EXHIBIT 23
 
                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
 
The Board of Directors
Nuevo Energy Company:
 
  We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statement (No.
33-43329) on Form S-8, registration statement (No. 33-70108) on Form S-8,
registration statement (No. 333-21063) on Form S-8, registration statement
(No. 333-51211) on Form S-8, registration statement (No. 333-51217) on Form S-
8, registration statement (No. 333-51231) on Form S-8, and registration
statement (No. 333-16231) on Form S-3 of Nuevo Energy Company of our report
dated May 12, 1998, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Nuevo
Energy Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the
related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders'
equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended
December 31, 1997, which report appears in the report on Form 8-K dated May
20, 1998 to restate the consolidated financial statements included in the
December 31, 1997 annual report on Form 10-K of Nuevo Energy Company, to
reflect the retroactive effect of the change in accounting for oil and gas
properties from the full cost method to the successful efforts method.
 
                                          /S/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
 
Houston, Texas
May 19, 1998