North Dakota bucked the nationwide trend by adding more rigs to its state portfolio with the total number increasing by nearly 6 percent. State data show 71 rigs actively exploring for or producing oil and natural gas in the state. That’s up nearly 6 percent , or four rigs, from the previous week. Most of the new rig activity came during the weekend. Data from oil field services company Baker Hughes show North Dakota lost one rig last week compared with the week ending Sept. 25. Texas for the week lost the most rigs with a total decline of two. Energy companies are spending less on exploration and production because of the steady decline in crude oil prices, down by about half from last […]