Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

These Condensed Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial reporting. All adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly state Berry Petroleum Company's (the Company) Condensed Financial Statements have been included herein. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of expected annual results because of the impact of fluctuations in prices received for oil and natural gas, as well as other factors. In the course of preparing the Condensed Financial Statements, management makes various assumptions, judgments and estimates to determine the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and to prepare disclosures of commitments and contingencies. Changes in these assumptions, judgments and estimates will occur as a result of the passage of time and the occurrence of future events, and, accordingly, actual results could differ from amounts previously established.

The Company's Condensed Financial Statements have been prepared on a basis consistent with the accounting principles and policies reflected in the Company's audited Financial Statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2011. The year-end Condensed Balance Sheet was derived from audited Financial Statements included in such report, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.

The Company's cash management process provides for the daily funding of checks as they are presented to the bank. Included in accounts payable at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are $15.6 million and $16.1 million, respectively, representing outstanding checks in excess of the bank balance (book overdraft).

Recent Accounting Standards

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-11 which requires that an entity disclose both gross and net information about instruments and transactions that are either eligible for offset in the balance sheet or subject to an agreement similar to a master netting agreement, including derivative instruments. ASU 2011-11 was issued in order to facilitate comparison between GAAP and IFRS financial statements by requiring enhanced disclosures, but does not change existing GAAP that permits balance sheet offsetting. This authoritative guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of ASU 2011-11 and assessing the impact, if any, it may have on the Company's financial position or results of operations.