BP p.l.c., incorporated on April 14, 1909, also referred to by its former name, British Petroleum, is one of the world's 7 "supermajor" oil and gas companies.
The Company provides its customers with fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, lubricants to keep engines moving and the petrochemicals products used to make everyday items as diverse as paints, clothes and packaging.
The Company operates through three segments:
- Upstream,
- Downstream,
- Rosneft.
Its Upstream segment is engaged in oil and natural gas exploration, field development and production, as well as midstream transportation, storage and processing.
The Company's Downstream segment has global manufacturing and marketing operations.
In Russia BP owns a 19.75% stake in Rosneft, the world's largest publicly traded oil and gas company by hydrocarbon reserves and production.
The Company has operations in Europe, North and South America, Australasia, Asia and Africa. As of 31 December 2015, BP has operations in more than 70 countries, produces around 3.3 million barrels per day (520,000 m3/d) of oil equivalent, and has total proved reserves of 17.18 billion barrels (2.731×109 m3) of oil equivalent.
The company has around 17,200 service stations worldwide.