EXHIBIT 5.1

                               KRYS BOYLE, P.C.
                               Attorneys at Law
Telephone                   Suite 2700 South Tower                  Facsimile
(303) 893-2300              600 Seventeenth Street             (303) 893-2882
                         Denver, Colorado  80202-5427


                                January 9, 2004

Delta Petroleum Corporation
Suite 1400
475 17th Street
Denver, Colorado  80202

Dear Board of Directors:

     We have acted as counsel to Delta Petroleum Corporation, a Colorado
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation and filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Registration Statement on Form S-3
(the "Registration Statement"), pursuant to which the Company is registering
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a total of 773,500 shares (the
"Shares") of its common stock, $.01 par value (the "Common Stock") for resale to
the public.  This opinion is being rendered in connection with the filing of the
Registration Statement.  All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Registration
Statement.

     In connection with this opinion, we have examined the Company's Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws, both as currently in effect; such other records of the
corporate proceedings of the Company and certificates of the Company's officers
as we have deemed relevant; and the Registration Statement and the exhibits
thereto.

     In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the
legal capacity of natural persons, 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 copies.

     Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations set forth below, we
are of the opinion that the  773,500 Shares currently held by the selling
shareholders have been duly and validly authorized by the Company, duly and
validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable.

     Our opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Colorado, and we express
no opinion with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction.  No opinion is
expressed herein with respect to the qualification of the Shares under the
securities or blue sky laws of any state or any foreign jurisdiction.



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     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus which is part of the Registration Statement.

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    KRYS BOYLE, P.C.


                                    By: /s/ Stanley F. Freedman
                                        Stanley F. Freedman, P.C.