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. 2-81398A


                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           Texas                                                75-1891384
(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 83-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 83-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 $172,133 at September 30
    and $171,164 at December 31                    $    172,633    $    171,664
  Accounts receivable - oil and gas sales               180,254         271,000
                                                    -----------     -----------

        Total current assets                            352,887         442,664
                                                    -----------     -----------

Oil and gas properties - at cost, based on the
  successful efforts accounting method               17,830,231      17,822,921
Accumulated depletion                               (14,050,689)    (13,806,313)
                                                    -----------     -----------

        Net oil and gas properties                    3,779,542       4,016,608
                                                    -----------     -----------

                                                   $  4,132,429    $  4,459,272
                                                    ===========     ===========

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL

Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable - affiliate                     $     54,648    $     38,807

Partners' capital:
  General partners                                      448,184         492,167
  Limited partners (19,505 interests)                 3,629,597       3,928,298
                                                    -----------     -----------

                                                      4,077,781       4,420,465
                                                    -----------     -----------

                                                   $  4,132,429    $  4,459,272
                                                    ===========     ===========







  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 83-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                    $  334,375  $  440,353   $1,063,146  $1,260,313
  Interest                            2,794       4,960        8,473      13,660
  Litigation settlement                 -           -            -       852,211
  Gain on disposition of assets         -           -            -           924
                                  ---------    --------    ---------   ---------
                                    337,169     445,313    1,071,619   2,127,108
                                  ---------    --------    ---------   ---------

Costs and expenses:
  Oil and gas production            198,636     184,232      638,468     544,997
  General and administrative         11,950      14,439       37,103      41,534
  Depletion                          81,381      73,611      244,376     241,409
                                  ---------    --------    ---------   ---------
                                    291,967     272,282      919,947     827,940
                                  ---------    --------    ---------   ---------

Net income                       $   45,202  $  173,031   $  151,672  $1,299,168
                                  =========   =========    =========   =========

Allocation of net income:
  General partners               $   23,988  $   54,607   $   75,877  $  331,430
                                  =========   =========    =========   =========

  Limited partners               $   21,214  $  118,424   $   75,795  $  967,738
                                  =========   =========    =========   =========

Net income per limited
  partnership interest           $     1.09  $     6.07   $     3.89  $    49.61
                                  =========   =========    =========   =========

Distributions per limited
  partnership interest           $     5.00  $     8.60   $    19.20  $    57.63
                                  =========   =========    =========   =========










   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 83-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                         STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL
                                   (Unaudited)




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

Balance at January 1, 1997        $  492,167     $ 3,928,298     $  4,420,465

    Distributions                   (119,860)       (374,496)        (494,356)

    Net income                        75,877          75,795          151,672
                                   ---------      ----------      -----------

Balance at September 30, 1997     $  448,184     $ 3,629,597     $  4,077,781
                                   =========      ==========      ===========




















   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 83-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                                           $ 151,672   $ 1,299,168
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
     cash provided by operating activities:
       Depletion                                          244,376       241,409
       Gain on disposition of assets                          -            (924)
   Changes in assets and liabilities:
       (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable          90,746       (44,585)
       Increase (decrease) in accounts payable             15,841       (44,760)
                                                         --------    ----------

         Net cash provided by operating activities        502,635     1,450,308
                                                         --------    ----------

Cash flows from investing activities:

   Additions to oil and gas properties                     (7,310)         (604)
   Proceeds from disposition of assets                        -             924
                                                         --------   -----------

         Net cash provided by (used in)
           investing activities                            (7,310)          320
                                                         --------    ----------

Cash flows from financing activities:

   Cash distributions to partners                        (494,356)   (1,463,369)
                                                         --------    ----------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents          969       (12,741)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period          171,664       377,780
                                                         --------    ----------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period              $ 172,633   $   365,039
                                                         ========    ==========







   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 83-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  83-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 83-A, Ltd. ("EMPL"),  a Texas limited  partnership whose
general partner is Pioneer USA, and 1,352 limited  partners as of March 8, 1997.
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  16% to  $1,063,146  from
$1,260,313 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 declines
in barrels of oil and mcf of gas  produced  and sold and a lower  average  price
received per barrel of oil. For the nine months ended September 30, 1997, 38,890
barrels  of oil were sold  compared  to 43,607  for the same  period in 1996,  a
decrease of 4,717 barrels, or 11%. For the nine months ended September 30, 1997,
128,006 mcf of gas were sold  compared to 150,571 for the same period in 1996, a
decrease  of 22,565  mcf, or 15%.  The  decreases  in  production  volumes  were
primarily due to the decline  characteristics  of the  Partnership's oil and gas
properties.  Because  of these  characteristics,  management  expects  a certain
amount  of  decline  in   production   to  continue  in  the  future  until  the
Partnership's economically recoverable reserves are fully depleted.

The average price received per barrel of oil decreased $1.26, or 6%, from $20.87
for the nine months  ended  September  30, 1996 to $19.61 for the same period in
1997,  while the average price  received per mcf of gas increased  slightly from
$2.33 for the nine months ended  September 30, 1996 to $2.35 for the same period
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.

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 $852,211, which included
$669,535, or $34.33 per limited partnership interest, to the Partnership and its
partners.

The gain on disposition of assets of $924 resulted from salvage income  received
during the nine months ended September 30, 1996, from equipment credits received
on two fully depleted wells.

Costs and Expenses:

Total  costs and  expenses  increased  to  $919,947  for the nine  months  ended
September  30,  1997 as compared  to  $827,940  for the same period in 1996,  an
increase of $92,007,  or 11%.  This  increase was due to increases in production
costs and depletion,  offset by a decline in general and administrative expenses
("G&A").

Production  costs were $638,468 for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and
$544,997 for the same period in 1996  resulting in a $93,471  increase,  or 17%.
The increase was  attributable to higher well repair and maintenance  costs, and
workover expense incurred in an effort to stimulate well production.

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,  11% from $41,534 for the nine months ended  September
30, 1996 to $37,103 for the same period in 1997.

Depletion was $244,376 for the nine months ended  September 30, 1997 compared to
$241,409 for the same period in 1996,  representing  an increase of $2,967.  The
increase was  attributable  to a decline in oil reserves during 1997 as a result
of lower commodity prices.

                                        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 24% to $334,375 from $440,353
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 the
average prices received per barrel of oil and mcf of gas and declines in barrels
of oil and mcf of gas  produced and sold.  For the three months ended  September
30, 1997, 13,139 barrels of oil were sold compared to 14,846 for the same period
in 1996,  a  decrease  of 1,707  barrels,  or 11%.  For the three  months  ended
September 30, 1997,  44,065 mcf of gas were sold compared to 51,948 for the same
period in 1996,  a decrease of 7,883 mcf, or 15%. The  decreases  in  production
volumes were due to the decline characteristics of the Partnership's oil and gas
properties.

The average  price  received per barrel of oil  decreased  $3.42,  or 16%,  from
$21.72 for the three  months  ended  September  30, 1996 to $18.30 for the three
months ended  September 30, 1997 while the average price received per mcf of gas
decreased 6% from $2.27 for the three months ended  September  30, 1996 to $2.13
for the same period in 1997.

Costs and Expenses:

Total costs and  expenses  increased  to  $291,967  for the three  months  ended
September  30,  1997 as compared  to  $272,282  for the same period in 1996,  an
increase of $19,685,  or 7%. This  increase was due to  increases in  production
costs and depletion, offset by a decline in G&A.

Production costs were $198,636 for the three months ended September 30, 1997 and
$184,232 for the same period in 1996 resulting in a $14,404 increase, or 8%. The
increase  was due to higher well  repair and  maintenance  costs  incurred in an
effort to stimulate production.

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,  17% from $14,439 for the three months ended September
30, 1996 to $11,950 for the same period in 1997.

Depletion was $81,381 for the three months ended  September 30, 1997 compared to
$73,611 for the same period in 1996, representing an increase of $7,770, or 11%,
primarily  attributable  to a decline in oil reserves during 1997 as a result of
lower commodity prices.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating  activities  decreased  $947,673  during the nine
months  ended  September  30, 1997  compared  to the same  period in 1996.  This
decrease  was due to the  receipt of  proceeds  from the  litigation  settlement
received  in 1996 as  discussed  in Item 2, in addition to a decrease in oil and
gas sales receipts, and an increase in production and G&A costs paid.



                                        9

<PAGE>



Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities

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

During the nine months ended September 30, 1996,  proceeds of $924 were received
from the disposal of oil and gas equipment on two fully depleted properties.

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

Cash was  sufficient  for the nine  months  ended  September  30,  1997 to cover
distributions  to the partners of $494,356 of which $119,860 was  distributed to
the general partners and $374,496 to the limited  partners.  For the same period
ended September 30, 1996, cash was sufficient for  distributions to the partners
of  $1,463,369 of which  $339,266 was  distributed  to the general  partners and
$1,124,103  to the  limited  partners.  Cash  distributions  to the  partners of
$1,463,369 for the nine months ended September 30, 1996 included $182,676 to the
general partners and $669,535 to the limited  partners,  resulting from proceeds
received in the litigation settlement during 1996 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 83-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 83-A, LTD.

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




Dated:  November 10, 1997        By:      /s/ Rich Dealy
                                          ------------------------------------
                                          Rich Dealy, Vice President and
                                            Controller



                                       11

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