Founded in 1927 by the two Schlumberger brothers who invented wireline logging, Schlumberger Limited (Schlumberger) is an S&P 500 company and one of the world's largest oilfield services companies. Employing over 60,000 people of more than 140 nationalities working in 80 countries, the company reported revenues of USD 14.31 billion in 2005. It is listed on the New York, Euronext Paris, Euronext Amsterdam, London, and on the SWX Swiss stock exchanges.

The Schlumberger Oilfield Services business segment supplies products and services to the oil and gas industry, including open-hole and cased-hole wireline logging; drilling services; well services, such as cementing, coiled tubing, stimulations and sand control; well completion and productivity services including well testing and artificial lift; interpretation and consulting services; and integrated project management including software, information management and IT infrastructure services.

Schlumberger manages its business through 27 GeoMarket regions, which are grouped into four geographic areas: North America, Latin America, Europe, CIS and Africa and Middle East and Asia. In 2004, Schlumberger's activities in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf geomarkets registered an operating income growth of more than 40%, boosted by Saudi Aramco'sSaudi Aramco's increased rig activity and enlarged spending plan; by Petroleum Development Oman'sPetroleum Development Oman's wireline demands; as well as by Qatar's burgeoning gas activities. In 2005, revenues increased 22% in the Middle East and Asia area.

In 2006, the Schlumberger Dhahran Research Center (SDRC) was inaugurated in Saudi Arabia becoming one of Schlumberger's six research facilities worldwide and the first of its kind in the Middle East and Africa region.