Final answer:
Fracking uses high-pressure fluid injection to create fissures in shale for extracting gas and oil, and horizontal drilling to increase the efficiency of these extractions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Technologies Used in Fracking
Fracking, short for hydraulic fracturing, leverages two key technologies: high-pressure fluid injection and horizontal drilling. During the fracking process, a high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and proprietary chemicals is directed into the Earth to recover gas and oil from shale formations. Firstly, the high-pressure fluid injection technology is utilized to create fissures in the rock by pumping the aforementioned mixture at high pressures. This results in cracks through which gas and oil can be extracted more easily. Secondly, the horizontal drilling technology involves drilling wells vertically and then turning them horizontally within the rock layer. This innovative approach creates new pathways, increasing the contact between the well and the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, thus improving extraction efficiency.