1 EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated March 3, 2000 relating to the consolidated financial statements of Bargo Energy Company and subsidiaries, which appears in Bargo Energy Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. /s/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Houston, Texas March 31, 2000