Also included is a statement from Haliburton along a similar vein ... US gas drilling is seen as a plus.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_EARNS_SCHLUMBERGER?SITE=N...

from Schlumberger ...

"In a statement, Schlumberger Chairman and CEO Andrew Gould said, the company continued to see a strong performance in North America because of active drilling for natural gas."

and from Haliburton ...

"Halliburton said Monday its first-quarter earnings, which slumped nearly 46 percent, were propped up by a resurgence in the U.S., where crews have been working around the clock to tap natural gas deposits in underground layers of shale."

Here's hoping they stay busy.  80)