Schlumberger (SLB) restricted access to information for Russian personnel

10.05.2023       

Schlumberger (SLB) is tightening hardware transfers by barring Russian employees from accessing certain software and messaging systems. The company's action comes after Reuters reported in January that SLB had expanded its operations in Russia, taking away service and equipment contracts from departed competitors. But as the sanctions drag on, the company has warned that business is slowing down. “As international sanctions developed, we took further steps to reduce our activities, often going beyond the requirements of the sanctions,” — said an SLB spokesman. Among them are the recently adopted "additional controls restricting the shipment of all SLB-produced products and technologies from the US, UK, European Union, and Canada." to Russia, the spokesman said.
The changes "ensure that our employees comply with all changing sanctions," the source added. Reuters was unable to ascertain why SLB imposed new restrictions on its Russian business. Earlier this year, the US expanded sanctions against Russia, including against its mining and metals sectors. The European Commission and the US Department of Commerce declined to comment on the new domestic restrictions imposed by SLB. SLB had about 10,000 employees in Russia who helped Gazprom Neft, Rosneft and other leading energy companies to produce more oil and gas when the NWO began last year. The business generated roughly 6% of its $28.1 billion in revenue at the end of 2022. Since then, its workforce in the region has dwindled to around 9,600. Russia's share of its revenue has now fallen to about 5% from 6% at the end of 2022, according to SLB's financial statements, according to a source familiar with the matter. companies leaving Russia, but forbade new investments. They have limited financial transactions with Russia and imposed restrictions on the export of certain energy equipment, technologies and services. Some of the SLB initiatives were implemented last month, a person familiar with the matter said. citing an internal reshuffling of divisions in Russia, the Caspian region and Kazakhstan. According to the source, the latter two are now subordinate to Asia, and Russia — became a separate entity. “Looks like the tone towards Russia has changed,” — said an employee who declined to give his name because he was not authorized to speak on the record. Technological restrictions have intensified, and since February they have received more attention in SLB communications, the employee said. In recent weeks, SLB has also blocked its Russian employees from accessing some software and data held in the US and UK, the employee said. Russian employees are now prohibited from using certain company message boards. « Any new Global SLB Group systems/applications must not be connected to or accessible to Russia, — SLB told staff in a late-March memo seen by Reuters.
Questions raised by staff about SLB's help to the Russian oil industry, which some see as helping its actions in Ukraine, prompted CEO Olivier Le Peche to answer questions about the region in a pre-recorded internal message at the end of February. He also acknowledged that business conditions have changed. Le Peuch told employees it was a "difficult situation" and said he continued to evaluate his presence, but reiterated that the company had no plans to leave. “At this point, we believe that the best way forward for all stakeholders — it is to continue working in Russia as long as we can do it in full compliance with international sanctions, — Le Peche said in his address, according to an audio recording verified by Reuters. “We expect operations in Russia to decline due to market conditions and the actions we have taken, including a ban on new investment and technology deployment,” — he said.
Reuters.com

that the scale of operations in Russia will be reduced due to market conditions and the actions we have taken, including the ban on new investments and the deployment of technologies,” — he said.
Reuters.com

that the scale of operations in Russia will be reduced due to market conditions and the actions we have taken, including the ban on new investments and the deployment of technologies,” — he said.
Reuters.com