BP Launches Sale of North Sea Business in Major Overhaul

BP on Friday launched a formal sale process for its North Sea oil and gas business, a significant step in a sweeping overhaul led by new Chief Executive Officer Meg O’Neill. The move signals the company's intent to reshape its portfolio by divesting legacy assets to reduce debt and focus on what it deems higher-value opportunities.

Strategic Shift Under New CEO

The decision to exit the North Sea, where BP has operated for over six decades, is a key part of the new CEO's strategy. O'Neill, who took the helm in April, is accelerating efforts to simplify the energy major and improve profitability.

"As we focus our portfolio and direct capital to our highest-value opportunities, we believe our North Sea business will be better positioned as part of another company," O’Neill said in a statement. The assets up for sale include five major production hubs, such as the Clair oilfield, which is the largest on the UK continental shelf.

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Broader Corporate Restructuring

This sale follows other significant changes within the company. Since O'Neill's appointment, BP has been reorganized from three business segments into two — upstream and downstream. This structural change took effect in July.

In addition to the asset sale, BP also plans to reduce its workforce by 700, according to an internal email seen by Reuters. These actions underscore a strategic pivot to refocus on its core oil and gas businesses and boost shareholder returns after previously scaling back some renewable energy investments.