<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                    <C>                    <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997            DEC-31-1996            DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-31-1997            JAN-31-1996            JAN-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997            DEC-31-1996            DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                           1,979                    444                  9,831
<SECURITIES>                                         0                      0                      0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   18,205                  2,806                  1,633
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                      0                      0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                      0                      0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                22,100                  3,267                 11,499
<PP&E>                                         238,651                113,680                 49,217
<DEPRECIATION>                                  18,002                     37                      7
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 279,700                123,379                 60,877
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           16,695                  3,417                 44,400
<BONDS>                                        120,000                      0                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                      0                      0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                      0                      0
<COMMON>                                           256                    256                      0
<OTHER-SE>                                      73,124                 95,464                 16,477
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   279,700                123,379                 60,877
<SALES>                                         35,034                      0                      0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                35,465                    170                      5
<CGS>                                                0                      0                      0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   49,928                  3,860                  1,530
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                11,554                  2,268                    322
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                      0                      0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               7,157                    806                    190
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (33,174)                (5,958)                (2,037)
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (10,523)                (3,521)                      0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (22,651)                (2,437)                (2,037)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                      0                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                      0                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0                      0                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (22,651)                (2,437)                (2,037)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.88)                 (0.09)                 (0.10)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.88)                 (0.09)                 (0.10)


</TABLE>