Top oilfield firm Schlumberger NV (SLB.N) reported third-quarter profit which beat Wall Street estimates on Friday and echoed a rival’s forecast for a 20% increase in North American spending next year, as producers capitalize on a rebound in crude prices. Global oil prices have climbed nearly 64% since the start of 2021 to over $85 a barrel on the back of a vaccine-fueled demand recovery. The worldwide rig count was 1,448 at the end of the third quarter, compared with 1,019 a year earlier, according to Baker Hughes data. “The industry macro fundamentals have visibly strengthened this year, particularly in recent weeks – with demand recovery, oil and gas commodity prices at recent highs, low inventory levels, and encouraging trends in pandemic containment efforts,” Schlumberger Chief Executive Officer Olivier Le Peuch said in a statement, adding he expects those conditions to materially drive investment over […]