Shale Gas Industry Faces More Uncertainty in 2021

摘要

While 2021 may not present the unprecedented and seismic changes that have defined the US shale industry over the past year, uncertainty looms large as the pace of tackling the Covid-19 pandemic and the flagging economy takes shape. While shale gas and oil players are entering the year with measured optimism, a host of dynamics largely outside the sector's control will shape its plight in 2021 and beyond: Whereas the mergers of large independents in all-stock deals with small or zero premiums characterized M&A activity in 2020, the new year could be defined by the public-private tie-up. More than 140 private equity-backed operators are in the Permian Basin alone, and there is some discussion that the macroeconom-ic environment has many backers looking for an exit.