EXHIBIT 23.1







            Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8 No.  333-66440)  pertaining to the  Kerr-McGee  Corporation  Employee  Stock
Ownership  Plan of our report dated May 28, 2004,  with respect to the financial
statements and schedules of the Kerr-McGee  Corporation Employee Stock Ownership
Plan included in this Annual Report (Form 11-K) for the year ended  December 31,
2003.





                                                               ERNST & YOUNG LLP



Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
June 18, 2004