Some small and midsize operators have sharply curtailed their drilling plans for the Eagle Ford. So far, few of the big players in the field have announced their diminished spending plans for the year. But BHP Billiton Petroleum, one of the biggest producers in the field, said last week it will cut 40 percent of its U.S. shale drilling activity this year in reaction to lower oil prices. Photo: Express-News File Photo As the energy industry grinds through its latest chapter of low oil prices, many industry experts see nothing more than a rocky plot twist. Others see the last chapter for some shale operations, especially those that are carrying heavy debt. The price for a barrel of West Texas Intermediate was around $45 on Friday. Last June, it had soared higher than $100 per barrel. Art Berman, a Houston petroleum geologist and longtime skeptic of the shale boom, […]