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EXHIBIT 23.3
CONSENT OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
November 30, 2000
Board of Directors
Columbus Energy Corp.
1660 Lincoln Street, Suite 2400
Denver, CO 80264
Members of the Board:
We hereby consent to the use of our fairness opinion letter dated August 28,
2000 to the Board of Directors of Columbus Energy Corp. ("Columbus") included
as Annex B to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus which forms part of the
Registration Statement on Form S-4 of Key Production Company, Inc. ("Key")
relating to the proposed business combination involving Columbus and Key, and
to the disclosures relating to such fairness opinion in the section entitled
"Fairness Opinion of Columbus' Financial Advisor."
In giving such consent, we do not represent that we come within the category
of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, nor do we thereby represent
that we are experts with respect to any part of such Registration Statement
within the meaning of the term "experts" as used in the Securities Act or the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Arthur Andersen LLP
Houston, Texas