Pioneer Awarded Interest in Deepwater Nigeria

Under terms of an existing Production Sharing Contract , Pioneer
and the other participants will carry out a work program that includes
acquiring a minimum of 1,790 square kilometers of 3-D seismic data and
drilling at least one exploration well by February of 2007.
Scott Sheffield, Pioneer's Chairman and CEO stated, "We've
targeted West Africa as an area of focus for our exploration program.

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Business Editors/Energy Editors

DALLAS----Pioneer Natural Resources
Company (NYSE:PXD) announced today that its board of directors
declared a semiannual cash dividend of $0.10 per share on Pioneer's
outstanding common stock.

government embassies

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By acquiring new 3-D seismic data, we should be able to more
confidently quantify the reserve potential and risk prior to drilling
the first well.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.
Pioneer is a large independent oil and gas exploration and
production company with operations in the United States, Argentina,
Canada , Equatorial Guinea, South Africa and Tunisia.com

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Business Editors/Energy Editors

DALLAS----Pioneer Natural Resources
Company (NYSE:PXD) announced today that a subsidiary of the Company
has joined Oranto Petroleum and Orandi Petroleum in an existing
production sharing contract on Block 320 in deepwater Nigeria gaining
exploration rights from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Pioneer's subsidiary is the technical
operator of the block with a 51% working interest.

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These exploration rights on Block 320 offer us a unique opportunity to
participate in the upside potential of deepwater Nigeria.
Pioneer's headquarters are in Dallas. As per Pioneer's usual schedule, the
dividend is payable April 15, 2005 to stockholders of record at the
close of business on March 31, 2005.

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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. Pioneer's
headquarters are in Dallas. For more information, visit Pioneer's
website at www.pioneernrc.

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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 and other risks are described in Pioneer's 10-K and
10-Q Reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

Pioneer Declares Dividend on Common Shares

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The 442,000 acre (1,790 square km) block is located about 90 miles
(150 km) southeast of Lagos in water depths ranging between 6,900 to
8 ,900 feet (2,100 to 2,700 m). Oranto Petroleum
and Orandi Petroleum Limited, Nigerian corporations , hold 32% and 17%,
respectively." Chris
Cheatwood, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Exploration , added,
"Existing 2-D seismic on the block indicates the presence of large
channel systems similar to those of the large nearby fields, Erha and
Bosi."
Pioneer is a large independent oil and gas exploration and
production company with operations in the United States, Argentina,
Canada, South Africa, Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, and Nigeria. For more information, visit
Pioneer's website at www.