'free up storage for cheap oil' Good point. Where production was revised down (kitchen sinked) you might imagine that capacity could be commercially exploited to enhance the financial performance?
'9m is good, but 15 would be perfect...' anything improving sentiment is worth 10 to 20% on the SP. Demand is down c.25m per day so 9 or 15m stretches out storage several months. Is this time enough for CV to go away and bau business to return?
'the buyer would go elsewhere' I dont think that is right. TLW would sell at the lower price and collect the difference on the hedge from the institution who went long on the oil price ie if the hedge was $55, they hoped it would be $80. While TLW revenue is protected, a financial institution who provided the hedge is hurting unless they hedged...