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


                                    FORM 10-Q


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

                  For the quarterly period ended June 30, 1999


                          Commission File No. 2-81398B


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


               Texas                                      75-1907245
   (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-B, LTD.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                       Page
                          Part I. Financial Information

Item 1.    Financial Statements

           Balance Sheets as of June 30, 1999 and
              December 31, 1998......................................    3

           Statements of Operations for the three and six
             months ended June 30, 1999 and 1998.....................    4

           Statement of Partners' Capital for the six months
             ended June 30, 1999.....................................    5

           Statements of Cash Flows for the six months
             ended June 30, 1999 and 1998............................    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..........................   12

           27.1   Financial Data Schedule

           Signatures................................................   13





                                        2

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-B, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                          Part I. Financial Information

Item 1.    Financial Statements

                                 BALANCE SHEETS

                                                     June 30,      December 31,
                                                       1999            1998
                                                   ------------    ------------
                                                   (Unaudited)

                     ASSETS

Current assets:
  Cash                                             $    216,407    $    173,699
  Accounts receivable - oil and gas sales               229,851         150,704
                                                    -----------     -----------
           Total current assets                         446,258         324,403
                                                    -----------     -----------
Oil and gas properties - at cost, based on the
  successful efforts accounting method               19,491,240      19,489,320
Accumulated depletion                               (17,404,813)    (17,284,587)
                                                    -----------     -----------
     Net oil and gas properties                       2,086,427       2,204,733
                                                    -----------     -----------
                                                   $  2,532,685    $  2,529,136
                                                    ===========     ===========

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL

Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable - affiliate                     $     59,378    $     34,427

Partners' capital:
  General partners                                      308,663         297,127
  Limited partners (23,370 interests)                 2,164,644       2,197,582
                                                    -----------     -----------
                                                      2,473,307       2,494,709
                                                    -----------     -----------
                                                   $  2,532,685    $  2,529,136
                                                    ===========     ===========



   The financial information included as of June 30, 1999 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-B, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)



                                    Three months ended       Six months ended
                                         June 30,                 June 30,
                                  ---------------------   ---------------------
                                     1999        1998        1999        1998
                                  ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Revenues:
  Oil and gas                     $ 379,880   $ 324,521   $ 621,001   $ 669,914
  Interest                            2,383       3,077       4,336       6,622
  Gain on disposition of assets         -           157         -           157
                                   --------    --------    --------    --------
                                    382,263     327,755     625,337     676,693
                                   --------    --------    --------    --------
Costs and expenses:
  Oil and gas production            210,785     262,138     416,974     529,323
  General and administrative         12,187      10,964      21,326      21,809
  Depletion                          38,612      74,979     120,226     155,978
                                   --------    --------    --------    --------
                                    261,584     348,081     558,526     707,110
                                   --------    --------    --------    --------
Net income (loss)                 $ 120,679   $ (20,326)  $  66,811   $ (30,417)
                                   ========    ========    ========    ========
Allocation of net income (loss):
   General partners               $  36,160   $   6,449   $  35,411   $  16,197
                                   ========    ========    ========    ========
   Limited partners               $  84,519   $ (26,775)  $  31,400   $ (46,614)
                                   ========    ========    ========    ========
Net income (loss) per limited
  partnership interest            $    3.61   $   (1.14)  $    1.34   $   (1.99)
                                   ========    ========    ========    ========
Distributions per limited
  partnership interest            $    1.79   $    1.50   $    2.75   $    7.10
                                   ========    ========    ========    ========



         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-B, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                         STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL
                                   (Unaudited)




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

Balance at January 1, 1999            $  297,127     $2,197,582     $2,494,709

    Distributions                        (23,875)       (64,338)       (88,213)

    Net income                            35,411         31,400         66,811
                                       ---------      ---------      ---------

Balance at June 30, 1999              $  308,663     $2,164,644     $2,473,307
                                       =========      =========      =========






         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-B, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)



                                                           Six months ended
                                                               June 30,
                                                      -------------------------
                                                         1999             1998
                                                      ----------    -----------
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income (loss)                                   $   66,811    $  (30,417)
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to
    net cash provided by operating activities:
       Depletion                                         120,226       155,978
       Gain on disposition of assets                         -            (157)
  Changes in assets and liabilities:
    Accounts receivable                                  (79,147)       55,351
    Accounts payable                                      24,951        11,694
                                                       ---------     ---------
          Net cash provided by operating activities      132,841       192,449
                                                       ---------     ---------
Cash flows from investing activities:
  Additions to oil and gas properties                     (2,390)      (12,611)
  Proceeds from asset disposition                            470        10,974
                                                       ---------     ---------
          Net cash used in investing activities           (1,920)       (1,637)
                                                       ---------     ---------
Cash flows used in financing activities:
  Cash distributions to partners                         (88,213)     (222,020)
                                                       ---------     ---------
Net increase (decrease) in cash                           42,708       (31,208)
Cash at beginning of period                              173,699       232,778
                                                       ---------     ---------
Cash at end of period                                 $  216,407    $  201,570
                                                       =========     =========




         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-B, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  June 30, 1999
                                   (Unaudited)


Note 1.     Organization and nature of organization

Parker &  Parsley  83-B,  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  of the
Partnership  as of June 30, 1999 and for the three and six months ended June 30,
1999 and 1998 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, 1998, 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

Six months ended June 30, 1999 compared with six months ended
  June 30, 1998

Revenues:

The  Partnership's  oil and gas revenues  decreased 7% to $621,001 from $669,914
for the six months ended June 30, 1999 and 1998,  respectively.  The decrease in
revenues  resulted  from  lower  average  prices  received,  offset  by a slight
increase in production.  For the six months ended June 30, 1999,  27,730 barrels
of oil,  17,155  barrels of natural gas liquids  ("NGLs")  and 79,292 mcf of gas

                                        7

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were sold,  or 58,100  barrel of oil  equivalents  ("BOEs").  For the six months
ended June 30, 1998,  31,285  barrels of oil,  14,787 barrels of NGLs and 71,913
mcf of gas were sold, or 58,058 BOEs.

The average  price  received per barrel of oil  decreased 6% from $14.25 for the
six  months  ended  June 30,  1998 to $13.33  for the same  period in 1999.  The
average price received per barrel of NGLs increased 6% from $7.46 during the six
months  ended June 30,  1998 to $7.94 for the same  period in 1999.  The average
price  received  per mcf of gas  decreased  8% from $1.58  during the six months
ended June 30, 1998 to $1.45 in 1999.  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 six months ended June 30, 1999.

The volatility of commodity prices has had, and continues to have, a significant
impact on the Partnership's revenues and operating cash flow and could result in
additional  decreases to the  carrying  value of the  Partnership's  oil and gas
properties.

A gain on  disposition  of assets of $157 was  recognized  during the six months
ended June 30, 1998 from post closing adjustments  received from the sale of two
oil and gas wells and an overriding royalty interest in one well during 1997.

Costs and Expenses:

Total costs and expenses decreased to $558,526 for the six months ended June 30,
1999 as  compared  to  $707,110  for the same  period  in 1998,  a  decrease  of
$148,584,  or 21%.  This decrease  resulted  from declines in production  costs,
depletion and general and administrative expenses ("G&A").

Production  costs  were  $416,974  for the six months  ended  June 30,  1999 and
$529,323 for the same period in 1998 resulting in a $112,349  decrease,  or 21%.
The decrease was due to declines in well maintenance costs, production taxes, ad
valorem taxes and workover expenses.

G&A's  components are independent  accounting and engineering  fees and managing
general partner personnel and operating costs. During this period, G&A decreased
slightly  from $21,809 for the six months ended June 30, 1998 to $21,326 for the
same period in 1999.

Depletion  was  $120,226  for the six months  ended June 30,  1999  compared  to
$155,978 for the same period in 1998.  This  represented a decrease in depletion
of $35,752,  or 23%. This decrease was primarily  attributable to an increase in
proved  reserves  for the  period  ended June 30,  1999 due to higher  commodity
prices,  a reduction in oil production of 3,555 barrels for the six months ended
June 30,  1999  compared  to the same  period  in 1998  and a  reduction  in the
Partnership's  net  depletable  basis  from  charges  taken 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 1998.

                                        8

<PAGE>



Three months ended June 30, 1999 compared with three months ended
  June 30, 1998

Revenues:

The Partnership's  oil and gas revenues  increased 17% to $379,880 from $324,521
for the three months ended June 30, 1999 and 1998, respectively. The increase in
revenues  resulted  from  higher  average  prices  received  and an  increase in
production.  For the three months ended June 30,  1999,  13,447  barrels of oil,
10,998  barrels of NGLs and 46,749 mcf of gas were sold, or 32,237 BOEs. For the
three months ended June 30, 1998,  15,389  barrels of oil, 7,714 barrels of NGLs
and 36,519 mcf of gas were sold, or 29,190 BOEs.

The average  price  received per barrel of oil  increased  $1.45,  or 11%,  from
$13.60 for the three  months  ended June 30, 1998 to $15.05 for the three months
ended June 30, 1999.  The average  price  received per barrel of NGLs  increased
$1.75,  or 23%,  from $7.59 during the three months ended June 30, 1998 to $9.34
for the same period in 1999. The average price received per mcf of gas increased
3% from $1.55  during the three months ended June 30, 1998 to $1.60 for the same
period in 1999.

A gain on disposition  of assets of $157 was recognized  during the three months
ended June 30, 1998 from post closing adjustments  received from the sale of two
oil and gas wells and an overriding royalty interest in one well during 1997.

Costs and Expenses:

Total costs and  expenses  decreased to $261,584 for the three months ended June
30,  1999 as compared  to  $348,081  for the same period in 1998,  a decrease of
$86,497,  or 25%.  This  decrease  resulted  from  lower  production  costs  and
depletion, offset by an increase in G&A.

Production  costs were  $210,785  for the three  months  ended June 30, 1999 and
$262,138 for the same period in 1998  resulting in a $51,353  decrease,  or 20%.
The decrease was due to a decline in well maintenance costs.

During this period, G&A increased, in aggregate,  11% from $10,964 for the three
months ended June 30, 1998 to $12,187 for the same period in 1999.

Depletion  was $38,612  for the three  months  ended June 30,  1999  compared to
$74,979  for the same  period in 1998,  a  decrease  of  $36,367,  or 49%.  This
decrease was primarily attributable to an increase in proved reserves during the
period ended June 30, 1999 as a result of higher  commodity  prices, a reduction
in oil  production  of 1,942  barrels for the three  months  ended June 30, 1999
compared  to the same period in 1998 and a reduction  in the  Partnership's  net
depletable  basis  from  charges  taken in  accordance  with SFAS 121 during the
fourth quarter of 1998.

                                        9

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Net cash  provided by  operating  activities  decreased  $59,608  during the six
months  ended  June 30,  1999 from the same  period  ended June 30,  1998.  This
decrease was due to a decline in oil and gas sales receipts, offset by decreases
in production costs and G&A expenses paid.

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

The Partnership's investing activities during the six months ended June 30, 1999
and 1998 were related to oil and gas equipment replacement on active properties.

Proceeds  from asset  disposition  of $470 were  received  during the six months
ended June 30, 1999 from  equipment  credits on active  properties.  Proceeds of
$10,974  were  received  during the same period in 1998 from the sale of two oil
and gas wells during 1997.

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

Cash  was   sufficient  for  the  six  months  ended  June  30,  1999  to  cover
distributions to the partners of $88,213 of which $23,875 was distributed to the
general partners and $64,338 to the limited partners.  For the same period ended
June 30, 1998, cash was sufficient for distributions to the partners of $222,020
of which  $56,182 was  distributed  to the general  partners and $165,838 to the
limited partners.

From the third  quarter of 1997 through the first  quarter of 1999,  there was a
declining  trend in oil and gas levels.  During the first  quarter of 1999,  the
Organization  of  Petroleum  Exporting  Countries  and  certain  other crude oil
exporting  nations announced  reductions in their planned export volumes.  These
announcements,  together with early  indications that the nations have initiated
their planned  reductions,  have had some stabilizing effect on commodity prices
during  the  latter  part of the first  quarter  of 1999 and into  August  1999.
However,  no  assurances  can be given  that  the  stabilizing  effect  of these
actions,  or the planned reductions in export volumes,  will be sustained for an
extended period of time.

Year 2000 Project Readiness

Historically,  many computer programs have been developed that use only the last
two digits in a date to refer to a year.  As the year 2000 nears,  the inability
of such  computer  programs and embedded  technologies  to  distinguish  between
"1900" and "2000" has given rise to the "Year 2000" problem. Theoretically, such
computer  programs and related  technology  could fail outright,  or communicate
inaccurate  data,  if not  remediated  or replaced.  With the  proliferation  of
electronic  data  interchange,  the Year 2000 problem  represents a  significant
exposure to the entire  global  community,  the full  extent of which  cannot be
accurately assessed.

In proactive  response to the Year 2000 problem,  the managing  general  partner
established  a "Year  2000"  project to  assess,  to the  extent  possible,  the

                                       10

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Partnership's and the managing general partner's internal Year 2000 problem;  to
take remedial  actions  necessary to minimize the Year 2000 risk exposure to the
managing  general  partner and  significant  third parties with whom it has data
interchange;  and, to test its systems and processes once remedial  actions have
been taken. The managing general partner has contracted with IBM Global Services
to perform the assessment and remedial phases of its Year 2000 project.

As of June 30, 1999, the managing general partner  estimates that the assessment
phase is approximately 99% complete and has included, but is not limited to, the
following procedures:

o      the identification of necessary  remediation,  upgrade and/or replacement
       of existing information technology applications and systems;

o      the  assessment  of   non-information   technology  exposures,   such  as
       telecommunications  systems,  security  systems,  elevators  and  process
       control equipment;

o      the  initiation  of inquiry and  dialogue  with  significant  third party
       business partners, customers and suppliers in an effort to understand and
       assess their Year 2000  problems,  readiness and potential  impact on the
       managing general partner and its Year 2000 problem;

o      the   implementation  of  processes   designed  to  reduce  the  risk  of
       reintroduction  of Year 2000 problems into the managing general partner's
       systems and business processes; and,

o      the formulation of  contingency plans  for  mission-critical  information
       technology systems.

Through June 30, 1999, the managing  general partner had  distributed  Year 2000
problem   inquiries  to  over  500  entities  and  has  received   responses  to
approximately 52% of the inquiries.

The remedial  phase of the managing  general  partner's  Year 2000 project is in
varying  stages of completion as it pertains to the  remediation  of information
technology and non-information technology applications and systems in the United
States, Canada and Argentina.  As of June 30, 1999, the managing general partner
estimates that the remedial phase is approximately 83% complete,  on a worldwide
basis,  subject  to  continuing  evaluations  of the  responses  to third  party
inquiries and to the testing phase results.  The remedial phase has included the
upgrade and/or  replacement of certain  application  and hardware  systems.  The
managing  general  partner has upgraded its Artesia  general  ledger  accounting
systems through  remedial coding and has completed the testing of the system for
Year 2000 compliance.  The remediation of non-information technology is expected
to be  completed  by October  1999.  The managing  general  partner's  Year 2000
remedial  actions  have not delayed  other  information  technology  projects or
upgrades.

The testing  phase of the  managing  general  partner's  Year 2000 project is on
schedule.  The  managing  general  partner  expects to  complete  the testing of
information   technology   systems  by  October   1999.   The   testing  of  the
non-information  technology  remediation is scheduled to be completed by the end
of November 1999.
                                       11

<PAGE>


The managing  general  partner  expects that its total costs related to the Year
2000 problem will approximate $3.6 million, of which approximately $500 thousand
will have been incurred to replace non-compliant information technology systems.
As of June 30, 1999,  the managing general partner's total costs incurred on the
Year 2000 problem were $2.3 million,  of which  approximately $200 thousand were
incurred to replace non-compliant systems.

The risks  associated with the Year 2000 problem are  significant.  A failure to
remedy a critical  Year 2000 problem could have a materially  adverse  affect on
the Partnership's results of operations and financial condition. The most likely
worst case scenario  which may be encountered as a result of a Year 2000 problem
could include  information and non-information  system failures,  the receipt or
transmission of erroneous  data, lost data or a combination of similar  problems
of a magnitude that cannot be accurately assessed at this time.

In the  business  continuity  and  contingency  planning  phase of the  managing
general partner's Year 2000 project, contingency plans were designed to mitigate
the exposures to mission critical  information  technology systems,  such as oil
and gas sales receipts, vendor and royalty cash distributions,  debt compliance,
accounting,  and employee  compensation.  Such contingency  plans anticipate the
extensive utilization of third-party data processing services, personal computer
applications  and the  substitution  of courier  and mail  services  in place of
electronic data interchange.  Given the uncertainties regarding the scope of the
Year 2000 problem and the compliance of significant third parties,  there can be
no  assurance  that  contingency  plans  will  have  anticipated  all Year  2000
scenarios.

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

(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

       27.1   Financial Data Schedule

(b)    Reports on Form 8-K - none

                                       12

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-B, 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-B, LTD.

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





Dated:  August 5, 1999            By:    /s/ Rich Dealy
                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Rich Dealy, Vice President and
                                        Chief Accounting Officer



                                       13

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