EXHIBIT 99.1


                                  NEWS RELEASE

                                                   Investor Relations Contacts:
                               Susan Spratlen or Chris Paulsen   (972) 444-9001

                 Pioneer Provides Update on Impact of Hurricane

Dallas,  Texas,  October 4, 2004 -- Pioneer Natural Resources Company (NYSE:PXD)
announced  today the  impact of  downtime  related  to  Hurricane  Ivan on third
quarter production. As previously announced,  production from two deepwater Gulf
of  Mexico  projects,  Canyon  Express  and  Devils  Tower,  was  shut in as the
hurricane  entered the Gulf, and following the  hurricane,  damage to production
facilities and downstream  pipelines prevented the Company and its partners from
resuming  production  from the  projects,  resulting in a reduction to Pioneer's
third quarter production of approximately  400,000 barrels oil equivalent.  As a
result,  third  quarter daily  production  is expected to average  approximately
179,000 barrels oil equivalent.

Production from the Canyon Express system resumed over the weekend,  and Pioneer
expects  its net rates to be  limited to  between  60% and 70% of maximum  rates
until repairs to subsurface  communications can be reestablished with one of six
producing   wells.   The  vessel  with   equipment   necessary  to   reestablish
communication is expected to be onsite this week.

Production from the Devils Tower field remains shut in. The topsides of the spar
sustained  significant  damage during the  hurricane,  and Pioneer  expects that
production  from the three  wells that were on line before the storm will resume
in late October to mid-November.  A fourth well, with completion activities near
the point of first  production  before the storm, is expected to begin producing
before the end of the year. The platform rig must be repaired before  completion
activities can continue on four additional wells  previously  drilled to develop
the field.  The time  required  to  complete  the rig  repairs  has not yet been
determined;  however, Pioneer maintains business interruption insurance designed
to restore,  after a 45-day  waiting  period,  the  expected  cash flow from the
project,  including  expected cash flow from the three  producing  wells and the
five wells not yet on production.

Sidetrack operations announced in September on Pioneer's deepwater Harrier field
are underway, having experienced only slight weather delays.

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

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