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EXHIBIT 23.1      CONSENT OF KPMG, CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
                                      KPMG
                              CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS





ACCOUNTANTS' CONSENT





Optima Petroleum Corporation

To the Directors of



We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement on
Form S-4 of Optima Petroleum Corporation of our report dated March 13, 1998,
relating to the balance sheet of Optima Petroleum Corporation as of December 31,
1997 and 1996, and the related statements of operations and deficit and changes
in financial position for each of the three years in the three-year period ended
December 31, 1997, which report appears in the December 31, 1997, annual report
on Form 10-K of Optima Petroleum Corporation.



We also consent to the to the reference to our firm under the heading of
"Experts" in the Registration Statement.



Chartered Accountants
Vancouver, Canada
May 26, 1998



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