Schlumberger has confirmed the acquisition of Geoservices – a privately owned French oilfield services company specialised in mud logging, slickline and production surveillance operations. The total value of the transaction, including net debt, is $1,070 million.
Geoservices, founded in 1958, employs approximately 5000 people active in more than 50 countries worldwide. The company is the leading mud-logging company, and has invested heavily in the development of new technology for exploration and appraisal well activities, particularly in the emerging deepwater market.
“The addition of mud logging technology to the Schlumberger portfolio is an important step in the development of higher-performance drilling systems,” said Andrew Gould, chairman and CEO, Schlumberger.
“The combination of Schlumberger real-time downhole formation sampling measurements with Geoservices’ drilling mud analysis will help customers better identify and react to drilling hazards, while the combination of mud logging with Schlumberger formation evaluation measurements will bring more complete understanding of rock lithology and fluid content.”
Mud logging extracts information from the drilling mud and drilling process while drilling and provides data for both formation evaluation and drilling efficiency. In formation evaluation, mud logging complements wireline logging and logging-while-drilling measurements. In drilling efficiency, mud logging information provides insight into the dynamic state of the well and allows drilling mud weight properties to be optimised.
“I believe this to be a wonderful opportunity for Geoservices and for all of our employees”, commented Gaston Rebilly, founder of Geoservices. “Both our companies value people and technology as the means to bring greater value to our customers. The complementary nature of our services offers the opportunity to accelerate growth in both technology development and operational deployment.”
In addition to Geoservices’ mud-logging technology and expertise, Geoservices’ footprint, expertise and technologies in well intervention and field surveillance also complement existing Schlumberger activities.
“We are very pleased to be joining Schlumberger,” remarked Bruno Burban, Chairman of the Board of Geoservices, “In addition to our mud logging activities, Geoservices brings considerable expertise in slickline services and in production surveillance operations”. Philippe Salle, Geoservices CEO added, “The success of the strategic alliance we have enjoyed with Schlumberger has shown us the strength of the cultural fit between us that we believe will foster increasing innovation and create further opportunities.”
Joel Lacourte, managing partner of Astorg Partners, majority owner of Geoservices, concluded: “We have had a wonderful adventure with Geoservices management over the last five years. The company has gone through a dramatic transformation, considerably strengthening its strategic positioning and the depth of its management team. The sale of Geoservices to Schlumberger is for us an outstanding recognition of the value that has been created over these years.”
