Dear Clients and Friends,

In 2020, domestic and international energy markets were challenged by a worldwide pandemic and its effect on commodity prices, which accelerated disruptions in supply chains and impacted the energy transition in countries around the world.

The recent decision of Justice B.E.

Esta Resolución, tramitada con arreglo a lo previsto en el artículo 13 de la Circular 1/2021, de 20 de enero, de la CNMC, por la que se establece la metodología y condiciones del acceso y de la conexión a las redes de transporte y distribución de las instalaciones de producción de energía eléctrica, vendría a completar el marco normativo del acceso y conexión y daría cumplimiento a lo previsto en su Disposición Transitoria Única. De esta forma:

2020年は、新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大の影響により、あ らゆる地域において、またあらゆる業界が経済的損失を被っ た1年であったが、とりわけ石油業界にとっては影響が大き かったということができる。米国の代表的な原油価格指標で あるWTI（West Texas Intermediate）が、2020年4月20日に史 上初のマイナス価格を付けたことは衝撃的な事象として未だ 記憶に新しい。2018年から2019年の間は、WTIは50ドル～80 ドル（1バレル当たり）を推移していたのであるから、このような事 態になるとは誰も想像していなかったであろう。

そこで、今回は、石油を取り巻く環境が大きく変わったといえ る2020年における北米1石油業界のChapter 11の動向を調 査することとした。石油業界は、川の流れに例えられ、上流（探 鉱・開発）、中流（輸送）、下流（加工・流通）と区分されることが 多いが、今回は、その中でも原油価格や生産量の影響を直接 的に受けることになる、原油の生産に関わる上流部門に着目 する。

第１ 石油業界の上流部門のプレーヤー

The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill was published on 20 May 2020 and went through an accelerated parliamentary process, receiving Royal Assent on 25 June 2020 (with the provisions coming into force on 26 June 2020).

The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (“CIGA”) introduces a mixture of permanent and temporary “debtor friendly” measures to restructuring and insolvency law in England and Wales and in Scotland, jurisdictions which have historically been viewed as being “creditor friendly”.

In its recent decision in Matter of First River Energy, LLC,¹ the Fifth Circuit resolved a priority dispute between lienholders regarding their competing claims to cash held by the debtor, First River Energ

The highest profile duty to consult case this past year was the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision in Coldwater First Nation v. Canada (Attorney General), 2020 FCA 34, relating to the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project (TMX Project). This was a judicial review of the federal Cabinet’s decision to approve the TMX Project for the second time subject to numerous conditions. The TMX Project involves the twinning and expansion of an existing pipeline from Edmonton, Alberta to Burnaby, British Columbia.

Volatile commodity prices in 2020 led to the bankruptcy of many oil and gas producers. While some analysts expect oil and gas prices to rise during 2021, the US Energy Information Administration’s 2021 annual outlook advises that a return to 2019 levels of US energy consumption will take years.[2]

Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (Brazos) recently filed bankruptcy in federal court in Houston, citing a disputed $1.8 billion bill from the state’s grid operator, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). Brazos is one of dozens of electricity providers in Texas facing enormous charges stemming from severe cold snap last month.

Brazos Electric Power Cooperative Inc. (Brazos) recently filed bankruptcy in federal court in Houston, citing a disputed $1.8 billion bill from the state’s grid operator, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). Brazos is one of dozens of electricity providers in Texas facing enormous charges stemming from severe cold snap last month.