BP 4Q and full-year 2017 results

Strong delivery and growth across BP – Underlying profit up 139 per cent – Organic cash flows back in balance – Downstream underlying profit up 24 per cent – Upstream production up 12 per cent – Reserves replacement ratio 143 per cent for BP group – Share buybacks, offsetting scrip dilution, restarted

2017 was one of the strongest years in BP’s recent history. We delivered operationally and financially, with very strong earnings in the Downstream, Upstream production up 12 per cent, and our finances rebalanced. And we did all this while maintaining safe and reliable operations.

“We enter the second year of our five-year plan with real momentum, increasingly confident that we can continue to deliver growth across our business, improving cash flows and returns for shareholders out to 2021 and beyond. “At the same time, we are embracing the energy transition, seeking new opportunities in a changing, lowercarbon world. Bob Dudley – Group chief executive

Underlying replacement cost profit* was $6.2 billion for full year 2017 and $2.1 billion for the fourth quarter, compared with $2.6 billion and $400 million for full year and fourth quarter 2016 respectively.

Operating cash flow for 2017, excluding Gulf of Mexico oil spill payments*, was $24.1 billion, compared with $17.6 billion in 2016. Gulf of Mexico oil spill payments in 2017 were $5.2 billion, compared with $6.9 billion in 2016. Downstream earnings were very strong with underlying replacement cost profit of $7.0 billion, 24 per cent higher than 2016.

Operational reliability was high, with refining availability* and Upstream BP-operated plant reliability* both 95 per cent.

Seven new major projects* delivered, boosting oil and gas production. Upstream production, excluding BP’s share of Rosneft production, was 12 per cent higher than 2016, the highest since 2010. Including Rosneft, production was 3.6 million barrels of oil equivalent a day, 10 per cent higher than 2016. Oil and gas realizations were 25 per cent higher.

Exploration delivered the most successful year for BP since 2004, with around 1 billion boe resources discovered. Dividend unchanged at 10 cents per share.

BP began share buybacks in the fourth quarter, spending $343 million, fully offsetting the dilution from scrip dividends issued in the third quarter.

Non-operating items in the fourth quarter, which are excluded from underlying profit, included a $0.9 billion charge for US tax changes and a $1.7 billion post-tax charge relating to a further provision for claims associated with the oil spill.