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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


                    [FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI L.L.P. LETTERHEAD]


July 24, 1998



Tesoro Petroleum Corporation
8700 Tesoro Drive
San Antonio, Texas  78217

Dear Sirs:

              We refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement") to be filed by Tesoro Petroleum Corporation (the
"Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, relating to $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the
Company's 9% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008, Series B (the "New Notes")
proposed to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of July 2,
1998, between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee
(the "Indenture"), in exchange for the Company's 9% Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2008.

              We assume that appropriate action will be taken, prior to the
offer and sale of the New Notes, to register and qualify such New Notes for sale
under all applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws.

              In our examination of the foregoing documents, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to
us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted
to us as certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals
of such latter documents.

              Based on the foregoing, we advise you that in our opinion the New
Notes being issued by the Company have been duly and validly authorized for
issuance by the Company, and, when duly executed and authenticated in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture and delivered as contemplated in the Prospectus
forming part of the Registration Statement, the New Notes will be legal, valid
and binding obligations of the Company (subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and
other laws which affect the rights of creditors generally, including the laws of
the State of Delaware relating to compromises, arrangements and
reorganizations).

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Tesoro Petroleum Corporation
July 24, 1998
Page 2


              We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and the reference to this firm under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus contained therein. This consent is not to be
construed as an admission that we are a person whose consent is required to be
filed with the Registration Statement under the provisions of the Securities Act
of 1933.

                              Very truly yours,                            



                              /s/ Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.