UNITED STATES

                         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, 2001
                        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.)


28700 Hovey Hills Road, P.O. Box 925, Taft, California    93268-0925
 (Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)

 Registrant's telephone number, including area code    (661) 769-8811

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  (  )

The number of shares of each of the registrant's classes of capital
stock outstanding as of September 30, 2001 was 21,095,584 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
                            SEPTEMBER 30, 2001

                                   INDEX

PART I.  Financial Information

Page No.

   

Item 1.  Financial Statements

 
   

Condensed Balance Sheets at
 September 30, 2001 and December 31, 2000


     3

Condensed Income Statements for the Three Month Periods
 Ended September 30, 2001 and 2000


     4

Condensed Income Statements for the Nine Month Periods
 Ended September 30, 2001 and 2000


     5

Condensed Statements of
 Comprehensive Income for the Nine Month Periods
 Ended September 30, 2001 and 2000



     6

Condensed Statements of
 Cash Flows for the Nine Month Periods
 Ended September 30, 2001 and 2000



     7

   

Notes to Condensed Financial Statements

     8

   

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis
 Of Financial Condition and Results of Operations


    10

   

PART II.  Other Information

    13

   

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

    13

   

SIGNATURES

    13













                                    2


                          BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY
                       Part I. Financial Information
                        Item 1. Financial Statements
                          Condensed Balance Sheets
                  (In Thousands, Except Share Information)

 

 

September 30,
    2001
(Unaudited)

December 31,
    2000

               ASSETS

   

Current Assets:

   

 Cash and cash equivalents

  $  21,077

  $   2,731

 Short-term investments available for sale

        589

        582

 Accounts receivable

     16,783

     26,420

 Prepaid expenses and other

      7,473

      5,190

  Total current assets

     45,922

     34,923

     

Oil and gas properties (successful efforts
 basis), buildings and equipment, net


    201,548

 
    201,643

Other assets

        949

      1,793

 

  $ 248,419

  $ 238,359

     

 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

   

Current liabilities:

   

 Accounts payable

  $  11,505

  $  27,354

 Accrued liabilities

      6,623

      3,612

 Federal and state income taxes payable

      5,078

      5,110

 Fair value of derivatives

      4,453

          -

  Total current liabilities

     27,659

     36,076

     

Long-term debt

     33,000

     25,000

     

Deferred income taxes

     30,707

     32,059

     

Fair value of derivatives

      8,162

          -

     

Shareholders' equity:

   

 Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 2,000,000
  shares authorized; no shares outstanding


          -


          -

 Capital stock, $.01 par value:
  Class A Common Stock, 50,000,000 shares
   authorized; 21,095,584 shares issued and
   outstanding at September 30, 2001
   (21,134,667 at December 31, 2000)





        211

 



        211

  Class B Stock, 1,500,000 shares authorized;
   898,892 shares issued and outstanding
   (liquidation preference of $899)



          9



          9

  Capital in excess of par value

     53,136

     53,686

 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 Retained earnings

     (6,620)
    102,155

        441
     90,877

  Total shareholders' equity

    148,891
  $ 248,419

    145,224
  $ 238,359

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, 2001 and 2000
                  (In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
                                (Unaudited)

 

     2001

     2000

Revenues:

   

 Sales of oil and gas

  $  22,440

   $  32,731

 Sales of electricity

      9,555

      13,208

 Interest and other income, net

      1,127

         118

     
 

     33,122

      46,057

     

Expenses:

   

 Operating costs - oil and gas production

      9,761

      14,177

 Operating costs - electricity generation

      9,555

      13,208

 Depreciation, depletion and amortization

      3,864

       3,542

 General and administrative

      1,543

       1,695

 Interest

        959

         784

     
 

     25,682

      33,406

     

Income before income taxes

      7,440

      12,651

Provision for income taxes

      1,548

       3,073

     

Net income

  $   5,892
  =========

   $   9,578
   =========

     

Basic net income per share

  $     .27
  =========

   $     .43
   =========

     

Diluted net income per share

  $     .27
  =========

   $     .43
   =========

     

Cash dividends per share

  $     .10
  =========

   $     .10
   =========

     

Weighted average number of shares of
 capital stock outstanding used to
 calculate basic net income per share



     22,034



      22,033

     

Effect of dilutive securities:

   

 Stock options

        132

         246

 Other

         34

          34

     

Weighted average number of shares of
 capital stock used to calculate
 diluted net income per share



     22,200
  =========



      22,313
  ==========

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, 2001 and 2000
                  (In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
                                (Unaudited)

 

     2001

     2000

Revenues:

   

 Sales of oil and gas

  $  80,868

   $  85,235

 Sales of electricity

     28,088

      32,288

 Interest and other income, net

      2,106

         395

     
 

    111,062

     117,918

     

Expenses:

   

 Operating costs - oil and gas production

     31,567

      31,420

 Operating costs - electricity generation

     27,890

      30,090

 Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     12,538

      10,248

 General and administrative

      5,482

       6,003

 Write-off of electricity receivable

      6,645

           -

 Interest

      3,271

       2,575

     
 

     87,393

      80,336

     

Income before income taxes

     23,669

      37,582

Provision for income taxes

      5,780

      10,251

     

Net income

  $  17,889
  =========

   $  27,331
   =========

     

Basic net income per share

  $     .81
  =========

   $    1.24
   =========

     

Diluted net income per share

  $     .81
  =========

   $    1.23
   =========

     

Cash dividends per share

  $     .30
  =========

   $     .30
   =========

     

Weighted average number of shares of
 capital stock outstanding used to
 calculate basic net income per share



     22,035



      22,027

     

Effect of dilutive securities:

   

 Stock options

         57

         186

 Other

         21

          26

     

Weighted average number of shares of
 capital stock used to calculate
 diluted net income per share



     22,113
  =========



      22,239
  ==========

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 Comprehensive Income
Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2001 and 2000
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

     2001

     2000

     

 Net income

  $  17,889

  $  27,331

 Unrealized losses on derivatives, net of
  income taxes of $4,413


     (6,620)


          -

 Reclassification of realized gains included
  in net income


       (441)


          -

     

 Comprehensive income

  $  10,828

  $  27,331


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

















                                     6

 

 

 

BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2001 and 2000
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

     2001

     2000

Cash flows from operating activities:

   

 Net income

  $  17,889

  $  27,331

 Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     12,538

     10,248

 Deferred income tax liability

      1,913

      4,005

 Other comprehensive income

        949

          -

 Other, net

       (664)

       (102)

   Net working capital provided by operating    activities


     32,625


     41,482

     

 Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable,   prepaid expenses and other


      7,354


     (8,181)

 (Decrease) increase in current liabilities

    (11,090)

     13,449

     

   Net cash provided by operating activities

     28,889

     46,750

     

Cash flows from investing activities:
 Property acquisitions
 Capital expenditures
 Other, net


     (2,273)
     (9,076)
        131


     (3,034)
    (17,439)
         42

     

   Net cash used in investing activities

    (11,218)

    (20,431)

     

Cash flows from financing activities:
 Dividends paid
 Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
 Payment of long-term debt
 Share repurchase program
 Other, net


     (6,611)
     45,000
    (37,000)
       (707)
         (7)


     (6,609)
          -
    (19,000)
          -
         (1)

     

   Net cash provided by (used in)
     financing activities


        675


    (25,610)

     

 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     18,346

        709

     

 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year


      2,731


        980

     

 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

  $  21,077

  $   1,689

     

Supplemental non-cash activity:

   

 Increase in fair value of derivatives:

  Current (net of income taxes of $1,781)

  $   2,672

  Non-current (net of income taxes of $3,265)

      4,897

 Net decrease to accumulated other comprehensive
   income


  $   7,569

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                                      7

                          Berry Petroleum Company
                       Part I. Financial Information
                   Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
                          September 30, 2001
                               (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, 2001 and December 31, 2000 and results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2001 and 2000 and cash flows for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2001 and 2000 have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The results of operations and cash flows are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year.


2.  The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared on a basis consistent with the accounting principles and policies reflected in the December 31, 2000 financial statements. The December 31, 2000 Form 10-K and the Form 10-Q's for the periods ended June 30, 2001 and March 31, 2001 should be read in conjunction herewith. The year-end condensed balance sheet 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.  On September 10, 2001, the Company assigned all of its rights, title and interest in its $12.1 million past due receivables from Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to an unrelated party for $9.3 million. For the first quarter of 2001, the Company wrote off $3 million, or 25% of the total receivable due the Company as a result of PG&E's bankruptcy filing on April 6, 2001 and the uncertainty involved in collecting the full amount. The Company recorded a $.2 million gain on the sale of the receivable in September 2001.


4.  The Company performed a review of its past due receivable arising from electricity sales to Southern California Edison Company (Edison). As of September 30, 2001, the Company is owed $13.5 million. However, due to the potential insolvency of Edison, the Company wrote off $3.6 million for the first quarter of 2001 and no further adjustment is deemed necessary at September 30, 2001.

5.  Concurrent with an amended electricity sales agreement with Edison, the Company entered into a three year natural gas swap agreement effective August 2001 with a major gas marketer for 5,000 Mmbtu per day such that gas provided to the facility for this contract will be at a price which should result in steam produced at a negligible cost to the Company. However, due to the decline in natural gas prices in the third quarter, per the requirements of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 (FAS 133), "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" and subsequent amendments, the Company recorded a liability, net of income taxes, of $7.6 million at September 30, 2001, of which $2.6 million is current, with an offsetting charge of $7.6 million to "Other Comprehensive Income" on the Company's balance sheet.





                                    8





                          Berry Petroleum Company
                       Part I. Financial Information
                   Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
                          September 30, 2001
                               (Unaudited)

6.  In August 2001, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to an aggregate of $20 million of the Company's Class A Common Stock. As of September 30, 2001, 45,600 shares were repurchased and retired under this program for a total of $.7 million.


























                                     9

 

                          BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY
                       Part I. Financial Information
              Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of
               Financial Condition and Results of Operations

                         Results of Operations

     In the third quarter of 2001, the Company earned $5.9 million, or $.27 per share, on revenues of $33.1 million, down 39% from $9.6 million, or $.43 per share, on revenues of $46.1 million in the third quarter of 2000 and down 16% from $7.0 million, or $.32 per share, on revenues of $29.4 million in the second quarter of 2001. For the first nine months ended September 30, 2001, the Company earned $17.9 million, or $.81 per share, on revenues of $111 million, down 66% from $27.3 million, on revenues of $118 million, or $1.24 per share, for the same period in 2000. The write-off of $6.6 million (pre-tax) in the first quarter of 2001 related to receivables due from electricity sales from Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Southern California Edison Company continues to negatively effect earnings comparisons in 2001 compared to 2000.

 

      Three Months Ended   

   Nine Months       Ended

 

 Sept 30,
  2001

 June 30,
  2001

Sept 30,
  2000

 Sept 30,
  2001

Sept 30,
  2000

Volumetrics:

Net production - BOE per  day

 12,940

 13,611

 15,244

 13,938

 14,680

           

Electric power produced - Megawatt hours per day


  1,835


    224


  1,992


  1,052


  1,983

           

Per BOE Data:
Realized sales price (1)


 $19.91


 $20.97


 $24.57


 $21.43


 $22.73

           

Operating costs (2)

   7.63

   8.56

   9.67

   7.71

   7.39

Production taxes

 ___.57

    .45

 ___.43

    .47

    .45

  Total operating costs

   8.20

   9.01

  10.10

   8.18

   7.84

           

Depreciation/Depletion  (DD&A)

   3.25

   3.15

   2.53

   3.30

   2.55

General & administrative
expenses(G&A)  


   1.30


   1.63


   1.21


   1.44


   1.49

           

Interest expense

    .81

    .93

    .56

    .86

    .64

Other:

         

Fuel gas cost per Mmbtu

   3.75

  10.54

   5.37

   7.99

   3.90

(1) Excludes unrealized hedging losses of $.99 and $.01 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2001, respectively, and an unrealized hedging gain of $.91 in the three months ended June 30, 2001. The impacts of unrealized gains and losses are a result of the application of FAS 133.

(2)Includes expenses in excess of revenues from cogeneration operations of $1.48, $2.32 and $.94 for the third quarter of 2001, the second quarter of 2001 and the third quarter of 2000, respectively. For the first nine months of 2001 and 2000, respectively, these expenses represent $1.61 and $.33.

                                    10



     Operating income in the third quarter of 2001 was $8.9 million, down from $15.1 million in the third quarter of 2000 and $12.8 million in the second quarter of 2001. For the first nine months of 2001, operating income was $37.2 million, down 19% from $46.1 million for that period in 2000. The declines experienced in the third quarter of 2001 compared to the third quarter of 2000 and the first nine months of 2001 versus the same period in 2000 were primarily related to lower crude oil production volumes and lower oil prices, partially offset by lower lifting costs. Production for the third quarter of 2001 and the first nine months of 2001 in barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/D) were 12,940 and 13,938, down 15% and 5% from 15,244 in the third quarter of 2000 and 14,680 for the first nine months of 2000, respectively. The average realized price for the Company's crude sales was $19.91 for the third quarter of 2001, down 19% from $24.57 in the third quarter of 2000. The realized price of $21.43 for the first nine months of 2001 was down 6% from $22.73 received in the same period of 2000. It should be noted that in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, global demand for crude oil has declined, resulting in a significant reduction in crude oil prices. The current posting for the Company's 13 degree API gravity crude oil is down $6.50 to $13.50.

     The Company's production volumes declined significantly in 2001 as most of the Company's steaming operations were shut down in early 2001 until the Company could successfully sell its cogeneration electricity to a creditworthy buyer and, in the case of conventional steam generation, when natural gas prices declined to under $4.00 per Mmbtu. While the Company's production declined by over 20% from its peak, it has stabilized and is currently increasing as steaming operations resumed. The Company projects that production will exceed 14,000 BOE/D by the end of 2001.

     Operating costs for the third quarter were $9.8 million, or $8.20 per BOE, down from $14.2 million, or $10.10 per BOE in the third quarter of 2000. The costs were higher in the third quarter of 2000 due primarily to higher maintenance costs of the cogeneration plants and the recording of an accrual for an environmental settlement. For the first nine months of 2001, operating expenses were $31.6 million, or $8.18 per BOE, up from $31.4 million, or $7.84 per BOE in the first nine months of 2000 due largely to lower production volumes resulting from the shut-in of the Company's steaming operations in the first half of 2001 and higher natural gas costs. Although natural gas cost per Mmbtu of $3.75 for the third quarter of 2001 was down 30% from $5.37 in the third quarter of 2000, natural gas cost averaged $7.99 for the nine months ended September 30, 2001, up 105% from $3.90 in the first nine months of 2000.


     G&A in the third quarter was $1.5 million, down 25% from $2.0 million in the second quarter of 2001 and down 12% from $1.7 million in the third quarter of 2000. The Company incurred significant legal fees in the second quarter of 2001 due to the impacts of California's electricity crisis. For the first nine months of 2001, G&A was $5.5 million, down 8% from $6.0 million in the same period of 2000.


     The Company experienced an effective tax rate of 21% in the third quarter of 2001 and 24% in the first nine months of 2001 compared to 24% and 27% in the same three and nine month 2000 periods, respectively. The Company anticipates that its effective tax rate will remain well below the combined federal and state statutory rate due to the Company's significant investment in numerous enhanced oil recovery projects.


                                    11

                       Liquidity and Capital Resources


     Working capital at September 30, 2001 was $18.3 million, down from $50.4 million at June 30, 2001, but up from negative $1.2 million at December 31, 2000. Cash generated from operations was $28.9 million for the first nine months of 2001, down from $46.8 million for the same period of 2000. In the 2001 period, cash was used for $9.1 million in capital expenditures, an acquisition of $2.3 million, dividends of $6.6 million and share repurchases of $.7 million. The Company began its 2001 drilling program in August and has drilled 19 wells to date and expects to drill a total of 38 wells by the end of 2001. The Company anticipates total capital expenditures in the fourth quarter to be approximately $5 million. As of September 30, 2001, long-term debt was $33.0 million, or $8 million higher than December 31, 2000. However, the Company has repaid debt of $8 million in October leaving a current balance of $25 million.

     The Company sold its electricity receivable due from Pacific Gas and Electric Company for $9.3 million in cash in the third quarter to avoid a prolonged and uncertain outcome due to their bankruptcy. The Company also received $1.5 million, or 10%, of its past due electricity receivable due from Southern California Edison Company in the third quarter. The Company is pursuing collection of the remaining balance.

     In August 2001, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to an aggregate of $20 million of the Company's Class A Common Stock. As of September 30, 2001, the Company had repurchased and retired 45,600 shares under this program for a total of $.7 million.


                          
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 Form 10-Q 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, So Cal border pricing for natural gas, pipeline capacity for natural gas to and within California, a limited marketplace for electricity purchases and sales within California, competition, environmental risks, litigation uncertainties, drilling, development and operating risks, uncertainties about the estimates of reserves, the prices of goods and services, the availability of drilling rigs and other support services and government actions in the form of judicial decisions, legislation, and decisions and regulations of the California Public Utilities Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other government agencies.


                                   12







BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY
Part II. Other Information


Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K



     The Company filed a Form 8-K dated September 18, 2001, containing a news release announcing the approval of a Share Repurchase Program for up to $20 million of its Class A Common Stock.

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/ Jerry V. Hoffman
Jerry V. Hoffman
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Ralph J. Goehring
Ralph J. Goehring
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

 

/s/ Donald A. Dale
Donald A. Dale
Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)

Date:  November 6, 2001

                                      13