UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
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): August 22, 2006 (August 22, 2006)
BERRY
PETROLEUM COMPANY
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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))
-
1
-
Item 7.01 Regulation
FD
On August
22, 2006, Berry
Petroleum Company distributed a news release stating that Berry
Petroleum Company's board of directors has
authorized a $43 million increase to its 2006 capital budget to $275 million,
up
19% from the previous budget of $232 million. The board also authorized an
increase of $.04 per share in its annual dividend and a special cash dividend
of
$0.02 per share, resulting in a total dividend of $.30 per share in
2006.
In
addition, with
the increased budget and two recent Piceance Basin
acquisitions, Berry is targeting an increase in 2006 year-end
proved reserves of 20 to 25 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE)
after annual production, resulting in proved reserves in excess of 146
million BOE
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 by Berry Petroleum Company dated August 22, 2006,
titled "Berry
Petroleum Increases 2006 Capital Budget, Announces Dividend Increase
And
Projected Year-End Reserves."
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: August
22, 2006
-
2
-