998
<CASH>                                          68,298
<SECURITIES>                                         0 
<RECEIVABLES>                                   18,028
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0  
<INVENTORY>                                     47,186
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               148,971
<PP&E>                                       2,804,500
<DEPRECIATION>                                 770,794
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,262,552
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          205,704
<BONDS>                                      1,841,478
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0          
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                      66,955
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,262,552
<SALES>                                         48,243
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               116,558
<CGS>                                            7,819
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  106,133
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              48,179
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (31,351)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    (3,483)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (26,449)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 (2,436)
<CHANGES>                                        2,674
<NET-INCOME>                                   (26,211)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (2,912)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (2,912)