EXHIBIT 5.1


                            GLAST, PHILLIPS & MURRAY
                           A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
TELEPHONE: (972) 419-8300                                2200 ONE GALLERIA TOWER
FAX: (972) 419-8329         ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS    13355 NOEL ROAD, L.B. 48
                                                       DALLAS, TEXAS  75240-6657

                                 August 9, 2000

Inland Resources Inc.
410 17th Street
Suite 700
Denver, Colorado 80202

     Re:  Form S-8 Registration Statement relating to the registration of 87,500
          shares of common stock, $.001 par value, of Inland Resources Inc.
          pursuant to the Stock Option Agreement dated October 1, 1999 with Bill
          I. Pennington

Gentlemen:

     We are acting as counsel for Inland Resources Inc., a Washington
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the filing under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, of a Registration Statement for the Company on Form S-8
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") (the "Registration
Statement"), covering an aggregate of 87,500 shares (the "Shares") of common
stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company which will
be issued pursuant to the Stock Option Agreement dated October 1, 1999 with Bill
I. Pennington.


     In that connection, we have examined the Form S-8 Registration Statement in
the form to be filed with the SEC.  We have also examined and are familiar with
the originals or authenticated copies of all corporate or other documents,
records and instruments that we have deemed necessary or appropriate to enable
us to render the opinion expressed below.

     We have assumed that all signatures on all documents presented to us are
genuine, that all documents submitted to us as originals are accurate and
complete, that all documents submitted to us as copies are true and correct
copies of the originals thereof, that all information submitted to us was
accurate and complete and that all persons executing and delivering originals or
copies of documents examined by us were competent to execute and deliver such
documents.  In addition, we have assumed that the Shares will not be issued for
consideration equal to less than the par value thereof and that the form of
consideration to be received by the Company for the Shares will be lawful
consideration under the Washington Business Corporation Act.

     Based on the foregoing and having due regard for the legal considerations
we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that the Shares, or any portion thereof,
when issued as described in the Registration Statement, will be validly issued
by the Company, fully paid and nonassessable.

     This opinion is limited in all respects to the laws of the United States of
America and the Washington Business Corporation Act.

     This opinion may be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

                                    Sincerely,

                                    /s/ Glast, Phillips & Murray, P.C.

                                    GLAST, PHILLIPS & MURRAY, P.C.