SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                  Washington, D.C.  20549
                 __________________________

                        FORM 11-K


ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
        EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]

        Commission File Number 1-9735

A.   Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if
     different from that of the issuer named below:

             BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN

B.   Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan
     and the address of its principal executive office:


                   Berry Petroleum Company
                 5201 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 300
                Bakersfield, California 93309-0640



2 BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES For the Years Ended December 31, 2000 and 1999

3 BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN December 31, 2000 and 1999 INDEX Report of Independent Auditors 4 Financial Statements Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits 5 Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits 6 Notes to Financial Statements 7 Supplemental Schedules Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes 18 Signatures 19 Consent of Independent Auditors 20 Certifications 21 1

4 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT To the Administrator of the Berry Petroleum Company Thrift Plan We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Berry Petroleum Company Thrift Plan (the "Plan") as of December 31, 2000 and 1999 and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2000. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2000 and 1999 and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2000, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. /s/ Daniells, Phillips, Vaughan & Bock Bakersfield, California May 23, 2001 2

5 BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits December 31, 2000 and 1999 2000 1999 ASSETS: Blended income fund Investments, at contract value $ 2,864,395 $ 5,291,670 Cash, interest bearing 1,978,001 76,609 Investments, at fair value 8,421,428 7,713,000 Participant loans 566,551 677,706 ---------- ---------- Net assets available for benefits $ 13,830,375 $ 13,758,985 ========== ========== The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 3

6 BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits Year Ended December 31, 2000 ADDITIONS: Additions to net assets attributable to: Contributions: Participants $ 541,670 Employer 503,245 ---------- 1,044,915 ---------- Interest and dividends 1,033,343 Participant loan interest payments 62,888 Net (depreciation) in fair value of investments (955,411) ---------- 140,820 ---------- Total additions 1,185,735 ---------- DEDUCTIONS: Deductions from net assets attributable to: Administrative fees 2,753 Benefits paid to participants 1,111,592 ---------- Total deductions 1,114,345 ---------- Net increase 71,390 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of year 13,758,985 ---------- End of year $ 13,830,375 ========== The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 4

7 BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1. Plan Description The following description of the Berry Petroleum Company Thrift Plan (the "Plan") is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Plan Agreement for more complete information. General The Plan is a defined contribution plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"). All employees of Berry Petroleum Company (the "Company") who have completed six months of service, as defined in the Plan Agreement, and who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement with retirement benefits, are eligible to participate in the Plan. Contributions Employees who elect to participate in the Plan must contribute 6% of their annual earnings as a basic tax-deferred contribution. The Company matches 100% of this employee contribution. Effective November 1, 1992, the Plan was modified to provide for increased Company matching of employee contributions if certain financial results are achieved. Company matching contributions will range from 6% to 9% of eligible participating employee earnings. Matching contributions were 9% for all of 2000 and 6% to 9% in 1999. The Plan allows employees to contribute a maximum combined pre-tax and after-tax deferral of 16%. Participant and employer contributions are subject to statutory limitations. Participants vest immediately in their contributions, and vesting in employer contributions is at a rate of 20% per year of service during the first five years of employment. Investment Funds The investment selections available to participants are as follows: Berry Petroleum Company Stock Fidelity Puritan Fund Blended Income Fund Fidelity Spartan U.S. Stock Index Fund Fidelity Contrafund Fidelity U.S. Bond Index Fund Fidelity Diversified Fidelity Freedom Income Fund International Fund Fidelity Equity Income I Fund Fidelity Freedom 2000 Fund Fidelity Growth & Income Fund Fidelity Freedom 2010 Fund Fidelity Low Priced Stock Fund Fidelity Freedom 2020 Fund Fidelity Freedom 2030 Fund Contributions made by or on behalf of Plan participants are invested monthly and held under a trust agreement in one or more of the investment funds selected by the Plan Sponsor in accordance with the provisions of the Plan Agreement and as directed by the participants. Since July 1, 1998, employees have been able to choose to have their contributions invested in the Blended Income Fund, Berry Petroleum Company Common Stock and 13 mutual funds. 5

8 BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1. Plan Description, continued The 13 mutual funds available for investments are noted above: Fidelity Contrafund seeks high capital appreciation, Fidelity Diversified International seeks capital appreciation investing in equity markets worldwide but mainly those in the Morgan Stanley EAFE Index, which excludes the United States, Fidelity Equity Income I is a stock fund seeking capital appreciation and dividend income that exceeds the yield of the Standard & Poors 500 Index ("S & P 500 Index"), Fidelity Growth & Income seeks long- term capital growth, current income and growth of income, consistent with reasonable investment risk, Fidelity Low Priced Stock seeks capital appreciation by investing mainly in low-priced common stocks (less than $35.00 at original purchase), Fidelity Puritan seeks as much income as possible, consistent with the preservation of capital, by investing in common stocks, bonds and preferred stock, Fidelity Spartan U. S. Stock Index is a stock index fund that seeks investment results that correspond to the total return performance of the S & P 500 Index by duplicating the investment composition. Fidelity U. S. Bond Index seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the aggregate price and interest performance of the debt securities of the Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index. Fidelity Freedom Income seeks a high level of current income with capital appreciation as a secondary objective. The Fidelity Freedom 2000, 2010, 2020 and 2030 mutual funds are designed to provide attractive long-term return consistent with the targeted investment horizon. The Plan had group annuity contracts ("GICs") with John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company ("John Hancock") during 2000 and with John Hancock and United of Omaha Life Insurance Company ("United of Omaha") during 1999. All of the Plan's group annuity contracts are fully benefit responsive. Each account is credited with income determined at a fixed interest rate until maturity. These contracts are included in the financial statements at December 31, 2000 and 1999 at the contract value (which approximates fair market value) as reported by the insurance companies. The following investments had values at December 31, 2000 representing more than 5% of net assets available for Plan benefits: John Hancock Contract $ 1,780,905 Fidelity Comingled Pool Account 1,083,490 Fidelity Institutional Money Market 1,978,001 --------- Total Blended Income Fund $ 4,842,396 Fidelity Contrafund $ 2,161,798 Fidelity Equity Income 845,041 Fidelity Growth & Income 924,649 Fidelity Diversified International 960,350 Fidelity Low-Priced Stock 744,654 Spartan U.S. Equity Index 765,302 6

9 BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1. Plan Description, continued The following table presents a summary of credited interest rates and average yield information for each of the GICs for the period shown: 2000 1999 Credited Credited Interest Average Interest Average Issuer Rate Yield Rate Yield John Hancock Contract #1 6.68% due 6.68% 6.68% due 6.68% 12/29/2000 12/29/2000 Contract #2 6.17% due 6.17% 6.17% due 6.17% 12/31/2001 12/31/2001 United of Omaha Contract #1 - - 8.094% due 8.094% 12/31/99 Participant Accounts Participant statements are prepared and distributed quarterly. However, the participant can access their account daily with Fidelity's NetBenefits online service. Each participant's account is credited with the participant's and the Company's contributions, in addition to the allocation of any Plan earnings or losses and forfeitures of terminated participants' nonvested accounts. Earnings or losses are allocated on a fund by fund basis. Allocations are based on the ratio of the participant's account balance in each mutual fund to the total assets of the mutual fund. Allocation of forfeitures is based on service units from 0 to 12 depending on months of service during the year. Only employees who are active participants at December 31 each year are eligible for the allocation of forfeitures to their accounts. Forfeitures allocated to participant accounts for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999 totaled $16,400 and $6,993, respectively. Participant Loans Participants are entitled to borrow from their vested account balances in amounts from $1,000 to $50,000 but not in excess of 50%, of their vested account balances. Interest is computed based on the prime rate in the Wall Street Journal on the date of the application, plus 2%. A maximum of two loans can be outstanding at any one time and each loan must be repaid over a period of from 1 to 5 years. Each loan is supported by a promissory note with the participant's account balance as collateral. Hardship Withdrawals The Plan allows for hardship withdrawals to pay certain housing, health or education expenses if the participant does not have other funds available for these expenses. Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") regulations require that a participant cannot make contributions to the Plan for 12 months after taking a hardship withdrawal. In addition, participants will not receive matching contributions or forfeitures for the 12 months they are ineligible to participate in the Plan. 7

10 BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1. Plan Description, continued Payment of Benefits Upon termination of service due to retirement, death, disability or other reasons, the participant or beneficiary, in the case of death, can request withdrawal of his or her account equal to the value of the vested balance in the participant account, reduced by any unpaid loan balance. If desired, a participant can leave the account balance in the Plan until the participant attains age 70 and 1/2 unless the participant's vested account balance is less than $5,000, in which case the vested account balance would be distributed to the participant. Plan Termination Although it is anticipated that the Plan will remain in effect indefinitely, the Company has the right to discontinue its contributions and terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In the event of complete or partial termination of the Plan, participants become 100% vested in the employer contributions and earnings thereon. Upon termination of the Plan, all participants have equal priority in the distribution of any Plan assets in excess of Plan liabilities. Trustees and Administration The Company has entered into a trust agreement with Fidelity Management Trust Company (Fidelity) to handle duties as the named Trustee for the Plan. Three officers of the Company: Jerry V. Hoffman, Ralph J. Goehring and Kenneth A. Olson are the Administrators of the Plan and Berry Petroleum Company is the Plan Sponsor. The Administrators have the authority to delegate plan administration duties as necessary. Certain administrative expenses are paid by the Company. Fidelity, as the Trustee, receives contributions from the Plan Sponsor, invests and reinvests the Plan's assets, determines the market value of Plan assets, prepares statements and processes loans and withdrawals to beneficiaries. Concentration of Credit Risk At December 31, 2000, approximately 13% of Plan investments at fair value are invested in GICs with insurance companies. The following tables present the concentration of credit risk and current ratings for the insurers holding group annuity contracts: Percentage of Total GIC's Dec 31, Dec 31, 2000 1999 John Hancock 100% 86 % United of Omaha - 14 % Insurance Company Ratings Standard & Poors Moodys AM Best Fitch John Hancock AA+ AA2 A++ AAA United of AA- AA3 A AA Omaha 8

11 BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1. Plan Description, continued Concentration of Credit Risk, continued The $1,978,001 in cash at December 31, 2000 is from the maturity of a group annuity contract at John Hancock and was invested in Fidelity's Managed Income Portfolio in January 2001. At December 31, 2000 the GIC's made up 37% of the Blended Income Fund balance of $4,842,396. The Plan has not incurred any losses related to these investments. Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Accounting The Plan's financial statements are prepared using the accrual method of accounting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Investments Quoted market prices as of the valuation date are used to compute the fair value of equity securities in the Berry Stock Fund and the 13 mutual funds. The Plan's investments in GICs are valued at their contract value. Contract value (which approximates fair value) represents contributions made under the contract, plus interest earned at contract rates less withdrawals. In accordance with the policy of stating Plan assets at their fair value, the Plan presents the net appreciation (depreciation) in the fair value of its investments in the statement of changes in net assets, which consists of the realized gains or losses and the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on those investments. 9

12 BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued 3. Tax Status On June 7, 1988 the IRS advised the Company that the Plan meets the requirements of Section 401(a) of the Code, as restated by the Tax Reform Act of 1986, and is therefore exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(a) of the Code. In 1994 conforming amendments, as requested by the IRS, were made to the Plan Agreement and a favorable determination letter was issued by them on December 7, 1994. The Plan has been amended and restated since the receipt of the prior IRS determination letter of December 7, 1994. The Plan Administrator believes the Plan is designed and currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. 10

13 BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 5. Investments Fidelity Fidelity Blended Berry Fidelity Diversified Low Fidelity Spartan 2000 Income Stock Fidelity Equity Fidelity Interna- Priced Growth & US Equity Fund Fund Contrafund Income I Puritan tional Stock Income Index --------- ------- ---------- -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- --------- ASSETS: Investments, at fair value Net assets available for benefits $4,842,396 $ 443,098 $2,161,798 $ 845,041 $ 268,317 $ 960,350 $ 744,654 $ 924,649 $ 765,302 ========= ======== ========= ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Fidelity Fidelity Fidelity Fidelity Fidelity Fidelity Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom US Bond Loan Income 2000 2010 2020 2030 Index Account Total -------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ASSETS (continued): Investments, at fair value Net assets available for benefits $ 103,858 $ 52,480 $ 192,046 $ 580,712 $ 335,775 $ 43,348 $ 566,551 $13,830,375 ======== ======= ======== ======== ======== ======= ======== =========== Fidelity Fidelity Blended Berry Fidelity Diversified Low Fidelity Spartan 1999 Income Stock Fidelity Equity Fidelity Interna- Priced Growth & US Equity Fund Fund Contrafund Income I Puritan tional Stock Income Index --------- ------- ---------- -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- --------- ASSETS: Investments, at fair value Net assets available for benefits $5,368,279 $ 644,814 $2,365,784 $ 810,659 $ 265,890 $ 955,936 $ 414,276 $ 897,824 $ 744,185 ========= ======== ========= ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Fidelity Fidelity Fidelity Fidelity Fidelity Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom US Bond Loan 2000 2010 2020 2030 Index Account Total ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- -------- ASSETS (continued): Investments, at fair value Net assets available for benefits $ 29,246 $ 82,028 $ 266,310 $ 213,559 $ 22,489 $ 677,706 $13,758,985 ======= ======= ======== ======== ======= ======== ========== 11

14 BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 5. Investments (continued) Fidelity Fidelity Blended Berry Fidelity Diversified Low Fidelity Spartan 2000 Income Stock Fidelity Equity Fidelity Interna- Priced Growth & US Equity Fund Fund Contrafund Income I Puritan tional Stock Income Index --------- ------- ---------- -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- --------- ADDITIONS TO NET ASSETS: Contributions from: Participants $ 45,736 $ 22,347 $ 88,111 $ 20,899 $ 10,321 $ 56,134 $ 26,608 $ 46,816 $ 107,734 Employer 33,373 21,084 87,089 22,771 8,698 55,135 27,522 44,186 94,257 Interest and dividends 313,075 13,634 271,913 63,128 21,254 54,911 97,716 84,901 7,746 Interest from participant loans 6,827 983 11,565 4,769 796 8,264 4,872 6,125 10,150 Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments - (45,546) (422,289) (537) (3,811) (143,961) (768) (102,853) (83,036) Exchanges in 504,232 30,001 56,058 7,035 - 76,082 190,787 24,946 33,320 Forfeiture activity 13,260 - - - - - - - - Loan principal repayment 33,986 3,360 50,880 17,902 3,490 36,475 23,565 19,258 45,044 --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total additions 950,489 45,863 143,327 135,967 40,748 143,040 370,302 123,379 215,215 --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- DEDUCTIONS: Administrative fees 1,013 - 131 713 123 2 26 313 319 Forfeiture activity 480 5,884 994 - 103 290 201 509 582 Benefits paid to participants 941,338 13,708 71,181 3,379 154 29,253 711 1,253 900 Loan withdrawals 47,464 1,855 23,697 40,170 473 8,367 20,054 18,035 24,106 Exchanges out 486,077 226,132 251,310 57,323 37,468 100,714 18,932 76,444 168,191 --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total deductions 1,476,372 247,579 347,313 101,585 38,321 138,626 39,924 96,554 194,098 --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net increase (decrease) (525,883) (201,716) (203,986) 34,382 2,427 4,414 330,378 26,825 21,117 Net assets available for benefits, beginning of year 5,368,279 644,814 2,365,784 810,659 265,890 955,936 414,276 897,824 744,185 --------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net assets available for benefits, end of year $4,842,396 $ 443,098 $2,161,798 $ 845,041 $ 268,317 $ 960,350 $ 744,654 $ 924,649 $ 765,302 ========= ======== ========= ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== 12

15 BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 5. Investments (continued) Fidelity Fidelity Fidelity Fidelity Fidelity Fidelity Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom US Bond Loan 2000 Income 2000 2010 2020 2030 Index Account Total --------- ------- -------- --------- -------- -------- --------- --------- ADDITIONS TO NET ASSETS(continued): Contributions from: Participants $ 4,601 $ 4,823 $ 30,701 $ 39,970 $ 28,838 $ 8,031 $ - $ 541,670 Employer 6,901 6,732 24,552 34,735 28,426 7,784 - 503,245 Interest and dividends 6,546 6,683 13,760 54,767 21,183 2,339 (213) 1,033,343 Interest from participant loans - - 515 2,808 5,039 175 - 62,888 Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments (2,606) (5,951) (15,286) (89,260) (41,070) 1,563 - (955,411) Exchanges in 88,416 35,391 84,116 446,510 81,360 1,465 - 1,659,719 Forfeiture activity - - - - - - - 13,260 Loan principal repayment - - 1,366 11,255 13,410 674 (260,665) - ------- ------- ------- ------- -------- ------- ------- --------- Total additions 103,858 47,678 139,724 500,785 137,186 22,031 (260,878) 2,858,714 ------- ------- ------- ------- -------- ------- ------- --------- DEDUCTIONS: Administrative fees - - - 88 25 - - 2,753 Forfeiture activity - - 89 - 4,128 - - 13,260 Benefits paid to participants - - 122 - 8,026 - 41,567 1,111,592 Loan withdrawals - - - 3,160 2,791 1,172 (191,290) - Exchanges out - 24,444 29,495 183,189 - - - 1,659,719 -------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- -------- --------- Total deductions - 24,444 29,706 186,383 14,970 1,172 (149,723) 2,787,324 -------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- -------- --------- Net increase (decrease) 103,858 23,234 110,018 314,402 122,216 20,859 (111,155) 71,390 Net assets available for benefits, beginning of year - 29,246 82,028 266,310 213,559 22,489 677,706 13,758,985 -------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- -------- ---------- Net assets available for benefits, end of year $ 103,858 $ 52,480 $ 192,046 $ 580,712 $ 335,775 $ 43,348 $ 566,551 $13,830,375 ======== ======= ======== ======== ======== ======= ======== ========== 13

16 BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 5. Investments (continued) Fidelity Fidelity Blended Berry Fidelity Diversified Low Fidelity Spartan 1999 Income Stock Fidelity Equity Fidelity Interna- Priced Growth & US Equity Fund Fund Contrafund Income I Puritan tional Stock Income Index --------- ------- ---------- -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- --------- ADDITIONS TO NET ASSETS: Contributions from: Participants $ 19,965 $ 16,679 $ 73,691 $ 22,322 $ 13,900 $ 41,940 $ 28,624 $ 47,959 $ 88,748 Employer 5,161 13,436 52,892 17,607 9,760 31,977 22,706 35,864 62,411 Rollover Contributions - 368 23,591 7,863 - 368 - 40,054 7,864 Interest and dividends 318,835 13,364 343,497 85,273 29,585 32,826 30,050 59,756 9,581 Interest from participant loans 8,244 1,430 12,041 5,454 1,546 8,897 5,594 7,249 11,125 Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments - 58,764 116,632 (27,450) (20,242) 259,905 (14,816) 22,645 88,464 Exchanges in 766,255 185,847 264,347 2,000 - 154,180 4,000 55,388 276,084 Forfeiture activity 6,993 - - - - - - - - Loan principal repayment 34,015 5,269 39,070 22,433 4,246 31,643 25,274 22,668 37,301 --------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total additions 1,159,468 295,157 925,761 135,502 38,795 561,736 101,432 291,583 581,578 --------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- DEDUCTIONS: Administrative fees 1,125 - 294 681 244 - 91 306 156 Forfeiture activity - - 2,509 199 - 520 1,728 1,845 - Benefits paid to participants 54,570 11 22,213 14,277 7,589 16,542 20,223 17,119 48 Loan withdrawals 79,813 - 21,500 34,681 3,283 5,399 5,444 21,377 9,716 Exchanges out 633,406 23,943 400,815 173,430 143,183 100,405 226,906 118,305 79,987 --------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total deductions 768,914 23,954 447,331 223,268 154,299 122,866 254,392 158,952 89,907 --------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net increase (decrease) 390,554 271,203 478,430 (87,766) (115,504) 438,870 (152,960) 132,631 491,671 Net assets available for benefits, beginning of year 4,977,725 373,611 1,887,354 898,425 381,394 517,066 567,236 765,193 252,514 --------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net assets available for benefits, end of year $5,368,279 $ 644,814 $2,365,784 $ 810,659 $ 265,890 $ 955,936 $ 414,276 $ 897,824 $ 744,185 ========= ======== ========= ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======= 14

17 BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 5. Investments (continued) Fidelity Fidelity Fidelity Fidelity Fidelity Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom US Bond Loan 1999 2000 2010 2020 2030 Index Account Total ------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- ADDITIONS TO NET ASSETS(continued): Contributions from: Participants $ 5,249 $ 23,005 $ 28,013 $ 12,424 $ 9,834 $ - $ 432,353 Employer 5,426 15,810 17,617 12,153 7,584 - 310,404 Rollover contributions - - - - - - 80,108 Interest and dividends 1,364 4,265 11,195 8,607 910 - 949,108 Interest from participant loans - 2,444 4,063 2,242 68 - 70,397 Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments 539 6,800 16,524 28,359 (976) - 535,148 Exchanges in 11,559 29,000 146,873 114,776 3,000 - 2,013,309 Forfeiture activity - - - - - - 6,993 Loan principal repayment - 5,048 15,580 9,986 577 (253,110) - ------- ------- ------- -------- ------- -------- ---------- Total additions 24,137 86,372 239,865 188,547 20,997 (253,110) 4,397,820 ------- ------- ------- -------- ------- -------- ---------- DEDUCTIONS: Administrative fees - - - 108 - - 3,005 Forfeiture activity - - 192 - - - 6,993 Benefits paid to participants - - 289 14 - 14,642 167,537 Loan withdrawals - - - 14,887 - (196,100) - Exchanges out - 40,998 4,000 64,102 3,828 - 2,013,308 ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------- ---------- Total deductions - 40,998 4,481 79,111 3,828 (181,458) 2,190,843 ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------- ---------- Net increase (decrease) 24,137 45,374 235,384 109,436 17,169 (71,652) 2,206,977 Net assets available for benefits, beginning of year 5,109 36,654 30,926 104,123 5,320 749,358 11,552,008 ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------- ---------- Net assets available for benefits, end of year $ 29,246 $ 82,028 $ 266,310 $ 213,559 $ 22,489 $ 677,706 $13,758,985 ======= ======= ======== ======== ======= ======== ========== 15

18 BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes December 31, 2000 Identity of issue, Description of investment borrower, lessor, or including maturity date, similar party rate of interest, Current collateral, par or maturity value Value John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company Contract 9605 GAC 6.17%, due 12-31-2001 $ 1,780,905 Fidelity Comingled Pool Account 1,083,490 ---------- Subtotal 2,864,395 Fidelity Institutional Money Market 1,978,001 ---------- Total Blended Income Fund 4,842,396 ---------- * Berry Petroleum Company Berry Stock Account - 443,098 ($.01 par value) Class A Common Stock (33,129 shares) Fidelity Contrafund Mutual Fund 2,161,798 Fidelity Diversified Mutual Fund 960,350 International Fidelity Growth & Income Mutual Fund 924,649 Fidelity Equity Income Mutual Fund 845,041 Spartan US Equity Index Mutual Fund 765,302 Fidelity Low Priced Stock Mutual Fund 744,654 Fidelity Puritan Mutual Fund 268,317 Fidelity Freedom Income Mutual Fund 103,858 Fidelity Freedom 2000 Mutual Fund 52,480 Fidelity Freedom 2010 Mutual Fund 192,046 Fidelity Freedom 2020 Mutual Fund 580,712 Fidelity Freedom 2030 Mutual Fund 335,775 Fidelity US Bond Index Mutual Fund 43,348 ---------- Total Investments at Fair Value 8,421,428 ---------- Total Investments $ 13,263,824 ========== Participant loans Interest bearing loans at $ 566,551 prime rate plus 2%;interest rates ========== on outstanding loans range from 9.75% to 11.5%. * Party in interest 16

19 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY THRIFT PLAN By /s/ Jerry V. Hoffman Name: Jerry V. Hoffman Title: Member of 401(k) Administrative Committee By /s/ Ralph J. Goehring Name: Ralph J. Goehring Title: Member of 401(k) Administrative Committee By /s/ Kenneth A. Olson Name: Kenneth A. Olson Title: Member of 401(k) Administrative Committee September 30, 2003 20






                                               Exhibit 23


           INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration
Statement No. 333-62871 of Berry Petroleum Company on Form S-
8 of our report dated May 23, 2001, appearing in this
Annual Report on Form 11-K of the Berry Petroleum Company
Thrift Plan for the year ended December 31, 2000.


/s/ Daniells Phillips Vaughan & Bock
Bakersfield, California

September 30, 2003

                Certification of CEO Pursuant to
                     18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
                     As Adopted Pursuant to
          Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of The Berry Petroleum
Company Thrift Plan (the "Plan") on Form 11-K for the year ended
December 31, 2000 as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Report"), I, Jerry V. Hoffman, as Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Berry Petroleum
Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge, that:

(1)  The Report fully complies with the requirements of section
     13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
     all material respects, the financial condition and results
     of operations of the Plan.



/s/ Jerry V. Hoffman
Jerry V. Hoffman
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
September 30, 2003




















                        Exhibit 32.1



                Certification of CEO Pursuant to
                     18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
                     As Adopted Pursuant to
          Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of The Berry Petroleum
Company Thrift Plan (the "Plan") on Form 11-K for the year ended
December 31, 2000 as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Report"), I, Ralph J. Goehring, as Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of the Berry Petroleum
Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge, that:

(1)  The Report fully complies with the requirements of section
     13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
     all material respects, the financial condition and results
     of operations of the Plan.



/s/ Ralph J. Goehring
Ralph J. Goehring
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
September 30, 2003




















                        Exhibit 32.2