Pioneer is Apparent High Bidder on 21 Gulf of Mexico Blocks.

Business Editors

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 23, 2001

Pioneer Natural Resources Company ("Pioneer") (NYSE:PXD) (TSE:PXD) today provided a summary of their results in OCS Lease Sale 180 covering tracts offered in the Western Gulf of Mexico by the Minerals Management

Pioneer participated in the submission of bids on a total of 25 blocks and was the apparent high bidder on 21 blocks. Pioneer's net investment on the apparent high bids would be approximately $6.5 million.

Nine of the apparent high bids are on blocks on the Gulf of Mexico shelf covering approximately 51,840 acres focused on the Company's targeted Deep Miocene gas play offshore Texas. Pioneer would have a 100% working interest and act as operator on these blocks.

The remaining apparent high bids were submitted on twelve Deepwater blocks covering approximately 69,120 gross acres concentrated near the Company's recently announced Falcon discovery. Pioneer has a 50% working interest and would act as operator on three blocks.

Pioneer is a large independent oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Canada, Argentina, South Africa, Gabon and Tunisia. Pioneer's headquarters are in Dallas. For more information, visit Pioneer's website at www.pioneernrc.com.

Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this Press Release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements and the business prospects of Pioneer Natural Resources Company are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause Pioneer's actual results in future periods to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, volatility of oil and gas prices, product supply and demand, competition, government regulation or action, litigation, the costs and results of drilling and operations, Pioneer's ability to replace reserves, implement its business plans or complete its development projects as scheduled, access to and cost of capital, uncertainties about estimates of reserves, quality of technical data, and environmental risks. These and other risks are described in Pioneer's 10-K and 10-Q Reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.