DENVER, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- EVERGREEN RESOURCES, INC.
(NYSE: EVG) today was presented with an Outstanding Oil and Gas Operations
Award by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC),
specifically citing Noise and Visual Impact Mitigation for the year 2003.
According to the COGCC, Evergreen was given the award, "For going beyond COGCC
rules to address landowner concerns."
    In 2003, Evergreen expanded two compressor stations to avoid construction
of additional stations in agricultural/residential areas.  Evergreen moved the
compressor sites from the top of a ridgeline, built berms around the station,
and enclosed the compressors with buildings designed with state-of-the-art
acoustic dampening materials.  Acoustic models and studies as well as
subsequent acoustic measurements confirmed that five compressors with
modifications created less noise than the previous three compressors.
Evergreen conducted these activities at two stations that the company acquired
from other operators.
    Peter M. Mueller, COGCC Chairman, and Brian J. Macke, Acting Director of
the COGCC, presented the awards today at the 16th annual Rocky Mountain
Natural Gas Strategy Conference in Denver.
    Accepting the award for Evergreen Resources was President and CEO Mark S.
Sexton, who commented, "We are honored to have been selected for this award by
the COGCC.  This award reflects our operating philosophy and commitment to the
communities in which we operate, as well as our dedication to constantly
improving our operating methods.  Environmentally responsible development,
together with superior landowner relations, has been an Evergreen tradition.
We are confident that Pioneer Natural Resources shares that philosophy and
will carry on that same tradition."

    Evergreen Resources is an independent energy company engaged primarily in
the operation, development, production, exploration and acquisition of North
American unconventional natural gas properties.  Evergreen is one of the
leading developers of coal bed methane reserves in the United States.
Evergreen's current operations are principally focused on developing and
expanding its coal bed methane project located in the Raton Basin in southern
Colorado.  The Company is also expanding its conventional and unconventional
projects in the Piceance Basin in western Colorado, the Uintah Basin in
eastern Utah, and in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin in south-central
Alberta.  Evergreen has also initiated coal bed methane projects in the Cook
Inlet-Susitna Basin in Alaska and the Forest City Basin in eastern Kansas.
    The boards of directors of Evergreen Resources and Pioneer Natural
Resources Company (NYSE: PXD) approved a strategic merger valued at
approximately $2.1 billion, in which Evergreen will become a subsidiary of
Pioneer and Evergreen shareholders will receive new shares of Pioneer common
stock and cash.  Pioneer will continue to be headquartered in Dallas, and will
retain Evergreen's Denver offices as its base of operations in the Rockies.
Completion of the merger is subject to the approval of the Securities and
Exchange Commission as well as the shareholders of both Evergreen and Pioneer.
The merger is expected to be completed in late September.

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