Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB) provides oil & gas drilling & exploration companies technologically advanced equipment and management services that aid in the extraction and production of crude oil and natural gas. Schlumberger provides its services to oil and gas companies operating across the world. Although Schlumberger is headquartered in Houston, more than half of the company's sales in 2009 came from Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Its abroad operations, especially those located in Latin America, are among the fastest growing segments in terms of sales, but Schlumberger's worldwide presence exposes the company's revenue and profitability to regional uncertainty, instability, and currency volatility. Nearly all of Schlumberger's revenue comes from providing services and equipment to oil and gas rigs, and the worldwide levels of oil and gas production heavily effect Schlumberger's revenues as a result.^[1] In 2009, lower rig activity in North America and several other GeoMarkets led to lower service pricing and less demand for Schlumberger's products.^[2]

(Read more at Wikinvest )