UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 3, 2005 (October 1, 2005)
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY
| DELAWARE (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
1-9735 (Commission File Number) |
77-0079387 (IRS Employer Identification Number) |
| 5201 TRUXTUN AVE., STE. 300, BAKERSFIELD,
CA (Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
93309 (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (661) 616-3900
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
| Item 5.02(c) | Election of Director |
On October 3, 2005,
Berry Petroleum Company issued a news release announcing the election of
Joseph H. Bryant as a director of Berry Petroleum Company effective October 1, 2005. The information contained in
the press release is incorporated herein by reference and furnished as Exhibit
99.1.
The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K and
Exhibit 99.1 is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for the purposes
of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise
subject to the liabilities of that Section.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(c) Exhibits
99.1 News release dated October 3, 2005 announcing the election of Joseph H.
Bryant to Berry Petroleum Company Board of Directors, effective October 1, 2005.
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 hereto duly authorized.
| BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY |
||||
| By: |
/s/ Kenneth A. Olson |
|||
| Kenneth A. Olson | ||||
| Corporate Secretary | ||||
Date: October 3, 2005
Page 2 of 2
|
News
Release Berry
Petroleum Company
5201 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 300
Bakersfield, California 93309-0640 |
Phone
(661) 616-3900
E-mail:
ir@bry.com
Internet:
www.bry.com |
||
|
Contacts:
Robert F. Heinemann, President and CEO - - Ralph J. Goehring, Executive
Vice President and CFO | |||
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY NAMES JOSEPH H. BRYANT TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bakersfield, CA - October 3, 2005 - Berry Petroleum Company (NYSE:BRY) announced that Joseph H. Bryant has been elected to the Board of Directors, effective October 1, 2005.
Martin H. Young, chairman of the board, said, "We are pleased that Joe Bryant is joining our Board. He brings a wealth of technical and operational knowledge. His advice will be valuable as we grow our Company."
Mr. Robert F. Heinemann, president and chief executive officer of Berry, stated, "Joe's extensive experience in exploration, production and operations further broadens and deepens the expertise of the Board. Joe is joining Berry Petroleum at an exciting time in our history, and his willingness to be part of our team further validates the significant progress Berry has made in its transformation."
Mr. Bryant has more than 28 years of experience in the oil and gas industry having most recently served as the president and chief operating officer of Unocal until September 30, 2005. Prior to his position at Unocal, Mr. Bryant was the president of BP Angola from 2000 to 2004 and prior to that time was president of BP Canada and an Amoco joint venture in China. He has also held numerous leadership positions for Amoco in engineering, financial and operational assignments throughout the continental United States. Mr. Bryant has a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Nebraska.
Berry Petroleum Company is a publicly traded independent oil and gas production and exploitation company with headquarters in Bakersfield, California. Visit www.bry.com for more information.
# # #