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                           SEAGULL ENERGY CORPORATION

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


The Board of Directors
Seagull Energy Corporation:

         We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following
Registration Statements of Seagull Energy Corporation of our report dated
February 9, 1999, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Seagull Energy
Corporation and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 and the related
consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for
each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1998, which report
appears or is incorporated by reference in the December 31, 1998 Annual Report
on Form 10-K of Seagull Energy Corporation.

     a.   Form S-8, Seagull Thrift Plan (2-72014).
     b.   Form S-8, Seagull Energy Corporation 1981 Non-Qualified and Incentive
          Stock Option Plan (2-80834).
     c.   Form S-8, ENSTAR Natural Gas Company Thrift Plan (33-14463).
     d.   Forms S-8 and S-3, Seagull Energy Corporation 1983 Stock Option Plan
          (2-93087).
     e.   Forms S-8 and S-3, Seagull Energy Corporation 1986 Stock Option Plan
          (33-22475).
     f.   Form S-8, Seagull Energy Corporation 1990 Stock Option Plan
          (33-43483).
     g.   Form S-8, Seagull Energy Corporation 1993 Stock Option Plan
          (33-50643).
     h.   Form S-8, Seagull Energy Corporation 1993 Nonemployee Directors' Stock
          Option Plan (33-50645).
     i.   Form S-3, $350,000,000 Debt Securities of Seagull Energy Corporation
          (33-65118).
     j.   Form S-3, ENSTAR Alaska Group of Common Stock of Seagull Energy
          Corporation (33-53729).
     k.   Form S-8, Seagull Energy Corporation 1995 Omnibus Stock Plan
          (33-64041).
     l.   Form S-3, $300,000,000 Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary
          Shares, Common Stock or Securities Warrants of Seagull Energy
          Corporation (33-64051).
     m.   Form S-8, Global Natural Resources In. 1989 Key Employees Stock Option
          Plan and 1992 Stock Option Plan (333-13393).
     n.   Form S-8, 1998 Omnibus Stock Plan (333-71375).


/s/ KPMG LLP

Houston, Texas
February 15, 1999