Final answer:
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a method of extracting oil and gas by injecting high-pressure fluid into shale rock to create new channels, allowing the resources to flow out. The process raises environmental concerns, mainly due to potential groundwater contamination and the large volume of water used.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fracking, correctly known as hydraulic fracturing, is a process used to extract oil and gas from rock formations. It involves drilling down into the earth and injecting a high-pressure fluid mixture of water, sand, and chemicals into shale rock layers. This process creates new channels in the rock that release oil and gas, which can then be captured and brought to the surface. In hydraulic fracturing, both vertical and horizontal drilling methods can be employed to maximize access to the oil and gas resources.
Environmental concerns with fracking include contamination of groundwater due to the chemicals used and the significant use of water, which may affect water availability for other purposes. Despite these concerns, fracking is seen by energy companies as a profitable technique, vastly increasing the available reserves of oil and gas from previously inaccessible or less permeable rock formations.