SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C.  20549
 	                                        

                                  FORM 8-K 


                               CURRENT REPORT 


                    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                      Securities Exchange Act of 1934 


Date of Report  (Date of earliest event reported)  January 23, 1997 

                         Berry Petroleum Company	   
          (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 


   Delaware	                 1-9735         	  77-0079387   
(State or other	           (Commission       	IRS Employer  
jurisdiction of	           File Number)     Identification No.
incorporation)


        28700 Hovey Hills Road, P.O. Bin X, Taft, CA 93268	
            	(Address of principal executive offices)        


Registrant's telephone number, including area code    (805) 769-8811	


                                 N/A
    (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)        






 2
Item 5.	Other Events

     Berry Petroleum Company has reached a settlement with the federal
government and the State of California for civil damages arising from the
December 1993 oil pipeline release at the Company's West Montalvo site in
Ventura County, California.

     On January 23, 1997, a civil lawsuit and accompanying Consent Decree was
filed by the federal and state governments in the United States Central 
District Court in Los Angeles.  In accordance with the Consent Decree, once
approved by the Court, the Company is required to pay approximately 
$3.2 million to the federal and state governments.  The Company has already 
paid approximately $.6 million of the $3.2 million to state and federal 
agencies for part of the response and assessment charges of those agencies
in connection with the oil release.  The Company will pay approximately 
$1.3 million of the remaining balance into a trust fund for restoration 
activities at or near McGrath Lake, the site of the release, with the remainder
as payment of further response and assessment costs, civil damages and 
penalties.  Of the $3.2 million settlement, approximately 73% will be covered
through the Company's insurance.  The settlement will have no negative impact
on the Company's income statement, as previous accruals for the settlement are
adequate.


                               	SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the 
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned hereunto duly authorized. 


Date:  January 23, 1997       	    	   Berry Petroleum Company



                                       By:  /s/ Jerry V. Hoffman
                                   
                                            Jerry V. Hoffman, President
                                            and Chief Executive Officer