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


                                 July 27, 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 6,031,250
shares (the "Shares") of its common stock, $.01 par value 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 6,031,250 Shares currently held by the selling
shareholders have been duly and validly authorized by the Company, duly and
validly issued and are 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.