<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1997             OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1996             NOV-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1997             JAN-31-1998
<CASH>                                           4,969                   6,077
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   13,870                  16,466
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,127                   1,127
<INVENTORY>                                         78                     192
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                19,130                  22,494
<PP&E>                                          66,346                  77,276
<DEPRECIATION>                                  17,124                  20,310
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  71,593                  82,499
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           27,853                  29,691
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                            17                      17
<OTHER-SE>                                      23,505                  26,136
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    71,593                  82,499
<SALES>                                         35,532                  20,291
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                35,532                  20,291
<CGS>                                           17,950                   9,483
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   17,950                   9,483
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 8,326                   5,662
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 741                     869
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,319                   4,244
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,579                   1,613
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              5,740                   2,631
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,740                   2,631
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.33                    0.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.33                    0.15