Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Estimated liability for taxes on income Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Tax Effect from Share-based Compensation Tax benefits on stock options Receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts Amendment Flag Net assets purchased during the period, excluding net assets acquired in business combinations. Acquisitions Assets Assets, Total ASSETS Assets, Current Assets, Current, Total Current Assets Recently Announced Transactions Cash Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash, end of period Cash, beginning of period Net increase (decrease) in cash before translation effect Net increase (decrease) in cash before translation effect Dividends declared, per share Common Stock Issued Common stock Total comprehensive income Comprehensive income 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 Convertible debentures Cost of revenue Expenses Current Fiscal Year End Date Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Long-term Debt Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Deferred taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent Deferred Taxes Depreciation and amortization Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Dividends declared ($0.21 per share) Dividends declared ($0.21 per share) Dividend payable Document - Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document - Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Period End Date Document Type Earnings Per Share, Basic Net Income Basic earnings per share of Schlumberger: Earnings Per Share, Diluted Net Income Diluted earnings per share of Schlumberger: Earnings Per Share Translation effect on cash Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity [Domain] Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Equity Component [Domain] Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Tax benefits on stock options General & administrative Goodwill This block of text may be used to disclose all or part of the information related to goodwill. Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block] Goodwill Fixed Income Investments, held to maturity Income before taxes Income before taxes Earnings of companies carried at equity, less dividends received Earnings of companies carried at equity, less dividends received Income Statement [Abstract] Income Tax Taxes on income Decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities Decrease in estimated liability for taxes on income Decrease (increase) in inventories Decrease (increase) in inventories Change in assets and liabilities: Other-net Other-net (Decrease) increase in other liabilities Pension and other postretirement benefits expense Decrease (increase) in receivables Decrease (increase) in receivables The net change in the beginning and end of period Other Current Assets balances. Decrease (increase) in other current assets Decrease (increase) in other current assets Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Intangible Assets Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Intangible Assets Interest 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 & other income, net Inventory Inventories Investments in Affiliated Companies Legal Entity [Axis] Liabilities Liabilities, Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity, Total LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Liabilities, Current Liabilities, Current, Total Current Liabilities Long-term debt-current portion Merger & integration Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interests Capitalized costs directly incurred in acquiring and processing of seismic surveys that are licensed on a nonexclusive basis, net of amortization. Multiclient Seismic Data 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 NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES Cash flows from financing activities: NET CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES NET CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES Cash flows from investing activities: NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES Cash flows from operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: Net Income attributable to Schlumberger Net Income attributable to Schlumberger Net Income Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Schlumberger amounts attributable to: Noncontrolling Interests Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Basis of Presentation Other current assets Other Assets Deferred employee benefits liabilities Changes in fair value of derivatives Currency translation adjustments Other Liabilities Other Long-term Debt, Noncurrent Long-term Debt Other non-cash items Parent Company [Member] The net cash outflow from capitalized costs directly incurred in acquiring and processing of seismic surveys that are licensed on a nonexclusive basis. Multiclient seismic data capitalized Sale (purchase) of investments, net Sale (purchase) of investments, net Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Other Payments for Repurchase of Equity Stock repurchase program Dividends paid Dividends paid Business acquisitions and investments, net of cash acquired Business acquisitions and investments, net of cash acquired Capital expenditures Capital expenditures Pension and other postretirement benefits funding Pension and other postretirement benefits funding Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Postretirement Benefits Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt Net (decrease) increase in short-term borrowings Proceeds from exercise of stock options Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan Net Income Net Income Net Income Fixed Assets Fixed Assets less accumulated depreciation Receivables less allowance for doubtful accounts (2010-$144; 2009-$160) Repayment of long-term debt Repayment of long-term debt Research & engineering Charges Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained earnings Retained Earnings Revenue Segment Information Stock-based compensation expense Number of shares of stock held by shareholders. Shares, Outstanding Ending Balance (in shares) Beginning Balance (in shares) Short-term borrowings Short-term investments Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Statement [Line Items] Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Statement [Table] Schlumberger stockholders' equity Schlumberger stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Ending Balance Beginning Balance Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Equity Other Other Shares issued on conversion of debebtures (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Employee Stock Purchase Plans Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Stock Options Exercised Shares sold to optionees, less shares exchanged (in shares) Shares issued on conversion of debentures Stock Issued During Period, Value, Employee Stock Purchase Plan Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan Vesting of restricted stock Stock-based compensation cost Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Shares sold to optionees, less shares exchanged Trading Symbol Common Stock In Treasury Stock repurchase plan (in shares) Treasury stock Treasury stock Stock repurchase program Stock repurchase program Assuming dilution Average shares outstanding: Basic