Sec Form 4 Filing - Ciotti George W @ BERRY PETROLEUM CO - 2012-12-11

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 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 Ciotti George W 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 X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) VP of Rocky Mtn Prod (Last) (First) (Middle) 1999 BROADWAY, SUITE 3700 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 12/11/2012 (Street) DENVER, CO80202 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 5,674 I Held in 401(k) account Class A Common Stock 12/11/2012 M 1,866 ( 1 ) A $ 33.535 9,568 D Class A Common Stock 12/12/2012 M 1,625 ( 1 ) A $ 33.65 11,193 D Class A Common Stock 12/12/2012 S 583 D $ 33.654 10,610 D Class A Common Stock 12/13/2012 S 116 ( 2 ) D $ 33.21 10,494 D Class A Common Stock 12/13/2012 S 400 ( 2 ) D $ 33.225 10,094 D

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 (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 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 Perf Based RSUs 3-16-10 $ 0 12/31/2012 12/31/2012 Class A Common Stock 5,633 5,633 D March 2011 Employee RSU Grant $ 0 03/02/2012 03/02/2021 Class A Common Stock 4,021 4,021 D Non-Statutory Stock Option 3-2-2011 - $48.50 $ 48.5 03/02/2012 03/02/2021 Class A Common Stock 4,615 4,615 D Perf Based RSU 3-2-2011 $ 0 12/31/2013 03/02/2021 Class A Common Stock 3,518 3,518 D March 2, 2012 Employee RSU Grant $ 0 03/02/2013 03/02/2022 Class A Common Stock 3,678 3,678 D Non Statutory Stock Option 3-2-12 $ 53.02 03/02/2013 03/02/2022 Class A Common Stock 4,342 4,342 D Perf Based RSUs 3-2-12 $ 0 12/31/2014 03/02/2022 Class A Common Stock 3,218 3,218 D 2009 Restricted Stock Units $ 0 12/11/2012 M 1,866 ( 1 ) 12/11/2010 12/11/2019 Class A Common Stock 3,733 $ 33.535 1,867 D 2008 Restricted Stock Units $ 0 12/12/2012 M 1,625 ( 1 ) 12/11/2009 12/11/2018 Class A Common Stock 1,625 $ 33.65 0 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Ciotti George W 1999 BROADWAY, SUITE 3700 DENVER, CO80202 VP of Rocky Mtn Prod Signatures Kenneth A. Olson Under POA for George W. Ciotti 12/13/2012 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Vested shares issued pursuant to Rule 16b-3 plan. ( 2 )Shares sold to cover taxes on RSU vesting under Rule 16b-3 Plan.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* 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).

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