<P> British Petroleum entered into Russian market in 1990 and opened its first service station in Moscow in 1996 . In 1997, it acquired 10% stake in Russian oil company Sidanco, which later became a part of TNK - BP . </P> <P> In 1992, the company entered into Azerbaijani market . In 1994, it signed the production sharing agreement for the Azeri--Chirag--Guneshli oil project and in 1995 for the Shah Deniz gas field development . </P> <P> Under John Browne, British Petroleum acquired other oil companies, transforming BP into the third largest oil company in the world . British Petroleum merged with Amoco (formerly Standard Oil of Indiana) in December 1998, becoming BP Amoco plc . Most Amoco stations in the United States were converted to BP's brand and corporate identity . In 2000, BP Amoco acquired Arco (Atlantic Richfield Co .) and Burmah Castrol . As part of the merger's brand awareness, the company helped the Tate Modern gallery of British Art launch RePresenting Britain 1500--2000 . In 2001, in response to negative press on British Petroleum's poor safety standards, the company adopted a green sunburst logo and rebranded itself as BP ("Beyond Petroleum") plc . </P> <P> In the beginning of the 2000s, BP became the leading partner (and later operator) of the Baku--Tbilisi--Ceyhan pipeline project which opened a new oil transportation route from the Caspian region . In 2002, BP acquired the majority of Veba Öl AG, a subsidiary of VEBA AG, and subsequently rebranded its existing stations in Germany to the Aral name . As part of the deal, BP acquired also the Veba Öl's stake in Ruhr Öl joint venture . Ruhr Öl was dissolved in 2016 . </P>

When did bp change its name to beyond petroleum