HOUSTON, TX -- Schlumberger Oil & Gas Information Solutions (SIS) today announced that it has signed a value-added reseller agreement with BARCO Simulation Products to enhance virtual-reality visualization and collaboration through the SIS iCenter(a) secure networked collaborative environment. The iCenter is a visualization center that integrates computing and communications with collaborative workflows. It enables multidisciplinary teams to work together locally and remotely to better understand and analyze complex data. The iCenter is a scalable workplace solution, ranging from a presentation and review facility for a large audience to a system for conferences and meetings. "iCenter was specifically designed for the oil and gas industry to offer clients a collaboration and visualization center for data integration, well planning, drilling and reservoir optimization," said Keith Tushingham, iCenter product champion for SIS. "The BARCO-Schlumberger agreement will allow us to deploy more iCenters faster throughout the world to satisfy the fast adoption in the industry. We will operate as a value-added service provider and integrator -- selling, installing and supporting the use of iCenters for both our customers and our Schlumberger business units. Advances in visualization capabilities have revolutionized team collaboration and remote connectivity, enhancing the quality of decisions being made. This agreement will help maximize the advances for clients allowing them to increase productivity, reduce uncertainty and enhance teamwork through corporate and project knowledge sharing. "Teaming with Schlumberger will enable us to push the limits of virtual-reality technology, creating many new innovative visualization opportunities for iCenter in the exploration and production industry," said Yoav Nir, product group manager for BARCO Simulation Products of Belgium. "BARCO's 20 years of technical expertise and experience in the development of virtual-reality environments is a perfect complement to the SIS service offering. Together we will provide a solid foundation on which the energy sector can grow their visualization and collaboration needs." In addition to the commercial provision to oil and gas customers, Schlumberger is committed to a large implementation of iCenters to support its global operations. The first iCenter opened in Stavanger this spring to support the companies operating in Norway for real-time reservoir management and interpretation support. The iCenter is also the hub for the Schlumberger Norwegian sector geosteering, drilling and monitoring services. The second iCenter will open in Houston in October and will be supported by geoscientists from Schlumberger Oilfield Services for workflow collaboration to enable informed decisions. With the expertise of Schlumberger's personnel backed by global high bandwidth connectivity, the iCenters will provide the next leap forward in smart field decisions. From downhole sensors, intelligent completions, streaming seismic, real-time data feeds, production enhancement and interpretation services, the iCenter provides the new ergonomic environment in which to operate and manage data efficiently and effectively. For additional information visit www.slb.com or www.barco.com