Schlumberger, the world’s largest oil services company, has announced 9,000 layoffs among its 123,000 employees, with most of the layoffs reportedly projected to be in North America.

The oil services giant operates at dozens of locations around Louisiana, including Abbeville, Berwick, Broussard, Lafayette, Maurice, New Iberia, Scott and Youngsville.

Near the end of its report on its fourth-quarter and annual performances, delivered Thursday, Schlumberger said it “decided to reduce its overall headcount to better align with anticipated activity levels for 2015.”

The cuts, about 7 percent of the company’s workforce, were draconian. OilPro.com said they represent “one of the largest single workforce reductions by any company in the history of oil and gas busts.” The news outlet also suggested that other companies oftentimes follow the industry leader.

The cuts were announced even as Schlumberger CEO Paal Kibsgaard said 2014 revenue of $48.6 billion “increased 7 percent year-on-year and grew for the fifth consecutive year. That performance, he said, was driven by North America where revenue grew 16 percent.” This morning, OilPro reported that the bulk of the layoffs are expected in North America.

“Fourth-quarter results were led by record revenue in North America due to continued efficiency improvements and new technology uptake in pressure pumping land and by the recovery of activity in the US Gulf of Mexico,” the company said.

However, the company suggested that through contacts with its customers, it expects a downturn in drilling and production, which would lead to softer profits.

The impact on Louisiana could be substantial. However, economist Loren Scott of Loren Scott and Associates suggested Schlumberger may choose to focus its North American downsizing efforts on shale plays in Texas, North Dakota and Pennsylvania rather than on offshore oil sites, which he said represent Louisiana’s “bread and butter.”

He said most of those shale plays cannot profit with oil selling for less than $50 a barrel.

Scott said any jobs lost in Louisiana would have a profound impact.

“Basically, our work has suggested that for every job lost in this area or for the state, multiply by 3.6. What that means is that for every job lost in Schlumberger, add 2.6 jobs lost in retail, services, health care.”

Schlumberger had not filed a WARN notice with the Louisiana Workforce Commission by Friday morning. Employers must file a WARN notice with the state and give employees 60 days notice of layoffs under certain circumstances.

There are exceptions, LWC spokesman Tom Guarisco said, including “unforeseeable business circumstances,” natural disaster and companies teetering on the brink of closing.

The company also announced the layoffs as it announced a 25 percent increase in dividends to stockholders, which OilPro said would total more than $2 billion.

The company works in about 85 countries and has headquarters in Paris, Houston and The Hague.

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