Energy giant BP PLC said Wednesday that its oil production for the fourth quarter of 2005 would be slightly lower than the same period last year due to hurricanes in the United States, the Associated Press reported. BP, one of the world's largest oil companies, also disclosed more than US$1.3 billion (¤1.08 billion) of charges on its refining and distribution businesses. In a trading update, BP estimated that its output had averaged 4.010 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in the three months ended Dec. 31, 2005. That figure compares with 3.824 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in the third quarter of 2005, and 4.095 million in the fourth quarter of 2004. BP said growth in new profit centers and the completion of the planned maintenance season was partially offset by the impact of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which cost the company around 160,000 barrels per day in production.
