-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 762kK0Ecvxoew/k/u6ByjQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001246360-08-002950.txt : 20081110
<SEC-HEADER>0001246360-08-002950.hdr.sgml : 20081110
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081110161042
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001246360-08-002950
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081107
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081110
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081110

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Wolf David D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001442035

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09735
		FILM NUMBER:		081175751

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		303-999-4000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1999 BROADWAY,SUITE 3700
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>false</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000778438</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BERRY PETROLEUM CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BRY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001442035</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Wolf David D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1999 BROADWAY, SUITE 3700</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>false</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec VP and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.46</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>RSU 8-4-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-08-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-08-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30355</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30355</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NSO</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>41.18</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-08-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-08-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>89084</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>89084</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1 for 1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The RSU is subject to a deferral election.  Shares of Class A Common Stock will be delivered to the reporting person as per the terms of the deferral election.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The RSU is subject to a deferral election.  Shares of Class A Common Stock will be delivered to the reporting person as per the terms of the deferral election.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kenneth A. Olson under POA for David D. Wolf</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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