<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-04-22</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000087347</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SCHLUMBERGER LTD /NV/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SLB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001358232</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Poupeau Jean-Francois</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1123 JOSHUA LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77055</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18141</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>78</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>SL Prof. Sharing Pln</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.873</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-04-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-04-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>17930</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>32.618</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-07-21</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3064</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>37.845</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-01-22</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-01-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5286</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>54.235</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-01-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-01-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3684</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>68.505</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-01-21</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-01-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1459</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>92.7</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-07-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-07-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2158</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option (right to buy) w/ tandem Tax w/h right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.873</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-04-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-04-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2070</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option (right to buy) w/ tandem Tax w/h right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.188</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-04-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-04-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option (right to buy) w/ tandem Tax w/h right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>32.618</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-07-21</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4436</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option (right to buy) w/ tandem Tax w/h right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>37.845</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-01-22</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-01-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>29714</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option (right to buy) w/ tandem Tax w/h right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>41.141</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-10-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-10-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option (right to buy) w/ tandem Tax w/h right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>54.235</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-01-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-01-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16316</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option (right to buy) w/ tandem Tax w/h right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>66.03</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-04-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-04-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option (right to buy) w/ tandem Tax w/h right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>68.505</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-01-21</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-01-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>28541</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option (right to buy) w/ tandem Tax w/h right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>92.7</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-07-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-07-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>37842</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>RSU (restricted stock unit)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-02-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-02-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Exercisable in five equal annual installments beginning April 17, 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This option becomes exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning July 21, 2005</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This option becomes exercisable in five equal annual installments beginning
January 22, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This option becomes exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning January 18, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">This option becomes exercisable in five equal annual installments beginning
January 21, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">This option becomes exercisable in five equal annual installments beginning July 19, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The options become exercisable in five equal installments beginning April 18, 2002.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Exercisable in five equal annual installments beginning October 19, 2001.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">This option becomes exercisable in five equal annual installments beginning April 19, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">This restricted stock unit is subject to a 3-year cliff and will become exercisable on February 4, 2013.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/Lynda M. Quagliara Attorney-in-Fact  For: Jean-Francois Poupeau</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
