Shareholder Returns May Jump Across Energy Sector As Debt Levels Plunge

During the last energy boom, American drillers binged on mountains of readily available debt as they capitalized on investors and financiers willing to gamble on the premise that fracking operations could be significantly cheaper and more efficient than conventional drillers.  Predictably, the bubble finally burst, leaving many like deer in the headlights after saddling themselves with debt to the tune of more than $200 billion.

Not surprisingly, hundreds were forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy before the global energy crisis finally…