First shale bankruptcy The shale sector has already seen its first major casualty of the coronavirus/price war double hit: Whiting Petroleum has filed for bankruptcy protection, the first large independent producer to do so. The company was facing a $262 million payment on a convertible bond, due on Wednesday. At current prices, Whiting is expected to be the first of many, with high debt levels leaving independent shale producers particularly vulnerable. FT PS behind pay wall...