Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:

(1) Registration Statement (Form S-3 No 333-208552) and related Prospectus of WPX Energy, Inc. pertaining to the registration of 40,000,000 shares of its common stock

(2) Registration Statement (Form S-8 No 333-204355) pertaining to the WPX Energy, Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan, as amended effective May 21, 2015

(3) Registration Statement (Form S-3 No 333-198523) and related Prospectus of WPX Energy, Inc. pertaining to the registration of debt securities

(4) Registration Statement (Form S-3 No 333-197905) and related Prospectus of WPX Energy, Inc. pertaining to the registration of 481,157 shares of its common stock

(5) Registration Statement (Form S-8 No 333-188767) pertaining to the WPX Energy, Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan

(6) Registration Statement (Form S-8 No 333-178388) and the related post-effective amendment No. 1 pertaining to the WPX Energy, Inc. 2011 Incentive Plan and the WPX Energy, Inc. 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

of our reports dated February 25, 2016, except for the effects of discontinued operations as discussed in Note 3 and Note 16, as to which the date is May 25, 2016, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of WPX Energy, Inc. and our report dated February 25, 2016, with respect to the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of WPX Energy, Inc., included in this Current Report on Form 8-K.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Tulsa, Oklahoma

May 25, 2016