First quarter 2018 results

We have delivered another strong set of results. Our safe and reliable operations and strong financial delivery have continued into 2018. Underlying profit was up 23% on the previous quarter and was our best quarterly result in three years. With rising output from our new major projects and excellent reliability, Upstream production was 9% higher than a year earlier.
"Moving through 2018 we’re determined to keep delivering our operational targets and maintaining capital discipline while growing cash flow and returns.
“Over the longer term, our new lower carbon ambitions, including clear targets for our own emissions, will help ensure that all of BP is also focused on advancing the energy transition.”

Bob Dudley – Group chief executive

• Underlying replacement cost profit* for the first quarter of 2018 was $2.6 billion, compared with $1.5 billion for the same period in 2017, a rise of 71%.
• Operating cash flow excluding Gulf of Mexico oil spill payments* in the quarter was $5.4 billion including a $1.8 billion negative impact from an increase in working capital ($1.7 billion after adjusting for inventory holding gains) driven by higher oil prices and seasonal inventory builds. 
• Upstream reported the strongest quarter since third quarter 2014 on both a replacement cost and underlying basis. 
• Reported oil and gas production was 3.7 million barrels of oil equivalent a day in the quarter, 6% higher than the first quarter of 2017. Upstream production, excluding Rosneft, was 9% higher, supported by continued ramp up of major projects*. Upstream plant reliability* was 96% for the quarter. 
• First Upstream major project of 2018, Atoll in Egypt, started production; to date in 2018, final investment decisions have been taken on four new projects – in Oman, India and two in the UK North Sea.
• Continued Downstream earnings growth with strong refining availability in the US.
• Gulf of Mexico oil spill payments in the quarter were $1.6 billion on a pre-tax basis, including $1.2 billion for the final payment relating to the 2012 Department of Justice settlement. 
• BP continued its share buyback programme in the quarter, buying 18 million shares for a cost of $120 million.
• Dividend unchanged at 10 cents per share.

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* See definitions in the Glossary on page 30. RC profit (loss), underlying RC profit, operating cash flow excluding Gulf of Mexico oil spill payments and organic capital expenditure are non-GAAP measures.

Cautionary statement

In order to utilize the ‘safe harbor’ provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the ‘PSLRA’), BP is providing the following cautionary statement: The discussion in this results announcement contains certain forecasts, projections and forward-looking statements – that is, statements related to future, not past events and circumstances – with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of BP and certain of the plans and objectives of BP with respect to these items. These statements may generally, but not always, be identified by the use of words such as ‘will’, ‘expects’, ‘is expected to’, ‘aims’, ‘should’, ‘may’, ‘objective’, ‘is likely to’, ‘intends’, ‘believes’, ‘anticipates’, ‘plans’, ‘we see’ or similar expressions. In particular, the following, among other statements, are all forward looking in nature: expectations regarding the expected quarterly dividend payment and timing of such payment; plans and expectations with respect to operational targets, capital discipline and cash flows; plans and expectations with respect to emissions and advancing the energy transition; plans and expectations regarding the start-up of six Upstream major projects in 2018; expectations regarding 2018 organic capital expenditure; plans and expectations with respect to gearing including to target gearing within a 20-30% band and for gearing to trend down; expectations regarding divestment transactions and the amount and timing of divestment proceeds; expectations regarding the underlying effective tax rate in 2018; expectations regarding second-quarter 2018 reported production; expectations regarding Downstream second-quarter 2018 refining margins, turnaround activity and discounts for North American heavy crude oil; expectations regarding the amount of Rosneft dividends payable to BP; plans and expectations regarding a final investment decision on the Tortue/Ahmeyim gas project; plans and expectations regarding the production-sharing agreement with SOCAR; plans and expectations regarding the partnership with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance; expectations regarding the determination of business economic loss claims in respect of the 2012 PSC settlement; and expectations with respect to the timing and amount of future payments relating to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill including 2012 PSC settlement payments. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will or may occur in the future and are outside the control of BP. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in such statements, depending on a variety of factors, including: the specific factors identified in the discussions accompanying such forward-looking statements; the receipt of relevant third party and/or regulatory approvals; the timing and level of maintenance and/or turnaround activity; the timing and volume of refinery additions and outages; the timing of bringing new fields onstream; the timing, quantum and nature of certain divestments; future levels of industry product supply, demand and pricing, including supply growth in North America; OPEC quota restrictions; PSA effects; operational and safety problems; potential lapses in product quality; economic and financial market conditions generally or in various countries and regions; political stability and economic growth in relevant areas of the world; changes in laws and governmental regulations; regulatory or legal actions including the types of enforcement action pursued and the nature of remedies sought or imposed; the actions of prosecutors, regulatory authorities and courts; delays in the processes for resolving claims; amounts ultimately payable and timing of payments relating to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill; exchange rate fluctuations; development and use of new technology; recruitment and retention of a skilled workforce; the success or otherwise of partnering; the actions of competitors, trading partners, contractors, subcontractors, creditors, rating agencies and others; our access to future credit resources; business disruption and crisis management; the impact on our reputation of ethical misconduct and non-compliance with regulatory obligations; trading losses; major uninsured losses; decisions by Rosneft’s management and board of directors; the actions of contractors; natural disasters and adverse weather conditions; changes in public expectations and other changes to business conditions; wars and acts of terrorism; cyber-attacks or sabotage; and other factors discussed elsewhere in this report and under “Risk factors” in BP Annual Report and Form 20-F 2017 as filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.