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                                  [Letterhead]
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.3
 
                                October 9, 1997
 
Basin Exploration, Inc.
370 Seventeenth Street, Suite 3400
Denver, Colorado 80202
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
    We hereby authorize the reference to the following reports prepared by Ryder
Scott Company in a Prospectus Supplement for the offering and sale of up to
2,700,000 shares of common stock (plus an additional 405,000 shares to cover
over-allotments, if any), as described in such Prospectus Supplement, 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.
 
    2.  Estimate of Reserves, Future Production and Income Attributable to
       Certain Leasehold and Royalty Interests as of October 1, 1997, dated
       October 6, 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
 
RMW/sw
