SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


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                                    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): December 18, 2006

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                        PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


           Delaware                    1-13245               75-2702753
       (State or other               (Commission          (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of incorporation)       File Number)       Identification Number)

    5205 N. O'Connor Blvd                                       75039
          Suite 200                                           (Zip code)
        Irving, Texas
   (Address of principal
     executive offices)


       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))






                        PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANY

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                         Page

Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election
of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers; Compensatory
Arrangements of Certain Officers........................................   3

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

            (d)  Exhibits...............................................   3

Signature...............................................................   4

Exhibit Index...........................................................   5




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Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment  of  Principal  Officers;   Compensatory  Arrangements  of  Certain
Officers.

     On December 18, 2006, the Compensation and Management Development Committee
(the "Committee") of the Board of Directors of Pioneer Natural Resources Company
(the "Company")  approved a program under the Company's 2006 Long-Term Incentive
Plan  to  make  grants  to the  Company's  executive  and  other  officers  of a
combination of restricted  stock and  performance  unit awards.  The delivery of
shares in payment of the  performance  unit awards will be  contingent  upon the
achievement of certain performance criteria.  The principal terms of the program
are reflected on a Summary Term Sheet approved by the Committee, a copy of which
is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

     The initial grants under the program are expected to be awarded in February
2007 and will be represented by agreements between the Company and each officer,
the terms of which are expected to be  substantially as described in the Summary
Term Sheet.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

        (d) Exhibits.

            10.1   --   Summary Term Sheet



                                       3






                                   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



                                    /s/ Darin G. Holderness
                                    -------------------------------------------
                                    Darin G. Holderness
                                    Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer


Dated: December 19, 2006





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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



         Exhibit
         Number                             Exhibit Title
         -------                            -------------

         10.1 (a)                           Summary Term Sheet



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         (a) Filed herewith.





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