Final answer:
Hydraulic fracturing, or 'fracking,' is an engineering process where fluid is injected at high pressure into subterranean rocks to create cracks for extracting oil or natural gas. The fluid usually contains water, sand, and chemicals and is pushed into either vertically or horizontally drilled wells.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is Hydraulic Fracturing?
The process of using a water solution to break through layers of shale in order to fracture the rock layer is known as hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as 'fracking.' This engineering technique involves drilling down into the earth and then horizontally into the rock layer. A high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and proprietary chemicals is then injected, which creates fissures in the rock formation. The sand particles serve to keep these fractures open, allowing natural gas or oil from the shale to flow back up the well for extraction.
Fracking is widely used in low-permeability rocks such as tight sandstone, shale, and some coal beds. Its purpose is not only to create new fractures but also to widen and connect pre-existing ones, which significantly enhance oil and natural gas extraction from these difficult-to-reach underground formations. As resources closer to the surface become depleted, hydraulic fracturing has become an essential method for extracting fossil fuels that were previously inaccessible.