Schlumberger Technology Corp. v. Blaker

EASTERBROOK, Circuit Judge. Schlumberger Technology Corp. fired Jerry Blaker in February 1984, after 15 years with the firm. Since 1982 Blaker, a geologist, had been the Division Manager of the Rocky Mountain Division of the Schlumberger Well Services division. Blaker was In charge of selling Schlumberger's services in the wireline logging of oil and gas wells--a method of inferring the reserves and future productivity of wells--and supervising those who rendered the services. When he joined Schlumberger in 1969 Blaker promised not to reveal its trade secrets and also pledged that for two years after leaving he would not engage in activities ""similar to or in competition with those of [Schlumberger] . . . in [a] zone of 100 mile radius from a location or office where [Schlumberger] shall have, in the year preceding the date of such termination, done or is then doing such business."" Because Schlumberger offers wireline logging services wherever oil wells are found, this effectively forbade Blaker to compete with Schlumberger anywhere in North America, if not the world. The contract allowed Blaker to seek a waiver, which ""shall not be unreasonably withheld.""