EXHIBIT 23.1

                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



The Board of Directors
Seagull Energy Corporation:

         We  consent  to  the   incorporation  by  reference  in  the  following
Registration  Statements  of Seagull  Energy  Corporation  of our  report  dated
January 27, 1997, relating to the consolidated  balance sheets of Seagull Energy
Corporation  and  Subsidiaries  as of December 31, 1996 and 1995 and the related
consolidated  statements  of earnings,  shareholders'  equity and cash flows for
each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996, which report
appears or is  incorporated  by reference in the December 31, 1996 Annual Report
on Form 10-K of Seagull  Energy  Corporation.  Such  report on the  consolidated
financial  statements  refers to a change in the Company's  method of accounting
for the impairment of long-lived assets and for long-lived assets to be disposed
of.

             a.   Form S-8, Seagull Thrift Plan (2-72014).
             b.   Form S-8, Seagull Energy Corporation  1981  Non-Qualified  and
                  Incentive  Stock Option Plan (2-80834).
             c.   Form S-8, ENSTAR Natural Gas Company Thrift Plan (33-14463).
             d.   Forms S-8  and S-3,  Seagull  Energy  Corporation  1983  Stock
                  Option Plan (2-93087).
             e.   Forms  S-8  and S-3, Seagull  Energy  Corporation  1986  Stock
                  Option Plan (33-22475).
             f.   Form S-8, Seagull  Energy  Corporation  1990 Stock Option Plan
                  (33-43483).
             g.   Form S-8, Seagull Energy  Corporation  1993  Stock Option Plan
                  (33-50643).
             h.   Form S-8,   Seagull   Energy   Corporation   1993  Nonemployee
                  Directors'  Stock Option Plan 
                  (33-50645).
             i.   Form S-3,  $350,000,000  Debt  Securities  of  Seagull  Energy
                  Corporation (33-65118).
             j.   Form S-3,  ENSTAR  Alaska  Group of  Common  Stock  of Seagull
                  Energy Corporation (33-53729).
             k.   Form  S-8, Seagull Energy  Corporation 1995 Omnibus Stock Plan
                  (33-64041).
             l.   Form S-3,  $300,000,000  Debt  Securities,   Preferred  Stock,
                  Depositary  Shares,  Common  Stock  or  Securities Warrants of
                  Seagull Energy Corporation (33-64051).
             m.   Form S-8,  Global  Natural  Resources InC.  1989 Key Employees
                  Stock Option Plan and 1992 Stock Option Plan (333-13393).


Houston, Texas
March 27, 1997