Even if rig numbers across U.S. shale oil basins hold steady, current economics means production could start to decline, a forecasting unit of Platts reported. Low crude oil prices, down about 50 percent year-on-year, means energy companies have less capital to invest in exploration and production. In Texas, the No. 1 oil producer in the nation, the state energy regulator said the 864 drilling permits awarded in August was 64 percent lower year-on-year. The rig count in North Dakota, the No. 2 oil producer, of 67 is 66 percent lower than this date in 2014. Sami Yahya, an analyst with Bentek, the forecasting unit for Platts, said energy companies are figuring out ways to save money by either drilling en masse […]