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Item 8 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
23. Contingencies
The Consolidated Balance Sheet includes accruals for the estimated future costs associated with certain environmental remediation activities related to the past use or disposal of hazardous materials. Substantially all such costs relate to divested operations and to facilities or locations that are no longer in operation. Due to a number of uncertainties, including uncertainty of timing, the scope of remediation, future technology, regulatory changes, the risk of personal injury, natural resource or property damage claims and other factors, it is possible that the ultimate remediation costs may exceed the amounts estimated. However, in the opinion of management, such additional costs are not expected to be material relative to consolidated liquidity, financial position or future results of operations.
In addition, Schlumberger and its subsidiaries are party to various other legal proceedings. Although the ultimate disposition of these proceedings is not presently determinable, in the opinion of Schlumberger any liability that might ensue would not be material in relation to the consolidated liquidity, financial position or future results of operations.
Schlumberger's financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and receivables from clients. Schlumberger places its cash and cash equivalents with financial institutions and corporations, and limits the amount of credit exposure with any one of them. Schlumberger actively evaluates the creditworthiness of the issuers in which it invests. The receivables from clients are concentrated within a few significant industries and geographies.
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