2020 Will Be A Crucial Year For Oil

摘要

It's the start of a new year and a new decade, and the oil market is as unpredictable as ever. Will OPEC+ extend its cuts? Will U.S. shale finally grind to a halt? Is this the 'year of the electric vehicle'? Here are 10 stories to watch in 2020. Shale debt, shale slowdown. The debt-fueled shale drilling boom is facing a reckoning. Around 200 North American oil and gas companies have declared bankruptcy since 2015, but the mountain of debt taken out a few years ago is finally coming due. Roughly $41 billion in debt matures in 2020, which ensures more bankruptcies will be announced this year. The wave of debt may also force the industry to slam on the breaks as companies scramble to come up with cash to pay off creditors.