Drillers cut exploration in U.S. oil fields to a 15-year low as some of America’s most prolific shale explorers vowed to show restraint amid a stabilization in oil prices. The number of active oil rigs in the U.S. fell by four to 176, the lowest since 2005, according to Baker Hughes Co. data released Friday. Beyond the addition of a single rig two weeks ago, explorers have been shutting off rigs for four and half months. Explorers are channeling cash into dividends and other shareholder-friendly initiatives at the expense of drilling to appease investors fed up with years of poor returns. “North American E&Ps are in a ... (full story)