Ownership Submission
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
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0287
Expires: January 31, 2005
Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
DUGINSKI MICHAEL
  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)
Chief Oper. Officer & Exec. VP
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, 1999 BROADWAY, SUITE 3700
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2008
(Street)

DENVER, CO 80202
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               13,122 D  
Class A Common Stock 12/31/2008   J   132 (17) A $ 0 11,126 I Held in 401(k) Plan

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 1474 (9-02)

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 2-1-02 $ 7.445             02/01/2003 02/01/2012 Class A Common Stock 20,000   20,000 D  
Nonstatutory Stock Option 12-6-02 $ 8.25             12/06/2003 12/06/2012 Class A Common Stock 30,000   30,000 D  
Nonstatutory Stock Option 12-05-03 $ 9.97             12/05/2004 12/05/2013 Class A Common Stock 60,000   60,000 D  
Nonstatutory Stock Option 11-23-04 $ 21.58             11/23/2005 11/23/2014 Class A Common Stock 70,000   70,000 D  
Nonstatutory Stock Option 12-15-05 $ 30.645             12/15/2006 12/15/2015 Class A Common Stock 50,000   50,000 D  
2005 Restricted Stock Units (1) $ 0 (2)             12/15/2006(3) 12/14/2015(4) Class A Common Stock 5,000   5,000 D  
Nonstatutory Stock Option 12-15-06 $ 32.565             12/15/2007 12/14/2016 Class A Common Stock 56,000   56,000 D  
2006 Restricted Stock Units (5) $ 0 (6)             12/15/2007(7) 12/14/2016(8) Class A Common Stock 7,500   7,500 D  
2007 Restricted Stock Unit (9) $ 0 (10)             12/14/2008(11) 12/13/2017(12) Class A Common Stock 12,039   12,039 D  
NSO 2007 $ 43.61             12/14/2008 12/13/2017 Class A Common Stock 36,133   36,133 D  
2008 Restricted Stock Units (13) $ 0 (14)             12/12/2009(15) 12/11/2018(16) Class A Common Stock 70,000   70,000 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
DUGINSKI MICHAEL
C/O BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY
1999 BROADWAY, SUITE 3700
DENVER, CO 80202
      Chief Oper. Officer & Exec. VP  

Signatures

 Kenneth A Olson under POA for Michael Duginski   01/05/2009
**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) 1 for 1
(2) Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of Berry Petroleum Company Class A Common Stock
(3) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) 1 for 1
(6) Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of Berry Petroleum Company Class A Common Stock
(7) The restricted stock units vests in four equal annual installments beginning December 15, 2007. Shares of Class A Common Stock will be delivered to the reporting person at the time of vesting.
(8) The restricted stock units vests in four equal annual installments beginning December 15, 2007. Shares of Class A Common Stock will be delivered to the reporting person at the time of vesting.
(9) 1 for 1
(10) Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of Berry Petroleum Company Class A Common Stock
(11) The RSU granted vest 25% per year beginning one year after grant but the receipt of shares are subject to a deferral period which is generally at least four years from grant date as per the deferral election.
(12) 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.
(13) 1 for 1
(14) Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of Berry Petroleum Company Class A Common Stock
(15) The RSU granted vest 25% per year beginning one year after grant but the receipt of shares are subject to a deferral period which is generally at least four years from grant date as per the deferral election.
(16) 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.
(17) 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.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.