# Is or is not BP a British company? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 2, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794 "2013-03-02T04:09:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/21 "2013-03-02T13:17:56Z")
Frpm everything I’ve read, **Francis Vaughan** ’s post #19 is very much on target and remarkably well balanced in its content. It deserves rereading by anyone concerned about “the BP Gulf oil spill.” ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/22 "2013-03-02T16:40:56Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Why are you ascribing such significance to the opinions of a website called [Alabama.com](http://Alabama.com)? Who cares what that site thinks? I am not familiar with [Alabama.com](http://Alabama.com) and don’t know if there is anything particularly special about it other than it seems to me to be an official Alabama web site. Maybe I’m wrong about that. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/23 "2013-03-02T16:46:36Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > A big evil oil company called BP screwed the gulf, not “the British,” like there’s 60 million Brits over there wringing their hands together in evil glee. Right, it is a touchy subject. While there is a long list of nasty things in British history, no one is claiming what you’re saying here (that would make for an awfully creepy island though). Anyway, now that ‘The Prize’ has been recommended about 10 times over the years, I better read the dang thing. Arg, who has the time? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/24 "2013-03-02T17:11:18Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > Why are you ascribing such significance to the opinions of a website called [Alabama.com](http://Alabama.com)? Who cares what that site thinks? > > I am not familiar with [Alabama.com](http://Alabama.com) and don’t know if there is anything particularly special about it other than it seems to me to be an official Alabama web site. Maybe I’m wrong about that. You’re wrong about that. > [@](#): > > [Alabama.com](http://Alabama.com) About Us > LocalGuides operates a network of websites which provides local content of thousands of cities and towns in the United States and Canada and an increasing number of international locations. [AreaGuides.net](http://AreaGuides.net) websites provide consumers with local reference content specifically tailored to the city or town of interest. These websites provide an Internet distribution channel to local advertisers and aggregate a large base of local information, to create specialized local portals targeted to travelers, new movers and other local consumers. Visit us at [www.localguides.com](http://www.localguides.com). ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/25 "2013-03-02T17:19:44Z")
I see. Well, they were one of the first listings to come up (besides USA Today) when I googled 'BP trial". Probably because Alabama was on the front lines of the disaster. ---
**Author:** ![KermitTheFrig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/47e85d/32.png) [@KermitTheFrig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KermitTheFrig)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/26 "2013-03-02T17:39:55Z")
It is spelled BP, but it’s pronounced Throatwobbler Mangrove. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/27 "2013-03-02T18:25:34Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > While we’re on the topic of BP and oil company genealogies, where does ARCO come in? > > Arco, as I always understood it, was a new name (or successor company) for Atlantic Richfield Company. But Arco is now a part of BP. What was the sequence of buy-outs / mergers / name changes / etc., that led up to that? > > ETA: Photo, showing [Arco is part of BP now](http://sfcitizen.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_0906-copy.jpg). It appears that Atlantic—a Standard Spin-off Company and Ritchfield merged to create ARCO. [Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Oil#Successor_companies) is a list of Standard successor companies. Interesting stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/28 "2013-03-02T22:28:33Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > Is you or is you not my Try2B ? For those who need it, [Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kefYrJQ9tc) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/29 "2013-03-02T22:57:34Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Arco, as I always understood it, was a new name (or successor company) for Atlantic Richfield Company. But Arco is now a part of BP. What was the sequence of buy-outs / mergers / name changes / etc., that led up to that? BP bought them in 2000. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/30 "2013-03-03T06:03:47Z")
Arco was purchased by BP around the same time they purchased / merged with Amoco. Transocean is a real ball,of wax if you want to try and describe where it came from, Transocean was a norwegian company that merged with the drilling rig division of Schlumberger, Sedco Forex when Schlumberger decided to get out of the rig contracting business. Sedco forex was a merger of Forex Neptune ( french) and the South Eastern Drilling company ( very American) . Transocean Sedco Forex as it was known, then purchased Reading and Bates ( American) ( who had recently bought Falcon drilling and were known as Falcon Reading and Bates ) to form Transocean sedco reading and bates, at which point they just called it Transocean. There is also ADTI which is connected, but things just get silly by that point. So yes, Swiss is probably best way to describe the company. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/31 "2013-03-03T06:23:01Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > Their name is just BP, not British Petroleum. They stopped using British Petroleum near the end of the 20th century. If asked, a corporate suit would probably tell you the BP stands for “Beyond Petroleum”, not “British Petroleum”. As far as I’m concerned, a company can gain new names but not shed old ones (except in the most technical, least practical sense). Blackwater may have changed its name a few times, but it will always be Blackwater in people’s minds (“Who the hell are Academi?” “They used to be called Xe Services.” “Never heard of them.” “Blackwater.” “Oh, Blackwater.”). BP may not go by British Petroleum anymore, but they’re not _really_ “not British Petroleum anymore”. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/32 "2013-03-03T06:27:48Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Frpm everything I’ve read, **Francis Vaughan** ’s post #19 is very much on target Well, with at least one exception: > [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > Given the OP’s question is clearly directed at the Mancodo disaster [Macondo](https://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=macondo%20disaster&oq=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.43148975,d.dmQ&fp=94d385b622fb6b6d&biw=1920&bih=923&pf=p&pdl=300). Not “Mancodo.” ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/33 "2013-03-03T09:00:15Z")
If I bought homes in twenty different countries, would I no longer be an American, but instead be… ‘International!’? ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/34 "2013-03-03T09:20:20Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > BP is a multi-national corporation. Their worldwide headquarters are in London. They have a USA headquarters in Houston. They have offices and installations all over the world. > > As a multi-national, it is technically incorrect to attribute them to any specific country. Their roots are in the United Kingdom and their company culture is heavily British. And for completeness here’s [their share ownership, by nation](http://www.bp.com/extendedsectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9010453&contentId=7019612) as at 31 December 2011: ```auto UK 35% US 38% Rest of Europe 15% Rest of World 9% Miscellaneous 3% ``` ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/35 "2013-03-03T10:45:05Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > [Macondo](https://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=macondo%20disaster&oq=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.43148975,d.dmQ&fp=94d385b622fb6b6d&biw=1920&bih=923&pf=p&pdl=300). Not “Mancodo.” Darn, I do that every time I write about it. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/36 "2013-03-03T21:25:07Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > And for completeness here’s [their share ownership, by nation](http://www.bp.com/extendedsectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9010453&contentId=7019612) as at 31 December 2011: > > ```auto > > > UK 35% > > US 38% > > Rest of Europe 15% > > Rest of World 9% > > Miscellaneous 3% > > ``` So 3% of their ownership is not of this world! :eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![isaiahrobinson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@isaiahrobinson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/isaiahrobinson)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/37 "2013-03-04T00:49:44Z")
I don’t think it’s necessarily controversial to call it a British company. Its place of incorporation and registered office are in the UK (I think). It also has its headquarters there, its primary stock exchange listing is on the London Stock Exchange and it has major operations there. The reason it became controversial to call it British is because after the Macondo oil spill there was a strain of thought that started to blame BP _because_ it was “British”, as opposed to the American or other oil companies. That line of thinking goes too far: BP has merged with a number of American oil companies over the years, its largest division is its American division and it’s listed on the New York Stock Exchange too. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/38 "2013-03-04T01:22:24Z")
It’s incorporated in the UK. To the extent that a multinational can have a national character, BP is British. Nobody has a problem with that. People have a problem with the OP’s bizarre habit of blaming _everything BP does_ on Britain. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/39 "2013-03-04T01:42:02Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Now I’m confused, because until that merger, Standard Oil and British Petroleum had separate histories. But if you really want to know more about this stuff, read “[The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prize:_The_Epic_Quest_for_Oil,_Money,_and_Power)” by Daniel Yergin. It’s really good, and won the Pulitzer Prize for Non-Fiction. Well, didn’t read the book, but I did watch the whole TV documentary version. 🙂 It was a pretty interesting perspective on the world over the last 100 years or so. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794/40 "2013-03-04T08:17:36Z")
> [@moriah](#): > > If I bought homes in twenty different countries, would I no longer be an American, but instead be… ‘International!’? It’s a poor analogy. If you had more than half your brain and body surgically replaced with that of a Chinese guy and you lived mostly in Brazil would you still be American because that’s where your face was born? I’m not saying you wouldn’t be, but it is a question with no simple answer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-or-is-not-bp-a-british-company/651794.md?page=3)