Schlumberger 2010 Annual Report - page 28

are in excess of policy limits or are subject to substantial deductibles, could adversely affect our financial condition,
results of operations and cash flows.
If we are unable to maintain technology leadership, this could adversely affect any competitive advantage we
hold.
If we are unable to develop and produce competitive technology or deliver it to our clients in the form of service
offerings in a timely and cost-competitive manner in the various markets we serve, it could adversely affect our financial
condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Limitations on our ability to protect our intellectual property rights, including our trade secrets, could cause
a loss in revenue and any competitive advantage we hold.
Some of our products or services, and the processes we use to produce or provide them, have been granted patent
protection, have patent applications pending or are trade secrets. Our business may be adversely affected if our patents
are unenforceable, the claims allowed under our patents are not sufficient to protect our technology, our patent
applications are denied, or our trade secrets are not adequately protected. Our competitors may be able to develop
technology independently that is similar to ours without infringing on our patents or gaining access to our trade secrets.
We may be subject to litigation if another party claims that we have infringed upon its intellectual property
rights.
The tools, techniques, methodologies, programs and components we use to provide our services may infringe upon the
intellectual property rights of others. Infringement claims generally result in significant legal and other costs and may
distract management from running our core business. Royalty payments under licenses from third parties, if available,
would increase our costs. If a license were not available we might not be able to continue providing a particular service
or product, which could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Additionally,
developing non-infringing technologies would increase our costs.
Failure to obtain and retain skilled technical personnel could impede our operations.
We require highly skilled personnel to operate and provide technical services and support for our business.
Competition for the personnel required for our businesses intensifies as activity increases. In periods of high utilization
it may become more difficult to find and retain qualified individuals. This could increase our costs or have other adverse
effects on our operations.
Severe weather conditions may affect our operations.
Our business may be materially affected by severe weather conditions in areas where we operate. This may entail the
evacuation of personnel and stoppage of services. In addition, if particularly severe weather affects platforms or
structures, this may result in a suspension of activities until the platforms or structures have been repaired. Any of these
events could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Demand for our products and services could be reduced or eliminated by governmental regulation or a change
in the law.
International, national, and state governments and agencies are currently evaluating and promulgating climate-
related legislation and regulations that are focused on restricting greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. In the United
States, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is taking steps to require monitoring and reporting of GHG
emissions and to regulate GHGs as pollutants under the Clean Air Act (“CAA”). The EPA’s “Mandatory Reporting of
Greenhouse Gases” rule established a comprehensive scheme of regulations that require monitoring and reporting of
GHG emissions that began in 2010. Furthermore, the EPA recently proposed additional GHG reporting rules specifically
for the oil and gas industry. The EPA has also published a final rule, the “Endangerment Finding,” finding that GHGs in
the atmosphere endanger public health and welfare, and that emissions of GHGs from mobile sources cause or
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Part I, Item 1A
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