EXHIBIT 23.1



                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Pioneer Natural Resources Company:

     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements
(No. 333-35087,  No. 333-35165,  No. 333-39153, No. 333-39249, No. 33-44851, No.
333-35085 and No. 333-35175) on Form S-8 and (No. 333-42315,  No. 333-44439, No.
333-46311 and No.  333-39381) on Form S-3 of Pioneer Natural  Resources  Company
and  subsidiaries  and its  predecessors  of our report dated February 13, 1998,
relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Pioneer Natural Resources Company
and  subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and the related  consolidated
statements of operations,  stockholders'  equity, and cash flows for each of the
years in the three-year  period ended December 31, 1997, which report appears in
the December 31, 1997 annual  report on Form 10-K of Pioneer  Natural  Resources
Company.  Our  report  refers to a change in the  method of  accounting  for the
impairment of long-lived assets and for long-lived assets to be disposed of.




                                             KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP

Midland, Texas
March 18, 1998