1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 23.9

                        [RYDER SCOTT COMPANY LETTERHEAD]


                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM
                            ENGINEERS AND GEOLOGISTS


     We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference of our Firm's name in
the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Ocean Energy, Inc. and subsidiaries for the
year ended December 31, 1998, into Ocean Energy Royalty Trust's Registration
Statement on Form S-1 and Ocean Energy, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form
S-3 to which this consent is an exhibit. We further consent to the reference to
our firm under the heading "Experts" in the Registration Statement.


                                             /s/ RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P.


                                             RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P.

Houston, Texas
July 14, 1999