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EXHIBIT 5.1
Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP
1225 17th Street, Suite 2300
Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 292-2400
October 27, 2000
Greka Energy Corporation
630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1501
New York, New York 10111
Re: Form S-3 Registration Statement relating to shares of no par value
Common Stock for a Selling Security Holder
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Greka Energy Corporation (the
"Company") in connection with the preparation of the Form S-3 Registration
Statement to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission
relating to the shares of the Company's no par value common stock (the "Common
Stock") being offered for sale by a holder of the Company's securities. As such
counsel, we have examined and relied upon such records, documents, certificates
and other instruments and have made such other investigation as we deemed
appropriate as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to form the basis
for the opinions hereinafter set forth.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
shares of Common Stock being offered for resale in accordance with the terms set
forth in the Registration Statement have been legally issued and are fully paid
and nonassessable.
We express no opinion concerning the laws of any jurisdiction
other than the federal law of the United States of America and the State of
Colorado. We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption
"Legal Matters" in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus forming a part
thereof.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP
