1
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1
 
                       [FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI LETTERHEAD]
 
September 1, 1995
 
Energy Ventures, Inc.
5 Post Oak Park, Suite 1760
Houston, Texas 77027-3415
 
Gentlemen:
 
     We have acted as counsel for Energy Ventures, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of
1933 of 2,990,000 shares of the Company's common stock, $1.00 par value (the
"Shares"), to be offered upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in a proposed Underwriting Agreement to be entered into by and among the
Company, Lehman Brothers Inc. and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation, as representatives of the several underwriters to be listed therein
(the "Underwriting Agreement").
 
     In connection therewith, we have examined the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-3 covering the Shares (the "Registration Statement")
(Registration No. 33-61933) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of the
amended Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, the amended Bylaws of the
Company, the corporate proceedings with respect to the offering of the Shares
and such other documents and instruments as we have deemed necessary or
appropriate for the expression of the opinions contained herein.
 
     We have assumed the authenticity and completeness of all records,
certificates and other instruments submitted to us as originals, the conformity
to original documents of all records, certificates and other instruments
submitted to us as copies, the authenticity and completeness of the originals of
those records, certificates and other instruments submitted to us as copies and
the correctness of all statements of fact contained in all records, certificates
and other instruments that we have examined.
 
     Based on the foregoing, and having regard for such legal considerations as
we have deemed relevant, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly
and validly authorized for issuance and, when issued and paid for in accordance
with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be duly and validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.
 
     The opinions expressed herein relate solely to, are based solely upon and
are limited exclusively to the laws of the State of Delaware and the federal
laws of the United States of America, to the extent applicable.
 
     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus included as part of the Registration Statement.
 
                                            Very truly yours,
 
                                            /s/  FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI L.L.P.
                                            Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.