The federal government has allowed bankrupt shale major Chesapeake Energy to stop drilling at more than 100 leases on federal lands without losing ownership of the assets, Reuters has reported , citing data that shows the approvals have been granted since the start of the coronavirus crisis. The company, according to the data, first applied for permission to suspend drilling across these leases in late April. By mid-May, the Bureau of Land Management had granted it 108 approvals, Reuters reports. The BLM has been granting permission to oil companies to suspend drilling in federal leases without losing their ownership on a case-by-case basis. However, the suspensions are not indefinite. Most of them expire at the end of this month, Reuters noted. While the BLM could grant an extension, it is unclear whether it can grant one to a company that is effectively bankrupt. Last week, media reported , citing […]