U.S. shale producers are poised to further trim spending this year, executives at companies that provide drilling and hydraulic fracturing services warned this week, as several took steps to idle more oilfield equipment. Oilfield suppliers are idling more of the equipment used to fracture wells, and drilling contractors say they expect to run fewer rigs in the second half of the year than in the first. The slowing pace comes as Wall Street pressures oil producers to focus on returns rather than expanding drilling operations. “The oilfield services industry is feeling the effects of E&P company emphasis on (capital) discipline,” John Lindsay, chief executive of driller Helmerich and Payne ( HP.N ) said during an earnings call on Thursday. Lindsay said most of his firm’s customers have spent more than 50% of their drilling budgets in the first half, and are currently assessing plans for the rest […]