<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 7,353,328 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 40,460,036 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 1,186,604 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 57,857,732 <PP&E> 239,386,406 <DEPRECIATION> 64,419,417 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 238,890,902 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 18,724,550 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 110,135 <OTHER-SE> 23,500 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 238,890,902 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 79,823,624 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 74,042,363 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,461,158 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,320,103 <INCOME-TAX> 1,645,400 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,674,703 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,674,703 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.20 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.20