The number of rigs actively exploring for or producing oil and gas in North Dakota declined nearly 4 percent from last week, state data show. North Dakota reported 73 rigs in active service as of Monday, down from the 76 reported one week ago. The exploration and production side of the North Dakota, measured by rig counts, is slower by more than half from this date in 2014, when 190 rigs were deployed across the state. Rig deployments were near historic highs in 2012, with 215 reported. North Dakota is the second largest oil producer in the nation and, while diversified, its economy depends in part on the surge of oil taken from shale basins in the state . State government data […]