-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Gg161XJd1VADSLBbsTXGc4gEIG9t7RgiKmW41RMq5Z3rmeOYW9o3phLQEMFCT39+
 7bASVHqhQT+3YbjgPlNB2w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001194102-05-000001.txt : 20050502
<SEC-HEADER>0001194102-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050502
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050502124121
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001194102-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050430
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050502
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050502

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHLUMBERGER LTD /NV/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000087347
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OIL, GAS FIELD SERVICES, NBC [1389]
		IRS NUMBER:				520684746
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			P8
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		42 RUE ST DOMINIQUE
		CITY:			PARIS FRANCE 75007
		STATE:			I0
		ZIP:			75007
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2123509400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		153 EAST 53 STREET 57TH FLOOR
		STREET 2:		153 EAST 53 STREET 57TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022-4624

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SCHLUMBERGER NV
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920804

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SCHLUMBERGER LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880812

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LAJOUS ADRIAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194102

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04601
		FILM NUMBER:		05789283

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		153 EAST 53 STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194102</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAJOUS ADRIAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>COLEGIO 620</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>JARDINES DEL PEDREGAL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>O5</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>DF 01900</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>MEXICO</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3300</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Limited Liability Company</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Schlumberger Stock and Deferral Plan for Non-Employee Directors</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Since the Reporting person's last report, 2000 shares previously held directly are now held indirectly through a limited liability company.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Janet B. Glassmacher Attorney-in-Fact for Adrian Lajous</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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