The 1 Key Driver for BP's Future

Let's face it, from a financial perspective, BP is going to put the Gulf of Mexico spill behind it eventually. For investors that may be looking at BP, one key driver for the company post-Macondo will be its projects in the North Sea. Despite some recent lackluster results from new wells in the Norwegian Sea by Statoil and some major expenses that Total has had to deal with related to some problems with well corrosion, BP sees its oil production from this part of the world growing five-fold over the next several years.

With new technology to access deeper, more complex formations, new enhanced oil recovery techniques to extend the life of mature wells, and pipeline access to Europe BP's North Sea assets are very valuable. In the video below, Fool.com contributor Tyler Crowe discusses what investors should be watching for from BP as well as Total and Statoil in this region and whether this project and the others BP is pursuing makes it a buy today.

The quiet company making these projects possible
These new exploration projects in the North Sea, like almost every offshore project today, are getting more complex and more expensive by the day. So offshore specialists like BP and Total need to make sure they are absolutely sure they are getting it right, and there is one behind-the-scenes energy company that is poised to profit in a big way from this need for certainty. The outlook for this under-the-radar stock is so great. Our chief investment officer has selected it as his No. 1 stock for this year. Find out which stock it is in our special report: "The Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2013." Simply click here and we'll give you free access to this valuable report.

The article The 1 Key Driver for BP's Future originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Aimee Duffy has no position in any stocks mentioned. Fool contributor Tyler Crowe has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Statoil (ADR) and Total SA. (ADR). Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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