SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    Form 10-K

              ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                   For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996

                         Commission File Number: 1-10695

                       Parker & Parsley Petroleum Company
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             Delaware 74-2570602
      (State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S. Employer
       incorporation or organization)                     Identification No.)

  303 West Wall, Suite 101, Midland, Texas                       79701
  (Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip Code)

               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                 (915) 683-4768

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
                                                       Name of each exchange
   Title of each class                                  on which registered

   Common Stock....................................   New York Stock Exchange
   Rights to Acquire Shares of
     Common Stock..................................   New York Stock Exchange

        Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  Registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days. YES X NO

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein and will not be contained, to the best
of  Registrant's  knowledge,  in  definitive  proxy  or  information  statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [X]

Aggregate market value of the voting stock held by
  non-affiliates of the Registrant as of February 3, 1997.....  $1,174,357,828

Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of
  February 3, 1997............................................      35,085,247

                      Documents Incorporated by Reference:

(1)  Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 20, 1997
     - Referenced in Part III of this report.
                               Page 1 of 76 pages.
                           - Exhibit index on page 67-






     Parts I and II of this  Report  contain  forward  looking  statements  that
involve risks and  uncertainties.  Accordingly,  no assurances can be given that
the  actual  events  and  results  will  not be  materially  different  than the
anticipated  results described in the forward looking  statements.  See "Item 1.
Business - Competition,  Markets and  Regulation"  and "Item 1. Business - Risks
Associated  with Business  Activities" for a description of various factors that
could  materially  affect the ability of the Company to achieve the  anticipated
results described in the forward looking statements.

                                     PART I

     Unless  otherwise  specified,  all dollar  amounts are  expressed in United
States dollars.  Certain oil and gas terms used in this Report are defined under
"Item 1. Business - Definition of Certain Oil and Gas Terms".

ITEM 1.     BUSINESS

General

      Parker & Parsley  Petroleum  Company (the "Company") is one of the largest
public  independent  oil and gas  exploration  and  production  companies in the
United  States.  The  Company's  domestic  oil and gas  properties  are  located
principally in the Permian Basin of West Texas, the onshore Gulf Coast region of
South Texas and Louisiana and the  Mid-Continent  region.  The Company also owns
interests in oil and gas properties in Argentina.

      The Company's executive offices and operating  headquarters are located at
303 West Wall,  Suite 101,  Midland,  Texas 79701,  and its telephone  number at
those  offices is (915)  683-4768.  The Company  maintains  division  offices in
Midland and Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  Oklahoma City,  Oklahoma and Buenos Aires,
Argentina.  At December 31, 1996,  the Company had 659  employees,  241 of which
were employed in field and plant operations.

      The  Company  was formed in May 1990 as a Delaware  corporation  and began
operations on February 19, 1991. The Company's business activities are conducted
through  wholly-owned  subsidiaries.  Prior to 1991,  the Company  conducted its
business  activities  through two  partnerships  that were under common control.
Unless  otherwise noted,  references  herein to the activities and properties of
the Company are  references to the  collective  activities and properties of the
Company's subsidiaries and predecessors.

Mission and Strategies

      The  Company's  mission  is to  provide  its  shareholders  with  superior
long-term profitability and value. The strategies to be employed to achieve this
mission will include:  (a) developing and  increasing  production  from existing
properties  through  low-risk  development  drilling and other  activities,  (b)
concentrating  on defined  geographic  areas to achieve  operating and technical
efficiencies,  (c) pursuing  strategic  acquisitions in the Company's core areas
that will  complement  the Company's  existing  asset base and that will provide
additional growth  opportunities,  (d) utilizing or acquiring  technological and
operating  efficiencies  to selectively  expand into new  geographic  areas that
feature producing properties and provide exploration/exploitation opportunities,
(e) allocating the personnel and technology  necessary to increase the Company's
exploration  opportunities,   (f)  maintaining  financial  flexibility  to  take
advantage of additional exploration,  development and acquisition  opportunities
and (g)  encouraging  high levels of equity  ownership among senior managers and
the  Company's  Board of Directors to further  align the interests of management
and shareholders.  The Company is committed to continuing to enhance shareholder
value through adherence to these strategies.

Business Activities

Production

      Since it began  operations,  the Company  has  focused its efforts  toward
increasing  its average  daily  production  of oil and gas  through  development
drilling and production  enhancement  activities and  acquisitions  of producing
properties.  Average daily oil and gas production have each increased every year
since the  Company's  inception  with the  exception of 1996 when average  daily
production  declined  due to  significant  property  dispositions.  In  spite of
production  decreases  due to property  sales,  the  Company's  efforts  towards
production  growth have been largely  successful as illustrated by the five-year
average daily production growth rates. Comparing 1992 to 1996, average daily oil
production  has increased  138% and average daily gas  production  has increased
208%, while production  costs per BOE have declined 21%.  Production,  price and
cost information with respect to the Company's properties for

                                        2





each of 1996,  1995 and 1994 is set forth under "Item 2.  Properties  - Selected
Oil and Gas Information - Production, Price and Cost Data".

Drilling Activities

      The Company  seeks to increase its oil and gas  reserves,  production  and
cash  flow by  concentrating  on  drilling  low-risk  development  wells  and by
conducting  additional  development  activities such as recompletions.  From the
beginning  of 1992  through  the end of 1996,  the Company  drilled  2,006 gross
(1,327 net) wells, 96% of which were successfully completed as productive wells,
at a total cost (net to the Company's  interest) of $658  million.  During 1996,
the  Company  drilled  599 gross  wells for a total  cost (net to the  Company's
interest) of approximately  $212 million,  82% of which was spent on development
wells and related  facilities.  The Company's  current 1997 capital  expenditure
budget is $270 million which the Company has allocated as follows:  $170 million
to  exploitation  activities,  $67  million to  exploration  activities  and $33
million to oil and gas property  acquisitions.  This capital  expenditure budget
reflects the Company's plans to drill  approximately  500 development  wells and
100 exploratory wells and to perform recompletions on over 150 wells.

      The  Company  believes  that its  current  property  base,  which has been
significantly enhanced and expanded by the development of properties acquired in
prior  years,  provides a  substantial  inventory  of  prospects  for  continued
reserve,  production and cash flow growth. The Company currently has a portfolio
of over 800  domestic  drilling  locations to which  proved  reserves  have been
assigned. The Company's domestic reserves as of December 31, 1996 include proved
undeveloped and proved developed nonproducing reserves of 43 million Bbls of oil
and 239.6 Bcf of gas.  Development  of these  reserves is  anticipated  to occur
principally in 1997 and 1998. The Company believes that its current portfolio of
undeveloped   prospects   provides   attractive   development   and  exploration
opportunities for at least the next three to five years.

Exploratory Activities

      Prior to the  acquisition  of Bridge Oil Limited in July 1994, the Company
spent a small  percentage of its annual capital budget on exploratory  projects.
However,  the  acquisition  of Bridge Oil Limited  provided  the Company  with a
significant  inventory of exploratory  projects in the United States,  Australia
and  Argentina.  As a result,  since 1994,  the Company has spent an  increasing
percentage of its annual capital budget to exploratory  projects,  2.8% in 1994,
13.3%  in 1995 and  16.7%  in 1996.  The  Company  has  determined  that it will
continue to allocate resources to increasing its exploration  opportunities with
a focus on generating a portfolio of short to medium term impact  projects.  The
Company currently  anticipates that approximately 25% of its 1997 capital budget
will be spent on  exploratory  projects.  The  majority of the 1997  exploratory
budget is  allocated  to domestic  activities  within the onshore Gulf Coast and
Permian  Basin  areas.  The  Company's  international  exploration  efforts will
primarily be devoted to Central and South America. Exploratory drilling involves
greater  risks  of dry  holes  or  failure  to  find  commercial  quantities  of
hydrocarbons  than development  drilling or enhanced  recovery  activities.  See
"Item  1.  Business  - Risks  Associated  with  Business  Activities  - Risks of
Drilling Activities" below.

      The Company is  currently  involved in 47 3-D seismic  projects,  covering
approximately  900 square  miles.  These  projects are located in the  following
areas:  22 in the Gulf Coast  region,  13 in the Permian  Basin,  seven in other
domestic  locations  and five in  international  locations.  Over the past  four
years,  the Company  participated in the drilling of 75 wells as a result of 3-D
seismic  interpretation,  62 of which were successfully  completed as productive
wells.  Most of the  Company's 3-D seismic  projects are related to  exploration
activity.

Asset Divestitures

      General.  The Company  regularly reviews its property base for the purpose
of  identifying  nonstrategic  assets,  the  disposition  of which would  create
organizational  and operational  efficiencies.  While the Company generally does
not dispose of assets solely for the purpose of reducing debt, such dispositions
can  have  the  result  of  furthering  the  Company's  objective  of  financial
flexibility through decreased debt levels.

      Disposition  of  Australasian  Assets.  On March  28,  1996,  the  Company
completed the sale of certain  wholly-owned  Australian  subsidiaries  to Santos
Ltd.,  and on  June  20,  1996,  the  Company  completed  the  sale  of  another
wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Bridge Oil Timor Sea,  Inc.,  to  Phillips  Petroleum
International  Investment Company. The Company received aggregate  consideration
of $237.5 million for these combined sales which  consisted of $186.6 million of
proceeds for the equity of such  entities,  $21.8 million for  reimbursement  of
certain intercompany cash advances, and the assumption of such subsidiaries' net
liabilities,  exclusive  of oil  and  gas  properties,  of  $29.1  million.  The
proceeds,
                                        3





after  payment  of  certain  costs and  expenses,  were  utilized  to reduce the
Company's   outstanding  bank  indebtedness  and  for  general  working  capital
purposes.  The Company  recognized  an after-tax  gain of $67.3 million from the
disposition of these  subsidiaries.  For additional  information,  see Note Q of
Notes to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  included  in  "Item 8.  Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data".

      Domestic  Asset  Dispositions.  During  1996,  the Company  also  realized
proceeds of  approximately  $58.4 million from the  divestiture of  nonstrategic
domestic  assets  comprised of $55.2 million from the disposition of oil and gas
properties and $3.2 million from the  disposition  of gas processing  facilities
and other  nonstrategic  assets.  Similarly,  during 1995, the Company  realized
proceeds of  approximately  $175.1 million from the  divestiture of nonstrategic
assets  comprised  of  $152.4  million  from  the  disposition  of oil  and  gas
properties and $22.7 million from the  disposition of gas processing  facilities
and other  nonstrategic  assets.  The proceeds from the asset  dispositions were
used to reduce  the  Company's  outstanding  bank  indebtedness  and to  provide
funding for a portion of the Company's capital expenditures, including purchases
of oil and gas properties in the Company's core areas.  Although the Company has
no formal divestiture plan for 1997, it will continue to perform ongoing reviews
of its asset base in order to identify nonstrategic assets for disposition.

Acquisition Activities

      General. The Company regularly seeks to acquire properties that complement
its  operations  and provide  exploitation  and  development  opportunities  and
cost-reduction   potential.   In  addition,   the  Company   pursues   strategic
acquisitions  that will allow the Company to expand into new geographical  areas
that  feature   producing   properties   and  provide   exploration/exploitation
opportunities.  During 1994, the Company completed two major  acquisitions:  the
acquisition of Bridge Oil Limited for total cash consideration of $290.6 million
and the  acquisition of certain oil and gas  properties  from PG&E Resources for
$115.7  million.   These  acquisitions  added  significantly  to  the  Company's
development drilling  opportunities,  balanced the Company's reserve mix between
oil and natural gas,  increased the scale of its operations in the Permian Basin
and the onshore Gulf Coast areas and  provided  the Company  with a  significant
base of operations and experienced  personnel for its areas of geographic focus,
including  international  areas.  During 1995 and 1996, the Company  reduced its
previous emphasis on major  acquisitions and, instead,  concentrated its efforts
on  maximizing  the value from its  existing  properties.  However,  the Company
continued its program of smaller  acquisitions of properties that exhibit one or
more of the  following  characteristics:  properties  that are near or otherwise
complement  the  Company's  existing   properties,   properties  that  represent
additional working interests in  Company-operated  properties or properties that
provide the Company with strategic exploitation or exploration opportunities. In
1995 and 1996,  aggregate  expenditures to acquire such interests and properties
amounted to approximately $48.5 million and $21 million, respectively.

      Future  Acquisition  Opportunities.  The  Company  regularly  pursues  and
evaluates  acquisition   opportunities   (including   opportunities  to  acquire
particular oil and gas  properties or related assets or entities  owning oil and
gas  properties  or  related  assets  and  opportunities  to engage in  mergers,
consolidations  or other  business  combinations  with such entities) and at any
given time may be in  various  stages of  evaluating  such  opportunities.  Such
stages may take the form of  internal  financial  analysis,  oil and gas reserve
analysis,   due  diligence,   the  submission  of  an  indication  of  interest,
preliminary negotiations,  negotiation of a letter of intent or negotiation of a
definitive agreement.

Financial Management

      The Company strives to maintain its outstanding indebtedness at a moderate
level  in  order  to  provide  sufficient   financial   flexibility  for  future
exploration,  development and acquisition  opportunities.  While the Company may
occasionally  incur higher  levels of debt to take  advantage of  opportunities,
management's  objective  is to  maintain a  flexible  capital  structure  and to
strengthen the Company's financial position by reducing debt through an increase
in equity capital or through the divestiture of nonstrategic assets. In order to
achieve  this  objective,  the  Company  attempts  to  maintain  a debt to total
capitalization ratio of 40% to 45%.

      As with any organization,  the Company has experienced various debt levels
in recent years as it has  responded to strategic  opportunities.  In 1994,  the
Company's debt level  increased as a result of borrowing the funds  necessary to
complete the  acquisition  of Bridge Oil Limited and the  acquisition of oil and
gas  properties  from  PG&E  Resources  (see  "Acquisition  Activities"  above).
Beginning in 1995 and  continuing  through  1996,  the Company  took  deliberate
actions to reduce  its debt  levels or extend  its debt  maturities  in order to
improve its  financial  flexibility  and enable it to take  advantage  of future
strategic opportunities.

                                        4






      During 1996, the Company reduced its debt level significantly  through the
application  of  proceeds  from  dispositions  of assets  which the  Company had
identified as nonstrategic. In 1996, the Company received total cash proceeds of
$241.6 million related to the disposition of the Company's  Australasian  assets
and the  disposition of certain other domestic  nonstrategic  assets (see "Asset
Divestitures" above). Application of these proceeds to the Company's outstanding
bank indebtedness  reduced such indebtedness to $9 million at December 31, 1996,
and, correspondingly, reduced the Company's interest expense significantly, from
$65.4 million in 1995 to $46.2 million in 1996. As a result,  the Company's debt
as a percentage of total  capitalization was 31% at December 31, 1996, down from
49% at December 31, 1995.

       During  1995,  the  Company  utilized a portion of the $175.1  million of
proceeds from the disposition of  nonstrategic  assets to reduce its outstanding
bank indebtedness. In addition, during 1995, the Company refinanced a portion of
the outstanding  principle of its bank indebtedness with the proceeds,  totaling
approximately  $295.9  million,  of two public  issuances of senior  notes.  The
senior note  issuances had the result of extending  the average  maturity of the
Company's  outstanding  indebtedness.  See  Note  E  of  Notes  to  Consolidated
Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary
Data".

Marketing of Production

      General.  Production from the Company's  properties is marketed consistent
with industry practices,  which include the sale of oil at the wellhead to third
parties and the sale of gas to third parties.  Sales prices for both oil and gas
production are negotiated based on factors  normally  considered in the industry
such as the spot price for gas or the posted price for oil,  price  regulations,
distance  from the well to the  pipeline,  well  pressure,  estimated  reserves,
quality of gas and prevailing supply conditions.

      Gas Marketing.  Effective January 1, 1996, the Company,  along with Apache
Corporation and Oryx Energy Company,  formed  Producers  Energy  Marketing,  LLC
("ProEnergy"), a natural gas marketing company organized to create a direct link
between gas producers and purchasers.  The venture is structured to flow through
the  benefits  arising out of the expanded  services and the  economies of scale
from the aggregation of substantial  volumes of gas. For a period of five years,
the Company is  obligated to sell to ProEnergy  all gas  production  (subject to
certain exclusions  relative to immaterial  volumes) that is owned or controlled
by the Company, or any affiliate, in North America (onshore and offshore), which
is not subject to a binding and enforceable gas sales contract in effect on July
1,  1996.  The  Company   currently  owns  9.59%  of  ProEnergy   which  markets
approximately 1.8 MMBtu per day. As a result, as of January 1, 1996, the Company
no longer has any revenues or expenses associated with third party gas marketing
activities.

      Significant Purchasers.  The Company's two primary purchasers of crude oil
are Mobil Oil  Corporation  ("Mobil") and Genesis  Crude Oil, L.P.  ("Genesis"),
both of which  purchase oil  pursuant to contracts  that provide for prices that
are based on prevailing market prices. For a description of these contracts, see
Note J of  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  included  in "Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary  Data".  Approximately 22% and 28% of the
Company's  1996 oil and gas  revenues  were  attributable  to sales to Mobil and
Genesis,  respectively.  During  1996,  the Company  marketed  its natural  gas,
including  natural  gas  products,  to a variety  of  purchasers,  none of which
accounted for 10% or more of the Company's oil and gas revenues.  The Company is
of the  opinion  that the loss of any one  purchaser  would not have an  adverse
effect  on its  ability  to  sell  its oil and gas  production  or  natural  gas
products.

      Hedging  Activities.   The  Company  periodically  enters  into  commodity
derivative  contracts  (swaps,  futures and  options) in order to (i) reduce the
effect  of the  volatility  of price  changes  on the  commodities  the  Company
produces and sells,  (ii) support the  Company's  annual  capital  budgeting and
expenditure  plans and (iii) lock in prices to protect the economics  related to
certain capital projects.  During 1996, the Company's hedging activities reduced
the average  price  received for oil and gas sales 6% and 5%,  respectively,  as
discussed below.

      Natural Gas. The Company employs a policy of hedging gas production  based
on the index price upon which the gas is actually  sold in order to mitigate the
basis risk between NYMEX prices and actual index prices.  The average gas prices
per Mcf that the Company reports includes the effects of Btu content,  gathering
and transportation costs, gas processing and shrinkage and the net effect of the
gas hedges.  The Company  reported an average gas price of $2.27 per Mcf for the
year ended December 31, 1996. The Company's  average realized price for physical
gas sales  (excluding  hedge results) for the same period was $2.39 per Mcf. The
comparable  average NYMEX prompt month  closing for the year ended  December 31,
1996 was $2.50 per Mcf. At December 31, 1996, the Company had 28.9 Bcf of future
gas
                                        5





production  hedged at a weighted  average  NYMEX  price of $2.17 per Mcf for the
period from January 1997 through April 1999.

     Crude Oil. All material  purchase  contracts  governing  the  Company's oil
production  are tied directly or  indirectly  to NYMEX  prices.  The average oil
prices per Bbl that the Company  reports  includes  the effects of oil  quality,
gathering  and  transportation  costs and the net effect of the oil hedges.  The
Company  reported  an  average  oil price of $19.96  per Bbl for the year  ended
December 31, 1996. The Company's  average  realized price for physical oil sales
(excluding hedge results) for the same period was $21.33 per Bbl. The comparable
average  NYMEX  prompt  month  closing for the year ended  December 31, 1996 was
$22.03 per Bbl. At December  31,  1996,  the Company had 6.2 million  barrels of
future oil production hedged at a weighted average NYMEX price of $19.39 per Bbl
for the period from January 1997 through December 1998.

     See Note N of Notes to Consolidated  Financial Statements included in "Item
8. Financial  Statements and Supplementary  Data" for more detail concerning the
Company's swap contracts in effect at December 31, 1996.

Operations by Geographic Area

     The Company operates in one industry segment.  During 1996, the Company did
not have  significant  operations  in  geographic  areas  other  than the United
States.  For financial  information  with respect to the Company's 1994 and 1995
operations by geographic  area,  see Note T of Notes to  Consolidated  Financial
Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data".

Competition, Markets and Regulation

     Competition. The oil and gas industry is highly competitive. A large number
of companies and  individuals  engage in the  exploration for and development of
oil and gas  properties,  and there is a high degree of competition  for oil and
gas properties suitable for development or exploration.  Acquisitions of oil and
gas properties have been an important element of the Company's  growth,  and the
Company  intends to continue to acquire oil and gas  properties.  The  principal
competitive  factors in the  acquisition of oil and gas  properties  include the
staff and data necessary to identify,  investigate  and purchase such properties
and the financial  resources  necessary to acquire and develop them. Many of the
Company's  competitors are  substantially  larger and have greater financial and
other resources than the Company.

     Markets. The Company's ability to produce and market oil and gas profitably
depends on numerous  factors beyond the Company's  control.  The effect of these
factors  cannot  be  accurately  predicted  or  anticipated.  In  recent  years,
worldwide oil production  capacity and gas production  capacity in certain areas
of the United States have exceeded demand,  with resulting declines in the price
of oil and gas.  Although the Company  cannot  predict the  occurrence of events
that may  affect  oil and gas  prices or the  degree to which oil and gas prices
will be  affected,  it is  possible  that  prices for any oil or gas the Company
produces will be lower than those currently  available.  Any significant decline
in the  price of oil or gas  would  adversely  affect  the  Company's  revenues,
profitability and cash flow and could, under certain circumstances,  result in a
reduction in the carrying value of the Company's oil and gas properties.

     Governmental Regulation. Oil and gas exploration and production are subject
to  various  types of  regulation  by local,  state and  federal  agencies.  The
Company's   operations  are  also  subject  to  state   conservation   laws  and
regulations,  including provisions for the unitization or pooling of oil and gas
properties,  the establishment of maximum rates of production from wells and the
regulation of spacing,  plugging and abandonment of wells.  Each state generally
imposes a production or severance tax with respect to production and sale of oil
and gas within their respective jurisdictions.  The regulatory burden on the oil
and  gas  industry   increases  the  Company's   cost  of  doing  business  and,
consequently, affects its profitability.

     The Outer  Continental  Shelf  Lands Act (the  "OCSLA")  requires  that all
pipelines operating on or across the Outer Continental Shelf (the "OCS") provide
open-access,  nondiscriminatory  service. Although the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission  ("FERC") has chosen not to impose the  regulations of Order No. 509,
which implements the OCSLA, on gatherers and other  nonjurisdictional  entities,
FERC has retained the authority to exercise  jurisdiction over those entities if
necessary to permit nondiscriminatory access to service on the OCS. In addition,
gathering  lines are currently  exempt from FERC's  jurisdiction,  regardless of
whether they are on the OCS, but FERC could eliminate this exception. Commencing
May 1994, FERC issued a series of orders in individual  cases that delineate its
current  gathering  policy.  FERC's  gathering policy was retained and clarified
with regard to deep water offshore facilities

                                        6





in a statement of policy issued in February  1996.  FERC's new gathering  policy
does not address its jurisdiction over pipelines  operating on or across the OCS
pursuant to the OCSLA.  If FERC were to apply Order No. 509 to  gatherers on the
OCS,  eliminate the exemption of gathering  lines and redefine its  jurisdiction
over  gathering  lines,  these acts could  result in a  reduction  in  available
pipeline space for existing  shippers in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere,  such
as the Company.

     The United States Minerals  Management Service (the "MMS") is conducting an
inquiry into certain  contract  settlement  agreements  from which  producers on
federal oil and gas leases have received settlement proceeds that the MMS claims
are royalty-bearing and into the extent to which producers have paid appropriate
royalty on those proceeds.

     Additional  proposals  and  proceedings  that might  affect the oil and gas
industry are considered from time to time by Congress,  FERC,  state  regulatory
bodies and the courts.  The Company cannot predict when or if any such proposals
might become effective or their effect, if any, on the Company's operations.

     Environmental and Health Controls.  The Company's operations are subject to
numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental
and health protection. These laws and regulations may require the acquisition of
a  permit  before  drilling  commences,   restrict  the  type,   quantities  and
concentration of various substances that can be released into the environment in
connection with drilling and production  activities,  limit or prohibit drilling
activities  on  certain  lands  lying  within  wilderness,  wetlands  and  other
protected areas and impose substantial  liabilities for pollution resulting from
oil and gas  operations.  These laws and  regulations  may also  restrict air or
other discharges  resulting from the operation of natural gas processing plants,
pipeline  systems and other  facilities  that the  Company  owns.  Although  the
Company  believes that compliance with  environmental  laws and regulations will
not  have a  material  adverse  effect  on  operations  or  earnings,  risks  of
substantial  costs and liabilities  are inherent in oil and gas operations,  and
there can be no assurance  that  significant  costs and  liabilities,  including
potential criminal  penalties,  will not be incurred.  Moreover,  it is possible
that other developments,  such as stricter environmental laws and regulations or
claims  for  damages  to  property  or  persons  resulting  from  the  Company's
operations, could result in substantial costs and liabilities.

     The Comprehensive Environmental Response,  Compensation,  and Liability Act
("CERCLA"), also known as the "Superfund" law, imposes liability, without regard
to fault or the legality of the original conduct,  on certain classes of persons
with respect to the release of a  "hazardous  substance"  into the  environment.
These persons  include the owner or operator of the disposal site or sites where
the release occurred and companies that disposed or arranged for the disposal of
hazardous  substances  released at the site. Persons who are or were responsible
for  releases of hazardous  substances  under CERCLA may be subject to joint and
several  liability  for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous  substances  that
have been released into the  environment  and for damages to natural  resources,
and it is not uncommon for  neighboring  landowners  and other third  parties to
file claims for personal  injury and  property  damage  allegedly  caused by the
hazardous substances released into the environment.

     The Company generates wastes,  including hazardous wastes, that are subject
to the federal  Resource  Conservation  and Recovery Act ("RCRA") and comparable
state  statutes.  The U.S.  Environmental  Protection  Agency and various  state
agencies have limited the approved methods of disposal for certain hazardous and
nonhazardous wastes. Furthermore,  certain wastes generated by the Company's oil
and  natural  gas  operations  that  are  currently  exempt  from  treatment  as
"hazardous  wastes" may in the future be designated  as "hazardous  wastes," and
therefore  be  subject  to more  rigorous  and  costly  operating  and  disposal
requirements.

     The Company currently owns or leases,  and has in the past owned or leased,
properties that for many years have been used for the exploration and production
of oil and gas.  Although the Company has used operating and disposal  practices
that were standard in the industry at the time, hydrocarbons or other wastes may
have been disposed of or released on or under the properties  owned or leased by
the Company or on or under other locations where such wastes have been taken for
disposal.  In addition,  some of these  properties  have been  operated by third
parties whose  treatment and disposal or release of hydrocarbons or other wastes
was not under the Company's  control.  These  properties and the wastes disposed
thereon may be subject to CERCLA,  RCRA and  analogous  state  laws.  Under such
laws, the Company could be required to remove or remediate  previously  disposed
wastes or property  contamination or to perform remedial plugging  operations to
prevent future  contamination.  For instance,  until the past few years,  it has
been  customary  within the oil  industry  to  dispose of tank  bottoms in close
proximity to the crude oil storage tanks in which they are accumulated. However,
at least two separate  federal  courts have recently ruled that the sludges that
accumulate  at the bottom of crude oil  storage  tanks  (commonly  called  "tank
bottoms") may be classified as hazardous  substances  subject to regulation  and
liability under CERCLA. Consequently, wastes subject to

                                        7





classification as hazardous  substances may have been disposed of or released on
or under the Company's  properties or on or under other properties in connection
with the operation of the Company's properties.

     Federal  regulations require certain owners or operators of facilities that
store or otherwise  handle oil,  such as the Company,  to prepare and  implement
spill prevention  control plans,  countermeasure  plans,  and facility  response
plans  relating to the possible  discharge of oil into surface  waters.  The Oil
Pollution  Prevention  Act of 1990  ("OPA")  amends  certain  provisions  of the
federal Water Pollution  Control Act of 1972,  commonly referred to as the Clean
Water Act ("CWA") and other  statutes as they pertain to the  prevention  of and
response  to oil  spills  into  navigable  waters.  The OPA  subjects  owners of
facilities to strict joint and several liability for all containment and cleanup
costs and certain other damages arising from a spill, including, but not limited
to,  the costs of  responding  to a release of oil to  surface  waters.  The CWA
provides  penalties  for any  discharges  of  petroleum  products in  reportable
quantities and imposes substantial  liability for the costs of removing a spill.
State laws for the control of water  pollution  also provide  varying  civil and
criminal  penalties and  liabilities in the case of releases of petroleum or its
derivatives into surface waters or into the ground.

     OPA  requires  responsible  parties to establish  and maintain  evidence of
financial  responsibility  to cover removal costs and damages  resulting from an
oil spill. OPA calls for a financial responsibility increase from $35 million to
$150 million to cover pollution cleanup for offshore facilities. In August 1993,
MMS, which has been charged with  implementing  certain  segments of OPA, issued
its  advanced  notice of  proposed  rulemaking  that  would  increase  financial
responsibility  requirements for offshore lessees and permittees to $150 million
as required by OPA. Due to the OPA's broad  definition  of "offshore  facility,"
the Company could become subject to the financial  responsibility  rule if it is
proposed and adopted;  to date,  however,  the MMS has not formally proposed the
financial  responsibility  regulations.  On May  9,  1995,  the  U.S.  House  of
Representatives  passed a bill that  would  lower the  financial  responsibility
requirements  applicable  to offshore  facilities  to $35 million  (the  current
requirement  under the federal  Outer  Continental  Shelf  Lands Act).  The bill
allows the limit to be  increased  to $150  million if a formal risk  assessment
indicates the increase to be warranted. It would also define "offshore facility"
to include only coastal oil and gas  properties.  A U.S.  Senate bill that would
also lower the financial responsibility requirements for offshore facilities was
passed in late  1995.  The  Senate  bill  would  reduce  the scope of  "offshore
facilities" subject to this financial assurance  requirement to those facilities
seaward of the U.S.  coastline  that are engaged in drilling  for,  producing or
processing  oil or that have the  capacity to  transport,  store,  transfer,  or
handle more than 1,000 barrels of oil at a time. Currently, the House and Senate
bills are being reconciled in Conference Committee.  The Clinton  Administration
has  indicated  support for these  changes to the OPA  financial  responsibility
requirements.  The  Company  cannot  predict  the  final  form of the  financial
responsibility  requirements that will be ultimately  established,  but any role
that requires the Company to establish  evidence of financial  responsibility in
the amount of $150 million has the potential to have a material  adverse  effect
on Company  operations and earnings.  The Company does not believe that the rule
to be proposed by the MMS will be any more  burdensome  to it than it will be to
other similarly situated oil and gas companies.

     Many states in which the Company  operates have recently  begun to regulate
naturally  occurring  radioactive  materials  ("NORM")  and NORM wastes that are
generated in connection with oil and gas exploration and production  activities.
NORM wastes  typically  consist of very low-level  radioactive  substances  that
become concentrated in pipe scale and in production equipment. State regulations
may require the testing of pipes and  production  equipment  for the presence of
NORM, the licensing of NORM-contaminated facilities and the careful handling and
disposal of NORM wastes.  The Company  believes  that the growing  regulation of
NORM will have a minimal effect on the Company's  operations because the Company
generates only a very small quantity of NORM on an annual basis.

     The Company does not believe that its  environmental  risks are  materially
different  from  those  of  comparable  companies  in the oil and gas  industry.
Nevertheless, no assurance can be given that environmental laws will not, in the
future,  result in a  curtailment  of  production  or  processing  or a material
increase in the costs of production,  development,  exploration or processing or
otherwise adversely affect the Company's operations and financial condition.

     The Company  employs an  environmental  specialist  charged with monitoring
regulatory compliance.  Historically, the Company has performed an environmental
review as part of the due diligence  work on potential  acquisitions,  including
acquisitions of oil and gas properties. The Company is not aware of any material
environmental   legal   proceedings   pending  against  it  or  any  significant
environmental liabilities to which it may be subject.

                                        8





Risks Associated with Business Activities

     The nature of the  business  activities  conducted  subjects the Company to
certain  hazards and risks.  The  following is a summary of some of the material
risks relating to the Company's business activities.

     Oil and Gas  Prices and  General  Market  Risks.  The  Company's  revenues,
profitability,  cash flow and future rate of growth are highly  dependent on the
prevailing  prices of oil and gas, which are affected by numerous factors beyond
the Company's control.  Oil and gas prices historically have been very volatile.
A  substantial  or  extended  decline  in the  prices of oil or gas could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's  revenues,  profitability and cash flow
and could,  under certain  circumstances,  result in a reduction in the carrying
value of the Company's oil and gas  properties  and a reduction in the Company's
borrowing base under its bank credit facility.

     Risks of Drilling  Activities.  As noted under "Item 1. Business - Business
Activities,"  of the total 1997  capital  budget of $270  million,  the  Company
anticipates spending  approximately $170 million on exploitation  activities and
$67 million on exploration activities.  This capital expenditure budget reflects
the  Company's  plans to  drill  approximately  500  development  wells  and 100
exploratory  wells and to  perform  recompletions  on over 150  wells.  Drilling
involves  numerous  risks,  including the risk that no  commercially  productive
natural  gas or oil  reservoirs  will be  encountered.  The  cost  of  drilling,
completing and operating wells is often uncertain and drilling operations may be
curtailed,  delayed or canceled  as a result of a variety of factors,  including
unexpected  drilling  conditions,  pressure  or  irregularities  in  formations,
equipment  failures or accidents,  adverse  weather  conditions and shortages or
delays in the delivery of equipment.  The Company's  future drilling  activities
may not be successful and, if  unsuccessful,  such failure could have an adverse
effect on the Company's  future results of operations  and financial  condition.
While all drilling, whether developmental or exploratory,  involves these risks,
exploratory  drilling  involves  greater  risks of dry holes or  failure to find
commercial  quantities  of  hydrocarbons.  Because  of  the  percentage  of  the
Company's capital budget devoted to exploratory  projects, it is likely that the
Company will continue to experience exploration and abandonment expense.

     Acquisitions.  Acquisitions of producing oil and gas properties have been a
key element of the Company's  growth.  In  implementing  its strategic plan, the
Company reduced its emphasis on acquisition  activities during 1995 and 1996 and
focused on the  development of its property base which was built largely through
acquisitions.  The  Company's  growth  following  the full  development  of that
property base could be impeded if it is unable to acquire additional oil and gas
properties on a profitable  basis. The success of any acquisition will depend on
a  number  of  factors,   including  the  ability  to  estimate  accurately  the
recoverable  volumes  of  reserves,  rates of future  production  and future net
revenues   attributable  to  reserves  and  to  assess  possible   environmental
liabilities.  All of these factors affect whether an acquisition will ultimately
generate cash flows sufficient to provide a suitable return on investment.  Even
though the Company  performs a review of the properties it seeks to acquire that
it  believes is  consistent  with  industry  practices,  such  reviews are often
limited in scope.

     Divestitures.  The  Company  regularly  reviews its  property  base for the
purpose of  identifying  nonstrategic  assets,  the  disposition  of which would
create  organizational  and  operational  efficiencies.  Various  factors  could
materially affect the ability of the Company to dispose of nonstrategic  assets,
including the  availability of purchasers  willing to purchase the  nonstrategic
assets at prices acceptable to the Company.

     Risks  Associated  with  Operation of Natural Gas  Processing  Plants.  The
Company owns interests in three natural gas  processing  plants and operates one
of those plants,  although the net revenues  derived from natural gas processing
during  1996  represented  only 4% of the  total net  revenues  from oil and gas
activities. There are significant risks associated with the operation of natural
gas  processing  plants.  Natural gas and natural gas liquids are  volatile  and
explosive and may include  carcinogens.  Damage to or  misoperation of a natural
gas  processing  plant could result in an  explosion  or the  discharge of toxic
gases,   which  could  result  in  significant  damage  claims  in  addition  to
interrupting a revenue source.

     Operating Hazards and Uninsured Risks. The Company's operations are subject
to all the risks normally incident to the oil and gas exploration and production
business,  including  blowouts,  cratering,  explosions  and pollution and other
environmental  damage,  any of which could result in  substantial  losses to the
Company  due to  injury  or loss of life,  damage  to or  destruction  of wells,
production facilities or other property,  clean-up responsibilities,  regulatory
investigations and penalties and suspension of operations.  Although the Company
currently maintains insurance coverage that it considers  reasonable and that is
similar to that maintained by comparable  companies in the oil and gas industry,
it is not fully  insured  against  certain of these risks,  either  because such
insurance is not available or because of high premium costs.

                                        9





     Environmental   Risks.  The  oil  and  gas  business  is  also  subject  to
environmental hazards, such as oil spills, gas leaks and ruptures and discharges
of toxic  substances  or gases that  could  expose  the  Company to  substantial
liability due to pollution and other environmental  damage. A variety of federal
and state laws and regulations  govern the environmental  aspects of the oil and
gas  business.  Noncompliance  with these laws and  regulations  may subject the
Company to penalties,  damages or other liabilities, and compliance may increase
the cost of the Company's operations.  Such laws and regulations may also affect
the costs of  acquisitions.  See "Item 1.  Business -  Competition,  Markets and
Regulation - Environmental and Health Controls".

     The Company does not believe that its  environmental  risks are  materially
different  from  those  of  comparable  companies  in the oil and gas  industry.
Nevertheless, no assurance can be given that environmental laws will not, in the
future,  result in a  curtailment  of  production  or  processing  or a material
increase in the costs of production,  development,  exploration or processing or
otherwise  adversely  affect the Company's  operations and financial  condition.
Pollution and similar environmental risks generally are not fully insurable.

     Competition.  The oil and gas industry is highly competitive.   The Company
competes with other  companies,  producers and operators for acquisitions and in
the exploration,  development,  production and marketing of oil and gas. Some of
these competitors have substantially  greater financial and other resources than
the Company. See "Item 1. Business - Competition, Markets and Regulation".

     Government Regulation.  The Company's business is regulated by a variety of
federal,  state and local laws and  regulations.  There can be no assurance that
present or future  regulations will not adversely affect the Company's  business
and operations. See "Item 1. Business - Competition, Markets and Regulation".

     Risks of  International  Operations.  At December 31, 1996, less than 1% of
the  Company's  proved  reserves of oil and gas were located  outside the United
States.  The  success  and  profitability  of  international  operations  may be
adversely affected by risks associated with international activities,  including
economic and labor conditions,  political instability,  tax laws (including U.S.
taxes on foreign  subsidiaries)  and  changes in the value of the United  States
dollar  versus the local  currency in which oil and gas are sold.  To the extent
that the Company is involved in  international  activities,  changes in exchange
rates may adversely affect the Company's  consolidated revenues and expenses (as
expressed in United States dollars).

     Estimates of Reserves and Future Net Revenues. Numerous uncertainties exist
in estimating  quantities of proved reserves and future net revenues  therefrom.
The  estimates of proved  reserves and related  future net revenues set forth in
this Report are based on various  assumptions,  which may ultimately prove to be
inaccurate.  Therefore,  such estimates  should not be construed as estimates of
the current market value of the Company's proved reserves.

Definition of Certain Oil and Gas Terms

     When used in this Report,  the following terms have the meanings  indicated
below.

     "Bbl"  means a standard barrel of 42  U.S. gallons and represents the basic
unit for measuring the production of crude oil and condensate.

     "Bcf" means one billion cubic feet.

     "BOE" means a  barrel-of-oil-equivalent  and is a customary convention used
in the United States to express oil and gas volumes on a comparable basis. It is
determined on the basis of the estimated  relative energy content of natural gas
to oil, being approximately 6 Mcf of natural gas per Bbl of oil.

     "gross"  acre or well means an acre or well in which a working  interest is
owned.

     "MBbl" means one thousand Bbls.

     "MBOE" means one thousand BOEs.

     "Mcf" means one thousand cubic feet under prescribed conditions of pressure
and  temperature  and  represents the basic unit for measuring the production of
natural gas.

     "MMcf" means one million cubic feet.

                                       10





     "net" acres or wells is determined by multiplying the gross acres or wells,
as the case may be, by the applicable  working  interest in those gross acres or
well.

     "NGLs" means natural gas liquids.

     "proved reserves" means those estimated quantities of crude oil and natural
gas that geological and engineering data  demonstrate with reasonable  certainty
to be  recoverable  in future  years  from  known oil and gas  reservoirs  under
existing economic and operating conditions. Proved reserves are limited to those
quantities of oil and gas that can be expected to be recoverable commercially at
current prices and costs, under existing regulatory  practices and with existing
conventional equipment and operating methods.

     "SEC 10 value" means the present  value of estimated  future net  revenues,
before income taxes, of proved reserves,  determined in all material respects in
accordance  with the  rules  and  regulations  of the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission (generally using prices and costs in effect at the specified date and
a 10%  discount  rate).  The  prices  in  effect at  December  31,  1996 used in
calculating SEC 10 value as of such date for purposes of this Report were $24.55
per Bbl (reflecting adjustments for oil quality and gathering and transportation
costs) for domestic oil reserves and $3.97 per Mcf  (reflecting  adjustments for
BTU  content,   gathering  and  transportation  costs  and  gas  processing  and
shrinkage) for domestic gas reserves.

ITEM 2.     PROPERTIES

     The information  included in this Report about the Company's proved oil and
gas reserves at December 31, 1996,  including  estimated  quantities  and SEC 10
value, is based on reserve  reports audited by Netherland,  Sewell & Associates,
Inc. for the Company's major domestic properties (representing approximately 52%
of the total SEC 10 value of the Company's  domestic proved reserves at December
31, 1996) and reserve reports prepared by the Company's  engineers for all other
domestic properties and the Company's Argentine properties.  The estimate of the
reserves related to the Company's interests in natural gas processing rights for
proved reserves contractually or economically dedicated to the Company's natural
gas  processing  plants  is  based  on  evaluations  prepared  by the  Company's
engineers.

     Numerous  uncertainties  exist in estimating  quantities of proved reserves
and  in  projecting  future  rates  of  production  and  timing  of  development
expenditures,  including many factors beyond the Company's control.  This Report
contains  estimates of the Company's proved oil and gas reserves and the related
future net revenues therefrom, which are based on various assumptions, including
those  prescribed  by the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  Actual  future
production, oil and gas prices, revenues, taxes, capital expenditures, operating
expenses,  geologic  success and quantities of recoverable  oil and gas reserves
may vary  substantially from those assumed in the estimates and could materially
affect the estimated  quantities and related SEC 10 value of proved reserves set
forth in this Report.  In  addition,  the  Company's  reserves may be subject to
downward or upward revisions based on production performance, purchases or sales
of properties, results of future development,  prevailing oil and gas prices and
other  factors.  Therefore,  estimates  of the SEC 10 value of  proved  reserves
contained  in this Report  should not be  construed  as estimates of the current
market value of the Company's proved reserves.

     SEC 10 value is a reporting  convention  that  provides a common  basis for
comparing  oil and gas  companies  subject to the rules and  regulations  of the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  It requires the use of oil and gas prices
prevailing as of the date of computation.  Consequently,  it may not reflect the
prices  ordinarily  received or that will be received for oil and gas because of
seasonal price fluctuations or other varying market conditions. SEC 10 values as
of any date are not  necessarily  indicative  of future  results of  operations.
Accordingly,  estimates of future net revenues in this Report may be  materially
different from the net revenues that are ultimately received.

     The Company did not provide  estimates of total proved oil and gas reserves
during 1996 to any federal  authority or agency,  other than the  Securities and
Exchange Commission.

Proved Reserves

     The  Company's  proved  reserves  totaled 302.2 million BOE at December 31,
1996,  296.8  million BOE at December 31, 1995 and 282.5 million BOE at December
31,  1994,   representing   $2.3   billion,   $1.4  billion  and  $1.1  billion,
respectively,  in SEC 10 value.  The Company  achieved these annual increases in
reserves  despite  having  sold  reserves  of 45.8  million BOE in 1996 and 34.8
million  BOE in 1995.  Excluding  these sold  reserves,  total  proved  reserves
increased 21% in 1996 and 28% in 1995.  Oil reserves at year-end 1996 were 163.9
million Bbls compared

                                       11





to 147.3  million Bbls at year-end  1995 and 144.5 million Bbls at year-end 1994
(an 11% increase from 1995 to 1996 and a 2% increase from 1994 to 1995). Natural
gas reserves at year-end 1996 were 829.4 Bcf,  compared to 896.9 Bcf at year-end
1995 and 827.5 Bcf at year-end  1994 (an 8% decrease from 1995 to 1996 and an 8%
increase from 1994 to 1995).

     On a BOE basis,  78% of the Company's total proved reserves at December 31,
1996 are proved developed reserves. The Company operates 86% of its total proved
reserves  based  on the  December  31,  1996  SEC 10  value.  Based  on  reserve
information  as of December  31,  1996 and using the  Company's  reserve  report
production information for 1997, the reserve-to-production ratio associated with
the Company's  proved reserves is 12.1 years on a BOE basis. The following table
provides information  regarding the Company's proved reserves by geographic area
as of and for the year ended December 31, 1996.



                           PROVED OIL AND GAS RESERVES

                                                                          1996 Average
                      Proved Reserves as of December 31, 1996         Daily Production (a)
                     ------------------------------------------    ---------------------------
                                Natural               SEC 10                 Natural
                       Oil        Gas                  Value         Oil       Gas
                     (MBbls)    (MMcf)     MBOE        (000)       (Bbls)     (Mcf)     BOE
                     -------    -------   -------    ----------    ------    -------  --------
                                                                 
United States:
 Spraberry.........  112,301    284,576    159,730   $1,119,950    17,638     42,182    24,668
 Permian...........   41,391    119,710     61,343      515,461     8,606     35,481    14,520
 Gulf Coast........    4,345    252,335     46,401      445,337     2,166     92,309    17,551
 Mid-Continent.....    2,769    167,120     30,622      238,400     1,294     31,813     6,596
 Other.............    2,030      4,527      2,785       18,180         1        194        33
                     -------    -------    -------    ---------    ------    -------    ------
                     162,836    828,268    300,881    2,337,328    29,705    201,979    63,368
Australia (b)......      -          -          -            -         955      5,265     1,833
Argentina..........    1,105      1,108      1,290        8,041       145        -         145
                     -------    -------    -------    ---------    ------    -------    ------
  Total............  163,941    829,376    302,171   $2,345,369    30,805    207,244    65,346
                     =======    =======    =======    =========    ======    =======    ======
<FN>
- ---------------

(a)  The 1996 average daily  production  is calculated  using a 366-day year and
     without making pro forma adjustments for any acquisitions,  divestitures or
     drilling activity that occurred during the year.

(b)  Represents production associated with the Company's Australian subsidiaries
     prior to their divestiture  in  1996.   See Note Q of Notes to Consolidated
     Financial  Statements  included  in  "Item  8.   Financial  Statements  and
     Supplementary Data".

</FN>


     In  addition,  proved NGLs of 12.6 million  Bbls were  attributable  to the
Company's  interests  in gas  processing  rights in  reserves  contractually  or
economically  dedicated  to the  Company's  natural  gas  processing  plants  at
December 31, 1996. The present value of estimated future net revenues from those
dedicated  proved  reserves  was $44.3  million at  December  31,  1996 (using a
constant  weighted average price of $11.46 per Bbl and a 10% discount rate). For
the year ended December 31, 1996,  average daily  production  from the Company's
interests in natural gas processing plants was 2,327 NGLs per day.

  Reserve Replacement

     For the eighth consecutive year, the Company was able to replace its annual
production  volumes with proved reserves of crude oil and natural gas, stated on
an energy  equivalent  basis.  During  1996,  the  Company  added 75 million BOE
resulting in reserve replacement of 314% of total production.  Of the 75 million
BOE reserve  additions,  71.1  million BOE were added  through  exploration  and
development drilling activities, 2.2 million BOE were added through acquisitions
of proved  properties  and 1.7  million  BOE were the net  result of  revisions.
Reserves added by development  drilling are primarily from the identification of
additional  infill  drilling  locations  and new  secondary  recovery  projects.
Reserve  revisions  result from several  factors  including  changes in existing
estimates of  quantities  available for  production  and changes in estimates of
quantities which are economical to produce under current pricing conditions. The
Company's  reserves as of  December  31,  1996 were  estimated  using a price of
$24.55  per Bbl and $3.97  per Mcf.  Should  prices  decline  in  future  years,
reserves may be revised  downward for quantities  which may be  uneconomical  to
produce at lower prices.

     The Company's 1996 reserve  replacement  rate on a barrel of oil equivalent
basis was 314%, which included reserve replacement rates for oil and natural gas
of 398% and 239%, respectively. Previous reserve replacement performance

                                       12





rates  were 281% in 1995  (263% for oil and 297% for gas) and 537% in 1994 (549%
for oil and 526% for gas).  For the three year period  ended  December 31, 1996,
the three year average reserve replacement rate was 377%, as compared to a three
year average  replacement  rate of 412% in 1995 and 496% in 1994.  Through 1994,
the  Company's  reserve  replacement  rate  was  primarily  the  product  of its
acquisition activities.  Beginning in 1995, and to a greater extent in 1996, the
reserve   replacement  rates  have  been  influenced  more  by  exploration  and
development activities and less by acquisition activities.  The Company seeks to
achieve an annual reserve replacement rate of at least 150% through the emphasis
on its exploration and development activities.

  Finding Cost

     The  Company's  acquisition  and finding cost for 1996 was $3.10 per BOE as
compared to the 1995 and 1994  acquisition  and finding costs of $2.87 and $5.11
per  BOE,  respectively.  The  average  acquisition  and  finding  cost  for the
three-year  period  from  1994 to 1996 was  $3.99  per BOE  representing  an 18%
decrease from the 1995 three-year average rate of $4.84.

  Oil and Gas Mix

     The Company seeks to maintain a strategic  balance  between oil and natural
gas reserves and production.  While the Company's reserve and production mix may
vary  somewhat on a short-term  basis as the Company  takes  advantage of market
conditions and specific  acquisition and development  opportunities,  management
believes that a relative mix of approximately  50% oil and 50% natural gas is in
the best long-term interests of the Company and its stockholders.  The Company's
reserve mix was 54% oil and 46% gas at December 31, 1996, and its production mix
was 47% oil and 53% gas during 1996.

Description of Properties

     The Company  manages its domestic oil and gas  properties  based upon their
geographic  area,  and,  as a result,  the  Company  has  divided  its  domestic
operations into four operating  divisions:  the Spraberry Division,  the Permian
Division,  the Gulf Coast Division,  and the MidContinent Division. In addition,
the Company has an international  division that manages the Company's  ownership
in oil and gas properties  outside the United States.  At December 31, 1996, the
Company's only properties outside the U.S. are located in Argentina.

     Spraberry  Division.  The  Spraberry  field  was  discovered  in  1949  and
encompasses  eight counties in West Texas. The field is approximately  150 miles
long and 75 miles  wide at its  widest  point.  The oil  produced  is West Texas
Intermediate  Sweet,  and the gas produced is casinghead gas with an average Btu
content of 1,400 Btu per Mcf. The oil and gas is produced from three formations,
the upper and lower Spraberry and the Dean, at depths ranging from 6,700 feet to
9,200 feet.  The center of the  Spraberry  field was unitized in the late 1950's
and  early  1960's  by the  major  oil  companies  but  until  the  late  1980's
experienced  very  limited  development  activity.  Since 1989,  the Company has
focused acquisition and development  drilling activities in the unitized portion
of the Spraberry  field due to the dormant  condition of the  properties and the
high net  revenue  interests  available.  The Company  believes  the area offers
excellent  opportunities to enhance oil and gas reserves because of the hundreds
of undeveloped  infill  drilling  locations and the ability to reduce  operating
expenses  through  economies  of scale.  In February  1997,  the Texas  Railroad
Commission (which regulates oil and gas production) entered a favorable order on
the  Company's  application  to allow  administrative  approval  of  uncontested
applications to increase the density of drilling in the Spraberry field from one
well per 80 acres to one well in 40. The Company  believes such reduced  spacing
may  provide in excess of 1,000  additional  drilling  locations  which have the
potential to add 70 million equivalent barrels to the Company's reserve base.

     The Company continues to realize the benefits of its focus on the Spraberry
field through  significant  reserve  additions due to  development  drilling and
identification  of a large  number of new  drilling  locations  each year.  As a
result,  the  Company  plans to  continue  to devote a great deal of its capital
budget and  operating  resources  to the ongoing  development  of the  Spraberry
field. Specifically,  the Company has allocated $88 million, or 37%, of its 1997
exploration and development budget to drill  approximately 225 development wells
and to perform approximately 50 recompletions in the Spraberry field.

     Permian Division.  Since the early 1960's, the Company has been involved in
acquisition  and development  activities in the Permian  Division which includes
all of West Texas and  Southeastern  New Mexico except for the Spraberry  field.
The Iatan field in Mitchell  County,  Texas,  the Lusk and Dagger Draw fields in
Eddy County,  New Mexico, the Abell (Devonian) field in Crane and Pecos Counties
of Texas and the Ozona field in Crockett and Sutton

                                       13





Counties of Texas are core areas for the Company's  Permian Division  operations
in  terms  of  existing   production,   production  and  reserve   growth,   and
identification  of  additional  drilling  locations.  During  1996,  the Permian
Division  expanded  its growth  strategy  to  include  significant  emphasis  on
exploration  activities  in order  to  produce  a more  balanced  portfolio.  In
November 1996, the Company announced a significant oil discovery in the War-Wink
West Field in the Delaware Basin of West Texas.  This Company operated well, the
University  18-34 #1, tested at rates of up to 720 barrels of oil per day and is
currently  producing at its expected allowable rate of approximately 270 barrels
of oil per day and 374  thousand  cubic  feet of gas per day.  The  Company  and
Enserch  Exploration,  Inc.  ("Enserch") each own a 50% working interest in this
well, which is the first in their joint exploration and development of the 4,500
acre  War-Wink  prospect.  In  addition,  during 1996,  the Company  experienced
successful results from its exploratory  efforts in the Permian reef play of the
Southeastern Shelf of the Midland Basin.

     The Company  will  continue  to focus on the  development  of the  existing
properties utilizing waterflood  procedures and secondary recovery  technologies
as these efforts have  consistently  resulted in increased  production,  reserve
additions due to development drilling, and new drilling locations.  In addition,
all of the fields in this  operational  group have been screened for feasibility
for carbon  dioxide  (CO2) flood  implementation,  and the Company plans to move
forward in utilizing this technology in 1997.  During 1997, the Company plans to
continue its development of the War- Wink prospect by drilling two  confirmation
wells and an  additional  two to four  development  wells.  Parker & Parsley and
Enserch also control approximately 30,000 additional acres in the Delaware Basin
play in Southeastern  New Mexico and West Texas where they intend to drill eight
exploratory  wells in 1997.  Also  during  1997,  the  Company  plans to perform
additional 3-D seismic data interpretation in order to exploit the Midland Basin
successes.

      In total,  the Company  anticipates  spending  $45 million in 1997 in this
area  to  drill  approximately  220  wells  and  to  perform   recompletions  on
approximately  90 targeted wells.  Eighty percent of these planned  expenditures
are devoted to development activities.

     Gulf Coast Division.  The Gulf Coast Division  includes onshore oil and gas
properties located in South and East Texas, Louisiana,  Mississippi and Alabama.
The primary  producing  formations in this region  include the Wilcox,  Frio and
Yegua  formations  in Texas and the  Cretaceous  formation in  Mississippi.  The
addition of the domestic properties acquired as a part of the Bridge Oil Limited
acquisition (primarily in South Texas and Louisiana),  positioned the Company to
be better able to pursue and realize future economic growth in this area.

     The strategy for the Gulf Coast  Division has been to emphasize  the growth
of natural gas reserves. To accomplish this, the Company has devoted most of its
domestic  exploration  efforts to this region as well as its  investment  in and
utilization of 3-D seismic technology.  In addition, the Company is successfully
employing  newer  drilling   techniques  such  as  drilling   horizontal  wells.
Utilization of 3-D seismic technology during 1996 yielded substantial results in
the Company's Lopeno field which produces from the Wilcox  formation.  Gross gas
production  increased  from 14 MMcf  per day to 38 MMcf  per day in 1996 in this
area  as a  result  of  drilling  six  development  wells,  most of  which  were
identified  through the 3-D  project,  and the Company  has  identified  several
additional  drilling locations after interpreting 3-D seismic data. In addition,
the Company  experienced  successful  results in its Central  Texas Pawnee field
which produces from the Edwards formation after drilling a successful horizontal
well in late 1996.  This well, the S.E. Turner Gas Unit #2, in which the Company
owns a 100% working  interest,  is  currently  flowing at a rate of 3.1 MMcf per
day. The Company plans to drill two additional  horizontal wells and to initiate
a 3-D project in this field during 1997 in order to exploit the 1996 successes.

     Overall,  the  Company  plans  to  continue  its  emphasis  on  exploration
activities  in the Gulf Coast  Division with a total budget of $45 million being
devoted to drilling approximately 25 exploratory wells and 40 development wells.

     MidContinent  Division.  The  Mid-Continent  Division  includes  properties
located in the Texas  Panhandle  and  Oklahoma.  In past years,  the Company has
aggressively  engaged  in  both  acquisitions  and  divestitures  of oil and gas
properties in order to position this  portfolio of  properties  for  significant
growth through development and exploratory drilling opportunities.  During 1997,
the  Company  plans to  spend  approximately  $23  million  in the  MidContinent
Division on exploitation  and  exploration  activities.  This activity  includes
drilling  approximately  45 development  wells and performing  recompletions  on
approximately 20 targeted wells.

     International.  The Company owns  interests in  Argentina  consisting  of a
14.42% interest in the Confluencia  block and a 15% interest in the China Muerta
block, both in the Neuquen Basin of Central Argentina.  During 1996, the Company
participated  in  several  discoveries  in  the  Confluencia  Sur  field  in the
Confluencia   block.  In  early  1996,  the  Company  announced  the  successful
completion of two exploratory  wells (the Naco x-1 and the Sierra de Reyes x-1),
and, in January 1997, the Company  announced the successful  completion of three
development wells, also in the

                                       14





Confluencia Sur field. The three wells, the Sierra de Reyes 2, 3 and 4, operated
by Petrolera Argentina San Jorge S.A.,  collectively tested 3,727 barrels of oil
per  day,  and  current  gross  production  for  the  field  is  at a  facility-
constrained  rate of 2,520 Bbls of oil per day. The Company  expects to drill an
additional two to three  development  wells in the  Confluencia Sur field during
the first six months of 1997 in order to increase  daily oil production to 6,000
barrels (865 barrels net to the Company's interest).

Selected Oil and Gas Information

     The following  tables set forth  selected oil and gas  information  for the
Company as of and for each of the years ended December 31, 1996,  1995 and 1994.
Because  of  normal  production   declines,   increased  or  decreased  drilling
activities  and  the  effects  of  future  acquisitions  or  divestitures,   the
historical  information  presented below should not be interpreted as indicative
of future results.

     Production, Price and Cost Data. The following table sets forth production,
price and cost data with respect to the Company's properties for the years ended
December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994.



                                        PRODUCTION, PRICE AND COST DATA (a)


                                                     Year ended December 31,
                     --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 1996                         1995                          1994
                     --------------------------    -------------------------     --------------------------
                              Australia(b)
                     United       and              United                        United
                     States    Argentina  Total    States   Australia  Total     States   Australia   Total
                     ------    ---------  -----    ------   ---------  -----     ------   ---------   -----
                                                                           
Production information:
 Annual production:
  Oil (MBbls).....   10,872       403    11,275    11,328     1,574    12,902    11,267       880    12,147
  Gas (MMcf)......   73,924     1,927    75,851    76,669     8,626    85,295    75,040     4,634    79,674
  Total (MBOE)....   23,193       723    23,916    24,106     3,012    27,118    23,774     1,652    25,426
 Average daily
   production:
    Oil (Bbls)....   29,705     1,100    30,805    31,036     4,312    35,348    30,868     2,411    33,279
    Gas (Mcf).....  201,979     5,265   207,244   210,052    23,633   233,685   205,589    12,696   218,285
    Total (BOE)...   63,368     1,978    65,346    66,045     8,251    74,296    65,133     4,527    69,660
Average prices:
 Oil (per Bbl)....  $ 19.96   $ 19.81   $ 19.96   $ 16.70   $ 18.78   $ 16.96   $ 15.26   $ 17.12   $ 15.40
 Gas (per Mcf)....  $  2.27   $  1.95   $  2.27   $  1.84   $  1.88   $  1.84   $  1.89   $  1.89   $  1.89
 Revenue (per BOE)  $ 16.61   $ 16.21   $ 16.60   $ 13.69   $ 15.21   $ 13.85   $ 13.20   $ 14.43   $ 13.28
Average costs:
 Production costs
  (per BOE):
   Lease operating
    expense.......  $  3.39   $  4.75   $  3.43   $  3.97   $  4.12   $  3.99   $  4.11   $  3.89   $  4.10
   Production taxes     .94       -         .91       .70       -         .62       .72       -         .67
   Workover.......      .28       -         .27       .25       -         .22       .25       -         .23
                     ------    ------    ------    ------    ------    ------    ------       ---    ------
     Total........  $  4.61   $  4.75   $  4.61   $  4.92   $  4.12   $  4.83   $  5.08   $  3.89   $  5.00
 Depletion expense
   (per BOE)......  $  4.25   $  5.73   $  4.30   $  5.19   $  6.74   $  5.36   $  5.07   $  6.77   $  5.18

<FN>
- ---------------

(a)  These amounts are calculated  without making pro forma  adjustments for any
     acquisitions,  divestitures  or drilling  activity that occurred during the
     respective years.

(b)  Represents production associated with the Company's Australian subsidiaries
     prior to their divestiture in  1996.   See Note  Q of Notes to Consolidated
     Financial  Statements  included  in  "Item  8.   Financial  Statements  and
     Supplementary Data".
</FN>

                                       15





     Productive  Wells.  The following table sets forth the number of productive
oil and gas wells  attributable  to the Company's  properties as of December 31,
1996, 1995 and 1994.


                               PRODUCTIVE WELLS(a)

                               Gross Productive Wells    Net Productive Wells
                               ----------------------    ---------------------
                                Oil     Gas     Total     Oil     Gas    Total
                               -----   -----   ------    -----   -----   -----
                                                       
Year ended December 31, 1996:
 United States...............  5,572   1,393    6,965    3,119     650   3,769
 Argentina...................      5     -          5        1     -         1
                               -----   -----   ------    -----   -----   -----
 Total.......................  5,577   1,393    6,970    3,120     650   3,770
                               =====   =====   ======    =====   =====   =====
Year ended December 31, 1995:
 United States...............  6,138   2,137    8,275    3,198     680   3,878
 Australia and Other
  Foreign....................    112     450      562       27      54      81
                               -----   -----   ------    -----   -----   -----
 Total.......................  6,250   2,587    8,837    3,225     734   3,959
                               =====   =====   ======    =====   =====   =====
Year ended December 31, 1994:
 United States...............  8,096   3,225   11,321    4,423   1,652   6,075
 Australia and Other
  Foreign....................     83     542      625       19      70      89
                               -----   -----   ------    -----   -----   -----
 Total.......................  8,179   3,767   11,946    4,442   1,722   6,164
                               =====   =====   ======    =====   =====   =====
<FN>
- ---------------

(a)  Productive   wells  consist  of  producing   wells  and  wells  capable  of
     production,  including  shut-in wells.  One or more completions in the same
     well bore are  counted as one well.  Any well in which one of the  multiple
     completions  is an oil  completion  is  classified  as an oil  well.  As of
     December  31, 1996,  the Company  owned  interests  in 73 wells  containing
     multiple completions.
</FN>

     Leasehold  Acreage.  The following table sets forth  information  about the
Company's  developed,  undeveloped and royalty  leasehold acreage as of December
31, 1996.


                                LEASEHOLD ACREAGE

                                Developed Acreage      Undeveloped Acreage  
                              ----------------------  ----------------------   Royalty
                              Gross Acres  Net Acres  Gross Acres  Net Acres   Acreage
                              -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------   -------
                                                                
Year ended December 31, 1996:
  United States.............   1,174,911    517,385    1,029,883    597,210    435,618
  Argentina (a).............       5,718        825    1,816,429    262,111        -
                               ---------    -------    ---------    -------    -------
  Total.....................   1,180,629    518,210    2,846,312    859,321    435,618
                               =========    =======    =========    =======    =======
<FN>
- ---------------

(a)  Effective February 22, 1997, the Company  relinquished its interests in the
     Laguna  Blanca  and Las  Lajas  blocks  in the  Neuquin  Basin  of  Central
     Argentina  which  represents  1,199,670  gross and 173,113 net  undeveloped
     acres at December 31, 1996.
</FN>


     Drilling Activities. The following table sets forth the number of gross and
net  productive  and dry wells in which the Company  had an  interest  that were
drilled and completed  during the years ended December 31, 1996,  1995 and 1994.
This information should not be considered indicative of future performance,  nor
should it be assumed  that there is  necessarily  any  correlation  between  the
number  of  productive  wells  drilled  and the oil and gas  reserves  generated
thereby or the costs to the Company of productive wells compared to the costs of
dry wells.
                                       16




                               DRILLING ACTIVITIES

                               Gross Wells                   Net Wells
                          ----------------------     -------------------------
                          Year Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,
                          ----------------------     -------------------------
                          1996(b)   1995    1994     1996(b)    1995      1994
                          -------  ------  ------    -------   ------    ------
                                                       
United States:
 Productive wells:
  Development...........    535     432     282       362.9     307.0     193.4
  Exploratory...........     37      30       6        24.2      18.0       3.5
 Dry holes:
  Development...........      7       7       2         4.4       2.1       1.9
  Exploratory...........     10      16       3         6.0       4.7       1.6
                            ---     ---     ---       -----     -----     -----
                            589     485     293       397.5     331.8     200.4
                            ---     ---     ---       -----     -----     -----
Australia:
 Productive wells:
  Development...........      2       6       1          .3       1.4       0.2
  Exploratory...........     -        1       2          -         .3       0.5
 Dry holes:
  Development...........      1      -       -           .2        -         -
  Exploratory...........      1       9       3          .2       2.8       2.5
                            ---     ---     ---       -----     -----     -----
                              4      16       6          .7       4.5       3.2
                            ---     ---     ---       -----     -----     -----
Argentina:
 Productive wells:
  Development...........      3      -       -           .4        -         -
  Exploratory...........     -        1      -           -         .1        -
 Dry holes:
  Development...........     -       -       -           -          -        -
  Exploratory...........      3       7      -           .4       1.0        -
                            ---     ---     ---       -----     -----     -----
                              6       8      -           .8       1.1        -
                            ---     ---     ---       -----     -----     -----
    Total...............    599     509     299       399.0     337.4     203.6
                            ===     ===     ===       =====     =====     =====
Success ratio(a)........    96%     92%     97%        97%       97%       97%
<FN>
- ---------------

(a)  Represents those wells that were successfully completed as productive wells.

(b)  The 1996  amounts  include  only three  months of  activity  related to the
     Company's Australian properties.  The remaining foreign drilling activities
     primarily  relate  to the  Company's  interests  in  Argentine  oil and gas
     properties.
</FN>


     The following table sets forth  information  about the Company's wells that
were in progress at December 31, 1996.

                                 Gross Wells     Net Wells
                                 -----------     ---------
United States:
  Development.............            74            56.1
  Exploratory.............             9             6.3
                                     ---            ----
     Total................            83            62.4
                                     ===            ====
Argentina:
  Exploratory.............             2             0.3
                                     ===            ====

ITEM 3.     LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     The  Company  is a party to various  legal  proceedings  incidental  to its
business  involving claims in oil and gas leases or interests,  other claims for
damages in amounts not in excess of 10% of its current assets and other matters,
none of which the Company believes to be material.

ITEM 4.     SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

     There were no matters  submitted  to a vote of the  Company's  stockholders
during the fourth quarter of 1996.

                                       17





                                     PART II

ITEM 5.     MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

     The  Company's  common  stock is listed  and  traded on the New York  Stock
Exchange under the symbol "PDP". The following table sets forth, for the periods
indicated,  the high and low sales prices for the  Company's  common  stock,  as
reported in the New York Stock Exchange composite  transactions,  and the amount
of dividends paid.
                                                                Dividends
                                         High        Low      Paid per share
                                       --------    --------   --------------
1996
   Fourth quarter.................     $ 37 1/4    $ 26 1/8           -
   Third quarter..................     $ 27 3/4    $ 22 1/4        $.05
   Second quarter.................     $ 27 7/8    $ 22 3/4          -
   First quarter..................     $ 23 3/4    $ 19 3/8        $.05
1995
   Fourth quarter.................     $ 22 1/2    $ 18 1/2            -
   Third quarter..................     $ 23 1/4    $ 17 3/8        $.05
   Second quarter.................     $ 22 3/4    $ 18 5/8            -
   First quarter..................     $ 22 7/8    $16 5/16        $.05

     On February 3, 1997, the last reported sales price of the Company's  common
stock, as reported in the New York Stock Exchange  composite  transactions,  was
$34-1/8 per share.

     As  of  February  3,  1997,   the  Company's   common  stock  was  held  by
approximately  39,000  holders of record  and  approximately  57,300  beneficial
owners.

     Since the third  quarter of 1991,  the Company has paid a cash  dividend of
$.05 per share of common stock in the first and third  quarters of each calendar
year. Subject to the continuation of successful operations and the discretion of
the Company's  Board of Directors,  the Company intends to continue to declare a
$.05 per share  dividend on a  semi-annual  basis to achieve an annual  dividend
level of $.10 per share.  The Company's Board of Directors may from time to time
reconsider the dividend  policy and make any changes that it deems  appropriate.
There can be no assurance  that any future  dividends or  distributions  will be
paid on the Company's common stock.  The Company's  current bank credit facility
agreement  contains various  restrictive  covenants,  which, among other things,
limit to $5 million  per year the sum of annual  dividends  that the Company may
declare and pay and the amount of the  Company's  capital stock that the Company
may redeem or purchase.

                                       18





ITEM 6.     SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

     The following selected  consolidated  financial data for the Company should
be read in  conjunction  with "Item 7.  Management's  Discussion and Analysis of
Financial  Condition and Results of Operations"  and the Company's  Consolidated
Financial Statements,  related notes and other financial information included in
"Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data".



                                                              Year ended December 31,
                                                 1996         1995        1994(a)      1993(b)       1992
                                              ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ---------
                                                      (in thousands, except per share data)
                                                                                   
Statement of Operations Data
  Total operating revenues..................  $  420,745   $  485,762   $  479,733   $  328,467   $ 201,807
  Total operating expenses(c)...............     286,389      586,947      461,804      280,473     163,071
                                               ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    --------
  Operating income (loss)...................     134,356     (101,185)      17,929       47,994      38,736
                                               ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    --------
  Other revenues and expenses:
    Interest and other income...............      17,458       11,364        6,918        4,388       4,223
    Gain on disposition of assets,
      net (d)...............................      97,140       16,620        9,512       23,220       4,169
    Interest expense........................     (46,155)     (65,449)     (50,552)     (23,338)    (14,708)
    Other expenses..........................      (2,451)     (11,357)      (4,298)      (3,861)     (2,274)
                                               ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    --------
                                                  65,992      (48,822)     (38,420)         409      (8,590)
                                               ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    --------
  Income (loss) before income taxes,
    extraordinary item and cumulative
    effect of accounting change.............     200,348     (150,007)     (20,491)      48,403      30,146
  Income tax benefit (provision)............     (60,100)      45,900        6,500      (17,000)     (3,000)
                                               ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    --------
  Income (loss) before extraordinary item
    and cumulative effect of accounting
    change..................................  $  140,248   $ (104,107)  $  (13,991)  $   31,403   $  27,146
                                               =========    =========    =========    =========    ========
  Income (loss) before extraordinary item
    and cumulative effect of accounting
    change per share:
      Primary...............................  $     3.92   $    (2.95)  $     (.47)  $     1.13   $    1.05
                                               =========    =========    =========    =========    ========
      Fully diluted.........................  $     3.47   $    (2.95)  $     (.47)  $     1.13   $    1.05
                                               =========    =========    =========    =========    ========
  Dividends per share ......................  $      .10   $      .10   $      .10   $      .10   $     .10
                                               =========    =========    =========    =========    ========
  Weighted average shares outstanding.......      35,734       35,274       30,063       27,945      25,825

Cash Flow Data
  Net cash provided by operating activities.  $  230,059   $  157,256   $  129,750   $  112,152   $  77,203
  Net cash provided by (used in) investing
     activities.............................      13,539      (53,806)    (454,894)    (386,816)   (111,827)
  Net cash provided by (used in) financing
    activities..............................    (258,940)    (107,541)     331,832      291,677      33,756

Balance Sheet Data
  Working capital...........................  $   26,069   $   31,501   $   43,653   $   39,475   $   7,974
  Property, plant and equipment, net........   1,040,420    1,121,746    1,349,855      802,018     499,063
  Total assets..............................   1,199,865    1,319,229    1,604,904    1,016,854     576,714
  Long-term obligations.....................     328,979      603,205      727,172      544,344     225,938
  Preferred stock of subsidiary.............     188,820      188,820      188,820          -           -
  Total stockholders' equity................     530,296      410,995      509,584      348,770     295,013
<FN>
- ---------------

(a)  Includes amounts relating to  the acquisition of Bridge Oil Limited in July
     1994  and  the  acquisition  of  properties from  PG&E Resources Company in
     August  1994.   See  Note D  of  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
     included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data".

(b)  Includes  amounts  relating to the acquisition of certain  Prudential-Bache
     Energy  limited  partnerships  in  July  1993.  Also  includes  results  of
     operations related to the Company's interest in the Carthage gas processing
     plant that had been  deferred in 1992 and 1993 and the gain of $7.3 million
     recognized on the sale of that interest on June 30, 1993.

(c)  Includes noncash  pre-tax charges of $130.5 million in 1995 associated with
     the  adoption  of  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 121,
     "Accounting  for the  Impairment  of  Long-Lived Assets and  for Long-Lived
     Assets to be Disposed Of".   See Note R  of Notes to Consolidated Financial
     Statements included  in  "Item 8.   Financial Statements  and Supplementary
     Data".

(d)  Includes  a  gain  of  $83.3  million in 1996 related to the disposition of
     certain  wholly-owned  subsidiaries.   See  Note Q of Notes to Consolidated
     Financial  Statements  included  in  "Item  8.   Financial  Statements  and
     Supplementary Data".
</FN>

                                       19





ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
             RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

General

     Operating Performance. The Company reported operating earnings for the year
ended  December  31,  1996 of $58.9  million or $1.65 per share.  The  operating
earnings  exclude  certain items and their related tax effects  described  below
under  "Financial   Performance".   Excluding   production  from  the  Company's
Australasian  assets which were sold in 1996 and  production  from  nonstrategic
domestic  assets which were sold in 1995 and 1996,  average daily oil production
increased  13% to 29,100 Bbls per day for the year ended  December 31, 1996 from
25,718 Bbls per day for the year ended  December 31, 1995, and average daily gas
production increased 13% to 193,246 Mcf per day from 170,979 Mcf per day for the
same  period.  In addition to  increased  production,  the  Company's  operating
performance for the year ended December 31, 1996 was positively  affected by the
following items:  (i) improved oil and gas prices,  (ii) decreases in production
costs due to certain cost reduction  efforts initiated in 1995 and 1996, (iii) a
decrease in oil and gas property  depletion  expense as a result of  significant
increases in the  Company's  oil and gas reserves  during 1995 and 1996,  (iv) a
decrease in general and  administrative  expenses  primarily  resulting from the
implementation  of measures  during 1995 intended to reduce overall  general and
administrative  expenses,  and  (v) a  decrease  in  interest  expense  due to a
decrease in the Company's outstanding long-term indebtedness.

     Net cash  provided by  operating  activities,  before  changes in operating
assets  and  liabilities,  increased  39% to $228.5  million  for the year ended
December 31, 1996 as compared to $164.2  million for the year ended December 31,
1995.  This increase was primarily  attributable  to improved  commodity  prices
during 1996,  declining  production  costs due to the  improvements  made in the
overall  cost  structure  of the  Company  during  1995 and  1996 and  decreased
interest expense due to a decrease in long-term debt.

     Long-term  debt has been  reduced by $265.6  million  to $320.9  million at
December 31, 1996 from $586.5  million at December 31, 1995 due  principally  to
the application of substantially all of the proceeds from the disposition of the
Company's  Australasian and certain domestic assets to the Company's outstanding
indebtedness, as described below. Consequently,  the Company's long-term debt to
total  capitalization  has been  reduced to 31% at December 31, 1996 from 49% at
December 31, 1995.

     Financial  Performance.  The Company  reported net income of $140.2 million
($3.92 per share) for the year ended December 31, 1996 as compared to a net loss
of $99.8  million  ($2.83 per share) for the year ended  December 31, 1995.  Net
income for the year ended  December 31, 1996  includes the  following  after-tax
nonoperating  items:  (i)  aggregate  gains  of  $76.3  million  related  to the
disposition  of the  Company's  Australasian  assets  and  certain  nonstrategic
domestic  assets  (see   "Disposition   of   Australasian   Assets"  and  "Asset
Dispositions"  below),  (ii) income of $7.4 million related to the settlement of
several litigation matters involving the Company's Hooker Natural Gas Processing
Plant and  related  assets  (see "Legal  Actions"  below),  (iii) a loss of $2.8
million  associated  with the  write-off  of certain tax  attributes  related to
litigation  contingencies  that  are no  longer  available  and (iv)  income  of
$400,000 from the operations of the Australian assets and nonstrategic  domestic
assets prior to their sale in 1996.  Net income for  December 31, 1995  includes
the following after-tax nonoperating items: (i) noncash charges of $84.8 million
associated  with the  adoption  of SFAS 121 (as defined in  "Depletion  Expense"
below),  (ii)  charges  of $6.9  million  associated  with the  amortization  of
deferred  compensation  awarded in 1993 and  organizational  changes designed to
reduce  overall  general  and  administrative  expenses,  (iii)  charges of $4.4
million  consisting  of  previously  capitalized  financing  fees  and  expenses
associated  with  certain  legal  matters,  and (iv) net gains of $10.8  million
associated with the disposition of nonstrategic assets (see "Asset Dispositions"
below).

Significant Activities in 1996

     Exploration and Development  Activities.  The Company  continues to realize
the benefits of its focused activities in the exploration and development of its
existing core areas. Since completing two major acquisitions in 1994 (see Note D
of Notes to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  included in "Item 8. Financial
Statements  and  Supplementary  Data"),  the  Company has devoted its efforts to
exploitation  and  exploration  of its  existing  property  base and the Company
believes that substantial additional opportunities remain.

     Drilling  Activities.  As was the case in 1994 and 1995, the Company's 1996
development drilling activities focused primarily on the Company's Permian Basin
oil  properties  and  Gulf  Coast  gas  properties.  During  1996,  the  Company
participated  in the  drilling  and  completion  of 599  gross  exploration  and
development wells (482 of which were operated by the Company),  including 326 in
the Spraberry  Division,  177 in the Permian  Division,  48 in the  MidContinent
Division, 38

                                       20





in the Gulf Coast  Division and 10 in other areas.  The Company's  total capital
expenditures during 1996 were $233 million,  approximately $212 million of which
was spent on exploration and development activities.

     During 1996, the Company announced several  discoveries and developments in
domestic  locations.  In November 1996, the Company  announced a significant oil
discovery in the War-Wink West field in the Delaware  Basin of West Texas.  This
Company  operated well,  the  University  18-34 #1, tested at rates of up to 720
barrels of oil per day and is currently producing at its expected allowable rate
of  approximately  270 barrels of oil per day and 374 thousand cubic feet of gas
per day.  The  Company  and  Enserch  Exploration,  Inc.  each own a 50% working
interest  in this  well,  which  is the  first in their  joint  exploration  and
development of the 4,500 acre War-Wink prospect.  During 1997, the Company plans
to continue its development of this prospect by drilling two confirmation  wells
and an additional two to four  development  wells.  Parker & Parsley and Enserch
also control approximately 30,000 additional acres in the Delaware Basin play in
southeastern  New  Mexico  and West  Texas  where  they  intend  to drill  eight
exploratory  wells in 1997.  In  addition,  on November  25,  1996,  the Company
announced  the  successful  completion of three  development  wells in the South
Texas Lopeno field in which the Company owns a 50% working  interest.  The three
wells,  operated by the Company,  are currently  producing a total of 20 MMcf of
natural gas per day. On December 19, 1996, the Company  announced the successful
completion of the S.E. Turner Gas Unit #2 in its Central Texas Gulf Coast Pawnee
field in which  the  Company  owns a 100%  working  interest.  The dual  lateral
horizontal  unstimulated producer is currently flowing at a rate of 3.1 MMcf per
day. As a result of this  successful  activity,  the Company has  identified  an
additional  six  horizontal  prospects  in the  Pawnee  field and plans to begin
developmental activity on these prospects in the first quarter of 1997.

     During  1996,  the  Company  participated  in  several  discoveries  in the
Confluencia  Sur field in the Nuequen  Basin of Central  Argentina  in which the
Company  owns a 14.42%  interest.  In early  1996,  the  Company  announced  the
successful  completion of two exploratory  wells (the Naco x-1 and the Sierra de
Reyes x-1) and, in January 1997, the Company announced the successful completion
of three development  wells, also in the Confluencia Sur field. The three wells,
the Sierra de Reyes 2, 3 and 4, operated by Petrolera  Argentina San Jorge S.A.,
collectively  tested 3,727 barrels of oil per day. The Company  expects to drill
an additional two to three development wells in the Confluencia Sur field during
the first six months of 1997 in order to increase  daily oil production to 6,000
barrels (865 barrels net to the Company's interest).

     During  1997,   the  Company  will  continue  with  its  emphasis  on  core
development,  exploration and production activities, with a primary focus on the
exploitation of its current portfolio of drilling locations.  This portfolio was
significantly  enhanced and expanded by the major acquisitions completed in 1994
and the 1995 and 1996 drilling  programs  which have added a large number of new
locations to which proved reserves have been assigned. The Company believes that
its current portfolio of undeveloped  prospects provides attractive  development
and exploration  opportunities for at least the next three to five years. Of the
total 1997 capital expenditure budget of $270 million, the Company has allocated
$170 million to exploitation  activities,  $67 million to exploration activities
and $33 million to oil and gas property  acquisitions.  The Company  anticipates
that the $237 million  exploration and  development  budget will be spent by its
operating  divisions  as follows:  $88 million in the  Spraberry  Division,  $45
million in the Permian  Division,  $45 million in the Gulf Coast  Division,  $23
million in the  MidContinent  Division  and $36 million in  Argentina  and other
international  areas.  This capital  expenditure  budget  reflects the Company's
plans to drill  approximately  600 oil and gas wells,  over 400 of which will be
drilled in the Spraberry and Permian Divisions. The Company currently expects to
fund its 1997 capital  expenditure  budget  primarily with  internally-generated
cash flow.

     Proved Reserves. The Company's proved reserves totaled 302.2 million BOE at
December 31, 1996,  296.8 million BOE at December 31, 1995 and 282.5 million BOE
at December 31, 1994. The Company  achieved  these annual  increases in reserves
despite having sold reserves of 45.8 million BOE in 1996 and 34.8 million BOE in
1995. Excluding these sold reserves, total proved reserves increased 21% in 1996
and 28% in 1995.  Oil reserves at year-end 1996 were 163.9 million Bbls compared
to 147.3  million Bbls at year-end  1995 and 144.5 million Bbls at year-end 1994
(an 11% increase from 1995 to 1996 and a 2% increase from 1994 to 1995). Natural
gas reserves at year-end 1996 were 829.4 Bcf,  compared to 896.9 Bcf at year-end
1995 and 827.5 Bcf at year-end  1994 (an 8% decrease from 1995 to 1996 and an 8%
increase from 1994 to 1995).

     Reserve Replacement.  For the eighth consecutive year, the Company was able
to replace its annual  production  volumes with proved reserves of crude oil and
natural gas,  stated on an energy  equivalent  basis.  During 1996,  the Company
added  75  million  BOE  resulting  in  reserve  replacement  of 314%  of  total
production. Of the 75 million BOE reserve additions, 71.1 million BOE were added
through exploration and development  drilling  activities,  2.2 million BOE were
added through acquisitions of proved properties and 1.7 million BOE were the net
result of revisions.  Reserves added by development  drilling are primarily from
the  identification  of additional  infill drilling  locations and new secondary
recovery  projects.  Reserve  revisions  result from several  factors  including
changes in existing estimates of quantities available for production and changes
in estimates of quantities which are economical to produce under current pricing
conditions. The Company's

                                       21





reserves as of December 31, 1996 were estimated  using a price of $24.55 per Bbl
and $3.97 per Mcf.  Should  prices  decline  in future  years,  reserves  may be
revised  downward for quantities  which may be  uneconomical to produce at lower
prices.

     The Company's 1996 reserve  replacement  rate on a barrel of oil equivalent
basis was 314%, which included reserve replacement rates for oil and natural gas
of 398% and 239%,  respectively.  Previous reserve replacement performance rates
were 281% in 1995 (263% for oil and 297% for gas) and 537% in 1994 (549% for oil
and 526% for gas).  For the three year period ended December 31, 1996, the three
year average  reserve  replacement  rate was 377%.  Through 1994,  the Company's
reserve   replacement   rate  was  primarily  the  product  of  its  acquisition
activities.  Beginning  in 1995,  and to a greater  extent in 1996,  the reserve
replacement  rates have been  influenced  more by  exploration  and  development
activities and less by acquisition  activities.  The Company seeks to achieve an
annual  reserve  replacement  rate of at least 150%  through the emphasis on its
exploration and development activities.

     Finding Cost. The Company's acquisition and finding cost for 1996 was $3.10
per BOE as compared to the 1995 and 1994  acquisition and finding costs of $2.87
and $5.11 per BOE,  respectively.  The average  acquisition and finding cost for
the three-year  period from 1994 to 1996 was $3.99 per BOE  representing  an 18%
decrease from the 1995 three-year average rate of $4.84.

     Disposition  of  Australasian  Assets.  On  March  28,  1996,  the  Company
completed the sale of certain  wholly-owned  Australian  subsidiaries  to Santos
Ltd.,  and on  June  20,  1996,  the  Company  completed  the  sale  of  another
wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Bridge Oil Timor Sea,  Inc.,  to  Phillips  Petroleum
International  Investment Company.  During the year ended December 31, 1996, the
Company  received  aggregate  consideration of $237.5 million for these combined
sales  which  consisted  of $186.6  million of  proceeds  for the equity of such
entities, $21.8 million for reimbursement of certain intercompany cash advances,
and the assumption of such  subsidiaries' net liabilities,  exclusive of oil and
gas properties,  of $29.1 million. The proceeds,  after payment of certain costs
and  expenses,   were  utilized  to  reduce  the  Company's   outstanding   bank
indebtedness and for general working capital purposes. The Company recognized an
after-tax gain of $67.3 million from the disposition of these subsidiaries.  For
additional information, see Note Q of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data".

     Cost Reductions. Production costs per BOE declined 5% (from $4.83 to $4.61)
for the year ended  December 31, 1996 as compared to the year ended December 31,
1995. This decline is despite a 47% or $.29 per BOE increase in production taxes
resulting  from oil and gas  prices  that  were  considerably  higher in 1996 as
compared  to 1995.  The  significant  decline  in the  remaining  components  of
production  costs,  primarily  lease  operating  expense,  is the  result of the
Company's  emphasis on cost control  efforts and the disposition of certain high
cost domestic  nonstrategic oil and gas properties  during 1995 and 1996. During
1995,  the  Company  initiated  programs  to study  specific  opportunities  for
significant future reductions in its entire cost structure.  These programs have
continued in 1996, and the Company expects  production costs per BOE to continue
to decline as specific programs for further cost reductions are implemented.

     Asset Dispositions. From time to time, the Company disposes of nonstrategic
assets in order to raise capital for other activities,  reduce debt or eliminate
costs associated with  nonstrategic  assets.  During the year ended December 31,
1996, the Company sold certain domestic nonstrategic oil and gas properties, gas
plants and other related assets for aggregate  proceeds of  approximately  $58.4
million.  The proceeds from the asset dispositions were initially used to reduce
the Company's  outstanding bank indebtedness and subsequently to provide funding
for a portion of the Company's 1996 capital expenditures, including purchases of
oil and gas properties in the Company's core areas.

     Commodity Prices.  The Company benefited from the significantly  higher oil
and gas prices during 1996. In 1996,  the Company  received an average oil price
of  $19.96  per Bbl and an  average  gas  price  of $2.27  per Mcf  representing
increases of 18% and 23%,  respectively,  from 1995. The oil and gas prices that
the Company  reports are based on the market price received for the  commodities
adjusted  by the  results  of the  Company's  hedging  activities.  The  Company
periodically  enters into commodity  derivative  contracts  (swaps,  futures and
options) in order to (i) reduce the effect of the volatility of price changes on
the  commodities  the Company  produces and sells,  (ii)  support the  Company's
annual  capital  budgeting  and  expenditure  plans and (iii)  lock in prices to
protect the economics  related to certain  capital  projects.  During 1996,  the
Company's hedging  activities reduced the average price received for oil and gas
sales 6% and 5%, respectively, as discussed below.

     Natural Gas. The Company  employs a policy of hedging gas production  based
on the index price upon which the gas is actually  sold in order to mitigate the
basis risk between NYMEX prices and actual index prices.  The average gas prices
per Mcf that the Company reports includes the effects of Btu content,  gathering
and transportation costs, gas processing and shrinkage and the net effect of the
gas hedges.  The Company  reported an average gas price of $2.27 per Mcf for the
year ended December 31, 1996. The Company's  average realized price for physical
gas sales (excluding hedge results) for the

                                       22





same period was $2.39 per Mcf. The comparable average NYMEX prompt month closing
for the year ended  December  31, 1996 was $2.50 per Mcf. At December  31, 1996,
the Company had 28.9 Bcf of future gas production  hedged at a weighted  average
NYMEX price of $2.17 per Mcf.

     Crude Oil. All material  purchase  contracts  governing  the  Company's oil
production  are tied directly or  indirectly  to NYMEX  prices.  The average oil
prices per Bbl that the Company  reports  includes  the effects of oil  quality,
gathering  and  transportation  costs and the net effect of the oil hedges.  The
Company  reported  an  average  oil price of $19.96  per Bbl for the year  ended
December 31, 1996. The Company's  average  realized price for physical oil sales
(excluding hedge results) for the same period was $21.33 per Bbl. The comparable
average  NYMEX  prompt  month  closing for the year ended  December 31, 1996 was
$22.03 per Bbl. At December  31,  1996,  the Company had 6.2 million  barrels of
future oil  production  hedged at a weighted  average  NYMEX price of $19.39 per
Bbl.

     See Note N of Notes to Consolidated  Financial Statements included in "Item
8.  Financial   Statements  and  Supplementary   Data"  for  further  discussion
concerning the Company's commodities hedging activities.

     Capitalization.    The  Company   strives  to   maintain  its   outstanding
indebtedness  at a  moderate  level  in order to  provide  sufficient  financial
flexibility for future opportunities. The Company's total book capitalization at
December 31, 1996 was $1 billion,  consisting  of total  long-term  debt of $326
million,  stockholders' equity of $530 million and preferred stock of subsidiary
of $189  million  (see  Note K of Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements
included  in"Item  8.  Financial   Statements  and  Supplementary  Data"  for  a
description  of the  Company's  preferred  stock  of  subsidiary).  The  Company
attempts to maintain a debt to total capitalization ratio of 40% to 45% in order
to achieve its goal of  financial  flexibility.  Debt as a  percentage  of total
capitalization was 31% at December 31, 1996, down from 49% at December 31, 1995.
This  decrease is primarily  the result of the  application  of the net proceeds
from the disposition of the Company's  Australian  assets and the disposition of
certain other  nonstrategic  domestic  assets  described  above to the Company's
outstanding indebtedness.

     Legal Actions. On August 1, 1996, Dorchester Hugoton, Ltd. ("DHL"),  Damson
Master Limited Partnership  ("DMLP"), a wholly-owned  subsidiary of the Company,
and their related  entities  entered into a settlement  agreement  resolving all
outstanding  litigation  between the parties that had arisen in connection  with
DMLP's Hooker Plant, the Hooker Gathering System and certain other matters.  The
Company  recognized  other income of $11.4  million  ($7.0  million of which was
received in cash)  associated with the settlement of these  litigation  matters.
Additionally,  the  Company  will  receive  an annual  formula-based  production
payment with the first annual  payment to begin in February 1997 and to continue
thereafter annually through February 2026. The Company estimates the total value
of the production  payments to be at least $5.0 million,  although such payments
are  dependent  on future gas  prices  and  related  transportation  costs.  The
production  payments  will be  recognized  as other  income over the term of the
production payment contract.

                                       23





Results of Operations

  Oil and Gas Production

     The  following  table  describes  the results of the  Company's oil and gas
production activities during 1996, 1995 and 1994.


                                                   Year ended December 31,
                                               1996         1995        1994
                                            ---------    ---------    ---------
                                               (in thousands, except average
                                                    price and cost data)
                                                             
Revenues:
 Oil and gas..............................  $ 396,931    $ 375,720    $ 337,602
 Gain on disposition of oil and gas
   properties, net (a)....................      7,786       16,847        9,175
                                             --------     --------     --------
                                              404,717      392,567      346,777
                                             --------     --------     --------
Costs and expenses:
 Oil and gas production...................    110,334      130,905      127,118
 Depletion................................    102,803      145,468      131,702
 Impairment of oil and gas properties.....        -        129,745          -
 Exploration and abandonments.............     12,653       16,431       12,345
 Geological and geophysical...............      9,054       11,121        8,402
                                             --------     --------     --------
                                              234,844      433,670      279,567
                                             --------     --------     --------
  Operating profit (loss) (excluding
   general and administrative expense
   and income taxes)......................  $ 169,873    $ (41,103)   $  67,210
                                              =======     ========     ========
- ---------------
(a) The 1996 amount does not include the gain related to the  disposition of the
Company's Australasian assets.

Worldwide:
   Production:
     Oil (MBbls)..........................     11,275       12,902       12,147
     Gas (MMcf)...........................     75,851       85,295       79,674
     Total (MBOE).........................     23,916       27,118       25,426
   Average daily production:
     Oil (Bbls)...........................     30,805       35,348       33,279
     Gas (Mcf)............................    207,244      233,685      218,285
   Average oil price (per Bbl)............  $   19.96    $   16.96    $   15.40
   Average gas price (per Mcf)............  $    2.27    $    1.84    $    1.89
   Costs:
     Lease operating expense (per BOE)....  $    3.43    $    3.99    $    4.10
     Production taxes (per BOE)...........  $     .91    $     .62    $     .67
     Workover costs (per BOE).............  $     .27    $     .22    $     .23
                                             --------     --------     --------
       Total production costs (per BOE)...  $    4.61    $    4.83    $    5.00
                                             ========     ========     ========
     Depletion (per BOE)..................  $    4.30    $     5.36   $    5.18

Domestic:
   Production:
     Oil (MBbls)..........................     10,872       11,328       11,267
     Gas (MMcf)...........................     73,924       76,669       75,040
     Total (MBOE).........................     23,193       24,106       23,774
   Average daily production:
     Oil (Bbls)...........................     29,705       31,036       30,868
     Gas (Mcf)............................    201,979      210,052      205,589
   Average oil price (per Bbl)............  $   19.96    $   16.70    $   15.26
   Average gas price (per Mcf)............  $    2.27    $    1.84    $    1.89
   Costs:
     Lease operating expense (per BOE)....  $    3.39    $    3.97    $    4.11
     Production taxes (per BOE)...........  $     .94    $     .70    $     .72
     Workover costs (per BOE).............  $     .28    $     .25    $     .25
                                             --------     --------     --------
       Total production costs (per BOE)...  $    4.61    $    4.92    $    5.08
                                             ========     ========     ========
     Depletion (per BOE)..................  $    4.25    $    5.19    $    5.07


     Oil and Gas Revenues.  Revenues from oil and gas operations  totaled $396.9
million in 1996, $375.7 million in 1995 and $337.6 million in 1994, representing
a 6%  increase  from 1995 to 1996 and an 11%  increase  from  1994 to 1995.  The
increase  from 1995 to 1996 is  primarily  attributable  to the  higher  average
prices  being  received  for  both  oil  and gas  production  and  increases  in
production  due  to  the  Company's  successful   exploitation  and  exploration
activities in 1995 and 1996, offset by the decreased  production  resulting from
the 1996 sale of the Company's  Australasian  assets and the 1995 and 1996 sales
of certain  domestic  assets.  The average oil price received for the year ended
December 31, 1996  increased 18% (from $16.96 in 1995 to $19.96 in 1996),  while
the average gas price received increased 23% (from $1.84 in 1995 to $2.27

                                       24





in 1996).  The increase from 1994 to 1995 is primarily due to (i) a full year of
production in 1995 from  properties  purchased in 1994 offset by the  production
lost from those  properties  sold in 1995,  (ii) an  increase in the average oil
price  received of 10% (from  $15.40 per Bbl in 1994 to $16.96 per Bbl in 1995),
and (iii) the Company's  successful  development drilling activities during 1994
and 1995, which resulted in increased production in 1995.

     Excluding production from the Company's Australasian assets which were sold
in 1996 and production from the nonstrategic  domestic assets which were sold in
1995 and 1996,  average daily oil production  increased 13% from 25,718 Bbls for
the year ended  December 31, 1995 to 29,100 Bbls for the year ended December 31,
1996 and average daily gas production  increased 13% from 170,979 Mcf to 193,246
Mcf for the same period.

     Production  Costs.  Production  costs per BOE decreased in 1996 and 1995 by
approximately  5% and 3%,  respectively  (from $5.00 in 1994 to $4.83 in 1995 to
$4.61 in 1996). These reductions are primarily due to the Company's concentrated
efforts to evaluate and reduce all operating  costs and the sale of certain high
operating cost properties (see "Asset Dispositions" above). The success of these
cost  reduction  efforts  is  particularly  evident  in light  of the fact  that
production costs per BOE declined in 1996 despite a 47% or $.29 per BOE increase
in average  production taxes per BOE resulting from higher commodity prices. The
primary component of production costs,  lease operating  expense,  decreased 14%
from $3.99 per BOE in 1995 to $3.43 per BOE in 1996.  These costs  represent the
majority of the oil and gas property  operating  expenses over which the Company
has  control  and the costs on which  the  Company  has  focused  its  reduction
efforts.

     Depletion  Expense.  Depletion  expense per BOE  decreased  20% in 1996 and
increased  3% in 1995.  The  decrease  in  depletion  expense per BOE in 1996 is
primarily the result of the following factors:  (i) the significant  increase in
oil and  gas  reserves  during  1995  and  1996  resulting  from  the  Company's
exploration and development drilling activities, including revisions, and (ii) a
reduction in the  Company's net  depletable  basis from charges taken in 1995 in
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121, "Accounting
for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed
Of"  ("SFAS  121")  (see  "Impairment  of Oil and Gas  Properties"  below).  The
increase in  depletion  expense per BOE during 1995 is  primarily  the result of
increased  depletion  rates  resulting  from the  relatively  short lives of the
properties acquired as part of the Bridge Oil Limited acquisition, when compared
to the Company's other  properties,  and the application of such increased rates
to the book basis allocated to the proved oil and gas properties  acquired.  The
increase in depletion  expense from 1994 to 1995 was  mitigated by the Company's
adoption  of  SFAS  121 in  1995  and the  significant  increase  in oil and gas
reserves at December 31, 1995.

     Impairment  of Oil  and  Gas  Properties.  The  Company  adopted  SFAS  121
effective as of April 1, 1995,  and, as a result of the review and evaluation of
its long-lived  assets for impairment,  the Company  recognized  noncash pre-tax
charges of $129.7 million ($84.3 million  after-tax)  related to its oil and gas
properties during 1995. See Note B and Note R of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for
further  explanation of the Company's policies  concerning SFAS 121 and its 1995
charge for impairment.

     Exploration and  Abandonments/Geological and Geophysical Costs. Exploration
and  abandonments/geological  and geophysical costs increased from $20.7 million
in 1994 to $27.6 million in 1995 and decreased to $21.7 in 1996. The decrease in
1996 is largely the result of decreased activity,  both in exploratory  drilling
and geological and geophysical  activity,  resulting from the sale in March 1996
of the Company's  Australasian assets (see "Disposition of Australasian  Assets"
above and Note Q of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item
8.  Financial  Statements  and  Supplementary  Data"),  offset by  increases  in
geological  and  geophysical  activity  in the United  States as a result of the
Company's  increased  focus on  exploitation  and  exploration  activities.  The
increase from 1994 to 1995 is largely the result of increased expenses,  both in
exploratory  drilling and geological and geophysical costs, brought about by the
Company's continued evaluation of certain domestic and international exploratory
projects acquired as part of the Bridge Oil Limited  acquisition.  The following
table sets forth the components of the Company's 1996, 1995 and 1994 exploration
and abandonments/geological and geophysical costs:

                                                 Year ended December 31,
                                             1996         1995         1994
                                           --------     --------     --------
                                                     (in thousands)
Exploratory dry holes:
 United States.......................      $  6,256     $  2,491     $    523
 Australia and other foreign.........         3,431        9,636        3,571
Geological and geophysical costs:
 United States.......................         7,042        2,302        3,834
 Australia and other foreign.........         2,012        8,819        4,568
Leasehold abandonments and other.....         2,966        4,304        8,251
                                            -------      -------      -------
                                           $ 21,707     $ 27,552     $ 20,747
                                            =======      =======      =======

                                       25





     Approximately  25% of the  Company's  1997 capital  budget will be spent on
exploratory  projects (compared to 16.7% in 1996 and 13.3% in 1995). The Company
currently  anticipates that its 1997 exploration efforts will be concentrated in
the Gulf Coast  Division,  the Permian  Division and its interests in Argentina.
The  Company  continues  to review  opportunities  involving  exploration  joint
ventures in domestic or international  areas outside the Company's existing core
operating areas.

  Natural Gas Processing

     Natural gas processing  revenues were $23.8 million in 1996,  $33.3 million
in 1995 and $39.1 million in 1994; and natural gas  processing  costs were $12.5
million  in 1996,  $25.9  million in 1995 and $33.6  million  in 1994.  The 1996
natural gas processing  revenues and costs decreased 29% and 52%,  respectively,
when  compared to the 1995 amounts  primarily due to the sale of four gas plants
during  1995 and the sale of one gas plant  during  1996.  The 1995  natural gas
processing revenues and costs decreased 15% and 23%, respectively, when compared
to the 1994  amounts  primarily as a result of the  cancellation  of certain gas
processing contracts related to four gas plants during 1994 and the sale of four
plants during 1995.  The average price per Bbl of NGLs  increased  each year, by
30% in 1996 and 6% in 1995  (from  $10.97 in 1994 to $11.59 in 1995 to $15.10 in
1996),  while the average  price per Mcf of residue gas increased by 55% in 1996
and  declined  by 16% in 1995  (from  $1.66 in 1994 to $1.39 in 1995 to $2.15 in
1996).

     During  January 1996,  the Company  realized  proceeds of $2.1 million from
sales of gas plants and related assets which resulted in the Company recognizing
a net gain of $639 thousand.  In addition, in October 1995, the Company sold its
interests in the Cargray and Schafer plants located in Carson County, Texas. The
Company  received  net proceeds of $9.5  million  from the  disposition  of such
plants which resulted in the Company recognizing a net gain of $4.6 million.

     During 1996 and 1994, the Company  recognized  noncash  pre-tax  charges of
$1.3 million and $4.5 million, respectively,  related to abandonments of certain
of the Company's gas processing  facilities and the  cancellation of certain gas
processing  contracts.  Additionally,  during  1995,  the Company  recognized  a
noncash  pre-tax  impairment  charge  of  $748,000  related  to  a  natural  gas
processing facility.

  General and Administrative Expense

     General and administrative expense was $28.4 million in 1996, $37.4 million
in 1995 and $28.9 million in 1994, representing a 24% decrease from 1995 to 1996
and a 29%  increase  from  1994  to  1995.  The  decrease  from  1995 to 1996 is
primarily due to 1995 including pre-tax charges of $10.6 million associated with
the  amortization of deferred  compensation  awarded in 1993 and  organizational
changes  implemented by the Company that were designed to reduce overall general
and   administrative   expenses  and  1996  reflecting  the  benefits  of  those
organizational changes as well as additional cost reduction efforts in 1996. The
significant increase in general and administrative  expense from 1994 to 1995 is
partially  attributable to significant  nonrecurring  general and administrative
expenses included in each year. The 1995 amount includes the nonrecurring  items
noted above while the 1994 amount  includes $6 million of  nonrecurring  general
and  administrative  expenses  resulting  from the  acquisition  of  Bridge  Oil
Limited,  some of which were eliminated as the Company  consolidated  Bridge Oil
Limited's United States operations with its own during the latter part of 1994.

     Not only did total general and administrative expense decrease for the year
ended December 31, 1996 as compared to the year ended December 31, 1995, general
and administrative costs per BOE declined  significantly as well, from $1.38 per
BOE in 1995 to $1.19 per BOE in 1996, a 14%  reduction.  This  decrease  results
from the Company's  improvements in operating  efficiencies and increases in its
oil and gas production.

  Interest Expense

     Interest expense was $46.2 million in 1996, $65.4 million in 1995 and $50.6
million in 1994.  The decrease  from 1995 to 1996 is due to a decrease of $226.3
million  in  the  weighted   average   outstanding   balance  of  the  Company's
indebtedness  for the year ended December 31, 1996 as compared to the year ended
December 31, 1995, resulting primarily from the application of proceeds from the
sale of the  Company's  Australasian  assets and the sales of  certain  domestic
assets  during 1995 and 1996,  and a decrease in the weighted  average  interest
rate on the  Company's  indebtedness  from  8.02% in 1995 to 7.83% in 1996.  The
increase  from  1994 to 1995 was due  primarily  to (i) an  increase  of  $109.2
million  in  the  weighted   average   outstanding   balance  of  the  Company's
indebtedness  due  to  the  additional   borrowings   required  to  finance  the
acquisition  of  Bridge  Oil  Limited  and the  properties  acquired  from  PG&E
Resources in 1994, (ii) an increase in the weighted  average  interest rate from
7.15% in 1994 to 8.02% in 1995 and (iii) a full year of interest expense in 1995
versus six months in 1994 associated with certain pre-acquisition obligations of
Bridge Oil Limited.  In addition,  the 1996,  1995 and 1994 amounts  include $12
million, $12 million and $9.1 million of interest, respectively, associated with
the preferred  stock of the Company's  subsidiary,  Parker & Parsley Capital LLC
(see Note K of Notes to Consolidated  Financial  Statements included in "Item 8.
Financial  Statements and Supplementary  Data"). The 1996, 1995 and 1994 amounts
also  include  $1.3  million,  $2 million  and $2.3  million,  respectively,  of
amortization of capitalized loan fees.

                                       26





     During  each of the years 1996,  1995 and 1994,  the Company was a party to
various  interest  rate swap  agreements.  As a result,  the Company  recorded a
reduction in interest  expense of $787 thousand for the year ended  December 31,
1996 and additional  interest  expense of $532 thousand and $2.2 million for the
years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994,  respectively.  For a description of the
Company's  interest  rate  swap  agreements,  see  Note  N of the  Notes  to the
Consolidated  Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data".

  Income Taxes

     The Company's income tax provision of $60.1 million for 1996 and its income
tax benefit of $45.9  million and $6.5  million  (both of which  exclude the tax
effects related to extraordinary items) for 1995 and 1994, respectively, reflect
the net  provision  or benefit,  resulting  from the  separate  tax  calculation
prepared  for each tax  jurisdiction  in which the  Company is subject to income
taxes.  For 1996,  1995 and 1994 the  Company had  effective  total tax rates of
approximately 30%, 31% and 32%, respectively. In 1996, the effective tax rate is
lower than the  applicable  tax rate as a result of the tax  effects of the 1996
sale of certain of the Company's  subsidiaries.  The effective tax rates in 1995
and 1994 are  lower  than the  applicable  tax rate for each  year  because  the
effective rates reflect the amortization of foreign permanent  differences.  See
Note S of  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  included  in "Item 8.
Financial  Statements  and  Supplementary  Data" for further  discussion  of the
Company's income tax provision and benefits.

  Extraordinary Items

     In October  1995,  the  Company  transferred  cash and  certain oil and gas
properties   with  an  aggregate   estimated  value  of  $1.1  million  in  full
satisfaction of a non-recourse  note secured by the  properties,  the balance of
which was approximately  $7.7 million.  As a result,  the Company  recognized an
extraordinary  gain on the early  extinguishment of debt of $4.3 million (net of
related tax expense of $2.3 million).

     In 1994,  the Company  acquired  Bridge Oil Limited (see Note D of Notes to
Consolidated  Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary  Data"), and as a result of this acquisition,  the Company assumed
the obligations of certain  indentures issued by that company.  Upon a change in
control of Bridge Oil Limited,  those indentures were redeemable for cash at the
option of the holder at a one percent premium. The majority of the holders chose
to  exercise  their  call  option  which  resulted  in the  recognizition  of an
after-tax loss on early extinguishment of debt of $628 thousand.

  Capital Commitments, Capital Resources and Liquidity

     Capital  Commitments.   The  Company's  primary  needs  for  cash  are  for
exploration,  development and acquisitions of oil and gas properties,  repayment
of  principal  and  interest on  outstanding  indebtedness  and working  capital
obligations.

     The Company's cash expenditures during 1996, 1995 and 1994 for additions to
oil and gas properties  (including  individual  property  acquisitions,  but not
including  company  acquisitions)  totaled  $219.4  million,  $215.7 million and
$247.1  million,  respectively.  The 1996  amount  includes  $198.4  million for
development  and exploratory  drilling,  and, as in 1994 and 1995, the Company's
drilling activities were focused primarily in the Spraberry field of the Permian
Basin.  Significant drilling  expenditures in 1996 included $87.1 million in the
unitized  portion of the Spraberry field of the Permian Basin  (including  $46.2
million in the Driver unit, $16.1 million in the Shackelford  unit, $7.9 million
in the North Pembrook unit, $4.4 million in the Preston unit and $4.1 million in
the Merchant  unit),  $18.2 million in other  portions of the  Spraberry  field,
$35.4 million in other areas of the Permian Basin,  $31.7 million in the onshore
Gulf Coast region, $14.1 million in the MidContinent region and $11.9 million in
Argentina and Australia (prior to its sale in March 1996).  Additions to natural
gas processing facilities during 1996, 1995 and 1994 primarily represented costs
associated with the Company's Spraberry natural gas processing facilities.

     The Company's 1997 capital expenditure budget has been set at $270 million,
reflecting planned expenditures of $170 million for exploitation activities, $67
million for  exploration  activities  and $33  million for oil and gas  property
acquisitions  in the  Company's  core areas of Texas,  Oklahoma,  New Mexico and
Louisiana.  The  Company  budgets it  capital  expenditures  based on  projected
internally-generated  cash flows and routinely  adjusts the level of its capital
expenditures in response to anticipated changes in cash flows.

     Funding  for the  Company's  working  capital  obligations  is  provided by
internally-generated  cash flow.  Funding for the  repayment  of  principal  and
interest  on   outstanding   debt  may  be  provided  by  any   combination   of
internally-generated  cash flow,  proceeds from the  disposition of nonstrategic
assets or  alternative  financing  sources as discussed  in "Capital  Resources"
below.

                                       27





     Capital  Resources.  The Company's  primary capital  resources are net cash
provided  by  operating  activities,  proceeds  from  financing  activities  and
proceeds  from sales of  nonstrategic  assets.  The Company  expects  that these
resources will be sufficient to fund its capital commitments in 1997.

     Operating  Activities.  Net cash provided by operating activities increased
46% in 1996 and 21% in 1995 (from  $129.8  million in 1994 to $157.3  million in
1995 to $230.1 million in 1996).  These increases are primarily  attributable to
stronger oil and gas prices  combined  with  declining  production  costs due to
improvements in the Company's overall cost structure in 1995 and 1996.

     Financing Activities. On July 31, 1996, the Company entered into an Amended
and  Restated  Credit  Agreement,  which  has a current  borrowing  base of $350
million.   Interest   rates  on  the  facility  vary  depending  on  the  amount
outstanding. The outstanding balance under such Credit Agreement at December 31,
1996 was $9 million  leaving  approximately  $340.1 million of unused  borrowing
base  immediately  available,  net of  outstanding  letters  of  credit  of $872
thousand.   The  Company,   through  its   subsidiaries,   has  other  long-term
indebtedness,  consisting  primarily of a $10 million fixed-rate  building loan.
The weighted  average  interest rate for the year ended December 31, 1996 on the
Company's  indebtedness  was  7.83%  as  compared  to 8.02%  for the year  ended
December  31, 1995 and 7.15% for the year ended  December  31, 1994 (taking into
account  the  effect  of  interest  rate  swaps).  See  Note E of the  Notes  to
Consolidated  Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data".

     In October 1996, the Company  announced an odd-lot  repurchase  program for
shareholders who, as of October 7, 1996,  individually  owned 99 or fewer shares
of Parker & Parsley  Petroleum  Company  Common Stock.  The Company  purchased a
total of 772,986  shares  for $23.3  million  which were added to the  Company's
shares  held in  treasury.  See Note L of the  Notes to  Consolidated  Financial
Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data".

     During 1995,  the Company  completed two public  issuances of senior notes.
The aggregate net proceeds from the two senior note  issuances of  approximately
$295.9  million were  utilized to repay a portion of the  Company's  outstanding
U.S. bank  indebtedness.  At December 31, 1996, the outstanding  balances on the
notes  totaled  $299.3  million.  See Note E of the  Notes  to the  Consolidated
Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary
Data".

     During 1994, the Company  accessed the capital markets on three  occasions:
the  issuance  of  3,776,400  6  1/4%  Cumulative   Guaranteed   Monthly  Income
Convertible  Preferred  Shares by the  Company's  wholly-owned  special  purpose
finance  subsidiary  in March 1994,  which  resulted  in net  proceeds of $182.2
million;  the issuance of 2,360,000  shares of common stock in June 1994,  which
resulted in net proceeds of  approximately  $57.6  million;  and the issuance of
4,500,000  shares  of common  stock in  November  1994,  which  resulted  in net
proceeds  of  approximately  $107  million.  The net  proceeds  of each of these
offerings were used by the Company to reduce the outstanding balance of its bank
indebtedness.

     As the Company continues to pursue its strategy, it may utilize alternative
financing  sources,  including  the  issuance  for cash of fixed rate  long-term
public debt,  convertible  securities or preferred  stock.  The Company may also
issue  securities  in  exchange  for oil  and gas  properties,  stock  or  other
interests  in  other  oil  and  gas  companies  or  related  assets.  Additional
securities  may be of a class  preferred  to common  stock with  respect to such
matters as dividends and  liquidation  rights and may also have other rights and
preferences as determined by the Company's Board of Directors.

     On February 12, 1997, the Company completed a shelf registration  statement
with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  which provides for the issuance of
up to $400  million  of common  stock,  preferred  stock,  warrants  to  acquire
preferred  stock,   depository  shares  representing   fractional  interests  in
preferred stock, debt securities and warrants to acquire debt securities, or any
combination  thereof  which the  Company  may offer from time to time.  The $400
million  includes  $127.9  million  which  remained  unused  from a  1994  shelf
registration statement.  The net proceeds for any such offering will be used for
general  corporate  purposes,  which  may  include  repayment  of  indebtedness,
redemption  or  repurchase  of  securities  of the  Company  or any  subsidiary,
additions to working capital and capital  expenditures,  including  acquisitions
and drilling.

     Sales of Nonstrategic Assets. During 1996, 1995 and 1994, proceeds from the
sale of domestic  nonstrategic assets totaled $58.4 million,  $175.1 million and
$109 million,  respectively.  In addition, during 1996, the Company sold certain
subsidiaries  resulting in cash proceeds of $183.2  million (see Note Q of Notes
to Consolidated  Financial  Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements
and  Supplementary  Data").  The proceeds from these sales have  primarily  been
utilized to reduce the Company's  outstanding bank  indebtedness and for general
working capital purposes.  The Company anticipates that it will continue to sell
nonstrategic  properties  from  time  to  time  to  increase  capital  resources
available for other activities and to achieve administrative efficiencies.

     Liquidity.  At December 31, 1996, the Company had $18.7 million of cash and
cash  equivalents  on hand,  compared to $19.9 million at December 31, 1995. The
Company's  ratio of current assets to current  liabilities  was 1.29 at December
31, 1996 and 1.28 at December 31, 1995.

                                       28





ITEM 8.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

                   Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                                                  Page

Consolidated Financial Statements of Parker & Parsley
  Petroleum Company:
   Independent Auditors' Report...............................      30
   Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1996
     and 1995.................................................      31
   Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years
     Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994...................      32
   Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for
     the Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994.........      33
   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years
     Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994...................      34
   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.................      35
   Unaudited Supplementary Information........................      53



                                       29








                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT


The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Parker & Parsley Petroleum Company:

     We have audited the consolidated  financial  statements of Parker & Parsley
Petroleum  Company and subsidiaries as listed in the accompanying  index.  These
consolidated  financial  statements  are  the  responsibility  of the  Company's
management.  Our  responsibility is to express an opinion on these  consolidated
financial statements based on our audits.

     We conducted  our audits in accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

     In our opinion,  the consolidated  financial  statements  referred to above
present fairly,  in all material  respects,  the financial  position of Parker &
Parsley Petroleum Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and
the  results of their  operations  and their cash flows for each of the years in
the  three-year  period ended  December 31, 1996, in conformity  with  generally
accepted accounting principles.

     As discussed in Notes B and R to the consolidated financial statements, the
Company changed its method of accounting for the impairment of long-lived assets
and for  long-lived  assets to be disposed of in 1995 to adopt the provisions of
the Financial  Accounting  Standards Board's  Statement of Financial  Accounting
Standards No. 121,  "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived  Assets and for
Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of".



                                               KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Midland, Texas
January 29, 1997

                                       30





                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                        (in thousands, except share data)


                                     ASSETS
                                                          December 31,
                                                   -------------------------
                                                       1996          1995
                                                   -----------   -----------
                                                           
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents......................  $    18,711   $    19,940
  Restricted cash................................        1,749        15,572
  Accounts receivable:
    Trade, net...................................       34,075        49,257
    Affiliates...................................          434         2,369
    Oil and gas sales............................       48,459        37,358
  Assets held for resale.........................          -           3,677
  Inventories....................................        3,644         9,880
  Deferred income taxes..........................        7,400         1,600
  Other current assets...........................        2,567         2,757
                                                    ----------    ----------
      Total current assets.......................      117,039       142,410
                                                    ----------    ----------
Property, plant and equipment, at cost:
  Oil and gas properties, using the successful
    efforts method of accounting:
      Proved properties..........................    1,419,051     1,450,290
      Unproved properties........................        7,331        14,574
  Natural gas processing facilities..............       59,276        63,395
  Accumulated depletion, depreciation and
    amortization.................................     (445,238)     (406,513)
                                                    ----------    ----------
                                                     1,040,420     1,121,746
Restricted investments...........................          -           5,345
Other property and equipment, net................       27,779        31,755
Other assets, net................................       14,627        17,973
                                                    ----------    ----------
                                                   $ 1,199,865   $ 1,319,229
                                                    ==========    ==========

                      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Current maturities of long-term debt...........  $     5,381   $     2,608
  Distributable litigation settlement............          -          13,633
  Undistributed unit purchases...................        1,749         1,939
  Accounts payable:
    Trade .......................................       56,713        58,263
    Affiliates...................................        7,528           574
  Domestic and foreign income taxes..............        1,743         2,875
  Other current liabilities......................       17,856        31,017
                                                    ----------    ----------
      Total current liabilities..................       90,970       110,909
                                                    ----------    ----------

Long-term debt, less current maturities..........      320,908       586,549
Other noncurrent liabilities.....................        8,071        16,656
Deferred income taxes............................       60,800         5,300
Preferred stock of subsidiary....................      188,820       188,820
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 20,000,000
    shares authorized; none issued and
    outstanding..................................          -             -
  Common stock, $.01 par value; 180,000,000
    shares authorized; 36,899,618 and
    36,387,960 shares issued at December 31,
    1996 and 1995, respectively..................          369           364
  Additional paid-in capital.....................      462,873       452,718
  Treasury stock, at cost; 1,833,383 and
    1,004,684 shares at December 31, 1996 and
    1995, respectively...........................      (31,528)       (6,844)
  Unearned compensation..........................       (1,625)       (2,055)
  Retained earnings (deficit) ...................      100,207       (36,491)
  Cumulative translation adjustment..............          -           3,303
                                                    ----------    ----------
      Total stockholders' equity.................      530,296       410,995

Commitments and contingencies (Note J)
                                                   $ 1,199,865   $ 1,319,229
                                                    ==========    ==========

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                       consolidated financial statements.

                                       31





                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                 (in thousands, except share and per share data)




                                                        Year ended December 31,
                                                    1996         1995         1994
                                                 ----------   ----------   ----------
                                                                  
Revenues:
  Oil and gas................................   $  396,931   $  375,720   $  337,602
  Natural gas processing.....................       23,814       33,258       39,149
  Gas marketing..............................          -         76,784      102,982
  Interest and other.........................       17,458       11,364        6,918
  Gain on disposition of assets, net.........       97,140       16,620        9,512
                                                 ---------    ---------    ---------
                                                   535,343      513,746      496,163
                                                 ---------    ---------    ---------
Costs and expenses:
  Oil and gas production.....................      110,334      130,905      127,118
  Natural gas processing.....................       12,528       25,865       33,626
  Gas marketing..............................          -         75,664      101,499
  Depletion, depreciation and amortization...      112,134      159,058      145,374
  Impairment of oil and gas properties and
    natural gas processing facilities........          -        130,494          -
  Exploration and abandonments...............       23,030       27,552       25,239
  General and administrative.................       28,363       37,409       28,948
  Interest...................................       46,155       65,449       50,552
  Other......................................        2,451       11,357        4,298
                                                 ---------    ---------    ---------
                                                   334,995      663,753      516,654
                                                 ---------    ---------    ---------
Income (loss) before income taxes and
  extraordinary item.........................      200,348     (150,007)     (20,491)
Income tax benefit (provision)...............      (60,100)      45,900        6,500
                                                 ---------    ---------    ---------
Income (loss) before extraordinary item......      140,248     (104,107)     (13,991)
Extraordinary item - gain (loss) on early
  extinguishment of debt, net of tax.........          -          4,338         (628)
                                                 ---------    ---------    ---------
Net income (loss)............................   $  140,248   $  (99,769)  $  (14,619)
                                                 =========    =========    =========
Income (loss) per share:
  Primary:
    Income (loss) before extraordinary item..   $     3.92   $    (2.95)  $     (.47)
    Extraordinary item.......................          -            .12         (.02)
                                                 ---------    ---------    ---------
    Net income (loss)........................   $     3.92   $    (2.83)  $     (.49)
                                                 =========    =========    =========
  Fully diluted:
    Income (loss) before extraordinary item..   $     3.47   $    (2.95)  $     (.47)
    Extraordinary item.......................          -            .12         (.02)
                                                 ---------    ----------   ---------
    Net income (loss)........................   $     3.47   $    (2.83)  $     (.49)
                                                 =========    ==========   =========
Dividends declared per share.................   $      .10   $      .10   $      .10
                                                 =========    =========    =========
Weighted average shares outstanding.........    35,733,991   35,274,214   30,063,435
                                                ==========   ==========   ==========

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                       consolidated financial statements.

                                       32





                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                 (in thousands)





                                           Additional              Unearned               Cumulative      Total
                                  Common    Paid-in    Treasury     Compen-    Retained   Translation  Stockholders'
                                  Stock     Capital      Stock      sation     Earnings   Adjustment      Equity
                                  ------   ---------   ---------   ---------   --------   ----------   ------------
                                                                                  
Balance at January 1, 1994.....   $  291   $ 278,521   $ (7,409)   $ (6,946)   $ 84,313     $    -      $  348,770
Common stock issued............       68     164,546         -           -           -           -         164,614
Exercise of long-term incentive
  plan stock options...........       -          462        480          -           -           -             942
Restricted shares awarded......       -        1,492        514        (832)         -           -           1,174
Tax benefits related to
  stock options................       -          300         -           -           -           -             300
Purchase of treasury stock.....       -           -        (373)         -           -           -            (373)
Amortization of unearned
  compensation.................       -           -          -        2,052          -           -           2,052
Net loss.......................       -           -          -           -      (14,619)         -         (14,619)
Dividends ($.10 per share).....       -           -          -           -       (2,915)         -          (2,915)
Currency translation
  adjustment...................       -           -          -           -           -        9,639          9,639
                                   -----    --------    -------     -------     -------      ------      ---------
Balance at December 31, 1994...      359     445,321     (6,788)     (5,726)     66,779       9,639        509,584
                                   -----    --------    -------     -------     -------      ------      ---------
Common stock issued............        2       3,963         -           -           -           -           3,965
Exercise of long-term incentive
  plan stock options...........        2       2,065        223        (365)         -           -           1,925
Restricted shares awarded......        1         769         -       (1,387)         -           -            (617)
Tax benefits related to
  stock options................       -          600         -           -           -           -             600
Purchase of treasury stock.....       -           -        (279)         -           -           -            (279)
Amortization of unearned
  compensation.................       -           -          -        5,423          -           -           5,423
Net loss.......................       -           -          -           -      (99,769)         -         (99,769)
Dividends ($.10 per share).....       -           -          -           -       (3,501)         -          (3,501)
Currency translation
  adjustment...................       -           -          -           -           -       (6,336)        (6,336)
                                   -----    --------    -------     -------     -------      ------      ---------
Balance at December 31, 1995...      364     452,718     (6,844)     (2,055)    (36,491)      3,303        410,995
                                   -----    --------    -------     -------     -------      ------      ---------
Exercise of long-term incentive
  plan stock options...........        5       6,899         -           -           -           -           6,904
Restricted shares awarded......       -        1,091         -       (1,199)         -           -            (108)
Restricted shares forfeited....       -          (35)       (13)         48          -           -              -
Tax benefits related to
  stock options................       -        2,200         -           -           -           -           2,200
Purchase of treasury stock.....       -           -     (24,671)         -           -           -         (24,671)
Amortization of unearned
  compensation.................       -           -          -        1,581          -           -           1,581
Net income.....................       -           -          -           -      140,248          -         140,248
Dividends ($.10 per share).....       -           -          -           -       (3,550)         -          (3,550)
Currency translation
  adjustment...................       -           -          -           -           -       (3,303)        (3,303)
                                   -----    --------    -------     -------     -------      -------     ---------
Balance at December 31, 1996...   $  369   $ 462,873   $(31,528)   $ (1,625)   $100,207     $    -      $  530,296
                                   =====    ========    =======     =======     =======      =======     =========

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                       consolidated financial statements.

                                       33





                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (in thousands)





                                                                        Year ended December 31,
                                                                  1996         1995         1994
                                                               ---------    ----------   ----------
                                                                                
Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net income (loss).........................................  $ 140,248    $ (99,769)   $ (14,619)
   Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net
     cash provided by operating activities:
       Depletion, depreciation and amortization..............    112,134      159,058      145,374
       Impairment of oil and gas properties and natural
          gas processing facilities..........................         -       130,494           -
       Exploration and abandonments..........................     17,262       23,500       22,852
       Deferred income taxes.................................     57,400      (42,600)      (7,150)
       Gain on disposition of assets, net....................    (97,140)     (16,620)      (9,512)
       Other noncash items...................................     (1,360)      10,132        5,453
                                                                --------     --------     --------
                                                                 228,544      164,195      142,398
   Change in operating assets and liabilities,
     net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions:
       Accounts receivable...................................     (2,674)       4,870       11,870
       Inventory.............................................      1,842          682           -
       Other current assets..................................        (32)       1,146       (2,018)
       Accounts payable......................................       (656)     (15,712)      (5,137)
       Accrued income taxes and other current liabilities....      3,035        2,758      (17,363)
     Other...................................................         -          (683)          -
                                                                --------     --------     --------
          Net cash provided by operating activities..........    230,059      157,256      129,750
                                                                --------     --------     --------
Cash flows from investing activities:
   Payment for acquisitions, net of cash acquired............       (190)      (1,206)    (278,528)
   Proceeds from disposition of wholly-owned subsidiaries,
     net of cash disposed....................................    183,181           -            -
   Proceeds from disposition of assets.......................     58,370      175,085      108,984
   Additions to oil and gas properties.......................   (219,394)    (215,731)    (247,124)
   Additions to natural gas processing facilities............     (3,407)      (6,377)     (11,582)
   Additions to other property and equipment and other assets     (5,021)      (5,577)     (26,644)
                                                                --------     --------     --------
          Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities     13,539      (53,806)    (454,894)
                                                                --------     --------     --------
Cash flows from financing activities:
   Borrowings under long-term debt...........................        782      334,458      452,071
   Principal payments on long-term debt......................   (222,157)    (434,681)    (451,176)
   Payment of noncurrent liabilities.........................     (2,534)      (1,588)     (10,260)
   Issuance of common stock, net.............................         -           (23)     164,614
   Issuance of preferred stock of subsidiary.................         -            -       188,820
   Deferred loan fees/issuance costs.........................        (20)      (4,121)     (10,354)
   Dividends.................................................     (3,550)      (3,501)      (2,915)
   Purchase of treasury stock................................    (24,671)        (279)        (373)
   Exercise of long-term incentive plan stock options........      6,904        1,925          942
   Distributable litigation settlement - receipts............      5,290          383          463
   Distributable litigation settlement - disbursements.......    (18,876)          -            -
   Other  ...................................................       (108)        (114)          -
                                                                --------     --------     --------
          Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   (258,940)    (107,541)     331,832
                                                                --------     --------     --------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents.        290         (299)         671
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents
   and restricted cash.......................................    (15,342)      (4,091)       6,688
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year     35,512       39,902       32,543
                                                                --------     --------     --------
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year......  $  20,460    $  35,512    $  39,902
                                                                ========     ========     ========

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                       consolidated financial statements.

                                       34




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


NOTE A.     Organization and Nature of Operations

       Parker  &  Parsley   Petroleum   Company  (the  "Company"),   a  Delaware
Corporation  whose  common  stock is listed  and  traded  on the New York  Stock
Exchange, was formed in May 1990 and began operations on February 19, 1991, with
the combination and conversion to corporate  structure of two partnerships  that
were under common control with the Company.

       The Company is an oil and gas exploration and production concern with oil
and gas properties  principally in the Permian Basin of West Texas,  the onshore
Gulf Coast region of South Texas and Louisiana and the Mid-Continent region.
The Company also owns interests in oil and gas properties in Argentina.

NOTE B.     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

       Principles  of  consolidation.   The  consolidated  financial  statements
include the accounts of the Company and its  majority-owned  subsidiaries  since
their acquisition or formation and the Company's  interest in the affiliated oil
and gas  partnerships  for which it serves as general partner through certain of
its  wholly-owned   subsidiaries.   Investments  in  less-than-   majority-owned
subsidiaries where the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence
over  the  investee's  operations  are  accounted  for  by  the  equity  method;
otherwise,   they  are  accounted  for  at  cost.  The  Company  proportionately
consolidates  less-than-100%-owned  oil and gas  partnerships in accordance with
industry practice. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been
eliminated.

       Use of estimates in the preparation of financial statements.  Preparation
of  the  accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements  in  conformity  with
generally accepted  accounting  principles requires management to make estimates
and assumptions  that affect the reported  amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of  contingent  assets and  liabilities  at the date of the financial
statements  and the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and  expenses  during  the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

       Cash  equivalents.  For purposes of the  Consolidated  Statements of Cash
Flows,  cash and cash equivalents  include cash on hand and depository  accounts
held by banks.

       Restricted  cash at December 31, 1996 includes $1.7 million  representing
the Company's  remaining  obligation to redeem for cash the unconverted  limited
partner units in the acquired Prudential-Bache Energy limited partnerships.

       Inventories. Inventories consist of lease and well equipment, natural gas
processing plant products and oil in tanks.  Lease and well equipment is carried
at the lower of cost  (first-in,  first-out) or market.  Natural gas  processing
plant products and oil in tanks are carried at market.

       Impairment of long-lived assets. In accordance with Financial  Accounting
Standards Board Statement No. 121,  "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived
Assets and for  Long-Lived  Assets to be Disposed Of" ("SFAS 121"),  the Company
reviews  its  long-lived  assets  to be held  and  used,  including  oil and gas
properties  accounted for under the  successful  efforts  method of  accounting,
whenever  events or  circumstances  indicate  that the  carrying  value of those
assets may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is indicated if the sum of the
expected  future cash flows is less than the carrying  amount of the assets.  In
this  circumstance,  the Company recognizes an impairment loss for the amount by
which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.

       The Company accounts for long-lived assets to be disposed of at the lower
of their  carrying  amount or fair value less cost to sell once  management  has
committed to a plan to dispose of the assets.

       Oil and gas  properties.  The Company  utilizes  the  successful  efforts
method of accounting  for its oil and gas properties as promulgated by Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 19, "Financial Accounting and Reporting by
Oil and Gas Producing  Companies".  Under this method, all costs associated with
productive  wells and  nonproductive  development  wells are  capitalized  while
nonproductive  exploration  costs are expensed.  Capitalized  costs  relating to
proved  properties  are depleted  using the  unit-of-production  method based on
proved  reserves  expressed  as net  equivalent  barrels  ("BOE")  as audited by
independent  petroleum  engineers with respect to the Company's major properties
and as prepared by the Company's engineers with respect to all other properties.

                                       35




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


       Capitalized  costs of  individual  properties  abandoned  or retired  are
charged to accumulated depletion,  depreciation and amortization.  Proceeds from
sales of individual  properties are credited to property  costs. No gain or loss
is recognized until the entire amortization base is sold or abandoned.

       Costs of  significant  nonproducing  properties,  wells in the process of
being drilled and  development  projects are excluded from depletion  until such
time as the related  project is developed and proved reserves are established or
impairment is determined.  The Company capitalizes  interest on expenditures for
significant  development  projects  until  such time as  significant  operations
commence.

       Unproved oil and gas properties  that are  individually  significant  are
periodically  assessed  for  impairment.  A loss is  recognized  at the  time of
impairment by providing an impairment allowance.  The remaining unproved oil and
gas properties are  aggregated and an overall  impairment  allowance is provided
based on the Company's historical experience.

       Natural  gas  processing  facilities.  The  Company  depreciates  its gas
processing,   gathering  and   transmission   facilities   and  equipment  on  a
straight-line  basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets,  which range
from 14 to 21 years.  Capitalized costs relating to gas contracts,  representing
the right to extract  liquids and gas, are amortized on a  plant-by-plant  basis
using the  unit-of-production  method over the lives of gas reserves expected to
be processed through the facility, as prepared by the Company's engineers.  Upon
disposition  of  a  natural  gas  processing  facility,  the  cost  and  related
accumulated  depreciation  and amortization are eliminated from the accounts and
any gain or loss is included in operations.

       Treasury  stock.  Treasury  stock  purchases  are recorded at cost.  Upon
reissuance,  the cost of treasury shares held is reduced by the average purchase
price per share of the aggregate treasury shares held.

       Income taxes.  The Company  accounts for income taxes in accordance  with
the  provisions  of  Statement  of  Financial   Accounting  Standards  No.  109,
"Accounting for Income Taxes" ("SFAS 109"). Under the asset and liability method
of SFAS 109,  deferred tax assets and  liabilities are recognized for the future
tax  consequences  attributable to differences  between the financial  statement
carrying  amounts of existing assets and  liabilities  and their  respective tax
bases.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates
expected  to apply to  taxable  income  in the  years in which  those  temporary
differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  Under SFAS 109, the effect
on deferred tax assets and  liabilities of a change in tax rate is recognized in
income in the period that includes the enactment date.

       The  Company  and its  eligible  subsidiaries  file a  consolidated  U.S.
federal  income tax  return.  Certain  subsidiaries  that are  consolidated  for
financial reporting purposes are not eligible to be included in the consolidated
U.S.  federal  income tax return and separate  provisions  for income taxes have
been determined for these entities or groups of entities.

       Income (loss) per share.  Primary net income (loss) per share is computed
based on the weighted  average number of shares of common stock and common stock
equivalents  outstanding during the period. The computation of fully diluted net
income per share for the year ended December 31, 1996 assumes  conversion of the
Company's 6-1/4%  Cumulative  Guaranteed  Monthly Income  Convertible  Preferred
Shares which increased the weighted average number of shares outstanding to 42.6
million.  For 1995 and 1994, the  computation of fully diluted net income (loss)
per share was  antidilutive;  therefore,  the amounts  reported  for primary and
fully diluted net income (loss) per share were the same.

       Environmental.  The Company is subject to extensive federal, state, local
and foreign environmental laws and regulations. These laws, which are constantly
changing,  regulate  the  discharge of materials  into the  environment  and may
require  the  Company to remove or  mitigate  the  environmental  effects of the
disposal  or release of  petroleum  or  chemical  substances  at various  sites.
Environmental expenditures are expensed or capitalized depending on their future
economic benefit.  Expenditures  that relate to an existing  condition caused by
past  operations  and  that  have no  future  economic  benefits  are  expensed.
Liabilities  for   expenditures  of  a  noncapital   nature  are  recorded  when
environmental  assessment  and/or  remediation  is probable and the costs can be
reasonably estimated.

       Revenue recognition.  The Company uses the sales method of accounting for
crude oil revenues.  To the extent that crude oil is produced but not sold,  the
oil in  tanks,  if  material,  is  recorded  as  inventory  in the  accompanying
consolidated financial statements.

                                       36




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


       Revenues from natural gas  production  are generally  recorded  using the
entitlements method.  Sales proceeds in excess of the Company's  entitlement are
included in Other  liabilities  and the Company's share of sales taken by others
is included in Other assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The
Company  did not  have a  material  amount  recorded  in Other  assets  or Other
liabilities associated with gas balancing during 1996, 1995 or 1994.

       Stock-based  compensation.  The Company accounts for employee stock-based
compensation   using  the  intrinsic  value  method   prescribed  by  Accounting
Principles  Board  Opinion No. 25,  "Accounting  for Stock Issued to  Employees"
("APB 25"). Accordingly,  the Company has only adopted the disclosure provisions
of  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting   Standards  No.123,   "Accounting  for
Stock-Based Compensation" ("SFAS 123"). See Note G for the pro forma disclosures
of compensation expense determined under the fair-value provisions of SFAS 123.

       Hedging.  The  financial  instruments  that the Company  accounts  for as
hedging  contracts must meet the following  criteria:  the  underlying  asset or
liability  must expose the  Company to price or  interest  rate risk that is not
offset in another  asset or  liability,  the hedging  contract  must reduce that
price or interest rate risk, and the instrument must be designated as a hedge at
the  inception of the  contract and  throughout  the hedge  period.  In order to
qualify as a hedge, there must be clear correlation  between changes in the fair
value of the financial  instrument and the fair value of the underlying asset or
liability such that changes in the market value of the financial instrument will
be offset by the effect of price or interest rate changes on the exposed  items.
The following is a description of the specific types of hedging  transactions in
which the Company participates:

       Commodity  hedging.   The  Company  periodically  enters  into  commodity
derivative  contracts  (swaps,  futures and  options) in order to (i) reduce the
effect  of the  volatility  of price  changes  on the  commodities  the  Company
produces and sells,  (ii) support the  Company's  annual  capital  budgeting and
expenditure  plans and (iii) lock in prices to protect the economics  related to
certain  capital  projects.  Gains and losses on contracts  that are designed to
hedge  commodities  are  included  in income  recognized  from the sale of those
commodities. Other commodity futures contracts are valued at market.

       Interest  rate  hedging.  The  Company  enters  into  interest  rate swap
transactions  and forward  rate lock  transactions  to hedge its  interest  rate
exposure.  Interest rate swap  agreements,  in general,  involve the exchange of
fixed  and  floating  interest  payment  obligations  with  no  exchange  of the
underlying  principal amounts.  The interest rate differential to be received or
paid is recognized over the lives of the agreements as an adjustment to interest
expense.  Forward rate lock  transactions  involve selling certain U.S. Treasury
securities at a date certain in the future.  The Company uses these transactions
to hedge the  interest  rates on  issuances  of  obligations  in the public bond
market since the obligations' interest rates are determined based on the rate of
the certain U.S.  Treasury  security at time of issuance of the obligation.  The
interest  rate  differential  to be received or paid is  recognized  in interest
expense  over the life of the  obligation  under  the  effective  interest  rate
method.

       Foreign  currency  translation.   The  financial  statements of  non-U.S.
entities are translated to U.S.  dollars as follows:  all assets and liabilities
at year-end  exchange rates;  revenues,  costs and expenses at average  exchange
rates. Gains and losses from translating non-U.S. balances are recorded directly
in  stockholders'  equity.  Foreign  currency  transaction  gains and losses are
included in net income (loss).

       Reclassifications.   Certain reclassifications have been made to the 1995
and 1994 amounts to conform to the 1996 presentation.

                                       37




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


NOTE C.     Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments

       The following  table  presents the carrying  amounts and  estimated  fair
values of the Company's financial instruments at December 31, 1996 and 1995:


                                                       1996                    1995
                                               --------------------    --------------------
                                               Carrying     Fair       Carrying     Fair
                                                Amount      Value       Amount      Value
                                               --------    --------    --------    --------
                                                              (in thousands)
                                                                       
Financial assets:
  Cash, cash equivalents and restricted
    cash                                       $ 20,460    $ 20,460    $ 35,512    $ 35,512
  Restricted investments                             -           -        5,345       5,706

Financial liabilities:
  Long-term debt:
     Practicable to estimate fair value:
       Line of credit and GRUF                    9,000       9,000     267,000     267,000
       8-7/8% senior notes due 2005             150,000     165,945     150,000     167,316
       8-1/4% senior notes due 2007             149,277     160,965     149,209     161,995
     Not practicable to estimate fair value:
       Other long-term debt                      18,012          -       22,948          -

  Off-balance sheet financial instruments
   (see Note N):
     Interest rate swaps                             -        1,782          -           -
     Commodity price hedges                          -      (35,560)         -       (2,500)


       Cash and cash equivalents,  restricted cash, accounts  receivable,  other
current assets,  accounts  payable and other current  liabilities.  The carrying
amounts approximate fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments.

       Restricted investments. The fair value of noncurrent investments is based
on quoted market prices.

       Long-term debt. The carrying amount of borrowings  outstanding  under the
Company's Line of Credit and GRUF (see Note E for definition and  description of
each)  approximates  fair value because these instruments bear interest at rates
tied to current  market  rates.  The fair values of the 8-7/8%  senior notes due
2005 and the  8-1/4%  senior  notes due 2007 were  both  based on quoted  market
prices for these issues.

       It was not  practicable  to  estimate  the fair  value of  certain of the
long-term  debt  obligations  because quoted market prices are not available and
the  Company  does not have a current  borrowing  rate which  could be used as a
comparable rate for the stated maturities of the obligations.

       Interest rate swap agreements. At December 31, 1996, the Company had five
interest rate swap agreements  outstanding with an aggregate  notional amount of
$150 million.  These are more fully described in Note N. The fair values of each
of the open  interest  rate swap  agreements  were obtained from bank quotes and
represent the estimated amount the Company would receive upon termination of the
agreements at December 31, 1996,  taking into  consideration  interest  rates at
that time.

       Commodity  price  hedges.  The fair  values  of  commodity  price  hedges
outstanding at December 31, 1996 and 1995 were obtained from quotes  provided by
the individual  counterparties for each agreement and represent the amount which
the Company would be required to pay as of December 31 of each of the respective
years,  based upon the  differential  between a fixed and a  variable  commodity
price as specified in the hedge  contracts.  As of March 3, 1997, the fair value
of the Company's  obligation for commodity price hedges  outstanding at December
31,  1996 was $13.1  million.  This fair value  consists  of the  following  two
components:  (i)  payments  made  for  swap  contracts  related  to oil  and gas
production  for the months of January and February  1997 and (ii) the amount the
Company is obligated to pay for swap contracts related to oil and gas production
for the period from March 1997 through  April 1999 based upon the  differentials
as described above using quotes in effect at March 3, 1997.

                                       38




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


NOTE D.     Acquisitions

       Acquisition of Bridge Oil Limited.  During 1994, the Company completed an
acquisition  of the issued and  outstanding  shares of Bridge Oil  Limited.  The
acquisition was the result of an unsolicited  tender offer that commenced in May
and was completed in September  with Bridge Oil Limited  becoming a wholly-owned
subsidiary  of the Company.  The total  consideration  paid for all  outstanding
shares in Bridge Oil  Limited and related  transaction  costs was  approximately
$290.6 million.

       The  acquisition of Bridge Oil Limited,  accounted for using the purchase
method, resulted in the following noncash investing activities (in thousands):

    Recorded amounts of assets acquired, including
      cash acquired of $20,797.........................  $  579,190
    Liabilities assumed, including $61,267 of
      deferred income taxes............................    (288,555)
                                                          ---------
    Cash paid..........................................  $  290,635
                                                          =========

       The  liabilities  assumed  include  amounts  recorded for  litigation and
certain other preacquisition contingencies of Bridge Oil Limited.

       Certain of the wholly-owned  subsidiaries  acquired as part of the Bridge
Oil Limited  acquisition  were sold in 1996. See Note Q for a description of the
subsidiaries sold.

       Property  acquisition from PG&E Resources Company. On August 1, 1994, the
Company  completed the acquisition of certain oil and gas properties and related
assets from PG&E  Resources  Company,  a subsidiary  of Pacific Gas and Electric
Company,  for $115.7 million after preliminary  purchase price adjustments.  The
Company funded the acquisition under the bank credit facility  described in Note
E.

       Pro forma results of  operations.  The following  table  reflects the pro
forma results of operations as though the  acquisition of Bridge Oil Limited and
the  acquisition  of the  properties  from PG&E  Resources  Company  occurred on
January 1, 1994.
                                                             Year ended
                                                            December 31,
                                                                1994
                                                        (in thousands, except
                                                           per share data)
                                                             (Unaudited)

   Revenues...........................................       $  576,060
   Loss before extraordinary item.....................       $  (25,026)
   Loss per share before extraordinary item...........       $     (.72)

NOTE E.     Long-term Debt

       Long-term debt consists of the following:
                                                            December 31,
                                                          1996       1995
                                                        --------   --------
                                                           (in thousands)

   Line of credit.....................................  $  9,000   $225,000
   8-7/8% senior notes due 2005.......................   150,000    150,000
   8-1/4% senior notes due 2007 (net of discount).....   149,277    149,209
   Project finance facility...........................        -      42,000
   Fixed rate building loan...........................    10,121     11,168
   Other..............................................     7,891     11,780
                                                         -------    -------
                                                         326,289    589,157
   Less current maturities............................     5,381      2,608
                                                         -------    -------

                                                        $320,908   $586,549
                                                         =======    =======
                                       39




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994



     Maturities  of  long-term  debt at  December  31,  1996 are as follows  (in
thousands):

     1997.................................................  $   5,381
     1998.................................................      1,558
     1999.................................................      1,315
     2000.................................................      3,172
     2001.................................................      1,109
     Thereafter...........................................    313,754

       Line of credit.  At December 31,  1996,  the Company is party to a Credit
Facility  Agreement (as amended and  restated,  the "Credit  Agreement")  with a
syndicate  of banks (the  "Banks").  The Credit  Agreement  provides  for a $350
million  senior  unsecured  revolving  line of credit  (the  "Line of  Credit"),
comprised  of one facility  subject to a borrowing  base.  On May 15, 1998,  the
facility  converts to a four-year  reducing  revolving line of credit,  at which
time each Bank's  commitment as of that date is  automatically  and  permanently
reduced by 1/16 on each August 15, November 15, February 15 and May 15 beginning
on  August  15,  1998  and  continuing  until  the  earlier  of May 15,  2002 or
termination by the Company pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

       The  Company's  Line  of  Credit  has a  current  borrowing  base of $350
million.  The borrowing base is determined by the Banks in their sole discretion
and is  redetermined  at least  annually as of each April  utilizing oil and gas
reserve  information as of the immediately  preceding  December 31. In addition,
the  Company  or a 66-2/3%  majority  of the Banks can  request  one  additional
redetermination  at any  time  during  the  year  and the  Company  can  request
additional redeterminations upon the payment to the Banks of specified fees.

       Advances under the Line of Credit bear interest, at the Company's option,
based on (a) the prime rate of NationsBank of Texas,  N.A. ("Prime Rate") (8.25%
at December 31, 1996), (b) a Eurodollar rate (substantially  equal to the London
Interbank Offered Rate),  adjusted for the reserve  requirement as determined by
the  Board  of  Governors  of  the  Federal   Reserve  System  with  respect  to
transactions in  Eurocurrency  liabilities  ("LIBOR Rate"),  or (c) quoted rates
from participating banks under a competitive bid option. Advances that are based
on LIBOR Rate have periodic  maturities,  at the Company's  option, of one, two,
three,  six, nine or twelve months.  Maturities of greater than three months are
subject to  availability of such deposits in the relevant  markets.  Advances on
the competitive bid have periodic  maturities,  at the Company's  option, of not
less than seven  days nor more than 180 days.  The  interest  rates on the LIBOR
Rate advances  vary,  with the interest rate margin  ranging from 25 to 70 basis
points depending on the Company's senior unsecured long-term public debt rating.

       The  Credit  Agreement   contains  various   restrictive   covenants  and
compliance requirements,  which include (a) limiting to $5 million per annum the
sum of annual  dividends  the  Company may declare and pay and the amount of the
Company's  capital  stock the Company may redeem or  purchase;  (b) limiting the
incurrence of additional  indebtedness;  and (c) restrictions as to merger, sale
or  transfer  of assets and  transactions  with  affiliates  without  the Banks'
consent.

       Senior notes. At December 31, 1996, the following two issuances of senior
indebtedness are outstanding.

       8-7/8% senior notes due 2005.  $150 million  aggregate  principal  amount
8-7/8%  senior notes dated April 12, 1995,  due April 15, 2005.  Interest on the
8-7/8% senior notes is payable  semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each
year, commencing October 15, 1995.

       8-1/4% senior notes due 2007.  $150 million  aggregate  principal  amount
8-1/4%  senior notes dated August 22,  1995,  due August 15, 2007.  These 8-1/4%
senior  notes  were sold at a discount  aggregating  $816,000.  Interest  on the
8-1/4%  senior  notes is payable  semi-annually  on February 15 and August 15 of
each year, commencing February 15, 1996.

       Both senior note  issuances  are  governed  by an  Indenture  between the
Company and The Chase  Manhattan  Bank  (National  Association)  dated April 12,
1995.  Both  senior note  issuances  are general  unsecured  obligations  of the
Company  ranking  equally in right of payment  with all other  senior  unsecured
indebtedness  of the Company and are senior in right of payment to all  existing
and future subordinated indebtedness of the Company. In addition, the Company is
a holding company that conducts all its operations through subsidiaries, and the
senior notes issuances are  structurally  subordinated to all obligations of its
subsidiaries.
                                       40




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


       Project finance facility. The Global Revolving Underwriting Facility (the
"GRUF"),  as amended,  was originally  entered into by Bridge Oil  International
Finance  Limited as borrower and a syndicate of banks on December 19, 1986.  The
GRUF was  outstanding  at December  31, 1995 and, at that time,  had a scheduled
maturity  date of June 30,  1997.  As part of the sale of  certain  wholly-owned
Australian  subsidiaries  on March  28,  1996,  the  buyer of such  subsidiaries
assumed the GRUF obligations.

       Fixed rate  building  loan.  In March 1994,  the Company  entered  into a
12-year,  $13 million fixed rate loan to finance the  acquisitions of two office
buildings in Midland,  Texas.  One of the office  buildings was acquired from an
affiliated  partnership of which the Company was a 42.5% limited  partner.  This
building  is also the  Company's  headquarters.  The loan is  payable in monthly
principal  payments of $87,250 plus interest at the rate of 7.9% beginning April
7, 1994 and continuing until the final maturity of August 4, 2006.  Security for
the loan consists of first lien deeds of trust on the two buildings,  collateral
assignments  of all rents and leases  related to the two  buildings and security
interests in all  contracts and fixed assets of the borrower that are related to
the buildings.

       Extraordinary  item. In October 1995,  the Company  transferred  cash and
certain oil and gas properties with an aggregate estimated value of $1.1 million
in full  satisfaction  of a  non-recourse  note secured by the  properties,  the
balance  of which  was  approximately  $7.7  million  As a result,  the  Company
recognized an  extraordinary  gain on the early  extinguishment  of debt of $4.3
million (net of related tax expense of $2.3 million).

       Interest  expense.  The  following  amounts have been charged to interest
expense for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994:

                                                   1996       1995       1994
                                                 --------   --------   --------
                                                         (in thousands)

  Cash payments for interest.................... $ 44,405   $ 59,767   $ 41,933
  Cash payments for commitment and agency fees..      804      1,650      1,265
  Accretion of discounts on loans...............      261        617        402
  Amortization of capitalized loan fees.........    1,286      2,022      2,308
  Net change in accruals........................     (601)     1,393      4,644
                                                  -------    -------    -------
                                                 $ 46,155   $ 65,449   $ 50,552
                                                  =======    =======    =======

       The above  amounts  include $12 million in 1996,  $12 million in 1995 and
$9.1 million in 1994 associated with the 6- 1/4% Cumulative  Guaranteed  Monthly
Income  Convertible  Preferred  Shares  of the  Company's  wholly-owned  finance
subsidiary (see Note K).

NOTE F.     Related Party Transactions

        Activities  with  affiliated  partnerships.  The  Company,  through  its
wholly-owned  subsidiaries,   has  in  the  past  sponsored  certain  affiliated
partnerships,   including   thirty-five   public  and  nine   private   drilling
partnerships  and three  public  income  partnerships,  all of which were formed
primarily  for the  purpose  of  drilling  and  completing  wells  or  acquiring
producing properties. In accordance with the terms of the partnership agreements
and the related tax partnership agreements of the affiliated  partnerships,  the
Company  participated  in the  activities  of the  sponsored  partnerships  on a
promoted basis. In 1992, the Company discontinued  sponsoring public and private
oil and gas development drilling and income partnerships.

        During  each of  1994,  1993  and  1992,  the  Company  formed  a Direct
Investment  Partnership for the purpose of permitting  selected key employees to
invest directly,  on an unpromoted basis, in wells that the Company drills.  The
partners in the Direct Investment Partnerships formed in 1994, 1993 and 1992 pay
and receive approximately .337%, 1.5375% and 1.865%, respectively,  of the costs
and revenues  attributable to the Company's  interest in the wells in which such
Direct  Investment  Partnership  participates.   The  Company  discontinued  the
formation of Direct Investment Partnerships in 1995.

        The  Company,  through  certain  wholly-owned  subsidiaries,  serves  as
operator  of  properties  in which it and its  affiliated  partnerships  have an
interest.  Accordingly,  the Company receives producing well overhead,  drilling
well  overhead and other fees related to the  operation of the  properties.  The
affiliated  partnerships also reimburse the Company for their allocated share of
general and administrative charges.

                                       41




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


        The  activities  with  affiliated  partnerships  are  summarized for the
following related party transactions for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995
and 1994:
                                                        1996     1995     1994
                                                       ------   ------   ------
                                                            (in thousands)
Receipt of lease operating and supervision charges
  in accordance with standard industry operating
  agreements.......................................... $8,484   $8,458   $8,556
Reimbursement of general and administrative expenses..  1,246    1,153    1,143

NOTE G.     Long-term Incentive Plan

       During 1991, the Company's  stockholders  approved a long-term  incentive
plan (the  "Long-term  Incentive  Plan"),  which  provides  for the  granting of
incentive  awards  in the  form of stock  options,  stock  appreciation  rights,
performance units, restricted stock and cash to certain directors,  officers and
key  employees of the Company.  The  Long-term  Incentive  Plan provides for the
issuance of a maximum number of shares of common stock equal to 10% of the total
shares outstanding.

       The following  table  summarizes the  cumulative  stock and option awards
granted by the  Company  and the shares or options  available  for future  grant
under the Company's Long-term Incentive Plan at the end of 1996 and 1995:

                                                           For the year ended
                                                              December 31,
                                                            1996        1995
                                                          ---------   ---------

Cumulative shares/options granted, beginning of year      2,766,069   2,234,616
Shares/options granted                                      672,380     548,117
Shares/options forfeited                                    (36,980)    (16,664)
                                                          ---------   ---------
Cumulative shares/options granted, end of year            3,401,469   2,766,069
                                                          ---------   ---------
Maximum shares/options allowed under Long-term
  Incentive Plan                                          3,506,624   3,538,328
                                                          ---------   ---------
Shares/options available for future grant at end of year    105,155     772,259
                                                          =========   =========

Directors

       Under the Company's Long-term Incentive Plan, each non-employee director,
upon  commencement of service as a director,  is eligible to receive $125,000 of
Company  common  stock.  The price used to calculate  the number of shares to be
awarded is generally equal to the average trading price of the Company's  common
stock during the 60 days immediately preceding the award. The shares awarded are
subject  to  vesting  and  transfer  restrictions  that  lapse  with  respect to
one-third  of the shares six months  after the award,  another  one-third of the
shares one year after the award and the  remaining  one-third  of the shares two
years  after the award.  The  vesting  of  ownership  and lapse of the  transfer
restrictions  may be  accelerated  in the  event  of the  death,  disability  or
retirement of the director or a change in control of the Company.  The Long-term
Incentive Plan requires each non-employee director to make an election under the
Internal  Revenue  Code to  include  the value of the stock in his income in the
year of grant and provides for a cash award to the  non-employee  director in an
amount  sufficient to pay the federal income taxes due with respect to the award
and such cash payment.  During 1995, there were two new directors elected to the
Board of Directors  each of whom  received a grant of 6,528 shares of restricted
stock. No such awards were made during 1996 or 1994.

Officers and Key Employees

       Restricted  stock  awards.  The  Company's  policy  is to pay any  annual
bonuses  awarded to selected  officers and key  employees  partially in cash and
partially in the form of restricted  stock awards under the Long-term  Incentive
Plan. Prior to 1996, annual bonuses, if awarded,  were paid one-half in cash and
one-half in the form of restricted  stock awards.  In 1996,  target bonus levels
were  established  for each  officer and key  employee.  Based upon  Company and
individual  performance  during the year,  each  officer or key employee has the
potential to earn more or less than their target bonus level. Beginning in 1996,
the bonus awards are determined in the quarter following the Company's  December
31 year-end. Any restricted

                                       42




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


stock  awarded  pursuant  to this  program  will be limited to  one-half of each
officer's  or key  employee' s target  bonus  level,  and the  remainder  of the
officer's or key  employee's  annual  bonus will be paid in cash.  The number of
shares of restricted stock that are awarded pursuant to the annual bonus program
is based on the closing  sales price of the  Company's  common  stock on the day
immediately  preceding the date of the award.  Ownership of the restricted stock
awarded  vests six months after the date it is issued but is subject to transfer
restrictions that lapse on one-third of the shares on each of the first,  second
and third anniversaries of the date of grant. Each recipient of restricted stock
also  receives an amount of cash equal to the  estimated  federal  income  taxes
payable as a result of the receipt of such  award.  On February  13,  1997,  the
Company awarded an aggregate of 29,872 shares of restricted  stock at a price of
$30.125 pursuant to the 1996 annual bonus program. The Company did not award any
restricted  stock under the annual bonus program in 1995.  In 1994,  the Company
awarded an  aggregate  of 46,776  shares of  restricted  stock  pursuant to this
annual bonus program.

       During 1996, 1995 and 1994, the Company has made other  incentive  awards
of  35,080  shares,  20,778  shares  and  29,418  shares  of  restricted  stock,
respectively,  to certain  officers and key  employees.  The shares  awarded are
subject to a vesting period and transfer restrictions.

       The following table  reflects the outstanding restricted stock awards and
activity related thereto for 1996, 1995 and 1994:


                                  For the year ended     For the year ended     For the year ended
                                  December 31, 1996      December 31, 1995      December 31, 1994
                                 --------------------   --------------------   --------------------
                                             Weighted               Weighted               Weighted
                                  Number     Average     Number     Average     Number     Average
                                 of Shares    Price     of Shares    Price     of Shares    Price
                                 ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------
                                                                         
Restricted stock awards:
  Restricted shares outstanding
    at beginning of year........   225,244   $  23.90     476,034   $  24.46     424,018   $  24.15
    Shares granted..............    35,080   $  26.54      33,834   $  19.21      78,259   $  24.19
    Shares forfeited............    (1,980)  $  25.13          -    $     -           -    $    -
    Lapse of restrictions.......  (178,525)  $  24.65    (284,624)  $  24.28     (26,243)  $  18.58
                                 ---------              ---------              ---------
  Restricted shares outstanding
    at end of year..............    79,819   $  23.35     225,244   $  23.90     476,034   $  24.46
                                 =========              =========              =========


        Stock options awards.  The Company also has an annual stock option award
program for selected  key  employees  and  officers.  This program  provides for
annual  awards at an  exercise  price  based on the  closing  sales price of the
Company's common stock on the date of grant, a three-year vesting schedule and a
five-year exercise period.

        The Company applies APB 25 and related Interpretations in accounting for
its  stock  option  awards.   Accordingly,  no  compensation  expense  has  been
recognized for its stock option awards.  If  compensation  expense for the stock
option awards had been  determined  consistent  with SFAS 123, the Company's net
income  (loss) and net income  (loss) per share would have been  adjusted to the
pro forma amounts indicated below:
                                                     For the year ended
                                                        December 31,
                                                      1996        1995
                                                    --------    --------
                                                 (in thousands, except per
                                                       share amounts)

   Net income (loss):                               $139,301    $(99,891)
   Primary net income (loss) per share:             $   3.90    $  (2.83)
   Fully diluted net income (loss) per share:       $   3.43    $  (2.83)

       The pro forma net income (loss) and pro forma net income (loss) per share
amounts noted above are not likely to be representative of the pro forma amounts
to be reported in future years.  The pro forma amounts for 1996 and 1995 reflect
the initial phase-in of SFAS 123 and as a result do not reflect any compensation
expense for options granted prior to 1995. Pro forma adjustments in future years
will include  compensation  expense  associated with the options granted in 1995
and 1996 plus compensation expense associated with any options awarded in future
years. As a result,  such proforma  compensation  expense is likely to be higher
than the levels experienced in 1995 and 1996.

                                       43




                                          PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                                     NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                           December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


       Under SFAS 123, the fair value of each stock option grant is estimated on
the  date of  grant  using  the  Black-Scholes  option  pricing  model  with the
following weighted average assumptions used for grants in 1996 and 1995:

                                              1996        1995
                                            --------    --------

  Risk-free interest rate                      6.18%       6.06%
  Expected life                              4 years     4 years
  Expected volatility                            32%         35%
  Expected dividend yield                       .34%        .52%

       A summary of the  Company's  stock  option plan as of December  31, 1996,
1995 and 1994,  and changes  during the years ended on those dates is  presented
below:


                                      For the year ended     For the year ended     For the year ended
                                      December 31, 1996      December 31, 1995      December 31, 1994
                                     --------------------   --------------------   --------------------
                                                 Weighted               Weighted               Weighted
                                      Number     Average     Number     Average     Number     Average
                                     of Shares    Price     of Shares    Price     of Shares    Price
                                     ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------
                                                                             
Non-statutory stock options:
  Outstanding at beginning of year   1,230,411   $  17.51     924,075   $  15.39     859,627   $  13.68
    Options granted...............     637,300   $  29.52     514,283   $  19.23     144,000   $  24.33
    Options forfeited.............     (35,000)  $  23.81     (16,664)  $  26.18      (4,833)  $  19.99
    Options exercised.............    (470,082)  $  14.55    (191,283)  $  10.97     (74,719)  $  12.42
                                     ---------              ---------              ---------
  Outstanding at end of year......   1,362,629   $  24.04   1,230,411   $  17.51     924,075   $  15.39
                                     =========              =========              =========
  Exercisable at end of year......     358,177   $  18.79     616,591   $  14.89     665,676   $  12.65
                                     =========              =========              =========
Weighted average fair value of
  options granted during the year.   $   10.03              $    6.71
                                      ========               ========


        The following  table  summarizes  information  about the Company's stock
options outstanding at December 31, 1996:



                                  Options Outstanding                         Options Exercisable
                 ---------------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------
                      Number        Weighted Average     Weighted                             Weighted
   Range of       Outstanding at       Remaining         Average       Number Exercisable      Average
Exercise Prices  December 31, 1996  Contractual Life  Exercise Price  at December 31, 1996  Exercise Price
- ---------------  -----------------  ----------------  --------------  --------------------  --------------
                                                                             
  $  6 - 15           138,390          4.0 years         $  13.16            138,390           $  13.16
  $ 19 - 27           605,239          4.6 years         $  20.68            215,287           $  22.17
  $ 29 - 31           619,000          5.0 years         $  29.75              4,500           $  30.17
                    ---------                                                -------
                    1,362,629                                                358,177
                    =========                                                =======


       Loans. During 1995, the Compensation Committee approved loans aggregating
$870,000 to certain  officers of the Company and its subsidiaries to fund option
exercises  for and open market  purchases  of Company  common  stock.  Each loan
provides that one-third of the principal and all accrued interest will be deemed
paid on each of the first  three  anniversaries  of the loan if the  officer has
continued as an employee of the Company through that date.

       Retirement plan.  Effective  January 1, 1996, the Compensation  Committee
approved  a  deferred  compensation  retirement  plan  for the  officers  of the
Company.  Each officer is allowed to  contribute up to 25% of their base salary.
The Company will then provide a matching  contribution  of 100% of the officer's
contribution  limited  to the  first  10%  of the  officer's  base  salary.  The
Company's  matching  contribution  vests  immediately.  A trust  fund  has  been
established  by the  Company to  accumulate  the  contributions  made under this
retirement plan. The Company does not have a defined benefit retirement plan.

       The Company  recognized  $1.9  million,  $7.7 million and $4.1 million in
compensation  expense related to its Long-term  Incentive Plan during 1996, 1995
and 1994, respectively.

                                       44




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


NOTE H.     Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Plan

       During 1994, the Company  authorized and adopted a Non-Employee  Director
Equity  Compensation  Plan (the  "Director  Plan"),  which was  approved  by the
Company's stockholders.  Pursuant to the Director Plan, on the last business day
of the month in which the annual meeting of the  stockholders  of the Company is
held, each non-employee  director will automatically  receive an award of Common
Stock equal to 50% of the then  current  annual  retainer fee (which was $40,000
for 1996, 1995 and 1994).  This award is made in lieu of an amount of cash equal
to 50% of the annual  retainer  fee. The number of shares  included in each such
award is  determined  by dividing 50% of the annual  retainer fee by the closing
sales  price of the  Company's  common  stock on the  business  day  immediately
preceding the date of the award.  On May 31, 1996,  each  non-employee  director
received an award of 812 shares of common stock (which number was  calculated by
dividing $20,000 by $24.625,  the closing sales price of the common stock on May
30, 1996). On June 30, 1995,  each  non-employee  director  received an award of
1,025 shares of common stock (which number was calculated by dividing $20,000 by
$19.50,  the closing sales price of the common stock on June 29,  1995).  On May
31, 1994, each  non-employee  director received an award of 816 shares of common
stock (which number was  calculated by dividing  $20,000 by $24.50,  the closing
sales price of the common stock on May 27, 1994).

       When issued,  the shares of common stock awarded pursuant to the Director
Plan are subject to transfer restrictions that lapse on the first anniversary of
the date of the award. In addition,  if a non-employee  director's services as a
director  of the Company are  terminated  for any reason  before the next annual
meeting of the Company's  stockholders,  a portion of the shares are  forfeited,
with the number of  forfeited  shares  being  based on the  number of  regularly
scheduled  meetings of the Board of  Directors  remaining  to be held before the
next annual meeting of the Company's stockholders.

NOTE I.     Rights Agreement

       During  1991,  the Company  distributed  a dividend  of one common  share
purchase  right  ("Right")  for each share of common stock then  outstanding.  A
Right was or will be distributed for each share of common stock that was or will
be issued subsequent to February 19, 1991 until the occurrence of the earlier of
the  Distribution  Date (herein  defined),  the  redemption of the Rights or the
expiration of the Rights on February 19, 2001.  Initially,  each Right  entitles
the registered  holder to purchase from the Company one share of common stock at
a price per share of $52.50,  subject to adjustment.  The Rights are attached to
all  certificates  representing  shares  of  common  stock  outstanding,  and no
separate   certificates   representing   the  Rights  will  be   distributed  to
stockholders  until the earlier of (a) 10 days  following a public  announcement
that (1) a person or group  acquires  20% or more of the  outstanding  shares of
common  stock  or (2) a person  or  group  holding  10% of the  common  stock is
determined to have  intentions  and actions  adverse to the best interest of the
Company (an "Adverse Person") (persons in (1) or (2), an "Acquiring  Person") or
(b) 10 business days  following the  commencement  of a tender offer or exchange
offer that would result in a person or group beneficially  owning 20% or more of
the outstanding shares of common stock (the "Distribution Date"). The Rights are
not  exercisable  until the  Distribution  Date and will expire on February  19,
2001,  unless  earlier  redeemed by the Company.  If at any time  following  the
Rights Distribution Date (a) the Company is a surviving  corporation in a merger
or  combination  with an Acquiring  Person and the shares of common stock remain
outstanding  and  are  not  changed  or  exchanged,  (b) a  person  becomes  the
beneficial owner of 20% or more of the then outstanding  shares of common stock,
(c) an Acquiring  Person engages in one or more  "self-dealing"  transactions as
set  forth in the  rights  agreement  governing  the  Rights  or (d) a person is
determined  to be an Adverse  Person,  each holder of a Right then will have the
right to receive,  upon  exercise,  common stock (or, in certain  circumstances,
cash,  property  or other  securities  of the Company or an  acquiring  company)
having a value equal to two times the exercise  price of the Right.  Thereafter,
in general,  all Rights that are beneficially  owned by an Acquiring Person will
be void.  In the event that,  at any time  following  the date that a person has
become an  Acquiring  Person,  (i) the  Company is acquired in a merger or other
combination  transaction in which the Company is not the surviving entity,  (ii)
the Company  consolidates  with or merges with or into any other person pursuant
to which the Company is the surviving  entity but all or a part of the shares of
common stock are changed into or exchanged  for stock of another  person or cash
or other property or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's  assets or earning power
is sold or  transferred,  each holder of a Right (except Rights that  previously
have been voided as described above) shall thereafter have the right to receive,
upon exercise,  common stock or other securities of the acquiring company having
a value  equal to two times the  exercise  price of the Right.  The  Company may
redeem the  Rights in certain  circumstances.  Until a Right is  exercised,  the
holder of the  Right,  as such,  will have no  rights  as a  stockholder  of the
Company, including the right to vote or to receive dividends.

                                       45




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


NOTE J.     Commitments and Contingencies

       Severance  agreements.  On January  1, 1996,  the  Company  entered  into
severance  agreements with its officers to replace their  employment  agreements
that expired at the end of 1995. Salaries and bonuses for the Company's officers
are set by the  Compensation  Committee of the Company's Board of Directors (the
"Committee")  independent  of this  severance  agreement,  and the Committee can
grant  increases or  reductions  to base salary at its  discretion.  The current
annual salaries for the officers  covered under such severance  agreements total
approximately $3.5 million.

       Either the Company or the officer may terminate the officer's  employment
under the severance  agreement at any time.  The Company must pay the officer an
amount equal to one year's base salary if employment  is  terminated  because of
death,  disability,  or normal  retirement.  The Company must pay the officer an
amount equal to one year's base salary and  continue  health  insurance  for the
officer  and his  immediate  family  for  one  year  if the  Company  terminates
employment  without  cause or if the  officer  terminates  employment  with good
reason,  which occurs when reductions in the officer's base annual salary exceed
specified limits or when the officer's  responsibilities have been significantly
reduced.  If within  one year  after a change of  control  of the  Company,  the
Company  terminates  the  officer  without  cause or if the  officer  terminates
employment with good reason, the Company must pay the officer an amount equal to
2.99 times the sum of the  officer's  base salary plus target bonus for the year
and continue health  insurance for the officer and his immediate  family for one
year. If the officer terminates  employment with the Company without good reason
between six months and one year after a change in control, or at any time within
one year after a change in control if the officer is required to move,  then the
Company  must pay the  officer  one  year's  base  salary  and  continue  health
insurance  for the officer and his immediate  family for one year.  Officers are
also entitled to additional  payments for certain tax liabilities that may apply
to severance payments following a change of control.

       Indemnifications.  The Company has  indemnified its directors and certain
of its officers, employees and agents with respect to claims and damages arising
from  acts or  omissions  taken in such  capacity,  as well as with  respect  to
certain litigation.

       Legal actions.  The Company is party to various legal actions  incidental
to its business.  These lawsuits  primarily  involve claims for damages  arising
from oil and gas leases and ownership  interest  disputes.  The Company believes
that the ultimate  disposition  of these legal  actions will not have a material
adverse  effect on the Company's  consolidated  financial  position,  liquidity,
capital resources or future results of operations.  The Company will continue to
evaluate its litigation  matters on a  quarter-by-quarter  basis and will adjust
the litigation  reserve as appropriate to reflect the then current status of its
litigation.

       Lease  agreements.  The Company  leases  equipment and office  facilities
under  noncancellable  operating  leases on which  rental  expense for the years
ended  December 31, 1996,  1995 and 1994 was  approximately  $2.9 million,  $3.6
million and $1.5 million,  respectively.  Future minimum lease commitments under
noncancellable  operating  leases  at  December  31,  1996  are as  follows  (in
thousands):

     1997.......................................................  $  3,304
     1998.......................................................     2,419
     1999.......................................................     1,432
     2000.......................................................       835
     2001.......................................................       458
     Thereafter.................................................     1,132

       Crude oil purchase  agreements.  On September  23, 1996,  the Company and
Basis Petroleum,  Inc. (formerly Phibro Energy,  Inc.) entered into an agreement
that  supersedes  the prior  crude oil  purchase  agreement  and  memorandum  of
agreement  between the parties.  On November 25, 1996, the Company  consented to
the  assignment  of the  agreement to Genesis  Crude Oil,  L.P.  ("Genesis"),  a
limited partnership formed by Basis Petroleum, Inc. and Howell Corporation.  The
price to be paid by Genesis  for oil  purchased  under the  agreement  ("Genesis
Agreement")  is  to  be  competitive  with  prices  paid  by  other  substantial
purchasers in the same areas who are  significant  competitors  of Genesis.  The
price to be paid for oil  purchased  under  the  Genesis  Agreement  includes  a
market-related  bonus  that may vary  from  month to month  based  upon spot oil
prices at various  commodity trade points.  The term of the Genesis Agreement is
through June 30, 1998,  and it may continue  thereafter  subject to  termination
rights  afforded  each  party.  Salomon,  Inc.,  the  parent  company  of  Basis
Petroleum,

                                       46




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


Inc.  and a  subordinated  limited  partner  in  Genesis,  secures  the  payment
obligations under the Genesis Agreement with a $25 million payment guarantee.

       Certain  properties  acquired  from Mobil Oil  Corporation  ("Mobil") are
subject to a call on crude oil production  (the "Mobil Call Option").  The Mobil
Call  Option  provides a  continuing  option,  but no  obligation,  for Mobil to
purchase all crude oil produced from those  properties.  The purchase price that
Mobil must pay for production purchased pursuant to the Mobil Call Option is the
average  of the  daily  prices  as posted  by  specified  crude oil  purchasers,
including   Mobil,   during  the  month  of  delivery   without   reduction  for
transportation fees or other penalties.  Regardless of these pricing provisions,
if the  Company  has a bona  fide  purchase  offer  from a third  party  under a
contract with at least a six-month term that the Company desires to accept,  the
price  Mobil must pay is the price  under  that  offer for that  term.  If Mobil
elects not to match the third-party price for the term, the Company may sell the
production to the third party for that term.

NOTE K.     Preferred Stock of Subsidiary

       On March 29,  1994,  Parker & Parsley  Capital  LLC  ("P&P  Capital"),  a
limited life company  organized  under the laws of the Turks and Caicos  Islands
and a wholly-owned finance subsidiary of the Company, issued 3,776,400 shares of
6-1/4% Cumulative  Guaranteed Monthly Income  Convertible  Preferred Shares (the
"Preferred  Shares")  with a  liquidation  preference  of  $50  per  share.  The
proceeds,  net of  issuance  costs,  from the sale of the  Preferred  Shares was
approximately  $182.2 million.  During 1996, 1995 and 1994, the Company recorded
$12 million,  $12 million and $9.1 million,  respectively,  of interest  expense
associated with the Preferred Shares.

       Dividends on the Preferred Shares are payable in United States dollars at
an annual rate of 6-1/4% of the  liquidation  preference and are payable monthly
in arrears  on the last day of each  calendar  month.  Each  Preferred  Share is
convertible at the option of the holder at any time, unless previously  redeemed
or exchanged,  into the  Company's  common stock at the rate of 1.7778 shares of
common  stock  for each  Preferred  Share,  subject  to  adjustment  in  certain
circumstances.  On or after April 1, 1997,  the Preferred  Shares are subject to
exchange in whole or in part at the Company's  option,  for the number of shares
of common stock into which the Preferred Shares are convertible,  so long as the
closing price for the common stock equals or exceeds 125% of the then applicable
conversion  price  during  certain  periods and  certain  other  conditions  are
satisfied. The Preferred Shares are redeemable, at the option of P&P Capital, in
whole or in part,  from time to time on or after  April 1,  1997,  at an initial
redemption price of $52.1875 per share and declining  ratably  thereafter to $50
per share on and after April 1, 2004, plus, in each case, accumulated and unpaid
dividends to the date fixed for redemption,  but only if certain  conditions are
satisfied.  The Preferred Shares are subject to mandatory redemption on the 30th
anniversary  of the date of original  issuance.  The  Preferred  Shares are also
subject to exchange, in whole but not in part, on a share-for-share  basis, into
Series A  Convertible  Preferred  Stock of the Company (the  "Company  Preferred
Stock") at the option of the holders of a majority of all outstanding  Preferred
Shares upon the occurrence of certain events.  The Company  Preferred Stock will
have  dividend,   optional  conversion,   liquidation  preference  and  optional
redemption features substantially identical to the Preferred Shares but will not
be subject to mandatory redemption.

NOTE L.     Odd-Lot Repurchase Program

       In October 1996, the Company announced an odd-lot  repurchase program for
shareholders who, as of October 7, 1996,  individually  owned 99 or fewer shares
of Parker & Parsley  Petroleum  Company  Common Stock.  The Company  purchased a
total of  772,986  shares,  associated  with  approximately  25,000  shareholder
accounts,  and such shares were added to the Company's  shares held in treasury.
The  shares  were  purchased  at an  average  price of $30.17  per  share  which
represented the average of the five highest closing market prices as reported by
the New York Stock Exchange from October 8, 1996 through November 22, 1996, less
a processing fee of seventy-five cents per share. The accompanying  Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended  December 31, 1996,  includes  $23.3
million of treasury stock repurchases related to this program.

NOTE M.     Equity Offerings

       On  November 7, 1994 and June 30,  1994,  the  Company  completed  public
offerings of 4.5 million and 2.36 million shares of common stock,  respectively,
at a price of $25.00 per share and $25.25 per share, respectively. Aggregate net
proceeds of the offerings were $164.6 million.

                                       47




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


NOTE N.     Derivative Financial Instruments

       The  Company  has only  limited  involvement  with  derivative  financial
instruments and does not use them for trading purposes.  They are used to manage
well-defined  interest rate and commodity price risks. The Company is exposed to
credit  losses  in the  event of  nonperformance  by the  counterparties  to its
interest rate swap agreements and its commodity hedges. The Company anticipates,
however,   that  such  counterparties  will  be  able  to  fully  satisfy  their
obligations under the contracts. The Company does not obtain collateral or other
security to support  financial  instruments  subject to credit risk but monitors
the credit standing of the counterparties.

       Interest rate swap  agreements.  At December 31, 1996,  the Company was a
party to a series of interest rate swap  agreements  for an aggregate  amount of
$150 million with four  counterparties.  These agreements,  which have a term of
three  years,   effectively  convert  a  portion  of  the  Company's  fixed-rate
borrowings into floating-rate obligations. The weighted average fixed rate being
received by the  Company  over the term of these  agreements  is 6.62% while the
weighted  average  variable  rate being paid by the  Company  for the year ended
December 31, 1996 is 5.56%. The variable rate will be redetermined approximately
every six months based upon the London  interbank  offered rate at that point in
time. The accompanying  Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended
December 31, 1996  includes a reduction in interest  expense of $787 thousand to
account for the settlement of these interest rate swap agreements.

       Commodity hedges.  The Company utilizes various swap and option contracts
to (i) reduce the effect of the  volatility of price changes on the  commodities
the Company  produces  and sells,  (ii)  support the  Company's  annual  capital
budgeting  and  expenditure  plans and  (iii)  lock in  prices  to  protect  the
economics related to certain capital projects.

       Natural Gas. The Company employs a policy of hedging gas production based
on the index price upon which the gas is actually  sold in order to mitigate the
basis risk between  NYMEX prices and actual index prices.  The  following  table
sets forth the Company's outstanding gas swap contracts as of December 31, 1996.
Prices included herein represent the Company's  weighted average index price per
MMBtu and, as an additional  point of reference,  the weighted average price for
the portion of the Company's gas which is hedged based on NYMEX.

                                 First   Second    Third   Fourth
                                Quarter  Quarter  Quarter  Quarter   Total
                                -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
Gas production:
   1997 - Swap Contracts
     Volume (Bcf)                   8.5      6.0      2.9      2.6     20.0
     Index price per MMBtu      $  2.04  $  2.01   $ 1.89   $ 1.86  $  1.98
     NYMEX price per MMBtu      $  2.29  $  2.27   $ 2.15   $ 2.03  $  2.23

   1998 - Swap Contracts
     Volume (Bcf)                   2.5      1.8      1.4      1.4      7.1
     Index price per MMBtu      $  1.86  $  1.86   $ 1.86   $ 1.86  $  1.86
     NYMEX price per MMBtu      $  2.03  $  2.03   $ 2.03   $ 2.03  $  2.03

   1999 - Swap Contracts
     Volume (Bcf)                   1.4       .4       -        -       1.8
     Index price per MMBtu      $  1.86  $  1.86   $   -    $   -   $  1.86
     NYMEX price per MMBtu      $  2.03  $  2.03   $   -    $   -   $  2.03

        The Company  reports average gas prices per Mcf including the effects of
Btu content,  gathering and  transportation  costs, gas processing and shrinkage
and the net effect of the gas hedges.  The Company reported an average gas price
of $2.27 per Mcf for the year ended  December 31, 1996.  The  Company's  average
realized  price for physical gas sales  (excluding  hedge  results) for the same
period was $2.39 per Mcf. The comparable  average NYMEX prompt month closing for
the year ended December 31, 1996 was $2.50 per Mcf.

                                       48




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


        Crude Oil. All material purchase  contracts  governing the Company's oil
production are tied directly or indirectly to NYMEX prices.  The following table
sets forth the Company's outstanding oil swap contracts as of December 31, 1996.

                            First    Second     Third    Fourth
                           Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter    Total
                           -------   -------   -------   -------   -------
Oil production:
   1997 - Swap Contracts
     Volume (MMBbl)            1.9       1.5       1.2        .7       5.3
     Price per Bbl         $ 20.05    $19.56    $19.28    $18.56    $19.53

   1998 - Swap Contracts
     Volume (MMBbl)             .2        .2        .3        .2        .9
     Price per Bbl         $ 18.53    $18.53    $18.53    $18.53    $18.53

        The Company  reports average oil prices per Bbl including the effects of
oil quality,  gathering and  transportation  costs and the net effect of the oil
hedges. The Company reported an average oil price of $19.96 per Bbl for the year
ended December 31, 1996. The Company's  average  realized price for physical oil
sales  (excluding  hedge  results)  for the same period was $21.33 per Bbl.  The
comparable  average NYMEX prompt month  closing for the year ended  December 31,
1996 was $22.03 per Bbl.

NOTE O.     Sales to Major Customers

        The  Company's  share  of oil and  gas  production  is  sold to  various
purchasers.  The  Company is of the opinion  that the loss of any one  purchaser
would not have an adverse  effect on the  ability of the Company to sell its oil
and gas production.

        The following customers  individually accounted for more than 10% of the
consolidated oil and gas revenues of the Company:

                                             Percentage of Consolidated
     Customer                                    Oil and Gas Revenues
     --------                                --------------------------
                                             1996       1995       1994
                                             ----       ----       ----
     Genesis Crude Oil, L.P..............     28%        19%        17%
     Mobil Oil Corporation...............     22%        17%        16%

       At December 31, 1996, the amounts  receivable from Genesis and Mobil were
$12.7 million and $9.4 million, respectively,  which are included in the caption
"Accounts  receivable  - oil and gas  sales"  in the  accompanying  Consolidated
Balance Sheet.

NOTE P.     Gas Marketing

       Effective January 1, 1996, the Company, along with Apache Corporation and
Oryx Energy Company,  formed Producers Energy Marketing,  LLC  ("ProEnergy"),  a
natural gas  marketing  company  organized  to create a direct link  between gas
producers and purchasers. The venture is structured to flow through the benefits
arising  out of the  expanded  services  and the  economies  of  scale  from the
aggregation of  substantial  volumes of gas. The Company is obligated to sell to
ProEnergy  all  gas  production  (subject  to  certain  exclusions  relative  to
immaterial  volumes) for a period of five years that is owned or  controlled  by
the Company, or any affiliate, in North America (onshore and offshore), which is
not subject to a binding and enforceable gas sales contract in effect on July 1,
1996. The Company currently owns approximately  9.59% of ProEnergy which markets
approximately 1.8 MMBtu per day. As a result, as of January 1, 1996, the Company
no longer reports revenues or expenses associated with third party gas marketing
activities.

NOTE Q.     Disposition of Australasian Assets

       On March 28, 1996, the Company completed the sale of certain wholly-owned
Australian  subsidiaries  to Santos  Ltd.,  and on June 20,  1996,  the  Company
completed  the sale of another  wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Bridge Oil Timor Sea,
Inc., to Phillips Petroleum  International  Investment Company.  During the year
ended December 31, 1996, the Company received

                                       49




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


aggregate  consideration  of $237.5  million  for  these  combined  sales  which
consisted of $186.6 million of proceeds for the equity of such  entities,  $21.8
million  for  reimbursement  of  certain  intercompany  cash  advances,  and the
assumption  of such  subsidiaries'  net  liabilities,  exclusive  of oil and gas
properties,  of $29.1  million.  The  accompanying  Consolidated  Statements  of
Operations for the year ended December 31, 1996 includes a pre-tax gain of $83.3
million from the disposition of these subsidiaries (net of transaction  expenses
of $8.7  million) and an income tax  provision  of $16  million.  The income tax
provision  includes  $6.4  million  related  to the  write-off  of  certain  net
operating loss carryforwards which, with the sale of the income producing assets
in the Australian tax jurisdiction, will not be utilized in the future.

       The assets sold to Santos Ltd. consisted  primarily of properties located
in the  Cooper  Basin  in  Central  Australia,  the  Surat  Basin  in  Northeast
Australia,  the Carnarvon  Basin on the Northwest Shelf off the coast of Western
Australia,  the Otway Basin off the coast of Southeast Australia and the Central
Sumatra Basin in  Indonesia.  At December 31, 1995,  the Company's  interests in
these  properties  contained 32.1 million BOE of proved reserves  (consisting of
12.4 million Bbls of oil and 118.3 Bcf of gas),  representing  $133.8 million of
SEC 10 value.  The  accompanying  Consolidated  Statements of Operations for the
year ended  December  31, 1996  includes  the results of  operations  from these
properties prior to their sale on March 28, 1996.  During 1996, these properties
produced  349,500 Bbls of oil and 1,927,000 Mcf of gas. The Company  received an
average price of $19.55 per Bbl and $1.95 per Mcf from such  production or $10.6
million  in  total  revenues.  Total  production  costs  associated  with  these
properties  were $3.3 million ($4.92 per equivalent  Bbl) and depletion  expense
was $3.9 million ($5.84 per equivalent Bbl).

       The  wholly-owned  subsidiary  sold to Phillips  Petroleum  International
Investment  Company,  Bridge Oil Timor Sea, Inc. has a wholly owned  subsidiary,
Bridge  Oil Timor Sea Pty Ltd.,  which owns a 22.5%  interest  in the ZOCA 91-13
permit  in the  offshore  Bonaparte  Basin  in the Zone of  Cooperation  between
Australia and Indonesia.

NOTE R.     Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

       The Company adopted SFAS 121 in 1995. The Company undertook to review its
oil  and gas  properties  for  impairment  earlier  than  required  by SFAS  121
(adoption was required for fiscal years  beginning after December 15, 1995) as a
result of the  continuation of depressed  commodity  prices and to eliminate any
uncertainty  associated  with the magnitude of the noncash charge for impairment
of its oil and gas properties  under SFAS 121. In order to determine  whether an
impairment had occurred, the Company estimated the expected future cash flows of
its oil and gas  properties  and compared such future cash flows to the carrying
amount of the oil and gas  properties  to determine  if the carrying  amount was
recoverable.  For those oil and gas  properties  for which the  carrying  amount
exceeded the estimated future cash flows, an impairment was determined to exist;
therefore,  the  Company  adjusted  the  carrying  amount  of those  oil and gas
properties  to their fair value as  determined  by  discounting  their  expected
future cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with the risks involved in the
industry.  As a result of this process and an evaluation of unproven oil and gas
properties,  the Company  recognized  noncash  pre-tax charges of $129.7 million
($84.3 million after tax) related to its oil and gas properties during 1995. The
Company also  recognized a noncash  pre-tax charge of $748,000  ($486,000  after
tax) related to a natural gas processing facility in 1995.

NOTE S.     Income Taxes

       Income tax provision  (benefit) and amounts separately  allocated were as
follows:
                                                     Year ended December 31,
                                                    1996      1995       1994
                                                  -------   --------    -------
                                                         (in thousands)
Income (loss) before extraordinary item.........  $60,100   $(45,900)   $(6,500)
Extraordinary gain (loss).......................       -       2,300       (350)
Benefit arising from exercise of stock options..   (2,200)      (600)      (300)
Change in cumulative translation adjustment.....       -        (550)       500
                                                   ------    -------     ------
                                                  $57,900   $(44,750)   $(6,650)
                                                   ======    =======     ======
                                       50




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


       Income tax  provision  (benefit)  attributable  to income  (loss)  before
extraordinary item consists of the following:
                                                  Year ended December 31,
                                               1996        1995        1994
                                             --------    --------    --------
                                                      (in thousands)
     Current:
       U.S. federal.......................   $    300    $ (1,000)   $    150
       State and local....................         -           -          150
                                              -------     -------     -------
                                                  300      (1,000)        300
                                              -------     --------    -------
     Deferred:
       U.S. federal.......................     51,700     (35,500)     (1,650)
       Foreign (primarily Australia)......      8,100      (9,400)     (5,150)
                                              -------     --------    -------
                                               59,800      (44,900)    (6,800)
                                              -------     --------    -------
     Total................................   $ 60,100    $(45,900)   $ (6,500)
                                              =======     =======     =======

       Income (loss) before  income  taxes,  extraordinary  item consists of the
following:
                                                   Year ended December 31,
                                                  1996      1995       1994
                                                --------  ---------  --------
                                                       (in thousands)
    Income (loss)  before  income  taxes,
     extraordinary  item and  cumulative
     effect of accounting change:
      U.S. federal............................  $121,680  $(118,871) $  (3,664)
      Foreign (primarily Australia)...........    78,668    (31,136)   (16,827)
                                                 -------   --------   --------
                                                $200,348  $(150,007) $ (20,491)
                                                 =======   ========   ========

        Reconciliations  of the U.S.  federal  statutory  rate to the  Company's
effective rate for income (loss) before extraordinary item are as follows:

                                                       1996     1995      1994
                                                      ------   -------   -------

   U.S. federal statutory tax rate..................  35.0%    (35.0%)   (35.0%)
   Disposition of foreign subsidiaries..............  (6.9%)      -         -
   Amortization of foreign permanent differences....    -        3.1%      1.8%
   Rate differential on foreign operations..........    .4%      (.1%)     1.3%
   Other............................................   1.5%      1.4%       .2%
                                                      -----    ------    ------
   Consolidated effective tax rate..................  30.0%    (30.6%)   (31.7%)
                                                      =====    ======    ======

        The tax effects of temporary  differences  that give rise to significant
portions  of the  deferred  tax  assets and  deferred  tax  liabilities  were as
follows:
                                                          December 31,
                                                       1996          1995
                                                    ---------      ---------
                                                              (in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
  Net operating loss carryforwards................  $  23,704      $  70,882
  Alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards....      4,005          6,760
  Other accrued liabilities.......................      3,306          7,485
  Compensation, principally due to accrual for
    financial reporting purposes..................      2,579             -
  Other, net......................................      1,831          1,051
                                                     --------       --------
    Total gross deferred tax assets...............     35,425         86,178
                                                     --------       --------
Deferred tax liabilities:
  Oil and gas properties, principally due to
   differences in basis and depletion and the
   deduction of intangible drilling costs for
   tax purposes...................................     88,790         86,530
  Long-term debt, principally due to early
   extinguishment for book purposes...............         -           2,313
  Other, net......................................         35          1,035
                                                     --------       --------
    Total gross deferred tax liabilities..........     88,825         89,878
                                                     --------       --------
    Net deferred tax liability....................  $ (53,400)     $  (3,700)
                                                     ========       ========

                                       51




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994



        A valuation  allowance is provided  when it is more likely than not that
some  portion  of the  deferred  tax  assets  will  not be  realized.  Based  on
expectations  for the  future  and the  availability  of  certain  tax  planning
strategies  that would generate  taxable income to realize the net tax benefits,
if  implemented,  management has  determined  that taxable income of the Company
will more likely than not be sufficient to fully utilize available carryforwards
prior to their ultimate expiration.

        At December 31, 1996, the Company had net operating  loss  carryforwards
("NOLs")  for U.S.  federal  income tax  purposes  of $67.7  million,  which are
available to offset future regular taxable  income,  if any.  Additionally,  the
Company has  alternative  minimum tax net  operating  loss  carryforwards  ("AMT
NOLs") of $15.2  million,  which are  available  to  reduce  future  alternative
minimum taxable income, if any. These carryforwards expire as follows:

         Expiration Date                                 NOLs      AMT NOLs
         ---------------                               --------    --------
                                                          (in thousands)

         December 31, 2006...........................  $ 22,798    $  4,195
         December 31, 2009...........................    28,558       9,667
         December 31, 2010...........................    16,368       1,364
                                                        -------     -------
                                                       $ 67,724    $ 15,226
                                                        =======     =======

       As discussed in Note B, certain  subsidiaries  that are  consolidated for
financial  reporting  purposes are not eligible to be included in the  Company's
consolidated U.S. federal income tax return, and separate  provisions for income
taxes  have been  determined  for these  entities  or groups of  entities.  As a
result,  approximately  $35  million  of the  NOLs  and all of the AMT  NOLs are
limited in use to specific  entities or groups of entities.  In addition,  $22.9
million  and $4.2  million of the NOLs and AMT NOLs,  respectively,  are further
subject to  limitations  under  Section 382 of the Internal  Revenue  Code.  The
Company believes the utilization of its NOLs and AMT NOLs subject to the Section
382 limitations is limited in each taxable year to approximately $11.4 million.

       The tax returns  and the amount of taxable  income or loss are subject to
examination by U.S. federal,  state and foreign taxing authorities.  Current and
estimated  tax payments of  $970,000,  $93,000 and $5 million were made in 1996,
1995 and 1994, respectively.

NOTE T.     Operations by Geographic Area

       The Company  operates in one industry  segment.  During 1996, the Company
did not have  significant  operations in geographic  areas other than the United
States.  Information about the Company's operations for the years ended December
31, 1995 and 1994 by different  geographic  areas is shown  below.  During these
years,  the  Company  did not  have any  significant  operations  or  separately
identifiable assets other than those from the United States and Australia.



                                                       Year ended December 31,
                                             1995                                   1994
                              -----------------------------------   -----------------------------------
                                           Australia                             Australia
                                United     and Other                  United     and Other
                                States      Foreign      Total        States      Foreign      Total
                              ----------   ---------   ----------   ----------   ---------   ----------
                                                            (in thousands)
                                                                           
Operating revenue............ $  439,957   $  45,805   $  485,762   $  455,895   $  23,838   $  479,733
Loss before income taxes
  and extraordinary item..... $ (118,871)  $ (31,136)  $ (150,007)  $   (3,664)  $ (16,827)  $  (20,491)
Identifiable assets.......... $1,120,738   $ 198,491   $1,319,229   $1,395,253   $ 209,651   $1,604,904



                                       52





                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                       UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


Capitalized Costs
                                                   December 31,
                                              1996             1995
                                           ----------       ----------
                                                 (in thousands)
   Oil and Gas Properties:
     Proved oil and gas properties         $1,419,051       $1,450,290
     Unproved property                          7,331           14,574
                                            ---------        ---------
                                            1,426,382        1,464,864
     Less accumulated depletion              (424,594)        (383,825)
                                            ---------        ---------
     Net capitalized costs for oil
       and gas properties                  $1,001,788       $1,081,039
                                            =========        =========

Costs Incurred for Oil and Gas
 Producing Activities


                                          Property
                                      Acquisition Costs                                    Total
                                    --------------------    Exploration    Development     Costs
                                    Proved      Unproved       Costs          Costs       Incurred
                                   --------     --------    -----------    -----------    --------
                                                           (in thousands)
                                                                           
Year ended December 31, 1996:
  United States                    $ 15,699     $  5,255     $   31,568     $  168,553    $221,075
  Foreign (a)                            18           -           7,240          4,659      11,917
                                    -------      -------      ---------      ---------     -------
    Total costs incurred           $ 15,717     $  5,255     $   38,808     $  173,212    $232,992
                                    =======      =======      =========      =========     =======

Year ended December 31, 1995:
  United States                    $ 46,796     $    -       $    8,062     $  130,461    $185,319
  Australia and Other Foreign         1,698          -           21,129         10,877      33,704
                                    -------      -------      ---------      ---------     -------
    Total costs incurred           $ 48,494     $    -       $   29,191     $  141,338    $219,023
                                    =======      =======      =========      =========     =======

Year ended December 31, 1994:
  United States                    $401,826(b)  $ 30,308     $    8,370     $   93,175    $533,679
  Australia and Other Foreign       141,785       10,000         11,098          1,391     164,274
                                    -------      -------      ---------      ---------     -------
    Total costs incurred           $543,611(b)  $ 40,308     $   19,468     $   94,566    $697,953
                                    =======      =======      =========      =========     =======
<FN>
- ---------------

(a)  Includes $7.4 million of expenditures  related to the Company's  Australian
     properties  prior  to their  sale in 1996.  The  remainder  relates  to the
     Company's interests in Argentine properties.

(b)  Excludes  approximately  $1.9 million  associated  with  properties held by
     Bridge Oil Limited and $12.8 million  associated with  properties  acquired
     from PG&E Resources Company that were classified as assets held for resale.
</FN>


                                       53




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                       UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994




Results of Operations
                                             For the year ended December 31,
                                             1996         1995         1994
                                           ---------    ---------    ---------
                                                     (in thousands)
                                                            
UNITED STATES
Oil and gas revenues                       $ 385,198    $ 329,915    $ 313,764
Production costs                            (106,898)    (118,487)    (120,687)
Exploration and abandonments                  (9,222)      (6,795)      (8,774)
Geological and geophysical                    (7,042)      (2,302)      (3,834)
Depletion                                    (98,655)    (125,165)    (120,520)
Impairment of oil and gas properties              -      (129,745)          -
                                            --------     --------     --------
                                             163,381      (52,579)      59,949
Income tax benefit (provision) (a)           (57,183)      18,403      (20,982)
                                            --------     --------     --------
Results of operations for oil and gas
  producing activities                     $ 106,198    $ (34,176)   $  38,967
                                            ========     ========     ========
AUSTRALIA
Oil and gas revenues                       $  10,591    $  45,805    $  23,838
Production costs                              (3,300)     (12,418)      (6,431)
Exploration and abandonments                     (15)      (6,779)      (3,401)
Geological and geophysical                    (1,420)      (6,874)      (3,332)
Depletion                                     (3,917)     (20,303)     (11,182)
                                            --------     --------     --------
                                               1,939         (569)        (508)
Income tax benefit (provision) (a)              (698)         205          168
                                            --------     --------     --------
Results of operations for oil and gas
  producing activities                     $   1,241    $    (364)   $    (340)
                                            ========     ========     ========
ARGENTINA
Oil and gas revenues                       $   1,142    $      -     $      -
Production costs                                (136)          -            -
Exploration and abandonments                  (3,416)      (2,857)        (170)
Geological and geophysical                      (592)      (1,945)      (1,236)
Depletion                                       (231)          -            -
                                            --------     --------     --------
                                              (3,233)      (4,802)      (1,406)
Income tax benefit (a)                         1,164        1,729          464
                                            --------     --------     --------
Results of operations for oil and gas
  producing activities                     $  (2,069)   $  (3,073)   $    (942)
                                            ========     ========     ========
TOTAL
Oil and gas revenues                       $ 396,931    $ 375,720    $ 337,602
Production costs                            (110,334)    (130,905)    (127,118)
Exploration and abandonments                 (12,653)     (16,431)     (12,345)
Geological and geophysical                    (9,054)     (11,121)      (8,402)
Depletion                                   (102,803)    (145,468)    (131,702)
Impairment of oil and gas properties              -      (129,745)          -
                                            --------     --------     --------
                                             162,087      (57,950)      58,035
Income tax benefit (provision) (a)           (56,717)      20,337      (20,350)
                                            --------     --------     --------
Results of operations for oil and gas
  producing activities                     $ 105,370    $ (37,613)   $  37,685
                                            ========     ========     ========
<FN>
- ---------------

(a) The income tax benefit (provision) is calculated using the current statutory
tax rate for each jurisdiction.
</FN>

                                       54




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                       UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


Reserve Quantity Information

       The  estimates of the Company's  proved oil and gas  reserves,  which are
located  principally in the United States,  are based on evaluations  audited by
independent  petroleum  engineers with respect to the Company's major properties
and prepared by the Company's  engineers  with respect to all other  properties.
Reserves were estimated in accordance  with  guidelines  established by the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Accounting Standards Board,
which require that reserve  estimates be prepared  under  existing  economic and
operating  conditions with no provision for price and cost escalations except by
contractual  arrangements.  The United States reserve estimates for 1996 utilize
an oil price of $24.55  per Bbl  (reflecting  adjustments  for oil  quality  and
gathering and transportation costs) and a gas price of $3.97 per Mcf (reflecting
adjustments  for  BTU  content,  gathering  and  transportation  costs  and  gas
processing and shrinkage).

       Oil  and  gas  reserve   quantity   estimates  are  subject  to  numerous
uncertainties inherent in the estimation of quantities of proved reserves and in
the  projection  of future  rates of  production  and the timing of  development
expenditures.  The  accuracy of such  estimates  is a function of the quality of
available data and of engineering  and geological  interpretation  and judgment.
Results of subsequent  drilling,  testing and production may cause either upward
or downward revision of previous estimates.  Further,  the volumes considered to
be  commercially  recoverable  fluctuate  with  changes in prices and  operating
costs. The Company  emphasizes that reserve  estimates are inherently  imprecise
and that estimates of new discoveries are more imprecise than those of currently
producing oil and gas properties.  Accordingly,  these estimates are expected to
change as additional information becomes available in the future.

                                       55




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                       UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994



                                           Oil (Bbls)                            Natural Gas (Mcf)
                             --------------------------------------  -------------------------------------
                              United                                  United                                   Total
                              States  Australia  Argentina   Total    States  Australia  Argentina   Total     BOE's
                             -------  ---------  ---------  -------  -------  ---------  ---------  --------  -------
                                                                   (in thousands)
                                                                                   
Oil and Gas Producing
  Activities:
Total Proved Reserves:
Balance, January 1, 1994      94,004        -          -     94,004  527,752         -         -     527,752  181,963
  Revisions:
   Revisions of previous
    estimates                 15,141      (199)        -     14,942   10,318        184        -      10,502   16,692
   Reserves added by
    development drilling      11,935        -          -     11,935   55,617         -         -      55,617   21,205
  Purchases of minerals-
    in-place                  25,822    13,884         -     39,706  243,719    108,880        -     352,599   98,472
  New discoveries and
    extensions                   135        -          -        135      452         -         -         452      210
  Production                 (11,267)     (880)        -    (12,147) (75,040)    (4,634)       -     (79,674) (25,426)
  Sales of minerals-in-place  (4,034)       -          -     (4,034) (39,740)        -         -     (39,740) (10,657)
                             -------   -------      -----   -------  -------   --------     -----   --------  -------
Balance,
  December 31, 1994          131,736    12,805         -    144,541  723,078    104,430        -     827,508  282,459
  Revisions:
   Revisions of previous
    estimates                  9,211     1,212         -     10,423   80,571     22,493        -     103,064   27,600
   Reserves added by
    development drilling      18,486        -          -     18,486   61,945         -         -      61,945   28,810
  Purchases of minerals-
    in-place                   4,309        -          -      4,309   82,713         -         -      82,713   18,094
  New discoveries and
    extensions                   761        -          -        761    6,015         -         -       6,015    1,764
  Production                 (11,328)   (1,574)        -    (12,902) (76,669)    (8,626)       -     (85,295) (27,118)
  Sales of minerals-in-place (18,284)       -          -    (18,284) (99,044)        -         -     (99,044) (34,791)
                             -------   -------      -----   -------  -------   --------     -----   --------  -------
Balance,
  December 31, 1995          134,891    12,443         -    147,334  778,609    118,297        -     896,906  296,818
  Revisions:
   Revisions of previous
    estimates                  3,652        -          -      3,652  (11,790)        -         -     (11,790)   1,687
   Reserves added by
    development drilling      38,962        -          -     38,962  162,885         -         -     162,885   66,110
  Purchases of minerals-
    in-place                     300        -          -        300   11,494         -         -      11,494    2,216
  New discoveries and
    extensions                   760        -       1,159     1,919   17,607         -      1,108    18,715    5,038
  Production                 (10,872)     (349)       (54)  (11,275) (73,924)    (1,927)       -     (75,851) (23,916)
  Sales of minerals-in-place  (4,857)  (12,094)        -    (16,951) (56,613)  (116,370)       -    (172,983) (45,782)
                             -------   -------      -----   -------  -------   --------     -----   --------  -------
Balance,
  December 31, 1996          162,836        -       1,105   163,941  828,268         -      1,108    829,376  302,171
                             =======   =======      =====   =======  =======   ========     =====   ========  =======
Proved Developed Reserves:
  January 1, 1994             74,217        -          -     74,217  442,270         -         -     442,270  147,929
                             =======   =======      =====   =======  =======   ========     =====   ========  =======
  December 31, 1994           99,520     7,548         -    107,068  591,472     31,303        -     622,775  210,864
                             =======   =======      =====   =======  =======   ========     =====   ========  =======
  December 31, 1995          101,310     7,610         -    108,920  615,328     30,738        -     646,066  216,598
                             =======   =======      =====   =======  =======   ========     =====   ========  =======
  December 31, 1996          126,163        -         207   126,370  660,174         -         -     660,174  236,399
                             =======   =======      =====   =======  =======   ========     =====   ========  =======


                                       56




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                      UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994


Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows

       The standardized  measure of discounted future net cash flows is computed
by applying year-end prices of oil and gas (with  consideration of price changes
only to the extent provided by contractual arrangements) to the estimated future
production of proved oil and gas reserves  less  estimated  future  expenditures
(based on year-end  costs) to be incurred in developing and producing the proved
reserves,  discounted  using a rate of 10% per  year to  reflect  the  estimated
timing of the future cash flows. Future income taxes are calculated by comparing
discounted  future  cash flows to the tax basis of oil and gas  properties  plus
available  carryforwards  and credits and  applying the current tax rates to the
difference.

       Discounted  future  cash flow  estimates  like those  shown below are not
intended to  represent  estimates  of the fair value of oil and gas  properties.
Estimates  of fair value should also  consider  probable  reserves,  anticipated
future oil and gas prices, interest rates, changes in development and production
costs and risks  associated with future  production.  Because of these and other
considerations,  any  estimate  of fair  value  is  necessarily  subjective  and
imprecise.


                                       57




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                       UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994




                                                      For the year ended December 31,
                                                      1996         1995          1994
                                                  -----------   -----------   -----------
                                                              (in thousands)
                                                                     
UNITED STATES
 Oil and gas producing activities:
   Future cash inflows                            $ 7,280,710   $ 4,134,327   $ 3,447,519
   Future production costs                         (2,325,274)   (1,618,191)   (1,513,188)
   Future development costs                          (196,410)     (164,794)     (133,580)
                                                   ----------    ----------    ----------
   Future net cash flows before taxes               4,759,026     2,351,342     1,800,751
   10% annual discount factor                      (2,421,698)   (1,119,604)     (801,575)
                                                   ----------    ----------    ----------
   Discounted future cash flows before taxes        2,337,328     1,231,738       999,176
   Discounted future income taxes                    (537,804)     (131,894)      (22,436)
                                                   ----------    ----------    ----------
   Standardized measure of discounted future
     net cash flows                               $ 1,799,524   $ 1,099,844   $   976,740
                                                   ==========    ==========    ==========
AUSTRALIA
Oil and gas producing activities:
   Future cash inflows                            $        -    $   428,191   $   358,903
   Future production costs                                 -       (136,681)      (88,630)
   Future development costs                                -        (47,085)      (48,251)
                                                   ----------    ----------    ----------
   Future net cash flows before taxes                      -        244,425       222,022
   10% annual discount factor                              -       (110,674)     (102,555)
                                                   ----------    ----------    ----------
   Discounted future cash flows before taxes               -        133,751       119,467
   Discounted future income taxes                          -        (29,806)      (24,550)
                                                   ----------    ----------    ----------
   Standardized measure of discounted future
     net cash flows                               $        -    $   103,945   $    94,917
                                                   ==========    ==========    ==========
ARGENTINA
Oil and gas producing activities:
   Future cash inflows                            $    28,211   $        -    $        -
   Future production costs                             (8,099)           -             -
   Future development costs                            (4,456)           -             -
                                                   ----------    ----------            -
   Future net cash flows before taxes                  15,656            -             -
   10% annual discount factor                          (7,615)           -             -
                                                   ----------    ----------            -
   Discounted future cash flows before taxes            8,041            -             -
   Discounted future income taxes                          -             -             -
                                                   ----------    ----------    ----------
   Standardized measure of discounted future
     net cash flows                               $     8,041   $        -    $        -
                                                   ==========    ==========    ==========
TOTAL
Oil and gas producing activities:
   Future cash inflows                            $ 7,308,921   $ 4,562,518   $ 3,806,422
   Future production costs                         (2,333,373)   (1,754,872)   (1,601,818)
   Future development costs                          (200,866)     (211,879)     (181,831)
                                                   ----------    ----------    ----------
   Future net cash flows before taxes               4,774,682     2,595,767     2,022,773
   10% annual discount factor                      (2,429,313)   (1,230,278)     (904,130)
                                                   ----------    ----------    ----------
   Discounted future cash flows before taxes        2,345,369     1,365,489     1,118,643
   Discounted future income taxes                    (537,804)     (161,700)      (46,986)
                                                   ----------    ----------    ----------
   Standardized measure of discounted future
     net cash flows                               $ 1,807,565   $ 1,203,789   $ 1,071,657
                                                   ==========    ==========     =========

                                       58




                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY

                       UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994




                                                            Year ended December 31,
                                                        1996         1995         1994 
                                                     ----------   ----------   ----------
                                                                (in thousands)
                                                                      
Oil and Gas Producing Activities:
  Oil and gas sales, net of production costs         $ (286,597)  $ (244,815)  $ (210,484)
  Net changes in prices and production costs            866,196      221,581      (25,789)
  Extensions and discoveries                             53,314       12,321        1,781
  Sales of minerals-in-place                           (185,859)    (139,250)     (63,581)
  Purchases of minerals-in-place                         20,606       53,628      451,127
  Revisions of estimated future development costs       (73,587)     (47,459)     (20,383)
  Revisions of previous quantity estimates and
     reserves added by development drilling             569,529      288,445      159,210
  Accretion of discount                                 123,174      105,891       90,190
  Changes in production rates, timing and other        (106,896)      (3,496)       1,504
                                                      ---------    ---------    ---------
  Change in present value of future net revenues        979,880      246,846      383,575
  Net change in present value of future income taxes   (376,104)    (114,714)     (43,502)
                                                      ---------    ---------    ---------
                                                        603,776      132,132      340,073
  Balance, beginning of year                          1,203,789    1,071,657      731,584
                                                      ---------    ---------    ---------
  Balance, end of year                               $1,807,565   $1,203,789   $1,071,657
                                                      =========    =========    =========

Selected Quarterly Financial Results
                                                              Quarter
                                        --------------------------------------------------
                                          First      Second(a)       Third       Fourth(a)
                                        --------     ---------     ---------     ---------
                                              (in thousands, except per share data)
1996
       Operating revenues               $103,444     $  99,674     $  97,019     $ 120,608
       Total revenues                    118,282       182,508       111,230       123,323
       Costs and expenses                 91,272        82,952        74,765        86,006
       Net income                         14,710        80,156        20,965        24,417
       Net income per share                  .41          2.24           .58           .68
1995
       Operating revenues               $123,580     $ 126,760     $ 113,347     $ 122,075
       Total revenues                    122,341       152,449       115,329       123,627
       Costs and expenses                143,919       244,453       124,836       150,545
       Loss before extraordinary item    (14,778)      (62,403)       (6,908)      (20,018)
       Loss before extraordinary item
                per share                   (.42)        (1.77)         (.20)         (.56)
       Net loss                          (14,778)      (62,403)       (6,908)      (15,680)
       Net loss per share                   (.42)        (1.77)         (.20)         (.44)
<FN>
- ----------

(a)    The  second  and fourth  quarter  of 1995  include a SFAS 121  impairment
       charge of $101.3 million and $29.2 million,  respectively.  See Note R of
       the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements above.
</FN>

                                       59





ITEM 9.     CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
            FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None


                                    PART III


ITEM 10.    DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

       The  information  required  in  response to this item is set forth in the
Company's  definitive  proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to
be held in 1997 and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 11.    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

       The  information  required  in  response to this item is set forth in the
Company's  definitive  proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to
be held in 1997 and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12.    SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
            MANAGEMENT

       The  information  required  in  response to this item is set forth in the
Company's  definitive  proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to
be held in 1997 and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13.    CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

       The  information  required  in  response to this item is set forth in the
Company's  definitive  proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to
be held in 1997 and is incorporated herein by reference.


                                       60





                                    PART IV.

ITEM 14.    EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

       Listing of Financial Statements and Exhibits

  Financial Statements

       The  following  consolidated  financial statements  of  the  Company  are
included in "Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data":

       Independent Auditors' Report
       Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1996 and 1995
       Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31,
         1996, 1995 and 1994
       Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the years ended
         December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
       Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
         December 31, 1996,  1995 and 1994
       Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
       Unaudited Supplementary Information

       All other  statements  and schedules  for which  provision is made in the
applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission have
been omitted  because they are not required  under related  instructions  or are
inapplicable,  or the  information  is shown  in the  financial  statements  and
related notes.

  Exhibits

Exhibit
Number                                  Description

   2.1   -    Agreement  of  Sale and Purchase  dated June 6, 1994,  between the
              Company and PG&E  Resources Company (incorporated  by reference to
              Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June
              6, 1994, Commission File No. 1-10695).

   2.2   -    Offer  by  Parker & Parsley  Petroleum  Australia  Pty  Limited to
              Acquire  all   of  the  Ordinary  Shares  in  Bridge  Oil  Limited
              (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Company's Current
              Report  on  Form  8-K  dated  June 6,  1994,  Commission  File No.
              1-10695).

   3.1   -    Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated
              by  reference  to  Exhibit  3.1  to  the   Company's  Registration
              Statement on Form S-4  dated  December 31, 1990,  Registration No.
              33-38436).

   3.2   -    Restated  By-laws  of the  Company (incorporated  by  reference to
              Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's  Registration  Statement on  Form S-4
              dated December 31, 1990, Registration Statement No. 33-38436).

   4.1   -    Form of Certificate of Common Stock,  par value $.01 per share, of
              the  Company  (incorporated  by  reference to  Exhibit 4.2  to the
              Company's  Registration  Statement  on Form S-4 dated December 31,
              1990, Registration No. 33-38436).

   4.2   -    Rights  Agreement  of the  Company  (incorporated  by reference to
              Exhibit  4.1  to the  Company's  Current  Report on Form 8-K dated
              February 19, 1991, Commission File No. 1-10695).

   4.3   -    First  Amendment  to Rights Agreement of the Company,  dated as of
              March 18, 1994 (incorporated by reference  to Exhibit  4.4A to the
              Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated  June 24, 1994,
              Registration No. 33-79920).

   4.4   -    Certificate  of  Designations of  Series A  Convertible  Preferred
              Stock  of the  Company,  dated  March 24,  1994  (incorporated  by
              references to Exhibit 4.4B to the Company's Registration Statement
              on Form S-3 dated June 24, 1994, Registration No. 33-79920).

                                       61





Exhibit
Number                                  Description

   --   -    Indentures  relating to  $50,000,000  principal  amount  of  8-1/2%
             Convertible  Subordinated  Debentures due 2005 of Dorchester Master
             Limited Partnership  ($3,762,000  million principal amount of which
             were outstanding  and held by  nonaffiliates at  December 31, 1996)
             and  $100,000,000 principal amount of  9-1/2% Senior Notes due 2000
             of Bridge Oil  (U.S.A.) Inc.  ($2,063,000 principal amount of which
             were outstanding at  December 31, 1996)  have been omitted pursuant
             to  Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A)  of Regulation S-K.   The Company hereby
             agrees to  furnish a copy  of such  indenture to the Securities and
             Exchange Commission upon request.

   --   -    Indenture  (the  "Indenture")  relating to  $150,000,000  principal
             amount  of  8-7/8% Senior Notes Due  2005 of  the  Company  and  to
             $150,000,000  principal amount of  8-1/4%  Senior Notes Due 2007 of
             the  Company  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  4.1 to the
             Company's  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K  dated  April  12,  1995,
             Commission File No. 1-10695).

   --   -    Form of 8-7/8% Senior Notes Due 2005 dated as of April 12, 1995, in
             the  aggregate  principal  amount of  $150,000,000,  together  with
             Officers' Certificate dated  April 12, 1995, establishing the terms
             of the  8-7/8% Senior Notes  Due 2005  pursuant  to  the  Indenture
             (incorporated  by  reference   to  Exhibit  4.2  to  the  Company's
             Quarterly Report on  Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30,  1995,
             Commission File No. 1-10695).

   --   -    Form of  8-1/4%  Senior Notes Due 2007 dated as of August 22, 1995,
             in  the aggregate principal  amount of $150,000,000,  together with
             Officers' Certificate dated August 22, 1995, establishing the terms
             of the  8-1/4%  Senior  Notes Due  2007  pursuant  to the Indenture
             (incorporated by reference to  Exhibit 1.2 to the Company's Current
             Report  on  Form 8-K  dated  August 17, 1995,  Commission  File No.
             1-10695).

 10.1+  -    Parker & Parsley  Petroleum Company Long-term  Incentive Plan dated
             February 19, 1991 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1  to the
             Company's  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-8, Registration No.
             33-38971).

 10.2+  -    First Amendment to the Parker & Parsley Petroleum Company Long-term
             Incentive Plan dated August 23, 1991  (incorporated by reference to
             Exhibit 10.2  to the Company's  Registration Statement  on Form S-1
             dated February 28, 1992, Registration No. 33-46082).

 10.3+  -    Amended  and  Restated  Indemnification  Agreement,   dated  as  of
             February  15,  1995,  between the Company  and  Scott D. Sheffield,
             together  with   a  schedule  identifying  substantially  identical
             agreements  between  the Company  and each  of  the Company's other
             directors and Named Executive Officers and setting forth the
             material details in which those  agreements differ from the Amended
             and  Restated  Indemnification  Agreement  filed  (incorporated  by
             reference to  Exhibit 10.4  to the Company's  Annual Report on Form
             10-K  for the  year  ended  December 31,  1994, Commission File No.
             1-10695).

 10.4+  -    Agreement of Partnership of P&P Employees 89-B Conv., L.P.
             (formerly  P&P  Employees  89-B GP),  dated October 31, 1989, among
             Parker & Parsley,  Ltd.  and  the  Investor  Partners  (as  defined
             therein, which includes individuals who are directors and executive
             officers of the  Company),  together  with a  schedule  identifying
             substantially  identical documents  and setting  forth the material
             details in which those documents differ from the foregoing document
             (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.50  to  the Company's
             Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-4  dated  December  31,  1990,
             Registration No. 33-38436).

 10.5+  -    Amendment  to  Agreement  of  Partnership of P&P Employees 89-B GP,
             dated May 31,  1990,  among Parker & Parsley, Ltd. and the Investor
             Partners  (as  defined therein,  which includes individuals who are
             directors  and executive officers of the Company),  together with a
             schedule identifying  substantially identical documents and setting
             forth the material details in which those documents differ from the
             foregoing document  (incorporated by reference to  Exhibit 10.51 to
             the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated December 31,
             1990, Registration No. 33-38436).

                                       62





Exhibit
Number                                  Description

 10.6+  -    Schedule identifying additional  documents  substantially identical
             to the Amendment to Agreement of Partnership of  P&P Employees 89-B
             GP included as Exhibit 10.5  and setting forth the material details
             in which those documents differ from that document (incorporated by
             reference to Exhibit 10.52 to the Company's  Registration Statement
             on Form S-1 dated February 28, 1992, Registration No. 33-46082).

 10.7+  -    Agreement of  Partnership of  P&P  Employees  90 Spraberry  Private
             Development  GP,  dated October 16,  1990,  among Parker & Parsley,
             Ltd.,  James  D.  Moring,  and  the  General  Partners  (as defined
             therein, which includes individuals who are directors and executive
             officers  of the  Company),  and  form of Amendment to Agreement of
             Partnership of  P&P Employees  90 Spraberry Private Development GP,
             together  with  a  schedule  identifying  substantially   identical
             documents  and setting  forth the  material  details in which those
             documents  differ from  the  foregoing  document  (incorporated  by
             reference to  Exhibit 10.52 to the Company's Registration Statement
             on Form S-4 dated December 31, 1990, Registration No. 33-38436).

 10.8+  -    Amendment to Agreement of Partnership of  Parker & Parsley 90-A GP,
             dated February 19, 1991, among Parker & Parsley Development Company
             and  the  Investor  Partners  (as  defined therein,  which includes
             individuals  who  are  directors  and  executive  officers  of  the
             Company),   together  with  a  schedule  identifying  substantially
             identical documents and setting forth the material details in which
             those documents differ from the foregoing document (incorporated by
             reference to Exhibit 10.58 to the Company's  Registration Statement
             on Form S-1 dated February 28, 1992, Registration No. 33-46082).

 10.9+  -    Agreement of Partnership of P&P Employees 91-A, GP, dated September
             30,  1991,  among Parker & Parsley Development  Company,  James  D.
             Moring and the General Partners (as defined therein, which includes
             individuals  who  are  directors  and  executive  officers  of  the
             Company),   together  with  a  schedule  identifying  substantially
             identical documents and setting forth the material details in which
             those documents differ from the foregoing document (incorporated by
             reference to Exhibit 10.61 to the Company's  Registration Statement
             on Form S-1 dated February 28, 1992, Registration No. 33-46082).

10.10+  -    Development  Drilling  Program Agreement  of Parker & Parsley  91-A
             Development Drilling  Program,  dated  September  30,  1991,  among
             Parker & Parsley Development Company, the P&P Employee Participants
             (as defined therein,  which includes  individuals who are directors
             and executive officers of the Company), P&P Employees 91-A, GP, and
             Parker & Parsley  91-A,  L.P., together with a schedule identifying
             substantially  identical  documents and  setting forth the material
             details in which those documents differ from the foregoing document
             (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.63  to the  Company's
             Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-1  dated  February  28,  1992,
             Registration No. 33-46082).

10.11+  -    Development Drilling Program Agreement dated August 1,  1989, among
             Parker & Parsley, Ltd., Parker & Parsley Development Partners L.P.,
             certain  key  employees of  Parker & Parsley, Ltd.  (which includes
             individuals  who  are  directors  and  executive  officers  of  the
             Company)  and  related  persons,  P&P Employees  89-A GP,  Parker &
             Parsley 89-A GP, and Parker & Parsley  89-A, L.P.,  together with a
             schedule identifying  substantially identical documents and setting
             forth the material details in which those documents differ from the
             foregoing document (incorporated by reference to  Exhibit  10.56 to
             the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated December 31,
             1990, Registration No. 33-38436).

10.12+  -    Amendment to Development Drilling Program Agreement, dated February
             19,  1991,  amending  the  Development  Drilling  Program Agreement
             included  as Exhibit 10.11,  together  with a  schedule identifying
             substantially  identical  documents and  setting forth the material
             details in which those documents differ from the foregoing document
             (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.66  to  the Company's
             Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-1  dated  February  28,  1992,
             Registration No. 33-46082).

10.13+  -    Amendment to Agreement of Partnership of P&P Employees 90 Spraberry
             Private Development GP,  dated April 22,  1991,  among the Partners
             (as defined  therein,  which includes individuals who are directors
             and executive officers of the Company )  (incorporated by reference
             to  Exhibit 10.67  to the  Company's Registration Statement on Form
             S-1 dated February 28, 1992, Registration No. 33-46082).

                                       63





Exhibit
Number                              Description

10.14+  -    Agreement of Limited  Partnership of  Parker & Parsley  1992 Direct
             Investment Program, Ltd., dated as of July 24, 1992, among Parker &
             Parsley  Development  Company,   as managing  general partner,  and
             certain key employees of the Company (including individuals who are
             directors and executive officers of the Company),  as  non-managing
             general partners and limited partners (incorporated by reference to
             Exhibit 10.57 to the  Company's Annual Report  on Form 10-K for the
             year ended December 31, 1993, Commission File No. 1-10695).

10.15+  -    Agreement of Limited  Partnership  of  Parker & Parsley 1993 Direct
             Investment Program, Ltd., dated as of January 1, 1993, among Parker
             & Parsley  Development  Company,  as managing general partner,  and
             certain key employees of the Company (including individuals who are
             directors and executive officers  of the Company),  as non-managing
             general partners and limited partners (incorporated by reference to
             Exhibit 10.49 to the  Company's Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the
             year ended December 31, 1993, Commission File No. 1-10695).

10.16+  -    Agreement of  Limited  Partnership of  Parker & Parsley 1994 Direct
             Investment Program, Ltd., dated as of January 1, 1994, among Parker
             & Parsley Development Company,  as  managing  general partner,  and
             certain key employees of the Company (including individuals who are
             directors and executive officers of the Company),  as  non-managing
             general partners and limited partners (incorporated by reference to
             Exhibit 10.20 to the Company's  Annual Report on  Form 10-K for the
             year ended December 31, 1994, Commission File No. 1-10695).

10.17+  -    Forms of Stock Acquisition Loan Agreements  entered into as of June
             15,  1995,  between  the  Company  and  the  officers identified on
             Schedule  I  thereto,  providing  for  the Company's  loans to such
             officers  of the  amounts respectively  identified  on  Schedule  I
             thereto,  for the purpose of  acquiring the Company's Common Stock,
             par  value $0.01 per  share  (incorporated by reference  to Exhibit
             10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on  Form 10-Q for the period
             ended June 30, 1995, Commission File No. 1-10695).

10.18+  -    Severance Agreement dated as of January 1, 1996 between the Company
             and  Scott D.  Sheffield,  together  with  a  schedule  identifying
             substantially identical agreements  between the Company and each of
             the other Named Executive Officers identified on Schedule I for the
             purpose  of  defining  the  payment  of  certain  benefits upon the
             termination of the officer's employment under certain circumstances
             (incorporated by reference  to the  Company's Annual Report on Form
             10-K  for  the year  ended December  31,  1995, Commission File No.
             1-10695).

10.19+  -    Omnibus Amendment to Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreements, included
             as part of the Long-term Incentive Plan,  dated as of  November 16,
             1995,  between the Company and  Named Executive Officers identified
             on  Schedule I  setting forth  additional  details  relating to the
             Long-term  Incentive   Plan   (incorporated  by  reference  to  the
             Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K  for the year ended December
             31, 1995, Commission File No. 1-10695).

10.20+  -    Parker & Parsley  Petroleum Company  Annual Bonus  Program  for Key
             Employees  dated  July  13,  1992  (incorporated  by  reference  to
             Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration  Statement  on Form  S-8,
             Registration No. 33-49612).

10.21+  -    Registration of  additional shares under Parker & Parsley Petroleum
             Company's   Long-term   Incentive  Plan   dated   April  14,   1992
             (incorporated  by reference to the Company's Registration Statement
             on Form S-8, Registration No. 33-47168).

10.22+  -    Parker & Parsley  Petroleum Company  Non-Employee  Director  Equity
             Compensation Plan dated May 26,  1994 (incorporated by reference to
             Exhibit  4.4  to the Company's  Registration Statement on Form S-8,
             Registration No. 33-79480).

                                       64





Exhibit
Number                              Description

10.23P  -    Credit  Facility  Agreement,  dated as of  July  31,  1996, between
             Parker & Parsley Petroleum  Company as  Borrower and NationsBank of
             Texas,   N.A.,   as   Administrative   Agent,   and  CIBC  Inc.  as
             Documentation Agent, and Bank of America National Trust and Savings
             Association, The Chase Manhattan Bank, First Union National Bank of
             North Carolina, Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York and Wells
             Fargo  Bank,  N.A.,  as  Co-Agents  and the other lenders signatory
             thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's
             Quarterly  Report  on Form 10-Q  for the period ended September 30,
             1996, Commission File No.1 -10695).

 21.1*  -    Subsidiaries of the registrant.

 23.1*  -    Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

 23.2*  -    Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.

- ---------------

*   Filed herewith
+   Executive Compensation Plan or Arrangement previously filed pursuant to Item
      14(c).
P   In  accordance with  Rule 202  of Regulation S-T,  this Exhibit was filed in
      paper pursuant to a continuing hardship exemption.

Reports on Form 8-K

       No current  report on Form 8-K was filed by the Company during the fourth
quarter of 1996.

Exhibits

       The exhibits to this Report  required to be filed  pursuant to Item 14(c)
are listed under "Item 14. Exhibits,  Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports
on Form 8-K - Listing of Financial Statements and Exhibits - Exhibits" above and
in the "Index to Exhibits" attached hereto.

Financial Statement Schedules

       No financial statement schedules are required to be filed as part of this
Report or are inapplicable.

                                       65





                                   SIGNATURES

       Pursuant  to the  requirements  of Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                       PARKER & PARSLEY PETROLEUM COMPANY


Date:  March 10, 1997               By:               /s/ Scott D. Sheffield
                                          ----------------------------------
                                               Scott D. Sheffield, President

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report  has  been  signed  below  by the  following  persons  on  behalf  of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

        Signature                        Title                        Date
        ---------                        -----                        ----

/s/ Scott D. Sheffield        Chairman of the Board, President,   March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------     Chief Executive Officer and
Scott D. Sheffield              Director (principal executive
                                officer)

/s/ Mel Fischer               Executive Vice President and        March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------      Director
Mel Fischer


/s/ R. Hartwell Gardner       Director                            March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------
R. Hartwell Gardner


/s/ James L. Houghton         Director                            March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------
James L. Houghton


/s/ Jerry P. Jones            Director                            March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------
Jerry P. Jones


/s/ Charles E. Ramsey, Jr.    Director                            March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------
Charles E. Ramsey, Jr.


/s/ Arthur L. Smith           Director                            March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------
Arthur L. Smith


/s/ Edward O. Vetter          Director                            March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------
Edward O. Vetter


/s/ Michael D. Wortley        Director                            March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------
Michael D. Wortley


/s/ Steven L. Beal            Senior Vice President and           March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------        Chief Financial Officer
Steven L. Beal                     (principal financial and
                                   accounting officer)

                                       66





                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit
Number                          Description                              Page

  2.1   -   Agreement of Sale and Purchase dated June 6, 1994,  between
            the  Company and  PG&E Resources Company  (incorporated  by
            reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Current Report on
            Form 8-K dated June 6, 1994, Commission File No. 1-10695).

  2.2   -   Offer by Parker & Parsley Petroleum  Australia  Pty Limited
            to Acquire all of the Ordinary Shares in Bridge Oil Limited
            (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Company's
            Current Report on Form 8-K  dated June 6,  1994, Commission
            File No. 1-10695).

  3.1   -   Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation   of  the  Company
            (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's
            Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated December 31, 1990,
            Registration No. 33-38436).

  3.2   -   Restated  By-laws of the Company (incorporated by reference
            to Exhibit 3.2  to the  Company's Registration Statement on
            Form S-4  dated  December 31,  1990, Registration Statement
            No. 33-38436).

  4.1   -   Form  of  Certificate of  Common Stock,  par value $.01 per
            share, of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
            4.2  to  the  Company's  Registration Statement on Form S-4
            dated December 31, 1990, Registration No. 33-38436).

  4.2   -   Rights Agreement of the Company  (incorporated by reference
            to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's  Current Report on Form 8-K
            dated February 19, 1991, Commission File No. 1-10695).

  4.3   -   First  Amendment to Rights Agreement of the Company,  dated
            as of March 18, 1994 (incorporated by  reference to Exhibit
            4.4A  to  the  Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3
            dated June 24, 1994, Registration No. 33-79920).

  4.4   -   Certificate   of   Designations  of  Series  A  Convertible
            Preferred  Stock  of the  Company,  dated  March  24,  1994
            (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4B to the Company's
            Registration  Statement  on Form S-3 dated  June 24,  1994,
            Registration No. 33-79920).

  --    -   Indentures  relating  to  $50,000,000  principal  amount of
            8-1/2%  Convertible  Subordinated Debentures  due  2005  of
            Dorchester  Master Limited  Partnership ($3,762,000 million
            principal amount  of  which were  outstanding  and  held by
            nonaffiliates  at  December  31,  1996)  and   $100,000,000
            principal amount of 9-1/2% Senior Notes  due 2000 of Bridge
            Oil  (U.S.A.)  Inc.  ($2,063,000  principal amount of which
            were outstanding  at December 31,  1996)  have been omitted
            pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K.   The
            Company  hereby agrees  to furnish a copy of such indenture
            to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

  --    -   Indenture  (the   "Indenture")  relating   to   $150,000,000
            principal  amount  of  8-7/8%  Senior  Notes Due 2005 of the
            Company  and  to  $150,000,000  principal  amount  of 8-1/4%
            Senior  Notes  Due  2007  of  the  Company  (incorporated by
            reference  to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on
            Form 8-K dated April 12, 1995, Commission File No. 1-10695).

                                       67




Exhibit
Number                              Description                          Page

  --    -   Form of 8-7/8% Senior Notes Due 2005 dated as  of April  12, 
            1995,  in  the  aggregate  principal amount of $150,000,000,
            together  with  Officers' Certificate  dated April 12, 1995,
            establishing  the terms  of the 8-7/8% Senior Notes Due 2005
            pursuant  to  the  Indenture  (incorporated  by reference to
            Exhibit  4.2 to  the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
            for  the  period  ended  June 30,  1995, Commission File No.
            1-10695).

  --    -   Form of  8-1/4% Senior Notes Due 2007 dated as of August 22,
            1995,  in  the  aggregate principal  amount of $150,000,000,
            together  with Officers'  Certificate dated August 22, 1995,
            establishing the  terms of the  8-1/4% Senior Notes Due 2007
            pursuant  to  the  Indenture  (incorporated  by reference to
            Exhibit  1.2  to the  Company's  Current Report  on Form 8-K
            dated August 17, 1995, Commission File No. 1-10695).

10.1+   -   Parker & Parsley  Petroleum Company Long-term Incentive Plan
            dated  February  19,  1991  (incorporated  by  reference  to
            Exhibit 4.1  to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
            S-8, Registration No. 33-38971).

10.2+   -   First  Amendment  to the  Parker & Parsley Petroleum Company
            Long-term Incentive Plan dated August 23, 1991 (incorporated
            by  reference to  Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Registration
            Statement on Form S-1 dated February 28, 1992,  Registration
            No. 33-46082).

10.3+   -   Amended and Restated Indemnification Agreement,  dated as of
            February  15,  1995,   between  the  Company  and  Scott  D.
            Sheffield,    together    with   a   schedule    identifying
            substantially  identical  agreements between the Company and
            each of the  Company's other  directors  and Named Executive
            Officers  and  setting  forth the material  details in which
            those  agreements  differ  from  the  Amended  and  Restated
            Indemnification  Agreement filed  (incorporated by reference
            to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Annual Report on  Form 10-K
            for  the  year ended December 31, 1994,  Commission File No.
            1-10695).

10.4+   -   Agreement  of  Partnership of P&P Employees 89-B Conv., L.P.
            (formerly  P&P Employees 89-B GP),  dated October 31,  1989,
            among Parker & Parsley,  Ltd. and the Investor Partners  (as
            defined  therein,   which  includes  individuals   who   are
            directors  and  executive officers of the Company), together
            with  a   schedule   identifying   substantially   identical
            documents  and  setting forth  the material details in which
            those  documents  differ   from   the   foregoing   document
            (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.50 to the Company's
            Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated December 31,  1990,
            Registration No. 33-38436).

10.5+   -   Amendment to  Agreement of Partnership of P&P Employees 89-B
            GP, dated May 31, 1990, among Parker & Parsley, Ltd. and the
            Investor  Partners  (as  defined  therein,   which  includes
            individuals who are directors and  executive officers of the
            Company), together with a schedule identifying substantially
            identical  documents  and setting forth the material details
            in  which those documents differ from the foregoing document
            (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.51 to the Company's
            Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated December 31,  1990,
            Registration No. 33-38436).

                                       68





Exhibit
Number                                  Description                      Page

10.6+   -   Schedule  identifying   additional  documents  substantially
            identical to the Amendment to  Agreement of  Partnership  of
            P&P  Employees  89-B GP included as Exhibit 10.5 and setting
            forth the  material details in which those  documents differ
            from  that document  (incorporated  by  reference to Exhibit
            10.52  to  the Company's Registration  Statement on Form S-1
            dated February 28, 1992, Registration No. 33-46082).

10.7+   -   Agreement  of  Partnership  of  P&P  Employees  90 Spraberry
            Private Development GP, dated October 16, 1990, among Parker
            & Parsley,  Ltd.,  James D. Moring, and the General Partners
            (as defined therein,  which  includes  individuals  who  are
            directors  and  executive officers of the Company), and form
            of Amendment to Agreement of Partnership of P&P Employees 90
            Spraberry Private  Development GP,  together with a schedule
            identifying  substantially  identical  documents and setting
            forth the material details in which  those documents  differ
            from  the  foregoing document  (incorporated by reference to
            Exhibit  10.52 to the  Company's  Registration  Statement on
            Form  S-4   dated  December  31,   1990,   Registration  No.
            33-38436).

10.8+   -   Amendment  to  Agreement  of Partnership of Parker & Parsley
            90-A  GP,  dated  February 19, 1991,  among Parker & Parsley
            Development  Company and  the Investor Partners  (as defined
            therein, which  includes individuals  who are  directors and
            executive officers of the Company), together with a schedule
            identifying  substantially  identical documents  and setting
            forth the  material  details in which those documents differ
            from  the foregoing document  (incorporated  by reference to
            Exhibit  10.58  to  the  Company's Registration Statement on
            Form   S-1  dated  February   28,  1992,   Registration   No.
            33-46082).

10.9+   -   Agreement  of  Partnership  of P&P Employees 91-A, GP, dated
            September 30,  1991,  among  Parker  &  Parsley  Development
            Company,  James D.  Moring  and  the  General  Partners  (as
            defined   therein,   which  includes  individuals   who  are
            directors and  executive officers of the Company),  together
            with  a   schedule   identifying   substantially   identical
            documents and  setting  forth  the material details in which
            those  documents   differ   from   the   foregoing  document
            (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.61 to the Company's
            Registration Statement on Form S-1 dated February 28,  1992,
            Registration No. 33-46082).

10.10+  -   Development Drilling  Program  Agreement of Parker & Parsley
            91-A Development Drilling Program, dated September 30, 1991,
            among Parker & Parsley Development Company, the P&P Employee
            Participants (as defined therein, which includes individuals
            who are  directors and  executive officers  of the Company),
            P&P Employees 91-A,  GP,  and  Parker & Parsley 91-A,  L.P.,
            together with a schedule identifying substantially identical
            documents  and  setting forth  the material details in which
            those  documents   differ  from   the   foregoing   document
            (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.63 to the Company's
            Registration Statement on Form S-1 dated February 28,  1992,
            Registration No. 33-46082).

                                       69





Exhibit
Number                           Description                              Page


10.11+  -   Development Drilling Program Agreement dated August 1, 1989,
            among Parker & Parsley,  Ltd.,  Parker & Parsley Development
            Partners  L.P.,  certain  key employees of Parker & Parsley,
            Ltd.  (which  includes  individuals  who  are  directors and
            executive officers of the Company) and related persons,  P&P
            Employees  89-A GP,  Parker & Parsley  89-A GP, and Parker &
            Parsley 89-A,  L.P.,  together  with a schedule  identifying
            substantially  identical  documents  and  setting  forth the
            material  details in which those  documents  differ from the
            foregoing  document  (incorporated  by  reference to Exhibit
            10.56 to the  Company's  Registration  Statement on Form S-4
            dated December 31, 1990, Registration No. 33-38436).

10.12+  -   Amendment to Development Drilling  Program Agreement,  dated
            February 19, 1991, amending the Development Drilling Program
            Agreement  included  as  Exhibit  10.11,   together  with  a
            schedule  identifying  substantially identical documents and
            setting forth the material details in which  those documents
            differ  from  the  foregoing   document   (incorporated   by
            reference  to  Exhibit 10.66  to the  Company's Registration
            Statement on Form S-1 dated February 28, 1992,  Registration
            No. 33-46082).

10.13+  -   Amendment  to Agreement of Partnership  of P&P  Employees 90
            Spraberry Private  Development  GP,  dated  Apri l 22, 1991,
            among  the  Partners  (as  defined  therein,  which includes
            individuals who  are directors and executive officers of the
            Company) (incorporated by  reference to Exhibit 10.67 to the
            Company's Registration Statement on  Form S-1 dated February
            28, 1992, Registration No. 33-46082).

10.14+  -   Agreement  of  Limited  Partnership of Parker & Parsley 1992
            Direct Investment Program, Ltd.,  dated as of July 24, 1992,
            among  Parker & Parsley  Development  Company,  as  managing
            general partner,  and certain key  employees  of the Company
            (including  individuals  who  are  directors  and  executive
            officers of the Company),  as non-managing  general partners
            and limited partners  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit
            10.57  to  the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
            year ended December 31, 1993, Commission File No. 1-10695).

10.15+  -   Agreement of Limited  Partnership of  Parker & Parsley  1993
            Direct  Investment  Program,  Ltd.,  dated  as of January 1,
            1993,   among  Parker  &  Parsley  Development  Company,  as
            managing general partner,  and certain  key employees of the
            Company   (including   individuals  who  are  directors  and
            executive officers  of the Company), as non-managing general
            partners and limited  partners (incorporated by reference to
            Exhibit  10.49  to the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K
            for  the year ended  December 31,  1993, Commission File No.
            1-10695).

10.16+  -   Agreement  of  Limited  Partnership of Parker & Parsley 1994
            Direct Investment  Program,  Ltd.,  dated  as of  January 1,
            1994,   among  Parker  &  Parsley  Development  Company,  as
            managing general partner,  and certain  key employees of the
            Company   (including   individuals  who  are  directors  and
            executive officers of the Company),  as non-managing general
            partners and limited partners  (incorporated by reference to
            Exhibit  10.20 to  the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K
            for  the year ended December 31,  1994,  Commission File No.
            1-10695).

                                       70




Exhibit
Number                              Description                         Page

10.17+  -   Forms of Stock Acquisition Loan Agreements entered into as
            of  June  15,  1995,  between the Company and the officers
            identified  on  Schedule  I  thereto,  providing  for  the
            Company's  loans  to   such  officers   of   the   amounts
            respectively  identified  on  Schedule I thereto,  for the
            purpose of acquiring the Company's Common Stock, par value
            $0.01 per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1
            to  the Company's Quarterly  Report  on  Form 10-Q for the
            period ended June 30, 1995, Commission File No. 1-10695).

10.18+  -   Severance  Agreement  dated as of January 1,  1996 between
            the  Company  and  Scott D.  Sheffield,  together  with  a
            schedule  identifying substantially  identical  agreements
            between the Company  and each of the other Named Executive
            Officers  identified on  Schedule I  for  the  purpose  of
            defining  the  payment  of  certain   benefits   upon  the
            termination  of  the officer's  employment  under  certain
            circumstances (incorporated  by reference to the Company's
            Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
            1995, Commission File No. 1-10695).

10.19+  -   Omnibus Amendment to Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreements,
            included as part of the Long-term Incentive Plan, dated as
            of  November  16,  1995,  between  the  Company  and Named
            Executive Officers identified on  Schedule I setting forth
            additional  details  relating  to the  Long-term Incentive
            Plan  (incorporated  by reference  to the Company's Annual
            Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,  1995,
            Commission File No. 1-10695).

10.20+  -   Parker & Parsley  Petroleum  Company  Annual Bonus Program
            for  Key  Employees dated July 13,  1992  (incorporated by
            reference to  Exhibit 4.1  to the  Company's  Registration
            Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 33-49612).

10.21+  -   Registration  of additional  shares under Parker & Parsley
            Petroleum  Company's  Long-term Incentive Plan dated April
            14,  1992  (incorporated by  reference  to  the  Company's
            Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-8,  Registration  No.
            33-47168).

10.22+  -   Parker & Parsley  Petroleum  Company Non-Employee Director
            Equity Compensation Plan dated May 26, 1994  (incorporated
            by reference to Exhibit 4.4  to the Company's Registration
            Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 33-79480).

10.23P  -   Credit  Facility  Agreement,  dated  as of  July 31, 1996,
            between Parker & Parsley Petroleum Company as Borrower and
            NationsBank  of Texas, N.A.,  as Administrative Agent, and
            CIBC  Inc.  as  Documentation  Agent,  and Bank of America
            National  Trust  and   Savings   Association,   The  Chase
            Manhattan  Bank,   First  Union  National  Bank  of  North
            Carolina,  Morgan Guaranty  Trust  Company of New York and
            Wells Fargo Bank. N.A., as Co-Agents and the other lenders
            signatory  thereto  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit
            10.1 to  the  Company's  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
            the period  ended  September  30,  1996,  Commission  File
            No.1 -10695).

                                       71






Exhibit
Number                             Description                           Page

21.1*   -   Subsidiaries of the registrant                                73

23.1*   -   Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP                              75

23.2*   -   Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.              76

- ---------------

*    Filed herewith
+    Executive Compensation Plan or Arrangement filed herewith pursuant
       to Item 14(c).
P    In accordance with  Rule 202  of Regulation S-T,  this Exhibit was
       filed in paper pursuant to a continuing hardship exemption.


Reports on Form 8-K

       No current  report on Form 8-K was filed by the Company during the fourth
quarter of 1996.

Exhibits

       The exhibits to this Report  required to be filed  pursuant to Item 14(c)
are listed under "Item 14. Exhibits,  Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports
on Form 8-K - Listing of Financial Statements and Exhibits - Exhibits" above and
in the "Index to Exhibits" attached hereto.

Financial Statement Schedules

       No financial statement schedules are required to be filed as part of this
Report or are inapplicable.

                                       72