UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT




     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 10, 2003




                        PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANY
                       -----------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)



          DELAWARE                       1-13245               75-2702753
-------------------------------        ------------       ----------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of         Commission           (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)          File Number       Identification Number)



5205 N. O'CONNOR BLVD., SUITE 1400, IRVING, TEXAS                  75039
-------------------------------------------------               -----------
    (Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip code)



       Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code : (972) 444-9001



                                 Not applicable
              (Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
                          if changed since last report)







                        PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANY

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                      Page

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial
         Information and Exhibits:

         (c)  Exhibits............................................      3

Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure.................................      3

Signatures........................................................      4

Exhibit Index.....................................................      5



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                        PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANY


ITEM 7.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

       (c)  Exhibits

            99.1   News Release dated January 10, 2003


ITEM 9.     REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

       The information in this document includes 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 (the "Company") are subject to a
number of risks and  uncertainties  which may cause the Company'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, international operations and
associated   international   political  and  economic  instability,   government
regulation or action, foreign currency valuation changes, foreign government tax
and  regulation  changes,  litigation,  the costs and  results of  drilling  and
operations,  the Company'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,
environmental  and weather  risks.  These and other risks are  described  in the
Company's  2001 Annual  Report on Form 10-K and  Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q
that are available from the Company or the Securities and Exchange Commission.

       On January 10,  2003,  the Company issued a news release that is attached
hereto as exhibit 99.1.  The news release  updated the Company's  fourth quarter
2002 outlook based on current expectations and partial quarter actual results.


                                       3









                        PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANY

                               S I G N A T U R E S

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                              PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANY




Date:  January 10, 2003       By:     /s/ RICHARD P. DEALY
                                    ------------------------------------------
                                    Richard P. Dealy
                                    Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer


                                       4






                        PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANY

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.             Description

   99.1*                News Release dated January 10, 2003

-------------
* filed herewith


                                       5