EXHIBIT 99.1

                                  NEWS RELEASE

                     Investor Relations Contact: Susan Spratlen   (972) 444-9001


                Pioneer Provides Update to Third Quarter Outlook

Dallas,  Texas,   September  26,  2001  --  Pioneer  Natural  Resources  Company
("Pioneer")(NYSE:PXD)  (TSE:PXD)  today  provided an update of its third quarter
2001 outlook based on current expectations and partial quarter actual results.

The following  statements  are estimates  based on current  expectations.  These
forward-looking  statements  are subject to a number of risks and  uncertainties
which may cause the  Company's  actual  results  to differ  materially  from the
following  statements.  The last paragraph of this release  addresses certain of
the risks and uncertainties to which the Company is subject.

Third  quarter  production  is expected to average  approximately  117  thousand
barrels per day on an oil equivalent  basis.  Third quarter natural gas sales in
Argentina  have been lower than  expected  as winter  demand for natural gas has
been reduced by above-average temperatures and availability of hydroelectricity.
The Company's  third quarter  realized  price for oil,  including the effects of
hedges,  is  expected  to average  approximately  $24.75 to $25.25  per  barrel.
Pioneer's  third quarter  realized  price for natural gas liquids is expected to
range from $14.50 to $15.00 per barrel.  The Company's  third  quarter  realized
price for natural gas,  including the effects of hedges,  is expected to average
approximately $2.50 to $2.70 per Mcf.

Third quarter lease  operating  expenses  (including  production  and ad valorem
taxes)  are  expected  to  average  approximately  $4.80 per BOE.  Depreciation,
depletion and amortization  expense is expected to range from $5.50 to $5.75 per
BOE, a result of declining quarter-to-quarter commodity prices.

Total  exploration and abandonment  expense is expected to range from $20 to $40
million  depending upon the results from three Gulf of Mexico  exploration wells
that are  currently  drilling.  The  Company  is  currently  drilling  its Malta
prospect on the Gulf of Mexico  shelf,  the Ozona Deep prospect in the deepwater
Gulf of Mexico and is participating in the appraisal of the Stirrup discovery on
the Gulf of Mexico shelf.

General and  administrative  expense is expected to be approximately $9 million.
Interest  expense is expected to be $33 million to $34  million.  The  Company's
third quarter  effective tax rate is expected to be  approximately 5% of pre-tax
income as the Company continues to benefit from the carryforward of prior years'
net operating losses in the U.S. and Canada.  Cost incurred is expected to range
from $125 million to $140 million.

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.