BP's 処分s gusher

By Neil Thapar
Updated: 00:00 BST, 11 July 1999

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Sir John Browne, the 堅い boss of oil 巨大（な） BP Amoco, this week 計画（する）s to 発表する a 広範囲にわたる programme of 処分s running into billions of 続けざまに猛撃するs.

The move follows BP's mega 合併 with US-based Amoco last summer and its 引き継ぎ／買収 of another 競争相手, Arco, a few months later. The 取引，協定 has 押し進めるd BP into second place の中で Western oil compa nies with a market value of £119 billion.

On Thursday Browne is likely to 明かす a bigger-than-推定する／予想するd 再編成 of the group, 伴う／関わるing a 抱擁する cost-cutting 運動 that could mean thousands of 職業 losses. In a 要点説明 to City 分析家s he will also 始める，決める 堅い new 財政上の 的s to 上げる 利益（をあげる）s and 改善する 利ざやs.

This will be the first time that BP has （一定の）期間d out its 戦略 in 十分な since the 合併s. The news is likely to 影響する／感情 its 株 price 意味ありげに.

A 重要な plank of Browne's 計画（する）s 伴う／関わるs a （疑いを）晴らす-out of 無益な oilfields, 精製するing and 化学製品s 操作／手術s across the world.

Browne, who likes to 始める，決める 的s in public to keep minions on their toes, has already 警告するd 上級の staff to 推定する／予想する 処分s running into billions, say insiders. The sale is likely to be carried out over years as BP has 約束d US regulators that it will not sell more than £600 million 価値（がある） of 資産s each year. These will probably 含む some North Sea oilfields.

Some 分析家s believe BP may even sell or 削減（する） its oil 利益／興味s in Colombia, which have 原因（となる）d political 論争. Crucially, they have also failed to live up to their 早期に 約束. Developed by Browne before taking the 最高の，を越す 職業, they were once 法案d by BP as a jewel in its 栄冠を与える. But the fields are in rugged 地形 and often 苦しむ ゲリラ兵 attacks.

一方／合間, 憶測 is 開始するing that French 巨大（な） Elf may either 企て，努力，提案 for UK gas pipeline company BG or US oil group Conoco to defend itself from a 引き継ぎ／買収 by fellow French group Total.