


                                                                    Exhibit 23.3

                       [ON RYDER SCOTT COMPANY LETTERHEAD]



                               September 22, 1997




Basin Exploration, Inc.
370 Seventeenth Street, Suite 3400
Denver, Colorado 80202

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We hereby authorize the reference to the following report prepared by Ryder
Scott Company in a Registration Statement on Form S-3 for the offering and sale,
from time to time, of up to  $200,000,000  of  Securities,  as described in such
Registration  Statement,  and in any  prospectus  contained  therein or filed by
Basin  Exploration,   Inc.  with  the  United  States  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission:

     1. Estimate of Reserves, Future Production and Income Attributable to
        Eugene Island Blocks 64 and 65 as of January 1, 1997, dated January 28,
        1997.

     We further consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts"
in such Registration Statement and prospectuses, as such Registration Statement
may be amended.


                                            /s/Ryder Scott Company
                                            Petroleum Engineers

                                            RYDER SCOTT COMPANY
                                            PETROLEUM ENGINEERS


