FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Expires: January 31, 2005 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Ayers William B   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol BERRY PETROLEUM CO [BRY] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) VP (Last) (First) (Middle) 5201 TRUXTUN AVE., SUITE 300 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 12/15/2006 (Street) BAKERSFIELD, CA 93309 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Class A Common Stock               0 D

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
	Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.		SEC 1474 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Non-Statutory Stock Option

$ 31.615

05/18/2007

05/17/2016

Class A Common Stock

10,000

10,000

D

Nonstatutory Stock Option

$ 32.565

12/15/2006

A(1)

5,000

12/15/2007

12/14/2016

Class A Common Stock

5,000

$ 0 (2)

5,000

D

Restricted Stock Units (3)

$ 0 (4)

12/15/2006

A(5)

5,000

(7)

(8)

Class A Common Stock

5,000

$ 0 (6)

5,000

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Ayers William B 5201 TRUXTUN AVE., SUITE 300 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93309			VP

Signatures

Kenneth A. Olson under POA for W. B. Ayers		12/19/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Grant of Nonstatutory Stock Option (NSO) under the Company's 2005 Equity Incentive Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3(c). Shares vest 25% per year from date of grant.
(2)	Grant of Nonstatutory Stock Option (NSO) under the Company's 2005 Equity Incentive Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3(c). Shares vest 25% per year from date of grant.
(3)	1 for 1
(4)	Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of Berry Petroleum Company Class A Common Stock
(5)	Grant of Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) under the Company's 2005 Equity Incentive Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3(c). RSUs vest 25% per year from date of grant.
(6)	The restricted stock units vests in four equal annual installments beginning December 15, 2007. Shares of Class A Common Stock will be delivered to the reporting person at the time of vesting.
(7)	The restricted stock units vests in four equal annual installments beginning December 15, 2007. Shares of Class A Common Stock will be delivered to the reporting person at the time of vesting.
(8)	The restricted stock units vests in four equal annual installments beginning December 15, 2007. Shares of Class A Common Stock will be delivered to the reporting person at the time of vesting.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.