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 September 30, 2001



                          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)

5205 N. O'Connor Blvd., Suite 1400, Irving, Texas                75039
-------------------------------------------------            -------------
    (Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip code)

       Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code : (972) 444-9001


          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>



                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                        Page
                          Part I. Financial Information

Item 1.     Financial Statements

            Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2001 and
               December 31, 2000.....................................    3

            Statements of Operations for the three and nine
              months ended September 30, 2001 and 2000...............    4

            Statement of Partners' capital for the nine months
              ended September 30, 2001...............................    5

            Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended
              September 30, 2001 and 2000............................    6

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

Item 2.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
              Condition and Results of Operations....................    8


                           Part II. Other Information

Item 6.     Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.........................   11

            Signatures...............................................   12


                                        2

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

                          Part I. Financial Information


Item 1.     Financial Statements

                                 BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>

                                                   September 30,   December 31,
                                                       2001            2000
                                                   ------------    ------------
                                                   (Unaudited)
                 ASSETS

<S>                                                <C>             <C>
Current assets:
  Cash                                             $    357,718    $    169,055
  Accounts receivable - oil and gas sales               155,762         279,239
                                                    -----------     -----------
        Total current assets                            513,480         448,294
                                                    -----------     -----------
Oil and gas properties - at cost, based on the
  successful efforts accounting method               16,907,175      16,901,194
Accumulated depletion                               (15,688,107)    (15,622,262)
                                                    -----------     -----------
        Net oil and gas properties                    1,219,068       1,278,932
                                                    -----------     -----------
                                                   $  1,732,548    $  1,727,226
                                                    ===========     ===========
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL

Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable - affiliate                     $     67,956    $     33,783

Partners' capital:
  General partners                                      201,848         200,131
  Limited partners (19,505 interests)                 1,462,744       1,493,312
                                                    -----------     -----------
                                                      1,664,592       1,693,443
                                                    -----------     -----------
                                                   $  1,732,548    $  1,727,226
                                                    ===========     ===========

</TABLE>


The financial information included as of September 30, 2001 has been prepared by
  the managing general partner without audit by independent public accountants.

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

                                        3

<PAGE>



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

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)


<TABLE>
                                  Three months ended          Nine months ended
                                     September 30,               September 30,
                                ---------------------    -----------------------
                                   2001        2000          2001        2000
                                ---------   ---------    ----------   ----------
<S>                             <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>
Revenues:
  Oil and gas                   $ 354,249   $ 500,331    $1,333,347   $1,365,167
  Interest                          2,499       3,991         8,755        9,415
                                 --------    --------     ---------    ---------
                                  356,748     504,322     1,342,102    1,374,582
                                 --------    --------     ---------    ---------
Costs and expenses:
  Oil and gas production          251,477     210,730       723,118      654,006
  General and administrative       10,944      17,886        44,059       45,675
  Depletion                        22,665      20,114        65,845       60,352
                                 --------    --------     ---------    ---------
                                  285,086     248,730       833,022      760,033
                                 --------    --------     ---------    ---------
Net income                      $  71,662   $ 255,592    $  509,080   $  614,549
                                 ========    ========     =========    =========
Allocation of net income:
  General partners              $  21,385   $  67,634    $  137,821   $  163,870
                                 ========    ========     =========    =========

  Limited partners              $  50,277   $ 187,958    $  371,259   $  450,679
                                 ========    ========     =========    =========
Net income per limited
  partnership interest          $    2.57   $    9.64    $    19.03   $    23.11
                                 ========    ========     =========    =========
</TABLE>


         The financial information included herein has been prepared by
  the managing general partner without audit by independent public accountants.

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

                                        4

<PAGE>



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

                         STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL
                                   (Unaudited)


<TABLE>


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


<S>                                    <C>           <C>           <C>
Balance at January 1, 2001             $  200,131    $1,493,312    $1,693,443

    Distributions                        (136,104)     (401,827)     (537,931)

    Net income                            137,821       371,259       509,080
                                        ---------     ---------     ---------

Balance at September 30, 2001          $  201,848    $1,462,744    $1,664,592
                                        =========     =========     =========



</TABLE>


         The financial information included herein has been prepared by
  the managing general partner without audit by independent public accountants.

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

                                        5

<PAGE>



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

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)


<TABLE>
                                                          Nine months ended
                                                             September 30,
                                                       ------------------------
                                                          2001          2000
                                                       ----------    ----------
<S>                                                    <C>           <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net income                                          $  509,080    $  614,549
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
      cash provided by operating activities:
         Depletion                                         65,845        60,352
   Changes in assets and liabilities:
         Accounts receivable                              123,477       (35,612)
         Accounts payable                                  34,173        26,005
                                                        ---------     ---------
          Net cash provided by operating activities       732,575       665,294
                                                        ---------     ---------
Cash flows used in investing activities:
   Additions to oil and gas properties                     (5,981)       (5,992)

Cash flows used in financing activities:
   Cash distributions to partners                        (537,931)     (616,726)
                                                        ---------     ---------
Net increase in cash                                      188,663        42,576
Cash at beginning of period                               169,055       143,823
                                                        ---------     ---------
Cash at end of period                                  $  357,718    $  186,399
                                                        =========     =========

</TABLE>


         The financial information included herein has been prepared by
  the managing general partner without audit by independent public accountants.

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

                                        6

<PAGE>



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

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               September 30, 2001
                                   (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 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  September  30, 2001 and for the three and nine months  ended
September 30, 2001 and 2000 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 reclassifications
may have been made to the September 30, 2000 financial  statements to conform to
the September 30, 2001 financial statement presentations.

Certain  information  and footnote  disclosures  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, 2000, 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,  Suite 1400, Irving,
Texas 75039-3746.

Note 3.     Proposal to acquire Partnership

On October 22,  2001,  Pioneer  Natural  Resources  Company  ("Pioneer")  mailed
materials to the limited  partners of the Partnership  soliciting their approval
of an agreement and plan of merger among Pioneer, Pioneer Natural Resources USA,
Inc. ("Pioneer USA"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pioneer, and the Partnership.
Pioneer has valued the Partnership interest at $3,660,109 of which $2,697,724 is
attributable to the limited partners, excluding Pioneer USA in its capacity as a
general  partner or a limited  partner.  If a majority of the  limited  partners
approve the transaction,  each limited partner will receive their  proportionate
share of the value in the form of Pioneer common stock.

                                        7

<PAGE>




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

Results of Operations

Nine months ended September 30, 2001 compared with nine months ended September
  30, 2000

Revenues:

The Partnership's  oil and gas revenues  decreased 2% to $1,333,347 for the nine
months ended September 30, 2001 as compared to $1,365,167 for the same period in
2000. The decrease in revenues  resulted from lower average prices  received for
oil and a decline in production,  offset by higher  average prices  received for
gas and natural gas liquids  ("NGLs").  For the nine months ended  September 30,
2001,  30,872 barrels of oil,  13,264 barrels of NGLs and 72,161 mcf of gas were
sold, or 56,163 barrel of oil  equivalents  ("BOEs").  For the nine months ended
September 30, 2000, 31,864 barrels of oil, 17,938 barrels of NGLs and 73,083 mcf
of gas were sold,  or 61,983  BOEs.  Due to the decline  characteristics  of the
Partnership's  oil and 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 $1.36, or 5%, from $28.54
for the nine months  ended  September  30, 2000 to $27.18 for the same period in
2001.  The average  price  received per barrel of NGLs  increased  slightly from
$14.67  during the nine months ended  September  30, 2000 to $14.72 for the same
period in 2001.  The average  price  received per mcf of gas  increased 57% from
$2.64 for the nine months ended  September 30, 2000 to $4.15 for the same period
in 2001.  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, 2001.

Costs and Expenses:

Total  costs and  expenses  increased  to  $833,022  for the nine  months  ended
September  30,  2001 as compared  to  $760,033  for the same period in 2000,  an
increase of $72,989,  or 10%.  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 $723,118 for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 and
$654,006 for the same period in 2000  resulting in a $69,112  increase,  or 11%.
The increase was primarily due to additional well maintenance  costs incurred to
stimulate well  production and higher ad valorem taxes,  offset by less 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
4% from $45,675 for the nine months ended  September 30, 2000 to $44,059 for the
same period in 2001, primarily due to a lower percentage of the managing general

                                        8

<PAGE>



partner's  G&A being  allocated  (limited  to 3% of oil and gas  revenues)  as a
result of decreased oil and gas revenues.

Depletion  was $65,845 for the nine months ended  September 30, 2001 as compared
to $60,352  for the same  period in 2000,  an  increase  of $5,493,  or 9%. This
increase was  attributable  to a decrease in proved  reserves  during the period
ended September 30, 2001 due to lower commodity  prices,  offset by a decline in
oil  production  of 992 barrels for the nine months ended  September 30, 2001 as
compared to the same period in 2000.

Three months ended September 30, 2001 compared with three months ended September
  30, 2000

Revenues:

The Partnership's  oil and gas revenues  decreased 29% to $354,249 for the three
months ended  September  30, 2001 as compared to $500,331 for the same period in
2000. The decrease in revenues resulted from lower average prices received and a
decline in  production.  For the three months ended  September 30, 2001,  10,009
barrels of oil, 4,586 barrels of NGLs and 19,666 mcf of gas were sold, or 17,873
BOEs.  For the three months ended  September  30, 2000,  10,409  barrels of oil,
6,242  barrels of NGLs and 26,245 mcf of gas were sold,  or 21,025 BOEs.  Due to
the  decline  characteristics  of the  Partnership's  oil  and  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  $4.19,  or 14%,  from
$30.57 for the three  months  ended  September  30,  2000 to $26.38 for the same
period in 2001. The average price  received per barrel of NGLs decreased  $4.32,
or 28%, from $15.38  during the three months ended  September 30, 2000 to $11.06
for the same period in 2001. The average price received per mcf of gas decreased
39% from $3.28 for the three  months ended  September  30, 2000 to $2.01 for the
same period in 2001.

Costs and Expenses:

Total costs and  expenses  increased  to  $285,086  for the three  months  ended
September  30,  2001 as compared  to  $248,730  for the same period in 2000,  an
increase of $36,356,  or 15%.  This  increase was due to increases in production
costs and depletion, offset by a decrease in G&A.

Production costs were $251,477 for the three months ended September 30, 2001 and
$210,730 for the same period in 2000  resulting in a $40,747  increase,  or 19%.
This increase was primarily due to additional well maintenance costs incurred to
stimulate well  production  and higher ad valorem taxes,  offset by a decline in
production taxes and workover costs.

During this period,  G&A  decreased  39% from $17,886 for the three months ended
September  30, 2000 to $10,944 for the same period in 2001,  primarily  due to a
lower percentage of the managing general partner's G&A being allocated  (limited
to 3% of oil and gas revenues) as a result of decreased oil and gas revenues.

                                        9

<PAGE>



Depletion was $22,665 for the three months ended  September 30, 2001 as compared
to $20,114 for the same period in 2000,  representing an increase of $2,551,  or
13%. This increase was  attributable  to a decline in proved reserves during the
period ended September 30, 2001 as a result of lower commodity prices, offset by
a decrease in oil production of 400 barrels for the three months ended September
30, 2001 as compared to the same period in 2000.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Net cash  provided by operating  activities  increased  $67,281  during the nine
months  ended  September  30, 2001  compared  to the same  period in 2000.  This
increase  was due to a decline of $167,257 in working  capital and $1,616 in G&A
expenses,  offset by an increase in production  costs of $69,112 and a reduction
in oil and  gas  receipts  of  $32,480.  The  decrease  in oil and gas  receipts
resulted from the decline in oil commodity  prices of $43,357 and the decline in
production of $99,584 during 2001 as compared to the same period in 2000, offset
by higher gas and NGL commodity  prices of $110,461.  The increase in production
costs was  primarily  due to  additional  well  maintenance  costs  incurred  to
stimulate  well  production  and  increased  ad  valorem  taxes,  offset by less
workover  expenses.  The decrease in G&A was primarily due to a lower percentage
of the managing general partner's G&A being allocated  (limited to 3% of oil and
gas revenues) as a result of decreased oil and gas revenues.

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

The Partnership's  investment  activities during the nine months ended September
30, 2001 and 2000 included expenditures related to equipment upgrades on various
oil and gas properties.

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

For the nine months ended September 30, 2001, cash distributions to the partners
were  $537,931,  of which $136,104 was  distributed to the general  partners and
$401,827 to the limited partners.  For the same period ended September 30, 2000,
cash  distributions  to the  partners  were  $616,726,  of  which  $157,253  was
distributed to the general partners and $459,473 to the limited partners.

During  2001,  the  Partnership  made  distributions  in  March  and July but no
distributions  were made by the Partnership during September pending the vote of
the proposed merger of the Partnership into Pioneer Natural  Resources USA, Inc.
("Pioneer USA"). For further information, see "Proposal to acquire partnerships"
below.

Proposal to acquire partnerships

On October 22,  2001,  Pioneer  Natural  Resources  Company  ("Pioneer")  mailed
definitive materials (the "proxy  statement/prospectus") to solicit the approval
of limited partners of 46 Parker & Parsley limited  partnerships,  including the
Partnership,  of an agreement and plan of merger among  Pioneer,  Pioneer USA, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Pioneer, and those limited partnerships.  The special
meetings of the limited partners to consider and vote on the merger proposal are
scheduled  for  December  20,  2001.  The record  date to  identify  the limited
partners who are  entitled to notice of and  to vote at the special meetings was

                                       10

<PAGE>



September  21, 2001.  Each  partnership  that approves the agreement and plan of
merger and the other related  merger  proposals will merge with and into Pioneer
USA.  As a result,  the  partnership  interests  of those  partnerships  will be
converted into the right to receive Pioneer common stock.

The proxy  statement/prospectus  is  non-binding  and is subject to, among other
things,  consideration  of offers from third parties to purchase any partnership
or its assets and the majority approval of the limited partnership  interests in
each partnership.

A copy of the proxy  statement/prospectus  may be obtained  without  charge upon
request from Pioneer Natural Resources Company, 5205 North O'Connor Blvd., Suite
1400, Irving, Texas 75039, Attention: Investor Relations.

The limited partners are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus of Pioneer
filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission because it contains important
information about the proposed mergers,  including  information about the direct
and indirect  interests  of Pioneer USA and Pioneer in the mergers.  The limited
partners may also obtain the final proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant
documents  relating to the  proposed  mergers free through the internet web site
that the Securities and Exchange Commission maintains at www.sec.gov.

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

(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

(b)        Reports on Form 8-K - none


                                       11

<PAGE>


                           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 8, 2001           By:     /s/ Rich Dealy
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           Rich Dealy, Vice President and
                                             Chief Accounting Officer



                                       12

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