<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOUND ON PAGES 34 AND 35 OF THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 25,154 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 26,801 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 1,607,429 <DEPRECIATION> (200,250) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,505,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 32,444 <BONDS> 1,122,959 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 257 <OTHER-SE> 216,038 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,505,002 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 221,214 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 73,660 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 58,546 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 66,407 <INCOME-PRETAX> 22,601 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 22,601 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (555) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 22,046 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.85 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.84