Pioneer Successfully Appraises Well in Hawa Area in Tunisia

Pioneer Natural Resources reported a successful appraisal well in the Hawa area, one of three producing areas in the Adam production concession onshore southern Tunisia. The Hawa-2 well, currently producing over 3,000 gross barrels of oil per day, is the fifth well to produce from the Adam concession, now Tunisia's leading concession based on production volume which has reached over 13,000 barrels of oil per day.

To date, a 100% drilling success rate has been achieved in the Adam concession which includes the Adam, Dalia and Hawa producing areas. Pioneer holds a 28% participating interest in the concession operated by ENI.

These producing areas lie in the prolific Ghadames Basin which spans much of northern Africa including Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. Over the next 90 days, the Company expects to continue to increase production with a third well expected to be drilled and completed in the Adam area.

Scott D. Sheffield, Pioneer's Chairman and CEO, stated, "Entering Tunisia in 2001, we saw opportunity to test significant resource potential in a prolific onshore hydrocarbon basin without significant upfront financial investment. We are still in the early days of testing this potential and have already added significant value from our drilling program and have actively expanded our acreage position."