BP's US Lower 48 Onshore Headquarters Moving to Denver

BP plc will be moving its U.S. Lower 48 onshore business headquarters from Houston to Denver, which the company believes will be an important energy hub of the future.  

“In some ways, this is a homecoming for us,” David Lawler, CEO of BP Lower 48, said in a release.

Lawler noted that two-thirds of BP’s operated oil and natural gas production and proved reserves in the Rockies, as well as close proximity to top universities and industry expertise, makes Denver a “logical and strategic” place to be and a “natural fit” for the business.

The relocation will see a number of employees at the Houston office transferred to Denver, while some will remain in Houston to manage BP’s operating assets in Texas.

“This is not a reorganization and it’s not about headcount reductions,” spokesperson Brett Clanton said in an email to Rigzone.

He added that Houston remains very important to the business and that will not change.

BP’s US Lower 48 onshore business has about 450 employees in Houston and BP has nearly 5,000 employees in the Houston area.

The Denver headquarters is expected to open in 1Q 2018 with at least 200 employees, including the CEO and executive leaders. More staff will be added later, though there are no estimates at this time of how many employees will be added.