EXHIBIT 5.1

                 [LETTERHEAD OF VINSON & ELKINS APPEARS HERE]


                                 October 15, 1999


Miller Exploration Company
3104 Logan Valley Road
Traverse City, Michigan 49685

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to Miller Exploration Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation of the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement"), relating to
the proposed offer and sale by certain stockholders of the Company of up to
645,504 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share (the
"Shares") issuable upon exercise of warrants held by such stockholders (the
"Warrants").  In such capacity, we are passing on certain legal matters in
connection with the registration of the sale of the Shares.  At your request,
this opinion is being furnished to you for filing as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

     In connection with rendering this opinion, we have examined such
certificates, instruments and documents and reviewed such questions of law as we
have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.

     Based upon the foregoing examination and review, we are of the opinion that
the Shares are duly authorized and, when issued upon valid exercise of the
Warrants as contemplated by the Registration Statement, will be legally issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.

     The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the United States of
America and to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.  For
purposes of this opinion, we assume that the Shares will be issued in compliance
with all applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws.


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October 15, 1999



     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, however, we do not hereby admit
that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.


                              Very truly yours,



                              VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.