Represents the maximum amount of the given debt instrument the Company may redeem before the given date.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	bry_
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of principal or face amount of the given debt instrument that the Company would pay, in addition to accrued and unpaid interest and a "make whole" premium, in order to redeem the given debt instrument in whole or in part.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bry_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentageOfPrincipalAmountPlusMakeWholePremiumAndAccruedAndUnpaidInterest
Namespace Prefix:	bry_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of 6.75% Notes, which, together with the issuer's other senior notes, have the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bry_SeniorNotesDue2020675Percent
Namespace Prefix:	bry_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	bry_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the redemption price, as a percentage of the principal or face amount of the given debt instrument, that the Company must pay upon redemption.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bry_SeniorNotesRedemptionPriceExpressedAsPercentageOfPrincipalAmountRedeemed
Namespace Prefix:	bry_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the redemption price, as a percentage of the principal or face amount of the given debt instrument, that the Company must pay upon redemption before the given date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bry_SeniorNotesRedemptionPricePercentageOfPrincipal
Namespace Prefix:	bry_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from additional borrowings, net of cash paid to third parties in connection with debt origination.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromDebtNetOfIssuanceCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Debt (6.75% Senior Notes Due 2020) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Debt (6.75% Senior Notes Due 2020) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Nov. 01, 2010
Debt Instrument
6.75% Senior notes due 2020	300,000,000	$ 300,000,000
6.75% Senior notes due 2020
Debt Instrument
Interest rate on debt instrument (as a percent)	6.75%	6.75%
Unsecured Debt \| 6.75% Senior notes due 2020
Debt Instrument
Interest rate on debt instrument (as a percent)			6.75%
Net proceeds from Issuance long-term debt		294,000,000
Redemption percentage, maximum (as a percent)	35.00%
Senior notes redemption price percentage of principal (as a percent)	106.75%
Senior Notes, Expressed As Percentage Of Principal Amount Redeemed, Plus Accured and Unpaid Interest
Debt Instrument redemption price percentage of principal amount plus make whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest (as a percent)	100.00%
Permian Basin \| Unsecured Debt \| 6.75% Senior notes due 2020
Debt Instrument
6.75% Senior notes due 2020			300,000,000
November 1, 2015 Through October 31, 2016 \| Unsecured Debt \| 6.75% Senior notes due 2020
Senior Notes, Expressed As Percentage Of Principal Amount Redeemed, Plus Accured and Unpaid Interest
Redemption price, as a percentage of the principal or face amount of the given debt instrument, that the Company must pay upon redemption	103.375%
November 1, 2016 through October 31, 2017 \| Unsecured Debt \| 6.75% Senior notes due 2020
Senior Notes, Expressed As Percentage Of Principal Amount Redeemed, Plus Accured and Unpaid Interest
Redemption price, as a percentage of the principal or face amount of the given debt instrument, that the Company must pay upon redemption	102.25%
November 1, 2017 through October 31, 2018 \| Unsecured Debt \| 6.75% Senior notes due 2020
Senior Notes, Expressed As Percentage Of Principal Amount Redeemed, Plus Accured and Unpaid Interest
Redemption price, as a percentage of the principal or face amount of the given debt instrument, that the Company must pay upon redemption	101.125%
November 1, 2018 and thereafter \| Unsecured Debt \| 6.75% Senior notes due 2020
Senior Notes, Expressed As Percentage Of Principal Amount Redeemed, Plus Accured and Unpaid Interest
Redemption price, as a percentage of the principal or face amount of the given debt instrument, that the Company must pay upon redemption	100.00%