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Neha Kapoor
Archana Chaudhary

MUMBAI, March 10

BRITISH Petroleum Plc (BP), one of the world's biggest oil and gas companies, is in talks with a handful of Indian software companies for a larger outsourcing order.

According to sources close to the development, BP has shortlisted four frontline Indian vendors — Wipro, Infosys, Satyam and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). These companies are also understood to have run pilots for BP and are awaiting a decision.

When Business Line contacted one of these companies, TCS, a spokesperson said, " We are not aware of any big order; however, there has been speculation in the market about the BP order. Pilots keep happening; companies have run pilots for BP — we have done a pilot too, but nothing has materialised so far."

There was speculation about the order size being around $150 million. However, sources said, "It is difficult to put an exact figure to the order as it is likely to be executed in a phased manner over a couple of years rather than at one go. In fact, two companies — Wipro and Satyam are already working on a SAP implementation project for BP. And this is the way the work is expected to flow — in small chunks rather than one large order."

An equity analyst with a local brokerage firm said, "There has been talk in the market for sometime now about Satyam being awarded a 200-man month contract from BP. Also, around 50 Wipro personnel are reportedly working on the SAP implementation last quarter and this number is expected to increase, though there are no indications if this increase will be channelled towards the SAP project or a fresh order."

When contacted, the BP Amoco spokesperson conceded that the company was indeed "doing some IT business with India". She, however, declined to comment on the specifics of any contract on grounds of `commercial confidentiality'.

A $8.7-billion company, BP's major interests are essentially centred around exploration and production of oil and gas.

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BP shortlists 4 software cos for outsourcing

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