BP facts for kids
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Headquarters at 1 St James's Square in Westminster, London
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Formerly
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| Public | |
| Traded as | |
| Industry | Oil and gas |
| Predecessors |
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| Founded | 14 April 1909 (as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company) |
| Founders | |
| Headquarters |
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England
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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| Products |
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| Brands | |
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Production output
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 2.4 Mbbl/d (380×103 m3/d) of BOE (2024) |
| Services | Service stations |
| Revenue | US$189.335 billion (2025) |
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Operating income
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US$12.642 billion (2025) |
| US$1.295 billion (2025) |
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| Total assets |  US$278.526 billion (2025) |
| Total equity | US$74.000 billion (2025) |
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Number of employees
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100,500 (2026) |
BP p.l.c. is a big energy company from London, England. It is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world. BP finds, produces, and sells oil and natural gas. It also makes fuels and other products.
The company started in 1909 as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. It was created to find oil in Iran. Over the years, its name changed several times, becoming British Petroleum in 1954 and then BP in 2001.
BP works in many countries around the world. It has many service stations where people can buy fuel.
BP has faced challenges related to safety and the environment. Some important events include the 2005 Texas City refinery explosion and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. These events caused serious environmental problems and led to new safety rules.
Company History
Early Years: 1909 to 1954
In 1908, British geologists found a lot of oil in Persia (now Iran). This was the first big oil discovery in the Middle East. William Knox D'Arcy helped get permission to look for oil there. This discovery changed the history of the region.
On April 14, 1909, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) was formed. It was part of another company called Burmah Oil. The British government bought a large part of APOC in 1914. This was because the British navy wanted to use oil instead of coal for its ships.
APOC started selling its products in Europe after World War I. It also built oil refineries in places like Wales and Scotland. APOC worked with other companies to find oil in places like Mesopotamia (now Iraq) and Kuwait.
In 1935, Persia changed its name to Iran. So, APOC changed its name to the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC).
After World War II, many countries wanted more control over their own resources. In 1951, the Iranian government took control of its oil industry. AIOC left Iran, and Britain stopped buying Iranian oil. Later, after some political changes, AIOC was able to return to Iran. It became part of a new group of companies that managed Iranian oil.
Growth and Challenges: 1954 to 1979
In 1954, AIOC officially became the British Petroleum Company. BP started to explore for oil in new places like Canada, Alaska, and the North Sea. In 1965, it was the first company to find oil in the North Sea.
In 1967, a large oil tanker called the Torrey Canyon crashed off the coast of England. This caused a huge oil spill, which was a major environmental disaster for Britain.
During the 1970s, some countries like Libya, Kuwait, and Nigeria took control of BP's oil assets within their borders. This meant BP had to find oil in other parts of the world. In 1979, the Iranian Revolution led to BP losing all its assets in Iran.
Changes and New Directions: 1979 to 1997
The British government sold its shares in BP between 1979 and 1987. This meant BP became a fully private company.
In the 1980s, BP started to explore new areas like solar cells through a company called BP Solar. This showed an early interest in different types of energy.
BP also began working in Russia in 1990. It formed partnerships with Russian companies to find and produce oil. In 1992, BP also started working in Azerbaijan.
Becoming a Global Giant: 1998 to 2009
Under its leader, John Browne, BP grew much larger by buying other oil companies. In 1998, it merged with Amoco, becoming BP Amoco plc. Then, in 2000, it bought ARCO and Burmah Castrol. These mergers made BP one of the biggest oil companies in the world.
In 2001, the company changed its name to just BP p.l.c. It also introduced a new green and yellow sunburst logo. The company used the slogan "Beyond Petroleum" to show its interest in cleaner energy.
BP became a key partner in building the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline. This pipeline helped transport oil from the Caspian Sea region.
In 2005, a serious explosion happened at BP's Texas City refinery. This accident killed 15 workers and injured many more. It highlighted the importance of safety in the oil industry.
Recent History: 2010 to Present
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On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. This terrible accident killed 11 people. It also caused the largest accidental oil spill in history. Millions of barrels of oil leaked into the ocean, harming the environment and wildlife. This event was very costly for BP and led to many changes in how the company operated.
After the spill, BP sold many of its assets to help pay for the cleanup and other costs. The company also changed its leadership.
BP continued to invest in different energy sources. It formed partnerships for offshore wind farms and bought companies that produce renewable natural gas. In 2017, BP invested in Lightsource BP, a company that builds and manages solar farms. BP also bought BP Chargemaster, which operates electric vehicle charging stations in the UK.
In 2020, BP announced plans to reduce its carbon emissions. It aimed to invest more in low-carbon technologies. However, in February 2025, BP announced a change in its strategy. It decided to increase investments in oil and gas production. This decision was met with criticism from environmental groups.
In February 2026, Meg O'Neill became BP's new chief executive. She is the first woman to lead a major global oil producer. In May 2026, BP's board removed its chairman, Albert Manifold, due to concerns about his behavior. Ian Tyler was appointed as interim chairman.
BP also made a big oil and gas discovery in Brazil in August 2025. In December 2025, BP sold a large part of its Castrol lubricant business.
Company Operations
BP works in many countries around the world. Its main office is in London, United Kingdom. BP's work is divided into three main parts: finding and producing oil and gas (Upstream), refining and selling products (Downstream), and developing renewable energy.
Every year, BP publishes a Statistical Review of World Energy. This report is an important guide for the energy industry.
Operations in the United Kingdom
BP has a large office in Sunbury-on-Thames, England, with many employees. Its North Sea operations are based in Aberdeen, Scotland. BP also has research centers in the UK.
BP operates about 1,200 service stations in the UK. It also runs the UK's largest electric vehicle charging network through its company BP Pulse. BP is also developing offshore wind farms in the UK.
Operations in the United States
BP has a large presence in the United States, where it employs many people. Its main US office is in Houston, Texas.
BP finds and produces oil and gas in places like the Gulf of Mexico. It operates large oil platforms there, such as Thunder Horse. BP also has oil and gas operations in states like Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico.
BP operates oil refineries in Indiana and Washington. These refineries turn crude oil into fuels like gasoline. The company also operates wind farms in several US states. BP is also working on offshore wind farms off the coasts of New York and Massachusetts.
Other Global Operations
BP has important operations in many other countries:
- In Egypt, BP produces a lot of the country's oil and gas.
- In Angola, BP is involved in offshore oil development.
- In India, BP works with Reliance Industries to explore for oil and gas.
- In Indonesia, BP runs the Tangguh LNG project, which produces a lot of liquefied natural gas.
- In Iraq, BP works in the Rumaila oil field, one of the world's largest oil fields.
- In Oman, BP has a large share in Block 61, which is a big gas field.
In Australia, BP used to operate the country's largest oil refinery. It is now changing it into a facility that can produce cleaner fuels. BP is also a partner in the North West Shelf project, which produces LNG and oil.
- In Azerbaijan, BP operates the two largest oil and gas projects in the Caspian Sea.
In Europe, BP has large oil refineries in the Netherlands, Germany, and Spain. It also has many service stations across Europe under the BP and Aral brands.
- In Canada, BP has offices in Calgary and works on offshore oil projects.
- In Trinidad and Tobago, BP is the largest oil and gas producer.
- In Brazil, BP explores for oil and gas and also produces biofuel from sugarcane.
- BP has a strong presence in South Africa, with refineries and many gas stations.
Finding and Producing Energy
BP's "Upstream" business focuses on finding new oil and natural gas. It also develops ways to get these resources out of the ground and transport them. BP works in 25 countries to do this. The company also has interests in oil sands projects in Canada.
Refining and Selling Products
BP's "Downstream" business takes crude oil and turns it into useful products. This includes refining oil, making and selling fuels, and creating lubricants. BP owns or has a share in 11 oil refineries.
Air BP is BP's aviation division. It provides aviation fuel and services to airports around the world. BP Shipping helps move BP's oil and gas around the globe using a large fleet of ships.
BP has about 18,700 service stations worldwide. These include BP Connect stations, which often have convenience stores. In Germany, BP uses the Aral brand. On the US West Coast, it uses the ARCO brand.
Castrol is BP's well-known brand for lubricants used in cars and industries.
Clean Energy Efforts
BP has stated that it wants to move towards cleaner, low-carbon energy. The company has invested in projects like solar, wind, and biofuels.
BP operates wind farms in the United States. It is also working with Tesla, Inc. to test energy storage using batteries at one of its wind farms.
In Brazil, BP owns companies that produce ethanol from sugarcane. It also has a company called Butamax that develops biobutanol, another type of biofuel. BP also owns facilities that produce biomethane.
BP has a large share in Lightsource BP, a company that builds and manages solar farms. It also invests in companies that develop quick-charging batteries. BP operates electric vehicle charging networks in the UK and China.
BP is also working on projects to produce hydrogen using wind power. It is also a major shareholder in Finite Carbon, a company that helps reduce carbon in forests.
In 2023, BP changed its goals for reducing emissions. It aimed for a smaller reduction than it first promised. In February 2025, BP announced it would reduce its investments in renewable energy. Instead, it planned to increase spending on oil and gas production. This decision caused concern among environmental groups.
Company Leadership
As of May 2026, Ian Tyler is the interim chairman of BP's board of directors. Meg O'Neill is the chief executive officer. She is the first woman to hold this top leadership role at a major global oil company.
Environmental Record
Climate and the Environment
BP has acknowledged that climate change is real and needs action. However, the company has also faced criticism for its impact on the environment. From 1988 to 2015, BP was responsible for a significant amount of global greenhouse gas emissions.
In February 2020, BP set a goal to cut its greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050. This means balancing the amount of greenhouse gases released with the amount removed. BP said it would focus on low-carbon technologies to reach this goal. However, in October 2024, BP changed this plan and decided to increase its oil and gas production.
In 2022, a US government committee accused BP and other oil companies of not being fully honest about their climate plans. They said these companies continued to invest heavily in fossil fuels while talking about clean energy.
In February 2025, BP announced it would increase its investment in oil and gas production by about 20%. It also planned to reduce funding for renewable energy. This change in strategy was criticized by environmental groups like Greenpeace UK. They said it showed that fossil fuel companies might not be part of solving the climate crisis.
BP's operations, like extracting and refining oil, release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. These gases contribute to global warming. The oil industry is also a source of air pollution.
Climate change also affects BP's operations. Extreme weather events like hurricanes can disrupt drilling and refining. Rising temperatures in places like Iraq can make oil extraction harder. BP has said that people affected by pollution above national limits should receive help.
See also
In Spanish: BP para niños
