Offshore staff

HOUSTON – The main effect of the Minerals Management Service moratorium on some Gulf of Mexico operations is uncertainty, says Andrew Gould, Schlumberger chairman and CEO.

“The initial impact of the moratorium is subject to considerable uncertainty as our customers react to a sudden change in their operating plans and, consequently, we are assessing how to optimally redeploy skilled staff and available equipment to maintain operational flexibility,” he says.

He adds that the ongoing review of its North American operations will be accelerated.

Looking further ahead and further abroad, Gould says, “…we can assume that other worldwide operations will see some more limited effects. Operators and regulatory bodies around the world will proceed with greater caution until the causes of the Deepwater Horizon tragedy are better understood and we have already seen instances of this.”

06/11/2010