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EX-32.2 - PSE DECEMBER 31, 2010 10-K EXH. 32.2 - Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.pseexh322.htm
EX-31.1 - PSE DECEMBER 31, 2010 10-K EXH. 31.1 - Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.pseexh311.htm
EX-23.1 - PSE DECEMBER 31, 2010 10-K EXH. 23.1 - Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.pseexh231.htm
EX-99.1 - PSE DECEMBER 31, 2010 10-K EXH. 99.1 - Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.pseexh991.htm
EX-21.1 - PSE DECEMBER 31, 2010 10-K EXH. 21.1 - Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.pseexh211.htm
EX-23.2 - PSE DECEMBER 31, 2010 10-K EXH. 23.2 - Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.pseexh232.htm
EX-31.2 - PSE DECEMBER 31, 2010 10-K EXH. 31.2 - Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.pseexh312.htm
EX-32.1 - PSE DECEMBER 31, 2010 10-K EXH. 32.1 - Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.pseexh321.htm
EX-10.24 - PSE DECEMBER 31, 2010 10-K EXH. 10.24 - Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.pseexh1024.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

/x/
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010
or
/  /
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from___to___
Commission file number: 001-34032
Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
26-0388421
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(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) 969-3586
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Units Representing Limited Partner Units
New York Stock Exchange

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

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.Yes  o No  ý

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.Yes  o No  ý

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  ý No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period than the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes  o No  o

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.   ý

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer    o
 
Accelerated filer                     ý
Non accelerated filer      o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company   o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes   o    No   ý

Aggregate market value of common units held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter
$305,811,272
Number of common units outstanding as of February 23, 2011                                                                                                                              
33,113,700

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

(1)
Portions of the definitive proxy statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Pioneer Natural Resources Company to be held during May 2011 as referenced in Part III, Item 11 of this report.
 
 

 
 
 

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
     
 
 
Page
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements                                                                                                                                    
3
Definitions of Certain Terms and Conventions Used Herein                                                                                                                                    
4
   
PART  I
     
Item 1.
Business                                                                                                                      
6
 
General                                                                                                                   
6
 
Presentation                                                                                                                   
6
 
Available Information                                                                                                                   
7
 
Business Strategy                                                                                                                   
7
 
Relationship with Pioneer                                                                                                                   
8
 
Competitive Strengths                                                                                                                   
8
 
Business Activities                                                                                                                   
9
 
Marketing of Production                                                                                                                   
10
 
Competition, Markets and Regulations                                                                                                                   
10
Item 1A.
Risk Factors                                                                                                                      
16
 
Risks Related to the Partnership's Business                                                                                                                   
16
 
Risks Related to an Investment in the Partnership                                                                                                                   
30
 
Tax Risks to Common Unitholders                                                                                                                   
35
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments                                                                                                                      
37
Item 2.
Properties                                                                                                                      
38
 
Reserve Rule Changes                                                                                                                   
38
 
Reserve Estimation Procedures and Audits                                                                                                                   
38
 
Description of Properties                                                                                                                   
41
 
Selected Oil and Gas Information                                                                                                                   
42
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings                                                                                                                      
44
Item 4.
Removed and Reserved                                                                                                                      
44
     
PART  II
     
Item 5.
Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity  Securities
45
 
Cash Distributions to Unitholders                                                                                                                   
45
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data                                                                                                                      
46
Item 7.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
47
 
Financial and Operating Performance                                                                                                                   
47
 
First Quarter 2011 Outlook                                                                                                                   
47
 
Results of Operations                                                                                                                   
47
 
Capital Commitments, Capital Resources and Liquidity                                                                                                                   
50
 
Critical Accounting Estimates                                                                                                                   
53
 
New Accounting Pronouncements                                                                                                                   
54
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk                                                                                                                      
55
 
Quantitative Disclosures                                                                                                                   
55
 
Qualitative Disclosures                                                                                                                   
57
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data                                                                                                                      
58
 
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements                                                                                                                   
58
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm                                                                                                                   
59
 
Consolidated Financial Statements                                                                                                                   
60
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                                                                                                                   
66
 
Unaudited Supplementary Information                                                                                                                   
87
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
92
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures                                                                                                                      
92
 
Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting                                                                                                                   
92
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
93
Item 9B.
Other Information                                                                                                                      
94

 
 
2
 
 

 


PART  III
     
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance                                                                                                                      
95
 
Directors and Executive Officers of the General Partner                                                                                                                   
95
 
Governance                                                                                                                   
98
 
Meetings and Committees of Directors                                                                                                                   
98
 
Executive Sessions of Non-Management Directors, Procedure for Directly Contacting the Board of Directors and Whistleblower Policy
99
 
Code of Ethics                                                                                                                   
99
 
Availability of Governance Guidelines, Charters and Code                                                                                                                   
99
 
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance                                                                                                                   
99
Item 11.
Executive Compensation                                                                                                                      
100
 
Compensation of Directors                                                                                                                   
100
 
Compensation of Executive Officers                                                                                                                   
101
 
Narrative Disclosure for the 2010 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table                                                                                                                   
107
 
Pension Benefits; Nonqualified Deferred Compensation                                                                                                                   
109
 
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control                                                                                                                   
109
 
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation                                                                                                                   
109
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
110
 
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans                                                                                                                   
112
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
112
 
Distributions and Payments to the General Partner and Its Affiliates                                                                                                                   
112
 
Administrative Services Agreement                                                                                                                   
113
 
Omnibus Agreement, Omnibus Operating Agreements and Operating Agreements
113
 
Gas Processing Agreements                                                                                                                   
114
 
Tax Sharing Agreement                                                                                                                   
115
 
Policies and Procedures for Review, Approval and Ratification of Related Person Transactions
115
 
Director Independence                                                                                                                   
115
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services                                                                                                                      
115
 
Fees Incurred by the Partnership for Services Provided by Ernst & Young LLP
116
 
Audit Committee's Pre-Approval Policy and Procedures                                                                                                                   
116
     
PART  IV
     
Item 15.
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules                                                                                                                      
117
Signatures                                                                                                                              
121
Exhibit Index                                                                                                                              
122

****

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "Report") contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. When used in this document, the words "believes," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "continue," "may," "will," "could," "should," "future," "potential," "estimate," or the negative of such terms and similar expressions as they relate to Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. ("Pioneer Southwest" or the "Partnership") are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on the Partnership's current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Partnership and the industry in which the Partnership operates. Although the Partnership believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, they involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and, in many cases, beyond the Partnership's control.  In addition, the Partnership may be subject to currently unforeseen risks that may have a material adverse effect 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. See "Item 1. Business — Competition, Markets and Regulations," "Item 1A. Risk Factors," "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" for a description of various factors that could materially affect the ability of the Partnership to achieve the anticipated results described in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.  The Partnership undertakes no duty to publicly update these statements except as required by law.
 
3

 
 

 

Definitions of Certain Terms and Conventions Used Herein

Within this Report, the following terms and conventions have specific meanings:

·  
"Bbl" means a standard barrel containing 42 United States gallons.
·  
"BOE" means a barrel of oil equivalent and is a standard convention used to express oil and gas volumes on a comparable oil equivalent basis. Gas equivalents are determined under the relative energy content method by using the ratio of 6.0 Mcf of gas to 1.0 Bbl of oil or natural gas liquid.
·  
"BOEPD" means BOE per day.
·  
"Btu" means British thermal unit, which is a measure of the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
·  
"Common unit" means outstanding Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. limited partner units.
·  
"COPAS fee" means a fee based on an overhead rate established by the Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies to reimburse the operator of a well for overhead costs, such as accounting and engineering costs.
·  
"Derivatives" means financial contracts, or financial instruments, whose values are derived from the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index.
·  
"GAAP" means accounting principles that are generally accepted in the United States of America.
·  
"LIBOR" means London Interbank Offered Rate, which is a market rate of interest.
·  
"LNG" means liquefied natural gas.
·  
"MBbl" means one thousand Bbls.
·  
"MBOE" means one thousand BOEs.
·  
"Mcf" means one thousand cubic feet and is a measure of natural gas volume.
·  
"MMBOE" means one million BOEs.
·  
"MMBtu" means one million Btus.
·  
"MMcf" means one million cubic feet.
·  
"Mont Belvieu-posted-price" means the daily average of natural gas liquids components as priced in Oil Price Information Service ("OPIS") in the table "U.S. and Canada LP – Gas Weekly Averages" at Mont Belvieu, Texas.
·  
"NGL" means natural gas liquids.
·  
"Novation" represents the act of replacing one party to a contractual obligation with another party.
·  
"NYMEX" means the New York Mercantile Exchange.
·  
"NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange.
·  
"Partnership Predecessor" means Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. Predecessor.
·  
"Partnership" or "Pioneer Southwest" means Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. and its subsidiaries.
·  
"Pioneer" means Pioneer Natural Resources Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries.
·  
"Proved reserves" are those quantities of oil and gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations--prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. The project to extract the hydrocarbons must have commenced or the operator must be reasonably certain that it will commence the project within a reasonable time.(i) The area of the reservoir considered as proved includes: (A) The area identified by drilling and limited by fluid contacts, if any, and (B) Adjacent undrilled portions of the reservoir that can, with reasonable certainty, be judged to be continuous with it and to contain economically producible oil or gas on the basis of available geoscience and engineering data.(ii) In the absence of data on fluid contacts, proved quantities in a reservoir are limited by the lowest known hydrocarbons ("LKH") as seen in a well penetration unless geoscience, engineering, or performance data and reliable technology establishes a lower contact with reasonable certainty.(iii) Where direct observation from well penetrations has defined a highest known oil ("HKO") elevation and the potential exists for an associated gas cap, proved oil reserves may be assigned in the structurally higher portions of the reservoir only if geoscience, engineering, or performance data and reliable technology establish the higher contact with reasonable certainty.(iv) Reserves which can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques (including, but not limited to, fluid injection) are included in the proved classification when: (A) Successful testing by a pilot project in an area of the reservoir with properties no more favorable than in the reservoir as a whole, the operation of an installed program in the reservoir or an analogous reservoir, or other
 
4
 
 
 
 

 
 
·  
evidence using reliable technology establishes the reasonable certainty of the engineering analysis on which the project or program was based; and (B) The project has been approved for development by all necessary parties and entities, including governmental entities.(v) Existing economic conditions include prices and costs at which economic producibility from a reservoir is to be determined. The price shall be the average price during the 12-month period prior to the ending date of the period covered by the report, determined as an unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within such period, unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future conditions.
·  
"Recompletion" means the completion for production of an existing wellbore in another formation from that in which the well has been previously completed.
·  
"SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
·  
"Standardized Measure" means the after-tax present value of estimated future net cash flows of proved reserves, determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, using prices and costs employed in the determination of proved reserves and a ten percent discount rate.
·  
"U.S." means United States.
·           "VPP" means volumetric production payment.
·  
"Workover" means operations on a producing well to restore or increase production.
·  
With respect to information on the working interest in wells, "net" wells are determined by multiplying "gross" wells by the Partnership's working interest in such wells. Unless otherwise specified, well statistics quoted herein represent gross wells.
·             All currency amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars.

5
 

 
 
 

 
PART I

ITEM 1.                 BUSINESS

General

Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. (the "Partnership") is a Delaware limited partnership that was formed in June 2007 by Pioneer Natural Resources Company (together with its subsidiaries, "Pioneer") to own and acquire oil and gas assets in the Partnership's area of operations. The Partnership's area of operations consists of onshore Texas and eight counties in the southeast region of New Mexico.
 
In May 2008, the Partnership completed its initial public offering of 9,487,500 common units representing limited partner interests (the "Offering"). Prior to the Offering, Pioneer owned all of the general and limited partner interests in the Partnership. Pioneer formed Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC ("Pioneer Southwest LLC") to hold certain of the Partnership's oil and gas properties located in the Spraberry field in the Permian Basin of West Texas (the "Spraberry field").  To effect the Offering, Pioneer (i) contributed to the Partnership a portion of its interest in Pioneer Southwest LLC for additional general and limited partner interests in the Partnership, (ii) sold to the Partnership its remaining interest in Pioneer Southwest LLC for $141.1 million, (iii) sold incremental working interests in certain of the oil and gas properties owned by Pioneer Southwest LLC to the Partnership for $22.0 million, which amount represented the net proceeds from the exercise by the underwriters of the over-allotment option (the transactions described in (i), (ii) and (iii) above are referred to in the aggregate as the "2008 IPO Acquisitions"), and (iv) caused Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC (the "General Partner") to contribute $24 thousand to the Partnership to maintain the General Partner's 0.1 percent general partner interest in conjunction with the exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option. As a result of the transactions described in (i) and (ii) above, Pioneer Southwest LLC became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership.

On August 31, 2009, the Partnership completed the acquisition of certain oil and gas properties in the Spraberry field and assumed net obligations associated with certain commodity derivative contracts and certain other liabilities from Pioneer pursuant to a Purchase and Sale Agreement having an effective date of July 1, 2009 (the acquisition, including liabilities assumed, is referred to herein as the "2009 Acquisition").  See Note B and Note E of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for additional information about the 2009 Acquisition.

The Partnership's only operating segment is oil and gas producing activities. Additionally, all of the Partnership's properties are located in the United States and all of the related oil, NGL and gas revenues are derived from purchasers located in the United States.
 
The Partnership's executive offices are located at 5205 N. O'Connor Blvd., Suite 200, Irving, Texas 75039. The Partnership's telephone number is (972) 969-3586.  The General Partner, a subsidiary of Pioneer, is the Partnership's general partner and manages its operations and activities. Neither the Partnership, its operating subsidiary nor the General Partner has employees.  The Partnership, the General Partner and Pioneer have entered into an administrative services agreement pursuant to which Pioneer manages all of the Partnership's assets and performs administrative services for the Partnership. As of December 31, 2010, Pioneer had approximately 2,248 full time employees, 563 of whom are dedicated to drilling and production activities in the Spraberry field. None of these employees are represented by labor unions or covered by any collective bargaining agreement. Pioneer believes that relations with these employees are satisfactory.

Presentation
 
The 2009 Acquisition and the 2008 IPO Acquisitions represented transactions between entities under common control and are reported in the Partnership's accompanying consolidated financial statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" similar to a pooling of interests.  For all periods prior to their acquisition and assumption by the Partnership, the financial position, results of operations, cash flows and changes in owner's equity of the property interests acquired and the liabilities assumed in the 2009 Acquisition (representing periods prior to August 31, 2009) and the 2008 IPO Acquisitions (representing periods prior to May 6, 2008) are referred to herein as the "Partnership Predecessor." See Note B of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for more information about the Partnership's accounting presentations.

6
 

 
 

 

Available Information
 
The Partnership files or furnishes annual, quarterly and current reports and other documents with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). The public may read and copy any materials that the Partnership files with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Also, the SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including the Partnership, that file electronically with the SEC. The public can obtain any documents that the Partnership files with the SEC at www.sec.gov.
 
The Partnership also makes available free of charge through its internet website (www.pioneersouthwest.com) its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and, if applicable, amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after it electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC.

Business Strategy
 
The Partnership's primary business objective is to maintain quarterly cash distributions to its unitholders at its current distribution rate and, over time, to increase its quarterly cash distributions. The Partnership expects to reserve approximately 25 percent of its cash flow to drill undeveloped locations and acquire producing and/or undeveloped properties in order to maintain its production, proved reserves and cash flows.

The Partnership's primary strategy for achieving its objective to maintain and increase, over time, its cash distributions to unitholders is to:

·  
Develop the Partnership's proved undeveloped reserves.  At current margins, the Partnership expects that development drilling of undeveloped properties will allow it to increase cash flow from operations in order to maintain and possibly increase cash distributions to unitholders in the future.  As part of a two-rig drilling program initiated in the fourth quarter of 2009, the Partnership drilled and completed one well in 2009 and 28 wells in 2010.  The Partnership expects to drill and complete 40 wells to 45 wells in 2011.  The Partnership is drilling and completing its wells in the upper and lower Spraberry, Dean and Wolfcamp formations.

·  
 
Purchase oil and gas properties in its area of operations from third parties either independently or jointly with Pioneer. The Partnership believes that over the long-term it will have a cost of capital advantage relative to its corporate competitors and a technical advantage due to the scale of Pioneer's operations, which will enhance the Partnership's ability to acquire producing and undeveloped oil and gas properties.  In addition, the Partnership believes that its relationship with Pioneer is advantageous because it allows the Partnership to jointly pursue acquisitions of oil and gas properties with Pioneer, which increases the number and type of transactions it can pursue and increases its competitiveness.

·  
 
Purchase oil and gas properties in its area of operations directly from Pioneer. The Partnership believes that Pioneer intends to offer the Partnership over time the opportunity to purchase portions of Pioneer's producing and undeveloped oil and gas assets in its area of operations, provided that such transactions can be done in an economic manner and depending upon market conditions at the time.  See Note B of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for additional information about the 2009 Acquisition in the Spraberry field.

·  
Benefit from production and reserve enhancements as a result of infill and horizontal drilling and secondary recovery initiatives being advanced by Pioneer. The Partnership also believes that it benefits from its relationship with Pioneer because the Partnership is able to learn from the various production and proved reserve enhancement initiatives being performed by Pioneer.  For instance, Pioneer has (i) drilled 20-acre infill locations during the past three years with encouraging results, (ii) initiated a 7,000 acre waterflood project during 2010 with an initial production response expected during the first half of 2011 and (iii) commenced drilling on two horizontal wells during the fourth quarter of 2010. The ultimate outcome and impact to the Partnership of these initiatives cannot be predicted at this time.
 
·  
Maintain a balanced capital structure to ensure financial flexibility for acquisitions. To fund development drilling initiatives and future property acquisitions, the Partnership is reserving approximately 25 percent of its net cash provided by operating activities. The Partnership may also use, to the extent available, external

 
7
 
 
 

 
 
  
financing sources to fund acquisitions, including borrowings under its credit facility and funds from future private and public equity and debt offerings. The Partnership intends to maintain a balanced capital structure, which will afford the Partnership the financial flexibility to fund development drilling initiatives and future acquisitions.  See "Liquidity" included in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Capital Commitments, Capital Resources and Liquidity" for additional information about the Partnership's capital structure.
 
·  
Mitigate commodity price risk through derivatives. To reduce the impact on the Partnership's net cash provided by operating activities from the price volatility of the commodities the Partnership produces and sells, the Partnership has adopted a policy that contemplates using derivative contracts to protect the prices for approximately 65 percent to 85 percent of expected production for a period of up to five years, as appropriate.
 
Relationship with Pioneer
 
The Partnership believes that one of its principal strengths is its relationship with Pioneer, which owns the General Partner and common units representing a 61.9 percent limited partner interest in the Partnership. Pioneer is a large independent oil and gas exploration and production company with current operations in the United States and Africa. Pioneer's proved reserves at December 31, 2010, including the Partnership's properties, were 1,011 MMBOE, of which 549 MMBOE, or 54 percent, were in the Spraberry field. Of the 549 MMBOE of proved reserves in the Spraberry field, 255 MMBOE were proved developed reserves (46 percent) and 294 MMBOE were proved undeveloped reserves (54 percent). These proved undeveloped reserves represent approximately 3,885 future drilling locations held by Pioneer in the Spraberry field.
 
Pioneer views the Partnership as an integral part of its asset portfolio and expects to offer the Partnership over time the opportunity to purchase from Pioneer portions of its oil and gas assets in the Partnership's area of operations, provided that such transactions can be done in an economic manner and depending upon market conditions at the time. The Partnership also plans to participate jointly with Pioneer in acquisitions in the Partnership's area of operations.
 
The Partnership's omnibus agreement with Pioneer limits the Partnership's area of operations to onshore Texas and eight counties in the southeast region of New Mexico.

Competitive Strengths
 
The Partnership believes the following competitive strengths will allow it to achieve its objectives of generating and growing cash available for distribution:
 

·  
Its relationship with Pioneer:

o  
Pioneer has a significant retained interest in the Spraberry field as well as an active development plan, each of which should generate acquisition opportunities for the Partnership over time;
o  
Pioneer's significant ownership in the Partnership provides it an economic incentive to sell developed and proved undeveloped oil and gas properties to it over time; and
o  
The Partnership's ability to pursue acquisitions jointly with Pioneer increases the number and type of transactions it can pursue and increases its competitiveness;

·  
Its assets are characterized by long-lived and stable production; and

·  
Its cost of capital and financial flexibility should over time provide it with a competitive advantage in pursuing acquisitions. Unlike the Partnership's corporate competitors, the Partnership is not subject to federal income taxation at the entity level. In addition, unlike a traditional master limited partnership structure, neither the Partnership's management nor Pioneer hold any incentive distribution rights that entitle them to increasing percentages of cash distributions as the Partnership's distributions grow. The Partnership believes that, collectively, these two factors provide the Partnership with a lower long-term cost of capital, thereby enhancing the Partnership's ability to compete for future acquisitions both individually and jointly with Pioneer.

 
 
 
8
 
 

 

Business Activities

Petroleum industry.  For several years preceding 2008, the petroleum industry was generally characterized by volatile, but upward trending oil, NGL and gas commodity prices. During the first half of 2008, North American gas prices increased as a result of reduced inventory levels, a perceived shortage of North American gas supply and anticipation that the United States would become a larger importer of LNG, which was then selling in the world market at a substantial premium to United States gas prices. However, by mid-year 2008, it became apparent that capital investments in gas drilling and discoveries of significant gas reserves in United States shale plays would cause domestic gas supply to exceed existing United States gas demand.  Beginning in the second half of 2008 and continuing throughout most of 2009, the United States and other industrialized countries experienced a significant economic slowdown, which led to a substantial decline in worldwide energy demand. Declining energy demand due to the economic slowdown, together with the increased supply of United States gas resulted in sharp declines in oil, NGL and North American gas prices during the second half of 2008 and first half of 2009.

During the second half of 2009 and throughout 2010, economic stimulus initiatives implemented in the United States and worldwide served to stabilize economies and increase industry and consumer confidence.  While oil and NGL prices have steadily improved since the beginning of the second quarter of 2009, gas prices have remained volatile throughout 2009 and 2010 as a result of increased gas supply and growing storage levels in the United States, which has offset the growth in demand.  The outlook for continuation of the worldwide economic recovery in 2011 is cautiously optimistic but remains uncertain; therefore, the sustainability of the recovery in worldwide demand for energy is difficult to predict.  As a result, the Partnership believes it is likely that commodity prices, especially North American gas prices, will continue to be volatile during 2011.

Significant factors that will impact 2011 commodity prices include: the ongoing impact of economic stimulus initiatives in the United States and worldwide in response to the worldwide economic decline; political and economic developments in North Africa and the Middle East; demand of Asian and European markets; the extent to which members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries ("OPEC") and other oil exporting nations are able to manage oil supply through export quotas; and overall North American gas supply and demand fundamentals.

The Partnership uses commodity derivative contracts to mitigate the impact of commodity price volatility on the Partnership's net cash provided by operating activities Although the Partnership has entered into derivative contracts on a large portion of its forecasted production through 2013, a sustained lower commodity price environment would result in lower realized prices for unprotected volumes and reduce the prices at which the Partnership could enter into derivative contracts on additional volumes in the future.  As a result, the Partnership's internal cash flows would be reduced for affected periods.  A sustained decline in commodity prices could result in a shortfall in expected cash flows, which could negatively impact the Partnership's liquidity, financial position, future results of operations and ability to sustain or increase distributions to unitholders.  See "Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" and Note H of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for information regarding the impact to oil and gas revenues during 2010 and 2009 from the Partnership's derivative price risk management activities and the Partnership's open derivative positions at December 31, 2010.
 
The Partnership.  Currently, the Partnership's oil and gas properties consist only of non-operated working interests in oil and gas properties in the Spraberry field, all of which are operated by Pioneer, including 1,116 producing wells. The Partnership's interest in 1,021 of these wells is limited to only those rights that are necessary to produce hydrocarbons from those particular wellbores, and do not include the right to drill additional wells (other than replacement wells or downspaced wells, such as 20-acre infill wells) within the area covered by the mineral or leasehold interest to which that wellbore relates.   The Partnership acquired certain proved undeveloped oil and gas properties in connection with the 2009 Acquisition and commenced a two-rig drilling program in the fourth quarter of 2009 to begin developing the undeveloped properties.  See "Item 2. Properties – Description of Properties." According to the latest information available from the Energy Information Administration, the Spraberry field is the second largest oil field in the United States, and the Partnership believes that Pioneer is the largest operator in the field based on recent production information. Because Pioneer is the largest producer in the Spraberry field and has a significantly greater asset base than the Partnership does, the Partnership believes it will benefit from Pioneer's experience and scale of operations. Although Pioneer has no obligation to sell assets to the Partnership, and the Partnership is not obligated to purchase from Pioneer any additional assets, the Partnership believes that Pioneer intends to offer to the Partnership over time the opportunity to purchase portions of Pioneer's producing and undeveloped oil and gas assets in the Partnership's area of operations, provided that such transactions can be done in an economic manner and depending upon market conditions at the time. The Partnership believes that a substantial portion of Pioneer's assets in the Partnership's area of operations have or in the future will have the characteristics
 
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that will make them well-suited for ownership by a limited partnership such as the Partnership. The Partnership also expects to make acquisitions in its area of operations from third parties and to participate jointly in acquisitions with Pioneer.
 
Production and drilling activities.  During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Partnership's average daily production, on a BOE basis was 6,507. Production, price and cost information with respect to the Partnership's properties for 2010, 2009 and 2008 is set forth under "Item 2. Properties — Selected Oil and Gas Information — Production, price and cost data."  During the three years ended December 31, 2010, the Partnership drilled 38 gross (37 net) wells, all of which were successfully completed as productive wells.
 
Acquisition activities.  Part of the Partnership's business strategy is to acquire oil and gas properties in its area of operations that complement its operations, provide development opportunities and potentially increase the Partnership's net cash provided by operating activities to sustain or increase unitholder distributions.  During 2009, the Partnership invested $168.2 million of acquisition capital to purchase proved oil and gas properties from Pioneer, including additional interests in its existing properties and undeveloped properties in the Spraberry field for future drilling initiatives.  See Note B of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for a description of the Partnership's acquisition of proved oil and gas properties in 2009.

Marketing of Production
 
General.  As operator of the Partnership's properties, Pioneer markets the Partnership's production and pays the Partnership the sales proceeds attributable to its production. The production sales agreements entered into by Pioneer that are related to the Partnership's production contain customary terms and conditions for the oil and gas industry, provide for sales based on prevailing market prices and have terms ranging from 30 days to two years. Sales prices for oil, NGL and gas production are negotiated based on factors normally considered in the industry, such as an index or spot price, price regulations, distance from the well to the pipeline, commodity quality and prevailing supply conditions. See "Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" for additional discussion of operations and price risk.
 
Significant purchasers.  During 2010, the Partnership's significant purchasers were Plains Marketing LP (53 percent), Occidental Energy Marketing (17 percent) and Enterprise Crude Oil LLC (10 percent). The Partnership believes that the loss of any one purchaser would not have an adverse effect on its ability to sell its oil, NGL and gas production.
 
Derivative activities.  The Partnership utilizes commodity swap contracts, collar contracts and collar contracts with short puts to (i) reduce the impact on the Partnership's net cash provided by operating activities from the price volatility of the commodities the Partnership produces and sells and (ii) help sustain unitholder distributions. Effective February 1, 2009, the Partnership discontinued hedge accounting on all of its then-existing hedge contracts and began accounting for its derivative contracts using the mark-to-market ("MTM") method of accounting.  See "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" for a description of the Partnership's derivative activities, "Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" and Note H of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for information about the impact of commodity derivative activities on oil, NGL and gas revenues and net derivative losses during 2010, 2009 and 2008 and the Partnership's open commodity derivative positions at December 31, 2010.

Competition, Markets and Regulations
 
Competition.  The oil and gas industry is highly competitive.  A large number of companies, including major integrated and other independent companies, and individuals engage in the development of oil and gas properties, and there is a high degree of competition for oil and gas properties suitable for development.  Acquisitions of oil and gas properties are expected to be an important element of the Partnership's future growth.  The principal competitive factors in the acquisition of oil and gas assets include the staff and data necessary to identify, evaluate and acquire such assets and the financial resources necessary to acquire and develop the assets.  Many of the Partnership's competitors are substantially larger and have financial and other resources greater than those of the Partnership.
 
Markets.  As operator of the Partnership's properties, Pioneer is responsible for marketing the Partnership's production. The Partnership's ability to produce and Pioneer's ability to market oil, NGLs and gas profitably depends on numerous factors beyond the Partnership's control. The effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted or
 
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anticipated. Although the Partnership cannot predict the occurrence of events that may affect these commodity prices or the degree to which these prices will be affected, the prices for any commodity that the Partnership produces will generally approximate current market prices in the geographic region of the production.

Securities regulations.  Enterprises that sell securities in public markets are subject to regulatory oversight by agencies such as the SEC and the NYSE. This regulatory oversight imposes on the Partnership the responsibility for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting, and ensuring that the financial statements and other information included in submissions to the SEC do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made in such submissions not misleading.  Failure to comply with the rules and regulations of the SEC could subject the Partnership to litigation from public or private plaintiffs. Failure to comply with the rules of the NYSE could result in the delisting of the Partnership's common units, which could have an adverse effect on the liquidity and market value of the common units.  Compliance with some of these regulations is costly and regulations are subject to change or reinterpretation.

Environmental matters and regulations. The Partnership's operations are subject to stringent and complex federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental protection as well as the discharge of materials into the environment.  These laws and regulations may, among other things:

·  
require the acquisition of various permits before drilling commences;
·  
enjoin some or all of the operations of facilities deemed in non-compliance with permits;
·  
restrict the types, quantities and concentration of various substances that can be released into the environment in connection with oil and gas drilling, production and transportation activities;
·  
limit or prohibit drilling activities on certain lands lying within wilderness, wetlands and other protected areas; and
·  
require remedial measures to mitigate pollution from former and ongoing operations, such as requirements to close pits and plug abandoned wells.

These laws, rules and regulations may also restrict the rate of oil and gas production below the rate that would otherwise be possible. The regulatory burden on the oil and gas industry increases the cost of doing business in the industry and consequently affects profitability. Additionally, the United States Congress and state legislatures, and federal and state regulatory agencies frequently revise environmental laws and regulations, and the clear trend in environmental regulation is to place more restrictions and limitations on activities that may affect the environment. Any changes that result in more stringent and costly waste handling, disposal and cleanup requirements for the oil and gas industry could have a significant impact on the Partnership's operating costs.

The following is a summary of some of the existing laws, rules and regulations to which the Partnership's business operations are subject.

Waste handling. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA") and comparable state statutes regulate the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal and cleanup of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. Under the auspices of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA"), the individual states administer some or all of the provisions of RCRA, sometimes in conjunction with their own, more stringent requirements. Drilling fluids, produced waters and most of the other wastes associated with the exploration, development and production of oil or gas are currently regulated under RCRA's non-hazardous waste provisions. It is possible that certain oil and gas exploration and production wastes now classified as non-hazardous could be classified as hazardous wastes in the future. Any such change could result in an increase in the Partnership's costs to manage and dispose of wastes, which could have a material adverse effect on the Partnership's results of operations and financial position. Also, in the course of the Partnership's operations, it generates some amounts of ordinary industrial wastes, such as paint wastes, waste solvents and waste oils, that may be regulated as hazardous wastes.

Wastes containing naturally occurring radioactive materials ("NORM") may also be generated in connection with the Partnership's operations. Certain processes used to produce oil and gas may enhance the radioactivity of NORM, which may be present in oilfield wastes. NORM is subject primarily to individual state radiation control regulations. In addition, NORM handling and management activities are governed by regulations promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA"). These state and OSHA regulations impose certain requirements concerning worker protection; the treatment, storage and disposal of NORM waste; the management of waste piles, containers and tanks containing NORM; as well as restrictions on the uses of land with NORM contamination.
 
 
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Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA"), also known as the Superfund law, imposes joint and several liability, without regard to fault or legality of conduct, on classes of persons who are considered to be responsible for the release of a hazardous substance into the environment. These persons include the current and past owner or operator of the site where the release occurred, and anyone who disposed or arranged for the disposal of a hazardous substance released at the site. Under CERCLA, such persons may be subject to joint and several liability for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances that have been released into the environment, for damages to natural resources and for the costs of certain health studies. In addition, 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 Partnership currently owns or leases numerous properties that have been producing oil and gas for many years. Although the Partnership believes Pioneer has used operating and waste disposal practices that were standard in the industry at the time, hazardous substances, wastes, or hydrocarbons may have been released on or under the properties owned or leased by the Partnership, or on or under other locations, including off-site locations, where such substances have been taken for disposal. In addition, some of the Partnership's properties have been operated by third parties or by previous owners or operators whose treatment and disposal of hazardous substances, wastes, or hydrocarbons were not under Pioneer's or the Partnership's control. In fact, there is evidence that petroleum spills or releases have occurred in the past at some of the properties owned or leased by the Partnership. These properties and the substances disposed or released on them may be subject to CERCLA, RCRA and analogous state laws. Under such laws, the Partnership could be required to remove previously disposed substances and wastes, remediate contaminated property or perform remedial plugging or pit closure operations to prevent future contamination.

Water discharges and use. The Clean Water Act (the "CWA") and analogous state laws impose restrictions and strict controls with respect to the discharge of pollutants, including spills and leaks of oil and other substances, into waters of the United States. The discharge of pollutants into regulated waters is prohibited, except in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the EPA or an analogous state agency. The CWA and regulations implemented thereunder also prohibit the discharge of dredge and fill material into regulated waters, including wetlands, unless authorized by an appropriately issued permit. Spill prevention, control and countermeasure requirements of federal laws require appropriate containment berms and similar structures to help prevent the contamination of navigable waters by a petroleum hydrocarbon tank spill, rupture or leak. Federal and state regulatory agencies can impose administrative, civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance with discharge permits or other requirements of the CWA and analogous state laws and regulations.

The primary federal law imposing liability for oil spills is the Oil Pollution Act ("OPA"), which sets minimum standards for prevention, containment and cleanup of oil spills. OPA applies to vessels, offshore facilities and onshore facilities.  Under OPA, responsible parties, including owners and operators of onshore facilities, may be subject to oil spill cleanup costs and natural resource damages as well as a variety of public and private damages that may result from oil spills.

Operations associated with the Partnership's properties also produce wastewaters that are disposed via injection in underground wells. These injection wells are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act (the "SDWA") and analogous state and local laws. The underground injection well program under the SDWA requires permits from the EPA or analogous state agency for the Partnership's disposal wells, establishes minimum standards for injection well operations, and restricts the types and quantities of fluids that may be injected. Currently, the Partnership believes that disposal well operations on the Partnership's properties comply with all applicable requirements under the SDWA. However, a change in the regulations or the inability to obtain permits for new injection wells in the future may affect the Partnership's ability to dispose of produced waters and ultimately increase the cost of the Partnership's operations. In addition, Congress has considered legislation that would repeal an exemption in the SDWA for the underground injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids near drinking water sources. Sponsors of the legislation have asserted that chemicals used in the fracturing process could adversely affect drinking water supplies.  If enacted, the legislation could result in additional regulatory burdens such as permitting, construction, financial assurance, monitoring, recordkeeping, and plugging and abandonment requirements.  The legislation also proposes requiring the disclosure of chemical constituents used in the fracturing process to state or federal regulatory authorities, who would then make such information publicly available.  The availability of this information could make it easier for third parties opposing the hydraulic fracturing process to initiate legal proceedings based on allegations that specific chemicals used in the fracturing process could adversely affect groundwater.  The Subcommittee on Energy and Environment of the U.S. House of Representatives is examining the practice of hydraulic fracturing in the United States and is gathering information on its potential effects on human health and the environment.  The EPA also has commenced a study of the potential adverse effects that hydraulic fracturing
 
 
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may have on water quality and public health.  In addition, various state and local governments have implemented or are considering increased regulatory oversight of hydraulic fracturing through additional permit requirements, operational restrictions, requirements for disclosure of chemical constituents, and temporary or permanent bans on hydraulic fracturing in certain environmentally sensitive areas such as watersheds.

Air emissions. The federal Clean Air Act (the "CAA") and comparable state laws regulate emissions of various air pollutants through air emissions permitting programs and the imposition of other requirements. Such laws and regulations may require a facility to obtain pre-approval for the construction or modification of certain projects or facilities expected to produce air emissions or result in the increase of existing air emissions; obtain or strictly comply with air permits containing various emissions and operational limitations; or utilize specific emission control technologies to limit emissions of certain air pollutants. In addition, the EPA has developed, and continues to develop, stringent regulations governing emissions of toxic air pollutants at specified sources. Moreover, states can impose air emissions limitations that are more stringent than the federal standards imposed by the EPA. Federal and state regulatory agencies can also impose administrative, civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance with air permits or other requirements of the federal CAA and associated state laws and regulations.

Permits and related compliance obligations under the CAA, as well as changes to state implementation plans for controlling air emissions in regional non-attainment areas, may require the Partnership to incur future capital expenditures in connection with the addition or modification of existing air emission control equipment and strategies for oil and gas drilling and production operations. In addition, some oil and gas production facilities may be included within the categories of hazardous air pollutant sources, which are subject to increasing regulation under the CAA. Failure to comply with these requirements could subject a regulated entity to monetary penalties, injunctions, conditions or restrictions on operations and enforcement actions. Oil and gas drilling and production facilities may be required to incur certain capital expenditures in the future for air pollution control equipment in connection with obtaining and maintaining operating permits and approvals for air emissions.

In addition, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ("TCEQ") recently adopted new air emissions limitations and permitting requirements for oil and gas facilities in the state, which will first become applicable to facilities located in the Barnett Shale area on April 1, 2011.   The TCEQ expects to expand the application of these requirements to facilities in other areas of the state in early 2012.  These new requirements could increase the cost and time associated with drilling wells.  Any adoption of laws, regulations, orders or other legally enforceable mandates governing drilling and operating activities that result in more stringent drilling or operating conditions or limit or prohibit the drilling of new wells for any extended period of time could increase the Partnership's costs and/or reduce its production, which could have a material adverse effect on the Partnership's results of operations and cash flows.

Health and safety. Operations associated with the Partnership's properties are subject to the requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (the "OSH Act") and comparable state statutes. These laws and the related regulations strictly govern the protection of the health and safety of employees. The OSH Act hazard communication standard, EPA community right-to-know regulations under Title III of CERCLA and similar state statues require that the Partnership organize or disclose information about hazardous materials used or produced in the Partnership's operations. The Partnership believes that it is in substantial compliance with these applicable requirements and with other OSH Act and comparable requirements.

Global warming and climate change. In December 2009, the EPA officially published its findings that emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other "greenhouse gases," or "GHGs," present an endangerment to human health and welfare because emissions of such gases are, according to the EPA, contributing to warming of the Earth's atmosphere and other climatic changes. These findings by the EPA allow the agency to proceed with the adoption and implementation of regulations that would restrict emissions of GHGs under existing provisions of the CAA. Based on these findings, the EPA has begun adopting and implementing regulations to restrict emissions of GHGs under existing provisions of the CAA.  The EPA recently adopted two sets of rules, which became effective January 2, 2011, that regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the CAA, one of which requires a reduction in emissions of GHGs from motor vehicles and the other of which regulates emissions of GHGs from certain large stationary sources.  The EPA has also adopted rules requiring the reporting on an annual basis beginning in 2011 of greenhouse gas emissions from specified large greenhouse gas emission sources in the United States, including petroleum refineries, for emissions occurring after January 1, 2010, as well as certain oil and gas production facilities, on an annual basis, beginning in 2012 for emissions occurring in 2011.

In addition, the United States Congress has from time to time considered adopting legislation to reduce emissions of GHGs and almost one-half of the states have already taken legal measures to reduce emissions of
 
 
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GHGs primarily through the planned development of GHG emission inventories and/or regional GHG cap and trade programs.  Most of these cap and trade programs work by requiring major sources of emissions, such as electric power plants, or major producers of fuels, such as refineries and gas processing plants, to acquire and surrender emission allowances. The number of allowances available for purchase is reduced each year in an effort to achieve the overall GHG emission reduction goal.

The adoption of legislation or regulatory programs to reduce emissions of GHGs could require the Partnership to incur increased operating costs, such as costs to purchase and operate emissions control systems, to acquire emissions allowances or comply with new regulatory or reporting requirements. Any such legislation or regulatory programs could also increase the cost of consuming, and thereby reduce demand for, oil and gas, which could reduce the demand for the oil and gas the Partnership produces.  Consequently, legislation and regulatory programs to reduce emissions of GHGs could have an adverse effect on the Partnership's business, financial condition and results of operations. Finally, it should be noted that some scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHGs in the Earth's atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts and floods and other climatic events. If any such effects were to occur, they could have an adverse effect on the Partnership's financial condition and results of operations.
 
The Partnership believes it is in substantial compliance with all existing environmental laws and regulations applicable to the Partnership's current operations and that its continued compliance with existing requirements will not have a material adverse effect on the Partnership's financial condition and results of operations. For instance, the Partnership did not incur any material capital expenditures for remediation or pollution control activities for the three years ended December 31, 2010. Additionally, the Partnership is not aware of any environmental issues or claims that will require material capital expenditures during 2011. However, accidental spills or releases may occur in the course of the Partnership's operations, and the Partnership cannot give any assurance that it will not incur substantial costs and liabilities as a result of such spills or releases, including those relating to claims for damage to property and persons. Moreover, the Partnership cannot give any assurance that the passage of more stringent laws or regulations in the future will not have a negative effect on the Partnership's business, financial condition and results of operations.  See "Item 1A. Risk Factors" for additional information.

Other regulation of the oil and gas industry. The oil and gas industry is regulated by numerous federal, state and local authorities. Legislation affecting the oil and gas industry is under constant review for amendment or expansion, frequently increasing the regulatory burden. Also, numerous federal and state departments and agencies are authorized by statute to issue rules and regulations binding on the oil and gas industry and its individual members, some of which carry substantial penalties for failure to comply. Although the regulatory burden on the oil and gas industry may increase the Partnership's cost of doing business by increasing various drilling and operating costs, these burdens generally do not affect the Partnership any differently or to any greater or lesser extent than they affect other companies in the industry with similar types, quantities and locations of production.

Development and production. Development and production operations are subject to various types of regulation at federal, state and local levels. These types of regulation include requiring permits for the drilling of wells, the posting of bonds in connection with various types of activities and filing reports concerning operations. Most states, and some counties and municipalities, in which the Partnership operates also regulate one or more of the following:
 
·  
the location of wells;
·  
the method of drilling and casing wells;
·  
the method and ability to fracture stimulate wells;
·  
the surface use and restoration of properties upon which wells are drilled;
·  
the plugging and abandoning of wells; and
·  
notice to surface owners and other third parties.
 
State laws regulate the size and shape of drilling and spacing units or proration units governing the pooling of oil and gas properties. Some states allow forced pooling or integration of tracts to facilitate drilling and production while other states rely on voluntary pooling of lands and leases. In some instances, forced pooling or unitization may be implemented by third parties and may reduce the Partnership's interest in the unitized properties. In addition, state conservation laws establish maximum rates of production from oil and gas wells, generally prohibit the venting or flaring of gas and impose requirements regarding the ratability of production. These laws and regulations may limit the amount of oil and gas the Partnership can produce from its wells or limit the number of wells or the locations at which the Partnership can drill. Moreover, each state generally imposes a production or severance tax with respect to the production and sale of oil, NGL and gas within its jurisdiction. States do not regulate wellhead prices or engage
 
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in other similar direct regulation, but there can be no assurance that they will not do so in the future. The effect of such future regulations may be to limit the amounts of oil and gas that may be produced from the Partnership's wells, negatively affect the economics of production from these wells, or to limit the number of locations the Partnership can drill.
 
Regulation of transportation and sale of gas. The availability, terms and cost of transportation significantly affect sales of gas. Federal and state regulations govern the price and terms for access to gas pipeline transportation. The interstate transportation and sale of gas is subject to federal regulation, including regulation of the terms, conditions and rates for interstate transportation, storage and various other matters, primarily by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"). The FERC's regulations for interstate gas transmission in some circumstances may also affect the intrastate transportation of gas. As a result of initiatives like FERC Order No. 636 ("Order 636"), issued in April 1992, the interstate gas transportation and marketing system has been substantially restructured to remove various barriers and practices that historically limited non-pipeline gas sellers, including producers, from effectively competing with interstate pipelines for sales to local distribution companies and large industrial and commercial customers.  The most significant provisions of Order 636 require that interstate pipelines provide firm and interruptible transportation service on an open access basis that is equal for all gas supplies.  In many instances, the results of Order 636 and related initiatives have been to substantially reduce or eliminate the interstate pipelines' traditional role as wholesalers of gas in favor of providing only storage and transportation services.
 
In August 2005, Congress enacted the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ("EPAct 2005").  Among other matters, EPAct 2005 amends the Natural Gas Act ("NGA") to make it unlawful for "any entity," including otherwise non-jurisdictional producers such as the Partnership, to use any deceptive or manipulative device or contrivance in connection with the purchase or sale of gas or the purchase or sale of transportation services subject to regulation by the FERC, in contravention of rules prescribed by the FERC.  The FERC's rules implementing this provision make it unlawful, in connection with the purchase or sale of gas subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC, or the purchase or sale of transportation services subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC, for any entity, directly or indirectly, to use or employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud; to make any untrue statement of material fact or omit to make any such statement necessary to make the statements made not misleading; or to engage in any act or practice that operates as a fraud or deceit upon any person.  EPAct 2005 also gives the FERC authority to impose civil penalties for violations of the NGA up to $1.0 million per day per violation.  The anti-manipulation rule does not apply to activities that relate only to intrastate or other non-jurisdictional sales or gathering, but does apply to activities of otherwise non-jurisdictional entities to the extent the activities are conducted "in connection with" gas sales, purchases or transportation subject to FERC jurisdiction, which includes the annual reporting requirements under Order 704 (defined below).

In December 2007, the FERC issued rules ("Order 704") requiring that any market participant, including a producer such as the Partnership, that engages in wholesale sales or purchases of gas that equal or exceed 2.2 million MMBtus during a calendar year must annually report such sales and purchases to the FERC.  Order 704 is intended to increase the transparency of the wholesale gas markets and to assist the FERC in monitoring those markets and in detecting market manipulation.

Although gas prices are currently unregulated, Congress historically has been active in the area of gas regulation. The Partnership cannot predict whether new legislation to regulate gas or gas prices might be proposed, what proposals, if any, might actually be enacted by Congress or the various state legislatures and what effect, if any, the proposals might have on the Partnership's operations. Sales of condensate and gas liquids are not currently regulated and are made at market prices.
 
Gas gathering. The Partnership depends on gathering facilities owned and operated by third parties to gather production from its properties, and therefore the Partnership is impacted by the rates charged by such third parties for gathering services. To the extent that changes in federal and/or state regulation affect the rates charged for gathering services, the Partnership also may be affected by such changes. Accordingly, the Partnership does not anticipate that it would be affected any differently than similarly situated gas producers.
 
Transportation of hazardous materials.  The federal Department of Transportation has adopted regulations requiring that certain entities transporting designated hazardous materials develop plans to address security risks related to the transportation of hazardous materials.  The Partnership does not believe that these requirements will have an adverse effect on the Partnership or its operations.  The Partnership cannot provide any assurance that the security plans required under these regulations would protect against all security risks and prevent an attack or other incident related to the Partnership's transportation of hazardous materials.
 
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ITEM 1A.                      RISK FACTORS

The nature of the business activities conducted by the Partnership subjects it to certain hazards and risks. The following is a summary of some of the material risks relating to the Partnership's business activities. Other risks are described in "Item 1. Business — Competition, Markets and Regulations" and "Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk."  These risks are not the only risks facing the Partnership.  The Partnership's business could also be affected by additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Partnership or that it currently deems to be immaterial.  If any of these risks actually occurs, it could materially harm the Partnership's business, financial condition or results of operations. In that case, the Partnership might not be able to pay distributions on its common units and the market price of the Partnership's common units could decline.

Risks Related to the Partnership's Business

The Partnership may not have sufficient cash flow from operations to pay quarterly distributions on its common units following the establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses, including reimbursement of expenses to the General Partner and its affiliates.
 
The Partnership may not have sufficient available cash each quarter to pay its quarterly distribution of $0.50 per unit or any other amount.
 
Under the terms of the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. (the "Partnership Agreement"), the amount of cash otherwise available for distribution will be reduced by the Partnership's operating expenses and the amount of any cash reserve amounts that the General Partner establishes to provide for future operations, future capital expenditures, including acquisitions of additional oil and gas assets, future debt service requirements and future cash distributions to unitholders.
 
The amount of cash the Partnership actually generates will depend upon numerous factors related to its business that may be beyond its control, including among other things:
 
·  
the amount of oil, NGL and gas the Partnership produces;
·  
the prices at which the Partnership sells its oil, NGL and gas production;
·  
the effectiveness of its commodity price derivatives;
·  
the level of its operating costs, including fees and reimbursement of expenses to the General Partner and its affiliates;
·  
the Partnership's ability to economically replace proved reserves;
·  
the success of the Partnership's development drilling program;
·  
the Partnership's ability to acquire oil and gas properties from third parties in a competitive market and at an attractive price to the Partnership;
·  
Pioneer's willingness to sell assets to the Partnership at a price that is attractive to the Partnership and to Pioneer;
·  
prevailing economic conditions;
·  
the level of competition the Partnership faces;
·  
fuel conservation measures and alternate fuel requirements; and
·  
government regulation and taxation.

 
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In addition, the actual amount of cash that the Partnership will have available for distribution will depend on other factors, including:
 
·  
the level of the Partnership's capital expenditures for acquisitions of additional oil and gas assets, developing proved undeveloped properties, and recompletion opportunities in existing oil and gas wells;
·  
the Partnership's ability to make borrowings under its credit facility to pay distributions;
·  
sources of cash used to fund acquisitions;
·  
debt service requirements and restrictions on distributions contained in the Partnership's credit facility or future financing agreements;
·  
fluctuations in the Partnership's working capital needs;
·  
general and administrative expenses;
·  
timing and collectability of receivables; and
·  
the amount of cash reserves, which the Partnership expects to be substantial, established by the General Partner for the proper conduct of the Partnership's business.
 
See "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Capital Commitments, Capital Resources and Liquidity" for a discussion of additional restrictions and factors that could affect the Partnership's ability to make cash distributions.
  
The prices of oil, NGL and gas are highly volatile. A sustained decline in these commodity prices will cause a decline in the Partnership's cash flow from operations, which could force it to reduce its distributions or cease paying distributions altogether.
 
The oil, NGL and gas markets are highly volatile, and the Partnership cannot predict future oil, NGL and gas prices. Prices for oil, NGLs and gas may fluctuate widely in response to relatively minor changes in the supply of and demand for oil, NGL and gas, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors that are beyond the Partnership's control, such as:
 
        ·  domestic and worldwide supply of and demand for oil, NGL and gas;
·  inventory levels at Cushing, Oklahoma, the benchmark for West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") oil prices;
·  weather conditions;
·  overall domestic and global political and economic conditions;
·  actions of OPEC and other state-controlled oil companies relating to oil price and production controls;
·  the effect of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, deliveries to the United States;
·  technological advances affecting energy consumption and energy supply;
·  domestic and foreign governmental regulations and taxation;
·  the effect of energy conservation efforts;
·  the capacity, cost and availability of oil and gas pipelines and other transportation facilities, and the proximity of these facilities to the
    Partnership's wells; and
·  the price and availability of alternative fuels.
 
In the past, prices of oil, NGL and gas have been extremely volatile, and the Partnership expects this volatility to continue. For example, during the year ended December 31, 2010, the NYMEX oil price ranged from a high of $91.51 per Bbl to a low of $68.01 per Bbl, while the NYMEX Henry Hub gas price ranged from a high of $6.01 per MMBtu to a low of $3.29 per MMBtu.
 
Significant or extended price declines could also adversely affect the amount of oil, NGL and gas that the Partnership can produce economically.  A reduction in production could result in a shortfall in expected cash flows and may negatively affect the Partnership's ability to pay distributions.

The Partnership's revenue, profitability and cash flow depend upon the prices and demand for oil, NGL and gas, and a drop in prices could significantly affect its financial results and impede its growth. If the Partnership raises its distribution levels in response to increased cash flow during periods of higher commodity prices, the Partnership may not be able to sustain those distribution levels during subsequent periods of lower commodity prices. A sustained decline in commodity prices could force the Partnership to reduce its distributions or possibly cease paying distributions altogether.
 
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A significant portion of the Partnership's assets consists of working interests in identified producing wells, or "wellbore interests," and the Partnership does not have the right to develop other portions of the leaseholds related to such wellbore interests.
 
A significant portion of the Partnership's assets consist only of mineral interests and leasehold interests in identified producing wells (often referred to as wellbore interests). The Partnership's rights as to these wellbores are limited to only those rights that are necessary to produce hydrocarbons from that particular wellbore, and do not include the right to drill additional wells (other than replacement wells or downspaced wells) within the area covered by the mineral or leasehold interest to which that wellbore relates. In addition, the Partnership's operations with respect to these wellbore interests are limited to the interval from the surface to the depth of the deepest producing perforation in the wellbore, plus an additional 100 feet as a vertical easement for operating purposes only. The  Partnership is also prohibited from extending the horizontal reach of the wellbore interest. These restrictions on the Partnership's ability to extend the vertical and horizontal limits of its existing wellbore interests could have an adverse effect on its ability to maintain and grow its production and reserves and to make cash distributions to its unitholders.
 
Because oil and gas properties are a depleting asset, the Partnership will have to drill undeveloped locations and/or acquire additional oil and gas assets that provide cash margins that allow the Partnership to maintain its production and reserves and sustain its level of distributions to unitholders over time.
 
Producing oil and gas reservoirs are characterized by declining production rates. Because the Partnership's proved reserves and production decline continually over time, the Partnership will need to drill undeveloped locations and/or acquire additional oil and gas assets that provide cash margins that allow the Partnership to maintain its production and reserves and sustain its level of distributions to unitholders over time. The Partnership may be unable to make such acquisitions if:
 
·  Pioneer decides not to sell any assets to the Partnership;
·  Pioneer decides to acquire assets in the Partnership's area of operations instead of allowing the Partnership to acquire them;
·  the Partnership is unable to identify attractive acquisition opportunities in its area of operations;
·  the Partnership is unable to agree on a purchase price for assets that are attractive to it; or
·  the Partnership is unable to obtain financing for acquisitions on economically acceptable terms.
 
The Partnership expects to reserve approximately 25 percent of its cash flow to drill undeveloped locations and/or acquire additional oil and gas assets in order to maintain its production, proved reserves and cash flows, which will reduce its cash available for distribution.

The Partnership will require substantial capital expenditures to replace its production and reserves, which will reduce its cash available for distribution. The Partnership could be unable to obtain needed capital or financing due to its financial condition, the covenants in its credit facility or adverse market conditions, which could adversely affect its ability to replace its production and proved reserves.
 
To fund its acquisitions and capital commitments, the Partnership will be required to use cash generated from its operations, borrowings or the proceeds from the issuance of additional partnership interests, or some combination thereof, which could limit its ability to sustain its level of distributions. For example, the Partnership plans to use approximately 25 percent of its cash flow to drill undeveloped locations and/or acquire additional oil and gas assets in order to maintain its production, proved reserves and cash flow. To the extent its production declines faster than the Partnership anticipates or the cost to drill for or acquire additional reserves is greater than the Partnership anticipates, the Partnership will require a greater amount of capital to maintain its production, proved reserves and cash flow. The use of cash generated from operations to fund drilling or acquisitions will reduce cash available for distribution to its unitholders. The Partnership's ability to obtain bank financing or to access the capital markets for future equity or debt offerings could be limited by its financial condition at the time of any such financing or offering, the covenants in its credit facility or future financing agreements, adverse market conditions or other contingencies and uncertainties that are beyond the Partnership's control. The Partnership's failure to obtain the funds necessary for future drilling initiatives or acquisitions could materially affect its business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay distributions. Even if the Partnership is successful in obtaining the necessary funds, the terms of such financings could limit its ability to pay distributions to its unitholders. In addition, incurring additional debt could significantly increase the Partnership's interest expense and financial leverage, and issuing additional partnership interests to raise capital could result in significant unitholder dilution thereby increasing the aggregate amount of cash required to maintain the then current distribution rate, which could reduce its distributions materially.
 
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The Partnership may be unable to make attractive acquisitions, and any acquisitions the Partnership completes are subject to substantial risks that could reduce its ability to make distributions to unitholders.
 
Even if the Partnership does make acquisitions that the Partnership believes will increase distributable cash per unit, these acquisitions could nevertheless result in a decrease in available cash per unit. Any acquisition involves potential risks, including, among other things:
 
·  the validity of the Partnership's assumptions about reserves, future production, revenues and costs, including synergies;
·  a decrease in the Partnership's liquidity by using a significant portion of its available cash or borrowing capacity to finance acquisitions;
·  a significant increase in the Partnership's interest expense or financial leverage if the Partnership incurs additional debt to finance acquisitions;
·  dilution to its unitholders and a decrease in available cash per unit if the Partnership issues additional partnership securities to finance
            acquisitions;
·  the assumption of unknown liabilities, losses or costs for which the Partnership is not indemnified or for which its indemnity is inadequate;
·  the diversion of management's attention from other business concerns;
·  an inability to hire, train or retain qualified personnel to manage and operate the Partnership's growing business and assets; and
·  customer or key employee losses at the acquired businesses.
 
The Partnership's decision to acquire a property will depend in part on the evaluation of data obtained from production reports and engineering studies, geophysical and geological analyses and seismic and other information, the results of which are often inconclusive and subject to various interpretations. Also, the Partnership's reviews of acquired properties are inherently incomplete because it generally is not feasible to perform an in-depth review of the individual properties involved in each acquisition. Even a detailed review of records and properties may not necessarily reveal existing or potential problems, nor will it permit a buyer to become sufficiently familiar with the properties to assess fully their deficiencies and potential problems. Inspections may not always be performed on every well, and environmental problems, such as ground water contamination, are not necessarily observable even when an inspection is undertaken.

The Partnership's proved reserves could be subject to drainage from offset drilling locations.
 
Many of the Partnership's wells directly offset potential drilling locations held by Pioneer or third parties. The owners of leasehold interests lying contiguous or adjacent to or adjoining the Partnership's interests could take actions, such as drilling additional wells, which could adversely affect its operations. It is in the nature of petroleum reservoirs that when a new well is completed and produced, the pressure differential in the vicinity of the well causes the migration of reservoir fluids towards the new wellbore (and potentially away from existing wellbores). As a result, the drilling and production of these potential locations could cause a depletion of the Partnership's proved reserves. The Partnership has agreed not to object to such drilling by Pioneer. The depletion of the Partnership's proved reserves from offset drilling locations could materially adversely affect its ability to maintain and grow its production and reserves and to make cash distributions to its unitholders.
 
The amount of cash the Partnership has available for distribution to unitholders depends primarily on its cash flow and not solely on profitability.
 
The amount of cash the Partnership has available for distribution depends primarily on its cash flow, including cash from financial reserves and working capital or other borrowings, and not solely on profitability, which will be affected by noncash items. As a result, the Partnership may make cash distributions during periods when the Partnership records losses and may not make cash distributions during periods when the Partnership records net income.
 
 
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Future price declines could result in a reduction in the carrying value of the Partnership's proved oil and gas properties, which could adversely affect the Partnership's results of operations and limit its ability to borrow and make distributions.
 
Declines in oil and gas prices could result in the Partnership having to make substantial downward adjustments to its estimated proved reserves. If this occurs, or if the Partnership's estimates of production or economic factors change, accounting rules could require it to write down, as a noncash charge to earnings, the carrying value of its oil and gas properties for impairments. The Partnership is required to perform impairment tests on its assets whenever events or changes in circumstances warrant a review of its assets. To the extent such tests indicate a reduction of the estimated useful life or estimated future cash flows of its assets, the carrying value may not be recoverable and therefore require a write-down. The Partnership could incur impairment charges in the future, which could materially affect its results of operations in the period incurred. In addition, the Partnership's borrowing capacity under its credit facility is subject to a covenant requiring that the Partnership maintain a specified ratio of the net present value of the Partnership's projected future cash flows from its oil and gas assets to total debt, with the variables on which the calculation of net present value is based (including assumed commodity prices and discount rates) being subject to adjustment by the lenders.  As a result, declines in commodity prices could reduce the Partnership's borrowing capacity under its credit facility, which in turn could adversely affect its ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders.
 
Changes in the differential between NYMEX or other benchmark prices of oil, NGL and gas and the reference or regional index price used to price the commodities the Partnership sells could have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
 
The reference or regional index prices that the Partnership uses to price its oil, NGL and gas sales sometimes trade at a discount to the relevant benchmark prices, such as NYMEX. The difference between the benchmark price and the price the Partnership references in its sales contract is called a differential. The Partnership cannot accurately predict oil, NGL and gas differentials. Increases in the differential between the benchmark price for oil, NGL and gas and the reference or regional index price the Partnership references in its sales contract could have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

The Partnership's derivative activities could result in financial losses or could reduce its income, which could adversely affect its ability to pay distributions to its unitholders.
 
To achieve more predictable cash flow and to manage the Partnership's exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices, the Partnership is a party to, and in the future the Partnership may enter into, derivative arrangements covering a significant portion of the Partnership's oil, NGL and gas production that could result in both realized and unrealized derivative losses. Since the Partnership's decision to discontinue hedge accounting effective February 1, 2009, these derivative arrangements have been subject to mark-to-market accounting treatment, and the changes in fair market value of the arrangements are being reported in the Partnership's statement of operations each quarter, which may result in significant noncash losses.  The Partnership has direct commodity price exposure on the portion of its production volumes not covered by derivative contracts. Failure to protect against declines in commodity prices exposes the Partnership to reduced revenue and liquidity when prices decline, as occurred in late 2008 and continued into the first half of 2009.  Approximately 30 percent, 20 percent, 40 percent and 75 percent of the Partnership's estimated total production for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively, is not covered by derivative contracts. See "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk."
 
The failure by counterparties to the Partnership's derivative contracts to perform their obligations could have a material adverse effect on the Partnership's results of operations.

The Partnership has adopted a policy that contemplates protecting the prices for approximately 65 percent to 85 percent of expected production for a period of up to five years. In addition, the Partnership's credit facility requires it to enter into derivative contracts for 50 percent or more of its oil, NGL and gas production attributable to proved developed producing reserves through December 31, 2012. See Note H of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for a description of the Partnership's derivative positions as of December 31, 2010. The use of derivative contracts involves the risk that the counterparties will be unable to meet the financial terms of such transactions. If any of these counterparties were to default in its obligations under the Partnership's derivative contracts, such a default could have a material adverse effect on the Partnership's results of operations, and could result in a larger percentage of the Partnership's future production being subject to commodity price changes.
 
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The Partnership's derivative transactions could be ineffective in reducing the volatility of its cash flows and in certain circumstances could actually increase the volatility of its cash flows.
 
The Partnership's actual future production during a period may be significantly higher or lower than the Partnership estimates at the time the Partnership enters into derivative transactions for such period. If the actual amount is higher than the Partnership estimates, the Partnership will have more production not covered by derivative contracts and therefore greater commodity price exposure than the Partnership intended. If the actual amount is lower than the nominal amount that is subject to its derivative financial instruments, the Partnership might be forced to satisfy all or a portion of its derivative transactions without the benefit of the cash flow from its sale of the underlying physical commodity, resulting in a substantial reduction of its liquidity. As a result of these factors, the Partnership's derivative activities may not be as effective as it intends in reducing the volatility of its cash flows, and in certain circumstances could actually increase the volatility of its cash flows.
 
The Partnership's ability to use derivative transactions to protect it from future oil, NGL and gas price declines will be dependent upon oil, NGL and gas prices at the time the Partnership enters into future derivative transactions and its future levels of derivative activity, and as a result the Partnership's future net cash flow may be more sensitive to commodity price changes.
 
Approximately 70 percent, 80 percent, 60 percent and 25 percent of the Partnership's estimated total production for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively, have been matched with fixed price commodity swaps or collar contracts. As the Partnership's derivative contracts expire, more of its future production will be sold at market prices unless the Partnership enters into further derivative transactions. The Partnership's credit facility requires it to enter into derivative arrangements for not less than 50 percent of the Partnership's projected oil, NGL and gas production attributable to proved developed producing reserves through December 31, 2012. The Partnership's commodity price derivative strategy and future derivative transactions are determined by the General Partner, which is not under any obligation to enter into derivative contracts on a specific portion of the Partnership's production, other than to comply with the terms of the Partnership's credit facility for so long as it may remain in place. The prices at which the Partnership enters into derivative contracts on its production in the future will be dependent upon commodity prices at the time the Partnership enters into these transactions, which may be substantially lower than current oil, NGL and gas prices. Accordingly, the Partnership's derivative contracts may not protect it from significant and sustained declines in oil, NGL and gas prices received for its future production. Conversely, the Partnership's commodity price derivative strategy could limit its ability to realize cash flow from commodity price increases. It is also possible that a larger percentage of the Partnership's future production will not be covered by derivative contracts as compared to the next few years, which would result in its earnings becoming more sensitive to commodity price changes.
 
Estimates of proved reserves and future net cash flows are not precise. The actual quantities and net cash flows of the Partnership's proved reserves could prove to be lower than estimated.
 
Numerous uncertainties exist in estimating quantities of proved reserves and future net cash flows therefrom. The estimates of proved reserves and related future net cash flows set forth in this Report are based on various assumptions, which may ultimately prove to be inaccurate.

Petroleum engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner. Estimates of economically recoverable oil and gas reserves and of future net cash flows depend upon a number of variable factors and assumptions, including the following:
 
·  
historical production from the area compared with production from other producing areas;
·  
the quality and quantity of available data;
·  
the interpretation of that data;
·  
the assumed effects of regulations by governmental agencies;
·  
assumptions concerning future commodity prices; and
·  
assumptions concerning future operating costs, severance, ad valorem and excise taxes, development costs, transportation costs and workover and remedial costs.

 
 
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Because all proved reserve estimates are to some degree subjective, each of the following items could differ materially from those assumed in estimating proved reserves:

·  
the quantities of oil and gas that are ultimately recovered;
·  
the production and operating costs incurred;
·  
the amount and timing of future development expenditures; and
·  
future commodity prices.
 
Furthermore, different reserve engineers may make different estimates of proved reserves and cash flows based on the same available data. The Partnership's actual production, revenues and expenditures with respect to proved reserves will likely be different from estimates, and the differences may be material.

As required by the SEC, the estimated discounted future net cash flows from proved reserves are based on the average of the first-day-of-the-month commodity prices during the twelve-month period preceding the date of the estimate and prevailing operating and development costs as of the date of the estimate, while actual future prices and costs may be materially higher or lower. Actual future net cash flows also will be affected by factors such as:

·  
the amount and timing of actual production;
·  
levels of future capital spending;
·  
increases or decreases in the supply of or demand for oil and gas; and
·  
changes in governmental regulations or taxation.
 
Standardized Measure is a reporting convention that provides a common basis for comparing oil and gas companies subject to the rules and regulations of the SEC. In general, it requires the use of the average of the first-day-of-the-month commodity prices during the twelve-month period preceding the date of the estimate, as well as operating and development costs 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 production because of seasonal price fluctuations or other varying market conditions, nor may it reflect the actual costs that will be required to produce or develop the oil and gas properties. Accordingly, estimates included herein of future net cash flows could be materially different from the future net cash flows that are ultimately received. In addition, the ten percent discount factor, which is required by the SEC to be used in calculating discounted future net cash flows for reporting purposes, may not be the most appropriate discount factor based on interest rates in effect from time to time and risks associated with the Partnership or the oil and gas industry in general. Therefore, the estimates of discounted future net cash flows or Standardized Measure in this Report should not be construed as accurate estimates of the current market value of the Partnership's proved reserves.
 
Producing oil and gas involves numerous risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect the Partnership's financial condition or results of operations and, as a result, its ability to pay distributions to its unitholders.
 
The operating cost of a well includes variable costs, and increases in these costs can adversely affect the economics of a well. Furthermore, the Partnership's operations are subject to all the risks normally incident to the oil and gas development and production business, and could be curtailed or delayed or become uneconomical as a result of other factors, including:
 
·  high costs of, or shortages or delays in the delivery of, drilling rigs, equipment, labor or other services;
·  unexpected operational events and/or conditions;
·  reductions in oil, NGL and gas prices;
·  limitations in the market for oil, NGL and gas;
·  adverse weather conditions;
·  facility or equipment malfunctions;
·  equipment failures or accidents;
·  title problems;
·  pipe or cement failures or casing collapses;
·  compliance with environmental and other governmental requirements;
·  environmental hazards, such as gas leaks, oil spills, pipeline ruptures and discharges of toxic gases;
·  lost or damaged oilfield workover and service tools;
 
 
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·  unusual or unexpected geological formations or pressure or irregularities in formations;
·  blowouts, cratering, explosions and fires;
·  natural disasters; and
·  uncontrollable flows of oil, gas or well fluids.
 
If any of these factors were to occur with respect to a particular area of the Spraberry field, the Partnership could lose all or a part of its investment in that area, or the Partnership could fail to realize the expected benefits from that area of the Spraberry field, either of which could materially and adversely affect its revenue and profitability.  For example, damage caused by Hurricane Ike to a third-party facility that fractionates NGLs from a portion of the Partnership's production resulted in a portion of the Partnership's production being shut-in or curtailed from early September to mid-November 2008 while repairs and maintenance to the facility were being completed.

Pioneer is the operator of all of the Partnership's properties, and the Partnership has limited ability to influence or control the operation of these properties.
 
The Partnership does not operate any of its properties. Pioneer operates all of the Partnership's oil and gas properties pursuant to operating agreements. The Partnership has limited ability to influence or control the operation of these properties or the amount of maintenance capital that the Partnership is required to fund with respect to them. The Partnership has agreed that it will not object to Pioneer's development of the leasehold acreage surrounding the Partnership's wells, that any well operations Pioneer proposes will take precedence over any conflicting operations the Partnership proposes, and that the Partnership will allow Pioneer to use certain of the Partnership's production facilities in connection with other wells operated by Pioneer, subject to capacity limitations. In addition, the Partnership is restricted in its ability to remove Pioneer as the operator of the Partnership's properties. The Partnership's dependence on Pioneer for these projects and its limited ability to influence or control the operation of these properties could materially adversely affect the realization of its targeted returns, resulting in smaller distributions to its unitholders.

The Partnership's expectations for future drilling activities will be realized over several years, making them susceptible to uncertainties that could materially alter the occurrence or timing of such activities.
 
The Partnership has identified  drilling locations and prospects for future drilling opportunities and enhanced  recovery activities.  These drilling  locations represent a significant part of the Partnership's future drilling plans. The Partnership's ability to drill and develop these locations depends on a number of factors, including the availability of capital, seasonal conditions, regulatory approvals, negotiation of agreements with third parties, commodity prices, drilling and production costs, access to and availability of equipment, services and personnel, and drilling results. Because of these uncertainties, the Partnership cannot give any assurance as to the timing of these activities or that they will ultimately result in the realization of proved reserves or meet the Partnership's expectations for success. As such, the Partnership's actual drilling and enhanced recovery activities may materially differ from the Partnership's current expectations, which could have a significant adverse effect on the Partnership's reserves, financial condition and results of operations.
 
The Partnership's actual production could differ materially from its forecasts.
 
From time to time the Partnership provides forecasts of expected quantities of future oil and gas production.  These forecasts are based on a number of estimates, including expectations of production from existing wells and the results of future drilling activity.  In addition, the Partnership's forecasts assume that none of the risks associated with the Partnership's oil and gas operations summarized in this "Item 1A. Risk Factors" occur, such as facility or equipment malfunctions, adverse weather effects, or downturns in commodity prices or significant increases in costs, which could make certain drilling activities or production uneconomical.
 
Due to the Partnership's lack of asset and geographic diversification, adverse developments in the Spraberry field would reduce its ability to make distributions to its unitholders.
 
The Partnership relies exclusively on sales of oil and gas that it produces from, and all of its assets are currently located in, a single field in Texas. In addition, the Partnership's operations are restricted to onshore Texas and the southeast region of New Mexico. Due to its lack of diversification, an adverse development in the oil and gas business of this geographic area would have a significantly greater impact on the Partnership's results of operations and cash available for distribution to its unitholders than if the Partnership maintained more diverse assets and locations.
 
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A substantial amount of the Partnership's production is purchased by three companies. If these companies reduce the amount of the Partnership's production that they purchase, the Partnership's revenue and cash available for distribution will decline to the extent that substitute purchasers negotiate terms that are less favorable than the terms of the current marketing agreements. A failure by purchasers of the Partnership's production to perform their obligations to the Partnership could require the Partnership to recognize a charge in earnings and have a material adverse effect on the Partnership's results of operations.
 
For the year ended December 31, 2010, purchases by Plains Marketing, L.P., Occidental Energy Marketing and Enterprise Crude Oil LLC represented approximately 53 percent, 17 percent and 10 percent of the Partnership's sales revenue, respectively. If these companies were to reduce the amount of the Partnership's production that they purchase, the Partnership's revenue and cash available for distribution will decline to the extent that substitute purchasers negotiate terms that are less favorable than the terms of the current marketing agreements.
 
In addition, a failure by any of these companies, or any purchasers of the Partnership's production, to perform their payment obligations to the Partnership could have a material adverse effect on the Partnership's results of operation. To the extent that purchasers of the Partnership's production rely on access to the credit or equity markets to fund their operations, there could be an increased risk that those purchasers could default in their contractual obligations to the Partnership. If for any reason the Partnership were to determine that it was probable that some or all of the accounts receivable from any one or more of the purchasers of the Partnership's production were uncollectible, the Partnership would recognize a charge in the earnings of that period for the probable loss and could suffer a material reduction in its liquidity and ability to make distributions.
 
Plains Marketing, L.P., Occidental Energy Marketing and Enterprise Crude Oil LLC purchase the majority of the Partnership's oil and NGL production pursuant to existing marketing agreements with Pioneer.  The Partnership is not a party to the marketing agreements with Plains Marketing, L.P., Occidental Energy Marketing or Enterprise Crude Oil LLC.  Pursuant to the provisions of standard industry operating agreements to which the Partnership's properties are subject and to which the Partnership is a party, Pioneer, as operator, markets the production on behalf of all working interest owners, including the Partnership, and determines in its sole discretion the terms on which the Partnership's production is sold.
 
As is standard in the industry, the oil sold under Pioneer's marketing agreements with Plains Marketing, L.P., Occidental Energy Marketing and Enterprise Crude Oil LLC is sold at the West Texas Intermediate (Cushing) price, less the Midland, Texas location and transportation differentials at the time of sale. The primary term of Pioneer's marketing agreement with Plains Marketing, L.P. expired on January 1, 2011; however, the contract will continue to automatically extend on a month-to-month basis until either party gives 90 days advance written notice of non-renewal. The primary term of the marketing agreement between Pioneer and Occidental Energy Marketing expires on December 31, 2012, after which time the contract will automatically be extended on a month-to-month basis until either party gives 30 days advance written notice of non-renewal.  The marketing agreement between Pioneer and Enterprise Crude Oil LLC is currently month-to-month and may be terminated upon 30 days advance written notice by either party to the agreement.

In the event of a deterioration of the credit and capital markets, the Partnership may not be able to obtain funding, obtain funding on acceptable terms or obtain funding under its credit facility, which could hinder or prevent the Partnership from meeting its future capital needs.
 
During the second half of 2008 and during most of 2009, global financial markets and economic conditions were disrupted and volatile, and the debt and equity capital markets were exceedingly distressed, making it difficult to obtain funding. In addition, as a result of concerns about the stability of financial markets generally and the solvency of counterparties specifically, the cost of obtaining money from the credit markets generally increased as many lenders and institutional investors increased interest rates, enacted tighter lending standards and limited the amount of funding available to borrowers.  If these events were to recur, the Partnership could be unable to obtain adequate funding under its credit facility if (i) the Partnership's lending counterparties become unwilling or unable to meet their funding obligations or (ii) the amount the Partnership may borrow under its credit facility is reduced as a result of lower oil, NGL or gas prices, declines in reserves, lending requirements or regulations, or for other reasons. Due to these factors, the Partnership cannot be certain that funding will be available if needed and, to the extent required, on acceptable terms. If funding is not available when needed, or is available only on unfavorable terms, the Partnership may be unable to implement its business plans, complete acquisitions or otherwise take advantage of business opportunities or respond to competitive pressures, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Partnership's production, revenues and results of operations.
 
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Declining general economic, business or industry conditions could have a material adverse affect on the Partnership's results of operations.
 
During 2008 and the first half of 2009, concerns over worldwide economic outlook, geopolitical issues, the availability and cost of credit, and the United States mortgage and real estate markets contributed to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the global economy. These factors, combined with volatile commodity prices, declining business and consumer confidence and increased unemployment, resulted in a worldwide recession. While the worldwide economic outlook has improved, concerns about global economic growth could have a significant adverse effect on global financial markets and commodity prices.  If the economic climate in the United States or abroad were to deteriorate, demand for petroleum products could diminish, which could depress the price at which the Partnership can sell its oil, NGLs and gas and ultimately decrease the Partnership's net revenue and profitability.

The Partnership faces significant competition, and many of its competitors have resources in excess of the Partnership's available resources.
 
The oil and gas industry is highly competitive, including with respect to acquiring producing oil and gas assets, marketing oil and gas and securing equipment and trained personnel, and the Partnership competes with other companies that have greater resources. Many of the Partnership's competitors are major and large independent oil and gas companies that possess and employ financial, technical and personnel resources substantially greater than the Partnership's. Those companies may be able to develop and acquire more assets than the Partnership's financial or personnel resources permit. The Partnership's ability to acquire additional oil and gas assets in the future will depend on Pioneer's willingness and ability to evaluate and select suitable assets and the Partnership's ability to consummate transactions in a highly competitive environment. Many of the Partnership's larger competitors not only drill for and produce oil and gas but also carry on refining operations and market petroleum and other products on a regional, national or worldwide basis. These companies may be able to pay more for oil and gas assets and evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of assets than the Partnership's financial or human resources permit. In addition, there is substantial competition for investment capital in the oil and gas industry. These larger companies may have a greater ability to absorb the burden of present and future federal, state, local and other laws and regulations. The Partnership's inability to compete effectively with larger companies could have a material adverse effect on its business activities, financial condition and results of operations.

The Partnership may incur debt to enable it to pay its quarterly distributions, which could negatively affect its ability to execute its business plan and pay future distributions.
 
The Partnership has the ability to incur debt under its credit facility to pay distributions. If the Partnership borrows to pay distributions, the Partnership would be distributing more cash than the Partnership generates from its operations on a current basis. This means that the Partnership would be using a portion of its borrowing capacity under its credit facility to pay distributions rather than to maintain or expand its operations. If the Partnership uses borrowings under its credit facility to pay distributions for an extended period of time rather than toward funding drilling and acquisition expenditures and other matters relating to its operations, the Partnership may be unable to support or grow its business. Such a curtailment of its business activities, combined with its payment of principal and interest on its future indebtedness to pay these distributions, will reduce the Partnership's cash available for distribution on its units and will materially affect its business, financial condition and results of operations. If the Partnership borrows to pay distributions during periods of low commodity prices and commodity prices remain low, the Partnership would likely have to reduce its future distributions in order to avoid excessive leverage.
 
The Partnership's future debt levels could limit its flexibility to obtain additional financing and pursue other business opportunities.
 
The level of the Partnership's future indebtedness could have important consequences to the Partnership, including:
 
·  
 
the Partnership's ability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes may be impaired or such financing may not be available on favorable terms;
·  
covenants contained in its existing and future credit and debt arrangements will require it to meet financial tests that may affect its flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in its business, including possible acquisition opportunities;
 
 
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·  
it could need a substantial portion of its cash flow to make principal and interest payments on its indebtedness, reducing the funds that would
otherwise be available for operations, future business opportunities and distributions to unitholders; and
·  
its debt level could make it more vulnerable than its competitors with less debt to the effects of competitive pressures or a downturn in its
business or the economy generally.
 
The Partnership's ability to service its indebtedness will depend upon, among other things, its future financial and operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, regulatory and other factors, some of which are beyond the Partnership's control. If its operating results are not sufficient to service its current or future indebtedness, the Partnership will be forced to take actions such as reducing distributions, reducing or delaying business activities, acquisitions, investments or capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing its indebtedness or seeking additional equity capital. The Partnership may not be able to effect any of these remedies on satisfactory terms or at all.
 
The Partnership's credit facility has substantial restrictions and financial covenants that could restrict its business and financing activities and its ability to pay distributions.
 
The operating and financial restrictions and covenants in the Partnership's credit facility and any future financing agreements could restrict its ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to engage, expand or pursue its business activities or to pay distributions. The Partnership's credit facility limits, and any future credit facility could limit, its ability to:
 
   
·  grant liens;
   
·  incur additional indebtedness;
   
·  engage in a merger, consolidation or dissolution;
   
·  enter into transactions with affiliates;
   
·  pay distributions or repurchase equity;
   
·  make investments;
   
·  sell or otherwise dispose of its assets, businesses and operations; and
   
·  materially alter the character of its business.
 
The Partnership also is required to comply with certain financial covenants and ratios, such as a leverage ratio, an interest coverage ratio and a net present value of projected future cash flows from its oil and gas assets to total debt ratio. The Partnership's ability to comply with these restrictions and covenants in the future is uncertain and will be affected by the levels of cash flow from its operations and events or circumstances beyond its control. If market or other economic conditions deteriorate, the Partnership's ability to comply with these covenants may be impaired. If the Partnership violates any of the restrictions, covenants, ratios or tests in its credit facility, its indebtedness may become immediately due and payable, its ability to make distributions may be inhibited, and its lenders' commitment to make further loans to it may terminate. The Partnership might not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments. See "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Capital Commitments, Capital Resources and Liquidity — Liquidity."
 
The Partnership's operations are subject to operational hazards and unforeseen interruptions for which the Partnership may not be adequately insured.
 
There are a variety of operating risks inherent in the Partnership's oil and gas properties, gathering systems and associated facilities, such as leaks, explosions, mechanical problems and natural disasters, all of which could cause substantial financial losses. Any of these or other similar occurrences could result in the disruption of its operations, substantial repair costs, personal injury or loss of human life, significant damage to property, environmental pollution, impairment of its operations and substantial revenue losses. The location of the Partnership's oil and gas properties, gathering systems and associated facilities near populated areas, including residential areas, commercial business centers and industrial sites, could significantly increase the level of damages resulting from these risks.
 
The Partnership is not fully insured against all risks. In addition, pollution and environmental risks generally are not fully insurable. Additionally, the Partnership may elect not to obtain insurance if it believes that the cost of available insurance is excessive relative to the perceived risks presented. Losses could, therefore, occur for uninsurable or uninsured risks or in amounts in excess of existing insurance coverage. Moreover, insurance may not
 
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be available in the future at commercially reasonable costs and on commercially reasonable terms. Changes in the insurance markets subsequent to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and the hurricanes in 2005 have made it more difficult for the Partnership to obtain certain types of coverage. There can be no assurance that the Partnership will be able to obtain the levels or types of insurance the Partnership would otherwise have obtained prior to these market changes or that the insurance coverage the Partnership does obtain will not contain large deductibles or fail to cover certain hazards or cover all potential losses. Losses and liabilities from uninsured and underinsured events and a delay in the payment of insurance proceeds could adversely affect the Partnership's business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make distributions to its unitholders. The Partnership is listed as a named insured on the insurance policies that Pioneer carries with respect to its own assets. Losses by Pioneer will erode the coverage levels under the policy, and if Pioneer sustains a catastrophic loss for which the coverage under the policy is entirely exhausted, the Partnership would not have coverage for its losses occurring prior to the time that the Partnership was able to obtain additional coverage.
 
In an environment of rising commodities prices, demand for drilling rigs, supplies, oilfield services, equipment and crews generally increases, which could delay the Partnership's operations, lead to increased costs and reduce its cash available for distribution, which could be exacerbated if the Partnership's derivatives limit the ability of the Partnership to benefit from higher commodities prices.
 
Higher commodity prices generally increase the demand for drilling rigs, supplies, services, equipment and crews, and can lead to shortages of, and increasing costs for, drilling equipment, services and personnel. For example, during the past year, oil and gas companies generally experienced increasing drilling and operating costs due to increasing oil and NGL prices.  Shortages of, or increasing costs for, experienced drilling crews and equipment and services could restrict the Partnership's ability to drill and complete wells and conduct operations. Any delay in the drilling of new wells or significant increase in costs could reduce its future revenues and cash available for distribution.  In addition, if the Partnership's derivatives limit the Partnership's ability to realize the benefit of higher commodities prices, the Partnership could experience higher costs without a commensurate increase in cash flows.
 
Development drilling involves risks and may not result in commercially productive reserves.

Drilling involves numerous risks, including the risk that no commercially productive oil or gas 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;
   
·  restricted access to land for drilling or laying pipelines; and
   
·  access to, and the cost and availability of, the equipment, services and personnel required to complete the Partnership's drilling, completion
       and operating activities.
 
Any future drilling activities by the Partnership may not be successful and, if unsuccessful, such failure could have an adverse effect on the Partnership's future results of operations and financial condition.
 
The Partnership's business depends in part on gathering, transportation, storage and processing facilities owned by Pioneer and others. Any limitation in the availability of those facilities could interfere with the Partnership's ability to market its oil, NGL and gas production and could harm its business.
 
The marketability of the Partnership's oil, NGL and gas production depends in large part on the availability, proximity and capacity of pipelines and storage facilities, oil, NGL and gas gathering systems and processing facilities. The amount of oil, NGL and gas that can be produced and sold is subject to curtailment in certain circumstances, such as pipeline or processing facility interruptions due to scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, excessive pressure, physical damage or lack of available capacity on such systems. For example, substantially all of the Partnership's gas is processed at the Midkiff/Benedum and Sale Ranch gas processing plants. If either or both of these plants were to be shut down, the Partnership might be required to shut in production from the wells serviced by those plants. The curtailments arising from these and similar circumstances could last from a few days to several months. In many cases, the Partnership is provided only with limited, if any, notice as to when these circumstances will arise and their duration. For example, during the second week of September 2008, Hurricane Ike struck the
 
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Texas gulf coast, damaging third-party downstream production handling and processing facilities. As a result, sales of portions of the Partnership's third quarter and fourth quarter 2008 NGL volumes were delayed and oil and gas production from certain of the Partnership's properties were temporarily curtailed. Any significant curtailment in gathering system, pipeline, storage or processing capacity could reduce the Partnership's ability to market its oil, NGL and gas production and harm its business.

Third-party pipelines and other facilities interconnected to the Partnership's gas pipelines and processing facilities could become partially or fully unavailable to transport gas.
 
The Partnership depends upon third-party pipelines and other facilities that provide delivery options to and from pipelines and processing facilities that the Partnership utilizes. Because the Partnership does not own or operate these pipelines or other facilities, their continuing operation in their current manner is not within the Partnership's control. If any of these third-party pipelines and other facilities become partially or fully unavailable to transport gas, or if the gas quality specifications for these pipelines or facilities change so as to restrict the Partnership's ability to transport gas on these pipelines or facilities, the Partnership's revenues and cash available for distribution could be adversely affected.

The third parties on whom the Partnership relies for gathering and transportation services are subject to complex federal, state and other laws that could adversely affect the cost, manner or feasibility of conducting the Partnership's business.
 
The operations of the third parties on whom the Partnership relies for gathering and transportation services are subject to complex and stringent laws and regulations that require obtaining and maintaining numerous permits, approvals and certifications from various federal, state and local government authorities. These third parties may incur substantial costs in order to comply with existing laws and regulation. If existing laws and regulations governing such third-party services are revised or reinterpreted, or if new laws and regulations become applicable to their operations, these changes could affect the costs that the Partnership pays for such services. Similarly, a failure to comply with such laws and regulations by the third parties on whom the Partnership relies could have a material adverse effect on the Partnership's business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make distributions to unitholders. See "Item 1. Business — Competition, Markets and Regulations" above for additional discussion regarding government regulation.
 
The nature of the Partnership's assets exposes it to significant costs and liabilities with respect to environmental and operational safety matters.
 
The Partnership could incur significant costs and liabilities as a result of environmental and safety requirements applicable to its oil and gas production activities. These costs and liabilities could arise under a wide range of federal, state and local environmental and safety laws and regulations, including agency interpretations of the foregoing and governmental enforcement policies, which have tended to become increasingly strict over time. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, imposition of cleanup and site restoration costs and liens, and to a lesser extent, issuance of injunctions to limit or cease operations. In addition, claims for damages to persons or property could result from environmental and other impacts of the Partnership's operations.
 
Strict, joint and several liability may be imposed under certain environmental laws, which could cause the Partnership to become liable for the conduct of others or for consequences of its own actions that were in compliance with all applicable laws at the time those actions were taken. New laws, regulations or enforcement policies could be more stringent and impose unforeseen liabilities or significantly increase compliance costs. If the Partnership is not able to recover the resulting costs through insurance or increased revenues, its ability to make distributions to its unitholders could be adversely affected.  See "Item 1. Business — Competition, Markets and Regulations" above for additional discussion regarding government regulation.

The recent adoption of climate change legislation by the United States Congress or regulation by the EPA could result in increased operating costs and reduced demand for the oil, NGLs and gas the Partnership produces.

During December 2009, the EPA officially published its findings that emissions of GHGs present an endangerment to human health and welfare because emissions of such gases are, according to the EPA, contributing to warming of the Earth's atmosphere and other climatic changes. These findings by the EPA allow the agency to proceed with the adoption and implementation of regulations that would restrict emissions of GHGs under existing provisions of the federal CAA.  Based on these findings, the EPA has begun adopting and implementing regulations
 
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to restrict emissions of GHGs under existing provisions of the CAA.  The EPA recently adopted two sets of rules, which became effective January 2, 2011, that regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the CAA, one of which requires a reduction in emissions of GHGs from motor vehicles and the other of which regulates emissions of GHGs from certain large stationary sources.  The EPA has also adopted rules requiring the reporting on an annual basis beginning in 2011of greenhouse gas emissions from specified large greenhouse gas emission sources in the United States, including petroleum refineries, for emissions occurring after January 1, 2010, as well as certain oil and gas production facilities, on an annual basis, beginning in 2012 for emissions occurring in 2011.

In addition, the United States Congress has from time to time considered adopting legislation to reduce emissions of GHGs and almost one-half of the states have already taken legal measures to reduce emissions of GHGs primarily through the planned development of GHG emission inventories and/or regional GHG cap and trade programs.  Most of these cap and trade programs work by requiring major sources of emissions, such as electric power plants, or major producers of fuels, such as refineries and gas processing plants, to acquire and surrender emission allowances. The number of allowances available for purchase is reduced each year in an effort to achieve the overall GHG emission reduction goal.
 
The adoption of legislation or regulatory programs to reduce emissions of GHGs could require the Partnership to incur increased operating costs, such as costs to purchase and operate emissions control systems, to acquire emissions allowances or comply with new regulatory or reporting requirements. Any such legislation or regulatory programs could also increase the cost of consuming, and thereby reduce demand for, the oil and gas, which could reduce the demand for the oil and gas the Partnership produces.  Consequently, legislation and regulatory programs to reduce emissions of GHGs could have an adverse effect on the Partnership's business, financial condition and results of operations. Finally, it should be noted that some scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHGs in the Earth's atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts, and floods and other climatic events. If any such effects were to occur, they could have an adverse effect on the Partnership's financial condition and results of operations. See "Item 1. Business — Competition, Markets and Regulations" above for additional discussion regarding government regulation.
 
The recent adoption of derivatives legislation by the United States Congress could have an adverse effect on the Partnership's ability to use derivative instruments to reduce the effect of commodity price, interest rate and other risks associated with its business.
 
The United States Congress recently adopted comprehensive financial reform legislation that establishes federal oversight and regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives market and entities, such as the Partnership, that participate in that market.  The new legislation, known as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act"),  was signed into law by the President on July 21, 2010 and requires the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (the "CFTC") and the SEC to promulgate rules and regulations implementing the new legislation within 360 days from the date of enactment.  In its rulemaking under the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFTC has proposed regulations to set position limits for certain futures and option contracts in the major energy markets and for swaps that are their economic equivalents.  Certain bona fide hedging transactions or positions would be exempt from these position limits.  It is not possible at this time to predict when the CFTC will finalize these regulations.  The financial reform legislation may also require the Partnership to comply with margin requirements and with certain clearing and trade-execution requirements in connection with its derivative activities, although the application of those provisions to the Partnership is uncertain at this time.  The financial reform legislation may also require the counterparties to the Partnership's derivative instruments to spin off some of their derivatives activities to a separate entity, which may not be as creditworthy as the current counterparty.  The new legislation and any new regulations could significantly increase the cost of derivative contracts (including through requirements to post collateral, which could adversely affect the Partnership's available liquidity), materially alter the terms of derivative contracts, reduce the availability of derivatives to protect against risks the Partnership encounters, reduce the Partnership's ability to monetize or restructure its existing derivative contracts, and increase the Partnership's exposure to less creditworthy counterparties.  If the Partnership reduces its use of derivatives as a result of the legislation and regulations, the Partnership's results of operations may become more volatile and its cash flows may be less predictable, which could adversely affect the Partnership's ability to plan for and fund capital expenditures or make distributions to unitholders.  Finally, the legislation was intended, in part, to reduce the volatility of oil and gas prices, which some legislators attributed to speculative trading in derivatives and commodity instruments related to oil and gas.  The Partnership's revenues could therefore be adversely affected if a consequence of the legislation and regulations is to lower commodity prices.  Any of these consequences could have a material adverse effect on the Partnership, its financial condition, its results of operations and its ability to make distributions to unitholders.
 
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Federal and state legislation and regulatory initiatives relating to hydraulic fracturing could result in increased costs and additional operating restrictions or delays.
 
Hydraulic fracturing is an important and common practice that is used to stimulate production of hydrocarbons from tight formations.  The Partnership routinely utilizes hydraulic fracturing techniques in many of its drilling and completion programs.  The process involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals under pressure into rock formations to stimulate oil and gas production.  The process is typically regulated by state oil and gas commissions.  The EPA, however, recently asserted federal regulatory authority over hydraulic fracturing involving diesel additives under the Safe Drinking Water Act's Underground Injection Control Program.  While the EPA has yet to take any action to enforce or implement this newly asserted regulatory authority, industry groups have filed suit challenging the EPA's recent decision.  At the same time, the EPA has commenced a study of the potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing activities, and a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives is also conducting an investigation of hydraulic fracturing practices.  Legislation has been introduced before Congress to provide for federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing and to require disclosure of the chemicals used in the fracturing process.  In addition, various state and local governments have implemented or are considering increased regulatory oversight of hydraulic fracturing through additional permit requirements, operational restrictions, requirements for disclosure of chemical constituents, and temporary or permanent bans on hydraulic fracturing in certain environmentally sensitive areas such as watersheds.  If new laws or regulations that significantly restrict hydraulic fracturing are adopted, such laws could make it more difficult or costly for the Partnership to perform fracturing to stimulate production from tight formations.  In addition, if hydraulic fracturing becomes regulated at the federal level as a result of federal legislation or regulatory initiatives by the EPA, the Partnership’s fracturing activities could become subject to additional permitting requirements, and also to attendant permitting delays and potential increases in costs.  Restrictions on hydraulic fracturing could also reduce the amount of oil and gas that the Partnership is ultimately able to produce from its reserves.

Risks Related to an Investment in the Partnership
 
The General Partner and its affiliates own a controlling interest in the Partnership and will have conflicts of interest with the Partnership. The Partnership Agreement limits the fiduciary duties that the General Partner owes to the Partnership, which may permit it to favor its own interests to the Partnership's detriment, and limits the circumstances under which unitholders may make a claim relating to conflicts of interest and the remedies available to unitholders in that event.
 
Pioneer owns 62 percent of the outstanding common units of the Partnership and Pioneer owns and controls the General Partner, which controls the Partnership. The directors and officers of the General Partner have a fiduciary duty to manage the General Partner in a manner beneficial to Pioneer. Furthermore, certain directors and officers of the General Partner are directors or officers of affiliates of the General Partner, including Pioneer. Conflicts of interest may arise between Pioneer and its affiliates, including the General Partner, on the one hand, and the Partnership on the other hand. As a result of these conflicts, the directors and officers of the General Partner may favor the interests of the General Partner and the interests of its affiliates over the Partnership's interests. These potential conflicts include, among others, the following situations:
 
·  
Neither the Partnership Agreement nor any other agreement requires Pioneer to pursue a business strategy that favors the Partnership. Directors and officers of Pioneer have a fiduciary duty to make decisions in the best interest of its stockholders, which may be contrary to the Partnership's interests.
·  
The General Partner is allowed to take into account the interests of parties other than the Partnership, such as Pioneer, in resolving conflicts of interest, which has the effect of limiting its fiduciary duty to the Partnership.
·  
Pioneer will compete with the Partnership and is under no obligation to offer properties to the Partnership. In addition, Pioneer may compete with the Partnership with respect to any future acquisition opportunities.
·  
The General Partner determines the amount and timing of expenses, asset purchases and sales, capital expenditures, borrowings, repayments of indebtedness, issuances of additional partnership securities and cash reserves, each of which can affect the amount of cash that is available for distribution to unitholders.
 
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·  
the Partnership Agreement permits the General Partner to cause the Partnership to pay it or its affiliates for any services rendered to the Partnership and permits the General Partner to enter into additional contractual arrangements with any of these entities on the Partnership's behalf, and provides for reimbursement to the General Partner for such amounts as it determines pursuant to the provisions of the Partnership Agreement.
 
See Note E of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" and "Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence."
 
The Partnership does not have any officers or employees and relies solely on officers of the General Partner and employees of Pioneer. Failure of such officers and employees to devote sufficient attention to the management and operation of the Partnership's business could adversely affect the Partnership's financial results and the Partnership's ability to make distributions to unitholders.
 
None of the officers of the General Partner are employees of the General Partner. The Partnership and Pioneer have entered into an administrative services agreement pursuant to which Pioneer manages the Partnership's assets and performs other administrative services for the Partnership. Pioneer conducts businesses and activities of its own in which the Partnership has no economic interest. If these separate activities are significantly greater than the Partnership's activities, there could be material competition for the time and effort of the officers and employees who provide services to the General Partner and Pioneer. If the officers of the General Partner and the employees of Pioneer do not devote sufficient attention to the management and operation of the Partnership's business, its financial results could suffer and its ability to make distributions to unitholders could be reduced.

The Partnership relies on Pioneer to identify and evaluate prospective oil and gas assets for the Partnership's acquisitions. Pioneer has no obligation to present the Partnership with potential acquisitions and is not restricted from competing with the Partnership for potential acquisitions.
 
Because the Partnership does not have any officers or employees, the Partnership relies on Pioneer to identify and evaluate for the Partnership oil and gas assets for acquisition. Pioneer is not obligated to present the Partnership with potential acquisitions. The Partnership Agreement does not prohibit Pioneer from owning assets or engaging in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with the Partnership. In addition, Pioneer may acquire, develop or dispose of additional oil and gas properties or other assets in the future, without any obligation to offer the Partnership the opportunity to purchase or develop any of those properties. Pioneer is a large, established participant in the oil and gas industry, and has significantly greater resources and experience than the Partnership has, which factors could make it more difficult for the Partnership to compete with Pioneer. If Pioneer fails to present the Partnership with, or successfully competes against the Partnership for, potential acquisitions, the Partnership may not be able to replace or increase the Partnership's production and proved reserves, which would adversely affect the Partnership's cash from operations and the Partnership's ability to make cash distributions to unitholders.
 
Cost reimbursements to Pioneer and the General Partner and their affiliates for services provided, which are determined by the General Partner, can be substantial and reduce the Partnership's cash available for distribution to unitholders.
 
The Partnership Agreement requires the Partnership to reimburse the General Partner and its affiliates for all actual direct and indirect expenses they incur or actual payments they make on the Partnership's behalf and all other expenses allocable to the Partnership or otherwise incurred by the General Partner or its affiliates in connection with operating the Partnership's business, including overhead allocated to the General Partner by its affiliates, including Pioneer. These expenses include salary, bonus, incentive compensation (including equity compensation) and other amounts paid to persons who perform services for the Partnership or on the Partnership's behalf, and expenses allocated to the General Partner by its affiliates. The General Partner is entitled to determine in good faith the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership. The Partnership is a party to agreements with Pioneer, the General Partner and certain of their affiliates, pursuant to which the Partnership makes payments to the General Partner and its affiliates. Payments for these services can be substantial and reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to unitholders. See Note E of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" and "Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence" for a discussion of some of these agreements.

The Partnership can issue an unlimited number of additional units, including units that are senior to the common units, without the approval of unitholders, which would dilute their existing ownership interests.
 
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The Partnership Agreement does not limit the number of additional common units that the Partnership can issue at any time without the approval of the Partnership's unitholders. In addition, the Partnership can issue an unlimited number of units that are senior to the common units in right of distribution, liquidation and voting. The issuance by the Partnership of additional common units or other equity securities of equal or senior rank would have the following effects:
 
   
·  each unitholder's proportionate ownership interest in the Partnership would decrease;
   
·  the amount of cash available for distribution on each unit could decrease;
   
·  the ratio of taxable income to distributions could increase;
   
·  the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding unit could be diminished; and
   
·  the market price of the common units could decline.
 
The Partnership Agreement provides that the General Partner's fiduciary duties are limited and only owed to the Partnership, not to the Partnership's unitholders, and restricts the remedies available to unitholders for actions taken by the General Partner that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty.
 
The Partnership Agreement contains provisions that reduce the standards to which the General Partner would otherwise be held by state fiduciary duty law. For example, the Partnership Agreement:
 
·  
permits the General Partner to make a number of decisions in its sole discretion. This entitles the General Partner to consider only the interests and factors that it desires, and it has no fiduciary duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting, the Partnership, its subsidiaries or any limited partner. Examples include the exercise of its limited call rights, its rights to vote and transfer the units it owns and its registration rights and the determination of whether to consent to any merger or consolidation of the Partnership or any amendment to the Partnership Agreement;
·  
with respect to transactions not involving a conflict of interest, provides that the General Partner, when acting in its capacity as general partner and not in its sole discretion, shall not owe any fiduciary duty to the Partnership's unitholders and shall not owe any fiduciary duty to the Partnership except for the duty to act in good faith, which for purposes of the Partnership Agreement means that a person making any determination or taking or declining to take any action subjectively believes that the decision or action made or taken (or not made or not taken) is in the Partnership's best interests;
·  
generally provides that affiliate transactions and resolutions of conflicts of interest not approved by the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner and not involving a vote of unitholders must be determined in good faith. Under the Partnership Agreement, "good faith" for this purpose means that a person making any determination or taking or declining to take any action subjectively believes that the decision or action made or taken (or not made or taken) is fair and reasonable to the Partnership taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved or is on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties;
·  
provides that in resolving a conflict of interest, the General Partner and its Conflicts Committee may consider:
 
 
·  the relative interests of the parties involved and the benefits and burdens relating to such interest;
 
·  the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership);
 
·  any customary or accepted industry practices and any customary or historical dealings with a particular person;
 
·  any applicable engineering practices or generally accepted accounting practices or principles;
 
·  the relative cost of capital of the parties and the consequent rates of return to the equity holders of the parties; and
 
·  in the case of the Conflicts Committee only, such additional factors it determines in its sole discretion to be relevant, reasonable or appropriate under the circumstances;
 
·  
provides that any decision or action made or taken by the General Partner or its Conflicts Committee in good faith, including those involving a conflict of interest, will be conclusive and binding on all partners and will not be a breach of the Partnership Agreement or of any duty owed to the Partnership;
 
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·  
provides that in resolving conflicts of interest, it will be presumed that in making its decision the General Partner or its Conflicts Committee acted
in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by or on behalf of any limited partner or the Partnership, the person bringing or prosecuting such
proceeding will have the burden of overcoming such presumption; and
·  
provides that the General Partner and its officers and directors will not be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Partnership's
limited partners or assignees for any acts or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of
competent jurisdiction determining that the General Partner or those other persons acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct,
or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the conduct was criminal.
 
By purchasing a common unit, a unitholder will become bound by the provisions of the Partnership Agreement, including the provisions described above, and a unitholder will be deemed to have consented to some actions and conflicts of interest that might otherwise constitute a breach of fiduciary or other duties under applicable law.
 
Unitholders have limited voting rights and are not entitled to elect the General Partner or its directors or initially to remove the General Partner without its consent.
 
Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, unitholders have only limited voting rights on matters affecting the Partnership's business and, therefore, limited ability to influence management's decisions. Unitholders have no right to elect the General Partner or its Board of Directors on an annual or other continuing basis. The Board of Directors of the General Partner is chosen entirely by Pioneer and not by the Partnership's unitholders. Furthermore, even if unitholders are dissatisfied with the performance of the General Partner, currently it would be difficult for them to remove the General Partner because Pioneer owns a substantial number of units. The vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3 percent of all outstanding units voting together as a single class is required to remove the General Partner.  Pioneer currently owns 62 percent of the outstanding common units.
 
The Partnership Agreement restricts the voting rights of unitholders, other than the General Partner and its affiliates, owning 20 percent or more of the Partnership's common units, which could limit the ability of significant unitholders to influence the manner or direction of management.
 
The Partnership Agreement restricts unitholders' voting rights by providing that any units held by a person that owns 20 percent or more of any class of units then outstanding, other than the General Partner, its affiliates, their transferees and persons who acquired such units with the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the General Partner, cannot vote on any matter. The Partnership Agreement also contains provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings or to acquire information about the Partnership's operations, as well as other provisions limiting unitholders' ability to influence the manner or direction of management.
 
The General Partner has a limited call right that could require unitholders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price.
 
If at any time the General Partner and its affiliates own more than 80 percent of the common units, the General Partner will have the right, but not the obligation, which it may assign to any of its affiliates or to the Partnership, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the common units held by unaffiliated persons at a price not less than their then-current market price. As a result, unitholders could be required to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price and may not receive any return on their investment. Unitholders also could incur a tax liability upon a sale of common units.
 
Unitholders who are not Eligible Holders may not be entitled to receive distributions on or allocations of income or loss on their common units, and their common units could become subject to redemption.
 
In order to comply with U.S. laws with respect to the ownership of interests in oil and gas leases on United States federal lands, the Partnership Agreement allows the Partnership to adopt certain requirements regarding those investors who may own common units. As used in this Report, an Eligible Holder means a person or entity qualified to hold an interest in oil and gas leases on federal lands. As of the date hereof, Eligible Holder means: (1) a citizen of the United States; (2) a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof; (3) a public body, including a municipality; or (4) an association of United States citizens, such as a partnership or limited liability company, organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof, but only if such association does not have any direct or indirect foreign ownership, other than foreign ownership of stock in a parent corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, onshore mineral leases on United States federal lands or any direct or indirect interest therein may be acquired and held by aliens
 
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only through stock ownership, holding or control in a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof. In the future, if the Partnership owns interests in oil and gas leases on United States federal lands, the General Partner may require unitholders to certify that they are an Eligible Holder. Unitholders who are not persons or entities who meet the requirements to be an Eligible Holder may run the risk of (1) if they have not delivered a required Eligible Holder Certification, having quarterly distributions on such units withheld or (2) having their units acquired by the Partnership at the lower of the purchase price of their units or the then current market price, as determined by the General Partner. The redemption price may be paid in cash or by delivery of an unsecured promissory note that shall be subordinated to the extent required by the terms of the Partnership's other indebtedness, as determined by the General Partner.

Unitholders may not have limited liability if a court finds that unitholder action constitutes control of the Partnership's business.
 
A general partner of a partnership generally has unlimited liability for the obligations of the partnership, except for those contractual obligations of the partnership that are expressly made without recourse to the general partner. The Partnership is organized under Delaware law and currently conducts business only in the State of Texas. Unitholders could have unlimited liability for the Partnership's obligations if a court or government agency determined that their right to act with other unitholders to remove or replace the General Partner, to approve some amendments to the Partnership Agreement or to take other actions under the Partnership Agreement constituted "control" of the Partnership's business.

Unitholders may have liability to repay distributions.
 
Under certain circumstances, unitholders may have to repay amounts wrongfully returned or distributed to them. Under Section 17-607 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the "Delaware Act"), the Partnership may not make a distribution to unitholders if the distribution would cause the Partnership's liabilities to exceed the fair value of its assets. Liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interests and liabilities that are nonrecourse to the Partnership are not counted for purposes of determining whether a distribution is permitted. Delaware law provides that for a period of three years from the date of an impermissible distribution, limited partners who received the distribution and who knew at the time of the distribution that it violated Delaware law will be liable to the limited partnership for the distribution amount. A purchaser of common units who becomes a limited partner is liable for the obligations of the transferring limited partner to make contributions to the Partnership that are known to such purchaser of units at the time it became a limited partner and for unknown obligations if the liabilities could be determined from the Partnership Agreement.
 
The General Partner's interest in the Partnership and the control of the General Partner may be transferred to a third party without unitholder consent.
 
The General Partner may transfer its general partner interest to a third party in a merger or in a sale of all or substantially all of its assets without the consent of the unitholders. Furthermore, there is no restriction in the Partnership Agreement on the ability of Pioneer to transfer its equity interest in the General Partner to a third party. The new equity owner of the General Partner would then be in a position to replace the Board of Directors and officers of the General Partner with its own choices and to influence the decisions taken by the Board of Directors and officers of the General Partner.

Affiliates of the General Partner could sell common units in the public markets, which sales could have an adverse impact on the trading price of the common units.
 
 
Pioneer holds an aggregate of 20,521,200 common units, representing 62 percent of the outstanding common units. The sale of these units in the public markets could have an adverse impact on the price of the common units.
 
An increase in interest rates could cause the market price of the common units to decline.
 
Like all equity investments, an investment in the common units is subject to certain risks. In exchange for accepting these risks, investors may expect to receive a higher rate of return than would otherwise be obtainable from lower-risk investments. Accordingly, as interest rates rise, the ability of investors to obtain higher risk-adjusted rates of return by purchasing government-backed debt securities could cause a corresponding decline in demand for riskier investments generally, including yield-based equity investments such as publicly-traded limited partnership interests. Reduced demand for the common units resulting from investors seeking other more favorable investment opportunities could cause the trading price of the common units to decline.
 
34
 
 
 

 

 
Tax Risks to Common Unitholders
 
The Partnership's tax treatment depends on its status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. If the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") were to treat the Partnership as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, the Partnership's cash available for distribution would be substantially reduced.
 
The anticipated after-tax economic benefit of an investment in the common units depends largely on the Partnership being treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. The Partnership has not requested, and does not plan to request, a ruling from the IRS on this or any other tax matter affecting the Partnership.
 
Despite the fact that the Partnership is a limited partnership under Delaware law, it is possible in certain circumstances for a partnership to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Although the Partnership does not believe, based upon its current operations, that it will be treated as a corporation, a change in its business (or a change in current law) could cause the Partnership to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject it to federal taxation as an entity.
 
If the Partnership were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, the Partnership would pay federal income tax on its taxable income at the corporate tax rate, which is currently a maximum of 35 percent, and would likely pay state income tax at varying rates. Distributions to unitholders would generally be taxed again as corporate distributions, and no income, gains, losses, deductions or credits would flow through to unitholders. Because a tax would be imposed upon the Partnership as a corporation, the Partnership's cash available for distribution would be substantially reduced. Therefore, treatment of the Partnership as a corporation would result in a material reduction in the anticipated cash flow and after-tax return to the unitholders, likely causing a substantial reduction in the value of the common units.
 
Current law could change so as to cause the Partnership to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject the Partnership to entity-level federal taxation. Any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in the common units.
 
A material amount of additional entity-level taxation by individual states would further reduce the Partnership's cash available for distribution.
 
Changes in current state law could subject the Partnership to entity-level taxation by those individual states. Because of widespread state budget deficits and other reasons, several states are evaluating ways to subject partnerships and limited liability companies to entity-level taxation through the imposition of state income, franchise and other forms of taxation. For example, beginning in 2008, the Partnership has been required to pay an annual Texas Margin tax at a maximum effective rate of 0.7 percent of its federal gross income apportioned to Texas in the prior year. Imposition of such a tax on the Partnership by any other state in which the Partnership may conduct activities in the future would further reduce the cash available for distribution.
 
The IRS could challenge the Partnership's proration of its items of income, gain, loss and deduction between transferors and transferees of common units, which could change the allocation of items of income, gain, loss and deduction among the Partnership's unitholders.
 
The Partnership prorates its items of income, gain, loss and deduction between transferors and transferees of the common units each month based upon the ownership of the common units on the first day of each month, instead of on the basis of the date a particular unit is transferred. If the IRS were to challenge this method or if new Treasury regulations addressing these matters were issued, the Partnership could be required to change the allocation of items of income, gain, loss and deduction among the Partnership's unitholders.
 
 
35

 
 
 

 

The IRS could contest the federal income tax positions the Partnership takes.
 
The Partnership has not requested a ruling from the IRS with respect to its treatment as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or any other matter affecting it. The IRS could adopt positions that differ from the positions the Partnership takes. It may be necessary to resort to administrative or court proceedings to sustain some or all of the positions the Partnership takes, and a court could disagree with some or all of the Partnership's positions. The costs of any contest with the IRS would reduce the Partnership's cash available for distribution.
 
Unitholders are required to pay taxes on their share of the Partnership's income even if they do not receive any cash distributions from the Partnership.
 
Because the Partnership's unitholders are treated as partners to whom the Partnership allocates taxable income, which could be different in amount than the cash the Partnership distributes, unitholders will be required to pay any federal income taxes and, in some cases, state and local income taxes, on their share of the Partnership's taxable income even if they receive no cash distributions from the Partnership. Unitholders may not receive cash distributions from the Partnership equal to their share of the Partnership's taxable income or even equal to the actual tax liability that results from that income.
 
Tax on the disposition of common units could be more or less than expected.
 
If a unitholder sells its common units, the unitholder will recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and its tax basis in those common units. Because distributions in excess of a unitholder's allocable share of the Partnership's net taxable income decrease a unitholder's basis in its common units, the amount, if any, of such prior excess distributions with respect to the common units the unitholder sells will, in effect, become taxable income to the unitholder if its sells such units at a price greater than its tax basis in those units, even if the price it receives is less than its original cost. Furthermore, a substantial portion of the amount realized, whether or not representing gain, may be taxed as ordinary income due to potential recapture items, including depletion, depreciation and intangible drilling and development costs recapture. In addition, because the amount realized includes a unitholder's share of the Partnership's nonrecourse liabilities, if a unitholder sells its common units, it may incur a tax liability in excess of the amount of cash it receives from the sale.

Tax-exempt entities and foreign persons face unique tax issues from owning common units that could result in adverse tax consequences to them.
 
Investment in common units by tax-exempt entities, such as individual retirement accounts (known as IRAs), and non-U.S. persons, raises issues unique to them. For example, virtually all of the Partnership's income allocated to organizations that are exempt from federal income tax, including IRAs and other retirement plans, will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to them. Distributions to non-U.S. persons will be reduced by withholding taxes imposed at the highest applicable effective tax rate, and non-U.S. persons will be required to file United States federal tax returns and pay tax on their share of the Partnership's taxable income.

The Partnership will treat each purchaser of common units as having the same tax benefits without regard to the actual common units purchased, which could be challenged by the IRS.
 
Because the Partnership cannot match transferors and transferees of common units and because of other reasons, the Partnership has adopted depreciation, depletion and amortization positions that may not conform to all aspects of existing Treasury Regulations. A successful IRS challenge to those positions could adversely affect the amount of tax benefits available to a unitholder. It also could affect the timing of these tax benefits or the amount of gain from a unitholder's sale of common units and could result in audit adjustments to a unitholder's tax returns.
 
The sale or exchange of 50 percent or more of the Partnership's capital and profits interests during any twelve-month period will result in the termination of the Partnership for federal income tax purposes.
 
The Partnership will be considered to have terminated for federal income tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50 percent or more of the total interests in the Partnership's capital and profits within a twelve-month period. The Partnership's termination would, among other things, result in the closing of the Partnership's taxable year for all unitholders, which would result in the Partnership filing two tax returns (and unitholders receiving two Schedule K-1's) for one fiscal year. The Partnership's termination could also result in a deferral of depreciation deductions allowable in computing its taxable income. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than a fiscal year ending December 31, the closing of the Partnership's taxable year may also result in more than
 
36
 
 
 

 
 
 
twelve months of the Partnership's taxable income or loss being includable in the unitholder's taxable income for the year of termination. Under current law, the Partnership's termination would not affect its classification as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, but instead, the Partnership would be treated as a new partnership for tax purposes. If treated as a new partnership, the Partnership must make new tax elections and could be subject to penalties if the Partnership is unable to determine that a termination occurred.
 
A unitholder could become subject to state and local taxes and return filing requirements in some of the states in which the Partnership may in the future operate.
 
In addition to federal income taxes, a unitholder could become subject to state and local taxes that are imposed by various jurisdictions in which the Partnership extends its business or acquires assets even if the unitholder does not live in any of those jurisdictions. The Partnership currently owns assets and does business only in Texas. Texas does not currently impose a personal income tax on individuals but it does impose an entity level tax (to which the Partnership is subject) on corporations and other entities. As the Partnership makes acquisitions or expands its business, the Partnership could own assets or conduct business in additional states (such as New Mexico) that impose a personal income tax, and in that case a unitholder could be required to file state and local income tax returns and pay state and local taxes or face penalties if it fails to do so. It is the unitholder's responsibility to file all United States federal, foreign, state and local tax returns applicable to it in its particular circumstances.

Certain U.S. federal income tax deductions currently available with respect to oil and gas exploration and development may be eliminated as a result of future legislation.

In recent years, there have been tax legislation discussions that would, if enacted into law, make significant changes to United States tax laws, including the elimination of certain key U.S. federal income tax incentives currently available to oil and gas companies. Such tax legislation changes include, but are not limited to, (i) the repeal of the percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas properties, (ii) the elimination of current deductions for intangible drilling and development costs, (iii) the elimination of the deduction for certain domestic production activities, and (iv) an extension of the amortization period for certain geological and geophysical expenditures.  It is unclear whether any of these or similar changes will be proposed in the future and, if enacted, how soon any such changes could become effective. The passage of any future legislation in U.S. federal income tax laws could eliminate certain tax deductions that are currently available with respect to oil and gas exploration and development, and any such change could increase the taxable income allocable to the unitholders and negatively impact the value of an investment in the common units.

These risks are not the only risks facing the Partnership.  Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Partnership or that it currently deems to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect the Partnership's business, financial condition or future results.

ITEM 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.
 
 
 
37
 

 
 
 

 

ITEM 2.                 PROPERTIES

Reserve Rule Changes
 
During 2009, the SEC issued its final rule on the modernization of oil and gas reporting (the "Reserve Ruling") and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-03 ("ASU 2010-03") "Extractive Industries – Oil and Gas," which aligns the estimation and disclosure requirements of FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 932 with the Reserve Ruling.  The Reserve Ruling and ASU 2010-03 became effective for annual reports on Form 10-K for fiscal years ending on or after December 31, 2009.  The key provisions of the Reserve Ruling and ASU 2010-03 are as follows:

·  
Expanding the definition of oil- and gas-producing activities to include the extraction of saleable hydrocarbons, in the solid, liquid or gaseous state, from oil sands, coalbeds or other nonrenewable natural resources that are intended to be upgraded into synthetic oil or gas, and activities undertaken with a view to such extraction;
·  
Amending the definition of proved oil and gas reserves to require the use of an average of the first-day-of-the-month commodity prices during the 12-month period ending on the balance sheet date rather than the period-end commodity prices;
·  
Adding to and amending other definitions used in estimating proved oil and gas reserves, such as "reliable technology" and "reasonable certainty";
·  
Broadening the types of technology that an issuer may use to establish reserves estimates and categories; and
·  
Changing disclosure requirements and providing formats for tabular reserve disclosures.

Reserve Estimation Procedures and Audits
 
The information included in this Report about the Partnership's proved reserves as of December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 represents evaluations prepared by Pioneer's reservoir engineers.  Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. ("NSAI") audited all of the Partnership's proved reserves as of December 31, 2010 and 2009; and audited the Partnership's proved reserves as of December 31, 2008 before the Partnership completed the 2009 Acquisition.  The Partnership has no oil and gas reserves from non-traditional sources.
 
Reserve estimation procedures.  Pioneer has established internal controls over reserve estimation processes and procedures to support the accurate and timely preparation and disclosure of reserve estimations in accordance with SEC and GAAP requirements.  These controls include oversight of the reserves estimation reporting processes by Pioneer's Worldwide Reserves Group ("WWR"), and annual external audits of all of the Partnership's proved reserves by NSAI. 
 
The management of Pioneer's oil and gas assets is decentralized geographically by individual asset teams responsible for the oil and gas activities in each of Pioneer's operating areas.  Pioneer's Permian asset team (the "Asset Team") is staffed with reservoir engineers and geoscientists who prepare reserve estimates for the Permian assets at the end of each calendar quarter using reservoir engineering information technology.  There is shared oversight of the Asset Team's reservoir engineers by the Asset Team's managers and the Director of the WWR, each of whom is in turn subject to direct or indirect oversight by Pioneer's President and Chief Operating Officer ("COO") and management committee ("MC").  Pioneer's MC is comprised of its Chief Executive Officer, COO, Chief Financial Officer and other Executive Vice Presidents.  The Asset Team's reserve estimates are reviewed by the Asset Team reservoir engineers before being submitted to the Director of the WWR and are summarized in reserve reconciliations that quantify reserve changes represented by revisions of previous estimates, purchases of minerals-in-place, extensions and discoveries, production and sales of minerals-in-place.  All reserve estimates, material assumptions and inputs used in reserve estimates and significant changes in reserve estimates are reviewed for engineering and financial appropriateness and compliance with SEC and GAAP standards by the WWR.  Annually, the MC reviews the consolidated reserves estimates and any differences with NSAI before the estimates are approved. The engineers and geoscientists who participate in the reserves estimation and disclosure process periodically attend training on the Reserve Ruling by external consultants and/or through internal Pioneer programs.  Additionally, the WWR has prepared and maintains an internal document for the Asset Team to reference on reserve estimation and preparation to promote objectivity in the preparation of the Partnership's reserve estimates and SEC and GAAP compliance in the reserve estimation and reporting process.  
 
38
 
 
 

 
 
NSAI follows the general principles set forth in the standards pertaining to the estimating and auditing of oil and gas reserve information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers ("SPE"). A reserve audit as defined by the SPE is not the same as a financial audit. The SPE's definition of a reserve audit includes the following concepts:

·  
 
A reserve audit is an examination of reserve information that is conducted for the purpose of expressing an opinion as to whether such reserve information, in the aggregate, is reasonable and has been presented in accordance with the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information as promulgated by the SPE.
·  
 
The estimation of reserves is an imprecise science due to the many unknown geologic and reservoir factors that cannot be estimated through sampling techniques. Since reserves are only estimates, they cannot be audited for the purpose of verifying exactness. Instead, reserve information is audited for the purpose of reviewing in sufficient detail the policies, procedures and methods used by a company in estimating its reserves so that the reserve auditors may express an opinion as to whether, in the aggregate, the reserve information furnished by a company is reasonable.
·  
The methods and procedures used by a company, and the reserve information furnished by a company, must be reviewed in sufficient detail to permit the reserve auditor, in its professional judgment, to express an opinion as to the reasonableness of the reserve information. The auditing procedures require the reserve auditor to prepare their own estimates of reserve information for the audited properties.
 
In conjunction with the audit of the Partnership's proved reserves and associated pre-tax present value discounted at ten percent, Pioneer provided to NSAI its external and internal engineering and geoscience technical data and analyses. Following NSAI's review of that data, it had the option of accepting Pioneer's interpretation, or making its own interpretation. No data was withheld from NSAI. NSAI accepted without independent verification the accuracy and completeness of the historical information and data furnished by Pioneer with respect to ownership interest; oil and gas production; well test data; commodity prices; operating and development costs; and any agreements relating to current and future operations of the properties and sales of production. However, if in the course of its evaluation something came to its attention that brought into question the validity or sufficiency of any such information or data, NSAI did not rely on such information or data until it had satisfactorily resolved its questions relating thereto or had independently verified such information or data.
 
In the course of its evaluations, NSAI prepared, for all of the audited properties, its own estimates of the Partnership's proved reserves and the pre-tax present value of such reserves discounted at ten percent.  NSAI reviewed its audit differences with Pioneer, and, in a number of cases, held joint meetings with Pioneer to review additional reserves work performed by the technical teams and any updated performance data related to the reserve differences. Such data was incorporated, as appropriate, by both parties into the reserve estimates.  NSAI's estimates, including any adjustments resulting from additional data, of those proved reserves and the pre-tax present value of such reserves discounted at ten percent did not differ from Pioneer's estimates by more than ten percent in the aggregate. However, when compared on a lease-by-lease basis, some of Pioneer's estimates were greater than those of NSAI and some were less than the estimates of NSAI. When such differences do not exceed ten percent in the aggregate and NSAI is satisfied that the proved reserves and pre-tax present value of such reserves discounted at ten percent are reasonable and that its audit objectives have been met, NSAI will issue an unqualified audit opinion. Remaining differences are not resolved due to the limited cost benefit of continuing such analyses by Pioneer and NSAI.  At the conclusion of the audit process, it was NSAI's opinion, as set forth in its audit letter, which is included as an exhibit to this Report, that Pioneer's estimates of the Partnership's proved oil and gas reserves and associated pre-tax future net revenues discounted at ten percent are, in the aggregate, reasonable and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted petroleum engineering standards promulgated by the SPE.
 
Also, see "Item 1A. Risk Factors," "Critical Accounting Estimates" in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis and Results of Operations" and "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for additional discussions regarding proved reserves and their related cash flows.

Qualifications of reserves preparers and auditors.  The WWR is staffed by petroleum engineers with extensive industry experience and is managed by Pioneer's Director of WWR.  Pioneer's petroleum engineers meet the professional qualifications of reserves estimators and reserves auditors as defined by the "Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information," approved by the board of directors of the Society of Petroleum Engineers in 2001 and revised in 2007.  The WWR Director's qualifications include 33 years of experience as a petroleum engineer, with 26 years focused on reserves reporting for independent oil and gas companies, including Pioneer.  His educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration in Finance.  He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst ("CFA") and a member of the Oil and Gas Reserves Committee of the SPE.   
 
39
 
 
 
 

 
 
      NSAI provides worldwide petroleum property analysis services for energy clients, financial organizations and government agencies.  NSAI was founded in 1961 and performs consulting petroleum engineering services under Texas Board of Professional Engineers Registration No. F-002699.  The technical person primarily responsible for auditing the Partnership's reserves estimates has been a practicing consulting petroleum engineer at NSAI since 1983 and has over 31 years of practical experience in petroleum engineering, including 30 years experience in the estimation and evaluation of proved reserves.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 1978 and meets or exceeds the education, training, and experience requirements set forth in the "Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information" promulgated by the board of directors of the SPE.
 
Technologies used in reserves estimates. Pioneer uses reliable technologies to establish additions to reserve estimates on behalf of the Partnership, including seismic data and interpretation, wireline formation tests, geophysical logs and core data.  Reserve additions associated with reliable technologies were less than two percent of the Partnership's total proved reserves during the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
Proved reserves. The Partnership's proved reserves totaled 51,975 MBOE, 44,365 MBOE and 40,805 MBOE at December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, representing $563.8 million, $262.3 million and $187.2 million, respectively, of Standardized Measure. Changes in the Partnership's proved reserve volumes during the year ended December 31, 2010 included production of 2,375 MBOE and positive revisions of previous estimates of 9,985 MBOE.  Revisions of previous estimates are comprised of 4,388 MBOE of positive price revisions and 5,597 MBOE of positive performance-related revisions.  The Partnership's proved reserves at December 31, 2010 were determined using an average of the NYMEX spot prices for sales of oil and gas on the first calendar day of each month during 2010.  On this basis, the price of oil and gas for proved reserve reporting purposes at December 31, 2010 was $79.28 per barrel of oil and $4.37 per Mcf of gas, compared to comparable average NYMEX prices of $61.14 per barrel of oil and $3.87 per Mcf of gas at December 31, 2009.
 
Tabular proved reserves disclosures.  On a BOE basis, 77 percent of the Partnership's total proved reserves at December 31, 2010 were proved developed reserves. The following table provides information regarding the Partnership's proved reserves and Standardized Measure as of December 31, 2010:

 
 
Summary of Oil and Gas Reserves as of December 31, 2010
 
 
Based on Average Fiscal Year Prices
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standardized
 
 
Oil
 
NGLs
 
Gas
 
 
 
 
Measure
 
 
(MBbls)
 
(MBbls)
 
(MMcf)
 
MBOE
 
 
(in thousands)
Proved
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Developed
 23,682 
 
 9,966 
 
 39,032 
 
 40,153 
 
$
 502,133 
 
Undeveloped
 7,515 
 
 2,546 
 
 10,567 
 
 11,822 
 
 
 61,633 
Total proved
 31,197 
 
 12,512 
 
 49,599 
 
 51,975 
 
$
 563,766 
 
Proved undeveloped reserves.  As of December 31, 2010, the Partnership had 127 proved undeveloped well locations (all of which are expected to be developed within the five year period ending December 31, 2015), representing a decrease of 43 proved undeveloped well locations (25 percent) since December 31, 2009.  The Partnership's proved undeveloped reserves totaled 11,822 MBOE and 12,152 MBOE at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  During 2010, 28 proved undeveloped well locations were drilled and completed as developed wells and an additional 18 proved undeveloped well locations were in various stages of drilling and completion at December 31, 2010.  As a result, the Partnership converted 2,913 MBOE of proved undeveloped reserves to proved developed reserves during 2010.  The Partnership's development costs incurred during the year ended December 31, 2010 totaled $52.5 million and were comprised of $46.7 million of development drilling expenditures associated with new wells and a $5.8 million increase in asset retirement obligations.  The Partnership's proved undeveloped well locations as of December 31, 2010 included 48 proved undeveloped well locations that have remained undeveloped for five years or more.  Prior to the 2009 Acquisition, all of the Partnership's proved undeveloped well locations were part of the Partnership Predecessor and, as such, they were part of Pioneer's inventory of undeveloped well locations in the Spraberry field.  In November 2009, the Partnership commenced a two-rig drilling program to develop its proved undeveloped properties.  See "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Capital commitments" for more information about the Partnership's two-rig drilling program.  The following table represents the estimated timing and cash flows of developing the Partnership's proved undeveloped reserves as of December 31, 2010 (dollars in thousands):
 
40
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
Estimated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Future
 
Future
 
Future
 
Future
 
 
 
 
 
 
Production
 
Cash
 
Production
 
Development
 
Future Net
Year Ended December 31, (a)
 
(MBOE)
 
Inflows
 
Costs
 
Costs
 
Cash Flows
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2011 
 
 250 
 
$
 16,098 
 
$
 2,180 
 
$
 61,351 
 
$
 (47,433)
2012 
 
 702 
 
 
 44,650 
 
 
 6,576 
 
 
 67,530 
 
 
 (29,456)
2013 
 
 942 
 
 
 58,909 
 
 
 9,245 
 
 
 57,689 
 
 
 (8,025)
2014 
 
 873 
 
 
 53,806 
 
 
 9,327 
 
 
 3,219 
 
 
 41,260 
2015 
 
 668 
 
 
 40,322 
 
 
 7,640 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 32,682 
Thereafter
 
 8,387 
 
 
 502,451 
 
 
 188,807 
 
 
 6,573 
 
 
 307,071 
 
 
 11,822 
 
$
 716,236 
 
$
 223,775 
 
$
 196,362 
 
$
 296,099 
______
(a)
Beginning in 2011 and thereafter, the production and cash flows represent the drilling results from the respective year plus the incremental effects of proved undeveloped drilling.

Description of Properties

Currently, the Partnership's oil and gas properties consist only of non-operated working interests in oil and gas properties in the Spraberry field in the Permian Basin area of West Texas, all of which are operated by Pioneer. The Partnership's interests include 1,116 producing wells, of which 1,021 wells are limited to only those rights that are necessary to produce hydrocarbons from that particular wellbore, and do not include the right to drill additional wells (other than replacement wells or downspaced wells, such as 20-acre infill wells) within the area covered by the mineral or leasehold interest to which that wellbore relates.
 
All of the Partnership's proved reserves at December 31, 2010 were located in the Spraberry field. According to latest information available from the Energy Information Administration, the Spraberry field is the second largest oil field in the United States. The 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 energy content of 1,400 Btu. The oil and gas are produced primarily from four formations, the upper and lower Spraberry,  the Dean and the Wolfcamp, at depths ranging from 6,700 feet to 11,300 feet.
 
The Partnership added 28 new wells to production during 2010 and had 18 wells awaiting completion at December 31, 2010.  The Partnership added one new well to production during 2009 and had seven wells awaiting completion at December 31, 2009.  The performance to date of these drilled and completed wells has exceeded the expectations of the Partnership's management, in part due to the completion of these wells in the deeper Wolfcamp formation and organic rich shale/silt intervals.

41
 

 
 
 

 

Selected Oil and Gas Information

The following tables set forth selected oil and gas information for the Partnership's properties as of and for each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008. Because of normal production declines and drilling activities, the historical information presented below should not be interpreted as being indicative of future results.
 
Production, price and cost data.  The following tables set forth production, price and cost data with respect to the Partnership's properties for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008. These amounts represent the Partnership's historical results without making pro forma adjustments for any drilling activity that occurred during the respective years.

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
Production information:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Annual sales volumes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Oil (MBbls)
 
 
1,425 
 
 
1,344 
 
 
1,441 
    NGLs (MBbls)
 
 
 587 
 
 
 518 
 
 
 476 
    Gas (MMcf)
 
 
2,181 
 
 
2,281 
 
 
2,133 
    Total (MBOE)
 
 
2,375 
 
 
2,243 
 
 
2,272 
  Average daily sales volumes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Oil (Bbls)
 
 
3,903 
 
 
3,683 
 
 
3,937 
    NGLs (Bbls)
 
 
1,608 
 
 
1,420 
 
 
1,298 
    Gas (Mcf)
 
 
5,975 
 
 
6,248 
 
 
5,828 
    Total (BOE)
 
 
6,507 
 
 
6,145 
 
 
6,206 
  Average prices, including hedge results (a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Oil (per Bbl)
 
$
 103.60 
 
$
 100.35 
 
$
 107.79 
    NGL (per Bbl)
 
$
 44.31 
 
$
 41.61 
 
$
 48.41 
    Gas (per Mcf)
 
$
 4.66 
 
$
 5.37 
 
$
 7.06 
    Revenue (per BOE)
 
$
 77.37 
 
$
 75.23 
 
$
 85.14 
  Average prices, excluding hedge results (a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Oil (per Bbl)
 
$
 77.56 
 
$
 58.05 
 
$
 99.71 
    NGL (per Bbl)
 
$
 32.91 
 
$
 25.56 
 
$
 45.84 
    Gas (per Mcf)
 
$
 3.33 
 
$
 2.81 
 
$
 6.24 
    Revenue (per BOE)
 
$
 57.72 
 
$
 43.56 
 
$
 78.69 
Average costs (per BOE):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Production costs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Lease operating (b)
 
$
 14.24 
 
$
 14.04 
 
$
 14.24 
    Workover
 
 
 1.90 
 
 
 1.46 
 
 
2.85 
      Total production costs
 
$
 16.14 
 
$
 15.50 
 
$
 17.09 
  Production taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Ad valorem
 
$
 2.15 
 
$
 2.09 
 
$
2.23 
    Production
 
 
 2.96 
 
 
 2.17 
 
 
4.02 
      Total production taxes
 
$
 5.11 
 
$
 4.26 
 
$
 6.25 
  Depletion expense
 
$
5.30 
 
$
5.80 
 
$
5.10 
______
(a)
The Partnership discontinued hedge accounting effective February 1, 2009.  Hedge results beginning February 1, 2009 represent the transfer to oil and gas revenues of net deferred hedge gains included in accumulated other comprehensive income as of the de-designation date.
(b)
Historical lease operating expense associated with those properties acquired in August 2009 and the Partnership's properties that were acquired in conjunction with the initial public offering in May 2008 include the direct internal costs of Pioneer to operate the properties.  The lease operating expense of the properties after they were acquired by the Partnership includes COPAS Fees. Assuming the COPAS Fees had been charged in the Partnership Predecessor's historical results, the Partnership's lease operating expense would have been higher on a BOE basis by approximately $0.15 and $1.03 for 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 
42

 
 
 

 

Productive wells.  The following table sets forth the number of productive oil and gas wells attributable to the Partnership's properties as of December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008:

PRODUCTIVE WELLS (a)

 
 
Gross Productive Wells
 
Net Productive Wells
 
 
Oil
 
Gas
 
Total
 
Oil
 
Gas
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2010
 
 1,116 
 
 - 
 
 1,116 
 
 985 
 
 - 
 
 985 
As of December 31, 2009
 
 1,135 
 
 - 
 
 1,135 
 
 981 
 
 - 
 
 981 
As of December 31, 2008
 
 1,158 
 
 - 
 
 1,158 
 
 1,003 
 
 - 
 
 1,003 
______
(a)
All of the Partnership's wells are operated by Pioneer.  Productive wells consist of producing wells and wells capable of production, including shut-in wells.  The Partnership had no multiple completion wells as of December 31, 2010.

Leasehold acreage. The following table sets forth information about the Partnership's developed and undeveloped leasehold acreage as of December 31, 2010:

 
 
Developed Acreage
 
Undeveloped Acreage
 
 
Gross Acres
 
Net Acres
 
Gross Acres
 
Net Acres
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spraberry field
 
9,243 
 
8,736 
 
5,628 
 
5,333 

The following table sets forth the expiration dates of the leases on the Partnership's gross and net undeveloped acres as of December 31, 2010:

 
 
Acres Expiring (a)
 
 
Gross
 
Net
2011 
 
 1,506 
 
 1,485 
______
(a)
The Partnership's undeveloped acreage represents proved undeveloped acreage held by productive wells except for 1,506 acres (1,485 net acres) that are subject to a continuous drilling commitment.  The continuous drilling commitment obligates Pioneer and the Partnership to spud a well by April 22, 2011, and then spud another well thereafter within 120 days of completing the previous well.  These acres will not expire if the continuous drilling commitment is fulfilled.

Drilling activities.  The following table sets forth the number of gross and net productive and dry hole wells that were drilled by the Partnership during 2010, 2009 and 2008. This information should not be considered indicative of future performance.

 
DRILLING ACTIVITIES

 
 
 
Gross Wells
 
Net Wells
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
Productive wells: (a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Development
 
 28 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 27 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
Exploratory
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
Dry holes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Development
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
Exploratory
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
Total
 
 28 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 27 
 
 1 
 
 9 
______
(a)
As of December 31, 2010, drilling on 18 gross wells (18 net wells) was in progress.  The Partnership had seven gross wells (seven net wells) upon which drilling was in progress as of December 31, 2009 and no wells upon which drilling was in progress as of December 31, 2008.
 
 
43

 
 

 

ITEM 3.                 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Although the Partnership may, from time to time, be involved in litigation and claims arising out of its operations in the normal course of business, the Partnership is not currently a party to any material legal proceedings. In addition, the Partnership is not aware of any material legal or governmental proceedings against it, or contemplated to be brought against it, under the various environmental protection statutes to which the Partnership is subject.

ITEM 4.                 REMOVED AND RESERVED

 
 
 
44

 
 

 

PART II

ITEM 5.                 MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
The Partnership's common units are listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol "PSE." The Board of Directors of the General Partner declared distributions to unitholders totaling $2.00 per unit during 2010.  On January 24, 2011, the Board of Directors of the General Partner declared a $0.50 per unit distribution payable on February 11, 2011 to unitholders of record on February 3, 2011.
 
The following table sets forth quarterly high and low prices of the Partnership's common units and distributions declared per unit for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Declared
 
 
High
 
Low
 
Per Unit
Year ended December 31, 2010
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fourth quarter
$
 30.42 
 
$
 27.15 
 
$
 0.50 
 
Third quarter
$
 28.33 
 
$
 23.53 
 
$
 0.50 
 
Second quarter
$
 25.65 
 
$
 20.93 
 
$
 0.50 
 
First quarter
$
 23.87 
 
$
 20.72 
 
$
 0.50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year ended December 31, 2009
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fourth quarter
$
 22.67 
 
$
 18.51 
 
$
 0.50 
 
Third quarter
$
 21.25 
 
$
 17.03 
 
$
 0.50 
 
Second quarter
$
 20.03 
 
$
 15.50 
 
$
 0.50 
 
First quarter
$
 17.60 
 
$
 13.01 
 
$
 0.50 

On February 23, 2011, the last reported sales price of the Partnership's common units, as reported in the NYSE composite transactions, was $32.93 per unit.
 
As of February 23, 2011, the Partnership's common units were held by 16 holders of record. This number does not include owners for whom common units may be held in "street" name.

During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Partnership did not repurchase any common units nor did the Partnership make any unregistered sales of any common units.

Cash Distributions to Unitholders
 
The Partnership Agreement requires that, within 45 days after the end of each quarter, the Partnership distribute all of its available cash. The term "available cash," for any quarter, means the Partnership's cash on hand, including cash from borrowings, at the end of a quarter after the payment of expenses and the establishment of cash reserves for future capital expenditures, operational needs and distributions for any one or more of the next four quarters.
 
There is no guarantee that unitholders will receive quarterly distributions from the Partnership. The Partnership Agreement gives the General Partner wide latitude to establish reserves for future capital expenditures and operational needs prior to determining the amount of cash available for distribution. In addition, the Partnership's credit facility prohibits the Partnership from making cash distributions if any potential default or event of default, as defined in the credit facility, occurs or would result from the distribution.
 
45
 

 
 
 

 

ITEM 6.                 SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 
The following selected financial data as of and for the five years ended December 31, 2010 for the Partnership should be read in conjunction with "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."

 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
2007 
 
2006 
Statements of Operations Data:
(in thousands, except per unit data)
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil and gas
$
 183,758 
 
$
 168,717 
 
$
 193,394 
 
$
 144,038 
 
$
 126,918 
 
 
Interest and other
 
 - 
 
 
 210 
 
 
 192 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 
 183,758 
 
 
 168,927 
 
 
 193,586 
 
 
 144,038 
 
 
 126,918 
 
Costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil and gas production  (a)
 
 38,334 
 
 
 34,749 
 
 
 38,807 
 
 
 27,879 
 
 
 24,133 
 
 
Production and ad valorem taxes
 
 12,119 
 
 
 9,547 
 
 
 14,213 
 
 
 11,550 
 
 
 11,124 
 
 
Depletion, depreciation and amortization
 
 12,577 
 
 
 13,016 
 
 
 11,582 
 
 
 11,382 
 
 
 9,678 
 
 
General and administrative
 
 6,330 
 
 
 4,790 
 
 
 6,227 
 
 
 5,643 
 
 
 5,345 
 
 
Accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations
 
 546 
 
 
 484 
 
 
 144 
 
 
 143 
 
 
 136 
 
 
Interest
 
 1,543 
 
 
 1,160 
 
 
 621 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
Derivative losses, net (b)
 
 5,431 
 
 
 78,265 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
Other, net
 
 - 
 
 
 549 
 
 
 890 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 25 
 
 
 
 
 76,880 
 
 
 142,560 
 
 
 72,484 
 
 
 56,602 
 
 
 50,441 
 
Income before taxes
 
 106,878 
 
 
 26,367 
 
 
 121,102 
 
 
 87,436 
 
 
 76,477 
 
Income tax provision
 
 (1,045)
 
 
 (46)
 
 
 (1,326)
 
 
 (920)
 
 
 (323)
 
Net income
$
 105,833 
 
$
 26,321 
 
$
 119,776 
 
$
 86,516 
 
$
 76,154 
 
Allocation of net income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) applicable to the Partnership Predecessor
$
 - 
 
$
 (1,598)
 
$
 59,038 
 
$
 86,516 
 
$
 76,154 
 
 
Net income applicable to the Partnership
 
 105,833 
 
 
 27,919 
 
 
 60,738 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
Net income
$
 105,833 
 
$
 26,321 
 
$
 119,776 
 
$
 86,516 
 
$
 76,154 
 
Allocation of net income applicable to the Partnership:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General partner's interest in net income
$
 106 
 
$
 28 
 
$
 61 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Limited partners' interest in net income
 
 105,649 
 
 
 27,891 
 
 
 60,677 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unvested participating securities' interest in net income
 
 78 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income applicable to the Partnership
$
 105,833 
 
$
 27,919 
 
$
 60,738 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income per common unit – basic and diluted
$
 3.19 
 
$
 0.92 
 
$
 2.02 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common units outstanding – basic and diluted
 
33,114 
 
 
30,399 
 
 
30,009 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distributions declared per common unit
$
2.00 
 
$
2.00 
 
$
0.81 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance Sheet Data (as of December 31):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
 280,060 
 
$
 256,638 
 
$
 367,164 
 
$
 217,702 
 
$
 209,687 
 
Long-term debt
$
 81,200 
 
$
 67,000 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
Partners' equity
$
 134,745 
 
$
 141,273 
 
$
 347,831 
 
$
 207,569 
 
$
 196,498 
________
(a)
Historical oil and gas production costs associated with those properties acquired in August 2009 and the Partnership's properties that were acquired in conjunction with the initial public offering in May 2008 include the direct internal costs of Pioneer to operate the properties.  The oil and gas production costs of the properties after they were acquired by the Partnership include COPAS Fees.
(b)
Effective February 1, 2009, the Partnership discontinued hedge accounting for its derivative contracts and began using the mark-to-market method of accounting for derivatives.  See "Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" and Notes B and H of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for information about the Partnership's derivative contracts and associated accounting methods.
 
 
 
46
 
 

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

Financial and Operating Performance

Highlights of the Partnership's financial and operating performance for 2010 include:

·  
Net income increased 302 percent to $105.8 million in 2010 from $26.3 million in 2009.  The increase in earnings is primarily attributable to (i) a $72.8 million decrease in net derivative losses recorded in 2010 as compared to 2009 and (ii) increases in oil and NGL production volumes during 2010.
·  
Daily sales volumes increased six percent to 6,507 BOEPD in 2010, as compared to 6,145 BOEPD for 2009.
·  
Average reported oil and NGL sales prices per barrel increased to $103.60 and $44.31, respectively, during 2010 as compared to $100.35 and $41.61, respectively, for 2009.  Average reported gas sales prices per Mcf decreased to $4.66 during 2010 as compared to $5.37 during 2009.
·  
Net cash provided by operating activities increased by $14.3 million to $96.9 million, or 17 percent, as compared to 2009, primarily due to higher oil and NGL production volumes and prices, and changes in working capital.

First Quarter 2011 Outlook
 
The Partnership's first quarter of 2011 outlook below does not reflect the  impact of recent weather-related downtime and associated repairs in the Partnership's area of operations.

Based on current estimates, the Partnership expects that production will average 6,500 BOEPD to 6,900 BOEPD.
 
Production costs (including production and ad valorem taxes) are expected to average $20.00 to $23.00 per BOE based on current NYMEX strip prices for oil, NGLs and gas.  Depletion, depreciation and amortization ("DD&A") expense is expected to average $5.00 to $6.00 per BOE.
 
General and administrative expense is expected to be $1 million to $2 million.  Interest expense is expected to be $400 thousand to $600 thousand and accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations is expected to be nominal.
 
The Partnership's cash taxes and effective income tax rate are expected to be approximately one percent of earnings before income taxes as a result of the Partnership's operations being subject to the Texas Margin tax.

Results of Operations

Oil and gas revenues.  Oil and gas revenues totaled $183.8 million, $168.7 million and $193.4 million during 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The increase in revenue during 2010, as compared to 2009, was primarily due to increases in average daily sales volumes of oil and NGLs and increases in oil and NGL commodity prices.  Average daily sales volumes for oil and NGLs for 2010 increased six percent and 13 percent, respectively, as compared to 2009.  Average reported oil and NGL prices for 2010 increased by three percent and six percent, respectively, as compared to the respective 2009 reported prices.  The decrease in revenue during 2009, as compared to 2008, was primarily due to decreases in commodity prices and a slight decrease in average daily sales volumes.  Average reported oil, NGL and gas prices for 2009 decreased by seven percent, 14 percent and 24 percent, respectively, as compared to the respective 2008 reported prices

 
47

 
 

 

The following table provides average daily sales volumes for 2010, 2009 and 2008:

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil (Bbls)
 
3,903 
 
3,683 
 
3,937 
NGLs (Bbls)
 
1,608 
 
1,420 
 
1,298 
Gas (Mcf)
 
5,975 
 
6,248 
 
5,828 
Total (BOE)
 
6,507 
 
6,145 
 
6,206 

The following table provides average reported prices, including the results of hedging activities, and average realized prices, excluding the results of hedging activities, for 2010, 2009 and 2008:

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
Average reported prices:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil (per Bbl)
 
$
 103.60 
 
$
 100.35 
 
$
 107.79 
NGL (per Bbl)
 
$
 44.31 
 
$
 41.61 
 
$
 48.41 
Gas (per Mcf)
 
$
 4.66 
 
$
 5.37 
 
$
 7.06 
Total (per BOE)
 
$
 77.37 
 
$
 75.23 
 
$
 85.14 
Average realized prices:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil (per Bbl)
 
$
 77.56 
 
$
 58.05 
 
$
 99.71 
NGL (per Bbl)
 
$
 32.91 
 
$
 25.56 
 
$
 45.84 
Gas (per Mcf)
 
$
 3.33 
 
$
 2.81 
 
$
 6.24 
Total (per BOE)
 
$
 57.72 
 
$
 43.56 
 
$
 78.69 
 
Oil and gas production costs.  The Partnership's oil and gas production costs totaled $38.3 million, $34.7 million and $38.8 million during 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Total production costs per BOE increased during 2010 by four percent as compared to 2009 primarily due to increased workover activities being performed in 2010 to restore production.
 
Total production costs per BOE decreased during 2009 by nine percent as compared to 2008 primarily due to cost reduction initiatives implemented by Pioneer, as operator, including reductions in electricity costs, saltwater disposal fees and oilfield services costs.  Workover costs were significantly lower in 2009, as compared to 2008, primarily as a result of lower commodity prices reducing the return on investment associated with certain workovers such that they were not economical to perform.
 
The Partnership Predecessor's lease operating expense includes an allocation of Pioneer's direct internal costs associated with the operation of the properties prior to their acquisition by the Partnership. Upon completion of the 2008 IPO Acquisitions and the 2009 Acquisition, Pioneer began charging the Partnership COPAS Fees, instead of the direct internal costs incurred by Pioneer. Assuming the COPAS Fee had been charged in the Partnership Predecessor's historical results, the lease operating expense would have been higher on a BOE basis by $0.15 and $1.03 for 2009 and 2008, respectively.

The following table provides the components of the Partnership's production costs per BOE for 2010, 2009 and 2008:

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lease operating expenses
 
$
 14.24 
 
$
 14.04 
 
$
 14.24 
Workover costs
 
 
 1.90 
 
 
 1.46 
 
 
 2.85 
  Total production costs
 
$
 16.14 
 
$
 15.50 
 
$
 17.09 

Production and ad valorem taxes.  The Partnership recorded production and ad valorem taxes of $12.1 million, $9.5 million and $14.2 million during 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  In general, production and ad
 
48
 
 
 
 

 
 
valorem taxes are directly related to commodity price changes; however, Texas ad valorem taxes are based upon prior year commodity prices, whereas production taxes are based upon current year commodity prices.  Consequently, during 2010, the Partnership's production and ad valorem taxes per BOE have, in the aggregate, increased by 20 percent, as compared to 2009.  The increase is primarily due to increasing oil and NGL prices.  The decrease in 2009, as compared to 2008, was primarily the result of overall declines in commodity prices.

The following table provides the components of the Partnership's total production and ad valorem taxes per BOE for 2010, 2009 and 2008:

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ad valorem taxes
 
$
 2.15 
 
$
 2.09 
 
$
 2.23 
Production taxes
 
 
 2.96 
 
 
 2.17 
 
 
 4.02 
  Total production and ad valorem taxes
 
$
 5.11 
 
$
 4.26 
 
$
 6.25 
 
Depletion, depreciation and amortization expense.  The Partnership's depletion expense was $5.30, $5.80 and $5.10 per BOE for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  During 2010, the decrease in the per BOE depletion expense was primarily due to increases in end-of-well-life reserve volumes from 44,365 MBOE at December 31, 2009 to 51,975 MBOE at December 31, 2010 as a result of commodity price increases and positive performance-related revisions since December 31, 2009.  During 2009, the increase in per BOE depletion expense was primarily due to the declines in end-of-well-life reserve volumes as a result of lower commodity prices during 2009, as compared to 2008.
 
During 2009, the Partnership adopted the provisions of the Reserve Ruling and ASU 2010-03.  The Reserve Ruling and ASU 2010-03, which became effective for Annual Reports on Forms 10-K for fiscal years ending on or after December 31, 2009, changed the definition of proved oil and gas reserves to require the use of an average of the first-day-of-the-month commodity prices during the 12-month period ending on the balance sheet date rather than the period-end commodity prices, added to and amended certain definitions used in estimating proved oil and gas reserves, such as "reliable technology" and "reasonable certainty," and broadened the types of technology that an issuer may use to establish reserves estimates and categories.  The revised definition of proved reserves increased the Partnership's year-end losses of end-of-well-life reserves from what they would have been under the previous definition of proved reserves that used end of period pricing, thereby increasing the Partnership's depletion expense in the fourth quarter of 2009.  The other provisions of the Reserve Ruling and ASU 2010-03 did not have a material effect on the Partnership as of and for the periods ended December 31, 2009.
 
General and administrative expense.  General and administrative expense totaled $6.3 million, $4.8 million and $6.2 million during 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Partnership and Pioneer entered into an administrative services agreement in May 2008, pursuant to which Pioneer agreed to perform administrative services for the Partnership, and the Partnership agreed to reimburse Pioneer for its expenses incurred in providing such services.  Pursuant to this agreement a portion of Pioneer's general and administrative expense is allocated to the Partnership based on a methodology of determining the Partnership's share, on a per-BOE basis, of certain of the general and administrative costs incurred by Pioneer.  The Partnership is also responsible for paying for its direct third-party services.  The increase in general and administrative expense for 2010, as compared to 2009, was primarily attributable to an increase of 46 percent in the per-BOE rate and to the increases in production volumes for 2010, as compared to 2009.  Based on the methodology in the administrative services agreement, the per-BOE rates increased primarily due to increases in Pioneer's drilling activity in the United States (including the Partnership's two-rig drilling program) and increases in general and administrative expense attributable to Pioneer's United States (excluding Alaska) operations.  The decrease in general and administrative expense during 2009, as compared to 2008, was primarily due to a reduction in the per BOE rate used to allocate a portion of Pioneer's general and administrative expense to the Partnership.  See Note E of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" and "Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence" for additional information regarding the general and administrative expense allocations to the Partnership.
 
Interest expense.  Interest expense was $1.5 million for 2010, as compared to $1.2 million for 2009 and $621 thousand for 2008.  Interest expense increased during 2010, as compared to 2009, primarily because of borrowings under the credit facility in August 2009 to fund a portion of the cash consideration associated with the 2009 Acquisition and borrowings to fund a portion of the Partnership's two-rig drilling program.  Outstanding borrowings
 
 
49
 
 
 

 
 
under the credit facility as of December 31, 2010 were $81.2 million.  For 2010, the Partnership's weighted average debt outstanding was $72.3 million.  Prior to the 2009 Acquisition in August 2009, the Partnership's interest expense related primarily to fees associated with maintaining its credit facility.  Interest expense increased during 2009, as compared to 2008, because the Partnership had no outstanding debt prior to the 2009 Acquisition.  The Partnership borrowed $138.0 million under its credit facility to fund a portion of the cash consideration associated with the 2009 Acquisition.  The Partnership used the proceeds from the 2009 Equity Offering in November 2009 to pay down a portion of its credit facility borrowings, resulting in outstanding borrowings of $67.0 million at December 31, 2009.  The Partnership's 2009 interest expense increased primarily as a result of this increase in indebtedness.  See Note D of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for additional information about the Partnership's long-term debt and interest expense.
 
Derivative loss, net.  Effective February 1, 2009, the Partnership discontinued hedge accounting on all existing commodity derivative instruments and from that date forward began accounting for all derivative instruments under the mark-to-market accounting rules.  In accordance with the mark-to-market accounting rules, the Partnership has recognized changes in the fair value of its derivative contracts since February 1, 2009 as derivative gains or losses in the earnings of the period in which they occurred.  Fluctuations in commodity prices during 2010 and 2009 have impacted the fair value of the Partnership's derivative instruments and resulted in net mark-to-market derivative losses of $5.4 million and $78.3 million, respectively.  Prior to February 1, 2009, the Partnership accounted for its derivative instruments as cash flow hedges and effective changes in the fair values of the derivative instruments were recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.  See Note H of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for additional information regarding the types of derivative transactions in which the Partnership participates.
 
Income tax provision. The Partnership recognized income tax provisions of $1.0 million, $46 thousand and $1.3 million during 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The Partnership's tax provision is reflective of the Texas Margin tax.  See Note K of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for additional information regarding the Partnership's income taxes.

Capital Commitments, Capital Resources and Liquidity
 
Capital commitments.  The Partnership's primary cash funding needs will be for production growth through drilling initiatives and acquisitions and for unitholder distributions. The Partnership may use any combination of internally- and externally-financed sources to fund drilling activities, acquisitions and unitholder distributions, including borrowings under its credit facility and funds from future private and public equity and debt offerings.
 
In conjunction with the undeveloped properties acquired in the 2009 Acquisition, the Partnership commenced a two-rig drilling program in November 2009.  The Partnership added 28 new wells to production during 2010 and had 18 wells awaiting completion at December 31, 2010.  During 2011, the Partnership plans to drill 40 wells to 45 wells at a net cost, including facility connections, of approximately $67 million.  During 2011, the Partnership expects that is capital expenditures will benefit to some extent from savings realized from Pioneer's use of internally provided drilling and completion services in connection with drilling the Partnership's undeveloped properties, although Pioneer has no obligation to provide its internal services in connection with drilling the Partnership's undeveloped properties. The Partnership expects to fund the 2011 drilling program primarily from internal operating cash flows and, to a lesser extent, from borrowings under its credit facility.  Although the Partnership expects that internal cash flows and available borrowing capacity under its credit facility will be adequate to fund capital expenditures and planned unitholder distributions, no assurances can be given that such funding sources will be adequate to meet the Partnership's future needs.
 
The Partnership Agreement requires that the Partnership distribute all of its available cash to its partners. In general, available cash is defined to mean cash on hand at the end of a quarter after the payment of expenses and the establishment of cash reserves for future capital expenditures (including acquisitions), operational needs and distributions for any one or more of the next four quarters. Because the Partnership's proved reserves and production decline continually over time, the Partnership will need to mitigate these declines through drilling initiatives, production enhancement, and/or acquisitions of income producing assets that provide cash margins that allow the Partnership to sustain its level of distributions to unitholders over time. Currently, the Partnership is reserving approximately 25 percent of its cash flow to drill its undeveloped locations in order to maintain its production and cash flow. In the future, the Partnership may use its reserved cash flow for acquisitions of producing properties or undeveloped properties that can be developed to maintain the Partnership's production and cash flow.  The Partnership has adopted a cash distribution policy pursuant to which it intends to declare distributions of $0.50 per unit per quarter, or $2.00 per unit per year, to be paid no later than 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter. The distribution for the fourth quarter of 2010 of $0.50 per unit was declared by the Board of Directors of the General Partner on January 24, 2011 and was paid on February 11, 2011 to unitholders of record on February 3, 2011.
 
 
50
 
 
 

 
 
 
Oil and gas properties.  Excluding the payments related to the carrying value of the 2009 Acquisition and the 2008 IPO Acquisitions, the Partnership's cash expenditures for additions to oil and gas properties during 2010, 2009 and 2008 totaled $45.3 million, $3.8 million and $15.6 million, respectively.  Additions to oil and gas properties during 2010 reflect expenditures associated with the Partnership's two-rig drilling program.  The Partnership's expenditures for additions to oil and gas properties for 2010, 2009 and 2008 were funded primarily by net cash provided by operating activities.

Contractual obligations, including off-balance sheet obligations. As of December 31, 2010, the Partnership's contractual obligations included credit facility indebtedness, asset retirement obligations and derivative instruments.  Borrowings outstanding under its credit facility were $81.2 million at December 31, 2010.  As of December 31, 2010, the Partnership's derivative instruments represented assets of $22.5 million and liabilities of $41.4 million; however, these derivative instruments continue to have market risk and represent contractual obligations of the Partnership.  The ultimate liquidation value of the Partnership's commodity derivatives will be dependent upon actual future commodity prices at the time of settlement, which may differ materially from the inputs used to determine the derivatives' fair values at any point in time.  The Partnership entered into these derivatives for the primary purpose of reducing commodity price risk on forecasted physical commodity sales and has an expectation of a high degree of correlation between changes in the derivative values and commodity prices received on physical sales.  See Notes C, F and H of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" and "Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" for additional information regarding the Partnership's derivative positions and credit facility.  As of December 31, 2010, the Partnership's asset retirement obligations were $12.6 million, an increase of $5.5 million from December 31, 2009.  As of December 31, 2010, the Partnership was not a party to any material off-balance sheet arrangements.
 
The following table summarizes by period the payments due by the Partnership for contractual obligations estimated as of December 31, 2010:

 
 
 
 
 
Payments Due by Year
 
 
 
 
 
2011 
 
2012 and
 
2014 and
 
Thereafter
Total
 
2013 
2015 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
 
$
 81,200 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 81,200 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
Derivative obligations
 
$
 41,386 
 
$
 9,673 
 
$
 31,713 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
Other liabilities (a)
 
$
 12,558 
 
$
 1,000 
 
$
 2,000 
 
$
 2,000 
 
$
 7,558 
   Total
 
$
 135,144 
 
$
 10,673 
 
$
 114,913 
 
$
 2,000 
 
$
 7,558 
­­­__________
 
(a)  The Partnership's other liabilities represent the current and noncurrent portions of the Partnership's asset retirement obligations for which neither the ultimate settlement amounts nor their timings can be precisely determined in advance.
 
Capital resources.  The Partnership's primary capital resources are expected to be net cash provided by operating activities, amounts available under its credit facility and, to the extent available, funds from future private and public equity and debt offerings.  For 2011, the Partnership expects to use cash flow from operations and the available borrowing capacity under its credit facility to fund its drilling program and planned unitholder distributions, and to provide adequate liquidity for future growth opportunities such as additional development drilling or acquisitions.
 
Operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities during 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $96.9 million, $82.5 million and $132.5 million, respectively. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities in 2010, as compared to that of 2009, was primarily due to increased oil and NGL sales volumes and prices and changes in working capital. The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities in 2009, as compared to that of 2008, was primarily due to decreased oil, NGL and gas sales prices and changes in working capital.
 
Investing activities. Net cash used in investing activities during 2010 was $45.3 million, as compared to $58.5 million during 2009 and $157.9 million during 2008. The decrease in net cash used in investing activities
 
51
 
 
 

 
 
during 2010 as compared to 2009 was primarily due to the 2009 Acquisition, partially offset by the two-rig drilling program during 2010.  The decrease in net cash used in investing activities during 2009 as compared to 2008 was primarily due to limited additions to oil and gas properties during 2009 and the difference in the relative transaction sizes between the 2008 IPO Acquisition and the 2009 Acquisition.
 
Financing activities. Net cash used in financing activities for 2010 was $52.1 million, as compared to $53.4 million for 2009 and net cash provided by financing activities of $55.4 million during 2008.  The net cash used in financing activities during 2010 was comprised of unitholder distributions offset by borrowings under the credit facility to fund a portion of the Partnership's two-rig drilling program.  During 2009, net cash used in financing activities was comprised of unitholder distributions and the payment for the 2009 Acquisition in excess of the carrying value of the net assets acquired, offset by proceeds from the public equity offering of 3,105,000 of the Partnership's common units and borrowings under the credit facility to fund a portion of the 2009 Acquisition.  The net cash provided by financing activities during 2008 was comprised of the proceeds attributable to the Offering offset by unitholder distributions and payments in connection with the 2008 IPO Acquisitions.

During 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Partnership paid cash distributions to unitholders of $66.3 million, $60.1 million and $24.3 million, respectively.  Future distributions and the timing and amount thereof are at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the General Partner.  See "– Capital commitments" for information about the Partnership's cash distributions paid in February 2011.
 
Liquidity.  The Partnership expects that its primary sources of liquidity will be cash generated from operations, amounts available under the credit facility and, to the extent available, funds from future private and public equity and debt offerings.  As of December 31, 2010, the Partnership had $81.2 million outstanding on its credit facility and approximately $219 million of remaining borrowing capacity under the credit facility.  The Partnership's borrowing capacity under the credit facility is subject to a covenant requiring that the Partnership maintain a specified ratio of the net present value of the Partnership's projected future cash flows from its oil and gas assets to total debt, with the variables on which the calculation of net present value is based (including assumed commodity prices and discount rates) being subject to adjustment by the lenders.  As a result, declines in commodity prices could reduce the Partnership's borrowing capacity under the credit facility and could require the Partnership to reduce its distributions to unitholders.  At December 31, 2010, the Partnership was in compliance with all of its debt covenants.  See Note D of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for additional information regarding the credit facility.
 
The Partnership utilizes derivative swap contracts, collar contracts and collar contracts with short puts to (i) reduce the impact on the Partnership's net cash provided by operating activities from the price volatility of the commodities the Partnership produces and sells and (ii) help sustain unitholder distributions.  In furtherance of the Partnership's effort to meet these objectives, approximately 70 percent, 80 percent, 60 percent and 25 percent of the Partnership's estimated total production for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively, have been matched with fixed price commodity swap contracts, collar contracts or collar contracts with short puts.
 
As discussed above under "– Capital commitments," the Partnership Agreement requires that the Partnership distribute all of its available cash to its unitholders and the General Partner. In addition, because the Partnership's proved reserves and production decline continually over time, the Partnership will need to replace production to sustain its level of distributions to unitholders over time. Accordingly, the Partnership's primary needs for cash will be for production growth through drilling initiatives (such as the ongoing two-rig drilling program), acquisitions, production enhancements and for distributions to partners. In making cash distributions, the General Partner will attempt to avoid large variations in the amount the Partnership distributes from quarter to quarter. The Partnership Agreement permits the General Partner to establish cash reserves to be used to pay distributions for any one or more of the next four quarters, and for the conduct of the Partnership's business, which includes possible acquisitions. A sustained decline in commodity prices could result in a shortfall in expected cash flows. If cash flow from operations does not meet the Partnership's expectations, the Partnership may reduce its level of capital expenditures, reduce distributions to unitholders, and/or fund a portion of its capital expenditures using borrowings under the credit facility, issuances of debt or equity securities or from other sources, such as asset sales. The Partnership cannot provide any assurance that needed capital will be available on acceptable terms or at all.
 
The Partnership Agreement allows the Partnership to borrow funds to make distributions. The Partnership may borrow to make distributions to unitholders, for example, in circumstances where the Partnership believes that the distribution level is sustainable over the long-term, but short-term factors have caused available cash from operations to be insufficient to sustain its level of distributions. In addition, the Partnership plans to continue to use derivative contracts to protect the cash flow associated with a significant portion of its production. The Partnership
 
 
52
 
 
 
 

 
 
is generally required to settle its commodity derivatives within five days of the end of a month. As is typical in the oil and gas industry, the Partnership does not generally receive the proceeds from the sale of its production until 45 days to 60 days following the end of the month. As a result, when commodity prices increase above the fixed price in the derivative contracts, the Partnership will be required to pay the derivative counterparty the difference between the fixed price in the derivative contract and the market price before the Partnership receives the proceeds from the sale of its production. If this occurs, the Partnership may make working capital borrowings to fund its distributions.

Critical Accounting Estimates
 
The Partnership prepares its consolidated financial statements for inclusion in this Report in accordance with GAAP. See Note B of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for a comprehensive discussion of the Partnership's significant accounting policies. GAAP represents a comprehensive set of accounting and disclosure rules and requirements, the application of which requires management judgments and estimates including, in certain circumstances, choices between acceptable GAAP alternatives. The following is a discussion of the Partnership's most critical accounting estimates, judgments and uncertainties that are inherent in the Partnership's application of GAAP.
 
Derivative assets and liabilities.  The Partnership is a party to derivative contracts that represent material assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2010.  In accordance with GAAP, the Partnership records its derivative assets and liabilities at their estimated fair values, the determination of which requires management to make judgments and estimates about observable and unobservable inputs such as forward commodity prices, credit-adjusted interest rates and volatility factors.  See Notes C and H of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" and "Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" for additional information regarding the Partnership's derivative instruments.

Asset retirement obligations.  The Partnership has obligations to remove tangible equipment and facilities and to restore the land at the end of oil and gas production operations. The Partnership's removal and restoration obligations are primarily associated with plugging and abandoning wells operated by Pioneer. Estimating the future restoration and removal costs is difficult and requires management to make estimates and judgments because most of the removal obligations are many years in the future. Asset removal technologies and costs are constantly changing, as are regulatory, political, environmental, safety and public relations considerations.
 
Inherent in the present value calculation are numerous assumptions and judgments including the ultimate settlement amounts, inflation factors, credit adjusted discount rates, timing of settlement and changes in the legal, regulatory, environmental and political environments. To the extent future revisions to these assumptions impact the present value of the existing asset retirement obligations, a corresponding adjustment is generally made to the oil and gas property balance. See Notes B and J of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for additional information regarding the Partnership's asset retirement obligations.

Successful efforts method of accounting.  The Partnership utilizes the successful efforts method of accounting for oil and gas properties as opposed to the alternatively acceptable full cost method. The critical difference between the successful efforts method of accounting and the full cost method is as follows: under the successful efforts method, exploratory dry holes and geological and geophysical exploration costs are charged against earnings during the periods in which they occur; whereas, under the full cost method of accounting, such costs and expenses are capitalized as assets, pooled with the costs of successful wells and charged against the earnings of future periods as a component of depletion expense.  Historically, the Partnership has not had any exploratory drilling activities or incurred geological and geophysical costs, and therefore the financial results utilizing the successful efforts method did not significantly differ from that of the full cost method. However, in the future, if the Partnership drills unsuccessful exploratory wells or incurs geological and geophysical costs, these activities will negatively impact its future financial results of the period in which such costs occur.
 
Proved reserve estimates.  Estimates of the Partnership's proved reserves included in this Report are prepared in accordance with GAAP and SEC guidelines. The accuracy of a reserve estimate is a function of:

·  
the quality and quantity of available data;
·  
the interpretation of that data;
·  
the accuracy of various mandated economic assumptions; and
·  
the judgment of the persons preparing the estimate.
 
 
53

 
 
 

 
The Partnership's proved reserve information included in this Report as of December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 were prepared by Pioneer's reservoir engineers and, except for the December 31, 2008 proved reserves associated with the 2009 Acquisition, were audited by independent petroleum engineers. Estimates prepared by third parties may be higher or lower than those included herein.

Because these estimates depend on many assumptions, all of which may substantially differ from future actual results, reserve estimates will be different from the quantities of oil and gas that are ultimately recovered. In addition, results of drilling, testing and production after the date of an estimate may justify, positively or negatively, material revisions to the estimate of proved reserves.
 
It should not be assumed that the Standardized Measure as of December 31, 2010 included in the Unaudited Supplementary Information included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" is the current market value of the Partnership's estimated proved reserves. In accordance with SEC requirements, the Partnership calculated the Standardized Measure using the average of the NYMEX spot prices for sales of oil and gas on the first calendar day of each month during 2010 and prevailing operating and development costs at the end of the year. Actual future prices and costs may be materially higher or lower than the prices and costs used in the calculation of the Standardized Measure. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors" and "Item. 2 Properties" for additional information regarding estimates of proved reserves.
 
The Partnership's estimates of proved reserves materially impact depletion expense. If the estimates of proved reserves decline, the rate at which the Partnership records depletion expense will increase, reducing future net income. Such a decline may result from lower market prices, which may make it uneconomical to drill for and produce higher cost wells. In addition, a decline in proved reserve estimates may impact the outcome of the Partnership's assessment of its proved properties for impairment.
 
Impairment of proved oil and gas properties.  The Partnership reviews its proved properties to be held and used whenever management determines that events or circumstances indicate that the recorded carrying value of the properties may not be recoverable. Management assesses whether or not an impairment provision is necessary based upon estimated future recoverable proved and risk-adjusted probable and possible reserves, its outlook of future commodity prices, production and capital costs expected to be incurred to recover the reserves, discount rates commensurate with the nature of the properties and net cash flows that may be generated by the properties. Proved oil and gas properties are reviewed for impairment at the level at which depletion of proved properties is calculated.
 
New Accounting Pronouncements
 
The information regarding new accounting pronouncements is included in Note B of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
 
54
 
 
 

 

 ITEM 7A.                      QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
The following quantitative and qualitative information is provided about financial instruments to which the Partnership was a party as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and from which the Partnership may incur future gains or losses from changes in commodity prices or market interest rates.
 
The fair values of the Partnership's derivative contracts are based on the Partnership's valuation models and applications.  During 2010, the Partnership changed its valuation inputs for NGL derivative contracts and used component price inputs presently available from independent active market quoted sources.  As of December 31, 2009, the Partnership's NGL component price inputs were obtained from independent brokers active in buying and selling NGL derivative contracts.  During 2010, the Partnership was a party to derivative swap contracts, collar contracts and collar contracts with short put options.  See Note H of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for additional information regarding the Partnership's derivative contracts. The following table reconciles the changes that occurred in the fair values of the Partnership's open derivative contracts during 2010 (in thousands):

 
 
Derivative
 
Contract Net
 
Assets /
 
(Liabilities)(a)
 
 
 
 
Fair value of contracts outstanding as of December 31, 2009
 
$
 6,015 
  Changes in contract fair values
 
 
 (5,431)
  Contract maturities
 
 
 (19,434)
Fair value of contracts outstanding as of December 31, 2010
 
$
 (18,850)
­­­_______
(a)         Represents the fair values of open derivative contracts subject to market risk.
 
Effective February 1, 2009, the Partnership discontinued hedge accounting on all existing commodity derivative instruments, and since that date has accounted for derivative instruments using the mark-to-market accounting method.  Therefore, since February 1, 2009, the Partnership has recognized changes in the fair values of its derivative contracts as gains or losses in the earnings of the period in which they occurred.

Quantitative Disclosures

Interest rate sensitivity.  The following table provides information about the Partnership's credit facility's sensitivity to changes in interest rates.  The table presents maturities by expected maturity date of the credit facility, the weighted average interest rates expected to be paid on the credit facility given current contractual terms and market conditions and the estimated fair value of outstanding borrowings under the credit facility.  The average interest rate represents the average rates being paid on the debt projected forward relative to the forward yield curve for LIBOR on February 23, 2011.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liability
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value at
 
 
 
 
Year Ending December 31,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
2011 
 
2012 
 
2013 
 
 
2010 
 
 
 
(amounts in thousands)
Total Debt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Variable rate principal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
maturities
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 81,200 
 
$
 77,241 
 
Weighted average
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
interest rate
 
 
1.35%
 
 
2.36%
 
 
3.52%
 
 
 

 
55

 
 
 

 

Commodity price sensitivity.  The following tables provide information about the Partnership's oil, NGL and gas derivative financial instruments that were sensitive to changes in oil, NGL and gas prices as of December 31, 2010.  Although mitigated by the Partnership's derivative activities, declines in commodity prices will reduce the Partnership's revenues and internally-generated cash flows.
 
Commodity derivative instruments.  The Partnership manages commodity price risk with derivative swap contracts, collar contracts and collar contracts with short put options. Swap contracts provide a fixed price for a notional amount of sales volumes. Collar contracts provide minimum ("floor") and maximum ("ceiling") prices for the Partnership on a notional amount of sales volumes, thereby allowing some price participation if the relevant index price closes above the floor price. Collar contracts with short put options differ from other collar contracts by virtue of the short put option price, below which the Partnership's realized price will exceed the variable market prices by the floor price-to-short put price differential. With collar contracts, if the relevant market price is above the ceiling price, the Partnership pays the derivative counterparty the difference between the market price and the ceiling price; if the relevant market price is between the ceiling price and the floor price, the derivative has no cash settlement value; and, if the relevant market price is below the floor price, the Partnership receives the difference between the floor price and the market price from the counterparty. Collar contracts with short puts are similar to collar contracts, except that if the relevant market price is below the short put price, the Partnership receives the difference between the floor price and short put price from the counterparty.
 
See Notes B, C and H of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for a description of the accounting procedures followed by the Partnership relative to its derivative financial instruments and for specific information regarding the terms of the Partnership's derivative financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in oil, NGL or gas prices.

Oil Price Sensitivity
Derivative Financial Instruments as of December 31, 2010

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asset (Liability)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value at
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ending December 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
2011 
 
2012 
 
2013 
 
2010 
Oil Derivatives (a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
Average daily notional Bbl volumes (b):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Swap contracts
 
 
 750 
 
 
 3,000 
 
 
 3,000 
 
$
(31,183)
 
 
 
Weighted average fixed price per Bbl
 
$
 77.25 
 
$
 79.32 
 
$
 81.02 
 
 
 
 
 
Collar contracts
 
 
 2,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
$
16,875 
 
 
 
Weighted average ceiling price per Bbl
 
$
 170.00 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average floor price per Bbl
 
$
 115.00 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
 
 
Collar contracts with short puts
 
 
 1,000 
 
 
 1,000 
 
 
 1,000 
 
$
(4,102)
 
 
 
Weighted average ceiling price per Bbl
 
$
 99.60 
 
$
 103.50 
 
$
 111.50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average floor price per Bbl
 
$
 70.00 
 
$
 80.00 
 
$
 83.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average short put price per Bbl
 
$
 55.00 
 
$
 65.00 
 
$
 68.00 
 
 
 
 
Average forward NYMEX oil prices (c)
 
$
 101.18 
 
$
 100.66 
 
$
 98.83 
 
 
 
______
(a)
See Note H of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for additional information regarding the Partnership's derivative contracts.
(b)
Subsequent to December 31, 2010, the Partnership entered into additional collar contracts with short puts for 2,000 Bbls per day of the Partnership's 2014 production with a ceiling price of $133.00 per Bbl, a floor price of $90.00 per Bbl and a short put price of $75.00 per Bbl.
(c)         The average forward NYMEX oil prices are based on February 23, 2011 market quotes.

56

 
 

 

NGL Price Sensitivity
Derivative Financial Instruments as of December 31, 2010

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asset (Liability)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value at
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ending December 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
2011 
 
2012 
 
2010 
NGL Derivatives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
Average daily notional Bbl volumes (a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Swap contracts
 
 
 750 
 
 
 750 
 
$
 (6,101)
 
 
 
Weighted average fixed price per Bbl
 
$
 34.65 
 
$
 35.03 
 
 
 
 
Average forward Mont Belvieu NGL prices (b)
 
$
 50.29 
 
$
 47.96 
 
 
 
_______
(a)
See Note H of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for additional information regarding the Partnership's derivative contracts.
(b)
Forward Mont Belvieu NGL prices are not available as formal market quotes.  These forward prices represent estimates as of February 22, 2011 provided by third parties who actively trade in the derivatives.  Accordingly, these prices are subject to estimates and assumptions.

Gas Price Sensitivity
 
Derivative Financial Instruments as of December 31, 2010

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asset (Liability)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value at
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ending December 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
2011 
 
2012 
 
2013 
 
2010 
Gas Derivatives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
Average daily notional MMBtu volumes (a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Swap contracts
 
 
 2,500 
 
 
 5,000 
 
 
 2,500 
 
$
5,611 
 
 
 
Weighted average fixed price per MMBtu (b)
 
$
 6.65 
 
$
 6.43 
 
$
 6.89 
 
 
 
 
Average forward NYMEX gas prices (c)
 
$
 4.16 
 
$
 4.75 
 
$
 5.13 
 
 
 
 
Average daily notional MMBtu volumes (a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basis swap contracts
 
 
 - 
 
 
 2,500 
 
 
 2,500 
 
$
50 
 
 
 
Weighted average fixed price per MMBtu (b)
 
$
 - 
 
$
 (0.30)
 
$
 (0.31)
 
 
 
 
Average forward basis differential prices (c)
 
$
 
 
$
 (0.30)
 
$
 (0.34)
 
 
 
______
(a)
See Note H of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for additional information regarding the Partnership's derivative contracts.
(b)
To minimize basis risk, the Partnership enters into basis swaps to convert the index prices of the swap contracts from a NYMEX index to an El Paso Natural Gas (Permian Basin) posting index, which is highly correlated with the indices where the Partnership's forecasted gas sales are expected to be priced.
(c)
The average forward NYMEX gas prices are based on February 23, 2011 NYMEX market quotes and February 23, 2011 estimated El Paso Natural Gas (Permian Basin) differentials to NYMEX prices.

Qualitative Disclosures

The Partnership's primary market risk exposures are from changes in commodity prices and interest rates.
 
Derivative instruments.  The Partnership utilizes commodity price derivative contracts to reduce the impact on the Partnership's net cash provided by operating activities from the price volatility of the commodities the Partnership produces and sells in accordance with policies and guidelines approved by the Board of Directors of the General Partner. In accordance with those policies and guidelines, the Partnership's management determines the appropriate timing and extent of derivative transactions.
 
 
57

 
 
 

 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA


Index to Consolidated Financial Statements


 
Page
 Consolidated Financial Statements of Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.:
 
 
 
 Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm                                                                                                                            
59
 Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2010 and 2009                                                                                                                            
60
 Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
61
 Consolidated Statements of Partners' Equity for the Years Ended December 31,2010, 2009 and 2008
62
 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
64
 Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Years Ended December 31,
    2010, 2009 and 2008                                                                                                                         
65
 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                                                                                                                            
66
 Unaudited Supplementary Information                                                                                                                            
87
 
 
58

 
 
 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors of Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC and the
Unitholders of Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. (the "Partnership") as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, partners' equity, cash flows, and comprehensive income (loss) for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Partnership's management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  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 financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

As discussed in Note B to the consolidated financial statements, the Partnership has changed its reserve estimates and related disclosures as a result of adopting new oil and gas reserve estimation and disclosure requirements resulting from Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-03, "Oil and Gas Reserve Estimation and Disclosures," effective December 31, 2009.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.'s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 25, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.


/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Dallas, Texas
February 25, 2011
 
 
59

 
 

 

PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except unit amounts)

 
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
ASSETS
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
 107 
 
$
 625 
 
Accounts receivable
 
 
 15,824 
 
 
 14,162 
 
Inventories
 
 
 883 
 
 
 851 
 
Prepaid expenses
 
 
 260 
 
 
 260 
 
Derivatives
 
 
 18,753 
 
 
 16,042 
 
 
Total current assets
 
 
 35,827 
 
 
 31,940 
Property, plant and equipment, at cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil and gas properties, using the successful efforts method of accounting:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proved properties
 
 
 364,237 
 
 
 311,730 
 
Accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization
 
 
 (125,963)
 
 
 (113,386)
 
 
Total property, plant and equipment
 
 
 238,274 
 
 
 198,344 
Deferred income taxes
 
 
 1,751 
 
 
 1,964 
Derivatives
 
 
 3,783 
 
 
 23,784 
Other, net
 
 
 425 
 
 
 606 
 
 
 
 
$
 280,060 
 
$
 256,638 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trade
 
$
 8,422 
 
$
 6,139 
 
 
Due to affiliates
 
 
 1,164 
 
 
 697 
 
Interest payable
 
 
 30 
 
 
 26 
 
Income taxes payable to affiliate
 
 
 492 
 
 
 460 
 
Deferred income taxes
 
 
 63 
 
 
 127 
 
Derivatives
 
 
 9,673 
 
 
 3,606 
 
Asset retirement obligations
 
 
 1,000 
 
 
 500 
 
 
Total current liabilities
 
 
 20,844 
 
 
 11,555 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
 
 
 81,200 
 
 
 67,000 
Derivatives
 
 
 31,713 
 
 
 30,205 
Asset retirement obligations
 
 
 11,558 
 
 
 6,605 
Partners' equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General partner's interest – 33,147 general partner units issued and outstanding
 
 
 251 
 
 
 211 
 
Limited partners' interest – 33,113,700 common units issued and outstanding
 
 
 98,333 
 
 
 58,624 
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income – deferred hedge gains, net of tax
 
 
 36,161 
 
 
 82,438 
 
 
Total partners' equity
 
 
 134,745 
 
 
 141,273 
Commitments and contingencies
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
 280,060 
 
$
 256,638 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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

60

 
 

 

PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per unit amounts)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
2010 
 
 
2009 
 
 
2008 
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil and gas
 
$
 183,758 
 
$
 168,717 
 
$
 193,394 
 
Interest and other
 
 
 - 
 
 
 210 
 
 
 192 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 183,758 
 
 
 168,927 
 
 
 193,586 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil and gas production
 
 
 38,334 
 
 
 34,749 
 
 
 38,807 
 
Production and ad valorem taxes
 
 
 12,119 
 
 
 9,547 
 
 
 14,213 
 
Depletion, depreciation and amortization
 
 
 12,577 
 
 
 13,016 
 
 
 11,582 
 
General and administrative
 
 
 6,330 
 
 
 4,790 
 
 
 6,227 
 
Accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations
 
 
 546 
 
 
 484 
 
 
 144 
 
Interest
 
 
 1,543 
 
 
 1,160 
 
 
 621 
 
Derivative loss, net
 
 
 5,431 
 
 
 78,265 
 
 
 - 
 
Other, net
 
 
 - 
 
 
 549 
 
 
 890 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 76,880 
 
 
 142,560 
 
 
 72,484 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before taxes
 
 
 106,878 
 
 
 26,367 
 
 
 121,102 
Income tax provision
 
 
 (1,045)
 
 
 (46)
 
 
 (1,326)
Net income
 
$
 105,833 
 
$
 26,321 
 
$
 119,776 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allocation of net income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) applicable to the Partnership Predecessor
 
$
 - 
 
$
 (1,598)
 
$
 59,038 
 
Net income applicable to the Partnership
 
 
 105,833 
 
 
 27,919 
 
 
 60,738 
 
Net income
 
$
 105,833 
 
$
 26,321 
 
$
 119,776 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allocation of net income applicable to the Partnership:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General partner's interest in net income
 
$
 106 
 
$
 28 
 
$
 61 
 
Limited partners' interest in net income
 
 
 105,649 
 
 
 27,891 
 
 
 60,677 
 
Unvested participating securities' interest in net income
 
 
 78 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
Net income applicable to the Partnership
 
$
 105,833 
 
$
 27,919 
 
$
 60,738 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income per common unit - basic and diluted
 
$
 3.19 
 
$
 0.92 
 
$
 2.02 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common units outstanding - basic and diluted
 
 
 33,114 
 
 
 30,399 
 
 
 30,009 

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

61

 
 

 

PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' EQUITY
(in thousands)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General
 
Limited
 
 
 
 
General
 
Limited
 
Other
 
Total
 
 
 
 
Partner Units
 
Partner Units
 
 
Owner's Net
 
Partner's
 
Partners'
 
Comprehensive
 
Partners'
 
 
 
 
Outstanding
 
Outstanding
 
 
Equity
 
Equity
 
Equity
 
Income
 
Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2007
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
$
 207,569 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 207,569 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income applicable to the Partnership Predecessor
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 59,038 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 59,038 
Net income applicable to the Partnership
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 61 
 
 
 60,677 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 60,738 
Net distributions to owner
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 (61,604)
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (61,604)
Cash distributions to partners
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (24)
 
 
 (24,307)
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (24,331)
Allocation of owner's net equity
 
 - 
 
 20,521 
 
 
 (142,274)
 
 
 142 
 
 
 142,132 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
Proceeds from initial public offering, net
 
 - 
 
 9,488 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 163,045 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 163,045 
Partner contributions
 
 30 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 24 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 24 
Acquisition of carrying value
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (24)
 
 
 (142,250)
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (142,274)
Acquisition in excess of carrying value
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (20,795)
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (20,795)
Novation of derivative obligations
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (37,249)
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (37,249)
Working capital contribution
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 2,027 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 2,027 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hedge fair values changes, net
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 156,284 
 
 
 156,284 
 
Net hedge gains included in net income
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (14,641)
 
 
 (14,641)
Balance as of December 31, 2008
 
 30 
 
 30,009 
 
$
 62,729 
 
$
 179 
 
$
 143,280 
 
$
 141,643 
 
$
 347,831 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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

62

 
 

 


PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' EQUITY
(in thousands)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General
 
Limited
 
 
 
 
General
 
Limited
 
Other
 
Total
 
 
 
 
Partner Units
 
Partner Units
 
 
Owner's Net
 
Partner's
 
Partners'
 
Comprehensive
 
Partners'
 
 
 
 
Outstanding
 
Outstanding
 
 
Equity
 
Equity
 
Equity
 
Income
 
Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2008
 
 30 
 
 30,009 
 
$
 62,729 
 
$
 179 
 
$
 143,280 
 
$
 141,643 
 
$
 347,831 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income applicable to the Partnership Predecessor
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 (1,598)
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (1,598)
Net income applicable to the Partnership
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 28 
 
 
 27,891 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 27,919 
Net distributions to owner
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 (7,814)
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (7,814)
Cash distributions to partners
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (60)
 
 
 (60,018)
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (60,078)
Deferred income tax assets on acquisition step-up
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 1,399 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 1,399 
Allocation of owner's net equity
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 (54,716)
 
 
 - 
 
 
 54,716 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
Proceeds from offering, net
 
 3 
 
 3,105 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 60,983 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 60,983 
Partner contributions
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 64 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 64 
Acquisition of carrying value
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (54,716)
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (54,716)
Acquisition in excess of carrying value
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (113,512)
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (113,512)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hedge fair values changes, net
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 11,509 
 
 
 11,509 
 
Net hedge gains included in net income
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (70,714)
 
 
 (70,714)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2009
 
 33 
 
 33,114 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 211 
 
$
 58,624 
 
$
 82,438 
 
$
 141,273 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash distributions to partners
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (66)
 
 
 (66,228)
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (66,294)
Net income applicable to the Partnership
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 106 
 
 
 105,727 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 105,833 
Contribution of unit-based services
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 210 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 210 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net hedge gains included in net income
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (46,277)
 
 
 (46,277)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2010
 
 33 
 
 33,114 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 251 
 
$
 98,333 
 
$
 36,161 
 
$
 134,745 

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

63

 
 

 

PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
 105,833 
 
$
 26,321 
 
$
 119,776 
 
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depletion, depreciation and amortization
 
 
 12,577 
 
 
 13,016 
 
 
 11,582 
 
 
 
Deferred income taxes
 
 
 552 
 
 
 (470)
 
 
 278 
 
 
 
Accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations
 
 
 546 
 
 
 484 
 
 
 144 
 
 
 
Inventory valuation adjustment
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 159 
 
 
 
Amortization of debt issuance costs
 
 
 182 
 
 
 200 
 
 
 155 
 
 
 
Amortization of unit-based compensation
 
 
 210 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Derivative related activity
 
 
 (21,816)
 
 
 51,254 
 
 
 (11,349)
 
 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
 
 
 (1,662)
 
 
 (1,556)
 
 
 5,786 
 
 
 
Inventories
 
 
 (32)
 
 
 1,090 
 
 
 (1,152)
 
 
 
Prepaid expenses
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (155)
 
 
 (105)
 
 
 
Accounts payable
 
 
 1,329 
 
 
 (6,853)
 
 
 7,550 
 
 
 
Interest payable
 
 
 4 
 
 
 26 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Income taxes payable to affiliate
 
 
 32 
 
 
 (32)
 
 
 (196)
 
 
 
Asset retirement obligations
 
 
 (898)
 
 
 (803)
 
 
 (173)
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
 
 96,857 
 
 
 82,522 
 
 
 132,455 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Payments of acquisition carrying value
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (54,716)
 
 
 (142,274)
 
Additions to oil and gas properties
 
 
 (45,281)
 
 
 (3,760)
 
 
 (15,625)
 
 
 
 
Net cash used in investing activities
 
 
 (45,281)
 
 
 (58,476)
 
 
 (157,899)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Borrowings under credit facility
 
 
 63,574 
 
 
 150,000 
 
 
 - 
 
Principal payments on credit facility
 
 
 (49,374)
 
 
 (83,000)
 
 
 - 
 
Proceeds from issuance of common units, net of issuance costs
 
 
 - 
 
 
 60,983 
 
 
 163,045 
 
Partner contributions
 
 
 - 
 
 
 64 
 
 
 24 
 
Payments for acquisition in excess of carrying value
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (113,512)
 
 
 (20,795)
 
Payments of financing fees
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (960)
 
Distributions to unitholders
 
 
 (66,294)
 
 
 (60,078)
 
 
 (24,331)
 
Net distributions to owner
 
 
 - 
 
 
 (7,814)
 
 
 (61,604)
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
 
 (52,094)
 
 
 (53,357)
 
 
 55,379 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
 
 (518)
 
 
 (29,311)
 
 
 29,935 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
 
 
 625 
 
 
 29,936 
 
 
 1 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
 107 
 
$
 625 
 
$
 29,936 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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

64

 
 

 

PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands)

 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
 105,833 
 
$
 26,321 
 
$
 119,776 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hedge fair value changes, net
 
 
 - 
 
 
 11,509 
 
 
 156,284 
 
 
Net hedge gains included in net income
 
 
 (46,277)
 
 
 (70,714)
 
 
 (14,641)
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
 
 
 (46,277)
 
 
 (59,205)
 
 
 141,643 
 
Comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
 59,556 
 
$
 (32,884)
 
$
 261,419 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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

65

 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008


NOTE A.                    Partnership and Nature of Operations
 
Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. (the "Partnership") is a Delaware limited partnership that was formed in June 2007 by Pioneer Natural Resources Company (together with its subsidiaries, "Pioneer") to own and acquire oil and gas assets in the Partnership's area of operations. The Partnership's area of operations consists of onshore Texas and eight counties in the southeast region of New Mexico.
 
In May 2008, the Partnership completed its initial public offering of 9,487,500 common units representing limited partner interests (the "Offering"). Prior to the Offering, Pioneer owned all of the general and limited partner interests in the Partnership. Pioneer formed Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC ("Pioneer Southwest LLC") to hold certain of the Partnership's oil and gas properties located in the Spraberry field in the Permian Basin of West Texas (the "Spraberry field").  To effect the Offering, Pioneer (i) contributed to the Partnership a portion of its interest in Pioneer Southwest LLC for additional general and limited partner interests in the Partnership, (ii) sold to the Partnership its remaining interest in Pioneer Southwest LLC for $141.1 million, (iii) sold incremental working interests in certain of the oil and gas properties owned by Pioneer Southwest LLC to the Partnership for $22.0 million, which amount represented the net proceeds from the exercise by the underwriters of the over-allotment option (the transactions described in (i), (ii) and (iii) above are referred to in the aggregate as the "2008 IPO Acquisitions"), and (iv) caused Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC (the "General Partner") to contribute $24 thousand to the Partnership to maintain the General Partner's 0.1 percent general partner interest in conjunction with the exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option. As a result of the transactions described in (i) and (ii) above, Pioneer Southwest LLC became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership.

On August 31, 2009, the Partnership completed the acquisition of certain oil and gas properties in the Spraberry field and assumed net obligations associated with certain commodity derivative contracts and certain other liabilities from Pioneer pursuant to a Purchase and Sale Agreement having an effective date of July1, 2009 (the acquisition, including liabilities assumed, is referred to herein as the "2009 Acquisition").

NOTE B.                 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Presentation. The 2009 Acquisition and the 2008 IPO Acquisitions represented transactions between entities under common control and are reported in the Partnership's accompanying consolidated financial statements similar to a pooling of interests.  For all periods prior to their acquisition and assumption by the Partnership, the financial position, results of operations, cash flows and changes in owner's equity of the property interests acquired and the liabilities assumed in the 2009 Acquisition (representing periods prior to August 31, 2009) and the 2008 IPO Acquisitions (representing periods prior to May 6, 2008) are referred to herein as the "Partnership Predecessor."
 
The Partnership's consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X, Article 3 "General instructions as to financial statements" and ASC Topic 225-10 "Income Statement, Overall."  Certain expenses of the Partnership Predecessor that were incurred by Pioneer and combined in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are only indirectly attributable to Pioneer's ownership of the Partnership's properties because Pioneer owns interests in numerous other oil and gas properties. As a result, certain assumptions and estimates were made in order to allocate a reasonable share of such expenses to the Partnership so that the accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect substantially all the costs of doing business. The allocation and related estimates and assumptions are described more fully in "Allocation of costs" below.
 
Principles of consolidation. The consolidated financial statements of the Partnership include the accounts of the Partnership and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.  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 GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Depletion of oil and gas properties and impairment of oil and gas properties, in part, is determined using estimates of proved oil
 
66
 
 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
and gas reserves. There are 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. Similarly, evaluations for impairment of proved oil and gas properties are subject to numerous uncertainties including, among others, estimates of future recoverable reserves and commodity price outlooks. Actual results could differ from the estimates and assumptions utilized.

Cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and depository accounts held by banks.
 
Inventories.  The Partnership's inventories as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 consist of oil held in storage tanks.  The Partnership's oil inventories are carried at the lower of lifting cost or market, on a first-in, first-out basis.  Any impairments of inventory are reflected in other expense in the consolidated statements of operations.  As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, there were no valuation reserve allowances recorded by the Partnership.
 
Oil and gas properties. The Partnership utilizes the successful efforts method of accounting for its oil and gas properties. Under this method, all costs associated with productive wells and nonproductive development wells are capitalized, and nonproductive exploration costs and geological and geophysical expenditures are expensed.
 
Capitalized costs relating to proved properties are depleted using the unit-of-production method based on total proved reserves or proved developed reserves, depending on the nature of the capitalized costs.  Costs of nonproducing properties, wells in the process of being drilled and wells in the process of being completed are excluded from depletion until such time as the related project is completed and proved reserves are established or, if unsuccessful, impairment is determined.
 
Proceeds from the sales of individual properties and the capitalized costs of individual properties sold or abandoned are credited and charged, respectively, to accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization. Generally, no gain or loss is recognized until the entire amortization base is sold. However, gain or loss is recognized from the sale of less than an entire amortization base if the disposition is significant enough to materially impact the depletion rate of the remaining properties in the depletion base.
 
The Partnership reviews its long-lived assets to be held and used, including proved oil and gas properties, whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of those assets may not be recoverable.  If an impairment is indicated based on a comparison of the asset's carrying value to its undiscounted expected future net cash flows, then an impairment charge is recognized to the extent that the asset's carrying value exceeds its fair value.  Estimates of the sum of expected future cash flows requires management to estimate future recoverable proved and risk-adjusted probable and possible reserves, future commodity prices, production volumes, costs and discount rates. Uncertainties about these future cash flow variables cause impairment estimates to be inherently imprecise.  Any impairment charge incurred is expensed and reduces the Partnership's recorded basis in the asset.
 
Asset retirement obligations.  The Partnership's asset retirement obligations are recorded at fair value in the period in which the liability is incurred. Asset retirement obligations are generally capitalized as part of the carrying value of the long-lived asset. Conditional asset retirement obligations meet the definition of liabilities and are also recognized when incurred.  Asset retirement obligation expenditures are classified as cash used in operating activities in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows.
 
Derivatives and hedging.  Effective February 1, 2009, the Partnership discontinued hedge accounting on all of its then-existing hedge contracts. Changes in the fair value of effective cash flow hedges prior to the Partnership's discontinuance of hedge accounting on February 1, 2009 were recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income – deferred hedge gains, net of tax ("AOCI – Hedging"), in the partners' equity section of the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, and are being transferred to earnings during the same periods in which the hedged transactions are recognized in the Partnership's earnings. Since February 1, 2009, the Partnership has recognized all changes in the fair values of its derivative contracts as gains or losses in the earnings of the periods in which they occur.
 
 
67
 
 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
The Partnership classifies the fair value amounts of derivative assets and liabilities executed under master netting arrangements as net current or noncurrent derivative assets or net current or noncurrent derivative liabilities, whichever the case may be, by commodity and counterparty. Net derivative asset values are determined, in part, by utilization of the derivative counterparties' credit-adjusted risk-free rate curves and net derivative liabilities are determined, in part, by utilization of the Partnership's credit-adjusted risk-free rate curves. The credit-adjusted risk-free rates of the counterparties are based on an independent market-quoted credit default swap rate curve for the counterparties' debt plus the United States Treasury Bill yield curve as of December 31, 2010.  The Partnership's credit-adjusted risk-free rate curve is based on independent market-quoted forward London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") curves plus 250 basis points, representing the Partnership's estimated borrowing rate.

See Notes C and H for a description of the specific types of derivative transactions in which the Partnership participates and the related accounting treatment.
 
Owner's net equity – Partnership Predecessor.  Since the Partnership Predecessor was not a separate legal entity, none of Pioneer's debt was directly attributable to its ownership of the Partnership's properties, and no formal intercompany financial arrangement existed related to the Partnership Predecessor. Therefore, the changes in net assets of the Partnership Predecessor that were not attributable to current period earnings are reflected as increases or decreases to owner's net equity of those periods. Additionally, as debt cannot be specifically ascribed to the Partnership Predecessor, the accompanying consolidated statements of operations do not include any allocation of interest expense incurred by Pioneer to the Partnership Predecessor.
 
Employee benefit plans.  The Partnership does not have its own employees. However, a portion of the general and administrative expenses and lease operating expenses allocated to the Partnership Predecessor was noncash stock-based compensation recorded on the books of Pioneer.  Subsequent to the Offering, the Partnership began paying its allocated share of general and administrative expenses pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement, as described in Note E below, and pays an industry standard fee (commonly referred to as a Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies, or "COPAS Fee") with respect to lease operating expenses of the Partnership's properties for periods subsequent to their purchase in the 2008 IPO Acquisitions and the 2009 Acquisition.

Segment reporting.  The Partnership's only operating segment is oil and gas producing activities. Additionally, all of the Partnership's properties are located in the United States, and all of the related oil, NGL and gas revenues are derived from sales to purchasers located in the United States.
 
Income taxes. The Partnership's operations (exclusive of the Partnership Predecessor operations) are treated as a partnership with each partner being separately taxed on its share of the Partnership's federal taxable income. Therefore, no provision for current or deferred federal income taxes has been provided for in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. However, the Partnership is subject to the Texas Margin tax. Accordingly, the Partnership reflects its  tax positions associated with the  tax effects of the Texas Margin tax in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.  See Note K for additional information regarding the Partnership's current and deferred tax provisions and obligations.
 
Revenue recognition.  The Partnership does not recognize revenues until they are realized or realizable and earned. Revenues are considered realized or realizable and earned when: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the seller's price to the buyer is fixed or determinable and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.
 
The Partnership uses the entitlements method of accounting for oil, NGL and gas revenues. Sales proceeds in excess of the Partnership's entitlement are included in other liabilities and the Partnership's share of sales taken by others is included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Partnership had no material oil, NGL or gas entitlement assets or liabilities as of December 31, 2010 or 2009.
 
Environmental. The Partnership's 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. Expenditures that extend the life of the related property or mitigate
 
 
68
 
 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
or prevent future enviro nmental contamination are capitalized. Liabilities are recorded when environmental assessment and/or remediation is probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Such liabilities are undiscounted unless the timing of cash payments for the liability is fixed or reliably determinable. At December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Partnership had no material environmental liabilities.
 
Allocation of owner's net equity and partners' equity.  In accordance with GAAP, the contribution and purchase of the Partnership's properties and other net assets from Pioneer at the time of the 2008 IPO Acquisitions and the 2009 Acquisition were recorded on the Partnership's balance sheet at Pioneer's historic carrying values.
 
The Partnership acquired a portion of the Partnership's properties from Pioneer for $163.1 million on the date of the 2008 IPO Acquisitions, which amount exceeded the carrying value of the net assets by $20.8 million.  The $142.3 million portion of the Partnership's payment to Pioneer that is attributable to the carrying value of the Partnership's properties is reflected as an investing activity in the accompanying consolidated statement of cash flows and was recorded as a reduction of Pioneer's general partner's and limited partners' equity, as presented in the accompanying consolidated statement of partners' equity.   The Partnership's payment to Pioneer of $20.8 million in excess of the carrying value of the associated Partnership's properties is reflected in the accompanying consolidated statement of cash flows as a financing activity and as a reduction of Pioneer's limited partners' equity, as presented in the accompanying consolidated statement of partners' equity.
 
On May 6, 2008, novation agreements were entered into among Pioneer, the Partnership and certain derivative instrument counterparties, which transferred Pioneer's rights and responsibilities under certain derivative instruments to the Partnership. As of May 6, 2008, the aggregate fair value of the derivative instruments novated to the Partnership represented a liability of $37.2 million. The novation of the derivative obligations was recorded as a reduction of Pioneer's limited partners' equity, as presented in the accompanying consolidated statement of partners' equity.   See Note H for additional information regarding the novated derivative instruments.
 
The total consideration attributable to the 2009 Acquisition was $168.2 million in cash, including customary closing adjustments, the novation by Pioneer USA to Pioneer Southwest LLC of certain associated commodity price derivative positions, and the assumption by Pioneer Southwest LLC of certain other liabilities. The Partnership funded the acquisition with cash on hand and $138.0 million of borrowings under its credit facility.

The carrying value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the 2009 Acquisition was $54.7 million, including the fair value of novated commodity derivative obligations and incremental deferred income tax assets attributable to the transaction, and is presented as a net reduction to the limited partner's interest of Pioneer in the Partnership's consolidated statement of partners' equity.
 
69

 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008


The following table provides Pioneer's carrying values in the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the 2009 Acquisition (in thousands):

Accounts receivable
$
 2,122 
Inventories
 
 73 
Proved oil and gas properties
 
 80,186 
Accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization
 
 (20,145)
Accounts payable - trade
 
 (1,396)
Accounts payable - affiliate
 
 (1,285)
Asset retirement obligations
 
 (741)
Deferred income tax liability
 
 (272)
Deferred income tax asset on acquisition step-up
 
 1,399 
Derivative obligations, net
 
 (5,225)
Total net asset carrying values as of August 31, 2009
 
 54,716 
 
 
 
Cash paid for net assets
 
 168,228 
Value in excess of carrying value
$
 113,512 
 
Allocation of costs.  The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with ASC Topic 225-10. Under these rules, all direct costs attributable to the Partnership Predecessor have been included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Further, allocations for salaries and benefits, depreciation, rent, accounting and legal services, other general and administrative expenses and other costs and expenses that are not directly identifiable to the Partnership Predecessor have also been included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.  Pioneer has allocated general and administrative expenses to the Partnership Predecessor based on the Partnership's properties' share of Pioneer's total production as measured on a per barrel of oil equivalent basis. In management's estimation, the allocation methodologies used are reasonable and result in an allocation of the cost of doing business incurred by Pioneer on behalf of the Partnership Predecessor; however, these allocations may not be indicative of the costs of future operations or the amount of future allocations.
 
Net income per common unit.  Net income per common unit is calculated by dividing the limited partners' interest in net income derived from operations (which excludes net income from Partnership Predecessor operations and net income allocable to participating securities) by the weighted average number of common units outstanding.  Prior to the Offering, the Partnership was wholly-owned by Pioneer.  Accordingly, net income per common unit is not presented for periods prior to the Offering.
 
The Partnership applies the provisions of ASC Topic 260 "Earnings Per Share" when determining net income per common unit.  Instruments granted in unit-based payment transactions that are determined to be participating securities prior to vesting are included in the net income allocation in computing basic net income per unit under the two-class method.  Participating securities represent unvested unit-based awards that have non-forfeitable distribution rights during their vesting periods, such as the phantom units which were awarded under the Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. 2008 Long Term Incentive Plan (the "LTIP") during the year ended December 31, 2010. The Partnership had no participating securities outstanding prior to December 31, 2009.

For purposes of calculating net income per common unit, the Partnership allocates net income to its limited partners and its general partner each quarter under the two-class method.  Under the two-class method, the Partnership's net income is allocated among the general partner's interest in net income and the limited partners' interest in net income.  The Partnership's net income is allocated to partners' equity accounts in accordance with the provisions of the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. (the "Partnership Agreement").

Unit-based compensation. For unit-based compensation awards granted or modified, compensation expense is recognized in the Partnership's financial statements on a straight line basis over the vesting period based on their fair values on the dates of grant.  The Partnership utilizes the prior trading day's closing common unit price on the date of grant for the fair value of the common unit awards.
 
 
70
 
 
 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
 
New accounting pronouncements.  The following discussions provide information about new accounting pronouncements that have been issued by FASB:

Effective December 31, 2009, the Partnership adopted the SEC's final rule on "Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting" (the "Reserve Ruling") and the Financial Accounting Standards Board's (the "FASB's") ASU 2010-03, "Extractive Industries – Oil and Gas (Topic 932)," which conforms ASC Topic 932 to the Reserve Ruling.  Among other the items, the Reserve Ruling and ASU 2010-03 require companies to report oil and gas reserves using an average price based on the prior 12-month period rather than a period-end price.

During January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2010-06, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820)."  ASU No. 2010-06 amends ASC Topic 820 to (i) require separate disclosure of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and the reasons for the transfers, (ii) require separate disclosure of purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), (iii) clarify the level of disaggregation for fair value measurements of assets and liabilities and (iv) clarify disclosures about inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair values for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements.  ASU No. 2010-06 became effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the rollforward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements.  Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 and for interim periods within those fiscal years.  The Partnership adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2010-06 on January 1, 2010.  See Note C for the Partnership's disclosures about fair value measurements.

During February 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-09, "Subsequent Events (Topic 855)." ASU No. 2010-09 amends ASC Topic 855 to include the definition of "SEC filer" and alleviated the obligation of SEC filers to disclose the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated. ASU No. 2010-09 became effective during February 2010.  See Note L for the Partnership's disclosures of subsequent events.

NOTE C.                      Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments

In accordance with GAAP, fair value measurements are based upon inputs that market participants use in pricing an asset or liability, which are classified into two categories: observable inputs and unobservable inputs.  Observable inputs represent market data obtained from independent sources; whereas, unobservable inputs reflect a company's own market assumptions, which are used if observable inputs are not reasonably available without undue cost and effort. These two types of inputs are further prioritized into the following fair value input hierarchy:

·  
Level 1 – quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
·  
Level 2 – quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (e.g. interest rates); and inputs derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
 
Level 3 – unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.
 
71

 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008


The fair value input hierarchy level to which an asset or liability measurement in its entirety falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement in its entirety.  The following table presents the Partnership's financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2010, for each of the fair value input hierarchy levels:

 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quoted Prices In
 
 
Significant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Active Markets
 
 
Other
 
 
Significant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
for Identical
 
 
Observable
 
 
Unobservable
 
 
Fair Value at
 
 
 
 
Assets
 
 
Inputs
 
 
Inputs
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
(Level 1)
 
 
(Level 2)
 
 
(Level 3)
 
 
2010 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity derivative contracts
 
$
 - 
 
$
22,536 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 22,536 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity derivative contracts
 
$
 - 
 
$
 35,284 
 
$
 6,102 
 
$
 41,386 
 
Credit facility
 
$
 - 
 
$
 77,241 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 77,241 

The Partnership's commodity price derivatives that are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy at December 31, 2010 represent NGL derivative contracts.  The following table presents the changes in the fair values of the Partnership's commodity price derivative assets classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy:

 
 
 
Year Ended
Fair Value Measurements Using Significant
 
December 31,
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
2010 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Beginning liability balance
 
$
 (4,906)
Net settlement receipts
 
 
 (1,933)
Fair value changes (a):
 
 
 
 
Included in earnings - realized
 
 
 (3,813)
 
Included in earnings - unrealized
 
 
 4,550 
Ending liability balance
 
$
 (6,102)
______
(a)
Changes in fair value are included in net derivative loss in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.  See Note B for a description of the Partnership's derivative accounting methods.

The following table presents the carrying amounts and fair values of the Partnership's financial instruments as of December 31, 2010 and 2009:

 
December 31, 2010
 
December 31, 2009
 
Carrying
 
 
 
 
Carrying
 
 
 
 
Value
 
Fair Value
 
Value
 
Fair Value
 
 (in thousands)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity derivatives
$
 22,536 
 
$
 22,536 
 
$
 39,826 
 
$
 39,826 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity derivatives
$
 41,386 
 
$
 41,386 
 
$
 33,811 
 
$
 33,811 
Credit facility
$
 81,200 
 
$
 77,241 
 
$
 67,000 
 
$
 68,495 
 
 
72

 
 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
    Commodity derivative instruments.  The Partnership's commodity price derivative assets and liabilities represent oil, NGL and gas swap contracts, collar contracts and collar contracts with short puts.  All of the Partnership's oil and gas derivative asset and liability measurements represent Level 2 inputs in the hierarchy priority.  The Partnership's NGL derivative liability measurements represent Level 3 inputs in the hierarchy priority.
 
Oil derivatives.  The Partnership's oil derivatives are swap contracts, collar contracts and collar contracts with short puts for notional barrels ("Bbls") of oil at fixed (in the case of swaps contracts) or interval (in the case of collar contracts) New York Mercantile Exchange ("NYMEX") West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") oil prices.  Commodity derivative asset values are determined, in part, by utilization of the derivative counterparties' credit-adjusted risk-free rates, and commodity derivative liability values are determined, in part, by utilization of the Partnership's credit-adjusted risk-free rate.  The counterparties' credit-adjusted risk-free rates are based on independent market-quoted credit default swap rate curves for the counterparties' debt plus the United States Treasury Bill yield curve as of December 31, 2010.  The Partnership's credit-adjusted risk-free rate curve is based on independent market-quoted forward LIBOR curves plus 250 basis points, representing the Partnership's estimated borrowing rate if it were to finance future settlements.  The asset and liability transfer values attributable to the Partnership's oil derivative instruments as of December 31, 2010 are based on (i) the contracted notional volumes, (ii) independent active NYMEX futures price quotes for WTI oil, (iii) the applicable credit-adjusted risk-free rate yield curve and (iv) the implied rate of volatility inherent in the collar contracts.  The implied rates of volatility inherent in the Partnership's collar contracts were determined based on average volatility factors provided by certain independent brokers who are active in buying and selling oil options and were corroborated by market-quoted volatility factors.
 
NGL derivatives.  The Partnership's NGL derivatives are swap contracts for notional blended barrels of Mont Belvieu-posted-price NGLs.  The asset and liability values attributable to the Partnership's NGL derivative instruments are based on (i) the contracted notional volumes, (ii) independent active market-quoted NGL component prices and (iii) the applicable credit-adjusted risk-free rate yield curve.  NGL swap contracts are not as actively traded as oil and gas derivatives.  Consequently, fair values determined on the basis of thinly traded price quotes may be less reliable fair value estimates than price quotes for more actively-traded commodities.   As of December 31, 2009, the Partnership's NGL component price inputs were obtained from independent brokers active in buying and selling NGL derivative contracts.
 
Gas derivatives.  The Partnership's gas derivatives are swap contracts for notional million British thermal units ("MMBtus") of gas contracted at various posted price indexes, including NYMEX Henry Hub ("HH") swap contracts coupled with basis swap contracts that convert the HH price index point to Permian Basin index prices.  The asset and liability values attributable to the Partnership's gas derivative instruments are based on (i) the contracted notional volumes, (ii) independent active NYMEX futures price quotes for HH gas, (iii) independent active market-quoted forward gas index prices and (iv) the applicable credit-adjusted risk-free rate yield curve.
 
Credit facility.  The fair value of the Partnership's credit facility is based on (i) forecasted contractual interest and fee payments, (ii) forward active market-quoted LIBOR rate yield curves and (iii) the applicable credit-adjusted risk-free rate yield curve.
 
       The carrying value of the Partnership's cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, other current assets, accounts payable and other current liabilities approximate fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments.

NOTE D.   Long-term Debt
 
In May 2008, the Partnership entered into a $300 million revolving credit facility. The credit facility matures in May 2013 and is available for general partnership purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures and distributions. Borrowings under the credit facility may be in the form of Eurodollar rate loans, base rate committed loans or swing line loans.  Eurodollar rate loans bear interest annually at LIBOR, plus a margin (the "Applicable Rate") (currently 0.875 percent) that is determined by a reference grid based on the Partnership's consolidated leverage ratio.  Base rate committed loans bear interest annually at a base rate equal to the higher of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5 percent or (ii) the Bank of America prime rate (the "Base Rate") plus a margin (currently zero
 
73
 
 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
percent). Swing line loans bear interest annually at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.  As of December 31, 2010, the Partnership had outstanding borrowings of $81.2 million under the credit facility.

The credit facility contains certain financial covenants, including (i) the maintenance of a quarter end consolidated leverage ratio (representing a ratio of consolidated indebtedness of the Partnership to consolidated earnings before depreciation, depletion and amortization; impairment of long-lived assets; exploration expense; accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations; interest expense; income taxes; gain or loss on the disposition of assets; noncash commodity derivative related activity; and noncash equity-based compensation, "EBITDAX") of not more than 3.5 to 1.0, (ii) an interest coverage ratio (representing a ratio of EBITDAX to interest expense) of not less than 2.5 to 1.0 and (iii) the maintenance of a ratio of the net present value of the Partnership's projected future cash flows from its oil and gas assets to total debt of at least 1.75 to 1.0.  As of December 31, 2010, the Partnership was in compliance with all of its debt covenants.
 
As of December 31, 2010, the Partnership's borrowing capacity under the credit facility was approximately $219 million.  However, because of the net present value covenant, the Partnership's borrowing capacity under the credit facility may be limited in the future. The variables on which the calculation of net present value is based (including assumed commodity prices and discount rate) are subject to adjustment by the lenders.  As a result, a sustained decline in commodity prices could reduce the Partnership's borrowing capacity under the credit facility.  In addition, the credit facility contains various covenants that limit, among other things, the Partnership's ability to grant liens, incur additional indebtedness, engage in a merger, enter into transactions with affiliates, pay distributions or repurchase equity, and sell its assets. If any default or event of default (as defined in the credit facility) were to occur, the credit facility would prohibit the Partnership from making distributions to unitholders. Such events of default include, among others, nonpayment of principal or interest, violations of covenants, bankruptcy and material judgments and liabilities.

The Partnership pays a commitment fee on the unused portion of the credit facility.  The commitment fee is variable based on the Partnership's consolidated leverage ratio.  For 2010, the commitment fee was 0.175 percent.
 
Interest expense.  The Partnership incurred $1.5 million, $1.2 million and $621 thousand of interest expense during 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  In 2010, interest expense was comprised of $404 thousand of credit facility commitment fees, $182 thousand of amortization of credit facility financing fees and $957 thousand of interest related to borrowings under the credit facility.  In 2009, interest expense was comprised of $469 thousand of credit facility commitment fees, $200 thousand of amortization of credit facility financing fees and $491 thousand of interest related to borrowings under the credit facility.  During 2008, interest expense was comprised of $466 thousand of credit facility commitment fees and $155 thousand of amortization of credit facility financing fees.  During 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Partnership paid interest of $1.4 million, $899 thousand and $466 thousand, respectively.

NOTE E.  Related Party Transactions

Partnership agreements.  Set forth below are descriptions of certain agreements the Partnership entered into with related parties in connection with the Offering. The full text of the agreements have been filed by the Partnership as exhibits to filings with the SEC and are available for review without charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Administrative Services Agreement
 
Pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement among Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. ("Pioneer USA"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pioneer, the General Partner, Pioneer Southwest LLC and the Partnership, entered into on May 6, 2008, Pioneer USA agreed to perform, either itself or through its affiliates or other third parties, administrative services for the Partnership, and the Partnership agreed to reimburse Pioneer USA for its expenses incurred in providing such services. These administrative services may include accounting, internal audit, business development, finance, land, legal, engineering, investor relations, management, marketing, information technology, insurance, government regulations, communications, regulatory, environmental and human resources
 
74
 
 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
services. According to the Administrative Services Agreement, expenses will be reimbursed based on a methodology of determining the Partnership's share, on a per BOE basis, of certain of the general and administrative costs incurred by Pioneer USA. Under this methodology, the per BOE cost for services during any period will be determined by dividing (i) the aggregate general and administrative costs, determined in accordance with GAAP, of Pioneer (excluding the Partnership's general and administrative costs), for its United States operations during such period, excluding such costs directly attributable to Pioneer's Alaskan operations, by (ii) the sum of (x) the Partnership's and Pioneer's United States production during such period, excluding any production attributable to Alaskan operations, plus (y) the volumes delivered by Pioneer and the Partnership under all volumetric production payment obligations during such period. The administrative fee will be determined by multiplying the per BOE costs by the Partnership's total production (including volumes delivered by the Partnership under volumetric production payment obligations, if any) during such period. The administrative fee may be based on amounts estimated by Pioneer if actual amounts are not available. In addition, Pioneer will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses it incurs on the Partnership's behalf. The Administrative Services Agreement can be terminated by the Partnership or Pioneer USA at any time upon 90 days notice.

Omnibus Agreement
 
Pursuant to an Omnibus Agreement among Pioneer, Pioneer USA, the General Partner, Pioneer Southwest LLC and the Partnership, entered into on May 6, 2008, the Partnership's area of operations is limited to onshore Texas and eight counties in the southeast region of New Mexico. Pioneer has the right to expand the Partnership's area of operations, but has no obligation to do so. The Omnibus Agreement also provides that Pioneer will indemnify the Partnership for (i) liabilities with respect to claims associated with the Partnership Predecessor's use, ownership and operation of the properties the Partnership acquired pursuant to the 2008 IPO Acquisitions, (ii) losses attributable to defects in title to the Partnership's interest in then-producing intervals in the wellbores the Partnership acquired pursuant to 2008 IPO Acquisitions, and (iii) taxes attributable to the Partnership Predecessor's operations of the those properties. The agreement provides limitations as to time and dollar amounts with respect to Pioneer's indemnities. The Omnibus Agreement also provides for the payment by Pioneer to the Partnership in the event any production from the interests in the properties that the Partnership acquired is required to meet the volumetric production payment obligation, as described in Note G below.

Omnibus Operating Agreement
 
Pursuant to an Omnibus Operating Agreement between Pioneer USA and Pioneer Southwest LLC entered into on May 6, 2008, certain restrictions and limitations were placed on the Partnership's ability to exercise certain rights that would otherwise be available to it under the operating agreements that govern the Partnership's properties where Pioneer USA is the operator. For example, the Partnership will not object to attempts by Pioneer USA to develop the leasehold acreage surrounding the Partnership's wells; the Partnership will be restricted in its ability to remove Pioneer USA as the operator of the wells the Partnership owns; Pioneer USA's proposed well operations will take precedence over any conflicting operations that the Partnership proposes; and the Partnership will allow Pioneer USA to use certain of the Partnership's production facilities in connection with other wells operated by Pioneer USA, subject to capacity limitations.

Tax Sharing Agreement
 
Pursuant to a Tax Sharing Agreement between Pioneer and the Partnership, entered into on May 6, 2008, the Partnership will pay Pioneer for its share of state and local income and other taxes, currently only the Texas Margin tax, for which the Partnership's results are included in a combined or consolidated tax return filed by Pioneer.  As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Partnership's income taxes payable to affiliate in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets represents amounts due to Pioneer under the Tax Sharing Agreement.
 
 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

 

First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.

The Partnership Agreement was entered into by the General Partner, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership and on behalf of the limited partners of the Partnership, and Pioneer USA, as the "Organizational Limited Partner," on May 6, 2008, and governs the rights of the partners in the Partnership.
 
2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan
 
The Board of Directors of the General Partner has adopted the Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "LTIP") for directors, employees and consultants of the General Partner and its affiliates who perform services for the Partnership, which provides for the granting of incentive awards in the form of options, restricted units, phantom units, unit appreciation rights, unit awards and other unit-based awards. The LTIP limits the number of units that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the LTIP to 3,000,000 common units.

Indemnification Agreements
 
Pursuant to Indemnification Agreements entered into with each of the independent directors of the General Partner, the Partnership is required to indemnify each indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by the Partnership Agreement. This means, among other things, that the Partnership must indemnify the director against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement that are actually and reasonably incurred in an action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director of the General Partner or is or was serving at the General Partner's request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other entity if the indemnitee meets the standard of conduct provided in the Partnership Agreement. Also, as permitted under the Partnership Agreement, the indemnification agreements require the Partnership to advance expenses in defending such an action provided that the director undertakes to repay the amounts if the person ultimately is determined not to be entitled to indemnification from the Partnership. The Partnership will also make the indemnitee whole for taxes imposed on the indemnification payments and for costs in any action to establish the indemnitee's right to indemnification, whether or not wholly successful.

2009 Acquisition. Pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement associated with the 2009 Acquisitin, Pioneer Southwest LLC and Pioneer USA entered into an Omnibus Operating Agreement (the "2009 Omnibus Operating Agreement") and an operating agreement (the "2009 Operating Agreement") relating to Pioneer USA's operations on behalf of Pioneer Southwest LLC. Additionally, Pioneer Southwest LLC and Pioneer USA amended their existing Omnibus Operating Agreement (the "IPO Omnibus Operating Agreement") and operating agreement (the "IPO Operating Agreement") that were entered into at the time of the 2008 IPO Acquisition to provide that certain Partnership properties formerly governed by those agreements (those that are no longer limited to wellbore interests) will now be governed by the 2009 Omnibus Operating Agreement and the 2009 Operating Agreement, and to provide that certain of the property interests acquired in the 2009 Acquisition (those that are limited to wellbore interests) will be governed by the IPO Omnibus Operating Agreement and the IPO Operating Agreement. Similar to the IPO Omnibus Operating Agreement, the 2009 Omnibus Operating Agreement places restrictions and limitations on Pioneer Southwest LLC's ability to exercise certain rights that would otherwise be available to it under the 2009 Operating Agreement. For example, Pioneer Southwest LLC is restricted in its ability to remove Pioneer USA as the operator of Pioneer Southwest LLC's properties, Pioneer USA's proposed operations will take precedence over any conflicting operations that Pioneer Southwest LLC proposes and Pioneer Southwest LLC will allow Pioneer USA to use certain of Pioneer Southwest LLC's production facilities in connection with other properties operated by Pioneer USA, subject to capacity limitations. Pursuant to the 2009 Operating Agreement, Pioneer Southwest LLC pays Pioneer USA COPAS Fees. Pioneer Southwest LLC also pays Pioneer USA for its direct and indirect expenses that are chargeable to the assets covered by the 2009 Operating Agreement.
 
Gas processing.  Substantially all of the Partnership's gas is processed at the Midkiff/Benedum and Sale Ranch gas processing plants.  Pioneer owns an approximate 27 percent interest in the Midkiff/Benedum gas processing plant, which processes a portion of the wet gas from the Partnership's wells and retained as compensation 18 percent of the Partnership's dry gas residue and NGL value processed by the Midkiff/Benedum gas processing plant during
 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
 
2010.  The retention percentage for the Midkiff/Benedum plant declines by one percent per year to 16 percent in 2012, when it is held constant thereafter.  Pioneer also owns an approximate 30 percent ownership in the Sale Ranch gas processing plant, which processes a portion of the wet gas from the Partnership wells and retains as compensation approximately 20 percent of the Partnership's dry gas residue and NGL value processed by the Sale Ranch gas processing plant.
 
        Related party charges.  In accordance with standard industry operating agreements and the various agreements entered into between the Partnership and Pioneer in connection with the Partnership's formation and the 2009 Acquisition, the Partnership incurred the following charges from Pioneer during 2010, 2009 and 2008 (the 2009 and 2008 charges exclude Partnership Predecessor activity):

 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Producing well overhead (COPAS) fees
$
 10,256 
 
$
 8,926 
 
$
 5,476 
Payment of lease operating and supervision charges
 
 8,099 
 
 
 7,004 
 
 
 3,715 
Drilling and completion related charges
 
 4,312 
 
 
 246 
 
 
 134 
General and administrative expenses
 
 4,198 
 
 
 1,933 
 
 
 1,567 
Total
$
 26,865 
 
$
 18,109 
 
$
 10,892 
 
As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Partnership's accounts payable-affiliate balances in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet are comprised of $1.2 million and $697 thousand, respectively, of general and administrative expenses.
 
The Partnership Predecessor did not incur any related party charges associated with its operations for the periods presented, since the Partnership Predecessor represents Pioneer's results of operations attributable to the Partnership's properties prior to their purchase by the Partnership.

NOTE F.  Incentive Plans

Retirement Plans
 
Deferred compensation retirement plan. Pioneer makes contributions to its deferred compensation retirement plan for the officers and key employees of Pioneer. Each officer and key employee of Pioneer is allowed to contribute up to 25 percent of their base salary and 100 percent of their annual bonus. Pioneer provides a matching contribution of 100 percent of the officer's and key employee's contribution limited to the first 10 percent of the officer's base salary and eight percent of the key employee's base salary. Pioneer's matching contribution vests immediately. The amounts allocated pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement to the Partnership as a result of Pioneer's contributions to the plan totaled $30 thousand, $26 thousand and $32 thousand during 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, which are included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
 
401(k) plan.   Pioneer makes contributions to the Pioneer USA 401(k) Plan and Matching Plan (the "Plan"), which is a voluntary and contributory plan for eligible employees based on a percentage of employee contributions. The amounts allocated pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement to the Partnership as a result of Pioneer's contributions to the Plan totaled $89 thousand, $108 thousand and $97 thousand during 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Plan is a self-directed plan that allows employees to invest their plan accounts in various fund alternatives, including a fund that invests in Pioneer common stock.

 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
 
Long-Term Incentive Plan
 
In May 2008, the Board of Directors of the General Partner adopted a new LTIP, which provides for the granting of incentive awards in the form of options, unit appreciation rights, phantom units, restricted units, unit awards and other unit-based awards to directors, employees and consultants of the General Partner and its affiliates who perform services for the Partnership.  The LTIP limits the number of units that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the plan to 3,000,000 common units.
 
The following table shows the number of awards available under the Partnership's LTIP at December 31, 2010:

Approved and authorized awards
 
 3,000,000 
Awards issued after May 6, 2008
 
 (69,401)
Awards available for future grant
 
 2,930,599 
 
During 2010, 2009 and 2008, the General Partner awarded 8,744, 12,909 and 12,630, respectively, of restricted common units to directors of the General Partner under the LTIP.  The Partnership recognized $253 thousand, $217 thousand and $107 thousand of general and administrative expense during 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, associated with the director awards under the LTIP.  In addition, during 2010, the General Partner awarded 35,118 phantom units to certain employees of Pioneer, including certain executive officers of the General Partner, who were most responsible for the performance of the Partnership.  The phantom units represent the right to receive common units after the lapse of a three-year vesting period, subject to the recipient's continuous employment with Pioneer and its affiliates.  Distributions on the phantom units will be paid when paid to holders of common units.  Associated therewith, the Partnership recognized general and administrative expense during 2010 of $222 thousand, of which $210 thousand was noncash.
 
As of December 31, 2010, there was approximately $675 thousand of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted unit and phantom unit awards.  Unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted unit and phantom unit awards is being amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining vesting periods of the awards, which is a remaining period of less than three years.

The following tables reflect the outstanding restricted unit and phantom unit awards as of December 31, 2010 and the activity related thereto for the year then ended:

 
 
Restricted Unit Awards
 
Phantom Unit Awards
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
 
 
Weighted
 
 
Number
 
Average
 
Number
 
Average
 
 
Of Units
 
Price
 
Of Units
 
Price
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at beginning of year
 
 17,121 
 
$
18.45 
 
 - 
 
$
Units granted
 
8,744 
 
$
22.87 
 
35,118 
 
$
22.74 
Lapse of restrictions
 
 (13,653)
 
$
18.24 
 
 - 
 
$
Outstanding at end of year
 
12,212 
 
$
21.84 
 
35,118 
 
$
22.74 

NOTE G.  Commitments and Contingencies
 
Volumetric Production Payments. The Partnership's title to a substantial portion of the Partnership's properties was burdened by a volumetric production payment ("VPP") commitment of Pioneer. During April 2005, Pioneer entered into a volumetric production payment agreement, pursuant to which it sold 7.3 million barrels of oil equivalent ("MMBOE") of proved reserves in the Spraberry field. The VPP obligation required the delivery by Pioneer of specified quantities of gas through December 2007 and required the delivery of specified quantities of oil through December 2010. Pioneer's VPP agreement represented limited-term overriding royalty interests in oil and gas reserves that: (i) entitled the purchaser to receive production volumes over a period of time from specific lease
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
interests; (ii) did not bear any future production costs and capital expenditures associated with reserves; (iii) were nonrecourse to Pioneer (i.e., the purchaser's only recourse was to the assets acquired); (iv) transferred title of the assets to the purchaser; and (v) allowed Pioneer or the Partnership, as the case may be, to retain the assets after the VPP's volumetric quantities had been delivered.
 
Pioneer agreed that production from its retained properties subject to the VPP would be utilized to meet the VPP obligation prior to utilization of production from the Partnership's properties subject to the VPP. If any production from the interests in the properties that the Partnership owns was required to meet the VPP obligation, Pioneer agreed that it would either (i) make a cash payment to the Partnership for the value of the production (computed by taking the volumes delivered to meet the VPP obligation times the price the Partnership would have received for the related volumes, plus any out-of-pocket expenses or other expenses or losses incurred by the Partnership in connection with the delivery of such volumes) required to meet the VPP obligation or (ii) deliver to the Partnership volumes equal to the volumes delivered pursuant to the VPP obligation. Pioneer's VPP obligation ended at December 31, 2010.  During 2010 and 2009, a minor portion of the Partnership's production was utilized by Pioneer to meet its VPP obligations, for which Pioneer delivered an equal amount of alternative volumes of oil to the Partnership.

Oil and gas production from Pioneer's retained interest in the properties subject to the VPP obligation during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 was not adequate to meet the VPP obligation, and a portion of the Partnership Predecessor's production was utilized to fund the VPP obligation. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial statements, for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, do not include these oil and gas revenues or the related production volumes since they are related to the Partnership Predecessor.

NOTE H.   Derivative Financial Instruments

The Partnership utilizes derivative swap contracts, collar contracts and collar contracts with short puts to (i) reduce the impact on the Partnership's net cash provided by operating activities from the price volatility of the commodities the Partnership produces and sells and (ii) help sustain unitholder distributions.  The Partnership does not enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes.  The Partnership's production may also be sold under physical delivery contracts that effectively provide commodity price hedges.  Because physical delivery contracts are not expected to be net cash settled, they are considered to be normal sales contracts and not derivatives.  Therefore, physical delivery contracts are not recorded in the financial statements.
 
Pioneer did not designate derivative hedges to forecasted sales at the well level.  Consequently, the Partnership's consolidated financial statements do not include recognition of hedge gains or losses associated with the Partnership's oil and gas properties for periods during which they were owned by the Partnership Predecessor nor recognition of derivative assets or liabilities associated with such derivative contracts prior to the contracts being novated to the Partnership.
 
On May 6, 2008, novation agreements were entered into among Pioneer, the Partnership and certain derivative instrument counterparties, which transferred Pioneer's rights and responsibilities under certain derivative instruments to the Partnership. As of May 6, 2008, the aggregate fair value of the derivative instruments novated to the Partnership represented a liability of $37.2 million. Changes in the fair values of the derivative instruments subsequent to May 6, 2008, to the extent that they were effective as hedges of the designated commodity price risk through January 31, 2009, were recorded in AOCI – Hedging and were recognized in the Partnership's earnings as oil and gas revenues in the same periods as the forecasted sales occurred.  During 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Partnership settled derivatives which represented liabilities of $10.2 million, $15.7 million and $11.3 million, respectively, on the date of novation.
 
Associated with the 2009 Acquisition, novation agreements were entered into among Pioneer, the Partnership and certain derivative instrument counterparties that transferred Pioneer's rights and responsibilities under certain derivative instruments to the Partnership on August 31, 2009.  The aggregate fair value of these derivative instruments represented a liability of $5.2 million.  These derivative instruments are being accounted for in accordance with the Partnership's mark-to-market accounting policy.  Consequently, the Partnership recognized $5.2 million of derivative losses attributable to the Partnership Predecessor during 2009 in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
 
 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
All derivative contracts are recorded in the Partnership's consolidated balance sheets at estimated fair value.  Fair value is generally determined based on the credit-adjusted present value difference between the fixed contract price and the underlying market price at the determination date.  Effective February 1, 2009, the Partnership discontinued hedge accounting on all existing derivative instruments and since that date has accounted for derivative instruments under the mark-to-market accounting rules, which require that all changes in the fair values of the Partnership's derivative contracts be recognized as gains or losses in the earnings of the period in which they occur.

Changes in the fair value of effective cash flow hedges prior to the Partnership's discontinuance of hedge accounting on February 1, 2009 were recorded as a component of AOCI – Hedging, which has been or will continue to be transferred to oil and gas revenues when the forecasted hedged transactions are recognized in earnings. Any ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of hedge derivatives prior to February 1, 2009 were recorded as derivative gains or losses in the period of change. The ineffective portions were calculated as the difference between the change in fair value of the hedge derivative and the estimated change in cash flows of the item hedged.  Cash inflows and outflows attributable to the Partnership's commodity derivatives are included in net cash provided by operating activities in the Partnership's accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows for 2010, 2009 and 2008.

Cash flow hedges and derivative price risk management.
 
Oil prices. All material physical sales contracts governing the Partnership's oil production are tied directly or indirectly to the New York Mercantile Exchange ("NYMEX") prices.  The following table sets forth the volumes in Bbls underlying the Partnership's outstanding oil derivative contracts and the weighted average NYMEX prices per Bbl for those contracts as of December 31, 2010:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ending December 31,
 
 
 
 
2011 
 
 
2012 
 
 
2013 
Oil Derivatives (a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Swap contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume (Bbls per day)
 
 750 
 
 
 3,000 
 
 
 3,000 
 
 
Price per Bbl
$
 77.25 
 
$
 79.32 
 
$
 81.02 
 
Collar contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume (Bbls per day)
 
 2,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
Price per Bbl
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceiling
$
 170.00 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
Floor
$
 115.00 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
Collar contracts with short puts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume (Bbls per day)
 
 1,000 
 
 
 1,000 
 
 
 1,000 
 
 
Price per Bbl
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceiling
$
 99.60 
 
$
 103.50 
 
$
 111.50 
 
 
 
Floor
$
 70.00 
 
$
 80.00 
 
$
 83.00 
 
 
 
Short put
$
 55.00 
 
$
 65.00 
 
$
 68.00 
______
(a)
Subsequent to December 31, 2010, the Partnership entered into additional collar contracts with short puts for 2,000 Bbls per day of the Partnership's 2014 production with a ceiling price of $133.00 per Bbl, a floor price of $90.00 per Bbl and a short put price of $75.00 per Bbl.

80

 
 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008


The Partnership reports average oil prices per Bbl including the effects of oil quality adjustments and the net effect of oil hedges.  The following table sets forth (i) the Partnership's oil prices, both reported (including hedge results) and realized (excluding hedge results), and (ii) the net effect of settlements of oil price hedges on oil revenue for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008:

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average price reported per Bbl
 
$
 103.60 
 
$
100.35 
 
$
107.79 
Average price realized per Bbl
 
$
 77.56 
 
$
58.05 
 
$
99.71 
Increase to oil revenue from
 
$
37,100 
 
$
56,863 
 
$
11,654 
  hedging activity (in thousands) (a)
_______
(a)  
The Partnership discontinued hedge accounting effective February 1, 2009.  The increase to oil revenue from hedging activity after February 1, 2009 represents the transfer of net deferred hedge gains that were included in AOCI – Hedging as of February 1, 2009 to oil and gas revenues.  See "AOCI – Hedging" below for additional information.

NGL prices. All material physical sales contracts governing the Partnership's NGL production are tied directly or indirectly to Mont Belvieu-posted-prices.  The following table sets forth the volumes in Bbls under outstanding NGL derivative contracts and the weighted average Mont Belvieu prices per Bbl for those contracts at December 31, 2010:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ending December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
2011 
 
2012 
NGL Derivatives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Swap contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume (Bbls per day)
 
 
750 
 
 
750 
 
 
Price per Bbl
 
$
34.65 
 
$
35.03 
 
The Partnership reports average NGL prices per Bbl including the effects of NGL quality adjustments and the net effect of NGL hedges.  The following table sets forth (i) the Partnership's NGL prices, both reported (including hedge results) and realized (excluding hedge results) and (ii) the net effect of NGL price hedges on NGL revenue for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008:

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average price reported per Bbl
 
$
 44.31 
 
$
41.61 
 
$
48.41 
Average price realized per Bbl
 
$
 32.91 
 
$
25.56 
 
$
45.84 
Increase to NGL revenue from
 
$
6,688 
 
$
8,320 
 
$
1,220 
  hedging activity (in thousands) (a)
_______
(a)  
The Partnership discontinued hedge accounting effective February 1, 2009.  The increase to NGL revenue from hedging activity after February 1, 2009 represents the transfer of net deferred hedge gains that were included in AOCI – Hedging as of February 1, 2009 to oil and gas revenues.  See "AOCI – Hedging" below for additional information.

81

 
 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008


Gas prices. All material physical sales contracts governing the Partnership's gas production are tied directly or indirectly to a Permian Basin index price where the gas is sold.  The Partnership utilizes derivative contracts, including basis swaps, to manage its gas price volatility.  The following table sets forth the volumes in MMBtus under outstanding gas derivative contracts and the weighted average index prices per MMBtu for those contracts as of December 31, 2010:

 
 
 
 
Year Ending December 31,
 
 
 
 
2011 
 
2012 
 
2013 
Gas Derivatives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Swap contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume (MMBtus per day)
 
 2,500 
 
 
 5,000 
 
 
 2,500 
 
 
Price per MMBtu
$
 6.65 
 
$
6.43 
 
$
 6.89 
 
Basis Swap contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Permian Basin index swaps - (MMBtus per day)
 
 - 
 
 
 2,500 
 
 
 2,500 
 
 
Price differential ($/MMBtu)
$
 - 
 
$
 (0.30)
 
$
 (0.31)

­­­      The Partnership reports average gas prices per Mcf including the effects of Btu content, gas processing, shrinkage adjustments and the net effect of gas hedges.  The following table sets forth (i) the Partnership's gas prices, both reported (including hedge results) and realized (excluding hedge results) and (ii) the net effect of settlements of gas price hedges on gas revenue for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008:

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average price reported per Mcf
 
$
4.66 
 
$
5.37 
 
$
7.06 
Average price realized per Mcf
 
$
 3.33 
 
$
2.81 
 
$
6.24 
Increase to gas revenue from
 
$
2,892 
 
$
5,848 
 
$
1,767 
  hedging activity (in thousands) (a)
_______
(a)  
The Partnership discontinued hedge accounting effective February 1, 2009.  The increase to gas revenue from hedging activity after February 1, 2009 represents the transfer of net deferred hedge gains that were included in AOCI – Hedging as of February 1, 2009 to oil and gas revenues.  See "AOCI – Hedging" below for additional information.

Tabular disclosures about derivative instruments.  The following tables provide tabular disclosures of the Partnership's commodity derivative instruments:

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
as of December 31, 2010
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
Balance Sheet
 
Fair
 
Balance Sheet
 
Fair
Location
Value
Location
Value
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives - current
 
$
 18,753 
 
Derivatives - current
 
$
 9,673 
Derivatives - noncurrent
 
 
 3,783 
 
Derivatives - noncurrent
 
 
 31,713 
Total derivatives not designated as
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 hedging instruments
 
$
 22,536 
 
 
 
$
 41,386 
 
 
82

 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008



Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
as of December 31, 2009
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance Sheet
 
Fair
 
Balance Sheet
 
Fair
Location
Value
Location
Value
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives - current
 
$
 16,042 
 
Derivatives - current
 
$
 3,606 
Derivatives - noncurrent
 
 
 23,784 
 
Derivatives - noncurrent
 
 
 30,205 
Total derivatives not designated as
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 hedging instruments
 
$
 39,826 
 
 
 
$
 33,811 

Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Consolidated Statement of Operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivatives
 
 
 (Effective Portion)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives in Cash Flow
 
Year Ended December 31,
Hedging  Relationships
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts
 
$
 - 
 
$
 11,235 
 
$
 157,606 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income
Location of Gain (Loss)
 
(Effective Portion)
Reclassified from Accumulated
 
 
 
 
 
OCI into Income
 
Year Ended December 31,
(Effective Portion)
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil and gas revenues
 
$
 46,681 
 
$
 71,030 
 
$
 14,641 

 
 
 
 
Amount of (Gain) Loss Recognized in Income on Derivatives
Derivatives Not
 
Location of Loss
 
 
 
 
Designated as Hedging
 
Recognized in Income on
 
Year Ended December 31,
Instruments
 
Derivatives
 
2010 
 
 
2009 
 
 
2008 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts
 
Derivative loss, net
$
 5,431 
 
$
 78,265 
 
$
 - 

AOCI - Hedging.   The fair value of the effective portion of the derivative contracts on January 31, 2009 was reflected in AOCI-Hedging and has been and will continue to be transferred to oil and gas revenue when the forecasted hedged transaction are recognized in earnings.  As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, AOCI - Hedging
 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
represented net deferred gains of $36.5 million and $83.2 million, respectively, and associated deferred tax provisions of $328 thousand and $731 thousand as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
During the twelve month period ending December 31, 2011, the Partnership expects to reclassify $36.5 million of net deferred hedge gains and $328 thousand of deferred Texas Margin tax provisions associated with derivative contracts from AOCI - Hedging to oil and gas revenues and income tax provisions, respectively.

NOTE I.  Major Customers and Derivative Counterparties
 
Sales to major customers.  The Partnership's share of oil, NGL and gas production is sold to various purchasers who must be prequalified under Pioneer's credit risk policies and procedures. The Partnership records allowances for doubtful accounts based on the aging of accounts receivable and the general economic condition of its purchasers and, depending on facts and circumstances, may require purchasers to provide collateral or otherwise secure their accounts. The Partnership is of the opinion that the loss of any one purchaser would not have an adverse effect on the ability of the Partnership to sell its oil and gas production.
 
The following purchasers individually accounted for ten percent or more of the consolidated oil, NGL and gas revenues in at least one of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008:

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plains Marketing L.P.
 
53%
 
56%
 
56%
Occidental Energy Marketing
 
17%
 
15%
 
16%
Enterprise Crude Oil LLC
 
10%
 
10%
 
9%
 
As of December 31, 2010, the Partnership's accounts receivable balance included receivables of $7.0 million, $2.9 million, and $1.3 million from Plains Marketing L.P., Occidental Energy Marketing and Enterprise Crude Oil LLC, respectively.
 
Derivative counterparties.  The Partnership uses credit and other financial criteria to evaluate the credit standing of, and to select, counterparties to its derivative instruments. Although the Partnership does not obtain collateral or otherwise secure the fair value of its derivative instruments, associated credit risk is mitigated by the Partnership's credit risk policies and procedures.  The following table provides the Partnership's derivative assets and liabilities by counterparty as of December 31, 2010:

 
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
JP Morgan Chase
$
 16,875 
 
$
 - 
Societe Generale
 
 - 
 
 
 6,110 
Citibank, N.A.
 
 2,798 
 
 
 4,773 
Toronto Dominion
 
 2,863 
 
 
 856 
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
 
 - 
 
 
 29,647 
 
Total
$
 22,536 
 
$
 41,386 

NOTE J.  Asset Retirement Obligations
 
The Partnership's asset retirement obligations primarily relate to the Partnership's portion of future plugging and abandonment of wells and related facilities. Market risk premiums associated with asset retirement obligations are estimated to represent a component of the Partnership's credit-adjusted risk-free rate that is employed in the calculations of asset retirement obligations.  The Partnership has no assets that are legally restricted for purposes
 
84
 
 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
of settling asset retirement obligations. The following table summarizes the Partnership's asset retirement obligation transactions during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008:

 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning asset retirement obligations
 
$
 7,105 
 
$
 6,427 
 
$
 1,957 
 
New wells placed on production
 
 
 184 
 
 
 35 
 
 
 - 
 
Changes in estimates
 
 
 5,621 
 
 
 962 
 
 
 4,499 
 
Liabilities settled
 
 
 (898)
 
 
 (803)
 
 
 (173)
 
Accretion of discount
 
 
 546 
 
 
 484 
 
 
 144 
Ending asset retirement obligation
 
$
 12,558 
 
$
 7,105 
 
$
 6,427 

NOTE K.  Income Taxes

The following table summarizes the Partnership's income tax provisions, which were entirely attributable to the Texas Margin tax (which rate currently approximates one percent of the Partnership's taxable income apportioned to Texas), for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008:

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
 
(in thousands)
Current provisions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. state
 
$
 493 
 
$
 516 
 
$
 1,048 
Deferred provisions (benefit):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. state
 
 
 552 
 
 
 (470)
 
 
 278 
 
 
$
 1,045 
 
$
 46 
 
$
 1,326 

The Partnership's deferred tax attributes represented a $1.8 million and $2.0 million noncurrent asset and a $63 thousand and $127 thousand current liability as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  In connection with the Offering, the Partnership entered into a Tax Sharing Agreement with Pioneer. Under this agreement, the Partnership will pay Pioneer for its share of state and local income and other taxes (currently only the Texas Margin tax) for which the Partnership's results are included in a combined or consolidated tax return filed by Pioneer. The Partnership's share of Texas Margin tax is determined based on a pro forma tax return prepared by including only the income, deductions, gains, losses, and credits of the Partnership and computing the tax liability as if the Partnership filed a separate return.   As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Partnership had $492 thousand and $460 thousand, respectively, of income taxes payable to affiliate in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, representing amounts due to Pioneer under the Tax Sharing Agreement.  During 2010 and 2009, the Partnership paid $461 thousand and $499 thousand, respectively, to Pioneer under the terms of the Tax Sharing Agreement.
 
The Partnership applies the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" ("ASC 740-10"). ASC 740-10 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement methodology for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. As of December 31, 2010, the Partnership had no material unrecognized tax benefits (as defined in ASC 740-10). The Partnership does not expect to incur interest charges or penalties related to its tax positions, but if such charges or penalties are incurred, the Partnership's policy is to account for interest charges as interest expense and penalties as other expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
85

 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008


NOTE L.  Subsequent Events

The Partnership is not aware of any reportable subsequent events except as disclosed below.

      Distribution declaration.  In January 2011, the Partnership declared a cash distribution of $0.50 per common unit for the period from October 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.  The distribution was paid on February 11, 2011 to unitholders of record at the close of business on February 3, 2011.  Associated therewith, the Partnership paid $16.6 million of aggregate distributions.
 
 
 
86
 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008


Capitalized Costs

 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
Oil and gas properties:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proved properties
 
$
 364,237 
 
$
 311,730 
 
Less accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization
 
 
 (125,963)
 
 
 (113,386)
 
Net capitalized cost for oil and gas properties
 
$
 238,274 
 
$
 198,344 

Costs Incurred for Oil and Gas Producing Activities

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisition of carrying value (a)
 
$
 - 
 
$
 60,041 
 
$
 141,770 
Development costs (b)
 
 
 52,507 
 
 
 6,655 
 
 
 16,410 
Total costs incurred
 
$
 52,507 
 
$
 66,696 
 
$
 158,180 
______
(a)
See Notes A and B for information about the 2009 Acquisition and the 2008 IPO Acquisitions.
(b)
Includes increases to asset retirement obligations for 2010, 2009 and 2008 of $5.8 million, $1.0 million and $4.5 million, respectively.  Excludes $1.0 million of development costs incurred prior to the Offering in 2008 that are included in the acquisition of carrying value on May 6, 2008.

Reserve Quantity Information
 
The information included in this Report about the Partnership's proved reserves as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 represents evaluations by Pioneer's reservoir engineers.  The information included in this Report about the Partnership's proved reserves as of December 31, 2008 represents evaluations by Pioneer's reservoir engineers of the Partnership's and the Partnership Predecessor's proved reserves.  Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. ("NSAI") audited the Partnership's proved reserves as of December 31, 2010 and 2009.  NSAI audited the Partnership's proved reserves as of December 31, 2008 before the 2009 Acquisition (the "Original Evaluations").  The proved reserves that NSAI audited in the Original Evaluations have been increased by 80 percent as of December 31, 2008 to recognize the proved reserves attributable to the 2009 Acquisition and the Over-allotment Acquisition and, together with the proved reserves included in the Original Evaluations, form the basis for the information included in this Report about the Partnership's proved reserves as of December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.
 
During 2009, the SEC issued the Reserve Ruling and the FASB issued ASU 2010-03.  The Reserve Ruling and ASU 2010-03 are effective for Annual Reports on Forms 10-K for fiscal years ending on or after December 31, 2009.  The key provisions of the Reserve Ruling and ASU 2010-03 are as follows:

·  
Expanding the definition of oil- and gas-producing activities to include the extraction of saleable hydrocarbons, in the solid, liquid or gaseous state, from oil sands, coalbeds or other nonrenewable natural resources that are intended to be upgraded into synthetic oil or gas, and activities undertaken with a view to such extraction;
·  
Amending the definition of proved oil and gas reserves to require the use of an average of the first-day-of-the-month commodity prices during the 12-month period ending on the balance sheet date rather than the period-end commodity prices;
·  
Adding to and amending other definitions used in estimating proved oil and gas reserves, such as "reliable technology" and "reasonable certainty;"
 
 
87
 
 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.
 
UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

 
·  
Broadening the types of technology that a registrant may use to establish reserves estimates and categories; and
·  
Changing disclosure requirements and providing formats for tabular reserve disclosures.
 
Reserves were estimated in accordance with guidelines established by the SEC and the FASB, 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 reserve estimates as of December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 utilized respective oil prices of $78.44, 60.42 and $44.14 per Bbl (reflecting adjustments for oil quality), respective NGL prices of $35.14, $26.12 and $17.91 per Bbl, and respective gas prices of $3.55, $2.84 and $4.41 per Mcf (reflecting adjustments for Btu content, gas processing and shrinkage).
 
Proved 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 Partnership emphasizes that proved 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.

 
88
 

 
 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008


The following table provides a rollforward of total proved reserves for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, as well as proved developed reserves and proved undeveloped reserves in total as of the beginning and end of each respective year. Oil and NGL volumes are expressed in thousands of barrels ("MBbls"), gas volumes are expressed in millions of cubic feet ("MMcf") and total volumes are expressed in thousands of barrels of oil equivalent ("MBOE").
 
 
 
 
 
Oil
 
NGL
 
Gas
 
Total
 
 
 
(MBbls)
 
(MBbls)
 
(MMcf)
 
(MBOE)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Proved Reserves:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, December 31, 2007
 
 34,059 
 
 12,664 
 
 53,212 
 
 55,591 
 
 
Revisions of previous estimates
 
 (7,359)
 
 (2,993)
 
 (12,970)
 
 (12,514)
 
 
Production
 
 (1,441)
 
 (476)
 
 (2,133)
 
 (2,272)
 
Balance, December 31, 2008
 
 25,259 
 
 9,195 
 
 38,109 
 
 40,805 
 
 
Revisions of previous estimates
 
 3,724 
 
 1,144 
 
 4,724 
 
 5,656 
 
 
Extensions and discoveries
 
 102 
 
 26 
 
 112 
 
 147 
 
 
Production
 
 (1,344)
 
 (518)
 
 (2,281)
 
 (2,243)
 
Balance, December 31, 2009
 
 27,741 
 
 9,847 
 
 40,664 
 
 44,365 
 
 
Revisions of previous estimates
 
 4,881 
 
 3,252 
 
 11,116 
 
 9,985 
 
 
Production
 
 (1,425)
 
 (587)
 
 (2,181)
 
 (2,375)
 
Balance, December 31, 2010
 
 31,197 
 
 12,512 
 
 49,599 
 
 51,975 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proved Developed Reserves:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2007 
 
 26,736 
 
 10,382 
 
 43,414 
 
 44,354 
 
 
2008 
 
 18,015 
 
 6,936 
 
 28,822 
 
 29,755 
 
 
2009 
 
 19,726 
 
 7,396 
 
 30,548 
 
 32,213 
 
 
2010 
 
 23,682 
 
 9,966 
 
 39,032 
 
 40,153 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proved Undeveloped Reserves (a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2007 
 
 7,323 
 
 2,282 
 
 9,798 
 
 11,237 
 
 
2008 
 
 7,244 
 
 2,259 
 
 9,287 
 
 11,050 
 
 
2009 
 
 8,015 
 
 2,451 
 
 10,116 
 
 12,152 
 
 
2010 
 
 7,515 
 
 2,546 
 
 10,567 
 
 11,822 
______
 (a)
As of December 31, 2010, the Partnership had 127 proved undeveloped well locations (all of which are expected to be developed within the five year period ending December 31, 2015), representing a decrease of 43 proved undeveloped well locations (25 percent) since December 31, 2009.  The Partnership's proved undeveloped well locations as of December 31, 2010 include 48 proved undeveloped well locations that have remained undeveloped for five years or more.  Prior to the 2009 Acquisition, all of the Partnership's proved undeveloped well locations were part of the Partnership Predecessor and, as such, they were part of Pioneer's inventory of undeveloped well locations in the Spraberry field.

Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows
 
The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows ("Standardized Measure") is computed by applying commodity prices based on average prices for sales of oil, NGLs and gas on the first calendar day of the prior twelve-month period for 2010 and 2009 and year end prices for 2008 (with consideration of price changes only to the extent provided by contractual arrangements) to the estimated future production of proved 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 ten percent per year to reflect the estimated timing of the future cash flows. Future income taxes are calculated by comparing undiscounted future cash flows to the tax basis of oil and gas
 
89
 
 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

properties plus available carryforwards and credits and applying the current tax rates to the difference. The discounted future cash flow estimates do not include the effects of the Partnership's commodity derivative contracts. Utilizing the first-day-of-the-month commodity prices during the 12-month period ending on December 31, 2010, held constant over each derivative contract's term, the net present value of the Partnership's derivative assets, less associated estimated income taxes and discounted at ten percent, was an asset of $27.9 million at December 31, 2010.
 
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 commodity 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.

The following tables provide the Standardized Measure as of December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, as well as a rollforward in total for each respective year:

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil and gas producing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Future cash inflows
 
$
 3,062,739 
 
$
 2,048,674 
 
$
 1,448,040 
Future production costs
 
 
 (1,431,805)
 
 
 (1,223,278)
 
 
 (807,178)
Future development costs (a)
 
 
 (286,058)
 
 
 (184,156)
 
 
 (144,236)
Future income tax expense
 
 
 (9,613)
 
 
 (2,742)
 
 
 (2,809)
 
 
 
 1,335,263 
 
 
 638,498 
 
 
 493,817 
10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows
 
 
 (771,497)
 
 
 (376,202)
 
 
 (306,598)
Standardized measure of discounted future net
 
$
 563,766 
 
$
 262,296 
 
$
 187,219 
  cash flows
­­­­­­­­­­______
(a)
Includes $72.8 million ($63.5 million net of salvage value), $29.3 million ($21.0 million net of salvage value) and $20.8 million ($10.3 million net of salvage value) of undiscounted future asset retirement expenditures estimated as of December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, using current estimates of future abandonment costs. See Note J for corresponding information regarding the Partnership's discounted asset retirement obligations.

90

 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008


Changes in Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2010 
 
2009 
 
2008 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil and gas sales, net of production costs
 
$
 (86,625)
 
$
 (53,391)
 
$
 (125,733)
Net changes in prices and production costs
 
 
 236,859 
 
 
 47,526 
 
 
 (707,519)
Extensions and discoveries
 
 
 - 
 
 
 530 
 
 
 - 
Development costs incurred during the period
 
 
 42,294 
 
 
 2,857 
 
 
 11,299 
Revisions of estimated future development costs
 
 
 (105,028)
 
 
 (20,831)
 
 
 (11,879)
Revisions of previous quantity estimates
 
 
 128,710 
 
 
 39,663 
 
 
 (52,141)
Accretion of discount
 
 
 26,341 
 
 
 18,800 
 
 
 99,684 
Changes in production rates, timing and other
 
 
 61,796 
 
 
 40,257 
 
 
 (22,557)
Change in present value of future net revenues
 
 
 304,347 
 
 
 75,411 
 
 
 (808,846)
Net change in present value of future income taxes
 
 
 (2,877)
 
 
 (334)
 
 
 8,716 
 
 
 
 301,470 
 
 
 75,077 
 
 
 (800,130)
Balance, beginning of year
 
 
 262,296 
 
 
 187,219 
 
 
 987,349 
Balance, end of year
 
$
 563,766 
 
$
 262,296 
 
$
 187,219 

Selected Quarterly Financial Results

The following table provides selected quarterly financial results for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009:

 
 
 
 
 
Quarter
 
 
 
 
 
First
 
Second
 
Third
 
Fourth
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands, except per unit data)
Year ended December 31, 2010:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil and gas revenues
 
$
 45,508 
 
$
 44,319 
 
$
 44,907 
 
$
 49,024 
 
Total revenues
 
$
 45,508 
 
$
 44,319 
 
$
 44,907 
 
$
 49,024 
 
Total costs and expenses
 
$
 5,676 
 
$
 (11,461)
 
$
 38,332 
 
$
 44,333 
 
Net income
 
$
 39,446 
 
$
 55,233 
 
$
 6,515 
 
$
 4,639 
 
Basic and diluted net income per common unit
 
$
 1.19 
 
$
 1.66 
 
$
 0.20 
 
$
 0.14 

 
 
 
 
 
Quarter
 
 
 
 
 
First
 
Second
 
Third
 
Fourth
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands, except per unit data)
Year ended December 31, 2009:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil and gas revenues
 
$
 36,769 
 
$
 39,834 
 
$
 43,574 
 
$
 48,540 
 
Total revenues
 
$
 36,887 
 
$
 39,890 
 
$
 43,609 
 
$
 48,541 
 
Total costs and expenses
 
$
 23,831 
 
$
 40,312 
 
$
 18,562 
 
$
 59,855 
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
 12,961 
 
$
 (445)
 
$
 24,936 
 
$
 (11,131)
 
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common unit
 
$
 0.40 
 
$
 (0.06)
 
$
 0.96 
 
$
 (0.35)
 
 
91

 
 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.



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

None.

ITEM 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.  The Partnership's management, with the participation of the General Partner's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, have evaluated, as required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, the effectiveness of the Partnership's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this Report. Based on that evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the General Partner concluded that the Partnership's disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of the end of the period covered by this Report, in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Partnership in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, including that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Partnership's management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the General Partner to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
Changes in internal control over financial reporting.  There have been no changes in the Partnership's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the three months ended December 31, 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Partnership's internal control over financial reporting.

Management's Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

The management of the Partnership is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Partnership's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by management, under the supervision of the General Partner's principal executive officer and principal financial officer and effected by the Board of Directors, management and other personnel of the General Partner, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Partnership's financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
As of December 31, 2010, management, with the participation of the General Partner's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, assessed the effectiveness of the Partnership's internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting established in "Internal Control — Integrated Framework," issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on the assessment, management determined that the Partnership maintained effective internal control over financial reporting at a reasonable assurance level as of December 31, 2010, based on those criteria.
 
Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the consolidated financial statements of the Partnership included in this Report, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of the Partnership's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010. The report, which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Partnership's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, is included in this Item under the heading "Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm."
 
 
92

 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.



REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors of Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC and the
Unitholders of Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.

We have audited Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.'s (the "Partnership") internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.'s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Partnership's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.  We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, partners' equity, cash flows, and comprehensive income (loss) for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010 and our report dated February 25, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Dallas, Texas
February 25, 2011
 
 
93

 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.



ITEM 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION

None.

 
 
 
 
94

 
 
 

 
PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.



 
PART III

ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
 
The Partnership's operations and activities are managed by the General Partner, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pioneer. All of the Partnership's executive management personnel are employees of Pioneer and devote their time as needed to conduct the Partnership's business and affairs. The Board of Directors of the General Partner oversees the General Partner's management, operations and activities. Except as otherwise noted, references in this Report to "the Board of Directors" refer to the Board of Directors of the General Partner.
 
The Partnership and Pioneer have entered into an Administrative Services Agreement pursuant to which Pioneer performs administrative services for the Partnership such as accounting, business development, finance, land, legal, engineering, investor relations, management, marketing, information technology, insurance, government regulations, communications, regulatory, environmental and human resources. The agreement provides that Pioneer employees (including executive officers of the General Partner) will devote such portion of their time as may be reasonable and necessary for the operation of the Partnership's business. The executive officers of the General Partner devote significantly less than a majority of their time to the Partnership's business and the Partnership expects that to be the case for the foreseeable future. See "Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions, and Director Independence — Administrative Services Agreement" for additional information about the Administrative Services Agreement.

Directors and Executive Officers of the General Partner
 
Unitholders are not entitled to elect the General Partner or the directors of the General Partner, or to directly or indirectly participate in the management or operation of the Partnership. As owner of the General Partner, Pioneer elects all the members of the Board of Directors. The General Partner owes a fiduciary duty to the Partnership, although the Partnership's First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the "Partnership Agreement") limits such duties and restricts the remedies available to unitholders for actions taken by the General Partner that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duties.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the members of the Board of Directors and the executive officers of the General Partner.

 
Name
 
Age
 
Position
         
Phillip A. Gobe
 
58
 
Director
Alan L. Gosule
 
70
 
Director
Royce W. Mitchell
 
56
 
Director
Arthur L. Smith
 
58
 
Director
Scott D. Sheffield
 
58
 
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
Richard P. Dealy
 
44
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Director
Danny L. Kellum
 
56
 
Executive Vice President, Permian Operations and Director
Timothy L. Dove
 
54
 
President and Chief Operating Officer
Mark S. Berg
 
52
 
Executive Vice President, General Counsel
Chris J. Cheatwood
 
50
 
Executive Vice President, Geoscience
Frank W. Hall
 
60
 
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
 
    Executive officers and directors serve until their successors are duly appointed or elected.
 
Set forth below is biographical information about each of the directors named above, including the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to Pioneer's conclusion that the person should serve as a director of the General Partner.
 
Scott D. Sheffield was elected Chief Executive Officer and director of the General Partner in June 2007 and Chairman of the Board in May 2008. Mr. Sheffield, a distinguished graduate of The University of Texas with a
 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

 
Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering, has held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer since August 1997. He was President of Pioneer from August 1997 to November 2004, and assumed the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors in August 1999. He was the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Parker & Parsley Petroleum Company ("Parker & Parsley") from October 1990 until Pioneer was formed in August 1997. Mr. Sheffield joined Parker & Parsley Development Company ("PPDC"), a predecessor of Parker & Parsley, as a petroleum engineer in 1979. Mr. Sheffield served as Vice President — Engineering of PPDC from September 1981 until April 1985, when he was elected President and a Director. In March 1989, Mr. Sheffield was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of PPDC. Before joining PPDC, Mr. Sheffield was employed as a production and reservoir engineer for Amoco Production Company. Pioneer believes that Mr. Sheffield's experience and education, as summarized above, render him qualified to serve on the General Partner's Board of Directors, and particularly, his role as Chief Executive Officer, his educational background and work experience in petroleum engineering, his deep knowledge of the General Partner's business resulting from his long tenure with Pioneer and its predecessor, and his extensive knowledge of the energy industry.

Richard P. Dealy was elected Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and director of the General Partner in June 2007. Mr. Dealy was elected Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Pioneer in November 2004. Prior to that time, Mr. Dealy held positions of Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer from February 1998 and Vice President and Controller from August 1997 to January 1998. Mr. Dealy joined Parker & Parsley in July 1992 and was promoted to Vice President and Controller in 1995, in which position he served until August 1997. He is a Certified Public Accountant, and prior to joining Parker & Parsley, he was employed by KPMG LLP. Mr. Dealy graduated with honors from Eastern New Mexico University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting and Finance. Pioneer believes that Mr. Dealy is qualified to serve on the General Partner's Board of Directors based on his experience and education, as summarized above, and particularly, his role as Chief Financial Officer, his extensive experience in public accounting and finance, and his deep knowledge of the General Partner's business resulting from his long tenure with Pioneer and its predecessor.
 
Phillip A. Gobe was elected as a director of the General Partner in June 2009. Mr. Gobe joined Energy Partners, Ltd. as chief operating officer in December 2004 and became president in May 2005, and served in those capacities until his retirement in September 2007. Mr. Gobe also served as a director of Energy Partners, Ltd. from November 2005 until May 2008.  Prior to that, Mr. Gobe served as Chief Operating Officer of Nuevo Energy Company from February 2001 until its acquisition by Plains Exploration & Production Company in May 2004. Prior to that time, he held numerous operations and human resources positions with Vastar Resources, Inc. and Atlantic Richfield Company and its subsidiaries. Subsequent to his retirement in September 2007, Energy Partners, Ltd. filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in May 2009.  Energy Partners, Ltd. emerged from bankruptcy in September of that same year.  Mr. Gobe is a graduate of the University of Texas with a degree in history and earned his MBA at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette. Pioneer believes that Mr. Gobe is qualified to serve on the General Partner's Board of Directors based on his experience and education, as summarized above, and particularly, his extensive senior management experience in the oil and gas industry.
 
Alan L. Gosule was elected as a director of the General Partner in April 2008. Mr. Gosule has been a partner in the New York office of the law firm of Clifford Chance LLP (successor to Roger & Wells) since August 1991 and prior to that time was a partner in the law firm of Gaston & Snow. Mr. Gosule is a graduate of Boston University and its Law School and received an LLM in Taxation from Georgetown University. Mr. Gosule also serves on the Board of Directors of MFA Financial, Inc., Home Properties, Inc. and F.L. Putnam Investment Management Company. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Ursuline Academy. Pioneer believes that Mr. Gosule is qualified to serve on the General Partner's Board of Directors based on his experience and education, as summarized above, and particularly, his education in the law and his extensive experience of over 40 years as an attorney advising private and public companies.
 
Danny L. Kellum was elected a director of the General Partner in June 2009. Mr. Kellum was elected Executive Vice President, Permian Operations of the General Partner in February 2010, and prior to that served as Executive Vice President, Operations of the General Partner since June 2007. Mr. Kellum, who received a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas Tech University in 1979, was elected Executive Vice President - Permian Operations of Pioneer in February 2010. Mr. Kellum had previously served as Executive Vice President - Domestic Operations of Pioneer from May 2000 until January 2010, and as Vice President - Domestic Operations from January 2000 until May 2000, and Vice President - Permian Division from August 1997 until
 
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December 1999. Mr. Kellum joined Parker & Parsley as an operations engineer in 1981 after a brief career with Mobil Oil Corporation, and his service with Parker & Parsley included serving as Spraberry District Manager from 1989 until 1994 and as Vice President of the Spraberry and Permian Division until August 1997. Pioneer believes that Mr. Kellum is qualified to serve on the General Partner's Board of Directors based on his experience and education, as summarized above, and particularly, his role as Executive Vice President, Domestic Operations, his educational background and work experience in petroleum engineering and operations, and his deep knowledge of the General Partner's business resulting from his long tenure with Pioneer and its predecessor.
 
Royce W. Mitchell was elected as a director of the General Partner in April 2008. Mr. Mitchell has been self-employed as an executive consultant, focusing on advising audit committees of exploration and production companies, since January 2005, except for the period from April 2008 through December 2008 when he served as Chief Financial Officer of Frac Tech Services, Ltd. Mr. Mitchell served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer of Key Energy Services, Inc. from January 2002 to January 2005. Before joining Key Energy Services, Inc., he was a partner with KPMG LLP from April 1986 through December 2001 specializing in the oil and gas industry. He received a BBA from Texas Tech University and is a certified public accountant. Pioneer believes that Mr. Mitchell is qualified to serve on the General Partner's Board of Directors based on his experience and education, as summarized above, and particularly, his extensive experience in accounting matters focused on the oil and gas industry, developed through experience with both an outside accounting firm and companies in the industry.
 
Arthur L. Smith was elected as a director of the General Partner in April 2008. Mr. Smith is President and Managing Member of Triple Double Advisors, LLC (an investment advisory firm focusing on the energy industry), a position he has held since August 2007. From 1984 to 2007, Mr. Smith was Chairman and CEO of John S. Herold, Inc. (a petroleum research and consulting firm). From 1976 to 1984, Mr. Smith was a securities analyst with Argus Research Corp., The First Boston Corporation and Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. Mr. Smith holds the CFA designation. Mr. Smith serves on the board of directors of PNGS GP LLC, the general partner of PAA Natural Gas Storage LP. He also serves on the board of non-profit Dress for Success Houston. Mr. Smith served on the board of directors of Plains All American GP LLC, the general partner of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., from 1999 until 2010. Mr. Smith received a BA from Duke University and an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business. Pioneer believes that Mr. Smith is qualified to serve on the General Partner's Board of Directors based on his experience and education, as summarized above, and particularly, his extensive experience of over 30 years in the fields of financial analysis and investment banking, and his experience in the oil and gas industry.

Set forth below is biographical information about each of the General Partner's executive officers, other than Messrs. Sheffield, Dealy and Kellum.
 
Timothy L. Dove was elected President and Chief Operating Officer of the General Partner in June 2007. Mr. Dove was elected President and Chief Operating Officer of Pioneer in November 2004. Prior to that time, Mr. Dove held the positions of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from February 2000 to November 2004 and Executive Vice President — Business Development from August 1997 to January 2000. Mr. Dove joined Parker & Parsley in May 1994 as Vice President — International and was promoted to Senior Vice President — Business Development in October 1996, in which position he served until August 1997. Before joining Parker & Parsley, Mr. Dove was employed with Diamond Shamrock Corp., and its successor, Maxus Energy Corp., in various capacities in international exploration and production, marketing, refining, and planning and development. Mr. Dove earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1979 and received his Master of Business Administration in 1981 from the University of Chicago.
 
Mark S. Berg was elected Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the General Partner in June 2007. Mr. Berg was elected Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Pioneer in April 2005. Prior to that time, Mr. Berg served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of American General Corporation, a Fortune 200 diversified financial services company, from 1997 through 2002. Subsequent to the sale of American General to American International Group, Inc., Mr. Berg joined Hanover Compressor Company as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. He served in that capacity from May of 2002 through April of 2004. Mr. Berg began his career in 1983 with the Houston-based law firm of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. He was a partner with the firm from 1990 through 1997. Mr. Berg graduated Magna
 
 
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Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tulane University in 1980. He earned his Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of Texas Law School in 1983.
 
Chris J. Cheatwood was elected Executive Vice President, Geoscience of the General Partner in June 2007. Mr. Cheatwood was elected Executive Vice President, Business Development and Technology of Pioneer in February of 2010. Mr. Cheatwood had previously served as Executive Vice President, Geoscience of Pioneer since November 2007, and as Executive Vice President - Worldwide Exploration from January 2002 until November 2007, Senior Vice President - Exploration from December 2000 to January 2002, and Vice President - Domestic Exploration from July 1998 to December 2000.  Before joining Pioneer, Mr. Cheatwood spent ten years with Exxon Corporation.  Mr. Cheatwood is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and earned his Master of Science degree in Geology from the University of Tulsa.
 
Frank W. Hall was elected Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of the General Partner in May 2008. Mr. Hall was elected Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of Pioneer in May 2008. Prior to that time, Mr. Hall held the positions for Pioneer of Corporate Controller from March 2007, Assistant Controller from January 2005 to March 2007 and Manager of Financial Reporting from September 1998 to January 2005. From 1989 to 1998, Mr. Hall was an employee of Oryx Energy Company, where he held Senior Financial Analyst positions in Financial Planning and Financial Reporting. He was a partner in the certified public accounting firm of Hall, Brock & Co. from 1983 to 1989; the Controller of Riddle Oil Company from 1980 to 1983; and a member of the audit staff of Touche Ross & Co. from 1977 to 1980. Mr. Hall graduated with highest honors from the University of Dallas with a Master of Business Administration in Corporate Finance and graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Business Administration, where he majored in accounting and business management.

Governance

The NYSE does not require a listed limited partnership like the Partnership to have a majority of independent directors or to establish a compensation committee or a nominating and corporate governance committee. It is the Partnership's present intent, however, for the Board of Directors to have a majority of independent directors.

The Board of Directors has assessed the independence of each non-employee director under the independence standards of the NYSE and the SEC, and has determined that Messrs. Gobe, Gosule, Mitchell and Smith meet the requirements for independence under these standards and are independent.

Meetings and Committees of Directors

The Board of Directors held eight meetings during 2010. During 2010, each of the directors attended at least 75 percent of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and the total number of meetings of all committees of the Board of Directors on which that director served.

The Board of Directors has two standing committees: the Audit Committee and the Conflicts Committee.

Audit Committee. The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in its oversight of the Partnership's internal controls, financial statements and the audit process. The Audit Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate the Partnership's independent auditors, approve all auditing services and related fees and the terms thereof, and pre-approve any permitted non-audit services to be rendered by the Partnership's independent auditors. The Audit Committee also is responsible for confirming the independence and objectivity of the Partnership's independent auditors. The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Mitchell (Chairman), Gobe, Gosule and Smith.  The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit Committee meets the independence standards of the NYSE and SEC applicable to members of the Audit Committee. Those standards require that the director not be an affiliate of the Partnership and that the director not receive from the Partnership, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fees except for fees for services as a director. The Board of Directors also has determined that each of the Audit Committee members is financially literate and that Mr. Mitchell is an Audit Committee financial expert as defined by the SEC. The Audit Committee held eight meetings during 2010. Information regarding the functions performed by the Audit Committee and its membership also can be found in the Audit Committee's Charter, which is posted on the Partnership's website at www.pioneersouthwest.com.
 
 
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            Conflicts Committee. The Conflicts Committee reviews specific matters that the Board of Directors believes may involve conflicts of interest. At the request of the Board of Directors, the Conflicts Committee determines whether to approve the conflict of interest matter. The members of the Conflicts Committee must meet the independence and experience standards established by NYSE and SEC rules to serve on an audit committee of a board of directors, and certain other requirements. Any matters approved by the Conflicts Committee in good faith will be conclusively deemed to be fair and reasonable to the Partnership, approved by all of the Partnership's partners and not a breach by the General Partner of any duties it may owe to the Partnership. The members of the Conflicts Committee are Messrs. Smith (Chairman), Gobe, Gosule and Mitchell. The Conflicts Committee did not meet during 2010. Information regarding the functions performed by the Conflicts Committee and its membership also can be found in the Conflicts Committee's Charter, which is posted on the Partnership's website at www.pioneersouthwest.com.

Executive Sessions of Non-Management Directors, Procedure for Directly Contacting the Board of Directors and Whistleblower Policy

The Board of Directors holds regular executive sessions in which the four independent directors meet without any members of management present. The purpose of these executive sessions is to promote open and candid discussion among the independent directors. The rules of the NYSE require that one of the independent director must preside over each executive session, and the role of presiding director is rotated among each of the independent directors.

A means for interested parties to contact the Board of Directors (including the independent directors as a group) directly has been established and is published on the Partnership's website at www.pioneersouthwest.com. All complaints and concerns will be received and processed by the Corporate Secretary's Office of the General Partner. Information may be submitted confidentially and anonymously, although the Partnership may be obligated by law to disclose the information or identity of the person providing the information in connection with government or private legal actions and in certain other circumstances. The Partnership's policy is not to take any adverse action, and to not tolerate any retaliation against any person for asking questions or making good faith reports of possible violations of law, Partnership policy or the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.

Code of Ethics
 
Neither the Partnership nor the General Partner has any employees. The Partnership and Pioneer have entered into an Administrative Services Agreement pursuant to which Pioneer performs administrative services for the Partnership, and all of Pioneer's employees are subject to the Pioneer Natural Resources Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Accordingly, the Board of Directors of the General Partner has adopted the Pioneer Natural Resources Code of Business Conduct and Ethics to govern its members as well as the Partnership and the General Partner.

Availability of Governance Guidelines, Charters and Code

Copies of the General Partner's Governance Guidelines, Audit Committee Charter, Conflicts Committee Charter and the Pioneer Natural Resources Code of Business Conduct and Ethics are available on the Partnership's website at www.pioneersouthwest.com.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

The executive officers and directors of the General Partner and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of the Partnership's common units are required to file reports with the SEC, disclosing the amount and nature of their beneficial ownership in common units of the Partnership, as well as changes in that ownership. Based solely on its review of reports and written representations that the Partnership has received, the Partnership believes that all required reports were timely filed during 2010.

 
 
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ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation of Directors

2010 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE

The table below summarizes the compensation paid to the non-employee directors of the General Partner during 2010:
 
Name
 
 
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash (1)
($)
 
Unit Awards (2),(3)
($)
 
Total
($)
 
 
Phillip A. Gobe
 
$
65,701
 
$
49,994
 
$
115,695
 
Alan L. Gosule
 
$
58,756
 
$
49,994
 
$
108,750
 
Royce W. Mitchell
 
$
66,256
 
$
49,994
 
$
116,250
 
Arthur L. Smith
 
$
66,256
 
$
49,994
 
$
116,250
 
___________
(1)
Amounts represent fees earned or paid in cash for services as a director during 2010, including the cash portion of the annual base retainer fee and committee chairmanship or membership fees incurred in connection with service on the Board of Directors or any committee of the Board.
(2)
The amounts in this column represent the aggregate grant-date fair value of restricted unit awards made to the directors during 2010, calculated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 ("FASB ASC 718"). The grant-date fair value is based on the closing price of the Partnership's common units as of the most recent trading day prior to the date the grants are awarded.  The grant-date fair value of each unit award granted computed in accordance with ASC 718 was $22.87. Additional detail regarding the Partnership's unit-based awards is included in Note F of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
(3)
Aggregate director unit awards for which restrictions had not lapsed as of December 31, 2010, totaled 12,212 units.

The Board of Directors believes providing competitive compensation is necessary to attract and retain qualified independent directors. The Board of Directors believes that the compensation package should require a significant portion of the total compensation package to be equity-based to align the interests of the directors and the Partnership's unitholders.

The elements of compensation for the non-employee directors for the 2010-2011 director year, which runs from May 2010 to May 2011, were as follows:

 
Each non-employee director receives an annual base retainer fee of $45,000, and an annual fee of $10,000 for service on one or more committees.
 
Audit Committee members receive an additional $7,500 annual fee.
 
Each non-employee director receives an annual equity award of $50,000 in restricted units, which vests one year following the date of the award.
 
The chairmen of the Audit and Conflicts Committees receive an additional $7,500 annual fee.
 
A newly-elected non-employee director receives an initial equity award of $40,000 in restricted units at the time of his or her election to the board, which vests ratably over a three-year period on each anniversary of the grant date.

Additionally, each non-employee director is provided information technology support by the Partnership and is also reimbursed for travel expenses to attend meetings of the Board of Directors or its committees, travel and entertainment expenses for each director's spouse who is invited to accompany directors to meetings of the Board of Directors and Partnership-related business trips, director education, seminars and trade publications. No additional fees are paid for attendance at Board of Directors or committee meetings. The executive officers who are also directors do not receive additional compensation for serving on the Board of Directors.
 
 
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             The vesting of ownership and the lapse of transfer restrictions on restricted units to non-employee directors is accelerated in the event of the death or disability of the director or a change in control of the Partnership.

Compensation of Executive Officers

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

The Partnership is a master limited partnership and does not directly employ any of the individuals responsible for managing or operating the Partnership's business. All of the executive officers of the General Partner are executive officers of Pioneer and devote their time as needed to conduct the Partnership's business and affairs. The compensation paid by Pioneer to the executive officers of the General Partner is included within the total general and administrative costs incurred by Pioneer, which are allocated to the Partnership pursuant to a formula under the Administrative Services Agreement. No amounts payable under the Administrative Services Agreement are specifically based on services provided by the executive officers of the General Partner to the Partnership; rather, the administrative fee generally covers services provided to the Partnership by Pioneer and there is no direct reimbursement by the Partnership for the cost of such services. See "Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions, and Director Independence — Administrative Services Agreement" for additional information about the allocation of expenses to the Partnership under the Administrative Services Agreement.

Neither the Partnership nor the General Partner has a compensation committee. The compensation policies and philosophy of Pioneer govern the types and amount of compensation granted to each of Pioneer's executive officers, which include the executive officers of the General Partner, with respect to their services to Pioneer and its subsidiaries as a group. Accordingly, Pioneer has the ultimate decision-making authority with respect to the total compensation of the executive officers of the General Partner (except with respect to awards under the Partnership's 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan, which are granted by the Board of Directors if any are granted). As a result, neither the General Partner nor the Partnership establishes the amount of compensation that is awarded to the executive officers of the General Partner, except with respect to awards under the Partnership's 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
 
A full discussion of the compensation programs for Pioneer's executive officers and the policies and philosophy of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Pioneer will be set forth in the proxy statement for Pioneer's 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders under the heading "Compensation of Executive Officers," and the Partnership incorporates by reference that section of Pioneer's proxy statement into this Item 11. Pioneer's proxy statement will be available upon its filing on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and on Pioneer's website at www.pxd.com under the heading "Investors — SEC Filings."
 
During 2010, for the first time, the Board of Directors of the General Partner approved grants of equity awards to certain officers of the General Partner under the Partnership's 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan, based on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Pioneer. Included among the officers receiving awards were Messrs. Sheffield, Dealy and Kellum, who are among the "Named Executive Officers," or "NEOs," of Pioneer whose compensation will be disclosed by Pioneer in its 2011 Annual Meeting proxy statement. None of the cash compensation paid to or other benefits made available to the NEOs by Pioneer was allocated to the services they provide to the General Partner and, therefore, only the equity awards granted to them under the Partnership's 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan are disclosed in the Compensation Disclosure and Analysis section of this Report.

Pioneer Compensation Committee Actions in 2010

Philosophy

Pioneer's executive compensation program is designed to provide Pioneer's executive officers a performance-driven compensation package that allows Pioneer to attract, retain and motivate its executives to achieve optimal results for Pioneer and its stockholders.  The Pioneer Compensation Committee strives to create the proper allocation among long-term and short-term goals while ensuring a proper balance of risks in achieving goals. There are three main components of this compensation program:
 
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·  
Base salary, which is a stable and fixed amount near the median level as compared to Pioneer's peers;
·  
Annual cash bonus incentive target levels, which generally are targeted to be near the median level as compared to Pioneer's peers, with payouts determined based on Pioneer and individual performance during the year; and
·  
Long-term incentive awards, which generally are targeted to be valued at or near the median level as compared to Pioneer's peers, with payout determined by the performance of Pioneer's stock over a three-year period.

Long-Term Equity Incentives

To determine the total dollar amount of the 2010 long-term incentive awards to be granted to each executive officer of Pioneer, the Pioneer Compensation Committee began the process by meeting with its independent compensation consultant, Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC ("Meridian"), at the end of 2009 to determine the appropriate median long-term award level in accordance with Pioneer's compensation philosophy. The Committee did not consider the size or current value of prior long-term incentive awards in determining the 2010 long-term incentive award for the executive officers. The Committee believes that prior years' awards were a component of those specific years' total compensation and were not excessive, and future awards should be competitive with the executive officer's current peer group positions in order to retain and motivate the officer.

Regarding Mr. Sheffield's 2010 long-term incentive award, the Pioneer Compensation Committee noted that in 2009, the Compensation Committee recognized Mr. Sheffield was significantly below median for long-term incentive award value, but because of economic uncertainties and the plunge in commodity prices, the Compensation Committee and Mr. Sheffield agreed that the value of his 2009 long-term incentive award should not be increased at that time. With the economic recovery and improvement in commodity prices, the Committee increased Mr. Sheffield's long-term incentive award grants for 2010 to a value slightly below the median level of the peer companies.

The Pioneer Compensation Committee next reviewed Pioneer's approach for delivering long-term incentives to its executive officers.  As a part of its review, the Committee considered the balance of risk in the long-term incentive program, peer company practices, and input from senior management and Meridian.  The Committee approved retaining a mix of long-term incentives for Pioneer's executive officers for 2010 at 25 percent performance units, 25 percent stock options, and 50 percent restricted shares.  The Committee believes this mix of long-term incentive awards provides a good balance of risk, where restricted stock awards are time-based, full value awards, which avoid an "all or nothing" mentality; stock options provide benefits based on the appreciation of Pioneer's stock price on an absolute basis; and performance units provide benefits based on the performance of Pioneer's stock price in relation to Pioneer's peer group stock price.  Also, this mix effectively aligns the officers' interests with Pioneer's stockholders and is consistent with Pioneer's compensation philosophy of focusing on stockholder value creation.

For 2010, the dollar amounts of the long-term incentive awards granted to each NEO, and the allocation among the different types of awards, were as follows:

   
Allocation Among Awards
 
 
NEO
 
 
Total Value
 
Restricted Stock Awards
 
 
Performance Units
 
 
Stock Options
Scott D. Sheffield
$ 5,500,000
        $ 2,750,000
        $  1,375,000
       $  1,375,000
Richard P. Dealy
1,500,000
       750,000
        375,000
      375,000
Danny L. Kellum
900,000
450,000
225,000
225,000

To arrive at the resulting number of restricted stock shares and target performance units awarded, the dollar value of the award was divided by the 30 trading day average closing price of Pioneer's common stock prior to February 1, 2010. To arrive at the number of stock options awarded, the dollar value of the award was divided by a Black Scholes value of Pioneer's, which was provided by Meridian.
 
 
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            With regard to the awards to Messrs. Sheffield, Dealy and Kellum and in recognition of their substantial involvement in the management of the Partnership's business, the Pioneer Compensation Committee desired that, of the 50 percent allocated to restricted equity awards, 40 percent be allocated to restricted stock of Pioneer and 10 percent be allocated to restricted phantom units payable in common units of the Partnership. The Committee based the 10 percent allocation of the restricted equity awards to Partnership common units on the relative market capitalizations of the two entities and believed that the allocation represented a reasonable allocation based on the relative amounts of time the NEOs spent on the Partnership's business. Accordingly, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors of the General Partner that it consider the grant to those executives, who  are also executive officers of the General Partner, of phantom awards payable in common units of the Partnership, having substantially similar terms to Pioneer's restricted stock awards. Pioneer also agreed that the cost of the phantom unit awards would be included within the total general and administrative costs allocated to the Partnership under the Administrative Services Agreement and not treated as a direct cost of the Partnership.

After considering the recommendation of the Pioneer Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors of the General Partner approved the grant of phantom units to the NEOs in March 2010 in the following amounts, in accordance with that recommendation:
 

 
NEO
 
Number of Phantom Units
 
Scott D. Sheffield
 
 24,144
 
Richard P. Dealy
 
   6,585
 
Danny L. Kellum
 
   3,950
 
To arrive at the resulting number of Partnership common units awarded, the dollar value of the award was divided by the average closing price of the Partnership's common units over the same period the Pioneer Compensation Committee used in connection with making restricted stock awards to Pioneer's named executive officers. The terms of the phantom units are described below in "Narrative Disclosure for the 2010 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table" following the 2010 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table.

In approving the grants, the Board of Directors of the General Partner took into consideration (1) the desire to incentivize the NEOs to pursue the long-term success of the business of the Partnership, (2) the process followed by Pioneer's Compensation Committee and its recommendation, as described above, (3) the amount of time each NEO spends on the Partnership's business and the relative allocation of the value of the awards as between Pioneer's common stock and the Partnership's common units, (4) the accomplishments of management of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership, including the success of the Partnership's two-rig drilling program, and (5) the fact that the cost of the phantom unit awards would be included within the total general and administrative costs allocated to the Partnership under the Administrative Services Agreement and not treated as a direct cost of the Partnership.
 
Long-Term Incentive Plan
 
As indicated above, although neither the Partnership nor the General Partner has a compensation committee, the General Partner has adopted the Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan for directors of the General Partner and for employees and consultants of the General Partner and its affiliates who perform services for the Partnership. The purpose of the long-term incentive plan is to provide a means to enhance profitable growth by attracting and retaining individuals to serve as directors of the General Partner as well as the employees and consultants of Pioneer and its subsidiaries who provide services to the Partnership by providing such individuals a means to acquire and maintain ownership or awards, the value of which is tied to the performance of common units. The long-term incentive plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for grants of options, restricted units, phantom units, unit appreciation rights, unit awards and other unit-based awards. The discussion below provides a general overview and discussion regarding how the plan operates.
 
 
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Securities to Be Offered
 
The long-term incentive plan limits the number of units that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the plan to 3,000,000 common units. Units withheld to satisfy exercise prices or tax withholding obligations will again be available for delivery pursuant to other awards. In addition, if an award is forfeited, cancelled or otherwise terminates, expires or is settled without the delivery of units, the units subject to such award will again be available for new awards under the plan. The units delivered pursuant to awards may be units acquired in the open market or acquired from any person including the Partnership, or any combination of the foregoing, as determined in the discretion of the plan administrator (as defined below).
 
Administration of the Plan
 
The plan is administered by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, referred to as the plan administrator in this Report. The plan administrator may terminate or amend the long-term incentive plan or any part of the plan at any time with respect to any units for which a grant has not yet been made, including increasing the number of units that may be granted, subject to any tax and legal restrictions and the requirements of the exchange upon which the common units are listed at that time. However, no change in any outstanding grant may be made that would materially reduce the rights or benefits of the participant without the consent of the participant. The plan will expire upon the earlier of (i) the date units are no longer available under the plan for grants, (ii) its termination by the Board of Directors or (iii) the tenth anniversary of the date approved by the General Partner.
 
Awards
 
In General. The plan administrator may make grants of awards with such terms as the plan administrator shall determine, including terms governing the service period and/or other performance conditions pursuant to which any such awards will vest and/or be settled, as applicable. Grant levels in any given year may vary on a discretionary basis based on measuring the Partnership's financial, operational, strategic or other appropriate performance, as well as the individual performance of plan participants.
 
Restricted Units. A restricted unit is a common unit that vests over a period of time and during that time is subject to forfeiture. Restricted units generally will be entitled to receive quarterly distributions during the vesting period, but such distributions may be subjected to the same or different vesting provisions as the restricted unit. In addition, the plan administrator may provide that such distributions be used to acquire additional restricted units.
 
Phantom Units. A phantom unit entitles the grantee to receive a common unit upon or as soon as reasonably practicable following the phantom unit's settlement date or, in the discretion of the plan administrator, a cash payment equivalent to the fair market value of a common unit. The plan administrator may, in its discretion, grant distribution equivalent rights ("DERs") with respect to phantom unit awards. DERs entitle the participant to receive cash or additional awards equal to the amount of any cash distributions made by the Partnership during the period the phantom unit is outstanding. Payment of a DER may be subject to the same vesting terms and/or settlement terms as the award to which it relates or different vesting terms and/or settlement terms, in the discretion of the plan administrator.
 
Unit Options. Unit options must have an exercise price that is not less than the fair market value of the units on the date of grant. In general, unit options granted will become exercisable over a period determined by the plan administrator.
 
Unit Appreciation Rights. A unit appreciation right is an award that, upon exercise, entitles the participant to receive the excess of the fair market value of a unit on the exercise date over the exercise price established for the unit appreciation right. Such excess will be paid in cash or common units. Unit appreciation rights must have an exercise price that is not less than the fair market value of the common units on the date of grant. In general, unit appreciation rights granted will become exercisable over a period determined by the plan administrator.
 
Other Unit-Based Awards. The long-term incentive plan permits the grant of other unit-based awards, which are awards that are based, in whole or in part, on the value or performance of a common unit or are denominated or payable in common units. Upon settlement, the award may be paid in common units, cash or a combination thereof, as provided in the award agreement.
 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.


 
Unit Awards. The long-term incentive plan permits the grant of units that are not subject to vesting restrictions. Unit awards may be in lieu of or in addition to other compensation payable to the individual. The availability of unit awards is intended to furnish additional compensation to plan participants and to align their economic interests with those of common unitholders.
 
Other Provisions

Change in Control; Termination of Service. The plan administrator may, in its discretion, provide that awards under the long-term incentive plan become exercisable or vest, as applicable, upon a "change of control," as defined in the plan or an applicable award agreement. In addition, the plan administrator may, in its discretion, provide that if a grantee's employment, consulting arrangement or membership on the Board of Directors terminates for any reason, the grantee's unvested award will be automatically forfeited unless, and to the extent, the plan administrator or the terms of the award agreement provide otherwise.

Tax Withholding. Unless other arrangements are made, the plan administrator is authorized to withhold for any award, from any payment due under any award or from any compensation or other amount owing to a participant the amount (in cash, units, units that would otherwise be issued pursuant to such award, or other property) of any applicable taxes payable with respect to the grant of an award, its settlement, its exercise, the lapse of restrictions applicable to an award or in connection with any payment relating to an award or the transfer of an award and to take such other actions as may be necessary to satisfy the withholding obligations with respect to an award.
 
Anti-Dilution Adjustments. If any "equity restructuring" event occurs that could result in an additional compensation expense under GAAP if adjustments to awards with respect to such event were discretionary, the plan administrator will equitably adjust the number and type of units covered by each outstanding award and the terms and conditions of such award to equitably reflect the restructuring event, and the plan administrator will adjust the number and type of units with respect to which future awards may be granted. With respect to a similar event that would not result in an accounting charge if adjustment to awards were discretionary, the plan administrator shall have complete discretion to adjust awards in the manner it deems appropriate. In the event the plan administrator makes any adjustment in accordance with the foregoing provisions, a corresponding and proportionate adjustment shall be made with respect to the maximum number of units available under the plan and the kind of units or other securities available for grant under the plan.

Compensation Committee Report

Neither the Partnership nor the General Partner has a compensation committee. The Board of Directors of the General Partner has reviewed and discussed the compensation discussion and analysis required by Item 402(b) of the SEC's Regulation S-K set forth above with management and based on this review and discussion, has approved it for inclusion in this Form 10-K.

The Board of Directors of Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC:

Richard P. Dealy
Phillip A. Gobe
Alan L. Gosule
Danny L. Kellum
Royce W. Mitchell
Scott D. Sheffield
Arthur L. Smith
 
 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.



SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

As previously noted, the cash compensation and benefits for the NEOs are included within the total general and administrative costs allocated to the Partnership pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement, and thus were not specifically allocated to the services the NEOs performed for the Partnership in 2010. Information regarding the compensation paid to the NEOs as consideration for the services they perform for Pioneer will be reported in Pioneer's annual proxy statement. The information in the tables and discussion below relate solely to the equity awards granted in 2010 to the NEOs under the Partnership's 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan. No compensation was paid to the NEOs by the Partnership in any prior year.


Name and Principal Position
Year
 
Salary
($)
 
Bonus
($)
 
Stock
Awards (1)
($)
 
Option
Awards
($)
 
Change in
Non-qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
 
All Other Compensation
($)
 
Total
($)
(a)
(b)
 
(c)
 
(d)
 
(e)
 
(f)
 
(h)
 
(i)
 
(j)
Scott D. Sheffield
2010
 
N/A
 
N/A
$
549,035
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
$
549,035
Chairman of the Board Directors and Chief Executive Officer
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                               
Richard P. Dealy
2010
 
N/A
 
N/A
$
149,743
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
$
149,743
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                             
                             
                             
                             
                               
Danny L. Kellum
2010
 
N/A
 
N/A
$
89,823
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
$
89,823
Executive Vice President, Permian Operations
                             
                             
                             
                               
______________
 
(1)
Amounts reported for stock awards represent the grant date fair value of phantom unit awards in accordance with FASB ASC 718.  Pursuant to SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the effect of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. The Partnership valued its phantom unit awards based on the market-quoted closing price of the Partnership's common units on the last business day prior to the grant date of the awards. Additional detail regarding the Partnership's unit-based awards is included in Note F of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" and under the 2010 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table below. For additional information regarding phantom units owned by the NEOs as of December 31, 2010, see below under "2010 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End."


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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.



2010 GRANTS OF PLAN BASED AWARDS

The following table sets forth, for each NEO, information about grants of plan based awards during 2010.
 

Name
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a)
Grant Date
 
 
 
 
 
 
(b)
All Other Stock
Awards: Number
of Shares of Stock
or Units (1)
(#)
(i)
 
Grant Date Fair
Value of Stock
and Option
Awards (2)
($)
 
 
(l)
 
 
Scott D. Sheffield
03/4/2010
24,144
$
549,035
 
 
Richard P. Dealy
03/4/2010
6,585
$
 
149,743
 
Danny L. Kellum
03/4/2010
3,950
$
89,823
______________
(1)  
The amounts reported in this column are the number of phantom units granted to each NEO in 2010.
(2)  
Amounts for phantom unit awards represent their grant date fair value in accordance with FASB ASC 718.
 
 
 
Narrative Disclosure for the 2010 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

The 2010 awards of phantom units were issued under the Partnership's 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan.  The material terms of these awards are described below.

In general, the phantom unit awards vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the NEO remaining employed continuously through the vesting date.  Upon vesting, the phantom units entitle the holder to receive a number of common units equal to the number of phantom units. The phantom units were granted with DERs, which means that, while an NEO holds phantom units, he is entitled to receive distributions on the common units underlying the phantom units at the same rate and time as limited partners of the Partnership.  Any distributions received by the NEOs are vested upon receipt and are not subject to forfeiture. The vesting of the phantom units will accelerate in full upon a change in control of the Partnership or Pioneer.  In addition, if an NEO terminates employment with Pioneer prior to the vesting date, the following rules will apply: (1) if an NEO is terminated by Pioneer for cause or by the NEO without good reason, all of the common units subject to the award will be forfeited to the Partnership, (2) if an NEO is terminated due to death, disability, normal retirement (on or after attainment of age 60), by Pioneer without cause or by the NEO for good reason, a number of common units will vest equal to the total number of common units subject to the award multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months following the date of grant during which the NEO was employed by Pioneer and the denominator of which is 36, and (3) notwithstanding clause (2) of this paragraph, if Mr. Sheffield is terminated by Pioneer without cause or he terminates his employment for good reason, all of the common units subject to his awards will vest in full.

Definitions. For purposes of the phantom unit awards, the terms set forth below generally have the meanings described below:

A "change in control" of the Partnership generally includes the occurrence of any of the following events or circumstances: (1) any transaction resulting in the Partnership ceasing to be controlled by Pioneer; (2) the limited partners of the Partnership approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Partnership; (3) the sale or other disposition by either the General Partner or the Partnership of all or substantially all of its assets to an entity other than the General Partner or an affiliate of the General Partner; or (4) a transaction resulting in an entity other than Pioneer or one of its affiliates being the general partner of the Partnership.

A "change in control" of Pioneer generally includes the occurrence of any of the following events or circumstances: (1) a person or group acquires securities of Pioneer that, together with any other securities held by
 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.


such person, constitutes 40 percent or more of either (x) the then outstanding shares of Pioneer's common stock or (y) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of Pioneer, except for acquisitions directly from Pioneer and acquisitions by an employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by Pioneer; (2) a majority of the members of Pioneer's Board of Directors changes, other than new members elected or nominated by at least a majority of the then-current board, absent an election contest or similar proxy dispute; (3) Pioneer merges or engages in a similar transaction, or sells all or substantially all of its assets, unless Pioneer's stockholders prior to the transaction own more than half of the voting interest of Pioneer or the resulting entity (in substantially the same ratios) after the transaction, and neither of the events in items (1) and (2) above has occurred for Pioneer or the resulting entity; or (4) Pioneer's stockholders approve a complete liquidation or dissolution of Pioneer.

"Cause" generally means any of the following circumstances: (1) the NEO's failure to substantially perform his or her duties, unless the failure is due to physical or mental incapacity, or to comply with a material written policy of Pioneer; (2) the NEO's engaging in an act of fraud or other misconduct that is injurious to Pioneer, monetarily or otherwise; (3) the NEO's failure to cooperate in connection with an investigation or proceeding into the business practices or operations of Pioneer; (4) the NEO's conviction of a felony or a crime or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or financial misconduct; or (5) a material violation by the NEO of the provisions of the confidentiality and non-solicitation restrictions in the agreement.

"Good reason" for purposes of Mr. Sheffield's award generally means (1) the assignment to the him of duties materially inconsistent with his then current position or any other material adverse change in his position with Pioneer; (2) the failure of Pioneer to nominate him for re-election to Pioneer's Board of Directors, or any failure of Pioneer's stockholders to re-elect him to Pioneer's Board, unless due to his death, disability, termination for cause or voluntary resignation; or (3) a reduction in his base salary. For NEOs other than Mr. Sheffield, "good reason" generally means a demotion to an officer position at Pioneer junior to his then existing position, or to a non-officer position, or a reduction in base salary that is not a company-wide reduction and that is greater than 80 percent, or any reduction in base salary that is greater than 65 percent.

A "disability" means the NEO's physical or mental impairment or incapacity of such severity that, in the opinion of Pioneer's chosen physician, he or she is unable to continue to perform his or her duties.  A "disability" will also be deemed to have occurred if the NEO becomes entitled to long-term disability benefits under any of Pioneer's employee benefit plans.

An NEO will be considered eligible for "normal retirement" upon reaching the age of 60 years.

 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.



2010 OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR END

The following table sets forth, for each NEO, information regarding phantom units that were held as of December 31, 2010. No options or other forms of equity awards were granted to executive officers of the General Partner prior to December 31, 2010, other than the phantom units granted in March 2010, and no equity awards have vested or been exercised.

       
 
Equity Awards
Name
Number of
Units that
have not
Vested
(#)
 
Market Value
of Units
that have
not Vested (1)
($)
(a)
(g)
 
(h)
Scott D. Sheffield
24,144 (2)
$
725,044
     
     
Richard P. Dealy
6,585 (2)
$
197,748
     
     
Danny L. Kellum
3,950 (2)
$
118,619
     
______________
(1)  
Based on the closing price of $30.03 of the Partnership's common units on December 31, 2010.
(2)
This award of phantom units vests in full on March 3, 2013, which is the third anniversary of the grant date.  The vesting of this award will accelerate in full upon a change in control.  In addition, the termination of the NEO's employment prior to the vesting date will affect the vesting of the award as described above in the section entitled "–  Narrative Disclosure for the 2010 Grants of Plan Based Awards Table."

Pension Benefits; Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

The Partnership does not sponsor or maintain any plans that provide for specified retirement payments or benefits, such as tax-qualified defined benefit plans or supplemental executive retirement plans, for its NEOs.  The NEOs participate in a defined contribution 401(k) retirement plan and a non-qualified deferred compensation plan sponsored by Pioneer.  Disclosure regarding the NEOs' benefits under the 401(k) plan and the non-qualified deferred compensation is not provided in this Report, but will be provided in Pioneer's 2011 Annual Meeting proxy statement.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

There are no employment agreements currently in effect between the Partnership and any NEO. Pioneer has entered into Severance Agreements and Change in Control Agreements with the NEOs, and the expenses associated with those agreements are borne by Pioneer and are not reimbursable by the Partnership except to the extent includable within Pioneer's total general and administrative costs allocable to the Partnership pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement. Because the NEOs do not perform services solely on behalf of the Partnership, a quantification of their potential benefits under the Severance Agreements and Change in Control Agreements is not provided but will be disclosed in Pioneer's 2011 Annual Meeting proxy statement.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
 
As previously discussed, the Board of Directors is not required to maintain, and does not maintain, a compensation committee. Scott D. Sheffield, the General Partner's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, serves as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer, and Richard P. Dealy, a director of the General Partner and the General Partner's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Danny L. Kellum, a director of the General Partner and the General Partner's Executive Vice President, Permian Operations, serve as executive officers of Pioneer. All compensation decisions with respect to each of these persons are made by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Pioneer (except with respect to awards under the Partnership's 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan, which are granted by the Board of Directors, if any are granted).
 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

 
With the exception of the foregoing, none of the executive officers of the General Partner serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of the Board of Directors. See "Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence."

ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDERS MATTERS
 
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of the Partnership's common units as of February 23, 2011 by (i) each person known by the Partnership to beneficially own five percent or more of the outstanding units; (ii) each member of the Board of Directors; (iii) each NEO; and (iv) all directors and executive officers of the General Partner as a group.

Unless otherwise noted, the persons named below have sole voting power and investment power with respect to such units.

 
Name of Person or Identity of Group
 
Number of
 Units
 
Percentage
of Class (a)
         
Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. (b)
 
20,521,200
 
62.0
5205 N. O'Connor Blvd.
       
Suite 200
       
Irving, Texas 75039
       
         
Scott D. Sheffield
 
12,000
 
(c)
         
Richard P. Dealy
 
20,000
 
(c)
         
Danny L. Kellum
 
 
(c)
         
Phillip A. Gobe (d)
 
16,560
 
(c)
         
Alan L. Gosule (d)
 
10,741
 
(c)
         
Royce W. Mitchell (d)
 
9,241
 
(c)
         
Arthur L. Smith (d)
 
9,241
 
(c)
         
All directors and officers as a group (11 persons)
 
107,777
 
(c)
         
___________
(a)
Based on 33,113,700 common units outstanding.
(b)
Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pioneer, and therefore Pioneer also beneficially owns these common units.
(c)
Does not exceed one percent of class.
(d)
Includes restricted units awarded to the General Partner's independent directors under the Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.



The following table sets forth, as of  February 23, 2011, the number of shares of common stock of Pioneer owned by (i) each member of the Board of Directors; (ii) each NEO; and (iii) all directors and executive officers of the General Partner as a group:
 

Name of Person or Identity of Group
 
Number of
 Shares
 
Percentage
of Class (a)
         
Scott D. Sheffield (c) (e) (f) (g)
 
711,878
 
(b)
         
Richard P. Dealy (c) (d) (e) (g)
 
138,904
 
(b)
         
Danny L. Kellum (e) (g)
 
105,647
 
(b)
         
Phillip A. Gobe
 
-
 
-
         
Alan L. Gosule
 
-
 
-
         
Royce W. Mitchell
 
-
 
-
         
Arthur L. Smith
 
-
 
-
         
All directors and executive officers as a group (11 persons) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g)
 
1,378,117
 
1.2
         

___________
(a)
Based on 116,452,149 shares of common stock outstanding.
(b)
Does not exceed one percent of class.
(c)
Includes the following number of unvested restricted shares: Mr. Sheffield, 166,075; Mr. Dealy, 63,617; Mr. Kellum, 36,819; and all directors and executive officers as a group, 465,266.
(d)
Mr. Dealy's beneficial ownership includes 1,750 shares subject to exercisable stock options.
(e)
Includes the following number of shares held in each respective officer's 401(k) account:  Mr. Sheffield, 22,086; Mr. Dealy, 311; Mr. Kellum, 531; and all directors and executive officers as a group, 34,522.
(f)
Mr. Sheffield's beneficial ownership includes 37,827 shares held in his investment retirement account, but excludes 25,704 shares underlying unvested restricted stock units.
(g)
Excludes the performance units that will vest if and to the extent predetermined performance targets are achieved.


 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.



Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

The following table summarizes information about the Partnership's equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2010:
 
   
Number of Securities
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding Options
(a)
   
Weighted Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options
 
Number of Securities
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance Under Equity
Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities
Reflected
in the First Column) (b)
 
                 
Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.:
               
2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan
 
 
$
 
2,930,599
 

__________

(a)
There were no outstanding options, warrants or equity rights awarded under the Partnership's equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2010. The securities do not include restricted units awarded under the 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
(b)
All equity compensation plans have been approved by security holders.
 
 
See "Item 11. Executive Compensation" and Note F of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for discussion of the Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
 
As of February 23, 2011, affiliates of the General Partner, including its directors and executive officers, owned 20,628,977 common units representing approximately 62 percent of the common units outstanding. In addition, the General Partner owned a 0.1 percent general partner interest in the Partnership.

Distributions and Payments to the General Partner and Its Affiliates

The following table summarizes the distributions and payments to be made by the Partnership to the General Partner and its affiliates in connection with the ongoing operation and liquidation of the Partnership. These distributions and payments were determined by and among affiliated entities and, consequently, are not the result of arm's-length negotiations.

Ongoing Operations
 
 
Distributions of available cash to the General Partner and its affiliates
The Partnership makes cash distributions to its partners, including the General Partner and its affiliates, as the holders of common units and general partner units. During 2010, Pioneer received a total of $41.1 million in distributions from the Partnership in respect of its common units and general partner units.
 
Payments to the General Partner and its affiliates
The Partnership Agreement requires the Partnership to reimburse the General Partner and its affiliates for all actual direct and indirect expenses they incur or actual payments they make on the Partnership's behalf and all other expenses allocable to the Partnership or otherwise incurred by the General Partner and its affiliates in connection with operating the Partnership's business. These expenses include salary, bonus, incentive compensation (including equity compensation) and other amounts paid to persons who perform services for the Partnership or on its behalf. Pioneer is entitled to determine in good faith the expenses that are allocable to the
 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

 

 
Partnership. To implement part of this Partnership Agreement requirement, the Partnership and Pioneer have entered into the Administrative Services Agreement, which establishes a formula by which a portion of Pioneer's overhead expenses is allocated to the Partnership. See "— Administrative Services Agreement" below. The Partnership is charged an operating overhead fee pursuant to operating agreements with Pioneer. See " — Operating Agreements" below. Additionally, Pioneer is a minority owner of certain gas processing plants that process a portion of the Partnership's wet gas and retain as compensation a portion of the Partnership's dry gas residue and NGL value. See "— Gas Processing Arrangements" below. The Partnership has agreed to pay Pioneer for the Partnership's share of state and local income and other taxes. See "— Tax Sharing Arrangement" below.
 
Withdrawal or removal of the General Partner
If the General Partner withdraws or is removed, its general partner interest will either be sold to the new general partner for cash or converted into common units, in each case for an amount equal to the fair market value of those interests.
 
Liquidation Stage
 
 
Liquidation
If the Partnership were to be liquidated, the partners, including the General Partner, would be entitled to receive liquidating distributions according to their particular capital account balances.
 
Administrative Services Agreement
 
Pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement, Pioneer agreed to perform, either itself or through its affiliates or other third parties, administrative services for the Partnership, and the Partnership agreed to reimburse Pioneer for its expenses incurred in providing such services. Currently, expenses are reimbursed based on a methodology of determining the Partnership's share, on a per BOE basis, of certain of the general and administrative costs incurred by Pioneer. Under this initial methodology, the per BOE cost for services during any period is determined by dividing (i) the aggregate general and administrative costs, determined in accordance with GAAP, of Pioneer (excluding the Partnership's general and administrative costs), for its United States operations during such period, excluding such costs directly attributable to Pioneer's Alaskan operations, by (ii) the sum of (x) the United States production during such period of the Partnership and Pioneer, excluding any production attributable to Alaskan operations, plus (y) the volumes delivered by Pioneer and the Partnership under all VPP obligations during such period. The costs of all awards to the Partnership's independent directors under the Partnership's long-term incentive plan are borne by the Partnership, and are not included in the foregoing formula. The administrative fee is determined by multiplying the per BOE costs by the Partnership's total production (including volumes delivered by the Partnership under VPP obligations, if any) during such period. The administrative fee may be based on amounts estimated by Pioneer if actual amounts are not available. In addition, Pioneer is reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses it incurs on the Partnership's behalf. The Administrative Services Agreement can be terminated by the Partnership or Pioneer at any time upon 90 days notice. The Partnership paid a total of $4.2 million to Pioneer under this agreement during 2010.

Omnibus Agreement, Omnibus Operating Agreements and Operating Agreements

Pioneer is the operator of all of the Partnership's properties. Upon the closing of the Partnership's initial public offering in May 2008, the Partnership and Pioneer  entered into an Omnibus Agreement (the "IPO Omnibus Agreement") and an Omnibus Operating Agreement (the "IPO Omnibus Operating Agreement") to govern their relationship with respect to the properties the Partnership acquired in connection with the initial public offering. In addition, in connection with the acquisition of properties by the Partnership from Pioneer of properties in August 2009 (the "2009 Acquisition"), the Partnership and Pioneer entered into an Omnibus Operating Agreement (the "2009 Omnibus Operating Agreement") to govern their relationship with respect to the properties the Partnership acquired in connection with that acquisition, and amended IPO Omnibus Operating Agreement with respect to certain matters.
 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.


 
Area of Operations. The IPO Omnibus Agreement limits the Partnership's area of operations to onshore Texas and the southeast region of New Mexico, comprising Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Lincoln, Lea, Otero and Roosevelt counties. Pioneer has the right to expand the Partnership's area of operations, but has no obligation to do so.
 
Operations. Pursuant to the IPO Omnibus Operating Agreement and the 2009 Omnibus Operating Agreement,  the Partnership has agreed to certain restrictions and limitations on its ability to exercise certain rights that would otherwise be available to it under the operating agreements that govern the Partnership's properties where Pioneer is the operator. For example, the Partnership will not object to attempts by Pioneer to develop the leasehold acreage surrounding the Partnership's wells; the Partnership is restricted in its ability to remove Pioneer as the operator; Pioneer-proposed operations will take precedence over any conflicting operations that the Partnership proposes; and the Partnership must allow Pioneer to use certain of the Partnership's production facilities in connection with other properties operated by Pioneer, subject to capacity limitations.

   In addition, Pioneer and the Partnership have entered into operating agreements with respect to the Partnership's properties. Pursuant these agreements, the Partnership pays Pioneer overhead charges associated with operating the Partnership's oil and gas properties (commonly referred to as the Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies, or COPAS, fee). Overhead charges are usually paid by third parties to the operator of a well pursuant to operating agreements. The Partnership also pays Pioneer for its direct and indirect expenses that are chargeable to the wells under their respective operating agreements.

Indemnities Relating to the IPO Properties. Pursuant to the IPO Omnibus Agreement, Pioneer will indemnify the Partnership until May 6, 2011 against liabilities with respect to claims associated with the use, ownership and operation of the IPO Properties prior to May 6, 2008, the closing date of the initial public offering, up to an amount not to exceed $10.0 million in the aggregate. In addition, Pioneer will not have any indemnification obligation until the Partnership's losses exceed $500 thousand in the aggregate, and then only to the extent such aggregate losses exceed $500 thousand.  With respect to title to the wellbore interests conveyed to the Partnership as part of the IPO Properties, Pioneer will indemnify the Partnership until May 6, 2011 for losses attributable to defects in title to the Partnership's interest in the presently producing intervals in the wellbores, other than certain permitted encumbrances that the Partnership has agreed do not constitute title defects. Examples of such permitted encumbrances include regulatory and existing contractual obligations, certain restrictions on assignment that have been waived either in writing or by the passage of time, certain liens that do not materially interfere with the use of the Partnership's properties as they have been used in the past or are proposed to be used in the future, and the VPP obligation. Pioneer will also indemnify the Partnership until the expiration of the applicable statutes of limitations for taxes attributable to the operations of the IPO Properties prior to May 6, 2008.

VPP.  Until December 31, 2010, a substantial portion of the properties that the Partnership owns was subject to Pioneer's VPP. Pursuant to the IPO Omnibus Agreement and the Purchase and Sale Agreement relating to the 2009 Acquisition, Pioneer had agreed that production from its retained properties subject to the VPP would be utilized to meet the VPP obligation prior to utilization of production from the Partnership's properties. If any production from the Partnership's interests in its properties was required to meet the VPP obligation, Pioneer agreed that it would either (i) make a cash payment to the Partnership for the value of the production (computed by taking the volumes delivered to meet the VPP obligation times the price the Partnership would have received for the related volumes, plus any expenses or losses incurred by the Partnership in connection with the delivery of such volumes) required to meet the VPP obligation or (ii) deliver to the Partnership volumes equal to the volumes delivered pursuant to the VPP obligation.  Pioneer's VPP obligation ended on December 31, 2010.

Gas Processing Arrangements

Pioneer owns an approximate 27 percent interest in the Midkiff/Benedum gas processing plant and an approximate 30 percent interest in the Sale Ranch gas processing plant. These plants process wet gas from producing wells, and retain as compensation approximately 18 percent and 20 percent, respectively, of the dry gas
 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

 
residue and NGL value. Substantially all of the Partnership's total NGL and gas sales revenues in 2010 were from the sale of NGL and gas processed through the Midkiff/Benedum and Sale Ranch gas processing plants.

Tax Sharing Agreement
 
The Partnership and Pioneer have entered into a Tax Sharing Agreement, pursuant to which the Partnership agreed to pay Pioneer for its share of state and local income and other taxes, currently only the Texas Margin tax, for which the Partnership's results are included in a combined or consolidated tax return filed by Pioneer. During 2010 and 2009, the Partnership recorded a payable to Pioneer of $492 thousand and $460 thousand, respectively, under this agreement.

Policies and Procedures for Review, Approval and Ratification of Related Person Transactions

The Partnership's Governance Guidelines provide that independent directors are to periodically review all transactions that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of SEC Regulation S-K, and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors regarding the initial authorization or ratification of any such transaction. All of the transactions disclosed in this Item 13 entered into since January 1, 2010, were either pursuant to agreements in place at the time of the Offering and accordingly were not required to be reviewed, ratified or approved pursuant to the Governance Guidelines, or were so reviewed, ratified or approved.
 
The Partnership Agreement provides that the General Partner is responsible to identify conflicts of interest, and may choose to resolve a conflict of interest by any one of the methods described in the Partnership Agreement. The General Partner intends to submit to the Conflicts Committee for review, approval or ratification any material transactions in which any related person (principally directors, officers, significant unitholders and their immediate family members) has a material interest and that involves at least $120,000. However, the General Partner is not required under the Partnership Agreement to do so.

Director Independence

See "Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance" for information  regarding the directors of the General Partner and the independence requirements applicable to the Board of Directors and its committees.

ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner selected Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Partnership's consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
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Fees Incurred by the Partnership for Services Provided by Ernst & Young LLP

The following table shows the fees paid or accrued by the Partnership for audit services provided by Ernst & Young LLP for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009:

 
2010 
 
2009 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Audit fees (a)
$
 341,234 
 
$
 959,142 
Audit-related fees (b)
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
Tax fees (b)
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
All other fees (b)
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
$
341,234 
 
$
959,142 
______
(a)
Audit fees represent fees for professional services provided in connection with the (i) the audit of the Partnership's annual consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, (ii) reviews of the Partnership's quarterly financial statements included in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and (iii) services in connection with the Partnership's other filings with the SEC, including review and preparation of registration statements, comfort letters, consents and research necessary to comply with generally accepted auditing standards.
(b)
There were no audit-related fees, tax fees or other fees paid to Ernst & Young LLP for services in 2010 or 2009.

Audit Committee's Pre-Approval Policy and Procedures
 
The Audit Committee's policy is to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, and other services. Pre-approval is detailed as to the specific service or category of service and is subject to a specific approval. The Audit Committee requires the independent registered public accounting firm and management to report on the actual fees charged for each category of service at Audit Committee meetings throughout the year.
 
During the year, circumstances may arise when it may become necessary to engage the independent registered public accounting firm for additional services not contemplated in the original pre-approval. In those circumstances, the Audit Committee requires specific pre-approval before engaging the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to the chairman of the Audit Committee for those instances when pre-approval is needed prior to a scheduled Audit Committee meeting. The chairman of the Audit Committee must report on such approval at the next scheduled Audit Committee meeting.
 
All 2010 audit and non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm were pre-approved.
 
 
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PART IV
 
ITEM 15.                      EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
(a)         Listing of Financial Statements
 
Financial Statements
 
The following consolidated financial statements of the Partnership are included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data":
 
·  
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
·  
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2010 and 2009
 
·  
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
·  
Consolidated Statements of Partners' Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
·  
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
·  
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
 
·  
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
·  
Unaudited Supplementary Information
 
(b)         Exhibits
 
The exhibits to this Report required to be filed pursuant to Item 15(b) are listed below and in the "Exhibit Index" attached hereto.
 
(c)         Financial Statement Schedules
 
No financial statement schedules are required to be filed as part of the Report or they are inapplicable. 
 
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Exhibits

Exhibit
Number
     
 
Description
         
2.1
   
Contribution Agreement, dated May 6, 2008, by and among the Partnership, Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. and Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008).
2.2
   
Membership Interest Sale Agreement, dated May 6, 2008, between the Partnership and Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008).
2.3
*
 
Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated May 6, 2008, by and among Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC, Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. and Pioneer Retained Properties Company LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008).
2.4
*
 
Omnibus Agreement, dated May 6, 2008, by and among the Partnership, Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC, Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC, Pioneer Natural Resources Company and Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.4 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008).
2.5
*
 
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated May 1, 2008, by and among Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC, Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc., Pioneer Retained Properties Company LLC and Pioneer Limited Natural Resources Properties LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 2, 2008).
2.6
*
 
First Amendment to Omnibus Agreement entered into as of December 31, 2008, to be effective as of May 6, 2008 among the Partnership, Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC, Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC, Pioneer Natural Resources Company and Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.6 to the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, File No. 001-34032).
2.7
*
 
Purchase And Sale Agreement By And Among Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc., Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC and the Partnership (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on September 3, 2009).
3.1
   
Certificate of Limited Partnership of Pioneer Resource Partners L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-144868)).
3.2
   
Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Limited Partnership of Pioneer Resource Partners L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
3.3
   
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. dated May 6, 2008, between Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC, as the General Partner, and Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc., as the Organizational Limited Partner, together with any other persons who become Partners (as defined in such agreement) in the Partnership (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008).
4.1
   
Form of Senior Indenture (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-162566)).
4.2
   
Form of Subordinated Indenture (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-162566)).
10.1
 
H
Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. 2008 Long Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.2
   
Administrative Services Agreement, dated May 6, 2008, among the Partnership, Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC, Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC, and Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008).
 
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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

 
10.3
   
Tax Sharing Agreement, dated May 6, 2008, by and between the Partnership and Pioneer Natural Resources Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008).
10.4
   
Omnibus Operating Agreement, dated May 6, 2008, by and between Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC and Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008).
10.5
   
First Amendment dated August 31, 2009 to Omnibus Operating Agreement dated May 6, 2008, between Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. and Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on September 3, 2009).
10.6
 
H
Form of Restricted Unit Award Agreement for Initial Grants to Non-Employee Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 2, 2008).
10.7
 
H
Form of Restricted Unit Award Agreement for Annual Grants to Non-Employee Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 2, 2008).
10.8
   
Indemnification Agreement between the Partnership and Phillip A. Gobe, together with a schedule identifying other substantially identical agreements between the Partnership and each non-employee director of the Partnership's general partner identified on the schedule and identifying the material differences between each of those agreements and the filed Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on August 19, 2009).
10.9
   
Credit Agreement entered into as of October 29, 2007, among the Partnership, as the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and certain other lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.10
   
Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of December 14, 2007, among the Partnership, as the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and certain other lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.11
   
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of February 15, 2008, among the Partnership, as the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and certain other lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.12
   
Third Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of April 15, 2008, among the Partnership, as the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and certain other lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.13
   
Limited Waiver Regarding Credit Agreement, entered into as of March 26, 2009, among the Partnership, as the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2009).
10.14
   
Crude Oil Purchase Contract (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.15
   
Natural Gas Liquids Purchase Contract  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.16
   
Crude Oil Purchase Contract (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.17
   
Crude Oil Purchase Contract (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.18
   
Omnibus Operating Agreement dated August 31, 2009, between Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. and Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on September 3, 2009).


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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.

  
10.19
   
Amendment to Crude Oil Purchase Contract filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, File No. 001-34032).
10.20
   
Amendment to Natural Gas Liquids Purchase Contract filed as Exhibit 10.10 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, File No. 001-34032).
10.21
   
Amendment to Crude Oil Purchase Contract filed as Exhibit 10.11 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, File No. 001-34032).
10.22
   
Amendment to Crude Oil Purchase Contract filed as Exhibit 10.12 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, File No. 001-34032).
10.23
   
Crude Oil Contracts with Occidental Energy Marketing, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, File No. 001-34032)
10.24
  (a)
Amendment to Crude Oil Purchase Contract with Occidental Energy Marketing, Inc.
10.25
 
H
Form of Phantom Unit Award Agreement between the General Partner and Scott D. Sheffield, with respect to awards of phantom units made under the 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan, together with a schedule identifying other substantially identical agreements between the General Partner and each of its other recipients of phantom unit awards and identifying the material differences between those agreements and the filed Phantom Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on March 9, 2010).
21.1
 
(a)
Subsidiaries of the registrant.
23.1
 
(a)
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2
 
(a)
Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.
31.1
 
(a)
Chief Executive Officer certification under Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
 
(a)
Chief Financial Officer certification under Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
 
(b)
Chief Executive Officer certification under Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2
 
(b)
Chief Financial Officer certification under Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
99.1
 
(a)
Report of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.
         
         
 
_____________
(a) Filed herewith.
(b) Furnished herewith.
H           Executive Compensation Plan or Arrangement previously filed pursuant to Item 15(b).

*Pursuant to the rules of the Commission, the schedules and similar attachments to the Agreement have not been filed. The registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the Commission upon request.
 
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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.

  PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.
  By:  Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC, its general partner
 February 25, 2011    
     
 
By: 
/s/  Scott D. Sheffield                                  
   
Scott D. Sheffield,
   
Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Chief Executive Officer
     

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 of Directors and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)
 
February 25, 2011
Scott D. Sheffield
 
 
/s/  Richard P. Dealy
 
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Director (principal financial officer)
 
February 25, 2011
Richard P. Dealy
 
/s/  Frank W. Hall
 
 
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(principal accounting officer)
 
February 25, 2011
Frank W. Hall
 
/s/  Phillip A. Gobe
 
 
Director
 
February 25, 2011
Phillip A. Gobe
     
 
/s/  Alan L. Gosule
 
 
Director
 
February 25, 2011
Alan L. Gosule
 
/s/  Danny L. Kellum
 
 
Director
 
February 25, 2011
Danny L. Kellum
 
/s/  Royce W. Mitchell
 
 
Director
 
February 25, 2011
Royce W. Mitchell
 
/s/  Arthur L. Smith
 
 
Director
 
February 25, 2011
Arthur L. Smith
 
 
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Exhibits

Exhibit
Number
     
 
Description
         
2.1
   
Contribution Agreement, dated May 6, 2008, by and among the Partnership, Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. and Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008).
2.2
   
Membership Interest Sale Agreement, dated May 6, 2008, between the Partnership and Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008).
2.3
*
 
Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated May 6, 2008, by and among Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC, Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. and Pioneer Retained Properties Company LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008).
2.4
*
 
Omnibus Agreement, dated May 6, 2008, by and among the Partnership, Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC, Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC, Pioneer Natural Resources Company and Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.4 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008).
2.5
*
 
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated May 1, 2008, by and among Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC, Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc., Pioneer Retained Properties Company LLC and Pioneer Limited Natural Resources Properties LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 2, 2008).
2.6
*
 
First Amendment to Omnibus Agreement entered into as of December 31, 2008, to be effective as of May 6, 2008 among the Partnership, Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC, Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC, Pioneer Natural Resources Company and Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.6 to the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, File No. 001-34032).
2.7
*
 
Purchase And Sale Agreement By And Among Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc., Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC and the Partnership (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on September 3, 2009).
3.1
   
Certificate of Limited Partnership of Pioneer Resource Partners L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-144868)).
3.2
   
Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Limited Partnership of Pioneer Resource Partners L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
3.3
   
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. dated May 6, 2008, between Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC, as the General Partner, and Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc., as the Organizational Limited Partner, together with any other persons who become Partners (as defined in such agreement) in the Partnership (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008).
4.1
   
Form of Senior Indenture (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-162566)).
4.2
   
Form of Subordinated Indenture (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-162566)).
10.1
 
H
Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. 2008 Long Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.2
   
Administrative Services Agreement, dated May 6, 2008, among the Partnership, Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC, Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC, and Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008).
 
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10.3
   
Tax Sharing Agreement, dated May 6, 2008, by and between the Partnership and Pioneer Natural Resources Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008).
10.4
   
Omnibus Operating Agreement, dated May 6, 2008, by and between Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC and Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2008).
10.5
   
First Amendment dated August 31, 2009 to Omnibus Operating Agreement dated May 6, 2008, between Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. and Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on September 3, 2009).
10.6
 
H
Form of Restricted Unit Award Agreement for Initial Grants to Non-Employee Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 2, 2008).
10.7
 
H
Form of Restricted Unit Award Agreement for Annual Grants to Non-Employee Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on May 2, 2008).
10.8
   
Indemnification Agreement between the Partnership and Phillip A. Gobe, together with a schedule identifying other substantially identical agreements between the Partnership and each non-employee director of the Partnership's general partner identified on the schedule and identifying the material differences between each of those agreements and the filed Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on August 19, 2009).
10.9
   
Credit Agreement entered into as of October 29, 2007, among the Partnership, as the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and certain other lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.10
   
Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of December 14, 2007, among the Partnership, as the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and certain other lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.11
   
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of February 15, 2008, among the Partnership, as the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and certain other lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.12
   
Third Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of April 15, 2008, among the Partnership, as the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and certain other lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.13
   
Limited Waiver Regarding Credit Agreement, entered into as of March 26, 2009, among the Partnership, as the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2009).
10.14
   
Crude Oil Purchase Contract (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.15
   
Natural Gas Liquids Purchase Contract  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.16
   
Crude Oil Purchase Contract (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.17
   
Crude Oil Purchase Contract (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-144868)).
10.18
   
Omnibus Operating Agreement dated August 31, 2009, between Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. and Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners USA LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on September 3, 2009).

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PIONEER SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L.P.


10.19
   
Amendment to Crude Oil Purchase Contract filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, File No. 001-34032).
10.20
   
Amendment to Natural Gas Liquids Purchase Contract filed as Exhibit 10.10 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, File No. 001-34032).
10.21
   
Amendment to Crude Oil Purchase Contract filed as Exhibit 10.11 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, File No. 001-34032).
10.22
   
Amendment to Crude Oil Purchase Contract filed as Exhibit 10.12 to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, File No. 001-34032).
10.23
   
Crude Oil Contracts with Occidental Energy Marketing, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, File No. 001-34032)
10.24
  (a)
Amendment to Crude Oil Purchase Contract with Occidental Energy Marketing, Inc.
10.25
 
H
Form of Phantom Unit Award Agreement between the General Partner and Scott D. Sheffield, with respect to awards of phantom units made under the 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan, together with a schedule identifying other substantially identical agreements between the General Partner and each of its other recipients of phantom unit awards and identifying the material differences between those agreements and the filed Phantom Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-34032, filed with the SEC on March 9, 2010).
21.1
 
(a)
Subsidiaries of the registrant.
23.1
 
(a)
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2
 
(a)
Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.
31.1
 
(a)
Chief Executive Officer certification under Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
 
(a)
Chief Financial Officer certification under Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
 
(b)
Chief Executive Officer certification under Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2
 
(b)
Chief Financial Officer certification under Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
99.1
 
(a)
Report of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.
         
         

_____________
(a) Filed herewith.
(b) Furnished herewith.
H           Executive Compensation Plan or Arrangement previously filed pursuant to Item 15(b).

*Pursuant to the rules of the Commission, the schedules and similar attachments to the Agreement have not been filed. The registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the Commission upon request.
 
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