Exhibit 23.1

               CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

  As  independent  public   accountants,   we   hereby  consent  to  the
incorporated by reference of our reports included herein or incorporated
by reference in this Form 10-K, into McMoRan Oil  & Gas Co.'s previously
filed Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 33-82866, 33-80369,
33-80371, and 33-99828).



/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
Arthur Andersen LLP

New Orleans, Louisiana
  March 24, 1997