May 9 (Reuters) - Plaintiffs in an antitrust class

action over oil prices have asked a federal judge in Nevada to

force Pioneer Natural Resources to hand over communications

involving its embattled former CEO Scott Sheffield that it gave

to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

The FTC last week approved Exxon Mobil's ( XOM ) $64 billion

purchase of Dallas-based Pioneer, but the agency barred

Sheffield from Exxon's board over allegations that he tried to

collude with OPEC to reduce output of oil and gas in order to

boost his company's profits.

Pioneer is among the defendants in the Nevada case, in which

consumers claim it and other energy companies conspired to curb

output of shale oil, raising prices for retail gasoline and

diesel fuel, marine fuel and residential heating oil.

Pioneer and Sheffield declined to comment on Thursday about

the consumers' demand in the Nevada litigation. The FTC, which

is not a party in the lawsuits, declined to comment. Exxon is

not a defendant in the cases.

The FTC said in its order against Sheffield that "through

public statements, text messages, in-person meetings, WhatsApp

conversations and other communications while at Pioneer,

Sheffield sought to align oil production" in West Texas and New

Mexico with OPEC.

"These documents and materials produced to the FTC are

indisputably relevant and discoverable in this action as they

track the core conspiratorial allegations by the plaintiffs,"

attorneys for the consumers told Chief U.S. District Judge

Miranda Du in Las Vegas.

Pioneer has opposed the request, according to the

plaintiffs. Pioneer is expected to submit a separate filing to

the court.

Pioneer in a statement about Sheffield last week said it was

"neither the intent nor an effect of his communications to

circumvent the laws and principles protecting market

competition."

The FTC's complaint against Sheffield "reflects a

fundamental misunderstanding of the U.S. and global oil markets

and misreads the nature and intent of Mr. Sheffield's actions,"

Pioneer said.

The case is Rosenbaum v. Permian Resources ( PR ), U.S. District

Court, District of Nevada, No. 2:24-cv-00103-MMD-MDC.

For Daniel Rosenbaum: Patrick Coughlin of Scott+Scott

For Pioneer Natural Resources: Samuel Liversidge of Gibson,

Dunn & Crutcher; and Boris Bershteyn of Skadden, Arps, Slate,

Meagher & Flom

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