Top 10 Best Oil and Gas Companies in Woking

Woking and the Surrey Energy Corridor

When people think of the UK oil and gas industry, they tend to picture Aberdeen, the North Sea or refineries on the Thames Estuary. Yet north-west Surrey has quietly become one of the country's most important hubs for energy company offices, engineering teams and technical centres. Woking sits within easy reach of several major corporate campuses, and its combination of skilled engineers, excellent motorway access and quick rail links to London has long made it attractive to energy businesses.

Surrey even has its own onshore oil history, with small producing fields in the Weald. For Woking professionals, oil and gas companies represent a significant source of high-quality employment in engineering, geoscience, trading, project management and corporate functions. For local businesses, they are important clients for consulting, IT, logistics and facilities services.

How We Built This List

We considered each company's scale, presence in Surrey and the South East, relevance to Woking's workforce and supply chain, technical capability and commitment to decarbonisation. The list includes international majors, engineering service providers, domestic producers and fuel suppliers.

The Top 10 Oil and Gas Companies

1. BP

BP's major campus at Sunbury-on-Thames is only a short drive from Woking and is one of the company's most important technical and corporate centres worldwide. Thousands of engineers, scientists and specialists work there on upstream projects, digital technology, low-carbon energy and trading. BP remains one of the largest employers of energy professionals in the region.

2. ExxonMobil and Esso

ExxonMobil's UK headquarters has long been based in Leatherhead, Surrey. Through its Esso brand, the company supplies fuels across the UK, including service stations throughout the Woking area. Its Surrey presence supports roles in finance, supply, marketing and technical services.

3. Shell

Shell is one of the world's largest integrated energy companies and headquartered in London. Its UK operations span North Sea production, gas trading, retail fuel and a growing portfolio of electric vehicle charging and low-carbon solutions. Woking drivers encounter the brand at forecourts across Surrey.

4. Petrofac

Petrofac is an international energy services company that designs, builds and operates facilities for the oil, gas and renewable sectors. It has long been associated with engineering activity in Woking, reflecting the town's deep pool of project and process engineering talent.

5. Harbour Energy

Harbour Energy is the largest independent oil and gas producer on the UK Continental Shelf and has expanded internationally. It plays a key role in maintaining domestic energy supply and is involved in carbon capture and storage initiatives intended to support decarbonisation.

6. Centrica

Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, is a major player in gas trading, storage and supply. Its energy marketing and trading operations help secure gas for millions of UK homes, including many in Woking, while its growing investments in hydrogen and flexible power reflect the changing energy landscape.

7. TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies operates North Sea assets, supplies gas and power to businesses and runs fuel and lubricant operations in the UK. The company has invested significantly in renewables and electric vehicle charging, positioning itself as a broad energy provider.

8. Wood

Wood is a global consulting and engineering company serving energy and industrial markets. Its specialists design and optimise oil and gas facilities while increasingly supporting hydrogen, carbon capture and renewable projects. The firm has maintained a strong presence in the South East engineering community.

9. UK Oil and Gas

UK Oil and Gas is an independent company known for its onshore interests in southern England, including the Horse Hill site in Surrey. Its activities have made it one of the most discussed energy companies in the county, reflecting the ongoing debate about onshore production.

10. Calor Gas

Calor is Britain's leading supplier of liquefied petroleum gas, serving homes, businesses and leisure users that are off the mains gas grid. In semi-rural areas around Woking, Calor supplies cylinders and bulk tanks for heating, cooking and outdoor use, and it is increasingly offering lower-carbon bio-LPG.

Why the Sector Matters Locally

Oil and gas companies generate highly skilled jobs and support a wide supply chain. Woking's engineering consultancies, recruitment firms, IT providers and hospitality businesses all benefit from their proximity to major energy employers. The sector also shapes local infrastructure, from fuel distribution networks to the specialist training programmes offered by colleges and universities in Surrey.

The Energy Transition

The industry is undergoing profound change. Most major companies have set targets to reduce emissions and are investing in renewables, electric vehicle charging, hydrogen and carbon capture. At the same time, the UK continues to rely on gas for heating and power generation, so domestic production and imports remain important for energy security. This dual challenge means companies are increasingly seeking engineers and analysts who can work across both traditional and low-carbon energy.

For Woking professionals, the transition offers new opportunities. Skills in project management, process engineering, data science and environmental compliance are highly transferable between oil and gas and emerging clean energy sectors.

Key Trends to Watch

Digitalisation is transforming operations through remote monitoring, predictive maintenance and advanced subsurface modelling. Carbon capture and storage projects are progressing in UK industrial clusters. Electric vehicle charging networks are expanding rapidly on company forecourts. Meanwhile, tightening regulation and investor pressure continue to push the sector toward greater transparency on emissions and climate strategy.

Conclusion

Woking's position within the Surrey energy corridor gives it an unusually close relationship with the oil and gas industry. From global majors with nearby campuses to specialist engineering firms and fuel suppliers, the companies above influence local jobs, businesses and everyday life. As the sector evolves toward lower-carbon solutions, the borough's skilled workforce is well placed to play a central role in shaping the future of energy.