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Berry Petroleum Company, LLC (Form: 10-Q, Received: 05/05/2015 11:07:50)

 
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 March 31, 2015
OR
¨
 
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
for the transition period from_______________ to _______________
Commission file number 1-9735
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, LLC
(Successor in interest to Berry Petroleum Company)
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State of incorporation or organization)
 
77-0079387
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

600 Travis, Suite 4900
Houston, Texas 77002
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(281) 840-4000
600 Travis, Suite 5100
Houston, Texas 77002
(Former address of principal executive offices)

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 for 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  ¨     No  x
Pursuant to the terms of its senior note indentures, the registrant is a voluntary filer of reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and has filed all such reports as required by its senior note indentures during the preceding 12 months.
The registrant meets the conditions set forth in General Instructions H(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q as it is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Linn Energy, LLC, which is a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and which has filed with the SEC all materials required to be filed pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) thereof, and the registrant is therefore filing this Form 10-Q with a reduced disclosure format.


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes  x     No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer  ¨
 
Accelerated filer  ¨
 
Non-accelerated filer  x
 
Smaller reporting company  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes  ¨     No  x
On December 16, 2013, the registrant was acquired (see Note 1 of Notes to Condensed Financial Statements), as a result of which 100% of its membership interest is currently held by a single member and the registrant deregistered its equity under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

i
Table of Contents

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
As commonly used in the oil and natural gas industry and as used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the following terms have the following meanings:
Bbl. One stock tank barrel or 42 United States gallons liquid volume.
Bbls/d. Bbls per day.
Bcf. One billion cubic feet.
BOE. Barrel of oil equivalent, determined using a ratio of one Bbl of oil, condensate or natural gas liquids to six Mcf of natural gas.
BOE/d. BOE per day.
Btu. One British thermal unit, which is the heat required to raise the temperature of a one-pound mass of water from 58.5 degrees to 59.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
MBbls. One thousand barrels of oil or other liquid hydrocarbons.
MBbls/d. MBbls per day.
Mcf. One thousand cubic feet.
MMBbls. One million barrels of oil or other liquid hydrocarbons.
MBOE. One thousand barrels of oil equivalent.
MBOE/d. MBOE per day.
MMBOE. One million barrels of oil equivalent.
MMBtu. One million British thermal units.
MMcf. One million cubic feet.
MMcf/d. MMcf per day.
Mwh. One thousand kilowatts of electricity used continuously for one hour.
Mwh/d. Mwh per day.
NGL. Natural gas liquids, which are the hydrocarbon liquids contained within natural gas.

ii
Table of Contents

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.
Financial Statements
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, LLC
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
 
March 31,
2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in thousands)
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,424

 
$
1,586

Accounts receivable - trade, net
88,881

 
100,359

Derivative instruments
19,555

 
43,694

Other current assets
53,229

 
59,259

Total current assets
163,089

 
204,898

 
 
 
 
Noncurrent assets:
 
 
 
Oil and natural gas properties (successful efforts method)
4,928,161

 
4,872,059

Less accumulated depletion and amortization
(865,266
)
 
(525,007
)
 
4,062,895

 
4,347,052

 
 
 
 
Other property and equipment
117,844

 
115,999

Less accumulated depreciation
(11,102
)
 
(8,452
)
 
106,742

 
107,547

 
 
 
 
Derivative instruments
81

 
—

Advance to affiliate
220,571

 
293,627

Other noncurrent assets
13,343

 
14,284

 
233,995

 
307,911

Total noncurrent assets
4,403,632

 
4,762,510

Total assets
$
4,566,721

 
$
4,967,408

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND MEMBER’S EQUITY
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$
214,795

 
$
242,350

Derivative instruments
899

 
—

Other accrued liabilities
14,356

 
19,087

Total current liabilities
230,050

 
261,437

 
 
 
 
Noncurrent liabilities:
 
 
 
Credit facility
1,173,175

 
1,173,175

Senior notes, net
913,315

 
913,777

Derivative instruments
229

 
—

Other noncurrent liabilities
197,451

 
200,015

Total noncurrent liabilities
2,284,170

 
2,286,967

 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)

 

 
 
 
 
Member’s equity:
 
 
 
Additional paid-in capital
2,372,603

 
2,416,381

Accumulated income (deficit)
(320,102
)
 
2,623

 
2,052,501

 
2,419,004

Total liabilities and member’s equity
$
4,566,721

 
$
4,967,408

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

1
Table of Contents

BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, LLC
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(in thousands)
Revenues and other:
 
 
 
Oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sales
$
156,586

 
$
333,116

Electricity sales
5,151

 
9,969

Gains on oil and natural gas derivatives
3,267

 
3,465

Marketing revenues
2,381

 
4,846

Other revenues
1,896

 
(16
)
 
169,281

 
351,380

Expenses:
 
 
 
Lease operating expenses
67,189

 
90,031

Electricity generation expenses
4,570

 
8,383

Transportation expenses
12,606

 
7,993

Marketing expenses
1,075

 
2,598

General and administrative expenses
21,187

 
43,491

Depreciation, depletion and amortization
72,979

 
68,631

Impairment of long-lived assets
272,000

 
—

Taxes, other than income taxes
23,332

 
23,029

(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other, net
(4,473
)
 
3,367

 
470,465

 
247,523

Other income and (expenses):
 
 
 
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized
(21,421
)
 
(24,001
)
Other, net
(170
)
 
(189
)
 
(21,591
)
 
(24,190
)
Income (loss) before income taxes
(322,775
)
 
79,667

Income tax benefit
(50
)
 
(31
)
Net income (loss)
$
(322,725
)
 
$
79,698

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

2
Table of Contents

BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, LLC
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF MEMBER’S EQUITY
(Unaudited)
 
Additional Paid-In Capital
 
Accumulated Income (Deficit)
 
Total Member’s Equity
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
$
2,416,381

 
$
2,623

 
$
2,419,004

Distribution to affiliate
(43,778
)
 
—

 
(43,778
)
Net loss
—

 
(322,725
)
 
(322,725
)
March 31, 2015
$
2,372,603

 
$
(320,102
)
 
$
2,052,501

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

3
Table of Contents

BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, LLC
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(in thousands)
Cash flow from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
$
(322,725
)
 
$
79,698

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
72,979

 
68,631

Impairment of long-lived assets
272,000

 
—

Amortization and write-off of deferred financing fees
259

 
(3,478
)
Gains on sale of assets and other, net
(1,857
)
 
—

Deferred income taxes
(50
)
 
(31
)
Derivatives activities:
 
 
 
Total gains
(2,341
)
 
(3,465
)
Cash settlements
27,513

 
(2,655
)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable - trade, net
16,392

 
(15,373
)
Increase in other assets
(3,878
)
 
(1,040
)
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses
(5,878
)
 
(21,127
)
Decrease in other liabilities
(9,925
)
 
(6,330
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
42,489


94,830

 
 
 
 
Cash flow from investing activities:
 
 
 
Development of oil and natural gas properties
(1,609
)
 
(134,750
)
Purchases of other property and equipment
(1,092
)
 
(1,833
)
Proceeds from sale of properties and equipment and other
3,813

 
—

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
1,112


(136,583
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flow from financing activities:
 
 
 
Repayments of debt
—

 
(1,188
)
Financing fees and other, net
15

 
(2,581
)
Distribution to affiliate
(43,778
)
 
—

Net cash used in financing activities
(43,763
)

(3,769
)
 
 
 
 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(162
)
 
(45,522
)
Cash and cash equivalents:
 
 
 
Beginning
1,586

 
51,041

Ending
$
1,424

 
$
5,519

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

4
Table of Contents

BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, LLC
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Note 1 - Basis of Presentation
Nature of Business
Berry Petroleum Company, LLC (“Berry” or the “Company”) was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on December 16, 2013, and is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Linn Energy, LLC (“LINN Energy”) engaged in the production and development of oil and natural gas. The Company’s predecessor, Berry Petroleum Company, was publicly traded from 1987 until December 2013. On December 16, 2013, the Company completed the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement between LINN Energy, LinnCo, LLC (“LinnCo”), an affiliate of LINN Energy, and Berry under which LinnCo acquired all of the outstanding common shares of Berry and the contribution agreement between LinnCo and LINN Energy, under which LinnCo contributed Berry to LINN Energy in exchange for LINN Energy units. Linn Acquisition Company, LLC, a direct subsidiary of LINN Energy, is currently the Company’s sole member.
The Company’s properties are located in the United States (“U.S.”), in California (San Joaquin Valley and Los Angeles basins), Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle (Hugoton Basin), Utah (Uinta Basin), Colorado (Piceance Basin) and east Texas. In August and November of 2014, the Company divested all of its properties located in the Permian Basin.
Principles of Reporting
The information reported herein reflects all normal recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the results for the interim periods. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted under Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and regulations; as such, this report should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. The results reported in these unaudited condensed financial statements should not necessarily be taken as indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year.
Investments in noncontrolled entities over which the Company exercises significant influence are accounted for under the equity method.
The condensed financial statements for previous periods include certain reclassifications that were made to conform to current presentation. Such reclassifications have no impact on previously reported net income (loss), member’s equity or cash flows.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the accompanying condensed financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management of the Company to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amount of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses. The estimates that are particularly significant to the financial statements include estimates of the Company’s reserves of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (“NGL”), future cash flows from oil and natural gas properties, depreciation, depletion and amortization, asset retirement obligations, certain revenues and operating expenses, fair values of commodity derivatives and fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. As fair value is a market-based measurement, it is determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgment. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Such estimates and assumptions are adjusted when facts and circumstances dictate. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ from these estimates. Any changes in estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the financial statements in future periods.

5
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, LLC
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
(Unaudited)

Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) that is intended to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs by requiring that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. This ASU will be applied retrospectively as of the date of adoption and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those years (early adoption permitted). The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU on its condensed financial statements and related disclosures.
In May 2014, the FASB issued an ASU that is intended to improve and converge the financial reporting requirements for revenue from contracts with customers. This ASU will be applied either retrospectively or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years (early adoption prohibited). The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of this ASU on its financial statements and related disclosures.
Note 2 - Oil and Natural Gas Properties
Oil and Natural Gas Capitalized Costs
Aggregate capitalized costs related to oil, natural gas and NGL production activities with applicable accumulated depletion and amortization are presented below:
 
March 31,
2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in thousands)
Oil and natural gas:
 
 
 
Proved properties
$
4,088,070

 
$
4,025,595

Unproved properties
840,091

 
846,464

 
4,928,161

 
4,872,059

Less accumulated depletion and amortization
(865,266
)
 
(525,007
)
 
$
4,062,895

 
$
4,347,052

Impairment of Proved Properties
The Company evaluates the impairment of its proved oil and natural gas properties on a field-by-field basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The carrying values of proved properties are reduced to fair value when the expected undiscounted future cash flows of proved and risk-adjusted probable and possible reserves are less than net book value. The fair values of proved properties are measured using valuation techniques consistent with the income approach, converting future cash flows to a single discounted amount. Significant inputs used to determine the fair values of proved properties include estimates of: (i) reserves; (ii) future operating and development costs; (iii) future commodity prices; and (iv) a market-based weighted average cost of capital rate. These inputs require significant judgments and estimates by the Company’s management at the time of the valuation and are the most sensitive and subject to change.
Based on the analysis described above, for the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company recorded noncash impairment charges, before and after tax, of approximately $272 million associated with proved oil and natural gas properties. The impairment was due to a decline in commodity prices. The carrying values of the impaired proved properties were reduced to fair value, estimated using inputs characteristic of a Level 3 fair value measurement. The impairment charges are included in “impairment of long-lived assets” on the condensed statement of operations. Following are the impairment charges recorded:
•
California operating area - $207 million ; and
•
East Texas operating area - $65 million .
The Company recorded no impairment charges for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

6
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, LLC
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
(Unaudited)

Note 3 - Debt
The following summarizes the Company’s outstanding debt:
 
March 31,
2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in thousands, except percentages)
 
 
 
 
Credit facility (1)
$
1,173,175

 
$
1,173,175

6.75% senior notes due November 2020
299,970

 
299,970

6.375% senior notes due September 2022
599,163

 
599,163

Net unamortized premiums
14,182

 
14,644

Total debt, net
2,086,490

 
2,086,952

Less current maturities
—

 
—

Total long-term debt, net
$
2,086,490

 
$
2,086,952

(1)  
Variable interest rates of 2.68% and 2.67% at March 31, 2015 , and December 31, 2014 , respectively.
Fair Value
The Company’s debt is recorded at the carrying amount in the condensed balance sheets. The carrying amount of the Company’s Credit Facility, as defined below, approximates fair value because the interest rate is variable and reflective of market rates. The Company uses a market approach to determine the fair value of its senior notes using estimates based on prices quoted from third-party financial institutions, which is a Level 2 fair value measurement.
 
March 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit facility
$
1,173,175

 
$
1,173,175

 
$
1,173,175

 
$
1,173,175

Senior notes, net
913,315

 
710,323

 
913,777

 
699,462

Total debt, net
$
2,086,490

 
$
1,883,498

 
$
2,086,952

 
$
1,872,637

Credit Facility
The Company’s Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (“Credit Facility”) currently has a borrowing base of $1.4 billion , subject to lender commitments. The maturity date is April 2019. At March 31, 2015 , lender commitments under the facility were $1.2 billion but there was less than $1 million of available borrowing capacity, including outstanding letters of credit.
Redetermination of the borrowing base under the Credit Facility, based primarily on reserve reports using lender commodity price expectations at such time, occurs semi-annually, in April and October. A super-majority of the lenders under the Credit Facility and Berry also have the right to request interim borrowing base redeterminations once between scheduled redeterminations. Significant declines in commodity prices may result in a decrease in the borrowing base. The spring 2015 semi-annual redetermination is scheduled for May 2015, and the Company anticipates its lenders will recommend a decrease in the borrowing base under the Credit Facility. In February 2015, LINN Energy and Berry entered into a parent support agreement under which LINN Energy agreed, in the event the borrowing base is reduced below the amount of borrowings outstanding, to either make principal repayments or provide additional collateral to the lenders, including through posting restricted cash on Berry’s behalf, to address the shortfall, subject to LINN Energy’s credit facility.

7
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, LLC
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
(Unaudited)

The Company’s obligations under the Credit Facility are secured by mortgages on its oil and natural gas properties and other personal property. The Company is required to maintain mortgages on properties representing at least 80% of the present value of its oil and natural gas proved reserves. The Company is in compliance with all financial and other covenants of the Credit Facility.
At the Company’s election, interest on borrowings under the Credit Facility is determined by reference to either the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus an applicable margin between 1.5% and 2.5% per annum (depending on the then-current level of borrowings under the Credit Facility) or a Base Rate (as defined in the Credit Facility) plus an applicable margin between 0.5% and 1.5% per annum (depending on the then-current level of borrowings under the Credit Facility). Interest is generally payable quarterly for loans bearing interest based on the Base Rate and at the end of the applicable interest period for loans bearing interest at the LIBOR. The Company is required to pay a commitment fee to the lenders under the Credit Facility, which accrues at a rate per annum between 0.375% and 0.5% (depending on the then-current level of utilization under the Credit Facility) on the average daily unused amount of the maximum commitment amount of the lenders.
Senior Notes Due November 2020 and Senior Notes Due September 2022
The Company has $300 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.75% senior notes due November 2020 (the “November 2020 Senior Notes”) and $599 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.375% senior notes due September 2022 (the “September 2022 Senior Notes”).
Senior Notes Covenants
The Company’s senior notes contain covenants that, among other things, may limit its ability to: (i) incur or guarantee additional indebtedness; (ii) pay distributions or dividends on its equity or redeem its subordinated debt; (iii) create certain liens; (iv) enter into agreements that restrict distributions or other payments from the Company’s restricted subsidiaries to the Company; (v) sell assets; (vi) engage in transactions with affiliates; and (vii) consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. The Company is in compliance with all financial and other covenants of its senior notes.
In addition, any cash generated by the Company is currently being used by the Company to fund its activities. To the extent that the Company generates cash in excess of its needs, the indentures governing its senior notes limit the amount it may distribute to LINN Energy to the amount available under a “restricted payments basket,” and the Company may not distribute any such amounts unless it is permitted by the indentures to incur additional debt pursuant to the consolidated coverage ratio test set forth in the Company’s indentures. The Company’s restricted payments basket may be increased in accordance with the terms of the Company’s indentures by, among other things, 50% of the Company’s future net income, reductions in its indebtedness and restricted investments, and future capital contributions.
The Company may from time to time seek to repurchase its outstanding debt through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases, if any, may be material and will depend on prevailing market conditions, the Company’s liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors.
Note 4 - Derivative Instruments
The Company hedges a portion of its forecasted production to reduce exposure to commodity price fluctuations and provide long-term cash flow predictability to manage its business. The Company also, from time to time, enters into derivative contracts for a portion of its natural gas consumption. The direct NGL hedging market has been constrained in terms of price, volume, duration and number of counterparties, which limits the Company’s ability to effectively hedge its NGL production. As a result, the Company has not directly hedged its NGL production. The Company also hedges its exposure to natural gas differentials in certain operating areas but does not currently hedge exposure to oil differentials.
The Company enters into commodity hedging transactions primarily in the form of swap contracts, collars and three-way collars. Swap contracts are designed to provide a fixed price. Collar contracts specify floor and ceiling prices to be received as compared to floating market prices. Three-way collar contracts combine a short put (the lower price), a long put (the middle

8
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, LLC
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
(Unaudited)

price) and a short call (the higher price) to provide a higher ceiling price as compared to a regular collar and limit downside risk to the market price plus the difference between the middle price and the lower price if the market price drops below the lower price.
The Company enters into these transactions with respect to a portion of its projected production or consumption to provide an economic hedge of the risk related to the future commodity prices received or paid. The Company does not enter into derivative contracts for trading purposes. The Company did not designate any of its contracts as cash flow hedges; therefore, the changes in fair value of these instruments are recorded in current earnings. See Note 5 for fair value disclosures about oil and natural gas commodity derivatives.
The following table summarizes derivative positions for the periods indicated as of March 31, 2015 :
 
April 1 - December 31, 2015
 
2016
Oil positions:
 
 
 
Fixed price swaps (NYMEX WTI):
 
 
 
Hedged volume (MBbls)
688

 
—

Average price ($/Bbl)
$
56.41

 
$
—

Three-way collars (NYMEX WTI):
 
 
 
Hedged volume (MBbls)
825

 
—

Short put ($/Bbl)
$
70.00

 
$
—

Long put ($/Bbl)
$
90.00

 
$
—

Short call ($/Bbl)
$
101.62

 
$
—

Natural gas basis differential positions: (1)
 
 
 
NWPL Rockies basis swaps: (2)
 
 
 
Hedged volume (MMMBtu)
6,860

 
11,712

Hedged differential ($/MMBtu)
$
(0.34
)
 
$
(0.34
)
SoCal basis swaps: (3)
 
 
 
Hedged volume (MMMBtu)
22,050

 
32,940

Hedged differential ($/MMBtu)
$
(0.03
)
 
$
(0.03
)
(1)  
Settle on the respective pricing index to hedge basis differential to the NYMEX Henry Hub natural gas price.
(2)  
For positions which hedge exposure to differentials in producing areas, the Company receives the NYMEX Henry Hub natural gas price plus the respective spread and pays the specified index price.  Cash settlements are made on a net basis.
(3)  
For positions which hedge exposure to differentials in consuming areas, the Company pays the NYMEX Henry Hub natural gas price plus the respective spread and receives the specified index price. Cash settlements are made on a net basis.
During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company entered into commodity derivative contracts consisting of natural gas basis swaps for May 2015 through December 2016, to hedge exposure to differentials in certain producing areas, and oil swaps for April 2015 through December 2015. In addition, the Company entered into natural gas basis swaps for May 2015 through December 2016 to hedge exposure to the differential in California, where it consumes natural gas in its heavy oil development operations.
Settled derivatives on oil production for the three months ended March 31, 2015 , included volumes of 270 MBbls at an average contract price of $87.21 per Bbl. Settled derivatives on oil production for the three months ended March 31, 2014 , included volumes of 2,250 MBbls at an average contract price of $92.16 per Bbl. The oil derivatives are settled based on the average closing price of NYMEX WTI crude oil for each day of the delivery month.

9
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, LLC
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
(Unaudited)

Balance Sheet Presentation
The Company’s commodity derivatives are presented on a net basis in “derivative instruments” on the condensed balance sheets. The following summarizes the fair value of derivatives outstanding on a gross basis:
 
March 31,
2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in thousands)
Assets:
 
 
 
Commodity derivatives
$
36,831

 
$
60,843

Liabilities:
 
 
 
Commodity derivatives
$
18,323

 
$
17,149

By using derivative instruments to economically hedge exposures to changes in commodity prices, the Company exposes itself to credit risk and market risk. Credit risk is the failure of the counterparty to perform under the terms of the derivative contract. When the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, the counterparty owes the Company, which creates credit risk. The Company’s counterparties are current participants or affiliates of participants in its Credit Facility or were participants or affiliates of participants in its Credit Facility at the time it originally entered into the derivatives. The Credit Facility is secured by the Company’s oil, natural gas and NGL reserves; therefore, the Company is not required to post any collateral. The Company does not receive collateral from its counterparties. The maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that the Company would incur if its counterparties failed completely to perform according to the terms of the contracts, based on the gross fair value of financial instruments, was approximately $37 million at March 31, 2015 . The Company minimizes the credit risk in derivative instruments by: (i) limiting its exposure to any single counterparty; (ii) entering into derivative instruments only with counterparties that meet the Company’s minimum credit quality standard, or have a guarantee from an affiliate that meets the Company’s minimum credit quality standard; and (iii) monitoring the creditworthiness of the Company’s counterparties on an ongoing basis. In accordance with the Company’s standard practice, its commodity derivatives are subject to counterparty netting under agreements governing such derivatives and therefore the risk of loss due to counterparty nonperformance is somewhat mitigated.
Gains (Losses) on Derivatives
Gains and losses on derivatives used to hedge production were net gains of approximately $3 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2015, and March 31, 2014, and are reported on the condensed statements of operations in “gains on oil and natural gas derivatives.” Gains and losses on derivatives used to hedge natural gas consumption, entered into in March 2015, were net losses of approximately $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, and are reported on the condensed statement of operations in “lease operating expenses.” For the three months ended March 31, 2015, and March 31, 2014, the Company received net cash settlements of approximately $28 million and paid net cash settlements of approximately $3 million , respectively.
Note 5 - Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis
The Company accounts for its commodity derivatives at fair value (see Note 4) on a recurring basis. The Company determines the fair value of its oil and natural gas derivatives utilizing pricing models that use a variety of techniques, including market quotes and pricing analysis. Inputs to the pricing models include publicly available prices and forward price curves generated from a compilation of data gathered from third parties. Company management validates the data provided by third parties by understanding the pricing models used, obtaining market values from other pricing sources, analyzing pricing data in certain situations and confirming that those instruments trade in active markets. Assumed credit risk adjustments, based on published credit ratings, public bond yield spreads and credit default swap spreads, are applied to the Company’s commodity derivatives.

10
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, LLC
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
(Unaudited)

Fair Value Hierarchy
In accordance with applicable accounting standards, the Company has categorized its financial instruments, based on the priority of inputs to the valuation technique, into a three-level fair value hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3).
The following presents the fair value hierarchy for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
 
March 31, 2015
 
Level 2
 
Netting (1)
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity derivatives
$
36,831

 
$
(17,195
)
 
$
19,636

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity derivatives
$
18,323

 
$
(17,195
)
 
$
1,128


 
December 31, 2014
 
Level 2
 
Netting (1)
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity derivatives
$
60,843

 
$
(17,149
)
 
$
43,694

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity derivatives
$
17,149

 
$
(17,149
)
 
$
—

(1)  
Represents counterparty netting under agreements governing such derivatives.
Note 6 - Asset Retirement Obligations
The Company has the obligation to plug and abandon oil and natural gas wells and related equipment at the end of production operations. Estimated asset retirement costs are recognized as liabilities with an increase to the carrying amounts of the related long-lived assets when the obligation is incurred. The liabilities are included in “other accrued liabilities” and “other noncurrent liabilities” on the condensed balance sheets. Accretion expense is included in “depreciation, depletion and amortization” on the statements of operations. The fair value of additions to the asset retirement obligations is estimated using valuation techniques that convert future cash flows to a single discounted amount. Significant inputs to the valuation include estimates of: (i) plug and abandon costs per well based on existing regulatory requirements; (ii) remaining life per well; (iii) future inflation factors ( 2% for the three months ended March 31, 2015 ); and (iv) a credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate (average of 5.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2015 ). These inputs require significant judgments and estimates by the Company’s management at the time of the valuation and are the most sensitive and subject to change.
The following presents a reconciliation of the Company’s asset retirement obligations (in thousands):
Asset retirement obligations at December 31, 2014
$
121,760

Liabilities added from drilling
616

Current year accretion expense
1,655

Settlements
(89
)
Asset retirement obligations at March 31, 2015
$
123,942


11
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, LLC
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
(Unaudited)

Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies
East Texas Gathering System
The Company is party to certain long-term natural gas gathering agreements for its East Texas production. The agreements contain embedded leases and the transaction was accounted for as a financing obligation. The asset is being depreciated over the remaining useful life and has a net book value of approximately $12 million at March 31, 2015 . There are no minimum payments required under these agreements.
Carry and Earning Agreement
In January 2011, the Company entered into an amendment relating to certain contractual obligations to a third-party co-owner of certain Piceance Basin assets in Colorado. The amendment waives a $200,000 penalty for each well not spud by February 2011 and requires the Company to reassign to such third party, by January 31, 2020, all of the interest acquired by the Company from the third party in each  160 -acre tract in which the Company has not drilled and completed a well that is producing or capable of producing from a designated formation, or deeper formation, on January 1, 2020. The amendment also requires the Company to pay the first $9 million  of costs incurred in connection with the construction of either an extension of the existing access road or a new access road, including the third party’s 50% share. Pursuant to the terms of a further amendment entered into in April 2014, if by September 30, 2015, the Company does not expend $9 million on the construction of either the extension of the road or a new road, the Company is obligated to pay the third party 50% of the difference between $12 million and the actual amount expended on road construction as of such date. Under the terms of the 2014 amendment, this deadline is subject to further extension to no later than December 31, 2015. Due to the need to obtain regulatory approvals, among other reasons, the Company has not yet commenced construction of either an extension of the existing access road or a new access road and may be unable to do so by the extended deadline, thus triggering the payment obligation to the third party.
Legal Matters
The Company is involved in various lawsuits, claims and inquiries, most of which are routine to the nature of its business. In the opinion of management, the resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on its overall business, financial position, results of operations or liquidity; however, cash flow could be significantly impacted in the reporting periods in which such matters are resolved.
During the three months ended March 31, 2015 , and March 31, 2014 , the Company made no significant payments to settle any legal, environmental or tax proceedings. The Company regularly analyzes current information and accrues for probable liabilities on the disposition of certain matters as necessary. Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation or other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated.
Note 8 - Income Taxes
The Company is a limited liability company treated as a disregarded entity for federal and state income tax purposes, with the exception of the state of Texas. As such, with the exception of the state of Texas, the Company is not a taxable entity, it does not directly pay federal and state income taxes and recognition has not been given to federal and state income taxes for the operations of the Company. Amounts recognized for income taxes are reported in “income tax benefit” on the condensed statements of operations.
Note 9 - Supplemental Disclosures to the Condensed Balance Sheets and Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
“Other current assets” reported on the condensed balance sheets primarily consist of inventories. “Other accrued liabilities” reported on the condensed balance sheets include the following:
 
March 31,
2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Accrued interest
$
11,188

 
$
15,803

Asset retirement obligations
3,101

 
3,101

Other
67

 
183

 
$
14,356

 
$
19,087

Supplemental disclosures to the condensed statements of cash flows are presented below:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Cash payments for interest, net of amounts capitalized
$
25,707

 
$
27,163

Cash payments for income taxes
$
—

 
$
—

 
 
 
 
Noncash investing activities:
 
 
 
Accrued capital expenditures
$
40,533

 
$
84,540

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, LINN Energy spent approximately $73 million of capital expenditures in respect of Berry’s operations. The Company recorded the $73 million to oil and natural gas properties with an offset to the advance due from LINN Energy.
Note 10 - Related Party Transactions
LINN Energy
The Company has no employees. The employees of Linn Operating, Inc. (“LOI”), a subsidiary of LINN Energy, provide services and support to the Company in accordance with an agency agreement and power of attorney between the Company and LOI. For the three months ended March 31, 2015 , and March 31, 2014 , the Company incurred management fee expenses of approximately $20 million and $36 million , respectively, for services provided by LOI. The Company also had affiliated

12
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, LLC
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued
(Unaudited)

accounts payable due to LINN Energy of approximately $33 million and $13 million at March 31, 2015 , and December 31, 2014 , respectively, included in “accounts payable and accrued expenses” on the condensed balance sheets.
During the three months ended March 31, 2015 , the Company made a cash distribution of approximately $44 million to LINN Energy. The Company made no cash distributions to LINN Energy during the three months ended March 31, 2014 . In 2014, the Company advanced approximately $352 million , to a subsidiary of LINN Energy, of net cash proceeds from the sale of certain of the Company’s Wolfberry properties in Ector and Midland counties in the Permian Basin to Fleur de Lis Energy, LLC. These proceeds must be used by LINN Energy on capital expenditures in respect of Berry’s operations, to repay Berry’s indebtedness or as otherwise permitted under the terms of Berry’s indentures and Credit Facility. During the three months ended March 31, 2015 , and December 31, 2014, LINN Energy spent approximately $73 million and $58 million , respectively, of capital expenditures in respect of Berry’s operations. At March 31, 2015 , the remaining advance balance was approximately $221 million .
In February 2015, LINN Energy and Berry entered into a parent support agreement under which LINN Energy agreed, in the event the borrowing base of Berry’s Credit Facility is reduced below the amount of borrowings outstanding, to either make principal repayments or provide additional collateral to the lenders, including through posting restricted cash on Berry’s behalf, to address the shortfall, subject to LINN Energy’s credit facility.
Other
One of LINN Energy’s directors is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Superior Energy Services, Inc. (“Superior”), which provides oilfield services to the Company. For the three months ended March 31, 2015 , and March 31, 2014 , the Company incurred expenditures of approximately $100,000 and $78,000 , respectively, related to services rendered by Superior and its subsidiaries.

13

Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s future plans, estimates, beliefs and expected performance. The forward-looking statements are dependent upon events, risks and uncertainties that may be outside the Company’s control. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, market prices for oil, natural gas and NGL, production volumes, estimates of proved reserves, capital expenditures, economic and competitive conditions, credit and capital market conditions, regulatory changes and other uncertainties, as well as those factors set forth in “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” below and in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and elsewhere in the Annual Report. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed may not occur.
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. The reference to a “Note” herein refers to the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements contained in Item 1. “Financial Statements.”
Executive Overview
Berry Petroleum Company, LLC (“Berry” or the “Company”) was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on December 16, 2013, and is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Linn Energy, LLC (“LINN Energy”) engaged in the production and development of oil and natural gas. The Company’s predecessor, Berry Petroleum Company, was publicly traded from 1987 until being acquired by LINN Energy in December 2013. On December 16, 2013, the Company completed the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement between LINN Energy, LinnCo, LLC (“LinnCo”), an affiliate of LINN Energy, and Berry under which LinnCo acquired all of the outstanding common shares of Berry and the contribution agreement between LinnCo and LINN Energy, under which LinnCo contributed Berry to LINN Energy in exchange for LINN Energy units. Linn Acquisition Company, LLC, a direct subsidiary of LINN Energy, is currently the Company’s sole member.
The Company currently has five operating areas in the United States (“U.S.”): California, Hugoton Basin, Uinta Basin, Piceance Basin and East Texas. In August and November of 2014, the Company divested all of its properties located in the Permian Basin.
Results for the three months ended March 31, 2015, included the following:
•
oil, natural gas and NGL sales of approximately $157 million compared to $333 million for the first quarter of 2014;
•
average daily production of approximately 50.3 MBOE/d compared to 47.4 MBOE/d for the first quarter of 2014;
•
net loss of approximately $323 million compared to net income of $80 million for the first quarter of 2014;
•
net cash provided by operating activities of approximately $42 million compared to $95 million for the first quarter of 2014;
•
capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions, of approximately $57 million compared to $137 million for the first quarter of 2014; and
•
85 wells drilled (all successful) compared to 71 wells drilled (all successful) for the first quarter of 2014.
Financing Activities
The spring 2015 semi-annual borrowing base redetermination of the Company’s Credit Facility, as defined in Note 3, is scheduled for May 2015. Pending final approval from its bank group, the Company expects the borrowing base under the Credit Facility to decrease from $1.4 billion to approximately $1.2 billion at the upcoming redetermination as a result of lower commodity prices. In February 2015, LINN Energy and Berry entered into a parent support agreement under which LINN Energy agreed, in the event the borrowing base under Berry’s Credit Facility is reduced below the amount of borrowings outstanding, to either make principal repayments or provide additional collateral to the lenders, including through posting restricted cash on Berry’s behalf, to address the shortfall, subject to LINN Energy’s credit facility. In connection with the expected reduction in Berry’s borrowing base, LINN Energy intends to make a contribution to Berry of approximately $250 million, which will be posted as restricted cash with Berry’s lenders and may be returned to LINN Energy in the future if commodity prices improve.

14
Table of Contents

Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued

Commodity Derivatives
During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company entered into commodity derivative contracts consisting of natural gas basis swaps for May 2015 through December 2016, to hedge exposure to differentials in certain producing areas, and oil swaps for April 2015 through December 2015. In addition, the Company entered into natural gas basis swaps for May 2015 through December 2016 to hedge exposure to the differential in California, where it consumes natural gas in its heavy oil development operations.
In April 2015, the Company entered into oil swaps for May 2015 through December 2015. Including these hedges, as of April 1, 2015, the Company had oil swaps of approximately 1,300 MBbls at an average price of approximately $58.12 for the remainder of 2015.

15
Table of Contents

Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued

Results of Operations
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015, Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
(in thousands)
Revenues and other:
 
 
 
 
 
Oil sales
$
123,980

 
$
294,901

 
$
(170,921
)
Natural gas sales
25,976

 
28,945

 
(2,969
)
NGL sales
6,630

 
9,270

 
(2,640
)
Total oil, natural gas and NGL sales
156,586

 
333,116

 
(176,530
)
Electricity sales
5,151

 
9,969

 
(4,818
)
Gains on oil and natural gas derivatives
3,267

 
3,465

 
(198
)
Marketing and other revenues
4,277

 
4,830

 
(553
)
 
169,281

 
351,380

 
(182,099
)
Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
Lease operating expenses
67,189

 
90,031

 
(22,842
)
Electricity generation expenses
4,570

 
8,383

 
(3,813
)
Transportation expenses
12,606

 
7,993

 
4,613

Marketing expenses
1,075

 
2,598

 
(1,523
)
General and administrative expenses
21,187

 
43,491

 
(22,304
)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
72,979

 
68,631

 
4,348

Impairment of long-lived assets
272,000

 
—

 
272,000

Taxes, other than income taxes
23,332

 
23,029

 
303

(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other, net
(4,473
)
 
3,367

 
(7,840
)
 
470,465

 
247,523

 
222,942

Other income and (expenses)
(21,591
)
 
(24,190
)
 
2,599

Income (loss) before income taxes
(322,775
)
 
79,667

 
(402,442
)
Income tax benefit
(50
)
 
(31
)
 
(19
)
Net income (loss)
$
(322,725
)
 
$
79,698

 
$
(402,423
)


16
Table of Contents

Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued

 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
Average daily production:
 
 
 
 
 
Oil (MBbls/d)
32.3

 
35.5

 
(9
)%
Natural gas (MMcf/d)
93.7

 
57.2

 
64
 %
NGL (MBbls/d)
2.4

 
2.4

 
—

Total (MBOE/d)
50.3

 
47.4

 
6
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average prices:   (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Oil (Bbl)
$
42.69

 
$
92.27

 
(54
)%
Natural gas (Mcf)
$
3.08

 
$
5.62

 
(45
)%
NGL (Bbl)
$
30.87

 
$
43.04

 
(28
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average NYMEX prices:
 
 
 
 
 
Oil (Bbl)
$
48.64

 
$
98.68

 
(51
)%
Natural gas (MMBtu)
$
2.98

 
$
4.94

 
(40
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs per BOE of production:
 
 
 
 
 
Lease operating expenses
$
14.85

 
$
21.08

 
(30
)%
Transportation expenses
$
2.79

 
$
1.87

 
49
 %
General and administrative expenses
$
4.68

 
$
10.19

 
(54
)%
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
$
16.13

 
$
16.07

 
1
 %
Taxes, other than income taxes
$
5.16

 
$
5.39

 
(4
)%
(1)  
Does not include the effect of gains (losses) on derivatives.

17
Table of Contents

Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued

Revenues and Other
Oil, Natural Gas and NGL Sales
Oil, natural gas and NGL sales decreased by approximately $176 million or 53% to approximately $157 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, from approximately $333 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, due to lower oil, natural gas and NGL prices partially offset by higher production volumes. Lower oil, natural gas and NGL prices resulted in a decrease in revenues of approximately $144 million, $21 million and $3 million, respectively.
Average daily production volumes increased to approximately 50.3 MBOE/d for the three months ended March 31, 2015, from 47.4 MBOE/d for the three months ended March 31, 2014. Higher natural gas production volumes resulted in an increase in revenues of approximately $19 million. Lower oil production volumes resulted in a decrease in revenues of approximately $27 million.
The following table sets forth average daily production by operating area:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
Average daily production (MBOE/d):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
California
27.3

 
24.0

 
3.3

 
14
 %
Hugoton Basin
10.0

 
—

 
10.0

 
—

Uinta Basin
9.7

 
10.9

 
(1.2
)
 
(11
)%
Piceance Basin
1.7

 
2.1

 
(0.4
)
 
(18
)%
East Texas
1.6

 
1.7

 
(0.1
)
 
(8
)%
Permian Basin
—

 
8.7

 
(8.7
)
 
(100
)%
 
50.3

 
47.4

 
2.9

 
6
 %
The increase in average daily production volumes in California primarily reflects the impact of the properties received in the exchange with Exxon Mobil Corporation on November 21, 2014, and development capital spending. Average daily production volumes in the Hugoton Basin operating area reflect the impact of the properties received in the exchange with Exxon Mobil Corporation and its affiliates, including its wholly owned subsidiary XTO Energy Inc., on August 15, 2014. The decrease in average daily production volumes in the Uinta Basin, Piceance Basin and East Texas operating areas primarily reflects the effects of production declines due to reduced development capital spending. The decrease in average daily production volumes in the Permian Basin operating area reflects the properties relinquished in the two exchanges with ExxonMobil and the properties sold to Fleur de Lis Energy, LLC on November 14, 2014. The Company had no Permian Basin properties remaining as of December 31, 2014.
Electricity Sales
The following table sets forth selected electricity data:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
 
 
 
 
 
Electricity sales (in thousands)
$
5,151

 
$
9,969

 
(48
)%
Electricity generation expenses (in thousands)
$
4,570

 
$
8,383

 
(45
)%
Electric power produced (Mwh/d)
1,792

 
2,108

 
(15
)%
Electric power sold (Mwh/d)
1,560

 
1,914

 
(18
)%
Average sales price per Mwh
$
37.48

 
$
57.85

 
(35
)%
Fuel gas cost per MMBtu (including transportation)
$
2.70

 
$
5.58

 
(52
)%
Estimated natural gas volumes consumed to produce electricity (MMBtu/d) (1)
12,627

 
15,768

 
(20
)%
(1)  
Estimate is based on the historical allocation of fuel costs to electricity.

18
Table of Contents

Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued

Electricity sales represent sales to utilities and decreased by approximately $5 million or 48% to approximately $5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, from approximately $10 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, primarily due to decreases in the average sales price of electricity and electric power sold during the period.
Gains (Losses) on Oil and Natural Gas Derivatives
Gains on oil and natural gas derivatives remained consistent at approximately $3 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2015, and March 31, 2014. Gains on oil and natural gas derivatives were primarily due to changes in fair value of the derivative contracts. The fair value on unsettled derivatives contracts changes as future commodity price expectations change compared to the contract prices on the derivatives. If the expected future commodity prices increase compared to the contract prices on the derivatives, losses are recognized; and if the expected future commodity prices decrease compared to the contract prices on the derivatives, gains are recognized.
The Company determines the fair value of its oil and natural gas derivatives utilizing pricing models that use a variety of techniques, including market quotes and pricing analysis. See Item 3. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” and Note 4 and Note 5 for additional information about the Company’s commodity derivatives. For information about the Company’s credit risk related to derivative contracts, see “Counterparty Credit Risk” under “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below.
Marketing and Other Revenues
Marketing revenues primarily represent third-party activities associated with the Company’s long-term firm transportation contracts. The Company’s current production is insufficient to fully utilize this capacity. To optimize its remaining capacity, the Company utilizes asset management agreements and various other marketing arrangements. Sales of third-party natural gas are recorded as marketing revenues. Marketing and other revenues decreased by approximately $1 million or 11% to approximately $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, from approximately $5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, primarily due to a decrease in natural gas prices.
Expenses
Lease Operating Expenses
Lease operating expenses include expenses such as labor, field office, vehicle, supervision, maintenance, tools and supplies, and workover expenses. Lease operating expenses decreased by approximately $23 million or 25% to approximately $67 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, from approximately $90 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. The decrease was primarily due to lower costs as a result of the properties sold and exchanged during the third and fourth quarters of 2014, as well as a decrease in steam costs caused by a lower price of natural gas used in steam generation and cost savings initiatives. Lease operating expenses per BOE also decreased to $14.85 per BOE for the three months ended March 31, 2015, from $21.08 per BOE for the three months ended March 31, 2014.
The following table sets forth steam information:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average net volume of steam injected (Bbls/d)
276,693

 
231,756

 
19
 %
Fuel gas cost per MMBtu (including transportation)
$
2.70

 
$
5.58

 
(52
)%
Estimated natural gas volumes consumed to produce steam (MMBtu/d)
99,375

 
83,366

 
19
 %
Electricity Generation Expenses
Electricity generation expenses decreased by approximately $3 million or 45% to approximately $5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, from approximately $8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, primarily due to a decrease in fuel gas cost partially offset by an increase in fuel gas volumes purchased.

19
Table of Contents

Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued

Transportation Expenses
Transportation expenses increased by approximately $5 million or 58% to approximately $13 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, from approximately $8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, primarily due to costs associated with Hugoton Basin properties acquired in the exchange with Exxon Mobil Corporation on August 15, 2014.
Marketing Expenses
Marketing expenses primarily represent third-party activities associated with the Company’s long-term firm transportation contracts. The Company’s current production is insufficient to fully utilize its capacity. To optimize its remaining capacity, the Company utilizes asset management agreements and various other marketing arrangements. Purchases of third-party natural gas are recorded as marketing expenses. Marketing expenses decreased by approximately $2 million or 59% to approximately $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, from approximately $3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, primarily due to a decrease in natural gas prices.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses are costs not directly associated with field operations. General and administrative expenses decreased by approximately $22 million or 51% to approximately $21 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, from approximately $43 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. The decrease was primarily due to lower share-based compensation allocated to the Company by Linn Operating, Inc. General and administrative expenses per BOE also decreased to $4.68 per BOE for the three months ended March 31, 2015, from $10.19 per BOE for the three months ended March 31, 2014.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization
Depreciation, depletion and amortization increased by approximately $4 million or 6% to approximately $73 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, from approximately $69 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. The increase was primarily due to higher total production volumes. Depreciation, depletion and amortization per BOE also increased to $16.13 per BOE for the three months ended March 31, 2015, from $16.07 per BOE for the three months ended March 31, 2014.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company recorded noncash impairment charges, before and after tax, of approximately $272 million associated with proved oil and natural gas properties. The impairment was due to a decline in commodity prices. Following are the impairment charges recorded:
•
California operating area - $207 million; and
•
East Texas operating area - $65 million.
The Company recorded no impairment charges for the three months ended March 31, 2014.
Taxes, Other Than Income Taxes
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Severance taxes
$
3,105

 
$
5,420

 
$
(2,315
)
Ad valorem taxes
14,124

 
13,241

 
883

California carbon allowances
6,103

 
4,368

 
1,735

 
$
23,332

 
$
23,029

 
$
303

Taxes, other than income taxes remained consistent at approximately $23 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2015, and March 31, 2014. Severance taxes, which are a function of revenues generated from production, decreased primarily due to lower oil, natural gas, NGL prices partially offset by higher production volumes. Ad valorem taxes, which are based on the value of reserves and production equipment and vary by location, remained consistent. California carbon allowances increased primarily due to an increase in estimated emissions for which credits are needed.

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Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued

Other Income and (Expenses)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized
$
(21,421
)
 
$
(24,001
)
 
$
2,580

Other, net
(170
)
 
(189
)
 
19

 
$
(21,591
)
 
$
(24,190
)
 
$
2,599

Other income and (expenses) decreased by approximately $3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2014, primarily due to reduced interest expense resulting from lower outstanding debt during the period. See “Debt” under “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below for additional details.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
The Company is a limited liability company treated as a disregarded entity for federal and state income tax purposes, with the exception of the state of Texas. As such, with the exception of the state of Texas, the Company is not a taxable entity, it does not directly pay federal and state income taxes, and therefore, recognition has not been given to federal and state income taxes for the operations of the Company. The Company recognized an income tax benefit of approximately $50,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to approximately $31,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014. The increase was primarily due to a decrease in state taxes resulting from changes in the Company’s operations during the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to the same period in 2014.
Net Income (Loss)
Net income decreased by approximately $403 million or 505% to a net loss of approximately $323 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, from net income of approximately $80 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. The decrease was primarily due to higher impairment charges and lower production revenues, partially offset by lower other expenses. See discussions above for explanations of variances.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company has utilized funds from debt offerings, borrowings under its Credit Facility and net cash provided by operating activities for capital resources and liquidity. Historically, the primary use of capital has been for the development of oil and natural gas properties. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company’s total capital expenditures were approximately $57 million. LINN Energy continually evaluates the capital needs of the Company along with those of its other operating areas. LINN Energy establishes a capital plan each calendar year for all of its operations based on development opportunities and the expected cash flow from operations for that year. The capital plan may be revised during the year as a result of drilling outcomes or significant changes in cash flows. To the extent net cash provided by operating activities is higher or lower than currently anticipated, LINN Energy may adjust the Company’s capital plan accordingly or adjust borrowings under the Company’s Credit Facility, as needed. However, at March 31, 2015, the Company had less than $1 million of available borrowing capacity under its Credit Facility.
The spring 2015 semi-annual borrowing base redetermination of the Company’s Credit Facility is scheduled for May 2015. Pending final approval from its bank group, the Company expects the borrowing base under the Credit Facility to decrease from $1.4 billion to approximately $1.2 billion at the upcoming redetermination as a result of lower commodity prices. In February 2015, LINN Energy and Berry entered into a parent support agreement under which LINN Energy agreed, in the event the borrowing base under Berry’s Credit Facility is reduced below the amount of borrowings outstanding, to either make principal repayments or provide additional collateral to the lenders, including through posting restricted cash on Berry’s behalf, to address the shortfall, subject to LINN Energy’s credit facility. In connection with the expected reduction in Berry’s borrowing base, LINN Energy intends to make a contribution to Berry of approximately $250 million, which will be posted as restricted cash with Berry’s lenders and may be returned to LINN Energy in the future if commodity prices improve.

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Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued

LINN Energy continually monitors the capital resources available to meet future financial obligations and planned capital expenditures. The Company’s future success in growing reserves and production volumes will be highly dependent on the capital resources available and its success in adding reserves from its drilling program. The Company’s Credit Facility and indentures governing its senior notes impose certain restrictions on the Company’s ability to obtain additional debt financing. The Company does not intend to obtain additional borrowing capacity under its Credit Facility or access the capital markets separately from LINN Energy. The Company intends to finance its operations, including its future capital expenditures, with net cash provided by operating activities and funding from LINN Energy. The Company believes such resources will be sufficient to conduct the Company’s business and operations.
Any cash generated by the Company is currently being used by the Company to fund its activities. To the extent that the Company generates cash in excess of its needs and determines to distribute such amounts to LINN Energy, the indentures governing its senior notes limit the amount the Company may distribute to LINN Energy to the amount available under a “restricted payments basket,” and the Company may not distribute any such amounts unless it is permitted by the indentures to incur additional debt pursuant to the consolidated coverage ratio test set forth in the Company’s indentures. The Company’s restricted payments basket was approximately $206 million at March 31, 2015, and may be increased in accordance with the terms of the Company’s indentures by, among other things, 50% of the Company’s future net income, reductions in its indebtedness and restricted investments, and future capital contributions.
Statements of Cash Flows
The following is a comparative cash flow summary:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
(in thousands)
Net cash:
 
 
 
 
 
Provided by operating activities
$
42,489

 
$
94,830

 
$
(52,341
)
Provided by (used in) investing activities
1,112

 
(136,583
)
 
137,695

Used in financing activities
(43,763
)
 
(3,769
)
 
(39,994
)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
$
(162
)
 
$
(45,522
)
 
$
45,360

Operating Activities
Cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2015, was approximately $42 million, compared to approximately $95 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. The decrease was primarily due to lower production related revenues principally due to lower commodity prices partially offset by higher cash settlements on derivatives.
Investing Activities
The following provides a comparative summary of cash flow from investing activities:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(in thousands)
Cash flow from investing activities:
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
$
(2,701
)
 
$
(136,583
)
Proceeds from sale of properties and equipment and other
3,813

 
—

 
$
1,112

 
$
(136,583
)
The primary use of cash in investing activities is for the development of the Company’s oil and natural gas properties. Capital expenditures decreased primarily due to lower spending on development activities during 2015. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, LINN Energy spent approximately $73 million of capital expenditures in respect of Berry’s operations (see Notes 9 and 10).

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Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued

Financing Activities
Cash used in financing activities of approximately $44 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, was primarily related to a cash distribution made to LINN Energy. There was no significant cash flow from financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2014.
Debt
The Company’s Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (“Credit Facility”) currently has a borrowing base of $1.4 billion, subject to lender commitments. At March 31, 2015, lender commitments under the facility were $1.2 billion but there was less than $1 million of available borrowing capacity, including outstanding letters of credit. For additional information related to the Company’s outstanding debt, see Note 3.
Financial Covenants
The Credit Facility contains requirements and financial covenants, among others, to maintain: 1) a ratio of Adjusted EBITDAX to Interest Expense (as each term is defined in the Credit Facility) (“Interest Coverage Ratio”) for the preceding four quarters of greater than 2.5 to 1.0, and 2) a ratio of Current Assets to Current Liabilities (as each term is defined in the Credit Facility) (“Current Ratio”) as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of greater than 1.0 to 1.0. The Interest Coverage Ratio is intended as a measure of the Company’s ability to make interest payments on its outstanding indebtedness and the Current Ratio is intended as a measure of the Company’s solvency. The Company is required to demonstrate compliance with each of these ratios on a quarterly basis. The following represents the calculations of the Interest Coverage Ratio and the Current Ratio as presented to the lenders under the Credit Facility:
 
At or for the Quarter Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
2014
 
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2014
 
March 31, 2015
 
Twelve Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Coverage Ratio
8.1
 
 
9.4
 
 
6.7
 
 
1.9
 
 
6.6
 
Current Ratio (1)
0.6
 
 
2.0
 
 
0.6
 
 
0.6
 
 
0.6
 
Current Ratio (consolidated) (1)
2.5
 
 
3.3
 
 
2.9
 
 
3.2
 
 
3.2
 
(1)  
The Credit Facility allows Berry to demonstrate its compliance with the Current Ratio financial covenant on a consolidated basis with LINN Energy for up to three quarters of each calendar year.
The Company has included disclosure of the Interest Coverage Ratio for the twelve months ended March 31, 2015, and the Current Ratio as of March 31, 2015, to demonstrate its compliance for the three months ended March 31, 2015, as well as the Interest Coverage Ratio for each of the preceding four quarters on an individual basis (rather than on a last twelve months basis) and the Current Ratio as of the end of each of the preceding four quarters to provide investors with trend information about the Company’s ongoing compliance with these financial covenants. If the Company fails to demonstrate compliance with either or both of the Interest Coverage Ratio or the Current Ratio as of the end of the quarter and such failure continues beyond applicable cure periods, an event of default would occur and the Company would be unable to make additional borrowings and outstanding indebtedness may be accelerated.
The Company is in compliance with all financial and other covenants of its Credit Facility and senior notes.
Counterparty Credit Risk
The Company accounts for its commodity derivatives at fair value. The Company’s counterparties are current participants or affiliates of participants in its Credit Facility or were participants or affiliates of participants in its Credit Facility at the time it originally entered into the derivatives. The Credit Facility is secured by the Company’s oil, natural gas and NGL reserves; therefore, the Company is not required to post any collateral. The Company does not receive collateral from its counterparties. The Company minimizes the credit risk in derivative instruments by: (i) limiting its exposure to any single counterparty; (ii) entering into derivative instruments only with counterparties that meet the Company’s minimum credit quality standard, or

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Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued

have a guarantee from an affiliate that meets the Company’s minimum credit quality standard; and (iii) monitoring the creditworthiness of the Company’s counterparties on an ongoing basis. In accordance with the Company’s standard practice, its commodity derivatives are subject to counterparty netting under agreements governing such derivatives and therefore the risk of loss due to counterparty nonperformance is somewhat mitigated.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company does not currently have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Contingencies
See Part II. Item 1. “Legal Proceedings” for information regarding legal proceedings that the Company is party to and any contingencies related to these legal proceedings.
Commitments and Contractual Obligations
The Company has contractual obligations for long-term debt, operating leases and other long-term liabilities that were summarized in the table of contractual obligations in the 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. There have been no significant changes to the Company’s contractual obligations since December 31, 2014. See Note 3 for additional information about the Company’s debt instruments.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations is based on the condensed financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires management of the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgment. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Such estimates and assumptions are adjusted when facts and circumstances dictate. Actual results may differ from these estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the financial statements.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
For a discussion of recently issued accounting standards, see Note 1 of Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. These statements may include discussions about the Company’s and/or LINN Energy’s:
•
business strategy;
•
financial strategy;
•
ability to obtain additional funding from LINN Energy;
•
effects of legal proceedings;
•
drilling locations;
•
oil, natural gas and NGL reserves;
•
realized oil, natural gas and NGL prices;
•
production volumes;
•
capital expenditures;
•
economic and competitive advantages;
•
credit and capital market conditions;
•
regulatory changes;
•
lease operating expenses, general and administrative expenses and development costs;

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Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued

•
future operating results;
•
plans, objectives, expectations and intentions; and
•
integration of the assets and operations acquired in the exchanges of properties, which may take longer than anticipated, may be more costly than anticipated as a result of unexpected factors or events and may have an unanticipated adverse effect on the Company’s business.
All of these types of statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may be found in Item 2. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “pursue,” “target,” “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology.
The forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are largely based on Company expectations, which reflect estimates and assumptions made by Company management. These estimates and assumptions reflect management’s best judgment based on currently known market conditions and other factors. Although the Company believes such estimates and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties beyond its control. In addition, management’s assumptions may prove to be inaccurate. The Company cautions that the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are not guarantees of future performance, and it cannot assure any reader that such statements will be realized or the events will occur. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or implied in forward-looking statements due to factors set forth in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and elsewhere in the Annual Report. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and, other than as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The primary objective of the following information is to provide forward-looking quantitative and qualitative information about potential exposure to market risks. The term “market risk” refers to the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in commodity prices and interest rates. The disclosures are not meant to be precise indicators of expected future losses, but rather indicators of reasonably possible losses. This forward-looking information provides indicators of how the Company views and manages its ongoing market risk exposures. All of the Company’s market risk sensitive instruments were entered into for purposes other than trading.
The following should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The reference to a “Note” herein refers to the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements contained in Item 1. “Financial Statements.”
Commodity Price Risk
The Company uses derivative financial instruments to reduce exposure to fluctuations in the prices of oil and, from time to time, natural gas. By removing a portion of the price volatility associated with future production, the Company expects to mitigate, but not eliminate, the potential effects of variability in net cash provided by operating activities due to fluctuations in commodity prices.
The Company has historically entered into commodity hedging transactions primarily in the form of swap contracts, collars and three-way collars, and may enter into put option contracts in the future. Swap contracts are designed to provide a fixed price. Collar contracts specify floor and ceiling prices to be received as compared to floating market prices. Three-way collar contracts combine a short put (the lower price), a long put (the middle price) and a short call (the higher price) to provide a higher ceiling price as compared to a regular collar and limit downside risk to the market price plus the difference between the middle price and the lower price if the market price drops below the lower price. Put options are designed to provide a fixed price floor with the opportunity for upside.
The Company entered into these transactions with respect to a portion of its projected production or consumption to provide an economic hedge of the risk related to the future commodity prices received or paid. The Company does not enter into derivative contracts for trading purposes. The appropriate level of production to be hedged is an ongoing consideration and is based on a variety of factors, including current and future expected commodity market prices, cost and availability of derivatives contra

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Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - Continued

cts, the level of LINN Energy’s acquisition activity and overall risk profile, including leverage and size and scale considerations. As a result, the appropriate percentage of production volumes to be hedged may change over time.
At March 31, 2015, the fair value of fixed price swaps and three-way collars was a net asset of approximately $19 million. A 10% increase in the index oil and natural gas prices above the March 31, 2015, prices would result in a net asset of approximately $14 million, which represents a decrease in the fair value of approximately $5 million; conversely, a 10% decrease in the index oil and natural gas prices below the March 31, 2015, prices would result in a net asset of approximately $23 million, which represents an increase in the fair value of approximately $4 million.
At December 31, 2014, the fair value of three-way collars was a net asset of approximately $20 million. A 10% increase in the index oil price above the December 31, 2014, price would result in a net asset of approximately $18 million, which represents a decrease in the fair value of approximately $2 million; conversely, a 10% decrease in the index oil price below the December 31, 2014, price would result in a net asset of approximately $21 million, which represents an increase in the fair value of approximately $1 million. At December 31, 2014, the Company had no outstanding natural gas derivative instruments.
The Company determines the fair value of its oil and natural gas derivatives utilizing pricing models that use a variety of techniques, including market quotes and pricing analysis. Inputs to the pricing models include publicly available prices and forward price curves generated from a compilation of data gathered from third parties. Company management validates the data provided by third parties by understanding the pricing models used, obtaining market values from other pricing sources, analyzing pricing data in certain situations and confirming that those instruments trade in active markets.
The prices of oil, natural gas and NGL have been extremely volatile, and the Company expects this volatility to continue. Prices for these commodities may fluctuate widely in response to relatively minor changes in the supply of and demand for such commodities, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors that are beyond its control. Actual gains or losses recognized related to the Company’s derivative contracts will likely differ from those estimated at March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, and will depend exclusively on the price of the commodities on the specified settlement dates provided by the derivative contracts.
The Company cannot be assured that its counterparties will be able to perform under its derivative contracts. If a counterparty fails to perform and the derivative arrangement is terminated, the Company’s cash flows could be impacted.
Interest Rate Risk
At March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, the Company had long-term debt outstanding under its Credit Facility of approximately $1.2 billion which incurred interest at floating rates (see Note 3). A 1% increase in the London Interbank Offered Rate would result in an estimated $12 million increase in annual interest expense.
Counterparty Credit Risk
The Company accounts for its commodity derivatives at fair value on a recurring basis (see Note 5). The fair value of these derivative financial instruments includes the impact of assumed credit risk adjustments, which are based on the Company’s and counterparties’ published credit ratings, public bond yield spreads and credit default swap spreads, as applicable.
At March 31, 2015, the average public bond yield spread utilized to estimate the impact of the Company’s credit risk on derivative liabilities was approximately 1.99%. A 1% increase in the average public bond yield spread would result in an estimated $7,000 increase in net income for the three months ended March 31, 2015. At March 31, 2015, the credit default swap spreads utilized to estimate the impact of counterparties’ credit risk on derivative assets ranged between 0% and 0.46%. A 1% increase in each of the counterparties’ credit default swap spreads would result in an estimated $75,000 decrease in net income for the three months ended March 31, 2015.
At December 31, 2014, the average public bond yield spread utilized to estimate the impact of the Company’s credit risk on derivative liabilities was approximately 1.52%. A 1% increase in the average public bond yield spread would result in no significant increase or decrease in net income for the year ended December 31, 2014. At December 31, 2014, the credit default swap spreads utilized to estimate the impact of counterparties’ credit risk on derivative assets ranged between 0.20% and 0.27%. A 1% increase in each of the counterparties’ credit default swap spreads would result in an estimated $102,000 decrease in net income for the year ended December 31, 2014.

26
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Item 4.    Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and LINN Energy’s Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
The Company carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2015.
Changes in the Company’s Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is also responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal controls were designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the reliability of its financial reporting and the preparation and presentation of the condensed financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not detect or prevent misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the first quarter of 2015 that materially affected, or were reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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Part II - Other Information
Item 1.    Legal Proceedings
The Company is involved in various lawsuits, claims and inquiries, most of which are routine to the nature of its business. In the opinion of management, the resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on its overall business, financial position, results of operations or liquidity; however, cash flow could be significantly impacted in the reporting periods in which such matters are resolved.
Item 1A.    Risk Factors
Our business has many risks. Factors that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results or liquidity are described in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. As of the date of this report, these risk factors have not changed materially. This information should be considered carefully, together with other information in this report and other reports and materials we file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
This item is intentionally omitted from this report pursuant to the reduced disclosure format permitted by General Instruction H to Form 10‑Q.
Item 3.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities
This item is intentionally omitted from this report pursuant to the reduced disclosure format permitted by General Instruction H to Form 10‑Q.
Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable
Item 5.    Other Information
None

28
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Item 6.    Exhibits
Exhibit Number
 
Description
 
 
 
3.1
 
Certificate of Formation of Berry Petroleum Company, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 20, 2013)
3.2
 
Limited Liability Company Agreement of Berry Petroleum Company, LLC dated December 16, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 20, 2013)
10.1
 
Parent Support Agreement dated February 20, 2015 between Berry Petroleum Company, LLC and Linn Energy, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 5, 2015)
31.1*
 
Section 302 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
31.2*
 
Section 302 Certification of Chief Financial Officer
32.1*
 
Section 906 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
32.2*
 
Section 906 Certification of Chief Financial Officer
101.INS**
 
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH**
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL**
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF**
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB**
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Data Document
101.PRE**
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
*
Filed herewith.
**
Furnished herewith.


29
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SIGNATURE

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, thereto duly authorized.

 
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY, LLC
 
(Registrant)
 
 
Date: May  5, 20 15
/s/ David B. Rottino
 
David B. Rottino
Executive Vice President, Business Development and
Chief Accounting Officer
(As Duly Authorized Officer and Chief Accounting Officer)


30


Exhibit 31.1

I, Mark E. Ellis, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Berry Petroleum Company, LLC (the “registrant”);
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 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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) 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, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) 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
(d) 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; and
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 function):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control 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 control over financial reporting.



Date: May 5, 2015

/s/ Mark E. Ellis
 
Mark E. Ellis
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 




Exhibit 31.2  

I, Kolja Rockov, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Berry Petroleum Company, LLC (the “registrant”);
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 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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) 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, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) 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
(d) 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; and
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 function):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control 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 control over financial reporting.

Date: May 5, 2015



/s/ Kolja Rockov
 
Kolja Rockov
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 





Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Berry Petroleum Company, LLC (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Mark E. Ellis, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1.
The Report 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.


Date: May 5, 2015
/s/ Mark E. Ellis
 
Mark E. Ellis
 
President and Chief Executive Officer






Exhibit 32.2
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Berry Petroleum Company, LLC (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Kolja Rockov, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1.
The Report 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.


Date: May 5, 2015
/s/ Kolja Rockov
 
Kolja Rockov
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer