That helped offset a big slump in earnings from BP's oil exploration operations which reported RCP of $372m compared with $4.7bn a year earlier.
"Upstream result was significantly affected by lower oil and gas prices as well as weaker gas marketing and trading and $375m costs associated with the cancellation of contracts for two deepwater rigs in the Gulf of Mexico," BP said.
"The result reflects the stronger overall refining environment, increased refining optimisation and production and improved marketing performance. There was also a stronger contribution from supply and trading than a year earlier. Simplification and efficiency programmes also contributed to lower costs in the downstream," BP said.
Brent crude oil prices averaged $55 a barrel in the first quarter of 2015, almost half the price a they averaged a year ago.
BP is the first of the major oil firms to report first quarter earrings.
Shell and Exxon Mobil report earnings on Thursday