1
                          Independent Auditors Consent




The Administrative Committee
Virginia Indonesia Company
  Employee Thrift and Retirement Plan

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement on
Form S-8 of LASMO plc, and the registration statement (No. 333-30805) on Form
S-8 of Union Texas Petroleum Holdings, Inc., of our report dated June 26, 1998,
with respect to the statements of net assets available for thrift and retirement
plan benefits of the Virginia Indonesia Company Employee Thrift and Retirement
Plan as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the related statements of changes in
net assets available for thrift and retirement plan benefits for the years then
ended and the related supplemental schedules, which report appears in the
December 31, 1997 annual report on Form 11-K of the Virginia Indonesia Company
Employee Thrift and Retirement Plan.


                                                  KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Houston, Texas
July 8, 1998