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


FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT

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

 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  April 25, 2012
 

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

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

 
 

 

Item 2.02.                      Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Explanatory note:  Pioneer Natural Resources Company and its subsidiaries ("Pioneer" or the "Company") presents in this Item 2.02 certain information regarding the impact of changes in the fair values of its derivative instruments on the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and certain other information regarding its derivative instruments.

The following table summarizes net derivative gains and losses that Pioneer expects to record in its earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2012:

DERIVATIVE GAINS, NET
(in thousands)

 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2012
Noncash changes in fair value:
 
 
 
Oil derivative losses
$
 (49,869)
 
Natural gas liquids (''NGL'') derivative gains
 
 2,883 
 
Gas derivative gains
 
 71,735 
 
Diesel derivative losses
 
 (270)
 
Marketing derivative losses
 
 (46)
 
Interest rate derivative gains
 
 3,620 
 
 
Total noncash derivative gains, net
 
 28,053 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash settled changes in fair value:
 
 
 
Oil derivative losses
 
 (6,604)
 
NGL derivative gains
 
 1,913 
 
Gas derivative gains
 
 66,546 
 
Diesel derivative gains
 
 1,864 
 
Marketing derivative losses
 
 (22)
 
 
Total cash derivative gains, net
 
 63,697 
 
 
 
Total derivative gains, net
$
 91,750 
 

 
 
 

 
Item 7.01                 Regulation FD Disclosure

Oil, NGL and gas price derivatives. The following table presents Pioneer’s open commodity oil, NGL and gas derivative positions as of April 20, 2012:

 
 
 
 
2012 
 
Twelve Months Ending December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
Second Quarter
 
Third Quarter
 
Fourth Quarter
 
2013 
 
2014 
 
2015 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average Daily Oil Production Associated with
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Derivatives (Bbls):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collar Contracts with Short Puts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 41,610 
 
 
 50,110 
 
 
 53,110 
 
 
 67,290 
 
 
 40,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Price:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceiling
$
 118.24 
 
$
 118.61 
 
$
 118.85 
 
$
 120.61 
 
$
 122.77 
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
 
Floor
$
 82.36 
 
$
 84.50 
 
$
 85.09 
 
$
 88.88 
 
$
 91.50 
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
 
Short Put
$
 66.52 
 
$
 68.80 
 
$
 69.44 
 
$
 71.72 
 
$
 74.88 
 
$
 - 
 
 
Collar Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 2,000 
 
 
 2,000 
 
 
 2,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Price:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceiling
$
 127.00 
 
$
 127.00 
 
$
 127.00 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
 
Floor
$
 90.00 
 
$
 90.00 
 
$
 90.00 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
Swap Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 3,000 
 
 
 3,000 
 
 
 3,000 
 
 
 3,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Price
$
 79.32 
 
$
 79.32 
 
$
 79.32 
 
$
 81.02 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
Rollfactor Swap Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 2,011 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 6,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
NYMEX Roll price (a)
$
 0.28 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 0.43 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
Basis Swap Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Argus Index Swap volume (b)
 
 - 
 
 
 20,000 
 
 
 20,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Price
$
 - 
 
$
 (1.15)
 
$
 (1.15)
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
Average Daily NGL Production Associated with
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Derivatives (Bbls):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collar Contracts with Short Puts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 3,000 
 
 
 3,000 
 
 
 3,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Index price (c):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceiling
$
 79.99 
 
$
 79.99 
 
$
 79.99 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
 
Floor
$
 67.70 
 
$
 67.70 
 
$
 67.70 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
 
Short Put
$
 55.76 
 
$
 55.76 
 
$
 55.76 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
 
Swap Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 750 
 
 
 750 
 
 
 750 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Index price (c)
$
 35.03 
 
$
 35.03 
 
$
 35.03 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
Average Daily Gas Production Associated with
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Derivatives (MMBtu):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collar Contracts with Short Puts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 60,000 
 
 
 30,000 
 
 
 
Price (d):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceiling
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 7.80 
 
$
 7.11 
 
 
 
 
Floor
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 5.83 
 
$
 5.00 
 
 
 
 
Short Put
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 - 
 
$
 4.42 
 
$
 4.00 
 
 
Collar Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 65,000 
 
 
 65,000 
 
 
 65,000 
 
 
 150,000 
 
 
 140,000 
 
 
 50,000 
 
 
 
Price (d):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceiling
$
 6.60 
 
$
 6.60 
 
$
 6.60 
 
$
 6.25 
 
$
 6.44 
 
$
 7.92 
 
 
 
 
Floor
$
 5.00 
 
$
 5.00 
 
$
 5.00 
 
$
 5.00 
 
$
 5.00 
 
$
 5.00 
 
 
Swap Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
 275,000 
 
 
 275,000 
 
 
 275,000 
 
 
 112,500 
 
 
 50,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Price (d):
$
 4.97 
 
$
 4.97 
 
$
 4.97 
 
$
 5.62 
 
$
 6.05 
 
$
 - 
 
 
Basis Swap Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Permian Basin Index Swap volume (e)
 
 32,500 
 
 
 32,500 
 
 
 32,500 
 
 
 52,500 
 
 
 45,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Price differential ($/MMBtu)
$
 (0.38)
 
$
 (0.38)
 
$
 (0.38)
 
$
 (0.23)
 
$
 (0.27)
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
Mid-Continent Index Swap volume (e)
 
 50,000 
 
 
 50,000 
 
 
 50,000 
 
 
 30,000 
 
 
 30,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Price differential ($/MMBtu)
$
 (0.53)
 
$
 (0.53)
 
$
 (0.53)
 
$
 (0.38)
 
$
 (0.27)
 
$
 - 
 
 
 
Gulf Coast Index Swap volume (e)
 
 53,500 
 
 
 53,500 
 
 
 53,500 
 
 
 60,000 
 
 
 40,000 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
Price differential ($/MMBtu)
$
 (0.15)
 
$
 (0.15)
 
$
 (0.15)
 
$
 (0.14)
 
$
 (0.16)
 
$
 - 
 
__________
(a)
Represent swaps that fix the difference between (i) each day's price per Bbl of West Texas Intermediate oil "WTI" for the first nearby month less (ii) the price per Bbl of WTI for the second nearby NYMEX month, multiplied by .6667; plus (iii) each day's price per Bbl of WTI for the first nearby month less (iv) the price per Bbl of WTI for the third nearby NYMEX month, multiplied by .3333.
(b)
Represent swaps that fix the basis differential between ARGUS Midland WTI and ARGUS Cushing WTI.
(c)
Represents weighted average index price per Bbl of each NGL component.
(d)
Represents the NYMEX Henry Hub ("NYMEX HH") index price on the derivative trade date.
(e)
Represent swaps that fix the basis differentials between the indices price at which the Company sells its Permian Basin, Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast gas and the NYMEX HH index price used in gas swap contracts.
 
 
 

 

 
Interest rate derivatives.  As of March 31, 2012, the Company had interest rate derivative contracts that lock in a fixed forward annual interest rate of 3.06%, for a 10-year period ending in August 2022, on a notional amount of $200 million.  These derivative contracts mature and settle by their terms during August 2012.
 
During April 2012, the Company entered into interest rate derivative contracts that lock in a fixed forward annual interest rate of 3.21%, for a 10-year period ending in December 2025, on a notional amount of $250 million.  These derivative contracts mature and settle by their terms during December 2015.
 
Marketing and basis transfer derivatives. Periodically, the Company enters into gas buy and sell marketing arrangements to fulfill firm pipeline transportation commitments.  Associated with these gas marketing arrangements, the Company may enter into gas index swaps to mitigate price risk.

From time to time, the Company also enters into long and short gas swap contracts that transfer gas basis risk from one sales index to another sales index.  The following table presents Pioneer’s open marketing and basis transfer derivative positions as of April 20, 2012:

 
 
 
 
2012 
 
 
 
 
 
Second Quarter
 
Third Quarter
 
Fourth Quarter
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average Daily Gas Production Associated with Marketing Derivatives (MMBtu):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basis Swap Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Index Swap volume
 
 36,703 
 
 
 40,000 
 
 
 13,478 
 
 
 
Price differential ($/MMBtu)
$
 0.22 
 
$
 0.25 
 
$
 0.25 
 
Average Daily Gas Production Associated with Basis Transfer Derivatives (MMBtu):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basis Swap Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Short Index Swap volume
 
 5,000 
 
 
 5,000 
 
 
 1,685 
 
 
 
NGI-So Cal Border Monthly price differential to NYMEX HH ($/MMBtu)
$
 0.12 
 
$
 0.12 
 
$
 0.12 
 
 
 
Long Index Swap volume
 
 (5,000)
 
 
 (5,000)
 
 
 (1,685)
 
 
 
IF-HSC price differential to NYMEX HH ($/MMBtu)
$
 (0.05)
 
$
 (0.05)
 
$
 (0.05)
 

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements and the business prospects of the Company are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, volatility of commodity prices, product supply and demand, competition, the ability to obtain environmental and other permits and the timing thereof, other government regulation or action, the ability to obtain approvals from third parties and negotiate agreements with third parties on mutually acceptable terms, litigation, the costs and results of drilling and operations, availability of equipment, services and personnel required to complete the Company's operating activities, access to and availability of transportation, processing and refining facilities, Pioneer's ability to replace reserves, implement its business plans or complete its development activities as scheduled, access to and cost of capital, the financial strength of counterparties to Pioneer's credit facility, derivative contracts and joint ventures and the purchasers of Pioneer's oil, NGL and gas production, uncertainties about estimates of reserves and the ability to add proved reserves in the future, the assumptions underlying production forecasts, quality of technical data, environmental and weather risks, including the possible impacts of climate change, the risks associated with the ownership and operation of an industrial sand mining business, international operations, and associated international political and economic instability, and acts of war or terrorism. These and other risks are described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the Company may be subject to currently unforeseen risks that may have a materially adverse impact on it. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that the actual events and results will not be materially different than the anticipated results described in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no duty to publicly update these statements except as required by law.

 
 

 


SIGNATURES


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


 
PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANY
 
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Frank W. Hall                                                                                        
 
   
Frank W. Hall,
 
   
Vice President and Chief
 
   
Accounting Officer
 
       
Dated:  April 25, 2012