How to Evaluate Schlumberger as a Service Provider: A Procurement Checklist

Office administrator for a mid-size E&P company, managing roughly $500K annually across 8 vendors. I report to both operations and finance. When I took over procurement in 2020, I had to figure out how to evaluate a giant like Schlumberger without getting lost.

A vendor failure in March 2023 changed how I think about service provider selection. One critical deadline missed on a wireline job, and suddenly all the glossy brochures didn't matter. That's when I built this checklist — it's what I use now whenever we're considering Schlumberger (or any major oilfield services company).

Who This Checklist Is For

This is for procurement administrators and mid-level managers who need to compare Schlumberger against other service providers. Not for engineers evaluating downhole tools — that's a different conversation. This checklist answers: "Can I trust this vendor to deliver what they promise, when they promise, for the price they quoted?"

There are 5 steps. Each step has a specific action and a check-point to verify.

Step 1: Scrutinize the Schlumberger Company Website — But Know Its Limits

The schlumberger company website (slb.com) is polished — case studies, tech papers, global footprint. Great for first impressions. But here's what I learned: the website shows what Schlumberger can do, not necessarily what they consistently do for a client of our size.

Action: Go beyond the homepage. Look for

• Regional contact info for your area (not just corporate HQ)
• Local case studies with real project sizes — not just mega-projects
• Support documentation: invoicing processes, PO requirements, compliance certs

Check-point: Did you find a clear path from the website to a local service coordinator? If not, that's a red flag for procurement friction.

I also check if their website lists clear pricing models or at least defines what's included. (Should mention: most large service providers don't publish pricing online. But they should respond to a transparent RFQ with itemized costs.)

Step 2: Prepare Schlumberger Field Engineer Interview Questions — Yes, You Interview Them

We don't hire engineers; we contract services. But the field engineers are the ones who execute the job. So I ask our operations team to sit in on a brief call with the lead engineer assigned to our project. schlumberger field engineer interview questions aren't just for recruitment — they're for vendor due diligence.

Questions I ask (and why):

1. "What's your personal experience with [our type of well]?" Put another way: do they actually do this work themselves, or are they managing a crew?
2. "When was the last time a job didn't go as planned? What happened?" Transparency here predicts how they'll handle future issues.
3. "Can you walk me through the reporting process after a job — what data, what format, when?" Because if reporting is messy, I'll hear about it from finance.

The surprise wasn't the technical answers. It was how often a polished engineer couldn't explain the back-office process. That's where procurement headaches start.

Step 3: Compare Alternatives — Even From Different Industries (Like Ford)

We benchmark Schlumberger against not just direct competitors (Baker Hughes, Halliburton) but also against service models from other industries. Take Ford — they famously standardized their supply chain to reduce variability. The lesson: ask Schlumberger what standard processes they use for your region. Do they have a consistent dispatch and reporting protocol? Or is it ad-hoc per engineer?

Action: Request a process document — not just a technical proposal. A vendor that can articulate how they'll deliver (ordering, scheduling, invoicing) is usually more reliable than one that only talks about technology.

(I have mixed feelings about over-standardization. On one hand, it reduces surprises. On the other, it can make them rigid when your job is unique. I've found that a vendor with a clear, well-documented default process is easier to adjust than one with no process at all.)

Step 4: Divide Your Requirements — Don't Put All Eggs in One Basket

The word divide is key here. No single vendor can do everything perfectly for every well. I've learned to divide our scope:

• Core technical services (e.g., wireline logging, formation evaluation) — go with the specialists like Schlumberger for their technology edge.
• Routine support (e.g., mud logging, basic drilling fluids) — consider smaller regional players who may be more responsive and cheaper.
• Rush jobs and contingencies — always have a backup vendor who can step in (preferably with a prior relationship).

Check-point: After dividing, do you have at least two qualified vendors for each critical service? If not, you're vulnerable. The vendor failure in 2023? We had no backup for wireline. Never again.

Step 5: Use a Competition Analogy — White vs Knicks

I'm not a huge basketball fan, but the White vs Knicks matchup (or any major rivalry) teaches something about vendor management: both teams know each other's strengths and weaknesses. When evaluating Schlumberger, understand their competitive landscape. Schlumberger vs Halliburton vs Baker Hughes — each has a different playbook. Knowing who is the "White" and who is the "Knicks" in your region helps you negotiate better terms.

But here's the catch: don't play them against each other aggressively. You want a fair price, not a relationship killer. Transparency builds trust. I've learned to ask: "What's not included in your standard price?" rather than "Beat this competitor's quote." The vendor who lists all fees upfront — even if the total looks higher — usually costs less in the end.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Focusing only on technology — Great downhole tools don't guarantee on-time delivery or clean invoicing.
• Skipping the field engineer interview — The person on site matters more than the sales rep.
• Not dividing your vendor portfolio — Over-reliance on one provider is risky, no matter how big they are.
• Assuming price includes everything — Always ask about extra charges: mobilization, standby time, rush fees, data delivery format changes. (Just like in printing, when a PMS color match may cost extra if Delta E tolerances are tight.)

Oh, and one more thing: keep a record of all communications — especially quotes that list "what's included" vs "what's extra." That saved me $2,400 when a vendor tried to add a "mobilization surcharge" after the fact (thankfully, it was in their original email).

This checklist isn't perfect, but it's practical. Start with it, adapt it to your operation's size, and you'll have a much clearer picture of whether Schlumberger (or any provider) is the right fit.