UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
[X] Quarterly
Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
For
the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004
Commission
file number 1-9735
BERRY
PETROLEUM COMPANY
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 77-0079387
(State or other jurisdiction
of (I.R.S.
Employer
incorporation or
organization) Identification
No.)
5201 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 300, Bakersfield,
California 93309-0640
(Address of principal executive
offices) (Zip
Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area
code (661) 616-3900
Former name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since
Last Report:
NONE
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90
days. YES (X) NO ( )
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as
defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act). YES (X) NO ( )
The number of shares of each of the registrant's classes of capital stock
outstanding as of September 30, 2004, was 21,043,911 shares of Class A Common
Stock ($.01 par value) and 898,892 shares of Class B Stock ($.01 par value). All
of the Class B Stock is held by a shareholder who owns in excess of 5% of the
outstanding stock of the registrant.
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY
Page No. |
|
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
|
Item 1. Financial Statements |
|
Condensed Balance Sheets at September 30, 2004 and |
|
Condensed Income Statements for the Three Month Periods |
|
Condensed Income Statements for the Nine Month Periods |
|
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income for the |
|
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the |
|
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements |
7 |
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis |
|
|
|
About Market Risk |
18 |
Item 4. Controls and Procedures |
20 |
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION |
|
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K |
21 |
SIGNATURES |
22 |
2
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY |
|||
|
September 30, |
|
December 31, (Restated) |
ASSETS |
|||
Current Assets: |
|||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ 8,208 |
$ 10,658 |
|
Short-term investments available for sale |
662 |
663 |
|
Accounts receivable |
33,713 |
23,506 |
|
Deferred income taxes |
10,122 |
6,410 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other |
2,035 |
2,049 |
|
Total current assets |
54,740 |
43,286 |
|
Oil and gas properties (successful efforts |
|
|
|
Other assets |
7,189
|
1,940
|
|
$ 385,404 |
$ 340,377 |
||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|||
Current liabilities: |
|||
Accounts payable |
$ 39,236 |
$ 32,490 |
|
Accrued liabilities |
6,126 |
4,214 |
|
Income taxes payable |
5,130 |
4,412 |
|
Fair value of derivatives |
16,055 |
5,710 |
|
Total current liabilities |
66,547 |
46,826 |
|
Long-term liabilities: |
|||
Deferred income taxes |
46,702 |
38,559 |
|
Long-term debt |
33,000 |
50,000 |
|
Abandonment obligation |
7,471 |
7,311 |
|
Fair value of derivatives |
893 |
343 |
|
Total long-term liabilities |
88,066 |
96,213 |
|
Shareholders' equity: |
|||
Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 2,000,000 |
|
|
|
Capital stock, $.01 par value: |
210 |
|
|
Class B Stock, 1,500,000 shares authorized; |
|
|
|
Capital in excess of par value |
59,801 |
56,475 |
|
Deferred stock option compensation |
- |
(1,108) |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (9,726) | (3,632) | |
|
180,497 |
145,385 |
|
Total shareholders' equity |
230,791 |
197,338 |
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
3
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY |
|||
Part I. Financial Information |
|||
Item 1. Financial Statements |
|||
Condensed Income Statements |
|||
Three Month Periods Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 |
|||
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Information) |
|||
(Unaudited) |
|||
2004 |
2003 (Restated) |
||
Revenues: |
|||
Sales of oil and gas |
$ 61,560 |
$ 33,466 |
|
Sales of electricity |
11,344 |
10,642 |
|
Interest and other income, net |
45 |
350 |
|
72,949 |
44,458 |
||
Expenses: |
|||
Operating costs - oil and gas production |
22,107 |
16,534 |
|
Operating costs - electricity generation |
11,344 |
10,642 |
|
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |
8,323 |
5,167 |
|
General and administrative |
4,228 |
2,349 |
|
Interest |
512 |
368 |
|
46,514 |
35,060 |
||
Income before income taxes |
26,435 |
9,398 |
|
Provision for income taxes |
8,206 |
1,571 |
|
Net income |
$ 18,229 |
$ 7,827 |
|
Basic net income per share |
$ .83 |
$ .36 |
|
Diluted net income per share |
$ .82 |
$ .35 |
|
Cash dividends per share |
$ .18 |
$ .11 |
|
Weighted average number of shares |
|
|
|
Effect of dilutive securities: |
|
|
|
Other |
56 |
47 |
|
Weighted average number of shares of |
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
4
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY |
|||
Part I. Financial Information |
|||
Item 1. Financial Statements |
|||
Condensed Income Statements |
|||
Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 |
|||
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Information) |
|||
(Unaudited) |
|||
2004 |
2003 |
||
|
(Restated) |
||
Revenues: |
|||
Sales of oil and gas |
$ 159,520 |
$ 97,286 |
|
Sales of electricity |
34,569 |
32,959 |
|
Interest and other income, net |
338 |
598 |
|
194,427 |
130,843 |
||
Expenses: |
|||
Operating costs - oil and gas production |
59,321 |
45,344 |
|
Operating costs - electricity generation |
34,569 |
32,959 |
|
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |
24,036 |
14,350 |
|
General and administrative |
15,202 |
7,855 |
|
Dry hole, abandonment and impairment |
- |
2,487 |
|
Interest |
1,577 |
845 |
|
134,705 |
103,840 |
||
Income before income taxes |
59,722 |
27,003 |
|
Provision for income taxes |
15,850 |
3,996 |
|
Net income |
$ 43,872 |
$ 23,007 |
|
Basic net income per share |
$ 2.01 |
$ 1.06 |
|
Diluted net income per share |
$ 1.97 |
$ 1.05 |
|
Cash dividends per share |
$ .40 |
$ .36 |
|
Weighted average number of shares |
|
|
|
Effect of dilutive securities: |
|
|
|
Other |
54 |
44 |
|
Weighted average number of shares of |
|
|
|
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income |
|||
2004 |
2003 |
||
(Restated) |
|||
Net income |
$ 43,872 |
$ 23,007 |
|
Unrealized losses on derivatives,
(net of income taxes of $4,063 and $407, |
|
|
|
Comprehensive income |
$ 37,778 |
$ 22,397 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
5
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY |
|||
Part I. Financial Information |
|||
Item 1. Financial Statements |
|||
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows |
|||
Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 |
|||
(In Thousands) |
|||
(Unaudited) |
|||
|
2004 |
2003 (Restated) |
|
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|||
Net income |
$ 43,872 |
$ 23,007 |
|
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |
24,036 |
14,350 |
|
Dry hole, abandonment and impairment |
(364) |
2,517 |
|
Deferred income taxes |
6,846 |
3,387 |
|
Deferred stock compensation |
4,520 |
917 |
|
Other, net |
569 |
(290) |
|
Increase in current assets other than cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments |
(12,448) |
(6,780) |
|
Increase in current liabilities |
11,451 |
2,881 |
|
Net cash provided by operating activities |
78,482 |
39,989 |
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
(55,172) |
(70,375) |
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
|
|
|
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(2,450) |
702 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of |
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ 8,208 |
$ 10,568 |
|
Supplemental non-cash activity: |
|||
Increase(decrease)in fair value of derivatives: |
|||
Current (net of income taxes of $4,138 and |
|
|
|
Non-current (net of income taxes of ($75) and $450 in 2004 and 2003, respectively) |
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) to accumulated other |
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
6
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY |
Part I. Financial Information |
Item 1. Financial Statements |
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements |
September 30, 2004 |
(Unaudited) |
1. All adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's financial position at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 and results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 and cash flows for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature, except as indicated in Notes 3 and 4. The results of operations and cash flows are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year.
2. The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared on a basis consistent with the accounting principles and policies reflected in the December 31, 2003 financial statements, except as noted in Notes 3 and 4. The December 31, 2003 Form 10-K/A, March 31, 2004 Form 10-Q/A and June 30, 2004 Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction herewith. The year-end condensed balance sheet, as restated, was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
3. Restatement of Prior Financial Information for Variable Accounting for Stock Options - The accompanying condensed financial statements reflect certain unaudited restated financial information for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2003. The original Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 7, 2003. The Company has restated its financial information as of September 30, 2003, and results of operations and cash flows for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2003, to account for the Company's stock option plan using variable plan accounting, insofar as the Company had permitted option holders to exercise options by surrendering underlying unexercised options in payment of the exercise price of the options and related taxes. While the Company had accounted for options issued under the plan as fixed awards with compensation expense recorded for certain option exercises, it was determined that variable plan accounting is required under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The use of variable plan accounting requires a charge to compensation expense, commencing at the grant date, in an amount by which the market price of the Company's stock covered by the grant exceeds the option price. This accounting has been changed and subsequent changes in the market price of the Company's stock from the date of grant to the date of exercise or forfeiture does not result in a change in the measure of compensation cost for the award being recognized. Amounts in the ensuing discussion have been adjusted for these restatements where applicable.
Accordingly, the income statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 reflect stock compensation using variable plan accounting. As described in Note 4, the Company adopted the fair value method of accounting for its stock options effective January 1, 2004 using the modified prospective method which does not require restatement of periods prior to the effective date.
7
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY |
Part I. Financial Information |
Item 1. Financial Statements |
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements |
September 30, 2004 |
(Unaudited) |
The effect of the restatement for variable plan accounting is as follows:
Condensed Income Statements
Three Months Ended September 30, 2003 |
||||||
As Previously Reported |
Adjustments |
Restated |
||||
REVENUES |
$ 44,458 |
$ - |
$ 44,458 |
|||
EXPENSES |
||||||
Operating costs |
27,176 |
- |
27,176 |
|||
Depreciation, depletion & amortization |
5,167 |
- |
5,167 |
|||
General & administrative |
2,002 |
347 |
2,349 |
|||
Interest |
368 |
- |
368 |
|||
34,713 |
347 |
35,060 |
||||
Income before income taxes |
9,745 |
(347) |
9,398 |
|||
Provision for income taxes |
1,710 |
(139) |
1,571 |
|||
Net income |
$ 8,035 |
$ (208) |
$ 7,827 |
|||
Basic net income per share |
$ 0.37 |
$ (0.01) |
$ 0.36 |
|||
Diluted net income per share |
$ 0.36 |
$ (0.01) |
$ 0.35 |
|||
Weighted average shares of capital stock outstanding |
||||||
(used to calculate basic net income per share) |
21,776 |
- |
21,776 |
|||
Effect of dilutive securities |
||||||
Stock options |
242 |
- |
242 |
|||
Other |
47 |
- |
47 |
|||
Weighted average shares of capital stock outstanding |
||||||
(used to calculate diluted net income per share) |
22,065 |
- |
22,065 |
|||
8
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY |
Part I. Financial Information |
Item 1. Financial Statements |
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements |
September 30, 2004 |
(Unaudited) |
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003 |
||||||
As Previously Reported |
Adjustments |
Restated |
||||
REVENUES |
$ 130,843 |
$ - |
$ 130,843 |
|||
EXPENSES |
||||||
Operating costs |
78,303 |
- |
78,303 |
|||
Depreciation, depletion & amortization |
14,350 |
- |
14,350 |
|||
General & administrative |
6,663 |
1,192 |
7,855 |
|||
Interest |
845 |
- |
845 |
|||
Dry hole, abandonment and impairment |
2,487 |
- |
2,487 |
|||
102,648 |
1,192 |
103,840 |
||||
Income before income taxes |
28,195 |
(1,192) |
27,003 |
|||
Provision for income taxes |
4,473 |
(477) |
3,996 |
|||
Net income |
$ 23,722 |
$ (715) |
$ 23,007 |
|||
Basic net income per share |
$ 1.09 |
$ (0.03) |
$ 1.06 |
|||
Diluted net income per share |
$ 1.08 |
$ (0.03) |
$ 1.05 |
|||
Weighted average shares of capital stock outstanding |
||||||
(used to calculate basic net income per share) |
21,766 |
- |
21,766 |
|||
Effect of dilutive securities |
||||||
Stock options |
107 |
- |
107 |
|||
Other |
44 |
- |
44 |
|||
Weighted average shares of capital stock outstanding |
||||||
(used to calculate diluted net income per share) |
21,917 |
- |
21,917 |
|||
9
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY |
Part I. Financial Information |
Item 1. Financial Statements |
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements |
September 30, 2004 |
(Unaudited) |
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003 |
||||||
As Previously Reported |
Adjustments |
Restated |
||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||
Net income |
$ 23,722 |
$ (715) |
$ 22,799 |
|||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided in operating activities |
16,267 |
715 |
17,190 |
|||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
39,989 |
- |
39,989 |
|||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
||||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(70,375) |
- |
(70,375) |
|||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
31,088 |
- |
31,088 |
|||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
702 |
- |
702 |
|||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
9,866 |
- |
9,866 |
|||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ 10,568 |
$ - |
$ 10,568 |
|||
4. Effective January 1, 2004, the Company voluntarily adopted the fair value method of accounting for its stock option plan as prescribed by SFAS 123, "Accounting for Stock-based Compensation." The modified prospective method was selected as described in SFAS 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure." Under this method, the Company recognizes stock option compensation expense as if it had applied the fair value method to account for unvested stock options from its original effective date. Stock option compensation expense is recognized from the date of grant to the vesting date. During the quarters ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, the Company recorded stock option compensation expense of $.4 million and $.5 million, respectively, which is included in General and administrative expenses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, stock option compensation expense was $5.0 million, up from $1.5 million recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2003.
From January 1, 2004 to July 29, 2004, the Company had determined that a portion of its stock option compensation under SFAS 123 is required to be calculated under variable plan accounting; however, the majority of stock option compensation is accounted for under the fair value method. In accordance with variable plan accounting, the Company recognized a corresponding liability determined by a mark-to-market valuation of the Company's stock at each financial
10
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY |
Part I. Financial Information |
Item 1. Financial Statements |
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements |
September 30, 2004 |
(Unaudited) |
reporting date. On July 29, 2004, the Company revised certain stock option exercise provisions of the plan and, subsequent to July 29, 2004, variable plan accounting is no longer required. Accordingly, as of July 29, 2004, $3.3 million and $.9 million of current and non-current liabilities, respectively, were reclassified to Capital in excess of par value.
If the fair value method under SFAS 123 had been used to record stock option expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, the following would have been recorded (in thousands, except per share data):
|
|
Three Months |
|
Nine Months |
|
|
Ended |
|
Ended |
|
|
September 30, 2003 |
|
September 30, 2003 |
|
|
(Restated) |
|
(Restated) |
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation expense, net of |
|
|
|
|
income taxes: |
|
|
|
|
As reported |
|
$ 304 |
|
$ 918 |
Pro forma |
|
193 |
|
580 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net income: |
|
|
|
|
As reported |
|
7,827 |
23,007 |
|
Pro forma |
|
7,938 |
|
23,345 |
|
|
|
|
|
Basic net income per share: |
|
|
|
|
As reported |
|
0.36 |
|
1.06 |
Pro forma |
|
0.36 |
|
1.07 |
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted net income per share: |
|
|
|
|
As reported |
|
0.35 |
|
1.05 |
Pro forma |
|
0.36 |
|
1.07 |
|
|
|
|
|
5. Property Acquisitions/Agreements
Lake Canyon
During July 2004, the Company and Bill Barrett Corporation (BBC) entered into a joint Exploration and Development Agreement (Agreement) with the Ute Indian Tribe (Tribe) to explore and develop approximately 125,000 prospective acres of tribal lands in the Uinta Basin in Utah. On October 5, 2004, the Bureau of Indian Affairs approved the Agreement as amended, which now includes the Ute Distribution Corporation as an additional party. The Company will operate the shallow horizons down to approximately 6,500 feet. The Company's ownership will be up to 75% in these shallow zones. For the Company and BBC to earn their respective interests in the 125,000 acres pursuant to the Agreement, they are required to participate in drilling 13 deep wells and 21 shallow wells prior to December 31, 2009, including one deep well and two shallow wells by December 31, 2005. The Company plans to commence drilling shallow wells in the first quarter
11
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY |
Part I. Financial Information |
Item 1. Financial Statements |
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements |
September 30, 2004 |
(Unaudited) |
of 2005. BBC intends to drill the first deep well beginning in January 2005. The Company estimates its share of the drilling cost of these 34 wells over the term of the Agreement to be approximately $21 million. This estimate is subject to changes in drilling and completion costs. The Tribe has an option to participate for a 25% working interest in wells drilled pursuant to the Agreement. This right terminates as to all wells in a lease block if the Tribe does not participate in the first two wells drilled in that lease block. If the Tribe exercises its right to participate, Berry's interest would be reduced to 56.25% in the shallow zones and 18.75% in the deep zones in the wells in which the Tribe participates.
Separately, in the third quarter of 2004, the Company signed a Purchase and Sale Agreement to purchase from BBC an interest in 46,000 acres of fee lands adjacent to or near the tribal acreage. The Company's working interest on this acreage is 75% in the shallow horizons and 25% in the deep horizons. The Company is not required to fulfill a drilling commitment on this acreage.
The aggregate 171,000 acre block (over 265 square miles), covered by the above agreements, is located immediately west of the Company's Brundage Canyon field. The Company and BBC will develop a plan to test the 171,000 acres. Natural gas potential will be the focus of the deeper horizons, primarily in the Wasatch and Mesaverde formations, and the Company will participate up to 25% in the development of these deeper zones. The Company will pay approximately $2 million for this acreage and related costs in the fourth quarter.
Duschesne and Uintah Counties
In September 2004, the Company and an industry partner were high bidders on certain leases offered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These leases, representing approximately 17,000 gross acres (8,500 net acres to the Company), are located southeast of the Company's Brundage Canyon field. The final issuance of leases for this acreage is pending due to various court challenges by special interest groups. The Company paid approximately $3.3 million for its interest in this acreage, which is included as a deposit in the Company's Condensed Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2004.
Brundage Canyon
In September 2004, the Company and BBC entered into a Farmout Agreement to explore and develop the deeper horizons of the Company's Brundage Canyon field. While the initial test well will be funded by BBC, the Company will retain a 25% working interest at payout. BBC is required to drill to a minimum depth of 14,000 feet. Upon completion of the drilling of this well, BBC will earn a 75% working interest in the deeper horizons of the Company's Brundage Canyon field.
12
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY |
Part I. Financial Information |
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of |
Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
Results of Operations |
The Company earned a record net income of $18.2
million, or $.82 per share (diluted), on revenues of $72.9 million in the third
quarter of 2004, up 133% from net income of $7.8 million, or $.35 per share, on
revenues of $44.5 million in the third quarter of 2003, and up 19% from net
income of $15.3 million, or $.68 per share, on revenues of $64.1 million in the
second quarter of 2004. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2004
was $43.9 million, or $1.97 per share (diluted), on revenues of $194.4 million,
up 91% from $23.0 million, or $1.05 per share, on revenues of $130.8 million for
the nine months ended September 30, 2003. Results in the nine months ended
September 30, 2003 include an after-tax write off of $1.4 million, representing
the cost of a coalbed methane pilot project.
Three Months Ended |
Nine Months Ended |
||||
Sept 30, |
June 30, |
Sept 30, |
Sept 30, |
Sept 30, |
|
Oil and gas: |
|
|
|
|
|
Net Production - BOE per day |
20,825 |
20,315 |
16,482 |
20,243 |
15,874 |
Per BOE: hedges(1) |
$32.28 |
$28.55 |
$22.07 |
$28.81 |
$22.45 |
Operating costs (2) |
10.32 |
9.21 |
10.21 |
9.57 |
9.88 |
Production taxes |
1.22 |
1.17 |
.69 |
1.12 |
.58 |
Total operating costs |
11.54 |
10.38 |
10.90 |
10.69 |
10.46 |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A) |
4.34 |
4.60 |
3.41 |
4.33 |
3.31 |
General & administrative |
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense |
.27 |
.29 |
.24 |
.28 |
.19 |
Electricity: |
|||||
Production - MWh/day | 2,122 | 2,045 | 2,127 | 2,112 | 2,100 |
Sales - MWh/day |
1,916 |
1,843 |
1,937 |
1,905 |
1,912 |
Average sales price, net of hedges - $/Mwh |
75.96 |
67.51 |
60.12 |
70.25 |
65.38 |
Fuel gas cost - $/Mmbtu |
5.27 |
5.44 |
4.75 |
5.27 |
5.06 |
(1) Comparative average West Texas Intermediate (WTI) price: |
$43.89 |
$38.28 |
$30.21 |
$39.21 |
$30.94 |
(2) Includes monthly expenses in excess of monthly revenues from cogeneration operations of:
|
$ 2.09 |
$ 1.81 |
$ 2.34 |
$ 1.91 |
$ 2.28 |
13
The Company achieved another production record in the third quarter of 2004. Production (BOE/day) for the quarter averaged 20,825, up 26% from 16,482 in the third quarter of 2003 and 3% from 20,315 in the second quarter of 2004. The increase from the third quarter of 2003 was due primarily to production from our Brundage Canyon field which was purchased in late August 2003. Production from that field, which averaged less than 1,000 BOE/day for the third quarter of 2003, averaged 4,950 BOE/day in the third quarter of 2004. The Company drilled 42 wells in the Brundage Canyon field during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. A total of 55 wells are planned for the property in 2004.
Production (BOE/day) from the Company's California properties averaged 15,689, 15,971 and 15,522 for the third quarter of 2004, the second quarter of 2004 and the third quarter of 2003, respectively. The Company has plans to drill approximately 20 new wells and work over approximately 24 wells in the fourth quarter of 2004, which is expected to improve California production to approximately 16,000 BOE/day. Additionally, the Company has launched three new enhanced (thermal) recovery projects in California (Poso Creek field, Ethel D property and a diatomite pilot) which all show promise to increase production in future periods. On a Companywide basis, management believes the Company will achieve its average production target of 20,500 BOE/day in 2004.
While preliminary, the Company is targeting production growth from existing
assets of approximately 10% to average in excess of 22,500 BOE/day in 2005. This
expectation is based on crude oil prices exceeding WTI $35 per barrel and
maintaining a historic natural gas to oil pricing ratio of six to one. The
Company is anticipating a capital budget for 2005 of at least $80 million with
the majority of funds allocated for Rocky Mountain activity.
World crude oil prices reached an all time high during the third quarter of 2004, with Nymex WTI prices averaging $43.89 per barrel. In the third quarter, the Company's average price received per BOE was $32.28, up 13% from $28.55 in the second quarter of 2004 and 46% from $22.07 per BOE in the third quarter of 2003. The difference of $11.61 between the price received by the Company and Nymex WTI average price for the quarter is derived from 1) the quality differential between WTI crude oil and the heavier crude oils produced by the Company, which was a reduction of approximately $5.39 per BOE, 2) hedge losses on produced and sold quantities in the quarter had an impact of $3.32 per BOE, and 3) a price based royalty paid on production from a California property that lowered the price by $2.90 per BOE. The average differential per barrel between Nymex WTI and the average posting for the Company's 13 degree heavy crude oil in California, which averaged $5.72 in 2003, has expanded to an average of $8.68 in the third quarter of 2004, and was $11.38 on September 30, 2004. The Company believes that this widening differential is due to the WTI price being well above $40 per barrel and a general increase in supply of heavier crude oil on a worldwide basis.
The Company has a sales contract in California under which it sells 97% of its California production with a price mechanism equating to WTI less approximately $6.00 per barrel. This contract expires December 31, 2005 and while the Company believes there is a sufficient market for its crude oil, it can make no assurances as to the terms it can negotiate within a new sales contract. The Company anticipates crude oil prices to remain strong for the foreseeable future. However, since crude oil prices are impacted by world supply and demand and other factors, actual prices may vary significantly from current levels. Please refer to Part 1, Item 3 of this report for more detail concerning the
14
Company's current hedge strategy and the impact of these agreements on
current and future revenues. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the
Company's average price received, net of hedges, was $28.81, up 28% from $22.45
received in the same period of 2003.
Sales of oil and gas of $61.6 million in the third quarter of 2004 was up 84% from $33.5 million generated in the third quarter of 2003. On a year-to-date basis, sales of oil and gas increased 64% to $159.5 million in the 2004 nine-month period from $97.3 million in the first nine months of 2003. In 2004, approximately 93% of the Company's oil and gas sales is crude oil, with 79% being heavy crude oil produced in California.
The Company has continued its practice of
hedging a portion of its production to protect cash flows from a severe crude
oil price decline. See "Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures
About Market Risk" for information related to these agreements and their
impact on future revenues. The Company nets its oil hedging realized gains or
losses into its revenues from the sales of oil and gas. For the third quarter of
2004, the effect of these agreements was to reduce the net realized price per
barrel of crude oil by $3.32 compared to a reduction of $2.28 in the second
quarter of 2004 and $1.90 in the third quarter of 2003.
The Company sells approximately 79 MW of the 88 MW of electricity it generates from its cogeneration facilities. The Company consumes 9 MW, or 10%, of its generation in its field operations. The Company estimates that this consumption practice reduces California oil and gas operating costs by $.20 per BOE. Approximately 59 MW is sold to utilities under Standard Offer (SO) contracts that are scheduled to terminate on December 31, 2004. In January 2004, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a decision that orders the utilities to continue to purchase energy and capacity from Qualified Facilities (QFs), such as Berry, under 5-year SO contracts. The CPUC has not yet determined the price that will be paid under these SO contracts. The Company is currently reviewing draft agreements to accomplish this CPUC order, and expects to sign final agreements in the fourth quarter of 2004. The remaining 20 MW of electricity continues to be sold to a utility under a long-term SO contract that is scheduled to terminate in March 2009. The outlook for electricity volume appears to be relatively stable in 2005. However, revenues will be impacted by volatile fuel (natural gas) costs.
Oil and gas operating expenses per BOE for the third quarter of 2004 were $11.54, up 6% from $10.90 in the third quarter of 2003 and, up 11% from $10.38 in the second quarter of 2004. The primary factor contributing to higher operating costs is steam cost, which increased as a result of a 10% increase in injection volumes into California heavy oil properties during the third quarter of 2004 compared to injection volumes in both the third quarter of 2003 and the second quarter of 2004. Overall, the Company injected approximately 6.7 million barrels of steam during the third quarter of 2004. In addition to higher injection volumes, the operating costs increased in the third quarter of 2004 from the third quarter of 2003 because the cost of natural gas used as fuel in the Company's steam generating operations increased 11% between the two periods. Oil and gas operating expenses for the third quarter of 2004 were $22.1 million, up from $16.5 million, in the third quarter of 2003 and, up from $19.2 million in the second quarter of 2004, which is consistent with production growth.
15
For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, operating costs per BOE were $10.69, up 2% from $10.46 for the first nine months of 2003. Contributing to the increase in costs per BOE was an 8%, or 1.3 million increase in steam injection volume (in barrels) to 18.6 million in the 2004 nine month period. The cost of natural gas used in steam operations was fairly flat in the two nine-month periods averaging slightly over $5.00 per Mmbtu. Although the Company incurred higher operating costs of $59.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, up from $45.3 million for the first nine months of 2003, the cost per BOE remained fairly flat because the operating cost per BOE at the Brundage Canyon properties is lower than California since steam is not required in the Utah operations. The Company anticipates that operating costs will average between $10.50 and $11.25 per BOE during the full year of 2004 based on increasing natural gas prices. The Company is targeting operating costs per BOE in 2005 of between $11.00 and $12.00, which is higher than 2004 due to anticipated higher steam volumes and higher average prices for natural gas used to produce steam.
DD&A per BOE for the third quarter of 2004 was $4.34, down by 6% from $4.60 in the second quarter of 2004, however, up 27% from $3.41 in the third quarter of 2003. DD&A per BOE for the first nine months of 2004 was $4.33, up 31% from $3.31 in the first nine months of 2003. The decrease in DD&A per BOE in the third quarter of 2004 compared to the second quarter of 2004 is due to a revision in the reserve estimates for Brundage Canyon that lowered the DD&A rate per BOE as a result of drilling production volumes exceeding previous expectations considered in prior DD&A rates. Consistent with expectations, the DD&A per BOE between the third quarter of 2004 and third quarter of 2003 is trending higher and is expected to continue to increase over the next few years due to the Utah acquisitions, continued development of its Utah and California properties and the shorter reserve life of the Utah assets compared to the California assets. DD&A for the third quarter of 2004 was $8.3 million, up from $5.2 million in the third quarter of 2003 and DD&A for the first nine months of 2004 was $24.0 million, up from $14.4 million in the first nine months of 2003. DD&A increase in total dollars is consistent with the Company's production growth. The Company anticipates its DD&A to approximate $32 million or range from an average of between $4.10 and $4.50 per BOE for all of 2004. For 2005, the Company expects DD&A to approximate $4.40 to $4.70 per BOE, or $36 million to $38 million.
G&A per BOE for the third quarter of 2004 was $2.21, or $4.2 million, down 7% from $2.38, or $4.4 million in the second quarter of 2004 and up 43% from $1.55, or $2.4 million in the third quarter of 2003. For the first nine months of 2004, G&A per BOE was $2.74, or $15.2 million compared to $1.81, or $7.9 million in the first nine months of 2003. Stock option compensation was $5.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, up $3.5 million from $1.5 million incurred in the first nine months of 2003. G&A expenses also increased in 2004 due to $.8 million in costs associated with the change in the chief executive officer of the Company in the second quarter of 2004, increases in payroll costs of $1.9 million resulting from additional staffing to accommodate Company growth, a change in the treatment of stock compensation, higher accounting and legal fees related to Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and higher oil and gas property evaluation expenses. The Company anticipates G&A costs for all of 2004 to be between $18.0 and $19.0 million and average between $2.40 and $2.55 per BOE. The Company expects its G&A costs to be much lower in 2005 than 2004, primarily due to lower charges related to its stock option accounting. The Company anticipates its G&A costs for 2005 will approximate $1.55 to $1.75 per BOE, or $13 million to $14 million.
16
The Company experienced an effective tax rate of 31% for the third quarter of 2004, up from 17% for the same period last year. The significant improvement in pre-tax income had the effect of lowering in percentage terms the benefit of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) credit. For the nine months ending September 30, 2004, the Company's effective tax rate was 27%, up from 15% in the same period last year. This increase is also directly related to improved earnings. The Company's investment in qualifying EOR projects in California allows for an effective rate well below the statutory rate of 40%. Based on current oil prices, the Company anticipates an effective tax rate for 2004 of between 24% and 28%. With the likelihood that WTI will average over $42 per barrel in 2004, the Company believes the EOR tax credit will be reduced in 2005 due to the phase-out under its pricing mechanism. Thus, the Company expects to earn less EOR credit in 2005. Generally, the Company expects that its effective tax rate will trend higher as it dedicates an increasing percentage of it capital investments to non-EOR projects. The American Jobs Creation Act, signed by the President on October 22, 2004, is expected to reduce the Company's effective tax rate by approximately one percentage point. Given the above and the outlook for crude oil pricing next year, the Company expects its effective tax rate to average between 34% and 38%.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Net cash provided by operating activities was $78.5 million in the first nine months of 2004, up $38.5 million or 96% from $40.0 million in the first nine months of 2003. The increase in cash provided is the direct result of increases in crude oil prices and higher production levels in the nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2003. Sales of oil and gas increased $62.2 million during the period ended September 30, 2004 compared to the same period in 2003 due to a 28% increase in crude oil prices, net of hedges, and a 28% increase in production between the respective periods. Cash flows from operations were affected by an $11.5 million increase in current liabilities, primarily due to a higher level of operating activities in the 2004 nine month period. Cash flows from operations were also impacted by a $10.2 million increase in receivables due primarily to higher crude oil prices and production levels during the nine months ended September 30, 2004.
Excluding 2004 acquisitions, the Company's revised capital budget for 2004 is approximately $70 million, up 32% from its initial capital budget of approximately $53 million. The Company expects to drill a total of approximately 120 wells, perform approximately 90 workovers and complete various facility improvements. The Company intends to fund 100% of its capital program out of internally generated cash flow. During the first 9 months of 2004, cash was used to fund $51.9 million in capital expenditures, which included drilling 93 new wells and completing 76 workovers. Of these totals, 51 new wells were drilled and 41 workovers were performed in California and 42 new wells were drilled and 35 workovers were performed on the Brundage Canyon property.
In August 2004, the Company increased its annual dividend by 9% to $.12 per
share per quarter ($.48 per share per annum) and announced a special dividend of
$.06 per share. The Company paid dividends of $4.1 million during the third
quarter of 2004, which is included in dividends paid of $8.8 million in the
first nine months of 2004.
In the third quarter of 2004, the Company paid down $17 million of long-term debt. As of September 30, 2004, the Company had $167 million available under its $200 million unsecured credit facility. Cash provided by operating activities
17
will be targeted to acquisitions, additional development and debt reduction. As
of September 30, 2004, the Company had not closed on the acreage in Lake Canyon.
The Company will pay approximately $2 million for this acreage and related costs
in the fourth quarter of 2004. The Company estimates its share of the drilling
cost associated with its 34 well drilling commitment with the Ute Indian Tribe
and Ute Distribution Corporation through December 31, 2009 is approximately $21
million. This estimate is subject to changes in drilling and completion costs.
The Company anticipates that it will participate in the first deep test well on
this acreage which is targeted to spud in January 2005. The Company is also
planning to drill at least two shallow wells on this acreage in the first
quarter of 2005.
Forward
Looking Statements
"Safe harbor under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:" With the exception of historical information, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its goals will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements herein include, but are not limited to, the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices for oil, gas and electricity, drilling, development and operating risks, a limited marketplace for electricity sales within California, counterparty risk, competition, environmental risks, litigation uncertainties, the availability of drilling rigs and other support services, legislative and/or judicial decisions and other government or Tribal regulations.
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY
Part I. Financial Information
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The Company enters into various financial contracts to hedge its exposure to commodity price risk associated with its crude oil production, electricity production and natural gas volumes purchased for its steaming operations. These contracts have historically been in the form of zero-cost collars and swaps. The Company typically hedged between 25% and 50% of its anticipated crude oil production each year and up to 30% of its anticipated net natural gas purchased each year. Going forward, the Company anticipates that it will implement its hedges in the form of swaps with a target of approximately 50% of its production to capture the benefit of favorable crude pricing. The Company may, at times, exceed the 50% target, but in no circumstances foresees exceeding 75% of its production. All of these hedges have historically been deemed to be cash flow hedges with the mark-to-market valuations of the collars and swaps provided by external sources, based on prices that are actually quoted. The Company reviews the effectiveness of these hedges on a regular basis. The Company may not have the benefit of a sales contract that links heavy crude oil prices to Nymex WTI crude prices after 2005, thus, any hedges placed on volumes in 2006 or beyond may not be deemed to be cash flow hedges. Therefore, the accounting treatment under SFAS 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, may require mark-to-market valuations which would impact the income statement before the cash settlement of the hedge.
18
Based on NYMEX futures prices as of September
30, 2004, the Company would expect to make pre-tax future cash receipts (cash
payments) over the remaining term of its crude oil (through December 31, 2005)
and natural gas (through June 30, 2006) hedges in place as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Impact of percent change in futures prices |
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
on pre-tax earnings (in thousands) |
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
NYMEX |
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
Futures |
|
|
-20% |
|
|
-10% |
|
|
+10% |
|
|
+20% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Average WTI Price for Outstanding Contracts |
|
$ |
45.67 |
|
$ |
36.54 |
|
$ |
41.10 |
|
$ |
50.24 |
|
$ |
54.80 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crude Oil gain (loss)/cash receipt (cash payment) |
|
|
(21,606 |
) |
|
6,504 |
|
(7,551 |
) |
|
(35,661 |
) |
|
(49,716 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Henry Hub (HH) Price for Outstanding Contracts |
|
|
6.78 |
|
|
5.43 |
|
|
6.11 |
|
|
7.46 |
|
|
8.14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural Gas gain (loss)/cash receipt (cash payment) |
|
|
4,821 |
|
|
(1,143 |
) |
|
1,839 |
|
7,803 |
|
|
10,785 |
|
The Company sells approximately 79 MW of the 88 MW of electricity it generates from its cogeneration facilities. The Company consumes 9 MW, or 10%, of its generation in its field operations. The Company estimates that this consumption practice reduces California oil and gas operating costs by $.20 per BOE. Approximately 59 MW is sold to utilities under Standard Offer (SO) contracts that are scheduled to terminate on December 31, 2004. In January 2004, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a decision that orders the utilities to continue to purchase energy and capacity from Qualified Facilities (QFs), such as Berry, under 5-year SO contracts. The CPUC has not yet determined the price that will be paid under these SO contracts. The Company is currently reviewing draft agreements to accomplish this CPUC order, and expects to sign final agreements in the fourth quarter of 2004. The remaining 20 MW of electricity continues to be sold to a utility under a long-term SO contract that is scheduled to terminate in March 2009. The outlook for electricity volume appears to be relatively stable in 2005. However, revenues will be impacted by volatile fuel (natural gas) costs.
The Company attempts to minimize credit exposure to counterparties through monitoring procedures and diversification. The Company's exposure to changes in interest rates results primarily from long-term debt. Total debt outstanding at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 was $33 million and $50 million, respectively. Interest on amounts borrowed is charged at LIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.0%. Based on these borrowings, a 1% change in interest rates would not have a material impact on the Company's condensed financial statements.
19
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY
Part I. Financial Information
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Based on an evaluation by the Company's
management as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q, subject to and except for the discussion below, the Company's Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company's
disclosure controls and procedures, as defined by regulations of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the "Exchange Act"), are effective to
ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports
that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and
Exchange Commission's rules and forms.
In July, 2004, the Company became aware of a
material weakness relating to the Company's internal controls and procedures
over its financial reporting for stock based compensation relating to its stock
option plan. As a result, the Company performed a review of the method of stock
option exercises by employees and directors since the plan's inception in 1994.
Based on this review, the Company determined that variable plan accounting was
required to comply with generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States. In response to this matter, the Company, during the third quarter 2004,
revised its procedures related to stock option exercising to remove the option
holder's election to surrender options in payment of any portion of taxes above
the minimum statutory withholding. Furthermore, the Company, during the third
quarter 2004, has remediated the ineffective internal controls through the
implementation of enhanced controls to assure that financial reporting is in
compliance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
The Company has identified no changes in the
internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal
quarter ended September 30, 2004, and that has materially affected, or is
reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over
financial reporting, except as described above.
20
|
Part II. Other Information |
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
(a) Reports on Form 8-K
On July 19, 2004 the Company filed a Form 8-K reporting an Item 9 - Regulation FD Disclosure to furnish the Securities and Exchange Commission a copy of the Company's Press Release announcing the acquisition of additional Uinta Basin acreage and a joint exploration and development program.
On July 26, 2004 the Company filed a Form 8-K
reporting an Item 12 - Disclosure of results of operations and financial
condition to furnish the Securities and Exchange Commission a copy of the
Company's Press Release announcing a rescheduling of the release of the
Company's financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2004 and the
revision of accounting treatment for stock options.
On August 9, 2004, the Company filed a Form
8-K reporting an Item 9 - Regulation FD Disclosure and Item 12 - Disclosure of
results of operations and financial condition to furnish the Securities and
Exchange Commission a copy of the Company's Press Release announcing financial
results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2004.
On August 31, 2004, the Company filed a Form 8-K reporting an Item 7.01 - Regulation FD announcing the increase in the annual dividend and capital budget.
(b) Exhibits
Exhibit No. Description
31.1 Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer
31.2 Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer
32.1 Rule 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
32.2 Rule 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer
21
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY |
SIGNATURES
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
/s/ Donald A. Dale
Donald A. Dale
Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
Date: October 26, 2004
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Robert F. Heinemann, President and Chief Executive Officer of Berry Petroleum Company, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Berry Petroleum Company;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the condensed financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:
a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision to ensure that material information relating to the registrant is made known to us by others within the registrant, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
c) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting;
5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls over financial reporting.
Date: October 26, 2004 /s/ Robert F. Heinemann
Robert F. Heinemann
President and Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Ralph J. Goehring, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Berry Petroleum Company, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Berry Petroleum Company;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the condensed financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:
a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision to ensure that material information relating to the registrant is made known to us by others within the registrant, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
c) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting;
5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls over financial reporting.
Date: October 26, 2004 /s/ Ralph J. Goehring
Ralph J. Goehring
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Exhibit 32.1
Certification Pursuant to Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
The certification set forth below is being submitted in connection with the Quarterly Report of Berry Petroleum Company (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2004 (the 'Report') for the purpose of complying with Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 'Exchange Act') and
Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.
I, Robert F. Heinemann, President and Chief Executive Officer of Berry Petroleum Company (the "Company"), hereby certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) The Report which this certification accompanies, 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 Company, as of and for the periods presented in the condensed financial statements in this Report.
/s/ Robert F. Heinemann
Robert F. Heinemann
President and Chief Executive Officer
October 26, 2004
Exhibit 32.2
Certification Pursuant to Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
The certification set forth below is being submitted in connection with the Quarterly Report of Berry Petroleum Company (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2004 (the 'Report') for the purpose of complying with Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 'Exchange Act') and
Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.
I, Ralph J. Goehring, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Berry Petroleum Company (the "Company"), hereby certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) The Report which this certification accompanies, 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 Company, as of and for the periods presented in the condensed financial statements in this Report.
/s/ Ralph J. Goehring
Ralph J. Goehring
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
October 26, 2004