IHS: Shale Growth Still Strong, Despite Dip in Oil Prices ND Pump Jack | Click to Enlarge The Bakken-Three Forks rig count increased by three t0 191 rigs running across our coverage area by the end of last week. The NDIC notes 185 rigs are active in North Dakota, but around 14 of those are in the process of moving in and rigging up. In recent Bakken news, research consultancy IHS Energy reports most shale plays are economic and ~80% of potential drilling in 2015 would remain strong at WTI crude oil prices as low as $70 per barrel. WTI traded at ~$67 today, a nearly 40% drop from June of 2014. As a result, Bakken operators, including Emerald Oil, Inc., have already announced plans to potentially scale back their drilling programs in 2015. North Dakota’s Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) Director Lynn Helms updated lawmakers in October on the status of oil & gas development in the […]