Document - Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document - Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Statement [Table] Legal Entity [Axis] Entity [Domain] Parent Company [Member] Statement [Line Items] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Trading Symbol Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Income Statement [Abstract] Revenues Revenues, Total Revenue Includes operating interest income earned as part of a core business activity, equity income representing the undistributed income or loss of investments which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting, and other miscellaneous income or loss earned from core business activities. Interest Income And Other Interest & other income, net Gain on investment in M-I SWACO Gain (Loss) on Investments, Total Expenses Cost of revenue Cost of Goods and Services Sold, Total Research & engineering Research and Development Expense, Total General & administrative General and Administrative Expense, Total Merger & integration Restructuring & other Restructuring Charges, Total Mexico restructuring Interest Interest Expense, Total Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Income before taxes Taxes on income Consolidated taxes on income Net Income Net Income Net Income Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Net Income attributable to Schlumberger Net Income attributable to Schlumberger Net Income Earnings Per Share, Basic Net Income Earnings Per Share, Basic, Total Basic earnings per share of Schlumberger Diluted Net Income Earnings Per Share, Diluted, Total Diluted earnings per share of Schlumberger Average shares outstanding: Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic, Total Basic Assuming dilution Assuming dilution Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Assets Abstract ASSETS Current Assets Cash Short-term investments Short-term Investments, Total Receivables less allowance for doubtful accounts (2010-$156; 2009-$160) Receivables, Net, Current, Total Inventories Inventories Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Total Deferred taxes Other Assets, Current Other current assets Assets, Current Assets, Current, Total Fixed Income Investments, held to maturity Investments in Affiliated Companies Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures, Total Fixed Assets less accumulated depreciation Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Fixed Assets less accumulated depreciation Capitalized costs directly incurred in acquiring and processing of seismic surveys that are licensed on a nonexclusive basis, net of amortization. Multiclient Seismic Data Ending Balance Beginning Balance Goodwill Ending Balance Beginning Balance Net Book Value Intangible Assets Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent, Total Deferred Taxes Other Assets, Noncurrent Other Assets, Noncurrent, Total Other Assets Assets Assets, Total LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current Liabilities Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Current Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Current, Total Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Estimated liability for taxes on income Dividend payable Long-term debt-current portion Long-term Debt, Current Maturities, Total Short-term borrowings Short-term Borrowings, Total Convertible debentures Deferred Tax Liabilities, Current Deferred taxes Liabilities, Current Liabilities, Current, Total Other Long-term Debt, Noncurrent Other Long-term Debt, Noncurrent, Total Long-term Debt Postretirement Benefits Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total Deferred taxes Deferred Taxes Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total Other Liabilities Liabilities Liabilities, Total Equity Common stock Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Treasury stock Treasury stock Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total Schlumberger stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance Schlumberger stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Noncontrolling interests Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Ending Balance Beginning Balance Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity, Total Receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Ending Balance Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Beginning Balance Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total Gain Loss On Investments, Net Of Tax Gain Loss On Investments, Net Of Tax Gain on investment in M-I SWACO Non-cash charges Non-cash charges Earnings of companies carried at equity, less dividends received Earnings of companies carried at equity, less dividends received Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments, Net of Dividends or Distributions, Total Deferred income taxes Deferred income taxes Deferred income taxes Deferred income taxes Stock-based compensation expense Share-based Compensation, Total Pension and other postretirement benefits curtailment charge Pension and other postretirement benefits curtailment charge Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense, Total Pension and other postretirement benefits expense Pension and other postretirement benefits expense Increase (Decrease) in Pension and Postretirement Obligations, Total Pension and other postretirement benefits funding Pension and other postretirement benefits funding Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Contributions, Total Other non-cash items Change in assets and liabilities: (Increase) decrease in receivables (Increase) decrease in receivables Increase (Decrease) in Receivables, Total Decrease (increase) in inventories Increase in inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories, Total The net change in the beginning and end of period Other Current Assets balances. Increase Decrease Other Current Assets Increase in other current assets Decrease (increase) in other current assets Decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Total Increase (decrease) in estimated liability for taxes on income Increase (decrease) in other liabilities Decrease in other liabilities Other-net Other--net NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures Capital expenditures Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total The net cash outflow from capitalized costs directly incurred in acquiring and processing of seismic surveys that are licensed on a nonexclusive basis. Payments For Proceeds From Capitalized Costs Support Equipment And Facilities Multiclient seismic data capitalized Multiclient seismic data capitalized Cash acquired in merger with Smith International, Inc. Acquisition of Geoservices, net of cash acquired Acquisition of Geoservices, net of cash acquired Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired, Total Other business acquisitions and investments, net of cash acquired Other business acquisitions and investments, net of cash acquired Sale (purchase) of investments, net Sale (purchase) of investments, net Payments for (Proceeds from) Investments, Total Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Other NET CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES Cash flows from financing activities: Dividends paid Dividends paid Payments of Dividends, Total Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan Proceeds from exercise of stock options Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Tax benefits on stock options Payments for Repurchase of Equity Stock repurchase program Payments for Repurchase of Equity, Total Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt, Total Repayment of long-term debt Repayment of long-term debt Repayments of Long-term Debt, Total Net decrease in short-term borrowings Proceeds from (Repayments of) Short-term Debt, Total NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES Net (decrease) increase in cash before translation effect Net increase (decrease) in cash before translation effect Translation effect on cash Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents, Total Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash, end of period Cash, beginning of period Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Common Stock Issued Common Stock In Treasury Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Noncontrolling Interests Comprehensive income Currency translation adjustments Other Comprehensive Income, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Total Changes in fair value of derivatives Other Comprehensive Income, Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax, Total Deferred employee benefits liabilities Other Comprehensive Income, Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment, Net of Tax, Total Total comprehensive income Total comprehensive income Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Shares sold to optionees, less shares exchanged Shares granted to Directors Vesting of restricted stock Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award, Net of Forfeitures, Total Stock Issued During Period, Value, Employee Stock Purchase Plan Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan Stock repurchase program Stock repurchase program Stock-based compensation cost Shares issued on conversion of debentures Acquisition of Smith International Inc. Acquisition of noncontrolling interests Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease), Total Stockholders' Equity, Other Other Dividends declared ($0.42 per share) Dividends declared ($0.63 per share) Dividends, Cash, Total Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Tax Effect from Share-based Compensation Tax benefits on stock options Number of shares of stock held by shareholders. Shares, Outstanding Ending Balance, in shares Beginning Balance, in shares Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Acquisitions Acquisition of Smith International Inc. Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Stock Options Exercised Shares sold to optionees, less shares exchanged, in shares Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Employee Stock Purchase Plans Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan, in shares Stock repurchase plan, in shares Shares issued on conversion of debentures, in shares Stockholders Equity Shares Other Stockholders Equity Shares Other Other Dividends declared, per share Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Basis of Presentation Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Charges and Credits Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Earnings Per Share Net assets purchased during the period, excluding net assets acquired in business combinations. Asset Purchase Disclosure Text Block Acquisitions Inventory Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Fixed Assets Disclosure of the carrying amount of multiclient seismic data based on completed and in-process seismic surveys. Multiclient Seismic Data [Text Block] Multiclient Seismic Data This block of text may be used to disclose all or part of the information related to goodwill. Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block] Goodwill Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Intangible Assets Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Long-term Debt Income Tax Describes any existing condition, situation, or set of circumstances involving uncertainty as of the balance sheet date (or prior to issuance of the financial statements) as to a probable or reasonably possible gain or loss incurred by an entity and typically discloses the amount of range of possible gain or loss recorded. Contingencies Disclosure Text Block Contingencies Segment Information Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Summary Of Charges And Credits Summary Of Charges And Credits Schedule Of Merger Related Charges [Text Block] Schedule Of Merger Related Charges [Text Block] Schedule of merger-related charges Schedule Of Charges Related To Workforce Reductions [Text Block] Schedule Of Charges Related To Workforce Reductions [Text Block] Schedule of charges related to workforce reductions Reconciliation of Earnings Per Share Reconciliation Of Earnings Per Share Text Block Reconciliation of Earnings Per Share Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share Schedule of Fair Value of the Consideration Transferred to Effect the Merger With Smith [Text Block] Schedule of Fair Value of the Consideration Transferred to Effect the Merger With Smith [Text Block] Fair Value of the Consideration Transferred to Effect the Merger With Smith Business Combination, Preliminary Allocation of the Purchase Price Disclosure [Text Block] Business Combination Preliminary Allocation Of Purchase Price Disclosure Text Block Business Combination, Preliminary Allocation of the Purchase Price Disclosure Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Text Block] Preliminary Estimates of the Fair Value of Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Text Block] Consolidated Supplementary Pro Forma Statement of Operation Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class [Text Block] Charges and Credits Included in the Pro Forma Net Income Attributable to Schlumberger and Diluted Earnings Per Share Inventory Disclosure Table Inventory Disclosure Table Text Block Inventory Disclosure Table Property, Plant and Equipment Schedule of Depreciation Expense Schedule Of Depreciation Expense Text Block Schedule of Depreciation Expense Disclosure of the carrying amount of multiclient seismic data based on completed and in-process seismic surveys. Multiclient Seismic Data Table Text Block Multiclient Seismic Data Table Schedule of Goodwill Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class Schedule Of Intangible Assets By Major Class [Text Block] Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class Schedule of Amortization Expense Schedule Of Amortization Expense Text Block Schedule of Amortization Expense Schedule of Derivative Instruments in Statement of Financial Position, Fair Value Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Effect on Income and Other Comprehensive Income Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Effect on Income and Other Comprehensive Income Long-term Debt [Text Block] Long-term Debt Income Tax Disclosure Table. Income Tax Disclosure Table Text Block Income Tax Disclosure Table