Exchanges of Properties, Divestitures and LINN Energy Transaction	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Exchanges of Properties, Divestitures and LINN Energy Transaction	Exchanges of Properties, Divestitures and LINN Energy Transaction Exchanges of Properties On November 21, 2014, the Company, along with a subsidiary of its indirect parent LINN Energy, completed the trade of a portion of its Permian Basin properties to Exxon Mobil Corporation in exchange for properties in California’s South Belridge Field. The noncash exchange was accounted for at fair value and the Company recognized a net loss of approximately $30 million, equal to the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the assets exchanged, which is included in “(gains) losses on sale of assets and other, net” on the statement of operations. On August 15, 2014, the Company, along with a subsidiary of LINN Energy, completed the trade of a portion of its Permian Basin properties to Exxon Mobil Corporation and its affiliates, including its wholly owned subsidiary XTO Energy Inc., in exchange for properties in the Hugoton Basin. The noncash exchange was accounted for at fair value and the Company recognized a net loss of approximately $34 million, equal to the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the assets exchanged, which is included in “(gains) losses on sale of assets and other, net” on the statement of operations. In connection with the exchanges, the Company conducted assessments of net assets acquired and recognized amounts for identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values on the exchange dates, while transaction and integration costs associated with the exchanges were expensed as incurred. The fair value measurements of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on inputs that are not observable in the market and therefore represent Level 3 inputs under the fair value hierarchy. The fair values of oil and natural gas properties and asset retirement obligations were measured using valuation techniques that convert future cash flows to a single discounted amount. Significant inputs to the valuation of oil and natural gas properties include estimates of: (i) reserves; (ii) future operating and development costs; (iii) future commodity prices; (iv) estimated future cash flows; and (v) a market-based weighted average cost of capital rate. These inputs require significant judgments and estimates by the Company’s management at the time of the valuation and are the most sensitive and subject to change. LINN Energy Transaction On December 16, 2013, the Company completed the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement between LINN Energy, LinnCo, an affiliate of LINN Energy, and Berry under which LinnCo acquired all of the outstanding common shares of Berry and the contribution agreement between LinnCo and LINN Energy, under which LinnCo contributed Berry to LINN Energy in exchange for LINN Energy units. Under the merger agreement, as amended, Berry’s shareholders received 1.68 LinnCo common shares for each Berry common share they owned, totaling 93,756,674 LinnCo common shares. Under the contribution agreement, LinnCo contributed Berry to LINN Energy in exchange for 93,756,674 newly issued LINN Energy units, after which Berry became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of LINN Energy. The transaction was valued at approximately $4.6 billion, including the assumption of approximately $2.3 billion of Berry’s debt and net of cash acquired of approximately $451 million. On the Berry acquisition date, LinnCo contributed Berry to its affiliate, LINN Energy. As a result, the assets, liabilities and results of operations of Berry are not included in LinnCo’s financial statements. The acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. Accordingly, the Company conducted assessments of net assets acquired and recognized amounts for identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values on the acquisition date, while transaction and integration costs associated with the acquisition were expensed as incurred. In connection with the LINN Energy transaction, the Company incurred transaction costs of approximately $16 million and $45 million for the periods from December 17, 2013, through December 31, 2013, and January 1, 2013, through December 16, 2013, respectively. On December 16, 2013, the Company was formed as a limited liability company and ceased to be subject to federal and state income taxes, with the exception of the state of Texas. The Company’s net deferred income tax liabilities were assumed by LinnCo in the merger and were not transferred to LINN Energy in the contribution. Acquisitions – 2012 On September 12, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of approximately 14,000 net acres contiguous to the Company’s Brundage Canyon asset in the Uinta Basin for approximately $40 million. The acquisition was financed using the Company’s Credit Facility. On April 13, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of approximately 2,000 net acres and one well in the Wolfberry trend in the Permian Basin for approximately $15 million. The acquisition was financed using the Company’s Credit Facility. Divestitures On November 14, 2014, the Company, along with a subsidiary of LINN Energy, completed the sale of certain of its Wolfberry properties in Ector and Midland counties in the Permian Basin to Fleur de Lis Energy, LLC (the “Permian Basin Assets Sale”). Cash proceeds from the sale of these properties were approximately $351 million, net of costs to sell of approximately $2 million, and the Company recognized a net loss of approximately $50 million. The loss is included in “(gains) losses on sale of assets and other, net” on the statement of operations. The net cash proceeds from the Permian Basin Assets Sale were advanced by the Company to a subsidiary of LINN Energy. These proceeds must be used by LINN Energy on capital expenditures in respect of Berry’s operations, to repay Berry’s indebtedness or as otherwise permitted under the terms of Berry’s indentures and Credit Facility. On January 31, 2012, the Company completed the sale of certain properties in Elko, Eureka and Nye counties in Nevada (the “Nevada Assets”) for total cash consideration of approximately $16 million, and recognized a net gain of approximately $2 million which is included in “(gains) losses on sale of assets and other, net” on the statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Exchanges of Properties, Divestitures and LINN Energy Transaction

Exchanges of Properties

On November 21, 2014, the Company, along with a subsidiary of its indirect parent LINN Energy, completed the trade of a portion of its Permian Basin properties to Exxon Mobil Corporation in exchange for properties in California’s South Belridge Field. The noncash exchange was accounted for at fair value and the Company recognized a net loss of approximately $30 million, equal to the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the assets exchanged, which is included in “(gains) losses on sale of assets and other, net” on the statement of operations.

On August 15, 2014, the Company, along with a subsidiary of LINN Energy, completed the trade of a portion of its Permian Basin properties to Exxon Mobil Corporation and its affiliates, including its wholly owned subsidiary XTO Energy Inc., in exchange for properties in the Hugoton Basin. The noncash exchange was accounted for at fair value and the Company recognized a net loss of approximately $34 million, equal to the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the assets exchanged, which is included in “(gains) losses on sale of assets and other, net” on the statement of operations.

In connection with the exchanges, the Company conducted assessments of net assets acquired and recognized amounts for identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values on the exchange dates, while transaction and integration costs associated with the exchanges were expensed as incurred. The fair value measurements of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on inputs that are not observable in the market and therefore represent Level 3 inputs under the fair value hierarchy. The fair values of oil and natural gas properties and asset retirement obligations were measured using valuation techniques that convert future cash flows to a single discounted amount. Significant inputs to the valuation of oil and natural gas properties include estimates of: (i) reserves; (ii) future operating and development costs; (iii) future commodity prices; (iv) estimated future cash flows; and (v) a market-based weighted average cost of capital rate. These inputs require significant judgments and estimates by the Company’s management at the time of the valuation and are the most sensitive and subject to change.

LINN Energy Transaction

On December 16, 2013, the Company completed the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement between LINN Energy, LinnCo, an affiliate of LINN Energy, and Berry under which LinnCo acquired all of the outstanding common shares of Berry and the contribution agreement between LinnCo and LINN Energy, under which LinnCo contributed Berry to LINN Energy in exchange for LINN Energy units. Under the merger agreement, as amended, Berry’s shareholders received 1.68 LinnCo common shares for each Berry common share they owned, totaling 93,756,674 LinnCo common shares. Under the contribution agreement, LinnCo contributed Berry to LINN Energy in exchange for 93,756,674 newly issued LINN Energy units, after which Berry became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of LINN Energy. The transaction was valued at approximately $4.6 billion, including the assumption of approximately $2.3 billion of Berry’s debt and net of cash acquired of approximately $451 million.

On the Berry acquisition date, LinnCo contributed Berry to its affiliate, LINN Energy. As a result, the assets, liabilities and results of operations of Berry are not included in LinnCo’s financial statements.

The acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. Accordingly, the Company conducted assessments of net assets acquired and recognized amounts for identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values on the acquisition date, while transaction and integration costs associated with the acquisition were expensed as incurred. In connection with the LINN Energy transaction, the Company incurred transaction costs of approximately $16 million and $45 million for the periods from December 17, 2013, through December 31, 2013, and January 1, 2013, through December 16, 2013, respectively.

On December 16, 2013, the Company was formed as a limited liability company and ceased to be subject to federal and state income taxes, with the exception of the state of Texas. The Company’s net deferred income tax liabilities were assumed by LinnCo in the merger and were not transferred to LINN Energy in the contribution.

Acquisitions – 2012

On September 12, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of approximately 14,000 net acres contiguous to the Company’s Brundage Canyon asset in the Uinta Basin for approximately $40 million. The acquisition was financed using the Company’s Credit Facility.

On April 13, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of approximately 2,000 net acres and one well in the Wolfberry trend in the Permian Basin for approximately $15 million. The acquisition was financed using the Company’s Credit Facility.

Divestitures

On November 14, 2014, the Company, along with a subsidiary of LINN Energy, completed the sale of certain of its Wolfberry properties in Ector and Midland counties in the Permian Basin to Fleur de Lis Energy, LLC (the “Permian Basin Assets Sale”). Cash proceeds from the sale of these properties were approximately $351 million, net of costs to sell of approximately $2 million, and the Company recognized a net loss of approximately $50 million. The loss is included in “(gains) losses on sale of assets and other, net” on the statement of operations.

The net cash proceeds from the Permian Basin Assets Sale were advanced by the Company to a subsidiary of LINN Energy. These proceeds must be used by LINN Energy on capital expenditures in respect of Berry’s operations, to repay Berry’s indebtedness or as otherwise permitted under the terms of Berry’s indentures and Credit Facility.

On January 31, 2012, the Company completed the sale of certain properties in Elko, Eureka and Nye counties in Nevada (the “Nevada Assets”) for total cash consideration of approximately $16 million, and recognized a net gain of approximately $2 million which is included in “(gains) losses on sale of assets and other, net” on the statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2012.