BG Group Boosts 1Q Operating Profit by 21%

by Jon Mainwaring

Rigzone Staff

Thursday, May 03, 2012

BG Group was the latest major European energy company to report a strong start to the year when it announced Thursday that its first quarter operating profit for the three months to March 31 2012, $2.4 billion, was greater by 21 percent on 1Q 2011.

BG Group's hydrocarbon production improved 5 percent to 60.9 million barrels of oil equivalent on 1Q 2011. This helped it achieve a 15 percent increase in its E&P operating profit to $1.45 billion, while the firm's LNG operating profit increased by 42 percent to $812 million.

"This year we have brought key new developments into production, continued to make material progress across our major projects, and we announced further exploration success," said BG Group Chief Executive Sir Frank Chapman in a press statement.

Chapman added that four of its 2012 projects have already been brought on stream and have begun production build up.

"In Egypt, phase seven of the West Delta Deep Marine development was brought online; offshore Norway, we achieved first production from the Gaupe field; in Thailand, new facilities at Greater Bongkot South began delivering volumes; and, in Bolivia, the first phase of production from the Margarita field commenced," said Chapman.

"These new sources of production will, at plateau, add around 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day net to the Group's production; helping to keep us on track to deliver our 6 percent to 8 percent annual average growth rate through to 2020."

Chapman added that the company was making "rapid progress" in Brazil with the development of the 'big five' Santos Basin discoveries, while in Australia BG Group has increase drilling capacity as planned and delivered more than 70 wells during the first quarter.

Chapman also noted that in Tanzania a fourth consecutive success raised estimated gross mean recoverable resources in the province to approaching some 7 trillion cubic feet of gas.

BG Group was just the latest major European energy firm to report strong results for the first quarter. Last Friday, Italy's Eni announced a 26.5 percent increase in its adjusted operating profit for 1Q 2012 while Total saw a 6.5 percent increase in its sales during the quarter.

A former engineer, Jon is an award-winning editor who has covered the technology, engineering and energy sectors since the mid-1990s. Email Jon at jmainwaring@rigzone.com.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.

Related Companies

Company: BG Group	more info
Operates 6 Offshore Rigs - BG Group Seeks More Active Portfolio Management Strategy (May 14) - BG 1Q Profit Down on Lower Production (May 2) - Successful Drill Stem Test for Mzia-2 Well (May 1)