UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549


FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  October 18, 2011
 

PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
Delaware
1-13245
75-2702753
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
     
5205 N. O'Connor Blvd., Suite 200, Irving, Texas
 
75039
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
     
 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (972) 444-9001
 
Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
 
[  ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
 
[  ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
 
[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
 
[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)
 

 
 

 

Item 2.02.                      Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Explanatory note:  Pioneer Natural Resources Company and its subsidiaries ("Pioneer" or the "Company") presents in this Item 2.02 certain information regarding the impact of changes in the fair values of its derivative instruments on the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and certain other information regarding its derivative instruments.

The following table summarizes non-hedge net derivative gains and losses that Pioneer expects to record in its earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011:

DERIVATIVE GAINS (LOSSES), NET
(in thousands)

 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2011
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011
Noncash changes in fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil derivative gains
$
 298,438 
 
$
 257,102 
 
Natural gas liquids ("NGL") derivative gains
 
 3,982 
 
 
 188 
 
Gas derivative gains
 
 62,932 
 
 
 45,955 
 
Diesel derivative losses
 
 (714)
 
 
 (618)
 
Interest rate derivative losses
 
 (37,610)
 
 
 (30,216)
 
 
Total noncash derivative gains, net
 
 327,028 
 
 
 272,411 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash settled changes in fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil derivative gains (losses)
 
 5,535 
 
 
 (35,306)
 
NGL derivative losses
 
 (4,478)
 
 
 (11,803)
 
Gas derivative gains
 
 41,655 
 
 
 124,455 
 
Diesel derivative gains
 
 57 
 
 
 57 
 
Interest rate derivative gains
 
 31,275 
 
 
 36,304 
 
 
Total cash derivative gains, net
 
 74,044 
 
 
 113,707 
 
 
 
Total derivative gains, net
$
 401,072 
 
$
 386,118 
 

 
 
 

 
Item 7.01                 Regulation FD Disclosure

Oil, gas and NGL price derivatives. The following table presents Pioneer’s open commodity oil, gas and NGL derivative positions as of October 14, 2011.
 
 
 
 
 
2011 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fourth
Quarter
 
2012 
 
2013 
 
2014 
 
2015 
 
Average Daily Oil Production Associated with
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Derivatives (Bbls):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Swap Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 750 
 
 
 3,000 
 
 
 3,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
NYMEX price
$
 77.25 
 
$
 79.32 
 
$
 81.02 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
Collar Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 2,000 
 
 
 2,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
NYMEX price:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceiling
$
 170.00 
 
$
 127.00 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
 
Floor
$
 115.00 
 
$
 90.00 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
Collar Contracts with Short Puts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 32,000 
 
 
 36,000 
 
 
 28,000 
 
 
 10,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
NYMEX price:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceiling
$
 99.33 
 
$
 117.99 
 
$
 120.62 
 
$
 127.46 
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
 
Floor
$
 73.75 
 
$
 80.42 
 
$
 83.68 
 
$
 87.50 
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
 
Short Put
$
 59.31 
 
$
 65.00 
 
$
 65.82 
 
$
 72.50 
 
$
 - 
 
 
Percent of total oil production (a)
 
~80%
 
 
~75%
 
 
~45%
 
 
~15%
 
 
N/A
 
Average Daily NGL Production Associated with
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Derivatives (Bbls):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Swap Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 1,150 
 
 
 750 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Blended index price (b)
$
 51.50 
 
$
 35.03 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
Collar Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 2,650 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Index price (b):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceiling
$
 64.23 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
 
Floor
$
 53.29 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
Collar Contracts with Short Puts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 - 
 
 
 3,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Index price (b):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceiling
$
 - 
 
$
 79.99 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
 
Floor
$
 - 
 
$
 67.70 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
 
Short Put
$
 - 
 
$
 55.76 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
Percent of total NGL production (a)
 
~15%
 
 
~15%
 
 
N/A
 
 
N/A
 
 
N/A
 
Average Daily Gas Production Associated with
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Derivatives (MMBtu):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Swap Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 117,500 
 
 
 105,000 
 
 
 67,500 
 
 
 50,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
NYMEX price (c)
$
 6.13 
 
$
 5.82 
 
$
 6.11 
 
$
 6.05 
 
$
 - 
 
 
Collar Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 - 
 
 
 65,000 
 
 
 150,000 
 
 
 140,000 
 
 
 50,000 
 
 
 
NYMEX price (c):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceiling
$
 - 
 
$
 6.60 
 
$
 6.25 
 
$
 6.44 
 
$
 7.92 
 
 
 
 
Floor
$
 - 
 
$
 5.00 
 
$
 5.00 
 
$
 5.00 
 
$
 5.00 
 
 
Collar Contracts with Short Puts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 200,000 
 
 
 190,000 
 
 
 45,000 
 
 
 60,000 
 
 
 30,000 
 
 
 
NYMEX price (c):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceiling
$
 8.55 
 
$
 7.96 
 
$
 7.49 
 
$
 7.80 
 
$
 7.11 
 
 
 
 
Floor
$
 6.32 
 
$
 6.12 
 
$
 6.00 
 
$
 5.83 
 
$
 5.00 
 
 
 
 
Short Put
$
 4.88 
 
$
 4.55 
 
$
 4.50 
 
$
 4.42 
 
$
 4.00 
 
 
Percent of total gas production (a)
 
~85%
 
 
~85%
 
 
~55%
 
 
~45%
 
 
~15%
 
 
Basis Swap Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Permian Basin Index Swaps volume (d)
 
 20,000 
 
 
 32,500 
 
 
 22,500 
 
 
 25,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Price differential ($/MMBtu)
$
 (0.30)
 
$
 (0.38)
 
$
 (0.28)
 
$
 (0.30)
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
Mid-Continent Index Swaps volume (d)
 
 100,000 
 
 
 50,000 
 
 
 10,000 
 
 
 10,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Price differential ($/MMBtu)
$
 (0.71)
 
$
 (0.53)
 
$
 (0.71)
 
$
 (0.30)
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
Gulf Coast Index Swaps volume (d)
 
 23,500 
 
 
 53,500 
 
 
 40,000 
 
 
 20,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Price differential ($/MMBtu)
$
 (0.16)
 
$
 (0.15)
 
$
 (0.13)
 
$
 (0.14)
 
$
 - 
 
__________
(a)
Represents an estimated percentage of forecasted production, which may differ from the percentage of actual production.
(b)
Represents weighted average index price per Bbl of each NGL component.
(c)
Represents the NYMEX Henry Hub index price or approximate NYMEX Henry Hub index price based on historical differentials to the index price on the derivative trade date.
(d)
Represent swaps that fix the basis differentials between the indices price at which the Company sells its Permian Basin, Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast gas and the NYMEX Henry Hub index price used in gas derivative contracts.


 
 

 

Diesel price derivatives.  The Company has diesel derivative swap contracts for 250 notional Bbls per day each for the period from October 2011 through December 2011 at an average per Bbl fixed price of $123.90 and for 2012 at an average per Bbl fixed price of $119.28.  The diesel derivative swap contracts are priced at an index that is highly correlated to the prices that the Company incurs to fuel its drilling rigs and fracture stimulation fleet equipment.  The Company purchases diesel derivative swap contracts to mitigate fuel price risk.  The Company's diesel derivative swap contracts are not included in the table presented above.
 
Interest rate derivatives.  During July 2011, the Company terminated $470 million notional amount of fixed-for-variable interest rate derivative contracts and received $26.1 million of associated cash proceeds.  During August 2011, the Company entered into interest rate derivative contracts that lock in, for a period of one year, a fixed forward 10-year annual interest rate of 3.06% on $200 million notional amount of debt.
 

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K 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 the Company are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, volatility of commodity prices, product supply and demand, competition, the ability to obtain environmental and other permits and the timing thereof, other government regulation or action, the ability to obtain approvals from third parties and negotiate agreements with third parties on mutually acceptable terms, litigation, the costs and results of drilling and operations, availability of equipment, services and personnel required to complete the Company's operating activities, access to and availability of transportation, processing and refining facilities, Pioneer's ability to replace reserves, implement its business plans or complete its development activities as scheduled, access to and cost of capital, the financial strength of counterparties to Pioneer's credit facility, derivative contracts and joint ventures and the purchasers of Pioneer's oil, NGL and gas production, uncertainties about estimates of reserves and the ability to add proved reserves in the future, the assumptions underlying production forecasts, quality of technical data, environmental and weather risks, including the possible impacts of climate change, international operations, and associated international political and economic instability, and acts of war or terrorism. These and other risks are described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the Company may be subject to currently unforeseen risks that may have a materially adverse impact on it. 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. The Company undertakes no duty to publicly update these statements except as required by law.

 
 

 


SIGNATURES


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


 
PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANY
 
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Frank W. Hall                                                                
 
   
Frank W. Hall,
 
   
Vice President and Chief
 
   
Accounting Officer
 
       
Dated:  October 18, 2011