1 [HUDDLESTON & CO., INC. LETTERHEAD] FORM OF CONSENT Benton Oil and Gas Company 1145 Eugenia Place, Suite 200 Carpinteria, California 90313 Gentlemen: Huddleston & Co., Inc., hereby consents to the use of its name and reference to it regarding its audit of the Benton Oil and Gas Company reserve reports, dated as of December 31, 1995, in the Form 10-K Annual Report of Benton Oil and Gas Company to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. HUDDLESTON & CO., INC. By: /s/ Peter D. Huddleston, P.E. ------------------------------ Peter D. Huddleston, P.E. March 26, 1996 PDH:ldh