-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DACJ0O0jeaLv4M1vKd/OVIug2nv38U3eJty1ovKMtopraFOie1KEc6ex7wJPhkct
 lzUb06Kcka2S0hPSF6diFw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001191748-03-000007.txt : 20031231
<SEC-HEADER>0001191748-03-000007.hdr.sgml : 20031231
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031231171829
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001191748-03-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031231

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEINEMANN ROBERT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001191748

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09735
		FILM NUMBER:		031080895

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BERRY PETROLEUM CO.
		STREET 2:		5201 TRUXTUN AVE., STE. 300
		CITY:			BAKERSFIELD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93309
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6616163900

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BERRY PETROLEUM CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000778438
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				770079387
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5201 TRUXTUN AVENUE,
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			BAKERSFIELD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93309-0640
		BUSINESS PHONE:		661 616-3900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BERRY PETROLEUM CO
		STREET 2:		5201 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 300
		CITY:			BAKERSFIELD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93309-0640
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000778438</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BERRY PETROLEUM CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BRY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191748</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HEINEMANN ROBERT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5201 TRUXTUN AVE., SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BAKERSFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93309</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value><footnoteId id="F2"/><footnoteId id="F3"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwa
pInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>20.25</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1460</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Statutory Stock Option (NSO)</valu
e><footnoteId id="F4"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>16.14</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-12-02</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-12-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Statutory Stock Option (NSO)</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>19.22</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-12-02</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-02</value></
expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">1 for 1</footnote><footnote id="F2">Phantom Stock Units acquired under the Company's Non-Employee Director Deferred Stock and Compensation Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3(c).  Shares are exercisable under the terms of the Plan upon resignation from the Board.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Phantom Stock Units acquired under the Company's Non-Employee Director Deferred Stock and Compensation Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3(c).
  Shares expire under the terms of the Plan upon resignation from the Board.</footnote><footnote id="F4">NSO - Right to buy Berry Petroleum Company Class A Common Stock</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Kenneth A. Olson under POA for Robert F. Heinemann</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-31</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----