Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Contingencies [Abstract]

Contingencies

(18)   Contingencies

We are party to a number of lawsuits arising in the normal course of business. Since the mid-1980s, we and/or our subsidiaries have been named as one of a number of defendants in product liability lawsuits relating to the minor free-silica content of our bentonite products used in the metalcasting industry. The plaintiffs in these lawsuits are primarily employees of our foundry customers. Our oilfield operations are also party to two lawsuits alleging damages caused by our coiled tubing operations in Louisiana; one lawsuit alleges damages of $28 million and the other of $9 million. We do not believe that any pending litigation will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements.