FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * GOEHRING RALPH J   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol BERRY PETROLEUM CO [BRY] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Executive VP (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY 5201 TRUXTUN 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 12/30/2008 (Street) BAKERSFIELD, CA 93309 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Class A Common Stock               70,498 D   Class A Common Stock 12/30/2008   J   739 (1) A $ 0 5,641 I Held in 401(k) Plan

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Nonstatutory Stock Option 11-23-04

$ 21.58

11/23/2005

08/30/2009

Class A Common Stock

17,500

17,500

D

2005 Restricted Stock Units

$ 0

12/30/2008

H

2,500

12/15/2006(2)

12/30/2008(3)

Class A Common Stock

2,500

$ 0

0

D

2006 Restricted Stock Units (4)

$ 0 (5)

12/30/2008

E(6)

5,000 (7)

12/15/2007

12/30/2008(9)

Class A Common Stock

5,000

$ 0 (8)

0

D

Nonstatutory Stock Option 12-15-05

$ 30.645

12/30/2008(10)

E

10,000 (11)

12/15/2006

08/30/2009

Class A Common Stock

20,000

$ 0 (12)

10,000

D

Nonstatutory Stock Option 12-15-06

$ 32.565

12/30/2008(13)

E

20,000 (14)

12/15/2007

08/30/2009

Class A Common Stock

40,000

$ 0 (15)

20,000

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
GOEHRING RALPH J C/O BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY 5201 TRUXTUN BAKERSFIELD, CA 93309			Executive VP

Signatures

Kenneth A Olson under POA for Ralph Goehring		01/06/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Shares of Common Stock acquired by the reporting person in the Company's 401(k) Plan. All transactions were at market and were non-discretionary.
(2)	The restricted stock units vests in four equal annual installments beginning December 15, 2006. Shares of Class A Common Stock will be delivered to the reporting person at the time of vesting.
(3)	Expiration of unvested options and restricted stock units upon termination of employment.
(4)	1 for 1
(5)	Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of Berry Petroleum Company Class A Common Stock
(6)	Expiration of unvested options and restricted stock units upon termination of employment.
(7)	Expiration of unvested options and restricted stock units upon termination of employment.
(8)	Expiration of unvested options and restricted stock units upon termination of employment.
(9)	Expiration of unvested options and restricted stock units upon termination of employment.
(10)	Expiration of unvested options and restricted stock units upon termination of employment.
(11)	Expiration of unvested options and restricted stock units upon termination of employment.
(12)	Expiration of unvested options and restricted stock units upon termination of employment.
(13)	Expiration of unvested options and restricted stock units upon termination of employment.
(14)	Expiration of unvested options and restricted stock units upon termination of employment.
(15)	Expiration of unvested options and restricted stock units upon termination of employment.
Remarks: Mr. Goehring's resignation as the Company's Executive Vice President and as an employee ended on 12-30-2008 as previously announced.  His unvested options and RSU's were cancelled effective that date.  His vested options are exercisable until 08-30-2008.

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