BP sells North Sea assets for £252m The projects, which include the giant Clair field, west of the Shetland Islands, represent its biggest ever annual investment in the UK's offshore energy industry. At their peak, it is expected that the projects will provide 3,000 UK oil and gas supply jobs and play a part in sustaining the more than 3,000 jobs already existing in BP's North Sea operations. Trevor Garlick, regional president for BP North Sea, said: "Together with our partners, BP is currently progressing projects in the UK offshore that will involve a total investment of £10bn over the next five years - representing the highest level of annual investment BP has ever made into the UK's offshore industry. Actively managing our portfolio allows us to concentrate our people, capabilities and investment on sustaining BP's business in the North Sea for the long term. Tuesday's sale means BP has now sold $23bn of assets as part of plans to raise $38bn before the end of 2013. It faces a $43bn bill for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, which occured in 2010. BP last year sold its Wytch Farm terminal, which is set in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty in the Dorset countryside, with three neighbouring fields to Perenco for $610m.