The Bakken-Three Forks rig count decreased by seven t0 180 rigs running across our coverage area by the end of last week. The NDIC notes 178 rigs are active in North Dakota, but around 13 of those are in the process of moving in and rigging up. In recent Bakken news, as the free-fall in crude prices continues, major Bakken operators are expressing their caution by slashing their budgets for 2015. Marathon Oil is the latest giant to announce that its projected budget will curb exploration spending by a whopping 20% for 2015. Though the company still forecasts spending in upwards of $4.4 billion, the decrease is another sign that the spiraling oil prices are casting a dark shadow over the incredible growth that is taking place in the shale regions.