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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.4
 
               [NETHERLAND, SEWELL & ASSOCIATES, INC. LETTERHEAD]
 
           CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ENGINEERS AND GEOLOGISTS
 
     We hereby consent to the reference of our firm in the Annual Report on Form
10-K of Tesoro Petroleum Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1997, and
the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of our
reserve report dated as of December 31, 1997. We also consent to the reference
to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is a part of this
Registration Statement on Form S-4.
 
                                        NETHERLAND, SEWELL & ASSOCIATES, INC.
 
                                        By:      /s/ FREDERIC D. SEWELL
                                           -------------------------------------
                                            Frederic D. Sewell
                                            President
 
Dallas, Texas
July 24, 1998