U.S. banks are preparing to start seizing the shale oil assets of companies U.S. banks are preparing to start seizing the assets of ailing shale oil companies, Reuters reported today. Major U.S. lenders are preparing to become operators of oil and gas fields across the country for the first time in a generation to avoid losses on loans to energy companies that may go bankrupt, sources aware of the plans told Reuters. Categories: OilField Tags: 2020 Crude Oil Crash, 2020 Oilfield Crash, Oil Boom and Bust