Weatherford International files for bankruptcy protection

One of the latest energy companies to fall victim to struggling finances is Weatherford International. The oilfield services firm based in Houston, Texas but with a handful of offices in Oklahoma City and Yukon has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after warning in May that it might do so.

Holders of nearly 79% of the company’s outstanding notes agreed to the restructuring according to the filing. The proposed restructuring will cut the company’s funded debt from nearly $8.35 billion to $2.5 billion.

Debt holders will receive about a 99% stake in the company that emerges from Chapter 11, according to the filing.

The Chapter 11 case is expected to get underway this week with a possible first hearing on Tuesday.