Schlumberger Shares Drop 1.08% as Iraq Partnership Drives 322nd Trading Volume Rank

Schlumberger (SLB) closed on July 31, 2025, with a 1.08% decline, trading at a daily volume of $450 million, a 27.88% drop from the prior day, placing it 322nd in market activity. The stock’s performance coincided with renewed U.S. engagement in Iraq’s energy sector, marked by a contract signed between Schlumberger and the Iraqi Oil Ministry to boost natural gas production at the strategically vital Akkas gas field. This move aligns with broader efforts by Western firms to counter Chinese and Russian influence in the region, as outlined in recent geopolitical developments.

The U.S. strategy in Iraq aims to strengthen the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region’s independence to limit Chinese and Russian access to the country’s energy resources. Schlumberger’s involvement in the Akkas project follows the cancellation of a prior agreement with a Ukrainian firm, underscoring the company’s pivot toward partnerships with the federal Iraqi government. Analysts suggest that such contracts could enhance Schlumberger’s operational stability in the region, as Baghdad seeks to centralize control over oil and gas production under a unified legal framework.

Geopolitical tensions remain a key factor. Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court has reinforced the government’s authority to regulate all energy exports, including those from Kurdistan, effectively curtailing Western firms’ ability to operate independently of Baghdad. Schlumberger’s participation in the Akkas project reflects a calculated alignment with the Iraqi government’s priorities, which could mitigate risks associated with protracted legal disputes and financial pressures faced by companies operating in Kurdistan. However, the company’s success in Iraq will depend on the pace of regulatory reforms and the broader geopolitical balance between Western and non-Western interests.

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