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 March 31, 1998

                                       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 / /






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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 March 31, 1998 and
              December 31, 1997   ......................................   3

           Statements of Operations for the three months
             ended March 31, 1998 and 1997..............................   4

           Statement of Partners' Capital for the three months
             ended March 31, 1998.......................................   5

           Statements of Cash Flows for the three months
             ended March 31, 1998 and 1997..............................   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   

           27.1    Financial Reporting 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

                                                     March 31,     December 31,
                                                       1998            1997
                                                    -----------    ------------
                                                    (Unaudited)
                 ASSETS
                 ------
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents, including interest 
     bearing deposits of $385,583 at March 31
     and $172,776 at December 31                   $    386,083    $    173,276
  Accounts receivable - oil and gas sales               124,321         141,577
  Accounts receivable - other                               -           268,137
                                                    -----------     -----------

          Total current assets                          510,404         582,990
                                                    -----------     -----------

Oil and gas properties - at cost, based on the
  successful efforts accounting method               16,871,047      16,869,232
Accumulated depletion                               (14,495,396)    (14,437,106)
                                                    -----------     -----------

          Net oil and gas properties                  2,375,651       2,432,126
                                                    -----------     -----------

                                                   $  2,886,055    $  3,015,116
                                                    ===========     ===========
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL
-------------------------------------
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable - affiliate                     $     36,416    $     38,648

Partners' capital:
  General partners                                      312,226         336,024
  Limited partners (19,505 interests)                 2,537,413       2,640,444
                                                    -----------     -----------

                                                      2,849,639       2,976,468
                                                    -----------     -----------

                                                   $  2,886,055    $  3,015,116
                                                    ===========     ===========

  The financial information included as of March 31, 1998 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
                                                                March 31,
                                                      -------------------------
                                                         1998            1997
                                                      ---------       ---------
Revenues:
   Oil and gas                                        $ 263,279       $ 388,462
   Interest                                               4,955           2,748
                                                       --------        --------

                                                        268,234         391,210
                                                       --------        --------
Costs and expenses:
   Oil and gas production                               188,037         229,254
   General and administrative                             7,532          13,438
   Depletion                                             58,290          78,664
                                                       --------        --------

                                                        253,859         321,356
                                                       --------        --------

Net income                                            $  14,375       $  69,854
                                                       ========        ========
Allocation of net income:
   General partners                                   $  12,535       $  29,709
                                                       ========        ========

   Limited partners                                   $   1,840       $  40,145
                                                       ========        ========

Net income per limited partnership interest           $     .09       $    2.06
                                                       ========        ========

Distributions per limited partnership interest        $    5.38       $    8.20
                                                       ========        ========


   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, 1998          $   336,024    $ 2,640,444    $ 2,976,468

   Distributions                        (36,333)      (104,871)      (141,204)

   Net income                            12,535          1,840         14,375
                                     ----------     ----------     ----------

Balance at March 31, 1998           $   312,226    $ 2,537,413    $ 2,849,639
                                     ==========     ==========     ==========





   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)



                                                           Three months ended
                                                                 March 31,
                                                          ---------------------
                                                            1998         1997
                                                          ---------   ---------

Cash flows from operating activities:

   Net income                                             $  14,375   $  69,854
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
     provided by operating activities:
        Depletion                                            58,290      78,664
 Changes in assets and liabilities:
   Accounts receivable                                       17,256      80,029
   Accounts payable                                          (2,232)      1,636
                                                           --------    --------

     Net cash provided by operating activities               87,689     230,183
                                                           --------    --------

Cash flows from investing activities:

   Additions to oil and gas properties                       (1,815)       (225)
   Proceeds from asset disposition                          268,137         -
                                                           --------    --------

     Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities    266,322        (225)
                                                           --------    --------
Cash flows used in financing activities:

   Cash distributions to partners                          (141,204)   (205,633)
                                                           --------    --------

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                   212,807      24,325
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period            173,276     171,664
                                                           --------    --------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                $ 386,083   $ 195,989
                                                           ========    ========



   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
                                 March 31, 1998
                                   (Unaudited)

Note 1.   Organization and nature of operations

Parker &  Parsley  83-A,  Ltd.  (the  "Partnership")  is a  limited  partnership
organized in 1983 under the laws of the State of Texas.

The Partnership  engages  primarily in oil and gas development and production in
Texas and is not involved in any industry segment other than oil and gas.

Note 2.   Basis of presentation

In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial statements as of March 31,
1998 of the Partnership  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.  However,  these interim results are not
necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

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,  1997,  as filed with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission,  a copy of which is  available  upon request by writing to
Rich Dealy,  Vice President and Chief  Accounting  Officer,  5205 North O'Connor
Boulevard, 1400 Williams Square West, Irving, Texas 75039-3746.

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

Results of Operations

Revenues:

The Partnership's  oil and gas revenues  decreased 32% to $263,279 from $388,462
for the three months ended March 31, 1998 and 1997,  respectively.  The decrease
in revenues  resulted from lower average prices received,  offset by an increase
in production. For the three months ended March 31, 1998, 12,635 barrels of oil,
4,722  barrels of natural gas liquids  ("NGLs") and 24,416 mcf of gas were sold,
or 21,426 barrel of oil equivalents  ("BOEs").  For the three months ended March
31, 1997, 12,987 barrels of oil and 36,042 mcf of gas were sold, or 18,994 BOEs.

As of September 30, 1997, the Partnership began accounting for processed natural
gas   production  as  processed   natural  gas  liquids  and  dry  residue  gas.
Consequently,  separate product volumes will not be comparable for periods prior
to September 30, 1997.  Also,  prices for gas products will not be comparable as
the price per mcf for natural gas for the three  months  ended March 31, 1998 is
the price received for dry residue gas and the price per mcf for natural gas for
the three months ended March 31, 1997 is a price for wet gas (i.e.,  natural gas
liquids combined with dry residue gas).

                                        7

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The average  price  received per barrel of oil  decreased  $6.72,  or 31%,  from
$21.83 for the three  months  ended March 31, 1997 to $15.11 for the same period
in 1998.  The average price  received per barrel of NGLs during the three months
ended  March 31,  1998 was $6.84.  The  average  price  received  per mcf of gas
decreased  44% from $2.91  during the three months ended March 31, 1997 to $1.64
for the same period in 1998. 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 three months ended March 31, 1998.

During  most of 1997,  the  Partnership  benefitted  from  higher  oil prices as
compared to previous  years.  However,  during the fourth  quarter of 1997,  oil
prices began a downward  trend that has continued  into March 1998. On April 23,
1998, the market price for West Texas  intermediate crude was $13.80 per barrel.
A continuation of the oil price environment experienced during the first quarter
of 1998 will have an adverse effect on the Partnership's  revenues and operating
cash flow and could result in additional  decreases in the carrying value of the
Partnership's oil and gas properties.

Costs and Expenses:

Total costs and expenses  decreased to $253,859 for the three months ended March
31,  1998 as compared  to  $321,356  for the same period in 1997,  a decrease of
$67,497, or 21%. This decrease was attributable to declines in production costs,
depletion and general and administrative expenses ("G&A").

Production  costs were  $188,037  for the three  months ended March 31, 1998 and
$229,254 for the same period in 1997  resulting in a $41,217  decrease,  or 18%.
The decrease was due to decreases in well maintenance costs,  workover expenses,
production taxes and the sale of 16 oil and gas wells during 1997.

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,  44% from $13,438 for the three months ended March 31,
1997 to $7,532 for the same period in 1998.

Depletion  was $58,290  for the three  months  ended March 31, 1998  compared to
$78,664  for the same  period in 1997,  a  decrease  of  $20,374,  or 26%.  This
decrease was  primarily  attributable  to a reduction in the  Partnership's  net
depletable  basis from charges take in  accordance  with  Statement of Financial
Accounting  Standards  No. 121,  "Accounting  for the  Impairment  of Long-Lived
Assets and for  Long-Lived  Assets to be Disposed  Of" ("SFAS  121")  during the
fourth  quarter of 1997,  offset by a decline in oil  reserves  during the three
months ended March 31, 1998 as a result of lower commodity prices.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating  activities  decreased  $142,494 during the three
months  ended  March 31, 1998 from the same period in 1997.  This  decrease  was
attributable to a decline in oil and gas sales  receipts,  offset by declines in
production costs and G&A expenses paid.


                                        8

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Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities

The Partnership's  investing  activities during the three months ended March 31,
1998 and 1997 included  expenditures related to equipment replacement on various
oil and gas properties.

Proceeds from asset  dispositions  of $268,137  were  received  during the three
months ended March 31, 1998 from the sale of 16 oil and gas wells during 1997.

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

Cash  was  sufficient  for the  three  months  ended  March  31,  1998 to  cover
distributions  to the partners of $141,204 of which $36,333 was  distributed  to
the general partners and $104,871 to the limited  partners.  For the same period
ended March 31, 1997, cash was sufficient for  distributions  to the partners of
$205,633 of which $45,692 was  distributed to the general  partners and $159,941
to the limited partners.

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.

Information systems for the year 2000

The managing general partner will be required to modify its information  systems
in order to  accurately  process  Partnership  data  referencing  the year 2000.
Because of the importance of occurrence  dates in the oil and gas industry,  the
consequences of not pursuing these  modifications  could be very  significant to
the Partnership's ability to manage and report operating activities.  Currently,
the managing general partner plans to contract with third parties to perform the
software  programming  changes  necessary to correct any existing  deficiencies.
Such programming  changes are anticipated to be completed and tested by March 1,
1999. The managing  general  partner will allocate a portion of the costs of the
year 2000 programming  charges to the Partnership when they are incurred,  along
with recurring general and administrative  expenses.  Although the costs are not
estimable at this time, they should not be significant to the Partnership.

------------

(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.



                                        9

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                           Part II. Other Information

Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)  Exhibits

       27.1  Financial Data Schedule

(b)  Reports on Form 8-K

        (1)  On April 2, 1998,  the  Partnership  filed a Current Report on Form
             8-K dated  March 31,  1998,  reporting  under  Item 4  (Changes  in
             Registrant's  Certifying  Accountants)  the  engagement  of Ernst &
             Young  LLP  as  the  Partnership's  independent  auditors  and  the
             dismissal of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP effective upon the completion of
             the audit of the  Partnership  for the fiscal year ending  December
             31, 1997.



                                       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:  May 1, 1998                 By:      /s/ Rich Dealy
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Rich Dealy, Vice President
                                               and Chief Accounting Officer


                                       11

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