The $1.4bn (£1.1bn) profit, on the replacement cost measure, compared with a $485m loss a year earlier, the BBC reports.
Oil prices have been about 35 per cent higher in the first three months of 2017 compared with a year earlier, boosting revenue from BP’s core oil and gas production division.
BP chief executive Bob Dudley said: “Our year has started well.”
He added: “BP is focused on the disciplined delivery of our plans. First quarter earnings and cash flow were robust.”
New projects
Underlying replacement cost profit – the company’s preferred measure – was $1.5bn compared with $532m a year ago.
And operating cash flow rose to $4.4bn from $3bn a year earlier
Reported oil and gas production was 5 per cent higher than same period in 2016.
BP held the quarterly dividend at 10 cents. Given the size of BP, the payout is watched closely by investors.
The London-based giant is set to begin eight projects this year – including in Oman and Azerbaijan – the largest number in its history in a year.
Meanwhile, it hopes to add 800,000 barrels a day of new production by the end of the decade.
“Rising production from new upstream projects is expected to drive a material improvement in operating cash flow from the second half of 2017,” BP said in its results statement.
Pay row
The figures come after strong earnings from US peers ExxonMobil and Chevron last week as the oil industry benefits from a rebound in crude prices, which hit near 13-year lows in early 2016.
Royal Dutch Shell is also expected to post a leap in profits when it reports later this week.
Last month, BP slashed Mr Dudley’s 2016 pay package by 40 per cent and cut his maximum earnings by $3.7m.
Its annual report showed Mr Dudley’s pay was reduced to $11.6m as it looked to head off a repeat of last year’s shareholder revolt against his remuneration.
