After a period of relative stability, volatility in global oil prices has returned with a vengeance in recent weeks. Slow economic growth in many regions, OPEC inaction, and surging U.S. production have combined to cause a precipitous fall in the price of oil, which continues to hit new multiyear lows. The declines in oil prices have corresponded to similarly rapid decreases in the stock (and in some cases bond) prices of many energy producers. The following is a brief checklist of some of the key legal issues that upstream energy companies may want to consider as a result of the changing commodity price environment.
