Exploration and production
Offshore and on, BP is one of the largest producers of oil and gas in the United States and we're meeting growing American demand for clean-burning fuels while reinforcing our commitment to safe operations
BP is one of the leading producers and suppliers of oil and natural gas in the United States and major investor in US energy development. Our primary US production operations are located in Alaska, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming and the US Gulf of Mexico.
An important part of BP’s oil and gas production comes from the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, where BP has been a leading operator for nearly two decades. Our onshore US gas operations are one of BP’s most important businesses, one in which we are committing significant capital to bring new gas supplies to the North American market. Alaska accounts for about five percent of BP’s global oil and gas production and North Slope gas is one of the largest resource opportunities in BP’s global portfolio.
An important part of BP’s oil and gas production comes from the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, where BP has been a leading operator for nearly two decades. Our onshore US gas operations are one of BP’s most important businesses, one in which we are committing significant capital to bring new gas supplies to the North American market. Alaska accounts for about five percent of BP’s global oil and gas production and North Slope gas is one of the largest resource opportunities in BP’s global portfolio.
Deepwater: Safety the priority
BP has been exploring in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico for more than a quarter of a century and is the largest leaseholder in the deepwater US Gulf of Mexico, owning more than 650 gross blocks in water depths of 1,200 feet or greater. BP is the largest producer of oil and gas in the Gulf.BP produces from over 20 fields in the Gulf and some of our projects, such as Thunder Horse and Atlantis, are among the world’s largest and deepest.
In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon accident, BP is reinforcing its commitment to safe and reliable operations. Not only are we committed to meeting all new regulatory requirements, we have put in place voluntary performance standards for drilling operations that exceed existing regulatory obligations.
BP intends to remain an active participant in all facets of the US Gulf of Mexico — as explorer, developer, operator and interest owner. Recent BP discoveries, such as Kaskida and Tiber, demonstrate that the deepwater Gulf of Mexico will be a vital part of the world’s energy future for many years to come.
BP intends to remain an active participant in all facets of the US Gulf of Mexico — as explorer, developer, operator and interest owner. Recent BP discoveries, such as Kaskida and Tiber, demonstrate that the deepwater Gulf of Mexico will be a vital part of the world’s energy future for many years to come.
Onshore: Natural gas fuels the future
BP projects that demand for natural gas will grow faster than for any other fossil fuel at more than two percent per year for the next 20 years. So we are increasing production in our North America gas region and seeking new opportunities to expand our investment.BP has material positions in four top-quality shale regions: the Woodford in Oklahoma, the Fayetteville in Arkansas and the Eagle Ford and Haynesville shales in Texas. We also have large unconventional fields in Wamsutter, Wyoming and the San Juan basin in Colorado and New Mexico. BP’s leadership position in technology allows us to find the best locations and unlock resources previously thought unrecoverable.
Onshore: Unconventional oil
In Alaska, BP has been a major producer for decades and the resource potential for the future is significant. After more than 30 years of production, Prudhoe Bay remains the largest oil field in America. The North Slope still has considerable amounts of light oil, viscous and heavier oils, and natural gas that are more difficult to fully develop. The foundation for unlocking these resources is a safe, reliable and strong light oil business.Along with pursuing a more sustainable fiscal environment for its overall business, BP is also unlocking technology to make these heavier oils viable in Alaska. In April 2011, BP started a pilot project using different technology to test the production viability of even heavier oil than what is currently in production.
In all of its onshore operations, BP is committed to ongoing development of secure US energy supplies and is working with stakeholders, as well as local, state and federal officials, to provide clean-burning natural gas and additional oil resources to US markets.
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