April 25, 2008 12:00 AM
Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA (EMGS), a provider of Controlled Source Electromagnetics (CSEM) services and competitor to WesternGeco Electromagnetics, recently made legal threats toward Schlumberger, claiming patent infringement.
In 2007, Schlumberger responded by filing a series of court actions to nullify a set of EMGS CSEM patents in the Dutch and UK courts, and also challenged those patents in the European Patent Office (EPO).
As a result of our actions, EMGS abandoned two of their patents, including their first and most fundamental patent.
On April 16, 2008 the Dutch Court elected to defer its decision on the patents until after the EPO had decided on the case. They effectively decided to "not decide" at the present time. There was no decision on the validity of the patents in question. The UK High Court will begin hearings on the EMGS set of UK CSEM patents in mid June, with a decision to be released in the subsequent three or four months. A decision on the EPO proceedings is expected later this year.
WesternGeco Electromagnetics continues to actively provide commercial marine CSEM services. WesternGeco strongly believes it can provide EM services without being in conflict with any validly issued patents of others, including those of EMGS. WesternGeco stands behind this by providing its customers with full legal protection against any threats or claims of CSEM patent infringement by other parties.
Any customer concerns about the legal action against EMGS or the ability of WesternGeco to freely provide EM services should be addressed to Jeff Griffin, Managing IP Counsel for WesternGeco, + 1 713 689 2625, or Aaron Gatt Floridia, General Manager WesternGeco Electromagnetics, + 1 713 689 5554.
About Schlumberger
Schlumberger is the world's leading oilfield services company supplying technology, information solutions and integrated project management that optimize reservoir performance for customers working in the oil and gas industry. The company employs more than 80,000 people of over 140 nationalities working in approximately 80 countries. Schlumberger supplies a wide range of products and services from seismic acquisition and processing; formation evaluation; well testing and directional drilling to well cementing and stimulation; artificial lift and well completions; and consulting, software, and information management. In 2007, Schlumberger revenue was $23.28 billion. For more information, visit www.slb.com.
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