UNITED
STATES
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): March 19, 2007
BERRY
PETROLEUM COMPANY
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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DELAWARE
(State
or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation
or Organization)
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1-9735
(Commission
File Number)
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77-0079387
(IRS
Employer
Identification
Number)
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5201
TRUXTUN AVE., STE. 300, BAKERSFIELD, CA
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)
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93309
(Zip
Code)
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Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code: (661)
616-3900
Check
the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions:
o
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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1
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Item
1.01 Entry
into a Material Definitive Agreement
On
March
19, 2007, Berry Petroleum Company (Company) issued a news release titled
"Berry Petroleum Announces Sale of West Montalvo Assets" regarding the
registrant's entering into an
agreement with Venoco, Inc. (NYSE:VQ) on March 19, 2007 to sell its
non-core West Montalvo assets, near Ventura, California. Berry estimates
a sales
price of approximately $63 million cash before adjustments and expects to
close
the sale in the second quarter of 2007. The
completion of the transaction is subject to certain conditions and there
is no
assurance that all such conditions will be satisfied. The
news
release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, which is incorporated by reference
in its entirety.
Item
9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)
Exhibits
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Exhibit
No.
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Description
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99.1
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News
Release dated March 19, 2007 titled "Berry Petroleum Announces
Sale of
West Montalvo Assets".
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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 hereto
duly authorized.
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BERRY
PETROLEUM COMPANY
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By:
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/s/ Kenneth
A. Olson
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Kenneth
A. Olson
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Corporate
Secretary
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Date: March
22, 2007
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