It is my understanding that the gas and oil companies (like a lot of medium-sized companies) are waiting on a line of credit so they aren't using their reserves to make payroll. This will be when the banks start loaning money to each other again. Carizzo is a Houston-based company (and Texas is weathering the economic downtrun quite well), but this interbank lending is between very large banking entities all over the US and in Europe.
At present the US Treasury Bill-Euro Dollar spread is 2.5 but needs to get to 1.0 and preferably 0.5. Then we will see lines of credit opening up again but it might take a couple of months.
I understand all the G7 countries have their own versions of people buying overpriced properties with unusual loans with the idea of "flipping" the house after the price doubles, so it is not unique to the United States. And their tax assessors have been counting on "revenue" from increases in propery value to fund various programs.
I also understand any leases filed at the courthouses are enforceable so I doubt Carrizo will shortchange anyone. We just have to wait until the banks figure out what sorts of questionable derivatives are on their books-- these are loans and mortgages listed at prices above what they can be appraised and sold.