Lower crude oil prices continued to pressure upstream operations in North Dakota as the state shed two rigs since last week, state data show. The state government shows 42 rigs in service as of Monday, down two from the number reported last week. The all-time low point is zero and the current rig count breaks the most recent low of 45 reported in August 2009. On this date in 2012, the state reported 202 rigs were actively exploring for or producing oil or natural gas in the state. Crude oil price volatility suggests markets may be approaching their bottom, though prices are still around 70 percent below mid-2014 levels above $100 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark […]