History

1912

Conrad Schlumberger conceived the revolutionary idea of using electrical measurements to map subsurface rock bodies

1919

Marcel Schlumberger began working with his brother Conrad

1920

Opened first office at 30, rue Fabert in Paris

1923

Began conducting geophysical surveys in Romania, Serbia, Canada, Union of South Africa, Belgian Congo, and USA

Mapped the first oil-productive salt dome by electric prospecting in Romania

1926

Formed Societe de Prospection Electrique, the precursor of Schlumberger

1927

Recorded the first electrical resistivity well log in Pechelbronn, France

1929

Expanded subsurface surveying into Venezuela, India, and the Soviet Union

Logged first well in the USA (Kern County, California)

1930

Introduced continuous-recording hand recorder, enabling plotting of continuous log of information

1931

Introduced Spontaneous Potential (SP) log

1934

Founded Schlumberger Well Surveying Corporation (now Schlumberger Well Services)

1935

Developed the single-galvanometer automatic recorder for logging in the field

1936

Introduced the Sample Taker tool

1940

Moved company headquarters to Houston

1941

Introduced the SP Dipmeter tool for finding the angle of formation dip in the borehole

1947

Recorded first induction log to help distinguish oil- from water-bearing rock layers when the borehole contains fluid that does not conduct electricity

Introduced the Resistivity Dipmeter tool

Began producing nine-galvanometer R9 recorder for simultaneously displaying multiple logging curves

Deployed first offshore rig

1948

Inaugurated Schlumberger-Doll Research in Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA

1949

Introduced Microlog tool for measuring mudcake thickness and resistivity near the borehole

1950

Introduced Laterolog system for focusing currents into thin rock layers beyond the borehole

1951

Introduced Microlaterolog tool for measuring resistivity near the borehole

Began experiments with microneutron device to measure formation porosity by sensing the amount of hydrogen present

Undertook research on density logging

Started work on attenuation of gamma rays, leading to a technique for quantifying formation porosity

1952

Gathered first computer-ready data in the field

Introduced Continuous Resistivity Dipmeter tool

Bought 50% of Forex drilling rig company

1954

Introduced Microlog-caliper for recording borehole diameter

1955

Began work on "slowing down time" technique to measure formation hydrogen concentration by detecting energy reduction of source neutrons

1956

Formed Schlumberger Limited in Curaçao as holding company for all Schlumberger businesses

Acquired Johnston Testers (USA testing and production company)

Completed first induction-electrical log

Patented method for determining hydraulic characteristics of formation traversed by a borehole

1957

Completed first density log, enabling realization of bulk density measurement using gamma ray attenuation

1960

Formed Dowell Schlumberger (50% Schlumberger, 50% Dow Chemical), specializing in pumping services for the oil industry

Began work on the Sidewall Neutron Porosity tool with high-pressure helium-3 detectors using epithermal neutrons to measure formation porosity

Created prototype of TDT Thermal Decay Time tool for measuring formation saturation through casing using neutron population decay

1961

Acquired Solatron (UK) electrical instrumentation company

Completed first digitized dipmeter logs by computer—the first successful computer processing of logs from tape

Founded Société d'Instrumentation Schlumberger to coordinate expansion into electronics and measurement systems

1962

Acquired Vector Cable cable operations and Daystrom measurement instruments

Introduced Formation Density tool

Listed Schlumberger Limited on the New York Stock Exchange

Commercialized the compensated density log, followed by the pad-type neutron log acquired by the Sidewall Neutron Porosity tool

1964

Created Neptune drilling company (50% Forex, 50% Languedocienne)

1965

Processed digitized log tape in a truck

Founded engineering center in Clamart, France

Began development of CNL Compensated Neutron Log tool, a two-detector neutron tool for through-casing porosity measurement

1966

Developed small minitron and constructed 1 11/16-in TDT tool for through-tubing production logging

Achieved first Schlumberger-Doll Research patent in sonic logging

1968

Introduced TTR tape recorder to replace R9U galvanometer recorder

1969

Incorporated experimental lithology into Litho-Density tool for direct measurement of formation lithology

1970

Introduced SARABAND service, the first computerized reservoir analysis

1971

Acquired Flopetrol (testing production of oil wells) and remaining 50% of Forex; created Forex Neptune Drilling Company

Introduced first logging system that combined gamma ray, SP, induction, Spherically Focused Resistivity, sonic, and caliper logs

1972

Introduced DLL Dual Laterolog tool for simultaneous measurement of shallow region invaded by borehole fluids and the deep undamaged formation

1977

Introduced CSU Cyber Service Unit for wellsite instrumentation

Acquired The Analysts (directional drilling and mud logging services)

Commercialized the EPT Electromagnetic Propagation Tool, which uses travel time and attenuation of microwave-frequency electromagnetic waves to determine the amount of water in rock pores

Developed the CNTG four-detector neutron porosity tool

1978

Developed the SDT tool, the first-generation digital sonic tool for uphole processing of compressional and shear sound speeds in formations

1979

Made first observation of propagating slow wave with applications such as eliminating unwanted signals

1980

Completed first measurement-while-drilling (MWD) job in the Gulf of Mexico

Began researching extremely high values (higher than 106) of low-frequency dielectric constants in rocks

1981

Acquired Applicon and Balteau

Implemented first international data links with e-mail

1982

Developed Crystal graphical log interpretation workstation, which ultimately became the basis for GeoFrame software

1983

Implemented first commercial user of ARPANet (Palo Alto lab) for multiple international links and the first internal secure gateway between divisions

Opened Cambridge Research Center in England

1984

Acquired SEDCO drilling rig company and 50% of Dowell of North America

Founded Anadrill by combining the drilling segment of Dowell and The Analysts

Developed ultrasonic CET Cement Evaluation Tool for adding azimuthal information to cement bond analysis

Began nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) petrophysics research

1985

Formed Sedco Forex Drilling Company

Introduced Formation MicroScanner tool

Acquired Merlin and 50% of GECO

Deployed Schlumberger Information Network ( SINet), the world's second largest internal corporate network and the first commercial ARPANet-based intranet

Introduced first VSAT terminal

Field tested borehole linear accelerator (LINAC) as a density tool

1986

Merged Flopetrol with Wireline group to create Schlumberger Wireline & Testing

Introduced Phasor induction tool to improve detection of thin beds

Prototyped CMR Combinable Magnetic Resonance tool

1987

Acquired Neptune (North America), Bosco and Cori (Italy), and Allmess (Germany)

Registered slb.com as an Internet domain name

1988

Acquired remaining 50% of GECO

Introduced first logging-while-drilling (LWD) tool

1989

Introduced MAXIS 500 logging unit

1991

Acquired PRAKLA-SEISMOS

Used geosteering for the first time to plan the drilling path in horizontal wells

Introduced the MDT Modular Formation Dynamics Tester and the FMI Formation MicroImager tool

1992

Acquired GeoQuest Systems, Inc.

Converted SINet to TCP/IP and www capability

1993

Created GeoQuest product line by merging Schlumberger Data Services, Finder Graphics, and GeoQuest Systems, Inc.

Launched IDEAL concept (Integrated Drilling Evaluation and Logging System) and ran first compressional sonic logs while drilling

1994

Introduced Oil Partnering Network in the North Sea sector

1995

Introduced Platform Express technology, SIMPLER advanced land rig concept, ARC5 LWD tools, and MAXIS Express logging unit

Acquired Intera Technologies Corp. petroleum division, AEG meter, and ECLIPSE reservoir study team and reservoir technologies

Launched Integrated Project Management (IPM) as an independent service and engineering group

Created Omnes joint venture between Schlumberger and Cable & Wireless plc.

Commercialized CMR Combinable Magnetic Resonance tool

1996

Conceived real-time reservoir management for improving hydrocarbons recovery and providing high-end IT solutions to industry

Acquired Oilphase

Completed first commercial sonic imaging job

1997

Introduced ClearFRAC nonpolymer, damage-free fracturing fluid

1998

Acquired Camco International, Inc.

Introduced PS PLATFORM fifth-generation production logging tool and HRLA High Resolution Laterolog Array

1999

Entered joint venture with Smith International, creating the world's largest drilling fluids company, M-I L.L.C (60% Smith International, 40% Schlumberger)

Deployed Houston remote connectivity teleport

2000

Combined Geco-Prakla with Western Geophysical to create WesternGeco (70% Schlumberger, 30% Baker Hughes)

Launched IndigoPool.com

Began conducting Q-Marine surveys

2001

Acquired Sema plc. (IT consultancy), Phoenix, and Sensa (fiber optic distributed monitoring)

Deployed Macae remote connectivity teleport

Formed Schlumberger Information Solutions (SIS) to support real-time reservoir management and E&P business optimization processes

2002

Deployed Singapore remote connectivity teleport

Introduced proVISION real-time reservoir steering tool for LWD; OrientXact perforating system; SlimXtreme slimhole high-pressure, high-temperature wireline logging platform; and FlexSTONE flexible cementing system

Acquired A. Comeau and Associates Limited to enhance capabilities in artificially lifted wells

2003

Began conducting Q-Land surveys

Launched PowerDrive Xceed fully rotational steerable system; MaxTRAC production services tractor; seismicVISION LWD system; LiteCRETE lightweight, high-performance cementing system; PVT Express pressure-volume-temperature mobile laboratory; and DecisionXpress petrophysical evaluation system

Deployed Aberdeen satellite manufacturing facility and second teleport

Acquired VoxelVision (high-end PC-based visualization and seismic technology)

Acquired stake in PetroAlliance Services Company Limited, a premier Russian oilfield services company

2004

Completed divestiture of SchlumbergerSema to Atos Origin

Launched the PowerDrive X5 rotary steerable system with integrated measurements, sonicVISION sonic-while-drilling tool, and PowerDrive vorteX rotary steerable system

Acquired Decision Team (oil and gas software and consulting services firm) and AOA Geomarine Operations (AGO), a pioneer in CSEM (controlled-source electromagnetic) and MMT (marine magnetotelluric) technologies

Opened Russia Technology Hub within campus of Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas; opened second phase of expansion of the Schlumberger Reservoir Completions Center

Established industry's first long-term reservoir monitoring program, between Statoil and WesternGeco

Awarded world's largest-ever 4D seismic project, shooting over the Marlin field offshore Brazil for Petrobras

2005

Launched Scope family of while-drilling technology services: StethoScope formation pressure, TeleScope high-speed telemetry, PeriScope deep directional resistivity, and EcoScope multifunction formation evaluation; each represents a step-change in LWD and MWD technology

Introduced FiberFRAC technology to improve production rates in tight-gas reservoirs through better proppant distribution and fracture geometry

Commissioned the 27th Operation Support Center (worldwide facilities that enable real-time monitoring, modeling, and remote control of operations)

Commercialized Scanner downhole rock and fluid characterization services: Rt Scanner multiarray triaxial induction, Sonic Scanner acoustic, and MR Scanner new-generation NMR tools

2006

Acquired the 30% minority interest in WesternGeco held by Baker Hughes

Introduced the Quicksilver Probe wireline sampling technology, a method to deliver formation fluid samples quickly with little to no contamination

Acquired Odegaard A/S (Danish firm specializing in advanced surface seismic data inversion software); integrated acquisition into WesternGeco

Relocated Schlumberger Limited US corporate headquarters from New York to Houston

Acquired Reslink (Norwegian-based supplier of advanced completion solutions)

2007

Completed acquisitions of Geosystem (land and marine electromagnetics and seismic imaging) and Tyumenpromgeofizika (geophysical and wireline logging); integrated Geosystem into WesternGeco Electromagnetics

Launched Contact family of multistage fracturing and completion services, which have integrated stimulation technologies