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Devon Energy photo

An oilfield operated by Devon Energy Corp. in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. The company plans 49 wells spread over 15,000 acres.

Credit standards for the world's independent oil & gas exploration companies show an industry more than capable of meeting future economic challenges but with some pot holes along the way. 

Independent oil & gas explorers, long known for high credit standards driven by low credit risk and high cash flow, strengthened those standards in 2014, according to data recently compiled for the Credit Standards Index (CSI).  Consider that of the 84 companies located in 11 countries and listed on eight different stock exchanges included in the industry group, not one had a CSI score worse than 3.50, a key credit standards threshold.