EXHIBIT 24.1

                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Board of Directors
Fortune Petroleum Corporation

      We consent to the use of our report on the financial statements of the
Company included herein and to the reference to our firm under the heading
"Experts" in the Prospectus.

      Our report dated March 15, 1996 refers to the adoption of the provisions
of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121, "Accounting for the
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of" as of
December 31, 1995.

KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Houston, Texas
January 15, 1997

                                                              EXHIBIT 24.1 PAGE1

                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Board of Directors
Fortune Petroleum Corporation:

      We consent to the inclusion of our report dated December 20, 1995, with
respect to the statements of revenues and direct operating expenses of the oil
and gas property interests acquired from PetroFina S.A. for each of the years in
the three-year period ended December 31, 1994.

KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Houston, Texas
January 15, 1997