[null, null, {"document_url": "https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/who-we-are/our-history.html", "unformatted_src": "/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/images-jpg-png/who-we-are/our-history/aral-service-station-1960s-var.jpg.img.3840.medium.jpg", "src": "https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/images-jpg-png/who-we-are/our-history/aral-service-station-1960s-var.jpg.img.3840.medium.jpg", "formatted_filename": "aral service station s var", "alt_text": "Aral service station outside the Aral headquarters in Bochum, Germany, during the 1960s"}, {"document_url": "https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/who-we-are/our-history.html", "unformatted_src": "/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/images-jpg-png/who-we-are/our-history/1901-1908/bp-company-founder-william-knox-d-arcy.jpg.img.3840.medium.jpg", "src": "https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/images-jpg-png/who-we-are/our-history/1901-1908/bp-company-founder-william-knox-d-arcy.jpg.img.3840.medium.jpg", "formatted_filename": "bp company founder william knox d arcy", "alt_text": "William Knox D&#39;Arcy, the founder of BP, with his wife in their Edwardian English home. D&#39;Arcy entered the oil industry in 1901 by obtaining an..."}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/who-we-are/our-history.html", "unformatted_src": "/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/images-jpg-png/who-we-are/our-history/1909-1924/refuelling-at-olex.jpg.img.3840.medium.jpg", "src": "https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/images-jpg-png/who-we-are/our-history/1909-1924/refuelling-at-olex.jpg.img.3840.medium.jpg", "formatted_filename": "refuelling at olex", "alt_text": "An attendant refuelling a motorcar at a small roadside Olex gasoline station in Germany during the 1920s"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/who-we-are/our-history.html", "unformatted_src": "/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/images-jpg-png/who-we-are/our-history/1925-1945/surveying-persia-in-1926.jpg.img.3840.medium.jpg", "src": "https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/images-jpg-png/who-we-are/our-history/1925-1945/surveying-persia-in-1926.jpg.img.3840.medium.jpg", "formatted_filename": "surveying persia in", "alt_text": "A BP geologist using instruments to conduct a survey in Persia, 1926. A local guide stands by his side"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/who-we-are/our-history.html", "unformatted_src": "/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/images-jpg-png/who-we-are/our-history/1946-1970/lali-oilfield-1949.jpg.img.3840.medium.jpg", "src": "https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/images-jpg-png/who-we-are/our-history/1946-1970/lali-oilfield-1949.jpg.img.3840.medium.jpg", "formatted_filename": "lali oilfield", "alt_text": "The Lali oilfield in the foothills of the Zagros mountains in south western Iran, one of the several oilfields discovered by BP in Persia - renamed Ir..."}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/who-we-are/our-history.html", "unformatted_src": "/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/images-jpg-png/who-we-are/our-history/1971-1999/bp-refuelling-747-carrying-spaceshuttle.jpg.img.3840.medium.jpg", "src": "https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/images-jpg-png/who-we-are/our-history/1971-1999/bp-refuelling-747-carrying-spaceshuttle.jpg.img.3840.medium.jpg", "formatted_filename": "bp refuelling carrying spaceshuttle", "alt_text": "AirBP refuelling a Boeing 747 carrying the prototype spaceshuttle `Enterprise`"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/who-we-are/our-history.html", "unformatted_src": "/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/images-jpg-png/who-we-are/our-history/2000-2012/refinery-towers-2000-20012.jpg.img.3840.medium.jpg", "src": "https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/images-jpg-png/who-we-are/our-history/2000-2012/refinery-towers-2000-20012.jpg.img.3840.medium.jpg", "formatted_filename": "refinery towers", "alt_text": "Looking up at the towers at the Tropical BioEnergia refinery in Brazil, 2008"}, null]
Site traffic information and cookies

Manage cookie preferences GBp (loading...)

USD (loading...)*

Share price unavailable




Our history

Starting in 1908 with the discovery of oil in Persia, our story has always been about transitions – from coal to oil, from oil to gas, from onshore to deep water, and now onwards towards a new mix of energy sources as the world moves into a lower carbon future First oil – 1901-1908

How we began – as William D’Arcy risked his fortune on oil and very nearly lost it Early history – 1909-1924

From struggle to success, with a little help from Winston Churchill along the way Through World War II – 1925-1945

After two decades of progress everything changed in the autumn of 1939 Post war – 1946-1970

A new stability would soon be shattered by political crises in the Middle East Late century – 1971-1999

At the turn of the century we found new momentum through a series of mergers The new millennium – 2000-2012

With the new millennium came a new focus – starting with a change of name to 'BP'

Heritage companies

A short history of our heritage businesses and brands – Amoco, Arco, Aral, Sohio and Castrol