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) November 6, 2003 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) 5201 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 300 Bakersfield, CA 93309 (Address of principal executive offices) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (661) 616-3900 N/A (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) 1 Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits (c) Exhibits 99 Press Release of Berry Petroleum Company dated November 6, 2003. Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition The information in this Current Report, including the attached Exhibit,shall not be deemed "filed' for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. On November 6, 2003, Berry Petroleum Company, a Delaware corporation, issued a press release announcing the Company's financial results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2003, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99. SIGNATURE 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 thereunto duly authorized. BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY By /s/ Kenneth A. Olson Name: Kenneth A. Olson Title: Corporate Secretary and Treasurer November 7, 2003 2