LONDON (Reuters) - A strong rise in oil and gas production helped BP BP.L offset weaker crude prices and refining profit to again beat profit expectations on Tuesday, boosting its shares.

BP's second quarter contrasts with Total TOTF.PA and Norway's Equinor EQNR.OL, which posted sharp earnings drops, and builds on a steady recovery after deep cost cuts since the 2014 downturn, project start-ups and last year's $10.5 billion purchase of BHP's U.S. shale assets.

“At the midpoint of our five-year plan, BP is right on target,” Chief Executive Bob Dudley said in a statement.

By 0953 GMT, BP shares were up 3.1% to 543.5 pence, the top gainers in the FTSE 100 .FTSE index.

(GRAPHIC - BP profits: tmsnrt.rs/2MqbBbG)

Although BP’s dividend remained unchanged at 10.25 cents per share, its Chief Financial Officer Brian Gilvary said the company would consider raising it towards the end of the year as proceeds from asset sales come through and debt is reduced.

BP’s results beat expectations for 10 quarters in a row, analysts at Bernstein said.

“Strong volume growth from accretive barrels and seamless execution remains underappreciated,” said Bernstein, which has an “outperform” recommendation on the stock.

Underlying replacement cost profit, the company’s definition of net income, reached $2.8 billion in the second quarter, exceeding a company-provided forecast of $2.46 billion.

The second-quarter profit was up from $2.4 billion in the previous quarter, while BP’s operating cash flow recovered to $6.8 billion in the quarter from $5.3 billion in the previous quarter as a result of a one-off working capital release.

HIGHER PRODUCTION

Second-quarter production rose to 3.8 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, 4% higher than a year earlier.

BP said it expects third-quarter 2019 reported production to be lower than second-quarter, reflecting maintenance activities as well as the impact of Hurricane Barry on operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

FILE PHOTO - Spectators are seen reflected in a British Petroleum sponsors building in Olympic Park at the London 2012 Paralympic Games September 6, 2012. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

Benchmark Brent crude oil prices in the second quarter averaged around $69 a barrel, up from $63 the previous quarter but down from $74 a barrel a year earlier, BP said.

In the refining and marketing segment, known as downstream, profits dropped due to lower sales and refinery throughput as plants underwent maintenance ahead of a major change in marine fuel standards in 2020.

Global growth in oil demand slowed in the first half of the year to around 1 million barrels per day but has slightly recovered in the second half, CFO Gilvary told Reuters.

(GRAPHIC - BP Q2 cashflow: tmsnrt.rs/2yp7B2U)

Despite the higher profit, BP’s debts rose in the first half of the year to $46.5 billion from $38.7 billion the previous year, mostly as a result of the BHP acquisition.

Gearing, the ratio between debt and BP’s market value, rose to 31% compared with 27.5%.

Shell RDSa.L reports results on Thursday, while Exxon Mobil XOM.N and Chevron CVX.N are scheduled for Friday.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ

BP has not taken any of its oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz since a July 10 attempt by Iran to seize one of its vessels, Gilvary said.

Gilvary added that the company had no plans to take any of its tankers through the world’s most important waterway for oil shipments, but was moving oil out of the region using chartered tankers.

Tensions spiked between Iran and Britain this month when Iranian commandos seized a British-flagged tanker.