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


                                    FORM 10-Q


  / x /          Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1997

                                       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 No. 2-90417


                           PARKER & PARSLEY 84-A, LTD.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

                Texas                                       75-1974814
    (State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)                    Identification Number)

303 West Wall, Suite 101, Midland, Texas                       79701
(Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip code)

       Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code : (915) 683-4768

                                 Not applicable
              (Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
                          if changed since last report)

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 / x / No / /

                               Page 1 of 11 pages.
                            Exhibit Index on page 10.


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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 84-A, LTD.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                           Page
                          Part I. Financial Information

Item 1.    Financial Statements

           Balance Sheets as of September 30, 1997 and
              December 31, 1996   .......................................    3

           Statements of Operations for the three and nine
             months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996....................    4

           Statement of Partners' Capital for the nine months
             ended September 30, 1997....................................    5

           Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended
             September 30, 1997 and 1996.................................    6

           Notes to Financial Statements.................................    7

Item 2.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
             Condition and Results of Operations.........................    7


                           Part II. Other Information

Item 6.    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K..............................   10

           27.   Financial Data Schedule

           Signatures....................................................   11


                                        2

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 84-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                          Part I. Financial Information

Item 1.   Financial Statements

                                 BALANCE SHEETS

                                                 September 30,     December 31,
                                                     1997              1996
                                                 -------------     ------------
                                                  (Unaudited)
                 ASSETS

Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents, including interest
     bearing deposits of $173,991 at September
     30 and $161,973 at December 31              $     174,491     $    162,473
   Accounts receivable - oil and gas sales             180,574          330,344
                                                   -----------      -----------
           Total current assets                        355,065          492,817
                                                   -----------      -----------
Oil and gas properties - at cost, based on the
   successful efforts accounting method             18,220,214       18,207,994
Accumulated depletion                              (14,499,271)     (14,264,426)
                                                   -----------      -----------
           Net oil and gas properties                3,720,943        3,943,568
                                                   -----------      -----------
                                                 $   4,076,008    $   4,436,385
                                                  ============     ============

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL

Current liabilities:
   Accounts payable - affiliate                  $      62,979    $      44,799
Partners' capital:
   General partners                                    423,571          490,387
   Limited partners (19,435 interests)               3,589,458        3,901,199
                                                   -----------      -----------
                                                     4,013,029        4,391,586
                                                   -----------      -----------
                                                 $   4,076,008    $   4,436,385
                                                  ============     ============

The financial information included as of September 30, 1997 has been prepared by
           management without audit by independent public accountants.

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

                                        3

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 84-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)


                                   Three months ended      Nine months ended
                                      September 30,          September 30,
                                  --------------------   ----------------------
                                     1997       1996        1997       1996
                                  ---------  ---------   ----------  ----------
Revenues:
   Oil and gas                    $ 342,616  $ 470,808   $1,207,108  $1,373,298
   Interest                           3,159      2,845        9,440       7,070
   Gain on disposition of assets        -          -          3,072         -
   Litigation settlement                -          -            -     1,055,353
                                   --------   --------    ---------   ---------
                                    345,775    473,653    1,219,620   2,435,721
                                   --------   --------    ---------   ---------
Costs and expenses:
   Oil and gas production           207,926    223,011      647,554     677,333
   General and administrative        11,513     15,232       39,948      44,624
   Depletion                         74,406     74,693      234,845     256,211
                                   --------   --------    ---------   ---------
                                    293,845    312,936      922,347     978,168
                                   --------   --------    ---------   ---------
Net income                        $  51,930  $ 160,717   $  297,273  $1,457,553
                                   ========   ========    =========   =========
Allocation of net income:
   General partners               $  23,518  $  51,660   $  109,084  $  369,597
                                   ========   ========    =========   =========
   Limited partners               $  28,412  $ 109,057   $  188,189  $1,087,956
                                   ========   ========    =========   =========
Net income per limited
   partnership interest           $    1.46  $    5.61   $     9.68  $    55.98
                                   ========   ========    =========   =========
Distributions per limited
   partnership interest           $    7.52  $    8.10   $    25.72  $    64.48
                                   ========   ========    =========   =========

         The financial information included herein has been prepared by
           management without audit by independent public accountants.

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

                                        4

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 84-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                         STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL
                                   (Unaudited)




                                       General       Limited
                                       partners      partners       Total
                                      ----------    ----------    ----------

Balance at January 1, 1997            $  490,387    $3,901,199    $4,391,586

    Distributions                       (175,900)     (499,930)     (675,830)

    Net income                           109,084       188,189       297,273
                                       ---------     ---------     ---------

Balance at September 30, 1997         $  423,571    $3,589,458    $4,013,029
                                       =========     =========     =========






         The financial information included herein has been prepared by
           management without audit by independent public accountants.

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

                                        5

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 84-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)


                                                         Nine months ended
                                                           September 30,
                                                      ------------------------
                                                         1997         1996
                                                      ----------   -----------
Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net income                                         $  297,273   $ 1,457,553
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
      cash provided by operating activities:
         Depletion                                       234,845       256,211
         Gain on disposition of assets                    (3,072)          -
   Changes in assets and liabilities:
         (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable      149,770       (30,284)
         Increase (decrease) in accounts payable          18,180       (23,263)
                                                       ---------    ----------
            Net cash provided by operating activities    696,996     1,660,217
                                                       ---------    ----------
Cash flows from investing activities:
   Additions to oil and gas properties                   (12,220)       (6,506)
   Proceeds from disposition of assets                     3,072           -
                                                       ---------    ----------
            Net cash used in investing activities         (9,148)       (6,506)
                                                       ---------    ----------
Cash flows from financing activities:
   Cash distributions to partners                       (675,830)   (1,633,743)
                                                       ---------    ----------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                 12,018        19,968
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period         162,473       157,388
                                                       ---------    ----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period            $  174,491   $   177,356
                                                       =========    ==========


         The financial information included herein has been prepared by
           management without audit by independent public accountants.

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

                                        6

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 84-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               September 30, 1997
                                   (Unaudited)

Note 1.     Basis of presentation

In the opinion of  management,  the unaudited  financial  statements of Parker &
Parsley  84-A,  Ltd.  (the  "Partnership")  as of September 30, 1997 and for the
three and nine months ended  September 30, 1997 and 1996 include all adjustments
and accruals  consisting only of normal recurring accrual  adjustments which are
necessary for a fair  presentation of the results for the interim period.  These
interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

Certain  information  and  footnote  disclosure  normally  included in financial
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles
have been  condensed  or  omitted  in this Form 10-Q  pursuant  to the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The financial statements
should  be read in  conjunction  with the  financial  statements  and the  notes
thereto  contained in the  Partnership's  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  a copy
of which is available upon request by writing to Rich Dealy,  Vice President and
Controller, 303 West Wall, Suite 101, Midland, Texas 79701.

Item 2.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
              and Results of Operations (1)

As of August 8, 1997, Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. ("Pioneer USA") became
the managing  general partner of the  Partnership,  joining the existing general
partner,  P&P Employees 84-A, Ltd. ("EMPL"),  a Texas limited  partnership whose
general partner is Pioneer USA, and 1,332 limited  partners.  Prior to August 8,
1997, the Partnership's managing general partner and the general partner of EMPL
was Parker & Parsley  Development L.P. ("PPDLP"),  a wholly-owned  subsidiary of
Parker & Parsley  Petroleum  Company  ("Parker &  Parsley").  On August 7, 1997,
Parker & Parsley and Mesa Inc. received shareholder approval to merge and create
Pioneer Natural  Resources  Company  ("Pioneer").  On August 8, 1997,  PPDLP was
merged  with and  into  Pioneer  USA,  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  Pioneer,
resulting  in  Pioneer  USA  becoming  the  managing   general  partner  of  the
Partnership and the general partner of EMPL as PPDLP's successor by merger.  For
a more complete  description of the Parker & Parsley and Mesa Inc.  merger,  see
Pioneer's  Registration  Statement on Form S-4 as filed with the  Securities and
Exchange Commission.

Results of Operations

Nine months ended September 30, 1997 compared with nine months ended
  September 30, 1996

Revenues:

The  Partnership's  oil  and  gas  revenues  decreased  12% to  $1,207,108  from
$1,373,298 for the nine months ended  September 30, 1997 as compared to the nine

                                        7

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months ended  September  30,  1996.  The  decrease in revenues  resulted  from a
decline in barrels of oil produced and sold and lower  average  prices  received
per barrel of oil and mcf of gas,  offset by an increase in mcf of gas  produced
and sold. For the nine months ended September 30, 1997, 42,828 barrels were sold
compared to 47,627 for the same period in 1996, a decrease of 4,799 barrels,  or
10%. For the nine months ended September 30, 1997,  178,633 mcf of gas were sold
compared  to 177,818 for the same  period in 1996,  an increase of 815 mcf.  The
decrease  in  oil   production   volumes  was   primarily  due  to  the  decline
characteristics  of  the  Partnership's  oil  properties.  The  increase  in gas
production   volumes  was  due  to   operational   changes  on  several  of  the
Partnership's gas properties.  Management expects a certain amount of decline in
production  in the  future  until  the  Partnership's  economically  recoverable
reserves are fully depleted.

The average price received per barrel of oil decreased $1.42, or 7%, from $21.01
for the nine months  ended  September  30, 1996 to $19.59 for the same period in
1997,  while the average price  received per mcf of gas decreased  slightly from
$2.09  during the nine months  ended  September  30, 1996 to $2.06 in 1997.  The
market price for oil and gas has been extremely volatile in the past decade, and
management expects a certain amount of volatility to continue in the foreseeable
future.  The Partnership may therefore sell its future oil and gas production at
average  prices lower or higher than that received  during the nine months ended
September 30, 1997.

A gain on disposition of assets of $3,072, received during the nine months ended
September  30, 1997,  was derived  from  equipment  disposals  on one  saltwater
disposal well.

On April 29, 1996, Southmark  Corporation,  the managing general partner and the
Partnership entered into a final $7.4 million settlement  agreement with Jack N.
Price resolving all outstanding litigation between the parties. As a result, all
of the pending lawsuits and judgments have been dismissed,  the supersedeas bond
released,  and the Reserve  released as  collateral.  On June 28,  1996, a final
distribution  was made to the  working  interest  owners  of  $1,055,353,  which
included  $825,594,   or  $42.48  per  limited  partnership   interest,  to  the
Partnership and its partners.

Costs and Expenses:

Total  costs and  expenses  decreased  to  $922,347  for the nine  months  ended
September  30,  1997 as compared  to  $978,168  for the same  period in 1996,  a
decrease of  $55,821,  or 6%. This  decrease  was due to declines in  production
costs, depletion and general and administrative expenses ("G&A").

Production  costs were $647,554 for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and
$677,333 for the same period in 1996 resulting in a $29,779 decrease, or 4%. The
decrease  was due to lower well  maintenance  costs and a decline in  production
taxes.

G&A's  components are independent  accounting and engineering  fees and managing
general  partner  personnel  and  operating  costs.   During  this  period,  G&A
decreased,  in aggregate,  10% from $44,624 for the nine months ended  September
30, 1996 to $39,948 for the same period in 1997.

Depletion was $234,845 for the nine months ended  September 30, 1997 compared to
$256,211 for the same period in 1996, representing a decrease of $21,366, or 8%.

                                        8

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Three months ended September 30, 1997 compared with three months ended
  September 30, 1996

Revenues:

The Partnership's  oil and gas revenues  decreased 27% to $342,616 from $470,808
for the three  months ended  September  30, 1997 as compared to the three months
ended  September  30, 1996.  The decrease in revenues  resulted from declines in
barrels  of oil and mcf of gas  produced  and  sold  and  lower  average  prices
received per barrel of oil and mcf of gas. For the three months ended  September
30, 1997, 12,952 barrels of oil were sold compared to 16,130 for the same period
in 1996,  a  decrease  of 3,178  barrels,  or 20%.  For the three  months  ended
September 30, 1997,  58,970 mcf of gas were sold compared to 61,417 for the same
period in 1996,  a decrease  of 2,447 mcf,  or 4%. The  decrease  in  production
volumes was primarily due to the decline  characteristics  of the  Partnership's
oil and gas properties.

The average  price  received per barrel of oil  decreased  $3.59,  or 17%,  from
$21.71 for the three months ended  September 30, 1996 compared to $18.12 for the
same period in 1997,  while the average price  received per mcf of gas decreased
7% from $1.96 during the three months ended September 30, 1996 to $1.83 in 1997.

Costs and Expenses:

Total costs and  expenses  decreased  to  $293,845  for the three  months  ended
September  30,  1997 as compared  to  $312,936  for the same  period in 1996,  a
decrease of  $19,091,  or 6%. This  decrease  was due to declines in  production
costs, G&A and depletion.

Production costs were $207,926 for the three months ended September 30, 1997 and
$223,011 for the same period in 1996,  resulting in a $15,085  decrease,  or 7%.
The decrease was due to declines in well maintenance costs and production taxes,
offset by an increase in ad valorem taxes.

G&A's  components are independent  accounting and engineering  fees and managing
general  partner  personnel  and  operating  costs.   During  this  period,  G&A
decreased,  in aggregate,  24% from $15,232 for the three months ended September
30, 1996 to $11,513 for the same period in 1997.

Depletion was $74,406 for the three months ended  September 30, 1997 compared to
$74,693  for the same  period in 1996,  representing  a decrease  of $287.  This
decrease was  attributable  to a decline in oil  production of 3,178 barrels for
the nine months ended  September 30, 1997,  compared to the same period in 1996,
offset by a decline in oil reserves during 1997 due to lower commodity prices.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating  activities  decreased  $963,221  during the nine
months  ended  September  30,  1997  from the same  period  ended in 1996.  This
decrease  resulted  primarily  from the receipt of proceeds from the  litigation
settlement  in 1996 as  discussed  in Item 2 and a decline in  production  costs
paid, offset by an increase in oil and gas sales receipts.

                                        9

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Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

The Partnership's  principal  investing  activities during the nine months ended
September  30,  1997  and  1996  were  related  to  expenditures  for  equipment
replacement on various oil and gas properties.

Proceeds from  disposition of assets of $3,072 were received for the nine months
ended  September  30,  1997 from the  disposal  of  equipment  on one  saltwater
disposal well.

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

Cash was  sufficient  for the nine  months  ended  September  30,  1997 to cover
distributions  to the partners of $675,830 of which $175,900 was  distributed to
the general partners and $499,930 to the limited  partners.  For the same period
ended September 30, 1996, cash was sufficient for  distributions to the partners
of  $1,633,743 of which  $380,603 was  distributed  to the general  partners and
$1,253,140  to the  limited  partners.  Cash  distributions  to the  partners of
$1,633,743 for the nine months ended September 30, 1996 included $229,759 to the
general partners and $825,594 to the limited  partners,  resulting from proceeds
received in the litigation settlement as discussed in Item 2.

It is expected  that future net cash  provided by operating  activities  will be
sufficient for any capital expenditures and any distributions. As the production
from the properties declines, distributions are also expected to decrease.
---------------

(1)    "Item 2. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
       Results of Operations"  contains forward looking  statements that involve
       risks and uncertainties. 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.

                           Part II. Other Information

Item 6.     Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)   Exhibits

      27.   Financial Data Schedule

(b)   Reports on Form 8-K - none

                                       10

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 84-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)



                               S I G N A T U R E S



       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 thereunto duly authorized.


                                          PARKER & PARSLEY 84-A, LTD.

                                   By:    Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.,
                                           Managing General Partner




Dated:  November 6, 1997          By:    /s/ Rich Dealy
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Rich Dealy, Vice President and
                                            Controller


                                       11

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