here's some very interesting info, page-47

you keep stating that the banks have a "hell of a lot to lose" without justifying and providing support

other posters have highlighted the facts that:

- the bank's debt is secured against the property and even if no gas flows from this remediation plan, given the reserves, i'm sure they can sell it at a fire sale price for more than $50m US

- the banks have already made a tidy sum to date in interest and fees

one could play devils advocate and argue that it is in the banks interest to keep stringing MAE along and have it continue to incur interest and refinancing charges - until the earlier of a) firesale price of the property is equal to the face value of the loan or b) equity investors stop putting in money

no bank actually wants its customers to repay their high interest bearing credit card balances, they love repeat and struggling customers