Schlumberger Limited reported third-quarter 2006 operating revenue of $4.95 billion versus $4.69 billion in the second quarter of 2006 and $3.70 billion in the third quarter of 2005. Income from continuing operations, before charges and credits, reached $1.00 billion—an increase of 11% sequentially and 91% year-on-year. Earnings-per-share diluted, before charges and credits, were $0.81 versus $0.73 in the previous quarter and $0.43 in the third quarter of 2005.
Income from continuing operations, including charges and credits, was $1.00 billion or $0.81 per-share diluted versus $0.69 in the previous quarter and $0.44 in the third quarter of 2005.
Oilfield Services revenue of $4.30 billion increased 4% sequentially and 32% year-on-year. Pretax business segment operating income of $1.21 billion increased 8% sequentially and 68% year-on-year.
WesternGeco revenue of $659 million increased 17% sequentially and 51% year-on-year. Pretax business segment operating income of $242 million increased 35% sequentially and 183% year-on-year.
Schlumberger Chairman and CEO Andrew Gould commented, “Continuing strength in seismic activity and increased demand for drilling services and well placement technologies were the highlights of the robust performance in the third quarter. The outstanding results at WesternGeco, where revenues grew 17% sequentially, were due to significant strength in multiclient data sales and high marine utilization. With more than 85% of WesternGeco acquisition activity now focused on exploration and appraisal operations, the industry’s effort to replace and increase reserves is now clearly underway.
Growth in the quarter was broad based, with significant strength in Canada following the spring breakup, and on land in the US where pricing remained strong and pressure-pumping backlogs were unchanged. These improvements were supported by growth in the Caspian, the North Sea and the Arabian GeoMarkets. Burgeoning exploration activity in Vietnam and Eastern Russia added further impetus to these results.
Drilling & Measurements PowerDrive and Scope technologies saw further growth backed by strong technical and operational performance. The range of both product lines is unmatched in the industry and their combination enables increasingly complex well profiles to be drilled. As a result these services continue to expand their range and reach as the industry seeks to improve performance and mitigate risk. Other Schlumberger Technologies that benefited from the quarter’s overall activity pattern included Well Services, Completion Systems and Data & Consulting Services.
High levels of natural gas storage in North America with consequent volatility in the price of natural gas have recently begun to impact activity, particularly in areas of higher-cost coal bed methane and shallow gas production in Canada. This has not yet materially impacted our activity, however if the coming winter fails to stimulate strong natural gas demand there is a growing likelihood of excess equipment capacity in the pressure pumping business at some point in 2007. Activity growth elsewhere for both oil and gas will remain strong as our customers continue to fight decline curves and bring in new fields.”